Trolley Suitcase

In 1970, Bernard Sadow, an executive at United States Luggage Corporation in Fall River, Massachusetts, conceived rolling luggage after observing workers transport heavy cargo on a wheeled skid at an airport. He mounted four small caster wheels along the broad base of a standard suitcase and attached a loose pulling strap to the upper corner, filing for United States Patent US3653474A that same year. Major department stores initially rejected the design, but Macy’s began selling the rolling cases in 1970 under the marketing phrase the luggage that glides. Sadow's horizontal layout allowed baggage to tip and wobble when pulled rapidly around corners.

Airline pilot Robert Plath re-engineered the concept in 1987 in Boca Raton, Florida, by standing the suitcase upright, affixing two recessed wheels at the base, and adding an extendable rigid handle. His prototype allowed travelers to tilt the bag and roll it smoothly behind them on two wheels rather than towing a flat four-wheeled case. Plath filed for United States Patent US4995487A in 1989 and launched the Rollaboard under the company name Travelpro. Flight attendants and pilots adopted the design across global hubs, accelerating its adoption among consumer travelers

The rapid popularity of the vertical trolley suitcase transformed the aviation and hospitality industries throughout the 1990s. Commercial airlines redesigned aircraft overhead storage bins to fit standardized 22-inch rolling carry-on luggage dimensions. Terminal architects adjusted concourse walking widths and ramp layouts to accommodate passengers pulling their own luggage.