US20170105556A1

US20170105556A1 - Magnetic sleeping bag

Info

Publication number: US20170105556A1
Application number: US15/289,908
Authority: US
Inventors: Michael Tarpey; Joseph Budusky
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-10-14
Filing date: 2016-10-10
Publication date: 2017-04-20

Abstract

A sleeping bag for providing easy and carefree exit and entry for a user, for providing comfort for the user by having an ability to extend appendages of the user out of the sleeping bag without having to open the sleeping bag in its entirety, and for providing a no-fail engage or disengage exit for potential emergency situations. The sleeping bag includes a lower layer, an upper layer, and a magnetic closure. The upper layer overlies the lower layer so as to form a user space therebetween for the user. The magnetic closure replaceably attaches a portion of the upper layer to a corresponding portion of the lower layer and provides the easy and carefree exit and entry for the user, provides comfort for the user by having an ability to extend appendages of the user out of the sleeping bag without having to open the sleeping bag in its entirety, and provides a no-fail engage/disengage exit for potential emergency situations.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The instant non-provisional patent application claims priority from provisional patent application No. 62/241,587, filed on Oct. 14, 2015, entitled MAGNETIC SLEEPING BAG, and incorporated herein in its entirety by reference thereto.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention
The embodiments of the present invention relate to a sleeping bag, and more particularly, the embodiments of the present invention relate to a sleeping bag for providing easy and carefree exit and entry for a user, for providing comfort for the user by having an ability to selectively extend appendages of the user out of the sleeping bag without having to open the sleeping bag in its entirety, and for providing a no-fail engage/disengage exit for potential emergency situations.
Description of the Prior Art
A sleeping bag is an insulated covering for a person, essentially a lightweight quilt that can be closed with a zipper or similar apparatus to form a tube, which functions as a lightweight and portable bedding in situations where a person is sleeping outdoors, e.g., when camping, hiking, hill walking, or climbing.
The sleeping bag's primary purpose is to provide warmth and thermal insulation through its synthetic or down insulation. It also typically has a water resistant or water repellent cover that protects - to some extent - against wind chill and light precipitation. The bottom surface also provides some cushioning and may be moderately water repellent.
There are a range of sleeping bag models designed for different purposes. Very lightly insulated sleeping bags are designed for summer camping use or for indoor use by children during slumber parties. Well-insulated bags are designed for cold weather use.
The most well-insulated and lightweight sleeping bags—which are designed for serious hikers and adventurers—are more expensive than lightly insulated sleeping bags. One subcategory of cold-weather sleeping bag, the mummy bag, is so named because it has an insulated hood for the head. A bivouac sack (bivy) is a waterproof cover for a sleeping bag that may be used in place of a tent by minimalist and experienced hikers. A bivy bag may also be carried by day hikers as a backup or emergency shelter to be used if they cannot make it back to their starting point by nightfall due to inclement weather or getting lost.
The state of the sleeping bag art has many drawbacks, a few include:
1. Doesn't provide easy and carefree exit and entry for a user;
2. Provides less comfort for the user by not having an ability to extend appendages of the user out of the sleeping bag without having to open the sleeping bag in its entirety;
3. Does not provide a no-fail engage or disengage exit for potential emergency situations;
4. Zipper mechanism may jam upon entry and exit.
Numerous innovations for sleeping bags have been provided in the prior art, which will be described below in chronological order to show advancement in the art, and which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference thereto. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, nevertheless, they differ from the embodiments of the present invention, in that they do not teach a sleeping bag for providing easy and carefree exit and entry for a user, for providing a no-fail closure mechanism comprised of alternating polarity magnets on each strip, for providing comfort for the user by having an ability to selectively extend appendages of the user out of the sleeping bag without having to open the sleeping bag in its entirety, and for providing a no-fail engage/disengage exit for potential emergency situations.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,988,791 to Simon

