Expansion system for a luggage case
View Patent ↗The present embodiment provides a neat, tailored accordion gusset 4 with crisscrossing elastic ribbons 22 attached to opposite rigid wire frames 8 and 10 of the expandable gusset 4 , as well as a tensioned bungee cord 20 attached to the innermost edge of the center seam 26 of the expansion gusset 4 . These elastic members 22 are enclosed and sealed from view by the outermost wall 6 of the luggage case 2 and an inner wall 14 defined by an elastic textile such as Spandex or the like. The resulting expansion gusset 4 can best be built into a main packing compartment door 6 of the luggage case 2 and will expand in response to over-packing of the main packing compartment 18 by expanding the expansion gusset 4 in response to the pressure of the goods against the restoring force of the various elastic members 22.
1. An automatic, zipperless, as-needed expansion system for a luggage case and the like comprising: a container; at least one expandable section, said expandable section comprising at least one expansion panel; a pair of outer edges of said expandable section, said outer edges existing parallel to one another with said expandable section affixed therebetween; and means for applying a force to said pair of outer edges of said expandable section wherein said force vertically biases the outer edges towards one another wherein said biasing force is created by elastomers, said elastomers comprise strips of elastics that are attached at one distal end to one said outer edge of said expandable section and at another distal end to an opposite outer edge of said expandable section, said elastics crisscross secondary elastics that are attached at one distal end to one said outer edge of said expandable section and at another distal end to said opposite outer edge of said expandable section to utilize primarily horizontal tensions to create a vertical pulling force.
2. The elastics of claim 1 wherein said elastics are affixed near corner portions of said container.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein said expansion system further comprises a means for applying a lateral biasing force that contracts each expansion panel of said expandable section inwardly towards one another when expansion of said container is not needed, said lateral biasing force contributing to the vertical biasing force.
4. The system of claim 3 wherein said lateral biasing is created by a bungee cord.
5. The system of claim 4 wherein said bungee cord is connected to a center portion inside of said expansion panel.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein said pair of outer edges of said expandable section comprise a pair of steel wire frames.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein said expansion system comprises a container of soft construction.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein said expansion system comprises a container of rigid construction.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein said expansion system comprises a container of semi-rigid construction.
10. The system of claim 1 wherein said expansion system is enclosed within an inner surface of a door portion of said container and is hidden from view.