US2611899A - Convertible lap robe - Google Patents

Description

L. T. NELSON Sept. 30, 1952 CONVERTIBLE LAP ROBE Filed Sept. 13, 1948 INVENTOR. L aa Pence 7. A/e/aon BY Ittameys Patented Sept. 30, 1952 UGNVERTIBLE L araolin I Laurence 1'1, ;.Nelson, -,Por-tland,l Greg ias signorl to Q Portland Woolen Mills, megtrprua m; Orle'grfa ccrpo'rationo'fbregon g v -A'ppli'c'ati0n Septeniber 13, 1 948,iS erialINo.'48,991

The present invention "comprises 1 a .laprobe of particular utility in protecting the legs and torso of a traveler in airplanes, ships, trains, automobiles or other conveyances. The invention maybe used as a throw or'shawl about the home and is "of extreme usefulness to ispectato'rs of games or other outdoor events. Afurthe'r. purpose'of the present inventiontis 'to pr'o'tectconvalescents from dangerous exposure to the elements. The invention-is specifically designed to permit its use as a, complete'coverage'for the feet-legs and lower portions of the body-of the user when it is' impossible, impractical .or inconvenient to wrap these portions ofthebody in abla'nket. a

A further object of the present invention is to provide an article "ormanufacture which may .be-

used .in the formof a pocket intoiw-hich'thetfeet and legs may be thrust or which may be used in an open and flattened condition as a blanket, throw or shawl.

A further object of'the'present invention is to provide a device of the foregoing type wherein a foot-receiving pocketis' provided at one end of a blanket when foldedupon itself, such 'pocket being formed by interlocking the separable eleinents of a slide fastener device,- and--in'which the slide fastener-device is so associated With-the blanket that it may be easily removed -to permit thorough cleaning of 'thebl anketand subsequent ironing thereof or to replace defective fastener members.

A further-object of one form f thepresent invention herein disclosed-is to provide a device of the 'fore'going character wherein the edge of" the blanket to which the separable fastenerv elements are attached is provided "with rounded corners whereby the device may be opened and used as a blanket without theformation of '-a"recess in which dust and lint may collect.

Manyprior protecting devices orcomforts "of the laprobeftype have been-conceived. All of such devices have b'een'subject 'to the drawback that the device is capable of' utility forily as a boot-type laprobe and cannot-be 'opened up-for meets a blanket or throw. Furth'er'than 'that, if the pocket-forming means'were removed from suchdevices the remaining fabric Fportions would not'be of any useful shape or configuration, whereas in the present invention the separable fastener may lee-released or removed with the result that a perfectly-normal and normally v functioning blanket, spread, throwor shawl ,re-

mains. The device therefore has-great appeal and utility since a number of functions may be" 1 Glaim. 01.125695) 7, :l i

performed. 5 It may Jeepenedyand used as .a

wallrhanging ,or covering, as a couch spread, .or

as a sleeping blanket,- andins'tantlyconverted .to a traveling comfort ,or laprobe .or otherwise used. For example, one of the devices .rnay helperi manently left in the tormeau of fan .automoble and may be used by a plurality-ofloccupant's.as

an open laprobe or steamer rug would .be lused,

or instantly converted to a pocket-,type'laprobe "a great deal of "time assisting the passengers,

flights, at great speeds.

for the use of an individualpasseng'er;

.A further object of the presenth'lventionlis to provide a laprobevofr .the.,'for,egoing character which may achieve the purpose of blankets normally supplied by airlines for .themco'n'ifort .of

passengers. In such surroundings va vblanket is desired intermittently for shortperiodsof ,time as the airplane travels through higher strata, especially in the larger planes .capab1e'of..high Passengers quite often desire leg protectionanddemandia blanket to wrap about their legs or throw :asidefrom time to time. The placing of such a blanket is very awkwardfor the passenger to achieve whimself,- especially when strapped torthe seatrbya safety 7 beltgwith the result that the stew'ardess spends and when otherdutiesrequire her-attention the passengers complain because she cannot attend to their personal comfort. -An;object of, the present invention is to provide a pocket-typevlaprobe in which the feet may be placed without requiring the user to raise himself fromthe seat,. an d with which'it .is not necessary to place overlapping portions of theidevice beneath h-imselfin: order p to retain it "in protecting position. Wit'h the present invention. the usenmaysl-iphis feetinto the pocket portion and pullithe free:.portion-. of the-"device over his lap and even :enclosehiswentire torso and-arms undern'eathtthe blanket, his

back being protected'by'thecushionssofitherseat. 'Itisa simple matter for theuser to -remove the "laprobe entirely or merely-to dropthe upper portion thereof around his feet if heso desires.

A further objectof the present invention is to,

provide a laprobeof the foregoing type which may achieve allof 'therfunctions outlined: above and, yet may be smaller than aisimple blanket v whichwould be wrapped about the body of' the fuseryivhenflused as .a single personswarmth-providin'g" means. I lt'ance' to airlines due to theeliminationofun This feature is of "greatimpcr- 'riecessary weight resulting 'from; the l reduction;in

"size'iof the blanket; 1 It "is (also O'f'. advantaeet other users in'decreased initial cost andthe cost N w 3 of upkeep as represented by periodical dry-cleanings or washings.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device of the foregoing character in which the pocket is provided by separable fastener element tapes which are so joined to the blanket material as to be readily removable therefrom without in any way disrupting the binding normally provided on a blanket or laprobe.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device of the foregoing character in which the separable slide fastener elements are so positioned when the laprobe is in normal use as a pocket-type lap robe that the legs of the wearer are not likely to come in contact with the slide fastener elements. portance in commerical applications due to the propensity of such metallic elements to .tear stockings and other fine fabrics, resulting in damage claims by paying passengers or other users.-

The foregoing and other objects and advantages-of the present invention will be more readily ascertained from inspection of the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, while thefeatures of novelty will be more distinctly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view of one form of the present invention when closed in readiness for use'as a pocket-typelaprobe;

Fi 2 is a view of the form of the invention shown in Fig. 1 when opened in readiness for use as ablanket, throw or shawl;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, partial section taken substantially along line 3--3 of Fig. l; and

Fig. dis a partial view of an end ofa modified form of the invention.

InFigs. 1, 2 and 3 the invention is illustrated as comprising a substantially rectangular piece of blanket material such as woven, knitted or felted fabric, the material being folded upon itself along a longitudinal median line indicated at to provide two overlying portions H and l2. The entire circumferential edge of the piece of material is preferably bound by a suitable form of binding such as the whip-stitching indicated at it; such binding being provided for decorative effect as well as to prevent certain types of material from unraveling or otherwise disintegrating.

A slide fastener device separably joins the adjacent surfaces of the piece along an L-shaped line beginning at one end of the fold, extending parallel to one end edge of the piece normal to the fold, then parallel to the fold for a minor portion of the length of the piece to provide a pocket at one end of the folded piece. This is preferably accomplished by stitching a pair of tapes of separable slide fastener elements along the adjacent surfaces of the edges of the part to be formed into a pocket. In the present instance a tape It extends from the fold point, along the end edge of one portion andfaround a corner, then upwardly along the side edge parallel to the fold for a distance substantially equal to the width of the portion 82. The distance to which thejtape extends upwardly may vary depending upon individual desires, but it This is of extreme imshould be such as to equal about the length of a normal persons lower leg from the heels of his shoes to the knee, or slightly less. In any event,

' the tape extends upwardly along the side edge'for terial only, so as to economize on both material and labor going into the manufacture of the article or of its repair. An opposed tape I! of flexible slide fastener elements extends from the fold in the opposite direction along the end edge and upwardly along the outer edge of theportion l I for a corresponding distance. A slide fastener element interlocking member 8 is permanently engaged with the first few of the separable slide fastener'elements at the adjacent ends of the tapes and is adapted to be slid along the end and side edges to the upper ends of the tapes, when the blanket is folded upon itself along the line If, to form a pocket as shown in Fig. 1. The tape it is-prefe'rablyattached to the portion 42 by a single line of stitches 28 parallel to and inside of the binding 43, and the tape 17 is joined to V the section I l bya single line of stitches l9 parallel to and inside of the binding on that portion of the blanket material. The single line of stitches is quickly applied and may bev as quickly removed to permit replacement of defective slide elements or laundering of the blanket without having the slide fastener tapes attached thereto. Each of the tapes is preferably provided with a stop. element 2i to prevent the interlocking memher it from leaving. the upper ends thereof when the elements are being interlocked. The greater part .of the portions H and 92 are unconnected to each other except along the fold line Hi.

' .In'using the present invention as a laprobe; the interlocking .member. [8 is drawn upward to the limiting members 2! to form a pocket at one end of the device. The upper edge of the blanket may be held with the pocket depending therefrom and the portions of the tapes adjacent thevlimitin abutments 21 toward the person, who would be seated ina chair or on a similar support. The feet may be lifted into the corner of the pocket adjacent the fold it and the free upper portion of. the blanket drawn over the lap. In this position it is not likely that any portion of the slide fastener will come in contact with the stockings or clothing, of the user, or of persons sittin in adjacent chairs. By: reason of the: tapes being attached inside of the edge portions the metallic elements of theslide fasteners are embraced between the relatively heavy and relatively stiff binding of the blanket as a further precaution against ruining the garments of others.

In Fig. 4 I have illustrated a portion of a modified form of the present invention wherein it is shown that both corners of the lower end of the blanket are rounded in order that the interlockingmember may he permanently retained at apoint along the fold line 25 joining two overlapped portions 26 and 27 at a point upwardly removedfrom the lower end edges thereof. By reason of the notch so formed at the lower end of the fold 25 the interlocking member does not prevent the blanket from being-completely fiat- .tened out into a smooth plane. Although the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 does not mutilate a blanket to the extent that the notch necessary to round the inner corner as in Fig. 4 mutilates the blanket, this construction may be more preferable to some users due to the fact that the pocket remaining when the first form of the invention is flattened out is not present in the second form. This pocket is relatively immaterial as to appearance and utility of the device as a blanket or throw, but does provide a corner in which dust and lint may collect. The form shown in Fig. 4 may be completely brushed or shaken clean between casual uses.

While I have herein illustrated the separable fastener device as being attached in an L-shaped line with the toe of the L at the bottom of the fold and the leg of the L extending along the side edges, it is to be appreciated that various other modifications in spacing and alignment may be devised within the purview of my'invention. Any such modification is within the aspects of the invention which, to the best of my knowledge, is the first such device consisting solely of a rectangular piece of fabric and a separable slide fastener device. I claim as my invention all such modifications in arrangement and detail as come within the purview of the appended claim.

I claim:

A laprobe consisting of a substantially rectangular blanket having two opposed side edges and two opposed end edges, a first tape of separable slide fastener elements fastened to said blanket and extending continuously along one of said end edges from the center thereof toward one of said side edges and then along said one side edge for a distance equal to approximately one-third the length of said side edge, a second tape of separable slide fastener elements fastened to said blanket and extending continuously along said one end edge from the center thereof toward the other of said side edges and then along said other side edge for a distance equal to approximately one-third the length of said other side edge, and a slide fastener element interlocking member permanently engaging the first few of said separable slide fastener elements on both of said tapes adjacent the center of said one end edge and adapted to interlock the remainder of said separable slide fastener elements thereby to form a pocket at one end of said blanket when folded upon itself along a central line normal to said end edge, intermediate portions of said tapes being directed along curved lines at the corners by, when said separable elements are disengaged except for said first few permanently engaged by said slide member, the blanket may be spread smoothly in an entirely flattened condition.

LAURENCE T. NELSON.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 917,403 Benger Apr. 6, 1909 1,811,821 Bloom June 23, 1931 2,321,966 Anderson June 15, 1943 2,431,603 Zito Nov. 25, 1947 2,442,105 Vacheron May 25, 1948

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