Accessory for wheeled transport devices

Abstract

A deployable gimbal-suspended beverage cup holder that is a fixed or removable accessory to a piece of wheeled luggage or other wheeled human-pulled transport device that permits hands-free maintenance of a beverage, keeping the cup normal to the ground plane while moving the luggage or transport device.

1 . A wheeled transport device configured to be manually wheeled in an inclined position by a pedestrian user, the transport device comprising 
 a main body defining a compartment therein for containing goods to be transported and having a bottom surface upon which the device is at least partially supported in a non-rolling, upright position;    a handle disposed at an upper end of the body when the transport device is in an operative, inclined position, the handle manually graspable by the pedestrian user while walking;    at least one wheel disposed at a lower end of the body when the transport device is in an operative, inclined position, and arranged to support the device while rolling along a surface upon which the user is walking; and    a holder attached to the device and mounted to freely pivot about a substantially horizontal pivot axis as the device is wheeled in its inclined position and as the device is raised to its upright position, the holder defining therein an aperture arranged to receive a personal item to be held by the holder during use.    
   
   
       2 . The wheeled transport device of  claim 1 , wherein the wheeled transport device comprises a suitcase.  
   
   
       3 . The wheeled transport device of  claim 1 , wherein the holder is configured to hold a disposable beverage container.  
   
   
       4 . The wheeled transport device of  claim 1 , wherein the aperture is sized to hold a disposable coffee cup.  
   
   
       5 . The wheeled transport device of  claim 1 , wherein the holder is selectively movable between a first, deployed position exposed for use, and a second, stowed position.  
   
   
       6 . The wheeled transport device of  claim 5 , wherein, in its second, stowed position, the holder is fully contained within an overall outer boundary of the main body of the device.  
   
   
       7 . The wheeled transport device of  claim 1 , wherein the holder is mounted directly to the handle of the device.  
   
   
       8 . The wheeled transport device of  claim 7 , wherein the handle is selectively movable between a first, extended position and a second, stowed position.  
   
   
       9 . The wheeled transport device of  claim 8 , wherein the holder is mounted to the handle so as to be automatically moved to a stowed position as the handle is moved to its stowed position.  
   
   
       10 . The wheeled transport device of  claim 9 , wherein the holder is sized to lie completely within a volume bounded between the two rails of the handle when in its stowed position.  
   
   
       11 . The wheeled transport device of  claim 7 , wherein the holder is mounted to the handle at two opposing pivots, one on each of two parallel rails of the handle, that together define the pivot axis.  
   
   
       12 . The wheeled transport device of  claim 7 , wherein the holder is selectively movable to any of a multiple number of positions along the handle for use.  
   
   
       13 . The wheeled transport device of  claim 1 , wherein the holder is extendable from a lateral side of the main body for use.  
   
   
       14 . The wheeled transport device of  claim 13 , wherein the holder is pivotably mounted to a frame extendable from the main body of the device to expose the holder for use.  
   
   
       15 . The wheeled transport device of  claim 14 , wherein the frame is pivotably mounted to the main body.  
   
   
       16 . The wheeled transport device of  claim 15 , wherein the frame is supported by a bi-stable spring that biases the frame toward its extended position when extended, and biases the frame toward its stowed position when stowed.  
   
   
       17 . The wheeled transport device of  claim 1 , wherein the handle is retractable and comprises at least two telescoping portions.  
   
   
       18 . A method of transporting a beverage container, the method comprising 
 placing the beverage container in the holder of any of the above claims;    grasping the handle of the device;    tipping the device to its inclined position, the holder maintaining the beverage container in a substantially upright condition; and    rolling the inclined device on its wheel along a surface.