Convertible Blanket Adapted to Form a Tote Bag

This invention relates to a blanket which is constructed and arranged to be formed into a tote bag or the like. A blanket is normally carried to a beach or picnic ground in a tote bag along with foodstuffs and sundry articles. Such a blanket is bulky and thus takes up an appreciable amount of space in the bag to restrict its ability to carry other items.

An object of this invention is to provide a non-complex and economical convertible blanket which is adapted to be expeditiously formed into a receptacle, such as a tote bag. The blanket comprises a generally flat and flexible sheet of material defining a bottom panel, a pair of first and second side panels and a pair of first and second end panels. Closure means are secured on one side of the material to permit such panels to be folded and connected together to form such receptacle. In the preferred embodiment of this invention, such closure means comprises four zippers or the like and carrying means in the form of a plurality of closed loops are secured to upper ends of the side panels to provide means for attaching handles thereto when the blanket is formed into a receptacle.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the tote bag embodying this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a convertible blanket adapted to be formed into the tote bag illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of carrying means attached to the blanket and adapted to have a handle attached thereto; and

FIGS. 4 and 5 sequentially illustrate the folding and connecting together of various panels of the blanket during formation thereof into the FIG. 1 tote bag.

FIG. 1 illustrates a receptacle 10, such as a tote bag, adapted to be formed from the flat and flexible sheet of fabric material illustrated in FIG. 2. Such fabric material is preferably suitably treated to render it semi-stiff, such as a heavy-duty denim material, to permit the tote bag to stand upright of its own accord in its FIG. 1 disposition. The blanket comprises a bottom panel 11, a first side panel 12, a second side panel 13, a first end panel 14 and a second end panel 15.

First, second, third and fourth closure means 16-19, respectively, are secured on one side of the blanket to selectively form the panels into the tote bag. Each of the closure means preferably constitutes a zipper comprising a pair of cloth tapes 20 and 21 disposed in perpendicular relationship relative to each other and each having first and second sets of zipper teeth or connecting means 22 and 23 formed on the free edges thereof. A standard slide 24 is adapted to be moved diagonally between the tapes to couple the teeth of each closure means together. It should be understood that other suitable types of closure means could be employed in lieu of the zippers, such as "VELCRO" fasteners, buttons and button holes, or conventional plastic-type zippers wherein a pair of non-toothed beaded edges are coupled together by a slide.

It should be noted that tapes 20 are disposed in laterally spaced and parallel relationship relative to each other whereas tapes 21 of closure means 16 and 18 as well as tapes 21 of closure means 17 and 19 are also disposed in parallel relationship relative to each other to define end panels 14 and 15, respectively. Thus, when each slide is moved diagonally away from the point of intersection of a respective pair of tapes 20 and 21, an edge of a side panel will be connected to an edge of an end panel. In particular, closure means 16 functions to connect the edges of panels 12 and 14 together, closure means 17 connects the edges of panels 12 and 15 together, closure means 18 connects the edges of panels 13 and 14 together and closure means 19 connects the edges of panels 13 and 15 together.

Carrying means, preferably in the form of a pair of loops 25, are secured to an upper end of each side panel 12 and 13 by a tape 26 and stitchings 27. The loops are laterally spaced on each side panel and each loop is adapted to receive a releasable snap ring 28 therein (FIG. 3). The snap ring is adapted to be opened to permit the mounting of a looped end of a handle 29 therein to facilitate carrying of the FIG. 1 tote bag.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate sequential steps during the formation of the FIG. 2 blanket into the tote bag illustrated in FIG. 1. It should be noted that the excess fabric disposed outside of tapes 20, 21 and 26 may be suitably folded and placed within the tote bag to form a liner therein. In fact, a separate pocket or gusset fold is formed at each corner of the bag from a web 30 of material disposed between each pair of tapes 20 and 21 for a respective closure means.

Upon carrying of the tote bag to a beach or the like, handle 29 may be suitably removed therefrom by unsnapping rings 28 and the zippers unzipped to reform the tote bag into the FIG. 2 flattened blanket condition. If so desired, a plurality of suitably disposed holes each reinforced by a grommet 31, can be formed through the blanket to adapt them for connection to handle 29, a rope or draw string (not shown) or other suitable carrying means.