Abstract:
A combination suitcase and baggage cart has a first case for storing items. A second case is retractably coupled to the first case and is also used for storing items. A set of wheels is coupled to the first case and the second case for moving the combination suitcase and baggage cart. Retaining fences are retractably coupled to the first case and the second case for holding items on the combination suitcase and baggage cart. A handle is coupled to the combination suitcase and baggage cart for pulling combination suitcase and baggage cart.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    This invention relates generally to travel accessories and, more specifically, to a suitcase that can be easily converted into a carrying cart to transport multiple pieces of luggage.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    Presently, most suitcases include at least one pair of wheels attached to the bottom of the suitcase and a handle or pull-bar attached to the top or to one of the sides of the suitcase. The wheels and handle allow the suitcase to be pulled and easily transport along a supporting surface. While this is convenient and works well, a problem occurs in the case where an individual traveler has more than one large piece of luggage. In this situation, the individual traveler has to carry around multiple pieces of luggage around the airport, station, hotel, or the like. At most such places baggage carts or similar devices are available for rent or service of airport or hotel personnel can be used. However, these methods of carrying the luggage can be inconvenient, time consuming, and expensive. Furthermore, these devices and methods might not be readily available at all locations. Even if they are available, the traveler might need to carry his/her baggage to the baggage carts or to where personnel service is available. This can be extremely burdensome. Furthermore, pushing a prior art baggage cart, such as those available at airports, by an individual traveler can be difficult if heavily loaded.  
           [0005]    Therefore a need existed to provide a baggage cart that is always available to a traveler. The baggage cart must be able to carrying and transport several pieces of luggage when traveling.  
           [0006]    A need further exists to provide a suitcase that can be easily transformed into and readily used as a baggage cart. The suitcase/baggage cart combination must be relatively inexpensive, reliable, and easy to handle by an individual traveler.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    An object of the present invention is to provide a baggage cart that is always available to a traveler.  
           [0008]    It is still another object of the present invention to provide a baggage cart that is able to carrying and transport several pieces of luggage when traveling.  
           [0009]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a suitcase that can be easily transformed into and readily used as a baggage cart.  
           [0010]    It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a suitcase/baggage cart that is able to transport several pieces of luggage securely and easily.  
           [0011]    It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a suitcase/baggage cart combination that is relatively inexpensive, reliable, and easy to handle by an individual traveler.  
         BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
         [0012]    In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a combination suitcase and baggage cart is disclosed. The combination suitcase and baggage cart has a first case for storing items. A second case is retractably coupled to the first case and is also used for storing items. A set of wheels is coupled to the first case and the second case for moving the combination suitcase and baggage cart. Retaining fences are retractably coupled to the first case and the second case for holding items on the combination suitcase and baggage cart. A handle is coupled to the combination suitcase and baggage cart for pulling combination suitcase and baggage cart.  
           [0013]    The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular, description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is a elevated perspective view of a baggage cart suitcase according to the present invention.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is a side view of the baggage cart suitcase according to the present invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is a view of the baggage cart suitcase according to the present invention.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  of FIG. 2.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 5 is a top view of the baggage cart suitcase according to the present invention.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line  6 - 6  of FIG. 5.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the baggage cart suitcase according to the present invention.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line  8 - 8  of FIG. 6. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0022]    Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and  3 , a baggage cart suitcase  10  according to the present invention is shown. The baggage cart suitcase  10  generally comprises, in combination: a first case  20 , a second case  30 , a first pair of wheels  11 , a second pair of wheels  12 , two baggage-retaining fences  13 , and a pull arrangement  14 .  
         [0023]    Both cases  20  and  30  have a generally oblong configuration and are manufactured in two parts, a top part  21  and a bottom part  22 . The top part  21  comprises a top wall  23 , a front wall  24 , a rear wall  25 , a first sidewall  26  and a second sidewall  27 . The top wall  23  includes an area  31  hollowed out as recess for the baggage-retaining fence  13  as well as a brace  15 . The bottom part  22  comprises a bottom wall  28 , a front wall  24 , a rear wall  25 , a first sidewall  26 , and a second sidewall  27 . The bottom wall  28  of the first case  20  includes an area  31  hollowed out as recess for the first pair of wheels  11 . The bottom wall  28  of the second case  30  includes an area  32  hollowed out as recess for the second pair of wheels  12 . The top part  21  and the bottom part  22  are connected at the rear wall  25  with hinges  33  and at the front wall  24  with at least one lock  34 . The top part  21  and the bottom part  22  enclose a space for packing.  
