Baggage item with internal zippered expansion assembly

Abstract

An expandable baggage item without rigid support elements that is accessible for actuation from inside the storage compartment.

1 . An expandable baggage item for carrying of items by hand, the baggage item comprising: 
 a body defining a storage compartment; and    an expansion assembly coupled to the body, the expansion assembly comprising a gusset and a zipper, the zipper operable to release the gusset to expand the body from a contracted position to an expanded position;    wherein the zipper is accessible for actuation from inside the storage compartment.    
   
   
       2 . The baggage item of  claim 1 , further comprising a closure element selectively postionable relative to the body between an opened position and a closed position, and wherein the zipper is concealed from view from an exterior of the baggage when the closure element is in the closed position.  
   
   
       3 . The baggage item of  claim 1 , wherein the body is soft-sided.  
   
   
       4 . The baggage item of  claim 1 , wherein the zipper extends around an interior periphery of the storage compartment.  
   
   
       5 . The baggage item of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a first frame and a second frame collectively providing the bag with a predetermined shape, and the expansion assembly is operatively connected between the first frame and the second frame.  
   
   
       6 . The baggage item of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a first frame defining a first portion of the storage compartment and a second frame defining a second portion of the storage compartment, the first portion of the storage compartment being larger than the second portion.  
   
   
       7 . The baggage item of  claim 1 , wherein the body defines a luggage item.  
   
   
       8 . The baggage item of  claim 1 , wherein the luggage item is selected from the group of a suitcase, a duffel bag, a backpack, and a briefcase.  
   
   
       9 . The baggage item of  claim 1 , wherein the zipper is operable to retract the gusset and return the body to the contracted position when the expanded position is not needed.  
   
   
       10 . The baggage item of  claim 1 , wherein the expansion assembly is substantially devoid of rigid mechanical supports.  
   
   
       11 . The baggage item of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one wheel coupled to the body.  
   
   
       12 . A piece of baggage comprising: 
 a first frame and a second frame collectively defining a storage compartment adapted to be carried by a user, the first and second frames being movable relative to one another between an expanded position and a contracted position;    a flexible gusset interconnecting the two frames; and    a zipper operable to selectively release the gusset for relative movement of the first and second frames to the expanded position, the gusset defining a portion of the storage compartment when the frames are moved to the expanded position;    wherein the zipper is located in an interior portion of the first and second frames.    
   
   
       13 . The baggage of  claim 12 , wherein the gusset includes an interior surface and an exterior surface when the baggage item is expanded, the exterior surface hiding the zipper from external view.  
   
   
       14 . The baggage of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second frames are soft-sided.  
   
   
       15 . The baggage of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second frames are different sizes.  
   
   
       16 . The baggage of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second frames define one of a suitcase, a duffel bag, a backpack, and a briefcase.  
   
   
       17 . The baggage of  claim 12 , wherein the zipper is operable to retract the gusset to move the first and second frames to a contracted position.  
   
   
       18 . The baggage of  claim 12 , further comprising at least one wheel connected to one of the first and second frames.  
   
   
       19 . An expandable luggage item comprising: 
 a body defining an interior luggage compartment and an exterior surface surrounding the luggage compartment;    at least one carrying handle coupled to the body; and    an expansion assembly located interior to the body, the expansion assembly comprising a releasable fabric panel configured to vary an internal volume of the storage compartment without rigid mechanical elements.    
   
   
       20 . The luggage item of  claim 19 , wherein the panel comprises a gusset and a zipper, the zipper operable to release the gusset to expand the body from a contracted position to an expanded position having a greater capacity for storage.  
   
   
       21 . The luggage item of  claim 19 , wherein the zipper is accessible for actuation from inside the storage compartment.  
   
   
       22 . The luggage item of  claim 19 , wherein the body is soft-sided.  
   
   
       23 . The luggage item of  claim 19 , wherein the body comprises first and second frames, and the zipper expansion assembly extends between the first and second frames.  
   
   
       24 . The luggage item of  claim 19 , wherein the body defines one of a suitcase, a duffel bag, a backpack, and a briefcase.  
   
   
       25 . An expandable baggage item for carrying of items by hand, the baggage item comprising: 
 a body defining a storage compartment; and    an expansion assembly coupled to the body, the expansion assembly comprising a gusset and an actuation element, the actuation element operable to selectively release or maintain the gusset to expand or contract the storage compartment, respectively, without aid of rigid mechanical supports and mechanisms;    wherein the closure element is accessible for actuation from inside the storage compartment.    
   
   
       26 . The baggage item of  claim 25  wherein the actuation element comprises a zipper.