BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention: The present invention relates generally to a luggage cart attachment that is specially adapted for use with garment bags. More particularly, it relates to such a luggage cart attachment that can be used to pull the garment bag on wheels and which allows the garment bag to be hung in a conventional manner.

2. Description of the Prior Art: Folding, wheeled carts are known for holding conventional suitcases, so that they can be pulled behind the user. Some suitcases also come with built-in wheels and a strap so that they can be pulled behind the user without a separate can. However, the wheeled carts for conventional suitcases are not satisfactory for holding garment bags, and the user is left with the choice of carrying the garment bag from a handle or from a shoulder strap attached to the spine of the garment bag.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a luggage cart attachment for use with a garment bag. It is another object of the invention to provide such a luggage cart attachment that will allow the garment bag to be hung in a conventional manner with the luggage cart attachment in place.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a luggage cart attachment that assumes a configuration for pulling behind a user when the garment bag is set on the ground with the luggage cart attachment in place.

It is still another object of the invention to provide such a luggage cart attachment that provides the functionality of a luggage cart for a garment bag without interfering with conventional use of the garment bag.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide such a luggage cart attachment that can be reduced in size when it is not in use.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide such a luggage cart attachment in which the garment bag is fastened to the attachment in a simple and secure manner.

The attainment of these and related objects may be achieved through use of the novel garment bag luggage cart attachment herein disclosed. A garment bag luggage cart attachment in accordance with this invention has first and second frame members pivotally connected to form a spine along which the first and second frame members are free to pivot with respect to one another. A means is provided for securing the garment bag over the spine to the first and second frame members with first and second sides of the garment bag on the first and second frame members. A means limits an extent of pivoting motion of the first and second frame members with respect to one another. In one aspect of the invention, the means for securing a garment bag comprises first and second straps each connected at a first end to one of the first and second frame members and releasably connected at a second end to another of the first and second frame members. The first and second straps each having a sufficient length to extend between the first and second frame members and through a handle of the garment bag when the garment bag is supported on the spine.

In another aspect of the invention, the means for selectively limiting pivotal movement of the first and second frame members comprises first and second divider members connected together by a pivot. The first divider member is connected to the first frame member by an end remote from the pivot. The second divider member is connected to the second frame member by an end remote from the pivot. In a third aspect of the invention, the luggage cart attachment has a handle connected to an end of the spine by a flexible strap. The flexible strap is retractable into the end of said spine.

In a fourth aspect of the invention, the first and second frame members are dimensionally adjustable in height.

The attainment of the foregoing and related objects, advantages and features of the invention should be more readily apparent to those skilled in the art, after review of the following more detailed description of the invention, taken together with the drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a garment bag luggage cart attachment in accordance with the invention.

Figures 2A-2E are a series of end views showing the garment bag luggage cart attachment of Figure 1 in different positions during its use. Figures 3A and 3B are two side views showing the garment bag luggage cart attachment of Figure 1 in additional positions during its use.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a garment bag luggage cart attachment in accordance with the invention.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the garment bag luggage can attachment of Figure 4 in use, but with the attachment rotated 180 degrees about a vertical axis from the position shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an end view of the garment bag luggage cart attachment of Figures 4-5 in use.

Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of the garment bag luggage cart attachment of Figures 4-6.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a portion of the garment bag luggage cart attachment of Figures 4-7.

Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view of the garment bag luggage cart attachment portion of Figure 8. Figure 10 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a garment bag luggage cart attachment in accordance with the invention.

Figure 11 is an enlarged perspective view of area 11 in Figure 10.

Figure 12 is an enlarged perspective view of area 12 in Figure 10.

Figures 13 and 14 are perspective views of a fourth embodiment of a garment bag luggage cart attachment in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning now to the drawings, more particularly to Figure 1 , there is shown a garment bag luggage cart attachment 10 fastened to a conventional soft-sided garment bag 12, which folds over spine 14 of the luggage cart attachment and has a handle 16 midway along the spine 14. The luggage cart attachment 10 is formed from a first frame member 18 and a second frame member 20 pivotally connected to the first frame member 18 at 22 and 24. The first frame member 18 is generally U- shaped in configuration, with a raised central portion 26 on bottom 28 of the U-

shape as shown. The second frame member 20 is generally D-shaped in configuration with a corresponding raised central portion 30 on bottom 32 of the D- shape as shown. This essentially two piece construction for the primary structural members 18 and 20 means that the luggage cart attachment is easily fabricated from a suitable plastic material, such as rigid polypropylene, with two molds.

