GB2451074A

GB2451074A - Wheeled bag support and seat

Info

Publication number: GB2451074A
Application number: GB0713754A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gary R Hedgecock
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-07-16
Filing date: 2007-07-16
Publication date: 2009-01-21
Anticipated expiration: 2027-07-16
Also published as: GB0713754D0; GB2451074B

Abstract

A wheeled support for a bag, comprises: an extendable handle 1; a frame 2; and a seat 3; wherein the handle and frame are pivotally connected to each other and the seat is pivotally connected to the frame or the handle to pivot about two axes (figure 4). When in a collapsed configuration (as shown) a bag may be attached to the support so that it may be carried on a user's back. Alternatively the handle may be extended telescopically so that the bag may be pulled/pushed along the ground (figure 3). When the seat is required the handle and frame are rotated relative to each other and the seat is rotated about two axes so as to lie generally perpendicular to the handle (figure 4). The seat element may also be used as a base for a trolley (figure 6).

Description

Ba2 Suonort l'his invention relates to a support for a bag. hi particular, it relates to a support for a bag that is convertible between at least two modes of operation, including a wheeled hag mode, a seat mode and a trolley mode.

Bags (and suitcases) that feature wheels and a handle are well known and conie in a range of styles and sizes. They allow a user to move the hag along the floor on the wheels by pulling or pushing the handle. The handles are generally adapted to he extendable, from a stowed position, when the user wishes to push or pull the bag.

They are popular since they provide a user with relief from carrying the weight of the bag, without dramatically adding to the weight or size of the bag. They do not however provide the user with seat and/or trolley capabilities.

Wheeled supports for bags are also known. These are attachable to and detachable from a bag. Such supports generally comprise a handle, a frame and a seat and may be converted between a bag carrying mode and a seat mode. Accordingly, these supports allow a user to move a bag along the floor, in a similar manner to a wheeled bag, whilst additionally providing a seat for the user. Unfortunately however, these supports are, to date, cumbersome and require the bag to be removed so that the support may be moved between the bag carrying and seat mode. In light of these shortcomings wheeled supports for bags have not been popular.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide an improved support for a bag that is less cumbersome and awkward to use than prior art bag supports and provides a user with increased functionality over a wheeled bag by providing seat and/or trolley capabilities.

According to the present invention in a first aspect, there is provided a wheeled support for a bag, comprising: an extendable handle; a frame; and a seat; wherein the handle and frame are pivotally connected to each other and the seat is pivotally connected to the frame or the handle to pivot about two axes. -,)-

This arrangement provides a compact and unobtrusive support for a bag that may be quickly and easily converted between a wheeled bag mode and a seat mode, without removing the bag from the support. The arrangenient may further provide for an additional mode of operation in which the seat forms the load-carrying platform of a trolley.

According to the present invention in a further aspect, there is a hag provided comprising the wheeled support of the first aspect.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a front perspective view of the support according to an embodiment of the invention in a bag mode; Figure 2 shows a rear perspective view of the support in the bag mode; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the support in a wheeled bag mode, with the handle extended; Figure 4 shows a front perspective view of the support in a seat mode; Figure 5 shows a rear perspective view of the support in a seat mode; and Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the support is a trolley mode.

Figures I to 6 show an embodiment of a wheeled support for a bag in accordance with the present invention. The support comprises three main components: a handle 1, a frame 2 and a seat 3. The handle 1 and frame 2 are pivotally connected to each other to pivot about a single axis (axis 1) and the seat is pivotally connected to the frame to pivot about two axes (axes 2 and 3). The support has a front side, shown in Figure 1 and a rear side, shown in Figure 2. The support has four modes of operation: a bag mode (Figures 1 and 2), a wheeled bag mode (Figure 3), a seat mode (Figures 4 and 5) and a trolley mode (Figure 6), with the support convertible between the modes by pivoting one or more of the handle 1, the frame 2 and the seat 3 relative to each other and/or extending or retracting the handle 1.

The handle 1 is telescopic and comprises a lower handle section 4 and an upper handle section 5. The handle 1 of the present embodiment is curved although may be straight in alternative embodiments.

