GB2316603A - Insect protective device for a sleeping bag - Google Patents

Abstract

A protective device, eg for the occupant of a sleeping bag, is formed from netting or similar material which allows passage of air while preventing passage of insects therethrough when the device is closed. As described the protective device is in the form of an outer bag 18 surrounding a sleeping hag 12, has an opening 20 in alignment with the sleeping bag opening and is preferably the same shape and size as the sleeping bag which it surrounds. The material used is preferably mosquito-netting, and the opening may be closed using a zip or hook/loop fastening. The protective device may also comprise means, eg a flexible elongate rod (30, figure 3), to hold the netting clear of the user's face. This rod may be fitted through a hem (32, figure 3) on the outer bag, its ends fitting into locators (34, figure 3) situated on said outer bag.

Description

PROTECTING A USER OF A SLEEPING BAG OR THE LIKE AGAINST IN SECTS.

The invention is concerned with protecting a user of a sleeping bag or the like against insects.

Small flying insects such as midges can be particularly irritating to hikers and campers and, in extreme cases, can make hiking and sleeping out of doors unbearable. Even where a tent is used, insects such as midges tend to rise inside the tent at a certain time of day. Sometimes the user may sleep out of doors in, say, a Bivi bag. Even though a Bivi bag may be formed of a breathable material, the user may wish to open the Bivi bag slightly in warm weather conditions thereby giving access to the insects.

An object of the present invention is to protect a user of a sleeping bag or, for example, a Bivi bag against insects such as midges.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a protective device formed from a material such as netting which allows passage of air but prevents passage of insects therethrough, the protective device being in the form of a bag which surrounds the user of a sleeping bag or the like and which has a closeable opening therein whereby a user of the sleeping bag will be protected from the insects by the protective bag.

Preferably, the bag is an outer bag which receives the sleeping bag or the like through the closeable opening.

The closeable opening preferably aligns, in use, substantially with an opening in the sleeping bag for the user.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a protective device formed from a material such as netting which allows passage of air but prevents passage of insects therethrough, the protective device being in the form of an outer bag surrounding a sleeping bag or the like, the outer bag having a closeable opening therein substantially in alignment with an opening in the sleeping bag whereby a user of the sleeping bag will be protected from the insects when the opening in the surrounding bag is closed.

The opening in the bag may be closable by a continuous fastener such as a zip or a nylon hooWloop fastening arrangement eg

Velcro The material from which the device is made is preferably mosquito-type netting.

The protective bag is preferably shaped substantially to correspond to the shape of the sleeping bag or the like. The bag may have similar dimensions to the external dimensions of the sleeping bag or the like.

The opening in the bag may be formed at one end of the bag or in, say, a panel of the bag which is uppermost when the bag is in normal use.

A protective device in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig 1 is a perspective view of a Bivi bag of known kind having a sleeping bag therein, Fig 2 is a perspective view of the Bivi bag of Fig 1 enclosed within a protective device in accordance with the invention and Fig 3 is a cut-away perspective view of the protective device of Fig 2 showing a stiffening hoop therein.

Looking at Fig 1, an insulating mat 10 on the ground has thereon a Bivi bag 12 of known kind. The Bivi bag 12 has a closeable opening 14 therein to enable a sleeping bag 16, again of known kind, to be placed inside the Bivi bag 12. Normally, the Bivi bag 12 will be formed of a breathable material such as Gortex and when a user is lying in the sleeping bag 16, the opening 14 in the Bivi bag can be closed completely. When the opening 14 is completely closed, the Bivi bag 12 protects the user from flying insects such as midges.

In warm and dry conditions, the user may not wish to close the opening 14 completely. In such a case, there is a high risk of the user being bitten by flying insects. To prevent that, and in accordance with the present invention, the Bivi bag 12 is placed within a protective outer bag 18 as shown in Fig 2. The protective bag 18 is made from an air permeable material such as mosquito netting and is preferably shaped so as to correspond substantially to the shape and external dimensions of the Bivi bag 12. The protective bag 18 is formed with an opening 20 which may be closed by a zip fastener 22 or other suitable fastener such as

Velcro It will be noted in the illustrated embodiment that the opening 20 aligns substantially with the opening 14 in the Bivi bag 12 to enable a user to enter the sleeping bag 16 through the opening 20 in the protective bag 18. Once the user is positioned within the Bivi bag 12, the fastener 22 of the protective bag 18 can easily be closed from the inside.

