Expandable container

Abstract

An expandable container adapted to be manually adjusted from a vertically compact configuration wherein internal shelves are closely spaced, to a vertically expanded configuration wherein the internal shelves are less closely spaced. A garment folding apparatus is preferably incorporated with the container to provide a tool that assists the user in quickly folding garments to dimensions compatible with shelves within the container.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 881,872, filed on Jun. 30, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,334,669.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0002]N / ACOPYRIGHT NOTICE[0003]A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrights rights whatsoever.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0004]1. Field of the Invention[0005]The present invention relates to containers, such as the type commonly referred to as luggage and suitcases used by travelers, and more particularly to a vertically expandable suitcase adapted with internal shelves. In a broader sense, the present invention relates to an expandable storage...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]The present invention overcomes the disadvantages and limitations in the art by providing an expandable case having a main body defining a storage compartment that is expandable and adapted with internal shelves so as to enable a traveler to transport the fully packed case to a final destination and expand the main body to form a vertically expanded configuration wherein the articles therein are readily accessible and disposed on a plurality of vertically spaced shelves. In accordance with the present invention, wheeled luggage is provided including a case having a body defining an interior that serves as container in which clothing and other personal items may be placed for transportation. The body is of the type that stands vertically upright, and is further adapted so as to be telescopically expandable such that the body may be manually adjusted from a normally sized configuration during transit to a vertically enlarged configuration once the final destination, such as a hotel room, is reached. More particularly the body includes a telescopically adjustable main body, to allow for selective vertical extension of the body thereby substantially increasing the volume of the interior storage compartment. The body further includes a plurality of interior horizontally disposed, vertically stacked shelves connected in accordion fashion so as to automatically expand from a compact configuration to an expanded configuration when the main body is telescopically expanded thereby providing a series of vertically spaced shelves which provide convenient access to the contents.

[0013]Accordingly, a traveler using the luggage case disclosed herein is relieved of the time consuming task of having to unpack the case upon reaching his / her destination

[0014]A further aspect of the present invention includes combining a garment folding apparatus as an integral component of the luggage main body. The folding apparatus provides the user with a tool to assist in rapidly folding garments, such as shirts, tops, and pants, into precisely folded shapes sized to fit conveniently within the main body interior and to fit neatly on the shelves provided therein.

Problems solved by technology

The task of carrying and / or lifting luggage at airports, railway stations, hotels or other sites is generally disliked by travelers.

While rental luggage carts are available at certain sites, the renting process is itself an inconvenience and such carts do not remain with the traveler after the baggage is checked in.

A significant disadvantage associated with luggage carriers is that the main packing compartment is small and difficult to pack in a way that the packed clothing and other items are easily accessible when the case is opened up, for example, in the upright position when its standing on the pair of wheels.

Such attempts to integrate shelves into luggage and backpacks have not resulted in widespread success, and fail to address the inherent space limitation due to the relatively small size of the compartment provided by the luggage.

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