EP0761145B1 - Improvements in and relating to sleeping bags - Google Patents

Improvements in and relating to sleeping bags Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0761145B1
EP0761145B1 EP96306531A EP96306531A EP0761145B1 EP 0761145 B1 EP0761145 B1 EP 0761145B1 EP 96306531 A EP96306531 A EP 96306531A EP 96306531 A EP96306531 A EP 96306531A EP 0761145 B1 EP0761145 B1 EP 0761145B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
insulation material
sleeping bag
bag
user
top part
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP96306531A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0761145A3 (en
EP0761145A2 (en
Inventor
Alastair c/o Vango Moodie (Scotland) Ltd.
Glen c/o Vango Andrews (Scotland) Ltd.
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
VANGO SCOTLAND Ltd
Original Assignee
VANGO SCOTLAND Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by VANGO SCOTLAND Ltd filed Critical VANGO SCOTLAND Ltd
Publication of EP0761145A2 publication Critical patent/EP0761145A2/en
Publication of EP0761145A3 publication Critical patent/EP0761145A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0761145B1 publication Critical patent/EP0761145B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
    • A47G9/00—Bed-covers; Counterpanes; Travelling rugs; Sleeping rugs; Sleeping bags; Pillows
    • A47G9/08—Sleeping bags
    • A47G9/086—Sleeping bags for outdoor sleeping

Definitions

  • This invention concerns improvements in and relating to sleeping bags, especially sleeping bags for use in extreme weather conditions, where body heat retention is vital.
  • Sleeping bags generally comprise two layers of fabric with insulating material sandwiched in between. Sleeping bags for use in extreme weather conditions are usually shaped to fit more closely to a user's body, e.g. are narrower at the feet end and wider at the shoulders end. In addition, long lengths of zip fasteners are avoided compared to conventional sleeping bags, as these are areas through which heat can be lost.
  • US Patent No. 3,831,206 discloses a sleeping bag with a top part and a bottom part, wherein the top part slightly overlaps the bottom part of the sleeping bag, and the top part has a thicker layer of insulation than the bottom part of the sleeping bag.
  • the first is that areas through which heat loss can occur need to be at a minimum and the second requirement is that the weight of the sleeping bag should be kept as low as possible without adversely affecting the heat loss requirement.
  • a first object of the invention is to provide a sleeping bag capable of meeting the above-mentioned first requirement.
  • a second object of the invention is to provide a sleeping bag capable of meeting the above-mentioned second requirement.
  • a sleeping bag having an inner layer and an outer layer with one or more layers of insulation material therebetween, forming top and bottom parts, the thickness of insulation material in the top part being greater than the thickness of insulation material in the bottom part, and the top part extending around a greater portion of the perimeter of the cross section of the bag than the bottom part whereby edges of the top part extend partially under a user's body, in use, the sleeping bag being characterized by additional insulating material being provided in at least one of the areas intended to surround a user's feet, chest or head.
  • the top part By having the top part extending effectively partially underneath the user of the bag, there is created a wrap-around effect that helps to keep the user's body warm. By having a thinner layer of insulating material in the bottom part than in the top part, the weight of the bag may be kept down.
  • the preferred sleeping bag of the invention is shaped to fit a user's body, typically by being narrower at the feet and wider at the shoulders.
  • two layers of insulation material be provided in the top part of the sleeping bag with three layers in the feet, chest and head areas of the bag.
  • a sleeping bag 10 is shown designed for extreme conditions i.e. for experienced campers, mountaineers and expedition members.
  • the sleeping bag 10 is shaped to fit closely to the body shape i.e. is narrower at the feet and wider at the shoulders.
  • the bag 10 generally has an inner layer 12 and an outer layer 14, between which are one or more layers of insulating material 16.
  • the sleeping bag 10 has a top part 18 and a bottom part 20.
  • the top part 18 is sized and arranged to cover a greater area than the bottom part.
  • the top part 18 extends around the bag so that its edges will extend partially under a user's body. This creates a wrap-around effect on the top layer to reduce potential heat loss, hence keeping the user's body warmer.
  • the thickness of insulating material in the bottom part is less than that provided in the top part. That is done in order to keep the weight of the bag down.

Description

  • This invention concerns improvements in and relating to sleeping bags, especially sleeping bags for use in extreme weather conditions, where body heat retention is vital.
  • Sleeping bags generally comprise two layers of fabric with insulating material sandwiched in between. Sleeping bags for use in extreme weather conditions are usually shaped to fit more closely to a user's body, e.g. are narrower at the feet end and wider at the shoulders end. In addition, long lengths of zip fasteners are avoided compared to conventional sleeping bags, as these are areas through which heat can be lost.
  • US Patent No. 3,831,206 discloses a sleeping bag with a top part and a bottom part, wherein the top part slightly overlaps the bottom part of the sleeping bag, and the top part has a thicker layer of insulation than the bottom part of the sleeping bag.
  • For sleeping bags usable in extreme weather conditions, there are two main requirements. The first is that areas through which heat loss can occur need to be at a minimum and the second requirement is that the weight of the sleeping bag should be kept as low as possible without adversely affecting the heat loss requirement.
  • A first object of the invention is to provide a sleeping bag capable of meeting the above-mentioned first requirement.
  • A second object of the invention is to provide a sleeping bag capable of meeting the above-mentioned second requirement.
  • According to this invention there is provided a sleeping bag having an inner layer and an outer layer with one or more layers of insulation material therebetween, forming top and bottom parts, the thickness of insulation material in the top part being greater than the thickness of insulation material in the bottom part, and the top part extending around a greater portion of the perimeter of the cross section of the bag than the bottom part whereby edges of the top part extend partially under a user's body, in use, the sleeping bag being characterized by additional insulating material being provided in at least one of the areas intended to surround a user's feet, chest or head.
  • By having the top part extending effectively partially underneath the user of the bag, there is created a wrap-around effect that helps to keep the user's body warm. By having a thinner layer of insulating material in the bottom part than in the top part, the weight of the bag may be kept down.
  • The preferred sleeping bag of the invention is shaped to fit a user's body, typically by being narrower at the feet and wider at the shoulders.
  • It is further preferable that two layers of insulation material be provided in the top part of the sleeping bag with three layers in the feet, chest and head areas of the bag.
  • This invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: -
  • Figure 1 shows a sleeping bag of the invention; and
  • Figure 2 is a section on line AA of Figure 1.
  • Referring to the accompanying drawings, a sleeping bag 10 is shown designed for extreme conditions i.e. for experienced campers, mountaineers and expedition members. The sleeping bag 10 is shaped to fit closely to the body shape i.e. is narrower at the feet and wider at the shoulders. The bag 10 generally has an inner layer 12 and an outer layer 14, between which are one or more layers of insulating material 16.
  • The sleeping bag 10 has a top part 18 and a bottom part 20. The top part 18 is sized and arranged to cover a greater area than the bottom part. In other words the top part 18 extends around the bag so that its edges will extend partially under a user's body. This creates a wrap-around effect on the top layer to reduce potential heat loss, hence keeping the user's body warmer.
  • The thickness of insulating material in the bottom part is less than that provided in the top part. That is done in order to keep the weight of the bag down.
  • In areas of the bag surrounding a user's feet, chest and head (22, 23 and 24 respectively), extra thickness of insulation material is provided. These areas are where most heat loss occurs, so that chances of keeping warm in very severe weather conditions are improved.

Claims (3)

  1. A sleeping bag having an inner layer and an outer layer with one or more layers of insulation material therebetween, forming top and bottom parts, the thickness of insulation material in the top part being greater than the thickness of insulation material in the bottom part and the top part extending around a greater portion of the perimeter of the cross section of the bag than the bottom part whereby edges of the top part extend partially under a user's body, in use, the sleeping bag being characterized by additional insulating material being provided in at least one of the areas intended to surround a user's feet, chest or head.
  2. A sleeping bag as claimed in claim 1, shaped to a user's body by being narrower at the feet end and wider in the shoulder region.
  3. A sleeping bag as claimed in any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the top layer has two layers of insulation material and three layers of insulation material are provided in the feet, head and chest areas.
EP96306531A 1995-09-12 1996-09-09 Improvements in and relating to sleeping bags Expired - Lifetime EP0761145B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9518586 1995-09-12
GBGB9518586.4A GB9518586D0 (en) 1995-09-12 1995-09-12 Improvements in and relating to sleeping bags

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0761145A2 EP0761145A2 (en) 1997-03-12
EP0761145A3 EP0761145A3 (en) 1998-12-02
EP0761145B1 true EP0761145B1 (en) 2001-05-09

Family

ID=10780563

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP96306531A Expired - Lifetime EP0761145B1 (en) 1995-09-12 1996-09-09 Improvements in and relating to sleeping bags

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0761145B1 (en)
DE (1) DE69612710T2 (en)
DK (1) DK0761145T3 (en)
ES (1) ES2160771T3 (en)
GB (2) GB9518586D0 (en)

Families Citing this family (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7181785B2 (en) * 2004-12-24 2007-02-27 North Pole Limited Sleeping bag with insulated foot pocket
US8707479B2 (en) 2012-07-16 2014-04-29 Gary N. Benninger Sleeping bag
AU2014239566A1 (en) * 2013-03-15 2015-10-01 Exxel Outdoors, Llc Sleeping bag
WO2014193540A1 (en) 2013-05-29 2014-12-04 American Recreation Products, Llc Quilt
USD889771S1 (en) 2013-09-06 2020-07-14 Exxel Outdoors, Llc Sleeping bag
USD742618S1 (en) 2013-09-06 2015-11-10 American Recreation Products, Llc Sleeping bag
USD789033S1 (en) 2015-07-31 2017-06-13 Exxel Outdoors, Llc Sleeping bag
CN107713572A (en) * 2017-10-23 2018-02-23 安徽隆羽绒有限公司 A kind of breakage-proof down-filled sleeping bag and preparation method thereof

Family Cites Families (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB115369A (en) * 1917-10-19 1918-05-09 Wilson & Co Inc Improvements in Combined Mattresses and Sleeping Bags.
DE1877004U (en) * 1961-02-21 1963-08-08 Daniel Alexandre Carrez SLEEPING BAG.
US3857125A (en) * 1973-05-21 1974-12-31 Alpine Designs Sleeping bag construction
US3979784A (en) * 1973-06-25 1976-09-14 Boothe Richard A Adaptor
US3831206A (en) * 1973-12-17 1974-08-27 R Geary Sleeping bag
FR2471167A1 (en) * 1979-12-13 1981-06-19 Bibollet Jean Claude Sleeping bag affording variable thermal insulation - uses three similar overlying rectangular fabric panels with one extended to cover user's head
GB2155773A (en) * 1984-03-17 1985-10-02 Howard William Lund Sleeping bags
DE3721351C1 (en) * 1987-06-29 1988-12-08 Eberhard Kugler Sleeping bag
US4884303A (en) * 1988-03-10 1989-12-05 American Recreation Products, Inc. Sleeping bag

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0761145A3 (en) 1998-12-02
DE69612710T2 (en) 2002-02-07
GB2305114A (en) 1997-04-02
GB9518586D0 (en) 1995-11-15
DK0761145T3 (en) 2001-08-20
ES2160771T3 (en) 2001-11-16
GB9618594D0 (en) 1996-10-16
DE69612710D1 (en) 2001-06-13
GB2305114B (en) 1999-08-18
EP0761145A2 (en) 1997-03-12

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