Camping gear with integral storage compartment

Abstract

Camping gear has a storage bag permanently attached thereto which provides an internal storage chamber for receiving and storing the camping gear therein when the gear is in a collapsed position. A pocket is secured to a surface of the gear and the storage bag is secured at one end within the pocket and stored therein when not in use. Prior to placing the camping gear in the collapsed position, the storage bag is pulled from the pocket and is either rolled over the collapsed gear for placing the gear within the storage chamber or the collapsed gear is inserted into the storage chamber of the bag through an elongated opening formed in the bag. An opening can be formed in one end of the bag for inserting the gear into the storage chamber and is closed by a drawstring. A handle or strap is attached to the storage bag for carrying the camping gear after being placed in the storage bag.

1 . Camping gear with an integral storage bag comprising:
 a piece of camping gear moveable between an expanded useable position and a collapsed storage position; and   a storage bag permanently attached to said camping gear, said storage bag having an opening communicating with a storage chamber formed within said bag, said camping gear being insertable through said bag opening and into said storage chamber when in the collapsed position.   
   
   
       2 . The camping gear defined in  claim 1  wherein the storage bag includes a closure for closing the bag opening after the camping gear is inserted into the storage chamber. 
   
   
       3 . The camping gear defined in  claim 2  wherein a pocket is affixed to the camping gear; and in which the storage bag is securely attached within the pocket and is expandable therefrom for receiving the camping gear when the gear is in the collapsed storage position. 
   
   
       4 . The camping gear defined in  claim 3  wherein the camping gear is a foldable chair having a back rest; and in which the pocket is affixed on the back rest of the chair. 
   
   
       5 . The camping gear defined in  claim 4  when the storage bag opening is an elongated opening extending along the bag; and in which a loop and pile closure extends along at least a portion of said opening. 
   
   
       6 . The camping gear defined in  claim 3  wherein the storage bag has an elongated configuration with first and second opposed ends; in which the first end is secured within the pocket; and in which the bag opening is formed in the second end of said bag. 
   
   
       7 . The camping gear defined in  claim 1  including a carrying strap attached to the storage bag for carrying the camping gear when the gear is stored in the storage chamber of said bag. 
   
   
       8 . The camping gear defined in  claim 1  including a drawstring extending about the opening of the storage bag for closing said opening after the camping gear is in the storage chamber. 
   
   
       9 . The camping gear defined in  claim 1  when the camping gear is a sleeping bag having an outer shell forming an internal sleeping compartment; in which a pocket is formed on the outer shell; and in which the storage bag is fixed within and expandable from within the pocket for insertion over the sleeping bag when the bag is in a rolled collapsed position. 
   
   
       10 . The camping gear defined in  claim 9  wherein storage bag has a drawstring for closing the bag opening after the rolled sleeping bag is located within the storage chamber of the bag. 
   
   
       11 . The camping gear defined in  claim 10  wherein the storage bag has an elongated tubular configuration with a length greater than the length of the sleeping bag when the sleeping bag is in the rolled collapsed position to completely enclose said sleeping bag within the storage chamber of the storage bag. 
   
   
       12 . The camping gear defined in  claim 1  wherein the storage bag has an elongated tubular configuration with first and second opposite ends; in which the first end is affixed to the camping gear; in which the second end is formed with the opening; and in which the bag is collapsible upon itself and secured in the collapsed position on the camping gear. 
   
   
       13 . A collapsible portable article wherein said article is moveable between an expanded useable position and a collapsed storage position; said article including a storage bag permanently attached to said article, said storage bag having an opening communicating with a storage chamber formed within said bag, said article being insertable through said bag opening and into said storage chamber when in the collapsed position. 
   
   
       14 . The article defined in  claim 13  wherein the storage bag includes a closure for closing the bag opening after the article has been inserted into the storage chamber; in which a pocket is affixed to the article; and in which the storage bag is securely attached within the pocket and is expandable therefrom for receiving the article when the article is in the collapsed storage position. 
   
   
       15 . The article defined in  claim 13  in which a carrying strap is attached to the storage bag for carrying the article when stored in the storage bag. 
   
   
       16 . The article defined in  claim 13  wherein the bag has an elongated configuration with a length greater than the length of the article when in the collapsed storage position whereby said collapsed article is completely enclosed within the storage bag. 
   
   
       17 . A method of storing a piece of camping gear when in a collapsed position including the steps of:
 providing a storage bag securely attached to the camping gear and forming an internal storage chamber;   expanding the storage bag to an elongated configuration;   inverting the expanded storage bag and pulling the bag over the camping gear when the gear is in the collapsed position to place the camping gear in the storage chamber.   
   
   
       18 . The method defined in  claim 17  including the step providing an end opening in a free end of the expanded storage bag; and closing said end opening by a drawstring after the collapsed camping gear has been placed in the storage chamber. 
   
   
       19 . The method defined in  claim 17  including the step of providing the camping gear with a pocket secured to an external surface of said camping gear; securing a first end of the storage bag to the camping gear; storing the storage bag within the pocket until being expanded into the elongated configuration and pulled over the camping gear. 
   
   
       20 . The method defined in  claim 17  including the step of providing a carrying strap on the storage bag.