Patent Publication Number: US-2016219953-A1

Title: Composite jacket and sleeping bag apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to apparel and, more particularly, to a wearable jacket with the ability to convert into a sleeping bag having an inflatable mattress. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use and design of sleeping bags and inflatable mattresses for use for sleeping or laying down is well known. Hikers and travelers often transport with them large sleeping bags so that they are able to rest comfortably when desired. A problem which still exists, however, is that for many hikers and travelers, a discrete sleeping bag and/or inflatable mattresses can be very cumbersome to carry. Thus, there remains a need for a composite jacket and sleeping bag apparatus that provides a wearable garment that can alternatively be deployed as a sleeping bag. It would be helpful if such a composite jacket and sleeping bag apparatus included an integrated inflatable mattress to for providing additional support when a user lays in the sleeping bag. It would be additionally desirable for such a composite jacket and sleeping bag apparatus to employ a plurality of zippers to enable it to be placed in jacket or sleeping bag form. 
     The Applicant&#39;s invention described herein provides for a composite jacket and sleeping bag apparatus adapted to be converted between a wearable jacket and a sleeping bag. The primary components in Applicant&#39;s composite jacket and sleeping bag apparatus are a base jacket, a fold out leg extension, a fold out top cover, an expandable hood, and an inflatable air mattress. When in operation, the composite jacket and sleeping bag apparatus enables a mobile user, such as a hiker, to have access to a comfortable sleeping enclosure without having to separately carry a sleeping bag and/or inflatable mattress. As a result, many of the limitations imposed by prior art structures are removed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A composite jacket and sleeping bag apparatus for selective use as a jacket and a sleeping bag. The composite jacket and sleeping bag apparatus comprises a base jacket having an attached expandable hood and an inflatable air mattress pack. The base jacket is converted from a jacket configuration to a sleeping bag configuration by unzipping and opening it, unfolding both a fold out leg extension and a fold out top cover, and then connecting the sides of the fold out top cover to the sides of the opened base jacket and fold out leg extension, thereby forming a substantial enclosure in which a user can rest. In this configuration, the inflatable air mattress pack can be deployed to provide addition support to a user laying on the opened base jacket and fold out leg extension. 
     It is an object of this invention to provide a composite jacket and sleeping bag apparatus that provides a wearable garment that can alternatively be deployed as a sleeping bag. 
     It is another object of this invention to provide a composite jacket and sleeping bag apparatus that includes an integrated inflatable mattress to for providing additional support when a user lays in the sleeping bag. 
     It is yet another object of this invention to provide a composite jacket and sleeping bag apparatus that employs a plurality of zippers to enable it to be placed in jacket or sleeping bag form. 
     These and other objects will be apparent to one of skill in the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of a composite jacket and sleeping bag apparatus built in accordance with the present invention in a jacket configuration. 
         FIG. 2  is a back elevational view of a composite jacket and sleeping bag apparatus built in accordance with the present invention in a jacket configuration. 
         FIG. 3  is a front elevational view of a composite jacket and sleeping bag apparatus built in accordance with the present invention in a partially assembled sleeping bag configuration. 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of a composite jacket and sleeping bag apparatus built in accordance with the present invention in an assembled sleeping bag configuration. 
         FIG. 5  is a front elevational view of a composite jacket and sleeping bag apparatus built in accordance with the present invention in an alternate assembled sleeping back configuration. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings and in particular  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a composite jacket and sleeping bag apparatus  100  is shown in a jacket configuration as a base jacket  110  having an attached expandable hood  120  and an inflatable air mattress pack  130 . The base jacket  110  is constructed in a similar manner to conventional jackets and outwear, having a pair of sleeves  111 , a collar section  112 , and a central zipper  113  regulated closeable opening. The expandable hood  120  is attached to the base jacket  110  at the collar section  112 , from where it can be flipped onto the head of a user in a manner similar to conventional hoods on jackets. The inflatable air mattress pack  130  is attached to the back surface of the base jacket  110 , and includes an integrated air pump (not shown) that enables it to be selectively inflated for deployment as an air mattress. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4 , the composite jacket and sleeping bag apparatus  100  is converted from a jacket configuration to a sleeping bag configuration by opening the base jacket  110 , unfolding both a fold out leg extension  140  and a fold out top cover  150 , and then, if it is desired to create a substantial enclosure, connecting the sides of the fold out top cover  150  to the sides of the opened base jacket  110  and fold out leg extension  140 . The base jacket  100  is opened as conventional jackets; by unzipping the central zipper  113  and spreading the opened sides apart. Once the base jacket  100  is open, the leg extension  140  can be unzipped at the top zipper  114  inside the base jacket  110  and connected to the leg extension  114 ′ and folded down from the base jacket  110 , pivoting just above the bottom of the base jacket  110 . The top cover  150  is then folded out of the leg extension  140  in two contiguous sections. The fully unfolded leg extension  140  and the top cover  150  define the partially assembled sleeping bag configuration of the composite jacket and sleeping bag apparatus  100 , illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
     The leg extension  140  and the top cover  150  each include side flaps, defined as leg extension flaps  141  and top cover flaps  151 , respectively. At the edge of each of the leg extension flaps  141  and is a first enclosure zipper  142  and at the edge of each of the top cover flaps  151  is a second enclosure zipper  152 . To complete the assembly of the composite jacket and sleeping bag apparatus  100 , the top cover  150  is flipped on top of the leg extension  140  and the opened base jacket  110  and the second enclosure zipper  152  is secured to the first enclosure zipper  142  and central zipper  113 , thereby forming a substantial enclosure which defines the sleeping bag configuration. It is contemplated that the opened base jacket  110  and the leg extension  140  will provide the bottom surface for a user to lay on and the top cover  150  will provide a cover which can be used by a user on the opened base jacket  110  and the leg extension  140 . If a user desires to create a full enclosure, a bottom zipper  153  can be then attached to the top zipper  114 . 
     Once in the partially assembled sleeping bag configuration or the sleeping bag configuration, the inflatable air mattress pack  130  can be deployed into an inflated air mattress  131  to provide greater support for a user laying inside the composite jacket and sleeping bag apparatus  100 . In the partially assembled sleeping bag configuration or the sleeping bag configuration, it is contemplated that the sleeves  111  could be laid under the opened base jacket  110  or rolled up under the collar section  112  for use to elevate a user&#39;s head. 
     In one embodiment, the expandable hood  120  includes a collapsible cloth piece (not shown) that can be folded out and used to cover the face of a user. 
     In one embodiment, the collar section  112  and/or the sleeves  111  are detachable from the base jacket  110 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , in an alternate embodiment, the base jacket  110 , when placed in a sleeping bag configuration, returned to a closed position (similar to what is illustrated in  FIG. 1 , except with the leg extension  140  and top cover  150  folded out and the top cover  150  zipped on top of the leg extension  140 ). When assembled in this manner, the closed base jacket  110  provides a second enclosure for the torso area of a user inside the sleeping bag, thereby providing additional comfort to the user. 
     The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.