Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a substitute application of a prior filed and now abandoned application having Ser. No. 10/808,765 and filing date of Mar. 24, 2004. 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not applicable. 
   THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
   Not applicable. 
   INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
   Not applicable. 
   REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX” 
   Not applicable. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Present Disclosure 
   This disclosure relates generally to blankets, and more particularly to roll-up blankets with straps. 
   2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 
   Walden, U.S. Des. 377,879 describes a combined lounging mat and compartmented pillow with carrying handle and roll-up straps design. Sullivan, U.S. Pat. No. 6,182,309 describes A beach towel-pillow apparatus allowing a user to rest comfortably on a beach towel while his or her head is supported by a cylindrically-shaped pillow, permanently affixed to one end of the towel portion of the apparatus. One or more elastic securing straps are affixed to one end of the apparatus and are used to secure the towel portion when it is wrapped around the pillow thereby allowing for easy storage and transporting of the apparatus. An adjustable carrying strap, much like a belt, is affixed to one end of the pillow allowing for a user to sling the carrying strap over his or her shoulder for easy carrying of the apparatus once the towel has been secured around the pillow by the securing straps. A pillow covering with a zipper hidden from view by a portion of the covering encloses the pillow, allowing for easy insertion and removal of the pillow. Balicki et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,914,767 describes a beach blanket having a perimeter and a plurality of tabs of hook and loop type material attached to and spaced about the perimeter. A pillow has matching tabs of hook and loop type material on one side of the pillow for attaching the pillow to any one of the tabs of hook and loop type material on the blanket. The pillow may be inflatable. Sand clamps are used to hold down the blanket. Each of the sand clamps has a spike with a point at one end and a spring-biased clamp section on the spike. Reeves, U.S. Pat. No. 5,361,435 describes a portable beach towel with a built-in hidden pouch for storing valuables. The towel comprises an elongated rectangular fabric portion having top and bottom surfaces, top and bottom end edges, and side edges. A pair of elastic loops and a carrying strap are sewn onto the bottom surface near the bottom edge. A pocket is formed by folding the top end edge over the top surface, thereby defining an enclosure space for holding an elongated rod-shaped pillow made from a soft, compliant material. An access aperture between the top end edge and the top surface opens into the pouch, which is sewn into the pocket. The aperture can be closed with a zipper or other suitable type of closure. In use, with the towel resting upon the ground, the access aperture is normally hidden from view from passers by. Hwang et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,384,923 describes an improved camping sleeping mat and/or chair arrangement having improved lateral edge stiffening rod retention pockets and having coupling members for coupling various portions together in various configurations. A separate inflatable pillow may be detachably mounted on the camping sleeping mat and/or chair arrangement. Fritz et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,730,529 describes a combination beach mat and carrying device. The mat has a pillow section and several storage sections closed by a closure having a flap to protect the closure from sand. Additionally, the mat has securing straps for binding up the mat for easy transportation, and a carrying strap for carrying the bound up contents. The carrying strap is located along the seam of the pillow and mat sections. The securing straps are extended beyond the bounds of the mat to be located out of the way. Zuehlke et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,920,931 describes a pillow blanket comprising a broad flat pliable sheet and a pocket member onto the broad flat pliable sheet at one corner, with an open mouth of the pocket member facing inwardly on the broad flat pliable sheet. In a first instance, the broad flat pliable sheet when unfolded can be utilized as a blanket. In a second instance, the broad flat pliable sheet when folded up and tucked into the open mouth of the pocket member after the pocket member is turned inside out can be utilized as a pillow and seat cushion. 
   The related art described above discloses a combined lounging mat and compartmented pillow with carrying handle and roll-up straps, a sun dial beach blanket with pillow, a portable beach towel with security pocket, a sleeping mat and seating arrangement, a combination beach mat and carrying device, and a pillow blanket, but does not teach a blanket apparatus having diagonal straps on its bottom surface for securement of the blanket apparatus to a support device when in use. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides further related advantages as described in the following summary. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   This disclosure teaches certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the objectives described below. 
