Abstract:
A portable sleeping assembly includes a mat member having a top and a bottom and four sides. The sleeping assembly also includes a blanket secured to the mat member along two adjacent sides of the mat member, a pillow pocket secured to the top of the mat member, and a pair of spaced storing straps secured to the bottom of the mat member.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/908,381, entitled “PORTABLE SLEEPING ASSEMBLY,” filed Nov. 25, 2013. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a portable sleeping assembly. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Children look forward to having sleep overs with friends. The children watch movies, talk, stay up late and enjoy snacks. 
     Most of the time, the children bring sleeping bags and sleep on the floor in the family room, recreation room, or the friend&#39;s bedroom. However, sleeping bags often are constructed for outdoor use and encase the children in a very warm, cocoon type environment. Sleeping bags also do not commonly include padding. For many children this confined sleeping environment is claustrophobic and/or overly warm, as it is very different from the traditional bed environment they are used to when sleeping at home. 
     As such, a need exists for a sleeping assembly that is both portable and comfortable. The present invention provides such a sleeping assembly. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a portable sleeping assembly including a mat member having a top and a bottom and four sides extending between the top and bottom. The sleeping assembly also includes a blanket secured to the mat member along two adjacent sides of the mat member, a pillow pocket secured to the top of the mat member, and at least one closure strap secured to the bottom of the mat member. 
     It is also an object of the present invention to provide a portable sleeping assembly wherein the blanket is secured to a portion of a third side. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a portable sleeping assembly wherein a pillow is positioned within the pillow pocket. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a portable sleeping assembly wherein the blanket and top of the mat are made from a first material and the bottom of the mat is made from a different second material. 
     It is also an object of the present invention to provide a portable sleeping assembly wherein the first material is minky fleece and the different second material is rip-stop nylon. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a portable sleeping assembly wherein the mat member includes a memory foam core. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a portable sleeping assembly wherein one side includes a slot permitting the memory foam core to be inserted and removed from the mat member. 
     It is also an object of the present invention to provide a portable sleeping assembly wherein the slot is a zippered slot. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a portable sleeping assembly wherein the bottom of the mat member further includes a pair of spaced carry straps defining opposed loops. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a portable sleeping assembly wherein the at least one closure straps includes first and second ends having mating fasteners secured thereto. 
     It is also an object of the present invention to provide a portable sleeping assembly wherein two of the four sides are short sides opposed from one another and the other two sides are opposed long sides which are longer in length than the short sides. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a portable sleeping assembly wherein the blanket includes an upper surface and a lower surface with a four edges. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a portable sleeping assembly wherein two adjacent edges of the blanket are secured to the two adjacent sides of the mat member. 
     It is also an object of the present invention to provide a portable sleeping assembly wherein two edges of the blanket are longer than the short sides of the mat member. 
     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when viewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which set forth certain embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of the present portable sleeping assembly with the blanket pulled aside. 
         FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of the present portable sleeping assembly in accordance with an alternate embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  a top perspective view of the portable sleeping assembly shown with reference to  FIG. 1  with the blanket pulled fully across the base cushioning member. 
         FIG. 4  a top perspective view of the portable sleeping assembly shown with reference to  FIG. 1  with the blanket pulled under the base cushioning member. 
         FIG. 5  a bottom perspective view of the portable sleeping assembly shown with reference to  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  a perspective view of the portable sleeping assembly rolled up in its storage configuration. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the foam core. 
         FIGS. 8 and 9  are respectively cross sectional views along the lines  8 - 8  and  9 - 9  in  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. It should be understood, however, that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, the details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to make and/or use the invention. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 to 9 , a portable sleeping assembly  10  is disclosed. The sleeping assembly  10  includes a mat member  12  to which is secured a blanket  14 , a pillow pocket  16  and various straps for storage and carrying thereof. 
     The mat member  12  is substantially rectangular and includes an upper surface  18  and a lower surface  20 . The mat member  12  is generally composed of a cover member  36  into which a foam core  34  is selectively positioned for the provision of cushioning during use. It is appreciated the portable sleeping assembly  10  may be sold with the foam core  34  already encased within the cover member  36  or the portable sleeping assembly  10  may be sold without the foam core where space considerations and cost dictate such. 
