Abstract:
A sleeping bag assembly having a sleeping bag and non-integral hood is constructed so as to allow the user to be able to sleep on either side, back or stomach without rotating the sleeping bag while all the time keeping a face opening of the hood in position relative to the user&#39;s face.

Description:
FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to sleeping bags and, more particularly, to a cold weather sleeping bag adapted for use with a non-integral hood that seals relative to the sleeping bag while allowing the user to keep the hood&#39;s face opening in the same position relative to the user&#39;s face while permitting the user to assume sleeping positions on either side, back or stomach. 
     BACKGROUND 
     This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art. 
     A sleeping bag typically includes first and second opposed halves defining a sleeping compartment therebetween and which are connected in such a way to define an entrance aperture at an entrance side or end of the sleeping bag. Each half of the sleeping bag includes an outer shell and an inner shell with an insulating material disposed and retained between these two layers. Insulation thickness depends on the minimum ambient air temperatures that are expected to be encountered by the user. Colder temperatures require a greater thickness of insulation to keep heat loss from the user sufficiently low enough that the user does not become uncomfortable. Sleeping bags come in several different physical configurations including, but not limited to, rectangular, semi-rectangular and mummy. In addition, many sleeping bags incorporate an integral hood. Typically, sleeping bags have one or more closure devices, such as zippers, of a selected length to provide access to the entrance aperture and which can be located on the sides, ends or top to permit use of the sleeping bag. 
     Cold weather sleeping bags normally incorporate integral hoods to minimize drafts and provide more insulation than is normally afforded using commonly available head covers. Often these cold weather bags also incorporate internal collars with draw cords that allow the collars to be snugged around the user&#39;s neck to further reduce drafts while also dividing the sleeping compartment into two distinct volumes, one for the body and one for the head. Since the hood is integral, the face opening is designed to be in a predetermined or “set” position relative to the user&#39;s face and mouth which is typically defined when the user is lying on his/her back. If the user wishes to sleep on their side or stomach they must turn the bag to retain the hood face opening in the proper position relative to the face. Thus, it is difficult to change positions while retaining the face opening in the set position relative user&#39;s face since the whole sleeping bag must be rotated. This is especially difficult in the confines of a small tent, as would normally be used in conjunction with such cold weather sleeping bags in mountaineering or backpacking applications. On the other hand, if the user rotates in the bag, which is a much simpler and easier proposition than rotating the whole bag, they will then be breathing into the interior of the bag with the face opening of the bag now at the side or back of their head. Breathing inside the bag is an unacceptable condition since it introduces significant amounts of moisture into the inside of the bag which, as it passes through the insulation, driven by the thermal gradient and air motion, condenses in the insulation, thus reducing the effectiveness of the insulation. 
     SUMMARY 
     The following presents a simplified summary of some embodiments of the present disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding of the inventive concepts. This summary is not an extensive overview of the present disclosure. Furthermore, this summary is not intended to identify key/critical elements of the invention and/or delineate the scope of the claimed subject matter. Accordingly, the primary purpose of this summary is to present some embodiments and/or features of the present disclosure in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description presented later in this application. 
     It is an aspect of the present teachings to provide a sleeping bag that overcomes the undesirable features of prior art sleeping bags. 
     It is another aspect of the present disclosure to provide a two-piece sleeping bag assembly comprised of a sleeping bag having a neck aperture and an independent hood adapted to be installed over the user&#39;s head and having a hood face opening that is sized to be located relative to the user&#39;s face. An elongated neck portion of the hood is sealed relative to the neck aperture of the sleeping bag while allowing independent movement of the hood relative to the sleeping bag. 
     It is yet another aspect of the present disclosure to provide adjustment features in association with the neck aperture of the sleeping bag to facilitate adjustment of the size of the neck aperture to optimize the thermal, compressible seal established with the neck portion of the hood. 
     In accordance with these and other aspects, the present disclosure is directed to cold weather sleeping bag assembly comprised of a sleeping bag and a non-integrated hood. The sleeping bag constructed with a fixed or adjustable neck aperture which accepts and provides an interference seal around the long necked insulated hood. The hood may or may not be constructed to specifically mate with the cold weather sleeping bag. Separating the insulated hood from the insulated sleeping bag while maintaining a thermal, compressible seal therebetween allows the hood to rotate independently of the sleeping bag which, in-turn, allows the user to assume any sleeping position while retaining the hood face opening (whose area is normally adjustable by a draw cord) relative to the user&#39;s face. 
     Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description and claims herein. The description and specific examples in the disclosure and summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected exemplary embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. Similar or identical elements are given consistent reference numerals throughout the various figures. 
       Reference now will be made to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective an exemplary view of a conventional, cold weather side-zippered sleeping bag equipped with an integral-hood; 
         FIG. 2A  shows a perspective view of an exemplary, cold weather, side-zippered, sleeping bag constructed in accordance with the present teachings; 
         FIG. 2B  shows a perspective view of a full-length, non-integral, sleeping bag hood constructed in accordance with the present teachings; 
         FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the sleeping bag of  FIG. 2A  mated with the full-length, non-integral hood of  FIG. 2B  to provide a two-piece sleeping bag assembly constructed in accordance with the present teachings; and 
         FIG. 4  shows a cross-section of the rotary interference seal area between an upper portion of the cold weather sleeping bag and a neck portion of the non-integral hood. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following exemplary embodiments are provided so that the present disclosure will be thorough and fully convey the scope to those skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices and schematic configurations to provide a thorough understanding of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these specific details need not be employed, that the exemplary embodiments may be embodied in many different forms, and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of a conventional cold-weather sleeping bag  10  having an integral hood  9  is shown in a partially open position and may be constructed to have an entrance end  11 . The entrance end  11  corresponds to the end of sleeping bag  10  which is intended to receive a user&#39;s head and upper body while a lower end  13  corresponds to the end of sleeping bag  10  intended to receive a user&#39;s legs and feet. The sleeping bag  10  is generally shown to include an outer shell  12 , an inner shell  14  and a closure device, such as a zipper assembly  16 . Some specialized insulating material  18  having a low coefficient of thermal conductivity and good compressibility may be inserted and retained between the outer shell  12  and the inner shell  14 . As is conventional, light-weight fabrics, such as nylon and polyester, are used for the exterior surfaces defined by outer shell  12  and the interior surfaces defined by inner shell  14 . 
     The sleeping bag  10  has a first half  15  and a second half  17  arranged in opposing facing relation so that first half  15  and second half  17  are configured to define a sleeping compartment therebetween when zipper assembly  16  is closed. A drawstring  24  can be used in conjunction with a pair of draw hems  19  and  20  to adjustably vary a face opening associated with hood  9  at the top of sleeping bag  10  once zipper assembly  16  has been drawn to its closed position. A drawstring lock  21  is also provided to maintain the drawstring  24  in a preferred cinched position. Cold weather bags, especially those to be used in temperatures below zero degrees Fahrenheit, may also incorporate upper and lower internal collars  22  and a corresponding draw-cord  23  to seal around the user&#39;s neck, thus creating two separate compartments within the sleeping bag, one for the user&#39;s head and one for the remainder of the user&#39;s body. 
     In accordance with the present disclosure, a sleeping bag assembly  28 , as best shown in  FIG. 3 , will be described to include a sleeping bag and a non-integrated hood. Referring initially to  FIG. 2A , a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a sleeping bag  30 , constructed in accordance with the present teachings for use with sleeping bag assembly  28 , is shown in a partially open position and may be constructed to have an entrance end  31 . The entrance end  31  corresponds to the end of sleeping bag  30  which is intended to receive a user&#39;s upper body while a lower end  33  corresponds to the end of sleeping bag  30  intended to receive a user&#39;s legs and feet. The sleeping bag  30  is generally shown to include an outer shell  32 , an inner shell  34  and a closure device, such as a zipper assembly  36 . Some specialized insulating material having a low coefficient of thermal conductivity and good compressibility may be inserted and retained between the outer shell  32  and the inner shell  34 . As is known, distinct tubes or sections are defined between the inner shell  34  and the outer shell  32  by baffles or separators  38 . As is conventional, light-weight fabrics, such as nylon and polyester, are used for the exterior surfaces defined by outer shell  32  and the interior surfaces defined by inner shell  34 . 
