US3881579A

US3881579A - Combined suitcase and hanging bag

Info

Publication number: US3881579A
Application number: US453205A
Authority: US
Inventors: Juri Keerdoja
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1974-03-21
Filing date: 1974-03-21
Publication date: 1975-05-06
Anticipated expiration: 1992-05-06

Abstract

A suitcase is disclosed, combining the features of both a suitcase and a hanging bag, and including a handle mounted within the suitcase, and below the top thereof. A pair of hanger supports are mounted upon deformable collars forming the top of the suitcase, and the collars are preferably movable between proximate and distal positions with respect to each other, so that when in their distal position access to the handle is provided. The suitcase may therefore be easily carried as a normal suitcase, since the handle is lower than the top thereof and directly above its center of gravity, and is easily accessible to the carrier. It can also function as a hanging bag for articles of clothing, such as men''s suits, etc., whereby these articles may be transported without folding or creasing.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Keerdoja 51 May 6,1975

[ COMBINED SUITCASE AND HANGING BAG [76] Inventor: Juri Keerdoja, 21 River Rd., Apt.

A, Nutley, NJ. 07110 22 Filed: Mar. 21, 1974 21 Appl. No.: 453,205

[52] US. Cl 190/44; 190/41 B; 190/49; 206/287 [51] Int. Cl. A45c 7/00 [58] Field of Search 190/41 B, 43, 44, 49, 50; 206/278, 279, 282-287 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,841,257 7/1958 Dallas 190/50 X 3,612,232 10/1971 Larson 190/49 Primary ExaminerDonald F. Norton Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Lerner, David, Littenberg & Samuel [57] ABSTRACT A suitcase is disclosed, combining the features of both a suitcase and a hanging bag, and including a handle mounted within the suitcase, and below the top thereof. A pair of hanger supports are mounted upon deformable collars forming the top of the suitcase, and the collars are preferably movable between proximate and distal positions with respect to each other, so that when in their distal position access to the handle is provided. The suitcase may therefore be easily carried as a normal suitcase, since the handle is lower than the top thereof and directly above its center of gravity, and is easily accessible to the carrier. It can also function as a hanging bag for articles of clothing, such as mens suits, etc., whereby these articles may be transported without folding or creasing.

16 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures FYENTH HAY 6 19. 5

SHEET 10F 5 COMBINED SUITCASE AND HANGING BAG FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to suitcases, and more specifically, combined suitcases and hanging bags. More particularly, the present invention relates to such combined suitcases and hanging bags which can accommodate a number of hangers bearing hanging articles thereon, such as mens suits, etc., and which are capable of being carried in the fashion of a normal suitcase, that is using a single hand.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It has been well known to employ garment bags on standard coat hangers, or including coat hooks thereon for hanging purposes, with which various items of clothing disposed on hangers, such as mens suits, may be carried. While in the normal hanging position, the items of clothing hang normally, without creasing or other damage thereto, these garment bags have been rather difficult to carry, and it has been necessary to typically drape the garment bag over ones shoulder, in an awkward and uncomfortable manner. Further, it has also been well known to provide various suitcases for carrying articles of clothing, but each of these has required that these articles of clothing be folded, and therefore unnecessarily creased, when such items of clothing which are typically carried on hangers, such as mens suits, dresses, etc., are to be so carried.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,944,633 discloses a suitcase within which various garments may hang, and which may be carried with the aid of a carrying handle 28 secured to the back and exterior of the bag, thus re sulting in unnecessary creasing or other damage to the articles therein when carried in this manner. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 3,448,839 also discloses hand luggage which attempts to provide for carrying articles of clothing disposed on hangers without folding or creasing same. This is accomplished principally by the provision of a handle 56 which extends through the side of the carrying bag, to be carried under the arm as seen in FIG. 1 thereof. A similar garment carrier is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,612,232, also including a handle 18 protruding from the plane of the U-shaped frame ll and through a corresponding opening in the garment bag 20, as best seen in FIG. 3. This garment bag thus provides for carrying without folding the garment bag as seen in FIG. 5, by placing the upper portion of the garment bag under the arm of the carrier. In both of these patents, however, carrying the garment bag under the carriers armpit is highly uncomfortable, and may results in unnecessary creasing and damage to the clothing therein.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a combined suitcase and hanging bag which overcomes these deficiencies of the prior art suitcases. More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide such a suitcase which may be carried-in the fashion of a normal suitcase, from a single hand, and without creasing or in any other way damaging the articles of clothing hanging therein.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such combined suitcase and hanging bag of an adjustable size, to accommodate varying amounts of such hanging articles of clothing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, a suitcase is provided, having a top and a bottom, and including a handle mounted within a plane extending through the suitcase, and a pair of hanger supports mounted above the handle and within the suitcase on either side of the plane extending therethrough.

