Patent Publication Number: US-2012031935-A1

Title: Personal Item Carrier With Seating Cushion

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/401,058, filed on Aug. 7, 2010, and is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable 
     NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (1) Field of the Invention 
     Sitting on hard, wet, cold surfaces is uncomfortable for people of all ages and sizes. The typical uncomfortable surfaces that are obvious include (but are not limited to) stadium seating, outside benches as in parks, outdoor or indoor restaurant seating, and generally, any seating with a hard surface in or out of doors. Also presenting challenges for outdoor ventures are any natural surface of the ground or trails in wooded areas. People can pack cushions, blankets or pillows into purses, backpacks or other methods of carriage if they know ahead of time that the seating will be uncomfortable. However, these items are bulky and cumbersome. Very often, people are not prepared for unexpected and unpleasant seating arrangements at all. The location could be commonly used areas such as a church pew, a library chair, a park bench, a train seat, or a rock or fallen tree trunk in the woods. 
     Another concern is for the security of the contents of the purse, backpack, or other carriage means. For example, a purse may be stolen from under a chair, or credit cards may be removed from a backpack that is sitting beside the owner on a bench. The inventive concept disclosed herein incorporates a manageable, comfortable seating surface with a person&#39;s everyday purse, tote, backpack or other such personal item carrier. Therefore, the user of this device is never without an immediate comfortable source for sitting, which includes means of securing personal items and important objects in an integral pouch and/or accessory pockets. The disclosed device is always within arm&#39;s reach, accessible, and easily collapsed, folded, and prepared for transport. 
     (2) Description of the Related Art 
     The following U.S. patents, patent application publications or other patent related documents are indicative of the general type of inventions in the field. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,074,740; Feb. 21, 1978, inventor, Anderson. This device features a combination pocketbook and cushion wherein the cushion can be detached from the pocketbook and sat on during protracted periods of sitting. The pocketbook includes a flap having a snap fastener for attachment to a complemental snap fastener on the cushion. The pocketbook is also provided with an exterior, expandable pouch for carrying items. 
     Disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,116,310, (1978), Shields is a combined cushion and article carrier, the invention particularly provides a foam cushion held within a bag-like fabric covering, the fabric covering having a shoulder strap connected thereto to facilitate carrying. When used as a pillow, money, important documents or other valuable possessions may be placed in the pocket and thus protected from theft. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,190,918, Mar. 4, 1980, inventor Harvell. This invention is a hand-carryable folding cushion assembly having two cushions interconnected by a flexible inner panel and foldable from an extended position to a position where the cushions lie in back-to-back relationship. This device has a carrying strap and pocket for carrying necessary articles. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,315, Jan. 4, 1994, inventor, Carmack, a waist pack adapted to be worn about the waist of a human is disclosed. The waist pack includes at least one interior compartment. Attached to the waist pack by means of a connecting strap is a seat cushion. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,463 Oct. 6, 1998 Echeverri. A pack for safely securing personal items below stadium seating at sporting events includes a flexible sack including one or more pockets that can be scaled by a closure flap. One of such pockets may be used to contain a seat cushion to be placed upon such stadium seating. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,240,330 Aug. 31, 1993 Thompson. A beach chair bundle includes first, second, third, and fourth panels of terry cloth. The second panel is folded up on the first and fastened to it along side edges to form a pouch for a removable pillow. Tie loops connect the pillow pouch to the utility pocket, through the chair structure, to secure the beach chair bundle to the chair. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,132 Feb. 16, 1999 Hargreaves. A three-in-one belt pack having in combination a conventional pack, a cushion-flap, and a belt. When used in protection mode, the cushion-flap functions as a seat, being a comfortable, waterproof cushion, or as a walking advertising display, and as a protective barrier which shields the user&#39;s clothing from becoming soiled due to filthy chairs or benches. 
