US20020162717A1

US20020162717A1 - Automatically extending foot seat

Info

Publication number: US20020162717A1
Application number: US09/847,418
Authority: US
Inventors: Jerhong Lin; Chung-Hsien Kuo
Original assignee: Chaw Khong Technology Co Ltd
Current assignee: Chaw Khong Technology Co Ltd
Priority date: 2001-05-03
Filing date: 2001-05-03
Publication date: 2002-11-07

Abstract

The present invention provides an automatically extending foot seat, which comprises an outer bushing, an extension rod, and a spring abutting between the extension rod and the outer bushing. The outer bushing has a retaining groove. A resilient press button is disposed at the retaining groove. Moreover, the front end of the extension rod has a foot seat. A retaining part matching the retaining groove is disposed near the foot seat. Through the function of the press button of the outer bushing, the retaining part can let the extension rod protrude out of the outer bushing. Thereby, an extended supporting point can be obtained to prevent the traveling suitcase from falling down because of an unsteady center of gravity.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an automatically extending foot seat and, more particularly, to an improved structure capable of preventing a traveling suitcase from falling down because of an unstable center of gravity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the present busy society, going out traveling has become the best recreation to relax spirits and to free from pressure for most people. During longtime and long-distance travels, traveling suitcases are inevitable equipments. Personal needments, clothes, and articles or documents can be placed in the receiving space thereof. Moreover, articles purchased during the journey can be received therein. Traveling suitcases are most widely used when going abroad traveling because it takes longer time and thus articles and documents to be taken along increase relatively. However, a traveling suitcase cannot receive too many articles. Therefore, a traveling suitcase with a receiving space extended forwards has been proposed. Or a bag is directly hung at the front end of a traveling suitcase for receiving more articles. As shown in FIG. 1, a general traveling suitcase la comprises a

box

10 a, a pull rod 11 a fixedly disposed at the back of the box 10 a for pulling the traveling suitcase 1 a, and a fixed caster set 12 a locked at two sides of the rear end of the bottom of the box 10 a to facilitate the motion of the traveling suitcase 1 a. Additionally, a foot pad 13 a is pivotally disposed at either side of the front end of the bottom of the box 10 a to form a support structure so that the box 1 a can keep a stationary state when the traveling suitcase 1 a is at rest.

However, the

foot pads

13 a of the above traveling suitcase 1 a form a fixed support structure. If more articles are placed in the traveling suitcase with a receiving space extended forwards, or a bag is hung at the front end of the traveling suitcase, an imbalance force will be generated because the center of gravity moves to the front end when the traveling suitcase is at rest. Therefore, the traveling suitcase will fall down to spoil the articles therein. Accordingly, the above traveling suitcase has inconvenience and drawbacks in practical use. The present invention aims to resolve the above problems in the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an automatically extending foot seat aimed to resolve the unsteady state of a traveling suitcase when articles are placed therein. A foot seat of an extension rod extends outwards a predetermined length to obtain an extended supporting point so that balance can be accomplished.

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides an automatically extending foot seat comprising an outer bushing, an extension rod, and a resilient element abutting between the extension rod and the outer bushing. The upper surface of the outer bushing has locking parts to be locked at the bottom of a traveling suitcase. The front end of the extension rod has an opening. A retaining groove is disposed near the opening. A resilient press button is disposed at the retaining groove. Moreover, the front end of the extension rod has a foot seat. A retaining part matching the retaining groove is disposed near the foot seat. The retaining part has resiliency. Through the functions of the press button and the retaining groove of the outer bushing, the extension rod can protrude out of or be received in the outer bushing. Thereby, a supporting point extended forwards can be obtained to prevent the traveling suitcase from falling down because of an unsteady center of gravity.

