EP2087816A1

EP2087816A1 - A sleeping bag

Info

Publication number: EP2087816A1
Application number: EP09250296A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hamish Dunn; Keith Hutcheon
Original assignee: Bollin Group Ltd
Current assignee: Bollin Group Ltd
Priority date: 2008-02-07
Filing date: 2009-02-05
Publication date: 2009-08-12
Also published as: GB2457259A; GB0802268D0

Abstract

A sleeping bag having a length and a width and comprising: a closure comprising a first portion and a second portion, which portions are moveable between an open position and a closed position; and a closure fastener for fastening the first and second portions in the closed position, wherein the closure fastener comprises first and second attracting magnets, the first magnet being associated with the first portion, and the second magnet being associated with the second portion, the magnets being positioned such that when the portions are in, or close to, the closed position, the first and second magnets attract one another thereby holding the portions in the closed position.

Description

This invention relates to a sleeping bag of the type used, for example, in camping, hiking, mountaineering and travel, and also to bivouac equipment for similar uses. The term "sleeping bag" as used herein is understood to cover all types of sleeping bags and bivouac equipment.
A sleeping bag may be used in a wide range of environments and may be used in a wide range of climates. A sleeping bag should be able maintain a user's body temperature at comfortable level, regardless of the ambient temperature conditions.
It is known to form a sleeping bag from a fabric shell which may be filled with suitable insulating material. The fabric shell serves to trap air thus insulating a user positioned within the sleeping bag.
Sleeping bags come in a range of shapes. For example, when viewed from the front, they may be substantially rectangular in shape, or they may have a so-called mummy shape which more closely mirrors the shape of a human body. Sleeping bags may also be shaped to enable a head of a user to be contained within the sleeping bag, or alternatively, the head of a user may remain outside the sleeping bag.
The present invention is directed towards sleeping bags of any shape.
In order to maintain a user's body temperature at a comfortable level it is known to incorporate one or more baffles, flaps or chambers within the sleeping bag which baffles, flaps and chambers serve to prevent, or reduce cold spots existing with the sleeping bag. One such chamber may for example define a volume within which a person's body from the neck down may be contained.
In a sleeping bag in which one or more chambers are defined through the use of, for example baffles, it is necessary to maintain the baffles in place during use, in order to retain the chambers during use. Baffles may be held in place with known fixing such as zips, Velcro, press-studs and the like. The baffles should be held in place by the fixings, even when a person within a sleeping bag is moving around when asleep, for example.
A problem with such fixings is that they can be abrasive on the skin of a user and may also damage the material from which the sleeping bag is made. In addition, depending on the material used to form the fasteners, they may also conduct heat onto the skin of a user. In cold ambient temperatures such fasteners will feel cold to a user.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a sleeping bag having a length and a width and comprising: a closure comprising a first portion and a second portion, which portions are moveable between an open position and a closed position; and a closure fastener for fastening the first and second portions in the closed position, wherein the closure fastener comprises first and second attracting magnets, the first magnet being associated with the first portion, and the second magnet being associated with the second portion, the magnets being positioned such that when the portions are in, or close to, the closed position, the first and second magnets attract one another thereby holding the portions in the closed position.
The first and second attracting magnets forming the closure fastener are positioned such that when the first and second magnets are moved towards the closed position, the magnetic field, or fields, attracting the first and second magnets to one another will act to pull the magnets towards one another, and to move the first and second portions into the closed position.
An advantage of the closure fastener is thus that the first and second portions do not have to be accurately positioned relative to one another in order to cause the first and second portions to be moved to the closed position.
The term "magnet" is used herein to describe a component that comprises, or includes a body that can attract another body as a result of a magnetic field. Each magnet may thus be formed entirely from a magnetic material. Alternatively, each magnet may comprise both magnetic and non-magnetic material. For example the magnetic material may be mounted in a non-magnetic housing.
In order that the first magnet and the second magnet are attracted to one another, the first and second magnets may have opposite magnetic polarities to one another.
The first magnet may be formed separately to the first portion, and the second magnet may be formed separately to the second portion. Preferably however the first magnet is positioned within the first portion, and the second magnet is positioned within the second portion.
In alternative embodiments, the first magnet may be positioned within the first portion, and the second magnet may be positioned separately to the second portion, or vice versa.
Preferably, the closure fastener comprises a plurality of first magnets each having a first polarity, and a plurality of corresponding second magnets each having an opposite polarity, the plurality of first and second magnets comprising the closure fastener.
Each second magnet is positioned to correspond with a first magnet. The closure fastener may therefore be considered to comprise a plurality of pairs of first and second magnets.
In such an embodiment, each first magnet may be spaced apart from each other first magnet, and each second magnet may be correspondingly positioned such that the pairs of first and second magnets will attract one another when the first and second portions are moved towards the closed position, thus causing the first and second portion to move to the closed position.
Advantageously, the or each first magnet is positioned within the first portion.
Conveniently, the or each second magnet is positioned within the second portion.
By positioning the or each first and/or second magnet within a respective first or second portion, the or each first and/or second magnet will be prevented from coming into direct contact with a user's skin. This will prevent the or each magnet from transferring heat (including cold temperatures) to the user of the sleeping bag. In addition, the position of the or each magnet will prevent abrasive contact between the or each magnet and the user.
The sleeping bag may comprise a shell formed from a suitable fabric. The fabric is preferably insulating. The first and second portions may then extend internally or externally from the shell.