Preferably, the pair of hanger supports are movable between proximate and distal positions with respect to each other, so that when in their distal position access is provided to the handle, and the suitcase may therefore be carried as a normal suitcase, from a single hand, and with the garments hanging from a point above the handle. The pair of hanger supports are movable between proximate and distal positions with respect to each other, so that when in their distal position access is provided to the handle, and the suitcase may therefore be carried as a normal suitcase, from a single hand, and with the garments hanging from a point above the handle. The pair of hanger supports are mounted on a pair of arched collars, to provide access to the handle therebetween. In a preferred embodiment, the pair of hanger supports are mounted on deformable collars forming the top of the suitcase, so that the collars separate at the point where the hanger supports are mounted to provide access to the handle therethrough. Also, the handle is mounted upon a continuous bar, preferably including a U-shaped portion therewithin, and is adjustably mounted between the sides of the U- shaped portion to provide for carrying by people of different heights.

In another embodiment, the handle is pivotally mounted at the point of juncture of a pair of brackets attached to the pair of collars upon which the hanger supports are mounted.

The suitcase also includes a protective cover therewithin to prevent exposure of the clothing upon movement of the hanger supports to their distal positions, and thus provision of access to the handle for normal carrying.

End support rods are also provided to add rigidity to the suitcase structure, particularly when cloth or other non-rigid materials are used to form the suitcase. In another embodiment, a central support bar is provided, principally to carry means for adjusting the size of the suitcase. Thus, support collars slidably communicate with the central support bar, and support bars are attached to the slidable support collars and the sides of the suitcase. Therefore, as the slidable collars slide along the central support bar, the sides of the suitcase move between proximate and distal positions with respect to each other.

A hanger is also provided for use with this suitcase, including an upper shoulder portion, and a lower extending substantially U-shaped trouser support portion, and also including a pair of pivotally mounted hooks on the shoulder portion thereof. These hooks include a larger hook for hanging within normal hanger bars in closets, etc., and a smaller hook for engagement with the hanger supports of this suitcase. Because of the relatively low position of the bottom of the U-shaped trouser support portion, when articles of clothing, such as mens suits, are to be carried the center of gravity is lowered, and the bulk of items'carried in the suitcase is not concentrated at the top of the suitcase, where it would hinder the carrying of same.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective, partially cut-away view of the suitcase of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevational top view, partly cut-away, of the suitcase of this invention, in a closed position.

FIG. 3 is an elevational top view, partly cut-away of the suitcase of the present invention, in open position, providing access to the handle.

FIG. 4 is a sectional side view, taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a partial elevational, cut-away, side view of another embodiment of the suitcase of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an elevational, cut-away side view of one embodiment of the suitcase of the present invention, including means for adjusting the size thereof, in an open position.

FIG. 7 is an elevational, cut-away, side view of the embodiment of FIG. 6, in closed position.

FIG. 8 is an elevational, top view of an embodiment of the suitcase of the present invention as shown in FIG. 6, in closed position.

FIG. 9 is an elevational, top view of the suitcase shown in FIG. 8, in open position.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the handle of FIG. 3, taken along line Ill-10 thereof.

