Wheeled baggage hinge system

A wheeled baggage hinge system (10) adapted for use on a luggage carrier (12). The luggage carrier (12) is adapted for wheeled rotation on a base surface (16) and is further structurally defined to allow opening of lid element (18) and bottom element (20) on a base surface (16) in a manner such that lid sidewall (30) and bottom sidewall (34) lie in interfacing contact with the horizontal base surface (16) when luggage carrier (12) is opened. The wheeled baggage hinge system (10) includes a hinge mechanism (44) composed of a pair of bottom planar elements (52) and (54) rotatively coupled to a central planar element (56) which is pivotally mounted to each of bottom planar elements (52) and (54). The central planar element (56) includes an extended transverse length to allow non-interference of wheel elements (38) and (40) when lid element (18) and bottom element (20) are opened for interfacing contact with a base surface (16).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention pertains to baggage carrier systems. This invention further 
relates to luggage carrier systems which are adapted for being wheeled on 
a base surface. Still further, this invention pertains to a wheeled 
luggage carrier system to allow non-interference of wheel elements when 
the luggage carrier is opened to allow a lid element and a bottom element 
to interface with a horizontal base surface. Still further, this invention 
relates to a wheeled baggage hinge system which includes a hinge mechanism 
composed of a central planar member rotatively coupled on opposing ends to 
a pair of bottom wall planar elements which are respectively coupled to 
the lid element and bottom element of the luggage carrier. 
2. Prior Art 
Luggage carriers adapted for being wheeled on a base surface are known in 
the art. The best prior art known to Applicant includes U.S. Pat. Nos. 
4,029,327; 3,842,953; 3,889,966; 2,919,138; 1,197,190; 3,735,996; 
2,596,578; 3,655,215; 4,122,924; and, 1,895,677. In general, these prior 
art systems may provide for wheeled luggage carriers, however, it does not 
appear that any of the known prior art systems provide for a hinge-type 
mechanism of the type herein defined which allows for the opening of the 
halves of the luggage carrier into a flat condition on a base surface 
without interference of the wheel elements. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A wheeled baggage hinge system for coupling a luggage bag lid element and a 
bottom element in rotative displacement. The lid and bottom elements each 
have respective sidewall and bottom walls. There is included at least a 
pair of wheel elements which are secured respectively to a lower surface 
of the bottom walls of the lid and bottom elements. The wheel elements are 
substantially aligned each with respect to the other in a transverse 
direction. A luggage hinge mechanism is included which is secured to the 
bottom walls of the luggage lid and bottom elements for rotative 
displacement therebetween. The lid element and the bottom element are 
transversely displaced, each from the other by a distance sufficient to 
provide non-interference of the wheel elements when the lid and bottom 
sidewall elements are positionally located in contact interface with a 
substantially horizontal base surface. The wheel elements are secured to 
the luggage hinge mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown wheeled baggage luggage hinge 
system 10 adapted for use on luggage carrier 12. Luggage carrier 12 
includes handle 14 to be grasped by the user for lifting carrier 12 or 
guiding such in rolling contact on base surface 16, as is clearly shown in 
FIG. 3. As is inherent to the inventive concept, as is herein described, 
luggage carrier 12 is of the type adapted to be wheeled or otherwise 
guided on base surface 16 during use. 
Luggage carrier 12 includes luggage bag lid element 18 and luggage bag 
bottom element 20 adapted to interface along interface line 22 for 
providing enclosures 24 wherein material may be stored during transport. 
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of luggage carrier 12 taken when bag lid 
element 18 and bag bottom element 20 are in closed or interfacing 
relation, as shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken of 
bag lid element and bag bottom element 18 and 20 in an open relation on 
base surface 16, showing cavities 26 and 28 associated with elements 18 
and 20, respectively, and providing for the basic purposes and objectives 
of wheeled baggage hinge system 10, as is herein described. 
Luggage bag lid element 18 of luggage carrier 12 includes lid sidewall 30 
and lid bottom wall 32, as shown in FIG. 2. Luggage bag bottom element 20 
is composed of bottom sidewall 34 and bottom wall 36, as is shown in FIGS. 
2 and 3 in the closed and open configurations, respectively. 
Wheeled baggage hinge system 10 includes at least a pair of wheel elements 
38 and 40 secured respectively to bottom wall 36 and lid bottom wall 32, 
as is shown in the Figures. Wheel elements 38 and 40 are aligned each with 
respect to the other in transverse direction 42. 
