Trunks and hand-carried luggage – Hand luggage – Variable volume
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-03
2001-04-24
Shoap, Allan N. (Department: 3727)
Trunks and hand-carried luggage
Hand luggage
Variable volume
C190S105000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220411
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to luggage, especially travel luggage, and in particular to luggage that can be expanded when desired.
The needs of travelers for luggage space can vary considerably, depending on the duration of a trip, the nature of the trip in terms of the types of clothing and other gear required, and the climate of the destination. For example, regardless of the purpose and the climate, a traveler does not need as much luggage space for a trip of short duration as for a long one. Generally, a business traveler does not need as much luggage space as a recreational traveler, especially one who needs both casual and dress clothes. In most cases, men need less luggage space than women.
One way for travelers to provide for both smaller and larger luggage space requirements is to have a moderately sized suitcase for some trips and a large one for other trips. Another way is to have two moderate sized suitcases and use only one when possible and use both when a larger capacity is needed. There have also been various proposals for expandable luggage. An expandable item of luggage offers the traveler a possible savings in cost as compared to the costs of purchasing more than one piece of luggage. Moreover, the capability of expanding a piece of luggage permits a traveler to change the carrying capacity in the course of a trip. Not infrequently, a traveler will make purchases on a trip and will need more room for the return trip than for travel to a destination.
Most previously known luggage having a variable volume is of the “soft” type, such as a duffle bag with expandable sections that can be collapsed and secured to a main section. The expandable “hard” luggage that is currently available lacks rigidity when expanded due to inadequate linking of separate rigid frame components that move away from each other when the luggage is expanded.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an item of expandable luggage of the “hard” type that has a high degree of geometric stability when expanded. It is, in particular, an objective of the invention to provide a highly effective coupling between two frame components that move apart when the luggage item is expanded so that relative movements of the two frame components are minimized. A further object is to provide a hard expandable luggage item that is easily changed between a smaller volume and a larger volume.
The foregoing objects are attained, in accordance with the present invention, by an item of expandable luggage that includes a frame having a first substantially rigid component and a second substantially rigid component, each of which includes a pair of opposite rectangular planar wall panels and which together with a pair of wall members form the peripheral boundary of a variable volume receptacle and a rectangular area. A peripherally continuous gusset of flexible material is connected between the wall panels and wall members of the two frame components and provides, when the luggage item is expanded, a portion of the peripheral wall of the receptacle. A bridge assembly joins each wall panel of the first component to a corresponding wall panel of the second component in coplanar relation and for linear displacement of the two components toward and away from each other. Each bridge assembly includes a pair of parallel spaced-apart slide rails affixed to the wall panel of the first component, a substantially rigid bridge plate affixed to the wall panel of the second component and slidably received by the slide rails, and a releasable latch that couples the bridge plate to the wall panel of the first component in at least one position in which the second component is held securely in a position spaced apart from the first component.
The bridge plate/slide rail arrangement provides high rigidity to the luggage item in the expanded state. Forces tending to displace the frame components in the planes of each of the bridge plates and the wall panels with which the bridge plates are associated are transmitted from the second frame component to the bridge plate and from the bridge plate through the slides to the first component. The spacing of the slide rails and the corresponding length of the bridge plate between the slide rails provide considerable strength and stiffness that resists relative displacements of the components and maintains both the coplanar relationships of all of the peripheral wall panels and a parallel relationship between the two frame components. The bridge plate/slide rail arrangement, in other words, maintains stability of the frame system in both the collapsed and expanded states against displacement in mutually perpendicular directions in a plane perpendicular to the planes of the peripheral walls of the frame components, against skewing of one component relative to the other about any axis perpendicular to that plane, and tilting of one component relative to the other about any line in that plane. The latch holds the two frame components rigidly at the predetermined spacing in the expanded state so that the luggage item cannot collapse under loads imposed on it.
Various latches are possible. For example, the latch may permit the bridge plate to be latched to the wall panel of the first component in a plurality of positions, and even in an infinite number of positions. Infinite latch positions are provided in a simple and effective way by a panel of loop material affixed to the bridge panel, a flexible band attached to the wall panel of the first component, and a strip of hook material affixed to the flexible band and releasably engageable with the loop material on the bridge plate.
Other forms of latches may include one based on a cam cutout in the bridge plate and a cam disc carried for rotation by the wall panel of the first component and one composed of a resiliently biased catch button carried by the wall panel of the first component and an abutment edge on the bridge plate engageable by the catch button.
In a desirable configuration, each slide rail includes a body portion engaging the wall panel of the first component and a projecting flange portion defining with the wall panel of the first component a guide groove. The bridge panel in that configuration resides in engagement with the wall panel with which it is associated and gains stiffness from such engagement—the co-engaging portions of the bridge plate and the wall panel are linked along the slide rails and provide a stiff “unit” that resists bending perpendicular to the plane of the wall panel. Similarly, the bridge plate is fastened to the wall panel of the second frame component and gains support and stiffness from such attachment, again enhancing the rigidity of the bridge assembly.
It is desirable for the flange portion of each slide rail to have a guide rib projecting toward the wall panel of the first component. In that case, the bridge plate has along opposite edges a guide groove receiving the guide rib on the flange portion of the slide rail. The rib and groove guiding relationship stiffens both the slide rail and the edges of the bridge plate.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3450237 (1969-06-01), Dyke
patent: 4356899 (1982-11-01), Tawill
patent: 4773515 (1988-09-01), Kotkins, Jr.
patent: 4813520 (1989-03-01), Lin
patent: 4953673 (1990-09-01), Ambasz
patent: 5080206 (1992-01-01), Tawil
patent: 5671831 (1997-09-01), Chiu
patent: 5749446 (1998-05-01), Hsieh
patent: 6021874 (2000-02-01), Nykoluk
Scicluna Paul
Workman David
Baker & Botts L.L.P.
Mai Tri M.
Shoap Allan N.
Tumi, Inc.
LandOfFree
Expandable luggage does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Expandable luggage, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Expandable luggage will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2502376