Abstract: An item of expandable luggage comprises rigid top, bottom and intermediate frames, top and bottom wall members and peripheral wall assemblies composed of pleated, expandable/contractable outer wall members affixed to the frames and foldable rigid inner wall members affixed to the top frame. Releasable fasteners associated with the rigid, foldable inner wall members and the bottom frame member retain the luggage item selectively in the expanded and collapsed conditions.

Abstract: A collapsible luggage carrier comprises a handle having portions adjacent its lower end adapted to provide support for an article in a first plane and a base joined to the handle for articulation between an extended position in which portions of the base provide support for an article in a second plane disposed substantially orthogonally to the first plane and a collapsed position in which the second plane substantially coincides with the first plane. Transversely spaced-apart wheeled carriages received on the lower end of the handle portion pivot between positions in which they are extended to orient the axes of rotation of the wheels in parallel relation to the first plane and positions in which they are retracted to orient the axes of rotation of the wheels orthogonally to the first plane. A cam arrangement moves the wheeled carriages between the extended and retracted positions automatically in response to movements of the base between its extended and collapsed positions.

Abstract: An item of expandable luggage comprises top and bottom walls and side walls extending between the top and bottom walls to form an enclosed space, the side walls being composed of a top section, a bottom section and an intermediate section and each such section extending continuously along the walls coextensively with the perimeters of the top and bottom walls. The top and bottom sections are U-shaped in cross-section throughout their extents to form a pocket between a pair of wall parts and are oriented with the openings of the pockets facing each other. The intermediate section is received telescopically between the wall parts in sliding relation. Latches retain the top and bottom wall sections in at least two selected spacial relationships relative to each other.

Abstract: A flashlight comprises a battery housing component and a lamp housing component, both with peripheral walls of elliptical cylindrical shape having, respectively, the same major and minor diameters, and terminating at one end, respectively, in a circular edge that lies in a plane that is oblique to the axis of the cylindrical wall by a selected angle A and includes a major diametrical chord of the ellipse of the walls. The minor diameter of the ellipse of the peripheral walls of each component is equal to the cosine of the angle A times the major diameter. The housing components are joined together with their circular edges meeting for rotation of the lamp housing component on the battery housing component, thereby permitting adjustment of the direction of the light beam relative to the axis of the battery housing component.

Abstract: A pen comprises an elongated one-piece barrel having substantially rigid tip end and head end portions joined to each other by an intermediate integral flexible portion, whereby the barrel can be bent at the flexible portion, and a writing tip at the distal end of the tip end portion. A substantially rigid tubular cap member is telescopically received over the tip end portion of the barrel such that it can be moved along the barrel between (1) a retracted position in which it overlies part of the tip end portion and substantially all of the flexible portion, thus exposing the writing tip for use and rendering the pen substantially rigid, and (2) an extended position in which it covers the writing tip and leaves the flexible portion exposed, thus protecting the writing tip and rendering the pen flexible. Interengaging coupling elements on the cap and the tip end portion of the barrel releasably retain the cap member in each of the retracted and extended positions.