Background and Summary It is often necessary to carry delicate computer accessories such as zip drives, 3.5" floppy disk drives, CD drives, and PCI card holders separately from the computer, such as when traveling with a laptop computer. Because these accessories are typically of sufficiently different sizes that a single-size of carrying case cannot be used to protect the accessories from damage due to shocks and the like, special carrying cases for each different accessory are often provided. It would be desirable to provide a single carrying case that would be suitable for use with a variety of different computer accessories of different sizes.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an expandable case includes a top portion including a rectangular top having four edges, and four top side walls hingedly connected to the top at its four edges, respectively, the top and the four top side walls each having an outside surface and an inside surface, and a bottom portion including a rectangular bottom having four edges, and four bottom side walls hingedly connected to the bottom at its four edges, respectively, the bottom being smaller than the top, the bottom and the four bottom side walls each having an outside surface and an inside surface. The top portion and the bottom portion are positioned relative to each other such that the inside surface of each of the four top side walls faces the outside surface of a corresponding bottom side wall.

Adjustable fasteners on the inside surfaces of the four top side walls and the outside surfaces of the four bottom side walls for fastening the four top side walls and the four bottom side walls together, the fasteners being adjustable to permit the four top side walls and the four bottom side walls to be fastened together in a plurality of different positions.

Brief Description of the Drawings The features and advantages of the present invention are well understood by reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings in which like numerals indicate similar elements and in which: FIG. 1 is a plan view of outer surfaces of a top portion and a bottom portion of an expandable case according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an expandable case according to an embodiment of the present invention in a smallest configuration; and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an expandable case according to an embodiment of the present invention in a largest configuration.

Detailed Description An expandable case 21 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in a disassembled and unfolded condition in FIG. 1. The case 21 includes a top portion 23 including a rectangular top 25 having four edges 27,29,31,33 and four top side walls 35, 37,39,41 hingedly connected to the top at its four edges, respectively. The top 25 and the four top side walls 35,37,39,41 each have an outside surface and an inside surface. The case 21 further includes a bottom portion 43 including a rectangular bottom 45 having four edges 47,49,51,53 and four bottom side walls 55,57,59,61 hingedly connected to the

bottom at its four edges, respectively. The bottom 45 and the four bottom side walls 55, 57, 59,61 each have an outside surface and an inside surface.

As seen in FIG. 2, the top portion 23 and the bottom portion 43 are positioned relative to each other such that the inside surface of each of the four top side walls 35 and 39 faces the outside surface of a corresponding bottom side wall 55 and 59. Walls 37 and 57 and 41 and 61 are not shown in FIG. 2, but also face one another in a manner similar to walls 35 and 45 and 39 and 59. Adjustable fasteners 63 and 65 on the inside surfaces of the four top side walls walls 35,37,39,41 and the outside surfaces of the four bottom side walls 55,57,59,61 are provided for fastening the four top side walls and the four bottom side walls together. The fasteners 63 and 65 are adjustable to permit the four top side walls 35,37,39,41 and the four bottom side walls 55,57,59,61 to be fastened together in a plurality of different positions.

Preferably, one of the four top side walls 35,37,39,41 are provided with a suitable indicia to reflect that the case should be opened by lifting that side wall. Suitable indicia might include a color coded panel sewn or attached to the top side wall, lettering, numbering, and/or words.

The bottom 45 is preferably smaller than the top 25. Preferably, the bottom 45 is smaller than the top 25 in width and length by an amount approximately equal to the combined thicknesses of one or two pairs of side walls fastened together.

The adjustable fasteners 63,65 are preferably in the form of a hook and pile fastener, although other fasteners can be used, if desired or necessary. For example, adjustable fasteners such as buttons or snap fasteners could be used if desired or necessary. Preferably, a hook or a pile fastener is on the inside surfaces of the four top side walls 35,37,39,41 and a pile or a hook fastener is on the outside surfaces of the four bottom side walls 55,57,59,61.

The top 25, the four top side walls 35,37,39,41, the bottom 43, and the four bottom side walls 55,57,59,61 each preferably include an outer material layer 67, an inner material layer 69, and an interior padding material 71 between the outer material layer and the inner material layer. The outer material layer 67 and the inner material layer 69 are preferably fabric materials, although not necessarily the same type of fabric. The outer material layer 67 is preferably a rugged material and may also be waterproof, such as canvas, vinyl, or imitation leather, while the inner material layer 69 is preferably a softer material that aids in cushioning the contents of the case. The interior padding material 71 may be any suitable padding material, such as foam rubber or non-woven fibers. The various layers of the top 25, the four top side walls 35,37,39,41, the bottom 43, and the four bottom side walls 55,57,59,61 are preferably secured together by any suitable technique such as by being sewn together.

The top 25, the four top side walls 35,37,39,41, the bottom 43, and the four bottom side walls 55,57,59,61 each also preferably include a rigid shielding layer 73 between the outer material layer 67 and the interior padding material 71. The rigid shielding layer 73 preferably assists in protecting the contents of the case 21. The rigid shielding layer 73 is preferably a metal material, although other rigid materials such as PVC, wood, and the like can also be used. If desired or necessary, the rigid shielding material can be removable from the top 25, the four top side walls 35,37,39,41, the bottom 43, and the four bottom side walls 55, 57,59,61, such as by being disposed in pockets formed in the top, the four top side walls, the bottom, and the four bottom side walls.

The expandable case 21 is preferably adjustable in size to fit any one of a zip drive, a 3.5" floppy disk drive, a CD drive, and a PCI card holder, i. e., items which are sufficiently different in size that they would ordinarily be provided with carrying cases matching their particular dimensions and not properly used for carrying other components. Although the

present invention has been described in connection with use of the carrying case for carrying computer accessories, it will be appreciated that the carrying case can be used for carrying other articles.

The size of the case 21 is adjustable by adjusting the points at which the four top side walls 35,37,39,41 are fastened to the four bottom side walls 55,57,59,61. Preferred interior dimensions of the case 21 are approximately 5.25"-5.75" (13.3 cm-14.6 cm) in length and width, approximately 0.875" (2.2 cm) in height when in a smallest configuration (as seen in FIG. 2) and approximately 1.375" (3.5 cm) in height when in a largest configuration (as seen in FIG. 3).

While this invention has been illustrated and described in accordance with a preferred embodiment, it is recognized that variations and changes may be made therein without departing from the invention as set forth in the claims.