COLLAPSIBLE LUGGAGE

Abstract

A case is disclosed, having a collapsible body and a handle configured for hanging the case in its collapsed state. The collapsible body comprises a frame configured to expand and collapse to move the case between its expanded and collapsed configurations. The handle includes a carabiner-style form to allow the case to be hung on a bar of a domestic hanging space.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to collapsible luggage. In particular, the invention relates to hard case luggage which is collapsible and configured for being hung for storage when empty and collapsed for storage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Passenger luggage comes in a variety of sizes for different applications, such as cabin baggage, hold baggage, weekend bags and large suitcases used for longer holidays or for passengers carrying large amounts of clothes or belongings with them. A common drawback in many situations is that baggage is used less than half of the time during which it is in the owner's possession, generally very much less than half the time and often once a year or less. Storage of luggage in between uses is an issue. In particular in cities, space is increasingly at a premium and the space taken up by large cases is often simply not available in small or shared living spaces. Loft storage or off-site storage can be an option, but has the drawback of being difficult and time consuming to access. There is a need for improvement in passenger luggage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A case is disclosed, having a collapsible body, retractable wheels and a handle configured for hanging the case in its collapsed state. The collapsible body preferably comprises a frame configured to expand and collapse to move the case between its expanded and collapsed configurations. The handle preferably includes a carabiner-style form to allow the case to be hung on a bar of a domestic hanging space. The handle may be provided on any form of collapsible case, although the form described herein is preferred. The features of the collapsible case can also be beneficial in the absence of the carabiner-style handle.

A first aspect of the invention provides a collapsible case for transporting items, comprising: at least two pairs of opposing walls; the case being arranged to have:

a first, expanded configuration, in which at least a first pair of opposing walls is spaced apart to provide an internal space for storage of items in the case; and
a second, collapsed, configuration, in which the first pair of opposing walls lie in planes substantially adjacent one another, to substantially minimise an internal volume of the case and to substantially minimise an outer dimension of the case perpendicular to the plane of the first pair of walls; the case further comprising a handle configured for hanging the case when in its collapsed configuration.

The combination of collapsible case and a handle suitable for hanging the case, particularly in domestic garment storage spaces such as a wardrobe, allows efficient storage of the case when empty or not in use for travel.

The handle is preferably extendable from and substantially retractable into a side wall of the case.

The handle may have a first configuration in which the handle forms a substantially closed loop, and is configured to be moveable to a second configuration in which the loop is opened, to allow an item to which the handle will be hung to pass through an open side of the loop.

The handle may comprise:

a main handle portion; and
a moveable handle portion, which is moveable relative to the main body of the loop to open and close a side of the loop.

The moveable handle portion may be configured to rotate between the open and closed positions, or to move between them in a substantially linear retracting and extending motion.

The handle may extend away from the case in a direction substantially parallel with the common plane of the first pair of opposing walls.

The case may comprise a support frame, walls of the case being supported and attached to the support frame.

The first pair of opposing walls may be pivotably connected to a second pair of opposing walls. Rotation of each of the second pair of opposing walls relative to the first pair of opposing walls may cause movement of the first pair of opposing walls between their expanded and collapsed configurations.

The first pair of opposing walls may be supported on a first pair of respective frame portions. The second pair of opposing walls may be supported on a second pair of respective frame portions.

The case may comprise first and second pairs of opposing walls, configured to be moved between the expanded and collapsed configurations, and a third pair of opposing walls, configured to rotate about an edge of one or more walls of the case to provide a six walled substantially closed case in the expanded configuration.

Hinges may be provided between the first and second pairs of opposing walls via hinges between frame portions supporting respective walls of the case.

At least one wall of the case may be supported on a frame portion, the frame portion having elongate members. The frame portion may comprise at least one elongate member which is received in the wall portion, to locate the wall portion relative to the frame member.

The case may comprise a collapsible frame substantially surrounding the case and being moveable between an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration, to move the first pair of walls between the expanded and collapsed configurations of the first pair of walls.

The case may comprise a frame, the frame comprising a plurality of elongate frame members, at least one pair or frame members being connected via a hinge portion, the hinge portion arranged to permit adjacent frame members to be moved between a first, right-angled, configuration and a second, parallel, configuration. In the parallel configuration, the elongate frame members may be in an adjacent, substantially parallel configuration. In the parallel configuration, further or alternative elongate frame members may in an aligned, substantially co-axial, configuration.