Baggage hinge system 10 further includes luggage hinge mechanism 44 which 
is secured to bottom walls 36 and 32 for rotative displacement 
therebetween. Lid element 18 and bottom element 20, as is shown in FIG. 3, 
are transversely displaced each from the other by a distance sufficient to 
provide non-interference of wheel elements 38 and 40 when lid element and 
bottom element 18 and 20 are positionally located in contact interface 
with substantially horizontal base surface 16. Referring to FIG. 4, there 
is seen a prior art wheeled baggage hing system 10' which shows the 
structural disadvantages when lid elements 18' and 20' are positionally 
located on base surface 16. Wheel elements 38' and 40' are transversely 
aligned and mounted to prior art planar members 48 and 50. Planar members 
48 and 50 are pivotally coupled to pivotal hinge 46 at the center line or 
interface line between lid element 18' and bottom element 20'. As can be 
seen, when lid elements 18' and bottom element 20' are opened for location 
on base surface 16, wheel elements 38' and 40' interface and contact each 
other prior to luggage bag lid element 18' being opened a sufficient 
amount such that lid sidewall 30' would interface base surface 16. This 
has the effect of causing undue stress considerations on the structural 
elements of hinge system 10', as well as providing an inconvenience for 
the user when unpacking or packing elements 18' and 20'. It is 
specifically this contact interference between wheel elements 38' and 40' 
which evolved into the invention of wheeled baggage hinge system 10, as 
provided in FIGS. 1--3. 
Hinge mechanism 44 includes a pair of bottom wall planar elements 52 and 
54, which are secured respectively to bottom walls 32 and 36 of luggage 
bag bottom elements 18 and 20. Bottom wall planar elements 52 and 54 are 
generally rectangular in contour and formed of either plastic, metal or 
some like material not important to the inventive concept as is herein 
described, with the exception that such are sufficient in structural 
strength to accept structural loads placed thereon in the normal course of 
the use of luggage carrier 12. Bottom wall planar elements 52 and 54 are 
secured to lid bottom walls 32 and bottom wall 36 through bolts, screws, 
or like elements 58 as is shown in FIGS. 1--3. 
Hinge mechanism 44 further includes central planar element 56 extending in 
transverse direction 42 between planar elements 52 and 54. Central planar 
element 56 is pivotally coupled to bottom wall planar elements 52 and 54 
on opposing ends thereof. As can be seen, lid element 18 and bottom 
element 20 are pivoted each with respect to the other about an axis line 
substantially normal transverse direction 42. Bottom wall planar elements 
52 and 54 include sleeve elements 60 having a through opening for insert 
of pivot pin 62. Central planar element 56 includes sleeve element 64 
having a through opening and is rotatively cooperative with sleeve 
elements 60 formed on bottom wall planar elements 52 and 54. In this 
manner, lid and bottom elements 18 and 20 of luggage carrier 12 may be 
rotatively displaced to an open condition as provided in FIG. 3. 
As can be seen in FIG. 3, wheel elements 38 and 40 are secured to planar 
elements 52 and 54 in rotative displacement. Each of wheel elements 38 and 
40 extend from bottom wall planar elements 52 and 54 by a predetermined 
transverse distance, as is shown in FIG. 3. In order to provide 
non-interference between wheel elements 38 and 40 when elements 18 and 20 
are positionally located in an open condition on base surface 16, central 
planar element 56 extends in transverse direction 42 by an amount which is 
substantially equal to or greater than the sum of the predetermined 
distance extensions of wheel elements 38 and 40 from bottom wall planar 
elements 52 and 54. In this manner, opposing elements 18 and 20 may be 
fully opened and sidewalls 34 and 30 may contact horizontal base surface 
16 for insert or removal of material contained within cavities 26 and 28. 
Wheel elements 38 and 40 may be mounted in rotative displacement to a pair 
of flange elements 66, as is shown. Flange elements 66 are mounted on 
opposing sides of wheel elements 38 and 40 and in themselves are secured 
to bottom wall planar elements 52 and 54 through welding, or some like 
technique. 
Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, there is shown an embodiment of the overall 
wheeled baggage hinge system 10 where bottom wall 36" and lid bottom wall 
32" are not of equal length. In this particular situation, dependent upon 
a predetermined luggage carrier 12 being utilized, it is seen that bottom 
wall planar element 54" is shorter in overall extension than bottom planar 
wall element 52". In this embodiment, when opposing elements 18" and 20" 
are placed in an open condition on base surface 16, central planar element 
56" is formed into an obtuse angle between central planar element 56" and 
at least one of bottom wall planar elements 52" or 54". The only 
consideration of importance to the inventive concept in this embodiment is 
that the horizontal transverse displacement between walls 32" and 36" be 
either equal to or greater than the extended length of wheel elements 38 
and 40 from planar elements 52" and 54". This transverse distance allows 
for non-interference between wheel elements 38 and 40, as has hereinbefore 
been described. 
Although this invention has been described in connection with specific 
forms and embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that various 
modifications other than those discussed above may be resorted to without 
departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For example, 
equivalent elements may be substituted for those specifically shown and 
described, certain features may be used independently of other features, 
and in certain cases, particular locations of elements may be reversed or 
interposed, all without departing from the spirit or the scope of the 
invention as defined in the appended claims.