GB2488116A

GB2488116A - Wheeled suitcase

Info

Publication number: GB2488116A
Application number: GB1102591.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Charles Eke
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-02-15
Filing date: 2011-02-15
Publication date: 2012-08-22
Anticipated expiration: 2031-02-15
Also published as: GB2488116B; GB201102591D0

Abstract

A wheeled suitcase comprises: a storage portion 11; and a wheel assembly 15 coupled to the storage portion and comprising two wheels 17 arranged in tandem, the wheel assembly being movable relative to the storage portion between an operative position and a stowed position (Figure 1). In the operative position, the two wheels are arranged to define a wheeling plane such that the two wheels pivotally maintain rolling contact with the ground and in the stowed position the wheel assembly is concealed within the storage portion. When in the stowed position an exterior portion of the wheel assembly (19, Figure 4) is shaped to conform to the profile of a corner of the suitcase.

Description

YVHEELEDSUITCA$E Held of the invention The present invention relates to a suitcase, and more specifically to a wheeled suitcase comprising a tandem wheeled assembly such that the suitcase is capable of being wheeled over uneven ground.

Prior Art

Basic wheeled suitcases were invented in 1923 & 1931 (GB Patents 212352 & 391224) however, they were not generally adopted in England until the 1970's; with wheels attached to a narrow lower corner they tended to rock' and become unstable when used over uneven ground.

Those have largely been superseded by suitcases which have a wheel (or wheels) on both lower corners, these are pulled, with a wide surface facing forward, by an extended telescopic handle (necessary to balance the weight, and to give heel space', especially to the longer gait of male users). These suitcases tend to be more obstructive in confined spaces, and to bump' over uneven ground.

This invention, particularly when combined with GB patent 2338703 serves to overcome

the disadvantages of the available prior art.

There is an optimum angle for handling a wheeled suitcase whereby the weight is negligible, this (angle) is easily maintainable with a tandem wheeled, laterally balanceable suitcase, even over sloping ground, and uneven pavements, as the user walks closely alongside the case, (with elbow bent, relative to the height of the person). When being pushed, the suitcase is easily manoeuvred around obstacles by using a swinging motion. 2.

Summary of the Invention

In a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wheeled suitcase comprising a storage portion and a wheel assembly coupled to the storage portion. The wheel assembly comprises a plurality of wheels and is movable relative to the storage portion between an operative position and a stowed position. In the operative position, the plurality of wheels are arranged to define a wheeling plane such that the plurality of wheels may roll along a surface coincident with the wheeling plane in use. In the operative position, the wheel assembly is pivotable relative to the storage portion such that the wheeling plane is pivotable relative to the storage portion.

When the present wheeled suitcase is wheeled along a surface by a user, it is able to dynamically pivot about the pivot axis or pivot point of the wheel assembly in order to afford the user the greatest ease in drawing the suitcase along the surface. For instance, when in use, the pivotable wheel assembly enables the storage portion of the wheeled suitcase to adopt the optimum angle with respect to the ground to best accommodate the height of the user wheeling the suitcase.

Advantageously, in the operative position, the wheel assembly is rotatable relative to the storage portion such that the wheeling plane is rotatable relative to the storage portion.

Advantageously, the storage portion comprises a recess such that, in the stowed position, the plurality of wheels are substantially within the recess. More advantageously, the recess is defined by an arc substantially concentric to an arc described by the wheel assembly when the wheel assembly pivots. The recess allows a user to store the wheel assembly in a safe and secure space without protruding significantly from the storage portion, thus affording protection to the wheel assembly when the suitcase is not in use. 3.

Advantageously, each wheel of the plurality of wheels defines a respective plane of rotation, the planes of rotation being substantially parallel to one another.

