Patent Publication Number: US-2004056442-A1

Title: Baggage scooter

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
     [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/412,555, filed Sep. 23, 2002. 
    
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0003] The present invention relates to baggage carriers and, more specifically, to a combination luggage scooter comprising a platform with a wheel or wheels and a retractable handle for holding a carrying case or luggage item, and a selectively deployable platform with a wheel or wheels, upon which items can be carried or upon which a person can ride in a standing or other position. In short, it is a carry-on tote bag that can be ridden.  
       [0004] 2. Description of Related Art  
       [0005] Numerous inventions have been devised for the purpose of carrying luggage. Some of the more significant advances in the art have centered around the development of a carrying case, luggage item, or platform that eases the effort required to move luggage from one place to another.  
       [0006] The related art describes devices for carrying items either on a base or with in a carrying case or luggage item. However, these devices do not include both a carrying case or luggage item and a means for carrying items not contained in the luggage article, or for carrying a person.  
       [0007] For example, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2002/0023813, issued published in February 2002, describes a luggage article including first rollers, a retractable handle, and selectively deployable second rollers. The second set of rollers supports some of the weight of the luggage article. This device does not provide a platform for carrying items not contained in the luggage article or for carrying a person.  
       [0008] U.S. Patent Publication No. 2002/0027052, published in March 2002, describes a carrying case or luggage item that has a telescoping handle and two wheels as a means to transport the device. The device does not have a platform for carrying items not contained in the luggage article or for carrying a person.  
       [0009] U.S. Patent Publication No. 2001/0015535, published in August 2001, shows a household cart that includes a base for carrying household items. The household cart includes four caster assemblies and a unshaped handle. While this devise can be dismantled and stored in a small space, it does not include a carrying case or luggage item.  
       [0010] U.S. Pat. No. 6,325,189, issued to King et al., describes a two wheeled luggage case that has a luggage area, a telescoping handle, and two wheels as a means to transport the device. The device does not have a platform for carrying items not contained in the luggage article or for carrying a person.  
       [0011] U.S. Pat. No. 6,357,566, issued to Pond, shows a carry-on case that has a base, a connected lid, and a telescoping handle. The device does not have a platform for carrying items not contained in the luggage article or for carrying a person.  
       [0012] U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,146, issued Oct. 13, 1998 to Van Ligten, describes a hand cart which can be used to transport persons and/or luggage. When used to transport a person, the device resembles a scooter with a forwardly extending platform. In different embodiments, either all or a portion of the stepboard may be folded upward when transporting baggage. No storage compartment is shown fixed to the hand cart.  
       [0013] None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014] The present invention provides a baggage scooter for holding a carrying case or luggage item, as well as additional luggage, items, or a person. The invention further provides a baggage item that is integrally secured to a scooter assembly to provide a baggage item that may itself be ridden. The invention is made of lightweight rigid material such as steel, aluminum, plastic, composite material or combinations thereof. The baggage scooter may include a driving means for moving the baggage scooter. It is a carry-on tote bag that can be ridden.  
       [0015] The baggage scooter has a first plate with one or two wheels and a retractable handle for holding a carrying case or luggage item, and a selectively deployable second plate with one or two wheels, upon which additional luggage or other items can be carried or upon which a person can ride in a standing or other position.  
       [0016] In use, the baggage scooter may be used with or without a carrying case or luggage item attached. To use the invention, the baggage scooter can be: 1) carried with the handle retracted and the second plate locked in an upright stored position, 2) pulled or pushed by the handle with the handle in an extended position and the second plate locked in an upright stored position, or 3) pulled or pushed with the handle in an extended position and the second plate in an extended position for use.  
       [0017] Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a new baggage scooter upon which items can be carried or upon which a person can ride in a standing or other position.  
       [0018] It is another object of the invention to provide a baggage scooter that reduces the amount of effort required to move baggage, items, or a person from one place to another.  
       [0019] It is a further object of the invention to provided a baggage scooter for holding a carrying case, luggage item, book case, or back pack upon which a person can ride.  
