Field of the Invention

The invention relates to traveling and/or storing equipment. More particularly, the invention relates to carrier bags, specifically with regard to methods and devices for mechanically expanding bags.

Background of the Invention

There are many types and sizes of traveling bags, starting from small hand-bags, up to large suitcases, but sometime there is a need for a size-adjustable bag in order to make new room for additional content.

According to the prior art, there are some methods for enlarging the size of a suitcase. Many expandable objects get their expansion ability from telescopic parts that are combined with each other and are suitable to be pulled out, to form a new and larger structure. As described in US7874409 and US2011/0048881A1, a suitcase provided with a telescopic frame is adjustable, but such mechanism suffers from abrasion of the telescopic parts, when sliding one inside the other, and the frame is under constant pressure and bending stress that can eventually cause the breakage of the frame.

Other solutions, such as are disclosed in US2806563 and GB2490164A, include a collapsible receptacle capable of being brought from an expanded configuration to a collapsed configuration. This solution is not suitable for cases in which the collapsible receptacle is coupled to another receptacle (e.g. a bag) inasmuch as in its expanded configuration the collapsible receptacle is unable to withstand the weight of the other receptacle and contents thereof.

Furthermore, many of the prior art solutions provides volume expansions which distances the center of gravity of the expended receptacle from its original supported position, hence reducing the stability of receptacle and bringing frustration to travelling passengers who must keep a hand on their luggage, or lift it back on its wheels many times.

Therefore, there is a need for an expandable bag, the expanding of which doesn't involve abrasion of telescopic elements, and with an expanded receptacle space that is strong enough to withstand the weight of the bag and contents thereof. It is an object of the present invention to provide such an expandable bag.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for expanding bags, in which expanding the bag does not impede the bag's stability during travel.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for expanding bags in which the obtained expanded receptacle is strong enough to withstand the weight of the bag and contents thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention relates to an expandable apparatus, comprising:

a. top and bottom base panels;

b. left and right collapsible walls, connected, respectively, to hinges at the left and right edges of the top and bottom panels; and

c. supporting members configured to maintain said collapsible walls from unintentionally collapsing;

wherein the expandable apparatus may be brought from a collapsed configuration, in which the left and right collapsible walls are collapsed, to an expanded configuration in which the left and right collapsible walls are expanded.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the expansion of the apparatus does not change the horizontal location of said apparatus' center of gravity.

According to an embodiment of the invention, each collapsible wall comprises a top wall panel and a bottom wall panel interconnected by a hinge.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the supporting members are props, and wherein the top and bottom base panels comprise rigid anchoring elements suitable to hold the props when the expandable apparatus is in its expanded configuration. According to an embodiment of the invention, the supporting members are props which are hinged into the top and bottom base plates, and wherein the top and bottom wall panels comprise rigid anchoring elements suitable to hold the props when the expandable apparatus is in its expanded configuration.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the props and the rigid anchoring elements enables a quick release of the props from corresponding anchoring elements, thus allowing a partial collapse of the side walls hence avoiding damage to the expandable apparatus.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the supporting members are corner ledges, and wherein the side walls comprise tracks along which the corner ledges are brought to a supporting configuration.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the supporting members are border ledges, and wherein the side walls comprise tracks along which the border ledges are brought to a supporting configuration.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the supporting members comprise a rear side wall.

In another aspect, the present invention relates to an apparatus for expanding a bag, comprising:

a. a top and bottom frame configured to attach the apparatus to a bag;

b. left and right side walls, configured to be brought from a collapsed configuration to an upright configuration;

c. a rear wall, configured to be brought from a folded configuration to an upright configuration; and

d. a shelf attached via a hinge to the rear wall, configured to be brought from a folded configuration in which the shelf is doubled to the rear wall, to an horizontal unfolded configuration in which the shelf is caught by ledges in each of the side walls. According to an embodiment of the invention, each of the left and right side walls comprises a side top wall that is interconnected via a hinge to a side bottom wall, wherein in the side walls' collapsed configuration the side top walls are doubled on the side bottom walls.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the rear wall comprises a rear top wall and a rear bottom wall, wherein the rear top wall is attached via a hinge to the top frame and is folded upwards in its folded configuration, and wherein the rear bottom wall is attached via a hinge to the bottom frame and is folded downwards in its folded configuration.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the panels and walls are made of Polypropylene.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the apparatus further comprises metal profiles at selected locations.