Alternatively, the frame members 18 and 20 could be fabricated with a suitable metal, such as aluminum, or a carbon fiber composite. Caster wheels 34 are pivotally mounted on the bottoms 28 and 32. Strap rings 36 are pivotally attached to ends 38 and 40 of the first frame member 18. A flexible fabric belt 42 is permanently attached at one end to the raised central portion 26 on the first frame member 18 and is releasably attached around the raised central portion 30 on the second frame member 20 by means of Velcro type fasteners at 44. A set of short straps 46 are fastened to the bottoms 28 and 32 of the first and second frame members 18 and 20. Straps 48 are fastened to the strap rings 36 at the ends 38 and 40. The straps 48 are double layered, with layers 50 and 52 being fastened together, such as by stitching at 54 proximate to handle 16 of the garment bag 12, but are free to separate along either side of the garment bag 12 beyond their attachment at 54. Arrows 56 show how the straps are positioned around the garment bag 12 to secure it on the attachment 10. Releasable buckles 58 fasten the short straps 46 to the layers 50 and 52 of the straps 48 to hold the garment bag securely in place on the attachment 10.

As shown in Figure 2 A, when the garment bag 12 is not on the luggage cart attachment 10, the first and second frame members 18 and 20 fold together for storage. When it is desired to use the attachment 10, pressing down on spine 14 with the caster wheels 34 resting on floor 60 or other hard surface causes the first and second frame members 18 and 20 to pivot with respect to one another as shown in Figures 2B and 2C, until the flexible fabric belt 42 is pulled taut. The garment bag 12 is then placed over the luggage cart attachment as shown in Figures 1 and 2D, the straps 48 passed through the handle 16 and the buckles 58 fastened to secure the garment bag 12 on the luggage cart attachment 10. With the luggage can attachment 10 in the configuration shown in Figures 1 and 2D, strap handle 62 is used to pull the garment bag 12 on the luggage cart attachment 10 behind the user while walking. Alternatively, the garment bag handle 16 is grasped and held up, so that the frame members 18 and 20 fold together. The garment bag 10 can then be

carried along, with the caster wheels 34 either on the floor 60 so that the weight of the garment bag 12 is partially supported or with the caster wheels 34 off the ground. The user is able to shift between the use of strap handle 62 or the garment bag handle 16 easily in order to avoid muscle fatigue while transporting the garment bag 12. When the user releases the handle 16, the weight of the garment bag 12 on the luggage cart attachment causes the frame members 18 and 20 to pivot with respect to each other to the position shown in Figure 2D.

As shown in Figure 3A, the garment bag 12 is hung from hook 64 on the garment bag 12 with the first and second frame members 18 and 20 pivoted together. Alternatively, the Velcro fastener 44 of flexible fabric belt 42 is released, and the garment bag 12 hung full length, as shown in Figure 3B.

Figures 4-7 show another luggage cart attachment 70 for a garment bag 72. As in the luggage cart attachment 10 of Figures 1-3B, the luggage cart attachment 70 comprises an outer frame member 74 and an inner frame member 76 pivotally connected to the outer frame member 74 at 78 and 80. Swiveling front caster wheels 82 and non-swiveling rear caster wheels 84 are attached to the outer frame member 74 and the inner frame member 76 with wheel mounts 86 and 88. As is best seen in Figure 6, the wheel mounts are attached to the outer and inner frame members 74 and 76 at an angle of 15 degrees with respect to sides 89 of the outer and inner frame members 74 and 76, so that the wheels are vertical when the outer and inner frame members have pivoted to the open position shown. Right and left generally Y- shaped primary strap assemblies 90 and 92 are fastened to the wheel mounts 86 and 88 by strap mounting clips 94. (The designations right and left are with respect to the attachment 70 in the orientation of Figure 4.) Fastening strap assemblies 96 and 98 are attached to cap plugs 100 mounted in ends 102 and 104 of inner frame member 76 top tube 106 by front clip 108 and rear clip 110. Pull strap assembly 112 is fastened to the front clip 108 by swiveling clip 114. Left and right structure strap assemblies 116 and 118 are attached to raised portions 120 and 122 of the outer and inner frame members 74 and 76. The structure strap assemblies 116 and 118 have mating Velcro fastener hooks and loops to join the assemblies 116 and 118 together to provide a limit on the extent of pivoting between the outer and inner frame members 74 and 76 when in the open position as shown.

In use of the luggage cart attachment 70, the garment bag 72 is placed over the attachment 70 as shown in Figures 5 and 6, and end 124 of the left primary strap

assembly 90 is passed through handle 126 of the garment bag 72. The right and left primary strap assemblies 90 and 92 are then fastened together with releasable buckle 128. Ends 130 and 132 of the fastening strap assemblies 96 and 98 are then passed through the handle 126 of the garment bag 72 and joined to ends 134 and 136 with releasable buckles 138 and 140. The garment bag 72 is now held securely in place on the luggage cart attachment 70. As indicated by arrows 142 and 144 in Figure 6, downward force on the luggage cart attachment 70 causes the outer and inner frame members 74 and 76 to pivot with respect to each other to the maximum open position of the attachment 70 permitted by the structure strap assemblies 116 and 118.