FIG. 1 l is a partial elevational side view of the hanger of the present invention, in association with a portion of the suitcase thereof,

FIG. 12 is a perspective side view of the handle of FIG. 5,

FIG. 13 is a partial elevational, cut-away, side view of another embodiment of the suitcase of the present invention,

FIG. 14 is an elevational top view of the suitcase of FIG. 13, and

FIG. 15 is an elevational side view of the suitcase of FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts thereof, FIG. 1 shows a suitcase 1, including a top 2 and a bottom 3 thereof. Each side of the suitcase 1 includes a pair of substantially U-shaped support posts 4A and 48 extending from each end of the top 2 of the suitcase 1 along each side and across the bottom 3 thereof. Principally, these side posts 4A and 48 add strength and structure to the suitcase frame, particularly where the suitcase body is made up of a flexible fabric or material, or leather. Additionally, these

side posts

4A and 4B are maintained in substantially parallel alignment by the presence of support clips 5 spaced intermittantly along the length thereof. Furthermore, additional support may be added thereto by the presence of substantially right angle braces 6 disposed at the bottom corners of the suitcase, and attached to the perpendicular sides and bottom portion of the substantially

U-shaped support members

4A and 4B. The support clips 5 are substantially planar, except that the ends thereof engage the support members 4A and 48 to provide further rigidity to the suitcase frame. The top 2 of the suitcase 1, as can best be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3, includes a pair of collars 7 which form the top of the suitcase, between the front and rear side panels 8 and 9, respectively. The body of the suitcase 1, including the front and rear side panels 8 and 9 thereof, respectively, may be comprised of any suitable material, including various relatively rigid materials, such as plastic, vinyl, etc., or various pliable or nonrigid materials, including cloth, leather and other such fabrics or materials, in which case the use of

support posts

4A and 4B become much more significant, as discussed above. Other such details of the construction of the present suitcase, and the use of various such materials therein, are well known to those skilled in this art.

At least one side panel of the suitcase 1, such as the front panel 8, will include means for providing access to the interior, such as a zipper 10, preferably extending three-fourths of the way around the suitcase, such as across the top, bottom and one side thereof, so that the entire panel may be moved aside upon opening of the zipper 10. The outside surface of the suitcase, again such as the front or rear panels 8 and 9, respectively, may also include means for carrying additional items, such as a pocket 11 as shown in FIG. 1 or other such means, such as an auxiliary bag 89, as shown in FIG. 16.

The pair of collars 7 forming the top of the suitcase are joined to the side support posts 4A and 4B by means of bracket 12. The bracket 12 may be joined to the pair of collars 7 by means of extending lips 13, and nuts or rivets 14, extending through corresponding apertures, preferably threaded, extending through both the lips 13 and the collars 7. The collars 7 themselves preferably include a pair of bridges, l5 and 16, including an inner bridge 15 and an outer bridge 16. As can be best seen in FIG. 1, these bridges are arched in the center thereof, and run substantially parallel between connecting brackets 12 on either side of the top of the suitcase I. A hanger rod or support 17 is thus mounted at the central arched portion of each collar, connecting the inner and outer bridges l5 and 16. Preferably, these hanger supports 17 are connected to the inner and

outer bridges

15 and 16, respectively, by being inserted into corresponding apertures in each, and either glued or riveted thereinto. Additional support rods 18 may also be provided at various intervals along the length of the parallel inner and outer bridges I5 and 16 in order to maintain the pair of bridges in substantially parallel alignment upon the movement of the collars 7 between proximate and distal positions with respect to each other, as is to be explained hereinafter. To complete the top 2 of the suitcase l the structural material forming the suitcase body, such as a fabric or leather, spans the distance between the inner and

outer bridges

15 and 16. Preferably, two additional pieces of stretchable material, such as rubber or rubberized material, I9 are also provided, spanning the pair of outer bridges 16 at either end of the top 2 of the suitcase, and being capable of expanding to accommodate movement of the pair of collars 7 into their distal position with respect to each other, shown in FIG. 3. In this manner the entire top of the suitcase is covered by material when the pair of collars 7 are in their proximate position as shown in FIG. 2, and upon movement of the pair of collars 7 into their distal position as shown in FIG. 3 the only opening provided is between the arched portions of the pair of collars 7 providing access to the handle 20.

In one embodiment of the suitcase of the present invention, the pair of inner and outer bridges, 15 and 16, are preset into an arched shape as shown in FIG. 14, thus providing access to the handle 20 therebetween.

