Collapsible umbrella case

Abstract

The collapsible case of the present invention may be used for umbrellas, glasses, electronic gadgets and devices, cosmetic bags, men's and women's bags, for the storage of keys, and other uses. The case has flexible part that can extend increasing the inside volume of the case and can collapse thus reducing the volume, which makes it convenient to keep the case. A special design of the flexible portions is described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A collapsible and extendable case, comprising:
 at least a first part of the case made of rigid material connected to at least a second part made of flexible material; the first rigid part determining a shape of the case; the case having two states:   closed and opened; in the closed state a space inside the case is enclosed making convenient to keep an accessory inside it;   the second flexible part is movable up and down thus changing a volume inside the case; the volume can be changed to minimal when the accessory is taken out of the case and the flexible part is moved down.   
     
     
         2 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein the case is box-shaped. 
     
     
         3 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein the case is elliptical in shape. 
     
     
         4 . The case of  claim 1 , further comprising the case having two halves connected by a joint. 
     
     
         5 . The case of  claim 4 , wherein each half has at least one rigid part and at least one flexible part. 
     
     
         6 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible part is a first closed curved strip. 
     
     
         7 . The case of  claim 6 , the strip being 0.5 cm to 2 cm wide. 
     
     
         8 . The case of  claim 6 , wherein the strip is on a top surface of the case near side surfaces of the case, and a shape of the strip follows a shape of an edge of the top surface. 
     
     
         9 . The case of  claim 6 , wherein the strip has two straight parts connected by two curved parts, the curved parts being symmetrical halves of a circumference of a circle. 
     
     
         10 . The case of  claim 6 , wherein the strip has four straight parts connected by four curved parts, the curved parts being arcs of a circumference of a circle. 
     
     
         11 . The case of  claim 6 , further comprising at least a second closed curved flexible strip, the second strip being smaller than the first one, the second strip following a shape of the first strip. 
     
     
         12 . The case of  claim 11 , wherein the first strip having a first curved part being an arc with a radius R 1 , the second strip having a second curved part being an arc with a radius R 2 , wherein R 1 >R 2 , and both radii have the same origin. 
     
     
         13 . The case of  claim 12 , wherein both arcs are limited by the same angle. 
     
     
         14 . The case of  claim 12 , wherein the angle is 180 degrees and therefore both arcs are halves of circles circumferences. 
     
     
         15 . The case of  claim 12 , wherein both arcs are limited by the same angle. 
     
     
         16 . A method of making a collapsible and extendable case for an accessory, comprising:
 making at least a first part of the case made of rigid material, the first part determining a shape of the case;   making at least a second part of the case made of flexible material; the flexible part being connected inside the rigid part; the flexible part having a curved closed strip shape;   the flexible part being connected to an edge of a top surface of the case;   the flexible part being able to move up and down thus changing a volume inside the case.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising
 making at least a third part of the case made of rigid material; the third part being inside the second flexible part.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising
 making at least a fourth part of the case made of flexible material; the fourth part being inside the third rigid part.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein a curvature of the second flexible part is an arc RI and a curvature of the fourth flexible part is an arc R 2  , wherein R 1 >R 2 , both being parts of circumferences from the same origin. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein both arcs lie within the same angle.