US 12,342,917 B2
Compression and expansion locking device for luggage and luggage containing same
Richard Krulik, Northport, NY (US); Georgene Rada, Northport, NY (US); Daehwan Kim, Plainview, NY (US); Florian M. Witt, Wentorf (DE); Patric Moammer, New York, NY (US); and Adrian Berr, Brooklyn, NY (US)
Assigned to BRIGGS & RILEY TRAVELWARE LLC, Hauppauge, NY (US)
Filed by Briggs and Riley Travelware, LLC, Hauppauge, NY (US)
Filed on May 18, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/199,060.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/343,259, filed on May 18, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0371666 A1, Nov. 23, 2023
Int. Cl. A45C 7/00 (2006.01)
CPC A45C 7/0022 (2013.01) 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A compression-expansion locking device for an article of luggage which comprises:
(a) a housing member comprising:
(i) an inside surface comprising two columns of parallel housing teeth protruding from the inside surface, and
(ii) a receiving pocket spanning over at least a portion of the inside surface;
(b) a ratchet member movably disposed within the receiving pocket, the ratchet member comprising:
(i) a top end, a bottom end, and opposing side edges,
(ii) a first inner surface positioned opposite the inside surface of the housing member and having at least two upwardly protruding parallel ratchet teeth adapted to releasably engage the housing teeth and to allow movement between the housing member and the ratchet member in a compression direction and to lock movement between the housing member and the ratchet member in an expansion direction, and
(iii) a slot disposed between the ratchet teeth and along the axial direction of the first surface of the ratchet member, the slot comprising a bottom surface and a release projection extending upwardly from the bottom surface; and
(c) an elongated release member slidably disposed in the slot and comprising
(i) a first end located proximate the top end of the ratchet member, and a second end located distal to the top end of the ratchet member, and
(ii) a header section disposed along at least part of the length of the elongated release member and into which header section at least a portion of the releasable projection protrudes, the header section comprising a first interior wall camming surface, the header section displaceable from a first position wherein movement of the ratchet member in the expansion direction is locked, to a second position wherein the first interior wall camming surface impinges against the release projection effective to urge the ratchet teeth away from the housing teeth sufficient to allow movement between the housing member and the ratchet member in the expansion direction.