In this embodiment, the material covering the top of the suitcase l is substantially as described above, but the pair of collars 7 are retained in their distal position, and are not movable into the proximate position with respect to each other. This embodiment will be dis cussed in more detail below.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the inner and outer bridges themselves are transversely deformable, being composed of a pliable material, so that each may be longitudinally bent or arched at the center thereof, as can best be seen in FIG. 3. In this embodiment, deformation of each collar 7 in this manner therefore moves the corresponding hanger rods 17 apart, thus exposing the handle 20 through the top 2 of the suitcase 1. Thus, in this embodiment, no access to the handle 20 is provided upon shipment or storage of the suitcase, but upon carrying same the pair of collars 7 are pushed apart and deformed into their distal position as shown in FIG. 3, and access to the handle 20 is provided therethrough.

The handle 20 is mounted within the suitcase, and below the top 2 thereof, upon a handle support bar 21. The handle support bar 21 is a continuous bar, preferably of circular cross section, and includes a central substantially U-shaped portion 22. The handle 20 is thus mounted between the sides of the substantially U- shaped portion 22 of the handle support bar 21. As can best be seen in FIG. 10, the handle 20 is adjustable along the sides of the substantially U-shaped portion 22 of the handle support bar 21, preferably by means of a pair of reciprocating fingers 24 which include piston portions 25 slidable within apertures 26 within the handle 28. A pair of bias springs 27 within these apertures urge the piston portions 25 of the fingers 24 outwardly, and into corresponding apertures 28 along the sides of the substantially U-shaped portion of the handle sup port bar 211. In this manner the reciprocating fingers 24 may be urged against the bias springs 27, thus releasing them from the corresponding apertures 28 in the handle support bar 21, so that the handle itself may be adjusted into a different set of corresponding apertures 28 in the handle support bar 21 to relocate the handle 20 at a different height along the substantially U-shaped portion 22 of the handle support bar 21.

In the embodiment of the present invention described above wherein the pair of collars 7 are arched, thus being maintained in the distal position with respect to each other as shown in FIG. 14, while the handle support bar 21 may be of the shape described above, wherein the ends thereof are mounted upon the pair of handle support brackets 12, the handle support bar 21 may also be substantially entirely U-shaped. In this embodiment, the entire top 81 of the suitcase 1 may comprise a single piece of molded plastic, as shown in FIG. 14. In this embodiment the top of the suitcase 81 will include a substantially oval shaped opening 82 and the handle support bar 21 may be mounted upon the top molded plastic portion 81 on either side of the ovalshaped opening 82 thereof, at

points

83 and 84, as shown, by screws, rivets, or other suitable means.

Another embodiment of the handle portion of the suitcase l is shown in FIG. 5. In this embodiment, a

substantially U-shaped handle 30 is pivotally mounted upon a rod 31, by being inserted through apertures in the end portions 33 of the handle 30. The ends of the rod 31 are, in turn. pivotally mounted on corresponding pairs of brackets 34 at the ends 36 thereof. The op posite ends 37, of the brackets 34 are mounted on the inner bridges 15, by means of rivets 38. In this manner, the pairs of brackets 34 form a V-shape, as can best be seen in FIG. 12, in which the sides thereof separate upon separation of the hanger rods 17, and deformation of the collars 7, as described above.

A protective bag 41 is provided within the interior of the suitcase, mounted upon the inner bridges 15, and enclosing the handle 20 and handle support bar 21, generally following the contour of the handle support bar 21, again as shown in FIG. 1. In this manner, the clothing hanging within the suitcase 1 is protected, and not exposed to the elements upon deformation of the collars 7, and upon the provision of access to the handle 20 therebetween. A similar protective bag 41 may thus be provided in connection with the handle 30 as shown in FIG. 5, in this case preferably following a contour similar to that of the handle support bar 21, as shown in FIG. 1.

