Combination Carry Case And Seat

Abstract

This invention relates to a combined carry case and seat. The carry case and seat comprises a pair of rectangular or square, tubular frames. Main fabric panels are provided on each frame extending between the top and bottom of the frame. A bottom fabric panel extends between the main fabric panels near the bottom of the frames to join the frames together. A pair of side fabric panels extend between opposite side edges of the main panels and are joined along a bottom edge to the ends of the bottom panel. A continuous drawstring is provided about the upper edges of the side panels and extending through the upper corners of the main panels. The frames can be placed at right angles to one another in one position so as to form a seat with the bottom panel loose. In a second position, the frames, together with the bottom panel, form a flat bottom carry case for carrying articles, by means of the drawstring. The side panels are pleated in the carry case position and extended in the seat position.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a combined carry case and seat.

The invention is more particularly directed toward a lightweight structure which can be manipulated to form, in one position, a seat having a bottom seat portion and a connected back rest, and, in a second position, to form a flat bottom carry case.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Combined carry case and seat structures are well known. Typical examples are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,140,997 and 2,044,717. These known structures, however, do not provide an entirely suitable carry case since the two main sections of the structures, forming the seat portion and back rest when the structure is in a seat position, are pivoted or hingedly connected together directly along their lower edges. Having the panels directly pivoted together in this fashion limits the amount of usable space when the structure is used as a carry case. In addition, side panels, extending between the two main sections, restrict the space in the structure when used as a carry case since they are sometimes tucked in. If the side panels instead are folded out, they make the bag awkward to carry and do not completely close the case when in this position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the purpose of this invention to provide a combined carry case and seat structure which can be manipulated to form, in one position, a strong and effective seat, and, in a second position, to form a flat bottomed carry case thereby providing a large usable space to carry articles. It is a further purpose of the invention to provide a strong, yet lightweight, combined seat and carry case structure.

The present invention employs two main sections which are joined together near one edge by a foldable bottom panel. The bottom panel provides a flat bottom between the sections when the structure is used as a carry case.

The invention is particularly directed toward a combined carry case and seat having a pair of lightweight, planar sections. A bottom foldable panel joins the sections together at the bottom. A pair of foldable side panels are provided with each side panel joined to and extending between opposite sides of the sections and also joined to the bottom panel. The sections can be moved between a first facing position forming a flat bottomed carry case with the bottom panel extended and the side panels folded, and a second angular position forming a seat with the side panels extended.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This invention will now be described in detail having reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates the combined carry case and seat structure in the carry case position;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view of the carry case partially open to receive articles to be carried;

FIG. 4 is a view of the combined carry case and seat structure in the seat position;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the structure in the seat position taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a corner detail of the structure in the seat position; and

FIG. 7 is a view taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The combined carry case and seat 1, as shown in the drawings, includes a pair of lightweight, substantially quadratic, planar sections 2, 2'. Each section 2, 2' includes a frame 3. Each frame 3 comprises an upper member 7, a lower member 9 and side members 11, 13 joining the upper and lower members together at their ends. The frames can be either square or rectangular in shape, and preferably are made out of a single piece of lightweight, tubular material bent to provide the frame shape with the ends of the material piece being suitably joined together. The upper member 7 could preferably be slightly curved upwardly (not shown).

Each section 2, 2' further includes a main panel 15 on each frame 3, extending between the upper and lower frame members 7, 9. A bottom panel 17 of foldable material, and somewhat rectangular in shape, is provided to join the sections 2, 2' together. The bottom panel 17 is joined to the main panels 15 along its long edges 19, 21 by rows of stitching 23, 23' or other suitable means. The bottom panel 17 is joined to the sections 2, 2' near the lower frame members 9 of the frames 3.

A pair of side panels 27, 27' are provided to extend between the side edges of the pair of main panels 15. The side panels 27, 27' are joined along one edge 26 to the end edge of the bottom panel 17 by stitching or other suitable means. The opposite edge 28 of the side panels is unattached. The side panels 27, 27' are preferably trapezoidal in shape with the non-parallel edges of each side panel joined to the side edges of the main panels 15, and the shortest of the two parallel edges joined to the bottom panel.

The main, bottom and side panels are preferably made of suitable heavy-duty fabric material. The panels may also be made of other suitable material, such as plastic sheeting, wherein the seams would be heat-sealed and the main panels would only be of single ply thickness.

