US2543597A

US2543597A - Beach bag and canopy

Info

Publication number: US2543597A
Application number: US776823A
Authority: US
Inventors: William W Peery
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1947-09-29
Filing date: 1947-09-29
Publication date: 1951-02-27
Anticipated expiration: 1968-02-27

Description

Feb. 27, 1951 w. w. PEERY BEACH BAG AND CANOPY 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 29, 1947 INVENTOR.

PEE RY ATTORNEY WLLLIAM W Filed Sept. 29, 1947 INVENTOR. W PE E RY WILLIAM ATTORNEY Feb., 27, 1951 w. w. PEERY 2,543,597

BEACH BAG AND CANOPY Filed Sept. 29, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 IIII IIIII/ INVENTOR. WILLIAM w. PEERY ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 27, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to beach equipment and particularly to a structure'forming a combination beach bag or sun shade. This application is a continuation-in-part of applicants co-pending application entitled Bag for Beach or Sun Bathprovide a unit that is adapted for the safe storage of personal items while employed as a sun ing Use, Serial No. 635,016,, filed December 14,

1945, and abandoned on December 9, 1947.

When the average persons go to the beach they usually have quite a number of personal items and paraphernalia to carry along, both to the locale and to the beach proper. Normally, they will carry bathing suits, caps, sandals, robes, towels, blankets, pillows, lotions, papers, magazines, umbrellas, food or drink and other sports equipment, and the like. Then, after changing into their bathing suits they have most of these items plus cigarettes, compacts, purses, matches or lighters, watches, and if bath houses are not available, they may even have their clothes to carry and take care of while on the beach and swimming.

shade at the beach.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a sun shade unit having a folding canopy that is adjustable in order to permit regulation of its expansion in accordance with the position of the sun.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a sun shade unit including a canopy having a plurality of sides toform a wind break '2 and sand screen, and which may be anchored in position on the beach.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a unitary piece of equipment for the purpose described and which comprises "1 economy of construction, simplicity of design In the first place, the number of articles, both Y 3 large and small, that they must carry to the beach form cumbersome armloads that are difficult to carry and individual items may be dropped and broken or lost. Secondly, on the beach the various items are apt to be scattered about, invested with sand, damaged by water, kicked around by scampering children and Eroken or lost, and may even be stolen by passers- In an effort to overcome some of these difficulties, waterproof bags and the like have been provided for carrying the bathing suits and the like, but, obviously, these bags are not suitable for carrying the numerous other objects. In addition, folding or rollable sunshades and mats have been proposed to replace the umbrellas and the like, but these are no more compact and oifer only slightly more protection than the umbrellas. Furthermore, these sunshades are not adjustable for variable expansion in accordance with the location of the sun.

Having in mind the defects of the prior beach equipment, it is an object of the present invention to provide a single unit that will eliminate the need for a number of individual items and is capable of protectively enclosing all of the necessary items both in transportation to and from the beach and While on the beach.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a single unit that is capable of use as a beach bag for carrying the necessary paraphernalia to and from the beach, and also capable of use as a sunshade and mat at the beach.

It is another object of the present invention to the bottom forming a mat.

and efiiciency of operation.

The foregoing objects, and others ancillary thereto, are accomplished in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, by a device comprising a folding framework covered by sheet material and which may be expanded to form a sun shade or collapsed to form a bag. Specifically, the frame may comprise a plurality of U-shaped members having their respective ends pivotally connected and preferably adapted to be clamped in adjusted relation. This framework is completely covered, at its sides and between its cross bars, by-a sheet material such as waterproof canvas or the like. Thus, when the frame members are folded together the unit forms a bag and when they are expanded it forms a canopy. In other words the ends of the bag are the sides of the canopy and sides of the bag are the top and bottom of the canopy, Furthermore, the free edge of the bottom of the canopy is provided with fastening means and the free end of the top is provided with a flap including cooperating fastening means for closing the unit when employed as a bag.

Pockets are provided within the unit for protectively enclosing various personal items both when the device is used as a bag and as a sunshade. Rods are pivotally secured to the frame pivots and are adapted for embedding in the sand to anchor the canopy or for alignment to be secured together and form a handle. A pillow and mat sheet may be secured to the canopy bottom and the free corners of the mat sheet may be provided with anchor pins.

The novel features that are considered characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of a specific embodiment, when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout and in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a beach ba canopy, according to the present invention, in erected position for use as a canopy, part of the mat being broken away;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side View in elevation of the connecting part of the framework, the covering being removed for convenience of illustration;

Fig. 3 is an edge view in elevation of the structure shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 in Fig. 1;

Figure 5 is a side view in elevation of the device folded as a bag; 7

Figure 6 is an end view in elevation of the bag shown in Fig. 5;

Figure '7 is a top plan view of the canopy and mat, parts of the canopy being broken away for convenience of illustration;

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 8-8 in Figure 5, but showing a handle element and the closure flap before they reach bagforming positions; and

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary crosssectional view taken longitudinally through the handle structure for carrying the device when folded in bag form.

