Abstract:
Wheeled luggage having a telescopically expandable body is disclosed. The luggage body may be manually adjusted from a normally sized carry-on configuration during transit, to a vertically enlarged configuration once the final destination, such as a hotel room, is reached. The body further includes a plurality of interior horizontally disposed, vertically stacked shelves connected in accordion fashion to an internal liner so as to automatically expand from a compact configuration to an expanded configuration when the main body is telescopically expanded thereby providing a series of vertically spaced shelves which provide convenient access to the contents. A garment folding apparatus may be incorporated with the luggage to provide a tool that assists the user in quickly folding clothing to dimensions compatible with storage spaced within the luggage.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   N/A 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   N/A 
   COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
   A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrights rights whatsoever. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to traveler&#39;s luggage cases and more particularly to a vertically expandable luggage case which is equipped with wheels to facilitate movement of the case along a floor, walkway or the like. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   The task of carrying and/or lifting luggage at airports, railway stations, hotels or other sites is generally disliked by travelers. While rental luggage carts are available at certain sites, the renting process is itself an inconvenience and such carts do not remain with the traveler after the baggage is checked in. 
   As a result, the use of wheeled luggage cases has significantly expanded to the point where wheeled luggage case are now the norm in the art of luggage making. Even relatively small luggage cases designed to fit in overhead compartments or under the seats on aircraft are commonly adapted with wheels to facilitate transporting a loaded case. Currently, the most popular type of wheeled luggage is the upright case, which is pushed or towed with the longest or major dimension nearer to vertical than horizontal. Typically, upright cases are equipped with a telescopically extendable and retractable wheel handle at the top end of the body of the case and a pair of wheels at the bottom edge of the back of the body. At rest, the case may sit in an upright position upon the wheels and a pair of legs or glides. To roll the case, the user grips the wheel handle and tips the case to lift the glides from the supporting surface and manually pulls the case while walking. 
   A significant disadvantage associated with luggage carriers is that the main packing compartment is small and difficult to pack in a way that the packed clothing and other items are easily accessible when the case is opened up, for example, in the upright position when it&#39;s standing on the pair of wheels. As a result of this shortcoming, the prior art reveals attempts to improve upon internal organization by providing shelves that divide the interior of the case. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,161,739, issued to Bentzen, discloses a non-wheeled upright backpack having an internal compartment that is divided into subcompartments by shelves that are removable. U.S. Pat. No. 5,988,476, discloses a rack system for a backback. Such attempts to integrate shelves into luggage and backpacks have not resulted in widespread success, and fail to address the inherent space limitation due to the relatively small size of the compartment provided by the luggage. 
   Accordingly, there exists a need for wheeled luggage having an expandable storage compartment and internal shelving to provide organized storage for travelers. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention overcomes the disadvantages and limitations in the art by providing wheeled luggage having a main body having an storage compartment that is expandable and adapted with internal shelves so as to enable a traveler to transport the fully packed case to a final destination and expand the main body to form a vertically expanded configuration wherein the articles therein are readily accessible and disposed on a plurality of vertically spaced shelves. In accordance with the present invention, wheeled luggage is provided including a case having a body defining an interior that serves as container in which clothing and other personal items may be placed for transportation. The body is of the type that stands vertically upright, and is further adapted so as to be telescopically expandable such that the body may be manually adjusted from a normally sized configuration during transit to a vertically enlarged configuration once the final destination, such as a hotel room, is reached. More particularly the body includes a telescopically adjustable main body, to allow for selective vertical extension of the body thereby substantially increasing the volume of the interior storage compartment. The body further includes a plurality of interior horizontally disposed, vertically stacked shelves connected in accordion fashion so as to automatically expand from a compact configuration to an expanded configuration when the main body is telescopically expanded thereby providing a series of vertically spaced shelves which provide convenient access to the contents. 
   Accordingly, a traveler using the luggage case disclosed herein is relieved of the time consuming task of having to unpack the case upon reaching his/her destination 
   A further aspect of the present invention includes combining a garment folding apparatus as an integral component of the luggage main body. The folding apparatus provides the user with a tool to assist in rapidly folding garments, such as shirts, tops, and pants, into precisely folded shapes sized to fit conveniently within the main body interior and to fit neatly on the shelves provided therein. 
   Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide improvements in the field of wheeled luggage. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide luggage having an expandable body. 
   Yet another object of the present invention is to provide in combination wheeled luggage and a garment folding apparatus for use therewith. 
   Still another object of the present invention is to provide wheeled luggage having internal shelf dividers. 
   In accordance with these and other objects, which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of wheeled luggage according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a left side view thereof; 
       FIG. 3  is a front view thereof with the front closure panel removed; 
       FIG. 4  is right side view thereof; 
       FIG. 5  is a front perspective view thereof with the handle extended; 
       FIG. 6  is left side view thereof; 
       FIG. 7  is a front view thereof with the handle extended and the front closure panel removed; 
       FIG. 8  is a right side view thereof with the handle extended; 
       FIG. 9  is a front perspective view thereof in a vertically expanded configuration; 
       FIG. 10  is a left side view thereof; 
       FIG. 11  is a front view thereof; 
       FIG. 12  is a right side view thereof; 
       FIG. 13  is a front perspective view thereof showing the front closure panel/garment folding device removed and unfolded; 
       FIG. 14  is a top plan view of the front closure panel that doubles as a garment folding apparatus; 
       FIG. 15  is a top perspective view thereof; 
       FIG. 16  is a side view thereof and illustrates the flipping of the left side panel; 
       FIG. 17  is a top plan view depicting the garment folding apparatus and an unfolded shirt thereon; 
       FIG. 18  is a top plan view of the garment folding apparatus and shirt depicted in  FIG. 17 , with the bottom portion of the shirt folded up according to the folding method disclosed herein; 
       FIG. 19  is a top plan view of the garment folding apparatus and shirt with the left side panel folded over; 
       FIG. 20  is a top plan view of the garment folding apparatus and shirt with the left side panel folded back revealing the partially folded shirt; 
       FIG. 21  is a top plan view of the garment folding apparatus and shirt with the right side panel folded over; 
       FIG. 22  is a top plan view of the of the garment folding apparatus and shirt with the right side panel folded back revealing the partially folded shirt; 
       FIG. 23  is a top plan view of the garment folding apparatus and shirt with the bottom panel folded upward; 
       FIG. 24  is a top plan view of the garment folding apparatus and shirt with the bottom panel folded back; 
       FIG. 25  is a top plan view of the garment folding apparatus and shirts folded therewith; 
       FIG. 26  is a left side view of an alternate embodiment vertically expandable wheeled luggage apparatus according to the present invention in the compact configuration; 
       FIG. 27  is a front view thereof (front access panel open); 
       FIG. 28  is a front perspective view thereof; 
       FIG. 29  is a left side view thereof in the vertically expanded configuration; 
       FIG. 30  is a front view thereof; 
       FIG. 31  is a front perspective view thereof; 
       FIG. 32  is a front view of the expandable frame assembly and expandable shelves; 
       FIG. 33  is a right side view thereof; 
       FIG. 34  is a rear view thereof; 
       FIG. 35  is a rear perspective view thereof; 
       FIG. 36  is a front perspective view thereof; 
       FIG. 37  is a rear view of the expandable frame assembly; 
       FIG. 38  is a right side view thereof; 
       FIG. 39  is a rear view thereof; 
       FIG. 40  is a rear perspective view thereof; and 
       FIG. 41  is a front perspective view thereof. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   With reference to the drawings,  FIGS. 1-25  depict a preferred embodiment of the invention. Broadly described, the invention includes a case  10  having a body  12  that functions as a container in which clothing and other personal items may be placed for transportation. Case  10  may is preferably sized to conform to the maximum dimensions for “carry on” luggage to be carried aboard and stowed in passenger cabins in aircraft, buses, and the like, but may be any suitable size. In a preferred embodiment case  10  will not have length, width, and height dimensions that exceed a sum total of forty-four inches (44″), and is preferably about 20″ high about 10″ deep and 14″ wide when in the compact “carry-on” configuration, however, other dimensional configurations are considered within the scope of the present invention. Body  12  is preferably hard-side construction as known in the art, but an alternative embodiment fabricated as soft-side construction is considered within the scope of the present invention. 