The various objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the appended drawing, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the traveling suitcase of the prior art; [0007]
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an automatically extending foot seat of the present invention; [0008]
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an automatically extending foot seat of the present invention; [0009]
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an automatically extending foot seat of the present invention; [0010]
FIG. 5 is a view showing the action when the present invention is used; [0011]
FIG. 6 is another view showing the action when the present invention is used; and [0012]
FIG. 7 is a view showing the use state of the present invention.[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and [0014] 4, an automatically extending foot seat of the present invention comprises an outer bushing 1, an extension rod 2, and a spring 3.
The [0015] outer bushing 1 is approximately a semi-circular tube with an arc opening 10 shrunk inwards at the front end thereof. The outer bushing 1 has a receiving space 11 therein connected with the opening 10. The distal end of the receiving space 11 has a projective sticking block 110. A retaining groove 12 is disposed near the bottom edge of the opening 10. A press button 13 having resiliency is disposed at the retaining groove 12. Moreover, the upper surface of the outer bushing 1 forms a flat plane, which has two projective locking parts 15 each having an inner thread hole 150. The locking parts 15 are used to lock the outer bushing 1 at a predetermined position at the bottom of a traveling suitcase (not shown). Additionally, a lengthwise groove 16 of a predetermined length is cut into the flat plane 14 of the outer bushing 1.
The [0016] extension rod 2 is properly received in the receiving space 11 of the outer bushing 1. The front end of the extension rod 2 has a foot seat 20 to stand on the ground. The foot seat 20 has an arc plane 200 correspondingly matching the opening 10. A resilient retaining part 21 is disposed near the foot seat 20. The upper edge of the rear end of the extension rod 2 has a stop part 22, which can match and move in the lengthwise groove 16 on the upper surface of the outer bushing 1. Moreover, the rear end of the extension rod has a recessed cavity 23 of a predetermined length. A projective sticking block 230 is disposed at the distal end of the cavity 23.
The [0017] spring 3 is a resilient element. The spring 3 is placed in the cavity 23 at the rear end of the extension rod 2. That is, one end of the spring 3 abuts against the sticking block 230 in the cavity 23, and the other end thereof abuts against the sticking block 110 in the receiving space 11 of the outer bushing 1.
Thereby, the automatically extending foot seat of the present invention can be locked onto a traveling suitcase with a receiving space extended forwards, or be locked onto a traveling suitcase with a bag hung at the front end thereof, as shown in FIG. 7. Before used, the [0018] spring 3 and the extension rod 2 are received in the outer bushing 1 in this order. Thereby, the spring 3 can be compressed to abut between the outer bushing 1 and the extension rod 2, and the front edge of the retaining part 21 of the extension rod 2 can abut against the wall of the front edge of the retaining groove 12 of the outer bushing 1.
The extension rod can thus be fixed in the [0019] outer bushing 1. If the extension rod 2 is to protrude out of the outer bushing 1, the press button 13 of the outer bushing 1 is pressed to let the retaining part 21 resiliently move inwards until the retaining part 21 detaches from the wall of the front edge of the retaining groove 12, as shown in FIG. 5. At this time, through the resiliency of the spring 3, the extension rod 2 will be forced to spring out fast. Simultaneously, the stop part 22 of the extension rod 2 will move forwards along the lengthwise groove 16 on the upper surface of the outer bushing 1 until the stop part 22 abuts against the wall of the front edge of the lengthwise groove 16, as shown in FIG. 6. Thereby, the extension rod 2 can be prevented from rushing out of the outer bushing 1 because of a too large resiliency.
To sum up, the present invention exploits mainly a foot seat of an extension rod. The foot seat extends out a predetermined length to obtain an extended supporting point so as to prevent the traveling suitcase from falling down because of an unsteady center of gravity. [0020]
Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details thereof. Various substitutions and modifications have been suggested in the foregoing description, and other will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, all such substitutions and modifications are intended to be embraced within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. [0021]

Claims

I claim:

1. An automatically extending foot seat, comprising:

an outer bushing with an opening at a front end thereof, a retaining groove being disposed near said opening, a resilient press button being disposed at said retaining groove;

an extension rod with a foot seat at a front end thereof, a retaining part matching said retaining groove being disposed near said foot seat, said retaining part having resiliency to let said extension rod move retractably in said outer bushing; and

a resilient element abutting between said extension rod and said outer bushing;

whereby an extended supporting point can be obtained to prevent a traveling suitcase from falling down because of an unstable center of gravity.

2. The automatically extending foot seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein an upper surface of said outer bushing has locking parts used to lock said outer bushing onto a predetermined position of the bottom of a traveling suitcase.

3. The automatically extending foot seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein an upper surface of said outer bushing has a lengthwise groove, and said extension rod has a stop part to match and move in said lengthwise groove.

4. The automatically extending foot seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein said resilient element is a spring.