Vibration-proof wheels for wheeled luggage

A luggage wheel assembly comprises an L-shaped bezel including a hollow lower portion of arcuate section, and a well defined by the lower portion for receiving a wheel; and a shock absorber extended from the wheel into the lower portion. Lower, oblique first slot and upper, oblique second slot are provided on either side of an inner wall of the lower portion respectively. A wheel mount comprises a lower hole at either side, an upper hole at either side, an axle inserted through the first slot and the lower hole at one side, a hub of the wheel, and the lower hole and the first slot at the other side, two pins inserted through the upper holes and the second slots, and two C-shaped clips put on projected shanks of the pins on the second slots for fastening. The invention can eliminate wobbles occurred when towing on uneven surfaces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to wheel assembly and more particularly to wheel assemblies with shock absorbing means adapted for use on luggage such that wobbles experienced by well known wheeled luggage while towing on uneven surfaces can be substantially eliminated.

2. Description of Related Art

Wheels play an important role in carrying luggage. Thus, malfunctioned wheel assemblies mean the luggage is of no use. Further, loud sound produced by wheels while towing luggage is not acceptable. Furthermore, wheels tend to shimmy and wobble when exposed to uneven surfaces. This can bring a degree of discomfort to the user. Moreover, abnormal vibration can wear out axles in a short period of time of use, resulting in a shortening of life. Hence, a need for improvement exists.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide vibration-proof wheel assemblies with shock absorbing means adapted for use on luggage such that wobbles experienced by well known wheeled luggage while towing on uneven surfaces can be substantially eliminated.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a vibration-proof wheel assembly for wheeled luggage having spring-loaded shock absorbing means provided between the wheel and the luggage frame, thereby producing minimum sound while towing on uneven surfaces and reducing the wearing on the axle to a minimum.

To achieve the above and other objects, the present invention provides a wheel assembly for supporting an article of luggage, comprising a wheel; a substantially L-shaped bezel integrally formed with the luggage frame and including an upper portion, a hollow lower portion of arcuate section, and a well defined by the lower portion; and spring means extended from the wheel into the lower portion for absorbing the forces of shocks and jarring generated while towing the luggage.

In one aspect of the present invention, the spring means comprises a cylindrical receptacle projected obliquely from an inner wall of the lower portion toward inside, a wheel mount formed over the wheel, a post projected obliquely from the wheel mount and aligned with the receptacle, and a spring disposed in the receptacle and put on the post for anchoring.

In another aspect of the present invention, there are further provided a lower, oblique, elongated first slot provided on either side of the inner wall of the lower portion, and an upper, oblique, elongated second slot provided on either side of the inner wall of the lower portion.

In a further aspect of the present invention, the wheel mount is concave and comprises a lower hole provided at either side, an upper hole provided at either side, an axle inserted through the first slot and the lower hole at one side, a hub of the wheel, and the lower hole and the first slot at the other side, two pins inserted through the upper holes and the second slots, and two C-shaped clips put on projected shanks of the pins on the second slots for fastening.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 5, there is shown a vibration-proof wheel assembly mounted in a bottom corner of luggage in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. The embodiment comprises a bezel10, a spring20, a wheel mount30, and a wheel40. Each component will be described in detailed below.

The bezel10is integrally formed with the luggage frame and comprises an upper portion11, an integral, hollow lower portion12of arcuate section, a well120defined by the lower portion12, a cylindrical, transparent receptacle13projected obliquely from an inner wall of the lower portion12toward inside, a lower, oblique, elongated first slot16provided on the inner wall at either side of the lower portion12, and an upper, oblique, elongated second slot17provided on the inner wall at either side of the lower portion12, the second slot17being aligned with the first slot16.

The wheel40comprises a tire41and two bearings43having a transverse hole mounted in a hub42. The concave wheel mount30comprises an arcuate fender31, a post32projected obliquely from an outer surface of the fender31and aligned with the receptacle13such that the spring20disposed in the receptacle13is adapted to put on the post32for anchoring, a lower hole36at either side, an upper hole33at either side, an axle37inserted through the first slot16and the lower hole36at one side, the bearings43, and the lower hole36and the first slot16at the other side until its head371is stopped by the mouth of the first slot16at one side such that a rivet373is able to insert into a threaded hole372at an open end of the axle37for completing the mounting of the wheel40, and two pins34inserted through the upper holes33and the second slots17to be fastened by mounting two C-shaped clips35on the projected shanks of the pins34on the second slots17.

An operation of the wheel assembly with shock absorbing capability will be described in detailed below. As shown inFIG. 3, either end of the axle37is about in a center of the oblique first slot16, either pin34is in a lowest end of the oblique second slot17, the spring20is expanded, and a gap is formed between the fender31and the lower portion12of the bezel10when luggage is in an upright position. To the contrary, either end of the axle37is in a highest end of the upright first slot16, either pin34is in a highest end of the upright second slot17, the spring20is compressed, and there is almost no gap between the fender31and the lower portion12of the bezel10when luggage is towing (seeFIG. 4). That is, the axle37is constrained by the first slot16and is adapted to move in a distance defined by the length of the first slot16in response to the spring compression, the pin34is constrained by the second slot17and is adapted to move in a distance defined by the length of the second slot17in response to the spring compression, and thus the wheel mount30is adapted to suspend under the bezel10due to the provision of the spring mechanism. In the configuration shown inFIG. 4, luggage weight borne upon the wheel mount30and the wheel40is substantially totally absorbed by the compressed spring20. This is particularly beneficial since wobbles experienced by well known wheeled luggage while towing on uneven surfaces is substantially eliminated. Also, a minimum sound is produced. Further, the wearing on the axle37is reduced to a minimum.

Referring toFIGS. 1,2and5, a window14is provided on an outer surface12A of the lower portion12of the bezel10so that a user may view the compression and expansion of the spring20. A transparent block140comprises two threaded holes145on an outer panel141so that two screws15can be driven through two holes15A on the outer surface12A into the holes145for fastening the block140on the outer surface12A. An inner end of the transparent block140is secured by a member130on an outer surface of the receptacle13. In this position, the window14is aligned with a channel144of a hollow member142such that the above viewing purpose can be achieved.