Automatically retractable adjustable foot for luggage case with wheels

Abstract

An article of upright rolling luggage with wheels is provided having one or more adjustable feet for stabilizing the luggage case in the upright position. The luggage case includes one or more wheels rotatably mounted to a portion of the luggage case substantially at a rear edge of a bottom wall of the luggage case. One or more bases extend from the bottom wall and have at least one portion spaced apart from the wheel. One or more feet are movably mounted to the base where the foot is movable from a first position substantially adjacent to the bottom wall to a second position extending away from the bottom wall. A locking mechanism is provided which allows the foot to be held in the first position and manually rotated and automatically looked into the second position. Upon depressing a release mechanism, the foot is unlocked and automatically rotated from the second position into the first position.

1 . An article of upright rolling luggage, comprising:
 a luggage case having a bottom wall, a top wall opposed from said bottom wall, and a rear wall extending between a rear edge of said bottom wall and a rear edge of said top wall;   at least one wheel rotatably mounted to a portion of said luggage case substantially at said rear edge of said bottom wall;   at least one base extending from said bottom wall and having at least one portion spaced apart from said wheel;   at least one foot rotatably mounted to said base, said foot normally biased into a first position where a length of said foot extends in a first direction so that said foot is substantially adjacent to said bottom wall and rotatable to a second position where said length of said foot extends in a second direction away from a plane defined by said bottom wall; and   a locking mechanism disposed in said base associated with said foot, said locking mechanism configured for allowing said foot to be freely rotated from said first position to said second position, locking said foot in said second position, and releasing said foot from said second position and automatically rotating said foot from said second position to said first position.   
   
   
       2 . The article of upright rolling luggage according to  claim 1  further comprising an extensible luggage handle mounted adjacent to said rear wall of said luggage case. 
   
   
       3 . The article of upright rolling luggage of  claim 1  wherein said at least one foot is normally biased into said first position by a first biasing member and automatically rotated from said second position to said first position by said first biasing member. 
   
   
       4 . The article of upright rolling luggage of  claim 3  wherein said first biasing member is a torsion spring. 
   
   
       5 . The article of upright rolling luggage according to  claim 1  wherein said base is comprised of an elongated body extending between opposing end portions. 
   
   
       6 . The article of upright rolling luggage according to  claim 5  wherein said at least one foot is pivotally attached to one of said opposing end portions. 
   
   
       7 . The article of upright rolling luggage according to  claim 6  wherein a second foot is pivotally attached to a second one of said opposing end portions. 
   
   
       8 . The article of upright rolling luggage according to  claim 6  wherein, said elongated body extends in a direction generally parallel to said rear edge of said bottom wall. 
   
   
       9 . The article of upright rolling luggage according to  claim 8  wherein said at least one foot is pivotally attached to one of said opposing end portions. 
   
   
       10 . The article of upright rolling luggage according to  claim 9  wherein a second foot is attached to a second one of said opposing end portions. 
   
   
       11 . The article of upright rolling luggage according to  claim 1  wherein said locking mechanism includes a slidable block having a nub that engages a notch in said foot to hold said foot in said first position and a slot in said foot to lock said foot in said second position. 
   
   
       12 . The article of upright rolling luggage according to  claim 11  wherein said slidable block and said nub are urged into operative engagement with said notch and said slot on said foot by a second biasing member. 
   
   
       13 . The article of upright rolling luggage according to  claim 12  wherein said second biasing member is a coil spring. 
   
   
       14 . The article of upright rolling luggage according to  claim 1  further comprising a release mechanism operatively connected to said locking mechanism, said release mechanism being operated to cause said locking mechanism to release said foot from said second position. 
   
   
       15 . The article of upright rolling luggage according to  claim 11  wherein said release mechanism includes a pushbutton. 
   
   
       16 . The article of upright rolling luggage according to  claim 1  wherein said foot includes a recessed portion for grasping said foot when rotating said foot from said first position to said second position. 
   
   
       17 . An article of upright rolling luggage, comprising:
 a luggage case having a bottom wall, a fop wall opposed from said bottom wall, and a rear wall extending between a rear edge of said bottom wall and a rear edge of said top wall;   at least one wheel rotatably mounted to a portion of said luggage case substantially at said rear edge of said bottom wall;   at least one base extending from said bottom wall and having at least one portion spaced apart from said wheel;   at least one foot rotatably mounted to said base, said foot normally biased into a first position where a length of said foot extends in a first direction so that said foot is substantially adjacent to said bottom wall and rotatable to a second position where said length of said foot extends in a second direction away from a plane defined by said bottom wall;   a locking mechanism disposed in said base associated with said foot, said locking mechanism configured for allowing said foot to be freely rotated from said first position to said second position, locking said foot in said second position, and releasing said foot from said second position and automatically rotating said foot from said second position to said first position; and   a release mechanism operatively connected to said locking mechanism, said release mechanism being operated to cause said locking mechanism to release said foot from said second position.   
   
   
       18 . The article of upright rolling luggage of  claim 17  wherein said at least one foot is normally biased into said first position by a first biasing member and automatically rotated from said second position to said first position by said first biasing member. 
   
   
       19 . The article of upright rolling luggage of  claim 18  wherein said first biasing member is a torsion spring. 
   
   
       20 . The article of upright rolling luggage according to  claim 17  wherein said locking mechanism includes a slidable block having a nub that engages a notch in said foot to hold said first in said first position and a slot in said foot to lock said foot in said second position. 
   
   
       21 . The article of upright rolling luggage according to  claim 20  wherein said slidable block and said nub are urged into operative engagement with said notch and said slot on said foot by a second biasing member. 
   
   
       22 . The article of upright rolling luggage according to  claim 21  wherein said second biasing member is a coil spring. 
   
   
       23 . The article of upright rolling luggage according to  claim 17  wherein said release mechanism includes a pushbutton. 
   
   
       24 . The article of upright rolling luggage according to  claim 17  wherein said foot includes a recessed portion for grasping said foot when rotating said foot from said first position to said second position. 
   
   
       25 . The article of upright rolling luggage according to  claim 17  wherein said at least one foot are two feet rotatably mounted one each on opposing ends of said base.