US3477552A - Combination mat and tote bag - Google Patents

Description

1969 v H. s. GOLDMAN COMBINATION MAT AND -TOTE :BAG

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 8, 1967 INVENTOR H rberr S.Goldman b-wfi/dz b ATTORNEY Nbv. 11, 1969 H; s. GOLDMAN 3,477,552

COMBINATION MAT AND 'TOTE BAG Filed 8, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet z v INVENTOR. Herberr $.Goldman United States Patent 3,477,552 COMBINATION MAT AND TOTE BAG Herbert S. Goldman, Westfield, N.J., assignor to Acme Quilting Company, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Aug. 8, 1967, Ser. No. 659,191 Int. Cl. A47e 17/82; A47g 9/00 US. Cl. 190-2 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A combination mat and tote bag comprising a flexible mat symmetrical about a central transverse fold line. The mat is foldable about spaced longitudinal and transverse fold lines which define center panels on each side of the central fold line. Each center panel mounts a pocket so that when the mat is folded along the fold lines the pockets are located exteriorly of the mat to provide a storage area. Means are also provided for carrying the mat and for maintaining the mat in a folded condition so that it can be used as a tote bag.

This invention relates generally to a combination mat and tote bag and, more particularly, relates to an article which may be used as a mat and which maybe folded into a compact unit in which articles may be stored.

Presently a problem is normally encountered when a person desires to spend a day at the beach, for example. Thus, in addition to taking food and refreshments, the average person also takes a blanket or a similar article along on which he can lie. Thus, the number and the types of packages a person is requiredto carry to spend a day at the seashore usually provides a source of annoyance because of their cumbersomeness. Moreover, the problem is compounded even further in those cases when a mother takes a child along because of the numerous articles she must take for the infants needs.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an article for carrying various items which may be unfolded to provide a mat.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mat which may be folded easily into a'compact unit to facilitate carrying of the same.

Another object and feature of the present invention resides in the novel details of construction which provide an article of the type described wherein the mat remains in folded condition until it is ready to be opened, thereby to prevent the accidental unfolding of the mat.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a combination mat and tote bag which is simple in construction and economic to produce.

In furtherance of the above objects, the article of the present invention comprises a mat foldable along a central transverse fold line. The mat is further foldable along spaced longitudinal and transverse fold lines which define center panels on each side of the central fold line. Provided on the center panels are respective pockets. The pockets are positioned to be located on the outside of the mat when the mat is folded along the fold lines.

' Patented Nov. 11, 1969 Accordingly, the article provides a combination mat and bag wherein various items may be stored in the pockets.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an article constructed according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof, showing the mat partially folded;

FIGS. 3-5 are side elevational views thereof with parts broken away, showing the mat at different stages during the folding of the same;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the article completely folded; and

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the folded article of the present invention.

A combination mat and tote bag constructed in accordance with the present invention is designated generally by the reference numeral 10 in the figures and includes a mat 12 having an outer surface 14 and an inner surface 16. In practice the outer surface 141 may comprise a layer of plastic or otherwise waterproof material and the inner surface may be fabricated from a layer of cotton material; the two layers being connected together by a continuous binding strip 18 and appropriate intermediate stitching (not shown). However, it is to be noted that this selection is by Way of example only and is not to be interpreted as being a limitation on the present invention. That is, the mat 12 may be fabricated from any type of foldable material.

As shown clearly in FIG. 1, the mat 12 is adapted to be folded along a central transverse fold line 20, a pair of spaced longitudinal fold lines 22 and 24 which extend the entire length of the mat 12, a pair of spaced transverse fold lines 26 and 28 on one side of the central fold line 20, and a pair of spaced transverse fold lines 30 and 32, located at the other side of the central fold line 20. In practice, the fold lines 20-32 are defined in the mat 12.

