Combination beach towel and knapsack

Abstract

A combination beach towel and knapsack in which the towel has a storage pocket or compartment at its top. The storage pocket has two clasp or similar fastening devices inside of the pocket. There are two drawstrings around the perimeter of the top of the pocket that when pulled, draws the top of the storage pocket into a closed position. The ends of the drawstrings are provided with fasteners. When the towel is to be folded and placed into the storage position, the storage pocket is turned inside out. The towel is folded or stuffed into the inverted pocket and the drawstrings are pulled. The fasteners at the ends of the drawstrings are received by the clasps and securely retained. Each drawstring functions as a shoulder strap to be worn over the user's shoulder. The storage pocket also has room to store miscellaneous small items such as suntan lotion and a radio. A separate compartment can also be provided inside of the pocket to securely store small items such as money or keys.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A combination towel and knapsack comprising: 
 a towel having top and bottom portions;    a pocket at the top portion of the towel, the pocket having an open top;    fastener means disposed inside of the pocket when the towel is in a first unfolded orientation and disposed on the outside of the pocket when the towel is in a second folded orientation when the pocket is turned inside out;    a channel formed at the open top of the pocket;    closure means for closing the open top, the closure means comprising at least one drawstring having first and second ends, the first end retained in the channel;    complementary fastener receiving means disposed at the second end of the drawstring and adapted for engaging the fastener means when the pocket is turned inside out;    whereby the first end of the drawstring is retained in the channel at the top portion of the towel and the second end is engaged by the fastener means forming a carrying strap when the towel is in the second folded orientation.    
     
     
         2 . The combination towel and knapsack of  claim 1  wherein the closure means comprises a pair of drawstrings, each drawstring having the first end retained in the channel and two complementary fastener receiving means disposed at the second end, and two fastener means disposed inside of the pocket which are engaged by the complementary fastener receiving means when the towel is in the second folded orientation when the pocket is turned inside out.  
     
     
         3 . The combination towel and knapsack of  claim 2  wherein the two fastener means are each comprised of a clasp attached to the inside of the pocket.  
     
     
         4 . The combination towel and knapsack of  claim 3  wherein the complementary fastener receiving means comprises a knot tied at the second end of each of the pair of drawstrings, the knots adapted to be received by one of the clasps.  
     
     
         5 . The combination towel and knapsack of  claim 3  wherein the complementary fastener receiving means comprises a ring attached to the second end of each of the pair of drawstrings, the rings adapted to be received by one of the clasps.  
     
     
         6 . The combination towel and knapsack of  claim 1  and further comprising a waterproof liner disposed on the inside of the pocket.  
     
     
         7 . The combination towel and knapsack of  claim 1  and further comprising a compartment disposed inside of the pocket, the compartment having an open side with closure means for closing the open side.  
     
     
         8 . The combination towel and knapsack of  claim 1  and further comprising a personal item compartment disposed on the towel, the personal item compartment having an open side for allowing access to the personal compartment, and closure means for closing the open side.  
     
     
         9 . The combination towel and knapsack of  claim 1  wherein the pocket is formed by a pocket patch of material attached to a surface of the towel along three sides, with the open side defining the open top.  
     
     
         10 . A combination towel and knapsack comprising: 
 a towel having top and bottom portions;    a pocket panel having a plurality of sides, one of the sides being a top, the pocket panel affixed to the towel along all of its sides except the top, the affixed pocket panel defining a pocket with an open top;    a channel disposed around the open top;    fastener means disposed inside of the pocket when the towel is in a first unfolded orientation, and disposed outside of the pocket when the pocket is turned inside out;    a pair of drawstrings retained in the channel for selectively pulling the open top from an open to a closed position, each drawstring having a first end retained in the channel and a second end remote from the channel,    complementary fastener receiving means at the second end of each drawstring, the complementary fastener means adapted for engaging the fastener means when the pocket is turned inside out; and    a pair of carrying straps formed by the first end of the drawstring being retained in the channel and the second end being engaged by the fastener means.    
     
     
         11 . The combination towel and knapsack of  claim 10  wherein the channel is formed from a portion of the pocket panel and portion of the towel folded over and attached to itself.  
     
     
         12 . The combination towel and knapsack of  claim 10  wherein the fastener means are comprised of at least two clasps attached to the inside of the pocket.  
     
     
         13 . The combination towel and knapsack of  claim 10  wherein the complementary fastener receiving means comprises a knot tied at the second end of each drawstring, the knots adapted to be received by one of the fastener means.  
     
     
         14 . The combination towel and knapsack of  claim 10  wherein the complementary fastener receiving means comprises a ring attached to the second end of each drawstring, the rings adapted to be received by one of the fastener means.  
     
     
         15 . The combination towel and knapsack of  claim 10  and further comprising a waterproof liner disposed on the inside of the pocket.  
     
     
         16 . The combination towel and knapsack of  claim 10  and further comprising a compartment disposed inside of the pocket, the compartment having an open side with closure means for closing the open side.  
     
     
         17 . The combination towel and knapsack of  claim 10  and further comprising a personal item compartment disposed on the towel, the personal item compartment having an open side for allowing access to the personal item compartment, and closure means for closing the personal item compartment.  
     
     
         18 . A combination towel and knapsack comprising: 
 a rectangular towel with top and bottom portions;    a pocket disposed at the top of the towel, the pocket having an open top that is in parallel alignment with the top of the towel;    a channel disposed about the open top;    entrance and exit openings for allowing access to the channel;    a drawstring with one end disposed within the channel and a second end remote from the channel, the drawstring entering the channel through the entrance opening and leaving the channel through the exit opening;    fastener means disposed inside of the pocket when the towel is in a first unfolded orientation, and disposed outside of the pocket when the towel is in a second folded orientation with the pocket turned inside out;    the second end of the drawstring adapted for engaging the fastener means when the pocket is in the second folded orientation;    whereby when the towel is in the second position, the drawstring has one end in the channel and the second end engaged by the fastener means thereby forming a carrying strap adapted to be worn over a user's shoulder.    
     
     
         19 . The combination towel and backpack of  claim 18  and further comprising a second drawstring with one end disposed within the channel and a second end remote from the channel, the second drawstring entering the channel through the entrance opening and leaving the channel through the exit opening, the second end of the second drawstring adapted for engaging the fastener means when the pocket is in the second orientation, the first and second drawstrings forming a pair of carrying straps adapted to be worn over the user's shoulders.  
     
     
         20 . The combination towel and backpack of  claim 19  wherein the fastener means comprise a pair of clasps adapted for receiving the second end of the drawstrings when the towel is in the second orientation.