Patent Publication Number: US-2020288831-A1

Title: Concealed Type Expandable Luggage

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure relates to the technical field of concealed type expandable luggage, and more particularly to a concealed type expandable luggage whose expanded part is concealable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     An expanded part in a conventional concealed type expandable luggage is always in an exposed state. Besides, an upper shell and a lower shell of such expandable luggage cannot be directly connected; instead, the upper shell and the lower shell are connected via the expanded part. Even an expanded space of the expandable luggage is not needed, the expanded part is still in the exposed state. This causes the expandable luggage to have a size that is relatively large and a structure that is not compact enough. In addition, because the upper shell and the lower shell is still connected via the expanded part even an extra expanded space is not needed, the expandable luggage will have a relatively poor durability. 
     Therefore, it is quite essential to provide luggage with a compact structure and a concealable expanded part. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A main object of the present disclosure is to provide a concealed type expandable luggage with a compact structure and a concealable expanded part. 
     The present disclosure provides a concealed type expandable luggage, comprising: a lower shell, an upper shell, and an expanded part, the expanded part including a first expanded portion and a second expanded portion, wherein one end of the first expanded portion is connected to the upper shell, one end of the second expanded portion is connected to the lower shell, and the other end of the first expanded portion is connectable to the other end of the second expanded portion to increase an accommodation space of the concealed type expandable luggage; and wherein the lower shell is directly connectable to the upper shell, such that the expanded part is accommodated and concealed in the accommodation space formed by fitting of the lower shell and the upper shell. 
     Preferably, the first expanded portion comprises a first connection panel, an expandable part, and a first expanded portion zipper, wherein the first connection panel is connected to inner side edges of sidewalls of the upper shell; two ends of the expandable part are connected to the first connection panel and the first expanded portion zipper, respectively. 
     Preferably, the expandable part is an expandable fabric. 
     Preferably, the second expanded portion comprises a second connection panel and a second expanded portion zipper, the second connection panel being connected to inner side edges of sidewalls of the lower shell; and one end of the second expanded portion zipper is connected to the second connection panel, and the other end thereof is connected to the first expanded portion zipper, wherein the second expanded portion zipper may be engaged or disengaged with the first expanded portion zipper. 
     Preferably, the lower shell comprises a lower shell zipper, the lower shell zipper being connected to sidewall edges of the lower shell; the upper shell comprises an upper shell zipper fitted to the lower shell zipper, the upper shell zipper being likewise connected to sidewall edges of the upper shell, the lower shell zipper being engageable with the upper shell zipper. Preferably, the concealed type expandable luggage further comprises a connection part, the connection part being connected to two adjacent sidewalls of the upper shell and the lower shell, respectively, and the connection part is disposed outside of the upper shell zipper and the lower shell zipper. 
     Preferably, the connection part is an expandable material. 
     Preferably, the first connection panel is disposed at an inner side of the upper shell zipper, and the second connection panel is disposed at an inner side of the lower shell zipper. 
     Preferably, the sidewall edges of the upper shell are provided with an upper shell cover, and the sidewall edges of the lower shell are provided with a lower shell cover. 
     The concealed type expandable luggage provided by the present disclosure may conceal the expanded part when an expanded space is not needed, which may not only make a structure of the concealed type expandable luggage more compact, but also may make the connection part in the middle of the concealed type expandable luggage more durable. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       To illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure more clearly, the drawings used in describing the embodiments will be briefly introduced. Apparently, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present disclosure. To those of normal skill in the art, other drawings may also be derived based on these drawings without exercise of inventive work, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded structural view of concealed type expandable luggage provided by the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is an assembled structural view of the concealed type expandable luggage of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a structural diagram from another perspective of the concealed type expandable luggage of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a structural diagram from a further perspective of the concealed type expandable luggage of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a locally enlarged view of the concealed type expandable luggage of  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     Concealed type expandable luggage  100 ; lower shell  10 ; lower shell body part  11 ; lower shell bottom wall  111 ; lower shell first sidewall  112 ; lower shell second sidewall  113 ; lower shell third sidewall  114 ; lower shell fourth sidewall  115 ; lower shell zipper  116 ; combination lock  117 ; lower shell cover  118 ; trolley  12 ; lower shell first handle  13 ; lower shell second handle  14 ; lower shell support part  15 ; lower shell wheel  16 ; upper shell  20 ; upper shell body part  21 ; upper shell bottom wall  211 ; upper shell first sidewall  212 ; upper shell second sidewall  213 ; upper shell third sidewall  214 ; upper shell fourth sidewall  215 ; upper shell zipper  216 ; upper shell cover  217 ; upper shell wheel  22 ; upper shell support part  23 ; connection part  30 ; expanded part  40 ; first expanded portion  41 ; first connection panel  411 ; expandable part  412 ; first expanded portion zipper  413 ; second expanded portion  42 ; second connection panel  421 ; second expanded portion zipper  422 . 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION WITH EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure will be descried clearly and comprehensively. It is apparent that the embodiments as described are only part of the embodiments of the present disclosure, not all of them. Based on the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, all other embodiments derived by those of normal skill in the art without exercise of inventive work fall into the protection scope of the present disclosure. 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 1-4  concurrently, where  FIG. 1  is an exploded structural view of concealed type expandable luggage provided by the present disclosure;  FIG. 2  is an assembled structural view of the concealed type expandable luggage of  FIG. 1 ;  FIG. 3  is a structural diagram from another perspective of the concealed type expandable luggage of  FIG. 2 ; and  FIG. 4  is a structural diagram from a further perspective of the concealed type expandable luggage of  FIG. 2 . 
