Patent ID: 9723902
Date: 2017-08-08
CPC Classifications: A45C,A45F

Claim:
1. A collapsible suitcase, comprising: a front hinge; a rear hinge; a first side hinge; a second side hinge; a bottom panel having an interior surface, an exterior surface, a rear edge, a front edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge, wherein the bottom panel is rigid, and wherein the rear edge of the bottom panel is connected to the rear hinge, the front edge of the bottom panel is connected to the front hinge, the first side edge of the bottom panel is connected to the first side hinge, and the second side edge of the bottom panel is connected to the second side hinge; a rear panel having an interior surface, an exterior surface, a top edge, two side edges, and a bottom edge, wherein the rear panel is rigid, and wherein the bottom edge of the rear panel is connected to the rear edge of the bottom panel by the rear hinge, and wherein the rear hinge allows the rear panel to be rotated between a folded position in which the interior surface of the rear panel is substantially parallel to the interior surface of the bottom panel and a deployed position in which the interior surface of the rear panel is substantially perpendicular to the interior surface of the bottom panel; two side panels, each side panel having an interior surface, an exterior surface, a top edge, a rear edge, a front edge, and a bottom edge, and wherein the bottom edge of a first side panel of the two side panels is connected to the first side edge of the bottom panel by the first side hinge, and wherein the bottom edge of a second side panel of the two side panels is connected to the second side edge of the bottom panel by the second side hinge, and wherein the first and second side hinges permit the first and second side panels to rotate between folded positions in which the interior surfaces of the first and second side panels are substantially parallel to the interior surface of the bottom panel and deployed positions in which the interior surfaces of the first and second side panels are substantially perpendicular to the interior surface of the bottom panel; a front panel having an interior surface, an exterior surface, a top edge, two side edges, and a bottom edge, and wherein the bottom edge of the front panel is connected to the front edge of the bottom panel by the front hinge, and wherein the front hinge permits the front panel to rotate between a folded position in which the interior surface of the front panel is substantially parallel to the interior surface of the bottom panel and a deployed position in which the interior surface of the front panel is substantially perpendicular to the interior surface of the bottom panel; at least one peg attached to and set perpendicularly to the interior surface of the bottom panel where the bottom edge of the rear panel, first side panel, second side panel, or front panel contacts the interior surface of the bottom panel when in the deployed position; and at least one hole in the bottom edge of the rear panel, first side panel, second side panel, or front panel, the at least one hole positioned to pass over the at least one peg when the rear panel, first side panel, second side panel, or front panel is rotated into the deployed position, wherein: the front hinge has a first clearance to allow the interior surface of the front panel to rest on the interior surface of the bottom panel when the front panel is in the folded position, each of the first and second side hinges has a second clearance sufficiently larger than the first clearance to allow the interior surfaces of the first and second side panels, when in the folded positions, to rest on top of the exterior surface of the front panel when the front panel is in the folded position, and the rear hinge has a third clearance sufficiently larger than the second clearance to allow the interior surface of the rear panel, when in the folded position, to rest on top of the exterior surfaces of the first and second side panels when the first and second side panels are in the folded positions.