Hanging shelf system and travel organizer for use in combination with a suitcase

Abstract

A hanging shelf system and travel organizer is specifically adapted for use in combination with a suitcase wherein the shelf system is adapted to collapse to a size suitable for removable insertion within the suitcase. The shelf system is configurable between a vertically expanded configuration when deployed wherein a plurality of shelves and walls form storage compartments for receiving clothing and other travel items, and a vertically compact, stowed configuration wherein the travel shelf apparatus is compactly configured for insertion into a suitcase for travel. When the user reaches his/her destination the travel organizer may be removed from the suitcase and hung in a closet in the vertically expanded configuration with spaced shelves thereby providing the traveler with ready access to the packed articles while eliminating the need to unpack and repack.

1 . A hanging shelf system for removable insertion within a suitcase, said hanging shelf system comprising:
 a main body including a rear wall and opposing side walls generally extending between a top and a bottom;   said rear wall and said opposing side walls formed of flexible material;   a plurality of generally horizontal planar shelves connected to said main body between said opposing side walls, said plurality of shelves disposed in vertically spaced relation between the top and bottom of said main body;   a pair of hooks projecting upward from the top of said main body;   said main body being configurable between an expanded configuration wherein said shelves are disposed in maximum vertically spaced relation, and a collapsed configuration wherein said shelves are disposed in minimum vertically space relation.   
     
     
         2 . A hanging shelf system according to  claim 1 , wherein said flexible material comprises a mesh. 
     
     
         3 . A hanging shelf system according to  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of horizontal planar shelves includes a bottom shelf disposed in proximity to the bottom of said main body; a top shelf disposed in spaced relation and below the top of said main body; and a middle shelf disposed between said top and bottom shelves. 
     
     
         4 . A hanging shelf system according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said pair of hooks is configurable between a deployed configuration and a stowed configuration. 
     
     
         5 . A hanging shelf system according to  claim 1 , further including a strap having opposing ends connected to the top of said main body, with said pair of hooks connected to said strap. 
     
     
         6 . A hanging shelf system for removable insertion within a suitcase opening defined by a length and a width, said hanging shelf system comprising:
 a main body having a top and a bottom with a rear wall and opposing side walls generally extending between the top and bottom;   said rear wall and said opposing side walls formed of flexible mesh material;   a plurality of generally horizontal planar shelves connected to said main body between said opposing side walls;   said plurality of shelves including a bottom shelf disposed in proximity to the bottom of said main body, a top shelf disposed in spaced relation and below the top of said main body, and a middle shelf disposed between said top and bottom shelves;   a strap having opposing ends with one of said opposing ends connected to one of said opposing side walls and the other opposing end connected to the other opposing side wall;   a pair of hooks connected to said strap in spaced relation;   said main body being configurable between an expanded configuration wherein said shelves are disposed in maximum vertically spaced relation, and a collapsed configuration wherein said shelves are disposed in minimum vertically space relation;   said main body having length and width dimensions that are less than the length and width dimensions of the suitcase, such that said main body may be removably inserted into the suitcase through the suitcase opening and contained within the suitcase in the collapsed configuration.   
     
     
         7 . A hanging shelf system according to  claim 6 , further including a support frame configurable from a stowed configuration to a deployed configuration wherein said support frame supports said main body in said expanded configuration. 
     
     
         8 . In combination with a suitcase having a length, a width, and a depth there is provided a hanging shelf system sized for removable insertion within the suitcase, said hanging shelf system comprising:
 a main body having a top and a bottom with a rear wall and opposing side walls generally extending between the top and bottom;   said rear wall and said opposing side walls formed of flexible material;   a plurality of generally horizontal planar shelves connected to said main body between said opposing side walls;   said plurality of shelves including a bottom shelf disposed in proximity to the bottom of said main body, a top shelf disposed in spaced relation and below the top of said main body, and a middle shelf disposed in spaced relation between said top and bottom shelves;   a strap having opposing ends with one of said opposing ends connected to one of said opposing side walls and the other opposing end connected to the other opposing side wall;   a pair of hooks connected to said strap in spaced relation;   said main body being configurable between an expanded configuration wherein said shelves are disposed in maximum vertically spaced relation, and a collapsed configuration wherein said shelves are disposed in minimum vertically space relation;   said main body having length and width dimensions that are less than the length and width dimensions of the suitcase, such that said main body may be removably inserted into the suitcase through the suitcase opening and contained within the suitcase in the collapsed configuration.   
     
     
         9 . A hanging shelf system according to  claim 8 , wherein said flexible material comprises a mesh. 
     
     
         10 . A hanging shelf system according to  claim 8 , further including a support frame configurable from a stowed configuration to a deployed configuration wherein said support frame supports said main body in said expanded configuration.