Reconfigurable/convertible personal carry bag for electronic device that doubles as seat cushions, back rests, and/or lap or desktop cushions

Abstract

A personal carry bag includes two opposed panels, at least one panel having a cushioned interior for selective use as one or more of a seat cushion, a back rest for use on an existing seat back, or a working surface for placement on a user's lap, a chair, bench, table, or ground surface. The personal carry bag also includes a zipper that interconnects respective perimeters of the two opposed panels when the zipper is closed to form a sealed compartment and which enables the two opposed sections to be physically separated when the zipper is opened and be individually used as one or more of the seat cushion, back rest, or working surface. The opposed panels include a semi-rigid, pliable cushion providing structure to the carry bag, protection for items placed inside, support for a user's body when a corresponding panel is used as a seat cushion or backrest.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A personal carry bag comprising:
 two opposed panels, at least one comprising a cushioned interior for selective use of the at least one panel as one or more of a seat cushion, a back rest for use on an existing seat back, a working surface for placement on a user's lap, a chair, a bench, a table, or on a ground surface; and   a zipper that interconnects respective perimeters of the two opposed sections when the zipper is closed to form a sealed compartment and which enables the two opposed panels to be physically separated when the zipper is opened and be individually used as one or more of the seat cushion, back rest, or working surface.   
     
     
         2 . The personal carry bag of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the two opposed panels comprises:
 an exterior surface material stitched or otherwise secured at a perimeter edge to an interior surface material; and   a semi-rigid, pliable cushion disposed between the exterior surface material and the interior surface material, the cushion providing structure to the carry bag, protection for items placed inside the compartment, support for a user's body when a corresponding panel is used as a seat cushion or backrest, and a heat barrier when the corresponding panel is used as a lap desk for a heat generating electronic device.   
     
     
         3 . The personal carry bag of  claim 2 , wherein the cushion is at least one of a solid foam, a memory foam, a sponge, or other pliable material that provides responsive cushioning support to a user. 
     
     
         4 . The personal carry bag of  claim 1 , wherein the zipper comprises:
 a first half of a zipper chain attached to a perimeter edge of a first panel of the two opposed panels;   a zipper slider with a pull tab permanently attached to the first half of the zipper chain; and   a second half of the zipper chain attached to a perimeter edge of a second panel of the two opposed panels, the second half of the zipper chain terminating at one end with an end connector for inserting into the zipper slider to enable the zipper to be closed;   the zipper chain having a start end at which the zipper slider connects with the end connector of the second half of the zipper chain and the zipper chain extends around the entire perimeter of the personal carry bag past the start end, whereby a terminating end of the zipper chain overlaps the start end of the zipper chain when the zipper is in a fully closed position;   the zipper enabling the first panel to be fully detached from the second panel when the zipper is fully-opened and the end connector is removed from the zipper slider; and   the zipper further enabling the first and the second panels to sealably interconnect with each other along the perimeter edge when the zipper is fully closed, providing a compartment that extends along opposed first and second interior surfaces of the first and second panels, respectively.   
     
     
         5 . The personal carry bag of  claim 1 , further comprising a wrap-around strap having two outer ends coupled at opposed perimeter edges of an associated one of the panels and two inner ends that terminate in oppose interlocking parts of a buckle, the wrap-around strap used to secure the at least one of the panels to a seat or seat back. 
     
     
         6 . The personal carry bag of  claim 5 , wherein the wrap-around strap is made of an elastic material and stretches to accommodate different dimensions of seats and seat backs, and wherein the wrap-around strap can be buckled on an interior and on an exterior of the associated panel. 
     
     
         7 . The personal carry bag of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first and the second exterior surface material each comprises a non-porous, weather resistant, durable material; and   the first and the second interior surface material each comprises a soft, plush fabric or material for user comfort.   
     
     
         8 . The personal carry bag of  claim 1 , wherein:
 at least one of the panels is designed for use as a seat cushion, the at least one panel comprising a plurality of attachment affordances made of fabric and stitched into the interior surface or perimeter edge of the at least one panel; and   the personal carry bag comprises an accessory sleeve design for attaching to at least one of the plurality of attachment affordances and extend off the side or front of the seat to enable user access to one or more pockets within the accessory sleeve.   
     
