Multipurpose sleeping bag
A multipurpose sleeping bag has a shell and liner covering a synthetic-fiber insulator. A head opening located in the center of the multipurpose sleeping bag is provided with a hook-and-loop fastener, which is used to draw the edges of the head opening around one's neck in an over garment mode of operation. A drawstring when used in the sleeping bag or quilt modes can close the head opening. A foot draft tube extends along the bottom edge to each side. A draw cord extends along the bottom outer end to compress the foot portion and the foot draft tube into a knot-like configuration for the sleeping bag mode. For operations other than the sleeping bag mode, the draw cord is left in place to form a skirt-like configuration. Two separate multipurpose sleeping bags can be joined to give the user a lower temperature sleeping range.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a multipurpose sleeping bag, and more particularly to a sleeping bag that can be converted into an anorak (short coat), cagoule (long coat), poncho, quilt, or vehicle blanket, or be joined to another multipurpose sleeping bag so as to provide a higher degree of warmth.
2. Description of the Related Art
Present-day sleeping bags currently available on the market are not designed to be used as an anorak, cagoule, poncho, quilt, or vehicle blanket, or to be joined to another sleeping bag. Currently, people who want the above combination of items must carry them as separate items. The disadvantages of carrying separate items of equipment, such as those stated above, are additional cost and increased weight and bulk.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAddressing a recognized need, this invention reduces the number of items, as well as the weight and bulk, which must be carried by campers and mountaineers.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a multipurpose sleeping bag that can be converted into various forms, as stated above, and each of which is well designed to perform its intended function.
The present invention provides a multipurpose sleeping bag which can be adapted to provide protection from cold weather while walking, riding, sitting, or reclining. The invention provides a single piece of equipment which is lightweight and which can quickly and easily be conversed from one use to another. Specifically, the invention can be configured as a single sleeping bag, long coat, short coat, poncho, quilt, or vehicle blanket, or readily joined with a second multipurpose sleeping bag to make a pair of single sleeping bags.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring now to the drawings in more detail and particularly to
The insulation material or fiberfill 13, positioned between the external shell 11 and the internal lining 12, preferably comprises an unbounded, silicone-coated continuous-filament fiber. The silicone coating gives the fiber two very desirable properties. The first is an antistatic property, which allows the fibers to perpetually repel each other; regardless of how tightly the fibers are packed against each other (such as when the invention is compacted in a stuff sack). This property also contributes to the loft always returning after the multipurpose sleeping bag 10 is removed from the stuff sack. The second beneficial property of the silicone treatment is in making the fiber hydrophobic. Water simply does not attach itself to the fiberfill 13. It is extremely important that the moisture leaving the body be able to pass through the spaces between the yarns of the external shell 11 and the internal lining 12, and to easily move through the insulation material 13. Also, it is imperative that the moisture not be able to condense in the insulation material 13. If this occurs when temperatures are below freezing, frost buildup can severely reduce the thickness of the insulation material 13, or the moisture may simply freeze as in any other sleeping bag, and thus add weight.
Even though insulation material 13 is described as a synthetic unbounded, silicone-coated continuous filament fiber, the multipurpose sleeping bag 10 can be made from any other suitable insulation filling.
By eliminating quilting with laminating the insulation material 13 to the internal lining 12, the insulation material is prevented from drifting around haphazardly inside the sleeping bag and creating uneven insulation, resulting in cold spots. This laminating procedure also permits less insulation material to be used, which in turn permits a lighter-weight multipurpose sleeping bag.
In addition, quilting produces a fiberfill that is so densely packed that a wall is created. While this wall of synthetic fiber insulation does not absorb moisture, it inhibits the flow of moisture, which condenses in the sleeping bag.