   A rectangular flexible fabric sheet has mounted corner holders. A horizontally oriented support is engaged with the corner holders for securing the sheet so as to enable a person to recline on the sheet. A pillow having a circular fabric outer cover is positioned at one end of the sheet. The pillow is split into two portions sharing the outer cover; each one of the portions providing a planar fabric inner panel. The inner panels share a common edge functional as a hinge enabling the two portions to assume an unfolded attitude wherein the inner panels lie abutting the sheet for supporting the neck and head of the reclining person, and a folded attitude wherein the inner panels mutually abut and thereby provide a more robust pillow. The sheet and pillow are capable of being rolled and stored in a back pack type of holder. 
   A primary objective inherent in the above described apparatus and method of use is to provide advantages not taught by the prior art. 
   Another objective is to provide such an invention capable of being secured independently at each of four corners to a support device when in use. 
   A further objective is to provide such an invention capable of being folded to form a cover when in use. 
   A still further objective is to provide such an invention capable of having a pillow device removably attached. 
   A further objective is to provide such an invention capable of being rolled and bound as a roll by attached bands when not in use. 
   A still further objective is to provide such an invention capable of being carried as a roll by an attached handle or in a conforming back pack. 
   A yet further objective is to provide such an invention with a pillow that may be folded into an open attitude for supporting the neck differentially from the head. 
   Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the presently described apparatus and method of its use. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
     Illustrated in the accompanying drawing(s) is at least one of the best mode embodiments of the present invention In such drawing(s): 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective exploded view of an embodiment of the invention shown with a cot; 
       FIG. 2  is a further perspective view thereof as attached to the cot; 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view thereof taken along section line  3 — 3  of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view thereof shown partially rolled; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view thereof shown fully rolled and secured; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the invention as attached to the cot; 
       FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of a further alternate embodiment of the invention shown with the cot; 
       FIG. 8  is a section view taken along line  8 — 8  in  FIG. 7  showing a pillow of the invention in a folded open attitude; 
       FIG. 9  is the section view of  FIG. 8  showing the pillow in a folded closed attitude; 
       FIG. 10  is the section view of  FIG. 9  showing an alternate attitude of the pillow; and 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the invention as shown in  FIG. 5  enclosed within a carrier bag. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The above described drawing figures illustrate the described apparatus and its method of use in at least one of its preferred, best mode embodiment, which is further defined in detail in the following description. Those having ordinary skill in the art may be able to make alterations and modifications what is described herein without departing from its spirit and scope. Therefore, it must be understood that what is illustrated is set forth only for the purposes of example and that it should not be taken as a limitation in the scope of the present apparatus and method of use. 
   Described now in detail is a blanket apparatus or flexible fabric sheet  10  shown in  FIG. 1 , comprising an elongated fabric portion  20  having a top surface  22  and a bottom surface  24  and corner holders  50 , which may be diagonal oriented straps and which are referred to as “straps” in this disclosure, attached to the bottom surface  24  at corners so as to provide loops for securement of the sheet  10  to a support  90  such as a cot, when in use. In the exemplary embodiments, the fabric portion  20  is configured to be substantially rectangular so as to have opposite first and second long edges  26  and  28 , opposite first and second short edges  30  and  32 , and four corners  34 . As such, four straps  50  are attached diagonally, substantially at a forty-five degree angle, to the bottom surface  24 , one at each of the four corners  34  and such straps or similar structure and positioning has been found to be essential to successfully meeting the objectives of the invention. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that numerous other configurations of the fabric portion  20  are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, such as square, rectangular, oval, circular, and trapezoidal. The fabric portion  20  may be formed from a fleece, cotton, or other fabric suitable for resting on or under. The straps  50  are attached to fabric  20  by stitching at opposing ends of the straps to the bottom surface  24 . It will be appreciated that the straps  50  may also be removably attached at one or both ends using snaps, hooks, hook and loop type material, or other such engagement devices now known or later developed. The straps  50  may be of elastic material such as rubber, or braided, knitted or woven cotton, nylon, polypropylene or polyester, and may alternately be relatively inelastic. With continued reference to  FIG. 1 , at least one securement band  36  is preferably attached at the second short edge  32  such that the fabric portion  20  may be rolled from the first short edge  30  toward the second short edge  32  and secured as a roll by the securement bands  36  when the blanket apparatus  10  is not in use, as explained in more detail below, and as shown in  FIG. 5 . The bands  36  are shown and described as an elastic material that is attached at both ends to the second short edge  32  so as to form a loop that can be stretched about the rolled fabric portion  20 , though it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that, just as with the straps  50 , the bands  36  may be formed from a variety of other materials and attached to secure the fabric portion  20  as a roll, through snaps, hooks, hook and loop type material, or other such engagement devices at one or both ends of the bands  36 . A handle  38  is also attached at the second short edge  32  for carrying the blanket apparatus  10  when rolled up and not in use. The handle  38  may be formed from a separate and different material than the bands  36 , or the handle  38  and bands  36  may be formed from a single, continuous piece of material attached along the second short edge  32 . Again, the handle  38  may be attached by stitching, snaps, hooks, hook and loop type material, or other such engagement devices now known or later developed. The exemplary embodiments of the blanket apparatus  10  further include a pillow  60  attached at the first short edge  30  of the fabric portion  20  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . As best shown in  FIG. 3  in section, the pillow device  60  includes a sleeve  62  enclosing a resilient core  66 . The sleeve  62  is configured as a substantially enclosed tube attached to and extending from the first short edge  30 , and the sleeve  62  provides an aperture  64  which enables the core  66  to be inserted into the sleeve  62 . The core  66  may be formed from a number of resilient materials such as conventional foam or latex. The aperture  64  is selectively closed through a zipper  68 , or snaps, hooks, hook and loop type material, or other such devices now known or later developed, so as to selectively contain the core  66  within the sleeve  62 . Thus, if the core  66  is to be removed for laundering the sleeve  62 , for example, or replaced due to wear or simply as a matter of material choice, or if no pillow is desired and the core  66  is to be removed altogether, the core  66  is easily accessed within the aperture  64 . A flap  70  is attached over the aperture  64  to make the blanket apparatus  10  safer, more comfortable, and more attractive and to conceal and protect the zipper  68 . 
   In use, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the blanket apparatus  10  of the present invention is spread over the support  90 , such that the bottom surface  24  is laid upon an upwardly-facing support surface  92  ( FIG. 1 ) of the support  90 . To temporarily secure the blanket apparatus  10  in position and prevent it from sliding or slipping off the support  90 , at least two of the diagonal straps  50  attached to the bottom surface  24  of the fabric portion  20  are hooked about corners  94  of the support  90 . It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that where a cot or other such support device  90  is employed in combination with the blanket apparatus  10 , it is advantageous that the support  90  be configured with four corners  94  that extend laterally beyond the legs  96  so that the corners  94  are accessible for the securement of the straps  50  thereunder. With the blanket apparatus  10  so laid on a support  90 , the pillow  60  is positioned along the first short edge  30  of the fabric portion  20  so as to be conveniently located for support of a user&#39;s head resting on the blanket apparatus  10 . If the pillow  60  is not used, the user may simply shift herself toward the second short edge  32  of the fabric portion  20  to position her head clear of the pillow  60 . The pillow  60  may also be pivoted about the first short edge  30  so as to hang therefrom out of the way. Or, as explained above, the pillow core  66  may be removed from the pocket  62  altogether. As the blanket apparatus  10  is in use, the bands  36  and the handle  38  simply dangle from the second short edge  32  out of the way of the user resting on the upper surface  22  of the fabric portion  20 . When the user is through resting on the blanket apparatus  10  and would like to take the blanket apparatus  10  with her, the user would get up and unhook the straps  50  from under the corners  94  of the support  90 . The blanket apparatus  10  can then be rolled up from the first short edge  30  toward the second short edge  32  about the pillow device  60  as shown in  FIG. 4 . The blanket apparatus  10  is secured as a roll by binding the rolled blanket apparatus  10  with the bands  36  attached at the second short edge  32  as shown in  FIG. 5 . In the exemplary embodiment, this would be accomplished by stretching the looped bands  36  about the rolled blanket apparatus  10 . The user may then carry the rolled blanket apparatus  10  by the convenient handle  38 . Alternately, the rolled blanket apparatus  10  may be placed into a carrier  80  as shown in  FIG. 11 , and transported as a back pack. Preferably, the carrier  80  is of clear plastic material in the form of a cylinder with one end  82  of the cylinder closed by a zipper  68 ′ and has dual shoulder straps  84  mounted in parallel and extending from the one end  82  to the opposing end  83 . 
