Abstract:
An air inflatable sleeping bag assembly for insulating and supporting an individual in a spaced relationship relative to the ground. The sleeping bag including a self contained powered air inflation device. The assembly having pneumatic mattress portions that are individually inflated and provision for alternate support when one or more of the pneumatic chambers is damaged or defective. The assembly capable of converting to a full air mattress when not in use as a sleeping bag.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to sleeping bags and more particularly an air cushioned sleeping bag that can alternatively be used as a full sized air mattress having a battery powered inflation device. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Air cushioned sleeping bags are well known and generally used for outdoor camping activities. Conventional devices support the individual on a pneumatic bed which is coupled to the bottom of a sleeping bag assembly. The pneumatic bed protects and insulates the individual from cold, rough or uneven terrain. Many prior art patents are compartmentized as relating to pneumatic chambers whereby portions of the device can be inflated at varying degrees of firmness. Provisions are generally included for rapid deflation for portability. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,528,779 issued to Lee et al. on Jun. 25, 1996, discloses an air-cushioned sleeping bag having a bottom air cushioned portion. The air cushioned portion having dual compartments, one to support the torso of the individual and one to support the neck and head. A cover member is integrally attached to complete the device. It would not be possible to utilize this device as both an air cushioned sleeping bag and alternately a full size air mattress. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,640,725 issued to Ando et al. on Jun. 24, 1997, describes a steeping bag having a mattress portion and a coverlet portion. A removable air mattress is inserted wisthin the mattress portion. There is an abundance of such devices in the prior art that have the air mattress removably inserted. Nothing is taught in which the device could also be used as a full mattress. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,862,533 issued to Adams III, on Sep. 5, 1989, teaches of an inflatable air mattress design that is slidably disposed within a zipper controlled pocket of the bag. This patent most resembles the conventional non-pneumatic sleeping bags. 
     Roy C. Thomas discloses an adjustable air mattress sleeping bag in his U.S. Pat. No. 5,553,339 issued on Sep. 10, 1996. The pneumatic support assembly of this patent includes a plurality of elongated flexible air tubes which can be individually pressurized to a desired firmness. Many prior art patents address the need to have a plurality of air chambers to accommodate the different needs of individuals. Again the prior art does not show a patent capable of being alternately used as a convention air mattress. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,091,482 issued to Malcolm on May 30, 1978 shows a mat having multiple layers of impermeable material adapted to inflation as a full size mattress if so desired. However, here this patent is not capable of alternately inflating only half the assembly and using the unflatable portion as the coverlet. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose air mattress sleeping bag that can be used both as a conventional air supported sleeping bag and alternatively as a full size air mattress. None of the devices can be employed wherein either of the coverlet portions can be used as the air support portion in the event that the other had a puncture or malfunction. None of the above inventions, taken either singularly or in combination, are seen to describe the instant invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is an air supported sleeping bag that is designed to be alternatively used as a full size air mattress. Part of the inventive concept is that when the invention is in use as a conventional sleeping bag, it contains a support mattress portion and a coverlet portion, whereby either portion can alternatively be substituted for the other. This would be of particular importance when one side of the support chamber is punctured or otherwise damaged. The coverlet portion having chambers that can be inflated would then assume the support portion while the damaged portion would now be the coverlet portion. As stated above, the main use for sleeping bags is for outdoor use, however there is an entire prior art devoted to air mattresses designed for use in the home or whatever. The present invention can just as easily be used as a full size air mattress by merely inflating all the chambers. The insulated sleeping bag material portion can then be used to sleep on or it can be removed thereby making the invention strictly an air mattress. It is also feasible to use a second unit which could be fastened to the first unit and used as a cover. 
     The present invention utilizes well known materials, such as down feathers or polyfillers, for both the sleeping bag portions and the inflatable portions. The inflatable portions consist of four chambers. Two chambers for torso support and two chambers for neck and head support. When in use as a sleeping bag, only one of the torso support chambers and only one of the neck and head support chambers are utilized. The other two are held in reserve in the event of a malfunction in the other. The only time that all four will be inflated will be when the assenbly is to be used as a full air mattress. The bedding portion can be either permanently attached to the inflatable portion or else conventional adhesives or velcro-like fasteners can be employed to removably attach them. 
     The present invention will have included in an interior pocket an inflation device. This device will be powered by a pair of conventional alkaline batteries, and have means for attachment to air vents in each of the four air chambers. The ability to inflate the assembly without electricity would be most important on camping trips, however the inflation device will also have an electrical cord for use when electricity is available. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new air mattress sleeping bag assembly which has many of the advantages of the prior art portable bedding devices mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in an air mattress sleeping bag which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art portable bedding devices, either alone or any combination thereof. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a new air mattress sleeping bag that may be economically manufactured. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new air mattress sleeping bag that can alternatively be used as a full mattress. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide an air mattress sleeping bag that has two separate and distinct pneumatic assemblies, each with torso and head support chambers, whereby an alternate air support assembly is on standby in case of malfunction of the other. 
