Luggage

A folding wheelchair comprising a luggage compartment, a collapsible frame and wheels, the wheels being mounted to a chassis of the collapsible frame for supporting the folding wheelchair in use, the collapsible frame having a first support pivotally mounted to the chassis at a first end of the first support, the first support and chassis being configured to rotate relative to one another between a stowed position, in which the chassis and the first support are adjacent, and an erect position in which the first support extends away from the chassis to support a seat and handles for pushing the folding wheelchair.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a US National Application of International Patent Application No. PCT/GB2020/052254, filed Sep. 17, 2020, which claims priority to GB Patent Application No. 1913381.8, filed Sep. 17, 2019, all of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

In this specification there is described luggage particularly but not exclusively for use when travelling on an aeroplane. The present invention also relates to luggage configurable as a wheelchair.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Carry-on hand luggage restrictions imposed by airlines limit the number and size of bags that can be taken on board a flight. This provides challenges for all passengers, but particularly disabled passengers who additionally have assistive devices or mobility equipment to contend with, such as a wheelchair.

When travelling by aeroplane it is common for a wheelchair user to check their wheelchair into the hold due to a number of factors including the size of the wheelchair or particular electrical components integral to the wheelchair. In this scenario it is essential that there is a disability or mobility assistance service to help a passenger to the aeroplane once their wheelchair has been checked in. This service can also assist the passenger to disembark from the aeroplane.

Disability and mobility assistance for a passenger travelling by aeroplane is commonly provided by the arrival and departure airports as opposed to the airline that the passenger is travelling with. This can mean that there is a disparity in the quality and speed of assistance. This disparity depends on the particular airport a passenger is travelling through and the demand at that airport for mobility assistance at any one time.

Both wheelchairs and luggage can be bulky and take up a significant amount of room when travelling by any method, for example when travelling by car. Space in the boot can be valuable and having to transport both a wheelchair and luggage can mean there is often less room for further items which may be desired for the journey.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to overcome or alleviate the problems referred to above by providing luggage configurable as a wheelchair, particularly a luggage having dimensions that fall within the mandated allowances of airlines for carry-on hand luggage.

According to the present invention there is provided luggage comprising a rigid shell defining an upper surface to support a person in a seated position thereon, and side surfaces extending from said upper surface, wherein the luggage further comprises a mechanism attached to and surrounding the rigid shell that unfolds so that the rigid shell and the mechanism together form a wheelchair, wherein the mechanism comprises:a pair of parallel rails fixed to each other in spaced relation, each rail having a front and a rear wheel attached at opposite ends thereof,a pair of lower elongate supports, each lower elongate support having an end mounted to a corresponding rail, each lower elongate support being attached to a corresponding side surface of the rigid shell such that the shell is received between said lower elongate supports,wherein each lower elongate support pivots together with the shell between a stowed position in which each elongate support extends in a direction along the rail to which it is mounted with the shell being received between said parallel rails and with the front and rear wheels depending from each rail positioned alongside a corresponding side surface of said shell, and a deployed position, in which each elongate support extends upwardly from said rail such that the wheels now extend beneath the shell and are positionable in contact with the ground with said upper surface of the shell facing upward to enable a person to sit on said upper surface and be supported by said shell whilst being moved along the ground on said wheels.

The luggage may further comprise a pair of upper elongate supports, an upper elongate support being pivotally mounted to an upper end of a corresponding lower elongate support, and a backrest extending between each upper elongate support, the upper and lower elongate supports being foldable against each other such that the backrest lies against the shell in a stowed position, the upper elongate supports being lockable in an erected position so that a person sitting on the upper support surface can lean on the backrest.

The luggage may further comprise a seat member foldable from a stowed position into a deployed position in which it extends over the upper surface of the shell.

The upper elongate support may be provided with handles for pushing the folding wheelchair.

The shell may be provided with a catch configured to cooperate with a bracket of each rail to secure the shell and pair of lower elongate supports in the deployed position.