The lower handle section 4 is pivotally connected to the frame 2 and comprises a pair of spaced apart lower tubular members 6, a foot 7. a seat support member 11, an axle housing 13 and a lower locking mechanism housing 15.

The upper handle section 5 is slidably connected to the lower handle section 4 and comprises a pair of upper tubular members 8, a grip 9, a button 10, a pair of metal rods 101 (not shown) and a pair of spring-loaded pins 102 (not shown).

The lower tubular menibers 6 are hollow tubes that are parallel to each other and lie in the same plane. The foot 7 joins the lower tubular members 6 at their lower ends. The foot 7 is of single-piece construction and comprises a pair of plugs 7a and a cross member 7b. The plugs 7a are received by the ends of the lower tubular members 6 and are sized so that they form interference fits with the lower tubular menthers 6.

The portion of each plug that is not received by a respective one of the lower tubular elements 6 is spherical in shape and contacts the floor when the chair is in the seat mode, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. The foot 7 is preferably made from a material that exhibits a low coefficient of friction to minimise the chances of the support slipping on the floor when it is in the seat mode. The cross member 7b of foot 7 is rounded so that it is comfortable to grip by a user ii they pick the support up by grasping the foot 7.

The lower tubular members 6 receive the pair of upper tubular members 8 that form part of the upper handle section 5.

The upper tubular members 8 are of smaller diameter than the lower tubular members 6 and are slidably received by the lower tubular members 6. By virtue of the sliding relationship between the upper and lower tubular members, the handle 1 may be extended and retracted by extension and retraction of the upper handle section 5.

The upper ends of the upper tubular members 8 are joined by the grip 9. When the handle is in a fully retracted state the upper tubular members 8 are located substantially entirely within the lower tubular menibers 6, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The grip 9 is provided with the hutton 10, which controls the pair of metal rods 101 that extend longitudinally within the upper tubular menthers 8. There is a rod provided within each tubular menther. Each rod 101 operates one of the spring-loaded pins 102 which are provided to lock the handle 1 in a fully extended or fully retracted state. The pins 102 protrude outwardly, from outwardly facing sides of the upper tubular members 8, through corresponding holes that are provided towards lower ends of the upper tubular members 8. The pins are biased to normally protrude. Depression of the button causes a movement of the rods that results in the pins being retracted within the upper tubular members 8. When the pins are retracted the upper tubular members 8 may slide freely within the lower tubular menthers 6. There is a hole provided in a lower end of each of the lower tubular members 6 that receives a respective one of the pins 102, when the pins 102 protrude outwardly, so as to lock the upper handle section 5 in the retracted position shown in Figures 1 and 2, by engagement of the pins 102 in the holes provided in the lower tubular members 6.

The button 10. rods 101 and pins 102 form part of a locking mechanism that in addition to locking the upper handle section 5 in the retracted position (as described), locks the upper handle 5 in the fully extended position (shown in Figures 3 to 6), which pivotally locks the handle 1 and frame 2 relative to each other (described below).

Furthermore, the locking mechanism locks the seat in a substantially horizontal position, by virtue of the lower locking mechanism 15. when in the trolley mode (shown in Figure 6 and described below). The locking mechanism is engaged and disengaged by depressing button 10 and/or relative sliding motion of the upper and lower handle portions.

The seat support member 11 is of substantially cylindrical, solid construction, and features a pair of though holes, one located at either longitudinal end of the seat support member 11, that extend in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the seat support member 11. The through holes receive the lower tubular members 6.

The through holes are sized to conform to the outer diameter of the lower tubular members 6. The position of the seat support member is fixed in relation to the lower tubular members 6. The end faces of the seat support member 11 are provided with outwardly projecting alignment pins 28 that may be received by alignment members 23 that are provided on the frame 2 (described below). The upper surface of the seat support member 11 is provided with a cutout portion, which provides a planar surface, and a protruding knob 12. When the support is in the seat mode a lower surface of the seat 3 contacts the planar surface of the seat support member 11 and the protruding knob is received by a knob receiving hole 16 that is provided in the seat 3. When the support is not in the seat mode the protrusion may he used as a hook for hanging bags of shopping from, or similar.

