SLEEPING BAG WITH ADJUSTABLE COLLAR

Abstract

A sleeping bag extends from a lower end to an entrance end and includes first and second halves arranged in opposing relationship with one another to define a sleeping compartment therebetween. A draw cord extends circumferentially through the first and second halves in spaced relationship with the entrance end to define a collar portion of the sleeping bag disposed between the entrance end and the draw cord. The draw cord is adjustable to vary an opening defined by the collar portion for permitting the collar portion to be adjusted around a neck of a user of the sleeping bag assembly. Additional thermal protection for the sleeping bag is achieved by the incorporation of the collar portion with a unique internal adjustment mechanism that permits the circumference of the opening of the collar portion to be changed while at the same time maintaining insulation thickness.

Description

FIELD

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/070,851, filed on Aug. 27, 2020, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to sleeping bags, with and without hoods, with separate hoods and variations thereof including quilts, top quilts and bottom quilts and, more particularly, to methods of closure for said items.

BACKGROUND

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.

Sleeping bags and quilts used in outdoor activities such as camping, backpacking and mountaineering are designed to keep a person warm when sleeping. When engaging in these activities, the sleeping bag user may encounter a wide range of temperature conditions. In order to remain comfortable under conditions of varying temperatures, the sleeping bag or quilt will incorporate adjustable closures. One such closure on a sleeping bag is the zipper, normally located on the side or top of the bag, which in addition to providing a means to ventilate the bag to control interior temperatures also allows for ingress and egress of the sleeper. A quilt is normally open on the underside, but can also be fabricated in wide versions and incorporate a zipper on the underside. A second closure found in sleeping bags that do not have integral hoods and in quilts is a draw cord located in and along the upper, outer edge of the bag or quilt. The draw cord with its cord lock is used to control the size of the opening at the very top of the sleeping bag once the free ends of the draw cord are secured together by some fastening technique. In the case of both the hoodless sleeping bag and the quilt, this opening is located at the sleeper's neck level. Once the free ends of the draw cord are linked together, the opening can be adjusted from wide open to completely closed by pulling the draw cord and adjusting the cord lock. Completely closed here implies that the opening has been drawn down to a circumference approaching that of the sleeper's neck, including any clothing that the sleeper may be wearing.

SUMMARY

It is an aspect of the present teachings to provide a sleeping bag or quilt that has incorporated an extension hence forth referred to as a collar portion with a unique internal draw cord that together provide additional thermal protection while allowing for ease of adjustment of the collar portion around a neck of a user of the sleeping bag.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description and claims herein. The description and specific examples in the disclosure and summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only for selected exemplary embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. Similar or identical elements are given consistent reference numerals throughout the various figures. Reference now will be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1A illustrates a perspective view of a prior art hoodless sleeping bag illustrating a first (top) half and a second (bottom) half arranged in opposing facing relationship to one another to define a sleeping compartment therebetween;

FIG. 1B illustrates a perspective view of a prior art quilt;

FIG. 2A illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the first (top) half of the sleeping bag illustrated in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2B illustrates a cross-sectional side view of a first (top) half of a sleeping bag in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3A illustrates a cross-sectional perspective view of a collar portion of the sleeping bag taken transverse to the sleeping compartment;

FIG. 3B illustrates a cross-sectional view of a collar portion of a quilt taken transverse to the sleeping compartment;

FIG. 4A illustrates a perspective view of the sleeping bag illustrating a draw cord extending circumferentially through the first and second halves in spaced relationship with the entrance end to define the collar portion disposed between the entrance end and the draw cord; and