     
         9 . A method for making a dual use personal carry bag, the method comprising:
 providing two opposed panels, with at least one panel having a cushioned interior for selective use as one or more of a seat cushion, a back rest for use on an existing seat back, or a working surface for placement on a user's lap, a chair, bench, table, or ground;   attaching sides of a zipper to respective perimeters of the two opposed panels, the zipper interconnecting the perimeters of the two opposed panels when the zipper is closed to form a sealed compartment and which enables the two opposed sections to be physically separated when the zipper is opened and be individually used as one or more of the seat cushion, back rest, or working surface.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 forming the at least one panel with an exterior surface material stitched or otherwise secured at a perimeter edge to a next perimeter edge of an interior surface material and a semi-rigid, pliable cushion disposed between the exterior surface material and the interior surface material, the cushion providing structure to the carry bag, protection for items placed inside the compartment, support for a user's body when a corresponding panel is used as a seat cushion or backrest, and a heat barrier when the corresponding panel is used as a lap desk for a heat generating electronic device;   wherein the exterior surface material comprises a non-porous, weather resistant, durable material; and   wherein the interior surface material comprises a soft, plush fabric or material for user comfort.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein forming the at least one panel comprises:
 attaching to the at least one of the panels that is designed for use as a seat cushion, a plurality of attachment affordances made of fabric and stitched into the interior surface or perimeter edge of the at least one panel, the plurality of attachment affordances for receiving an attachment by an accessory sleeve that is designed for attaching to at least one of the plurality of attachment affordances and extend off the side or front of the seat to enable access to one or more pockets within the accessory sleeve.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 attaching a wrap-around strap comprised of two segments each having an outer end connected to opposed perimeter edges of an associated one of the panels and an inner end that terminates in oppose interlocking sections of a buckle, the wrap-around strap used to secure the at least one of the panels to a seat or seat back, the wrap-around strap being made of an elastic material that stretches to accommodate different dimensions of seats and seat backs, and the wrap-around strap being able to be buckled on an interior and on an exterior of the associated panel.   
     
     
         13 . A personal carry bag for holding and securely carrying larger personal items, the personal carry bag comprising:
 a first panel comprising a first exterior surface material stitched or otherwise secured at a perimeter edge to a first interior surface material, with a first cushion disposed therebetween;   a second panel similarly comprising a second exterior surface material stitched or otherwise secured at a perimeter edge to a second interior surface material with a second cushion disposed therebetween, the second panel being opposed to the first panel, with the second interior surface material facing the first interior surface material, when the personal carry bag is in a closed position;   a zipper extending around an entire perimeter of each of the first panel and the second panel, the zipper attached to each perimeter to enable the personal carry bag to be selectively configured in the first configuration as a carry bag with the zipper in a substantially fully closed or slightly opened position, a second configuration with the zipper in a partially opened position, enabling removal of an inserted electronic device, then a third configuration with the zipper in a fully opened position enabling separation of the first panel from the second panel, providing a pair of comfort cushions for use as at least one of a seat cushion, a backrest cushion, a working surface for a lap, a seat-top, a tabletop or a ground or floor placement.   
     
     
         14 . The personal carry bag of  claim 13 , wherein the zipper comprises:
 a first half of a zipper chain attached to an entire perimeter edge of the first panel;   a zipper slider with a pull tab permanently attached to the first half of the zipper chain;   a second half of the zipper chain attached to an entire perimeter edge of the second panel, the second half of the zipper chain terminating at one end with an end connector for inserting into the zipper slider to enable the zipper to be closed;   wherein: the zipper enables the first panel to be fully detached from the second panel when the zipper is fully-opened and the end connector is removed from the zipper slider; and the zipper further enables the first and the second panels to sealably interconnect with each other along the perimeter edge when the zipper is fully closed, providing a compartment that extends along the opposed first and second interior surfaces.   
     
     
         15 . The personal carry bag of  claim 14 , wherein the zipper chain has a start end at which the zipper slider connects with the end connector of the second half of the zipper chain and extends around the entire perimeter of the personal carry bag past the start end, whereby a terminating end of the zipper chain overlaps the start end of the zipper chain when the zipper is in a fully closed position. 
     
     
         16 . The personal carry bag of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the cushion is a semi-rigid, but pliable cushion that provides structure to the first panel and the second panel, respectively, and protects the electronic device placed on an inside compartment of the personal carry bag from impact; and   the cushion comprises at least one of a solid foam, a memory foam, a sponge, or other pliable material that provides responsive cushioning support to a user.   
     
     
         17 . The personal carry bag of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the first and the second exterior surface material each comprises a non-porous, weather resistant, durable material;   the first and the second interior surface material each comprises a soft, plush fabric or material for user comfort.   
     
     
         18 . The personal carry bag of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 at least one wrap-around strap having two outer ends coupled at opposed perimeter edges of an associated one of the panels and two inner ends that terminate in oppose interlocking parts of a buckle, the wrap-around strap selectively used to secure the associated panel to a seat or seat back and hold the corresponding panel in place.   
     
     
         19 . The personal carry bag of  claim 18 , wherein the wrap-around strap is made of an elastic material and stretches to accommodate different dimensions of seats and seat backs, and the wrap-around strap can be buckled on an interior and on an exterior of the associated panel. 
     
     
         20 . The personal carry bag of  claim 13 , wherein:
 at least one of the panels is designed for use as a seat cushion, the at least one panel comprising a plurality of attachment affordances made of fabric and stitched into the interior surface or perimeter edge of the at least one panel; and   the personal carry bag comprises an accessory sleeve design for attaching to at least one of the plurality of attachment affordances and extend off the side or front of the seat to enable access to one or more pockets within the accessory sleeve.