The fibers that are touching each other also cause conductive heat loss. When fibers chill, the moist vapor is cooled rapidly, changing it to liquid and then ice, further endangering bodies which dehydrate much more rapidly in extreme cold climates than in hot climates. The insulation material 13, on the other hand, is quite different with respect to water. Because the fibers are antistatic and repel each other, and are not compacted from a quilting process, the moisture moves more easily through the insulation material 13. This movement of moisture is further enhanced by the silicone treatment of the fiber. Silicone acts like a lubricant, which allows the moisture to move approximately 16 times more rapidly through the insulation material 13. In extreme cold conditions, the more rapidly one's own moisture dissipates, the better off you are.
The insulation material 13 also allows the body's thermostat to function more easily. The body's heating mechanism is constantly turning off and on to compensate for heat loss or heat build up. Thus, the body is continuously generating moisture, which is emitted through the pores of the skin. If the flow of this moisture is blocked or absorbed by the insulation, then that moisture becomes the enemy. If the air temperature is below the freezing point, the moisture trapped in the insulation may freeze. This is especially a problem in extreme cold conditions such as are found in the arctic. Evaluation of many sleeping bags shows an approximate weight gain of five or ten pounds of ice per week. Consequently, body heat is conducted away by the ice forming in the prior art bag. Significantly, one can live a lifetime in a climate with an ambient air temperature of 45 degrees F., but only an hour or so in water that is 45 degrees F. The insulation material 13 of the present invention is a less-restrictive insulation with respect to the flow of moist air.
All three layers 11, 12, and 13 extend the length and width of the multipurpose sleeping bag and have their entire edge portions joined to each other along their lengths by, e.g., zippers and/or stitching, or other suitable means, as discussed more fully below.
External shell 11 preferably extends over the top and around the bag, and is sewn together as at 15 along the bottom center portions of the multipurpose sleeping bag 10. Further, layers 11, 12, and 13 are joined to each other along the length of zipper 23 and by assembly stitching 14 around the radius of the head portion at top or “north” side 18 and the foot portion at bottom or “south” side 19, and at the head opening slit 40 of the multipurpose sleeping bag 10. Layers 11, 12, and 13 are also preferably stitched to right or “east” side 16 along with a 1½-inch strip of black webbing, for example, to act as a zipper guard 20. The zipper guard 20 keeps zipper 23 from getting caught in the internal layer 12. Zipper guard 20 is inserted on the inside of zipper 23 and layers 11, 12, and 13, and held by stitching 21.
Directly behind zipper 23 (for example, 1½ inches to the left) is placed a zipper draft tube 22. The zipper draft tube 22 keeps the heat within sleeping bag 10 from escaping through the zipper 23, and is stitched to layers 12 and 13. Layers 11, 12, and 13 are further stitched to “west” side 17 along with zipper 23a.
Sewn to the foot portion 27 and to the bottom foot edge 28 is a preferably continuous-filament fiber insulation foot draft tube 29. The foot draft tube 29 keeps the heat within the sleeping bag 10 from escaping through the bottom “south” side 19.
Again with reference to
Another important feature of the invention is the provision of an open foot portion. Again, when layers 11, 12, and 13 are sewn together, the sleeping bag foot portion 27 and the foot draft tube 29 forms the bottom foot edge 28. A foot draw cord sleeve 30 is sewn to edge 28 and foot draft tube 29. The foot draw cord sleeve 30 has a foot draw cord 30a, similar to 26a discussed above. When the multipurpose sleeping bag 10 is zipped into the sleeping bag mode of operation, the foot draw cord 30a provides the capability of drawing the bottom portions of layers 11, 12, and 13 together and wrapping the foot draw cord 30a around layers 11, 12, 13 and edge 28 (and foot draft tube 29), thereby closing off the open foot portion. This act increases the amount of insulation around the feet of the user and keeps the heat within the bottom “south” side 19 from escaping. Again, a slide 30b is provided to engage each end portion of foot draw cord 30a to retain the bottom opening to the correct tightness as the user demands in the sleeping bag mode of operation.
The individual elements for forming the hood collar 40 are illustrated in
To form the cagoule or long coat as seen in
To form the anorak or short coat as seen in
To form the poncho as seen in
A compressing stuff sack is preferably provided to compress and carry multipurpose sleeping bag 10.