   In the preferred embodiment, the blanket apparatus  10  is folded along its length prior to rolling. With reference now to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the fabric portion  20  has a fabric width defined by the length of the first and second short edges  30  and  32 . Furthermore, the pillow  60  is formed having a pillow width that is preferably between one-third and one-half of the fabric width in dimension, the pillow  60  being attached at the first short edge  30  along the pillow width so as to be substantially centered on the first short edge  30 . As such, before rolling the blanket apparatus  10 , the first and second long edges  26  and  28  of the fabric portion  20  are folded inwardly along the length of the fabric portion  20  so as to configure the blanket apparatus  10  with a folded width of between one-third and one-half the blanket width, or a folded width substantially equal to the pillow width and centered on the pillow  60 . In this way, as the folded blanket apparatus  10  is rolled about the pillow  60  toward the second short edge  32 , as best shown in  FIG. 4 , the fabric portion  20  is gathered circumferentially about the pillow  60  to form a compact roll no wider than the pillow  60  itself. When the roll is then bound by the straps  36 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , the straps  50  formed on the bottom surface  24  of the fabric portion  20  are concealed as well, protecting the straps  50  from being inadvertently pulled or damaged when the blanket apparatus  10  is not in use. 
   Turning now to  FIG. 6 , we find that in a further preferred embodiment, the fabric portion  20  may be configured having a width essentially double that of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 . In this way, the fabric portion  20  may be folded in half such that the first and second long edges  26  and  28  are substantially adjacent and are offset from an opposite folded edge  40  so as to form a half width defined by the portions of the first and second short edges  30  and  32  between the respective first and second long edges  26  and  28  and the folded edge  40 . 
   In  FIG. 7  we find that the corner holders may be pockets  50 ″ instead of straps  50  for improved engagement with support  90 . It is shown also, that pillow  60  is preferably split so that it may be opened up and laid onto the sheet  10  ( FIG. 8 ), closed and positioned to extend beyond support  90  ( FIG. 9 ), or closed and positioned over the end of support  90  ( FIG. 10 ). In  FIGS. 8–10  we see that the pillow  60  is preferably split in uneven portions with the portion to the left in  FIG. 8 ,  60 ′ being the larger and the portion to the right in  FIG. 8 ,  60 ″ being the smaller. When the user lies on the pillow  60  as positioned in  FIG. 8 , the larger portion  60 ′ supports the neck of the user, while the portion  60 ″ supports the head of the user, and this relationship is advantageous to the user as it supports the neck and head in a natural manner. The two portions  60 ′ and  60 ″ are able to be folded together and joined using hook and loop material fasteners for instance, as shown.  FIG. 10  shows the pillow  60  of  FIG. 9  oriented in an alternate attitude. Clearly, sleeve  62  for the pillow  60  may be a continuation of the fabric of sheet  10 , or may be formed from a separate length of cloth with the sheet  10  attached separately as shown in  FIGS. 8–10 . 
   The enablements described in detail above are considered novel over the prior art of record and are considered critical to the operation of at least one aspect of the apparatus and its method of use and to the achievement of the above described objectives. The words used in this specification to describe the instant embodiments are to be understood not only in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition in this specification: structure, material or acts beyond the scope of the commonly defined meanings. Thus if an element can be understood in the context of this specification as including more than one meaning, then its use must be understood as being generic to all possible meanings supported by the specification and by the word or words describing the element. 
   The definitions of the words or drawing elements described herein are meant to include not only the combination of elements which are literally set forth, but all equivalent structure, material or acts for performing substantially the same function in substantially the same way to obtain substantially the same result. In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the elements described and its various embodiments or that a single element may be substituted for two or more elements in a claim. 
   Changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalents within the scope intended and its various embodiments. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements. This disclosure is thus meant to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually equivalent, what can be obviously substituted, and also what incorporates the essential ideas. 
   The scope of this description is to be interpreted only in conjunction with the appended claims and it is made clear, here, that each named inventor believes that the claimed subject matter is what is intended to be patented.

Technology Category: a