Collapsible duffle bag

Abstract

A collapsible item of luggage is provided comprising a rigid back wall. Three non-rigid sidewalls are attached the rigid back wall and to one another to form a rectangular box. An end panel is pivotally attached to a first end of the rectangular box. A retention flange is attached to one of the back wall or the end panel. Finally, a retention rod is attached to the other of the back wall or the end panel. The retention rod is removably attachable to the retention flange such that when the retention rod is attached to the retention flange the end panel is held in an extended position generally directed away from the back wall and when the retention rod is not attached to both retention flanges the end panel may be pivoted to a collapsed position generally adjacent and parallel to the back wall.

1 . A collapsible item of luggage comprising: 
 a rigid back wall;    three non-rigid sidewalls attached the rigid back wall and to one another to form a rectangular box;    an end panel pivotally attached to a first end of the rectangular box;    a retention flange attached to one of the back wall or the end-panel;    a retention rod attached to the other of the back wall or the end panel, the retention rod removably attachable to the retention flange such that when the retention rod is attached to the retention flange the end panel is held in an extended position generally directed away from the back wall and when the retention rod is not attached to both retention flanges the end panel may be pivoted to a collapsed position generally adjacent and parallel to the back wall.    
   
   
       2 . The item of luggage of  claim 1  wherein the attachment of the retention rod to the other of the back wall or the end panel is accomplished by a removable attachment of the retention rod to an attachment flange.  
   
   
       3 . The item of luggage of  claim 2  further comprising a second retention flange attached to the back wall and a second retention flange attached to the end panel, wherein a second retention rod is attachable to each of second retention flange of the back wall and the second retention flange of the end panel, the second retention rod being associated with the second retention flanges to cooperate with the other retention rod, such that when the both retention rods are attached to their respective retention flanges the end panel is held in the extended position and when both retention rods are not attached to their respective retention flanges the end panel may be pivoted to the collapsed position.  
   
   
       4 . The item of luggage of  claim 1  wherein the retention flange comprises a generally arcuate portion having protuberance on an interior portion thereof and the retention rod comprises at least one end portion having a reduced diameter section that cooperates with the protuberance to maintain the retention rod in a detachable association with the flange.  
   
   
       5 . The item of luggage of  claim 4  wherein the end portion of the retention rod is turned approximately ninety degrees with respect to the retention rod.  
   
   
       6 . The item of luggage of  claim 4  wherein the retention rod comprises a second end portion having a reduced diameter section that cooperates with the protuberance to maintain the second end of the retention rod in a detachable association with the associated retention flange.  
   
   
       7 . The item of luggage of  claim 1  further comprising a second end panel pivotally attached to a second end of the rectangular box opposite the first end.  
   
   
       8 . The item of luggage of  claim 7  wherein the second end panel comprises a retention flange that is removably attached to a second retention rod, the second retention rod attached to the back wall wherein the retention rod attached to the second end panel, the second end panel is held in an extended position generally directed away from the back wall and when the retention rod is not attached the second end panel, the second end panel is pivotable to a collapsed position generally adjacent and parallel to the back wall.  
   
   
       9 . The item of luggage of  claim 1  further comprising a retractable handle.  
   
   
       10 . The item of luggage of  claim 1  further comprising a pair of wheels.  
   
   
       11 . A collapsible item of luggage comprising: 
 a rigid back wall having a retention flange attached thereto;    three non-rigid sidewalls attached the rigid back wall and to one another to form a rectangular box;    an end panel pivotally attached to a first end of the rectangular box, the end panel comprising a retention flange;    a retention rod removably attachable to the retention flange of the back wall and the retention flange of end panel such that when the retention rod is attached to both retention flanges the end panel is held in a position extending in an extended position directed away from the back wall and when the retention rod is not attached to both retention flanges the end panel may be pivoted to a collapsed position generally parallel to the back wall.    
   
   
       12 . The item of luggage of  claim 11  further comprising a second retention flange attached to the back wall and a second retention flange attached to the end panel, wherein a second retention rod is attachable to each of second retention flange of the back wall and the second retention flange of the end panel, the second retention rod being associated with the second retention flanges to cooperate with the other retention rod, such that when the both retention rods are attached to their respective retention flanges the end panel is held in the extended position and when both retention rods are not attached to their respective retention flanges the end panel may be pivoted to the collapsed position.  
   
   
       13 . The item of luggage of  claim 11  wherein each retention flange comprises a generally arcuate portion having protuberance on an interior portion thereof and the retention rod comprises two one end portions, each end portion having a reduced diameter section that cooperates with the protuberances of the retention flanges to maintain the retention rod in a detachable association with the flanges.  
   
   
       14 . The item of luggage of  claim 13  wherein the end portion of the retention rod is turned approximately ninety degrees with respect to the retention rod.  
   
   
       15 . The item of luggage of  claim 11  further comprising a second end panel pivotally attached to a second end of the rectangular box opposite the first end.  
   
   
       16 . The item of luggage of  claim 15  wherein the second end panel comprises a retention flange that is removably attached to a second retention rod, the second retention rod attached to the back wall wherein the retention rod attached to the second end panel, the second end panel is held in an extended position generally directed away from the back wall and when the retention rod is not attached the second end panel, the second end panel is pivotable to a collapsed position generally adjacent and parallel to the back wall.  
   
   
       17 . The item of luggage of  claim 11  further comprising a retractable handle.  
   
   
       18 . The item of luggage of  claim 11  further comprising a pair of wheels.  
   
   
       19 . A collapsible item of luggage comprising: 
 a rigid back wall having a retention flange attached thereto;    three non-rigid sidewalls attached the rigid back wall and to one another to form a rectangular box;    an end panel pivotally attached to a first end of the rectangular box, the end panel comprising a retention flange;    a retention rod removably attachable to the retention flange of the back wall and the retention flange of end panel such that when the retention rod is attached to both retention flanges the end panel is held in a position extending in an extended position directed away from the back wall and when the retention rod is not attached to both retention flanges the end panel may be pivoted to a collapsed position generally parallel to the back wall;    a second retention flange attached to the back wall and a second retention flange attached to the end panel, wherein a second retention rod is attachable to each of second retention flange of the back wall and the second retention flange of the end panel, the second retention rod being associated with the second retention flanges to cooperate with the other retention rod, such that when the both retention rods are attached to their respective retention flanges the end panel is held in the extended position and when both retention rods are not attached to their respective retention flanges the end panel may be pivoted to the collapsed position;    wherein each retention flange comprises a generally arcuate portion having protuberance on an interior portion thereof and the retention rod comprises two one end portions, each end portion having a reduced diameter section that cooperates with the protuberances of the retention flanges to maintain the retention rod in a detachable association with the flanges.    
   
   
       20 . The item of luggage of  claim 19  wherein the end portion of the retention rod is turned approximately ninety degrees with respect to the retention rod.  
   
   
       21 . The item of luggage of  claim 19  further comprising a second end panel pivotally attached to a second end of the rectangular box opposite the first end, the second end panel comprising a retention flange that is removably attached to a second retention rod, the second retention rod attached to the back wall wherein the retention rod attached to the second end panel, the second end panel is held in an extended position generally directed away from the back wall and when the retention rod is not attached the second end panel, the second end panel is pivotable to a collapsed position generally adjacent and parallel to the back wall.  
   
   
       22 . The item of luggage of  claim 19  further comprising a retractable handle.  
   
   
       23 . The item of luggage of  claim 19  further comprising a pair of wheels.