The protective bag 18 does not impede the passage of air to the user of the Bivi bag 12 but protects the user against insects.

Therefore, even where the user wants to sleep with the Bivi bag open, the protective bag 18 provides the necessary protection against flying insects indicated generally at 24.

The opening 20 is preferably formed in a part of the protective bag 18 which faces upwardly when the bag is in use as shown in Fig 2.

The protective bag 18, when produced from mosquito netting material, can be made particularly light in weight. Moreover, when folded, the protective bag 18 is particularly compact making it attractive for walkers and campers.

In very warm weather conditions and particularly where a user is sleeping under canvas, the user may sleep in the protective bag 18 without using a Bivi bag 12 or a sleeping bag 16.

As shown in Fig 3, a lightweight stiffer 30 may be provided in the region of the protective bag 18 which will lie adjacent the user's head 26. The stiffener 30 may be in the form of a flexible elongate rod or tube which is fed through a hem 32 formed on the protective bag 18 so that each end of the rod lies near or against the bottom of the protective bag 18. The rod may comprise a plurality of short rods interconnected by elastic and which are assembled to form the stiffener 30. As will be seen from the example of the protective bag 18 shown in Fig 3, the stiffener 30 is constrained by the hem 32 to take on a curved shape. The stiffener 30 ensures that the material of the protective bag 18 will be held clear of the user's face when the user is lying in the Bivi bag 12. Preferably, the free ends of the stiffener 30 locate in respective eyelets sockets or other locators 34 arranged one each side of the protective bag. The locators 34 may be mounted at each end of a tape 36 sewn in or otherwise attached to the protective bag. Instead of using a hem 32, the stiffener 30 may be passed through suitable spaced apart loops or sleeves on the protective bag 18. Alternatively, a stiffener 30 may be stitched within the material of the protective bag 18. If desired, more than one stiffener 30 may be provided.

In order to minimise the risk of damage to the underside of the protective bag 18, the underside may be suitably reinforced with, say, a lightweight canvas 38 or other suitable material or may, for example, be coated with or embedded in a plastics layer to provide an impermeable membrane The protective bag 18 may be formed from several panels of material joined together to form the finished bag or, in cases where the protective bag is of a simple shape, eg rectangular, may be formed from a single sheet of material. Where panels are used to form the protective bag 18, the opening 20 may be formed in one of the panels or may be defined between free edges of adjacent panels.

Claims (15)

1 A protective device formed from netting or like material which allows passage of air but prevents passage of insects therethrough, the protective device being in the form of a bag which, in use, surrounds the user of a sleeping bag or the like and which has a closeable opening therein whereby a user of the sleeping bag will be protected from the insects by the protective bag.

2 A protective device according to Claim 1 in which the bag is an outer bag which receives the sleeping bag or the like through the closeable opening.

3 A protective device according to according to Claim 1 or 2 in which the closeable opening aligns, in use, substantially with an opening in the sleeping bag for the user.

4 A protective device formed from netting or like material which allows passage of air but prevents passage of insects therethrough, the protective device being in the form of an outer bag surrounding a sleeping bag or the like, the outer bag having a closeable opening therein substantially in alignment with an opening in the sleeping bag whereby a user of the sleeping bag will be protected from the insects when the opening in the surrounding bag is closed.

5 A protective device according to Claim 3 or 4 in which the opening in the protective bag is arranged to lie substantially directly above the opening in the sleeping bag or the like.

6 A protective device according to any preceding Claim in which the opening in the bag is be closable by a continuous fastener such as a zip or a nylon hookiloop fastening arrangement.

7 A protective device according to any preceding Claim in which the material from which the protective device is made is mosquito-type netting.

8 A protective device according to any preceding Claim in which the protective bag is shaped substantially to correspond to the shape of the sleeping bag or the like.

9 A protective device according to any preceding Claim in which the protective bag has similar dimensions to the external dimensions of the sleeping bag or the like.

10 A protective device according to any preceding claim in which means is provided for holding the protective bag clear of the user's face.

11 A protective device according to claim 10 in which said means is a stiffener.

12 A protective device according to claim 11 in which the stiffener comprises a flexible elongate rod or tube.

13 A protective device according to any of claims 10 to 12 in which the said means fits into a hem, loops or sleeves on the protective bag.

14 A protective device according to any of claims 10 to 13 in which the stiffener has ends which fit into locators.

15 A protective device formed from netting or like material substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.