U.S. Pat. No. 3,988,791—issued to Simon on Nov. 2, 1976 in US class 5 and subclass 413R—teaches a sleeping bag having double shells: an inner shell and an outer shell, both open at one and the same side, each, preferably, differentially cut, so that the sleeping bag is narrow at the bottom or foot end than at the upper end, and has insulating material between the shell. The shells are closed along the open side by a pair of off-set slide fasteners. The off-sets provide closing off of any leakage through the fasteners of warmed air inside the sleeping bag, entry of cold air from the outside, and provides both a dead air space between the pair of off-set slide fasteners and insulated pads to cover the two closures.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,033,001 to Kern

U.S. Pat. No. 4,033,001—issued to Kern on Jul. 5, 1977 in US class 2 and subclass 83—teaches a sleeping bag having a hood back part with a pair of arm and hand portions extending from opposite sides thereof. A lower back part is affixed to, and extends from, the hood back part. A hood front part has a face opening therein and a pair of arm and hand portions extending from opposite sides thereof and corresponding to the arm and hand portions of the hood back and affixed to the hood back part to accommodate the head, upper chest area, and arms of a user of the bag. A lower front part is affixed to, and extends from, the hood front part and is affixed to the lower back part to accommodate the remaining torso of a user of the bag.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,079,472 to Maguire

U.S. Pat. No. 4,079,472—issued to Maguire on Mar. 21, 1978 in US class 5 and subclass 413R—teaches a sleeping bag having a pillow pocket at the head thereof, a bag portion extending along less than one-half the length of the sleeping bag, and a foot portion having a longitudinally extensible and laterally expandable section within the bag portion of the sleeping bag.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,587,682 to Schultz

U.S. Pat. No. 4,587,682—issued to Schultz on May 13, 1986 in US class 5 and subclass 413R—teaches a sleeping bag including first and second panels, with one of the panels overlying the other panel, and with the panels having a lower portion, an upper portion, and side edges. The bag has a first closing device for closing the side edges of the first and second panels, with the upper portion of the panels being inverted and tucked between the adjoining portion of the panels to define a pocket and an opening communicating with the pocket to receive and stow articles. The bag has a second device for closing the opening.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,884,303 to Scherer

U.S. Pat. No. 4,884,303—issued to Scherer on Dec. 5, 1989 in US class 5 and subclass 413R—teaches a sleeping bag including a pad and a cover, with the cover including an upper and a lower section, each including a layer of cushiony thermal insulation material, and an intermediate section including a layer of elastically stretchable material sandwiched between the upper and lower sections of the cover extending from one side of the cover to the other and secured at the side margins thereof to the cover. The intermediate elastically stretchable layer is operable to draw the lower section against the user in the bag to maintain the lower section in relatively close form-fitting relation to the user.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,894,878 to Roach

U.S. Pat. No. 4,894,878—issued to Roach on Jan. 23, 1990 in US class 5 and subclass 413R—teaches a sleeping bag including an outer shell, an inner liner, and a plurality of longitudinally extending insulating batts therebetween secured along their longitudinal edges to the shell and to the liner in an overlapping and shingled arrangement. The circumferential dimension of the liner can be reduced by connecting spaced-apart zipper elements fastened to the liner, thus causing an increased overlap of the batts resulting in increased thermal insulation. A cord casing at the head hole is secured to the liner along a line spaced-apart from the seam joining the shell and the liner at the head hole, so that when the draw string is pulled taut, creasing and other deformation of the shell surrounding the head hole is minimized so to reduce any decrease in thermal insulation. The head and foot of the bag define three dimensional cavities sized to generally conform to the user's head and feet to minimize compression of the bag. The access zipper extends beneath the user to minimize heat loss.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,640,725 to Ando et al.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,640,725—issued to Ando et al. on Jun. 24, 1997 in US class 5 and subclass 413AM—teaches a sleeping bag whose bag body is free from slipping off an air mattress laid therebeneath, and whose air pillow is also free from slipping off the bag body, etc., so that there is no fear of comfortable sleep being disturbed. The bag body is composed of a mattress portion and a coverlet portion. The mattress portion and the coverlet potion are joined to each other, so that the coverlet potion is folded over the mattress. The insides of the mattress portion and the coverlet portion are stuffed with cotton or feather paddings having adiabatic property. The other sides of the respective mattress portion and the coverlet portion, as well as the foot ends thereof, are provided with slide fasteners continuously therealong, so that a generally envelope shaped structure is formed. The air mattress is inserted through the air mattress inlet formed along the foot end of the mattress portion into the inside of the mattress portion. The head end side of the mattress portion is opened, with an air pillow inlet that allows insertion of the air pillows into the head portion of the mattress portion.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,334,221 to Hope

