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A convertible travel case has a frame including an upright with a handle for grasping and a base with wheels for towing. A rigid case is mounted on the frame by a connector bracket having one portion pivotally connected with an upper part of the case and another portion slidably connected with the u

A convertible travel case has a frame including an upright with a handle for grasping and a base with wheels for towing. A rigid case is mounted on the frame by a connector bracket having one portion pivotally connected with an upper part of the case and another portion slidably connected with the upright to permit the case to be shifted between a generally vertical storage position and a generally horizontal cart position. The frame and case have mating catch members at the bottom of the case. A releasable lock connects the connector bracket and the upright in a first raised position wherein the catch members are engaged to retain the case in the storage position, and a second lowered position wherein the catch members are disengaged and the lower end of the case is swung outwardly away from the frame with the connector bracket shifting downwardly along the upright to the cart position for supporting additional luggage on top of the case.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A convertible travel case, comprising:a frame having an upright portion thereof with a handle to facilitate grasping said travel case, and a base portion thereof with at least one ground-engaging wheel to facilitate towing said travel case, and a frame catch member;a generally rigid case member h

1. A convertible travel case, comprising:a frame having an upright portion thereof with a handle to facilitate grasping said travel case, and a base portion thereof with at least one ground-engaging wheel to facilitate towing said travel case, and a frame catch member;a generally rigid case member having a hollow interior portion shaped to retain travel articles therein, a first end portion and a second end portion with a case catch member which releasably engages said frame catch member;a connector bracket means having a first portion thereof pivotally connected with said case member adjacent said first end portion thereof, and a second portion thereof slidably connected with said upright portion of said frame for permitting said case member to be shifted between a generally vertical storage position and a generally horizontal cart position; anda releasable lock detachably connecting said connector bracket means with said upright portion of said frame in a first raised position wherein said frame and case catch members are engaged to retain said case member in said storage position for travel, and a second lowered position wherein said frame and case catch members are disengaged and said second end portion of said case member is swung outwardly away from said frame with said connector bracket means shifting downwardly along said upright portion of said frame to said cart position for supporting additional luggage on top of said case member. 2. A convertible travel case as set forth in claim 1, wherein:said lock includes an actuator supported on said upright portion of said frame and configured to shift said lock between locked and unlocked positions. 3. A convertible travel case as set forth in claim 2, wherein:said actuator includes a flexible line with spring biased pawls at opposite ends thereof which normally engage said upright portion of said frame to positively retain said lock in said locked position, whereby flexure of said line disengages said pawls from said upright portion of said frame to shift said lock into said unlocked position and permit shifting said case member between said storage position and said cart position. 4. A convertible travel case as set forth in claim 3, wherein:said travel case is dimensioned to permit carry-on use for commercial aircraft travel. 5. A convertible travel case as set forth in claim 4, wherein:said frame has a tubular construction with a generally L-shaped side elevational configuration. 6. A convertible travel case as set forth in claim 5, wherein:said frame base portion comprises a base tube having a generally U-shaped top plan configuration; andsaid upright portion of said frame comprises a pair of spaced apart, mutually parallel upright tubes upstanding from opposite sides of said base tube. 7. A convertible travel case as set forth in claim 6, wherein:said frame includes a pair of extension tubes telescopingly received in said upright tubes which mount said handle on upper ends thereof and permit said handle to be shifted between an extended tow position and a retracted stow position. 8. A convertible travel case as set forth in claim 7, wherein:said connector bracket means includes a yoke portion thereof pivotally connecting said case member with said frame, and a slider portion thereof with a pair of slider sleeves closely received over said upright tubes to shift the first end portion of said case member between said storage position and said cart position. 9. A convertible travel case as set forth in claim 8, wherein:said case member includes a case bottom and a case top which are hingedly interconnected for easy access to said interior portion of said case member. 