The shell may be formed from two or more shell pieces, which pieces may be joined together by any convenient means, for example by sewing a seam between adjacent shell pieces.
Alternatively, the shell may be formed from a single piece of fabric.
The closure comprising the first and second portions may form any convenient part of the sleeping bag and may therefore be positioned either internally or externally of the sleeping bag. If the first and second portions are positioned externally of the sleeping bag they may be in the form of an external closure allowing the sleeping bag to be closed when a person is positioned within the sleeping bag.
Preferably however, the first and second portions are positioned within the sleeping bag. The first and second portions may thus form an internal closure in the form of, for example flaps or baffles.
Alternatively, the first portion may be positioned within the sleeping bag, and the second portion may be positioned outside the sleeping bag or vice versa.
Wherever the first and second portions are positioned they may be in the form of, for example, flaps or baffles extending from the sleeping bag either internally or externally.
The first and second portions are preferably attached to the sleeping bag, either permanently, or removeably.
The first and second portions may be formed from any convenient material and preferably are formed from a material similar to that used to form the sleeping bag.
The first and second portions may extend from the sleeping bag. Alternatively, one or both of the first and second portions may comprise a portion of the sleeping bag.
Preferably, the sleeping bag comprises an opening extending lengthwise at least partially along the length of the sleeping bag and having a length.
Such an opening may allow a user ready access into the sleeping bag.
Preferably, the opening is closable by means of an opening fastener which opening fastener serves to allow the sleeping bag to be opened when a user wishes to position himself within the sleeping bag, and allows the opening to be closed by the user, once the user is positioned within the sleeping bag.
The opening fastener may comprise any convenient fastener and may for example be in the form of a zip.
Preferably, the first and second portions each extend at least partially along the length of the opening.
Advantageously, each of the first and second portions is in close proximity to the opening, and positioned within the sleeping bag.
The first and second portions may be in the form of first and second flaps respectively, each flap extending internally of the sleeping bag.
The first and second portions may thus comprise a closure in the form of a draught tube serving to prevent draughts from entering the sleeping bag through the opening when the opening is closed by the opening fastener.
Each flap preferably extends along some or all of the length of the opening.
The flaps may be positioned close to, or may be attached to, the opening fastener.
Advantageously, the first and second flaps overlap one another when in the closed position.
In alternative embodiments, the first portion only may comprise a flap and the second portion may comprise a portion of the sleeping bag (or vice versa). In such an embodiment, the first portion is engageable with the portion of the sleeping bag forming the second portion when the first and second portions are in the closed position, thus forming the closure. In such an embodiment, the first and second portions may form a closure in the form of a draught tube having a single flap.
Alternatively, or in addition, the closure comprises first and second portions which extend width-wise across the sleeping bag to define a chamber within the sleeping bag. The first and second portions may for example define a chamber within which, in use, a user's body from the neck down may be positioned. In such an embodiment the first and second portions comprise a closure in the form of a neck baffle adapted to prevent draughts from entering the sleeping bag via a top opening of the sleeping bag.
The neck baffle may be formed from a single component extending externally within the sleeping bag. Alternatively, the neck baffle may be formed from two or more components attached to one another by any convenient means.
Embodiments of the invention may comprise more than one closure, each comprising first and second portions. For example, a sleeping bag according to the present invention may comprise a first closure in the form of a draught tube as described hereinabove extending lengthwise along the sleeping bag. In addition, the sleeping bag may comprise a second closure extending width-wise across the sleeping bag and forming a neck baffle as described hereinabove.
In other embodiments of the invention there may be further pairs of first and second portions forming closures within, or external to, the sleeping bag.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a closure for a sleeping bag, the closure comprising closure comprising a first portion and a second portion, which portions are moveable between an open position and a closed position; and a closure fastener for fastening the first and second portions in the closed position, wherein the closure fastener comprises first and second attracting magnets, the first magnet being associated with the first portion, and the second magnet being associated with the second portion, the magnets being positioned such that when the portions are in, or close to, the closed position, the first and second magnets attract one another thereby holding the portions in the closed position.
Preferred and advantageous features of the closure that have been described hereinabove with respect to the first aspect of the present invention apply also to the closure according to the second aspect of the present invention.
Embodiments of the invention will now be further described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a sleeping bag according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional representation taken along line A-A of Figure 1 showing a draught tube forming part of the sleeping bag of Figure 1 in an opened position;
Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a portion of the draught tube of Figure 2 taken along line B-B showing the draught tube in a closed configuration;
Figure 4 is a partial schematic representation of a second embodiment of a draught tube forming part of the sleeping bag of Figure 1 taken along line B-B showing the draught tube in a closed configuration;
Figure 5 is a schematic representation of the sleeping bag of Figure 1 showing the position of a neck baffle forming part of the sleeping bag;
Figure 6 is a cross-sectional representation of the sleeping bag of Figure 5 taken along line C-C showing the neck baffle in more detail;
Figure 7 is a cross-sectional representation of the sleeping bag of Figure 5 taken along the line D-D showing the draught tube in an open position and the neck baffle also in an open position; and
Figure 8 is a cross-sectional representation of the sleeping bag of Figure 5 taken along line D-D showing the neck baffle and draught tube in a closed position.

