Abstract:
An easy to carry, transport, fold/unfold and store sleeping apparatus is disclosed herein. The apparatus comprises a collapsible dome attached to a sleeping compartment. The sleeping compartment may also be attached to a sleeping mat (e.g., air inflatable sleeping mat) for insulating the user from the cold ground and rocks. The sleeping mat may be attached to a rigid panel for providing a generally flat surface for the user to sleep upon. The sleeping compartment, sleeping mat and rigid panels may be folded around the collapsed dome to collapse the sleeping apparatus for storage and transport. Sides of the folded apparatus may be zippered to prevent entrance of undesirable material (e.g., rodents, dust, etc.) during storage and transport of the apparatus.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/076,106, filed on Jun. 26, 2008, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The device disclosed herein relates to a combination sleeping bag and dome that is easy to transport and store but also convenient to unfold for use and collapse for storage and transport. 
         [0004]    Throughout the United States, there are numerous areas where people can go on car camping trips. These car camping trips are essentially a drive to a scenic area with campsites. No extensive hiking from the parking lot to the campsite is required. Rather, the distance between the parking space and the tent site is generally immediately adjacent to each other or within a short walking distance. However, the user must walk back and forth to unload his/her gear in multiple trips. 
         [0005]    The gear may comprise a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat and other miscellaneous items (e.g., food, change of clothing etc.). The tent typically comprises a plurality of bendable poles that may be secured to the upper surface of the tent to raise the upper surface and provide an inner cavity within the tent for the user or users to sleep or rest. After pitching the tent, the user lays his/her sleeping bag within the tent and a sleeping mat to protect the user from the cold ground and also to provide a comfortable sleeping surface. While the user is sleeping in the sleeping bag and on the mat, the sleeping bag may shift off of the sleeping mat thereby interrupting the user&#39;s sleeping experience. Set up of prior art tents, sleeping bags and mats are cumbersome to transport, store and set up. 
         [0006]    At the end of the camping trip, the user must then fold up the sleeping mat, sleeping bag and tent which will then be transported back to the car and stored for later use. 
         [0007]    Unfortunately, prior art sleeping bags prior art sleeping bags, tents and mats are difficult to pack up. The air from the mat must be removed. Also, the poles from the tent must be removed and folded. The tent itself must also be folded and stored in a bag. The sleeping bag must be rolled up for later use. Each of these items must then be carried back to the car for transport. Also, these items all have unusual shapes such that they cannot be stacked upon each other for convenient storage. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0008]    The folding igloo sleeping bag addresses the needs discussed above, discussed below and those that are known in the art. 
         [0009]    The folding igloo sleeping bag is traversable between a collapsed position in which the folding igloo sleeping bag may be stored in a convenient compact manner or carried with handles or backpack straps. During use, the user may easily traverse the folded igloo sleeping bag from the collapsed configuration to the unfolded position. The folding igloo sleeping bag may be traversed to the unfolded position from the collapsed position in a quick and efficient manner. In particular, from the collapsed position, the user unzips side flaps of the collapsed folding igloo sleeping bag. Straps are then detached and a plurality of mats are unfolded to a flat laid out position. The mats provide the sleeping cushion upon which the user will rest. Once the mats are laid in the flat position on the ground, the user may erect a dome when desired. The dome may comprise a plurality of support members which support a mesh material and waterproof material selectively deployable depending on the user&#39;s needs. 
         [0010]    The mat may be a compressible foam pad that may be inflated/deflated, inflated foam pad, or an air inflated pad to insulate the user from the ground and/or provide a soft cushion upon which the user may sleep upon. 
         [0011]    To traverse the unfolded folding igloo sleeping bag to the collapsed position, air may be removed from the mats (if needed) by opening a valve, squeegeeing out the air then closing the valve. The mats are folded around the support members of the dome to form a box configuration. Straps attached to the mats are used to hold the mats in the box configuration during storage and transport. Side flaps are then zippered or otherwise secured to prevent undesirable material such as rodents, dust, etc. from entering the collapsed folding igloo sleeping bag during storage and/or transport. Rigid members may be attached to the bottom side of each of the mats such that the folding igloo sleeping bag may maintain a box configuration when traversed to the collapsed position. 
         [0012]    The sleeping bag is secured on top of the mats and stored within the box configuration when not in use. The dome is also stored within the box configuration. As such, the sleeping bag, dome and sleeping mat may all comprise a unitary structure which integrally and conveniently unfolds and collapses as a unit. 