More advantageously, the planes of rotation are substantially coplanar such that the wheels are in-line'. This in-line' arrangement of the plurality of wheels eliminates the suitcase wobble, often associated with wheeling suitcases over uneven ground. In particular, suitcase wheels which are spaced apart in a direction normal to the wheeling direction (i.e. non-in-line wheels) will tend to tilt the suitcase away from the vertical if there is uneven ground (e.g. whilst walking along a sideways-sloped pavement).

Advantageously, the wheel assembly is securable in the stowed position.

This allows a user of the suitcase to carry or store the suitcase without exposing the wheel assembly to a potentially damaging environment (e.g. baggage handling conveyor systems).

Advantageously, the plurali* of wheels consists of two wheels.

Advantageously, the wheeled suitcase further comprises a handle disposed on the storage portion and spaced.from the wheel assembly. The handle, in combination with the wheel assembly when in the operative position, allows one to easily draw the suitcase along a surface.

Advantageously, in the operative position, the wheel assembly is pivotable through an angle of approximately ninety degrees. The extent of the pivotability of the wheel assembly in use allows the suitcase, when wheeled, to adopt a variety of different orientations in order to best accommodate the height of the user.

Advantageously, the wheeled suitcase further compdses a roller coupled to the storage portion and spaced from the wheel assembly such that, in the operative position, the suitcase may be wheeled along the surface with both the* roller and the plurality of wheels in contact with the surface. The use of a roller allows a user of the suitcase, when the wheel assembly is in the operative position, to roll the suitcase along a surface without the need to lift a portion of the suitcase above ground level.

Brief Description of the Drawinq

Various embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a side-on view of a wheeled suitcase in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. The suitcase is in the at rest' position and the wheel assembly of the suitcase is in the stowed position.

Figure 2 is a side-on view of the wheeled suitcase of Figure 1. The suitcase is in the in use' position and the wheel assembly is in the operative position.

Figure 3 is a magnified view of the wheel assembly of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a side-on view of the wheel assembly of Figure 1, showing the locking mechanism.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the wheel assembly of Figure 3 taken along line b-b' of Figure 3, showing corner flanges 26 and 26'.

Figure 6 is a magnified, side-on view of the wheel assembly of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is side view of a tandem wheeled assembly shown in an operative position.

Figure 8 shows a cross sectional view taken along the line c-c of Figure 7, used as a laterally balanceable wheeled suitcase'.

Figure 9 is a side-on view of the wheeled suitcase of Figure 1 in an alternative arrangement, with the wheel assembly in the operative position and the roller in contact with the ground.

Figure 10 is a side-on view of the wheel assembly of a wheeled suitcase according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The wheel assembly is in the operative position.

Figure 11 is a side-on view of the wheel assembly of Figure 10. The wheel assembly is in the stowed position.

Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of the wheel assembly of Figure 12 taken along line c-c' of Figure 10.

Figure 13 is a side-on view of the wheel assembly of a wheeled suitcase according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The wheel assembly is in the operative position.

Figure 14 is a side-on view of the wheel assembly of Figurel 3. The wheel assembly is in the stowed position.

Figure 15 shows a side view of a wheel assembly being used in conjunction with a typical two wheeled suitcase 27 to convert the case into a laterally balanced' wheeled suitcase, being used over rough ground.

Figure 16 shows a cross sectional view of the wheel assembly Figure 15 shown along the line d-d.

Figure 17 is a side view of a wheel assembly similar to Figure 15 shown in the stowed position, yet ready to be used on a level surface, (with typical suitcase wheels' 29).

Figure 16 shows a cross sectional view of Figure 17.

Figure 19 is a side view of a wheel assembly herein described.

Figure 20 shows a cross sectional view of Figure 19 taken along the line f-f whereby the wheel assemblies are used as a pair, i.e. disposed of side by side on the same axis as with a typical method of use.

Figure 21 shows a view of Figure 5 taken along the line b-b of Figure 3 whereby the section 1 9a and the interior walls 23 and 24 of the wheel assembly are adapted to receive ball shaped wheels 28 and 28'.