However, the over bag 10a can provide even greater versatility for the wearer using insulation material of different weights. For example, the insulation material 13a of 10a may be around 2.5 to 3 pounds for a temperature rating of +35 degrees F. and up, while insulation material 13 of 10 may have an insulation filling of 4.5 pounds for a temperature rating of +20 degrees F. Thus, when the weather is fairly mild and not expected to be below +35 degrees F., the user who does not wish to carry the complete system formed of the dual multipurpose sleeping bags 10, 10a simply unzips the multipurpose sleeping bags and takes only bag 10a. If the temperature is to drop to between +35 degrees F. and +20 degrees F., only sleeping bag 10 is used, but if the temperature is to be colder than +20 degrees F., multipurpose sleeping bag 10 is zipped to multipurpose sleeping bag 10a, and the system 9 of the two bags 10, 10a protects down to about −25 degrees F.
Referring to
From the foregoing, it can be seen that the foot end and the hood collar of the present invention, by reason of both their shape and dimensional relationship to the individual user, provides a multipurpose capability for the user not heretofore present in a single sleeping bag. It is also to be understood that the foregoing disclosure describes only the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and that numerous alterations and modifications can be utilized to practice the present invention without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
Claims
1. A multipurpose sleeping bag that can be selectively configured in sleeping bag, over garment (short coat or long coat), poncho or quilt modes of operation, comprising:
- a body including first, second, and third layers of flexible material, each of which extends substantially the length and width of the body, wherein the body includes first and second side edges each having a fastener adapted to fasten a length of each side edge to a length of the other side edge to configure the multipurpose sleeping bag in the sleeping bag mode of operation or in an over garment mode of operation, said fasteners extending from a foot portion of the body to a top portion thereof;
- a hood collar formed at a head opening located substantially centrally in the body and substantially equidistant from the fasteners, the hood collar being adapted to permit a wearer's head to project through the head opening such that the body rests on the wearer's shoulders;
- a first locking device adapted to selectively close the head opening to configure the multipurpose sleeping bag in the sleeping bag mode of operation, and to selectively open the head opening to configure the multipurpose sleeping bag in an over garment mode of operation;
- a second locking device adapted to selectively close and open the foot portion such that the wearer is able to step into the multipurpose sleeping bag through the open foot portion, put the wearer's head through the head opening, and move an unfastened portion of the multipurpose sleeping bag over the shoulders to configure the multipurpose sleeping bag in an over garment mode of operation; and
- a foot draft tube adapted to retain warmth at the foot portion when the foot portion is closed by the second locking device.
2. A multipurpose sleeping bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first layer is adapted to form an external shell, the second layer is adapted to form an insulation sheet positioned between the first and third layers, and the third layer is adapted to form an internal lining, and wherein edge portions of said first and third layers are joined together to form the body.
3. A multipurpose sleeping bag as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a hood element configured at the top portion of the body.
4. A multipurpose sleeping bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the first and second side edges are fastened together by the fasteners in the sleeping bag mode of operation, the hood collar is located opposite to the fastened first and second side edges.
5. A multipurpose sleeping bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first locking device is a hook-and-loop fastener.
6. A multipurpose sleeping bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second locking device comprises a foot draw cord sleeve and a foot draw cord located in the foot draw cord sleeve, such that when the multipurpose sleeping bag is fastened in the sleeping bag mode of operation, the foot draw cord is wrapped around the first and third layers to thereby close off the foot portion.
7. A multipurpose sleeping bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second layer comprises an unbounded, silicone-coated continuous-filament fiberfill.
8. A multipurpose sleeping bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fasteners of the first and second side edges constitute a zipper, and wherein the multipurpose sleeping bag further comprises a zipper draft tube adjacent the fastener of one of the first and second side edges.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 21, 2005
Publication Date: Jun 21, 2007
Inventor: Richard Haislip (Virginia Beach, VA)
Application Number: 11/312,348
International Classification: A47G 9/08 (20060101);