         [0013]    When the folding igloo sleeping bag is traversed to the collapsed position, the collapsed folding igloo sleeping bag may be easily carried or transported via handles or backpack straps. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a deployed folding igloo sleeping bag; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the folding igloo sleeping bag shown in  FIG. 1  in a collapsed configuration; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a frame of the folding igloo sleeping bag; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of the folding igloo sleeping bag shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4A  is an enlarged view of a first section of a dome portion shown in  FIG. 4 ; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 4B  is an enlarged view of a second section of the dome portion shown in  FIG. 4 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a folding igloo sleeping bag  10  is shown. The folding igloo sleeping bag  10  may have a dome portion  12  and a sleeping bag  14  disposed on top of a mat  16 . The mat  16  may be divided into a plurality of sections  16   a, b, c, d, e  and have a generally rigid backing  18   a, b, c, d, e.  The first section  20  may be hinged to the second section  22 . Likewise, the second section  22  may be hinged to the third section  24 . The third section  24  may be hinged to the fourth section  26 . The fourth section  26  may be hinged to the fifth section  28 . The dome section  12  is also collapsible, as shown in  FIG. 3 . To fold the folding igloo sleeping bag  10 , the first section  20  and the third section  24  are raised to the vertical position, as shown in  FIG. 2 . By this action, the dome portion  12  is also traversed to the collapsed position, as shown in  FIG. 2 . The fourth and fifth sections  26 ,  28  are folded above the collapsed dome portion  12 . The fifth section  28  is then secured to the first section  20  with at least one set of straps  30  (e.g., buckles, snaps, hooks and loops, etc.). The folding igloo sleeping bag  10  when in the folded position (see  FIG. 2 ) is in a compact and easy to carry state. When the folding igloo sleeping bag  10  is folded, a user may carry the folding igloo sleeping  10  with the provided backpack straps  32  or by hand carrying the folded folding igloo sleeping bag  10  with handles  33 . For long term storage of the folding igloo sleeping bag  10 , the folding igloo sleeping bag  10  is traversed to the folded configuration (see  FIG. 2 ) then the sides may be zippered to prevent the entrance of any undesirable material (e.g., bugs, rodents, dust, etc.). The folding igloo sleeping bag  10  discussed herein provides an easy to pack, unpack and store device. Since the collapsed folding igloo sleeping bag  10  has a square configuration as shown in  FIG. 2 , the collapsed folding igloo sleeping bag  10  may be conveniently stacked upon each other or other objects. 
         [0022]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the dome portion  12  may comprise a plurality of support members  34 . The support members  34  may be elongate fiberglass tubes that can be bent into the U-shaped configuration shown in  FIG. 3 . Alternatively, the support members  34  may alternatively be pre shaped into the U-shaped configuration. The support members  34  provide the basic support for a mesh material  36  and a waterproof material  38  (see  FIG. 1 ) to provide a cavity within the folding igloo sleeping bag  10  such that a person may have a convenient area for his/her head and arms, reading a book, sleeping without feeling claustrophobic, etc. This is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The support members  34  may be pushed rearward in the direction of arrow  40  shown in  FIG. 3 . In this manner, the person may retract the dome portion  12  such that while the person is sleeping in the sleeping bag  14 , the person may view the stars above or his/her surroundings. The dome portion  12  may also be traversed to an erected position as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 . The waterproof material  38  may be extended over the entire mesh material  36  or pulled back to allow the person to be protected from bugs and other unwanted animals by deployment of the mesh material  36  but yet enjoy the fresh air and environment by pulling back the waterproof material  38 . The hidden lines  38  shown in  FIG. 4  illustrate the waterproof material  38  fully pulled back or open. When raining, the waterproof material  38  may be deployed as shown in solid lines in  FIGS. 1 and 4  to prevent the person from getting wet. The waterproof material  38  may be zippered to the exterior surface of the sleeping bag  14 , as shown in  FIG. 4A . Also, the mesh material  36  may be zippered to the exterior surface of the sleeping bag  14 , as shown in  FIG. 4A . 
         [0023]    It is also contemplated that the waterproof material  38  may be left open at various intermediate positions between the fully pulled back position shown in hidden lines in  FIG. 4  and the fully closed position shown in solid lines in  FIG. 4 . In particular, a plurality of loops  74  (see  FIG. 4B ) may be attached to the mesh material  36 . The loops  74  may be sewn the mesh material  36  adjacent the support members  34  or attached directly to the support members  34  by sewing, gluing or other attachment methods at various intervals. The waterproof material  38  may have a support member  76  (see  FIGS. 1 and 4 ) attached to its distal end portion. Referring now to  FIG. 4 , the support member  76  may have a hook  78  that can be removeably attachable to any one of the loops  74 . In this manner, the user can attach the hook  78  to the loop  74  such that the waterproof material  38  is ¼ open, ½ open, ¾ open, etc. or open at other intervals. Although the loops  74  are described as being attached adjacent the support members  34 , it is contemplated that the loops  74  may be attached at any positions on the mesh material  36 . It is also contemplated that the distal end portion of the water proof material  38  may be removably attachable to the mesh material  36  at various intervals through other attachment mechanisms. By way of example and not limitation, a first part of the attachment mechanism (hooks and loops, snaps, buttons, etc.) is attached to the mesh material at various intervals. A second part of the attachment mechanism (hooks and loops, snaps, buttons, etc.) may be attached to the distal end portion of the waterproof material  38 . The second part of the attachment mechanism may be selectively attached to any one of the first part attached to the mesh material  36  to partially open the waterproof material  38 . 
