U.S. patent application number 10/115745 was filed with the patent office on 2003-10-09 for sleeping bag with integral heating duct.
Invention is credited to Klamm, Jennifer A., Klamm, Thomas.
Application Number | 20030188382 10/115745 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 28673831 |
Filed Date | 2003-10-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030188382 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Klamm, Thomas ; et
al. |
October 9, 2003 |
Sleeping bag with integral heating duct
Abstract
A sleeping bag has a shell constructed by a flexible panel that
is folded in half to form first and second panel portions. Adjacent
edges of the first and second panel portions having complementary
components of a fastener thereon to close the sleeping bag except
for an opening at a head end thereof. A duct, secured to the first
panel portion, has an opening between the first and second panel
portions, and another opening outside the head end at which to
connect to hair dryer. Heated air from the hair dryer is
distributed throughout the sleeping bag prior to or during use by a
camper.
Inventors: |
Klamm, Thomas; (Racine,
WI) ; Klamm, Jennifer A.; (Racine, WI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
QUARLES & BRADY LLP
411 E. WISCONSIN AVENUE
SUITE 2040
MILWAUKEE
WI
53202-4497
US
|
Family ID: |
28673831 |
Appl. No.: |
10/115745 |
Filed: |
April 3, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
5/413R ;
5/423 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 9/086 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
5/413.00R ;
5/423 |
International
Class: |
A47G 009/08 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A sleeping bag comprising: a shell formed by a first panel
portion and a second panel portion each having a plurality of
sides, the first panel portion being joined along a first side to a
first side of the second panel portion; a fastener for releasably
securing together at least one other side of each of the first
panel portion and the second panel portion to form a sleeping
enclosure; and a duct fastened to the shell and having a first
opening within the shell, and having a second opening at an end
that projects from the shell for connection to a source of heated
air.
2. The sleeping bag as recited in claim 1 wherein the duct extends
along one of the plurality of sides of the first panel portion.
3. The sleeping bag as recited in claim 1 wherein the duct extends
along the first side of the first panel portion within the sleeping
enclosure.
4 The sleeping bag as recited in claim 3 wherein the duct has a
plurality of air outlets along a length of the duct.
5. The sleeping bag as recited in claim 3 wherein the shell has a
head end and a foot end, and the first opening of the duct is
adjacent the foot end and the second opening is adjacent the head
end.
6. The sleeping bag as recited in claim 5 wherein the duct extends
outward from head end of the shell.
7. A sleeping bag comprising: a flexible panel folded in half to
form first and second panel portions with adjacent edge sections
having complementary components of a fastener thereon whereby to
seal the sleeping bag except for an opening at a head end thereof;
and a duct secured to the first panel portion and having a first
opening between the first and second panel portions, and having a
second opening in a section of the duct which projects outward from
the head end wherein the second opening is adapted to connect to
hair dryer.
8. The sleeping bag as recited in claim 7 wherein the duct extends
to adjacent a foot end of the sleeping bag.
9. The sleeping bag as recited in claim 8 wherein the duct has a
plurality of air outlets between the head end and the foot end of
the sleeping bag.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] 1. Field of the Invention
[0004] The present invention relates to camping equipment, and more
particularly to sleeping bags.
[0005] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0006] Campers and other outdoor adventurers often sleep in an
enclosed bag like article, commonly referred to as a sleeping bag.
A conventional sleeping bag often has two or more edges which can
be fastened together by a zipper, or other means, to form and
enclosed shell within which the person places his or her body. An
opening at one end of the elongated shell is provided through which
the person's head extends. Except for the head opening, the
sleeping bag generally sealed around the person's body when is
use.
[0007] In order to keep the sleeper warm in relatively cold outdoor
environments, the sleeping bag is fabricated with thermally
insulating material. For example, the main part of the sleeping bag
often is formed by two spaced apart sheets which are sown together
with down or synthetic insulation held there between. Regardless of
the insulating value of the sleeping bag, the comfort of the
sleeper is a function of how well his or her body heat is held
within the bag. The lower the external temperature, the greater the
amount of heat that is lost through the bag. Upon entering the
sleeping bag, some period of time is required for temperature of
its material to rise to the user's body temperature. During that
period the user is chilled by the cooler temperature of the
sleeping bag.
[0008] Therefore, it is desirable to provide a sleeping bag which
maintains its occupant at as comfortable a temperature as
possible.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] A sleeping bag includes a first panel portion and a second
panel portion each having a plurality of sides. The first panel
portion is joined along one side to a side of the second panel
portion which then are folded over each other to form shell. In
another embodiment, the shell is formed by a single panel that has
two halves which are folded over each other. A fastener releasably
secures at other opens sides of the first and second panel portions
together to form an enclosure within which a camper can sleep.