   As best depicted in  FIGS. 1-13 , body  12  defines a generally hollow interior for receiving clothing and the like and the exterior may feature various handles, piping, pockets, and the like, as depicted or as otherwise are used in the luggage art. Body  12  has a front  14 , a back  16 , a top  18 , a bottom  20  and two opposing sides  22  and  24 . Top  18  preferably includes a handle  26  attached thereto to assist in lifting case  10 , and for other reasons discussed herein below. 
   In addition, case  10  is preferably equipped with an extendible/retractable handle  30  with which the case  10  may be pushed or pulled across a supporting surface. Handle  30  may be extended and locked in the extended configuration by a simple mechanical locking apparatus. For example, pillow blocks  32  may each be adapted with a locking set-screw or lever actuated cam lock device  33 . In an alternate embodiment, handle  30  may be foldable or rotatable from a stowed configuration to a deployed configuration. In a preferred embodiment, case  10  has two wheels  34  rotatably mounted within wheel housings  36  proximate to the lower rear corners of the body  12 . Wheels  34  permit the case  10 , with wheel handle  30  extended as shown in  FIG. 2 , to be tipped slightly from vertical and wheeled along the ground in a generally upright position as is customary in the art. When case  10  is not in use, handle  30  may be retracted by known methods to the position depicted in  FIGS. 1-4 . 
   A significant aspect of the present invention relates to expandability. More particularly, back  16  and opposing sides  22  and  24 , are each composite structures including adjacent, slidably engaged outer and inner members identified by individually as  16 A/ 16 B,  22 A/ 22 B, and  24 A/ 24 B. Each outer member  16 A,  22 A and  24 A is attached at the lower peripheral edges thereof to bottom  20 . Each inner member  16 B,  22 B, and  24 B is attached at the upper peripheral edges thereof to top  18 . Accordingly, body  12  is telescopically adjustable, and may be selectively manipulated between a compact configuration depicted in  FIGS. 1-4 , to an expanded configuration depicted in  FIGS. 9-12 . Body  12  is preferably maintained in the expanded configuration by connection of extended handle  30  with top handle  26  so as to maintain body  12  in the expanded configuration. Connection of handles  30  and  26  may be accomplished by any suitable mechanical connection. In a preferred embodiment, handle  26  includes a slidable rod  27  that is positionable from a retracted position wherein rod  27  is received within handle  26 , to a deployed position wherein rod  27  is extended to engage handle  30  thus supporting top  18  in the vertically expanded configuration. 
   Furthermore, the interior of case  10  preferably includes a plurality of horizontal shelves, referenced as  40  for use in storing clothes and personal items within case  10 . Shelves  40  may be attached to an internal, vertically expandable liner  42  that is connected to body  12 , such as to top  18 , so as to expand upward in an accordion manner when case  10  is configured to the expanded configuration depicted in  FIGS. 9-12 . By incorporating an expandable shelving system within case  10 , the user may configure the case to the expanded configuration depicted in  FIG. 9  while packing the case, then close the case by configuring same to the compact configuration depicted in  FIGS. 1-8  wherein case  10  may be transported during travel. Once the user has arrived at his/her destination, case  10  may be opened and configured to the expanded configuration thereby increasing the vertical spacing of shelves  40 . In the expanded configuration, the clothing and personal items stored within the case remain neatly stacked, and readily accessible due to the expansion of the interior volume and increased vertical spacing between individual shelf members. The present invention thus provides an expandable case that saves the user significant time while traveling since the user may leave his/her clothing and personal items neatly within the case and thus is relieved of the duties related to unpacking the case. A further advantage realized by the use of the expandable shelving system of the present invention relates to the visibility of the packed clothing and articles when the case is configured to the expanded configuration as the clothing and articles remain on the shelves, visible, and accessible to the user. 
   It should be noted, however, that in an alternate embodiment shelves  40  may be fixed within the case. In addition, the present invention contemplates the use of vertical dividers, either in lieu of shelves or in addition thereto. The use of vertical dividers is considered desirable for an embodiment of the present invention particularly directed to use by persons in carrying files or other items more suitably transported in a vertical orientation. 