     Publication # DE 19820490 (Germany) Nov. 18, 1999 Hanik This device is an assembly comprising a seat cushion with an integrated cap of which is equipped with a visor for additional protection against snow and rain. The front side of the cushion is equipped with a pocket with a flap and Velcro fastener for storing the lightweight cape. 
     An English patent application publication #GB 2373718, Oct. 2, 2002, by Jones features a cushion/bag, or travel bag combination using a polystyrene bead filing as a cushioning medium and featuring an additional small cushion which may also contain polystyrene beads, and further incorporating securable storage spaces which are for a user&#39;s possessions. One embodiment of the invention may comprise large pockets and a security flap. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,651,016 Jan. 26, 2010 Stewart. A combination waist pack is worn comfortably about the waist and unfolds to provide a protective accessory such as a seat cushion, or water resistant or insulated barrier to kneel or lay down upon. The invention is convertible to seat or other protective device while unfolded, and a warm and protective waistband/hand warmer and padded pack while folded. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIVE CONCEPT 
     The inventive concept herein discloses a combination of a briefcase, purse, and/or backpack connected to a convenient cushioned pad for personal seating. The device is basically a two-part arrangement with both parts foldable into a unified carrier. The seat portion is referred to as a flap, while the briefcase/purse section is generally a pouch having both interior and exterior pockets accessible to the user. All the pockets may have a means for secured closing, such as zippers, snaps, hook-and-felt fastening mechanisms, or other commonly used devices. The carrier may be transported by utilizing two integral back straps or, alternatively, a single shoulder strap. 
     For comfort, the flap portion is filled with a resiliently-deformable material and, upon disconnecting the flap from the pouch section, the flap can be flipped onto almost any relatively horizontal surface and serve the purpose of providing ease and/or warmth to the posterior of any user. The Personal Item Carrier is then in a safe position and is in immediate, continual contact with the user, normally behind the calves of the user. The user may also elect to arrange the open Carrier in a sidewise orientation, thereby placing the pouch to the immediate left or right of the user. By means of either seating arrangement, the user can easily access the contents of the carrier, without concern for the carrier or its contents being removed or stolen. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The objects, features, and advantages of the concept presented in this application are more readily understood when referring to the accompanying drawings. The drawings, totaling five figures, show the basic functions of various embodiments and methods. In the several figures, like reference numbers are used in each figure to correspond to the same component as may be depicted in other figures: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the Personal Item Carrier in its closed configuration, immediately accessible for carriage by a user. 
         FIG. 2  presents a downward-looking view of the Personal Item Carrier in an open configuration, displaying the flap topside and the pouch interior and frontside 
         FIG. 3  displays the PIC in an open configuration with the flap underside and the pouch backside in view. Also displayed are the two integral backstraps and their respective fastening means in a particular embodiment of the Personal Item Carrier. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a side view of the PIC deployed upon a typical bench or stadium seat, readily available for a user to sit upon. 
         FIG. 5  is a view looking head-on at an embodiment of the Personal Item Carrier, with the pouch frontside and the flap topside being prominently shown. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIVE CONCEPT 
     Many personal item and article carriers such as purses or backpacks have flaps that drape over the top opening of the purse or backpack. The purpose of the flap may be to close up, secure, and/or protect the contents of the carrier. As we refer to  FIG. 1 , there is shown the inventive concept disclosed herein, referred to as a Padded Personal Item Carrier  1 , or simply, the “carrier.” The instant disclosed inventive concept also is constructed with a “flap,” which functions as a cushioned seat when the carrier  1  is deployed for seating purposes. The view in  FIG. 1  presents the carrier  1  from a predominantly left side view with the broad exposed surface being the flap underside  4 . The flap  2 , itself is a generally rectangular enclosure having a resiliently deformable material forming a cushion  10  not shown) inserted within the confines of the flap  2 . The flap  2 , combined with the interiorly positioned cushion  10 , thereby form a relatively comfortable seating surface for a user. The flap underside  4  is the portion of the device which is placed in direct contact with the object upon which the user intends to seat him/herself. 
