AN ARTICLE OF LUGGAGE

THIS INVENTION relates to an article of luggage.

According to the invention, there is provided an article of luggage which includes a shelf arrangement which comprises a plurality of rigid shelf members, the shelf members being vertically spaced when the article of luggage is in an operatively upright orientation, and being connected together by an extendable spine and projecting transversely therefrom for operation between, on the one hand, a contracted condition and, on the other hand, an expanded condition in which the spacing between respective adjacent shelf members is greater than in the contracted condition.

Typically, the article of luggage includes a case in which the shelf arrangement is located, the case being shaped and dimensioned such that when the shelf arrangement is in its contracted condition, it can be completely enclosed by the case.

The case may define an access opening permitting access to individual shelf members at least when the shelf arrangement is in its expanded condition. Preferably, the case is of a flexible material and includes an openable closure member for the access opening.

The spine may be located inside the case when the article of luggage is in its contracted condition, but with a portion of the spine being exposed when the article of luggage is in its expanded condition.

The case may define an opening in an end thereof through which said portion of the spine projects when the article of luggage is in its expanded condition. Typically, when the article of luggage is in its expanded condition, an uppermost shelf member is located outside the case, i.e. above the opening in the end of the case.

The case may include an openable closure member for the opening in the end of the case.

The article of luggage may include a set of wheels at an end of the shelf arrangement which is a lower end in use. When a case is present, the set of wheels is typically located outside the case.

The article of luggage may further include a handle at least at an end of the shelf arrangement which is an upper end in use. If desired, the article of luggage may include a handle at an end of the shelf arrangement which is a lower end in use.

When a case is present, the handle or handles may protrude through the case to be accessible when the case is closed.

The shelf arrangement may include reinforcing members connected to and extending between respective adjacent shelf members, in addition to the spine. Typically, at least one pair of reinforcing members, arranged scissors fashion extends between respective adjacent shelf members, with one end of each reinforcing member being slidably and pivotally connected to one shelf member and another end of each reinforcing member being pivotally connected to the other shelf member. Preferably, two pairs of said reinforcing members extend between respective adjacent shelf members. The two pairs may be located on opposite sides of a shelf member.

The shelf members may define friction lock formations releasably and automatically to lock the sliding end of a reinforcing member in the contracted condition and/or in the expanded condition of the shelf arrangement.

All of the shelf members except an operative bottom shelf member and an operative upper shelf member, may be slidingly connected to the spine.

At least some of the shelf members may define accessory attachment formations for attachment of accessory articles for the article of luggage. The accessory attachment formations may be in the form of apertures, slots or recesses.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which

Figure 1 shows a three-dimensional view of one embodiment of an article of luggage in accordance with the invention, in an expanded condition; Figure 2 shows a three-dimensional view of the article of luggage of Figure 1 , in a contracted condition with a closed case and lying on a rear side of the case;

Figure 3 shows a three-dimensional view of another embodiment of an article of luggage in accordance with the invention, in a contracted condition, with a case shown in broken lines only; Figure 4 shows a three-dimensional view of the article of luggage of Figure 3, in an expanded condition, with a case shown in broken lines only; and

Figure 5 shows a three-dimensional view of the article of luggage of Figure 3, with a closed case and lying on a rear side of the case.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, reference numeral 70 generally indicates an article of luggage in accordance with the invention. The article of luggage is a suitcase 70 having a plurality of storage compartments 12 which can be accessed shelf-fashion when the suitcase 70 is in an expanded condition, as shown in Figure 1 .

The suitcase 70 comprises an outer case 14 and a shelf arrangement which includes a rigid trolley frame 72 which is incorporated in the suitcase 70 and which is extendable to provide expansion of the storage compartments 12.

The case 14 is parallelepipedal in shape, being elongated and having a more or less rectangular cross-sectional profile. The case 14 is of a flexible sheet-like material, being of a sturdy canvass material.

The case 14 is openable at one end thereof, being provided with a lid 18 or flap for selectively opening or closing off an operatively upper end 20 of the case 14. The lid 18 is permanently fast with the case 14 along an upper edge of a rear side of the case 14, so that the lid 18 is hingedly openable to permit extension of the storage shelf arrangement through that end 20 of the case 14. For this reason, the lid 18 and the upper end 20 of the case 14 are provided with co-operating strips of a sliding clasp fastener or zip 22 which extend along the remaining three sides of the upper edge of the

case 14. The lid 18 is thus displaceable about a hinge axis 24 which extends transversely to the lengthwise direction of the case 14.

The case 14 further includes an openable access flap 26 for closing off or exposing an access window 28 in a front side of the case 14. The access flap 26 is rectangular in shape, being fast with the case 14 along a side edge thereof, so that the access flap 26 is hingedly displaceable relative to the case 14 about a hinge access 30 which is parallel to the lengthwise direction of the case 14, extending along a side edge of said front side of the case 14.