Side surfaces of the shell may be separated by front and rear major surfaces, the backrest lying against the rear major surface in the stowed position, and wherein an access flap is provided in a front major surface so that a luggage storing interior of the shell can be accessed irrespective of whether the backrest is in the deployed position or the stowed position.

With the pair of lower elongate supports and the backrest in the stowed positions, the overall dimensions of the luggage may be such to not exceed 60 cm by 50 cm by 30 cm.

Each parallel rail may be telescopically extendable to increase the space between front and rear wheels for improved stability.

The luggage may further comprise a footplate configured to sit flat against the upper surface of the shell when the pair of lower elongate supports is in the stowed position.

Each parallel rail may be provided with a hinge that divides each parallel rail into first and second members, the first and second members being foldable relative to each other about the hinge between deployed and stowed positions, wherein the front wheels are affixed to ends of the first members and the rear wheels are affixed to ends of the second members, and wherein, when the first and second members are in the deployed position, the first and second members extend directly away from each other either side the hinge to position the front and rear wheels for contact with the ground, and wherein, when the first and second members are in the stowed position, each first member extends in a direction along the second member to which it is hinged so that the front and rear wheels are positioned alongside a corresponding side surface of the rigid shell.

A footplate may extend between ends of the first members of the parallel rails so that the footplate is deployed together with the front wheels when the first and second members are in the deployed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG.2shows luggage1according to the present invention that is configurable as a wheelchair. The luggage1comprises a rigid shell5and a mechanism2,3,4that surrounds the rigid shell. The mechanism unfolds so that an upper surface15eof the rigid shell5is positioned to support a person in a seated position thereon, as shown inFIG.1.

The mechanism comprises a pair of parallel rails2fixed to each other in spaced relation and a pair of lower elongate supports3. Each parallel rail2has a front9aand a rear wheel9battached at opposite ends thereof. A lower elongate support3is pivotably mounted to a rear end of a corresponding rail2. The lower elongate supports3pivot between stowed and deployed positions. The lower elongate supports3are attached to side surfaces15cof the rigid shell5so that the rigid shell5is received between the lower elongate supports3. Therefore, the lower elongate supports3may pivot together with the shell5between the stowed and deployed positions. In the stowed position each lower elongate support3extends in a direction along the rail2to which it is mounted so that the shell5is received between the parallel rails2and the front and rear wheels9a,9bare positioned adjacent corresponding side surfaces15cof the shell5. In the deployed position, each lower elongate support3extends upwardly from the rail2to which it is mounted such that the wheels9a,9bextend beneath the shell5and are positionable in contact with the ground. In the deployed position the upper surface15eof the shell5faces upward to enable a person to sit on said upper surface15eand be supported by said shell5whilst being moved along the ground on said wheels9a,9b.

The mechanism further comprises a pair of upper elongate supports4. An upper elongate support4is pivotally mounted to an upper end of a corresponding lower elongate support3and is foldable between a stowed position and an erected position. A backrest7extends between each upper elongate support4. The upper and lower elongate supports4,3are foldable against each other such that the backrest lies against the shell5in the stowed position. The upper elongate supports4are lockable in the erected position so that a person sitting on the upper support surface15ecan lean on the backrest7.

A seat member6co-pivots with the upper elongate supports between a stowed position and a deployed position. In the deployed position, the seat member6rests on, and is supported, by the upper surface15eof the shell5. The seat member6provides a padded surface for a person seated thereon.

Handles8are provided at an upper end of each upper elongate support4for maneuvering the luggage1when the luggage1is configured as a wheelchair.

With the lower and upper elongate supports3,4in the stowed position, the luggage1is provided in the stowed state, as shown inFIG.2. It is an object of the invention to provide luggage1configurable as a wheelchair1that, in the stowed state, has dimensions that do not exceed 60 cm by 50 cm by 30 cm. More preferably these dimensions do not exceed 56 cm by 45 cm by 25 cm. Yet more preferably, these dimensions do not exceed 55 cm by 35 cm by 20 CM. Therefore, in the stowed state, the luggage1is within the cabin luggage allowance of most airlines.