The axle housing 13 is very similar in external form to that of the seat support member 11. The axle housing 13 features a protruding knob 14 and is fixed to the lower tubular members 6 via through holes in the same manner as the seat support member 11. However, the axle housing 13 features a longitudinally extending handle axle that protrudes from the end faces of the axle housing 13 and is rotatably received by axially aligned axle supports 17 that are provided on the franie 2. The handle axle allows the handle 1 and frame 2 to pivot relative to each other, about axis I. The axle housing is further provided with a hole on each end face through which a respective one of the spring loaded pins 102 may protrude, via corresponding secondary holes provided in the lower tubular members 6, when the upper handle section 4 is in a fully extended state, as shown in Figures 3 to 6. The spring-loaded pins 102, when they protrude through the end faces of the axle housing 13, are received by the axle supports 17 (described below).

The lower locking mechanism housing 15 is of substantially tubular, hollow, construction and is fixed to the lower tubular members 6 via through holes in the same manner as the seat support member 11 and the axle housing 13. The through holes are sized to conform to the outer diameter of the lower tubular members 6. The position of the lower locking mechanism housing 15 is fixed in relation to the lower tubular members 6. The lower locking mechanism housing 15 houses a lower locking mechanism that comprises a seat locking pin 18 that protrudes downwardly from the lower locking mechanism housing 15 and a pin retraction mechanism. The seat locking pin 18 is spring-loaded and is arranged so that it does not protrude when the handle 1 is in the retracted position. In the retracted position, the upper handle members 8 are substantially fully received by the lower handle members 6 and the lower ends of the upper handle members 8 contact a pin retraction mechanism that draws the pin 18 within the seat locking mechanism housing 15 so that it does not protrude. When the handle is extended, the upper handle members 8 slide up within the lower handle menthers 6 and the lower ends of the upper handle members 8 do not contact the pin retraction mechanism, whereby the spring can urge the pin 18 to protrude from the seat locking mechanism housing 15. The seat locking pin 18 has a rounded tip so that it may slide over a surface of the seat 3.

The handle 1 is produced from metal and plastics, with the tubular members produced from lightweight metals, or similar; and the foot 7, the seat support member 11, the axle housing 13, the lower locking mechanism housing 15, the grip 9 and the button 10 produced from plastics or similar.

ihe frame 2 is of substantially single-piece, continuous tubular, construction formed with a pair of handle support members 19, a pair of seat arm support members 24, a pair of lower frame members 25 and a lower connecting bar 26, and comprises a pair of seat support balls 20, axle supports 17, alignment members 23, wheels 21, wheel axles 22 and wheel guards 27.

At its upper end, the frame 2 is provided with a pair of spaced apart handle support members 19 that are parallel to each other and lie in the sanie plane. The seat support members 19 are provided at their upper ends with seat support balls 20. When the support is in the seat mode a lower surface of the seat 3 contacts the seat support balls 20. The seat support members 19 are provided at their lower ends with a pair of outwardly extending seat ann support members 24 that extend substantially perpendicularly from the lower ends of the seat support members. The seat arm support members 24 are substantially horizontal and axially aligned with each other.

The outer ends of the seat arm support members 24 are provided with a pair of downwardly extending lower frame members 25 that are substantially parallel to each other and lie in the same plane. The lower ends of the lower frame members 25 extend backwards substantially perpendicularly from the lower frame members 25 such that they extend rearwards beyond the wheels 21, wheel axles 22 and wheel guards 26. The ends of the lower frame members 25 are joined by a transversely extending lower connecting bar 26. When the support is in the fully retracted mode, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the lower connecting bar 26 and the wheels 21 contact the floor and the support may stand freely on the floor. The portion of the frame that is formed by the scat arm support members 24, the lower frame members 25 and the lower connecting bar 26 is sized and shaped such that it conforms generally to an outer periphery of the seat 3.