       [0020] Still another further object of the invention is to provide a baggage scooter for holding a carrying case or luggage item upon which additional luggage, items, or a person can be transported.  
       [0021] Another object of the invention is to provide a baggage scooter that can be used by adults and children in a home, business, school, recreational, or other setting.  
       [0022] It is a further object of the invention to provided a baggage scooter that can be used to reduce back pain associated with carrying heavy luggage, back packs, or other items.  
       [0023] It is another object of the invention to provide a baggage scooter that has a selectively expandable second plate that can be expanded to increase the carrying capacity of the second plate.  
       [0024] Another object of the invention is to provide a baggage scooter that can have a power drive upon which a person could ride.  
       [0025] It is still another object of the invention to provide a baggage scooter that is integrally secured to a baggage item to provide a carry-on bag that may itself be ridden.  
       [0026] It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.  
       [0027] These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0028]FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view showing the invention in use.  
     [0029]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention.  
     [0030]FIG. 3 is a back view to a first embodiment of the invention in a closed position.  
     [0031]FIG. 4 is a sectional view drawn along lines A-A of FIG. 3, and shows the second plate and first connecting means.  
     [0032]FIG. 5 is a side view of the first embodiment of the locking means with the second plate in an extended position.  
     [0033]FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but showing the second plate in an upright closed position.  
     [0034]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a braking means attached to the first plate.  
     [0035]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a braking means attached to the second plate.  
     [0036]FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention in the riding position.  
     [0037]FIG. 10 is a rear perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention being moved into the carrying position.  
     [0038]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a locking device used in the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     [0039] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0040] The present invention provides a baggage scooter. One of the preferred embodiments of the invention is depicted in FIGS.  1 - 2 , and is generally referenced by numeral  20 .  
     [0041] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the baggage scooter  20  has a first plate  22  for holding a carrying case or luggage item, a second plate  40  upon which items can be carried or upon which a person can ride in a standing or other position, and a first connecting means (not shown) for adjoining the first plate  22  to the second plate  40 . The first plate  22  includes a handle  36  and a first rolling means in the form of wheels  38 . The second plate  40  includes a second rolling means in the form of wheels  54 , and a locking means  56  (see FIG. 3). With specific reference to FIG. 2, the invention is a carry-on tote bag  34 , which can be ridden as shown in FIG. 1. The baggage scooter  20  may be integrally formed with the tote bag  34  to provide a baggage item that may be ridden itself.  
     [0042] In its operative position, the second plate  40  will be rotated downward, and the handle  36  will be in an extended position.  
     [0043] The first plate  22  has an outer circumference  24 , a top  26 , and a bottom  28 . The outer circumference  24  of the first plate  22  includes a first edge  30  and second edge (not shown). The first wheels  38  project from the bottom  28  of the first plate  22 .  
     [0044] The handle  36  is joined to the top  26  of the first plate  22 . The handle  36  is moveable between a retracted position and an extended position. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the handle  36  is a T-type retractable handle.  
     [0045] The second plate  40  has an outer circumference  42 , a top  44 , and a bottom  46 . The outer circumference  42  of the second plate  40  includes a first edge  48  and second edge  50  (see FIG. 3). The second wheels  54  project from the bottom  46  of the second plate  40 . The first connecting means (not shown) rotatably adjoins the first plate  22  and the second plate  40 , such that the second edge (not shown) of the first plate  22  is positioned near the first edge  48  of the second plate  40 . As can be appreciated from the lower portion of FIG. 3, this connecting means can be a hinge construction.  
     [0046] As shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and  6 , an over center locking structure  56  positions the second plate  40  in an upright position for storage and an extended position during use. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the second plate  40  will be generally parallel to the handle  36  in the upright position, and generally parallel to the ground or other supporting surface during use.  
