Folding carrying pack apparatus and method

Abstract

A folding carrying pack apparatus for conversion between a carrying pack and a comfort pad and between a comfort pad and a poncho, and a method of converting the carrying pack to and from the comfort pad, and of converting the comfort pad to and from the poncho, generally including a preset folding pattern. The apparatus includes a main body having a hollow interior, shoulder straps and side flaps for generally retaining the main body in a carrying pack form. The main body generally includes a front flap and rear flap that is maintained by an upper and lower strap set. The strap sets and the side flaps may be opened and the main body folded outwards into a comfort pad. An opening may then be formed in the comfort pad for use as a poncho, including a hood.

1 . A comfort pad apparatus for conversion into a carrying pack or a garment, the comfort pad apparatus comprising: 
 a planar pad having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a central longitudinal axis extending in a length direction;    a set of shoulder straps connected to said lower surface and straddling said longitudinal axis of said planar pad;    at least one closure strap connected to said lower surface and disposed proximate said longitudinal axis and proximate a peripheral edge of said planar pad;    a set of side flaps each connected to said lower surface at said longitudinal axis; and    an opening disposed in said planar pad disposed therethrough.    
   
   
       2 . The comfort pad apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said upper surface comprises an insulating lining.  
   
   
       3 . The comfort pad apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said lower surface comprises at least one of a water-repellent material and a water-impermeable material.  
   
   
       4 . The comfort pad apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a hood disposed proximate said opening.  
   
   
       5 . The comfort pad apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said hood is disposed between said upper surface and said lower surface, and wherein said hood comprises an outer surface disposed proximate said lower surface, said outer surface being at least one of durable, water-repellent, water-impermeable, and wind-resistant.  
   
   
       6 . The comfort pad apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said hood is disposed between said upper surface and said lower surface, and wherein said hood comprises an inner surface disposed proximate said upper surface, said inner surface being at least one of soft, thermally-insulating, and breathable.  
   
   
       7 . The comfort pad apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said opening is releasably sealable via closure means.  
   
   
       8 . The comfort pad apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said opening comprises a first opening disposed through said upper surface, and a second opening disposed through said lower surface.  
   
   
       9 . The comfort pad apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising at least one closure means for releasable closing at least one of said first opening and said second opening.  
   
   
       10 . A method for converting between a carrying pack and a garment, the method comprising the steps of: 
 unfolding a carrying pack, said carrying pack comprising a substantially unitary sheet of material; and    utilizing an opening disposed through said unitary sheet of material to form a garment adapted to be worn by a user.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said step of utilizing comprises releasing at least one releasably sealable closure means associated with at least one opening formed in said unitary sheet.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of disposing at least a portion of a body of a user through said opening to wear said garment.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the at least a portion of a body of a user comprises a head of a user, and wherein said garment comprises a poncho.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of covering the head of the user with a hood, said hood being disposed on said garment.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of extracting a hood from within said comfort pad through said opening.  
   
   
       16 . A method for converting between a comfort pad and a garment, the method comprising the steps of: 
 releasing at least one releasably sealable closure means of at least one opening to form an opening disposed through said comfort pad; and    extracting a hood from an enclosed portion of said comfort pad, said hood being disposed proximate said opening to form a garment.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of disposing said garment on a user such that at least a portion of a body of the user is disposed through said opening.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said enclosed portion is a space between a first surface of said comfort pad and a second opposite surface of said comfort pad, and wherein the step of extracting comprises removing said hood from said space through said opening.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of releasing comprising releasing a first releasably sealable closure device operably associated with a first opening in a first surface of said comfort pad, and releasing a second releasably sealable closure device operably associated with a second opening in a second surface of said comfort pad, said second opening disposed proximate said first opening.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of extracting comprises pushing at least a portion of a body of a user through said opening to contact at least a portion of said hood disposed within said opening and pushing said hood through said opening, thereby extracting said hood from within said opening.