Patent Publication Number: US-9420859-B2

Title: Expandable luggage

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/744,365, filed Sep. 26, 2012, entitled “Xpanda Bag™ expandable luggage, expandable backpack, duffel bag, expandable bag, “check in” duffle bag and or expandable “carry on” bag, expandable sports bag, expandable activities bag”, owned by the assignee of the present application and herein incorporated by reference  5  in its entirety. 
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     Aspects of the present invention relate to an expandable bag with multiple configurations which can serve the purpose of a combination of a “carry on” small size and a “check in” large size bag. Conversion of the bag from “carry on” to “check in” or duffel bag and vice versa, basically depends on the location and function of the zip of the zipper, folds and pleats of the flexible bag material which helps in expansion and/or retraction of the bag as required according to the need of use. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Luggage is often times used by travelers and others in order to transport clothing and other items, such as, toiletries and souvenirs between locations. The available storage space within a luggage bag is normally constrained by its design limitations and the construction of the bag. Thus, travelers often times have multiple pieces or a set of luggage to suit their various needs, such as, for example, a smaller duffle for a weekend trip or a larger rolling suitcase for a longer vacation. However, it is desirable to have a single article of luggage which is expandable and collapsible to allow the user to change the interior volume and which is versatile and reconfigurable depending on the user&#39;s needs. 
     Expandable carrying cases are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,443,671. The case in this patent is provided with an expansible joint closed by an elongated zipper. When the zipper is opened, the joint can expand to increase the volume of the main storage compartment of the carrying case. Expansible carrying cases of the type shown in this patent are quite useful but are limited in their versatility. 
     While the prior art discloses many types of luggage, so far as is known, none of the prior art devices afford this versatility in a simple, effective and yet highly advantageous manner as does the present invention. 
     In a principal aspect the present invention relates to a multiple configuration bag or packs which may be utilized as a duffel bag or alternatively as a back pack/carry bag made of flexible recycled or non recycled material and includes handles, storage pockets, a slide handle with storage pocket, backpack straps stored in a rear compartment for use while in the backpack configuration, and various zippers and pleats to achieve the expansion and retraction of the invention. Further, unlike other inventions, the present invention is unique that unlike other versions of expandable bags, the current invention nominally impairs the space of the smaller carry on while the invention is in its retracted state. The bag is nominally effected by expansion material and nominally encroaches upon precious cargo space of the Xpanda bag while retracted. While, other prior art inventions take up a great amount of space making the smaller bag impractical and virtually they become a carrier for a larger bag. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to the primary aspect of the present invention a “carry on” backpack size luggage, back pack, or bag that converts to a larger “check in” size luggage, backpack, or duffel bag without need of or excess of other materials to make the conversion possible is disclosed. With the zip of a zipper, and the fold of the flexible material, the invention makes the conversion possible eliminating the need for other various products of the category. As a further feature of the present invention, several other multiple storage pockets with zippers, side access pockets, shoulder backpack straps, strap handles, slide handle and wheels for luggage dragging purpose are provided. 
     It is an object of the invention wherein the design of the bag provides consumer, a greater flexibility in travel and other aspects of life to carry large or small goods or belongings with one bag. It is further an object of the invention, to save money at the travel ticket counter by converting the large duffel bag to a small “carry on” bag shape and dimension when limited goods or luggage need to be carried. Alternatively, should the consumer in travel or other aspects of life require greater storage to contain goods or belongings, the bag expands to meet the larger bag requirements. This process applies to smaller or larger produced bags with the similar fold and zipper locations to create this flexibility regardless of the manufactured size and shape of the bag. The term “carry on” implies the need of the invention in its inverted format with small dimensions, to be approved by the airlines or other transportation in size and shape to be usefully carried on within the baggage allowance limit. The “carry on” size regulations may change and thus no specifications are granted. Similarly, the expanded version of the bag will be suitable for, check in without additional fees due to size or shape. Weight will be dependent on the volume of goods inside the invention and thus will not be depicted in these specifications. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a combination “carry on” and duffel bag which is comprised of flexible material and which includes various pockets for storage of handles and/or straps. Additionally, the expansion material of the bag used for converting a carry on backpack to large duffel bag may be rolled, tucked, or otherwise used as a pocket as the need may be. A retaining strap may be included in the invention to retain a rolled version of the expansion material when in the unexpanded position, while a tucking pocket will be included to retain a tucked in version. 
     Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a combination “carry on” and duffel bag which involves safe construction, economical to manufacture, and is foldable or compressible for easy storage, and which has a large storage capacity. 