A first hinge portion of the case may be configured to permit a first pair of adjacent walls of the case to be moved between a first, substantially right-angled, configuration and a second, substantially co-planar, configuration. A second hinge portion may be configured to permit a second pair of adjacent walls of the case to be moved between a first, substantially right-angled configuration, and a second, substantially parallel and adjacent configuration. The first and second hinge portions may be comprised in a frame of the case.

The case may further comprise at least one retractable wheel. The at least one retractable wheel may be configured to be moveable from a retracted position, in which the wheel is substantially contained within a wall of the case, to a deployed position, in which the wheel projects from the case to allow the case to roll on the wheel. The wheel or wheels may be rotatable from their deployed position, to their retracted position.

In the retracted position, a plane of rolling rotation of the wheel may be substantially parallel to a wall of the case to which the wheel is mounted. In the deployed position, the plane of rolling rotation of the wheel may be substantially perpendicular to a wall of the case to which the wheel is mounted. The case may comprise a plurality of retractable wheels.

One or more of the wheels may be mounted to an elongate member of a frame of the case. The wheel or wheels may be rotatable about one or more elongate members of the frame to move between the deployed and retracted positions.

In the expanded configuration, a gap may be provided between adjacent substantially parallel edges of adjacent hinged walls of the case, to permit the adjacent hinged walls to advance toward one another when moving from the expanded configuration to the collapsed configuration.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a collapsible case for transporting items, the case comprising a handle configured for hanging the case when in its collapsed configuration, characterized in that the handle comprises a hooking portion to hang the case.

The combination of collapsible case and a handle suitable for hanging the case, particularly in domestic garment storage spaces such as a wardrobe, allows efficient storage of the case when empty or not in use for travel. Providing the handle with a hooking portion allows the case to be attached to a hanging rail or other article.

In some embodiments the hooking portion comprises a handgrip of the handle, the case being adapted to rest upon the handgrip when hung.

In some embodiments the hooking portion further comprises a snagging portion extending from the handgrip.

In some embodiments the handle is alterable between a first configuration in which the handle comprises a substantially closed loop, and a second configuration in which an opening is formed in the loop to allow the handle to be attached to an article such that it rests on the hooking portion.

In some embodiments the opening is located adjacent a distal end of the handle.

In some embodiments the handle comprises a moveable portion, which is moveable to open and close the opening.

In some embodiments the moveable portion is configured to rotate between the open and closed positions.

In some embodiments the moveable portion is biased towards its closed position.

In some embodiments the moveable portion is biased towards its closed position by means of a spring, for example a torsion spring.

In some embodiments the handle comprises a connecting member that connects together two arm members of the handle between the opening and a proximal end of the handle.

In some embodiments a recess is formed by the hooking portion, connecting member and a side portion opposing an opening to the recess.

In some embodiments a loop is formed by the hooking portion, connecting member and two side portions, one of which comprises a moveable portion.

In some embodiments the handle is extendable from and substantially retractable into a side wall of the case.

In some embodiments the handle comprises two arm members extending from the case at a proximal end and a handgrip at a distal end.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a case according to an embodiment of the invention in perspective view;

FIG. 2 shows a second perspective view of the case of the embodiment of the FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a further perspective view of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 shows the embodiment of FIG. 3 with wheels retracted and with partially folded side walls;

FIG. 5 shows the case of FIG. 4 with side walls fully folded;

FIG. 6 shows the case of FIG. 6 in a collapsed configuration;

FIG. 7 shows a frame for a case of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 6;

FIG. 8 shows the frame of FIG. 7 in a collapsed configuration;

FIG. 9 shows a first example of a hinge for a frame of a preferred embodiment;

FIG. 10 shows a second example of a hinge for a frame of the case according to the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 11 shows a top panel for a case of the illustrated embodiments; [0035] FIG. 12 shows the top panel mounted in a frame of an embodiment;

FIG. 13 shows a handle of a preferred embodiment in a first, closed configuration; and

FIG. 14 shows a handle of FIG. 13 in an open configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a case 100 according to an embodiment of the invention. The case 100 comprises a rear wall 101 and a front wall 102. These walls are the largest walls, by surface area, of the case and so can be considered major walls. They are preferably configured in substantially parallel planes and disposed opposite one another, on opposites sides of the case, and can therefore be considered opposing walls of the case.