In the stowed position the lower elongate supports3are folded adjacent corresponding rails2and the upper elongate supports4are folded adjacent corresponding lower elongate supports3so that the lower elongates supports3lie between corresponding rails2and corresponding upper elongate supports4.

Advantageously the rails2outline a space ii for receiving the shell5in the stowed position. Therefore, the shell5is disposed between the rails2in the stowed position for space efficiency.

The rails2are fixed to each other by perpendicularly extending axle members12b,12C which are fixed to the rails at front and rear ends of the rails2to define a four sided frame. The wheels9a,9bare fixed at each corner of the frame for supporting the luggage1in the wheelchair configuration. The front wheels9aare provided on casters10to allow rotation of each of the front wheels9aabout a steering axis so that the luggage1in the wheelchair configuration can be steered. The rear wheels9bare provided in a fixed orientation in which they are aligned to a forward direction of the luggage1in the wheelchair configuration. However, it will be appreciated that the rear wheels9bmay also be provided on casters if preferred.

The rails2are configured to telescopically extend from a stowed position to an extended position to increase the distance between the front and rear wheels9a,9b. This improves stability of the luggage1in the wheelchair1configuration. A locking mechanism17is provided to lock the rails2in one of the extended and stowed positions. The locking mechanism17may comprise a spring loaded catch or similar. The skilled person will appreciate that any appropriate locking mechanism can be used.

A foot plate20is provided on the front axle member12band configured to pivot around the front axle member12bbetween a stowed position and a deployed position.

The lower pair of elongate supports3are connected by a connecting member13bto define a U shaped, three sided frame. Hinges16are provided to attach each lower elongate support3to a rail2. Each hinge16comprises a bracket16fixed to a rear end of the rails2. Lower elongate supports3are pivotally mounted to the brackets16for rotation between the deployed position, in which the pair of lower elongate supports3extend perpendicular to the rails2, and the stowed position in which the lower elongate supports3and rails2are adjacent.

The rigid shell5is a parallelepiped comprising first and second major surfaces15a,15bthat separate side surfaces15c. The lower elongate supports3extend either side the rigid shell5adjacent side surfaces15c. The cross member13bextends adjacent upper surface15e. In this way, the major surfaces15a,15bof the rigid shell5are unobstructed by the lower elongate supports3or the cross member13bso that a luggage storing interior of the rigid shell can be accessed through major surface15b.

The lower elongate supports3are attached to the rigid shell5by tie bars18which extend between the lower elongate supports3and respective side panels15c.

When the rigid shell5is in the stowed position, the rigid shell5is received between the rails2so that the rails2are adjacent the minor surfaces15c, as shown inFIG.2. Axle members12bextend adjacent the upper and lower surfaces15e,15dof the rigid shell5. Therefore the major surface15bremains unobstructed so that the luggage storing interior of5of the shell5is accessible irrespective of whether the shell5is in the deployed or stowed position.

The relative positions of the shell5will now be defined with reference to a reference plane R. Said reference plane R is defined by the rails2and axle members12b,12C. In other words, each of the rails2and axle members12b,12C lie within the reference plane R. It will be appreciated that the reference plane R is parallel to the ground when the luggage in the wheelchair configuration is stood on all four wheels9a,9b.

When the lower elongate members3are in the stowed position, the major surfaces15a,15bof the shell5are parallel to the reference plane R; and when the lower elongate members3are in the deployed position the major panels15a,15bof the shell5are perpendicular to the reference plane R.

The seat member6is a cushioned panel hingedly attached along a rear edge to the cross member13bfor rotation between the stowed and deployed positions. In the stowed position, the seat member6lies flat against the backrest7, as shown inFIG.2.

