SLEEPING BAG
This disclosure relates to a zipperless sleeping bag having a catenary opening for providing a user ingress to and egress from the sleeping bag and/or an integral comforter.
This nonprovisional application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/793,109, filed on Mar. 15, 2013, which is incorporated in its entirety by reference.
FIELDThe field of the disclosure relates generally to sleeping bags. More particularly, this disclosure relates to a zipperless sleeping bag having an opening for providing a user ingress to and egress from the sleeping bag, a support member for holding the opening in a catenary manner, and/or an integral comforter.
BACKGROUNDTypically, sleeping bags are used when conventional bed and bedding are unavailable. For example, sleeping bags are used by backpackers, hikers, campers, mountaineers, and other users as portable beds or coverings. Sleeping bags are often durable sleeping coverings that provide a soft surface, insulation and weather resistance.
Consumers face a difficult task in finding a sleeping bag that is thermally efficient, comfortable, and lightweight. One type of sleeping bag is referred to as a “mummy bag”, which tends to be shaped with a lateral taper to approximate the contour of the body of a user and thereby minimize the internal volume of the bag. Mummy bags attempt to conserve heat by minimizing air movement within and from the bag. As a result, mummy bags are often suited for use in outdoor, colder ambient temperatures.
Mummy bags typically have a small generally elliptical opening suitable for a user's head to protrude from during use. In order to enter typical mummy bags, a user must unzip the bag, and then get inside the bag. Due to the tight fit, the user may find it difficult to fully zip the bag, and furthermore, the zipped bag may be uncomfortable. For example, one drawback to the mummy bag is that some users feel discomfort due to the tight fit of the bag, which may reduce the range of motion of the user of the bag. Such feeling of discomfort may be increased in parts of the user's body that are often moved during sleep such as the arms and legs of the user. Thus, some users are unable to sleep comfortably in mummy bags.
Other sleeping bags, such as rectangular-type sleeping bags, are shaped with a generally constant lateral dimension and provide a greater range of motion for the user. Such bags also typically have a zippered portion to allow the user to more easily enter the bag. However, although rectangular bags are often more spacious than mummy bags, one drawback is that the larger internal volume reduces the thermal efficiency of the bag. Moreover, rectangular bags often do no insulate the head, and are typically too large to be thermally efficient. As a result, rectangular bags tend to be better suited for use indoors or in milder outdoor temperatures.
Accordingly, a need exists for a sleeping bag that is comfortable, thermally efficient, and allows a user to sleep on their stomach, back or side comfortably.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONIn one aspect, a sleeping bag generally comprises an elongate shell defining an inner volume sized and shaped to receive a user therein. The shell has a head portion, a foot portion, a middle portion extending longitudinally between the head and foot portions, an overlying portion adapted to overlie the user during use, and an underlying portion adapted to underlie the user during use. A hood is located in the head portion of the shell. The hood includes a catenary opening such that the overlying portion of the shell adjacent the opening is spaced from the underlying portion of the shell when the sleeping bag is laid out for use.
In another aspect, a sleeping bag generally comprises an elongate shell defining an inner volume sized and shaped to receive a user therein. The shell has an overlying portion adapted to overlie the user during use, an underlying portion adapted to underlie the user during use, and an opening disposed on the overlying portion of the shell. The opening is configured to provide a user ingress to and egress from the inner volume of the sleeping bag. The opening width is less than a width of the shell.
In yet another aspect, a sleeping bag generally comprises an elongate shell defining an inner volume sized and shaped to receive a user therein. The shell has an overlying portion adapted to overlie the user during use, an underlying portion adapted to underlie the user during use, and an opening disposed on the overlying portion of the shell. A comforter is attached to the overlying portion of the shell for selectively closing the opening.
In still yet another aspect, a comforter for use with a sleeping bag includes a pair of longitudinally extending pockets.
