Patent ID: 7426985

Claim:
an item of luggage having an interior region of adjustable interior volume, which comprises: a) a first frame element; b) a second frame element positioned adjacent said first frame element and configured substantially similarly to said first frame element, said second frame element being moveable between a first position in close adjacent relation to said first frame element and a second position relatively spaced from said first frame element, yet in general dimensional and configurational alignment therewith; c) an expandable gusset connecting said first and second frame elements, said gusset being foldable to a first folded configuration when said second frame element is in said first position in close relation with said first frame element to reduce the interior volume, and expandable to a second extended configuration when said second frame element is in said second position in relative spaced relation with said first frame element, to increase the interior volume; and d) gusset retracting means comprising a web of material attached to the interior side of said gusset and arranged such that when said second frame element is moved toward said first position, said gusset is drawn towards the interior region by force provided by said gusset retracting means, thereby allowing said first and second frame elements to come into close adjacent relation with each other, without the user having to manually retract said gusset to a desired interior position and away from interfering with the retraction of said second frame element.