Combination pad and container

Abstract

A combination pad and container, provides a pad including a multiplicity of adjacent semi-rigid panels separated by fold lines, wherein the pad is adapted to be repeatedly folded along the fold lines to form a closed volumetric container and unfolded to function as a pad.

1 . A combination pad and container, comprising 
 a pad including a multiplicity of adjacent semi-rigid panels separated by fold lines,    wherein said pad is adapted to be repeatedly folded along said fold lines to form a closed volumetric container and unfolded to function as a pad.    
   
   
       2 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein said pad has a bottom side adapted to be an outside surface of said container, and further comprising one or more straps affixed to said bottom side of said pad to enable carrying of said container by said one or more straps.  
   
   
       3 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein said pad includes: 
 an elongated central portion extending across said pad, which said central portion includes a number of said multiplicity of adjacent semi-rigid panels adapted to form front, bottom and back members of said container;    a lateral first fold extending across said pad and said elongated central portion and positioned to allow folding of said pad to position said back member of said container substantially parallel with said front member of said container; and    two opposing side portions positioned on opposing sides of said central portion of said pad and adapted to be folded parallel to and against said back member of said container when said back member is positioned substantially parallel to said front member to form said container    
   
   
       4 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein said pad has a substantially circular shape.  
   
   
       5 . The combination of  claim 4 , wherein said semi-rigid panels include a multiplicity of pairs of said semi-rigid panels with each pair of said pairs adapted to locate individual panels on opposed sides of said volumetric container.  
   
   
       6 . The combination of  claim 4 , wherein said semi-rigid panels are adapted to provide structural support to said volumetric container.  
   
   
       7 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein said semi-rigid panels include semi-rigid foam enclosed in a fabric envelope.  
   
   
       8 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein said pad includes a waterproof fabric forming either a top or bottom side of said pad.  
   
   
       9 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein said pad includes indicia appearing on one side thereof adapted to form an inside of said container.  
   
   
       10 . The combination of  claim 9 , wherein said indicia form a game board.  
   
   
       11 . The combination of  claim 9 , wherein said indicia represent a spatially distributed model selected from the group including a geographic model, a structural model, a sports field, a road layout, railroad layout, a dollhouse, a building, a construction site, a battleground, or a combination of the above.  
   
   
       12 . A combination pad and container, comprising: 
 a substantially circular pad including a multiplicity of adjacent semi-rigid panels separated by fold lines and substantially interconnected over said substantially circular pad, said substantially circular pad having a bottom side,    wherein said substantially circular pad is adapted to be folded along said fold lines to form a volumetric container with said bottom side being adapted to form an outside of said container; and    one or more straps affixed to said bottom side of said pad to enable carrying of said container by said one or more straps.    
   
   
       13 . The combination of  claim 12 , wherein said one or more straps are a pair of shoulder straps.  
   
   
       14 . A combination pad and container, comprising: 
 a pad including a multiplicity of adjacent semi-rigid panels separated by fold lines,    wherein said pad is adapted to be folded along said fold lines to form a volumetric container, and    further wherein said pad includes: 
 an elongated central portion extending across said pad, which said central portion includes a number of said multiplicity of adjacent semi-rigid panels adapted to form front, bottom and back members of said container;  
 a lateral first fold extending across said pad and said elongated central portion and positioned to allow folding of said pad to position said back member of said container substantially parallel with said front member of said container; and  
 two opposing side portions positioned on opposing sides of said central portion of said pad and adapted to be folded parallel to and against said back member of said container when said back member is positioned substantially parallel to said front member to form said container.  
   
   
   
       15 . The combination of  claim 14 , wherein each of said two opposing side portions includes a separate plurality of elongated semi-rigid panels separated by longitudinal fold lines and adapted to allow at least one of said elongated panels on each of said two opposing side portions of said pad to be folded against said back member of said container when said back member is positioned parallel to said front member of said container  
   
   
       16 . The combination of  claim 15 , wherein said at least one of said elongated panels on each of said two opposing side portions are adapted to be removeably attached to each other.  
   
   
       17 . The combination of  claim 15 , wherein said at least one of said elongated panels is adapted to be removeably attached to said back member of said container when folded against said back member.  
   
   
       18 . The combination of  claim 14 , wherein said two opposing side portions include additional said semi-rigid panels adapted to form side members of said container.