Multipurpose fabric

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION ^Zo

The present invention relates to that field of art concerned with camping or outdoor equipment, specifically, knapsacks, hammocks, sleeping bags, tents, stretchers, and garments for protection from the weather. More 30 specifically, the instant invention is concerned with equipment which is convertible to these many uses. Such equipment is classified, inter alia, in Class 5, Subclass 343 and Class 2, Sub-classes 69.5 and 89.

The concept of utilizing a single fabric or cloth for multiple camping or outdoor purposes is old, for example, see U.S. Patents 650,074; 672,731; 1,078,992; 1,252,628; 2,133,717; 2,644,948; 2,745,105; and 2,971,205.

It can be appreciated, that such multipurpose camping equipment is particularly attractive to woodsmen, hunters, fishermen, and the military inasmuch as the expense and need of carrying the various individual pieces of equipment is thus avoided. Much of the prior art equipment is primarily designed for use as a garment and hence, suffers disadvantages for its application as a knapsack, hammock, or sleeping bag. On the other hand, those multipurpose tenting cloths or fabrics that are primarily designed for use as a knapsack, hammock, or sleeping bag, characterized as being relatively expensive to produce. Among the distinct advantage and features of the present invention is its simplicity of construction coupled with its versatility which makes it very attractive both economically and functionally.

SUMMARY

The present invention basically comprises a multipurpose pliable fabric which is adaptable for use as a knapsack, hammock, sleeping bag, tent, stretcher, and weathercoat. In its most rudimentary form, it comprises a rectangular shaped sheet of pliable material to which closure means are fastened along its longitudinal edges. Closure means extending along its longitudinal center line is also provided as well as closure means extending along the bisecting longitudinal line between one of the longitudinal edge closure means and the center line closure means.

A multitude of clip means are positioned in a spaced apart relationship adjacent to and alongside the center line closure means and the bisecting closure means.

The sheet of material is also provided with a strip of material that is positioned adjacent to and extends essentially alongside the other longitudinal edge. A second strip of material is also positioned adjacent to and extends alongside the center line closure means. Both strips are provided with a series of spaced apart holes through which rope or stretcher poles can be passed.

The sheet is further provided with strap means which are fastened thereto in a spaced apart parallel relationship suitable for positioning upon the back or shoulders of a human being. The sheet is also provided with various pockets in different locations for storage of various equipment and clothing.

A novel structural feature of the present fabric is that it does not contain any openings or aperatures which would require special flaps and the like to secure. Moreover, the present fabric when fully opened forms a rectangle which is flat and relatively plain. This feature of simplicity makes it very easy for the user to grasp how to manipulate the fabric into its various different forms.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the present multipurpose fabric or cloth.

FIGURE 2 depicts the present fabric made up into a knapsack.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGURE 1, the present multipurpose fabric comprises the foldable or pliable tenting fabric 10 which is preferably a cotton or linen canvas impregnated or coated with a suitable water proofing agent. A preferred size of the cloth 10 is about 8 feet wide by 10 feet long.

Closure means 11 and 12 are provided along the longitudinal edges or sides which function in the manner described hereinafter. Closure means 11 and 12 preferably represent the respective halves of a common zipper which can be united upon folding the cloth along its longitudinal center line 13. The paired closure means, 14 and 15 and 16 and 17, which are also preferably conventional zippers, are also provided and which function in the manner described hereinafter. The zipper halves 15 and 17 are attached or fastened to the sheet 10 at essentially its longitudinal center line 13. The zipper halves 14 and 16 are fastened to the sheet 10 along a longitudinal line which essentially bisects the respective one half panel 18. By half panel is meant those panels 18 and 19 of the sheet 10 with reference to the longitudinal center line 13. In other words, the zipper halves 14 and 16 are oriented along a longitudinal line which essentially divides the panel 18 into the quarter panels 20 and 21.

The clip means 22 through 37 are provided for use when the present fabric is made up into a knapsack as illustrated in FIGURE 2 in the manner described hereinafter. In this regard, the straps 38 and 39 which are suitable attached to the sheet 10, e.g. by being sewn or riveted thereto, are positioned in a spaced apart parallel relationship suitable for mounting upon the shoulders of a person by placing his arms through the open spaces in the conventional manner of toting a knapsack. The strips of material 41 and 42 are provided for making either a hammock or stretcher out of the sheet 10 in the manner described hereinafter. The members 41 and 42 are sewn or suitably attached to the cloth 10 and are provided with the series or multitude of holes or apertures 43 through which a rope or pole can be passed. In lieu of the strips of material, individual spaced apart patches of material can be employed.

The pockets 44 and 45 are provided for carrying various equipment and clothing when using the present fabric as a garment. It can be appreciated that the number and size of the pockets can be decreased or increased as desired. Moreover, the pockets can be positioned virtually any, 3,483,575 . 3 where on the cloth or sheet 10. However, it is preferred to position the pockets, preferably up to as many as six, on that portion of the cloth represented by the quarter panel 46 as designated by the longitudinal bisecting line 47 which divides the half panel 19 into the quarter panels 46 and 48. However, it can be appreciated that pockets can be essentially positioned anywhere over the sheet 10.

