Portable luggage carts/carriers

1. A luggage cart/carrier movable between a first, compact configuration and a second, operational configuration, said cart/carrier comprising:

A. a frame member comprising two leg portions formed in juxtaposed, spaced, parallel relationship to each other;

B. an extension portion mounted to the frame member and movable between a first compact, stowable position and a second, fully extended, operational position;

C. a support platform pivotally mounted to the leg portions of the frame member and movable between a first, folded position and a second, operational, luggage supporting position, and comprising two end members each being fixedly mounted to a bracket member, said bracket member being pivotally affixed to the terminating end of one of said leg portions of the frame member;

D. two separate and independent wheel holding carriers, each being mounted to one of said leg portions for controlled, arcuate pivoting movement relative thereto, for moving said carriers between a first folded position, and a second operational position, wherein said wheel holding carriers extend rearwardly, substantially perpendicularly to the plane formed by the frame member, and each comprising a housing, said housing

a) being constructed for supportingly maintaining a wheel member for rotational movement therein, and

b) incorporating a longitudinally extending, cylindrically shaped cavity formed therein, dimensioned for peripherally surrounding one leg of said frame member, in cooperating pivoting relationship therewith, and

c) having an upper edge adjacent said elongated cavity which comprises a plurality of sloping surfaces, with each sloping surface terminating with an abutment wall,

E. a pair of movement control assemblies, each associated with one of said wheel holding carriers, with each movement control assembly being

a) mounted to one of the leg portions of the frame member,

b) controllably connected to one wheel holding carrier,

c) responsive to the pivoting movement of the support platform between its first position and its second position for providing an arcuate pivoting force to the wheel holding carrier for causing said carrier to arcuately pivot in response thereto, and

d) comprising a collar member fixedly mounted to one of said leg portions of the frame member, and an arcuate force generating member cooperatively associated with said collar member and extending therefrom into controlled engagement with said wheel supporting carrier, and each of said collar members incorporating a lower edge comprising a plurality of sloping surfaces, with each of said sloping surfaces terminating with an abutment wall, with said sloping surfaces and abutment walls being constructed for cooperating, sliding engagement with the sloping surfaces and abutment walls of the wheel holding carriers, whereby arcuate pivoting movement of the wheel holding carriers relative to the collar members is controlled and limited by the sliding engagement of the cooperating sloping surfaces in combination with contact between said cooperating abutment walls;

whereby a luggage cart/carrier is achieved which is capable of being placed in a small, compact configuration for storage, while also being quickly and easily moved into an operational position, with the wheel supporting carriers automatically arcuately pivoted into an operational, usable position, simultaneously with the movement of the support platform into its operational position.

2. The luggage cart/carrier defined in claim 1 , wherein said arcuate force generating member is further defined as comprising a coil spring mounted on the outer surface of said leg portion, fixedly mounted at one end to said collar member and fixedly mounted at its opposed end to said wheel supporting carrier, with said coil spring further defined as being maintained both in compression and under arcuate tension, thereby providing the arcuate pivoting force to the carrier member in response to axial movement of said coil spring.

3. The luggage cart/carrier defined in claim 2 , wherein each of said bracket members is further defined as being pivotally mounted to the leg portion of the frame member with a portion of each bracket member being maintained in movement controlling engagement with a bottom surface of the housing of one of said wheel holding carriers, whereby the arcuate pivoting movement of said bracket member relative to the leg portion causes the wheel holding carrier to axially move along the length of the leg portion.

4. The luggage cart/carrier defined in claim 3 , wherein said bracket members are further defined as being positioned on the leg portions of the frame member for arcuate pivoting movement relative thereto in a manner which causes the wheel holding carriers to be axially advanced upwardly in response to movement of the support platform from its first position to its second position.

5. The luggage cart/carrier defined in claim 3 , wherein each of said bracket members is further defined as comprising a locking notch formed therein and each of said wheel holding carriers is further defined as comprising a locking tab extending from the bottom surface thereof, whereby arcuate pivoting movement of the wheel holding carriers into their operational position simultaneously causes the locking tab to enter the locking notch of the bracket members for securely affixing and maintaining the wheel holding carriers in the desired position.

6. The luggage cart/carrier defined in claim 1 , wherein said frame member is further defined as comprising a single, substantially continuous, tubular member formed in a generally U-shape, defining said two leg portions and an interconnecting portion extending between said leg portions.

7. The luggage cart/carrier defined in claim 6 , wherein said extension portion is further defined as being formed from a single, substantially continuous, tubular member formed in a generally oval shape and incorporating two terminating ends, each of which are pivotally mounted to the frame member.

8. The luggage cart/carrier defined in claim 7 , wherein said extension portion further comprises a pivotal locking bar cooperatively associated therewith and positioned for cooperating engagement with the connecting portion of the frame member, enabling the extension portion to be quickly and easily lockingly engaged with the frame member when said extension portion is in its second position.

9. The luggage cart/carrier defined in claim 8 , wherein said extension portion is further defined as being pivotally mounted to the interior surface of the frame member for enabling said extension portion to be folded into a compact position cooperatively associated therewith.

