Patent GB-1064460-A (GB)
Title: Suitcase attachment
IPC: A45C13/38
Filed: 1964-12-17
Abstract: 1,064,460. Bags. A. J. BROWNING. Dec. 17, 1964 [March 27, 1964], No. 51440/64. Heading A4G. [Also in Divisions B7, B8 and E2] A wheel and handle attachment for a suitcase comprises a handle assembly (10), Fig. 2 (not shown), including a handle rod (11) which may be adjustably extended from a position of storage to a position of use and a wheeled carriage means comprising a base member (101), Figs. 26, 27 (not shown), or two base members (121), Fig. 28 (not shown), having integral struts (123) for supporting a pair of wheels (130), the or each base member also having an end flap (102 or 122) bent at right angles to extend over the end wall of the suitcase. In the storage position the handle (11) is located against a side of the suitcase by an end stop bracket (15) and brackets (12) secured to the suitcase and is locked in position by a pin (13) passing through aligned holes (11b, 12a) in the rod and one bracket. Alignment of the holes (11a) in the rod (11) and (12a) in the other bracket (12) enables the pin (13) to be reinserted to lock the handle in a usable position. By varying the position of the lower bracket (12) and/or by a series of holes in the rod (11), the length of extension of the rod may be adjusted to suit persons of different height. In a modification, Figs. 5-11 (not shown), one end of the handle rod (21) lies within an open channel member (25) attached to the bottom side of the suitcase. The handle rod (21) is pivotally mounted at one end by a bolt (22) passing through holes (23, 24) in the rod and channel member. A tension spring (27) is fixed at one end to the bolt (22) and at the other end to a U-shaped clip (26) held inside the rod by extensions (26a) passing through slots (28) cut in the rod. In the storage position the handle rod (21) lies flat against the suitcase with the extensions (26a) lying in slots (29) cut in sloping portions (30) of the channel member (25), but by releasing the extensions (26a) from the slots (29) and rotating the handle (21) through 180 degrees the handle (21) is locked in a usable position extending from the suitcase. In a second modification, Figs. 12-18 (not shown), a handle rod (41) slides within an enclosed channel adapter member (48) attached to the suitcase by brackets (55) and by bolts. A guide block (45) is attached to the end of the rod (41) which has holes (42), (43) drilled through it, in the storage position a hole (51) in the channel adapter member (48) is aligned with the hole (42) in the rod (41) and a pin (50) passing through the holes locks the handle rod (41) in position, the cross-bar (14) resting in slots (52) in the channel adapter member (48). To withdraw the handle (41) to the usable position, the pin (50) is removed and reinserted when the holes (43, 51) are aligned. Finer adjustment of the length of extension of the handle (41) may be achieved by having a series of holes (43) in the guide (45) and teeth may be formed on channel adapter (48) to mesh with the base member (101) of a wheeled carriage. In a third modification, Figs 19, 20 (not shown), a guide block (65) attached to a handle rod (61) has a transverse groove (66) cut in it. Notches (63, 69) are formed on the outer and inner walls respectively of the channel adapter (62). A V-shaped wire spring fastener (70) surrounding the channel adapter is positioned in the notches (63, 69) and in a groove (64) cut in the adapter (62) and extending into the channel opening. The handle rod (61) is withdrawn and locked in the usable position by the spring (70) when the groove (66) is aligned with the transverse groove (64). Extensions (67) on the spring (70) enable it to be lifted to allow the handle rod (61) to be returned to its storage position. A series of grooves (66) may be formed in the block (65) to provide a finer length adjustment for the handle rod (61). In a fourth modification, Figs 21-27 (not shown), a handle rod (82), with holes (86) at one end through which the arms (84, 85) of a U-shaped spring (83) are inserted, telescopes inside a tube (81) which is fixed to the suitcase at one end by a bracket (88) and a strap-like member (89). At the other end of the tube (81), slotted openings (94) are formed which mesh with teeth (93) on the upper surface of a block (90). Teeth (95) in the lower surface of the block (90) mesh with ratchet-like slotted openings (96) in a base member (101) on which are mounted wheels (130) supported by struts (123). A screw passing through holes (98) in the tube (81, 97) in the block (90) and a groove (99) in the base member (101) enables the tube (81) to be locked to the base member (101) in any desired position. To lock the handle rod (82) in a usable position, it is withdrawn by the cross-bar (14) until the arms (84, 85) on the spring (83) are aligned with the holes (87) drilled in the tube (81). The handle rod (82) may be released to a storage position by pressing the arms (84, 85) inwards and sliding the rod (82) back inside the tube (81). Handle assembly (80) may be modified by having a third telescoping rod.