Who invented the suitcase on wheels?

Who invented the suitcase on wheels?

Have you ever wondered who invented the suitcase on wheels? Just imagine that until the 70s of the 20th century, travelers did not know anything about them! Why didn't they know? Yes, because such suitcases did not exist yet! At present, we can no longer imagine a single trip without wheels, and more recently it was commonplace. Fortunately, modern tourists have not been affected by such an inconvenience. But how did the suitcase on wheels come about? We can say “thank you” to the appearance of such suitcases to David Sadow. It was to him in America that a patent for this invention was issued in April 1972. In official papers, it was called "rolling luggage." Sadow had to really prove the convenience and necessity of a suitcase on wheels, because no one agreed with him for a long time. Well, thank you, Mr. Sadow, that you were able to prove the full benefit of "rolling luggage"! Now it has become commonplace for modern travelers, not a single trip is complete without such a convenient companion. For almost half a century, global brands have reached the highest technology. The range of suitcases on wheels is huge and everyone can find their own model!

Fabric suitcases on wheels are wildly popular among travelers. Here, too, the choice is very rich and varied. Suitcases on 2 wheels and on 4, large, small, medium! Everything for every taste! For example, four-wheel suitcases are equipped with twin wheels, which provide additional maneuverability. Such travel suitcases can be rolled at any angle. But two-wheeled suitcases, such as, for example, will go through any off-road! Among the fabric suitcases on wheels, there are also expensive luxury suitcases, such as, or. These elite suitcases will emphasize the high status and well-being of its owner. You will not be equal!

Not a physicist, not an engineer, not an inventor, Bernard David Sadow, the father of all modern suitcases on wheels, in the distant 70s could not have imagined that the success of his discovery would be so grandiose. Dozens of the largest American companies rejected his business idea in order to bite their elbows in a few years - after all, the idea cost millions.

In 1972, Bernard David Sadow, a humble employee of the United States Luggage, took out a patent for the first wheeled suitcase. One day, returning with his wife from a vacation on the island of Aruba, during a tedious customs inspection, David noticed how easily a port worker's cart laden with luggage was maneuvering around the hall. The idea to create a rolling suitcase came to him at that very moment. After all, it is so obvious: you just need to attach four wheels to the bottom, and then stretch the strap through the handle of the suitcase for convenience - and the invention is ready for use.

The insight that had come did not give David rest, and he, without wasting time, hurried to turn to the heads of the leading stores with a proposal to manufacture and supply such suitcases for them. Despite the fact that the inventor himself saw the idea as surprisingly interesting and profitable, in response to his generous offer, he received only refusals and ridicule. Some called him a fool, others called him crazy. After many days of vain attempts to establish production, David finally received a positive response from Macy's, thanks to which Sadow became the sole owner of the patent for a period of five years - exactly until other manufacturers of luggage bags woke up and challenged patent through the court.

Of course, Sadow's invention was not perfect: his suitcases strove to tip over on the go. But, as they say, every cloud has a silver lining, and in search of a solution to this problem, David managed to make another important invention - the "outrigger" - a counterweight that gives stability to the suitcase. Very soon after the first suitcase with such a device was released, Sadow's competitors patented a "vertical" suitcase that could be carried on just two wheels. By the way, over time, the design of the suitcase itself has undergone changes. So, the wheels attached to the side surface allowed the luggage to squeeze through even the narrowest aisles of the terminals of modern airports.

In 1997, Sadow also patented a suitcase that protected computers and other equipment with a special "air cushion". However, the story does not end there. Indeed, in the late 80s, the suitcase had another "father" - the pilot of American airlines Northwest Airlines Robert Plath, who created a suitcase not only with wheels, but also with a retractable handle.

In an attempt to make it as easy as possible to transport things during constant flights, Robert screwed two small furniture wheels to his favorite vertical bag, and sewed a pocket to the side, masking a retractable metal handle. The design was amazingly comfortable: the wide track of the two wheels ensured stable rolling even in tight turns and made it possible to overcome large obstacles. Tests "in the fields" confirmed all the best qualities of such a suitcase. Flight attendants and pilots looked at the functional new thing with ill-concealed surprise, which after a couple of minutes quickly turned into genuine envy. A couple of days later, the first “client” approached Robert - one of his colleagues asked to modernize his own bag as well. The pioneer was followed by other lovers of comfort. When the number of orders passed over a dozen, Plath did not lose his head and began to give colleagues who would bring their friends to him discounts in S5 for the next purchase.