     The concealed type expandable luggage  100  comprises a lower shell  10 , an upper shell  20 , a connection part  30 , and an expanded part  40 . The lower shell  10  and the upper shell  20  may be fit to form an accommodation space. The connection part  30  is arranged for connecting the lower shell  10  and the upper shell  20 . Two ends of the expanded part  40  are connected to the lower shell  10  and the upper shell  20 , respectively, and the expanded part  40  may be concealed in the accommodation space formed by fitting of the lower shell  10  and the upper shell  20 . 
     The lower shell  10  comprises a lower shell body part  11 , a trolley  12 , a lower shell first handle  13 , a lower shell second handle  14 , a lower shell wheel  15 , and a lower shell support part  16 , wherein the trolley  12 , the lower shell first handle  13 , the lower shell second handle  14 , the lower shell wheel  15 , and the lower shell support part  16  are connected to the lower shell body  11 , respectively. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 4  again. The lower shell body part  11  is a body structure of the lower shell  10 . The lower shell body part  11  comprises a lower shell bottom wall  111 , a lower shell first sidewall  112 , a lower shell second sidewall  113 , a lower shell third sidewall  114 , a lower shell fourth sidewall  115 , a lower shell zipper  116 , a combination lock  117 , and a lower shell cover  118 . 
     The lower shell bottom wall  111  is of a planar structure. The lower shell first sidewall  112 , the lower shell second sidewall  113 , the lower shell third sidewall  114 , and the lower shell fourth sidewall  115  are connected to edges of the lower shell bottom wall  111 , respectively, and are disposed at a same side as the lower shell bottom wall  111 . Besides, the lower shell first sidewall  112 , the lower shell second sidewall  113 , the lower shell third sidewall  114 , and the lower shell fourth sidewall  115  are successively connected so as to form, by fitting with the lower shell bottom wall  111 , an accommodation space having an opening. Further, the lower shell first sidewall  112 , the lower shell second sidewall  113 , the lower shell third sidewall  114 , and the lower shell fourth sidewall  115  are fit to enclose a quasi-rectangular structure. In addition, the lower shell first sidewall  112  and the lower shell third sidewall  114  are oppositely disposed; the lower shell second sidewall  113  and the lower shell fourth sidewall  115  are oppositely disposed. In this embodiment, the lower shell body part  11  is of an integrally formed structure. 
     The lower shell cover  118  covers edges of the sidewalls of the lower shell  10 . Specifically, the lower shell cover  118  covers edges of the lower shell first sidewall  112 , the lower shell second sidewall  113 , the lower shell third sidewall  114 , and the lower shell fourth sidewall  115 , for protecting the respective sidewalls of the lower shell  10 , thereby prolonging service life of the concealed type expandable luggage  100 . 
     The lower shell zipper  116  is connected to free ends of the lower shell first sidewall  112 , the lower shell second sidewall  113 , the lower shell third sidewall  114 , and the lower shell fourth sidewall  115 , respectively. In other words, the lower shell zipper  116  is connected to edges of the lower shell body part  11 . It may be understood that the lower shell zipper  116  comprises a zipper head correspondingly disposed, and the zipper head is fit to the lower shell zipper  116 . 
