US20220151408A1

US20220151408A1 - Elastic gusset sleeping bag

Info

Publication number: US20220151408A1
Application number: US17/448,121
Authority: US
Inventors: Lisa Edwards
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2020-07-20
Filing date: 2021-09-20
Publication date: 2022-05-19

Abstract

An elastic gusset sleeping bag that has an elastic gusset side panels to join a top and a bottom panel of the sleeping bag. The elastic gusset provides mobility and freedom of movement for a user contained with the sleeping bag. A vertical height of the elastic gusset is selected to define an interior chamber of the sleeping bag to accommodate various body sizes of a user. The elastic gusset permits the sleeping bag to accommodate various body types, while utilizing identically formed top and bottom panels to facilitate efficient manufacturing of the sleeping bag.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 63/053,999 filed Jul. 20, 2020, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to sleeping bags, and more particularly to “mummy” type sleeping bags.
Sleeping bags provide a comfortable enclosure to keep the user warm while sleeping. With mummy type sleeping bags, the shape of the bag is generally a gradual taper that conforms more closely with the user's torso and legs than the conventional rectangular sleeping bag. With rectangular and mummy type sleeping bags, the fabric panels forming the bag are not resilient and can be confining. The closer fit of the mummy type bag can be more confining or constricting for some users, particularly when repositioning themselves to attain a comfortable sleep position.
As can be seen, there is a need for improved sleeping bag that is less constricting and provides mobility to the user while contained within the bag.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a sleeping bag is disclosed. The sleeping bag includes a top panel and a bottom panel formed as substantially mirrored halves generally conforming to a body shape of a user. An elastic gusset is interposed between and joined with a peripheral side edge of each of the top panel and the bottom panel, defining an interior chamber for containing the user.
In some embodiments, the top panel, the bottom panel, and the elastic gusset define a hood area to cover a user's head area.
In some embodiments, top panel, the bottom panel, and the elastic gusset are formed as a plurality of layers defining a containment area adapted to contain an insulating fill.
In some embodiments, a quilted stitching contains the insulating fill in a dispersed relation within the containment area.
In some embodiments, a zipper is attached along the peripheral side edge of the top panel to releasably join the top panel with the elastic gusset. The zipper is operable by to selectively open and close the interior chamber to allow the user to ingress and egress the sleeping bag.
In some embodiments, a drawstring is carried within a sleeve defined laterally across an upper aspect of the top panel. A drawstring pull is operable to cinch the drawstring and draw the upper ends of the top panel about the user's body.
In some embodiments, a hood is integrally formed with the sleeping bag and the drawstring is operable to draw the hood about the user's head.
In some embodiments, a pillow is integrally formed with the interior chamber.
In some embodiments, one or more pockets are defined within the interior chamber.
In other embodiments, one or more of the top panel and the bottom panel are formed of an elastic material.
In yet other embodiments, a height of the elastic gusset is selected to define the interior chamber according to a body size of the user.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description, and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side top perspective view of the elastic gusset sleeping bag in a partially unzipped condition.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the elastic gusset sleeping bag in a completely zipped condition.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the elastic gusset sleeping bag in a completely zipped condition.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the elastic gusset sleeping bag in an in-use condition.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the elastic gusset sleeping bag taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 4, showing the operation of the elastic gusset in an in-use, stretched orientation when compared with FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the elastic gusset sleeping bag in a travel bag.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention.
Broadly, embodiments of the present invention provide an elastic gusset sleeping bag that is less constricting and provides mobility to a user contained within the sleeping bag.
As seen in reference to the drawings of FIGS. 1-7, the elastic gusset sleeping bag 10 is shown in a partially open condition. The elastic gusset sleeping bag 10 includes a top panel 16 a, a bottom panel 16 c, that are formed from an inelastic material, such as nylon, cotton, or the like. The top panel 16 a and bottom panel 16 c are formed as substantially mirrored halves generally conforming to a body shape of a user 24. The top panel 16 a and the bottom panel 16 c are joined about a peripheral side edge by an elastic gusset 16 b, defining an interior chamber for containing the user 24. The elastic gusset 16 b has a height to provide a desired vertical separation between the top panel 16 a and the bottom panel 16 c and a volume of the interior cavity of the elastic gusset sleeping bag 10. In some embodiments, the top panel 16 a, the bottom panel 16 c, and the gusset 16 b may be extended to define a hood area 17 to cover a user's head area.
The height of the elastic gusset 16 b may be varied to size the interior chamber to accommodate for differing body sizes of the users, small, medium, large, etc. This configuration also provides efficient manufacture of the elastic gusset sleeping bag 10 by permitting utilization of a single top panel 16 a and bottom panel 16 b and still accommodate for the differing body sizes.
Each of the top panel 16 a, the side panel 16 c, and the gusset 16 b are formed as a plurality of layers defining a containment area 16 d adapted to contain an insulating fill, such as down, Dacron, or the like. The plurality of layers of the top panel 16 a and the bottom panel 16 c may include a quilted stitching to contain the insulating fill in a dispersed relation within the containment area 16 d.
A zipper 12 may extend along the peripheral side edge of the top panel 16 a to releasably join the top panel 16 a with the elastic gusset 16 b. The zipper 12 is operable by a zipper slide 12 a to selectively open and close the elastic gusset sleeping bag 10 to allow the user to ingress and egress the elastic gusset sleeping bag 10 or to allow for ventilation of the interior volume of the elastic gusset sleeping bag 10.
In some embodiments a drawstring 20 is carried within a sleeve defined laterally across an upper aspect of the top panel 16 a. A drawstring pull 22 is utilized to cinch the drawstring 20 and draw the upper ends of the top panel about the user's body 24. In embodiments with the hood 17, the drawstring 20 may be incorporated in like manner with the hood 17 to permit the user to draw the hood 17 about the user's face. In some embodiments, the interior of the elastic gusset sleeping bag 10 may be provisioned with an integral pillow element 14 to support the user's head. In yet other embodiments, one or more pockets 18 may be provided within the interior chamber, such as on an inner surface of the top panel 16 a. The elastic gusset sleeping bag 10 may be conveniently carried within a travel bag 26.
The claimed invention differs from what currently exists. the elastic gusset sleeping bag 10 utilizes a unique elastic gusset 16 b on the sides top and bottom of the sleeping bag to provide expansion and stretch of the body of the elastic gusset sleeping bag 10 responsive to a user's 24 movements within the interior chamber of the elastic gusset sleeping bag 10.
In some embodiments, one or more of the top panel 16 a and the bottom panel 16 may be formed of an elastic material like the gusset 16 b to provide even greater freedom of movement within the elastic gusset sleeping bag 10. The elastic gusset sleeping bag 10 solves the problem of mobility in sleeping bags. The elastic gusset sleeping bag 10 adds freedom of movement when sleeping rotating, moving your arms legs, head, back and sides.
It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A sleeping bag, comprising:

a top panel and a bottom panel formed as substantially mirrored halves generally conforming to a body shape of a user; and

an elastic gusset interposed between and joined with a peripheral side edge of each of the top panel and the bottom panel, defining an interior chamber for containing the user.

2. The sleeping bag of claim 1, wherein the top panel, the bottom panel, and the elastic gusset define a hood area to cover a user's head area.

3. The sleeping bag of claim 2, wherein each of the top panel, the bottom panel, and the elastic gusset are formed as a plurality of layers defining a containment area adapted to contain an insulating fil.

4. The sleeping bag of claim 3, further comprising:

the insulating fill carried within the containment area.

5. The sleeping bag of claim 4, further comprising:

a quilted stitching to contain the insulating fill in a dispersed relation within the containment area.

6. The sleeping bag of claim 1, further comprising:

a zipper attached along the peripheral side edge of the top panel to releasably join the top panel with the elastic gusset, the zipper is operable by to selectively open and close the interior chamber to allow the user to ingress and egress the sleeping bag.

7. The sleeping bag of claim 6, further comprising:

a drawstring carried within a sleeve defined laterally across an upper aspect of the top panel; and

a drawstring pull is operable to cinch the drawstring and draw the upper aspect of the top panel about a user's body.

8. The sleeping bag of claim 7, further comprising:

a hood integrally formed with the sleeping bag; and

the drawstring is operable to draw the hood about a user's head.

9. The sleeping bag of claim 8, further comprising:

a pillow integrally formed with the interior chamber.

10. The sleeping bag of claim 9, further comprising:

one or more pockets defined within the interior chamber.

11. The sleeping bag of claim 1, wherein one or more of the top panel and the bottom panel are formed of an elastic material.

12. The sleeping bag of claim 1, wherein a height of the elastic gusset is selected to define the interior chamber according to a body size of the user.