An expandable bag configured to be reversibly brought from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration, comprising:

A. a top side comprising a receptacle that is receptive both when the expandable bag is in its expanded configuration and in its collapsed configuration;

B. a bottom side comprising a compartment;

C. an expandable apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the top base panel is attached to the top side of the expandable bag, and said expandable apparatus is housed in said compartment when in its collapsed configuration;

D. a fastening apparatus configured to keep said expandable apparatus in its collapsed configuration; and

E. a covering, configured to cover all sides of said expandable apparatus and define an expanded receptacle;

According to an embodiment of the invention, the expansion of the bag does not change the horizontal location of said bag's center of gravity.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the top side receptacle is selected from a suitcase, a briefcase, a hand bag, or a backpack. According to an embodiment of the invention, the expandable bag further comprises wheels and at least one handle.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the fastening apparatus comprises straps and a buckle.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the covering comprises a closable opening, allowing access to the expanded receptacle interior.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the drawings:

Fig. 1A is a perspective view of an expandable bag 101, according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. IB is a side view the bag of Fig. 1A;

Fig. 1C is a back view of the bag of Fig. lA^

Fig. 2A is a perspective view of an expandable apparatus in a collapsed configuration, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2B shows the expandable apparatus of Fig. 2A in a configuration between the expanded and the collapsed configurations;

Fig. 2C shows the expandable apparatus of Fig. 2A in its expanded configuration;

Figs. 2D-2F illustrates a different anchoring arrangement, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 3A is a perspective view of an expandable apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 3B is a perspective view of an expandable apparatus, according to yet another embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an expandable apparatus according to still another embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the bag of Fig. 1A in its expanded configuration, according to an embodiment of the invention; and

Figs. 6A-6D illustrates the expansion process of the invented bag, according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention Reference will now be made to an embodiment of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying figures for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed, mutatis mutandis, without departing from the principles of the claimed invention.

The present invention relates to a bag capable of being expanded by mechanical manipulation of a plurality of collapsible rigid walls and temporary fixation thereof using a support element connected thereto.

In the context of this description, a bag can be any device suitable to store contents. It can be for example in the shape of a suitcase, briefcase, hand bag, or backpack. The bag can be provided with the following parts: any number of wheels, carrying handles, extendable handles, other commute components, and any other components common in ordinary bags, such as zippers.

Fig. 1A is a perspective view of the bag 101, according to the first exemplary embodiment of the invention, shown in the shape of a briefcase. Fig. IB shows the bag of Fig. 1A in a side view, showing wheels 102 at the bottom of the briefcase. A better view of wheels 102 is shown in Fig. 1C, which is a back view of the bag of Fig. 1A.

Whilst the top side 101a of bag 101 comprises a briefcase, the bottom side 101b comprises a compartment in which the expandable apparatus (e.g. 201 in Fig. 2) of bag 101 is kept when in its collapsed configuration, as shown in Figs. 1 (A-C). Top and bottom sides 101a and 101b are kept together in the collapsed configuration by a fastening apparatus 103 (shown in Figs. IB and 1C) comprising two straps 103a and 103b which extend from opposite edges of top side 101a to under bottom side 101b where they meet and are reversibly connected by a buckle 104.

It is noted that the present invention is not limited to the fastening apparatus 103, and buckle 104 may be replaced by any other apparatus suitable to fasten straps 103a and 103b, e.g. clips, buttons, a Velcro strap, snaps, etc.. Furthermore, fastening apparatus 103 may be replaced by any other apparatus suitable to fasten top and bottom parts 101a and 101b together, e.g. a zipper. When fastening apparatus 103 is unfastened, top and bottom sides 101a and 101b become separable. According to an embodiment of the present invention top and bottom sides 101a and 101b may be separated manually by forcing them apart or by raising top side 101a. Fig. 2A shows a perspective view of an expandable apparatus 201 in a collapsed configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention. Separation of top and bottom sides causes expandable apparatus 201 to expand and obtain its expanded configuration. Fig. 2B shows expandable apparatus 201 in a configuration between the expanded and the collapsed configurations, and Fig. 2C shows expandable apparatus 201 in its fully expanded configuration (Further illustration of the expansion process is described in Figs. 6A-6D).

Expandable apparatus 201 comprises a top base panel 202 suitable to support top side 101a of bag 101, a bottom base panel 203 suitable to support bottom side 101b of bag 101, side walls 204 comprising top wall panels 204a (connected by a hinge to top base panel 202) and bottom wall panels 204b (connected by a hinge to bottom base panel) that are interconnected by a hinge 205.