     Because the mat member  12  is provided with a thickness once the foam supporting material defining the core thereof is inserted within the cover member  36 , the following disclosure described the structure of the mat member  12  once the foam member is inserted within the cover member as is shown in  FIGS. 1-6 ,  8  and  9 . The mat member  12  includes a plurality of side walls  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28  extending between the upper surface  18  (that is, the top of the mat member  12 ) and the lower surface  20  (that is, the bottom of the mat member  12 ). As the mat member  12  is rectangular, it is provided with first and second long side walls  22 ,  24  and first and second short side walls  26 ,  28 . In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the long side walls  22 ,  24  are from 54 to 72 inches. in length and short side walls  26 ,  28  are from 26 to 34 inches in length. It is well appreciated those sleeping on the present portable sleeping assembly  10  will lie lengthwise, that is, with their head adjacent the first short side wall  26  and their feet adjacent the second short side wall  28 . As such, and as used herein, the portion of the mat member  12  located adjacent the first short side wall  26  is considered to be the head end  30  of the mat member  12  and the portion of the mat member  12  located adjacent the second short side wall  28  is considered to be the foot end  32  of the mat member  12 . 
     As briefly mentioned above, a foam core  34  is inserted within the cover member  36  of the mat member  12  so as to provide comfort to the user when the mat is lying upon a support surface. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the foam core  34  is manufactured from memory foam, that is, a viscoelastic polyurethane foam or low-resilience polyurethane foam. While memory foam is used in accordance with a preferred embodiment, it is appreciated other foams and cushioning materials may be used without departing from the spirit of the present invention. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the foam core  34  has a thickness of 1 to 2.5 inches. 
     The cover member  36  encases the foam core  34  therein. The cover member  36  is shaped and dimensioned to fit snuggly about the foam core  34 . In order to permit cleaning of the cover member  36 , it is provided with a zippered slot  38  permitting selective removal of the foam core  34 . With the foam core  34  removed, the cover member  36  may be washed, preferably, machine washed. 
     Enhance comfort and durability is achieved by making the cover member  36  along the lower surface  20  of the mat member  12  from a different material than the cover member  36  along the upper surface  18  of mat member  12 . In particular, the upper cover member  40  (that is, the portion of the cover member  36  along the upper surface  18  of the mat member  12 ) is made of fleece, in particular, minky dot fleece for comfort. The lower cover member  42  (that is, the portion of the cover member  36  along the lower surface  20  of the mat member  12 ) is made of waterproof rip-stop nylon. The upper cover member  40  and the lower cover member are sewn together along seam  45 . 
     As discussed above, the portable sleeping assembly  10  is provided with a pillow pocket  16 . The pillow pocket  16  is positioned at the head end  30  of the mat member  12 . In accordance with a preferred embodiment the pillow pocket  16  is fixedly secured to the cover member  36  in the area of the head end  30  of the mat member  12 . In particular, the pillow pocket  16  is preferably sewn to the cover member  36 . The pillow pocket includes an opening  17  for receipt of a pillow  16   p.    
     In addition to the pillow pocket  16 , the portable sleeping assembly  10  is provided with a blanket  14 . In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the blanket is also made from minky fleece. So that the blanket  14  is not lost and to prevent a user&#39;s feet from extending off of the mat member  12 , it is fixedly connected to the cover member  36 . In particular, the blanket  14  includes an upper surface  44  and a lower surface  46  with a plurality of edges  48 ,  50 ,  52 ,  54  (in accordance with a preferred embodiment, the blanket  14  is provided with 4 edges since it is constructed in a rectangular configuration). As such, the blanket  14  includes a first edge  48 , a second edge  50 , a third edge  52  and a fourth edge  54 . 
     The blanket  14  is dimensioned to fully cover the individual sleeping in the portable sleeping assembly  10  in much the same way an individual would be covered when sleeping in his or her own bed. With this in mind, the length of the first edge  48  and opposed third edge  52  are shorter than the length of the first and second long side walls  22 ,  24  and the second edge  50  and opposed fourth edge  54  are longer than the length of the first and second short side walls  26 ,  28 . In this way, the blanket  14  will cover the individual sleeping in the present portable sleeping assembly  10  from a position slightly below the pillow pocket  16  at the head end  30  of the mat member  12  to the foot end  32  of the mat member  12 . As for the length of the blanket  14  extending across the mat member  12  it is sufficiently long to extend over an individual with one edge, in particular, the third edge  52 , of the blanket  14  extending beyond the second long side wall  24  of the mat member  12 . In this way, there is plenty of blanket to cover the individual using the portable sleeping assembly  10  without creating a claustrophobic environment commonly created with sleeping bags. 
