Expandable travel bag

Abstract

A stabilizing mechanism is provided in an expandable travel bag to maintain the bag in the expanded condition. The stabilizer comprises a tongue secured to one of a pair of coincident frame members which mates with a receiver secured to the other frame member. The facing edges of the coincident frame members are joined by an expansion ring which is extended when the tongue is secured in the receiver and collapsed when the tongue and receiver are disconnected.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A travel bag including rigid coincident frame members joined at their facing edges by a collapsible expansion ring of finite width and expandable from a first position wherein said expansion ring is collapsed and the facing edges secured adjacent each other by a zipper or the like and a second position wherein the facing edges are spaced apart by a distance defined by the width of said expansion ring, and a plurality of stabilizers for temporarily securing said rigid rectangular frame members in said second position wherein each said stabilizer comprises: 
 (a) a rigid tongue secured to one of said rigid frame members and extending across said expansion ring; and    (b) a receiver secured to the other of said rigid frame members and aligned to alternatively (i) receive and hold said tongue to maintain said rigid frame members in said second position and (ii) release said tongue to permit said expansion ring to collapse.    
     
     
         2 . A travel bag as defined in  claim 1  wherein said rigid coincident frame members are rectangular in shape and formed by joining the ends of a frame panel to define a continuous rigid rectangular frame member.  
     
     
         3 . A travel bag as defined in  claim 1  wherein said receiver includes a lip extending parallel with the surface of the frame member to which it is attached to receive and hold the end of said tongue member.  
     
     
         4 . A travel bag as defined in  claim 1  wherein said stabilizers are comprised of two tongues attached to opposite sides of a first rectangular frame member and adapted to be secured to two cooperating receivers attached to opposite sides of a second rectangular frame member.  
     
     
         5 . A travel bag as defined in  claim 1  wherein said receiver comprises a Velcro® strip which mates with a Velcro® strip carried on said tongue.  
     
     
         6 . A travel bag as defined in  claim 1  wherein said receiver is integrally formed on one of said rigid rectangular frame members.  
     
     
         7 . A travel bag as defined in  claim 1  wherein said receiver comprises a protrusion extending from one of said rigid rectangular frame members which mates with a notch, slot, hole or the like in said tongue.  
     
     
         8 . A travel bag as defined in  claim 1  wherein each of said tongues extends along a length of the frame member to which it is attached and may be secured to two or more receivers.  
     
     
         9 . A travel bag as defined in  claim 1  wherein said receiver defines a pocket for receiving an end portion of said tongue.