FIG. 4B illustrates a perspective view of the sleeping bag illustrating a draw cord extending circumferentially through the quilt segment in spaced relationship with the entrance end to define the collar portion disposed between the entrance end and the draw cord.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following exemplary embodiments are provided so that the present disclosure will be thorough and fully convey the scope to those skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices and schematic configurations to provide a thorough understanding of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these specific details need not be employed, that the exemplary embodiments may be embodied in many different forms, and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 1A & 1B, a perspective view of a prior art hoodless sleeping bag 10 and a prior art quilt 30 are shown in a partially open position, and may be constructed to have an entrance end, denoted generally by reference numerals 11 & 31. In FIG. 1A the entrance end 11 corresponds to the end of sleeping bag 10 which is intended to receive a user's upper body while a lower end 13 corresponds to the end of sleeping bag 10 intended to receive a user's legs and feet. In FIG. 1B the entrance end 31 corresponds to the end of quilt 30 which is intended to receive a user's upper body while a lower end 33 corresponds to the end of quilt 30 intended to receive a user's legs and feet. The sleeping bag 10 is generally shown to include an outer shell 12, an inner shell 14, and a closure device 16 such as a zipper assembly 16 (the zipper is for ingress and egress convenience and is not essential in all cases or applications). The quilt 30 is generally shown to include an outer shell 32, an inner shell 34, and can include a closure device on the underside such as a zipper assembly, however quilts do not generally have zippers. Some specialized insulating material 18 and 38 having a low coefficient of thermal conductivity and good compressibility is inserted and retained between the outer shells 12 and 32 and the inner shells 14 and 34. As is conventional, lightweight fabrics, such as nylon or polyester, are used for the exterior surfaces defined by outer shells 12 and 32 and the interior surfaces defined by inner shells 14 and 34.

In FIG. 1A the sleeping bag 10 has a first half 15 and a second half 17 each defining a portion of the inner shell or layer 14 and arranged in opposing facing relation so that first half 15 and second half 17 are configured to define a sleeping compartment 19 therebetween. With further reference to FIG. 1A, the first half 15 and the second half 17 are permanently joined along a first side, such as via stitching, or the like, and a zipper assembly 16 extends along the second opposite side for selectively joining the first and second halves 15, 17 together to enclose the sleeping compartment 19. A draft tube 22, filled with insulating material backs the zipper assembly 16 to maintain insulating thickness the length of the zipper assembly 16. A draw cord 23 is used in conjunction with a pair of draw hems 20, to adjustably vary an opening at the top of sleeping bag 10 once zipper assembly 16 has been drawn to its closed position and the snap elements 27 have been engaged. Snap, male and female elements, 27 are located at each ends of the draw hems 20. A draw cord lock 21 is also provided to maintain the draw cord 23 in a preferred cinched or partially cinched position. Elaboration on the draw cord 23, the draw hem 20 and the snap/joining elements 27 as it pertains to this disclosure are to follow.

In FIG. 1B, the quilt 30 has one quilt segment 35 that when wrapped over the sleeper's body is configured to define a sleeping compartment 39. The entrance end 31 which is intended to receive a user's upper body is generally open on the underside but can be closed at the top edge using snap, male and female segments, 47 located at the ends of the pair of draw hems 40. The lower end 33 of quilt 30 intended to receive a user's legs and feet may be partially closed particularly near the foot end. A draw cord 43 is used in conjunction with a pair of draw hems 40 to adjustably vary an opening at the top of the quilt 30 once the snap elements 47 have been engaged. A draw cord lock 41 is also provided to maintain the draw cord 43 in a preferred cinched or partially cinched position. Elaboration on the draw cord 43, the draw hem 40 and the snap/joining elements 47 as it pertains to this disclosure are to follow.

It is an aspect of the present disclosure to provide a sleeping bag 10 or quilt 30 incorporating a collar portion 26 with a unique internal draw hem and cord that together provide additional thermal protection for the sleeper (i.e., user of the sleeping bag) as well as ease of adjustment. FIGS. 2A & 2B show a comparison of the longitudinal cross sections of the first half 15 of a sleeping bag or quilt incorporating current (prior art) technology, in which the draw cord 23 is disposed along an outer, top edge at the entrance end 11, as shown in FIG. 2A, vis-à-vis the teachings of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG. 2B, in which the draw hem and cord are disposed in spaced relationship with the entrance end 11 to define the adjustable collar portion 26 of the sleeping bag 10 disposed between the entrance end 11 and the draw cord 23. As will be explained in more detail below, the draw cord 23 in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure is adjustable to vary an opening 24, 44 defined by the collar portion 26, 46, such that this adjustable opening 24, 44 can be adjusted around a neck of a user of the sleeping bag 10 from within the sleeping compartment 19.

In FIG. 2A, using current (prior art) technology, the outer shell 12 and inner shell 14 come together at the draw hem 20 in the case of the sleeping bag, and similarly the outer shell 32 and inner shell 34 come together at the draw hem 40 in the case of the quilt. The draw cords 23 and 43 being located internal to the draw hems 20 and 40. An internal baffle 24, 44 in the case of the sleeping bag and the quilt connect the outer shells 12 & 32 with the inner shells 14 & 34 to eliminate sewn through seams and to create compartments 25, 45 into which the insulation material is inserted.