     Still another object of the present is to provide a new air mattress sleeping bag which has a battery operated inlation device contained within the assembly. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new air mattress sleeping bag with the air mattress portion integral with the sleeping bag portion for comfortably supporting the individual with respect to rough or uneven terrain and prevention the air mattress portion from slipping off. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterizes the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming part of the disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its advantages and the specific objects attained by its users, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the sleeping bag assembly. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the assembly opened up to a full air mattress. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective bottom view of the air mattress and the four intake ports. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective bottom view with cross-sectional segments defining the pneumatic chambers. 
     FIG. 5 is a cross sectional elevational view of the inflation device. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With references now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1-4 thereof, a new air mattress sleeping bag assembly embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designed by the reference numeral  20  will be described. 
     More specifically, it will be noted that the air mattress sleeping bag assembly  20  of FIG. 1 is comprised of first and second sleeping bag portions  21 a and  21 b and first and second air mattress portions  22   a  and  22   b . The assembly  20  having a pillow end  23  and a foot end  24 . Air mattress portions  22   a  and  22   b  having torso sections  29   a  and  29   b , and pillow sections  30   a  and  30   b  respectively. These sections being isolated from each other by impervious membranes which define torso pneumatic chambers  31   a  and  31   b , and pillow pneumatic chambers  32   a  and  32   b . Each chamber having an air intake port  33  disposed in the lower surface  28  as depicted in FIG.  3 . These ports  33  being of a conventional type as found in conventionally marketed air mattresses. Supporting first sleeping bag portion  21   a  is first air mattress portion  22   a , wherein the pneumatic chambers  31   a  and  32   a  are separately inflated to a desired firmness thereby giving support and providing comfort to an associated individual positioned therewithin, in a spaced relationship relative to a ground surface therebeneath. By this structure, an individual can be comfortably supported whether the terrain be rough or uneven. 
     The second sleeping bag portion  21   b  and the non-inflated second air mattress portion  22   b  are utilized as a coverlet  37  for the individual, with a plurality of fastening strips  38  made from standard velcro-like hook and loop fastening materials attached to the perimeter of the sleeping bag portions  21   a  and  21   b  for securing the assembly in a closed position. In the event of a malfunction, puncture or any other damage to a chamber of first air mattress portion  22   a , assembly  20  can be reversed, whereby the second air mattress portion  22   b  comprising torso section  29   b  and pillow section  30   b  can be inflated to support the second sleeping bag portion  21   b . The opposing portions  21   a  and  22   a  now form the coverlet  37 , thus providing a backup to the assembly  20 . It is to be appreciated that in lieu of the velcro-like fastening strips  38 , a standardized zipper (not shown) as often found in sleeping bags could be used equally as well. 
     Sleeping bag portions  21   a ,  21   b  contain an insulating amount of known fibrous material and conventional web materials. The top surface  25  of sleeping bag portions  21   a ,  21   b  having a material such as cotton or fleece to provide a measure of comfort. Mattress portions  22   a ,  22   b  are made from air tight layers of impermeable flexible plasicized material such as urethane coated nylon fabric or plastic coated cotton fabric. Other suitable material may be nylon of the non-rip type or relatively thick polyethylene film, desirably about 4 mils in thickness. Other suitable material would be impervious rubberized fabrics and saran type films. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1-4 the bottom surface  26  of the sleeping bag portions  21   a ,  21   b  are coupled with the upper surface  27  of the air mattress portions  22   a  and  22   b , such that they cannot be separated from each other during use. This coupling can be either permanently affixed by well known methods of adhesive bonding or else can be removably coupled by locating patches of hook type material on the bottom surface  26  of the sleeping bag portion to be mated with loop type material on the opposing upper surface  27  of the mattress portion. 
     FIGS. 1 and 2 show a securing means  35  in the side section  34  of the first air mattress  21   a  which opens to a storage pocket  36 . This securing means  35  is shown with a velcro-type fastener but could be fastened just as well with a zipper (not shown). A portable air inflation device  39  is stored within the pocket  36 , since often on overnight camping trips, there is a lack of access to electrical power, thereby making it imperative that the assembly  20  have its own inflatable device  39 . The present invention does also include an electrical cord  58  for use whenever electricity is available. 
