Suitcase

Abstract

The technology concerns a suitcase. More particularly the disclosure is directed to a collapsible suitcase.

1 . A suitcase comprising a back shell and a front shell, both of which being made of a rigid material;
 the back shell is configured with a substantially flat back base and a perimetric back wall extending upwards from the flat back base, and the front shell is configured with a substantially flat front base and a perimetric front wall extending upwards from the flat front base;   
       a flexible perimetric closed-loop side wall of the suitcase is attached along one of a back edge and a front edge of the flexible perimetric side wall to one of a perimetric edge of the perimetric back wall and a perimetric edge of the perimetric front wall, respectively, with the other one of the back edge and the front edge of the flexible perimetric side wall being articulated to an articulation portion of the other of the perimetric edge of the perimetric back wall and perimetric edge of the perimetric front wall,
 the flexible perimetric side wall comprising a sliding closure along a reclosable portion that extends along the edge of the flexible perimetric side wall that is articulated via the articulation portion, the sliding closure extending along said entire edge of the flexible perimetric side wall excluding the articulation portion; 
 the suitcase is configurable between an expanded position and a collapsed position, wherein at the collapsed position the perimetric front wall accommodates the perimetric edge of the perimetric back wall and wherein the thickness of the suitcase at the collapsed position corresponds with a height of the back shell and a thickness of the front base. 
 
     
     
         2 . The suitcase of  claim 1 , wherein the front shell is larger than the back shell, and at the collapsed position at least a portion of the perimetric back wall is enveloped by the perimetric front wall, giving rise to a space extending between an inside face of the back base and an inside face the front base, said space having a height substantially corresponding with a height of the perimetric back wall, and further wherein at the collapsed position said space accommodates the perimetric side wall. 
     
     
         3 . The suitcase of  claim 1 , wherein one or more rigid support boards are articulated at inside portions of the back shell, wherein at the expanded position said one or more rigid support boards are disposed flush against corresponding portions of the perimetric side wall. 
     
     
         4 . The suitcase of  claim 1 , wherein a rigid bottom support board extends at least at a bottom base of the suitcase, and is configured such that at the collapsed position said bottom support board is disposed substantially parallel to the back base, and at the expanded position said bottom support board is disposed substantially normal to the back wall and flush against a corresponding bottom portion of the perimetric side wall. 
     
     
         5 . The suitcase of  claim 4 , wherein at least one additional support board is configured, at a top base of the suitcase and is configured such that at the collapsed position said additional support board is disposed substantially parallel to the back base, and at the expanded position said support board can be disposed substantially normal to the back wall and flush against a corresponding top portion of the perimetric side wall. 
     
     
         6 . The suitcase of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more support boards are detachably attachable at portions thereof to an inside face of the corresponding the perimetric side wall and the one or more support boards are articulated to the back shell near a perimetric edge of the perimetric back wall. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The suitcase of  claim 1 , wherein at the collapsed position the perimetric edge of the perimetric back wall substantially bears against the inside face of front base. 
     
     
         9 . The suitcase of  claim 1 , wherein a planar footprint of the front shell is slightly greater than a planar footprint of the back shell. 
     
     
         10 . The suitcase of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible perimetric side wall is folded inwards into a space extending between an inside face of the back base and an inside face the front base at the collapsed position. 
     
     
         11 . The suitcase of  claim 1 , wherein at least a pair of rear wheels is articulated near a rear bottom portion of the back shell, wherein a base of the wheels is disposed at the inside face of the back base, said base being lower than the height of the perimetric back wall. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The suitcase of  claim 1 , wherein a handle is configured at least at one location of the perimetric side wall, said handle being stored within the space at the collapsed position. 
     
     
         14 . The suitcase of  claim 1 , further comprising a telescopic handle, said telescopic handle configurable between a retracted position and an extended position, the telescopic handle mechanism comprising one or more telescopic rods disposed flush with the back base, and a handle which at the collapsed position is stowed within a depression configured at a top base of the back shell. 
     
     
         15 . The suitcase of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more telescopic rods are received within longitudinal recesses configures at an outside face of the back base. 
     
     
         16 . The suitcase of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more telescopic rods are fully received within received within the longitudinal recesses and substantially do not project from an outside face of the back base. 
     
     
         17 . The suitcase of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more telescopic rods are attached to an inside face of the back base, and projecting through an opening at a top base of the back base. 
     
     
         18 . The suitcase of  claim 14 , wherein the longitudinal recesses are disposed within the space defined at the collapsed position therefrom. 
     
     
         19 . The suitcase of  claim 14 , wherein one or more ground support pieces are configured at one or more locations of the perimetric side wall, near front edge portions thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The suitcase of  claim 14 , wherein the height of the perimetric side wall can be extended by a zipper. 
     
     
         21 . The suitcase of  claim 1 , wherein the inside face of the one or both of the back shell and the front shell can be configured with a liner. 
     
     
         22 . The suitcase of  claim 1 , wherein one or both of the front base and the back base can comprise one or more closable openings, facilitating access into the space of the suitcase. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled)