초록 ▼

An item of luggage, comprising: a plurality of sides sufficient to define a first volumetric space, an expandable section disposed within the space between first and second opposing sides, wherein at least the first opposing side defines a boundary for the volumetric space and provides an exterior s

An item of luggage, comprising: a plurality of sides sufficient to define a first volumetric space, an expandable section disposed within the space between first and second opposing sides, wherein at least the first opposing side defines a boundary for the volumetric space and provides an exterior surface for the item of luggage; the expandable section having a first configuration wherein it is stored within the space and has an expandable side that is adjacent to the first opposing side, and a second configuration wherein the expandable side extends a predetermined distance from the first opposing side to define a boundary for a second volumetric space that is the same as or different from the first volumetric space.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of making a modular set of luggage items, comprising: providing a main luggage item with an expandable section and a stay system, or other support mechanism, having an elongate element extending from a first end to an opposed second end,providing a removable luggage item having a storage

1. A method of making a modular set of luggage items, comprising: providing a main luggage item with an expandable section and a stay system, or other support mechanism, having an elongate element extending from a first end to an opposed second end,providing a removable luggage item having a storage compartment, the main item comprising a plurality of sides sufficient to define a first volumetric space defining a first storage compartment, the expandable section having a first, stored configuration disposed within the first volumetric space between a first opposing side associated with the main luggage item and a second opposing side in opposed relationship relative to the first opposing side, the second opposing side comprising a side of the removable luggage item and defining a boundary for the first volumetric space, and the expandable section having an expandable side that is adjacent to the first opposing side in the stored configuration, and a second configuration wherein the expandable side extends a predetermined distance from the first opposing side to define a boundary for a second volumetric space defining a second storage compartment that is the same as or different in volume from the first volumetric space;wherein one of the ends of the elongate element pivotably couples with at least one of the plurality of sides of the main luggage item and another portion of the elongate element removably couples with the expandable section to tension the expandable section toward the second configuration, andwherein the removable luggage item is configured to removably couple with the main luggage item. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the elongate element is further configured to urge the expandable side and the first opposing side apart from each other. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of sides of the main luggage item and/or the expandable section defines a receptacle configured to removably receive an end of the elongate element. 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the at least one of the plurality of sides of the main luggage item comprises the expandable side. 5. An item of luggage, comprising: a plurality of sides sufficient to define a first volumetric space,an expandable section disposed between first and second opposing ones of the plurality of sides, wherein at least the second opposing side defines a boundary for the first volumetric space;a stay system, or other support mechanism, having a strut extending from a first end configured to pivotably couple with at least one of the plurality of sides of the main luggage item; andthe expandable section having a first configuration wherein it is stored within the first volumetric space with an expandable side positioned adjacent to the first opposing side to define a first interior compartment between the second opposing side and the expandable side, and a second configuration wherein the expandable side extends a predetermined distance from the first opposing side to define a boundary for a second volumetric space defining a second interior compartment, wherein the second opposing side is configured to be removably coupleable with the first opposing side and the strut is further configured to urge the expandable section to the second configuration via a coupling of the strut to the expandable section. 6. The luggage item of claim 5, wherein a volume of the second volumetric space is at least 25% greater than a volume of the first volumetric space. 7. The luggage item of claim 5, wherein a volume of the second volumetric space is at least 50% greater than a volume of the first volumetric space. 8. The luggage item of claim 5, wherein a volume of the second volumetric space is at least 100% greater than a volume of the first volumetric space. 9. The item of luggage according to claim 5, wherein the strut is configured to removably couple with the expandable section so as to urge the expandable side and the first opposing side apart from each other. 10. The item of luggage according to claim 5, wherein the at least one of the plurality of sides of the main luggage item defines a receptacle configured to removably receive an end of the strut. 11. A luggage item, comprising: a first wall and a second wall positioned in opposed relationship relative to each other;an expandable member positioned between the first wall and the second wall, wherein the expandable member is positioned adjacent the first wall in a stowed configuration and spaced apart from the first wall in an expanded configuration;a stay system, or other support mechanism, having an elongate stay wherein one of the ends of the elongate stay pivotably couples with at least one of a plurality of sidewalls of the luggage item and another portion of the elongate element removably couples with the expandable section to tension the expandable section toward the expanded configuration; anda first coupler associated with the first wall and a second coupler associated with the second wall, wherein the first coupler and the second coupler are complementarily configured to provide a decoupleable coupling between the first wall and the second wall, wherein a first volumetric space between the expandable member in the stowed configuration and the second wall defines a first interior compartment and a second volumetric space between the expandable member and the first wall defines a second interior compartment equivalently sized or larger than the first interior compartment when the expandable member is in the expanded configuration. 12. The luggage item of claim 11, wherein a sidewall extends from a periphery of the first wall and the first coupler is positioned on the first sidewall in spaced-apart relation to the first wall. 13. The luggage item of claim 12, where the second wall is spaced apart from the edge of one of the sidewalls such that a volume of the first interior compartment is greater than a volumetric space defined by the first wall and the sidewall extending therefrom. 14. The luggage item of claim 11, wherein a sidewall extends from a periphery of the first wall to define an edge spaced apart from the first wall and the expandable member is configured to expand beyond the edge in the expanded configuration. 15. The luggage item of claim 11, wherein, in the expanded configuration and when the decoupleable coupling is decoupled, the expandable member defines a surface spaced farther apart from the first wall than the second wall is spaced from the first wall when the decoupleable coupling couples the first wall and the second wall together. 16. The luggage item of claim 11, wherein the luggage item comprises a main luggage item and a removable luggage item, wherein the first wall comprises a wall of the main luggage item and the second wall comprises a wall of the removable luggage item. 17. The luggage item of claim 16, wherein the removable luggage item is the smaller of the items and includes at least one shoulder strap. 18. The luggage item of claim 17, wherein the at least one shoulder strap comprises a first backpack strap, the removable item further including a second backpack strap. 19. The luggage item of claim 16, wherein the expandable member comprises a flexible material. 20. The luggage item of claim 16, wherein the decoupleable coupler comprises a zipper. 21. The luggage item of claim 16, wherein the first volumetric space is defined by two or more sides of the main luggage item and the second wall. 22. The luggage item of claim 11, wherein the luggage item comprises a main luggage item and a removable item each having a plurality of sides, wherein the first wall defines a side of the main item and the second wall defines a side of the removable item. 23. The luggage item of claim 22, wherein the removable item comprises a third wall spaced apart from the second wall and positioned between the first wall and the second wall when the decoupleable coupler couples the first wall and the second wall together. 24. The luggage item of claim 23, wherein the third wall is positioned adjacent the expandable member in the stowed configuration.