10. A luggage cart/carrier movable between a first, compact configuration and a second, operational configuration, said cart/carrier comprising:

A. a frame member comprising a single, substantially continuous, tubular member formed in a generally U-shape, defining two leg portions formed and an interconnecting portion extending between said leg portions;

B. an extension portion mounted to the frame member and movable between a first compact, stowable position and a second, fully extended, operational position said extension portion being defined as being formed from a single, substantially continuous, tubular member formed in a generally oval shape and incorporating two terminating ends, each of which are pivotally mounted to the frame member.;

C. a support platform pivotally mounted to the leg portions of the frame member, movable between a first, folded position and a second, operational, luggage supporting position, and comprising two end members each being fixedly mounted to a bracket member, said bracket member being pivotally affixed to the terminating end of one of said leg portions of the frame member;

D. two separate and independent wheel holding carriers, each being mounted to one of said leg portions for controlled, arcuate pivoting movement relative thereto, for moving said carriers between a first folded position, and a second operational position, wherein said wheel holding carriers extend rearwardly, substantially perpendicularly to the plane formed by the frame member, and each comprising a housing, said housing

a) being constructed for supportingly maintaining a wheel member for rotational movement therein, and

b) incorporating a longitudinally extending, cylindrically shaped cavity formed therein, dimensioned for peripherally surrounding one leg of said frame member, in cooperating pivoting relationship therewith; and

c) having an upper edge adjacent said elongated cavity which comprises a plurality of sloping surfaces, with each sloping surface terminating with an abutment wall,

E. a pair of movement control assemblies, each associated with one of said wheel holding carriers, with each movement control assembly being

a) mounted to one of the leg portions of the frame member,

b) controllably connected to one wheel holding carrier,

c) responsive to the pivoting movement of the support platform between its first position and its second position for providing an arcuate pivoting force to the wheel holding carrier for causing said carrier to arcuately pivot in response thereto, and

d) comprising a collar member fixedly mounted to one of said leg portions of the frame member, and an arcuate force generating member cooperatively associated with said collar member and extending therefrom into controlled engagement with said wheel supporting carrier, and each of said collar members incorporating a lower edge comprising a plurality of sloping surfaces, with each of said sloping surfaces terminating with an abutment wall, with said sloping surfaces and abutment walls being constructed for cooperating, sliding engagement with the sloping surfaces and abutment walls of the wheel holding carriers, whereby arcuate pivoting movement of the wheel holding carriers relative to the collar members is controlled and limited by the sliding engagement of the cooperating sloping surfaces in combination with contact between said cooperating abutment walls;

whereby a luggage cart/carrier is achieved which is capable of being placed in a small, compact configuration for storage, while also being quickly and easily moved into an operational position, with the wheel supporting carriers automatically arcuately pivoted into an operational, usable position, simultaneously with the movement of the support platform into its operational position.

11. The luggage cart/carrier defined in claim 10 , wherein said arcuate force generating member is further defined as comprising a coil spring mounted on the outer surface of said leg portion, fixedly mounted at one end to said collar member and fixedly mounted at its opposed end to said wheel supporting carrier, with said coil spring further defined as being maintained both in compression and under arcuate tension, thereby providing the arcuate pivoting force to the carrier member in response to axial movement of said coil spring.

12. The luggage cart/carrier defined in claim 11 , wherein each of said bracket members is further defined as being pivotally mounted to the leg portion of the frame member with a portion of each bracket member being maintained in movement controlling engagement with a bottom surface of the housing of one of said wheel holding carriers, whereby the arcuate pivoting movement of said bracket member relative to the leg portion causes the wheel holding carrier to axially move along the length of the leg portion.

13. The luggage cart/carrier defined in claim 12 , wherein said bracket members are further defined as being positioned on the leg portions of the frame member for arcuate pivoting movement relative thereto in a manner which causes the wheel holding carriers to be axially advanced upwardly in response to movement of the support platform from its first position to its second position.

14. The luggage cart/carrier defined in claim 12 , wherein an upper edge of each of said wheel holding carriers adjacent said elongated cavity is further defined as comprising a plurality of sloping surfaces, with each sloping surface terminating with an abutment wall, and each of said collar members incorporates a lower edge comprising a plurality of sloping surfaces, with each of said sloping surfaces terminating with an abutment wall, with said sloping surfaces and abutment walls being constructed for cooperating, sliding engagement with the sloping surfaces and abutment walls of the wheel holding carriers, whereby arcuate pivoting movement of the wheel holding carriers relative to the collar members is controlled and limited by the sliding engagement of the cooperating sloping surfaces in combination with contact between said cooperating abutment walls.

15. The luggage cart/carrier defined in claim 12 , wherein each of said bracket members is further defined as comprising a locking notch formed therein and each of said wheel holding carriers is further defined as comprising a locking tab extending from the bottom surface thereof, whereby arcuate pivoting movement of the wheel holding carriers into their operational position simultaneously causes the locking tab to enter the locking notch of the bracket members for securely affixing and maintaining the wheel holding carriers in the desired position.

16. The luggage cart/carrier defined in claim 10 , wherein said extension portion further comprises a pivotal locking bar cooperatively associated therewith and positioned for cooperating engagement with the connecting portion of the frame member, enabling the extension portion to be quickly and easily lockingly engaged with the frame member when said extension portion is in its second position.