Sudhaus Schloss- Und Beschlagtechnik Gmbh & Co.

Samsonite Corporation

Ulf G Rasch

Klaus-Dieter Hesse

Georg Bartsch

Franz Hauschulte

Richard Miles

Willibald J Van Hoye

Michael Spiekermann

Klaus Hesse

Godwin Van Hooreweder

Gunter Siegert

Georg A Bartsch

Rene Castelli

Suitcase or similar container with wheel brake

A luggage latch for securing together two relatively movable parts has a latch housing on one of the parts, a latch component on the other of the parts engageable in the latch housing, and a keeper displaceable in the latch housing between a retaining position engaging and retaining the latch component and a freeing position out of engagement with the latch component and permitting same to be withdrawn from the housing. A combination lock on the housing has combination-lock elements operatively engageable with the keeper and movable between a locked position and an unlocked position respectively corresponding to the retaining and freeing positions of the keeper. In addition a key lock on the housing has a key-lock element operatively engageable with the keeper and movable between a locked position and an unlocked position respectively corresponding to the retaining and freeing position of the keeper. Either of the locks is capable of moving the keeper from the retaining to the freeing position regardless of the position of the other lock. The retaining position of the keeper is a central position and the keeper can move in opposite directions into two end freeing positions. The combination lock allows the keeper to move into one freeing position when it is unlocked and the key lock moves it into the other freeing position when it is unlocked.

Key and combination lock for luggage

Luggage cases which include four wheels may uncontrollably roll down inclined conveyor belts and the like. Disclosed is a brake system for selectively disabling at least some of the four wheels 12,14 on such a case 10. Preferably, this brake system is selectively operated by a pull strap or the like. In one condition, the brake system deploys a ground engaging arm which supports one end of the case 10 and prevents the wheels to be disabled from engaging the inclined surface of the conveyor belt.

Brake system for luggage case

A luggage latch has a housing mounted on a piece of luggage and a latch body or slide displaceable in the housing between a latched and unlatched position and engageable only in the latched position with a latch component on the luggage lid to retain the latch component. A slide button fixed to the latch body is longitudinally displaceable on the housing between a forward position corresponding to the latched position and a back position corresponding to the unlatched position. A plurality of number wheels rotatable on the housing are associated with respective rotatable members and formations can engage between the members and the latch body to prevent movement of the latch body into the unlatched position except when the wheels are in a predetermined angular position. Respective couplings between each of the wheels and the respective member are movable between a coupled position for joint rotation of each member with the respective wheel and a decoupling position for rotation of each member independently of the respective wheel. A coding element connected to the couplings is displaceable between a coded position setting the couplings in the coupled position and a coding position setting the couplings in the uncoupled position. The coding element is wholly enclosed in the housing, is exposed only in the back position of the slide button, and is covered by the slide button in the forward position thereof.

Combination latch for luggage

A latch for securing together two relatively movable parts of a suitcase, pocketbook, or the like, has a latch housing secured to one of the parts and formed internally with a retaining guide, a strike secured to the other of the parts and engageable in the housing on juxtaposition of the two parts, and a button displaceable on the housing between an outer position and an inner position. The button is formed unitarily with a latching dog retainingly engageable with the strike when same is engaged in the housing and the button is in the outer position and with a retaining formation engaged inward of the retaining guide and preventing removal of the button from the housing. A spring is braced between the housing and the button and urges the button into the outer position.

Latch for luggage or pocketbook

A connection device for releasably interconnecting two members (16, 18) preferably a receptacle and its lid, comprising an upper component (1, 101) which is provided with a hook (21, 102) and a lower component (2, 103) and a one- or two-armed lever (3, 104) which is articulated on said lower component and which is provided with a counterhook (15, 105). In order to avoid that the connection device springs open or disengages unintentionally, a snapper (5, 109) is pivotably attached to the end of the lever (3, 104) facing away from the counterhook (15, 105), said snapper being provided with a locking projection (13, 113) which is associated with a complementary, projecting locking member (14, 114) of the lower component (2, 103) and which is equipped with a spring (12, 115) holding the snapper (5, 109) in its locking position.

Connection device

A strap for towing a wheeled suitcase, passing through a slit in an end wall of the suitcase, is retractable into a housing adjoining that wall from within and containing a coil spring whose free end is coupled with that strap, advantageously through a roller or other deflecting member around which the strap is looped inside the housing. The free outer end of the strap is secured to a handgrip by having holes traversed by pins on a backing plate integral with that handgrip, the front of this strap end being covered by a flap which may be an integral extension of the backing plate folded around the strap and clamped in position with a snap fit. The backing plate has two rearwardly projecting lips which enter the slit of the suitcase wall in a retracted position and are separated by a gap traversed by the strap, these lips passing between ribs of a shield plate that penetrate the slit and engage the housing.

Growing community of inventors

Nachrodt-Einsal, Germany

Ulf G Rasch