Abstract:
An item of expandable luggage includes a substantially rigid main peripheral frame and a substantially rigid secondary peripheral frame. A peripherally continuous gusset of flexible material is connected between the two peripheral frames. Opposite wall panels of the main peripheral frame are joined to corresponding opposite wall panels of the secondary peripheral frame by bridge assemblies, one such assembly being associated with each of the opposite wall panels of the respective frames. Each bridge assembly includes a receiving member affixed to the wall panel of the first component, the receiving member having an aperture therein, and a substantially rigid bridge plate affixed to the wall panel of the second component and slidably received by the receiving members, the plate having a first and second tongue capable of cooperating with the aperture.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to luggage, especially travel luggage, and in particular to luggage that can be expanded when desired. 
   BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
   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. 
   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 during 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 receiving member affixed to the wall panel of the first component, the receiving member having an aperture therein; and a substantially rigid bridge plate affixed to the wall panel of the second component and slidably received by the receiving members, the plate having a first and second tongue capable of cooperating with the aperture. When the tongue on each bridge assembly is depressed, this permits latching of the bridge plate to the wall panel of the first component in at least one position in which the second component is held spaced apart from the first component. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference may be made to the following written description of exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a generally schematic three-quarter front pictorial view of a first exemplary embodiment according to the present invention, with portions broken away; 
       FIG. 2A  shows the expansion and locking assembly from the front in a retracted position; 
       FIG. 2B  shows the expansion and locking assembly from the front in an expanded position; 
       FIG. 2C  shows the expansion and locking assembly from the rear in the retracted position; and 
       FIG. 2D  shows the expansion and locking assembly from the rear in the an expanded position. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  has a two-component frame, which may be of any suitable specific construction in terms of materials, manner of assembly, and configurations of the parts. A main frame component  10  may have a pair of rectangular planar side wall panels  12  and  14 , a bottom wall member  16  and a top wall member  18 , which may be substantially rigid and rigidly connected at the corners. Although  FIG. 1  shows the bottom and top members as panels, most travel luggage being marketed currently is of the towable, wheeled type. In practice for such luggage items, the bottom member and top member of the main frame may be configured to accept wheels, a towing handle, a carrying handle, and the like. The main frame component  10  may also have a partial or complete rigid back wall panel. A secondary frame component  20  may be formed of opposite rectangular planar panels  22  and  24  and top and bottom members  26  and  28 , which as a practical matter should usually also be rectangular planar panels of sheet material. 
   The main frame component  10  may receive a cover  30  of a durable fabric. The sides, top and bottom of the secondary frame may receive a fabric cover  32 . Access to the interior of the luggage item may be through a front opening that is closed by a panel  34 , may be joined to the cover  32  at the bottom edge and may be opened and closed by use of a zipper  38  along three sides. 
   The main part (main frame  10  and its cover  30 ) of the luggage item may be joined to the secondary part (secondary frame  20  and its cover  32 ,  34 ) by a gusset  36  of a durable, flexible material that extends along the entire perimeter of the luggage item (along the top, bottom and both side walls). In the expanded state of the item, the gusset  36  peripherally may bound that part of the entire volume of the main compartment by which the volume of the item may be increased upon movement of the secondary unit away from the main unit. In the collapsed (smaller volume) position (not shown) of the luggage item, a zipper  40  that extends about the entire perimeter of the item may be used to aid in keeping the luggage in the collapsed position. The gusset  36  may fold into the interior of the luggage. 