In FIG. 2B, using teachings of the present disclosure the top, outer edges of the outer shell 12 and the inner shell 14 in the case of the sleeping bag and the top edge of the outer shell 32 and the inner shell 34 in the case of the quilt have been extended some additional length 12a, 14a, 32a, and 34a (in the range of 4 inches (10 centimeters) to 5 inches (13 centimeters), defined relative to an axial length extending along the sleeping bag or quilt) to create a collar portion 26, 46 on the sleeping bag 10 or the quilt 30. As a result, the collar portion 26, 46 is preferably four to five inches in length, defined in the same, relative axial direction as the sleeping bag 10 or quilt 30. Put another way, the draw cord 23 extends circumferentially through the first half 15 and the second half 17 in spaced relationship with the entrance end 11, in this axial length, to define the collar portion 26 disposed between the entrance end 11 and the draw cord 23 of the sleeping bag. As best illustrated in FIG. 4A, a draw hem 20 and the draw cord 23 are affixed to the inner shells or layers 14 of the first and second halves 15, 17. Similarly, as best illustrated in FIG. 4B, a draw hem 40 and the draw cord 43 are affixed to the quilt inner shell or layer 34. Put another way, in either arrangement, the draw cords 23, 43 are affixed to and located adjacent the inner shells or layers 14, 34, such as via extending through the draw hems 20, 40. Adjacent to the draw hems 20 and 40, and interior to outer shells 12 and 32 and inner shells 14 and 34 is an internal baffle 24, in the case of the sleeping bag, and 44, in the case of the quilt 30, connecting the outer shells 12 and 32 with the inner shells 14 and 34, thus maintaining insulation thickness at the draw cord location while also creating the compartments 25, 45 into which the insulating material is inserted.

For the draw cord 23, 43 to operate so that it can function to adjustably control the opening 24, 44 of the collar portion 26, 46, the fixed, non-adjustable, ends of the draw cord 23, 43 must be physically linked. This may be accomplished using a fastening device 27, such as snaps, hook and loop pile, zippers, or the like. However, this list of fastening devices 27 is not meant to limit in any way the methods by which the linking may be accomplished.

FIGS. 3A & 3B are exemplary drawings that show a comparison of the transverse cross sections at the draw cord 23 location of a sleeping bag and the draw cord 43 location of the quilt incorporating the teachings of the present disclosure as has been shown in the longitudinal section, FIG. 2B.

In FIG. 3A a transverse cross-section through the sleeping compartment 19 of the sleeping bag 10 at the location of the draw cord 23 is shown. A draw hem 20 and draw cord 23 have been affixed to the inner shells (layers) 14 of the first and second halves 15, 17 of the sleeping bag 10. The two ends of draw cord 23, within draw hem 20, are joined at their first (free) ends by use of a snap 27. Once the first ends are joined with the snap 27 the circumference of the opening 24 defined by the collar portion 26 can be adjusted by pulling the draw cord 23 where it emerges into the sleeping compartment 19 from the draw hems 20, normally placed on the opposite side of the bag from the snap 27, and setting the cord lock 21 to maintain the adjusted opening size.

More specifically, in the sleeping bag 10, the draw cord 23 includes a first draw cord portion extending circumferentially through the first (top) half 15 and a second draw cord portion 23 extending circumferentially through the second (bottom) half 17. The side of the sleeping bag 10 can open on one side, the zipper assembly side 16, and is closed on the opposing side, such as via stitching or the like. The first draw cord portion of the draw cord 23 extends between a first end disposed adjacent the zipper assembly 16 and a second end on the opposing side. The second draw cord portion of the draw cord 23 also extends between a first end disposed adjacent the zipper assembly 16 with the other second end on the opposing side. The first end of the first draw cord portion is secured to a male or female snap half of the securing device 27 disposed adjacent the zipper assembly 16. The end of the second draw cord portion of the draw cord 23 on the zipper side is secured to a male or female snap half of the securing device 27, the latter being complementary to the top half snap. Once the sleeper or user is in the sleeping bag 10 and the zipper assembly 16 is closed, the male and female snap halves 17 are joined, thus securing the first and second draw cord portions together adjacent the zipper assembly 16 of the sleeping bag 10. Both draw cord portions are housed in their respective draw hems 20, one on the top and one on the bottom, located some distance below and in spaced relationship with the entrance end 11 and inside the inner shells or layers 14 of the first and second halves 15, 17 of the sleeping bag.