The handle support members 19 are parallel to each other and are spaced to receive the lower handle section 4 between them. The handle support members terminate in the seat support balls 20. The seat support baIls 20 feature integrally formed plug portions (not shown) that are received by the upper ends of the handle support members 19 to form interference fits. When in the seat mode, the seat support balls arc received by sockets 38 provided on the lower surface of the seat 3.

The seat support balls 20 may be provided on cords, most preferably elasticised cords that are fixed at one end to the integrally formed plug portions of the support balls and at the other end to an inner face of the handle support members 19, so that in trolley or bag mode the support balls may be removed from the ends of the support members 19 and the cords may be used to secure a bag or goods to the support.

The axle supports 17 are fixed to the handle support elements 19. The axle supports 17 each rotatably receive a respective end of the handle axle to allow relative pivoting movement between the handle 1 and the frame 2. The axle supports are of substantially solid construction and are provided on their inner faces with annular grooves that receive the spring-loaded pins 102 of the upper handle section 5 when the handle is fully extended, as shown in Figures 3 to 6. The grooves are each provided with holes at their ends into which the protruding spring-loaded pins 102 may fall. The holes are deeper than the grooves. The grooves and holes are arranged to lock the handle 1 and frame 2 relative to each other so that they are in alignment with each other or at a predetermined angle to each other. The handle 1 and frame 2 are aligned, i.e. they lie in the same plane, when the support is in the trolley mode, as shown in Figure 6, and are misaligned by a predetermined angle (approximately 3.5 degrees) when the support is in the wheeled bag mode, as shown in Figure 3, so that the seat does not contact the floor when the support is wheeled. To move between locked positions a user simply depresses the button 10, which results in the spring loaded pins being raised from the holes in which they are retained, and pivots the handle and frame relative to each other. Having been lifted from one of the holes, each pin rides in the groove until it reaches the opposite end of the groove and falls into the other hole.

The alignment members 23 are of substantially solid construction and fixed to the handle support elements 19 such that when the handle is brought into alignment with the frame 2, the alignment members 23 are axially aligned with the seat support member 11. The alignment members 23 are provided on their inner faces with grooves 29 that receive the alignment pins 28 of the handle support elements when the support is any mode but the seat mode.

The wheels 21 are rotatably connected to the wheel axles 22. The wheel axles 22 are fixed to the lower franie members 25 of the frame 2 towards the lower end of the lower frame members 25. The wheel axles 22 are axially aligned and extend inwardly towards each other beyond an inner surface of each of the lower frame members 25. The wheels 21 are located outside an outer surface of each of the lower frame members 25. Wheel guards 27 are attached to an outer surface of each of the lower frame members 25 to cover a portion of an upper surface of each of the wheels 21.

The frame is produced from metals and plastics, with the tubular frame and wheel axles 22 produced from lightweight metal or similar; and the seat support balls 20, alignment members 23, wheels 21, and wheel guards 27 produced from plastics or similar.

The seat 3 is of substantially single-piece, moulded, construction formed with an upper protrusion 33, in which the knob receiving hole 16 is provided, a pair of wheel axle grooves 34, a pair of support arm brackets 36, a pair of seat lock support brackets 35 and a pair of sockets 38, and comprises a pair of support arms 30, a pair of bushes 31 and a seat lock 32.

The seat 3 is shaped to conform substantially to the profile of the frame 2; and in the bag or the wheeled mode lies within the profile of the frame 2. The upper protrusion 33 is provided on an upper edge of the seat. The knob receiving hole 16 is provided within the protrusion 33. The sockets 38 are provided on the lower surface of the seat 2, located towards the lower edge of the seat 2 spaced from the upper protrusion 33. When the support is in the seat mode, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the knob receiving hole 16 receives the knob 12 provided on the seat support member 11, a lower surface of the protrusion 33 contacts the planar surface of the cutout portion of the seat support member 11 and the seat support balls 20 are received by the sockets 38. The side edges of the seat 3 are provided with the axle grooves 34, which are located slightly above the lower edge of the seat, so that when the seat lies on the front side of the support, parallel to the handle 1 and frame 2, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, the wheel axles 22 are accommodated by the axle grooves 33. The lower edge and upper surface of the seat are contoured to conform to the profile of a user's buttocks and legs, when the user is sitting on the seat 3. The upper surface of the seat is provided with a plurality of through holes that provide ventilation and reduce the weight of the scat.