U.S. Pat. No. 6,334,221—issued to Hope on Jan. 1, 2002 in US class 2 and subclass 69.5—teaches a sleeping bag including a main body for substantially enclosing the trunk of a user, and at least one body portion attached or attachable to the main body. The at least one body portion is adapted to separately enclose substantial portions of other body part(s) of the user. The at least one body portion may be integrally formed with the main body or releasably attachable to same. The provision of the at least one body portion allows for greater mobility of a user while still within the sleeping bag. Furthermore, the embodiment that has at least one releasably attachable body portion allows for a degree of flexibility in terms of use and accessories.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,449,787 to Thorne

U.S. Pat. No. 6,449,787—issued to Thorne on Sep. 17, 2002 in US class 5 and subclass 413R—teaches an adjustable-warmth sleeping bag. The sleeping bag, typically, includes an outer shell and a plurality of compartments filled with an insulative material. The sleeping bag also, typically, includes a plurality of slots positioned adjacent the outer shell. Each slot contains a respective insulator. The insulators are typically configured to be selectively inserted and removed from the slots to vary the warmth of the bag.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,591,426 to Smith

U.S. Pat. No. 6,591,426—issued to Smith on Jul. 15, 2003 in US class 2 and subclass 69—teaches a sleeping bag configured to represent a human or fantasy subject, such as, a sports-person, e.g., a football and soccer player. The sleeping bag has arm and leg portions and has surface decoration representing the subject, e.g., the football strip of a particular club. The surface decoration may be provided by printing and may include features, such as, the bottoms of trousers and tops of socks represented by pleats or tucks. The outer surface of the sleeping bag may incorporate a pocket portion to permit over-printing of the sleeping bag subsequent to manufacture, e.g., at the point of purchase.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,263,730 to Crawford

U.S. Pat. No. 7,263,730—issued to Crawford on Sep. 4, 2007 in US class 5 and subclass 413R—teaches a sleeping bag that is an insulated bag for covering and protecting the body of a user when the user is seated. The bag is formed from front and rear fabric sheets joined to one another and sized and shaped to receive the body of the user. At least one pair of slots is formed through the front fabric sheet to receive a seatbelt attached to a chair, such as, an airplane seat, thus, selectively securing both the user and the insulating bag to the seat. Alternatively, or in addition to the seatbelt slots, a pair of slots may be formed through the front fabric sheet for providing the user's hands free access to the external environment.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,386,898 to Brun

U.S. Pat. No. 7,386,898—issued to Brun on Jun. 17, 2008 in US class 5 and subclass 413R—teaches a sleeping bag including adjacent chambers that are formed by partition walls. The chambers contain a filling material. The sleeping bag also includes a zipper and inner and outer linings that cover the chambers. The outer lining includes a waterproof material. The outer lining and the partition walls or the outer lining and fixing stripes being connected to the partition walls include a material that can be sealed. The partition walls are sealed onto the outer lining from the inside at the end of the walls or by way of the fixing strips.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,543,343 to Hui