Referring now to the drawings, specifically Fig. 1, a combination beach bag and canopy may comprise, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a foldable framework A which is covered by sheeting B. The framework A preferably is formed by aplurality of U-shaped frames or bows l, 2 and 3, including

cross-members

4, 5 and 6, and side arm or leg members I, 8 and 9. The free ends ll] of the arm members 1, 8 and 9 are respectively connected for pivotal movement by bolts l l carrying thumb nuts I2 for holding the assembled frames back and in selected position. If desired, a folding brace 30, shown in Fig. 2, may be employed to supplement or replace the threaded pivots l l and thumb nuts l2. However, the latter elements are preferred as they facilitate adjustment of the canopy between its extreme positions.

The sheeting B, which preferably comprises waterproofed canvas or the like, is secured over and around the framework A and extends between the leg or arm members 9 of the bows 3 to form a panel l6, whichfunctions as the bottom or mat of the canopy or as one side of the bag. The sheeting then extends around the bottom cross-member 6 and up over the intermediate cross-member 5 to and around the top crossmember 5 thus forming the top and back of the canopy. The sheeting extends around the top cross-member 4 and back beneath itself forming adouble layer I! which functions as the other side of the bag when the device is folded. The lower layer I1 is secured to the upper layer 18" midway its length, as by stitching l8, and terminates in a fiap l8 which is provided along its free edge with suitable securing means [9 such as snap-fasteners. When the device is used as a canopy the flap [8 may be retained out of the way by connecting the fastening I9 by cooperating means carried by the upper panel or layer l8" as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. 7

On the other hand, when the device is used as a bag, the flap l8 may extend over the free edge 35 of the panel [6 and be secured thereto by fasteners [9 to form a closure for the bag.

The sheeting B extends over the sides of the bows I, 2 and 3 and between the leg or arm portions 1 and 9 to form panels 20 that function as the sides of the canopy and as ends of the bag.

The panels 20 are secured to the arm portions 1, 8 and 9 in any desired manner as by end loops 2| to fit over the arms I and 9 of the bows I and 3, and by a sleeve, formed by a strip of material 22, for receiving the arms 8 of the intermediate bow 2. Obviously, the sheeting may be secured by any other suitable means such as simple stitching through the material and around the bows.

A strip of sheeting 23 is sewed to the bottom panel 5 to provide

pockets

24 and 25, one or more of the pockets 25 being provided with a slide fastener 26 for closing the entrance thereto. These

pockets

24 and 25 are preferably attached to the panel l6 so that they will be in an upright position when the device is used as a bag, however, it is obvious that they may be formed on any of the other panels. These

pockets

24 and 25 are provided for protectively storing and carrying various articles such as purses, jewelry, cigarettes, toilet articles and the like. In addition to these

pockets

24 and 25, the space between the flap [8' and the panel [8" may be employed for storing flat articles when the device is used as a canopy. Furthermore, a mat 21, with or without a pillow 29, may be provided with the device and may, if desired, be secured to the panel 16 as by stitching 28, and the mat 21 may be provided at its free corners with stakes 34 for anchoring it in extended mat form position as shown in Fig. '7.

In addition to the bow ends I0, blocks l3 are also pivotally mounted on the bolts l I, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and support bars [4 by means of pivots l5. As shown in Fig. 1, the bars II are adapted for insertion and imbedding in the sand for anchoring and holding the canopy in a fixed position on the beach. These bars [4 may also be pivoted on their pins [5 into alignment in order to serve as a handle or bail when the device is in folded bag forming position, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. In the latter case, the bars M are held rigidly in alignment as best shown in Fig. 9 by a sleeve 3| that bridges their ends 32 and is retained in this position by spring biased locking dogs 33, one of which is mounted in each of the bars Hi. When it is desired to use the device as a canopy one of these dogs 33, is depressed and the sleeve 3| slid thereover and on to the bar proper, as shown in Fig. 1, the dog 33 thereby preventing the sleeve 3| from becoming detached from the bar I 4 and being lost.

In the operation of the present invention, when the device is to be employed as a bag as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 8, the bows l, 2 and 3 of the framework A are folded together about their pivots l I, the sheeting being folded between the bows in an accordion-like manner. If desired, snap-fasteners 36 or the like may be carried by the side or end panels 20 so that in folded position, the fasteners 36 may be secured to neatly maintain the folds of the material as shown in Fig. 6. The

ans-gees aligned, the sleeve 3| is slid over their aligned ends to rigidly retain them in alignment, the dogs 33 ineach" of meters" l4 abutting the oppositdends of the sleeve 31 to retain it iiipcsi' tion. obviously in-this-position the device'fo'rms a very roomybag-for enclosiri rid carrying all of the varioiis paraphernalia-p a bather;

On the otherhand; uponarrival" at the beach, when the device of the present invention is to be used asa canopy, as shown dEigs. l, 4 and 8, one of the dogs 33" is depressed and the sleeve slid thereover on to the respective bar I 4, the flap I8 is unfastened from the panel [6 and the bows I, 2 and 3 are expanded to the desired angle and secured by the thumb nuts IL. The bars l4 are embedded in the sand to anchor the canopy, and the mat 27 is spread out and anchored by the stakes or pins 34 to maintain it in a fixed relative position to the canopy on the ground surface. The flap I8 may be secured to the panel I B" and various articles stored in the

pockets

24 and 25. Thus it will be seen that the present invention provides comfort, security, convenience and orderliness to the bather and his property.