     The combination lock  117  is connected to the zipper head to thereby lock the concealed type expandable luggage  100 , which may enhance security of the concealed type expandable luggage  100 . 
     The trolley  12  is partially accommodated in the accommodation space of the lower shell  10 . A top portion of the trolley  12  is disposed outside of the accommodation space of the lower shell  10  and may continuously extend outwardly according to actual needs. Specifically, the top portion of the trolley  12  is disposed outside of the lower shell first sidewall  112  and may continuously extend outwardly from outside of the lower shell first sidewall  112 . In this embodiment, an extension direction of the trolley  12  is arranged in parallel to a plane where the lower shell bottom wall  112  is located. A length of the trolley  12  extending out of the lower shell first sidewall  112  may be set according to actual needs, which will not be limited here. 
     The lower shell first handle  13  is likewise disposed at an outer surface of the first sidewall  112 . A user may lift the concealed type expandable luggage  100  via the lower shell first handle  13 . Further, the lower shell first handle  13  is disposed proximate to the trolley  12 , and an extension direction of the lower shell first handle  13  is arranged in parallel to the plane where the lower shell bottom  112  is located. 
     The lower shell second handle  14  is disposed at an external side of the lower shell second sidewall  112 . Specifically, the lower shell second handle  14  is disposed in a middle portion of the external side of the lower shell second sidewall  112 ; an extension direction of the lower shell second handle  14  is arranged perpendicular to the extension direction of the lower shell first handle  13 ; the lower shell second handle  14  enables the user to conveniently lift the luggage from another direction. 
     The lower shell wheel  15  is disposed at an outer surface of the lower shell third sidewall  114 . The lower shell wheel  15  is for supporting the concealed type expandable luggage  100  and meanwhile may facilitate the concealed type expandable luggage  100  to move. In this embodiment, two lower shell wheels are provided. An arrangement direction of the two lower shell wheels  15  is identical to the extension direction of the lower shell first handle  13 . The two lower shell wheels  15  are disposed proximate to the lower shell bottom wall  111 ; further, the two lower shell wheels  15  are arranged at two adjacent corners of the lower shell third sidewall  114  proximate to the lower shell bottom  111 , respectively. 
     It may be appreciated that in other embodiments, other number of lower shell wheels  15  may be optionally provided, and the present disclosure has no limitation thereto. Preferably, the lower shell wheels  15  are omni wheels. 
     The lower shell support part  16  is disposed outside of the lower shell fourth sidewall  115 , for supporting the concealed type expandable luggage  100  when the concealed type expandable luggage  100  is laid sidelong. In this embodiment, two lower shell support parts  16  are provided. An arrangement direction of the two lower shell support parts  16  is identical to the extension direction of the lower shell second handle  14 . In this embodiment, other number of the lower shell support parts  16  may be provided. The present disclosure has no limitation thereto. 
     The upper shell  20  is connected to the lower shell  10 . The upper shell  20  and the lower shell  10  are fit to form an accommodation space. A structure of the upper shell  20  is substantially identical to that of the lower shell  10 . The upper shell  20  comprises an upper shell body part  21 , an upper shell trolley  22 , and an upper shell support part  23 . The upper shell trolley  22  and the upper shell support part  23  are both arranged at an outer surface of the upper shell body part  21 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 3 , like the lower shell body part  11 , the upper shell body part  21  is a body structure of the upper shell  10 . The upper shell body part  21  comprises an upper shell bottom wall  211 , an upper shell first sidewall  212 , an upper shell second sidewall  213 , an upper shell third sidewall  214 , an upper shell fourth sidewall  215 , an upper shell zipper  216 , and an upper shell cover  217 . 
     The upper shell bottom wall  211  is of a planar structure; and the upper shell bottom wall  211  is arranged opposite and parallel to the lower shell bottom wall  111 . 
     The upper shell first sidewall  212 , the upper shell second sidewall  213 , the upper shell third sidewall  214 , and the upper shell fourth sidewall  215  are connected to edges of the upper shell bottom wall  211 , respectively, and are disposed at a same side as the upper shell bottom wall  211 . Besides, the upper shell first sidewall  212 , the upper shell second sidewall  213 , the upper shell third sidewall  214 , and the upper shell fourth sidewall  215  are successively connected to be fit with the upper shell bottom wall  211  to form an accommodation space having an opening. Further, the upper shell first sidewall  212 , the upper shell second sidewall  213 , the upper shell third sidewall  214 , and the upper shell fourth sidewall  215  are fitted to enclose a quasi-rectangular structure. Additionally, the upper shell second sidewall  113  and the upper shell fourth sidewall  215  are oppositely disposed. In this embodiment, the upper shell body part  21  is of an integral structure. 