Supporting members 206 are provided so as to support side walls 204, prevent them from collapsing, and to rigidly and reversibly maintain expandable apparatus 201 in its expanded configuration. In the embodiment of Figs. 2A-2C, supporting members 206 are in the form of props that are pivotally connected to each of the top and bottom wall panels, 204a and 204b. In the engaged configuration of Fig. 2C props 206 extend to rigid anchoring elements 207 in the top and bottom base panels and are held therein, thereby providing support to the side walls 204 and preventing them from unintentionally collapsing. In other configurations of apparatus 201 (as shown in Figs. 2A and 2B) props 206 allow side walls 204 to be collapsed. Props 206 are manually brought to anchors 207 and may be manually released therefrom for collapsing the expandable apparatus 201. When the front and rear sides of expandable apparatus 201 are covered, a receptacle is received between the coverings, panels 202 and 203 and side walls 204.

Figs. 2D-2F illustrates a different anchoring arrangement, according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which props 206 are pivotally connected to the top and bottom base panels 202 and 203 and the anchoring elements 207 are provided in the top and bottom side walls 204a and 204b, wherein in the folded position (Fig. 2D) props 206 are stored within the base panels (for example base 202) and during the expansion process, props 206 are released (Fig. 2E) and engaged into anchoring elements 207 (i.e., of wall 204a). Fig. 2F further illustrates the anchoring arrangement which is comprised of center anchoring elements 207a and two side elements 207b. This anchoring arrangement provides the required support to the weight of the top side 101a of bag 101, and enables the manual release of props 206 from anchoring elements 207. Furthermore, this different arrangement enables a quick release of props 206 from anchoring elements 207 in the case of a significant side load or impact as indicated by vector Fs in Fig. 2F (e.g., during the stacking or loading of the invented bag into the cargo compartment of an aircraft), resulting with a partial collapsing of sidewalls 204 hence may prevent damage such as abrasion, deformation or breakage to expandable apparatus 201.

Obviously different props sizes, hinge distances and anchoring locations would be suitable to provide the appropriate support size and anchoring angles for different embodiments of the present invention. A skilled person in the art would easily select the specific supports design in accordance with the specific embodiment (e.g., size, shape and weight of the specific embodiment of the invented bag).

Fig. 3A schematically illustrates an expandable apparatus 301 in its expanded configuration suitable to be housed in bottom side 101b of bag 101 when collapsed, according to another embodiment of the present invention. Expandable apparatus 301 comprises supporting members in the form of corner ledges 302 configured to support side walls 204, prevent them from collapsing, and to maintain expandable apparatus 301 in its expanded configuration. In their unengaged configuration, corner ledges 302 are collapsed and concealed inside grooves 303 in the top and bottom base panels. Each corner ledge comprises a protrusion on the side abutting the side wall, and is respectively connected via a hinge to the top or bottom base panel (as schematically illustrated in Fig. 3A). A corner ledge 302 is brought to an upright position by sliding the protrusion through a track 304 in side walls 204, and finally obtains an engaged configuration in which the corner ledge is kept upright by the protrusion entering a groove in track 304.

Fig. 3B schematically illustrates an expandable apparatus 311 in its expanded configuration suitable to be housed in bottom side 101b of bag 101 when collapsed, according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. Expandable apparatus 311 comprises supporting members in the form of border ledges 312 which distinct from corner ledges 302 of Fig. 3A in that each border ledge provides support to both side walls 204, whereas each corner ledge 302 provides support only to one of the side walls.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view from the front of an expandable apparatus 401 in an expanded configuration, according to still another embodiment of the present invention, in which support is provided to the side walls, inter alia, from rear side supporting members. Top frame 401 and bottom frame 402 are connected to the top and bottom sides of bag 101, respectively. The right and left sides each comprise a side top wall 403, connected by a hinge 404 to a side bottom wall 405. The rear side comprises a rear top wall 406, attached via a hinge 409 to top frame 401, and a rear bottom wall 407 attached via a hinge 410 to bottom frame 402. A shelf 408 is connected to a hinge 412 at the bottom of rear top wall 406 and is suspended between the right and left side top walls.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the walls (i.e. 403, 405, 406, 407) and shelf 408 of the expandable apparatus are made of rigid material that is also light weight. An example of such material is Polypropylene; however other plastic material may be sufficient. The faces of side walls 403 and 405 are rippled, thereby enforcing their vertical resistance when in the expanded configuration of Fig. 4.

According to another embodiment of the invention, metal (e.g. aluminum) profiles are provided at several locations in order to further strengthen the expanded apparatus 301. According to an embodiment of the invention, metal profiles are provided at the front side of shelf 408, at hinge 412, and at the front sides of side bottom walls 405.