- The mat 12 is symmetrical about the central fold line 20. Moreover, the relative spacing between adjacent fold lines decreases from the central line 20 outwardly. For example, the spacing between the fold lines 20 and 26 is greater than the spacing between the fold lines 26 and 28. Moreover, the spacing between the line 28 and the edge of the mat 12 is less than the distance between the lines 26 and 28. The reason for the inequality of spacing between adjacent transverse fold lines will become apparent from a consideration of the folding operation described below.

Defined between the fold lines 20, 26, 22 and 24 is a center panel 34 which is located on one side of the central fold line 20. Located on the other side of the central fold line 20 is a center panel 36 which is defined by the fold lines 20, 30, 22 and 24. Provided on the center panels 34 and 36 are respective pockets 38 and 40, which are substantially equal in area to the panels 34 and 36. The pocket 38 comprises a layer of material superposed over the panel 38 and connected thereto by a line of stitching 42 which extends adjacent the fold lines 22 and 24 and the central fold line 20. The opening of the pocket 38 is located adjacent the fold line 26.

Similarly, the pocket 40 comprises a layer of material superposed over the panel 36 and is connected thereto by a line of stitching 44 which extends adjacent to the fold lines 22, 24 and 20. Accordingly, the opening of the pocket 40 is located adjacent the fold line 30.

Carrying straps 46 and 48 are provided so that the article easily may be carried over the shoulder thereby freeing the hands of the user. The ends of the carrying strap 46 are connected to the center panel 34 adjacent the fold lines 24 and 2.2,respectively, by the stitching 42. In other words, the ends of the strap 46 are received between the layer forming the pocket 38 and the panel 34 and the stitching 42 serves to connect both elements to the mat 12. In a similar manner, the stitching 44 connects the ends of the strap 48 to the center panel 36 adjacent the fold lines 22 and 24, respectively.

Also connected to the center panel 34 and extending laterally in opposed directions therefrom, in spaced relationship to the central fold line 20, is a pair of ribbons 50 and 52. The ribbon 50 is connected to the panel 34 adjacent to the fold line 22 and the ribbon 52 is connected to the panel 34 adjacent to the fold line 24. Moreover, the ribbons 50 and 52 are connected to the panel 34 by the stitching 42. That is, the ends of the ribbons 50 and 52 are received between the layer of material forming the pocket 38 and the stitching 42 extends through the layer and the ribbons. Alternately, the ribbons and the ends of the strap 46 may be superposed on one another and connected to the panel 34 at the same point. Hence, it is to be noted that the stitching 42 serves to connect the strap 46, the ribbons 50 and 52 and the layer of material forming the pocket 38 to the center panel 34.

Likewise, a pair of ribbons 54 and 56 is connected to the center panel 36 in spaced relationship to the central fold line by the stitching 44. The ribbons 54 and 56 are respectively positioned adjacent the longitudinal fold lines 22 and 24 and extend laterally outwardly in opposed directions from the panel 36. Moreover, the distance between the ribbons 50 and 52 and the central fold line 20 is equal to the distance between the fold line 20 and the ribbons 54 and 56.

Defined between the longitudinal fold line 22 and the edge of the mat 12 is a flap 58. A flap '60 is defined by the fold line 24 and the opposite edge of the mat. When it is desired to fold the mat 12 into a compact unit to facilitate carrying the same, or to form the mat 12 into a tote bag, the mat is positioned with the surface 14 face down. The flap 58 is folded over on the surface 16 along the fold line 24 and the flap 60 is folded over the surface 16 along the fold line 22. Thus, the folded mat 12 will now appear as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Thereafter, the respective end portions of the mat are folded over along the transverse fold lines 28 and 32. Thus, the left-hand portion of the mat 12 will appear as shown in FIG. 4, it being understood that the right-hand portion of the mat will be similar in appearance. Moreover, since the distance between fold lines 26 and 28 is greater than the distance between the fold line 28 and end of the mat, the end of the mat will be in spaced relationship to the fold line 26. The same relationship will apply to the other end of the mat and the fold line 30.

