Folding carrying pack apparatus and method

Abstract

A folding carrying pack apparatus for conversion between a carrying pack and a comfort pad and a method of converting the carrying pack to and from the comfort pad, generally including a preset folding pattern. The apparatus includes a main body having a hollow interior, shoulder straps and side flaps for generally retaining the main body in a carrying pack form. The main body generally includes a front flap and rear flap that is maintained by an upper and lower strap set. The strap sets and the side flaps can be opened and the main body folded outwards into a comfort pad.

1 . A carrying pack apparatus for conversion into comfort pad, the carrying pack apparatus comprising:
 a main body having a hollow interior, and having a front flap and a rear flap contiguously connected to one another through a bottom portion;   an upper strap set connected to the rear flap, the upper strap set further coupled to a lower strap set connected to the front flap;   a shoulder strap connected to an upper end and a lower end of the rear flap; and   side flaps connected to a fixed connection point on the front flap and to a removable connection point on the rear flap.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising:
 a short front flap connected to the front flap and folded; and   a short rear flap connected to the rear flap, positioned in opposition to the short front flap and folded.   
   
   
       3 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the front flap and the rear flap form two elongate folded-over portions when the front flap and the rear flap are separated from one another. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 3  wherein each of the folded-over portions has a width. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the folded-over portions each fold out to a half comfort pad four times the width. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 3  wherein each of the elongate folded-over portions are folded over in quarter folds. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the elongate folded-over portions are separated by a longitudinal axis. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the front and rear flaps unfold into a planar comfort pad. 
   
   
       9 . A comfort pad apparatus for conversion into a carrying pack, the comfort pad apparatus comprising:
 a planar pad having an upper surface and a lower surface and generally separate by a longitudinal axis;   a shoulder strap connected to the lower surface and straddling the longitudinal axis an upper strap set connected to the lower surface and straddling the longitudinal axis above the shoulder straps;   a lower strap set connected to the lower surface and straddling the longitudinal axis below the shoulder straps and for connecting to the upper strap set; and   a set of side flaps each connected to the lower surface at the longitudinal axis.   
   
   
       10 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the upper surface includes an insulating lining. 
   
   
       11 . A method for converting between a carrying pack and a comfort pad, the method comprising:
 separating a front flap and rear flap of the carrying pack so that the front and rear flaps are laying on a surface, thereby forming elongate portions that are in a first open position, the elongate portions generally being separated by a longitudinal axis into a width;   unfolding a short front flap and a short, rear flap away from each other, both along the longitudinal axis, the elongate portions being in a second open position;   unfolding the elongate portions away from the longitudinal axis, the elongate portions being in a third open position; and   unfolding the elongate portions away from the longitudinal axis, the elongate portions being in a fourth open position, thereby fully opening an upper surface of the comfort pad.   
   
   
       12 . A method for converting between a comfort pad and a carrying pack, the method comprising
 folding a first elongate portion of the comfort pad into half of its width toward a longitudinal axis separating the first elongate portion and a second elongate portion;   folding the second elongate portion into half of its width toward the longitudinal axis;   folding the first and second elongate portions into half their widths, toward the longitudinal axis;   folding opposing ends of the elongate portions to a short front flap and a rear flap along the longitudinal axis; and   folding the comfort pad into generally half its length along the longitudinal axis, thereby forming the front and rear flaps of the carrying pack.   
   
   
       13 . The method as claimed in  claim 12  further comprising folding over side flaps connected to an outer surface of the front flap to connection points on the rear flap. 
   
   
       14 . The method as claimed in  claim 13  further comprising buckling together upper and lower strap sets, the upper strap sets being connected to the rear flap and the lower strap set being connected to the front flap. 
   
   
       15 . A carrying pack and comfort pad combination, comprising:
 a main body having shoulder straps; and   means for converting the main body from a planar comfort pad having an upper surface and a lower surface into a back pack having a front and rear flap, bottom portion and side flaps.   
   
   
       16 . The combination as claimed in  claim 15  further comprising means for retaining the main body in the form of the back pack. 
   
   
       17 . The combination as claimed in  claim 15  further comprising an upper and lower strap set for opening and closing a front flap of the back pack. 
   
   
       18 . The combination as claimed in  claim 17  wherein the upper strap set is connected to a rear flap of the main body. 
   
   
       19 . The combination as claimed in  claim 18  wherein the lower strap set is connected to the front flap. 
   
   
       20 . The combination as claimed in  claim 15  further comprising side flaps for retaining the main body in the form of the carrying pack.