U.S. Pat. No. 7,543,343—issued to Hui on Jun. 9, 2009 in US class 5 and subclass 413R—teaches an article of bedding, such as, a sleeping bag that is constructed so as to allow a user to selectively and alternatively control the insulating properties of the covering structure over the user's feet. Specifically, the lower portion of a main cover layer of a blanket or main sleeping bag cover is provided with an overlying top covering layer. Also, a slit is defined transversely across the lower portion of the main covering layer between about one foot and about three feet from the foot extremities of the blanketing layers. The user selectively inserts his or her feet either beneath both covering layers or through the slit in the main covering layer. When the user's feet are inserted through the slit, they are covered only by the top covering layer below the slit. Preferably, the foot extremities of the top covering layer and the main covering layer are provided with an open-mesh ventilating panel therebetween. This permits air circulation between the lower portion of the main cover layer and the overlying top cover layer to prevent the user's feet from becoming too warm. The foot extremities of the main cover layer and the top covering layer may be releasably secured to the other by a zipper or some other releaseable closure device.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,707,479 to Benninger

U.S. Pat. No. 8,707,479—issued to Benninger on Apr. 29, 2014 in US class 5 and subclass 413R—teaches a sleeping bag constructed so that its outer circumference is greater than its inner circumference. The bag includes additional integrated protuberances, or space fillers, that are added to the interior lining of the sleeping bag to fill-in around the sleeper's body. Making the circumference of the outside of the bag greater than the inside maintains the thickness of the insulation in selected areas. To maintain insulation thickness at other locations around the sleeper's body, the insulation-containing space fillers are incorporated into the interior of the bag and expand under the influence of the insulation to fill-in around the sleeper for reducing the internal volume of the bag. This construction can be carried the length of the sleeping bag.
It is apparent that numerous innovations for sleeping bags have been provided in the prior art, which are adapted to be used. Furthermore, even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, nevertheless, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the embodiments of the present invention as heretofore described, namely, a sleeping bag for providing easy and carefree exit and entry for a user, for providing comfort for the user by having an ability to selectively extend appendages of the user out of the sleeping bag without having to open the sleeping bag in its entirety, and for providing a no-fail engage/disengage exit for potential emergency situations.
Thus, there exists a need for a sleeping bag for providing easy and carefree exit and entry for a user, for providing comfort for the user by having an ability to selectively extend appendages of the user out of the sleeping bag without having to open the sleeping bag in its entirety, and for providing a no-fail engage/disengage exit for potential emergency situations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, an object of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a sleeping bag for providing easy and carefree exit and entry for a user, for providing comfort for the user by having an ability to selectively extend appendages of the user out of the sleeping bag without having to open the sleeping bag in its entirety, and for providing a no-fail engage or disengage exit for potential emergency situations, which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art. Additionally, the alternating polarity magnets along each strip provide a reproducible and proper closure, an improvement over single polarity magnet strips.
Briefly stated, another object of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a sleeping bag for providing easy and carefree exit and entry for a user, for providing comfort for the user by having an ability to selectively extend appendages of the user out of the sleeping bag without having to open the sleeping bag in its entirety, and for providing a no-fail engage or disengage exit for potential emergency situations. The sleeping bag includes a lower layer, an upper layer, and a magnetic closure. The upper layer overlies the lower layer so as to form a user space therebetween for the user. The magnetic closure replaceably attaches a portion of the upper layer to a corresponding portion of the lower layer and provides the easy and carefree exit and entry for the user, provides the comfort for the user by having an ability to selectively extend appendages of the user out of the sleeping bag without having to open the sleeping bag in its entirety, and provides the no-fail engage/disengage exit for potential emergency situations.
The novel features considered characteristic of the embodiments of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. The embodiments of the present invention themselves, however, both as to their construction and to their method of operation together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of the embodiments of the present invention when read and understood in connection with the accompanying figures of the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWING

The figures of the drawing are briefly described as follows:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the sleeping bag of the embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged diagrammatic perspective view of the area generally enclosed by the dotted oval identified by ARROW 2 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is diagrammatic perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the sleeping bag of the present invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS UTILIZED IN THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWING

Introductory

10 sleeping bag of embodiments of present invention for providing easy and carefree exit and entry for user, for providing comfort for user by having ability to selectively extend appendages of user out of sleeping bag without having to open sleeping bag in its entirety, and for providing no-fail engage/disengage exit for potential emergency situations