Figure 22 shows a cross sectional view of Figure 10 taken along the line c-c whereby the section 1 9a and the interior walls 23 and 24 of the wheel assembly are adapted to receive ball shaped wheels 28 and 28'. p

Detailed Oescrptjpn_ofhe invention The present invention seeks to provide an improved wheeled suitcase. Whilst various embodiments of the invention are described below, the invention is not limited to these embodiments and variations of these embodiments may well fall within the scope of the invention which is to be limited only by the appended claims.

Figure 1 shows a wheeled suitcase 10 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. The suitcase is at rest on a surface 30. In this embodiment, the suitcase 10 comprises a storage portion 11, a wheeling handle 12, a carrying handle I 2a, and a carrying handle 12b, stops 13, a roller 14 and a wheel assembly 15.

For clarity purposes, Figure 1 shows a side-on view of the suitcase 10 in combination with a cross-sectional view of the wheel assembly 15 only. The suitcase 10 is in the at rest' position, i.e. the wheel assembly 15 is in the stowed position; details of the wheel assembly 15 in the stowed position are tetter seen and will be described later with reference to Figure 3.

The storage portion 11 is a rectangular cuboid comprising a length (along the x-axis), a width (along the y-axis) and a depth (along the z-axis). The depth of the storage portion 11 (into the page in the z-direction in Figure l)is generally smaller than the length and width of the storage portion 11. The storage portion comprises four sides II a to lid.

The side I Ic forms the bottom side of the storage portion 11 in Figure 1 (i.e. the side closest to the surface 30); the side 11 b forms the top side of the storage portion 11 in Figure 1; the side 11 a forms the front side of the storage portion 11 in use; and the side lid forms the rear side of the storage portion 11 in use. The storage portion 11 is also generally sized in accordance with typical modern-day suitcase designs such that it may contain one's luggage for transport.

The wheeling handle 12 is disposed of proximal a top front corner lie of the storage portion ii. The wheeling handle is approximately right angled, parallel to the front side ha and to top side lib.

The wheeling handle 12 may be gripped either vertically, or horizontally, whichever the user finds most convenient to pull or push' the suitcase by raising the front side 11 a above ground level.

The suitcase 10 also comprises, as mentioned above, a carrying handle 12a disposed on the top side ii b of the storage portion 11.

A user may use the carrying handle I 2a to lift the entirety of the suitcase 10 vertically away from the surface 30.

There is also provided an additional carrying handle I 2b disposed on the topside 11 b at the lid end of the storage portion 11, to enable two people to carry the suitcase.

The stops 13 of the suitóase 10, as shown in Figure 1, are generally positioned at either end of the bottom side ii c of the storage portion 11 and act as supports upon which the storage portion 11 may rest when the suitcase 10 is not being moved.

The roller 14 is disposed on the rear side lid of the storage portion ii, opposite the front side I ia. The roller 14 is positioned proximal to a top rear comer I if of the storage portion II. As such, the suitcase may be positioned as shown in Figure 9 (described later), whereby the side lid of the storage position 11 becomes the bottom side of the storage portion Ii (i.e. the side closest to the surface 30).

Retuming to Figure 1, the wheel assembly 15 is disposed in a lower rear corner 11 g of the suitcase 10. In the stowed position shown in Figures 1 and 3, the wheel assembly 15 is positioned entirely within a substantially arcuate recess 16 cut into the lower corner 11 g of the storage portion 11. The recess 16 is curved and, advantageously, is formed as an arc 21 which runs from the side 11 c of the storage portion II to the adjacent side 11 d of the storage portion 11, (reinforced by flanges 26 and 26'), culling out a portion of the corner II g of the storage portion 11 within which is positioned the wheel assembly 15. The arcuate nature of the recess 16 advantageously reduces the volume of the storage portion 11 in the most economic way whilst leaving sufficient space for the wheel assembly 15 to be positioned substantially entirely within the recess 16 when in its stowed position.

Of course, other shapes of recesses16 are envisaged, such as a square or rectangular recess.

