Patent ID: 8820498

Claim:
An expandable suitcase comprising: a front portion; a back portion; a plurality of side panels, each side panel aligning with one of a top, a bottom, a first side, and a second side of the suitcase, and each side panel having a primary board, at least a first side board rotatably connected to the primary board about a common edge therewith, and a first side flap rotatably connected to the first side board about a common edge opposing the common edge with the primary board; and a plurality of hinges disposed at an intersection of two side panels, each hinge comprising a first hinge panel attached to one of the side panels and a second hinge panel connected to the other side panel, each hinge comprising a spine, wherein the spine provides an axis about which the first and second hinge panels may rotate, each spine of each of the hinges comprising a ring protruding therefrom, wherein the hinge remains in a substantially planar position in a rested state.