The draw hems 20 meet and are open to allow the free ends of the draw cords 23 to exit the draw hem 20 on the side opposite the zipper assembly 16. The draw cord portions, being longer than the draw hems 20 protrude several inches from the ends of the draw hems 20 and into the sleeping compartment 19 on the side opposite the zipper assembly 16. These two free ends of the draw cord portions are threaded through a draw cord lock 21. By depressing a button on the draw cord lock 21, thus releasing a locking mechanism, both draw cord portions can be drawn through the draw cord lock 21 (from within the sleeping compartment 19) by the sleeper or user of the sleeping bag 10. This is in contradistinction to the prior art sleeping bags shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B in which the draw hems and draw cords are located along at the top, outer edge of the bag or quilt, and only accessible from an outside environment of the sleeping bag.

In FIG. 3B a transverse section through the quilt 30 at the location of the draw cord 43 is shown. A draw hem 40 and draw cord 43 have been affixed to the quilt inner shell 34. The two ends are of the draw cord 43, within draw hem 40 are joined at their free ends by use of a snap 47. Once the free ends are joined with the snap 47 the circumference of the opening 44 of the collar portion 46 can be adjusted by pulling the draw cord 43 where it emerges from the draw hems 40, normally on the opposite side of the quilt from the snap 47, and setting the cord lock 41 to maintain the opening size. The quilt 30 works the same way as the sleeping bag described immediately above, except there is no zipper assembly 16, the opening to the sleeping compartment 39 is on the bottom rather than the side, and the free ends of the draw cords and cord lock is located adjacent a top of the sleeper as opposed to the side as in the sleeping bag 10.

FIG. 4A shows a perspective view of a hoodless sleeping bag 10 incorporating the teachings of the present disclosure and FIG. 4B shows a perspective view of a quilt 30 incorporating the teachings of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the sleeping bag 10 has a first half 15 and a second half 17 arranged in opposing facing relationship to one another so that the inner shells (layers) 14 of the first half 15 and second half 17 are configured to define a sleeping compartment therebetween when zipper assembly 16 is closed and the snap elements 27 are engaged. A draft tube 22, filled with insulating material backs the zipper assembly 16 to maintain insulating thickness the length of the zipper. As shown in FIG. 2B and FIG. 3A, using teachings of the present disclosure, the top edges of the outer shell 12 and the inner shell 14 have been extended some additional length 12a & 14a, in the axial direction relative to a length of the sleeping bag 10, to create a collar portion 26. A draw cord 23 extends circumferentially through the first and second halves 15, 17 in spaced relationship with the entrance end 11 to define the collar portion 26 disposed and extending between the entrance end 11 and the draw cord 23. The draw hems 20 and draw cord 23 are affixed to the sleeping bag inner shell 14. The draw cord 23 is used in conjunction with the draw hems 20, to adjustably vary an opening 24 disposed adjacent but spaced from the top of sleeping bag 10, as defined by the collar portion 26, once zipper assembly 16 has been drawn to its closed position and the snap elements 27 have been engaged. Snap, male and female elements, 27 are located at each ends of the draw hems 20. A draw cord lock 21 is also provided adjacent the inner shells or layers 14 of the first and second halves 15, 17 and disposed inside the sleeping compartment 19 to maintain the draw cord 23 in a preferred cinched or partially cinched position. Lightweight fabrics, films and reinforced films, or some combination thereof are used for the exterior surfaces defined by outer shell 12 and the interior surfaces defined by inner shell 34.

In FIG. 4B the quilt 30 has one quilt segment 35 that when wrapped over the sleeper's body is configured to define the sleeping compartment 39. As shown in FIGS. 2B and 3B, using teachings of the present disclosure, the top edges of the outer shell 32 and the inner shell 34 have been extended some additional length 32a & 34a to create a collar portion 46. A draw cord 43 extends circumferentially through the quilt segment 35 in spaced relationship with the entrance end 31 to define the collar portion 46 of the quilt segment 35 disposed between the entrance end 31 and the draw cord 43. The draw cord 43 is adjustable to vary the opening defined by said collar portion 46 adjacent said draw cord 43 for permitting the collar portion 46 to be adjusted around a neck of a user of the quilt assembly 30.

