Patent ID: 7093700

Claim:
An item of luggage ( 10 ) having an adjustable interior volume comprising: a main body ( 14 ) having a bottom floor ( 12 ), a plurality of opposing sidewalls ( 18 a,b,c,d ), a first frame ( 26 ) and a second frame ( 28 ); an expandable member ( 50 ) having an adjustable height comprising a plurality of opposing sidewalls, an expandable member support frame ( 52 ) and a zipperless expandable gusset ( 54 ), wherein said gusset is located between and expandably connected to said main body ( 14 ) and said expandable support frame ( 52 ); an access panel ( 24 ) joined to said expandable member ( 50 ); and locking expansion device ( 20 ) connecting said main body ( 14 ) to said expandable member ( 50 ) comprising a first fixed plate ( 40 ) and a second expansion plate ( 60 ) slidably connected to said first fixed plate ( 40 ), said first fixed plate ( 40 ) being mounted to said main body and including a locking lug member ( 42 ), and first lock means corresponding to a collapsed position and second lock means corresponding to an expanded position, said second expansion plate ( 60 ) being mounted to said expandable member and including a releasable locking mechanism ( 100 ) and a lug receiving slot ( 68 ) located and dimensioned to slidably receive said locking lug member ( 42 ) through said lug receiving slot ( 68 ) so as to couple said locking lug member ( 42 ) and said lug receiving slot ( 68 ), such that adjustment of the height of said expandable member results in a corresponding adjustment of the interior volume of the luggage, and wherein said releasable locking mechanism ( 100 ) includes a lock element ( 110 ) capable of engaging said first and second lock means so as to control said sliding and locking of said second plate with respect to said first plate, and a lock release element ( 120 ) capable of disengaging said lock element ( 110 ), whereby said locking lug ( 42 ) is permitted to slide in said lug receiving slot ( 68 ) when said lock element ( 110 ) is disengaged.