Sleeping bag with insertable pad

Abstract

The invention is a sleeping bag with an insertable air pad. The sleeping bag has a pocket with a zipper. The air pad can be inserted into the pocket, and then the zipper may be closed. Matching angled geometry helps maintain the air pad in a central position. Side baffles also help maintain the air pad in a central position.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/100,939 filed Sep. 29, 2008.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable.

APPENDIX

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to sleeping bags and, more specifically, to a sleeping bag with an insertable pad.

2. Related Art

The prior art teaches sleeping bags with an open pocket. In the pocket, a pad may be inserted. To ready the sleeping bag for sleeping, the sleeping bag is unrolled, the air pad is unrolled, and then the air pad is inserted within an open pocket of the sleeping bag.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a sleeping bag with a pad pocket for receiving an inflatable pad. The present invention provides an improved configuration that helps a pad maintain its position, which is critical to storage and functionality. The sleeping bag has an inflatable pad and a sleeping bag body. The inflatable pad has a first end portion with an angled geometry. The sleeping bag body has a pad pocket for removeably receiving the inflatable pad. The pad pocket has a first end portion with an angled geometry matching with the angled geometry of the first end portion of the inflatable pad. The pocket has a closable opening.

In a preferred embodiment, the inflatable pad is an air pad. Preferably, the air pad has a valve located such that the valve is exposed when the closable opening is opened.

In a preferred embodiment, the closable opening is disposed at the first end portion with the angled geometry. Alternatively, the closable opening can be disposed at a second end portion opposite to the first end portion.

In a preferred embodiment, the closable opening has a zipper.

In a preferred embodiment, the sleeping bag body has a baffle disposed at least partially around the circumference of the sleeping bag body.

Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective bottom view of a sleeping bag according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective section view of the sleeping bag of FIG. 1 in a rolled position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective bottom view of the sleeping bag of FIG. 1 with an air pad partially inserted;

FIG. 4 is a perspective bottom view of the sleeping bag of FIG. 1 with the pocket zipper in an open position;

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the sleeping bag of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the sleeping bag of FIG. 1 illustrating side baffles;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the of the air pad of the sleeping bag of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective bottom view of a sleeping bag according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a partial perspective bottom view of the sleeping bag of FIG. 8 with the pocket zipper in an open position; and

FIG. 10 is a partial perspective bottom view of the sleeping bag of FIG. 8 with an air pad partially removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.

FIGS. 1-7 illustrate a sleeping bag 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a perspective bottom view of the sleeping bag 10 and FIG. 5 shows a perspective top view thereof. The sleeping bag 10 has a first end portion 14 and a second end portion 16. The sleeping bag 10 is provided with a pad pocket 20 at the bottom. The pad pocket 20 has an opening 22 located in the second end portion 16 of the sleeping bag 10. The opening 22 has a zipper 24 for opening/closing the opening 22. Once the opening 22 is opened by unzipping the zipper 24, an insertable air pad 30 may be slid into the pad pocket 20 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Once the zipper 24 is zipped with the insertable air pad 30 inside the pad pocket 20 as in FIG. 1, the insertable air pad 30 is secured inside the pad pocket 20 by the zipper 24.

As best seen in FIG. 7, the insertable air pad 30 has a first end portion 32 with an angled geometry and a second end portion 34. The insertable air pad 30 has two valves 36 at the corners of the second end portion 34. When the insertable air pad 30 is placed in the pad pocket 20, the second end portion 34 is located adjacent to the zipper 24. The two valves 36 at the corners of the end portion 34 of the insertable air pad 30 are provided for easy access. The valve location allows the valves 36 to be exposed when the opening s2 is opened by unzipping the zipper 34. This valve location is important because it allows the insertable air pad 30 to be inflated or deflated without having to be fully removed from the pad pocket 20. After deflation, the pad pocket 20 may be closed, and the sleeping bag 10 may be rolled (FIG. 2) with the insertable air pad 30 still inside.

Several features of the invention serve to maintain the insertable air pad 30 in place within the pad pocket 20. First, the pad pocket 20 has an angled geometry in the first end portion 14 of the sleeping bag 10 that matches with the angled geometry of the first end portion 32 of the insertable air pad 30. Second, the zipper closure prevents the insertable air pad 30 from traveling or migrating out of the pad pocket 20 during use. Third, the sleeping bag 10 has side baffles 12 disposed around the circumference of the sleeping bag 10. The side baffles 12 help center the insertable air pad 30 inside the pad pocket 20. In combination, these features all help the insertable air pad 30 maintain its position within the pad pocket 20.

Since the bag may be stored while maintaining the insertable air pad 30 still inside the pad pocket 20, it is essential that the insertable air pad 30 maintain its position. Unlike the prior art, the present invention permits the insertable air pad 30 to be stored with the sleeping bag 10, and thus separate rolls for the sleeping bag 10 and air pad 30 can be avoided.

FIGS. 8-10 illustrate a sleeping bag 10a according to another embodiment of the present invention. The difference between the sleeping bag 10a of FIGS. 8-10 and the sleeping bag 10 of FIGS. 1-7 is that the sleeping bag 10a has a pad pocket 20a which has an opening 22a with a zipper 24a located at a first end portion 16a with an angled geometry. This opening location of FIGS. 8-10 is the opposite to the opening 22 of the pad pocket 20 of the sleeping bag 10 of FIGS. 1-7. Accordingly, when the insertable air pad 30a is placed in the pad pocket 20a, a first end portion 32a with an angled geometry of the insertable air pad 30a is placed adjacent to the zipper 24a.

In this embodiment, the insertable air pad 30a has two valves 36a at the corners of the first end portion 32a with the angled geometry. Again, the valve location allows the valves 36a to be exposed when the opening 22a is opened by unzipping the zipper 34a. The insertable air pad 30a can be inflated or deflated without having to be fully removed from the pad pocket 20a.

Once the zipper 24a is unzipped and the opening 22a is opened, an insertable air pad 30a may be slid out of the pad pocket 20a as shown in FIG. 10. Once the zipper 24a is zipped with the insertable air pad 30a inside the pad pocket 20a as in FIG. 8, the insertable air pad 30a is secured inside the pad pocket 20a by the zipper 24a.

As various modifications could be made to the exemplary embodiments, as described above with reference to the corresponding illustrations, without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims appended hereto and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A sleeping bag with an inflatable pad comprising:

an inflatable pad having a first end portion with an angled geometry; and

a sleeping bag body having a pad pocket for removeably receiving said inflatable pad, said pad pocket having a first end portion with an angled geometry matching with said angled geometry of said first end portion of said inflatable pad, wherein said pad pocket has a closable opening.

2. The sleeping bag according to claim 1, wherein said inflatable pad comprises an air pad.

3. The sleeping bag according to claim 2, wherein said air pad further has a valve located such that said valve is exposed when said closable opening is opened.

4. The sleeping bag according to claim 1, wherein said closable opening is disposed at said first end portion of said pad pocket.

5. The sleeping bag according to claim 1, wherein said pad pocket has a second end portion opposite to said first end portion, and wherein said closable opening is disposed at said second end portion of said pad pocket.

6. The sleeping bag according to claim 1, wherein said closable opening comprises a zipper.

7. The sleeping bag according to claim 1, wherein said sleeping bag body further has a baffle disposed at least partially around the circumference of said sleeping bag body.