After expandable apparatus 401 is fully expanded rear bottom wall 407 may be brought to its unfolded position in which its top side is held by ledges 411 in the rear side of each side bottom wall 405, thereby preventing the side walls from collapsing inward. Furthermore, in order to further prevent collapsing of the side walls and to provide enhanced strength to the walls of expandable apparatus 401, shelf 408 may be brought to its unfolded position in which it is caught on ledges 411 in each of side top walls 403.

In order to collapse expanding apparatus 301, rear bottom wall 407 and shelf 408 must each be brought to their respective folded configurations, and rear top wall 406 must also be folded upwards to its doubled configuration. This allows side walls 403 and 405 to collapse inward to their doubled configuration.

The accepted volume between the top and bottom panels/frames and the side walls defines a receptacle into which goods may be inserted. An expandable apparatus may be covered by a flexible element (e.g. fabric) that may be attached to the exterior thereof. An openable cover may be kept inside the expandable apparatus when collapsed, and may be retrieved therefrom during or after expansion.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the bag 101 of Fig. 1A in its expanded configuration, showing a fabric covering and fully defining an expanded receptacle 501 between the top side 101a and bottom side 101b of bag 101. Closable opening 502 (shown in Fig. 5 on the front side of bag 101) allows access to the inner volume of receptacle 501, for instance in order to insert and retrieve contents therefrom, or to collapse the expanding apparatus. The volume between the top and bottom sides 101a and 101b is supported and maintained by an expandable apparatus, such as demonstrated in one of the abovementioned embodiments (see Figs. 2C, 3A, 3B or 4).

Figs. 6A-6D further illustrates the expansion process of a bag 601, according to an embodiment of the present invention. At first, bag 601 is lifted from handle 602 and buckle 104 (as best shown in Fig. 1C) is unlocked to release fastening apparatus 103 (see Fig. 6A), thus allowing the weight of bottom side 101b and attached elements (e.g., bottom base panel 203 (shown in Fig. 2) and wheels 603) to pull down and unfold side walls 204 (see Fig. 6B). As soon as walls 204 are fully unfolded, bag 601 is placed on its back to allow convenient engagement of props 206 into anchoring elements 207, thus forming the rigid expansion support (see Fig. 6C). Fig. 6D further illustrated the expanded apparatus in its final unfolded and supported position with its rear side covered, forming the desired receptacle ready to store the desirable articles.

Figs. 6A-6D further demonstrates the simple and rapid process which turns a relatively small travelling bag into a suitcase, providing an extremely efficient receptacle for a passenger who flies with minimal luggage using the un-expanded bag in one direction, hence taking the bag into the passenger cabin and flies back with further articles utilizing the same bag in its expanded configuration which is loaded as a suitcase into the airplane's cargo compartment. For example travelling to a vacation and returning with gifts, or vice versa - flying to a commercial fair/show with commercial papers and samples and returning with personal articles. In other words, the apparatus of the present invention provides a first type of product in its collapsed configuration or unexpanded state (e.g., a passenger's cabin luggage or trolley), and a second type of product in its expanded configuration or expanded state (e.g., a suitcase that is at least twice the dimensions of the product in its unexpanded state).

It is noted that the top side of bag 101 or bag 601 is not limited to any conventional sized receptacle, and may be smaller in size, equal or larger than the size of the expandable apparatus in its expanded configuration. Accordingly, wheels 102 or 603 may be substituted with commercially available detachable wheels that may be inserted into openings in the bottom side 101b.

It can be easily noticed in the described embodiments and figures (best shown in Figs. IB, 5, 6A and 6B) of the present invention, that the expansion of the expendable receptacle is executed in a "stretching" manner that does not impede the receptacle's stability by keeping the receptacle center of gravity at the same or similar horizontal location, i.e., when the receptacle is erected and ready to be rolled on its wheels, it keeps standing with no need for an external / user support. For example, in a bag that can change its form from a "cabin" trolley into a "cargo" suitcase, the expansion result in a greater distance between the top portion of the bag (where usually the bag's handle is located) and the base or bottom portion of the bag (where usually the bag's wheels are located).

Although embodiments of the invention have been described by way of illustration, it will be understood that the invention may be carried out with many variations, modifications, and adaptations, without exceeding the scope of the claims. For instance, the expandable apparatus may be kept in the top side of a bag rather than the bottom side, and the expanded receptacle may be added on to the top side of a bag, whereas the bottom side of the bag comprises a non-expandable receptacle.