Collapsible Expanding Luggage

Abstract

A collapsible piece of luggage is disclosed. The piece of luggage may have wheels and an extendable and retractable handle. The sidewall, bottom and cover of the luggage have sufficient rigidity to hold their own shape and may be folded into a storage configuration in which the piece of luggage is smaller in width and depth. Additionally, the luggage includes an expansion feature that allows the luggage cover to expand outward pyramidally so as to increase the storage volume of the luggage.

1 . An expansion panel for a container, comprising:
 a plurality of panel segments pivotably connected to the periphery of the expansion panel and extending inwardly therefrom, each of the panel segments having sufficient rigidity to hold its own shape, the panel segments being connected to one another by gusset material toward the interior of the expansion panel such that the panel is contiguous and capable of assuming two configurations: (1) an unexpanded configuration, in which the panel segments are all generally coplanar, and (2) an expanded configuration in which the panel segments are non-coplanar and project outwardly relative to the periphery of the expansion panel;   wherein the expanded configuration provides a storage volume.   
     
     
         2 . The expansion panel of  claim 1 , further comprising a retaining mechanism constructed and arranged to releasably engage interior edges of adjacent panel segments so as to retain the expansion panel in the unexpanded configuration while the retaining mechanism is engaged. 
     
     
         3 . The expansion panel of  claim 2 , wherein the retaining mechanism comprises a zipper attached to the interior edges of the adjacent panel segments. 
     
     
         4 . The expansion panel of  claim 1 , further comprising reinforcing plates disposed within the panel segments, the reinforcing plates providing the panel segments with sufficient rigidity to hold their own shape. 
     
     
         5 . The expansion panel of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of panel segments has a shape selected from generally triangular or generally trapezoidal. 
     
     
         6 . The expansion panel of  claim 1 , wherein the expansion panel is generally pyramidal in the expanded configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The expansion panel of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of panel segments comprises two or more layers of flexible material with a reinforcing plate interposed between the layers of flexible material. 
     
     
         8 . The expansion panel of  claim 1 , further comprising fold lines in predefined positions, the fold lines allowing the expansion panel to fold for storage. 
     
     
         9 . A piece of luggage comprising:
 a bottom panel;   a sidewall connected to the bottom panel and extending generally perpendicularly outwardly therefrom, the sidewall and bottom together defining an interior storage volume; and   a cover attached to the sidewall, the cover being constructed and arranged to move between positions in which the storage volume is open and can be accessed and a position in which the storage volume is covered and closed, the cover including a plurality of cover segments pivotably connected to the periphery of the cover and extending inwardly therefrom, each of the cover segments having sufficient rigidity to hold its own shape, the cover segments being connected to one another by gusset material toward the interior of the cover such that the cover is contiguous and capable of assuming two configurations: (1) an unexpanded configuration, in which the cover segments are all generally coplanar, and (2) an expanded configuration in which the cover segments are non-coplanar and project outwardly relative to the periphery of the cover;   wherein the expanded configuration of the cover adds to the storage volume.   
     
     
         10 . The piece of luggage of  claim 9 , further comprising a retaining mechanism constructed and arranged to releasably engage interior edges of adjacent cover segments so as to retain the cover in the unexpanded configuration while the retaining mechanism is engaged. 
     
     
         11 . The piece of luggage of  claim 10 , wherein the retaining mechanism comprises a zipper attached to the interior edges of the adjacent cover segments. 
     
     
         12 . The piece of luggage of  claim 9 , further comprising reinforcing plates disposed within the cover segments, the reinforcing plates providing the cover segments with sufficient rigidity to hold their own shape. 
     
     
         13 . The piece of luggage of  claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of cover segments has a shape selected from generally triangular or generally trapezoidal. 
     
     
         14 . The piece of luggage of  claim 9 , wherein the cover is generally pyramidal in the expanded configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The piece of luggage of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 an extendable and retractable handle connected to the bottom panel; and   one or more wheels connected to a lower portion of the sidewall.