Expandable suitcase

1. An expandable suitcase comprising:

a front portion;

a back portion;

a plurality of side panels, each side panel aligning with one of a top, a bottom, a first side, and a second side of the suitcase, and each side panel having a primary board, at least a first side board rotatably connected to the primary board about a common edge therewith, and a first side flap rotatably connected to the first side board about a common edge opposing the common edge with the primary board; and

a plurality of hinges disposed at an intersection of two side panels, each hinge comprising a first hinge panel attached to one of the side panels and a second hinge panel connected to the other side panel, each hinge comprising a spine, wherein the spine provides an axis about which the first and second hinge panels may rotate, each spine of each of the hinges comprising a ring protruding therefrom, wherein the hinge remains in a substantially planar position in a rested state.

2. The expandable suitcase of claim 1 , wherein each side panel further comprises:

a second side board rotatably connected to the primary board about a common edge opposing the common edge between the primary board and the first side board, and a second side flap rotatably connected to the second side board about a common edge opposing the common edge with the primary board.

3. The expandable suitcase of claim 1 , wherein each the front portion and the back portion comprise one of polycarbonate, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, ethylene vinyl acetate, or combinations thereof.

4. The expandable suitcase of claim 1 , wherein each side panel comprises a primary support structure, a body material and a covering for exposure to an inside surface of the suitcase.

5. The expandable suitcase of claim 4 , wherein the primary support structure comprises a thermoplastic material formed into a honeycomb shape.

6. The expandable suitcase of claim 4 , wherein the body material comprises a fabric.

7. The expandable suitcase of claim 1 , wherein each of the side panels has the first side flap substantially affixed to the back portion of the suitcase.

8. An expandable suitcase comprising:

a front portion;

a back portion;

a plurality of side panels, each side panel aligning with one of a top, a bottom, a first side, and a second side of the suitcase, and each side panel comprising:

a primary board;

at least a first side board rotatably connected to the primary board about a common edge therewith, and a first side flap rotatably connected to the first side board about a common edge opposing the common edge with the primary board; and

a second side board rotatably connected to the primary board about a common edge opposing the common edge between the primary board and the first side board, and a second side flap rotatably connected to the second side board about a common edge opposing the common edge with the primary board;

a plurality of hinges disposed at an intersection of two side panels, each hinge comprising a first hinge panel attached to one of the side panels, a second hinge panel connected to the other side panel, a spine for providing an axis about which the first and second hinge panels may rotate, wherein the each spine of the hinges comprises a ring protruding therefrom.

9. The expandable suitcase of claim 8 , wherein each the front portion and the back portion comprise one of polycarbonate, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, ethylene vinyl acetate, or combinations thereof.

10. The expandable suitcase of claim 8 , wherein each side panel comprises a primary support structure, a body material and a covering for exposure to an inside surface of the suitcase.

11. The expandable suitcase of claim 10 , wherein the primary support structure comprises a thermoplastic material formed into a honeycomb shape.

12. The expandable suitcase of claim 10 , wherein the body material comprises a fabric.

13. The expandable suitcase of claim 8 , wherein each of the side panels has the first side flap substantially affixed to the back portion of the suitcase.

14. A method of expanding a suitcase comprising:

providing an expandable suitcase, the expandable suitcase comprising:

a front portion;

a back portion;

a plurality of side panels, each side panel aligning with one of a top, a bottom, a first side, and a second side of the suitcase, and each side panel having a primary board, at least a first side board rotatably connected to the primary board about a common edge therewith, and a first side flap rotatably connected to the first side board about a common edge opposing the common edge with the primary board, each side panel further comprising a second side board rotatably connected to the primary board about a common edge opposing the common edge between the primary board and the first side board, and a second side flap rotatably connected to the second side board about a common edge opposing the common edge with the primary board; and

a plurality of hinges disposed at an intersection of two side panels, each hinge comprising a first hinge panel attached to one of the side panels and a second hinge panel connected to the other side panel, wherein the hinge remains in a substantially planar position in a rested state;

retracting each of the plurality of hinges towards a center of the suitcase;

extending each of the first side flaps of each of the plurality of side panels; and

releasing the plurality of hinges; and

extending each of the second side flaps of each of the plurality of side panel while each of the plurality of hinges is retracted.