     The upper shell cover  217  covers edges of the sidewalls of the upper shell  20 , Specifically, the upper shell cover  217  covers the edges of the upper shell first sidewall  212 , the upper shell second sidewall  213 , the upper shell third sidewall  214 , and the upper shell fourth sidewall  215 , for protecting the respective sidewalls of the upper shell  20  to thereby prolong the service life of the concealed type expandable luggage  100 . 
     Like the lower shell zipper  116 , the upper shell zipper  116  is connected to free ends of the upper shell first sidewall  212 , the upper shell second sidewall  213 , the upper shell third sidewall  214 , and the upper shell fourth sidewall  215 , respectively. In other words, the lower shell zipper  216  is connected to edges of the lower shell body part  21 . The upper shell zipper  216  is fit with the lower shell zipper  116 , and both may be engaged or disengaged with a zipper head fit therewith. In other words, the concealed type expandable luggage  100  enables closing and opening of the lower shell  10  or the upper shell  20  through engagement or disengagement with the upper shell zipper  216  and the lower shell zipper  116 . 
     Two upper shell wheels  22  are likewise provided. An arrangement direction of the two upper shell wheels  22  is parallel to that of the two lower shell wheels  15 . The upper shell wheels  22  are disposed at two adjacent corners at an outer surface of the upper shell third sidewall  214  in adjacency to the upper shell bottom wall  211 . Preferably, a quadrangle formed by fitting of the two upper shell wheels  22  and the two lower shell wheels  15  is a rectangular structure. The two upper shell wheels  22  and the two lower shell wheels  15  form a wheel set to thereby support the luggage and facilitate movement of the luggage. In this embodiment, the upper shell wheels  22  and the lower shell wheels  15  are all omni wheels of the same dimension. 
     Like the lower shell support part  16 , the upper shell support part  23  is disposed outside of the upper shell fourth sidewall  215 , for fitting with the lower shell support part  16  when the concealed type expandable luggage  100  is laid sidelong to thereby support the concealed type expandable luggage  100 . In this embodiment, two upper shell supports  23  are likewise provided; an arrangement direction of the two upper shell support parts  23  is identical to that of the lower shell support parts  16 . In this embodiment, when the concealed type expandable luggage  100  is in a closed state, the two upper shell support parts  23  and the two lower shell support parts  16  are fit to form a rectangular structure. In this embodiment, other numbers of the lower shell support parts  16  may also be provided, which is not limited in the present disclosure. 
     Two ends of the connection part  30  are connected to the upper shell  20  and the lower shell  10 . Further, the connection part  30  is connected to middle portions of the lower shell fourth sidewall  115  and the upper shell fourth sidewall  215 , respectively. The connection part  30  may not only connect the upper shell  20  and the lower shell  10 , but also may connect and cover initial positions and end positions of the lower shell zipper  116  and the upper shell zipper  216 . In this embodiment, the initial positions and end positions of the lower shell zipper  116  and the upper shell zipper  216  are arranged in adjacency to each other. Besides, the connection part  30  is an elastic expandable material, whose length and state may be adjusted within a certain extent. 
     Two ends of the expanded part  40  are connected to the lower shell  10  and the upper shell  20 , respectively. Specifically, the expanded part  40  comprises a first expanded portion  41  and a second expanded portion  42 . The first expanded portion  41  and the second expanded portion  42  may be selectively engaged or disengaged according to actual needs. 
     Please jointly refer to  FIG. 5 . The first expanded portion  41  comprises a first connection panel  411 , an expandable part  412 , and a first expanded portion zipper  413 , wherein two ends of the expandable part  412  are connected to the first connection panel  411  and the first expanded portion zipper  413 , respectively. 
     The first connection panel  411  as a whole is of a rectangular frame structure, for being connected to inner side edges of the sidewall of the upper shell  20 . Specifically, the first connection panel  411  is connected to the inner side edges of the upper shell first sidewall  212 , the upper shell second sidewall  213 , the upper shell third sidewall  214 , and the upper shell fourth sidewall  215 , respectively. In this embodiment, the first connection panel  411  is disposed at an inner side of the upper shell zipper  216 , and the first connection panel  411  and the upper shell  20  are connected by sewing. In other embodiments, the first connection panel  411  may also be connected to the upper shell  20  in other manners. The present disclosure has no limitation thereto. 
