Adjustable Luggage Case with Roll-Top Volume Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing luggage cases, whether hard-sided or soft-sided, face challenges such as limited adjustability in storage capacity, shifting contents when not full, and difficulty in moving soft-sided bags.
Innovation Solution
A luggage case with a soft-sided portion and a rigid or semi-rigid base portion, featuring an extendable tow handle and straps that allow the soft-sided portion to transition between rolled and unrolled configurations, thereby adjusting the internal and external size of the bag.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If hard sided cases are used to provide protection, then strength and protection are improved, but adaptability and ability to change storage capacity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The soft sided portion is designed to be dynamically adjustable between multiple configurations (fully extended, partially extended, and retracted states) through the interaction between the soft sided portion and rigid base portion. This dynamic structure allows the storage capacity to change while maintaining structural integrity and protection through the rigid base portion.
2Adaptability or versatility
If soft sided bags are used to offer flexibility, then adaptability is improved, but strength and protection deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The luggage case employs a composite structure combining a soft sided portion (providing flexibility and adaptability) with a rigid base portion (providing strength and protection). This composite design integrates the advantages of both material types, allowing the soft sided portion to be adjusted for different storage needs while the rigid base portion maintains structural integrity and protects the contents.
3Strength
If hard sided bags are used to maintain structure, then strength is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to weight
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the entire luggage case rigid, the design applies rigidity locally to the base portion where structural strength is most needed for protection and stability. The upper soft sided portion remains flexible and lightweight, improving ease of operation while maintaining necessary structural integrity in critical areas.
4Ease of operation
If soft sided bags are used to reduce weight, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability of content stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The composite structure with rigid base portion provides a stable foundation that prevents content shifting, while the soft sided portion maintains ease of movement. The rigid base portion acts as an anchor that stabilizes the overall structure during transport, improving reliability of content stability without sacrificing the ease of operation provided by the soft sided portion.
Data Source
AI summary
The luggage case includes a base portion including an extendable tow handle, and a soft sided portion coupled to the base portion and together defining an internal volume of the luggage case. The soft sided portion includes two or more straps positioned on a rear side of the soft sided portion in a spaced apart configuration, and the soft sided portion is configured to transition between a rolled configuration and an unrolled configuration thereby varying the internal volume of the luggage case. At least one of the two or more straps selectively engages the extendable tow handle when the extendable tow handle is extended to couple the soft sided portion to the extendable tow handle to selectively support the soft sided portion.