Combination seat and carrying case

#Many activities, especially those performed outdoors, require the transportation of materials to the site of the activity. When the activity is one which takes a long time, such as ball games, skating and picnicking, it is often desireable to have a clean, warm comfortable place to sit.

#U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,092,224, 3,120,404, and 3,532,378 show carrying cases unfolding into seats having folding back rests. Neither these patents nor others in the prior art disclose a combination seat and carrying case with arm rests adjacent to the seat

#The instant invention teaches a carrying case, preferably molded of plastic material, in which a seat-shaped indented region is useful for sitting upon.

#FIG. 1 shows a ghost perspective view of the carrying case.

#FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the carrying case with the seat hinged open for access to the interior.

#Referring to FIG. 1, the carrying case, shown generally at 10, has two ends 12, 12a and a curved body 14. The bottom 16 of the curved body 14 is flattened to provide a stable base for resting upon the underlying surface. The body 14 and ends 12, 12a can be made of any suitable material but is preferably made of a thermoplastic material such as polyvinyl chloride or polyethylene. A decorate pattern may be molded into the surface of the carrying case and the material may contain any suitable color. For example, for outdoor use, the carrying case may be colored brown and a decorative pattern simulating tree barks may be molded into its surface.

#A seat-shaped depression 18 is located in the center of the body 14. the regions of the body 14 adjacent the seat-shaped depression 18 are effective to provide arm rests 20, 20a to the user. The seat-shaped depression 18 has a seat part 22, two side walls 24, 24a joining the sides of the seat part 22 to the arm rests 20, 20a and a back part 26 joining the rear of the seat part 22 to the body 14. The seat-shaped depression 18 with all its parts 22, 24, 24a, 26 is hinged at the top of the back part 26 along the line 28. A latch 30, preferably of the molded button and hole type secures the front of seat part 22 to the lower part of the body 14.

#The ghost view shows the placement of articles within the carrying case 10. For example, ice skates 32, 32a roller skates or other implements may conveniently be stowed in the ends. A compartment adapted to storage of a cylindrical vacuum bottle 34 may be formed behind the back part 26. Other articles may be stored in the remainder of the interior.