The wheel assembly 15 is positioned centrally in the storage portion 11 in the z-direction. As will be described in greater detail below with reference to Figure 3, the wheel assembly 15 comprises a pair of wheels 17 and 17' and a wheel housing 19. In the stowed position of Figures 1 and 3, the wheels 17 and 17' of the wheel assembly 15 are hidden from view, and the wheel housing 19 appears to form a portion of the corner hg of the storage portion 11.

The various components of the wheel assembly 15 will now be described in more detail with reference to Figures 1 and 3.

The wheel assembly comprises a pair of wheels 17 and 17', two respective wheel axles 18 and 18', a wheel housing 19 and a housing axle 20.

The wheels 17 and 17' are rotatably fixed within the wheel housing 19 by means of respective wheel axles 18 and 18' passin9 through the wheel housing 19. The wheel axles 18 and 18' may be in the form of pins, screws, bolts, or the like. The wheel axles 18 and 18' extend in the z-direction with respect to the storage portion 11. The wheels are in-line' with one another (i.e. they are at the same position in the z-direction). The wheels 17 and 17' may thus rotate in the same plane of rotation which is parallel to the x-y plane of the storage portion 11. In other embodiments, the wheels 17 and 17' may be offset from each other in the z-direction such that each wheel 17 and 17' rotates within its own respective plane of rotation, both planes being parallel to one another.

The wheel housing 19 may be formed of blow-moulded or injection-moulded plasticThe wheel housing 19 comprises a hollow interior within which at least a portion of each of the wheels 17 and 17' may rotate since the wheels 17 and 17' rotate about respective wheel axles 18 and 18' passing through the wheel housing 19.

The wheel assembly 15 is fixed to the storage portion 11 by means of the housing axle 20. The housing axle 20 enables the wheel assembly 15 to rotate with respect to the storage portion 11. The housing axle 20 extends in the z-direction parallel to the wheel axles 18 and 18'. Therefore, the wheel assembly comprises three rotatable components, each one rotating independently from the others: the first wheel 17, the second wheel 17' and the wheel housing 19.

Rotation of the wheel assembly 15 about the wheel axle 20 allows the wheel assembly 15 to be moved between the stowed position and an operative position. In Figures 1, 3 and 4, the wheel assembly 15 is shown in its stowed position, and in Figures 2, 6 and 9, the wheel assembly 15 is shown in an operative position.

The wheel assembly 15 may be secured in the stowed position by means of an optional locking mechanism 22 as shown in Figure 4. The locking mechanism 22 may be any conventional locking device, including, but not limited to, a combination of a key and a keyhole, a bolt, a magnetic locking mechanism, a latch, snap-fit connections, etc. By means of the locking mechanism 22, the wheel assembly 15 is secured in the stowed position as shown in Figures 1 and 3, with the wheels 17 and 17' positioned substantially entirely within the recess 16. The locking mechanism 22 of Figure 4 isdisosed on the storage portion 11 and includes a locking bolt 22a which engages with the wheel housing 19 to retain the wheel assembly 15 in the stowed position.

Turning to Figure 5, a cross-sectional view of Figure 3 is shown taken along the line B-B'. This figure illustrates from a different perspective how the wheel housing 19 and the wheels 17 and 17' are positioned with respect to one another, as well as how the wheels 17 and 17' may rotate freely with respect to the storage portion 11 whilst remaining fixed to the suitcase 10 as a whole.

The wheel axles 18 and 18' and the housing axle 20 are clearly seen in Figure 5. The wheel housing 19 is shown positioned between the intçrior waIls 23 and 24 of the storage portion 11. The interior walls 23 and 24 extend ji the x-y plane and delimit the extent of the recess 16 formed in the corner I Ig of the storage portion 11. The housing axle 20 runs centrally through the wheel housing 19. The wheel housing 19 is configured to rotate about the housing axle 20 running through the hollow interior of the wheel housing 19 and connected to the interior walls 23 and 24 on either side of the wheel housing 19. /0

On either side of the housing axle 20 are located the wheels 17 and 17', each able to pivot about their respective wheel axles 18 and 18'. The wheels 17 and 17' rotate at least partially within the hollow interior of the wheel housing 19.