The main panels 15 preferably each comprise a single piece of fabric cut and folded to provide outer and inner fabric layers 29, 31 which are integrally joined together at the top 33 and at the bottom 35 and to one another preferably by the lines of stitching 23, 23' joining the edges 19, 21 of the bottom panel 17 to the main panels. Flaps 37, 39 extend outwardly from the sides of the outer fabric layer 29. The flaps 37, 39 extending out from opposite sides of the outer layer 29 of one section 2 are joined to the flaps 37, 39, extending out from the outer layer 29 of the other section 2' by stitching 41 to form the side panels 27, 27'.

A drawstring 45 is provided extending in part along the top edge 28 of the side panels 27, 27'. The drawstring 45 extends through eyelets 49 in the upper corners of the outer fabric layer 29 of the main panels 15 so as to form a continuous loop about the upper periphery of the structure defined by the tops of sections 2, 2' and the side panels. The drawstring has a length substantially equal to the sum of the length of the tops of sections 2, 2' and the lengths of edges 28 of both side panels. With the structure set up in the seat position, as shown in FIG. 4, the drawstring is taut through the side panels and around the top of the sections 2, 2' so as to maintain the sections 2, 2' in a proper seat position.

Preferably, the drawstring 45 is threaded through a plurality of equally spaced-apart eyelets 51 located adjacent the upper edge 28 of the side panels 27, 27'. The drawstring is threaded alternatively to the inside and then to the outside of the side panels. When the structure is placed in a carry case position, as shown in FIG. 3, the drawstring is pulled, tending to bring sections 2, 2' together at the top, thereby closing the structure, and to cause the side panels 27, 27' to pleat, as shown in FIG. 3, in forming a carry case. The drawstring 45 serves as a shoulder strap when the structure is in a carry case position, and the weight of the structure on the drawstring causes the drawstring to keep the top of the carry case closed.

It will be seen from the above that a carry case having flat bottom and pleated sides has been provided which is much neater in appearance and provides more room for carrying articles as compared with the known prior art. Furthermore, when the structure is in a carry case position, the wide bottom provided by the flat bottom panel 17 and the lower members 9 of the frames 3 permits the structure to be self-supporting in a standing position. The structure is readily convertible into a seat using section 2 as the seat bottom and section 2' as a back rest, as shown in FIG. 4, with the drawstring and side panels assisting in maintaining the sections 2, 2' in the proper position. The structure, having double layers of fabric in the main panels 15, is quite strong. In the situation where the upper members are curved upwardly, it will be seen that when the structure is placed in a carry case position, there will be more storing capacity provided thereby.

A cover (not shown) may also be provided with suitable fastening means for closing the top of the carry case.

Claims

I claim:

1. A combined carrying case and seat comprising a pair of lightweight framed panels, a bottom foldable panel joining the bottom edges of the framed panels, a pair of foldable side panels, each side panel joined to and extending between opposite edges of the framed panels, the side panels and framed panels having a continuous upper edge and a sizing means associated with said continuous upper edge for limiting the distance at which the framed panels can be separated, the framed panels can be moved between a first carrying position forming an expanded bottom carry case with the bottom edges of said framed panels adapted to be spread apart, and a second position with the framed panels at an obtuse angle to each other forming a seat with the sizing means extended and the bottom edges of the framed panels in juxtaposition, the sizing means includes a drawstring threaded through the side panels adjacent the longest of the two substantially parallel sides, and extending out through the upper corners of the framed panels, the drawstring being a substantially continuous loop, and being suitable for use as a handle when used as a carrying case, each framed panel being formed by a frame having upper and lower members joined by side members, a main panel on the frame extending between the upper and lower members, said side panels being substantially trapezoidal in shape with non-parallel sides of the side panels joined to the side edges of the frame panels with the shortest of the two substantially parallel sides joined to the bottom panel, said drawstring having a length substantially equal to the sum of the width of the two framed panels and the length of the long side of the two side panels.

2. The combined carrying case and seat as defined in claim 1 wherein the side panels are provided with a plurality of substantially equally spaced-apart eyelets adjacent their long side, and the drawstring being threaded through the eyelets to lie alternatively on the inside and outside of the side panels.

3. The combined carrying case and seat as defined in claim 1 wherein the framed panels, the bottom panel, and the side panels are made of fabric material.

4. The combined carry case and seat as defined in claim 3 wherein each framed panel comprises inner an outer fabric layers with flaps extending from the side edges of the outer layer, and the flaps from one main panel being joined with the flaps from the other main panel to form the side panels.