Referring now to the drawings and in particular to
The shell 3 further comprises a head end panel 15 (
With reference again to
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In another suitable embodiment, the opening 23 can be generally elliptical (see
It is understood that, in some embodiments, the opening 23 can be a different suitable shape (e.g., pentagon, hexagon, octagon). It is also understood that the opening can be partially rounded (e.g., truncated oval, truncated ellipse) or non-rounded (e.g., square, rectangular) in other embodiments and without departing from some aspects of this invention.
With reference now to
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With reference to
In the illustrated embodiment, the support member 25 is made from the same material as the shell 3 (i.e., an inner layer, an outer layer, and an insulation material between the inner and outer layers) but it is understood that the support member can be made from any suitable material or materials. The illustrated support member 25 has a generally constant width along its length. It is understood however that the width of the support member 25 can vary along its length, e.g., to conform to the contours of the sleeping bag 1.
In the embodiment seen in
As shown in
With reference now to
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The comforter 35 can be selectively moved from a first or interior position wherein the comforter is disposed within the inner volume of the shell 3 (
In
Due to the flexibility of the shell 3, the shape of the opening 23 will change as a result of movement by a user within the inner volume of the shell 3. The comforter 35 and opening 23 are both sized and shaped to inhibit the comforter from closing the opening during use. Moreover, the comforter 35 can be manipulated by the user independently of the shell 3. Thus, during use of the sleeping bag 1, the user can move the comforter 35 relative to the shell 3. As a result, the user can wrap portions of themselves with the comforter 35 or the comforter can overlie the user in a generally flat configuration.
The comforter 35 can be selectively moved to a third position wherein the comforter is almost fully disposed outside the inner volume of the shell. In this third, exterior position, the comforter 35 is pivoted almost 180 degrees, overlying the middle portion 9 and foot portion 7 of the shell. In such a position, the comforter 35 is generally face-to-face with the outer layer 29 of the overlying portion 11 of the shell 3. In this configuration, the comforter 35 adds additional covering for the user's torso and legs. In one suitable embodiment, the comforter 35 has a length sufficient to fully cover the foot portion 7 and middle portion 9 of the shell 3 when in the third, exterior position.
As seen in
The illustrated comforter 35, including the pockets 37, is made from the same material as the shell 3 (i.e., an inner layer, an outer layer, and an insulation material between the inner and outer layers) but it is understood that the comforter can be made from any suitable material or materials. It is also contemplated that the pockets 37 can be formed from materials different than the shell 3 and/or the comforter 35.
A hood, indicated generally at 121, is located at the head portion 105 of the shell 103. The hood 121 is adapted to receive and surround the head of a user. The overlying portion 111, and more specifically the hood 121 in the illustrated embodiment, includes an opening 123. The opening 123 is defined by a continuous inner edge having an upper edge portion 124, a lower edge portion 126, and two side edge portions 128, 130 (i.e., a right side edge portion 128 and a left side edge portion 130 as viewed in
Both the overlying portion 111 and the opening 123 are sized and shaped to cooperatively inhibit the edges of the overlying portion 111 defining the opening from folding over during use of the sleeping bag 101. The opening 123 is defined entirely on the overlying portion 111 of the shell 103 and spaced inward from the side panels 119 and head end panel 115. This spacing and the shape of the opening 123 prevents the opening from being expanded or otherwise increase even when the shape of the opening changes as a result of movement by the user within the inner volume of the shell 103. For example, when a portion of the continuous inner edge is displaced, the overlying portion 111 adjacent the opposite portion of the continuous inner edge will resist the movement. Accordingly, the opening 123 will be deformed but will be prevented from opening further. Moreover, the continuous inner edge, which defines the opening 123, is inhibited from folding over onto the overlying portion 111 of the shell 103.
When introducing elements of the present invention or the preferred embodiment(s) thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.
As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.
