Combined tote-bag, seat cushion, blanket

Abstract

A multi-purpose device capable of assuming a plurality of configurations, including a first configuration suitable for use as a tote-bag or single-person seat-cushion, a second configuration suitable for use as a two-person seat cushion, and a third configuration suitable for use as a blanket or cape. The device includes a soft body, a first strap and optional second strap on the soft body, and a first fastener assembly and an optional second fastener assembly on the soft body, such as a zipper(s), for retaining the device in the first configuration.

1 . A multi-purpose device capable of being converted into a plurality of configurations including a first configuration, a second configuration, and a third configuration, the device comprising: 
 a first sidewall having a length and a width;    a substantially opposed second sidewall having a length and a width;    a bottom surface joining the first sidewall to the second sidewall along the widths of the sidewalls;    a handle attached to the first sidewall; and    a first fastener assembly located along the lengths of the first and second sidewalls;    wherein in the first configuration, the first fastener assembly joins the first sidewall to the second sidewall thereby forming an interior compartment of a tote bag;    wherein in the second configuration, the first fastener assembly is unfastened and the first sidewall is rotated away from the second sidewall to form a first substantially flat surface having an area greater than an area of either the first sidewall or the second sidewall; and    wherein in the third configuration, at least one of the first sidewall and the second sidewall are extended, thereby forming a second surface having an area greater than the area of the first substantially flat surface.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first sidewall comprises a plurality of layers of a soft body, and the second sidewall comprises a plurality of layers of the soft body.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a pocket located on the first sidewall.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface is integrally formed with the first and second sidewalls.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the handle includes a first end and a second end, and the handle is attached to the first sidewall at the first end and at the second end.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a second handle attached to the second sidewall.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first fastener assembly has a first end and a second end, and further comprising a second fastener assembly having a first end and a second end, and being parallel to the first fastener assembly, and 
 wherein the handle is attached to the first sidewall at an area located between the first end of the first fastener assembly and the first end of the second fastener assembly.    
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first fastener assembly comprises a zipper.  
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first fastener assembly comprises a fastener selected from the group consisting of hook and loop fasteners, button and hole fasteners, tie and hole fasteners, and snap fasteners.  
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first fastener assembly is located on an edge of the first sidewall, and further comprising a second fastener assembly located on an opposite edge of the first sidewall.  
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first fastener assembly is also located along the width of the first sidewall at an opening of the interior compartment.  
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first sidewall and the second sidewall comprise a padded material.  
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first sidewall and the second sidewall comprise a thermal insulating material.  
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein in the first configuration, the first sidewall and the second sidewall each have seven layers.  
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein in the second configuration, the first substantially flat surface has forms a seating area sized to support two people sitting on the first substantially flat surface.  
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the second surface of the third configuration comprises a single layer.  
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is further adapted to be converted into a fourth configuration, the fourth configuration being a cape.  
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 17 , comprising two handles located on the second surface in the third configuration and spaced apart to accommodate arms of a person.  
   
   
       19 . A multipurpose device capable of being converted into a plurality of configurations including a first configuration, a second configuration, and a third configuration, the device comprising: 
 a soft body having a first surface, a second surface generally opposing the first surface, a first end edge, and a second end edge spaced apart from the first end edge, a first side edge and a second side edge, the first and second side edges extending from the first end edge toward the second end edge of the soft body, and an area greater than an area of a sidewall of the device in the first configuration;    a fastener assembly located on the first surface, the fastener assembly having a first end, a second end spaced apart from the first end, and a central region located between the first end and second end of the fastener assembly, the central region located substantially along a midline of the soft body; and    a handle attached to the soft body at a location in proximity to the first end of the fastener assembly,    wherein in the first configuration, the fastener assembly is located on opposing edges of a sidewall and joins a first sidewall to a second sidewall thereby forming an interior compartment of a tote bag,    wherein in the second configuration, the fastener assembly is unfastened and is located on an outer edge of the soft body; and    wherein in the third configuration, the fastener assembly is spaced away from the edges of the soft body.    
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the soft body, in a completely unfolded configuration, is rectangular.  
   
   
       21 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the first end of the fastener assembly is spaced away from the first end edge of the soft body, and the second end of the fastener assembly is spaced away from the second end edge of the soft body.  
   
   
       22 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the soft body has a width, and the fastener assembly is located a distance from the first side edge of the soft body approximately equal to one-quarter of the width of the soft body.  
   
   
       23 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the soft body has a width, and the fastener assembly is located a distance from the first side edge of the soft body approximately equal to one-half of the width of the soft body.  
   
   
       24 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the fastener assembly comprises a zipper.  
   
   
       25 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the fastener assembly comprises a fastener selected from the group consisting of hook and loop fasteners, button and hole fasteners, tie and hole fasteners, and snap fasteners.  
   
   
       26 . The device of  claim 19 , comprising a first fastener assembly and a second fastener assembly located on the first surface so that the first fastener assembly and the second fastener assembly are parallel to each other.  
   
   
       27 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein the first fastener assembly and the second fastener assembly are parallel to the first side edge and second side edge of the soft body.  
   
   
       28 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein the handle is attached to the first surface of the soft body between the first end of the first fastener assembly and the first end of the second fastener assembly.  
   
   
       29 . The device of  claim 19 , comprising a first handle and a second handle, wherein the first handle is attached in proximity to the first end of the fastener assembly, and the second handle is attached to the soft body in proximity to the second end of the fastener assembly.  
   
   
       30 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the soft body is substantially flat.  
   
   
       31 . A method for transforming a multi-purpose device into a plurality of configurations including a tote-bag, a seat cushion, and a blanket, the method comprising the steps: 
 providing a multi-purpose device capable of being converted into a plurality of configurations including a first configuration, a second configuration, and a third configuration, the device comprising: a soft body; a first handle on the soft body; and a first fastener assembly, wherein in the first configuration the soft body is arranged to have a bottom and sidewalls which together define outer walls and an interior compartment, the interior compartment having inner surfaces and an open top, wherein the first fastener assembly is positioned on the soft body such that when retaining the device in the first configuration, approximately equal portions of the soft body are on opposite sides of the interior compartment, wherein the first handle is attached to a sidewall of the soft body when the device is in the first configuration, wherein the second configuration is formed by unfastening the first fastener assembly and expanding the soft body whereby the interior compartment is eliminated; wherein in the third configuration the soft body is fully expanded to form a substantially flat surface,    forming the first configuration suitable for use as a tote-bag;    forming the second configuration suitable for use as a seat cushion; and    forming the third configuration suitable for use as a blanket.    
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising placing the device on a person for use as a cape.