10. A convertible travel case as set forth in claim 9, wherein:said frame includes a horizontally extending axle disposed adjacent said base portion thereof with a pair of ground-engaging wheels rotatably mounted on opposite ends of said axle. 11. A convertible travel case as set forth in claim 10, wherein:s aid frame catch member is defined by an exposed central portion of said axle; andsaid case catch member is defined by a downwardly opening channel in said case bottom which is shaped to closely receive therein said exposed central portion of said axle. 12. A convertible travel case as set forth in claim 11, wherein:said case bottom includes a pair of recessed wheel wells on opposite sides thereof in which said ground-engaging wheels are received. 13. A convertible travel case as set forth in claim 12, wherein:said handle includes a releasable lock to selectively retain the same in said tow position and said stow position. 14. A convertible travel case as set forth in claim 13, wherein:said upright tubes include first and second pairs of laterally extending, coaxial apertures in which said pawls are closely received to positively retain said case member in said storage position and said cart position. 15. A convertible travel case as set forth in claim 14, wherein:said frame base portion and said upright portion of said frame are formed from a single length of tubing. 16. A convertible travel case as set forth in claim 15, including:a spanner mounted adjacent the upper ends of said upright tubes and extending laterally therebetween to provide rigidity to said upright portion of said frame. 17. A convertible travel case as set forth in claim 16, wherein:said actuator includes a spanner insert retaining said flexible line and said pawls. 18. A convertible travel case as set forth in claim 17, wherein:said pawls are bullet-shaped to facilitate close sliding reception into said first and second pairs of apertures in said upright tubes. 19. A convertible travel case as set forth in claim 18, wherein:said flexible line is configured for foot actuation when said case member is in said cart position to facilitate releasing said lock and shifting said case member to said storage position. 20. A convertible travel case as set forth in claim 19, wherein:said case member has a molded plastic construction. 21. A convertible travel case as set forth in claim 1, wherein:said travel case is dimensioned to permit carry-on use for commercial aircraft travel. 22. A convertible travel case as set forth in claim 1, wherein:said frame has a tubular construction with a generally L-shaped side elevational configuration. 23. A convertible travel case as set forth in claim 1, wherein:said frame base portion comprises a base tube having a generally U-shaped top plan configuration, and upright portion of said frame comprises a pair of spaced apart, mutually parallel upright tubes upstanding from opposite sides of said base tubes. 24. A convertible travel case as set forth in claim 1, wherein:said frame includes a pair of extension tubes telescopingly received in said upright portion of said frame which mount said handle on upper ends thereof and permit said handle to be shifted between an extended tow position and a retracted stow position. 25. A convertible travel case as set forth in claim 1, wherein:said case member includes a case bottom and a case top which are hingedly interconnected for easy access to said interior portion of said case member. 26. A convertible travel case as set forth in claim 1, wherein:said frame includes a horizontally extending axle disposed adjacent said base portion thereof with a pair of ground-engaging wheels rotatably mounted on opposite ends of said axle. 27. A convertible travel case as set forth in claim 26, wherein:said frame catch member is defined by an exposed central portion of said axle; and said case catch member is defined by a downwardly opening channel in a bottom portion of said case which is shaped to closely receive therein said exposed central portion of said axle. 28. A convertible travel case as set forth in claim 1, wherein:said lock is configured for foot actuation when said case member is in said cart position to facilitate releasing said lock and shifting said case member to said storage position. 2 9. A convertible travel case as set forth in claim 1, wherein:said case member has a molded plastic construction. 30. A convertible travel case, comprising:a frame having an upright portion thereof with a handle to facilitate grasping said travel case, and a base portion thereof with at least one ground-engaging wheel to facilitate towing said travel case, and a frame catch member;a generally rigid case member having a hollow interior portion shaped to retain travel articles therein, a first end portion and a second end portion with a case catch member which releasably engages said frame catch member;a connector bracket means for permitting said case member to be shifted between a generally vertical storage position and a generally horizontal cart position; anda releasable lock detachably connecting said connector bracket means with said upright portion of said frame in a first raised position wherein said frame and case catch members are engaged to retain said case member in said storage position for travel, and a second lowered position wherein said frame and case catch members are disengaged and said second end portion of said case member is swung outwardly away from said frame with said connector bracket means shifting downwardly along said upright portion of said frame to said cart position for supporting additional luggage on top of said case member;and, wherein said connector bracket means includes a yoke portion thereof pivotally connecting said case member with said frame, and a slider portion closely received over said upright portion of said frame upright to shift the first end portion of said case member between said storage position and said cart position.