Referring to the figures, a sleeping bag according to the present invention is designated generally by the reference numeral 2. The sleeping bag comprises a head end 4, and a foot end 6. In use, a person using the sleeping bag will be positioned within the sleeping bag as shown in Figures 5 and 6, such that the user's feet are positioned towards the foot end 6, and the user's head is positioned towards the head end 4 of the sleeping bag.
As can be seen from the figures, in embodiments of the sleeping bag illustrated and described herein, a user's head may be contained within a head portion 7 of the sleeping bag 2 which head portion 7 forms a head end 4 of the sleeping bag.
In alternative embodiments of the invention, the sleeping bag may be shaped and dimensioned such that a person's head cannot be contained within the sleeping bag. In this case the person's head will extend from the head end of the sleeping bag and may be supported for example on a separate cushion or pillow. In such an embodiment of the sleeping bag, the head end of the sleeping bag will, in use, not extend as far as a user's head but will instead extend to a user's shoulders or neck, for example.
In the illustrated embodiments of the invention, the sleeping bag has a so-called "mummy" shape in that the bag is narrower towards the foot end 6 of the bag and increases in width towards the head end 4 of the bag 2.
The present invention however includes sleeping bags having any particular shape, and for example includes sleeping bags having a generally rectangular shape when viewed from the front in which there is little, if any, variation in the width of the sleeping bag from a foot end 6 to a head end 4.
The sleeping bag 2 comprises a shell 8 formed from a suitable fabric such as an insulating fabric.
The shell may be made from lightweight polyester or polyamide (Nylon) fabrics. In addition 'green' fabrics may also be used. These fabrics can be coated or laminated with materials such as Polyurethane and Expanded Polytetrafluoroethylene, to improve resistance against water ingress.
Sleeping bag insulation currently falls under two general categories: down (Organic) and synthetic (Inorganic). Down insulation comes from a bird such as a duck or goose. It consists of a percentage of down clusters (a type of plume on a bird) and often a percentage of feather. The two are mixed to create the desired quality level of down. Synthetic insulation is man-made insulation, which encompasses a huge array of options. Polyester is predominantly used but again the rise of 'green' fabrics means crops, plants, etc are also being developed to produce suitable fabrics. Most commonly the synthetic component is manufactured into fibres of varying lengths and bonded together to create a lightweight structure capable of trapping air as insulation
The boundaries between organic and inorganic are shifting and both insulation types may be used in the same product. The aim of synthetic down developers is to create a synthetic down that provides the benefits of both types of insulation.
Traditional materials such as wool may also be used.
The shell may be formed by any convenient means and may for example comprise a first shell portion 10 and a second shell portion 12 which may be joined together at a seam extending along the length of the sleeping bag 2. In other embodiments, however, the shell may be formed from a single piece of fabric or may be formed from a plurality of pieces of fabric.
The sleeping bag further comprises an opening 16 which, in this embodiment extends along a side of the sleeping bag, substantially along the entire length of the sleeping bag. In other embodiments however, the opening 16 could be positioned at a different part of the sleeping bag and may extend along a shorter portion of the length of the sleeping bag.
The opening has associated therewith, an opening fastener 18, which in this example is a slide fastener such as a zip. The fastener 18 may be used to open the opening 16 allowing a person ready access into the sleeping bag. Once the person is positioned within the sleeping bag he may close the opening using the opening fastener 18.
The sleeping bag 2 further comprises a first closure 20 comprising first portion 22, and second portion 24 which portions 22, 24 are closable by means of a closure fastener 26 comprising a plurality of first and second attracting magnets 28, 30.
Each of the first magnets 28 is contained within the first portion 22, the first magnets 28 being spaced apart along the length of the first portion 22. The second magnets 30 are contained within the second portion 24 and are positioned at corresponding spaced apart intervals along the second portion 24.
The first and second portions 22, 24 may be held in a closed position by means of the plurality of first and second magnets 28, 30 which each have an appropriate polarity to attract one another.
Preferably, the magnets 28, 30 are positioned within the portions 22, 24 although they could be positioned differently if appropriate. When the magnets 28, 30 are positioned within the first and second portions 22, 24, they do not come into direct contact with the skin of a person positioned in the sleeping bag 2 and therefore should not feel cold to a user of the bag 2.
In addition, the magnets should not abrade the fabric from which the sleeping bag 2 is formed because they do not involve hooks or loops for example.
The magnets may be attached to the bag fabric by any convenient means. For example, the magnets could be: held in small pockets which can be sewn closed; held in small pockets with a closure flap; or sewn directly onto the fabric as they can be pre-purchased in a sewable cover.
Depending on the dimensions of the magnets, particularly the thickness of the magnets, it may also be possible to sew through the magnets thus attaching the magnets to the fabric of the sleeping bag.
Alternatively, the magnets may be bonded to the sleeping bag fabric using adhesive film.