[0010] A duct is attached to the shell and has a first opening
within the enclosure. A second opening of the duct extends through
the shell and is adapted to be connected to a source of heated air,
such as a conventional portable hair dryer. In one preferred
version, the duct extends from a head end to a foot end of the
sleeping bag and has a plurality of air outlets there between to
evenly distribute the heated air throughout the enclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a view of a sleeping bag in a state to receive a
person;
[0012] FIG. 2 shows the sleeping bag in a fully opened position and
spread flat on a surface;
[0013] FIG. 3 illustrates an open end of the sleeping bag through
which a heating duct extends; and
[0014] FIG. 4 is a transverse cross section through the closed
sleeping bag.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] With initial reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a sleeping bag 10
is formed by a rectangular panel of material 12. The panel 12 may
be formed by two overlapping sheets of fabric with insulating
material, such as down or synthetic insulation there between. The
outer edges of the two sheets are then sown together and may be
quilted to secure the insulating material against movement between
the outer sheets. The panel 12 is then divided into two halves, or
portions, 14 and 16 that are folded over one another with their
edges abutting as shown in FIG. 1. The abutting edges are
releasably secured together by a fastener, such as zipper 18 which
extends completely around at least two, if not all three, of the
exposed edges of the folded panel 12. Alternatively, the two panel
portions 14 and 16 can be separately fabricates and then sown
together alone one side 17.
[0016] FIG. 1 illustrates a sleeping bag 10 with part of the upper
panel portion 16 folded back to enable a person to enter the bag
for sleeping. Once inside, the person's feet are positioned at a
foot end 21 of the sleeping bag and the person's head and neck
project out through a head end 20. The flap of the upper panel
portion 16 is then folded back over the lower panel portion 14 and
the zipper 18 closed as tightly around the occupant as
possible.
[0017] An elongated piece of the sleeping bag fabric material is
sown together to form a tube 22 which then is sown or otherwise
attached longitudinally inside the sleeping bag 10 as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 4. The fabric tube 22 forms a duct that extends
substantially the entire length of the sleeping bag preferably
along the fold of the panel 12. The ends of the tubular duct 22 are
open to carry air into the sleeping bag from the open head end 20
to adjacent the foot end 21. A number of outlets 23 may be provided
along the length of the duct 22 to evenly distribute the air within
a closed sleeping bag 10. Although it is preferred that the tubular
duct 22 be located on the interior of the sleeping bag 10 so that
the maximum among of heat from air flowing through the duct will be
transferred into the sleeping enclosure, that duct could be
attached to an exterior surface of the sleeping bag 10 with air
passages leading into the sleeping enclosure.
[0018] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, an end of the duct 22 projects
outwardly from the head end 20 of the sleeping bag. The user
inserts the outlet nozzle of a standard portable hair dryer 24 into
the exposed end of the duct 22 and secures the duct around the hair
dryer nozzle by a draw string or other fastening mechanism.
Sleeping bags often are utilized at camp grounds which have camp
sites with 120 volt electrical outlets into which the electrical
cord for the hair dryer 24 is plugged. Alternatively a battery
powered heater may be utilized in place of a 120 volt electrical
hair dryer.
[0019] Prior to entering the sleeping bag 10, the user can turn on
the hair dryer 24 which blows heated air into the exposed end of
the duct 22. That air flows through the tubular duct and out into
the closed sleeping bag through the outlets 23 and the open
interior end 28 of the duct. From the duct 22, the air flows
between the two panel portions 14 and 16 of the sleeping bag and
out through the open head end 20. This flow of heated air warms the
internal surfaces of the sleeping bag 10 prior to the camper
entering. Upon entering the bag, the camper can turn of the hair
dryer 24 as the interior surfaces have now been warmed to above the
camper's body temperature and the body heat from the camper will
maintain the sleeping bag interior at a comfortable temperature. If
the exterior air is relatively cold, the hair dryer 24 can be left
running at a relatively low temperature setting to continue forcing
heated air through the sleeping bag while occupied by the
camper.
[0020] When use of the sleeping bag 10 no longer is required, the
camper disconnects the hair dryer 24 from the exposed end of the
heating duct 22 and then rolls up the sleeping bag for storage. The
flexible nature of the fabric duct 22 does not affect the ability
of the sleeping bag to be rolled up for storage and carrying by a
camper. Furthermore, if heating is not required, the duct 22 lays
flat within the bag, and does not bother the camper's sleeping.
Other forms of a flexible, collapsible duct can be utilized.
[0021] The foregoing description was primarily directed to a
preferred embodiment of the invention. Although some attention was
given to various alternatives within the scope of the invention, it
is anticipated that one skilled in the art will likely realize
additional alternatives that are now apparent from disclosure of
embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the
invention should be determined from the following claims and not
limited by the above disclosure.
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