In 1989, Plath filed a patent for a "travel bag with wheels and a retractable handle," which was named Rollaboard. In the same year, Robert founded the Travelpro company and quit his job as a pilot, unable to withstand the enormous increase in volumes - looking at airline workers transporting their luggage with ease, numerous passengers who wished to get such a "miracle of technology" as soon as possible became Plat's customers.

Demand was so high that in the first year of its existence, Travelpro sold bags worth one and a half million dollars. And by 1999, when Plath had already retired, sales were fifty million a year. Isn't this a great excuse, embellished with more than six zeros, to be a little more careful when you have a crazy idea at first glance?

If you find an error, please highlight a piece of text and click Ctrl+Enter.

Large soft or rigid construction with a short or retractable handle or two medium length shoulder straps. Can be equipped with two or four wheels. Locks with a latch, zipper, straps. Suitcases are made of natural or artificial leather, fiber, textiles, metal, wood, synthetic materials.

Differences: suitcase, briefcase, diplomat (case)

The suitcase is the largest type of bag and can be equipped with a retractable handle and wheels. A diplomat, unlike a briefcase and a suitcase, always has a rigid frame, rectangular in shape, and closes with latches.

Story

Prehistory and antiquity

The box is considered to be the prototype of the modern suitcase. During the Paleolithic period, primitive people kept things in boxes made from tree bark. In the Neolithic era, people made boxes from boards and covered them with lids. By 1539 - 1292 BC. the first chests appeared. Initially, they became widespread among the Egyptian pharaohs. Their products resembled a sarcophagus in shape and were equipped with a movable lid. The chests were decorated with hieroglyphic writing and colored ornaments. They were made of wood or bronze, decorated with gold and precious stones. Chests were part of the interior: they were used as a chair, bed, bench, etc. At that time, they were used only for storing things, but not for carrying them.

Medieval period and Renaissance

Medieval chests had locking devices: expensive options - built-in locks or secret mechanisms, cheap ones - padlocks. At that time, chests appeared, which were used to store jewelry and supplies, as well as to collect duties. Depending on their purpose and class of the owner, chests were made of wood or noble metals. During the Renaissance, carriage travel became widespread. Men and women took chests on the trip, attaching them to the vehicle with straps.

17th - 18th centuries

At that time, boxes made of plywood were used to transport things. They were upholstered with metal strips for structural strength and locked with locks. To ensure an attractive appearance, the drawers were covered with leather. For wicker baskets were also used to transport things. An honorable craft during this period was the profession of a clothes stacker, who was invited into the house, preparing for the road.

19th century

At the beginning of the 19th century, railway communication was developed. People began to travel more and there was a need for compact and lightweight containers to carry things. The first suitcases were made from cardboard. These were voluminous models with a convex lid, which were closed with buckle straps sewn across the body. The profession of a dressmaker has ceased to exist.

In 1858, Louis Vuitton created the Trianon suitcase with airtight fasteners and a flat top. The edges of the model were equipped with metal frames that protect the corners from knocking. One of Louis Vuitton's regular clients was Eugenie de Montijo, wife of Napoleon III.

In 1897, David Nelken founded the Globe-Trotter travel luggage company. The frame of the products was made of ash, and then a vulcanized fiber sheet was attached to it. In the end, the product was covered with leather. All operations were performed manually. Winston Churchill, statesman and politician, Everest conqueror Edmund Hillary, Duke of Edinburgh, South Pole discoverer Roald Amundsen,
South Pole explorer Robert Scott.

20th century

In the 1920s Jesse Schweider, head of the American company Shwayder Trunk Manufacturer Company (since 1962 -), suggested that travelers distribute toiletries in suitcases, bags, bags and cases.

In the mid 1920s. Alphonse and Angele Lancel, the founders of the French company Lancel, have released colored suitcases. Previously, they were made only in brown and black versions.