     Other objects, embodiments and advantages of the embodiments herein will become readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  Illustrates the side view of the invention (Xpanda Bag) in its “carry on” position 
         FIG. 2  Illustrates the top view of the invention laying on its back in the “carry on” position 
         FIG. 3  Illustrates the upper top of the invention laying on its back in the “carry on” position 
         FIG. 4  Illustrates the bottom standing base of the invention laying on its back in the “carry on” position 
         FIG. 5  Illustrates the back of the invention laying on its side in the “carry on” position 
         FIG. 6  Same as  FIG. 1  yet with the extension handle elongated in the carry on position 
         FIG. 7  Illustrates the back of the invention with backpack straps shown and extension handle elongated in the “carry on” position 
         FIG. 8  Illustrates the invention profile view while expanding or retracting the invention. 
         FIG. 9  Illustrates the invention in its fully extended and expanded condition 
         FIG. 10  Illustrates the expanded front top view of the invention while face up 
         FIG. 11  Illustrates the expanded back view of the invention while face down 
         FIG. 12  General overview of the invention with the two size positions 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the figures, a tailored, casual, soft and expandable bag (Xpanda Bag) used both as carry-on and check-in duffel luggage bag for occasions not limited to camping, sports event, travelling etc, incorporating the principles of the present invention has been illustrated in detail. 
     Xpanda Bag™ is an expandable bag product made of soft, flexible recycled or non recycled material that allows the invention to be used as a smaller carry on type bag with dimensions suitable for, but not limited to, carry luggage during mass transportation such as air or bus travel. The bag can be expanded when required to unfold into a larger check in type bag or duffel bag or luggage bag and then refolded to create a smaller bag as needed. The main thrust of the invention is giving the user flexibility during travel or life activities having one bag suitable for multiple uses and functions. 
     The drawings provided show the general shape and look of the bag emphasizing the actual enlarging and reducing process that includes zipper location, zipper tuck and fold, zipper location while in enlarged and reduced form, material location and position while folded and how the material is pleated and/or rolled, tucked or stuffed to allow the zipper and material to create a maximum expansion while the invention is expanded and a minimum space lost to the expansion material when the invention is in its&#39; reduced form and the look of the invention while large, small, and while in transition form. 
       FIGS. 8 to 12  of the present invention disclose the major uses of the bag which may be used, but not limited to large “check in” luggage or duffle bag or suit case with wheels, extendable walking handle, and retractable straps. Further  FIGS. 1 to 7  show the invention is also a small “check in” back pack designed to be more versatile as a “carry on” unit. 
     It is an embodiment of the present invention wherein the zip of the zipper along with the pleats and folds of the material is responsible for changing/converting the bag from smaller dimension to larger dimension and vice versa. The drawings explain the folding for this change and the look of the invention in either large or small format. The drawings further show the approximate location of each element while in either large or small versions. Manufacturing issues, sizes, and styles may change the exact location of these elements while retaining the integrity of the invention concept. 
     As best seen in  FIG. 1 through 7  shows the expandable bag  10  of the present invention in its retracted position that can be used as a normal “carry on” bag. The bag is constructed throughout generally of flexible fabric material, recycled or non-recycled in nature, comprising of a top upper handle strap  27  for holding when used as a brief case. In an embodiment of the present invention, the bag comprises of various primary/main and secondary compartments serving as storage pockets closed by zipper  11 ,  11   a ,  20 ,  33  and  34  as shown in figures. It is a major aspect of the present invention wherein closing and opening of zipper  11  and  11   a  in association with pleats, folds and inverted and/or tucking material serves the main function and/or role in retracting or expanding the bag either as a carry on small luggage or as a large duffel luggage bag whichever is required according to the need. 
     Additionally, the present invention may or may not comprise a strong bottom  30  with wheels for dragging purpose, made of harder, wear and impact resistant material if desired such as durable fiber, plastic, foamed polymer, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) plastic, or of thicker sections of more flexible and less resistant materials or the like. Bag  10  can have long backpack shoulder straps  31  comprising inner sponge or foam material with upper end stitched to the body of the bag on the upper side and the bottom of the strap can be either stitched or connected with an adjustable buckle object that can enhance flexibility and comfort while carrying as shoulder backpack as shown in  FIG. 7 , when used for small volume luggage such as laptops, clothes and other low weight accessories required during travelling. Components of the bag are stitched in a proper and strong manner such that it can handle heavy loads when used as a duffel bag/check-in bag for larger amount of luggage. 