     [0047] In the present embodiment of the invention, the first connecting means has a connecting plate  58 , a second connecting means (not shown), and a third connecting means (not shown). The connecting plate  58  has an outer circumference  60 , a top  62 , and a bottom  64 . The outer circumference  60  of the connecting plate  58  includes a first edge (not shown) and a second edge (not shown). The second connecting means (not shown) rotatably adjoins the first plate  22  to the connecting plate  58 . The second connecting means (not shown) positions the second edge (not shown) of the first plate  22  adjacent to the first edge (not shown) of the connecting plate  58 . The third connecting means (not shown) rotatably adjoins the second plate  40  to the connecting plate  58 , such that the second plate  40  will be positioned to rotate in a plane generally parallel to the connecting plate  58 .  
     [0048] In the present embodiment of the invention, the third connecting means (not shown) has a flat bearing  72  rotatably connecting the second plate  40  to the connecting plate  58 , and two carrier bearings  70  projecting from the connecting plate  58  against the second plate  40 . The flat bearing  72  and the two carrier bearings  70  are sized and positioned such that the second plate  40  will be positioned to rotate in a plane generally parallel to the connecting plate  58 , as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.  
     [0049] In the present embodiment of the invention, the first rolling means  38  includes two roller blade wheels, and the second rolling means  54  includes two roller blade wheels.  
     [0050] In another embodiment of the invention, the first rolling means  38  includes two wheels, and the second rolling means  54  includes one wheel.  
     [0051] In another embodiment of the invention, the first rolling means  38  includes one wheel, and the second rolling means  54  includes one wheel.  
     [0052] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the baggage scooter  20  has a first plate  22  for holding a carrying case or luggage item, a second plate  40  upon which items can be carried or upon which a person can ride in a standing or other position, and a first connecting means (not shown) for adjoining the first plate  22  to the second plate  40 . The first plate  22  includes a handle  36  and a first rolling means  38 . The second plate  40  includes a locking means  56 .  
     [0053] In another embodiment of the invention, support members  78  (shown in FIG. 2 on top  44 ) may be strategically adjoined to portions of the top  26  and edge  24  of the first plate  22  to add strength.  
     [0054] In another embodiment of the invention, support members  78  may be strategically adjoined to portions of to the top  44  and edge  42  of the second plate  40  to add strength.  
     [0055] In another embodiment of the invention, support members  78  may be strategically adjoined to portions of the top  26  and edge  24  of the first plate  22  and to portions of the top  44  and edge  42  of the second plate  40  to add strength.  
     [0056] In another embodiment of the invention, the baggage scooter  20  includes a power drive that can be used to move the invention either forward or backward, or both directions. The power drive could be a belt driving means that is powered by a battery operated motor (not shown).  
     [0057] In another embodiment of the invention, the first plate  22  may include a retractable luggage platform for transporting additional items.  
     [0058] In another embodiment of the invention, the baggage scooter  20  includes a brake  80 . The brake  80  may be connected to either the one of the first wheels  38 , one of the second wheels  54 , or both  38 ,  54 . The brakes may be either scrub type or hand cable operated brakes, or a combination thereof. See FIGS. 7 and 8.  
     [0059] In alternative embodiment of the invention, the baggage scooter  29  has a selectively expandable second plate  40  that can be expanded to increase the carrying capacity of the second plate  40 .  
     [0060]FIGS. 9 and 10 depict a preferred embodiment of the baggage scooter  200 . FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the baggage scooter  200  in the riding position. The baggage scooter  200  has a first plate  222  for holding a carrying case or luggage item, a second plate  240  upon which items can be carried or upon which a person can ride in a standing or other position and a frame structure  250 , which the first plate  222  and the second plate  240  are secured to. The frame  250  has a pair of vertically disposed side bars  251 , a vertically disposed center bar  253  and a horizontally disposed top cross bar  252 . The side bars  251  each have a bottom portion  256  that is secured to a pair of wheels  238  that define a first rolling mechanism. The two wheels  238  are secured to either end of an axle  255  that is horizontally disposed between the two side bars  251 .  
