초록 ▼

An item of expandable luggage is provided with a multipositional locking expansion mechanism that includes a lock release actuator for unlocking the expansion plates that is located near or on a handle on the sliding plate situated towards the upper portion of the expandable body for easy accessibil

An item of expandable luggage is provided with a multipositional locking expansion mechanism that includes a lock release actuator for unlocking the expansion plates that is located near or on a handle on the sliding plate situated towards the upper portion of the expandable body for easy accessibility, thereby permitting the user to adjust the inner volume of the luggage storage space when the compartment is fully packed. The extendable gusset is provided with one or more resilient members that retract the gusset into the interior of the luggage when it is not extended.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. 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 (18a,b,c,d), a first frame (26) and a second frame (28); an expandable member (50) having an adjustable height comprising a

What is claimed is: 1. 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 (18a,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. 2. The item of luggage according to claim 1, wherein said locking lug member comprises a plurality of spaced apart locking lug members, and said receiving slot comprises a plurality of substantially parallel receiving slots for slideably receiving the plurality of locking lug members. 3. The item of luggage according to claim 1, wherein said first plate comprises a plurality of first plates mounted on opposing sidewalls of said main body, and said second plate comprises a plurality of second plates mounted on opposing sidewalls of said expanding member. 4. The item of luggage according to claim 1, wherein said locking expansion device comprises an opposing pair of first expansion plates (40), and an opposing pair of sliding second expansion plates (60) slidably coupled together. 5. The item of luggage according to claim 1, further comprising gripping means (72) located on said sliding second expansion plate (60) to facilitate the sliding up or down of said second plate. 6. The item of luggage according to claim 5, wherein said gripping means comprises a handle (72). 7. The item of luggage of claim 6, wherein said second expansion plate includes a handle formed in the end of said second plate adjacent said expandable member and said access panel. 8. The item of luggage according to claim 1, wherein said lock releasing element (120) comprises a spring-biased push button (88). 9. The item of luggage of claim 1, wherein said first and second plates of said locking expansion device are formed of a polymeric material. 10. The item of luggage of claim 1, further comprising a manual lock release actuator, said actuator being disposed proximate said expandable member and said access panel. 11. The item of luggage of claim 1, wherein said support frames are metal. 12. The item of luggage of claim 1, wherein said gusset and said sidewalls are constructed of the same fabric. 13. The item of luggage of claim 1, wherein said gusset is structured to increase the internal storage volume by at least ten percent. 14. The item of luggage of claim 1, wherein said length of said expanded gusset is in the range from about three inches to about six inches. 15. The item of luggage of claim 1, further comprising gusset retracting means attached to the interior side of said gusset, whereby said gusset is drawn to the interior of said luggage compartment in said non-expanded position. 16. The item of luggage of claim 15, wherein said gusset retracting means is a web of resilient plastic material. 17. The item of luggage of claim 16, wherein said gusset is secured to a central portion of said resilient web, and said longitudinal edges of said web extend to the peripheral portions of said opposing second frame and said expandable frame. 18. The item of luggage of claim 16, wherein a separate portion of said web extends along each of said sidewalls. 19. The item of luggage of claim 17, wherein said gusset is secured to said retracting means by fasteners selected from the group consisting of adhesive, stitching and rivets. 20. The item of luggage of claim 15, wherein said gusset retracting means is integrally formed with said gusset. 21. An item of luggage (10) having an interior region of adjustable interior volume, which comprises: a) a first frame element (28); b) a second frame element (52) positioned adjacent said first frame element (28) and substantially similarly configured to said first frame element, said second frame element ( 52) being moveable between a first position in close adjacent relation to said first frame element (28) and a second position relatively spaced from said first frame element (28), yet in general dimensional and configurational alignment therewith; c) an expandable gusset (54) connecting said first and second frame elements, said gusset (54) being foldable to a first folded configuration when said second frame element (52) is in said first position in close relation with said first frame element ( 28) to reduce the interior volume, and expandable to a second extended configuration when said second frame element (52) is in said second position in relative spaced relation to said first frame element (28) to increase the interior volume; and d) a resilient connecting web member attached to the interior side of said gusset (54) and extending between opposing peripheral regions of said first frame element (28) and said second frame element (52) when said second frame element (52) is in said first position, such that movement of said second frame element (52 ) from said first position to said second position increases the interior volume, and movement of said second frame element (52) from said second position to said first position reduces said interior volume, and said resilient connecting web member causes said gusset to fold inwardly and be drawn towards said interior region by said resilient connecting web member. 22. The item of luggage (10) according to claim 21, wherein said resilient connecting web member is attached to the interior side of said gusset (54) by fastening means.