With the lower elongate supports3in the deployed position, the shell5is disposed to3osupport the seat member6, as shown inFIG.1. In particular, the seat member6can be rotated about the cross member13baway from its stowed position against the backrest7and onto an upper surface15eof the rigid shell5. It will therefore be appreciated that the rigid shell5must be of a sturdy construction so that a person seated thereon is reliably supported. With the seat member6on the upper surface15eof the rigid shell5, the seat member6is disposed parallel to the reference plane R.

A locking mechanism is provided to lock the lower elongate supports3in the deployed position. The locking mechanism comprises a bracket19on each of the rails2disposed to cooperate with a latch19aextending from each of the side surfaces15cof the rigid shell5. Therefore, when the lower elongate supports3are moved into the deployed position, the latch19aengages the brackets19to lock the lower elongate supports3and rigid shell5in the deployed position. In the illustrated embodiment, the latch19acomprises bar19amounted to the lower surface15dof the shell5. Ends of the bar19aare provided with a sprung bolt (not shown) for engaging the brackets19to lock the lower elongate supports3in the deployed position. A release handle19bis housed by the bar19aand, in use, is configured to retract the bolts, decoupling the bolts from respective brackets19. This unlocks the lower elongate supports3for movement between the deployed and stowed positions.

The backrest7folds together with the upper elongate supports4between the stowed and erected positions. With the upper and lower elongate supports3,4in the erected position, the backrest7is perpendicular to the reference plane R.

Each upper elongate support4is mounted to the upper end of a respective lower elongate support3by a bracket21. The bracket21hingedly attaches the upper elongate supports so that they fold relative to the lower elongate supports between the stowed and erected positions. The bracket21may include a locking mechanism (not shown) to lock the upper elongate supports4in either of the stowed or erected positions.

The handles8are hingedly connected by brackets22to the upper ends of respective upper elongate supports4to allow rotation relative to the upper elongate supports4between stowed and deployed positions. Each bracket22may be provided with a locking mechanism (not shown) to lock the handles8in one of the stowed and deployed positions.

With the luggage1in the stowed state as shown inFIG.2, the handles8are positioned alongside a corresponding side surface15cof the shell5, outwardly of wheels9b, so that each wheel9blies between a handle8and a corresponding side surface15c. The handles8remain within the desired overall dimensions of the luggage1in the stowed state.

Each of the upper elongate supports4are provided with armrests23. Each armrest23extends from an upper elongate support4, either side of the back restraint7.

The armrests23are movable between stowed and deployed positions. To achieve this, the armrests23are rod shaped and slide through a tube shaped bracket24mounted to each upper elongate support4. The armrests23may be provided with a spring loaded catch (not shown) to secure the armrests23in one of the stowed and deployed positions. For example a ball and socket type catch can be used, wherein the ball is resiliently mounted in each armrest for cooperation with a respective socket in an internal wall the tube shaped brackets24. The skilled person will appreciate however that other suitable catches can be used.

So that the armrests23remain within the desired overall dimensions of the luggage1in the stowed state, the armrests23are disposed adjacent side panels15cof the luggage compartment in their stowed position, as shown inFIG.2.

The process of converting the luggage from the stowed configuration to the wheelchair configuration will now be explained with reference toFIGS.3ato3g.

Initially, as illustrated byFIG.3a, the front9aand rear9bwheels are further separated by telescopic extension of the rails2. The foot plate20can then be rotated about the front axle member12binto its deployed position, as shown inFIG.3b. Following this, the handles8are moved into the deployed position as shown inFIG.3c.

The lower elongate supports3are then moved together with the shell5into the deployed position so that wheels9a,9bextend beneath the shell5and are positionable in contact with the ground, as shown inFIG.3d.

The seat member6is folded about the cross member13bto lie on the upper surface15eof the rigid shell5, as shown inFIG.3e.

The upper elongate supports4are then moved into the erected position to establish the backrest7, as shown inFIG.3f.

Finally, the armrests23are pushed out over the seat member6to establish the wheelchair configuration, as shown inFIG.3g.