A draw hem 40 and the draw cord 43 have been affixed to the quilt inner shell 34. The entrance end 31 which is intended to receive a user's upper body is generally open on the underside but can be closed at the top edge using snap, male and female segments, 47 located at the ends of the pair of draw hems 40. The draw cord 43 is used in conjunction with a pair of draw hems 40 to adjustably vary the opening at the top of the quilt 30, in spaced relationship with the entrance end 31, once the snap elements 47 have been engaged. A draw cord lock 41 is also provided to maintain the draw cord 43 in a preferred cinched or partially cinched position. Lightweight fabrics, films and reinforced films, or some combination thereof are used for the exterior surfaces defined by outer shell 32 and the interior surfaces defined by inner shell 34.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings and may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described while within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A sleeping bag assembly comprising:

a sleeping bag extending from a lower end to an entrance end and including first and second halves each having an inner layer arranged in opposing relationship with one another to define a sleeping compartment therebetween;

a draw cord extending circumferentially through said first and second halves in spaced relationship with said entrance end to define a collar portion of said sleeping bag disposed between said entrance end and said draw cord; and

said draw cord being adjustable to adjustably vary an opening defined by said collar portion adjacent said draw cord for permitting said collar portion to be adjusted around a neck of a user of the sleeping bag assembly.

2. The sleeping bag assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said draw cord being affixed to said inner layers of said first and second halves and extending into said sleeping compartment for allowing the user to vary said adjustable opening of said collar portion from within the sleeping bag assembly.

3. The sleeping bag assembly as set forth in claim 2, further comprising:

a closure device extending along said first and second halves for selectively joining said first and second halves together to open and close said sleeping compartment;

a draw cord lock disposed adjacent said inner layers of said first and second halves and disposed within said sleeping compartment in opposing relationship with said closure device; and

said draw cord passing through said draw cord lock for preventing movement of said draw cord and maintaining said adjusted opening of said collar portion when said draw cord lock is disposed in a locked condition.

4. The sleeping bag assembly as set forth in claim 3, wherein each of said inner layers of said first and second halves define a draw hem disposed in spaced relationship with said entrance end, and said draw cord includes a first draw cord portion extending through said draw hem defined by said first half of said sleeping bag and a second draw cord portion extending through said draw ham defined by said second half of said sleeping bag.

5. The sleeping bag assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein each of said first and second portions of said draw cord extend from a first end secured to a fastening device disposed adjacent said closure device on a respective one of said first or second halves to a second end threaded through said draw cord lock and disposed inside said sleeping compartment.

6. The sleeping bag assembly as set forth in claim 5, wherein said fastening device includes a snap having a male component disposed on one of said first or second halves and a female component disposed on the other one of said first or second halves.

7. The sleeping bag assembly as set forth in claim 3, wherein said closure device is a zipper assembly.

8. The sleeping bag assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said collar portion is approximately four to five inches in length defined relative to an axial length of said sleeping bag extending between said entrance and lower ends.

9. A quilt assembly comprising:

a quilt segment extending from an entrance end to a lower end;

a draw cord extending circumferentially through said quilt segment in spaced relationship with said entrance end to define a collar portion of said quilt segment disposed between said entrance end and said draw cord; and

said draw cord being adjustable to adjustably vary an opening defined by said collar portion adjacent said draw cord for permitting said collar portion to be adjusted around a neck of a user of the quilt assembly.

10. The quilt assembly as set forth in claim 9, wherein said quilt segment having an inner layer to define a sleeping compartment of the quilt, and said draw cord affixed to said inner layer and extending into said sleeping compartment for allowing the user to vary said adjustable opening of said collar portion from within the quilt assembly.

11. The quilt assembly as set forth in claim 10, wherein said inner layer of said quilt segment defining a draw hem disposed in spaced relationship with said entrance, and said draw cord extending through said draw hem between a first draw cord end and a second draw cord end.

12. The quilt assembly as set forth in claim 11, further comprising a draw cord lock disposed adjacent said inner layer of said quilt segment and centrally located along said draw hem, and said draw cord passing through said draw cord lock for maintaining said adjusted opening of said collar portion when said draw cord lock is disposed in a locked condition.

13. The quilt assembly as set forth in claim 12, wherein each of said first and second draw cord ends are fixed to opposing sides of the quilt segment via a fastening element.

14. The quilt assembly as set forth in claim 13, wherein said fastening element includes a snap having a male component disposed on one of said sides of said quilt segment and a female component disposed on the other one of said sides of said quilt segment.

15. The quilt assembly as set forth in claim 9, wherein said collar portion is approximately four to five inches in length defined relative to an axial length of said quilt segment extending between said entrance and lower ends.