Collapsible Suitcase

Abstract

A container for carrying and storing contents in a compressed mode is presented which includes: an exterior shell having: a top edge; a bottom wall disposed opposite the top edge; and a back wall coupled to the bottom wall; a top planar member, for compressing storage space, selectably coupleable to the exterior shell; a flexible member coupled to each of and between the top planar member and the bottom wall; a middle planar member, coupled to the flexible member between the top planar member and the bottom wall and oriented substantially parallel to the top planar member; a first side wall coupled to the bottom wall and to the back wall; a second side wall coupled to the bottom wall and to the back wall; and a front cover coupled to the second side wall and removably coupleable to the first side wall.

1 . A container for carrying and storing contents in a compressed mode, comprising:
 an exterior shell having:
 a top edge; 
 a bottom wall disposed opposite the top edge, and 
 a back wall coupled to the bottom wall; and 
   a top planar member, for compressing storage space, selectably coupleable to the exterior shell at a plurality of vertical positions between the top edge and the bottom wall.   
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a flexible member coupled to each of and between the top planar member and the bottom wall; and   a middle planar member, for storing as a shelf, coupled to the flexible member between the top planar member and the bottom wall and oriented substantially parallel to the top planar member.   
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a first side wall coupled to the bottom wall and to the back wall;   a second side wall coupled to the bottom wall and to the back wall; and   a front cover coupled to the second side wall and removably coupleable to the first side wall, wherein the front cover restricts access to the middle planar member when the front cover is coupled to the first side wall.   
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the front cover is removably coupleable to the top edge and restricts access to the top planar member when the front cover is coupled to the top edge. 
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 4 , further comprising a support member, configured to provide lateral support to the exterior shell, coupled to the first side wall near a top front edge and to the second side wall near a top front edge. 
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a track coupled to the exterior shell and extending from near a bottom of the exterior shell to near a top of the exterior shell, wherein the top planar member selectably couples to the track at a plurality of vertical positions. 
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 6 , further comprising a first side wall coupled to the bottom wall and the back wall, wherein the track is coupled to the first side wall. 
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 7 , further comprising an actuatable securing device coupled to the top planar member, wherein in a first actuation position the securing device is fixedly coupled to the track and in a second actuation position the securing device is slidably coupled to the track. 
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a drawer coupled to the exterior shell above the bottom wall. 
   
   
       10 . A container for carrying and storing contents in a compressed mode, comprising:
 an exterior shell having an open top and defining a first cavity; and   a compression assembly disposed in the cavity and accessible through the open top, wherein the compression assembly is selectably coupleable at a plurality of positions within the cavity.   
   
   
       11 . The container of  claim 10 , further comprising a shelf assembly coupled to the compression assembly and to the exterior shell. 
   
   
       12 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the exterior shell defines a second cavity and wherein the container further comprises a drawer assembly disposed within the second cavity. 
   
   
       13 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the exterior shell further comprises a removable cover disposed over a front of the container. 
   
   
       14 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the compression assembly further comprises:
 a top planar member;   a handle coupled to the top planar member;   an actuator coupled to the handle and having a first actuation position and a second actuation position;   a locking member, mechanically coupled to the actuator and fixedly couple to the top planar member, having a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein in the locked position the locking member is fixedly coupled to the exterior shell and in the unlocked position the locking member is not fixedly coupled to the exterior shell.   
   
   
       15 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the shelf assembly further comprises a plurality of middle planar members coupled in an array each to a first flexible member and a second flexible member at opposite ends of each middle planar member, wherein the middle planar members are substantially parallel one to another and distances between adjacent middle planar members are variable. 
   
   
       16 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the drawer assembly further comprises:
 a drawer slidably disposable within the second cavity; and   a drawer cover removably coupleable near a top edge of the drawer.   
   
   
       17 . The container of  claim 13 , wherein the removable cover is removably coupleable over a top of the exterior shell. 
   
   
       18 . A container for carrying and storing contents in a compressed mode, comprising:
 an exterior shell having an open top and defining a first cavity and a second cavity;   a compression assembly disposed in the cavity and accessible through the open top, wherein the compression assembly is selectably coupleable at a plurality of positions within the cavity;   a shelf assembly coupled to the compression assembly and to the exterior shell; and   a drawer assembly disposed within the second cavity.   
   
   
       19 . The container of  claim 18 , wherein the compression assembly further comprises:
 a top planar member;   a handle coupled to the top planar member;   an actuator coupled to the handle and having a first actuation position and a second actuation position;   a locking member, mechanically coupled to the actuator and fixedly coupled to the top planar member, having a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein in the locked position the locking member is fixedly coupled to the exterior shell and in the unlocked position the locking member is not fixedly coupled to the exterior shell.   
   
   
       20 . The container of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the shelf assembly further comprises a plurality of middle planar members coupled in an array each to a first flexible member and a second flexible member at opposite ends of each middle planar member, wherein the middle planar members are substantially parallel one to another and distances between adjacent middle planar members are variable; and   the drawer assembly further comprises:
 a drawer slidably disposable within the second cavity; and 
 a drawer cover removably coupleable near a top edge of the drawer.