     FIG. 5 shows inflation device  39  having a hollow cylindrical plastic housing  40  with a flashlight end  41  and an air intake end  42 . Interposed within housing  40  is a removable cylindrical metal sleeve  43  having a highly conductive inner wall  44 . Disposed within the sleeve  43  is a fan assembly  45  for drawing air into the device  39  through an intake opening  52  at the air intake end  42 . The fan assembly  45  is generally to be a low h.p. unit and is comprised of a plurality of braces  46  which are biased quite forcibly against the metal sleeve  43 . One end of a shaft  49  is integrally connected to a motor  48  for supplying power to a plurality of radially extending impellers blades  47  which are rotatively connected to the other end of the shaft  49 . Interposed within sleeve  43  and below the fan assembly  45  is a cylindrical battery support bracket  50  for housing a plurality of batteries  51  which are arranged in series. For the present invention it is anticipated that two batteries will be needed. A pair of electrical connecting wires  62  carry the energizing power from the batteries  51  to the motor  48 . One wire connecting the negative cathode of the batteries to the motor, the other wire connecting the positive anode of the batteries to the motor. A push button switch  65  is located on the exterior wall of the housing and is connected to the conductive sleeve  44  by a contact rod  64 , whereby an individual can energize the system by engaging the push button  65  into the contact rod  64 . Positioned within the sleeve  43  below the battery bracket  50  is a light bulb support  58 , in which a light bulb is seated in the center thereof. The bulb  59  is in direct contact with the anode of the first battery  51  in series so as to also energized by the batteries  51 . A transparent cover  61  is located at the flashlight end  41 . The general concepts of the inflation device  39  are similar to those devices well known in the art. The radial impeller blades  47  draw air into the device  39  through the intake opening  52  to a void  60  within the housing and propel the air out of the device  39  through an exhaust vent  54  where the air is delivered to pneumatic chambers  31   a ,  31   b ,  32   a , and  32   b  by an air tube  55 . The air tube  55  having opposing ends, a proximal end  56  connecting to the exhaust vent  54  and a distal end  57  having conventional means for connecting to the air intake ports. 
     FIG. 2 depicts the assembly  20  opened up for use as a full size air mattress  66 . Both first and second air mattress portions  22   a ,  22   b  are inflated, which gives the present invention a diversity not found in prior art devices. 
     In use, the air mattress sleeping bag assembly  20  can comfortably support and insulate an individual relative to ground surface. The pneumatic chambers  31   a ,  31   b ,  32   a , and  32   b  can be selectively inflated to a desired firmness according to the personal preference of the individual. The assembly  20  can be conveniently stored in a deflated and folded condition, similarly to the manner in which most conventional sleeping bags are folded. 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art. All equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, more numerous modifications and change will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not designed to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be be said to fall within the scope of the invention. 
     LEGEND 
       20  Air mattress sleeping bag assembly 
       21   a  First sleeping bag portion 
       21   b  Second sleeping bag portion 
       22   a  First air mattress portion 
       22   b  Second air mattress portion 
       23  Pillow end 
       24  Foot end 
       25  Top surface of sleeping bag portion 
       26  Bottom surface of sleeping bag portion 
       27  Upper surface of mattress portion 
       28  Lower surface of mattress portion 
       29   a  Torso section of first air mattress portion 
       29   b  Torso section of second air mattress portion 
       30   a  Pillow section of first air mattress portion 
       30   b  Pillow section of second air mattress portion 
       31   a  First torso pneumatic chamber 
       31   b  Second torso pneumatic chamber 
       32   a  First pillow pneumatic chamber 
       32   b  Second pillow pneumatic chamber 
       33  Air intake ports 
       34  Side of first air mattress portion 
       35  Securing means for storage pocket 
       36  Storage pocket 
       37  Coverlet 
       38  Velcro fasten strips 
       39  Air inflation device 
       40  Hollow cylindrical housing 
       41  Flashlight end 
       42  Air intake end 
       43  Cylindrical metal sleeve 
       44  Conductive inner wall of sleeve 
       45  Fan assembly 
       46  Braces 
       47  Radial propeller blades rotatively connected to shaft 
       48  Motor 
       49  Shaft 
       50  Cylindrical battery support bracket 
       51  Batteries 
       52  Intake opening at fan end 
       53  Side surface of housing 
       54  Exhaust vent 
       55  Air tube 
       56  Proximal end 
       57  Distal end 
       58  Light bulb support 
       59  Light bulb 
       60  Void within housing 
       61  Transparent cover 
       62  Electrical connector wires 
       63  Electrical cord 
       64  Contact rod 
       65  Push button switch 
       66  Full size air mattress