Multi-article and multifunctional travel accessory

Abstract

A multi-article and multifunctional travel accessory that enables user-selective employ, either individually or in combination, of various articles of comfort, including a pillow, blanket, lumbar support, hand cozy, foot cozy, and/or seat cushion. The present invention is particularly characterized by its provision of a structurally compact or bundled arrangement of the foregoing listed articles; thereby, facilitating expeditious assembly, disassembly, and carriage of same.

1 . A travel accessory, said accessory comprising: 
 a first multifunctional-article; and,    a second multifunctional article, said second multifunctional article receivable by said first multifunctional article.    
   
   
       2 . The travel accessory of  claim 1 , wherein said first multifunctional article is structurally interchangeable between a tubular configuration and a flat, planar configuration.  
   
   
       3 . The travel accessory of  claim 2 , wherein said first multifunctional article is brought into said tubular configuration by cooperatively engaging a first fastener portion with a second fastener portion, said first and said second fastener portions disposed opposite one another.  
   
   
       4 . The travel accessory of  claim 2 , wherein said tubular configuration of said first multifunctional article functions as a personal comfort device, said personal comfort device selected from the group consisting of a pillow, a seat cushion, a back cushion, a cushion, a lumbar support, a hand cozy, a foot cozy, and a combination thereof.  
   
   
       5 . The travel accessory of  claim 2 , wherein said flat, planar configuration of said first multifunctional article functions as a personal comfort device, said personal comfort device selected from the group consisting of a pillow, a seat cushion, a back cushion, a cushion, a lumbar support, a hand cozy, a foot cozy, and a combination thereof.  
   
   
       6 . The travel accessory of  claim 1 , wherein said first multifunctional article is structurally interchangeable from a tubular configuration to a flat, planar configuration via disengagement of a fastener assembly, said fastener assembly comprising a first portion and a second portion, said first and second portions carried by opposing ends of said first multifunctional article.  
   
   
       7 . The travel accessory of  claim 1 , wherein said first multifunctional article is structurally interchangeable from a flat, planar configuration to a tubular configuration via cooperative engagement of a fastener assembly, said fastener assembly comprising a first portion and a second portion, said first and second portions carried by opposing ends of said first multifunctional article.  
   
   
       8 . The travel accessory of  claim 1 , wherein said second multifunctional article is structurally interchangeable between a tubular configuration and a flat, planar configuration.  
   
   
       9 . The travel accessory of  claim 8 , wherein said second multifunctional article is brought into said tubular configuration by cooperatively engaging a first fastener portion with a second fastener portion, said first and said second fastener portions disposed opposite one another.  
   
   
       10 . The travel accessory of  claim 8 , wherein said tubular configuration of said second multifunctional article functions as a personal comfort device, said personal comfort device selected from the group consisting of a pillow, a seat cushion, a back cushion, a cushion, a lumbar support, a hand cozy, a foot cozy, and a combination thereof.  
   
   
       11 . The travel accessory of  claim 8 , wherein said flat, planar configuration of said second multifunctional article functions as a personal comfort device, said personal comfort device selected from the group consisting of a pillow, a seat cushion, a back cushion, a cushion, a lumbar support, a hand cozy, a foot cozy, and a combination thereof.  
   
   
       12 . The travel accessory of  claim 1 , wherein said second multifunctional article is structurally interchangeable from a tubular configuration to a flat, planar configuration via disengagement of a fastener assembly, said fastener assembly comprising a first portion and a second portion, said first and second portions carried by opposing ends of said second multifunctional article.  
   
   
       13 . The travel accessory of  claim 1 , wherein said second multifunctional article is structurally interchangeable from a flat, planar configuration to a tubular configuration via cooperative engagement of a fastener assembly, said fastener assembly comprising a first portion and a second portion, said first and second portions carried by opposing ends of said second multifunctional article.  
   
   
       14 . The travel accessory of  claim 1 , wherein said first and said second multifunctional article are each structurally interchangeable between a tubular configuration and a flat, planar configuration, and wherein said second multifunctional article is received by, and removably retained within, said first multifunctional article when said first multifunctional article comprises said tubular configuration.  
   
