Abstract:
A combination backpack and seat cushion includes a cushion operatively connected to a pair of functional backpack sections. The cushion is sandwiched between the backpack sections at a first configuration and further separates the backpack sections into a more linear configuration at a second configuration. The backpack sections include compartments for carrying books or other articles. The invention may be carried as a traditional backpack at the first configuration. At the second configuration, the cushion may be placed on a chair seat and back rest while the connected backpack sections may be strapped out of the way below and behind the chair.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates generally to carrying cases and, more particularly, to a backpack having an integrated seat cushion.  
         [0002]     Many people find themselves in situations where they must sit for long periods of time on uncomfortable seating. Common situations in this regard include students studying for long periods of time in a library or spectators at sporting events. In both situations, the person typically desires to carry several items with them, such as books, food, or the like, and also desires to be comfortable while sitting.  
         [0003]     Various proposals for carrying portable seating, chairs, or cushions, have been made in the prior art. While assumably effective for their intended purpose of providing portable seating, the existing devices lack all of the utilitarian aspects of a backpack. More particularly, the existing devices are merely collapsible seats that would need to be transported in addition to a backpack or other case for books and supplies. Further, the existing cushion devices do not meet the specific needs of a student, including the ability to carry multiple books and to provide a comfortable cushion device while studying in a library.  
         [0004]     Therefore, it would be desirable to have a backpack that includes a portable seat cushion for providing comfortable seating and carrying books or supplies. Further, it would be desirable to have fully functional seating comfort while maintaining a fully functional backpack.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     A combination backpack and cushion device according to the present invention includes distinct first and second backpack sections that are attached together. In addition, a cushion member is connected to the first and second backpack sections and is movable between a first configuration sandwiched between the first and second backpack sections and a second configuration in which the first and second backpack sections are further separated by the cushion in an elongate configuration.  
         [0006]     In the second configuration, the cushion device includes an elongate cushion element having one or more cushions. Preferably, the cushion device includes an initial cushion and an end cushion, the cushion element providing a cushion for placement on a chair seat and another cushion for placement against a chair backrest.  
         [0007]     The initial cushion is flexibly attached to the first backpack section and the end cushion is attached to the second backpack section. In use, therefore, the first backpack section may hang below a chair sear when the initial cushion is situated on the seat and the second backpack section can be draped over a chair back when the end cushion is used as a back rest. While in use, the first and second backpack section may be releasably strapped together behind or below the seat to keep the entire device in place.  
         [0008]     Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide a combination backpack and cushion device that enables a student to carry books and to have a comfortable cushion for sitting on an otherwise uncomfortable chair surface. Another object of this invention is to provide a combination backpack and cushion device, as aforesaid, that includes compartments for carrying books and supplies.  
         [0009]     Still another object of this invention is to provide a combination backpack and cushion device, as aforesaid, in which the cushion device includes one or more cushions.  
         [0010]     Yet another object of this invention is to provide a combination backpack and cushion device, as aforesaid, which is movable between one configuration in which the cushion device is sandwiched between backpack sections and another configuration in which the backpack sections and cushion members are in an elongate and spread out arrangement.  
         [0011]     Other object and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of this invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a combination backpack and cushion device according to the present invention in a first configuration;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the combination backpack and cushion device as in  FIG. 1  in a second configuration;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3   a  is perspective view of the combination backpack and cushion device as in  FIG. 2  positioned on a chair;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3   b  is a perspective view as in  FIG. 3   a  from another angle;  FIG. 4  is an isolated perspective view on an enlarged scale of the device as in  FIG. 3   a ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5   a  is a perspective view of a combination backpack and cushion device according to another embodiment of the invention in an expanded/first configuration;  
         [0017]      FIG. 5   b  is a perspective view of the device as in  FIG. 5   a  in a collapsed/second configuration; and  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a combination backpack and cushion device according to still another embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0019]     A combination backpack and cushion device according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 1 through 6  of the accompanying drawings. More particularly, a combination backpack and cushion device  100  according to the present invention includes distinct first and second backpack sections  110 ,  120  and an elongate cushion element  130 .  
         [0020]     The first and second backpack sections  110 ,  120  respectively include an inner surface  112   a ,  122   a , an outer surface  112   b ,  122   b , a top end  114   a ,  124   a , a bottom end  114   b ,  124   b , and opposed sides  116   a ,  116   b ,  126   a ,  126   b . The first backpack section  110  defines a first storage area  118 , and the second backpack section  120  defines a second storage area  128 . Means  140  for releasably attaching the first and second backpack sections  110 ,  120  are preferably included, such as clips, hook and loop fasteners, snaps, a zipper, and other fastening mechanisms. Means  125  for holding the second backpack section  120  is preferably also included, such as a carrying strap or a handle.  
         [0021]     The elongate cushion element  130  includes one or more cushions  132  arranged in an elongate row, and the cushion element  130  is flexibly connected to the first and second backpack sections  110 ,  120  for movement between a first configuration  130   a  and a second configuration  130   b . The cushion element  130  is sandwiched between the first and second backpack sections  110 ,  120  at the first configuration  130   a , and the cushion element  130  further separates the first and second backpack sections  110 ,  120  at the second configuration  130   b . More particularly, the backpack sections  110 ,  120  and cushion element  130  may be spread out into a more elongate and linear type of arrangement in the second configuration so as to laid flat or draped over a chair ( FIGS. 2 .  3   a . and  3   b ).  