The word suitcase comes from the Turkic word "shabadan" - a narrow bag, rectangular in shape, which was convenient to attach to the saddle during the nomadic transitions of the Turkic tribes. Such bags were sewn from durable fabric, they replaced chests that took up too much space in the caravan.

In its modern form, the suitcase appeared in the middle of the 19th century, and the world community owes its appearance to the Frenchman Louis Vuitton, the son of a simple carpenter. His father from an early age began to teach his son his craft, which was very useful to him in the future. His products became unique because Louis Vuitton changed the shape of the usual travel chests, which were made with a convex top lid, to a completely flat surface.

This was very convenient as the suitcases could easily be stacked on top of each other. In 1856, a Trianon suitcase was made with a square lid, sheathed in durable fabric that did not get wet and with hermetic fasteners. The suitcase was sheathed with metal hoops at the corners, which helped to keep its contents intact during transportation.

Of course, the privilege of becoming the owner of such suitcases was available to rich people, but any young lady dreamed of such a travel accessory. Louis Vuitton's list of buyers included many famous personalities. One of them was the wife of Napoleon III - Empress Eugenia Montijo. In 1875, the famous French explorer Pierre de Brazza approached Louis with a request to make him a series of comfortable suitcases for the upcoming expedition.

What was his amazement when they made him a suitcase with a clamshell built into it, which was simply irreplaceable on the road. So the creativity and creative approach of Louis Vuitton helped him gain even more popularity among buyers. To protect against scammers, Witton came up with his famous LV monogram, which, along with a geometric pattern, was applied in a checkerboard pattern to the fabric that fit the suitcases.

Today, the Louis Vuiton brand has become part of the LVMH company, which is engaged in the production of not so much suitcases and bags as fashion clothes.

The famous Russian scientist Dmitry Ivanovich Mendeleev was known not only as an outstanding chemist, but also as a suitcase maker. He devoted his whole life to this occupation, and even after he went blind, he continued to make his suitcases by touch. In pre-revolutionary Russia, such suitcases were highly valued, and people sought to buy them only “from the suitcase master” Mendeleev. Mendeleev came up with a special unique glue that made travel accessories especially strong.

The invention of the suitcase on wheels belongs to Bernard Sadow, who was just a modest employee of one of the American companies. This idea came to his mind during a trip he went on with his wife.

In the building of the seaport, he saw how easily the port employee handled heavy luggage with the help of a cart on wheels. In 1972, Sadow received a patent for the manufacture of such a suitcase. At first, the wheels were not as stable, but Sadow fitted the suitcase with a counterweight, which helped to solve this problem. Subsequently, he began to produce vertical suitcases on wheels, which were especially convenient and maneuverable.

As you know, laziness is the engine of progress. Mankind has always sought to make everyday life easier for itself, thanks to this desire, we now enjoy many benefits of civilization, one of which is a suitcase, without which it is impossible to imagine any modern travel.

You can read about the world's most famous children's suitcases on wheels Trunki, and its creator Rob Lowe in our article.

They say that laziness is the engine of progress. So a cartwheel, a nail file, a fan, napkins for wiping glasses were invented, and grated potatoes and boiled beets are sold in German supermarkets - why not an invention? In the world, those inventions take root that are understandable, simple and really simplify our lives. So, a hat - an umbrella, one of the Chinese inventors did not take root, and a suitcase on wheels won the respect of absolutely everyone. Today we cannot imagine our life without suitcases, suitcases and bags on wheels with retractable handles! Who thought up and invented it?

History of the suitcase

Robert Plath invented the wheeled suitcase. At that time he worked as a simple pilot for Northwest Airlines. In 1988, in his garage in Boca Rayton, Florida, pilot Plath screwed two small furniture wheels bought from a nearby hardware store to his favorite upright bag. To the side of the bag, he sewed a pocket that disguised a retractable handle made of metal rods and tubes. The wide track of the two wheels ensured a stable rolling even in sharp turns and made it possible to overcome fairly large obstacles.