         [0024]    The first case  20  further comprises a handle  16  attached to the first sidewall  26  of the bottom part  22 . The handle  16  can be used for lifting the baggage cart suitcase  10  as well as for attaching a pull arrangement  14 , such as an extendable rod  17  with a grip  18  at one end and a hook  19  for coupling the rod  17  with the first case  20  at the opposite end, as shown in FIG. 2.  
         [0025]    As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the top wall  23  includes the baggage-retaining fence  13  that is recessed in the hollowed out area  31 . The baggage-retaining fence  13  is movably mounted with hinges to the top wall  23  next to the edge with the first sidewall  26 . The baggage-retaining fence  13  can be lifted to an upright position and can be secured in this position with the brace  15 . When lifted to an upright position, the baggage-retaining fence  13  of the first case  20  and of the second case  30  will each and in combination support and restrain luggage to be transported. When recessed in the hollowed out area  31 , the baggage-retaining fence  13  is not noticeable and the baggage cart suitcase  10  can be stored, e.g. in an overhead compartment of an airplane, without taking up more space than a prior art suitcase.  
         [0026]    Still referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and  3 , the first case  20  includes the first pair of wheels  11  mounted with hinges  38  to the bottom wall  28 . The first pair of wheels  11  is able to rotate by 360 degrees. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the first pair of wheels  11  is smaller in size than the second pair of wheels  12 . The second pair of wheels  12  is also mounted with hinges  38  to the bottom wall  28 , as shown in FIG. 4. The second pair of wheels  12  is straight moving. Both pairs of wheels  11  and  12  can be recessed in the hollowed out area  32  of the bottom wall  28  if not used, as shown in FIG. 7. In this case, the baggage cart suitcase  10  can be stored, e.g. in an overhead compartment of an airplane, without taking up more space than a prior art suitcase. The first pair of wheels  11  and the second pair of wheels  12  can be unfolded towards the front wall  24  and the rear wall  25 , respectively, as shown in FIG. 3. The unfolded wheels  11  and  12  then will be strengthened in this position with braces  29 , as shown in FIG. 3.  
         [0027]    When both pairs of wheels  11  and  12  are unfolded and strengthened by the braces  29 , the baggage cart suitcase  10  can be pulled over a supporting surface using the pull arrangement  14 , as shown in FIG. 2.  
         [0028]    Now referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, a top view and a cross-sectional side view of the baggage cart suitcase  10  according to the present invention is shown. The first case  20  and the second case  30  are connected with each other by at least two support bars  36 . The at least two support bars  36  are located next to the bottom wall  28  of the first case  20  and of the second case  30  and are supported by a frame  36 , as shown in FIG. 8. If more space is needed to transport additional luggage, the first case  20  and the second case  30  can slide apart from each other along the support bars  36 , providing the needed space. If no extra transport space is needed, the first case  20  and the second case  30  can be pushed together and secured in this position with a locking mechanism  37  that connects both top walls  23 , as shown in FIG. 1. In this case, the support bars  35  will be safely stored inside the frame  36 .  
         [0029]    The baggage cart suitcase  10  is made out of a plurality of different materials. For example, the covering of the first case  20  and the second case  30  may be made out of plastic, nylon, ballistic nylon, and the like. The other components are generally made out of a heavy plastic or metal to provide a suitcase that is sturdy enough to function as a baggage cart. By using smaller front wheels  11  that can rotate by 360 degree, the baggage cart suitcase  10  can be easily maneuvered around corners or the like.  
         [0030]    By mounting the two pairs of wheels  11  and  12  to the area with the largest dimension the baggage cart suitcase  10  becomes sturdy enough to be used for securely and reliably transporting several pieces of luggage.  
         [0031]    The baggage cart suitcase  10  can be easily converted from a suitcase into a baggage cart by lifting the baggage-retaining fences  13  into an upright position, unfolding the two pairs of wheels  11  and  12 , securing the fence  13  and the wheels  11  and  12  with braces  15  and  29 , respectively, and attaching the pull arrangement  14 . Therefore, a baggage cart is always available and can be used almost instantly when traveling with the baggage cart suitcase  10 .  
         [0032]    By providing the baggage cart suitcase  10  problems associated with the prior art baggage carts are solved.  
         [0033]    While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.