초록 ▼

A retractable wheel assembly (110) for a carrier ( 100) is disclosed wherein the wheels (120) are rotatably mounted in cowls (130), which are pivotably disposed in wheel wells (116L, 116R) on a housing. The cowls are connected with a cowl axle assembly (140) that includes a coil spring, preferably a

A retractable wheel assembly (110) for a carrier ( 100) is disclosed wherein the wheels (120) are rotatably mounted in cowls (130), which are pivotably disposed in wheel wells (116L, 116R) on a housing. The cowls are connected with a cowl axle assembly (140) that includes a coil spring, preferably a constant force spring (150) that biases the cowls towards a retracted position. The constant force spring is connected to a retractable handle (104), preferably with a spring engagement member (160), such that extending the retractable handle will bias the cowls towards an extended position, wherein the wheels extend out of the wheel wells for use.

대표청구항 ▼

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 1. A retractable wheel assembly for a carrier comprising: a retractable handle that is movable between an extended position and a retracted position: a housing attached to the retractabl

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 1. A retractable wheel assembly for a carrier comprising: a retractable handle that is movable between an extended position and a retracted position: a housing attached to the retractable handle, the housing defining a wheel well; a cowl having a pivot axis and disposed in the wheel well such that the cowl is pivotable between a first position and an second position; a wheel rotatably mounted in the cowl, the wheel adapted to rotate about an axis that is offset from the cowl pivot axis, wherein the wheel is disposed substantially entirely within the wheel well when the cowl is in the first position, and the wheel extends out from the wheel well when the cowl is in the second position; a cowl axle attached to the cowl and oriented along the cowl pivot axis; and a spring having a first end connected to the cowl axle and a second end connected to the retractable handle; wherein the cowl is biased by the spring towards the first position when the retractable handle is retracted, and the cowl is biased towards the second position when the retractable handle is extended. 2. The retractable wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein the spring is a constant force spring. 3. The retractable wheel assembly of claim 1, further comprising a spring engagement member that attaches the spring to the retractable handle. 4. The retractable wheel assembly of claim 3, wherein the spring engagement member is an extension spring. 5. The retractable wheel assembly of claim 3, further comprising at least one tube that is fixedly attached to the housing and slidably engages the retractable handle, wherein the spring engagement member extends through the tube. 6. The retractable wheel assembly of claim 2, wherein the cowl includes a cowl stop projecting from an outer surface of the cowl. 7. The retractable wheel assembly of claim 2, wherein the housing defines a second wheel well, and further comprising a second cowl pivotably disposed in the second wheel well, a second wheel rotatably mounted in the second cowl, and wherein the second cowl is attached to the cowl axle. 8. The retractable wheel assembly of claim 2, wherein the cowl includes oppositely disposed stub axles that are retained in corresponding apertures in the wheel well. 9. The retractable wheel assembly of claim 2, wherein the housing further comprises a plurality of standards that support the housing such that the wheel is elevated. 10. A carrier comprising a closable container portion having a handle that is movable between a first position and a second position; a wheel housing attached to the closable container, the wheel housing defining a first wheel well and a second wheel well; a first cowl pivotably disposed in the first wheel well and a second cowl pivotably disposed in the second wheel well, the first and second cowls interconnected with a cowl axle, wherein the first and second cowl pivot about a first axis between a retracted position and an extended position; a first wheel rotatably mounted in the first cowl and a second wheel rotatably mounted in the second cowl, the first and second wheels adapted to rotate about a second axis that is parallel to the first axis, wherein the first and second wheels are disposed substantially entirely within the first and second wheel wells when the first and second cowls are in the retracted position, and the first and second wheels extend out from the first and second wheel wells when the first and second cowls are in the extended position; and a constant force spring having a first end connected to the cowl axle and a second end connected to the handle such that the first and second cowls are biased towards the retracted position when the handle is in the first position, and the first and second cowls are biased towards the extended position when the handle is in the second position. 11. The carrier of claim 10, further comprising a spring engagement member that attaches the constant force spring to the handle. 12. The carrier of claim 11, wherein the spring engagement member is an extension spring. 13. The carrier of claim 11, further comprising at least one tube that is fixedly attached to the wheel housing and slidably engages the handle, wherein the spring engagement member extends through the tube. 14. The carrier of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first and second cowls includes a cowl stop projecting from an outer surface of the cowl such that the stop engagement member abuts the wheel housing when the first and second cowls are in the extended position. 15. The carrier of claim 11, wherein the first and second cowls include oppositely disposed stub axles that are retained in corresponding apertures in the first and second wheel wells. 16. The carrier of claim 11, wherein the wheel housing further comprises a plurality of standards that support the housing such that the first and second wheels are elevated. 17. A retractable wheel assembly comprising: a wheel housing having a first wheel well and a second wheel well; a first cowl pivotably disposed in the first wheel well and a second cowl pivotably disposed in the second wheel well; a first wheel rotatably mounted in the first cowl and a second wheel rotatably mounted in the second cowl; an axle connecting the first cowl to the second cowl; a handle selectively movable between a first position and a second position; biasing means attached to the axle and to the handle such that the biasing means biases the first cowl toward a retracted position when the handle is in the first position and the biasing means biases the cowl towards an extended position when the handle is in the second position. 18. The retractable wheel assembly of claim 17 wherein the biasing means comprises a constant force spring. 19. The retractable wheel assembly of claim 17 wherein the first cowl pivots about an axis offset from the rotational axis of the first wheel such that pivoting the first cowl will displace the wheel. 20. The retractable wheel assembly of claim 17 further comprising a closable container that is attached to the wheel housing.