Abstract:
An insulated bag for use by, but not limited to, spectators at outdoor events. The bag is comprised of insulated material designed into a body conforming shape which is wider at the top and narrower at the bottom. It includes a variety of design elements to make the combination more useful for its intended purpose insofar as moisture protection, heat retention, and ventilation; and to facilitate its portability and deployment.

Description:
[0001]    This Utility patent application claims priority from Provisional Patent Application Serial No. U.S. 61/049,924 filed May 2, 2008. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to a new design for a bag to provide a comfortable environment for spectators who sit for periods of time at cold weather outdoor events. More specifically the invention relates to a bag which conserves body heat while protecting the occupant against wind and moisture in the form of snow, ice and water, and which has features which enable the occupant to adjust ventilation for personal comfort. 
         [0003]    The present invention is an insulated bag for personal comfort during outdoor events, which is made up of the following required elements, comprising but not limited to (1) a full length zipper down the front, (2) side zippers which enable the occupant&#39;s arms to be outside the bag, (3) a lined foot area with zipper about the foot area for ventilation, (4) multiple internal storage pockets, (5) additional padding in the seat area, (6) internal attachments for fixing of an internal camp chair, (7) special waterproof surfaces or materials in areas which are likely to come into contact with snow and water, (8) a contoured hood, and (9) features to enable ease of transport, deployment, and recovery. 
         [0004]    Further, this invention can also have one or more of the following, an optional camp chair, different methods for fixing the camp chair in place, Velcro closures instead of side zippers, and mesh and/or fabric interior storage pockets. 
         [0005]    It should further be noted that the exterior and interior surface materials used will be such as but not limited to materials such as Gore-Tex or Pertex which provide wind resistance, breathing ability and water resistance, the insulation materials shall be such as but not limited to materials such as down or synthetic fills depending upon the desired performance of each model offered, zippers shall be such as but not limited to self repairing two way zippers, fill ratings will be dependent upon the desired environmental limits of each model offered. 
         [0006]    These elements are related to create a personal environment which enable the occupant to vary ventilation from a minimum of retention of body heat to a maximum, and protection against wind and precipitation in any form. They are related as follows: (1) the full length front zipper enables easy access and enables the occupant to regulate heat and has a Velcro closure tab at the top to keep the bag zipper fully closed when maximum heat retention and wind protection is desired, (2) the side zippers enable the occupant to have their arms outside the bag during use for personal convenience while still retaining as much body heat as possible, or inside the bag for maximum body heat retention, (3) the zipper about the foot area further enables the occupant to regulate heat or increase outside ventilation as desired, (4) the multiple internal pockets enable storage of various items as desired by the occupant including but not limited to the removable shoulder strap, (5) the additional padding in the seat area improves seating comfort when used on hard surfaces inhibits additional body heat loss due to cold surface contact transference, the padding will be integrated into the seat area and will ideally be, but not limited to, down fill, (6) the internal attachments for a camp chair enable its insertion when the bag is used on a bench seat and/or for additional lumbar support, the insulated bag can be transported and use with or without the camp chair, (7) the special waterproof surfaces or fabrics about the foot area, and in the seat and back area, inhibit the penetration of moisture into the bag when used in inclement weather and contact with snow, ice and water are likely, this coating or fabric will ideally be, but is not limited to, a synthetic woven textile fabric with a coating that imparts the ability to transmit water vapor out while being virtually water repellent against moisture transmitting in, (8) the contoured hood provides protection for the occupant to protect against wind and precipitation while facilitating maximum retention of body heat, and (9) the features which enable ease of transport, deployment, and recovery facilitate the use of the bag by making it easy to carry, easy to put into use when desired, and easy to recover when use is complete—the bag is intended to be slung over the shoulder or back for carrying, thus its storage configuration is in the form of a long round bedroll. 
         [0007]    All of the components work together to provide a comfortable personal environment for the occupant when they are sitting in a cold environment for any reason, yet still enabling ease of use of their arms; all in the context of maximum portability and ease of use. 
         [0008]    The invention can be used for a spectator to an event, a participant in an event, a person in an emergency situation who needs to retain body heat while still having use of their arms outside the bag, and for a soldier in the field to enable maximum personal comfort with easy access to their weapon. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, a preferred embodiment of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein: 
           [0010]    Page  1 ,  FIG. 1  is an Exterior Front View of the bag showing the water resistant foot area according to the present invention. 
           [0011]    Page  2 ,  FIG. 2  is an Exterior Rear View of the bag showing the water resistant seat area, water resistant foot area, and location of tabs for storage and transport fixing according to the present invention. 
           [0012]    Page  3 ,  FIG. 3  is an Exterior Left Side View of the bag showing the side arm access zippers and the water resistant foot area according to the present invention. 
           [0013]    Page  4 ,  FIG. 4  is an Exterior Right Side View of the bag showing the side arm access zippers and the water resistant foot area according to the present invention. 
