EP0858748A2

EP0858748A2 - Leisure article

Info

Publication number: EP0858748A2
Application number: EP98300970A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Adrian Richards
Original assignee: Morrison Andrew Robert
Current assignee: Morrison Andrew Robert
Priority date: 1997-02-12
Filing date: 1998-02-10
Publication date: 1998-08-19
Also published as: GB9702842D0; EP0858748A3

Abstract

A leisure article which is convertible from a first working position in which the article is utilised as a carrying bag, for example, a sports holdall, to a second working position wherein the carrying bag is partially disassembled to provide a lounger of a size to accommodate a person thereon. Once formed, the lounger may be inflated if required.

Description

This invention relates to apparatus for use as a leisure article. The invention is particularly, but not exclusively, applicable for use at the beach, at the side of a swimming pool or any area where people chose to relax and/or sun bathe.

A problem which arises when relaxing and sunbathing both outdoors and indoors, for example at the large leisure complexes now available, is finding a comfortable surface on which to recline. Although facilities such as sun loungers may be provided at commercial establishments and on some beaches, these are often in short supply and demand often exceeds supply. It is, of course, impractical for bathers to provide their own sun lounger due to the difficulties of transporting large items of this type. Accordingly, people often compromise by using a towel or the like spread out on the ground. The disadvantage of this is that the user is in close contact with the beach, the ground, pool side etc rather than being raised above it and as a result may become covered with sand, water or the like. In addition, the surface may be hard, undulating and uncomfortable.

Accordingly, there is a requirement for the provision of a leisure article which alleviates the problems discussed above, and an object of the present invention is to provide improvements in one or more of the matters discussed herein and/or generally.

According to the present invention there is provided a leisure article, namely a carrying bag, which provides a lounger or lying/reclining surface for the user.

In preferred embodiment there is provided apparatus which is convertible from one working position in which the article is utilised as a carrying bag, such as a sports holdall, to a second working position wherein said carrying bag may be partially temporarily disassembled such that said bag is converted to provide a sun lounger or lying/reclining surface of a size to accommodate a person wholly or partially thereon.

The bag comprises a base, side panels, end panels and a top or closure means. A carrying handle is also provided which may be secured to the side walls. The side and end walls are hingedly connected to the base along one edge, means are provided, such as zips, hook and loop type fastening eg.VELCRO (Registered Trade Mark), or any other suitable means for releasably securing the edges of the side panels to the edges of the end panels. One of the side walls may be formed with a top or closure element which may take the form of a flap formed integrally therewith, or have a top or closure element hingedly connected thereto. This acts as a lid to close the cavity of the bag when required.

Secured to the article, for example bonded thereto are at least one, and preferably two elements adapted to be inflated if required. Said inflatable elements are formed from suitable plastics or rubber materials. One inflatable element may be secured to the closure lid, and the second to the side walls and base elements. Each inflatable element may be inflated by means of a suitable valve through which the user introduces air or the like into the elements. One of the inflatable elements may be adapted to provide a head rest or pillow when inflated.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the inflatable elements located within suitable sleeves or pockets formed on the closure/lid, side walls and base elements. Locating the inflatable elements within pockets enables the elements to be removed if required, for example if the element requires repair or replacement. In this further embodiment the inflatable elements may be inserted into said pockets or sleeves in an inflated or deflated condition. The sleeves or pockets may be provided on either surface of the article such the inflatable elements may be located on the upper surface as the article is arranged for use, or else on the lower surface thereby further away from the user.

By providing such inflatable elements, the lounger or lying surface may be inflated prior to use to provide additional comfort for the user.

In use, during the journey to the required destination, the user will employ the article in its first working attitude as a carrying bag to aid transportation of those items required during the leisure period, such as towels, swimwear etc. On reaching the required destination, the user opens the closure lid and empties the bag in the usual manner. To convert the bag into a lounger, the fastening means joining the side wall and end wall panels together may be unfastened enabling these panels to be separated thus "opening up" the carrying bag and enabling it to be flattened out and laid substantially horizontally on the ground in its second working position as a lounger. The second working position thus provides a surface on which the user may recline or sit. When the article is in this second working position, the inflatable elements may now be inflated as required to provide additional comfort for the user.

The provision of pockets or sleeves to receive the inflatable elements provide the advantages that the user is not lying directly on an inflatable element which is generally formed from a rubber or plastics material and which may therefore become hot and uncomfortable, and in the event that an inflatable element should become punctured this can be removed and repaired and/or replaced.

The end panels of the article may be provided with one or more storage pockets either bonded thereto or else or releaseably secured to the end panels. During the time the article is used as a carrying bag, the pockets will serve the usual storage function. When the article is "opened out" to form the lounger, the end panels may be folded under the main body of the article when it is opened up to form a lounger. As the pockets are located on the end panels these too can be folded under the body of the lounger and thus hidden from sight. Said pockets thereby provide a reasonably secure location to store money, jewellery etc. in the event the user wishes to leave the lounger for a short period. Alternatively, the pockets may be removed from the article by undoing the fastening means. Once removed the pockets form a self-contained pouch which the user can take with them.

In a still further embodiment of the invention, the lounger may be provided with means which serve to anchor it to the ground in order to prevent it being blown away in windy conditions. Anchoring means may comprise loops, holes or hooks formed in the body on the lounger adapted to receive pegs or poles, said pegs or poles being pushed into the ground thereby anchoring the lounger.

