Expandable bag with folding struts

Abstract

An expandable bag has a base portion and an expandable portion. The expandable portion is connected to the base portion by flexible connection sidewalls. The base portion and the expandable portion are connected to one another by a plurality of folding struts which allow the expandable portion to be alternatively moved between an expanded position and a non-expanded position. The bag further also has a retaining mechanism for retaining the bag in the non-expanded position.

What is Claimed is:  
     
         1 . An expandable bag comprising: 
 (a) a base portion having a bottom wall and one or more base portion side walls, each of the one or more base portion side walls being attached to the bottom wall;    (b) an expandable portion having a top wall and one or more expandable portion side walls being attached to the top wall; and    (c) the expandable portion being connected to the base portion by one or more flexible connection side walls, the base portion, the expandable portion and the one or more connection side walls cooperating to form an encloseable bag compartment;    wherein, the base portion side walls and the expandable portion side walls are attached to one another by a plurality of folding struts such that the expandable portion is alternatively movable with respect to the base portion between a non-expanded position wherein the expandable portion is rigidly retained proximate to the base portion and an expanded position wherein the expandable portion is rigidly retained distal to the base portion; and    wherein the bag further comprises a retaining mechanism for alternatively retaining the expandable portion in the non-expanded position and releasing the expandable portion so that it can be moved to the expanded position.    
     
     
         2 . The expandable bag of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of folding struts consists of four folding struts.  
     
     
         3 . The expandable bag of  claim 1  wherein the base portion has an interior perimeter and wherein the bag further comprises at least one removable pocket, the at least one removable pocket having an upper edge which is removably attachable to the interior perimeter of the base portion, such that, when the upper edge of the removable pocket is attached to the interior perimeter of the base portion, the removable pocket drapes downwardly to hide at least one of the folding struts.  
     
     
         4 . The expandable bag of  claim 3  wherein the bag comprises a plurality of removable pockets capable of hiding some or all of the folding struts.  
     
     
         5 . The expandable bag of  claim 3  wherein the at least one removable pocket is attached to the interior perimeter of the base portion by hook and loop fasteners.  
     
     
         6 . The expandable bag of  claim 1  wherein the retaining mechanism comprises a retaining mechanism zipper having opposed sides, a first side connected to the base portion and a second side connection to the expandable portion.