Details of the wheel mounts 86 are shown in Figures 8-9. The wheel mounts 88 have essentially the same construction. Upper and lower halves 146 and 148 are mounted over apertures 150 in the outer and inner frame members 74 and 76 by pins 152. Bolt 154 mounts to the swivel wheel 82 bracket 156. Strap mounting clip 94 extends into passage 156 along the length of projection 158 on the upper half 146. Other than as shown and described, the construction and operation of the Figures 4-9 embodiment of the invention is the same as that of the Figures 1-3B embodiment.

Figures 10-12 show another luggage cart attachment 170 for a garment bag (not shown). As in the luggage cart attachment 10 of Figures 1-3B and 70 of

Figures 4-9, the luggage cart attachment 170 comprises an outer frame member 174 and an inner frame member 176 pivotally connected to the outer frame member 174 at 178 and 180. Swiveling front caster wheels 182 and non-swiveling rear caster wheels 184 are attached to the outer frame member 174 and the inner frame member 176 with wheel mounts 186 and 188. Inner frame member 176 consists of horizontal tubes 190-192 and side tubes 194-196. Horizontal tube 190 and side tubes 194 are held in place by lugs 198. Side tubes 194 telescope into side tubes 196; both are engaged by a knurled fitting 200 of the type conventionally employed on camera tripods with telescoping legs. Side tubes 196 and horizontal tube 192 are held in place by brackets 202. Similarly, outer frame member 174 consists of horizontal tube 192, brackets 202, knurled fittings 200, telescoping side tubes 194- 196 and lugs 204, assembled in the same manner as the inner frame member 176.

The horizontal tubes 192 of the outer and inner frame members 174 and 176 are fastened together by a divider 206, consisting of leaves 208, hinged together at

210 and having ends 212 pivotally engaging the horizontal tubes 192. As is best shown in Figure 12, the leaves 208 pivot upward to collapse the outer and inner frame members 174 and 176 with respect to one another. To separate the outer and inner frame members 174 and 176, the leaves 208 are pivoted downward until they are horizontal. Tabs 214 ensure that the leaves 208 will not pivot downward beyond their horizontal position, thus ensuring that the frame members 174 and 176 will lock firmly into their fully separated position.

As is best shown in Figure 11, handle 216 is attached to a retractable, flexible strap 218. The flexible strap 218 is attached to a retracting mechanism (not shown) inside the lug 204.

In use of the luggage cart attachment 170, a garment bag is held in place over the attachment 170 in a manner similar to that in use of the attachments 10 and 70 of Figures 1-9, but using resilient cords of the type commercially available under the trademark Bungee to hold the garment bag in place, as explained more fully in connection with the Figures 13-14 embodiment. When the attachment 170 is not in use, side tubes 194 and 196 are telescoped together to reduce the size of the attachment 170, as shown in Figure 10. In this configuration, the attachment 170 can be stored in the fold of the garment bag to facilitate storage, for example, in the overhead compartment of an airplane cabin. Figures 13-14 show another luggage cart attachment 230 which is similar in construction to the luggage cart attachment 170 of Figures 10-12. The attachment 230 differs from the attachment 170 in that side tubes 232 do not telescope together. Instead, clamping mechanism 234 holds the side tubes 232 in place in brackets 236. Lever 238 is moved to allow the side tubes 232 to extend further into the brackets 236 to shorten the combined length of the tubes 232 and brackets 236, as shown in Figure 13.

Figure 14 shows how resilient Bungee cords 240 are used to attach a garment bag (not shown) to the luggage cart attachment 230. One end 242 of the Bungee cords 240 is permanently attached to one of the brackets 236. The other end 244 of the cords 240 is fastenable with a releasable fastener 246 to an oppositely positioned bracket 236 from the bracket 236 to which the cord 240 is permanently attached. A garment bag is positioned over the luggage cart attachment 230 in the same manner as shown in Figure 1 for the attachment 10. Bungee cords 240 are then passed through the handle of the garment bag, thus positioning the bungee

cords 240 over the garment bag in approximately the position shown, and releasable fastener 246 is used to engage bracket 236 with end 244.

It should now be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that a novel luggage cart attachment for a garment bag capable of achieving the stated objects of the invention has been provided. The luggage cart attachment allows the garment bag to be hung in a conventional manner with the luggage cart attachment in place.

The luggage cart attachment assumes a configuration for pulling behind a user when the garment bag is set on the ground with the luggage cart attachment in place. The luggage cart attachment provides the functionality of a luggage cart for a garment bag without interfering with conventional use of the garment bag. The luggage cart attachment that can be reduced in size when it is not in use. A garment bag is fastened to the luggage cart attachment in a simple and secure manner.

It should further be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details of the invention as shown and described may be made. It is intended that such changes be included within the spirit and scope of the claims appended hereto.