     [0061] The first plate  222  has a top surface  226  for receiving a carrying case or luggage item. The first plate  222  is secured to the bottom portion  256  of each of the side bars  251 . The luggage item is placed onto the top surface  226  of the first plate  222  and is held in place by a luggage retainer  259  disposed along the top cross bar  252  (shown in FIG. 10).  
     [0062] The second plate  240  has a flat top surface  244  for receiving a rider or an additional piece of luggage. The second plate  240  is pivotally secured to the axle  255  by a hinge member. The hinge member is preferably a C clamp  258  that is secured to the axle by a fastener pin.  
     [0063] The present preferred embodiment of the baggage scooter  200  further comprises a locking member that secures the baggage scooter  200  in its riding position shown in FIG. 9. The locking mechanism comprises a pair of pivoting locking arms  260 . Each locking arm  260  is positioned on the interior side of each side bar  251 . Each locking arm  260  provides a fastener receiving slot  262  disposed along its top surface.  
     [0064] The locking mechanism further comprises a locking arm engaging device  261 . FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the locking arm engaging device  261 . The baggage scooter  200  provides a locking arm engaging device  261  inside of each of the side bars  251 . The locking arm engaging device  261  comprises an engaging portion, a disengaging portion and a main body portion  265  that separates and supports the engaging portion and the disengaging portion. The engaging portion has a locking pin  266  that extends from the main body portion  265 . The locking pin  266  extends through a hole  264  in the side bar  251  and engages the fastener receiving slot  262  of the locking arm  260 . The disengaging portion provides a finger through hole  268  that extends through the outer side of the side bar  251 . The finger through hole  268  is adapted to allow the user of the baggage scooter  200  to extend a finger through the hole to contact the engaging device  261 .  
     [0065]FIG. 10 depicts the baggage scooter  200  being moved from the riding position to the carrying position by pivoting the second plate  240  to its folded upward position against the frame  250 . The baggage scooter  200  is placed into the carrying position by first disengaging the locking arms  260  and them pivoting the second plate  240  about the axle  255 . To unlock the locking arms  260  the user must extend a finger into each of the finger holes  268  to lift the engaging devices  261 . The engaging devices  261  are biased downward, so that the locking pin  266  is forcibly engaged with the fastener receiving slot  262 , by a spring  270  (shown in FIG. 11) that is positioned above the engaging device  261 . The user lifts the engaging device  261  with a finger, which lifts the locking pin  266  out of engagement with the fastener receiving slot  262 . This unlocks the locking arms  260  and allows them to pivot forward onto the first plate  222 . The locking arms  260  and the second plate  240  simultaneously pivot forward until the baggage scooter is in the carrying position.  
     [0066] To place the baggage scooter  200  back into the riding position the user places a finger into each of the finger holes  268  and lifts the downwardly biased engaging devices  261 . The second plate  240  and the locking arms  260  are pivoted back to the riding position (shown in FIG. 9). Once the locking arms  260  are in position underneath of the through holes  264  the user releases the engaging devices  261 , which are then biased downward by the spring  270  so that the locking pins  266  engage the fastener receiving slots  262  of the locking arms  260  to secure them in place.  
     [0067] The C bracket  258  may optionally be designed to allow the second plate  240  to rotate as it pivots about the axle  255 . This will allow the bottom of the second plate  240  to rest against the frame  250  instead of the top surface  244 . This will allow the wheels  254  to be hidden from view when the baggage scooter  200  is in the carrying position. The second plate  240  has a channel  245  that is adapted to fit around the center bar  253  so the plate  240  will rest evenly against the frame  250 .  
     [0068] As shown in FIG. 2, the carry-on bag  34  may be integrally formed to the baggage scooter  20 . This provides an actual baggage item that includes a scooter assembly so that the baggage  34  itself may be ridden or carried. As shown in FIG. 9, however, the baggage scooter  200  may be formed separately from the baggage  34  to provide a baggage scooter  200  that may carry baggage items or other items as well on its first plate  222 .  
     [0069] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.