Another way of attaching the magnets to the sleeping bag fabric is to sandwich the magnets between pieces of fabric, which pieces of fabric are then bonded together. The resulting composite magnetic structure may then be itself bonded to the sleeping bag fabric.
Another possible way of attaching the magnets to the sleeping bag fabric is by way of a mechanical fixing such as a clip. In such an embodiment, the magnets could be part of a composite magnetic structure including one or more clips.
The magnets 28, 30 are self locating in that the user does not have to exactly place the magnets in the appropriate position in order for the magnets to be able to attract one another and therefore hold the portions 22, 24 in a closed position. In other words, the magnetic fields associated with corresponding magnets 22, 24 means that if the magnets come within a certain distance of one another magnetic attraction will pull the magnets towards each other thus closing the first and second portions.
Magnets are available in almost any shape and size. Different sized magnets may be used for different uses, depending on the circumstances under which the sleeping bag will be used.
For example, the magnets may be substantially disc shaped and have a diameter of approximately 15mm with a thickness of 3mm each.
The magnets may be either permanent magnets, temporary magnets or electromagnets.
It is likely that permanent magnets will be more appropriate for use in a sleeping bag according to the present invention because once they are magnetised they retain a level of magnetism throughout their life.
Temporary magnets, which are those that act like a permanent magnet when they are within a strong magnetic field, but which lose their magnetism when the magnetic field disappears may not be as suitable for use in a sleeping bag according to the present invention.
An electromagnet is a tightly wound helical coil of wire, usually with an iron core, which acts like a permanent magnet when current is flowing in the wire. Such a magnet may also be suitable for use in a sleeping bag according to the present invention.
In this embodiment the first and second portions 22, 24 each comprise a flap 32, 34. The closure 20 thus forms a draught tube 36. As shown in Figure 3 for example, the first and second portions 22, 24 overlap with one another when in the closed position. Each of the portions 22, 24 extends substantially along the entire length of the opening 16 and is located within the sleeping bag. Each of the portions 22, 24 are thus positioned inside the opening 16.
The closure 20 therefore serve as a barrier between the fastener 18 and a user's body 2 thus reducing any temperature variation caused by the fastener, and also excluding any draughts from entering the sleeping bag via the opening 16 when the opening has been closed by the fastener 18.
The first portion 22 may be attached directly to the fastener 18 and also to the shell 8. The second portion 24 is positioned away from the fastener 18 but is also attached to the shell 8. The relative positionings of the portions 22, 24 allow the two portions to overlap in the closed position as shown in Figure 3.
Whilst in the embodiment shown in Figures 2 and 3, the sleeping bag 2 comprises a draught tube comprising two flaps 32, 34, in an alternative embodiment of the invention, the closure or draught tube comprises a single flap only as shown in Figure 4. In the illustrated embodiment the closure comprises flap 32 only, although of course in an alternative embodiment the closure 20 may comprise a flap 34 only. The first portion 22 thus comprises flap 32, and the second portion 24 comprises a portion 35 of the shell 8 forming the sleeping bag 2.
Turning now to Figure 5, a second closure 200 forming part of the sleeping bag 2 is shown and described in more detail. The closure 200 forms a neck baffle 40 which defines a first chamber 42 in which the user's body from the neck down may be received, and a second chamber 44 in which a user's head may be positioned. The neck baffle 40 is moveable between an open position as shown in Figure 7, and a closed position as shown in Figure 8. In the open position, ready access to the interior of the sleeping bag 2 is provided to a user.
The closure 200 comprises a first portion 222 and a second portion 224, which portions, 222, 224 are closable by means of a closure fastener 226 comprising a plurality of first and second attracting magnets 228, 230 respectively.
Each of the first magnets 228 is contained with in the first portion 222, the first magnets 228 being spaced apart along the length of the first portion 222. the second magnets 230 are contained within the second portion 224, and are positioned at corresponding spaced apart intervals along the second portion 224.
The first and second portions 222, 224 may be held in a closed position by means of the plurality of first and second magnets 228, 230 which each have an appropriate polarity to attract one another.
Preferably the magnets 228, 230 are positioned within the portions 222, 224, although they could be positioned differently if appropriate.
As described hereinabove with reference to the draught tube formed by the first closure 20, the magnets 228, 230 are self locating in that the user does not have to exactly place the magnets in the appropriate position in order for the magnets to be able to attract one another and therefore hold the portions 222, 224 in a closed position.
Once the user has positioned himself within the sleeping bag the opening 16 may be closed by means of opening fastener 18, the neck baffle 40 may also be closed and finally the draught tube may be closed, as described herein above. In this position the temperature of a user of the sleeping bag to maybe maintain at a comfortable level.
The sleeping bag 2 further comprises a drawstring 56 which may be pulled in order to close the top opening of the sleeping bag, once a user is positioned within the bag.

Claims

A sleeping bag having a length and a width and comprising: a closure comprising a first portion and a second portion, which portions are moveable between an open position and a closed position; and a closure fastener for fastening the first and second portions in the closed position, wherein the closure fastener comprises first and second attracting magnets, the first magnet being associated with the first portion, and the second magnet being associated with the second portion, the magnets being positioned such that when the portions are in, or close to, the closed position, the first and second magnets attract one another thereby holding the portions in the closed position.
A sleeping bag according to claim 1 wherein the closure fastener comprises a plurality of first magnets each having a first polarity, and a plurality of corresponding second magnets each having an opposite polarity.
A sleeping bag according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the or each first magnet is positioned within the first portion, and the or each second magnet is positioned within the second portion.
A sleeping bag according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the sleeping bag comprises a shell.
A sleeping bag according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the first and second portions are positioned within the sleeping bag.
A sleeping bag according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the first and second portions are attached to the sleeping bag.
A sleeping bag according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the first portion comprises a flap.
A sleeping bag according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the first and second portions comprise first and second flaps respectively, each flap extending internally of the sleeping bag.
A sleeping bag according to claim 8 wherein the first and second flaps overlap one another when in the closed position.
A sleeping bag according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising an opening extending lengthwise at least partially along the length the sleeping bag and having a length.
A sleeping bag according to claim 10 further comprising an opening fastener for closing the first opening.
A sleeping bag according to claim 10 or claim 11 wherein each of the first and second portions is in close proximity to the opening, and positioned within the sleeping bag.
A sleeping bag according to claim 9 or claim 10 wherein the first and second portions each extend at least partially along the length of the opening.
A sleeping bag according to any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the first and second portions extend width-wise across the sleeping bag.
A closure forming part of the sleeping bag according to any one claims 1 to 14.