The lower surface of the seat 2 is provided with the support arm brackets 36, which are adjacent the lower edge of the seat 2, and the seat lock support brackets 35, which are adjacent the upper edge of the seat 2. The support arm brackets 36 rotatably receive the seat support arms 30 and the seat lock support brackets 35 slidably support the seat lock 32.

Whilst the upper surface of the seat 3 is, in the present embodiment, contoured, it may alternatively be flat and solid so that it may be used as a simple platfonu or desk, supporting a laptop for example. It is preferable in such a case that when the support is in the seat mode the seat is parallel to the ground. -The support arms 30 are connected at a first end to the support arm brackets 36, provided on the lower side of the seat 2, and at a second end to the bushes 31, provided on the frame 2, that lie on axis 2 (Figure 4). Each support arm 30 comprises a metal rod. The support arms 30 terminate at their first ends with integrally formed rings that are connected to the bushes provided on the frame 2 so that the arms may pivot relative to the frame 2. The second ends of the support arms 30 terminate in pins that are substantially perpendicular to longitudinal axes of the support arms 30. The pins are rotatably received by the support arm brackets which are axially aligned and lie on axis 3 (Figure 4).

The seat lock 32 comprises a continuous, shaped, length of resilient wire that has a pair of downwardly projecting substantially parallel legs 36 and a cross member 37 joining the legs. The upper ends of the legs 36 extend backwards substantially perpendicularly from the legs 36. The cross member 37 extends from the upper end of each of the legs 36 and thereby, when the support is in the bag mode or in the wheeled bag mode (Figures 1 to 3), extends behind the handle I and the frame 2. The seat lock 32 is received and retained by the seat lock support brackets 35. The seat lock 32 extends beyond the upper edge of the seat 2 and down across the lower surface of the seat 3 to below the level of the wheel axle grooves 34. When the seat 3 lies on the front side of the support, parallel to the handle 1 and frame 2, in the bag mode or wheeled bag mode (Figures 1 to 3), and the wheel axles 22 are accommodated by the axle grooves 33, the seat lock is arranged to extend across the wheel axle grooves 34 and thereby behind the wheel axles 22 which further retains the scat 3 in position. The seat lock 32 is resilient and is ordinarily in a position in which it will extend across the wheel axle grooves, but may be drawn inwards of the wheel axle grooves 34 by pulling the seat lock 32 upwards using the cross member 37. The sliding of the legs 36 in the seat lock support brackets 35 draws the lower end of the legs inwards.

The seat 3 is produced from metal and plastics, with the seat produced from plastics or similar; and the support arms 30 and the seat lock 32 produced from lightweight metal or similar.

The operation of the support according to embodiments of the invention will now be described in respect of each of the depicted modes of operation.

Bag mode (Figures 1 and 2): In the bag mode the handle is fully retracted and the handle 1 and frame 2 are free to pivot relative to each other. In bag mode the support has a degree of flexibility.

The seat 3 lies on the front side of the support, parallel to the handle I and frame 2 and is retained in place by the seat lock 32. The upper handle section 5 is retained in the fully retracted position by the locking pins, which are retained in the holes provided in the lower tubular members 6. The lower ends of the upper handle members 8 contact the seat retention pin mechanism and the seat retention pin 18 is retracted.

A bag is attached to the handle 1 only and may rest on the lower connecting bar 26 of the frame 2. The bag is attached using fabric straps. The bag may additionally be provided with shoulder straps, in which case, when a user is carrying the bag (and -11 -the connected support) using the shoulder straps, the support will lie between the bag and the user's back with the front side of the support (and therefore the seat) against the user's back. A removable fabric panel may be provided as a cushion between the seat and the user's back.