Overall Configuration of Sleeping Bag 10

12 lower layer
14 upper layer
16 magnetic closure for providing easy and carefree exit and entry for user, for providing comfort for user by having ability to selectively extend appendages of user out of sleeping bag without having to open sleeping bag in its entirety, and for providing no-fail engage or disengage exit for potential emergency situations
18 user space for user
20 portion of upper layer 14
22 corresponding portion of lower layer 12

Specific Configuration of Lower Layer 12

24 support surface
26 perimeter of lower layer 12
28 pair of long edges of perimeter 26 of lower layer 12
30 pair of short edges of perimeter 26 of lower layer 12

Specific Configuration of Upper Layer 14

32 perimeter of upper layer 14
34 pair of long edges of perimeter 32 of upper layer 14
36 pair of short edges of perimeter 32 of upper layer 14
38 remaining portion of perimeter 32 of upper layer 14
40 corresponding remaining portion of perimeter 26 of lower layer 12

Specific Configuration of Magnetic Closure 16

42 pair of material strips of magnetic closure 16
44 pair of plurality of magnets of magnetic closure with alternating polarity 16
46 stitches of magnetic closure 16

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Introductory

Referring now to the figures, in which like numerals indicate like parts, and particularly to FIG. 1, the sleeping bag of the embodiments of the present invention is shown generally at 10 for providing easy and carefree exit and entry for a user, for providing comfort for the user by having an ability to selectively extend appendages of the user out of the sleeping bag 10 without having to open the sleeping bag 10 in its entirety, and for providing a no-fail engage or disengage exit for potential emergency situations.
The sleeping bag 10 provides safe and easy operation for users who are children and the disabled.

Overall Configuration of the Sleeping Bag 10

The sleeping bag 10 comprises a lower layer 12, an upper layer 14, and a magnetic closure 16. The upper layer 14 overlies the lower layer 12 so as to form a user space 18 therebetween for a user. The magnetic closure 16 replaceably attaches a portion 20 of the upper layer 14 to a corresponding portion 22 of the lower layer 12 for providing the easy and the carefree exit and the entry for the user, for providing the comfort for the user by having the ability to selectively extend the appendages of the user out of the sleeping bag 10 without having to open the sleeping bag 10 in its entirety, and for providing the no-fail engage/disengage exit for the potential emergency situations.
The magnetic closure 16 replaces a zipper closure of a conventional sleeping bag.

Specific Configuration of the Lower Layer 12

The lower layer 12 is for resting on a support surface 24, is insulated for maintaining a desired temperature in the user space 18, and is waterproof for protection if the support surface 24 is wet.
The lower layer 12 has a perimeter 26. The corresponding portion 22 of the lower layer 12 is a part of the perimeter 26 of the lower layer 12.
The perimeter 26 of the lower layer 12 is generally rectangular-shaped, and as such, has a pair of long edges 28 and a pair of short edges 30.
The corresponding portion 22 of the perimeter 26 of the lower layer 12 includes one short edge 30 of the perimeter 26 of the lower layer 12 and an adjacent long edge 28 of the perimeter 26 of the lower layer 12.
The corresponding remaining portion 40 of the perimeter 26 of the lower layer 12 includes the other short edge 30 of the perimeter 26 of the lower layer 12 and the other long edge 28 of the perimeter 26 of the lower layer 12.