The wheel axles 18 and 18' run through the hollow interior of the wheel housing 19 and connect the wheels 17 and 17', respectively, to the wheel housing 19 such that rotation of the wheel housing 19 necessarily engenders rotation of the wheels 17 and 17' the housing axle 20.

Figure 5 also shows the tyres 25 and 25' of the wheels 17 and 17', respectively. The tyres 25 and 25 are typically made out of rubber, though other materials are contemplated within the scope of this disclosure, such as plastic, metal or nylon The tyres 25 and 25' are sufficiently spaced apart from the interior walls of the wheel housing l9so as to allow the wheels 17 and 17' to rotate freely about wheel axles 18 and 18' without undue resistance or friction from the wheel housing 19. The wheels 17 and 17' are furthermore sufficiently spaced apart from the housing axle 20 such that the housing axle 20 may not prevent the free rotation of the wheels 17 and 17'.

When the suitcase 10 is in the at rest' position, the wheel assembly 15 is in the stowed position (i.e. the wheels 17 apd 17' are hidden away within the recess 16). Furthermore, when the wheel assembly 15 is in the stowed position, the wheel housing 19 is arranged such that the external curvature of the wheel housing 19 marries with the corner portions 16a and 1Gb of the recess 16 (Figure 3). This way, the wheel assembly 15 does not appear to form a distinct component of the suitcase 10 but rather appears to form part of the storage portion 11. When the wheel assembly 15 is in its stowed position, the suitcase 10 is prevented from being wheeled along through use of the wheel assembly 15.

This may be useful in preventing unwanted users from wheeling the suitcase.

Furthermore, the wheels 17 and 17' are safely removed from the "exterior" environment of the suitcase 10, where they may otherwise be subject to damage.

For instance, when transitioning from an airport terminal to an aircraft for subsequent flight, the wheel assembly 15 of the suitcase 10, if not securely fastened in the stowed position, may be damaged and possibly broken when It subjected to the hostile environment of the conveyor systems typically used in the handling of baggage at airports.

Turning to Figure 2, the wheeled suitcase 10 is shown in the in use' position, as opposed to the at rest' position.

When the suitcase 10 is in the in use' position, the wheel assembly 15 is disengaged from its stowed position and is moved to its operative position. If the wheel assembly 15 was previously secured by means of the locking mechanism 22 in its stowed position, the locking mechanism 22 is disengaged and, as a result, the wheel assembly l5is able to freely rotate about the housing axle 20.

In order to arrive at the operative position, the wheel assembly 15 is rotated within the recess 16. The wheel assembly 15 is rotatable through 360°, and thus, when rotating, the outermost portions I 5a and I 5b (Figure 6, below) of the wheel assembly 15 describe a circle concentric to the circle defined by the arc 21. In the operative position, the wheel assembly 15 is rotated to an extent that the wheels 17 and 17' are substantially exterior to the recess 16 of the storage portion 11.

To a person observingihe wheel aspembly 15 in the operative position in a direction substantially along the z-axis, at least a portion of each of the wheels 17 and 17' will be hidden from view by the wheel housing 19 and/or the storage portion II. The wheel housing 19 thus affords a measure of protection to the wheels 17 and 17' even when the wheel assembly 15 is deployed in the operative position.

In the operative position of Figure 2, the wheels 17 and 17' are in contact with the surface 30 over which the suitcase 10 may be wheeled by a user. A user may grip the wheeling handle 12 and move in the direction indicated by arrow D, thus setting in motion the suitcase 10. Furthermore, the stops 13 arè lifted off the surface 30 when the suitcase 10 is wheeled along the surface 30 by a user.