The case further comprises a second pair of opposing walls, in the form of a bottom wall 103 and a top wall 104. The bottom wall has a plurality of wheels 301, 302 and 303 disposed thereon and can be considered a bottom wall, since it is arranged substantially at the bottom of the case when the case rolls on wheels 301 to 303 (and 304, as shown in FIG. 3). Top wall 104 comprises a handle 110 attached to, and substantially projecting from, the top wall 104. This handle can be used to carry the case in combination with, or instead of, handle 400.

Handle 400 is retractable and extendible in a direction of arrow 10. Handle 400 is mounted on at least one, and preferably two, or more, arms 401 and 402. Either or both of arms 401 and 402 is/are preferably retractable. The retractable arms 401 and 402 are preferably extendible and retractable substantially within or adjacent a plane of the rear wall 101 of the case 100.

One or more walls of the case is/are preferably supported by a frame 200, which comprises one or more elongate frame members and which will be described in greater detail in relation to later Figures.

FIG. 2 shows a further perspective view of the case of FIG. 1. Front wall 102 can be seen in greater detail in this Figure and comprises a substantially central panel 102a, which may be surrounded by a detachable portion 107. Detachable portion 107 substantially surrounds central portion 102a, preferably generally on all but one side, so that the case can unzipped and opened for access to an interior void of the case 100. It will be appreciated that such a detachable portion could be provided on any of the walls of the case to allow access to the interior of the case from any side.

As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the frame 200 substantially surrounds, and more preferably supports, one or more of the walls 101 to 106 of the case. In this way, the frame can provide structure and rigidity to the case, while the walls may be made of lightweight materials, which may be flexible and substantially lightweight due to structural strength being provided by the frame 200. This can reduce the overall weight of the case, and allows the case to have a substantially smaller form when in a collapsed state for storage. Handle 110 may be attached to elongate members of the frame. In particular, handle 110 may be attached to first 212 and/or second 213 frame members of a top frame portion 210 of the frame 200. Frame members 212 and 213 may be cross members which extend between first 215 and second 216 side members of top frame portion 210. Attaching the handle 110 directly to the frame allows substantially all forces to be transmitted through the frame 200 when the case is being carried by handle 110. This can help to avoid the problem of damage to one or more walls of the case 100 by overloading of handle 110, which in prior art cases can cause damage one or more walls and/or a handle of a case by, for example, tearing.

FIG. 3 shows the case 100 of FIGS. 1 and 2 with the handle 400 retracted, and so not in view, in FIG. 3. In FIG. 3, further detail of a bottom wall 103 of the case 100 can be seen. Bottom panel 500 located at the bottom wall 103 may be a protective panel, and a further retaining wall may be provided inside the case on the inside of panel 500, to retain contents of the case within an internal enclosure of the case. Bottom panel 500 may provide additional structural strength to the bottom wall of the case. The bottom wall 103 may therefore comprise a protective cover 500 and an inner liner. As can be seen in the Figure, recesses 501, 502, 503 and 504 may be provided to accommodate one or more wheels 301, 302, 303 and 304. As will be described in relation to FIG. 4, the wheels can be rotated into those recesses 502 to 504 of the bottom panel 500. Panel 500 may also include a further recess 510, which may be provided with walls extending into the recess, substantially in a direction of the interior of the case 100, so as to provide a grip portion 510 on the bottom panel 500. A grip portion can therefore be used in conjunction with one or another of the handles 400 and 110, located toward the top end of the case, when handling the case.

One or more of wheels 301 to 304 may be attached to one or more elongate members of a frame portion of the frame 200. This help substantially all supporting loads during wheeling of the case to be transmitted through the bottom of the case via wheels 301 to 304 and frame 200. This permits the wheels to be securely mounted to the frame and so walls of the case need not perform any significant structural function, other than retaining the contents within the envelope substantially defined by the frame 200.

FIG. 4 shows the case 100 in a partially collapsed state. As can be seen, the wheels 301 to 304 have been retracted into the bottom panel 500. This can, in the illustrated example, be achieved by rotating the wheels about an axis which is substantially parallel to a plane of rolling rotation of the wheels. This could be described as the wheels being folded, preferably sideways, into the bottom wall 103 of the case. As can be seen, this causes the wheels to be substantially retracted within the envelope of the bottom wall 103 of the case, which can be useful for both storage of the case when note in use in its collapsed state. It can also be useful during transport of the case in a vehicle, such as a car, coach, train or aeroplane, for example.