   
       15 . The travel accessory of  claim 14 , further comprising a blanket, wherein said blanket is received by, and removably retained within, said second multifunctional article when said second multifunctional article comprises said tubular configuration.  
   
   
       16 . The travel accessory of  claim 1 , wherein said second multifunctional article comprises a pocket, said pocket engageable over at least a portion of a seat, and wherein the at least a portion of a seat is selected from the group consisting of a seat back, a seat bottom, and a combination thereof.  
   
   
       17 . The travel accessory of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first and said second multifunctional articles comprises a removable outer covering disposed over a pad member.  
   
   
       18 . The travel accessory of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first and said second multifunctional articles comprises a durable, waterproof exterior side, and a soft interior side.  
   
   
       19 . The travel accessory of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first and said second multifunctional articles comprises a strap, said strap selected from the group consisting of a shoulder strap, a suitcase strap, and a combination thereof.  
   
   
       20 . A travel accessory, said accessory comprising: 
 a multifunctional article.    
   
   
       21 . The travel accessory of  claim 20 , wherein said multifunctional article is structurally interchangeable between a tubular configuration and a flat, planar configuration.  
   
   
       22 . The travel accessory of  claim 21 , wherein said multifunctional article is brought into said tubular configuration by cooperatively engaging a first fastener portion with a second fastener portion, said first and said second fastener portions disposed opposite one another.  
   
   
       23 . The travel accessory of  claim 21 , wherein said tubular configuration of said multifunctional article functions as a personal comfort device, said personal comfort device selected from the group consisting of a pillow, a seat cushion, a back cushion, a cushion, a lumbar support, a hand cozy, a foot cozy, and a combination thereof.  
   
   
       24 . The travel accessory of  claim 21 , wherein said flat, planar configuration of said multifunctional article functions as a personal comfort device, said personal comfort device selected from the group consisting of a pillow, a seat cushion, a back cushion, a cushion, a lumbar support, a hand cozy, a foot cozy, and a combination thereof.  
   
   
       25 . The travel accessory of  claim 21 , wherein said multifunctional article is structurally interchangeable between a tubular configuration and a flat, planar configuration via selectively disengaging and re-engaging a fastener assembly, said fastener assembly comprising a first portion and a second portion, said first and second portions carried by opposing ends of said multifunctional article.  
   
   
       26 . The travel accessory of  claim 20 , comprising at least one additional multifunctional article, wherein said at least one additional multi-functional article is functionally equivalent to said multifunctional article.  
   
   
       27 . The travel accessory of  claim 26 , wherein said at least one additional multifunctional article is received by, and removably retained within, said multifunctional article when said multifunctional article comprises a tubular configuration.  
   
   
       28 . The travel accessory of  claim 27 , further comprising a blanket, wherein said blanket is receivable by, and removably retainable within, said at least one additional multifunctional article.  
   
   
       29 . The travel accessory of  claim 20 , wherein said multifunctional article comprises a pocket, said pocket engageable over at least a portion of a seat, and wherein the at least a portion of a seat is selected from the group consisting of a seat back, a seat bottom, and a combination thereof.  
   
   
       30 . The travel accessory of  claim 20 , wherein said multifunctional article comprise a removable outer covering disposed over a pad member.  
   
   
       31 . The travel accessory of  claim 20 , wherein said multifunctional article comprises a durable, waterproof exterior side, and a soft interior side.  
   
   
       32 . The travel accessory of  claim 20 , wherein said multifunctional article comprises a strap, said strap selected from the group consisting of a shoulder strap, a suitcase strap, and a combination thereof.  
   
   
       33 . A method of compacting a plurality of articles of comfort, said method comprising the steps of: 
 a. selecting a plurality of articles of comfort, wherein at least one article of said plurality of articles functions as a multi-purpose personal comfort device, said multi-purpose personal comfort device selected from the group consisting of a pillow, a seat cushion, a back cushion, a cushion, a lumbar support, a hand cozy, a foot cozy, and a combination thereof; and,    b. sequentially enveloping and wrapping each article of said plurality of articles, one over the other, to yield an approximately cylindrical configuration.