Combination carrying case and beach accessory

Claim 2

A beach accessory, comprising: a carrying case including at least one storage compartment therein accessible through an upper opening; a flexible mat stored within said at least one storage compartment and extendable therefrom through a slot provided in a first vertical side of said carrying case; and a cushion pivotally attached to said carrying case and rotatable between a first position wherein said cushion lies atop an upper surface of said carrying case to provide a cover for said at least one storage compartment and a seat for a user of said beach accessory, and a second position wherein said cushion rests, at least partially, on or adjacent to a ground surface to provide a pillow for the user of said beach accessory.

Claim 3

A beach accessory as set forth in claim 1, wherein said carrying case comprises a plurality of storage compartments accessible through respective upper openings, at least one of said storage compartments being thermally insulated and having a thermally insulated lid.

Claim 4

A beach accessory as set forth in claim 1, wherein said carrying case is generally U-shaped and includes laterally spaced, upwardly extending carrying handles between which said cushion is situated in its first position, wherein said carrying handles provide table legs and a base of said carrying case provides a table top when said beach accessory is inverted.

Claim 5

A beach accessory as set forth in claim 1, wherein said flexible mat is wound about a shaft rotatably positioned within said at least one storage compartment.

Claim 6

A beach accessory as set forth in claim 4, wherein said shaft includes spring loading means for self-winding said mat about said shaft within said at least one storage compartment.

Claim 7

A beach accessory as set forth in claim 1, wherein said flexible mat includes an enlarged end which is incapable of passing through said slot provided in said first vertical side of the carrying case, and wherein said flexible mat comprises a towel.

Claim 8

A beach accessory as set forth in claim 1, including a clasp for locking said cushion into its first position.

Claim 9

A beach accessory as set forth in claim 1, including at least one hinge for pivotally attaching one side of said cushion to said first vertical side of said carrying case above the slot.

Claim 10

A beach accessory as set forth in claim 1, including an alarm clock supported by said carrying case and positioned adjacent to an exterior surface thereof.

Claim 11

A beach accessory as set forth in claim 1, including music generation means supported by said carrying case and positioned adjacent to an exterior surface thereof.

Claim 12

A beach accessory as set forth in claim 10, wherein said music generation means comprises a radio receiver and a cassette tape player.

Claim 13

A combination carrying case and beach accessory, comprising: a carrying case including a plurality of storage compartments accessible through respective upper openings, at least one of the storage compartments being thermally insulated and having a thermally insulated lid; a flexible mat stored within one of the storage compartments and extendable therefrom through a slot in a first vertical side of the carrying case, the flexible mat being wound about a shaft rotatably positioned within the one storage compartment; a cushion pivotally attached to the carrying case and rotatable between a first position wherein the cushion lies atop an upper surface of the carrying case to provide a cover for the storage compartments and a seat for a user of the beach accessory, and a second position wherein the cushion rests, at least partially, on or adjacent to a ground surface to provide a pillow for the user of the beach accessory; and a clasp for locking the cushion into its first position.

Claim 14

A combination carrying case and beach accessory, comprising: a carrying case including a plurality of storage compartments accessible through respective upper openings, at least one of the storage compartments being thermally insulated and having a thermally insulated lid; a flexible mat stored within one of the storage compartments and extendable therefrom through a slot in a first vertical side of the carrying case, the flexible mat being wound about a shaft rotatably positioned within the one storage compartment; a cushion pivotally attached to the carrying case and rotatable between a first position wherein the cushion lies atop an upper surface of the carrying case to provide a cover for the storage compartments and a seat for a user of the beach accessory, and a second position wherein the cushion rests, at least partially, on or adjacent to a ground surface to provide a pillow for the user of the beach accessory; and a clasp for locking the cushion into its first position.

Claim 15

A combination as set forth in claim 12, wherein said carrying case is generally U-shaped and includes laterally spaced, upwardly extending carrying handles between which said cushion is situated in its first position, wherein said carrying handles provide table legs and a base of said carrying case provides a table top when the beach accessory is inverted.

Claim 16

A combination as set forth in claim 12, wherein said shaft includes spring loading means for self-winding said mat about said shaft within said at least one storage compartment.

Claim 17

A combination as set forth in claim 12, wherein said flexible mat includes an enlarged end which is incapable of passing through said slot provided in said first vertical side of said carrying case, and wherein said flexible mat comprises a towel.

Claim 18

A combination as set forth in claim 12, including an alarm clock supported by said carrying case and positioned adjacent to an exterior surface thereof, and music generation means supported by said carrying case and positioned adjacent to an exterior surface thereof, wherein said music generation means comprises a radio receiver and a cassette tape player.

Claim 19

A combination carrying case and beach accessory, comprising: a carrying case including a plurality of storage compartments accessible through respective upper openings, at least one of the storage compartments being thermally insulated and having a thermally insulated lid, wherein the carrying case is generally U-shaped and includes laterally spaced, upwardly extending carrying handles and an underlying base, wherein the carrying handles provide table legs and the base provides a table top when the combination is inverted; a flexible mat stored within one of the storage compartments and extendable therefrom through a slot provided in a first vertical side of the carrying case, the flexible mat being wound about a shaft rotatably positioned within the one storage compartment, the shaft including spring loading means for self-winding the mat about the shaft within the one storage compartment, wherein the flexible mat includes an enlarged end which is incapable of passing through the slot provided in the first vertical side of the carrying case; a cushion pivotally attached to the carrying case and rotatable between a first position wherein the cushion lies atop an upper surface of the carrying case between the carrying handles to provide a cover for the storage compartments and a seat for a user of the combination, and a second position wherein the cushion rests, at least partially, on or adjacent to a ground surface to provide a pillow for the user of the combination; and a clasp for locking the cushion into its first position.

Claim 20

A combination carrying case and beach accessory, comprising: a carrying case including a plurality of storage compartments accessible through respective upper openings, at least one of the storage compartments being thermally insulated and having a thermally insulated lid, wherein the carrying case is generally U-shaped and includes laterally spaced, upwardly extending carrying handles and an underlying base, wherein the carrying handles provide table legs and the base provides a table top when the combination is inverted; a flexible mat stored within one of the storage compartments and extendable therefrom through a slot provided in a first vertical side of the carrying case, the flexible mat being wound about a shaft rotatably positioned within the one storage compartment, the shaft including spring loading means for self-winding the mat about the shaft within the one storage compartment, wherein the flexible mat includes an enlarged end which is incapable of passing through the slot provided in the first vertical side of the carrying case; a cushion pivotally attached to the carrying case and rotatable between a first position wherein the cushion lies atop an upper surface of the carrying case between the carrying handles to provide a cover for the storage compartments and a seat for a user of the combination, and a second position wherein the cushion rests, at least partially, on or adjacent to a ground surface to provide a pillow for the user of the combination; and a clasp for locking the cushion into its first position.

Claim 21

A combination as set forth in claim 17, including an alarm clock supported by a first carrying handle and positioned adjacent to an exterior surface thereof, and music generation means supported by a second carrying handle and positioned adjacent to an exterior surface thereof, wherein the music generation means comprises a radio receiver and a cassette tape player.