As can be seen in FIG. 4, walls 105 and 106 may be configured, in the illustrated example, to be foldable into the interior space of the case 100. Side walls 105 and 106 may be attached to the frame 200, or to adjacent walls 101, 102, 103 or 104, by releasable fixing means. One example of such releasable fixing means is a zip. This allows side wall(s) 105 and/or 106 to be released from one or more, preferably three, of the four adjacent walls and to be stowed in the interior space of the case 100. The side walls 105 and/or 106 may be hinged relative to the frame 200 and/or to one or more of the adjoining walls. As can be seen in FIG. 5, walls 105 and 106 may be folded to be substantially parallel with one of the adjoining walls, such as rear wall 101. This allows the side walls 105 and 106 to take up a minimum of space in the interior of the case.

As can be seen in FIG. 6, the case 100 may be then be folded flat to a collapsed configuration. In this configuration, the first pair of walls, i.e. major walls 101 and 102, have been advanced towards one another, to lie in planes substantially adjacent to one another. This allows the internal volume of the case to be substantially minimised. Additionally, the top wall 104 lies in a plane substantially parallel with that of the rear wall 101. The bottom wall 103 may also lie substantially in the same plane as the front wall 102. The pair of top 104 and bottom 103 opposing walls may therefore be hinged relative to the adjacent pair of opposing front 102 and rear 103 walls to enable the case 100 to be moved between the collapsed configuration shown in FIG. 6 and the expanded configuration shown in FIGS. 1 to 5. In rotating to the collapsed configuration, the bottom wall 103 may advance towards the front panel 102. A gap 130 shown in FIG. 3 may be provided between adjacent walls to accommodate advancement of the adjacent walls toward one another when moving from the expanded to the collapsed configuration. A similar effect may be present between adjacent top 104 and rear 101 walls and so a similar gap 120, as shown in FIG. 1, may be provided in the region between adjoining parallel edges of adjacent walls, to accommodate those adjacent hinged walls advancing toward one another. The case may be a hard case, i.e. having substantially rigid walls. The walls may be formed from a rigid material, such as a moulded or injected thermoset or thermoform plastics material.

The hinges between adjacent walls of the case may be provided by flexible parts of fabric. The frame 200 may additionally or alternatively be provided with hinges, to enable the frame to be moved between corresponding expanded and collapsed configurations for the frame.

An example of a frame 200 for use with the case illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6 is illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 10.

As can be seen, the frame may comprise a top frame portion 210 corresponding to the top wall 104 of the case 100. The top portion 210 of the frame may comprise a plurality of elongate members. The elongate members of the top frame portion may include one or more major side members 215 and 216 and one or more minor side members 211 and 214. Cross members 212 and 213 may also be provided. The cross members 212 and 213 may extend between either of the major side members 215 and 216, or the minor side members 211 and 214. In the illustrated example, the cross members 212 and 213 extend between the major side members 215 and 216.

Opposite the top frame portion is a bottom frame portion 220. The bottom frame portion may have at least one major cross member 221 and one or more side members 222 and 223. Extending from the cross member 221 there may be provided one or more transverse cross members 224, 225, 226 and 227. The wheels illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 6 may be attached to one or more elongate members of the bottom frame portion 220. Preferably, the wheels are pivotably mounted to the frame members 224 to 227.

It can be seen that the top frame portion 210 and the bottom frame portion 220 may be connected to one another by major side members 201, 202, 203 and 204. One or more of these major side members may be pivotably connected to one or more of the top and bottom frame portions.

FIG. 8 shows the frame 200 of FIG. 7 in a collapsed configuration. In this configuration, it can be seen that a first set of major side members 202 and 203 is substantially in alignment with, or is co-planar with, the top portion 210 of the frame. Similarly, a second pair of major side members 201 and 204 is substantially aligned, or substantially co-planar, with bottom portion 220 of the frame.

The top and bottom portions of the frame are nonetheless not themselves co-planar. They lie in parallel planes but are spaced from one another in a direction perpendicular to their respective planes. This is necessary for the front 102 and rear 101 walls of the case 100 to lie substantially adjacent and against one another to minimize the internal space of the case. However, being walls, they cannot occupy exactly the same plane when in the collapsed configuration illustrated for the case.