     As briefly mention above, the blanket  14  it fixedly secured via sewing to the cover member  36 . In particular, the full length of the first edge  48  is fixedly secured to a portion of the first long side wall  22 . The first edge  48  is fixedly secured to the cover member  36  along the first long side wall  22  from a position substantially aligned with the pillow pocket  16  at the head end  30  of the mat member  12  to the foot end  32  of the mat member  12  where the first long side wall  22  meets the second short side wall  28 . A portion of the second edge  50  of the blanket  14  is fixedly secured to the cover member  36  along the full length of the second short side wall  28 . The second edge  50  is fixedly secured to the second short side wall  28  from a position where the first long side wall  22  meets the second short side wall  28  to a position where the second short side wall  28  meet the second long side wall  24 . With these portions of the blanket  14  attached to the cover member  36 , the remaining edges  52 ,  54  of the blanket  14  are free and the individual may easily get into and out of the portable sleeping assembly  10 . 
     In accordance with an alternate embodiment, and with reference to  FIG. 2 , blanket  14  may be secured along a short portion of the second long side wall  24  adjacent the foot end  32  of the mat member  12 . This will create an even more encased feeling at the foot end  32  of the mat member  12  in a manner replicating a sleeping bag. 
     With the first and second edges  48 ,  50  of the blanket  14  secured to the cover member  36  a comfortable pocket is created into which an individual can slide when it is time to go to sleep. However, and in contrast to other portable sleeping devices, the blanket  14  fully extends across and beyond the second long side wall  24  so as to cover the individual without creating chamber that decreases in width as the user slides in. 
     The portable sleeping assembly  10  also includes straps for storage and carrying. These straps are secured to the cover member  36  along the lower surface  20  of the mat member  12 . In particular, the portable sleeping assembly  10  is provided with first and second closure straps  56 ,  58 . With particular, reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the first and second closure straps  56 ,  58  extend lengthwise, that is, parallel to the first and second long side walls  22 ,  24 , and are secured to the cover member  36  of the mat member  12  at respective positions adjacent the first long side wall  22  and the second long side wall  24 . 
     Each of the first and second closure straps  56 ,  58  includes a first end  60 ,  62  and a second end  64 ,  66 . The first and second closure straps  56 ,  58  adjacent the second ends  64 ,  66  thereof are fixedly secured to the cover member  36  adjacent the foot end  32  of the mat member  12 , while the first ends  60 ,  62  are free to be manipulated for secure closure of the mat member  12  after it has been rolled up. With this in mind, the first ends  60 ,  62  and the second ends  64 ,  66  are provided with mating fastening members  72 ,  74 ,  76 ,  78 . It is appreciated that the location of the secured portions  64   a ,  66   a  allows the mat member  12  to be rolled up from the head end  30  toward the foot end  32  such that once the mat member  12  is fully rolled the first and second ends  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66  will align for selective attachment of the fastening members  72 ,  74 ,  76 ,  78 . 
     In practice, and with the upper surface  18  facing upward and the lower surface  20  sitting upon a supporting surface, the blanket  14  is folded so that it sits completely upon the mat member  12 . With none of the blanket  14  hanging over the mat member  12 , the mat member  12  is rolled up in a direction from the head end  30  to the foot end  32 . After the mat member  12  has been rolled the fastening members  72 ,  74 ,  76 ,  78  at the first and second ends  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66  of the first and second closure straps  56 ,  58  may be secured to hold the mat member  12  in the rolled up configuration. 
     Carrying of the portable sleeping assembly  10  is facilitated with the provision of carry straps  80 ,  82  at the head end  30  and the foot end  32  of the mat member  12  along the lower surface  20  thereof. These carry straps  80 ,  82  are positioned such that they define loops that may be used in much the same manner as the shoulder straps of a backpack. Alignment of the carrying straps is further coordinated by proper positioning along the lower surface  20  of the mat member  12 . In particular, the carry strap  82  at the foot end  32  of the mat member  12  is positioned directly adjacent the second short side wall  28  at the foot end  32  thereof. However, the carry strap  80  at the head end  30  of the mat member  12  is positioned a distance away from the first short side wall  26  at position between the first short side wall and the center of the mat member  12 . By position the carry straps  80 ,  82  in this way, the carry straps  80 ,  82  will align as shown in  FIG. 6  when the portable sleeping assembly  10  is rolled for storage and/or carrying. 
     While the preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it will be understood that there is no intent to limit the invention by such disclosure, but rather, is intended to cover all modifications and alternate constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.