The anchoring pegs or poles may also be adapted to support a windbreak if required. Said windbreak may be provided on an inertia reel adapted to be unwound and secured to said anchoring pegs or poles if required.

In addition to being adapted for use with a conventional windbreak, the lounger may be adapted for use with a windbreak which is narrower than conventional windbreaks. Such a windbreak would be used to provide shelter for a reclining user and accordingly does not need to be as tall as a conventional windbreak.

When the lounger is no longer required, the inflatable elements may be fully or partially deflated and the carrying bag reassembled by means of re-attaching the fastening means.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows the article arranged in the first working attitude as a carrying bag;

Figure 2 shows a plan view of the article in the second working position as a lounger;

Figure 3 shows diagrammatically a plan view of the inflatable elements; and

Figure 4 shows a side view of the inflatable elements.

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the article in the second working position as a lounger when inflated and, illustrating the anchoring pegs together with a windbreak.

As shown in Figure 1 an embodiment of the invention comprises a leisure article 8 arranged in a first working attitude as a carrying bag 10. Said bag 10 is formed with side panels 12, a base 14 and end panels 16. Formed integrally with or secured to a side panel 12 is a top or closure means 18. Said side panels 12 and end panels 16 are bonded to or hingedly connected to the base 14. Fastening means are provided to releasably secure the side panels 12 and the end panels 16 together along their corresponding edges 20. Said bag may also be formed with a carrying handle 22 which is releasably connected to the end panels 16. The top or closure means 18 when in a closed position extends to the opposite side wall panel 12 thus forming a lid and may be releasably secured to the opposite side panel with suitable fastening means 19 thereby closing the cavity of the bag 10.

In use, the bag 10 can be employed to transport any articles required during the planned leisure period. The bag 10 may then be opened and emptied, and the fastening means 20 releasably securing the side panels 12 and end panels 16 to one another are unfastened. The carrying handle 22 may also be removed. Disconnecting the edge fastenings allows the carrying bag 10 to be "opened out" and arranged in a substantially flat position in the second working position as a lounger 21 as shown in Figure 2.

Once in the second working position,

inflatable elements

22, 24 may be inflated as required by means of

suitable valves

26a, 26b. At least one inflatable element 22 may be adapted to form a headrest 28 for said lounger 21 when inflated. Said headrest 28 may be upstanding from the inflatable element 22 from which it is formed as shown in Figures 3 and 4.

The

inflatable elements

22, 24 may also be formed with channels or indentations 32. Said channels 32 serve to aid the folding of the inflatable elements when the article is converted between the different working positions.

In a further embodiment of the invention

inflatable elements

22, 24 may be located within suitably formed pockets or sleeves (not shown) provided on the article. In this embodiment, the

inflatable elements

22, 24 may be inserted into the pockets or sleeves as required either in an inflated or deflated condition.

The end panels 16 may be adapted to form closable pockets 30. These pockets may be folded under the main body of the article 8 when in the second working position as a lounger thus removing them from view.

The lounger 21 may also be formed with loops, holes or hooks 34 adapted to receive pegs or poles 36 which can be pushed into the ground, thus serving to anchor the lounger 21 and prevent it from blowing away in windy conditions.

The pegs or poles 36 may also be adapted to support a windbreak 38 if required. Said windbreak 38 may be stored on an inertia reel 40 which may be unwound and secured to the pegs as required.

When the article 8, in the second working position forming a lounger 21, is no longer required one or both

inflatable elements

22, 24 may be fully or partially deflated, and the article reassembled into the carrying bag 10.

Accordingly, embodiments of the invention thus provide an inexpensive, lightweight leisure article which has a duel function providing both carrying and lounging facilities whilst being easy to transport.

Claims

Leisure apparatus characterised in that said apparatus is convertible between a first working position as a carrying bag is and a second working position as a lounger or lying/reclining surface of a size to accommodate a person thereon.
Leisure apparatus comprising a carrying bag which may serve as a lounger or lying/reclining surface.
Apparatus according to claim 1 characterised in that in said first working position as a carrying bag, said bag comprises a base, side panels, end panels, a top or closure means and carrying handle.
Apparatus according to claim 3 characteised in that fastening means are provided for releasably securing said side panels to said end panels.
Apparatus according to claim 4 characterised in that said apparatus is convertible into a second working attitude by said carrying bag being adapted to be partially disassembled by separation of the side and wall panels.
Apparatus according to claim 5 characterised in that the carrying bag is adapted to be disassembled by separation of the side and end panels whereby said panels of the carrying bag can be opened out and arranged in a substantially horizontally to form a lounger.
Apparatus according to claims 3 to 6 characterised in that said fastening means comprises zips, hook and loop type fasteners or any other suitable means.
Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims characterised in that said article is inflatable.
Apparatus according to claim 8 characterised in that said article is provided with inflatable elements which may be bonded to or formed integrally therewith.
Apparatus according to claim 8 characterised in that said inflatable elements are discrete from said article and located in pockets or sleeves formed in the article.
Apparatus according to claim 3 characterised in that said end panels are formed with storage means in the form of pockets permanently or releasably secured thereto.