   The main frame component  10  may be joined to the secondary frame component  20  by two bridge assemblies  50 , preferably substantially identical to each other and one of which may be associated with the side panels  12  and  22  and the other with the side panels  14  and  24 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 2A-2D , each bridge assembly consists of a fixed plate-like member  110  that may be attached to the wall panel  12 ,  14  of the main frame component  10 , and a movable plate  112  that may be slidably received within the fixed member  110  and may be attached at its free end to the secondary frame component  20 . The movable plate  112  may be slidable relative to the fixed member  110  between the collapsed position of the luggage item and the expandable position of the luggage item. The fixed member  110  may be formed of two back-to-back plastic plates  116 ,  130  which form a pocket therebetween. A pair of compression springs  140 ,  142  (shown only in  FIG. 2B , and shown in dotted lines) received in channels  114  in the fixed member  110  may bias the movable plate  112  towards the expanded position. The front plate  116  of the fixed member  110  may include a pair of generally oval apertures  118 ,  120  (see  FIG. 2B ) spaced apart in the direction of movement of the slidable plate  112 . (For convenience of reference, this direction is referred to herein as the vertical direction, i.e., in the direction of the arrow  56  of  FIG. 1 ) A pair of similarly spaced-apart resiliently elements such as oval-shaped tongues  122 ,  124  may be formed on the slidable plate  112  and, as described below, may be received in the spaced oval-shaped apertures  118 ,  120 . The inherent resilience of the tongues  122 ,  124  may bias them towards the front plate  116  of the fixed member  110 , so that the upper edge  122   a  of the upper tongue  122  and the lower edge  124   a  of the lower tongue  124  project above the surface of the slidable plate  112  (see  FIG. 2B ). Alternatively or in addition, springs or other means may also be used to bias the tongues  122 ,  124  towards the front plate  116 . 
   No new matter has been introduced by way of this amendment, as paragraph [ 0017 ] of the specification originally disclosed a pair of compression springs received in channels  114  in the fixed member  110  which may bias the movable plate  112  towards the expanded position. 
   In the collapsed position of the expansion assembly, the upper tongue  122  may be received in the upper oval-shaped aperture  118  and the lower tongue  124  may be coincident with the lower aperture  120  (see  FIG. 2A ). In an alternate embodiment, no lower aperture is present. Upon receipt in the upper aperture  118 , the upper edge  122   a  of the upper tongue  122  may bear against the facing edge of the aperture  118  and may lock the slidable plate  112  against movement towards the expanded position, i.e., upwardly in  FIG. 2A . To release the slidable plate  112  for movement to the expanded position, the user may depress the upper tongue  122  by hand, whereupon the compression springs (not shown) urge the slidable plate  112  upwardly to the expanded position. Although the lower tongue  124  may be coincident with the lower oval-shaped aperture  120  in the collapsed position of the bag, it should not impede movement of the sliding plate  112  towards the expanded position because the upper edge of the lower tongue  124  may be flush with the surface of the plate  112 . 
   Upon reaching the expanded position, the lower tongue  124  may be biased by its inherent resiliency into the upper aperture  118 , where the lower edge  124   a  of the tongue  24  may bear against the lower edge of the upper aperture  118  to lock the slidable plate  112  against movement towards the collapsed position, i.e., downwardly in  FIG. 2B . To release the plate  112  from the expanded position, the lower edge  124   a  of the tongue  24  may be depressed, by hand, out of engagement with the lower edge of the upper aperture  118 . The plate  112  may then be pushed downward into the fixed member  110  against the biasing force of the compression springs. The upper tongue  122  should not impede movement of the plate  112  into the fixed member  110  because the lower edge of the tongue  122  may be flush with the surface of the plate  112 . 
   Although, as shown in  FIG. 2A , the lower tongue  124  may be coincident with the lower aperture  120  when the slidable plate  112  may be in the collapsed position, the lower aperture  120  should not function to lock the slidable plate  112  in either the collapsed position or the expanded position. Instead, the plate  112  may be locked against movement upwardly away from the collapsed position by engagement of the upper edge  122   a  of the upper tongue  122  with the downwardly-facing upper edge of the upper aperture  118  and against movement downwardly away from the expanded position (e.g.,  FIG. 2B ) by engagement of the lower edge  124   a  of the lower tongue  124  with the upwardly-facing lower edge of the upper aperture  118 . Thus, the purpose of the lower aperture  120  may be to permit the lower tongue  124  to return to its rest position rather than being captured against its own inherent resiliency within the pocket of the fixed member  110 . 
   The length of travel of the sliding plate  112  may be limited, in the upward direction, by engagement of a pair of lugs  126  on the inner surface of the sliding plate  112  with the upper ends of a pair of elongate slots  128  in the rear plate  130  of the fixed member  110 , as depicted in  FIGS. 2C and 2D . In the downward direction, the length of travel of the sliding plate  112  may be limited by engagement of the lower edge of the lower tongue  124  with the upwardly-facing lower edge of the lower aperture  120 . The engagement of the lugs  126  with the slots  128  may also serve to guide the plate  112  in its sliding movement relative to the fixed plate  110 .