         [0024]    The waterproof material  38  may be secured to the brackets  44   a, b  (see  FIGS. 1 and 3 ) such that the waterproof material  38  may pivot about such bracket  44   a, b.  Alternatively, waterproof material  38  may merely be draped over the mesh material  36  and the support members  34  and pulled off when not in use. 
         [0025]    Referring now to  FIG. 4B , the mesh material  36  may be secured to the support member  34 . By way of example and not limitation, a strap  42  may be secured around the support member  34  by hooks and loops. In this manner, only selected support members  34  may be attached to the mesh material  36 . Alternatively, the support members  34  may be fed through loops formed by strap  42  that may be sown to the mesh material  36  on both sides. 
         [0026]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the support members  34  may be rotated about bracket  44   a, b.  They may be removably attachable to the mat  16   b  by means of snaps, hooks and loops, or other removable attachable systems that are known in the art. Preferably, the width of the support members  34  and the brackets  44   a, b  when in the vertical position shown in  FIG. 3  is narrower than a length  46  of the mat  16   b.  This allows room for the sleeping bag  14  to wrap around the support members  34  as shown in  FIG. 2 . Additionally, a height of the support members  34  is preferably shorter than a length  50  of the third section  24  to allow room for the sleeping bag  14  to wrap over the support members  34 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . The length  48 ,  50 ,  52 , and  54  (see  FIG. 3 ) of mats  16   a, b, c, d, e  (see  FIG. 1 ) are sized to form a generally rectangular configuration as shown in  FIG. 2  when the folding igloo sleeping bag  10  is traversed to the folded configuration. 
         [0027]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , the mats  16   a, b, c, d, e  hinge about each other at hinge points  56   a, b, c, d.  The hinge points  56   a, b, c, d  are shown as being on the upper side of the mat  16 . However, the hinge point may be anywhere at that general vicinity as long as the mats  16   a, b, c, d, e  are able to rotate with respect to each other. The mat  16  may be air inflatable with a compressible sponge disposed therein. When deploying the folding igloo sleeping bag  10 , the air inflatable mat  16  may have a valve which is opened. Each of the mats  16   a, b, c, d, e  may be fluidically connected to each other or isolated from each other. In either instance, one or all of the mats  16  may have a valve which may be opened when deploying the folding igloo sleeping bag  10 . Upon opening the valve, air is introduced into the mat  16  or mats  16   a, b, c, d, e.  The sponge expands and draws air into the mat  16 . When the appropriate amount of air is introduced into the mat  16 , the valve is then closed to provide a cushion and insulate the user from the ground. To fold the folding igloo sleeping bag  10 , the valve may be opened and air pushed out of the mat  16  either by squeegeeing the mat then closing the valve or other means known in the art. This allows enough room for the mat  16  and sleeping bag  14  to fold around the support members  34 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . Alternatively, the mats  16  and the support members  34  may be sized and configured such that the mats  16  and the sleeping bag  14  may fold around the support members  34  even if the air within the mats  16  is not pushed out of the mat  16 . Alternatively, it is contemplated that the mat  16  may be an air pad without foam or a foam pad. 
         [0028]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , flaps  58   a, b, c  may be attached to opposed sides of the mat  16   a - e . These flaps  58   a, b, c  may have two sets of zippers  60   a  and  60   b.  As shown in  FIG. 2 , the zippers may be zipped to close the sides of the folding igloo sleeping bag  10  for storage or transport. 