         [0022]     The cushion element  130  includes an initial cushion  134  and an end cushion  136 , each having opposed first and second ends  134   a ,  134   b ,  136   a ,  136   b  and opposed sides  134   c ,  134   d ,  136   c ,  136   d . The initial cushion  134  is flexibly connected to the first backpack section  110 , and the end cushion  136  is flexibly connected to the second backpack section  120 . If there is only one cushion  132 , that cushion  132  is both the initial cushion  134  and the end cushion  136 .  
         [0023]     In a first embodiment, shown in  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 4 , the device  100  is for use with a chair  10  having a seat  12  and a back  14  ( FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b ). The initial cushion first end  134   a  is flexibly connected to the first backpack section  110  adjacent the first backpack section top end  114   a , and the end cushion second end  136   b  is flexibly connected to the second backpack section  120  adjacent the second backpack section top end  124   a . The cushion element  130  defines a seat area  138   a  and a back area  138   b . The seat area  138   a  has a length sufficient to extend along the chair seat  12 , and the back area  138   b  has a length sufficient to extend along the chair back  14 , as shown in  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b . The first backpack section sides  116   a ,  116   b  are releasably attached to the second backpack section sides  126   a ,  126   b  by the means  140  to selectively maintain the cushion element  130  in the first configuration  130   a . The first backpack section bottom end  114   b  is preferably releasably attached to the second backpack section bottom end  124   b  by clips  142 , though hook and loop fasteners, snaps, a zipper, and other fastening mechanisms would also be suitable. In use, the cushion element  130  is initially at the first configuration  130   a , and the first backpack section  110  is attached to the second backpack section  120  by the attaching means  140  ( FIG. 1 ). A user may insert and remove items from the first and second storage areas  118 ,  128 . The first and second backpack sections  110 ,  120  may be separated by disconnecting the attaching means  140 , and the cushion element  130  may be moved to the second configuration  130   b  ( FIG. 2 ). The first backpack section  110  may then be positioned against a rear surface  14   b  of the chair back  14 , and the cushion element back area  138   b  may be positioned against an inner surface  14   a  of the chair back  14 . The cushion element seat area  138   a  may be positioned against a top surface  12   a  of the chair seat  12 , and the second backpack section  120  may be positioned against a bottom surface  12   b  of the chair seat  12 . The clips  142  may then be fastened, connecting the bottom ends  114   b ,  124   b  of the first and second backpack sections  110 ,  120 . This attachment prevents the second backpack section  120  from reaching the ground, effectively securing the second backpack section  120  to the chair seat bottom surface  12   b.    
         [0024]     In another embodiment  200 , shown in  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b , the device  200  includes a construction substantially similar to that described in the first embodiment  100  above, except as specifically noted below. The device  200  includes a rigid lower frame  210  attached to the cushion element  130  and the second backpack section  120 , a rigid upper frame  220  attached to the cushion element  130  and the first backpack section  110 , and means  230  for adjusting the positions of the upper and lower frames  220 ,  210  relative to one another to move the cushion element  130  between the first and second configurations  130   a ,  130   b . A plurality of legs  240  may be attached to the lower frame  210  for movement between a retracted configuration  240   a  ( FIG. 5   b ) and an extended configuration  240   b  ( FIG. 5   a ). The legs  240  are preferably pivotably attached as shown, and each leg  240  may have a telescoping configuration  242  so that the user may adjust the length of each leg  240 . The means  230  is preferably a hinge.  
         [0025]     In use, the first and second backpack sections  110 ,  120  may be separated by disconnecting the attaching means  140 , and the cushion element  130  may be moved to the second configuration  130   b  ( FIG. 2 ) by using the adjusting means  230 . The legs  240  may be moved to the extended configuration  240   b , and the length of each leg  240  may be set by adjusting each telescoping assembly  242 .  
         [0026]     In yet another embodiment  300 , shown in  FIG. 6 , the device  300  includes a construction substantially similar to the construction as described in the first embodiment  100  above, except as specifically noted below. The device  300  is for use with a bench  16  having top and bottom surfaces  16   a ,  16   b . One of the initial cushion sides  134   c  is flexibly connected to the first backpack section  110 , and the other initial cushion side  134   d  is releasably connected to the first backpack section  110 . One of the end cushion sides  136   c  is flexibly connected to the second backpack section  120 , and the other end cushion side  136   d  is releasably connected to the second backpack section  120 .  
         [0027]     In use, the initial cushion may rest upon the top bench surface  16   a , and the first backpack section  110  may be connected to the initial cushion side  134   d  to secure the first backpack section  110  to the bottom bench surface  16   b . The end cushion  136  may rest upon the top bench surface  16   a , and the second backpack section  120  may be connected to the end cushion side  136   d  to secure the second backpack section  120  to the bottom bench surface  16   b.    
         [0028]     It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof.