Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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The present invention relates to an improved sleeping bag.
Sleeping bags are generally available in two different
styles; rectangular, or tapered. Tapered bags, which are often
referred to as "mummy bags", are narrower at the foot end than
at the head end of the bag. This design permits less air
circulation than a wider, rectangular design, and is therefore
appropriate for cold weather application. The rectangular bag
has a roomier interior, which permits some air circulation, and
is therefore an appropriate design for use other than in
extreme cold. However, it will be understood that if a
rectangular bag is provided with enough insulation, it can be
used in cold weather. This, however, increases the cost of the
bag, and increases its bulk as well. Since sleeping bags are
usually used in situations where bulk is best kept to a
minimum, such as camping, or on military exercises, an increase
in bulk is not considered desirable, and is to be avoided if
possible.
Conversely, the drawback associated with a mummy bag is
generally considered to be that its snugness makes it
inappropriate for temperate or warm weather use, when some air
circulation is desirable. Therefore, many sleeping bag users
own two sleeping bags; a warm or temperate weather rectangular
bag, and a cold weather mummy bag. This is expensive and
requires more storage space than would a single bag.
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The object of the present invention is to provide a
sleeping bag that is easily and quickly convertible by the user
thereof, from a mummy bag to a rectangular bag, and vice versa.
The bag of the present invention, moreover, may be configured
in a state between that of a mummy bag and that of a
rectangular bag.
In a broad aspect, therefore, the present invention
relates to a sleeping bag having a tapered shape from top to
bottom, provided with means at least adjacent its bottom end
for expanding the width of said bag.
In drawings that illustrate the present invention by way
of example:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the sleeping bag of the
present invention, configured as a rectangular bag;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the sleeping bag of the
present invention configured as a mummy bag;
Figure 3 is a left side view of the end of the bag of
Figure 1; and
Figure 4 is a right side view of the end of the bag of
Figure 1.
Referring now to Figure 1, the sleeping bag of the present
invention is provided with upper and lower panels 1, 2 sharing
a common side edge. The other side edge of the panels is
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provided with a two way zipper 4. The bottom of the bag is
provided with a small panel 5. It may, if desired, be merely
a seam joining the upper and lower panels.
It will be observed from Figure 1 that the upper and lower
panels 1, 2 are tapered from top to bottom, in the manner of
a mummy bag. However, extending from about the midpoint of the
bag, along each edge, to the bottom panel 5, is a wedge shaped
panel 6, 9.
As shown in detail in Figure 3, along the edge 3 of the
bag defining a common edge of the top and bottom panels, the
wedge 6 is a generally triangular panel of quilted, or
otherwise insulated material, similar to the material of the
sleeping bag, folded along its longitudinal centre line and
having its end edges 7 joined together to form a bag-like side
extension for the sleeping bag. It may be tucked into the bag,
and zipper 8 may be drawn to hold it into the side edge of the
bag, as shown in Figure 2. It will be observed, moreover, that
when zipper 8 is drawn closed, the shape of the bag is that of
a mummy bag (Figure 2). When open, the shape of the bag is
rectangular.
As shown in detail in Figure 4, on the opposite, openable
edge of the sleeping bag, a similarly shaped wedge 9 is
provided. Wedge 9, however, is made up of a top panel 11 and
--3--
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a preferably congruent bottom panel 12 joined together along
their side and bottom edges by a zipper 10. Zipper 10 is
required to permit the bag to be fulled opened. If it is
desired to extend wedge 9, the main zipper 4 is opened from the
bottom to the upper end of wedge 9. Zipper 10 is then fastened
and drawn closed to form wedge 9. It will be understood that
zipper 10 may be located closer to either the top 1 or bottom
2 panels of the bag, or that the wedge 9 may extend fully from
either the top or bottom panel, and be fastenable to the other
by zipper 10 located substantially on the other.
If desired, only one of the two wedges, 6 or 9, may be
used at a time, or they may be only partially extended. This
is accomplished by partially closing zipper 8, or main zipper
4 (i.e., with wedge 9 in place).
If desired, wedges 6,9 may extend the full length of the
bag, to provide the bag with easily adjustable width and/or
shape rather than just adjustable shape. In such an
embodiment, wedge 6 is preferably the principal means for
adjusting the width, so as not to interfere with the operation
of the main zipper 4.
The remaining illustrated features of the sleeping bag are
shown for exemplary purposes only, and do not form part of the
present invention.
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It is to be understood that the examples described above
are not meant to limit the scope of the present invention. It
is expected that numerous variants will be obvious to the
person skilled in the field of sleeping bag or camping
equipment design without any departure from the spirit of the
invention. The appended claims, properly construed, form the
only limitation upon the scope of the invention.