Wheeled bag mode (Figure 3): To place the support in the wheeled bag mode, with the hag in place or not, a user depresses button 10, which draws the spring-loaded pins 102 inside the upper tubular menibers 8, and starts to extend the handle by pulling the grip 9. Once the user has started to extend the handle 1 the user releases the button 10 and continues to extend the handle 1. The upper tubular members 8 slide up within the lower tubular members 6 until the locking pins 102 reach the annular groove and holes provided in the axle supports 17. tJpon reaching the annular groove the pins 102 will fall into one of the holes, locking the handle 1 relative to the frame 2, in alignmenl In the wheeled bag mode the handle 1 and frame 2 are not aligned. Accordingly, the user depresses handle 10 again and starts to pivot the handle 1 and frame 2 relative to each other.

Once the user has started to pivot the handle 1 and frame 2 relative to each other the user releases the button 10 and continues to pivot the handle 1 and frame 2. The pins 102 ride in the grooves until they reach the other holes at which point they fall into the other holes and the handle I and frame 2 are locked relative to each other at a small angular offset of approximately 3.5 degrees. The handle is in the fully extended position and the lower ends of the upper handle members 8 do not contact the seat retention pin mechanism and the seat retention pin 18 protrudes. As in the bag mode, the seat 3 lies on the front side of the support, parallel to the handle I and frame 2 and is retained in place by the seat lock 32.

The hag, if connected, remains connected during the transition between the bag mode and the wheeled bag mode.

In wheeled bag mode the user may pull or push the support (and bag) along the floor by tilting the support backwards, as shown, and pulling or pushing the grip 10.

The angular offset is it is provided to prevent the seat 3 contacting the floor when the support 1 is wheeled, it may be increased or decreased as appropriate.

Seat mode (Figures 4 and 5): To place the support in the seat mode, the user depresses button 10 to allow the handle 1 and frame 2 to pivot relative to each other and pulls the seat lock up to release the seat 2. The handle 1, frame 2 and seat 3 are pivoted relative to each other around axes 1, 2 and 3 until the protruding knob 12 on the seat support member 11 is located within the hole 16 provided in the seat 2 and the seat support balls 20 are located in the sockets 38 on the lower surface of the seat 2. The seat 3 is substantially parallel with the floor and prevents relative pivoting movement of the handle 1 and frame 2, which are retained at an angle of approximately 50 degrees to each other.

Whilst the handle I and frame 2 are arranged to be retained at an angle of approximately 50 degrees to each other, they may be arranged to be at any angle between 30 and 60 degrees to each other, more preferably at an angle between 45 and 55 degrees to each other.

Whilst that handle is shown to be extended it should be appreciated that the handle may be extended or retracted in the seat mode. If the handle is extended in seat mode the user is advantageously provided with a backrest. The curvature of the handle adds comfort.

The bag, if connected, remains connected during the transition between the wheeled bag mode and the seat mode. In the seat mode, since the bag is connected to the handle 1 only, the bag will hang from the handle I between the handle I and the frame 2.

Trolley mode (Figure 6): To place the support in the trolley mode, the user retracts the handle to the fully retracted position and raises and pivots the seat. The handle 1 and frame 2 are brought substantially into alignment (with the handle I retracted) and the seat is pivoted about axes 2 and 3 over the top of the handle 1 and frame 2 such that it lies on the rear side of the support. Next the handle is extended, as discussed above, by depression and release of the hutton 10 and extension of the handle to the fully extended position. In the trolley mode the handle 1 and frame 2 are aligned so there is no need, having locked the handle 1 in the fully extended position, to pivot the handle 1 and frame 2 relative to each other (as in the wheeled bag mode). Since the handle is in the fully extended position, the lower ends o f the upper handle members 8 do not contact the seat retention pin mechanism, and the seat retention pin 18 protrudes. The seat is brought down so that its lower surface rests upon the lower connecting bar 26 of the frame 2 and the upper surface abuts a lower surface of the lower locking mechanism housing 15. As the seat is put into position, the seat retention pin 18 is urged into the lower locking mechanism housing 15 by the seat 3. The seat retention pin 18 rides over the upper surface of the seat 3 until it reaches a hole provided in the upper surface of the seat, adjacent the lower edge of the seat, at which point due to the biasing force on the pin 18 it is urged to he received by the hole and the seat 3 is locked in place, substantially perpendicular Lo the handle 1 and frame 2.