This configuration can be achieved by the provision of hinged corner portions of the frame. Different hinged corner portions may be provided at different corners of the frame 200 in order to provide this co-planar spaced configuration in the collapsed state illustrated in FIG. 8. A first configuration of corner portion is shown at corners 81, 82, 83 and 84 in FIG. 8. This form of hinged corner portion is a hinge located substantially at an end of an arcuate section, so as to cause the top portion 210 to be spaced from the major side members 201 and 204 when they are at a relative angular orientation of substantially 180°, relative to one another. Similarly, the bottom portion 220 and the major side members 202 and 203 are spaced from one another when at a relative angular orientation of substantially 180°, relative to one another, as shown in the Figure.

A different configuration of hinge is provided at corners 85, 86, 87 and 88. This second form of hinge is configured to provide a curved corner to the frame, but to align the top portion 210 in a substantially co-planar, or coaxial, or 0°, configuration, with major side members 202 and 203. Similarly, hinged curved corner members 85 and 86 cause the bottom frame member 220 to be aligned substantially in a co-planar or coaxial state, or at 0°, relative to major side members 201 and 204.

These different hinge configurations are illustrated in greater detail in FIGS. 9 and 10. As can be seen in FIG. 9, a curved corner member 900 has a first curved body portion, which provides a curve through substantially 90°. At one end of this curved body portion 901, is provided a pivoting connection, via a pivot 902, to pivotably connect to a side member 903. Side member 903, may be, for example, side member 204 showing in FIG. 8. Therefore, the overall assembly has a pivot provided at a straight end of an elongate member 903, while a corresponding pivot point is provided at an end of a curved portion 901 of the curved corner member 900.

FIG. 10 shows an alternative configuration for a pivotable curved corner member of the frame. The arrangement 10 in FIG. 10 is provided by each of a pair of pivoted elongate members 11 and 12 having disposed at a connecting end a curved portion 13 and 14, which each provides a corresponding part of an overall angle of a substantially curved member. In the illustrated example, the first curved portion 13 curves through substantially 45°, while the second curved portion 14 curves through substantially 45°, to provide an overall curve of 90°. However, it will be appreciated that this curve could be divided differently, although this may not provide direct alignment of elongate member 12 with elongate member 11 in the coaxial, or aligned, 0° relative-orientation configuration. Elongate member 12 may be, for example, elongate member 203 illustrated in FIG. 8, while elongate member 11 may be a side member of top portion 210 of the frame 200. Again, the pivot is provided toward an end of a curved portion attached to a first elongate member 12, but is also provided at a distal end of a further curved portion 13 provided on a second elongate member 11. It is therefore possible to provide the frame with one or more hinges which allows adjacent frame members to occupy a first right-angled configuration and a second parallel configuration. The parallel configuration may place the elongate frame members either in adjacent, substantially parallel configuration, or in an aligned, substantially co-axial, configuration.

FIG. 11 illustrates an example of a panel 1100 which may be employed to provide the top wall 104 of the case 100. As can be seen in the Figure, a plurality of channels 1111 to 1116 may be provided to accommodate elongate members 211 to 216 of a portion 210 of the frame. These channels can act to retain the top panel 1100 relative to a top frame portion 210. One or more recesses 1101 and 1102 may be provided to accommodate handle connections for the handle 110 illustrated in FIG. 2.

The panel 1100 may be a substantially rigid molding of a plastics material, such as a thermoform or a thermoset plastic. This can provide additional rigidity to the top wall 104 of the case and so can help to protect items stored in the case from impact through the corresponding wall.

FIG. 12 shows in clearer detail how the frame 200 may be accommodated in channels in the top panel 1100, to retain the top panel 1100 in place relative to the frame 200.

FIG. 13 illustrates in greater detail the handle 400, which may be provided on the case 100. The handle 400 is provided on arm members 401 and 402 that extend from case 100 at a proximal end of handle 400, as illustrated in FIG. 1

Handle 400 comprises at its distal end handgrip 440 and snagging handle portion 411.

As can be seen, the handle 400 comprises a substantially loop shaped form around opening 410, which is defined by handgrip 440 at the top, connecting member 450 at the bottom, fixed portion 430 on a first side atop first arm member 401, and hooking handle portion 411 and moveable portion 420 at a second side atop second arm member 402.

Opening 410 can accommodate the user's fingers or hand during use. Further, the opening 410 can accommodate an item on which the case may be hung for storage.

