Patent Publication Number: US-9839269-B2

Title: Luggage container with adjustable interior space

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a luggage container and, particularly, to an expandable and contractible luggage container such that an interior space of the luggage container is adapted to be adjusted. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Taiwan Pat. No. M458136 shows an expandable luggage container. The expandable luggage container includes a luggage cover, a secondary cover and an extension fabric interconnecting the secondary cover and the luggage cover through zippers. The secondary cover can be moved further from the luggage cover to increase the volume of an interior space of the expandable luggage container. 
     It is not easy for a user to adjust the interior space of the language container. In order to increase the volume of the interior space, the user has to unzip the zippers to allow the extension fabric to be stretched. Furthermore, tucking the extension fabric into the luggage cover and the secondary cover is not easy, and closing the zippers can abrade the extension fabric. In addition, it is impossible for the user to adjust the interior space with one hand. 
     The present invention is, therefore, intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the present invention, a luggage container with adjustable interior space includes a compartment structure including a body. The body defines an interior space for carrying articles. The body is expandable and contractible. A cover is attached to the body. The body includes an opening, and the cover is configured to selectively open and close the opening. The opening defines a side of the interior space. An adjusting system is connected to the compartment structure and is configured for adjusting the interior space. The adjusting system includes a first support device, a second supporting device, and a control input. The first and second supporting devices are mounted on the body and are spaced apart from each other at a distance. The control input is configured to be operable to selectively pull the first and second supporting devices towards each other and push the first and second supporting devices away from each other. The control input and the first and second supporting devices include a connecting member connected therebetween. The connecting member interconnects the first and second supporting devices. The connecting member is flexible. The distance between the first and second supporting devices determines the volume of the interior space. The volume of the interior space is expanded when the first and second supporting devices are pushed away from each other. The volume of interior space is contracted when the first and second supporting devices are pushed towards each other. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
     It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide a luggage container with an adjustable interior space for carrying articles. 
     It is another objective of the present invention that the interior space can be adjusted quickly and easily. 
     Other objectives, advantages, and new features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanied drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a luggage container with an adjustable interior space in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a partial, perspective view showing a cover of the luggage container in an open position. 
         FIG. 3  is a partial, perspective view of the luggage container similar to  FIG. 2 , but viewed at different angles. 
         FIG. 4  is a partial, exploded, perspective view of an adjusting system of the luggage container for adjusting an interior space of the luggage container. 
         FIG. 5  is a partial, cross-sectional view of the adjusting system shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is another partial, cross-sectional view of the adjusting system shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 7  is a partial, cross-sectional view showing the adjusting system in an operation decreasing the volume of the interior space of the luggage container. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing the adjusting system in the operation decreasing the volume of the interior space of the luggage container. 
         FIG. 9  is another perspective view showing the adjusting system in the operation decreasing the volume of the interior space of the luggage container. 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view showing the adjusting system in an operation increasing the volume of the interior space of the luggage container. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view showing the adjusting system in the operation increasing the volume of the interior space of the luggage container. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIGS. 1 through 11  show a luggage container with an adjustable interior space in accordance with the present invention. The luggage container  10  includes a compartment structure  20 . The compartment structure  20  includes a body  21  and a cover  22  is attached to the body  21 . The body  21  defines an interior space  211  for carrying articles. The body  21  is expandable and contractible. In the embodiment, the body  21  has a lateral side  213  being expandable and contractible. The body  21  includes an opening  212 , and the cover  22  is configured to selectively open and close the opening  212 . Therefore, the interior space  211  is closed when the cover  22  closes the opening  212 , and the interior space  211  is open when the cover  22  does not close the opening  212 . The opening  212  defines a side of the interior space  211 . The body  21  has a front end, and the opening  212  is at the front end of the body  21 . The body  21  has a back end spaced from the front end, and the interior space  211  extends between the front and back ends of the body  21 . The body  21  includes the lateral side  213  thereof extending between the front and back ends thereof. 
     The luggage container  10  also includes an adjusting system  30  connected to the compartment structure  20  and configured for adjusting the interior space  211 . When the volume of the interior space  211  is expanded, the lateral side  213  of the body  21  is extended and has a first width in a width direction thereof. When the volume of the interior space  211  is contracted, the lateral side  213  of the body  21  is contracted and has a second width in the width direction thereof. The second width is smaller than the first width. 
     The adjusting system  30  includes a first support device  31 , a second supporting device  32 , and a control input  33 . The first and second supporting devices  31  and  32  are mounted on the body  21  and are spaced apart from each other at a distance. The first and second supporting devices  31  and  32  are mounted on the lateral side  213  of the body  21 , and are spaced in the width direction of the lateral side  213  of the body  21 . The first supporting device  31  includes at least one strut  311  attached to the lateral side  213  of the body  21  and the second supporting device  32  includes a frame  321  attached to the lateral side  213  of the body  21 . The second supporting device  32  includes at least one retainer  322  disposed on the frame  321  and configured for securing the connecting member  331  to the frame  321 . The connecting member  331  is linked to the at least one strut  311 . The frame  321  has a closed annular periphery. The frame  321  has an advantage of reinforcing the body  21 . The at least one retainer  322  is in a form of a ring, and the connecting member  331  is inserted through the ring. 
     The adjusting system  30  also includes a control input  33  configured to be operable to selectively pull the first and second supporting devices  31  and  32  towards each other and push the first and second supporting devices  31  and  32  away from each other. The control input  33  and the first and second supporting devices  31  and  32  include a connecting member  331  connected therebetween. The connecting member  331  interconnects the first and second supporting devices  31  and  32 . The connecting member  331  is flexible. The connecting member  331  is a metal wire. The control input  33  includes a base seat  34  including a floor surface mounted on the body  21  and including gears  341 . The base seat  34  has an annular inner periphery, and the gears  341  are disposed annularly on the inner periphery of the base seat  34 . The base seat  34  includes a compartment and a pivot in the compartment. The control input  33  includes a winch  35  including a first mating structure  351  and being rotatable. The winch  35  is mounted in the compartment and is pivotally connected to the pivot, such that the winch  35  is rotatable about the pivot. The winch  35  includes a joining structure for pivotally connecting to the pivot. The joining structure is in a form of a hole, and the pivot is inserted in the hole. The connecting member  331  includes a first end thereof fastened to the winch  35  and is selectively wound in and wound out upon pivotal movement of the winch  35 . The control input  33  includes a knob  36  configured to be operable to selectively rotate with the winch  35  and relative to the winch  35 . The knob  36  includes at least one pawl  361  adapted to releasably engage with the gears  341  and a second mating structure  362  adapted to releasably engage with the first mating structure  351 . The at least one pawl  361  includes a plurality of pawls  361 . The plurality of pawls  361  is arranged in a spaced relationship annularly. The knob  36  is movable to a first position in which the at least one pawl  361  engages with the gears  341 , and the first and second mating structures  351  and  362  are mated, such that the knob  36  and the winch  35  rotate together in one direction. The knob  36  is also moveable to a second position in which the at least one pawl  361  disengages from the gears  341  and the first and second mating structures  351  and  362  disengage from each other. 
     The distance between the first and second supporting devices  31  and  32  determines the volume of the interior space  211 . The volume of the interior space  211  is expanded when the first and second supporting devices  31  and  32  are pushed away from each other. The volume of interior space  211  is contracted when the first and second supporting devices  31  and  32  are pushed towards each other. 
     In view of the forgoing, the interior space  211  defined in the luggage container  10  can be selectively expanded and contracted. Furthermore, the adjusting system  30  allows the interior space  211  to be adjusted quickly and easily. 
     The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of this invention, and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.