Similar to the lid 18, the flap 26 is connected to the case 14 by cooperating strips of a sliding clasp fastener 32 which are provided on the periphery of the flap 26 and on three edges of the access window 28 respectively. The case 14 further includes securing means for securing the flap 26 in an open position in which the access window 28 is exposed, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. The securing means comprises complementary fastening formations, in this case snap fitting clips 34 provided on an outer side of the flap 26, adjacent corners of the flap 26 remote from the hinge access 30, and on the outside of the case 14 on a neighbouring side face adjacent the hinge access 30.

Although not shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, the suitcase 70 further has a carry handle 36 (see Figure 2) provided by handle strips which extend circumferentially around the case 14, the handle strips being stitched fast with three sides of the case 14 to provide the handle 36 in the front side of the case 14 in which the access window 28 is provided.

The shelf arrangement is complementary in outer peripheral shape to the case 14 and is located snugly in the case 14, when in a contracted condition, as shown in Figure 2.

The trolley frame 72 has a set of wheels 74 at its bottom and an extendable spine comprising two elongated upright bars 78 which are connected together by a transverse handle 76 at the top. The bars 78 are telescopically extendable to permit variation in length or height of the frame 72. A plurality of shelf

members in the form of shelf plates 80 is connected to the bars 78 to provide storage shelves which form the floors of respective storage compartments 12 in the interior of the suitcase 70.

The shelf plates 80 are parallel to one another and are regularly spaced along the length of the upright bars 78, each shelf plate 80 projecting perpendicularly from the bars 78 cantilever-fashion. Although not shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, the bars 78 include a telescopic joint between each pair of adjacent shelf plates 80, so that upon telescopic extension of the bars 78, each pair of adjacent shelf plates 80 move further away from each other, thus increasing the volume of a storage compartment 12 defined between that pair of plates 80.

In this example, the telescopic bars 78 are constructed such that the maximum increase in distance between each pair of adjacent shelf plates 80 is 25%, thus equating to a 25% increase in the volume of the associated storage compartment 12.

The trolley frame 72 is lockable in its extended condition, to permit use of the suitcase 70 as a self-supporting, upright set of shelves when the lid 18 of the suitcase 70 is opened and the trolley frame 72 is extended through the upper end of the casing 14, with an upper shelf plate 80 being elevated above the casing 14 so that it is external of the casing 14.

The suitcase 70 can be moved about in conventional trolley-fashion when the frame 72 is in its compact condition or contracted condition. However, when the interior of the suitcase 70 is to be accessed, it is positioned upright, the lid 18 is opened, and the frame 72 is extended upwards through the open upper end of the casing 14.

An uppermost shelf plate 80 is thus positioned above the upper end of the casing 14 with a shelf plate 80 which is second from the top being more or less flush with the upper end of the casing 14. As mentioned hereinbefore, each shelf plate 80 moves further from the subjacent plate 80 during such extension, so that each of the storing compartments 12 defined between respective plates 80 increase in volume by about

The suitcase 70 is packed with goods, such as clothes, when it is in its expanded condition, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. The clothes or other goods are inserted through the access window 28 and placed on the shelf plates 80, in a manner similar to the insertion of goods into a normal clothes shelf. Each compartment 12 is provided with a maximum loading indicator or mark, in the form of lines of coloured stitching 50 which extends transversely to the lengthwise direction of the shelf arrangement. The stitching 50 indicates the height or length of the compartment 12 when the shelf arrangement is in its contracted or compact transport condition. It will be appreciated that the dimension of each compartment 12 parallel to the lengthwise direction of the shelf arrangement will be greater when the shelf arrangement is in its expanded or loading condition, so that the compartment 12 will have a greater volume. If a user would store a greater volume of goods in the compartment 12 than the compressed or neutral volume of the compartment 12, full return of the shelf arrangement to its contracted condition will not be possible. As each compartment is extendable by 25%, the stitching 50 is provided at about 75% of the height of the compartment 12 when expanded.

The stitching 50 thus indicates to the user the maximum volume of goods which may be inserted into the respective compartments 12. When packing is complete, the shelf arrangement is contracted, e.g. by pushing down on the handle 76 so that the shelf arrangement resumes a length somewhat smaller than that of the case 14. Each compartment 12 is thus compressed, so that an open space between the compartment's roof and goods stored in that compartment 12 is reduced, if not eliminated fully.

The retracted or compressed shelf arrangement is thus located fully in the case 14, which permits closing and fastening of the lid 18. The flap 26 is likewise closed and fastened by its zip 32, so that the case 14 fully envelops and encloses the shelf arrangement for transportation, as shown in Figure 2. In this condition, the suitcase 70 can be handled in conventional fashion.