If the case is in the collapsed configuration shown in FIG. 6, it may be convenient to hang the case from the handle 400 for storage. A convenient location for hanging storage in the homes of many users is in a wardrobe. However, a wardrobe generally provides hanging space by means of a bar. It is therefore advantageous to be able to locate the bar in the opening 410 aperture 410 of the handle.

However, traditionally, handles on cases are generally provided as a completely closed loop and so it would not be possible to pass a hanging bar of a domestic hanging space through a standard handle of a case to hang the case for storage. To address this problem, the handle 400 is provided with a moveable portion 420, which is moveable in order to open and close opening 460 in the loop formed by the handle 400.

In this manner, the loop can be opened to allow the handle to be placed over or around a bar and then closed again, to close the loop of the handle.

It may be possible to provide the handle as a permanently open loop. However, in that case stress concentrations in a side 430 of the loop opposite the opening may be large. If the moveable portion 420 is connected to, and able to transfer loads between the handle portions 411 and 412 adjacent the opening in the loop, then forces for holding the weight of the case can be transferred through both the moveable portion 420 to one side of the loop 410 and through the fixed portion 430 on the opposite side of the loop. This can enable the handle to be formed as a more lightweight structure.

FIG. 14 shows the handle 400 in a configuration in which the moveable portion 420 has been moved to an open configuration. This can be achieved by provision of a hinge at the connection region between the moveable portion 420 and the main body of the handle 400. A releasable engagement arrangement can be provided toward an opposite extremity 421 of the moveable member 420. As will be appreciated from the Figures, this provides a carabiner-style opening and closure on the handle of a case, to allow the case to be hung for storage. A releasable hook means, as is commonly used in a carabiner connection, such as is commonly used in rock climbing equipment and the like, can be provided to allow the loop to be opened and reclosed, and forces transferred between the portions 411 and 412 adjacent to the opening in the loop.

Handle 400 can therefore be used to hang the case for storage, preferably in its collapsed configuration.

In other embodiments where the handle is provided as a permanently open loop, handgrip 440 and handle portion 411 together forming a hooking portion to retain case 100 on a rail. Handle portion 411 is configured to snag an article on which case 100 is hung to prevent case 100 falling from the article.

As noted above in such embodiments stress concentrations in a side 430 of the loop opposite the opening may be large. However, to mitigate any problems relating to such stress and to strengthen handle 400 a connecting member 450, which located adjacent to opening 460, is provided to connect together arm members 401, 402.

As can be seen in FIG. 6, the top wall of the case in this form of collapsed configuration is generally parallel, and preferably substantially co-planar with, the rear wall 101 of the case 100. This is a first option for the collapsed configuration of the case. In this configuration, when the handle 400 is extended beyond the top panel 104, the overall case has a minimal overall height from the top of the handle 400 to the bottom edge of the rear wall 101. This can be advantageous when hung for storage as a relatively small hanging space height is required. However, in this configuration, gravity may tend to return wall 102 to a position spaced from an opposite rear wall 101, in the expanded configuration of the case. Retaining means for retaining the case in the illustrated collapsed configuration may therefore be beneficial. This can be any form of retaining means, such as a strap, a hook and loop fixing such as Velcro™, a zip, or releasable retaining means of any kind such a magnets, poppers or simple ties.

An alternative configuration would be for the collapsed configuration of the case to be such that the top wall 104 is substantially co-planar with the front wall 102, and the rear wall 101 is substantially co-planar with the bottom wall 103. In this configuration, when hung from the handle 400, the case would be biased to the collapsed configuration by gravity, which can be advantageous. However, this configuration would give the case a larger overall height from the top of the handle 400 to the bottom edge of the front wall 102 when in the collapsed configuration, which may not be suitable for all hanging spaces. It may be beneficial to provide biasing means, such as a spring or elastic, for biasing the case to either its expanded or collapsed positions to aid a user with retaining it in, or returning it to, either of those positions, or for retaining it in a collapsed or expanded state.

As will be appreciated from the above disclosure, any of the individual features and combinations of features described in relation to the above embodiments provide for an efficiently constructed collapsible case, which is particularly well configured for storage in the home of a user, taking up minimal space and being adaptable for storage, in particular in a hanging space such as a wardrobe space in the home of a user. The collapsibility of the case is advantageous in isolation. The ability of the case to be hung by the carabiner-style handle is also advantageous in isolation. The combination of these features provides a particularly beneficial configuration of a case which can be well suited to hanging storage. The collapsible wheels are of themselves advantageous for transport of the case when in a vehicle and also for storage of the case when not being used for travel. It will therefore be appreciated by the skilled reader that numerous configurations of one or more of these sets of features, and the more detailed features described herein, can provide advantages over prior known luggage items.