In another embodiment of the suitcase of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 6 through 9, means are provided for adjusting the distance between the front and rear panels 8 and 9 respectively, therefore providing for hanging varying numbers of hangers containing clothing therewithin. In this embodiment the top 2 of the suitcase 1 includes only a pair of single inner bridges 15, rather than the pairs of

bridges

15 and 16 forming the collars 7 of the suitcase as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Furthermore, the hanger supports 88 are attached to the single bridge 15, corresponding to the inner bridge in FIG. 2 and 3. These hanger supports 88 are sustantially U-shaped brackets, into which hanger hooks may bbe inserted so that the hangers are carried thereby, at a position with respect to the suitcase similar to that described above with respect to the embodiment as shown in FIG. 1. Thus, upon movement of the front and rear side panels 8 and 9 of the suitcase 1 apart, as seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, the top of the suitcase may correspondingly be enlarged and reduced in size. The top of the suitcase may also include a pair of tabs 43 connected to the inner bridges 15, and transverse to the pair of collars 7, mounted at their other end upon buckles 45 attached to the front and rear faces 8 and 9 of the suitcase 1. Central posts 55 are therefore provided on either end of the suitcase, and collars 56 are slidably attached to the central support posts 55. A pair of supports bars 57 are pivotally attached to each slidable collar 56 at one end 58 thereof, and also pivotally attached to the front and rear side panel, 8 and 9, respectively, at the other end 59 thereof. A second pair of supports rods 60 are also provided in order to assist in maintaining the front and rear faces 8 and 9 in a preselected position. These support rods 60 are thus pivotally attached to the support posts 55 at one end 61 thereof, and pivotally attached to each support rod 57 at the other end 62 thereof. Therefore, upon sliding of the collars 56 along the central support posts 55, the front and rear side panels 8 and 9 move toward or away from each other, from the open position shown in FIG. 6 to the closed position shown in FIG. 7, where a minimmum amount of clothing is to be carried therein. In this embodiment it is necessary that the suitcase cover include a flexible surface such as cloth, etc., which may act in accordion fashion shown at the bottom 63 and top 64 of FIGS. 6 and 7.

As can best be seen in FIGS. 3 and 9, means are also provided for maintaining the collars 7 in their distal position thus providing access to the handles 20 therebetween, without permitting the deformable bridges l and 16 forming the collar 7 to collapse upon the users hand or forearm. These include, as shown in FIG. 4, a pair of pivoted legs 50 pivotally attached to the inner bridges at 51, and pivotally attached to each other at hinge 52. Thus, when the collars 7 are in their proximate positions with respect to each other as shown in FIGS. 2 and 8, the pair of pivoted legs 51 will form a V-shape as shown in FIG. 4, with the hinge 52 below the top 2 of the suitcase 1. Upon movement of the collars 7 to their distal position with respect to each other, and deformation of the inner bridges 15, the pair of pivoted legs 51 will separate, as shown in phantom view in FIG. 4, and the hinge 52 will be raised until the pair of pivoted legs 51 are linear, in which condition the pair of pivoted legs 51 will prevent the inner bridges l5 and therefore the collars 7 from returning to their proximate position with respect to each other. Upon the application of pressure downwardly upon the hinge 52 the pair of pivoted legs 51 may thus again move toward each other, and into position shown in FIG. 4 wherein the inner bridges 15 are again in their proximate position with respect to each other. In that embodiment, however, where the bridge (s) are normally in an arched configuration, as shown in FIG. 3, or where the hanger supports 17 are normally maintained in a distal position with respect to each other, means are provided for maintaining the inner bridges 15 in the closed position as shown in FIG. 2, where the hanger supports 17 are in their proximate position with respect to each other. This condition is thus achieved by bending the normally arched bridges toward each other by applying pressure to the outside surface of the arched portions thereof. These means may include a stop located in a position such as the tabs 43, and including means for buckling the stop across the top 2 of the suitcase 1.

As can be seen in FIG. 11, hangers 70 are provided, including an upper shoulder portion 71, and a lower substantially U-shaped trouser portion 72, including trouser bar 73. Furthermore, a pair of hooks are pivotally mounted at pivot pin 74. These include a large hook 75, which is pivoted into position when the cloothes are removed from the suitcase of this invention, to clothes hung on conventional bars in closets, etc., and a small hook 76, which is pivoted into position when these hangers are to be employed in the present suitcase, and attached to hanger rods 17 at which time the large hook 75 is pivoted out of position as shown in FIG. 1 1. In this manner the tops of suit coats or other articles of clothing are mounted on the shoulder portion 71 of the hanger 70, are disposed above the handle 20, and are at the top 2 of the suitcase 1. Furthermore, when carrying articles such as men's suits, the trousers are hung on the trouser bar 73, substantially below the shoulder portion 71 of the hanger 70, for the purposes described heretofore.