Claims
1. A sleeping bag comprising:
- an elongate shell defining an inner volume sized and shaped to receive a user therein, the shell having a head portion, a foot portion, a middle portion extending longitudinally between the head and foot portions, an overlying portion adapted to overlie the user during use, and an underlying portion adapted to underlie the user during use; and
- a hood being located in the head portion of the shell, the hood including a catenary opening such that the overlying portion of the shell adjacent the opening is spaced from the underlying portion of the shell when the sleeping bag is laid out for use.
2. The sleeping bag as set forth in claim 1 wherein the opening in the hood is one of oval, ovate, elliptical or circular.
3. The sleeping bag as set forth in claim 1 wherein the shell is free from zippers, the opening in the hood providing a user ingress to and egress from the inner volume of the shell.
4. The sleeping bag as set forth in claim 1 wherein the shell further comprises a head end panel, a foot end panel, and a pair of spaced side panels extending longitudinally between the head end panel and the foot end panel.
5. The sleeping bag as set forth in claim 4 wherein the opening in the head portion of the shell is spaced from each of the side panels and the head end panel.
6. A sleeping bag comprising:
- an elongate shell defining an inner volume sized and shaped to receive a user therein, the shell having an overlying portion adapted to overlie the user during use, an underlying portion adapted to underlie the user during use; and
- an opening disposed on the overlying portion of the shell, the opening being configured to provide a user ingress to and egress from the inner volume of the sleeping bag, the opening having a width less than a width of the shell.
7. A sleeping bag as set forth in claim 6 wherein the opening is a rounded opening.
8. The sleeping bag as set forth in claim 7 wherein the opening is one of oval, ovate, elliptical or circular.
9. The sleeping bag as set forth in claim 6 wherein the shell further comprises a head end panel, a foot end panel, and a pair of spaced side panels extending longitudinally between the head end panel and the foot end panel, the opening being spaced from the foot end panel and each of the side panels.
10. The sleeping bag as set forth in claim 9 wherein the opening is spaced from about 7 inches to about 12 inches from each of the side panels.
11. The sleeping bag as set forth in claim 9 wherein the opening is spaced from the head end panel.
12. The sleeping bag as set forth in claim 11 wherein the opening is spaced from about 4 inches to about 13 inches from the head end panel.
13. A sleeping bag comprising:
- an elongate shell defining an inner volume sized and shaped to receive a user therein, the shell having an overlying portion adapted to overlie the user during use, an underlying portion adapted to underlie the user during use, and an opening disposed on the overlying portion of the shell; and
- a comforter attached to the overlying portion of the shell for selectively closing the opening.
14. The sleeping bag as set forth in claim 13 wherein the comforter has a width greater than a width of the shell.
15. The sleeping bag as set forth in claim 13 wherein the comforter is made from the same material as the shell.
16. The sleeping bag as set forth in claim 13 wherein the comforter is permanently attached to the shell.
17. The sleeping bag as set forth in claim 13 wherein the comforter is removably attached to the shell.
18. The sleeping bag as set forth in claim 13 wherein the comforter has a length less than a length of the shell.
19. The sleeping bag as set forth in claim 13 wherein the comforter is selectively moveable from an interior position wherein the comforter is disposed in the inner volume of the shell and an exterior position wherein the comforter is at least partly disposed outside the inner volume of the shell and overlies at least part of the middle portion of the shell.
20. The sleeping bag as set forth in claim 19 wherein the comforter is generally face-to-face with the outer layer of the overlying portion of the shell in the exterior position.
21. The sleeping bag as set forth in claim 20 wherein the comforter has a length approximately one-half the length of the shell.
22. A comforter for use with a sleeping bag, the comforter including a pair of longitudinally extending pockets.
23. The comforter set forth in claim 22 wherein the pockets are sized and shaped for receiving the arms and hands of a user.
24. The comforter set forth in claim 22 in combination with a sleeping bag, the comforter being attached to the sleeping bag.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 14, 2014
Publication Date: Oct 9, 2014
Inventors: Casey Sumnicht (Longmont, CO), Michael Glavin (Spokane, WA)
Application Number: 14/211,384
International Classification: A47G 9/08 (20060101);