Figure 6 shows the operative position of the wheel assembly 15 of the present embodiment in greater detail. The wheels 17 and 17' define a wheeling plane P-F which is tangential to the wheels l7and 17' at points Q and Q', respectively. When wheeling the suitcase 1.0 along a surface 30, the wheeling a.

plane P-P' is coincident with the surface 30. As a result, when the suitcase 10 is wheeled along the surface 30, the wheel assembly 15 continuously and dynamically pivots in relation to the storage portion 11 so as to maintain the wheeling plane P-P' and the surface 30 coincident with one another. Put another way, the wheeling plane P-P' remains substantially coplanar with the surface 30 as the suitcase 10 is wheeled along. Therefore, when an individual wheels the suitcase 10 by means of the wheeling handle 12, the wheel assembly 15 naturally adopts the optimum angle with respect to the storage portion 11 in order to allow the user to most comfortably move the suitcase 10.

A further advantage provided by the wheels 17 and 17' disposed such that they define a wheeling plane P-P' coincident with the surface 30 is that of minimising the resonance-type wobble' which may be induced when a wheeled suitcase is wheeled over an unever surface. A suitcase comprising a pair of wheels rotating about the same axis (e.g. linked by the same axle and disposed side-by-side with respect to one another), when rolling over uneven ground, is susceptible to a periodic side-to-side jolting motion due to the unevenness of the surface. Figurej as published in GB 2,338,703 iF shows an examplécf a prior art wheeled suitcase susceptible to this type of wobble'. Using a pair of wheels 17 and 17' such that their wheeling plane is coincident with the surface 30, side-to-side motion of the suitcase 10 is much reduced.

Furthermore, as compared to single-wheeled suitcases, the wheel assembly 15 of the present invention provides greater stability and durability for a user of the suitcase 10 since the weight of the suitcase 10 is proportionately spread out amongst the wheels 17 and 17' when in use. Thus, each wheel 17, 17' is under less stress than the wheel of a comparable single-wheeled suitcase.

Figure 9 illustrates how the suitcase 10, in use, employs a combination of the wheel assembly 15 in the operative position and the roller 14 to allow a user to roll the suitcase along the surface 30 without the need to raise an end of the suitcase 10. A user may, by gripping either the wheeling handle 12 or the carrying handle 12a, push or pull the suitcase 10 along the surface 30. In this configuration, both the roller 14 and the wheels 17 and wheel 17' are in contact with the fit surface 30 and form a wheeling base for the suitcase 10. This allows the user to dispense with the need to expend any effort in raising any part of the suitcase 10 above the ground level.

Alternative embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in Figure 10 to 2.2.

Figures 10 and 11 show a triangular-shaped wheel housing 19a in the operative position (Figure 10) and in the stowed position (Figure 11). A triangular-shaped wheel housing 19a may be used for suitcases with right-angled corners, as opposed to rounded corners (for example as shown in Figure 1). Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of the wheel assembly 1 9a in the operative position, taken along the line c-c of Figure 10.

Figures 13 and 14 show a wheel housing I 9b having an arc of greater radius than the wheel housing 19 of the first embodiment (e.g. Figurel). Figure 13 shows the operative position and Figure 14 shows the stowed position. Note that the embodiment of Figures

JI

13 and 14 advantageously affords greater ground clearance between the corner portions I 6a and 1 6b of the recess 16 of the storage portion II than the first embodiment of Figures 1, 3 and 4.

It is to be understood that the above invention is capable of many modifications and variations, each of which may well fall within the scope of the invention. The suitcase 10 described above may adopt various different shapes, and should not be construed as necessarily being rectangular in shape. For example, any general-purpose holdall, sports bag, or the like, may employ the wheel assembly 15 of the present invention in order to benefit from its attendant advantages. The term "suitcase" used throughout this disclosure should therefore be interpreted broadly. /4.