Although a certain specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is obvious that many modifications thereof are possible. The invention, therefore, is not to be retricted except insofar as is necessitated by the prior art and by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new, is:

1. In a combined beach bag and canopy rest, a plurality of frame forming bows, pivots connecting the corresponding ends of the arms of I said bows, means for retaining said bows in spaced relation, a flexible sheeting extending around said frame and being secured to said bows to form the the covering of a bag when said bows are folded and to form a canopy when said bows are spaced, said sheeting extending across one side of said frame to form a mat when said bows are spaced and to form the side of a bag when said bows are folded, with the portion between said pivots defining the free edge of said side and the top opening of said bag, and a flap positioned on the side opposite said one side, when said bows are spaced, said flap being shiftable so as to extend over the free edge of said side sheeting to close the bag when said bows are folded.

2, In a combined beach bag and canopy rest, a plurality of frame forming bows, pivots connecting the corresponding ends of the arms of said bows, means for retaining said bows in spaced relation, a flexible sheeting extending around said frame and being secured to said bows to form the covering of a bag when said bows are folded and to form a canopy when said bows are spaced, said sheeting extending across one side of said frame to form a mat when said bows are spaced and to form the side of a bag when said bows are folded, with the portion between said pivots defining the free edge of said side and the top opening of said bag, the side of said frame adjacent said one side, when said bows are spaced, being open to form the front of the canopy, a flap extending across the bow on said open side to extend over the free edge of said side sheeting to close the bag when said bows are folded, and fastening means on said side sheeting and on said flap for cooperating to retain said bag in closed position.

ends" a the: arms of said bows,

n eting extending between said bows as; f in the" covering of a; bag when said bowsfarejfoldedandto form' a canopy when said bowsf are sp ac'e'd, said sheeting extending bet n' thdarms and? across one of said bows to bows are spaced and to he'nfsaid bows are folded,

' the side of" nd,

free'edg'e of saidside and the topopemn'gjof said ba g, a flap positioned on thesid'e" opposite said d rie 's'ide," enemas bows are spaced, said flap being shiftable so as to extend over the free edge of said side sheeting to close the bag when said bows are folded, fastening means on the outside and adjacent the free edge of said side sheeting, fastening means on the inside of said sheeting between said bows and fastening means on said flap for selectively c0- operating with either of said fastening means, to form a closure for said bag or to be retained in retracted position.

4. In a combined beach bag and canopy rest, a plurality of frame forming bows, pivots connecting the corresponding ends of the arms of said bows, means for retaining said bows in spaced relation, a flexible sheeting extending between said bows to form the covering of a bag when said bows are folded and to form a canopy when said bows are spaced, said sheeting extending between the arms and across one of said bows to form the side of a bag when said bows are folded and to form a mat when said bows are spaced, and bars mounted on said pivots to form stakes for insertion in the ground to anchor said frame when opened as a canopy, said bars being jointed for pivotal movement into alignment and spanning the ends of said bows to form a handle for carrying said bag.

5. In a combined beach bag and canopy rest, a plurality of frame forming bows, pivots connecting the corresponding ends of the arms of said bows, means for retaining said bows in spaced relation, a flexible sheeting extending between said bows to form the covering of a bag when said bows are folded and to form a canopy when said bows are spaced, said sheeting extending between the arms and across one of said bows to form the side of a bag when said bows are folded and to form a mat when said bows are spaced, bars mounted on said pivots to form stakes for insertion in the ground to anchor said frame when opened as a canopy, said bars being jointed for pivotal movement into alignment and spanning the ends of said bows to form a handle for carrying said bag, and means for retaining said handle forming bars in alignment.

6. In a combined beach bag and canopy rest, a plurality of frame forming bows, pivots connecting the corresponding ends of the arms of said bows. means for retaining said bows in spaced relation, a flexible sheeting extending around said frame and secured to said bows to form the covering of a bag when said frame is folded and to form a canopy when said frame is opened, said sheeting extending across one side of said frame to form the side of a bag when said frame is folded and to form a mat when said frame is opened, the opposite side of said frame being open to form the front of the canopy, a flap extending across said opame bows; pivots" connecting the i b w spa d r a' he, t tde isa iv ts efini s he J amass posite side of said frame to extend over the free edge of said side sheeting to close the bag when said frame is folded, fastening means on the outside of said side sheeting, fastening means on the inside of sheeting between said bows, fastening means on said flap for selectively cooperating with either of said fastening means, bars mounted on said pivots to form stakes for insertion in the ground to anchor said frame when opened as a canopy, said bars being jointed for pivotal movement into alignment and spanning said frame to form a handle for carrying said bag, and means for retaining said handle forming bars in alignment.

WILLIAM W. PEERY.

8 1 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,036,033 Fisher Mar. 31, 1936 2,190,566 Julian Feb. 13, 1940 2,290,786 Varady July 21, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 28,323 Australia Aug. 21, 1930