Retractable suspension

Abstract

A wheeled transport device that includes a body, a handle coupled to the body, a suspension system coupled to the body, and at least one wheel rotatably secured to the suspension system. The suspension system is retracted toward the body when the handle is moved from an extended position to a retracted position.

1 . A wheeled transport device, comprising:
 a body;   a handle coupled to the body, the handle being movable between an extended position and a retracted position;   a suspension system coupled to the body;   at least one wheel rotatably secured to the suspension system; and   a cam arranged to retract the suspension system toward the body when the handle is moved from the extended position to the retracted position.   
     
     
         2 . The wheeled transport device of  claim 1 , wherein the wheeled transport device is a wheeled luggage device. 
     
     
         3 . The wheeled transport device of  claim 1 , wherein the handle and the cam are arranged so that the handle rotates the cam when the handle is moved to the retracted position. 
     
     
         4 . The wheeled transport device of  claim 1 , wherein the handle defines a recess configured to receive the cam when the handle is in the retracted position. 
     
     
         5 . The wheeled transport device of  claim 4 , wherein the recess is configured to substantially prevent the cam from rotating when the handle is in the retracted position. 
     
     
         6 . The wheeled transport device of  claim 5 , wherein the cam is configured to substantially prevent the suspension system from rotating when the handle is in the retracted position. 
     
     
         7 . The wheeled transport device of  claim 1 , wherein the handle comprises a projection configured to contact the cam when the handle is moved to the retracted position. 
     
     
         8 . The wheeled transport device of  claim 1 , wherein the cam is arranged so that the cam contacts a member of the suspension system when the handle is moved to the retracted position. 
     
     
         9 . The wheeled transport device of  claim 1 , wherein the cam is spring loaded. 
     
     
         10 . The wheeled transport device of  claim 1 , wherein the suspension system is spring loaded so that the suspension system is deployed away from the body when the handle is in the extended position. 
     
     
         11 . The wheeled transport device of  claim 10 , wherein a rolling surface of the wheel is extended beyond the body when the handle is in the extended position. 
     
     
         12 . The wheeled transport device of  claim 1 , wherein the cam comprises a projection disposed in a slot defined by the suspension system. 
     
     
         13 . The wheeled transport device of  claim 12 , wherein the slot comprises a first segment and a second segment that extends at an obtuse angle relative to the first segment. 
     
     
         14 . The wheeled transport device of  claim 13 , wherein the projection is disposed in the first segment of the slot when the handle is in the retracted position and the projection is disposed in the second segment of the slot when the handle is in the extended position. 
     
     
         15 . The wheeled transport device of  claim 1 , wherein the suspension system comprises a first member and a second member that is rotatable relative to the first member, the wheel being coupled to the second member. 
     
     
         16 . The wheeled transport device of  claim 15 , wherein the first member is fixed to the body. 
     
     
         17 . The wheeled transport device of  claim 15 , wherein the suspension system further comprises a spring-damper disposed between the first and second members, the spring-damper configured to resist rotation of the second member relative to the first member. 
     
     
         18 . The wheeled transport device of  claim 1 , wherein an entire area of the wheel overlays an area defined by the body when the handle is in the retracted position. 
     
     
         19 . A wheeled transport device configured to be manually wheeled in an inclined position by a pedestrian user, the transport device comprising:
 a body;   a handle coupled to the body, the handle being movable between an extended position and a retracted position, and, when in the extended position, the handle being manually graspable by the pedestrian user while walking;   at least one wheel disposed at a lower end portion of the body when the transport device is in an operative, inclined position; and   a suspension device coupling at least one wheel to the body; and   a cam coupled to the suspension device, the cam being arranged to retract the suspension system and the wheel toward the body when the handle is moved from an extended position to a retracted position.