Beds – Sleeping bag – Including inflatable portion or attachment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-03
2001-11-27
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3628)
Beds
Sleeping bag
Including inflatable portion or attachment
C005S4130AM, C005S419000, C005S706000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06321400
ABSTRACT:
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.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1648373 (1927-11-01), Vilas
patent: 4091482 (1978-05-01), Malcolm
patent: 4862533 (1989-09-01), Adams, III
patent: 4896387 (1990-01-01), Malcolm et al.
patent: 5471687 (1995-12-01), Vierra
patent: 5528779 (1996-06-01), Lee et al.
patent: 5553339 (1996-09-01), Thomas
patent: 5640725 (1997-06-01), Ando et al.
patent: 5669088 (1997-09-01), McNamee
Browne Lynne H.
Burns D. Michael
Conley Fredrick
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