           [0014]    Page  5 ,  FIG. 5  is an Interior Front View of the bag showing the internal storage pockets and the water resistant foot area according to the present invention. 
           [0015]    Page  6 ,  FIG. 6  is an Interior Real View of the bag showing the padded seat area and fixing points for installation of an optional camp chair according to the present invention. 
           [0016]    Page  7 ,  FIG. 7  is a Side Cross Section View of the bag showing the padded seat area and water resistant foot area without the camp chair inserted according to the present invention. 
           [0017]    Page  8 ,  FIG. 8  is a Side Cross Section View of the bag showing the padded seat area and water resistant foot area with the camp chair inserted according to the present invention. 
           [0018]    Page  9 ,  FIG. 9  shows the Strap Configuration of the bag to prepare it for transport according to the present invention. 
           [0019]    Page  10 ,  FIG. 10  shows the Strap Configuration of the bag with the shoulder strap installed for transport according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    There are no currently available solutions for an insulated bag designed specifically for use by a sitting occupant. Currently available solutions are sold as sleeping bags and designed for use by a prone occupant. This invention addresses both options as the invention as shown can accommodate the unique needs of a sitting occupant while still providing features which enable use of the invention in the same manner as present inventions which address prone occupants. 
         [0021]    Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention only and not for purposes of limiting the same,  FIGS. 1 through 10  shows an insulated spectator bag  10  according to this invention. The preferred embodiment is directed to an insulated spectator bag but the invention is applicable to other insulated bags and other applications as well. Referring now to  FIG. 1 , Exterior Front View, the insulated bag  10  includes a full length front zipper  11  with a closure tab  26  of but not limited to a Velcro closure to provide further weather protection and to keep the zipper fully zipped up, a contoured hood  12  to provide improved weather protection, a bottom venting zipper  13  about the foot area to enable further ventilation control, an area about the foot area  14  which is comprised of a waterproof or water resistant material or coating. 
         [0022]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , Exterior Rear View, the insulated bag  10  includes a contoured hood  12  for weather protection, an area about the foot area  14  which is comprised of a waterproof or water resistant material or coating, an area about the seat and back area  15  which is comprised of a waterproof or water resistant material or coating, Velcro tabs  16  for attachment of storage/transport straps, and a bottom venting zipper  13  about the foot area to enable further ventilation control. 
         [0023]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , Exterior Left Side View, the insulated bag  10  includes a contoured hood  12  for weather protection, a bottom venting zipper  13  about the foot area to enable further ventilation control, an area about the foot area  14  which is comprised of a waterproof or water resistant material or coating, and a side zipper  17  to enable the occupant to have their right arm outside the bag if desired, or inside for further retention of body heat. These side closures zip top down or bottom up. 
         [0024]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , Exterior Right Side View, the insulated bag  10  includes a contoured hood  12  for weather protection, a bottom venting zipper  13  about the foot area to enable further ventilation control, an area about the foot area  14  which is comprised of a waterproof or water resistant material or coating, and a side zipper  18  to enable the occupant to have their right arm outside the bag if desired, or inside for further retention of body heat. 
         [0025]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , Interior Front View shows the inside of the insulated bag  10  on the front side, the insulated bag  10  includes a full length front zipper  11 , a contoured hood  12  for weather protection, a bottom venting zipper  13  about the foot area to enable further ventilation control, an area about the foot area  14  which is comprised of a waterproof or water resistant material or coating, and internal pockets  19  for storage of miscellaneous items such as the shoulder strap  20 . 
         [0026]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , Interior Rear View shows the inside back of the insulated bag  10 , showing the padded seat area  21  which provides additional comfort and heat retention for the occupant when sitting on a cold surface, and internal fixing points  22  for fixing of a camp chair insert  25  when desired. 
         [0027]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , Side Cross Section View shows the insulated bag  10 , padded seat area  21 , and without Camp Chair  25  inserted, 
         [0028]    Referring now to  FIG. 8 , Side Cross Section View shows the insulated bag  10  with Camp Chair  25  inserted, the camp chair providing additional insulation for heat retention and also providing lumbar support when the insulated bag  10  is used on a surface with no backrest. 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIG. 9 , Strap Configuration for Storage/Transport, shows the insulated bag  10  in rolled up configuration for either deployment or recovered from deployment ready to be secured for transport with the shoulder strap  23 , using the Velcro tabs affixed to the back of the insulated bag  16 , and Velcro tabs  24 ,  27  used as a fixing method to secure the portion of the strap assembly which holds the insulated bag  10  in its rolled up configuration for transport. 
         [0030]    Referring now to  FIG. 10 , Bag in Transport Configuration, shows the insulated bag  10  in rolled up configuration for either transport or ready for deployment with the shoulder strap  23 . 
         [0031]    The preferred embodiments have been described, herein-above. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above methods may incorporate changes and modification without departing from the general scope of this invention. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.