     The flap  2  is fastened onto a pouch  9 , which pouch extends across the breadth of the carrier  1 . One end of the flap  2  is permanently joined to the pouch  9  at a common area which forms a fold  8 . The other end of the flap  2  may be attached to the pouch  9  by means of two symmetrically-located clasps  27 ,  28  which are connected to two C-rings,  35 ,  36 . Specifically shown in  FIG. 1  is the left clasp  27  of the carrier  1 , which is attached to the left C-ring  35 . Conversely, on the right side of the carrier  1 , a right clasp  28  is attached to a right C-ring  36 . 
     In its folded configuration of  FIG. 1 , two backstraps  18 ,  17  are displayed, both of which may easily be donned by a user for easy transport of the carrier  1 . Displayed in  FIG. 1  is the left backstrap  17  which is attached to the flap  2  by means of a stitched-on left strap anchor  25 . The left backstrap  17  culminates in an integral left pronged fastener  33  which, in turn, is inserted into a left fastener receptacle  23  attached to the pouch backside  9   b . These various fastening mechanisms are also clearly shown in  FIG. 3 . It is to be noted that a variety of fastening, closing, and attaching mechanisms and devices may be used for any of the similar components of the carrier  1  without causing a degradation of the functionality or effectiveness of the carrier  1 . 
       FIG. 2  presents the carrier  1  deployed upon the surface of a bench  50 , with the flap topside  3  exposed for seating. This orientation is shown from the perspective of a vertically downward view, whereby the pouch  9  of the carrier  1  is fully open, displaying the interior pockets  48 ,  49 . Also shown, in the vicinity of the pouch  9 , are the right and left side pockets,  29 ,  30 , and the left and right pockets  19 ,  20 . An additional storage pocket  5  is attached to the flap topside  3 . The loop component  14  of a hook-and-loop fastening mechanism is also attached to the flap topside  3 . The loop component  14  is fitted to attach to the hook component  15 , which is arranged at the bottom portion of the pouch frontside  9   a , as is more readily shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     As mentioned previously, the interior of the flap  2  of the carrier  1  is filled with a cushion  10  comprising a resiliently deformable material. In viewing  FIG. 4 , the cushion  10  is seen to be enclosed between the flap underside  4  and flap topside  3  of the carrier  1 , which is shown deployed atop a bench  50  or similar hard surface. The cushion  10  material may be selected in variable densities of compressible foam, plastic, rubber, or any other similar resiliently compressible substance. The flap underside  4  is intended to be readily positioned upon a relatively flat surface, thereby providing a cushioned seat on the flap topside  3  for the user. Upon placement of the flap underside  4  upon a surface, the pouch  9  will normally naturally hang in a vertical orientation from the fold  8  and thereby eventually come in contact with the calves of the user as he/she sits upon the topside  3  of the flap  2 . The user, sitting upon the carrier  1  in this position, has easy access to the contents of the pouch  9  of the carrier  1 , and also the left and right front pockets  19 ,  20 , and side pockets  29 ,  30 . 
     It is contemplated that the flap  2  with the seating cushion  10  is readily available to be flipped onto practically any relatively horizontal surface with the pouch  9  of the carrier  1  normally suspended downward from the seating surface. However, the user may also elect to arrange the carrier  1  in a sidewise seating orientation with the pouch  9  to the left or right of the user. 
     Different embodiments of the carrier  1  may have a unitary piece cushion  10  either permanently sewed to the interior of the flap  2 . Alternatively, the cushion  10  can be inserted or removed by means of an opening in the flap  2 .  FIG. 1  depicts the general location of a lower aperture  22  through which a cushion  10  may be inserted. Other embodiments of the carrier  1  may feature a mid aperture  21  (not shown) which similarly functions as the insertion point of a cushion  10 . Another embodiment of the carrier  1  may comprise a quantity of resilient material or fabric inserted into the flap  2  interior to function as a cushion  10 . 
