Novel folding luggage and duffles and hinges therefor

Abstract

Collapsible luggage uses self-locking hinges to allow horizontal support structures to collapse by folding said supporting panels onto, or nearly onto, each other. The hinges can include a first arm provided with a cylinder containing a spring and a ball, and a second arm, each arm rotatably connected to an axis; and a curved flange, coaxial with the axis and fixed with respect to the second arm, having notches at selected positions along its arcuate surface corresponding to preset stops. The flange can be placed so as to abut the ball at the end of the cylinder. Double versions of such self-locking hinges can be provided, which can be used in various collapsible surfaces in luggage and various other containers and bags.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 61 / 575,657, filed on Aug. 24, 2011, 61 / 634,553, filed on Mar. 2, 2012, 61 / 690,234, filed on Jun. 21, 2012, 61 / 690,197, filed on Jun. 21, 2012, and 61 / 690,233, filed on Jun. 21, 2012, the disclosures of each of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]The present invention relates to container technologies, and in particular to systems and methods for providing collapsible luggage that can (i) achieve significant compression of volume, and concomitant ease of portability, in a compressed state, yet can also (ii) maintain rigidity and provide structural support in an expanded state.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]In the modern world, especially in areas which are substantially populated, people live in relatively small apartments or even houses and have a limit on storage space. Often, when storing luggage, a large amount of...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention is about systems and methods for making collapsible luggage using self-locking hinges. These hinges allow panels to fold onto each other by using a spring and ball mechanism. The panels can be fixed to a main structure using a flange with a series of preset stops. The hinge allows for various angles between the panels. The invention can be used in collapsible surfaces such as luggage and totes. The main technical effect is to provide a simple and efficient way to make collapsible luggage that can be easily folded up when not in use.

Problems solved by technology

Often, when storing luggage, a large amount of space or an entire closet is devoted to the task.

This is because luggage doesn't readily stack on each other and doesn't have a uniform size so there are loose piles of luggage which often are somewhat unstable and fall over.

Additionally, in order to save space when transporting luggage, such as from a manufacturer in the Orient to an American distributor, luggage cannot readily be compressed so sets of luggage are attempted to be nested one within the other, biggest piece then medium piece then smallest piece which creates a lot of work on the receiving end to take them apart.

Finally, when marketing luggage at the retail level, there is generally not enough store space to display all the various pieces that a particular store might have so they display two or three different sets and then the sales person has to go into the back room and bring out the luggage or the set of luggage when you actually purchase it.

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