David Brian Workman

US Patent:

62204114, Apr 24, 2001

Filed:

Nov 3, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/433405

Inventors:

Paul Scicluna - Penndel PA
David Workman - Princeton NJ

Assignee:

Tumi, Inc. - South Plainfield NJ

International Classification:

A45C 700

US Classification:

190103

Abstract:

An item of expandable luggage includes a substantially rigid main peripheral frame and a substantially rigid secondary peripheral frame. A peripherally continuous gusset of flexible material is connected between the two peripheral frames. Opposite wall panels of the main peripheral frame are joined to corresponding opposite wall panels of the secondary peripheral frame by bridge assemblies, one such assembly being associated with each of the opposite wall panels of the respective frames. Each bridge assembly includes a pair of parallel spaced-apart slide rails affixed to the wall panel of the main peripheral frame, a substantially rigid bridge plate affixed to the wall panel of the secondary peripheral frame and slidably received by the slide rails, and a releasable latch that couples the bridge plate to the wall panel of the main peripheral frame in at least one position in which the secondary peripheral frame is held securely in a position spaced apart from the main peripheral frame.