Claims

Claims 1. a wheeled suitcase comprising: a storage portion, and a wheel assembly coupled to the storage portion and comprising two wheels in tandem, the wheel assembly being movable relative to the storage portion between an operative position and a stowed position; wherein, in the operative position, the two wheels are arranged to define a wheeling plane such that the two wheels pivotally maintain a rolling contact with the ground, and wherein in the stowed position the wheel assembly is concealed within the storage portion, when in the stowed position the exterior portion of the wheel assembly being shaped to confirm to the profile of the corner of the suitcase.
2. The wheeled suitcase of Claim 1, wherein, in the operative position, the wheel assembly being pivotal relative to the storage portion such that the wheeling plane is pivotal relative to the storage portion.
3. The wheeled suitcase of Claim I or 2, wherein the storage portion comprises a recess such that, in the stowed position, tle plurality of wheels are substantially within the recess.
4. The wheeled suitcase of Claim 3, wherein the recess is defined by an arc substantially concentric to an arc described by the wheel assembly when the wheel assembly pivots.
5. The wheeled suitcase of any preceding claim, wherein each wheel of the plurality of wheels defines a respective plane of rotation, the planes of rotation being substantially parallel to one another.
6. The wheeled suitcase of Claim 5, wherein the planes of rotation are substantially coplanar.
7. The wheeled suitcase of any preceding claim, wherein the wheel assembly is securable in the stowed position. /5..
8. The wheeled suitcase of any preceding claim, further comprising a handle disposed on the storage portion and spaced from the wheel assembly.
9. The wheeled suitcase of any preceding claim, wherein, in the operative position, the wheel assembly is pivotal through an angle of approximately ninety degrees.
10. The wheeled suitcase of any preceding claim, wherein an additional carrying handle is provided on the storage portion, above the wheel assembly.
11. The wheeled suitcase of any preceding claim, wherein the wheel assembly is adaptable to receive ball shaped wheels.
12. A wheeled suitcase as substantially described herein with reference to any of Figures 1 to 22.Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Claims 1. a wheeled suitcase comprising: a storage portion, and a wheel assembly coupled to the storage portion and comprising two wheels in tandem, the wheel assembly being movable relative to the storage portion between an operative position and a stowed position; wherein, in the operative position, the two wheels are arranged to define a wheeling plane such that the two wheels pivotally maintain a rolling contact with the ground, and wherein in the stowed position the wheel assembly is concealed within the storage portion, when in the stowed position an exterior portion of the wheel assembly is shaped to conform to the profile of a corner of the suitcase.2. The wheeled suitcase of Claim 1, wherein, in the operative position, the wheel assembly being pivotal relative to the storage portion such that the wheeling plane is pivotal relative to the storage portion.3. The wheeled suitcase of Claim 1 or 2, wherein the storage portion comprises a recess such that, in the stowed position, the plurality of wheels are substantially within the recess.4. The wheeled suitcase of Claim 3, wherein the recess is defined by an arc substantially concentric to an arc described by the wheel assembly when the wheel assembly pivots.5. The wheeled suitcase of any preceding claim, wherein each of the two wheels 000.* defines a respective plane of rotation, the planes of rotation being substantially * ** * .* * * parallel to one another.S S...6. The wheeled suitcase of claims 1-4, wherein each of the two wheels defines a respective plane of rotation, the planes of rotation being substantially co-planar. * * * *** *.*7. The wheeled suitcase of any preceding claim, wherein the wheel assembly is securable in the stowed position.8. The wheeled suitcase of any preceding claim, further comprising a handle disposed on the storage portion and spaced from the wheel assembly.9. The wheeled suitcase of any preceding claim, wherein, in the operative position, the wheel assembly is pivotal through an angle of approximately ninety degrees.10. The wheeled suitcase of any preceding claim, wherein an additional carrying handle is provided on the storage portion, above the wheel assembly.11. The wheeled suitcase of any preceding claim, wherein the wheel assembly is adaptable to receive ball shaped wheels.12. A wheeled suitcase as substantially described herein with reference to any of Figures 1 to 22.