LUGGAGE HAVING COLLAPSIBLE SIDE WALLS, BOTTOM WALL, AND TOP WALL

Abstract

Collapsible luggage having four collapsible side walls, wherein two opposite side walls have a collapsible telescoping X frame. Each of the four vertically extending corner posts include a vertical telescoping support rod, and further includes a vertically extending spring. Also, the collapsible luggage further includes a bottom collapsible wall having four edges, wherein each edge includes a horizontally telescoping support rod, and further includes a horizontally extending spring. Also, the collapsible luggage further includes a top collapsible wall having four edges, wherein each edge includes a horizontally telescoping support rod, and further includes a horizontally extending spring. The four side walls, bottom wall, and top wall are each movable between an expanded configuration to a compact configuration wherein the width, length, and height of the collapsible luggage are each substantially reduced. The collapsible luggage further includes wheels at each of the four corners, and a handle located at the top of the luggage.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to collapsible luggage having four collapsible side walls, a collapsible top wall, and a collapsible bottom wall, wherein telescoping rods and expandable springs are employed to collapse the luggage into a compact configuration.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Although collapsible luggage is known in the prior art, there are a number of disadvantages. For example, it is difficult to collapse large luggage into a compact configuration having a structure which automatically is compacted to a substantially reduced size, and is automatically moved to its full expanded configuration.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide collapsible luggage having four collapsible side walls, a collapsible top wall, and a collapsible bottom wall, wherein telescoping rods and expandable springs are employed to collapse the luggage into a compact configuration.

Another object of the present invention is to provide large luggage that is automatically collapsible into a compact configuration, and is also automatically moved to its expanded configuration.

Another object of the present invention is to provide collapsible structure, which includes telescoping rods and expandable springs along each edge of the collapsible luggage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Collapsible luggage having four collapsible side walls, wherein two opposite side walls have a collapsible telescoping X frame. Each of the four vertically extending corner posts include a vertical telescoping support rod, and further includes a vertically extending spring. Also, the collapsible luggage further includes a bottom collapsible wall having four edges, wherein each edge includes a horizontally telescoping support rod, and further includes a horizontally extending spring. Also, the collapsible luggage further includes a top collapsible wall having four edges, wherein each edge includes a horizontally telescoping support rod, and further includes a horizontally extending spring. The four side walls, bottom wall, and top wall are each movable between an expanded configuration to a compact configuration wherein the width, length, and height of the collapsible luggage are each substantially reduced. The collapsible luggage further includes wheels at each of the four corners, and a handle located at the top of the luggage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the collapsible luggage of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the interior walls of the collapsible luggage of the present invention showing the details of the telescoping rods and extendable springs;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the interior walls of the collapsible luggage of the present invention showing the details of the telescoping rods and extendable springs, wherein the side walls are partially collapsed;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the interior walls of the collapsible luggage of the present invention showing the details of the telescoping rods and extendable springs, wherein the side walls and the top and bottom walls are partially collapsed;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the interior walls of the collapsible luggage of the present invention showing the details of the telescoping rods and extendable springs, wherein the side walls and the top and bottom walls are partially collapsed;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7a is a detailed view of the vertical column, wherein the vertical telescoping rod and vertical spring are in a compacted configuration, and FIG. 7B shows them in an expanded configuration;

FIGS. 8a, 8b, and 8c show the X frames on the side walls in an expanded and compact configuration;

FIG. 9 is a detailed view of an intersecting corner of a vertical column and the bottom wall edges;

FIGS. 10a and 10b show an alternate embodiment to FIGS. 7a and 7b, wherein the vertically extending springs surround the vertical telescoping support rods in order to reduce space;

FIG. 11 shows an alternate embodiment, wherein the springs are inside the telescoping support rods in order to protect them;

FIG. 11a is a collapsed configuration of the springs and telescoping rods shown in FIG. 11; and

FIG. 11b is an expanded configuration of the springs and telescoping rods shown in FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, collapsible luggage 10 has four collapsible side walls 12, 14, 16, and 18, and wherein two opposite side walls 12 and 16 each have a collapsible telescoping X frame 20 and 22. Luggage 10 includes four vertically extending corner posts 30, 32, 34, and 36 each including a vertical telescoping support rod 40, 42, 44, and 46. In addition, attached to each support rod 40, 42, 44, and 46 is a vertically extending spring 50, 52, 54, and 56.