The suitcase may also include pads 77, at the bottom 3 thereof, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, to support the suitcase when it is placed in an upright position, and to protect the bottom thereof.

In addition, the suitcase of this invention may include a hanger hook 93, which is attached to a chain 92, or other means for attaching the hook 93 to the top of the suitcase. In this manner the suitcase I may hang from a hook on a hanger rack when not being carried, and

the hook 93 will not interfere with carrying of the suitcase in the manner described above.

Also straps 90, including buckles 91, may be provided within the suitcase interior, in order to surround the clothing to be carried therewithin and prevent same from being creased or otherwise damaged upon tilting or other movement of the suitcase 1. It is also noted that, in conjunction with hanger means may be provided for raising and lowering the placement of the small hook 76 with respect to the shoulder portion 71 thereof. In this manner articles with large collars, such as coats, etc., may hang within the suitcase from a point lower than than shown in FIG. 11, to properly accomodate same. These means may thus include duplicate hooks, similar to small hook 76, but attached thereto, so that these hooks may themselves thus be attached to the larger supports 17.

While preferred and alternate embodiments of the suitcase of this invention have been illustrated and described, changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention within the fair meaning of the following claims.

What is claimed is: i

1. A suitcase having a top and a bottom, said suitcase including,

a handle,

means for mounting said handle in said suitcase between said top and said bottom, within a plane extending through said suitcase,

first and second hanger supports,

means for mounting said first hanger support in said suitcase above said handle, and to a first side of said plane, and

means for mounting said second hanger support in said suitcase above said handle, and to a second side of said plane, said first and second hanger supports being mounted a sufficient distance apart to provide access to said handle.

2. The suitcase of claim 1 wherein said handle is adjustable within said plane.

3. The suitcase of claim 1 wherein said means for mounting said handle in said suitcase comprises a substantially U-shaped bar, and wherein said handle is mounted between the sides of said substantially U- shaped bar.

4. The suitcase of claim 1 wherein said means for mounting said handle in said suitcase includes a pair of first and second brackets, said first brackets mounted on said means for mounting said first hanger support at one end thereof and pivotally mounted with respect to said handle at the other end thereof, and said second brackets mounted on said means for mounting said second hanger support at one end thereof, and pivotally mounted with respect to said handle at the other end means for mounting said first hanger support in said suitcase above said handle, and to a first side of said plane, and

means for mounting said second hanger support in said suitcase above said handle, and to a second side of said plane, said first and second hanger support movable between proximate and distal positions with respect to each other to provide access to said handle when said hanger supports are in said distal position with respect to each other.

8. The suitcase of claim 7 wherein said handle is adjustable within said plane.

9. The suitcase of claim 7 wherein said means for mounting said handle in said suitcase comprises a continuous bar, including a substantially U-shaped portion, said handle mounted between the sides of said substantially U-shaped portion.

10. The suitcase of claim 7 wherein said means for mounting said handle in said suitcase includes a pair of first and second brackets, said first bracket mounted on said means for mounting said first hanger support at one end thereof and pivotally mounted with respect to said handle at the other end thereof, and said second brackets mounted on said means for mounting said second hanger support at one end thereof, and pivotally mounted with respect to said handle at the other end thereof.

11. A suitcase having a top and a bottom, said suitcase including,

a handle,

first and second hanger supports,

a first deformable collar for movably mounting said first hanger support in said suitcase above said handle, and to a first side of said plane, and

a second deformable collar for mounting said second hanger support in said suitcase above said handle, and to a second side of said plane, the portions of said first and second deformable collars upon which said first and second hanger supports are mounted being movable between proximate and distal positions with respect to each other to provide access to said handle when said first and second hanger supports are in said distal position with respect to each other.

12. The suitcase of claim 11 wherein said first and second deformable collars include a pair of substantially parallel transversely deformable bridges.

13. The suitcase of claim 11 including a pair of side posts supporting the sides of said suitcase, and wherein said first and second deformable collars and said means for mounting said handle in said suitcase are mounted upon said pair of side posts.