Specific Configuration of the Upper Layer 14

The upper layer 14 is insulated for maintaining a desired temperature in the user space 18, and overlies the lower layer 12 to define the user space 18 therebetween.
The upper layer 14 has a perimeter 32. The portion 20 of the upper layer 14 is a part of the perimeter 32 of the upper layer 14.
The perimeter 32 of the upper layer 14 is generally rectangular-shaped, and as such, has a pair of long edges 34 and a pair of short edges 36.
The upper layer 14 overlies the lower layer 12 and a remaining portion 38 of the perimeter 32 of the upper layer 14 is affixed to a corresponding remaining portion 40 of the perimeter 26 of the lower layer 12, with the portion 20 of the perimeter 32 of the upper layer 14 and the corresponding portion 22 of the perimeter 32 of the lower layer 12 being normally open for the user 18, but selectively closed by the magnetic closure 16.
For clarity, the corresponding remaining portion 38 of the perimeter 32 of the upper layer 14 is the perimeter 32 of the upper layer 14 minus the portion 20 of the perimeter 32 of the upper layer 14, and the corresponding remaining portion 40 of the perimeter 26 of the lower layer 12 is the perimeter 26 of the lower layer 12 minus the corresponding portion 22 of the perimeter 32 of the lower layer 12.
The corresponding portion 22 of the perimeter 26 of the lower layer 12 includes one short edge 30 of the perimeter 26 of the lower layer 12 and an adjacent long edge 28 of the perimeter 26 of the lower layer 12.
The corresponding remaining portion 38 of the perimeter 32 of the upper layer 14 includes one short edge 36 of the perimeter 32 of the upper layer 14 and an adjacent long edge 34 of the perimeter 32 of the upper layer 14.

Specific Configuration of the Magnetic Closure 16

The specific configuration of the magnetic closure 16 can best be seen in FIG. 2, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto.
The magnetic closure 16 comprises a pair of material strips 42. Each material strip 42 of the magnetic closure contains consecutive magnets with alternative polarity 16 forms a generally L-shape, and is flat. One material strip 42 of the magnetic closure 16 extends along the corresponding portion 22 of the lower layer 12. The other material strip 42 of the magnetic closure 16 extends along the portion 20 of the upper layer 14, in ideal alignment with the one material strip 42 of the magnetic closure 16 due to the lining up of alternative polarity of each strip 42.
The magnetic closure 16 further comprises a pair of a plurality of magnets 44, and are, preferably, disk-shaped, and made from high strength neodymium.
One plurality of magnets 44 of the magnetic closure 16 extend along the one material strip 42 of the magnetic closure 16 and are spaced thereapart, while the other plurality of magnets 44 of the magnetic closure 16 extend along the other material strip 42 of the magnetic closure 16 and are spaced thereapart.
The one plurality of magnets 44 of the magnetic closure 16 are spaced apart from each other a distance equal to a distance that the other plurality of magnets 44 of the magnetic closure 16 are spaced apart from each other for proper engagement when the magnetic closure 16 is closed.
As shown on FIG. 2, adjacent ones of each of the pair of plurality of magnets 44 of the magnetic closure 16 have opposite polarities so as to provide alternating polarities of each of the pair of plurality of magnets 44 of the magnetic closure 16 for assuring a uniform closure of the magnetic closure 16. For example, one magnet is positive, while the magnet directly adjacent thereto is negative. As further shown on FIG. 2, a distance between adjacent ones of the pair of plurality of magnets 44 of the magnetic closure 16 is proportional to magnetic strength of the pair of a plurality of magnets 44 of the magnetic closure 16 for preventing adjacent ones of the pair of plurality of magnets 44 of the magnetic closure 16 from being attracted to each other, especially in view of the opposite polarities of the adjacent ones of the pair of plurality of magnets 44 of the magnetic closure 16.
The magnetic closure 16 further comprises stitches 46.
The stitches 46 of the magnetic closure 16 hold the one material strip 42 of the magnetic closure 16 to the corresponding portion 22 of the lower layer 12 and hold the other material strip 42 of the magnetic closure 16 to the portion 20 of the upper layer 14.

