Abstract:
The invention is a sleeping bag with an insertable air pad. The sleeping bag has a pocket with a zipper. The air pad can be inserted into the pocket, and then the zipper may be closed. Matching angled geometry helps maintain the air pad in a central position. Side baffles also help maintain the air pad in a central position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/100,939 filed Sep. 29, 2008. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       APPENDIX 
       [0003]    Not Applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0005]    The present invention relates to sleeping bags and, more specifically, to a sleeping bag with an insertable pad. 
         [0006]    2. Related Art 
         [0007]    The prior art teaches sleeping bags with an open pocket. In the pocket, a pad may be inserted. To ready the sleeping bag for sleeping, the sleeping bag is unrolled, the air pad is unrolled, and then the air pad is inserted within an open pocket of the sleeping bag. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention is a sleeping bag with a pad pocket for receiving an inflatable pad. The present invention provides an improved configuration that helps a pad maintain its position, which is critical to storage and functionality. The sleeping bag has an inflatable pad and a sleeping bag body. The inflatable pad has a first end portion with an angled geometry. The sleeping bag body has a pad pocket for removeably receiving the inflatable pad. The pad pocket has a first end portion with an angled geometry matching with the angled geometry of the first end portion of the inflatable pad. The pocket has a closable opening. 
         [0009]    In a preferred embodiment, the inflatable pad is an air pad. Preferably, the air pad has a valve located such that the valve is exposed when the closable opening is opened. 
         [0010]    In a preferred embodiment, the closable opening is disposed at the first end portion with the angled geometry. Alternatively, the closable opening can be disposed at a second end portion opposite to the first end portion. 
         [0011]    In a preferred embodiment, the closable opening has a zipper. 
         [0012]    In a preferred embodiment, the sleeping bag body has a baffle disposed at least partially around the circumference of the sleeping bag body. 
         [0013]    Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective bottom view of a sleeping bag according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a perspective section view of the sleeping bag of  FIG. 1  in a rolled position; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a perspective bottom view of the sleeping bag of  FIG. 1  with an air pad partially inserted; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a perspective bottom view of the sleeping bag of  FIG. 1  with the pocket zipper in an open position; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of the sleeping bag of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the sleeping bag of  FIG. 1  illustrating side baffles; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the of the air pad of the sleeping bag of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a partial perspective bottom view of a sleeping bag according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a partial perspective bottom view of the sleeping bag of  FIG. 8  with the pocket zipper in an open position; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  is a partial perspective bottom view of the sleeping bag of  FIG. 8  with an air pad partially removed. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0025]    The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. 
         [0026]      FIGS. 1-7  illustrate a sleeping bag  10  according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 1  shows a perspective bottom view of the sleeping bag  10  and  FIG. 5  shows a perspective top view thereof. The sleeping bag  10  has a first end portion  14  and a second end portion  16 . The sleeping bag  10  is provided with a pad pocket  20  at the bottom. The pad pocket  20  has an opening  22  located in the second end portion  16  of the sleeping bag  10 . The opening  22  has a zipper  24  for opening/closing the opening  22 . Once the opening  22  is opened by unzipping the zipper  24 , an insertable air pad  30  may be slid into the pad pocket  20  as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Once the zipper  24  is zipped with the insertable air pad  30  inside the pad pocket  20  as in  FIG. 1 , the insertable air pad  30  is secured inside the pad pocket  20  by the zipper  24 . 
         [0027]    As best seen in  FIG. 7 , the insertable air pad  30  has a first end portion  32  with an angled geometry and a second end portion  34 . The insertable air pad  30  has two valves  36  at the corners of the second end portion  34 . When the insertable air pad  30  is placed in the pad pocket  20 , the second end portion  34  is located adjacent to the zipper  24 . The two valves  36  at the corners of the end portion  34  of the insertable air pad  30  are provided for easy access. The valve location allows the valves  36  to be exposed when the opening s 2  is opened by unzipping the zipper  34 . This valve location is important because it allows the insertable air pad  30  to be inflated or deflated without having to be fully removed from the pad pocket  20 . After deflation, the pad pocket  20  may be closed, and the sleeping bag  10  may be rolled ( FIG. 2 ) with the insertable air pad  30  still inside. 
         [0028]    Several features of the invention serve to maintain the insertable air pad  30  in place within the pad pocket  20 . First, the pad pocket  20  has an angled geometry in the first end portion  14  of the sleeping bag  10  that matches with the angled geometry of the first end portion  32  of the insertable air pad  30 . Second, the zipper closure prevents the insertable air pad  30  from traveling or migrating out of the pad pocket  20  during use. Third, the sleeping bag  10  has side baffles  12  disposed around the circumference of the sleeping bag  10 . The side baffles  12  help center the insertable air pad  30  inside the pad pocket  20 . In combination, these features all help the insertable air pad  30  maintain its position within the pad pocket  20 . 
         [0029]    Since the bag may be stored while maintaining the insertable air pad  30  still inside the pad pocket  20 , it is essential that the insertable air pad  30  maintain its position. Unlike the prior art, the present invention permits the insertable air pad  30  to be stored with the sleeping bag  10 , and thus separate rolls for the sleeping bag  10  and air pad  30  can be avoided. 
         [0030]      FIGS. 8-10  illustrate a sleeping bag  10   a  according to another embodiment of the present invention. The difference between the sleeping bag  10   a  of  FIGS. 8-10  and the sleeping bag  10  of  FIGS. 1-7  is that the sleeping bag  10   a  has a pad pocket  20   a  which has an opening  22   a  with a zipper  24   a  located at a first end portion  16   a  with an angled geometry. This opening location of  FIGS. 8-10  is the opposite to the opening  22  of the pad pocket  20  of the sleeping bag  10  of  FIGS. 1-7 . Accordingly, when the insertable air pad  30   a  is placed in the pad pocket  20   a,  a first end portion  32   a  with an angled geometry of the insertable air pad  30   a  is placed adjacent to the zipper  24   a.    
         [0031]    In this embodiment, the insertable air pad  30   a  has two valves  36   a  at the corners of the first end portion  32   a  with the angled geometry. Again, the valve location allows the valves  36   a  to be exposed when the opening  22   a  is opened by unzipping the zipper  34   a.  The insertable air pad  30   a  can be inflated or deflated without having to be fully removed from the pad pocket  20   a.    
         [0032]    Once the zipper  24   a  is unzipped and the opening  22   a  is opened, an insertable air pad  30   a  may be slid out of the pad pocket  20   a  as shown in  FIG. 10 . Once the zipper  24   a  is zipped with the insertable air pad  30   a  inside the pad pocket  20   a  as in  FIG. 8 , the insertable air pad  30   a  is secured inside the pad pocket  20   a  by the zipper  24   a.    
         [0033]    As various modifications could be made to the exemplary embodiments, as described above with reference to the corresponding illustrations, without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims appended hereto and their equivalents.