14. The suitcase of claim 11, including,

first and second suitcase sides, said suitcase sides forming the front and rear faces of said suitcase, and

means for moving said first and second suitcase sides between proximate and distal positions with respect to each other to thereby adjust the size of said suitcase.

15. The suitcase of claim 14 wherein said means for moving said first and second suitcase sides between proximate and distal positions with respect to each other includes first and second side posts forming the sides of said suitcase,

at least one collar slidable along each of said first and second side posts, and

two pairs of support bars forming said slidable collars and said first and second sides of said suitcase, to move said first and second sides of said suitcase between proximate and distal positions with respect to each other as said slidable collar slides along said side posts.

16. The suitcase of claim 11, in combination with a hanger, said hanger including a shoulder portion and a substantially U-shaped trouser support portion extending from said shoulder portion and first and second hooks of different sizes,

Claims

1. A suitcase having a top and a bottom, said suitcase including, a handle, means for mounting said handle in said suitcase between said top and said bottom, within a plane extending through said suitcase, first and second hanger supports, means for mounting said first hanger support in said suitcase above said handle, and to a first side of said plane, and means for mounting said second hanger support in said suitcase above said handle, and to a second side of said plane, said first and second hanger supports being mounted a sufficient distance apart to provide access to said handle.

2. The suitcase of claim 1 wherein said handle is adjustable within said plane.

3. The suitcase of claim 1 wherein said means for mounting said handle in said suitcase comprises a substantially U-shaped bar, and wherein said handle is mounted between the sides of said substantially U-shaped bar.

4. The suitcase of claim 1 wherein said means for mounting said handle in said suitcase includes a pair of first and second brackets, said first brackets mounted on said means for mounting said first hanger support at one end thereof and pivotally mounted with respect to said handle at the other end thereof, and said second brackets mounted on said means for mounting said second hanger support at one end thereof, and pivotally mounted with respect to said handle at the other end thereof.

5. The suitcase of claim 1 wherein said means for mounting said first and second hanger supports comprises a pair of arched collars.

6. The suitcase of claim 5 wherein said pair of arched collars comprises pre-formed plastic.

7. A suitcase having a top and a bottom, said suitcase including, a handle, means for mounting said handle in said suitcase between said top and said bottom, within a plane extending through said suitcase, first and second hanger supports, means for mounting said first hanger support in said suitcase above said handle, and to a first side of said plane, and means for mounting said second hanger support in said suitcase above said handle, and to a second side of said plane, said first and second hanger support movable between proximate and distal positions with respect to each other to provide access to said handle when said hanger supports are in said distal position with respect to each other.

8. The suitcase of claim 7 wherein said handle is adjustable within said plane.

11. A suitcase having a top and a bottom, said suitcase including, a handle, means for mounting said handle in said suitcase between said top and said bottom, within a plane extending through said suitcase, first and second hanger supports, a first deformable collar for movably mounting said first hanger support in said suitcase above said handle, and to a first side of said plane, and a second deformable collar for mounting said second hanger support in said suitcase above said handle, and to a second side of said plane, the portions of said first and second deformable collars upon which said first and second hanger supports are mounted being movable between proximate and distal positions with respect to each other to provide access to said handle when said first and second hanger supports are in said distal position with respect to each other.

14. The suitcase of claim 11, including, first and second suitcase sides, said suitcase sides forming the front and rear faces of said suitcase, and means for moving said first and second suitcase sides between proximate and distal positions with respect to each other to thereby adjust the size of said suitcase.

15. The suitcase of claim 14 wherein said means for moving said first and second suitcase sides between proximate and distal positions with respect to each other includes first and second side posts forming the sides of said suitcase, at least one collar slidable along each of said first and second side posts, and two pairs of support bars forming said slidable collars and said first and second sides of said suitcase, to move said first and second sides of said suitcase between proximate and distal positions with respect to each other as said slidable collar slides along said side posts.

16. The suitcase of claim 11, in combination with a hanger, said hanger including a shoulder portion and a substaNtially U-shaped trouser support portion extending from said shoulder portion and first and second hooks of different sizes.