Patent Publication Number: US-3879798-A

Title: Roller for luggage and other objects

Description:
United States Patent [1 1 Krulwich Apr. 29, 1975 1 ROLLER FOR LUGGAGE ANT) OTHER OBJECTS [76] Inventor: Lester S. Krulwich, 241 Central Park West, New York, NY. 10024 [22] Filed: Jan. 11, 1974 [2]] Appl. No.: 432,552  
 Primary ExmninerPaul R. Gilliam Assistant E.\&#39;aminerDoris L. Troutman [57] ABSTRACT An elongated plate, attachable under luggage and other objects, preferably of magnetically attractable material, contains a relatively thin, flat member underneath with a small space between one lateral side and the elongated plate and toward the other side a screwthreaded hole. In its lateral rim on the side with the small space, the flat member, optionally, is indented and has toward this side a cavity extending up to the elongated plate. The plate with the flat member is suf ficiently thin and flat so as not to upset the upright position of the luggage or other object under which it is fastened. A separate and releasably attachable roller member with a roller under a platform contains a relatively thin fastening element extending angularly upward from one side of the platform to the level of the top of the flatmember when attached, and extending angularly over and compactly into the small space below the elongated plate. Toward the other side the roller platform has a headed machine screw that registers up into the screw-threaded hole in the flat member. Optionally the fastening element is provided with a projection that protrudes into the dent in the rim of the flat member, and the roller platform a magnet projecting from its top surface, insertable into the cavity in the flat member, detachably clinging to the elongated plate.  
 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures ROLLER FOR LUGGAGE AND OTHER OBJECTS This invention relates to improvements in apparatus used in rolling luggage and other objects.  
  Attachments presently available em&#39;ploy rollers on straps wound around the luggage or fastened permanently at the bottom. These are limited to certain sizes and shapes, require strapping and unstrapping or have unchangeable rollers, at times not rollable, protruding underneath.  
  An important object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus on which to roll luggage and other objects by utilizing a relatively thin, flat base or bases attachable underneath anywhere without materially interfering with the upright position of the luggage or object and having a separate roller member that is releasably attachable under this base.  
  Another object of this invention is to provide a roller device with which one roller member may be removably attached to any number of pieces of luggage or objects under which accommodating thin, flat fastening means have been secured.  
  Another object is to provide a roller device one or more of which may readily be used and with which different pieces can be conveniently paired.  
  Another object is to provide a roller device that is inexpensive to make, easy to use and will withstand rugged use.  
  Further objects and structural details of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, wherein:  
  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of my invention showing it on a suitcase.  
  FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of my invention showing the roller member separated from the elongated plate and flat member.  
  FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of my invention including optional fastening means.  
 FIG. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of FIG. 3.  
  Upon reference to the drawings in detail it will be noted that they show a roller device comprising an elongated plate 11 having a relatively thin, flat member 12 attached underneath with fastening means not extending beyond its bottom surface so as not to upset the standing position of the luggage or other object, adapted to firmly engage a separate roller member 13 releasably attachable to the flat member 12.  
  The basic roller device 10, clearly shown in FIG. 2 and other views, is in the form of a longitudinally elongated plate 11, preferably flexible, with apertures 14 near its longitudinal ends, having attached underneath, integrally or otherwise, a relatively thin, flat member 12, for example about one-eighth of an inch thick, preferably elongated, provided with a screw-threaded hole 15 or nut toward one of its longitudinal ends, integrally or otherwise, but with its bottom level not out beyond the bottom surface of the flat member 12. On the upper side of the other longitudinal end adjacent the rim of the flat member 12 a small space 16 is open under the elongated plate 11 extending in adjacently along the top end of the flat member 12.  
  Optionally, the lateral rim on that longitudinal side of the flat member 12 is indented 17 and the flat member 12 provided with a cavity 18 somewhat toward the said rim side, extending upward to the surface of the elongated plate ll, the plate 11 consisting of magnetically attractable material, preferably sheet iron or steel. The ends of the elongated plate 11 extend beyond the lateral ends of the flat member 12 and may be provided with any suitable fastening means, preferably using the end apertures 14, to secure it to the bottom of the suitcase 19 or other object, removably or otherwise, such as tacks, screws or adhesives.  
  The roller member 13 contains a roller 26, preferably with ball bearings 21 for swiveling, which may be a plate 22 caster, wheel or socketed ball, suitably attached under a relatively thin and flat platform 23, for example about one-eighth of an inch thick, preferably longitudinal and about the same length and width as the flat member 12. Toward one of its longitudinal ends said roller platform 23 is provided with a hole 24, preferably screw-threaded, that registers with the screwthreaded hole 15 in the flat member 12. An appropriate machine screw 25 or bolt extends up through the registering hole 24 from the bottom of the roller platform 23 and is secured in the screw-threaded hole 15 in the flat member 12. The lower end of the machine screw 25 or bolt is provided with a head 26, thumb-nut or otherwise, which abuts the bottom surface of the roller platform 23 when screwed up.  