     It is an embodiment of the present invention wherein, recyclable materials such as polyethylene and polypropylene sheet material, polycarbonate sheet material, and carbon fiber sheeting may be used to reinforce the body, walls and bottom as necessary or desired, depending on the particular application and operating conditions. 
     In at least some embodiments, it may be advantageous if at least the walls and bottom have enough rigidity to hold their own shape, but that need not be the case in all embodiments. Secondly, the multi configuration of the expandable bag of the present invention is based mainly on the Zipping mechanism of the zippers that helps retracting and expanding the invention making it useful both as a “carry on” and duffel bag. 
       FIGS. 8 through 12  show the different embodiments of the present invention in expanded form with slide handle that supports the expanded form of the invention and also helps in carrying the luggage bag by wheels or dragger with ease. Also provided that zipper  34  basically serves as a storage pocket for sliding extendible handle  28  from which the handle can be extended out while carrying luggage supported by wheels. 
     The main component of the invention is depicted in the expanding and reducing of zipper  11 ,  11   a  with the inverting fold  12  and pleat  21  that accompanies this zipper as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . Folding the flexible material and placing zipper  11 ,  11   a  at these fold points. Zipper  11 ,  11   a  can be seen separately on the front and the back of the bag while the bag is in its expanded form. In an embodiment, both these half zippers  11  and  11   a  that wrap around the length and width of the bag front and back respectively, along with the inverting fold  12  and pleat  21 , are the main components of the invention that give it the uniqueness in transition from large to small and small to large and the unique form, function, look, application, and improvement on existing bags. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9  shows the bag  10  of the present invention in its partly and fully expanded form. The unique combination of zippers  11  and  11   a , flexible material  15  with strap handle  22 , inverting fold  12 , pleat  21 , sliding extension handle  25  and  28  are responsible in converting the retracted form of the bag  10  to expanded form. 
     In order to enlarge or reduce the size of the bag from its smaller form to its larger, the beginning point of the zipping process is point  14 . Either a permanently joined zipper head or a head that separates at zipper head  13  can be used as shown in  FIG. 8 . Point  14  is the starting point of the zipper  11 ,  11   a  while retracting the bag to a small dimension and the ending point of the zipper  11 ,  11   a  while enlarging the bag. 
     It is an embodiment during retracting the invention to a small “carry on” bag, the extension pleat material  15  that enlarges the height of the bag will be tucked into the bag as zipper  11 ,  11   a  begins its path to the top of the bag all the while tucking the pleat in as the zipping is proceeding. During this process, the optional long strap handle  16  will be tucked into the pleat while the zipping is proceeding. When inward tucking of the pleat  21 , the long strap  16  and the zipping process reaches the top of the bag point  17  on both sides of the bag, the zipping and tucking of the lower portions of zipper  11 ,  11   a  temporarily stops. Strap  26  will be removed and slide handle  28  will be retracted through handle  27 . Zipper  38  can be in the open or closed position as shown in  FIG. 10 . Zipper in its zipped form provides additional rigidity to the bag configuration and zipper  23  can be in the zipped position as this section may become an internal storage pocket. At this time the large duffle bag extension  15  will be tucked into the opening of the bag point  18  inverting the larger duffel bag into the now smaller bag. This will create the cavity or pocket  29  made out of the duffel bag extension  15  material. While the tucking in process is carried out, the duffel bag extension  15 , upper portion of the long carry strap  16 , the base side half of the bag extension and zipper  11  will fold and become the top flap of the convertible smaller bag meeting the top side half of the bag and zipper  11   a  where the zipping process stops at point  17  as shown in  FIG. 8 . Zipping of  11 ,  11   a  will now resume from point  17  until both zipper ends meet at the top most point  24  of the bag and zipper. The inverted duffle extension material  15  now sits inside the bag as a storage pocket accessed by zipping and unzipping  11 ,  11   a  but not exceeding point  17  of the zipper  11 ,  11   a  to keep the side pleats  21  and handle strap  16  from being released. The other access point of the bag includes zippers  20  as shown in figures. Zippers used in the present invention are quite durable in nature with strong teeth that enables easy zipping and unzipping mechanism. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, while expanding the bag from smaller configuration to larger configuration, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the zipper  11 ,  11   a  is simply unzipped completely until the zip of the zipper reaches point  14  or  13  of the bag. Inner pocket  29  is pulled outward by pulling the strap handle  22  to achieve a large bag form. As shown in  FIG. 12 , the pleat  37  along with strap handle  27  which forms the upper portion of the bag in retracted form will now align horizontally on the same plane of the bottom base of the bag thereby allowing complete outward expansion of the inner pocket  29 . Extension handle  25  will then slide through handle  27  sliding to its full extension. Strap  26  will then be attached to slide handle  25  as seen, such that the whole expanded form of the bag rests firmly on the extendible slide handle  28  which acts as a support to the whole body. Tying of optional strap  26  onto the slide handle  25  also helps the alignment of the bag to be in a perfect position without causing any discomfort while carrying it as duffel luggage bag. 