Impressions

It will be understood that each of the elements described above or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.
While the embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described as embodied in a sleeping bag for providing ease of entry and exit, for providing emergency exit, and for providing comfort by exposing various parts of appendages of a user while sleeping but without having to fully open the sleeping bag, nevertheless, they are not limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions, and changes in the forms and details of the embodiments of the present invention illustrated and their operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the embodiments of the present invention.
Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the embodiments of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt them for various applications without omitting features that from the standpoint of prior art fairly constitute characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

The invention claimed is:

1. A sleeping bag for providing easy and carefree exit and entry for a user, for providing comfort for the user by having an ability to selectively extend appendages of the user out of the insulated sleeping bag without having to open the sleeping bag in its entirety, and for providing a no-fail engage or disengage exit for potential emergency situations, comprising:

a) a lower layer;

b) an upper layer; and

c) a magnetic closure;

wherein said upper layer overlies said lower layer so as to form a user space therebetween for a user; and

wherein said magnetic closure replaceably attaches a portion of said upper layer to a corresponding portion of said lower layer for providing the easy and the carefree exit and the entry for the user, for providing the comfort for the user by having the ability to selectively extend the appendages of the user out of the sleeping bag without having to open the sleeping bag in its entirety, and for providing the no-fail engage/disengage exit for the potential emergency situations.

2. The sleeping bag of claim 1, wherein said lower layer is waterproof for protection if the support surface is wet.

3. The sleeping bag of claim 2, wherein said perimeter of said lower layer is generally rectangular-shaped, and as such, has:

a) a pair of long edges; and

b) a pair of short edges.

4. The sleeping bag of claim 1, wherein said upper layer overlies said lower layer to define said user space therebetween.

5. The sleeping bag of claim 1, wherein said upper layer overlies said lower layer and a remaining portion of said perimeter of said upper layer is affixed to said corresponding remaining portion of said perimeter of said lower layer.

6. The sleeping bag of claim 5, wherein said portion of said perimeter of said upper layer and said corresponding portion of said perimeter of said lower layer are normally open for the user, but selectively close by said magnetic closure.

7. The sleeping bag of claim 6, wherein said corresponding portion of said perimeter of said lower layer includes one short edge of said perimeter of said lower layer and an adjacent long edge of said perimeter of said lower layer.

8. The sleeping bag of claim 1, wherein said magnetic closure comprises a pair of material strips.

9. The sleeping bag of claim 8, wherein each material strip of said magnetic closure forms a generally L-shape.

10. The sleeping bag of claim 8, wherein each material strip of said magnetic closure is flat.

11. The sleeping bag of claim 8, wherein one material strip of said magnetic closure extends along said corresponding portion of said lower layer,

12. The sleeping bag of claim 11, wherein the other material strip of said magnetic closure extends along said portion of said upper layer, in alignment with said one material strip of said magnetic closure.

13. The sleeping bag of claim 12, wherein said magnetic closure comprises a pair of a plurality of magnets.

14. The sleeping bag of claim 13, wherein said pair of said plurality of magnets of said magnetic closure are disk-shaped.

15. The sleeping bag of claim 13, wherein one plurality of magnets of said magnetic closure extend along said one material strip of said magnetic closure and are spaced thereapart.

16. The sleeping bag of claim 15, wherein said one plurality of magnets of said magnetic closure are spaced apart from each other a distance equal to a distance that the other plurality of magnets of said magnetic closure are spaced apart from each other for proper engagement when said magnetic closure is closed.

17. The sleeping bag of claim 15, wherein adjacent ones of each of said pair of plurality of magnets of said magnetic closure have opposite polarities for assuring a uniform closure of said magnetic closure; and

wherein one magnet is positive and said magnet directly adjacent thereto is negative.

18. The sleeping bag of claim 17, wherein a distance between adjacent ones of said pair of plurality of magnets of said magnetic closure is proportional to magnetic strength of said pair of a plurality of magnets of said magnetic closure for preventing adjacent ones of said pair of plurality of magnets of said magnetic closure from being attracted to each other, especially because of said opposite polarities of said adjacent ones of said pair of plurality of magnets of said magnetic closure.

19. The sleeping bag of claim 18, wherein said magnetic closure comprises stitches.

20. The sleeping bag of claim 19, wherein said stitches of said magnetic closure hold said one material strip of said magnetic closure to said corresponding portion of said lower layer and hold the other material strip of said magnetic closure to said portion of said upper layer.