Field (or flight) tests confirmed all the best qualities of Plath's idea. The pilots and flight attendants looked at the unusual design with undisguised surprise, which after a while grew into envy. A couple of days later, one of his colleagues turned to Robert with a request to modernize his bag as well (of course, not for free). Then another. When the number of orders exceeded a dozen, Plath began to give colleagues who brought him the next buyers "commissions" in the form of a $ 5 discount on the next purchase.

In 1989, Plath filed a patent for a "travel bag fitted with wheels and a retractable handle," which he called the Rollaboard. In the same year, Plath founded Travelpro, and in 1991, when patent number 4995487 was registered, he retired from the airline. Looking at the pilots and stewardesses, easily rolling their bags through the aisles of airports, passengers also began to wonder where they could buy this “miracle of technology”.

Demand was so high that Travelpro sold $1.5 million worth of bags in its first year. By 1999, when Plath retired and sold his stake in the company, sales were $50 million. Robert Plath's invention changed the world of travel : few people today go on a trip without a travel bag or a suitcase on wheels.

Travelpro products proved so popular that airlines even had to increase the volume of the top shelves in their planes. The only ones who lost from their appearance were porters - today, wheels built into a suitcase or bag do an excellent job with their hard work.

Suitcase of the future

Last year, a small company Live Luggage from the English city of Hanley-on-Thames offered a truly revolutionary innovation in the field of luggage transportation - a suitcase on wheels with a built-in motor. Now any traveler will be able to move luggage weighing up to 30 kg, as if a small handcart with a three-kilogram luggage.

The suitcase moves at an average walking speed, and the battery charge will be enough for about a three-kilometer “run”. PA-Case will be recharged through a device similar to charging a mobile phone.

Thanks to the special design of the handle and wheels, 85% of the weight of the load is transferred to the wheels of the bag, and not to the person's hand. And the motors of a self-propelled device are hidden in the wheels. Now the estimated price of the product is 700 pounds, but with the improvement of technology, as the creators promise, it will decrease.

Germany is a land of ideas

It's good to be an inventor, invented toothpaste, paper for cigarettes or MP3-Player, patented, sold the idea into production and live on interest. Do you know who invented the dowel? In 1958, Artur Fischer invented the small plastic building dowel, now this dynasty has hundreds of millions and over 5,000 patented inventions.

Every nine minutes a new invention is registered in Germany. For example, in Munich alone, the Patentamt registers 60,000 inventions every year (www.dpma.de ) The work of the Patentamt is to control and check the incoming idea: is it interesting, new, or is it plagiarism?! More than 700 examiners at the Munich Patent Center test ideas and inventions every day. On average, one in three ideas gets a patent. But the path of the inventor is not at all easy. And the difficulty lies not in finding ideas and inventions, but in putting your invention into production. In addition, the inventor spends a lot of his own money on the invention and on obtaining a patent.

Many inventions register their companies, such as: Siemens, Bosch, Daimler. But 10% of the total patent filings are filed by ordinary people. At the same time, for some reason it so happened that there are more male inventors than women. Worldwide, only 5% of inventions by women are counted.

In fact, anything can be patented: technical know-how, a new product idea, an improvement in technology, and so on. Recently there was a show with inventions in Germany, the participants had to convince the jury in 30 seconds that their invention was the best and it could be put into production. There were so many ideas: long-sleeved sweaters that replace gloves, a children's alarm clock that helps a child brush their teeth properly, a folding camera tripod, etc.

In fact, there are really a lot of new ideas in the world: scientists continually come up with newer medicines, invent robots, equipment and energy resources. So, for example, Mitchell Joachim, Lara Greden and Javier Arbona from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) developed a project for a small country house that needs to be grown rather than built.

As conceived by the authors of the project, the creation of the house will begin with the planting of trees (elm, oak, dogwood). As the trees grow, the homemakers will intertwine and tie their branches. So, growing through each other and twisting many times, the trees will form a vault. Thus, living walls and a roof should gradually grow, providing thermal insulation and shelter from rain (the final stage of construction is the addition of clay and straw to these walls, for tightness). Maybe we will soon live in such environmentally friendly houses, forget about swine flu and AIDS, and fly to the moon on weekends thanks to new discoveries and inventions?!