In use, the sheet 10 is formed into a knapsack by folding the side or edges AE and UY (quarter panels 48 and 20 respectively) under such that they meet at the line KO, viz. the longitudinal center line 13. This leaves the section FJTP on top (the quarter panels 46 and 21 respectively). The portion represented by JFOK (quarter panel 46) is then.folded under such that Fl coincides with TP -(the bisecting line 47 coincides with the bisecting 49). This leaves the panel representel by KOTP on top, viz. the quarter panel 21.

For ease of explanation, the panel 21 is then divided into 4 equal portions by virtue of the bisecting lines 50 (NS) and 51 (LQ). The panel 21 is then folded under at LQ, that is, along the line 51, so that KP meets MR. Correspondingly, the panel 21 is then folded along NS, that is, along the line 50, so that OT meets MR. At this point, the zippers 14, 15, 16, and 17 come together to form whole units or zippers. Taking the zipper 14 for example, the zipper half 52 comes together with the zipper half 53 to form a whole unit as more clearly shown in FIGURE 2. Correspondingly, the zipper 16 forms a similar structure as well as the zippers 15 and 17.

The remaining one half portion of the panel 21, that is, LN SQ is then folded about the traversal center line 40 to form the knapsack arrangement depicted in FIGURE 2. The spaces provided between the various quarter panels of the sheet 10 folded over so as to form the knapsack thus serves as compartments within the knapsack whereby various equipment and clothing can be stored. To prevent undue stress upon the zippers 14 through 17, the clips 22 through 37 are provided for supporting and containing the load imposed by equipment or clothing stored within the knapsack.

After the knapsack is folded as described above, these clip means come together such that the clips 24 and 26; 22 and 28; 25 and 27; 23 and 29; 30 and 36; 31 and 37; 32 and 34; and 33 and 35 are united as shown in FIGURE2.

The present fabric is utilized as a hammock by folding the half panel 19 under the half panel 18, that is, about the longitudinal center line 13. Rope is then passed through the strips of material 41 and 42 (or through patches if so employed) and the entire unit suspended from suitable ₅θ supports in the conventional manner. The half panel 18 (KOYU) can be employed as a cover by the user and zippered to the half panel 19 for protection against the elements.

The present sheet is formed into a sleeping bag by fold- -ing the sheet over or under along a transversal line somewhere between CW and DX preferably at that end where the zipper slide for the zipper halves 11 and 12 starts. The point where the fold is performed would naturally depend upon the height of the person using the present θθ fabric. The resultant folded sheet 10 is then folded along its longitudinal center line 13 such that the zippers 11 and 12 come together and form a common unit whereupon being zippered together, forms the desired sleeping bag. In lieu of folding the sheet, it can be rolled up at one end ₆₅to provide a pillow and then folded along the center line 13.

The present sheet can be employed to form or make a pup tent by stringing rope through the strip of material 42 which divides the sheet 10 essentially in half. The rope is γθ then hung between suitable supports to form the desired tent. The sheet 10 can be provided with holes along its longitudinal sides (on which the zippers 11 and 12 are fastened) such that these sides can be pulled outwards to form the tent by driving stakes through the holes. 75

To form a stretcher, the sheet is folded over as in the case of forming'a hammock and then one edge, or both if preferred, is then rolled up to form a pillow. Poles or rope is then passed through the strips of material 41 and 42 to thereby form the desired stretcher. The poles or rope ⁵ can enter the strips of material through any of the holes or aperatures 43. If desired, the individual being carried can be placed between the folded half panels 18 and 19.

To form a raincoat, the zippers 14 (e.g. comprising the ₁₀ sections 52 and 53) and 15 and 16 and 17 are zippered together thus reducing the width, that is, the dimensions AU and EY, of the sheet to 6 feet. The resultant sheet is then folded under along the transversal center line 40 so that AU meets with EY. The resultant sheet thus measures 6 15 feet by 5 feet. Using that edge represented by CW as the bottom, the resultant sheet can. then be wrapped around the person with the pockets 44 and 45 being on the inside to form suitable protection from the elements. The material carried within the knapsack can be stored in the 20 pockets 44 and 45. Additionally, a belt is preferably passed around the sheet fastening it to the person. If desired, suitable belt loops can be fastened to the sheet.

The present sheet in combination with other similar sheets can be conveniently employed to form a larger tent 25 by zippering several sheets together. This is accomplished by laying the sheets lengthwise alongside each other and zippering the mating zippers 11 and 12 together. For example, two such units when attached in this fashion would form a single sheet or tarpaulin measuring 16 by 10 feet. 30 This procedure can be repeated so as to form one continuous row of tenting cloth.

For military uses, the present fabric or cloth would preferably be made of varigated camouflage colors so as to minimize detection.

There are many other uses to which the present fabric or canvas can be used in camping or for outdoor use. For example, it can serve as a rain collector, to construct a hut or other living quarters, or the like.

While I have described my invention with particularity 40 as to the specific arrangement and types of appurtenances to achieve the basic objectives of my invention, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that considerable departure and modifications can be made in the present multipurpose fabric without departing from the true scope and spirit of my invention. What I desire to cover by United States Letters Patent is that set forth in the appended claims.