   A further significant aspect of the present invention includes providing a garment folding tool for use in rapidly folding clothing, such as shirts and tops, as an integral component. Such a garment folding tool is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,360,927, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. More particularly, case  10  is adapted with vertically disposed, U-shaped channel members  15  on opposing sides of front opening  14 . Channel members  15  are intended to receive a garment folding tool  50  that is removably received in the otherwise open front  14  of body  12  thereby functioning as a closure panel. Folding tool  50  includes four (4) hingedly connected panels including a main panel, opposing side panels, and a bottom panel. The opposing side panels and the bottom panel are each pivotally connected to the main panel. The pivotal connections permit folding of the panels during use and further permit the device to be configured for compact storage. 
   Folding tool  50  includes a plurality of substantially flat, light-weight panel members including a main panel  52 , opposing left and right side panels  54  and  56 , and a bottom panel  58 . Panels  52 ,  54 ,  56 , and  58  are preferably fabricated from a light-weight, rigid or semi-rigid material. Side panels  54 ,  56 , and bottom panel  58 , are each pivotally connected to main panel  52 . The pivotal connections facilitate the folding of panels  54 ,  56 , and  58  about main panel  52  as best seen in  FIG. 16 . Side panels  54  and  56  preferably define a plurality of apertures, referenced as  62 , for reasons more fully discussed below. Apertures  62  are preferably circular, however, any suitable shape (e.g. square, triangular, slotted etc.) is considered within the scope of the invention. 
     FIG. 16  depicts a side elevational view of the apparatus  50 . The bottom surfaces of panels  54  and  56  are preferably slightly raised when apparatus  50  is placed on a flat supporting surface. In a preferred embodiment, projecting feet, referenced as  64 , projected downward proximal the peripheral corner edges thereof. Feet  64  function to elevate the edges of the panels to facilitate grasping and manipulation thereof by the user. 
     FIG. 17  shows the garment folding apparatus  50  with a shirt, referenced as “S” placed face down in a folding position thereon. It should be noted that apparatus  50  is preferably sized such that the ends of the shirt sleeves terminate proximal the outside edges of panels  54  and  56  respectively. As best seen in  FIG. 18 , and according to the method of folding disclosed herein, the first step involves folding the bottom of the shirt such that the shirt fold line is approximately aligned with the lower edges of panels  54 ,  56  and  58 . As best seen in  FIG. 19 , and according to the method of folding disclosed herein, the second step involves the user flipping panel  54  (or alternatively panel  56 ), and the shirt portion laying thereon, such that panel  54  is disposed over panels  52  and  58  with the shirt sandwiched there between thereby creating a straight and uniform fold line upon return of the panel to the position depicted in  FIG. 20 . Projecting feet  64  function to enable the user to easily grasp each foldable panel by causing the edge portion of each panel adapted with said feet to be slightly elevated above the underlying surface thereby enabling the user&#39;s fingers to easily slide underneath the panel while grasping. 
   As best seen in  FIG. 21 , and according to the method disclosed herein, the third step involves the user flipping panel  56 , and the shirt portion laying thereon, such that panel  56  is disposed over panels  52  and  58  with the shirt sandwiched there between. Once again, projecting feet  64  function to enable the user to easily grasp the panel. Panel  56  is then returned to its original position as depicted in  FIG. 22 . It should be noted that the above-referenced second and third steps, and associated returning of the panels to the original positions, are performed rapidly. Significantly, apertures  62 , on each of panels  54  and  56  function, upon returning the panels to the original positions to prevent suction and static cling from unfolding the shirt as the panels are rapidly flipped back to the original positions. If the panels did not include the apertures, the rapid return of the panels would cause the shirt to adhere to the panels thereby undoing the fold and resulting in a significantly slower folding operation. Accordingly, apertures  62  provide for a more efficient folding process than is possible with known folding devices. 
   As best seen in  FIGS. 23-24 , and according to the fourth step of the folding method disclosed herein, panel  58 , and the shirt portion thereon, is folded upward thereby completing the folding process. As should be apparent, panel  58  may also include apertures  62  and/or feet  64  to provide the advantages discussed herein above. 
   Alternate Embodiment 
     FIGS. 26-41  depict an alternate embodiment of the expandable luggage of the present invention, generally referenced as  100 , and generally discloses the best mode for practicing the present invention. As best depicted in  FIGS. 26-31 , expandable luggage  100  includes a body  102  that defines a generally hollow interior for receiving clothing and the like, and an exterior that may feature various handles, piping, pockets, and the like, as depicted or as otherwise are used in the luggage art. Body  102  has a front  104 , a back  106 , a top  108 , a bottom  120  and two opposing sides  122  and  124 . Top  108  preferably includes a handle  126  attached thereto to assist in lifting case  10 , and for other reasons discussed herein below. As with all rolling luggage, case  100  is adapted with at least one wheel. In the preferred embodiment case  100  has two wheels  134  rotatably mounted within wheel housings  136  proximate to the lower rear corners of the body  112 . Expandable case  100  also preferably includes an extendable handle as is well known in the art for use by the user when rolling. 