Also, the collapsible luggage 10 further includes a bottom collapsible wall 60 having four edges 62, 64, 66, and 68, wherein each edge includes a horizontally telescoping support rod 70, 72, 74, and 76, and further includes a horizontally extending spring 80, 82, 84, and 86.

Also, the collapsible luggage 10 further includes a top collapsible wall 90 having four edges 92, 94, 96, and 98, wherein each edge includes a horizontally telescoping support rod 100, 102, 104, and 106, and further includes a horizontally extending spring 110, 112, 114, and 116.

The four side walls, bottom wall, and top wall are each movable between an expanded configuration to a compact configuration wherein the width, length, and height of the collapsible luggage 10 are each substantially reduced. The collapsible luggage 10 further includes wheels 120 at each of the four corners, and a handle 130 located at the top of the luggage 10.

FIG. 6 shows an alternate embodiment showing collapsible luggage 140 having two separate collapsible compartments 142 and 144.

FIG. 7a is a detailed view of the vertical column, wherein the vertical telescoping rod and vertical spring are in a compacted configuration, and FIG. 7B shows them in an expanded configuration.

FIGS. 8a, 8b, and 8c show the X frames on the side walls in an expanded and compact configuration.

FIG. 9 is a detailed view of an intersecting corner of a vertical column and the bottom wall edges showing the operation thereof.

FIGS. 10a and 10b show an alternate embodiment to FIGS. 7a and 7b, wherein the vertically extending springs surround the vertical telescoping support rods in order to reduce space.

FIG. 11 shows an alternate embodiment, wherein the springs are inside the telescoping support rods in order to protect them.

FIG. 11a is a collapsed configuration of the springs and telescoping rods shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 11b is an expanded configuration of the springs and telescoping rods shown in FIG. 11.

ADVANTAGES OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

It is an advantage of the present invention to provide collapsible luggage having four collapsible side walls, a collapsible top wall, and a collapsible bottom wall, wherein telescoping rods and expandable springs are employed to collapse the luggage into a compact configuration.

Another advantage of the present invention is to provide large luggage that is automatically collapsible into a compact configuration, and is also automatically moved to its expanded configuration.

Another advantage of the present invention is to provide collapsible structure, which includes telescoping rods and expandable springs along each edge of the collapsible luggage.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure, and in some instances, some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

Claims

1) Collapsible luggage having four collapsible side walls, comprising: a) four collapsible side walls, wherein two opposite side walls have a collapsible telescoping X frame;b) wherein each of the four vertically extending corner posts include a vertical telescoping support rod, and further includes a vertically extending spring;c) further including a bottom collapsible wall having four edges, wherein each edge includes a horizontally telescoping support rod, and further includes a horizontally extending spring;d) further including a top collapsible wall having four edges, wherein each edge includes a horizontally telescoping support rod, and further includes a horizontally extending spring;e) wherein said four side walls, bottom wall, and top wall are each movable between an expanded configuration to a compact configuration wherein the width, length, and height of the collapsible luggage are each substantially reduced; andf) further including wheels at each of the four corners, and a handle located at the top of the luggage.

2) Collapsible luggage in accordance with claim 1, wherein said vertically extending corner posts each include an adjacent vertically extending spring; and wherein said top and bottom walls, along each edge include horizontally telescoping support rods and each include an adjacent horizontally extending spring.

3) Collapsible luggage in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of said vertically extending corner posts are each surrounded by a vertically extending spring; and wherein said top and bottom walls, along each edge include horizontally telescoping support rods each surrounded by a horizontally extending spring.

4) Collapsible luggage in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of said vertically extending corner posts each include therein a vertically extending spring; and wherein said top and bottom walls, along each edge, include horizontally telescoping support rods and each include therein a horizontally extending spring.