     In an embodiment, strap  16  on both sides of the bag are joined together for easy holding/carrying purpose and also gives a good profile look to the bag. Joining of holding straps  16  is provided by using grip holding material or any other securing material. The extendable handle  28  can be used to support the bag when it is in its expanded position. This expansion and reduction process, fold, zipper, and their approximate locations, can be reproduced on various other sized and shaped bags. It is claimed that this fold style and zipper location is unique to this invention and is the primary distinction of the inventions uniqueness among these type of bags.  29  represents the approximate location and shape of the inverted bag once it has been adjusted to its reduced size as seen in  FIG. 8 . Zipper  20  and  38  will access to additional storage pocket unrelated to the expansion and reduction process. Once the bag is converted to its expanded form, it can either be dragged through wheels  32  by holding slide handle or it can also be carried as a large shoulder back pack case mainly during occasion like trekking or the like. 
     It is an embodiment that the bag of the present invention may or may not include pleats on the sides but only with extension material on the upper portion of the bag that would enable for expanding or retracing the bag according to the need. The bag of the present invention can be constructed in basically three sizes preferably small, medium and large dimensions. Possibly there are three ways to deal with the expansion material of the bag. Firstly, the expansion material can be simply tucked inward into the main body of the bag to form an inner storage pocket. Secondly, the expansion material can be tucked in under a material layer/skin at the bottom of the bag. The material skin/layer can be closed by zippers once expansion material is tucked inside it. Alternatively, the expansion material of the bag can be rolled up firmly towards the upper portion of the bag wherein it can be secured tightly by a adjustable strap to keep it in tucked in position. Whenever, the need arises to expand the bag, the adjustable strap can be easily loosened to un-roll or open up the expanded material. 
     It is further an important embodiment of the present invention that the actual zipper  11 ,  11   a  position within inches while in profile view. The 100% accurate location will rely on manufacturing issues that affect the actual zipper and fold location within inches. Bag style and size will nominally affect the 100% actual location and angle of the zipper  11 ,  11   a  and fold as well. The expansion material may be rolled, tucked, or otherwise used as a pocket as the need may be. A retaining strap may be included in the invention to retain a rolled version of the expansion material when in the unexpanded position, while a tucking pocket will be included to retain a tucked in version. 
     Advantages of the Invention 
     Xpanda Bag™ as an invention has several advantages: 
     1. The material used to increase and reduce the bag, are one in the same. The fold or the inversion process utilizes the material from the larger bag thus eliminating the extra material and weight of additional material. When the invention is in its smaller position, the material that was used for the larger position is utilized to create the top flap of the bag as well as one of the inner storage pockets. 
     2. The major component that reduces or increases the size of the bag is the function of zipper  11 ,  11   a  which is simple, easy to use. There are no mechanisms or hinges or difficult procedures to achieve this flexibility. Once the bag has been tucked to its inverted position, a simple zip on each side of the bag makes the change complete and sustainable. To enlarge the bag is extremely quick and simple as well. 
     3. The handle strap used while the invention is in its expanded position, is retractable and/or detachable and can be hidden in the zipper, tuck or pleat while the invention is in its reduced position. 
     4. The extendable handle  28  can be used to support the bag when it is in its expanded position. The extension handle  28  slides through handle  27  for further support. 
     5. The invention encompasses several products and functions all in one unit. This advantage is apparent in its function as a regular suit case type bag either as a “carry on” size bag or as a “check in” size bag. The invention can be rolled in either position. The invention may include backpack straps that can be tucked into a recess pocket should they not be required. 
     6. These straps are useful in either the small or larger versions of the invention making the invention into either a day backpack or a larger camping/hiking type backpack. This flexibility allows the consumer to choose repeatedly from one in the same bag the function required based upon their needs at a given moment. Thus the invention encompasses real life situations and needs to accompany the end user without compromising the quality of its form or function in any given position. 
     7. There will be great effort to utilize recycled materials in the construction of the bag. 
     Furthermore, in constructing the bag of the present invention, great care is to be taken to construct the zipper closure members in a manner which secures them with great strength to each bag section. 
     While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it should be understood that variations would be apparent to one skilled in the art. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments shown in the drawings.