     The expandable part  412  as a whole assumes an enclosed structure, one end opening of which is fit to the first connection panel and connected to the first connection panel  411 . The expandable part  412  is a body structure of the expanded part  40 . When the concealed type expandable luggage  100  needs to accommodate more items, the expandable part  412  is in an exposed state to thereby increase the accommodation space of the concealed type expandable luggage  100 . In this embodiment, the expandable part  412  is an expandable fabric. It may be understood that in other embodiments, the expandable part  412  may also have other material or structure, which is not limited in the present disclosure. 
     The first expanded portion zipper  413  is connected to the other end opening of the expandable part  412 ; and the first expanded portion zipper  413  is for being connected to the second expanded portion  42 . 
     One end of the second expanded portion  42  is connected to the lower shell  10 ; the other end thereof is engaged or disengaged with the first expanded portion  41  according to actual needs. The second expanded portion  42  comprises a second connection panel  421  and a second expanded portion zipper  422 . The second connection panel  421  is connected to the second expanded portion zipper  422 . 
     A shape of the second connection panel  421  is similar to that of the first connection panel  411 . The second connection panel  421  is likewise of a rectangular structure, for being connected to inner side edges of the sidewalls of the lower shell  10 . Specifically, the second connection panel  421  is connected to the inner side edges of the lower shell first sidewall  112 , the lower shell second sidewall  113 , the lower shell third sidewall  114 , and the lower shell fourth sidewall  115 , respectively. In this embodiment, the second connection panel  421  is disposed at an inner side of the lower shell zipper  116 , and the second connection panel  412  and the lower shell  10  are likewise connected by sewing. In other embodiments, the second connection panel  421  may also be connected to the lower shell  10  in other ways, and the present disclosure has no limitation thereto. 
     One end of the second expanded portion zipper  422  is connected to the second connection panel  421 , and the other end thereof is fit to the first expanded portion zipper  41  so as to be selectively connected to the first expanded portion zipper  413  according to actual needs. 
     To understand the structure of the concealed type expandable luggage  100  and how to use it more clearly, a use procedure of the concealed type expandable luggage  100  may be introduced in detail below: 
     When the concealed type expandable luggage  100  does not have so many items to accommodate, an extra accommodation space provided by the expanded part  40  will not be needed by the concealed type expandable luggage  100 . In this state, the first expanded portion zipper  413  and the second expanded portion zipper  422  are in a detached state; in addition, when the concealed type expandable luggage  100  is closed after the items are completely placed, the lower shell zipper  116  of the lower shell  10  is engaged with the upper shell zipper  216  of the upper shell  20 , such that the expanded part  40  is accommodated in the accommodation space formed by fitting of the lower shell  10  and the upper shell  20 . It may be understood that, at this time, the expanded part  40  is invisible from outside of the concealed type expandable luggage  100 ; namely, when the concealed type expandable luggage  100  is closed, the expanded part  40  is concealed within the concealed type expandable luggage  100 , which is invisible from the outside. At this point, the concealed type expandable luggage  100  may be used as a normal non-concealed type expandable luggage. 
     When the concealed type expandable luggage  100  has many items to accommodate, the lower shell zipper  116  and the upper shell zipper  216  are in a detached state with a certain spacing. Two ends of the expanded part  40  may be connected to the upper shell  20  and the lower shell  10 . When the second expanded portion zipper  422  of the expanded part  40  is fit to the first expanded portion zipper  41 , the expanded luggage  100  may form an enclosed space, which increases the accommodation space of the concealed type expandable luggage  100  such that the concealed type expandable luggage  100  may accommodate more items. 
     The concealed type expandable luggage  100  provided by the present disclosure may conceal the expanded part  40  when an expanded space is not needed to use, which not only makes the structure of the concealed type expandable luggage  100  more compact, but also may enhance a strength of the middle connection portion of the concealed type expandable luggage  100 . 
     What have been described above are only preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, which are not intended for limiting the protection scope of the present disclosure. Any equivalent structure or equivalent process transformation made according to the contents of the present description or any direct or indirection exploitation in other relevant technical fields is likewise included in the protection scope of the present disclosure.