   As disclosed in the first embodiment, a significant aspect of the present invention relates to expandability. The embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 26-41  differs in structure from the embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 1-12 . Specifically, case  100  is adapted with a telescopically adjustable frame assembly having four telescopically adjustable frame members  150  and a telescopically adjustable locking track  152 . Locking track  152  includes two telescopically adjustable members and an automatically locking/unlocking mechanism, commonly referred to as a camover latch, that functions to automatically lock and unlock to allow for selective vertical expansion and retraction of frame members  150  as further described herein below. Each telescopically adjustable frame member  150  and locking track  152  is connected at the upper ends thereof to the top portion  108  of case body  102  and at the lower ends thereof to the bottom portion  120  of case  102 . Frame members  150  and locking track  152  are telescopically adjustable such that body  102  of case  100  may be vertically manipulated between a compact configuration depicted in  FIGS. 26-28  and an expanded configuration depicted in  FIGS. 29-31 .  FIGS. 37-41  depict adjustable frame members  150  and adjustable locking track  152  in a vertically expanded configuration. It should be noted, however, that any suitable system, such as gas operated cylinders or spring mechanism may provide a suitable alternative to frame members  50  and adjustable locking track  152 . 
   A significant advantage to the embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 26-41  relates to maintaining body  102  in the expanded configuration by the automatic locking camover latch feature of locking track  152 . More particularly, the camover latch feature incorporated within locking track  152  functions to automatically lock track  152  in a telescopically expanded configuration when the user configures the body  102  into the expanded configuration. Similarly, the camover latch incorporated within locking track  152  functions to automatically unlock when the user lifts the top of body  102  slightly thereby releasing an internal locking mechanism and allowing track  152  to return to the telescopically retracted configuration. 
   In addition, an expandable shelf assembly  140  comprising an expandable liner  142  and a plurality of shelves  144  is connected to frame assembly  150  to provide a series of vertically expandable shelves  144  that expand and contract with frame members  150  and locking member  152 . More particularly, an expandable shelf assembly  140  includes an expandable liner  142  having a plurality of horizontal shelves  144  connected thereto in vertically spaced relation. Shelf assembly  140  has an upper end secured to the top portion  108  of case body  102 , and lower end secured to the bottom portion  120  of case  102 . The plurality of horizontal shelves may be used for storing neatly folded clothing and personal items within case  100 . 
   As discussed herein above, each shelf  144  is preferably attached to an internal, vertically expandable liner  144  having an upper end connected to the top portion  108  of body  102  and a bottom portion connected to the bottom  120  of body  102  so as to expand upward in an accordion manner when case  100  is configured to the expanded configuration depicted in  FIGS. 29-31 . By incorporating an expandable shelving system within case  100 , the user may configure the case to the expanded configuration depicted in  FIG. 31  while packing the case, then close the case by configuring same to the compact configuration depicted in  FIG. 28  wherein case  100  may be transported during travel. Significantly, the vertical spacing between shelf members  144  decreases when case  100  is in the compact configuration thereby preferably slightly compressing the clothing and articles thereon so as to secure the articles during transit. Once the user has arrived at his/her destination, case  100  may be opened and configured to the expanded configuration depicted in  FIG. 31 , thereby increasing the vertical spacing of shelves  40 . In the expanded configuration, the clothing and personal items stored within the case remain neatly stacked, and readily accessible due to the expansion of the interior volume and increased vertical spacing between individual shelf members. The present invention thus provides an expandable case that saves the user significant time while traveling since the user may leave his/her clothing and personal items neatly within the case and thus is relieved of the duties related to unpacking the case. 
   The apparatus may be constructed to any suitable size. For example, one size apparatus may be configured for adult clothing and another size apparatus may be configured for children&#39;s clothing merely by altering the dimensions of the panels. 
   The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.