Thereafter, the folded over end portions of the mat 12 are again folded over along the fold lines 26 and so that the mat will now appear as shown in FIG. 5. It will now be apparent that since the ends of the mat are spaced from the respective fold lines 26 and 30, these latter folds easily may be made albeit the mat has substantial thickness due to the folded- overflaps 58 and 60.

The mat is now folded along the central fold line 20 so that one-half of the mat is superimposed on the other half of the mat. It will now be appreciated that the pockets 38 and will be located on the exterior of the mat with the open ends of the pockets uppermost. Additionally, the ribbons 52, 56 and 50, 54 will be positioned opposite each other. Accordingly, the ribbons 52 and 56 may be tied together and the ribbons 50, 54 may be tied together to maintain the mat 12 in the folded condition shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

Thus, the user may now place articles to be transported into the pockets 38 and 40 and place the straps 46 and 48 over the shoulder whereby the article 10 functions as a tote bag. When the user arrives at the destination, such as the seashore, the articles may be removed from the pockets and the mat opened up by reversing the above-described procedure, whereby the mat 12 may be used as an article upon which to lie. When it is desired to leave the beach, the mat is again folded into a tote bag and the articles are replaced into the pockets 38 and 40.

Accordingly, an article has been described which may function as both a tote bag or a mat thereby to decrease the number of packages a person must carry when they wish to go to the seashore and the like.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described herein it will be obvious that numerous omissions, changes and additions may be made in such embodiment without departing from the spirit'and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A mat and the like comprising a mat of foldable material, said mat being foldable along a central transverse fold line, spaced longitudinal fold lines and at least a pair of spaced transverse fold lines on each side of said central fold line to define at least a center and a pair of outer panels, the distance between adjacent transverse fold lines decreasing in a direction from said central transverse fold line outwardly to facilitate folding of said mat, a first pair of ribbons connected to said center panel on one side of said central fold line in spaced relationship to said central fold line, each one of said first pair of ribbons being positioned adjacent to a different one of said longitudinal fold lines, a second pair of ribbons connected to the center panel on the other side of said central fold line in spaced relationship to said central fold line, each one of said second pair of ribbons being positioned adjacent a different one of said longitudinal fold lines, said first and second pair of ribbons being positioned so that when said mat is folded along said longitudinal and transverse fold lines each one of said first pair of ribbons is opposite a different one of said second pair of ribbons, whereby said opposed ribbons are tied together to maintain said mat folded, and at least one carrying strap connected to said mat, one end of said strap being connected to said mat adjacent one ribbon of said first pair of ribbons, the other end of said strap being connected to said mat adjacent the other one of said first pair of ribbons, and at least one pocket connected to said mat, said pocket comprising a layer of material connected to said center panel adjacent said longitudinal and central fold lines and being substantially equal in area to said center panel, said strap and said ribbons being received between said layer of material and said center panel, and stitches connecting said layer of material, said strap and said first pair of ribbons to said center panel whereby the opening of said pocket is in a direction outwardly of said central fold line.

2. A mat as in claim 1, in which said mat includes a waterproof surface, said ribbons being connected to said waterproof surface.

3. A combination mat and tote bag including a mat symmetrical about a central transverse fold line; each half of said mat being foldable about a pair of spaced longitudinal fold lines and a pair of spaced transverse fold lines, a center panel defined by said longitudinal, central and one of said pair of transverse fold lines, and a pocket on said center panel, whereby when said mat is folded inwardly along said fold lines, said pocket is positioned exteriorly of the mat, a pair of ribbons connected to each center panel, each one of said pair of ribbons being positioned adjacent a different longitudinal fold line, whereby respective ones of said pairs of ribbons are tied together when said that is folded to maintain 5 said mat in a folded condition, a respective strap connected to each center panel, each end of said straps being positioned adjacent a different longitudinal fold line, said pocket comprising a layer of material superposed over' said center panel,v a line of stitching connecting said layer of material to saidcmat along said longitudinal and central fold lines, said line of stitching also extending through said strap and said ribbons to connect said strap and said ribbons with said center panel.

6 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1966 Great Britain.

US. Cl. X.R.

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