  Attached by suitable means at the other end of the roller platform 23, abutting its bottom surface and adjacent the lateral rim is a relatively thin fastening element 27 extending angularly upward against said lateral rim, continuing upward to the level of the top of the flat member 12 when the roller member 13 is joined to the flat member 12, said fastening element 27 then extending angularly over the rim of the flat member 12 compactly into the space 16 open between the top of the flat member 12 and the elongated plate 11. This fastening element 27 may itself be integral or with the roller platform 23 or in attached parts.  
  Optionally, centered near the upper part of the fastening element 27, just below where it angles into the space 16 a projection 17a protrudes into the recessed dent 17 in the rim of the flat member 12 when joined. For this projection 17a and recessed dent 17 the stud and socket of a small snap fastener or any other suitable means may be used. Optionally a magnet 28 protrudes from and is appropriately secured to the top of the roller platform 23, somewhat toward the rim containing the fastening element 27, of a size, shape and position to be insertable into the cavity 18 in the flat member 12. The magnet 28 being adapted to engage and detachably cling to the surface of the elongated plate 11 topping the cavity 18.  
 OPERATION OF THE APPARATUS FIG. 1 and the other views show the fundamental operation of the apparatus. One or more of the elongated plates 11 may be fastened to the bottom of the suitcase 19 or other object through the end apertures 14 or otherwise by any suitable means. The elongated plate 11 and the attached flat member 12 are sufficiently thin and flat so as not to upset the standing position of the luggage or other object. The roller member 13 is the slipped on, adapted so that when the side containing the fastening element 27 on the lateral rim is put on first the roller member 13 is in a firm position, reinforced by the projection 17a and the indentation 17 and the magnet 28 insertions. So that when the machine screw 25 is turned up into the screw-threaded hole 15 in the flat member 12 the entire device can withstand rugged use. The screw-threading in the hole 24 in the roller platform 23 is useful to keep the machine screw 25 from falling out when not fastened. The optional features, the projection 17a with the indentation 17 and magnet 28, fortify the adherence for extremely rough handling or rolling over stretches of broken, uneven ground and these and the machine screw 25 or more of them may be differently shaped and placed.  
  Any one roller member 13 may be placed on any of many fastened elongated plates 11 at different times. These do not interfere with the appearance or handling of the luggage and when not used the small roller member 13 can be kept in a drawer or inside the luggage. A suitcase 19 can be moved along effortlessly with one roller device underneath and still stand upright at a slight angle and with the handles connected suitcases can be handled with only one or two roller devices 10 under each suitcase. Also a small strap 29 on the handle 30 can be provided.  
  I have described preferred embodiments of my invention, but it is understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the various parts without departing from the scope of my invention.  
 What I claim is:  
  1. An apparatus on which to roll luggage and other objects comprising an elongated plate capable of being fastened under said luggage and other objects, said elongated plate being made of magnetically attractable material, provided with a flat member underneath containing a fastening element toward one lateral side not materially extending outward beyond its bottom surface and a small space between the other lateral side and the elongated plate, said plate and flat member being sufficiently thin and flat so as not to upset the standingposition of the luggage and objects when attached, a roller member with a roller under a platform containing a releasable fastening element that registers up into the fastening element in the flat member toward that lateral side, and extending upward and over from the rim of the other lateral side a relatively thin fastening element removably and compactly into said small space between the elongated plate and flat member, said flat member containing a cavity extending upward to the bottom surface of said magnetically attractable plate member, a magnet attached to and projecting from the said platform on the roller member, said magnet adapted and positioned to be removably insertable into said cavity in the flat member and to cling firmly to said plate and flat members.  
  2. An apparatus on which to roll luggage and other objects according to claim 1, the fastening element in the said flat member provided with a screw-threaded hole and the fastening element in the platform of the roller member with a headed machine screw that registers up into the said screw-threaded hole in the flat member.  
  3. An apparatus on which to roll luggage and other objects according to claim 2, the said relatively thin fastening element extending upward from the rim of the platform of the roller member provided with a projection that protrudes into a dent contained in the lateral rim of the flat member when the said platform and flat members are attached.  
  4. An apparatus on which to roll luggage and other objects according to claim 3, the elongated plate being made of flexible material so that its longitudinal ends may more readily conform to the shape of luggage and other objects.