Case

Abstract

An expandable travelling case comprises a back panel, a flexible jacket, and a tensioner. The case can be expanded by moving the expansion arm to an expanded configuration. The expanded configuration involves the tensioner bracing or pushing against the flexible jacket in cooperation with the back panel of the case. The tensioner is therefore compressed between the jacket and the back panel in the expanded configuration. This provides a tension fit for the flexible jacket. There is also provided a retention means and suitable component to maintain the travelling case in an expanded state.

1 . An expandable travelling case comprising:
 a back panel;   a flexible skirt or jacket;   at least one tensioner connected to, or in contact with, said flexible skirt or jacket; and   one or more retention means for the tensioner or tensioners, the retention means comprising one or more of the following means: a buckle and clip, lip and catch, webbed strap and cam buckle, or a tie,   wherein the case can be expanded by moving the tensioner to an expansion configuration, the tensioner is a tensioning panel and when the case is in its expanded configuration the tensioner exerts a force on the flexible skirt or jacket in cooperation with the back panel of the case to provide a tension fit for the flexible skirt or jacket and the retention means retains the tensioner in the expansion configuration.   
     
     
         2 . An expandable travelling case according to  claim 1 , wherein the expanded case can be collapsed to a store-away configuration by moving the tensioner to a folded configuration, thereby slackening tension in the skirt or jacket. 
     
     
         3 . An expandable travelling case according to  claim 2 , wherein the collapsed case further comprises the tensioner laying generally parallel with respect to the back panel. 
     
     
         4 . An expandable travelling case according to  claim 1 , wherein the tensioner in the expanded configuration is in generally out-of-plane relation with respect to the back panel. 
     
     
         5 . An expandable travelling case according to  claim 1 , wherein the case comprises two tensioners located on opposite sides of the case. 
     
     
         6 . An expandable travelling case according to  claim 1 , the travelling case comprising a length, a width and a depth, and wherein the at least one tensioner is configured for expanding the depth of the case. 
     
     
         7 . An expandable travelling case according to  claim 1 , wherein the back panel has an internally concave shape in which one or more of the tensioners can be folded when the case is collapsed. 
     
     
         8 . An expandable travelling case according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more retention means comprises one or more respective locking means. 
     
     
         9 . An expandable travelling case according to  claim 1 , wherein each tensioner is configured for folding inwardly with respect to the back panel. 
     
     
         10 . An expandable travelling case according to  claim 1 , wherein the or each tensioner are located internally of an internal volume defined by the case. 
     
     
         11 . An expandable case according to  claim 1 , wherein the or each tensioning panel, when in the tensioning condition, extends along a side of the case. 
     
     
         12 . An expandable case according to  claim 1 , the retention means comprising a webbed strap and a cam buckle, wherein said cam buckle is rigidly attached to said tensioning panel. 
     
     
         13 . An expandable case according to  claim 1 , the retention means comprising a webbed strap and a cam buckle, wherein said cam buckle is pivotally attached to said tensioning panel. 
     
     
         14 . An expandable case according to  claim 1 , the retention means comprising a webbed strap and a cam buckle, wherein said cam buckle is riveted to said tensioning panel. 
     
     
         15 . An expandable case according to  claim 1  wherein retention means for opposing tensioning panels are disposed symmetrically on opposite sides of said case. 
     
     
         16 . An expandable case according to  claim 15 , the retention means comprising a webbed strap and a cam buckle, wherein said webbed strap cooperates with a webbed strap of a further retention means on an opposite side of the case to provide a strap to restrain clothes stored in said case. 
     
     
         17 . An expandable case according to  claim 1  comprising two opposed reinforcement panels each extending across the width of the case on opposing sides thereof, other than the side or sides having the tensioning panel or panels, said reinforcement panels being deployable for expanding those additional sides and for providing side reinforcement for the case on those additional sides when the case is expanded. 
     
     
         18 . An expandable case according to  claim 17 , wherein both reinforcement panels can be retracted or folded away when the case is collapsed to a store-away configuration. 
     
     
         19 . An expandable case according to  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the reinforcement panels is able to be secured in its deployed configuration by the or each tensioning panel when the case is expanded. 
     
     
         20 . An expandable case according to  claim 1 , the retention means comprising a webbed strap and a cam buckle, wherein the cam buckle comprises:
 a housing portion comprising first and second ends suitable for receiving a webbed strap; and   a locking member pivotally attached to the housing portion above the first end, comprising:
 a cam face disposed from the pivot point, the cam face controlling the height of an access slot formed at the first end; and 
 a lever arm extending substantially perpendicularly from said cam face, said lever arm being operable to rotate said locking member, 
   characterised in that the housing portion comprises a cross member above the second end, the cross member aiding in controlling the exit angle of the webbed strap.