Another embodiment of the invention—in which like features retain the same reference numbers—is shown inFIGS.4to6g. The principle differences between the embodiment ofFIGS.4to6gand the above described embodiment ofFIGS.1to3gare set out below. It will be appreciated that, aside from these differences, both embodiments share like features which do not need to be described again in detail.

With reference toFIGS.4to5, each parallel rail2is divided into first and second members2a,2bby a hinge25. The first and second members2a,2bare foldable relative to each other about the hinge25between deployed and stowed positions. The front wheels9aare affixed to ends of the first members2aand the rear wheels9bare affixed to ends of the second members2b, so that, when the first and second members2a,2bare in the deployed position (as shown inFIG.5), the first and second members2a,2bextend directly away from each other either side the hinge25to position the front and rear wheels9a,9bfor contact with the ground. When the first and second members2a,2bare in the stowed position (as shown inFIG.4), each first member extends2ain a direction along the second member2bto which it is hinged so that the front and rear wheels9a,9bare positioned alongside a corresponding side surface15cof the rigid shell5.

The hinge25has an axis of rotation that is offset from a longitudinal axis of the first and second members2a,2bso that the first and second members2a, ab are spaced apart in the stowed position, leaving a space for the front wheels9a,9bto nest between the first and second members2a,2b. The offset axis of the hinge25also means that ends of the first and second members2a,2battached to the hinge25are configured to abut when in the deployed position, preventing over rotation of the first and second members2a,2band providing a stable base. The hinge25may also comprise a releasable locking mechanism to allow the first and members2a,2bto lock into the deployed position for additional safety.

The footplate20extends between the first members2aso that the footplate20is deployed together with the front wheels9awhen the first and second members2a,2bare in the deployed position.

The upper elongate supports4are further split into upper and lower members4a,4bby a hinge26that enables the upper elongate supports4to fold in two, between erected and stowed positions. In particular, in the erected position, the upper and lower members4a,4bextend directly away from each other either side the hinge26and lock in place, so that each upper elongate support4extends as a single continuous member. The back rest7extends between the upper members4aof the upper elongate supports4, while the handles8are provided directly on the ends of the upper members4aso that the handles8and the back rest7are deployed simultaneously with the upper member4a. The hinges26conveniently provide fixing points for the armrests23, which rotate about the same axis as the upper members4ainto a deployed position in which they extend perpendicularly from the upper elongate support4. To stow the upper elongate supports4and the arm rests23in the stowed position, each upper member4aand arm rest23folds together against the lower member4bso that upper member4aand the arm rest23extend in a direction along the lower member4b. The lower member4bthen folds together with the upper member4aand the arm rest23against the lower elongate support3so that the lower member4bextends in a direction along the lower elongate support3. Therefore, each of upper and lower members4a,4b, the arm rests23and the lower elongate supports3pack down adjacent to each other, with the upper members4aand the arm rests23being sandwiched between the lower members4band the lower elongate supports3.

The process of converting the luggage of the present embodiment from the stowed configuration (as shown inFIG.6a) to the wheelchair configuration (as shown inFIG.6b) will now be explained with reference toFIGS.6ato6g.

Initially, as illustrated byFIG.6b, the front and rear wheels9a,9bare separated by unfolding the first and second members2a,2bof the parallel rails2into the deployed position.

The lower elongate supports3are then moved together with the shell5into their deployed position so that wheels9a,9bextend beneath the shell5and are positionable in contact with the ground, as shown inFIG.6c.

The lower members4bof the upper elongate supports4are then unfolded to extend directly away from the lower elongate supports3and are locked in place, as shown inFIG.6d. The seat6is then rotated around cross member13bonto the upper surface15eof the rigid shell5, as shown inFIG.6e.

The upper members4aof the upper elongate supports4are then moved into the erected position to establish the backrest7and position the handles8, as shown inFIG.6f.

Finally, the armrests23are rotated into position to establish the wheelchair configuration, as shown inFIG.6g.

It will be appreciated that various changes and modifications can be made to the embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of the appended claims.