Compression-expansion locking device for luggage and luggage containing same

An article of luggage comprising:

• a main luggage body having a bottom surface and a cavity formed to receive articles for packing;
• an expansion body having a perimeter defining a cavity;
• a foldable gusset joining the luggage main body to the expansion body;
• and
• a compression-expansion locking device disposed internally at respective opposite inner walls of the article of luggage, the compression-expansion locking device comprising:
• a housing member affixed to one of the luggage main body or the expansion body, the housing member comprising an internal passageway, two columns of parallel housing teeth protruding into the internal passageway, and a pair of housing cam elements, each housing cam element disposed in axially adjacent relation to a respective one of the columns of parallel housing teeth;
• a rack member affixed to the other of the luggage main body or expansion body, the rack member comprising a pair of parallel rack arms slidably received in the internal passageway, each parallel rack arm comprising a column of parallel rack teeth adapted to releasably engage a respective one of the columns of parallel housing teeth and to allow movement between the housing member and the rack member in a compression direction and to lock movement between the housing member and the rack member in an expansion direction;
• and
• a release member moveably disposed in the internal passageway between the housing member and the side of the rack member opposite the rack teeth, the release member comprising a release cam that projects between the pair of parallel rack arms, the release member displaceable from a first position wherein movement of the rack member in the expansion direction is locked, to a second position wherein the release cam impinges against at least a portion of each housing cam element effective to urge the housing teeth away from the rack teeth sufficient to allow movement between the housing member and the rack member in the expansion direction.