Abstract:
An apparatus for the protection and transportation of cargo includes a planar bottom, four upright sides that are hingedly attached to the planar bottom and a top member that preferably is detachable. The four upright sides includes flexible corners that permit them to fold down on top of the planar bottom. The top is then secured over the collapsed upright sides for storage of the apparatus. To use the apparatus, the upright sides are raised, the cargo is placed on top of the planar bottom intermediate the upright sides, and the top is secured in position over the cargo and the top edges of the upright sides.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention, in general relates to luggage and, more particularly, to a collapsible article of luggage. 
   Luggage comes in a variety of well known styles and sizes. Some types of luggage include zippers than are opened to allow a section to expand in order to create more storage space. 
   When people travel, they rely on luggage. Some types of luggage are used for short day trips, like attaché cases or small carry-on types of luggage. Others are large and intended for the transport of more objects. 
   When they are home, their luggage takes up considerable space. It is desirable to be able to store their luggage in a compact space. 
   Also, sometimes when people vacation, they purchase souvenirs and other objects to bring back on their return. They often need more carrying capacity on a return trip than on the outgoing trip. Consequently, it is not uncommon to take an empty suitcase with them, yet this takes up valuable travel space. 
   Sometimes, people bring a collapsible duffel bag inside their primary luggage, but duffel bags do not provide any rigidity or protection to articles that are placed inside. 
   Accordingly, there exists today a need for collapsible luggage. 
   Clearly, such an apparatus would be a useful and desirable device. 
   2. Description of Prior Art 
   Luggage is, in general, well known. While the structural arrangements of the known types of devices, at first appearance, may have certain similarities with the present invention, they differ in material respects. These differences, which will be described in more detail hereinafter, are essential for the effective use of the invention and which admit of the advantages that are not available with the prior devices. 
   OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a collapsible luggage that is useful in carrying cargo items. 
   It is also an important object of the invention to provide a collapsible luggage that includes a first open position that is useful for carrying cargo and a second collapsed position for storage of the luggage. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible luggage that collapses into a compact volume when not in use. 
   Still another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible luggage that includes at least a rigid portion attached to each side. 
   Still yet another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible luggage that includes sides that are hingedly attached with respect to a planar bottom member. 
   Yet another important object of the invention is to provide a collapsible luggage that includes a top member that is adapted to cover an opening into the luggage. 
   Still yet another important object of the invention is to provide a collapsible luggage that includes flexible corners. 
   Briefly, a collapsible luggage that is constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention has a planar bottom, four upright sides that are hingedly attached to the planar bottom and a top member that preferably is detachable. The four upright sides includes flexible corners that permit them to fold down on top of the planar bottom. The top is then secured over the collapsed upright sides for storage of the luggage. To use the luggage, the upright sides are raised, the cargo is placed on top of the planar bottom intermediate the upright sides, and the top is secured in position over the cargo and the top edges of the upright sides. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a view in perspective of a collapsible luggage. 
       FIG. 2  is a view in perspective of the collapsible luggage of  FIG. 1  in a collapsed state. 
       FIG. 3  is a top view of the luggage of  FIG. 1  in a collapsed position absent a top panel. 
       FIG. 4  is a view in perspective of a modified top for use with a collapsible luggage. 
       FIG. 5  is a view in perspective of certain modifications to the collapsible luggage of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 6  is a view in perspective of the modified top of  FIG. 4  with additional modifications thereto. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to all of the drawings and now in particular to  FIG. 1  is shown, a collapsible luggage, identified in general by the reference numeral  10  shown in the open position. Please refer also to  FIG. 5  for an illustration of proposed modifications that can be made to the collapsible luggage of  FIG. 1 . 
   The luggage  10  includes a planar bottom  12 , and four planar upright sides  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20  that are perpendicular with respect to the planar bottom  12  when the luggage  10  is in the open position. 
   A hinged planar top  22  is parallel to the planar bottom  12  and disposed a distance therefrom that is equal to the height of the upright sides  14 – 20 . 
   The top  22  includes a pair of top hinges  24  that form an axis about which the top  22  can rotate from the open position (shown) into a closed position as indicated by movement along a direction as shown by arrow  26  until it is on top of the upright sides  14 – 20  and parallel with the planar bottom  12 . 
   There are many ways of securing the luggage  10  in either the open position or in the collapsed position (which is described in greater detail hereinafter). One such way includes the use any well known latch mechanism. 
   An alternative way includes the use of a hook and loop member  28  disposed on top of the top  22  and a strap  30  that is attached at one end to the planar bottom  12 . The strap  30  includes a pair of corresponding opposite hook and loop members  32 ,  34  that are adapted to adhere with the hook and loop member  28  if pressed together. 
   The first of the corresponding opposite hook and loop members  32  is used to secure the top  22  in the closed position when the luggage  10  is in the open position. The second of the corresponding opposite hook and loop members  34  is used to secure the top  22  in the closed position when the luggage  10  is in the closed position. 
   Of course still other ways of closure may be utilized. For example, the strap  30  can be omitted and replaced with a first tie strap  38 . Similarly, the hook and loop member  28  can be omitted and replaced with a second tie strap  36 . The first and second tie straps  38 ,  36  are then tied together as desired to secure the top  22  in the closed position whether the luggage  10  is in the open or in the collapsed position. 
   The planar bottom  12 , the upright sides  14 – 20 , and the top  22  are all formed of a rigid material. This is important because it helps the luggage  10  form a substantially rigid structure when in the open position. This provides optimum protection for articles that are placed in the luggage  10 . 
   Each of the upright sides  14 – 20  is preferably attached to the planar bottom  12  by the use of at least one side hinge  40 . More than one side hinge  40  can of course be used. Each side hinge  40  can include a spring  42 , if desired, to supply a force that tends to urge each of the upright sides  14 – 20  downward toward the center of the planar bottom  12  and parallel thereto. This is useful in collapsing the luggage  10 . 