Although the invention has been described above with reference to one or more preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that various changes or modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1-53. (canceled)

54. A collapsible case for transporting items, the case comprising:

a support frame comprising a plurality of elongate members;

first, second and third pairs of opposing walls;

wherein the walls are substantially rigid and attached to the support frame;

wherein the first pair of opposing walls is pivotably connected to a second pair of opposing walls, such that rotation of each of the second pair of opposing walls relative to the first pair of opposing walls causes movement of the first pair of opposing walls;

wherein hinges between the first and second pairs of opposing walls are provided via hinges between frame portions supporting respective walls of the case;

wherein the third pair of opposing walls are each configured to rotate about an edge of one or more walls of the case;

the case being arranged to have:

a first, expanded configuration, in which the pairs of opposing walls are spaced apart to provide to provide a six walled substantially closed case; and

a second, collapsed configuration, in which the first pair of opposing walls lie in planes substantially adjacent one another, to substantially minimise an internal volume of the case and to substantially minimise an outer dimension of the case perpendicular to the plane of the first pair of walls.

55. The case of claim 54 wherein the elongate frame members are received the walls, to locate the walls relative to the frame members.

56. The case of claim 54 wherein, in the expanded configuration, a gap is provided between adjacent substantially parallel edges of adjacent hinged walls of the case, to permit the adjacent hinged walls to advance toward one another when moving from the expanded configuration to the collapsed configuration.

57. The case of claim 54 further comprising a handle configured for hanging the case when in its collapsed configuration; wherein the handle has a first configuration in which the handle forms a substantially closed loop, and is configured to be moveable to a second configuration in which the loop is opened, to allow an item to which the handle will be hung to pass through an open side of the loop.

58. A case according to claim 57 wherein the handle comprises: a main handle portion; and a moveable handle portion, which is moveable relative to the main body of the loop to open and close a side of the loop.

59. A case according to claim 58 wherein the moveable handle portion is configured to rotate between the open and closed positions.

60. The case of claim 57 wherein a handgrip of the handle forms a hooking portion to hang the case, the case being adapted to rest upon the handgrip when hung.

61. The case of claim 60 wherein the hooking portion further comprises a snagging portion extending from the handgrip.

62. The case of claim 60 wherein the handle is alterable between a first configuration in which the handle comprises a substantially closed loop, and a second configuration in which an opening is formed in the loop to allow the handle to be attached to an article such that it rests on the hooking portion.

63. The case of claim 60 wherein the handle comprises a moveable portion, which is moveable to open and close the opening.

64. The case of claim 63 wherein the moveable portion is configured to rotate between the open and closed positions.

65. The case of claim 63 wherein the moveable portion is biased towards its closed position.

66. The case of claim 60 wherein the handle comprises a connecting member that connects together two arm members of the handle between the opening and a proximal end of the handle.

67. The case of claim 66 wherein a recess is formed by the hooking portion, connecting member and a side portion opposing an opening to the recess.

68. The case of claim 67 wherein a loop is formed by the hooking portion, connecting member and two side portions, one of which comprises a moveable portion.

69. The case of claim 57 wherein the handle extends away from the case in a direction substantially parallel with the common plane of the first pair of opposing walls.

70. The case of claim 57 wherein the handle is extendable from and substantially retractable into a side wall of the case.

71. A collapsible case for transporting items, the case being arranged to have:

a first, expanded configuration, in which the pairs of opposing walls are spaced apart to provide to provide a six walled substantially closed case; and a second, collapsed configuration, in which the first pair of opposing walls lie in planes substantially adjacent one another, to substantially minimise an internal volume of the case and to substantially minimise an outer dimension of the case perpendicular to the plane of the first pair of walls; wherein the case comprises:

a handle configured for hanging the case when in its collapsed configuration; wherein the handle has a first configuration in which the handle forms a substantially closed loop, and is configured to be moveable to a second configuration in which the loop is opened, to allow an item to which the handle will be hung to pass through an open side of the loop.

72. The case of claim 71 wherein a handgrip of the handle forms a hooking portion to hang the case, the case being adapted to rest upon the handgrip when hung.

73. The case of claim 71 wherein the handle comprises a connecting member that connects together two arm members of the handle between the opening and a proximal end of the handle.