In trolley mode the user may pull or push the support along the floor by tilting the support backwards, as shown, and pulling or pushing the grip 10.

Since, in trolley mode, the seat 3 is located on the rear face of the support, any hag must be removed from the support during transition into trolley mode.

In an alternative embodiment, rather than pivoting the seat over the handle I and frame 2 to place the support into trolley mode, the handle remains on the front side of the support and is pivoted down around axis 3 with the lower surface, rather than the upper surface, of the seat 3 forming the load carrying surface. In this configuration the user would pull or push the support along the floor by tilting the support forwards and pulling or pushing the grip 10. To facilitate such tilting the design of the lower connecting bar 26 and wheel guards 27 would be modified so that they did not contact the floor when the support was tilted forwards. In this embodiment the bag may remain attached to the handle 2 is all modes and during transition between any of the modes.

In a further embodiment a bag comprising a permanently/detachably attached support is provided.

Whilst operation of the support has been described in the sequence: bag mode -wheeled bag mode -seat mode -trolley mode, it should be appreciated that the support may be converted between any two modes in any order.

The described embodiments represent examples only. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims and it is envisaged that various alterations and/or modifications may be made to the embodiments without departing from the scope of the claims.

Claims

-15 -Claims 1. A wheeled support for a bag, comprising: an extendable handle; a frame; and a seat; wherein the handle and frame are pivotally connected to each other, and the seat is pivotally connected to the franie or the handle to pivot about two axes.
2. A support as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the handle and frame are arranged such that they may lie in the same plane as each other.
3. A support as claimed in Claim I or 2, wherein the handle, frame and seat are arranged such that they may lie substantially parallel to each other.
4. A support as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein, in a seat mode, the handle and frame are arranged at an angle to each other and the seat is supported by both the handle and the frame.
5. A support as claimed in Claim 4, wherein, in the seat mode, the seat limits relative pivoting movement of the handle and the frame.
6. A support as claimed in Claim 4 or 5, wherein, in the seat mode, the handle and the frame each contact a lower surface of the seat.
7. A support as claimed in Claim 4, 5 or 6, wherein, in the seat niode, the handle and the frame are arranged at an angle of between about 30 and 60 degrees to each other.
8. A support as claimed in Claim 4, 5, 6 or 7, wherein, in the seat mode, the handle and the frame are arranged at an angle of substantially 50 degrees to each other.
9. A support as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein there is a locking mechanism provided for preventing relative pivoting movement of the handle and the frame.
10. A support as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the locking niechanism allows the handle and the frame to be locked either so that they are aligned with each other or so that they are at a predetermined angle to each other.
11. A support as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the handle is telescopic.
12. A support as claimed in claim 9, 10 or 11, wherein the locking mechanism is activated/deactivated by extension of the handle.
13. A support as claimed in Claim 9, 10 or 11, wherein when the handle is in a retracted position the handle and frame may pivot freely relative to each other.
14. A support as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein, in a wheeled bag mode, the handle is extended and the handle and frame are locked to prevent relative pivoting movement of the handle and the frame.
15. A support as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a seat lock is provided for locking the seat such that it lies substantially parallel to the handle and the frame and may not pivot relative to the handle or frame.
16. A support as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein, in a trolley mode, the handle, the frame and the seat are locked to prevent relative pivoting movement of the handle, the frame and the seat, with the handle and the frame substantially parallel to each other and the seat substantially perpendicular to the handle and the frame.
17. A support as claimed in Claim 16, when dependent on any of Claims 9 to 13, wherein the locking mechanism locks the seat so that it lies substantially perpendicular to the handle and the frame.
18. A support as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the seat is pivotally connected to the frame or the handle such that it may pass over the handle and the frame to be positioned on a front or a rear side of the support.
19. A bag comprising a support as claimed in any preceding claim.
20. A support substantially as hereinhefore described with reference to, and as illustrated by, the accompanying drawings.