U.S. patent number 3,825,298 [Application Number 05/255,483] was granted by the patent office on 1974-07-23 for combination carry case and seat.
Invention is credited to Julian C. C. Chipman.
United States Patent |
3,825,298 |
Chipman |
July 23, 1974 |
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.
Inventors: |
Chipman; Julian C. C.
(Montreal, 109, Quebec, CA) |
Family
ID: |
22968533 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/255,483 |
Filed: |
May 22, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/129; D6/368;
383/4; 297/380; 383/76 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C
1/146 (20130101); A45C 9/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47C
13/00 (20060101); A47C 9/00 (20060101); A47C
9/10 (20060101); A45C 9/00 (20060101); A47c
013/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;297/17,129,380,382,350
;5/98 ;190/8,44 ;150/11,49 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
926,425 |
|
May 1963 |
|
GB |
|
1,006,487 |
|
Oct 1965 |
|
GB |
|
991,286 |
|
Jun 1951 |
|
FR |
|
Primary Examiner: Zugel; Francis K.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Swabey; Alan
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.
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.
* * * * *