         [0029]    The rigid members  18   a, b, c, d, e  may be individually attached to the mats  16   a, b, c, d, e,  respectively. The rigid members  18   a - e  may be attached to the underside of the mats  16 a-e and cover a substantial area of the mat&#39;s underside. To further support the folding igloo sleeping bag  10 , elastic members  62  (see  FIG. 4 ) may be formed at the joints between rigid members  18   a  and  b ,  18   b  and  c ,  18   c  and  d , and  18   d  and  e . Upon folding the folding igloo sleeping bag  10 , these elastic straps  62  stretch out to provide rigidity and support to the folded configuration of the folding igloo sleeping bag  10 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . When deploying the folding igloo sleeping bag  10 , the elastic straps contract to urge the folding igloo sleeping bag  10  to the flat laid out position, as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0030]    The closure straps  30  may be attached to rigid members  18   a - e,  as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0031]    From the deployed position shown in  FIG. 1 , to use the folding igloo sleeping bag  10 , the zippers  64 ,  66  (see  FIG. 4A ) which attach the waterproof material  38  and the mesh material  36  to the exterior of the sleeping bag  14  may be unzippered. The user may pull back the support members  34 , mesh material  36  and waterproof material  38  such that the user may get into the sleeping bag  14 . Once the user is inside of the sleeping bag  14 , the user may pull back the mesh material  36  along with the support members  34  and optionally with the mesh material  36 , the user may pull back the waterproof material  38  to the deployed position shown in  FIG. 1 . With the mesh material  36  in the deployed position and the waterproof material  38  in the deployed position, the user may zipper the waterproof material  38  to the exterior of the sleeping bag  14  then zipper the mesh material  36  to the exterior of the sleeping bag  14 . In this manner, the user is protected from outside animals as well as the weather elements. Fresh air may be introduced into the cavity through the air vent  68  (see  FIG. 1 ). Once inside the folding igloo sleeping bag  10 , the user is provided with a small but ample space to read, etc. Moreover, instead of pulling the waterproof material  38  over the mesh material  36 , the waterproof material  38  may be left in the retracted position as shown by the hidden lines in  FIG. 4 . The user may view the environment through the mesh material  36  as well as receive an ample amount of fresh air throughout the night. 
         [0032]    To exit the folding igloo sleeping bag  10 , the user unzips the zipper of the mesh material  36  and the zipper  66  of the waterproof material  38 , if deployed. The support members  34  and the mesh material  36  and optionally the waterproof material  38  is pulled back to provide space for the user to exit the folding igloo sleeping bag  10 . 
         [0033]    For storage purposes, the folding igloo sleeping bag  10  may be folded into the folded configuration as shown in  FIG. 2 . The first and third sections  20 ,  24  are raised to the vertical position. The fourth and fifth sections  26 ,  28  are folded over the support members  34 . The straps  30  are attached to each other to hold the folding igloo sleeping bag  10  in the folded configuration. As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , the support members  34  provide space for the sleeping bag  14  thereabout such that the folding igloo sleeping bag  10  may be folded or conveniently folded into the folded configuration. To further reduce any size limitations, the mat  16  may be air inflatable. Air may be removed from the air inflatable mat  16  to make additional room, if needed. Alternatively, the mats  16  and the folding igloo sleeping bag  10  may be sized such that the air does not have to be removed when traversing the folding igloo sleeping bag to the folded or collapsed position. After the sections  20 ,  22 ,  24 ,  26  and  28  are folded upon each other as shown in  FIG. 2 , zippers may zip the flap  58   b  to the flaps  58   a  and  c  on both sides of the folded igloo sleeping bag  10 . The user may conveniently carry the collapsed folding igloo sleeping bag with the backpack straps  32  or handles  33 . Additionally, since the collapsed folding igloo sleeping bag  10  has a square configuration (see  FIG. 2 ), the collapsed folding igloo sleeping bag  10  may be stacked on or under other objects for convenient storage. This provides a convenient easy to carry and store/transport igloo sleeping bag  10 . 
         [0034]    To deploy the folding igloo sleeping bag  10 , the above described operation is reversed. Also, once the folding igloo sleeping bag  10  is traversed to the unfolded position, the straps  30  (see  FIG. 1 ) may have a reinforced hole  68 . Pegs  70  may be inserted into the reinforced holes  68  as shown in  FIG. 1  to secure the folding igloo sleep bag  10  to the ground. The pegs  70  may have a flanged ring to retain the straps  30  to the ground when the pegs  70  are secured to the ground. When the pegs  70  are not being used, the pegs  70  may be stored in holders  72  attached to the flaps  58   b.    
         [0035]    It is contemplated that the folding igloo sleeping bag  10  may have a width sized and configured to fit a single person. However, it is also contemplated that the folding igloo sleeping bag  10  may be fabricated in a wider configuration such that two people or more people may fit within the folding igloo sleeping bag  10 . 
         [0036]    It is contemplated that the sleeping bag  14  may be replaced with a waterproof membrane or fabric. As a result, the collapsed folding igloo sleeping bag  10  may have a more compact configuration since the thickness of the sleeping bag  14  does not have to be accounted for when sizing the support members  34  and the lengths  48 ,  46 ,  50 ,  52  and  54 . Rather, these lengths may be made shorter or the support members  34  may be made higher to provide a more spacious inner cavity of the dome portion  12 . During use, the user may sleep in a separate sleeping bag under the waterproof membrane or fabric to provide warmth to the user as the user is sleeping throughout the night. 
         [0037]    The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the invention disclosed herein, including various ways of closing the flaps  58   a, b, c  such as through snaps and/or hooks and loops. Further, the various features of the embodiments disclosed herein can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the specific combination described herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.