     The sleeping bag  30  has a first half or section  35  and a second half or section  37  arranged in opposing facing relation so that the first section  35  and the second section  37  are configured to define a sleeping compartment therebetween when zipper assembly  36  is closed. Although the configuration of the sleeping bag  30  utilizes a fold-over construction with connection by zipper assembly  36 , many other configurations may be utilized. For example, the sleeping bag may be formed such that a connection is made at the top or bottom of the sleeping bag instead of along a side edge. Furthermore, the first and second sections may define top and bottom sections that are formed as two distinct sub-assemblies and then connected along their edges. Finally, the sleeping bag  30  may have any shaped configuration including, without limitation, rectangular or mummy shaped. 
     Regardless of the configuration, the sleeping bag  30  will include a neck opening  39  that is located at the entrance end  31  of the sleeping bag  30 . This opening  39  may be designed having a geometric shape similar to a cross section of the user&#39;s neck but having a circumference somewhat larger than that of the user&#39;s neck in order to accommodate an overlapping seal with the hood unit. An exemplary version of a full-length, non-integral sleeping bag hood  40  is shown in  FIG. 2B . If desired, the neck opening  39  may incorporate a draw hem and a locking draw cord to allow some measure of adjustability of the circumference of the neck opening  39 . 
     As noted,  FIG. 2B  shows the full-length, non-integral sleeping bag hood  40  that is adapted for use in conjunction with the sleeping bag  30 , both being made in accordance with the present teachings. The non-integral hood  40  may be constructed so that it opens or separates under the face opening  41  to allow it to be put in place on the user&#39;s head. In the alternative, the hood  40  may be of such proportions that it fits over the user&#39;s head without separating below the face opening  41 , the latter being the warmest configuration. The hood  40  incorporates a draw hem  42  and draw cord  43  with a cord lock  44  that can be used to regulate the size of the face opening  41  in the hood  40 . The draw hem, draw cord and cord lock may be installed in one of various configurations so as to allow the face opening  41  in the hood  40  to be adjusted from either or both the inside or outside of the sleeping bag  30  or the hood  40 . The circumference of the neck area  45  of the hood  40  must be greater than the circumference of the neck opening  39  in order to ensure a rotary interference fit and eliminate any potential for drafts. 
     In accordance with a preferred construction, hood  40  includes an outer shell  46  and an inner shell  47  having an insulating material inserted therebetween and retained therein between distinct tubes or sections defined by baffles  48 . Hood  40  is further shown to include a collar section  49  and a head section  50  interconnected by the neck section  45 . As noted, the neck section  45  is sized for installation within the neck opening  39  of the sleeping bag  30 . Collar section  49  is configured to provide additional sealing as it contacts against portions of the inner shell  34  adjacent to neck opening  39 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a perspective view of an exemplary sleeping bag assembly  28  comprised of sleeping bag  30  and non-integral hood  40  constructed in accordance with the present teachings is shown in a closed position with the non-integral hood  40  shown in such a position as would occur when the user would be lying on their side. 
       FIG. 4  shows a section through the sleeping bag  30 , the hood  40  and the user  60  who is lying on their side on an insulating pad  51  and a pillow  52 . The sectional view is taken through the head, neck and upper thoracic zones of the user  60  and clearly shows the rotary-type, radial interference seal  53  between the bag  30  and the hood  40 . The radial interference seal  53  is the result of the circumference of hood  40  in the neck area  43  being greater than the circumference of the neck opening  39  in bag  40 . This view also shows the rotating circumferential interference seal  55  between collar section  49  of the hood  40  and portions of inner shell  34  of the sleeping bag  30  surrounding the neck aperture  39 . This combination radial and circumferential sealing interface permits the user  60  to rotate his/her body and/or head with respect to the sleeping bag  30  while maintaining a thermally sealed relationship between the hood  40  and the sleeping bag  30 . 
     While specific aspects have been described in the specification and illustrated in the drawings, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes can be made and equivalents can be substituted for elements and components thereof without departing from the scope of the present teachings, as defined in the claims. Furthermore, the mixing and matching of features, elements, components and/or functions between various aspects of the present teachings are expressly contemplated herein so that one skilled in the art will appreciate from the present teachings that features, elements, components and/or functions of one aspect of the present teachings can be incorporated into another aspect, as appropriate, unless described otherwise above. Moreover, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation, configuration, or material to the present teachings without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present teachings not be limited to the particular aspects illustrated by the drawings and described in the specification as the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the present teachings, but that the scope of the present teachings include many aspects and examples following within the foregoing description and the appended claims.