To unpack goods from the suitcase 70, it is positioned upright, the lid 18 is again opened and the shelf arrangement is expanded, e.g. by pulling on the handle 76. The flap 26 is then opened to gain access to the interior of the case 14. It will be

appreciated that such expansion of the shelf arrangement results in the opening up of a space above the goods stored in each compartment 12, facilitating access by a user to the stored goods.

It is an advantage of the suitcase 70, as illustrated, that it provides easier access to stored goods than is the case with conventional suitcases. Expansion of the shelf arrangement during packing and unpacking provides space above the stored goods, similar to the space above stored goods in normal cupboards. However, this access space disappears when the shelf arrangement is retracted or compressed, thus avoiding wastage of valuable storage space and ensuring that goods, such as clothes stored on the shelf plates 80, do not become disorganized during travelling. A further advantage of the suitcase 70, as illustrated, is that it is easy to transport, having the integrated trolley frame 72 and the set of wheels 74. Expansion of the suitcase 70 into its expanded condition in which all of the compartments 12 are accessible, is easy and requires little effort.

Referring to Figures 3 to 5 of the drawings, another embodiment of an article of luggage in accordance with the invention is generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The article of luggage shown in Figures 3 to 5 is also a suitcase 10 having a plurality of storage compartments 12 which can be accessed shelf-fashion when the suitcase 10 is in an expanded condition, as shown in Figure 4.

The suitcase 10 is similar to the suitcase 70 and unless otherwise indicated, the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts or features.

The suitcase 10 has a shelf arrangement comprising a single telescopically extendable spine 78 connecting together a shelf arrangement comprising a plurality of rigid shelf members in the form of shelf plates 80. The shelf plates 80 are parallel to one another and are regularly spaced along the length of the spine 78, each shelf plate 80 projecting perpendicularly from the spine 78 cantilever-fashion.

The shelf arrangement of the suitcase 10 is operable between, on the one hand, a contracted condition as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings and, on the other

hand, an expanded condition as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, in which the spacing between respective adjacent shelf plates 80 is greater than in the contracted condition. The operation of the suitcase 10 is thus similar to the operation of the suitcase 70.

Although not shown in Figures 3 and 4, the spine 78 has a single telescopic joint, with only the uppermost and lowermost shelf plates 80 being fast with the spine 78, and with the shelf plates 80 between the uppermost and lowermost shelf plates 80 being slidingly connected to the spine 78. As with the suitcase 10, the maximum increase in distance between each pair of adjacent shelf plates 80 is 25%, thus equating to a 25% increase in the volume of the associated storage compartment 12.

A set of wheels 74 is mounted to the lowermost shelf plate 80. A handle 76 is mounted to the uppermost shelf plate 80 at the upper end of the spine 78.

An optional but typically preferred case 14 of the suitcase 10 is similar to the case 14 of the suitcase 70 and thus also includes a lid 18, a flap 26, an access window 28, snap fitting clips 34 (see Figure 5) and a carry handle 36. As shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, the set of wheels 74 is located outside the case 14. Similarly, the handle 76 protrudes through an opening in the case 14, although this is not visible in the drawings.

A distinct difference between the suitcase 10 and the suitcase 70 is the presence of pairs of reinforcing members 90, arranged scissors-fashion between respective adjacent shelf plates 80. One end of each reinforcing member 90 is pivotally connected to one of the shelf members 80, with the other end of that same reinforcing member 90 being slidably and pivotally connected to the other shelf plate 80, as can be clearly seen in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings. The end of a reinforcing member 90 which is slidably and pivotally connected to a shelf plate 80 includes a stub 91 slidable in an elongate receiving formation 92. The shelf plates 80 each defines friction lock formations 94 which releasably and automatically lock the sliding end of a reinforcing member 90 when the stub 91 is caught inside the lock formation 94. As will be noted, the friction lock formations 94 are provided towards both ends of the elongate receiving

formations 92, so that the reinforcing members 90 can be locked in the contracted condition and in the expanded condition of the shelf arrangement.

The shelf plates 80 each comprises a plate member 96 and a pair of side members 98, with the side members 98 defining the receiving formations 92 and the friction lock formations 94. The side members 98 each further define accessory attachment formations 100 which can be used to attach accessories to the suitcase 10.

Similarly, the plate members 96 each define an accessory formation, in the form of a slot 102, which can be used to attach an accessory, a clothes hanger or the like. The accessories that can be attached to the accessory attachment formations 100 include side walls of an elastic material, shelf extensions and the like.

The suitcase 10 is sturdy, with the reinforcing members 90 ensuring that the shelf plates 80 do not deform but remain parallel to one another. The reinforcing members 90 together with the friction lock formations 94 ensure that the shelf arrangement can easily and automatically be locked in its contracted condition, and just as easily be unlocked, by the application of some pressure on the uppermost shelf plate 80 or the handle 76, to displace the shelf plates 80 to the contracted condition of the shelf arrangement. The suitcase 10 further exhibits all of the advantages also exhibited by the suitcase 70.