   Each of the upright sides  14 – 20  includes a flexible corner  44 ,  46 ,  48 ,  50  on each end thereof. Each of the upright sides  14 – 20  includes an angled end, as illustrated by a first end  16   a  and a second end  16   b.    
   The angled ends  16   a ,  16   b  of all of the upright sides  14 – 20  are at a forty-five degree angle or less with respect to an edge of the upright sides  14 – 20  where each side hinge  40  is attached. This allows the upright sides to fold inward (see  FIG. 3 ) without any of the upright sides  14 – 20  making contact (i.e., being on top of) an adjacent one of the upright sides  14 – 20 . This results in attaining minimum size in the collapsed position (see  FIG. 2 ). 
   Each of the flexible corners  44 – 50  is made of fabric or other flexible material. If desired, a zipper  52  can be used to separate the corners to make it easier to fold the luggage  10  into the collapsed position as shown in  FIG. 2 . If the zipper  52  is used, it is possible to eliminate most of the flexible corners  44 – 50  except for a small portion where the sides of the zipper  52  attach to the upright sides  14 – 20 . This permits almost the entire length of each of the upright sides  14 – 20  to be rigid. 
   A handle  54  is attached to any of the upright sides  14 – 20  and is used to carry the luggage in either the open or the collapsed positions. 
   Referring now in particular to  FIG. 2 , a modified top  22   a  is shown. The modified top  22   a  is not attached by the top hinges  24  to the upright side  20 . Instead, a second strap  56  that is constructed identical to the strap  30  is used on the other side to secure the modified top  22   a  in the closed position in either the open or the collapsed positions. 
   The modified top  22   a  provides two benefits. The first benefit is that it can be removed entirely from the luggage  10  during loading and unloading. This makes it easier as the modified top  22   a  cannot possibly be in the way. The second benefit is that the modified top  22   a  rests flat on top of the luggage  10  in the collapsed position without extending beyond one of the upright sides  16 , as would the top  22 . 
   Other ways of attaching a still further modified top are anticipated. For example, the further modified top (not shown) could include a zipper all around that connects with the top edges of four modified upright sides, thereby providing maximum containment of any cargo placed therein. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a second modified top  60  is attached to a modified side panel  62 . The side panel  62  is attached to a bottom edge  63  of a modified collapsible luggage  64 . The side panel  62  is either solid or flexible, as desired. Please refer also to  FIG. 6  for an illustration of proposed modifications that can be made to the collapsible luggage of  FIG. 1 . 
   The side panel  62  can remain attached to the bottom edge  63  or it can be modified so that it can be detached from the bottom edge  63  by an edge zipper  66  that folds in toward the second modified top  60 . When the second modified top  60  is placed on top of the modified collapsible luggage  64 , it does not extend beyond the overall size. 
   If preferred, an alternate edge zipper  68  could be attached between the side panel  62  and the second modified top  60  providing a similar benefit. 
   If the side panel  62  is not detachable, then the edge zipper  66  and the alternate edge zipper  68  are eliminated and the flexible side panel  62  is folded underneath the modified top  60  and the rest of the modified collapsible luggage  64  when it is compressed. 
   There are numerous modifications that are possible. This disclosure can describe but a few of these many possibilities. For example, wheels could be added, as is well known in the luggage arts, to allow for easier transportation when the collapsible luggage  10  (or any modification thereof) is loaded. As another example, any combination of rigid or flexible material can be used. For example, the same flexible material that the flexible corners  44 – 50  are made of could also be used to form the remainder of the collapsible luggage  10 . any of the hinges herein described can be distinct hinges that are added (for example to rigid portions of the luggage  10 ) or they may be formed of the flexible material that also acts as a hinge. 
   Another method to secure the second modified top  60  of the modified collapsible luggage  64  (or the top  22  of the collapsible luggage  10 ) in both the closed position and the collapsed positions is shown in  FIG. 4  in which a first half of a perimeter zipper  70  is attached around at least a portion of the second modified top  60 . Preferably it extends around three sides  74   a ,  74   b , and  74   c , as shown. 
   A first corresponding second half of a perimeter zipper  76  is attached to the top rim (i.e., the top edges of three of the sides) of the modified collapsible luggage  64 . The first corresponding second half of a perimeter zipper  76  mates with the first half of a perimeter zipper  70  to secure the second modified top  60  in a closed position when the modified collapsible luggage  64  is being used to transport items. If the three sides  74   a ,  74   b , and  74   c  are secured by the zippers  70 ,  76  and the remaining edge is attached to the side panel  62 , then the items in the modified collapsible luggage  64  are retained therein. 
   A second corresponding second half of a perimeter zipper  78  is attached to a first side of an intermediate section of fabric  80 . The intermediate section of fabric  80  includes an opposite side that is attached to the bottom of the modified collapsible luggage  64 . The intermediate section of fabric  80  and the second corresponding second half of a perimeter zipper  78  extends around a bottom perimeter of the modified collapsible luggage  64  so as to align generally below the first half of a perimeter zipper  70 . 
   The second corresponding second half of a perimeter zipper  78  is adapted to also mate (i.e., cooperate) with the first corresponding perimeter zipper  76  to secure the modified collapsible luggage  64  in the collapsed position. The intermediate section of fabric  80  allows room for the collapsed portions of the modified collapsible luggage  64  that are compressed between the second modified top  60  and the bottom of the modified collapsible luggage  64 . 
   The invention has been shown, described, and illustrated in substantial detail with reference to the presently preferred embodiment. It will be understood by those skilled in this art that other and further changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention which is defined by the claims appended hereto.