     Whether the cushion  10  is a unitary piece or a quantity of filled material, the lower aperture  22  or mid aperture  21  will, after insertion of the cushion  10  then be closed by means of, for instance, a zipper  13 . Any suitable closing means, such as (by way of illustration only) snaps, hook-and-loop closing mechanism, cinches, or adhesive closures may be used to seal the mid or lower aperture  21 ,  22 . The cushion  10  inside the flap  2  fills the entire volume of the flap  2  and the cushion  10  may comprise varied thicknesses (thin, medium, dense), shapes (round, oblong, square, rectangle or triangle), and size (small, medium, large). 
     A different embodiment of the cushion  10  is contemplated to be formed from filling the flap  2  with a fabric or material that maintains a consistent shape and that is relatively permanent after insertion into the flap  2 . The cushion  10  may also comprise an airtight bladder that is inflatable for temporary use, and subsequently deflated when the carrier  1  is being transported. 
     In some embodiments of the carrier  1 , the flap  2  containing the cushion  10  may be the same shape, length and breadth as the pouch  9 , (or the over-all length and breadth of the carrier  1 ) to which it is attached. It is also contemplated that the flap  2  with seating cushion  10  can be larger than the dimensions of the pouch  9 , depending on the intended use, as (but not limited to) a purse with a flap with seating cushion that rolls or folds out to cover a larger seating area. It is contemplated that the flap  2  with seating cushion  10  can be smaller than the pouch  9 , or total length and breadth of the personal item carrier  1 , depending on its intended use. For instance a user may intend to coordinate travel items such as a piece of carry-on luggage having a total length that is longer than the flap  2  component of the carrier  1 . 
     Other embodiments of the carrier  1  may feature a flap  2  component that can be attached or removed at what is shown as the fold  8  of the personal item carrier  1 . Therefore, the flap  2  with seating cushion  10  is contemplated to be interchangeable among other personal storage means or devices, such as purses, briefcases, luggage, or backpacks. The pouch  9  of the carrier  1 , in various embodiments, may have a separate means of being securely opened and closed other than the placement of the flap  2  over the pouch  9  opening. That is, while the flap  2  with seating cushion  10  is in use as a seating surface, the pouch  9  may effectively be secured by (but not limited to) a zipper, clips, hook-and-loop type closures, snaps, clasps, buckles, or any other commonly used types of closing mechanisms. 
     It is contemplated that the carrier  1  may be temporarily or permanently attached to other portable storage devices such as purses, backpacks, tote-bags, duffel bags, computer bags, and luggage. Another feature of the disclosed carrier  1  is that a user may employ the integral left and right clasps  27 ,  28  (ref  FIGS. 1 and 4 ) which are affixed to the flap  2  to fasten either or both clasps  27 ,  28  to some portion of a seating surface, such as a bench or chair, in order to hold the flap  2  in place and prevent the flap  2  from falling or slipping off the seating surface. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , a differing embodiment of the carrier  1  may comprise a hanging strap  39  attached to a clip  51 , lanyard  46 , and retaining hook  47 . This arrangement provides a means for the user to secure the hook  47  to a protruding segment of a bench, chair, or other seating location, which in turn prevents the carrier  1  from inadvertently sliding off the seating location while in use. The retaining hook  47  will also enable the user to store the carrier  1  on a clothes rod within a closet, or upon a convenient wall hook. 
     While preferred embodiments of the present inventive concept have been shown and disclosed herein, it will be obvious to those persons skilled in the art that such embodiments are presented by way of example only and not as a limitation to the scope of the inventive concept. Numerous variations, changes, and substitutions may occur or be suggested to those skilled in the art without departing from the intent, scope, and totality of the inventive concept. Such variations, changes, and substitutions may involve other features which are already known per se and which may be used instead of, or in addition to features already disclosed herein. Accordingly, it is intended that this inventive concept not be limited by the scope of the accompanying claims.