CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Patent Application 16/742,904, filed 14 January 2020, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/894,086, filed 30 August 2019, the entireties of both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to sleeping bags, and particularly to insulated sleeping bags sized for children as young as about six months of age and as old as about five years of age, which are designed for use in outdoor environments in ambient temperatures ranging below 60 °F/15 °C to at least as low as 0 °F/-18 °C.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Providing a safe sleeping environment for infants is one of most important responsibilities of a new parent. Not only is a safe sleep environment important for a child’ s general health and development but has also been shown to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). As a result, new parents are afforded considerable guidance on the proper manner of adorning (or more specifically not adorning) their children’s bassinets and cribs as well as furnishing their nurseries to ensure the safest and most productive sleep environments. This includes making sure that the child’s body temperature is regulated to a safe degree.

Parents of young children want to share their interests with their kids, and hiking, camping, backpacking, and sleeping outdoors is a popular activity for adults and children around the world. When it comes to camping equipment for adults, there are hundreds of options for sleeping bags. Consumers can choose from sleeping bags with different lengths, insulation types, and temperature ratings to determine what that suits them best. It is not uncommon for campers to spend the night outdoors in freezing temperatures (below 32 °F/0 °C), and adult sleeping bags are designed to keep their occupants warm and safe even as ambient temperatures around them change.

Although there exist several varieties of cold weather sleeping bags for children above age 4, none yet exist that are designed to safely accommodate a wearer below 24 months of age in temperatures below 60 °F/15 °C. Parents who wish to spend the night with their children in cold weather often turn to unsafe methods for maintaining their child’s warmth, such as co-sleeping with the infant inside of their adult-sized sleeping bag, or allowing the infant to sleep inside of a hooded snowsuit (both of these scenarios present suffocation hazards to the infant and are in violation of the recommended guidelines for safe infant sleep put forward by the American Academy of Pediatrics).

Therefore a need exists for a product that can not only regulate an infant or toddler’s body temperature within an acceptable range in outdoor climates with changing ambient temperatures below 60 °F/15 °C, but also one that is designed specifically to ensure the safety of a wearer below 24 months of age.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is one aspect of the present invention to provide a sleeping bag adapted for use by a child, comprising a front panel, comprising an inner layer, an outer layer, and at least one insulation layer disposed between the inner and outer layers; a back panel, comprising an inner layer, an outer layer, and at least one insulation layer disposed between the inner and outer layers; a collar, disposed atop the front panel and the back panel and configured to fit snugly around the child’s neck; and a zipper, disposed on the outer layer of the front panel, extending vertically between an upper terminus proximate to the collar and a lower terminal point on the outer layer of the front panel, configured to open the sleeping bag by separating opposing lateral halves of the front panel when a zipper pull of the zipper is pulled upwardly and to close the sleeping bag by joining the opposing lateral halves when the zipper pull is pulled downwardly, wherein the front panel and the back panel are affixed to each other so as to define an enclosure adapted to receive at least a portion of the child’s body other than the head.

In embodiments, at least one of the inner layer of the front panel, the outer layer of the front panel, the inner layer of the back panel, and the outer layer of the back panel may comprise at least one material selected from the group consisting of nylons and polyesters.

In embodiments, at least one of the outer layer of the front panel and the outer layer of the back panel may comprise at least one row of stitching configured to prevent shifting of at least an underlying portion of at least one insulation layer.

In embodiments, the sleeping bag may further comprise two sleeves, adapted to receive the child’s arms and disposed on either lateral side of the front panel and the back panel, and the sleeves may be formed by affixation of corresponding portions of the front panel and the back panel. In embodiments, at least one sleeve may be at least partially enclosed along an enclosing seam.

In embodiments, the lower terminal point may comprise a reinforcing element, and the reinforcing element may comprise at least one of a reinforcing portion of fabric and a reinforcing stitch.

In embodiments, the outer layer of the front panel may comprise a vertical row of stitching, disposed proximate and parallel to an edge of the zipper and configured to prevent shifting of at least an underlying portion of the at least one insulation layer.

In embodiments, the enclosure formed by the front panel and the back panel may be open at a bottom of the sleeping bag.

In embodiments, the enclosure formed by the front panel and the back panel may be at least partially closed at a bottom of the sleeping bag. The bottom of the sleeping bag may, but need not, comprise leg openings allowing the child’s legs to be inserted therethrough.

In embodiments, the sleeping bag may further comprise a zipper protector, the zipper protector comprising a fabric element extending over the upper terminus of the zipper and configured to prevent the zipper pull from contacting the child’s chin or neck.

In embodiments, a rear portion of the collar may extend upwardly from the back panel to a greater extent than a corresponding front portion of the collar extends upwardly from the front panel.

In embodiments, the sleeping bag may further comprise a draft tube, disposed on a portion of the inner layer of the front panel underlying the zipper and configured to reduce at least one of air flow through the zipper and heat loss through the zipper. A lower terminus of the draft tube may, but need not, be positioned below the lower terminal point of the zipper.

In embodiments, at least one of the front panel and the back panel may comprise at least one baffle, and the at least one baffle may extend between the inner layer and the outer layer and separate at least one insulation layer into a plurality of chambers.

In embodiments, the front panel and the back panel may be affixed about an enclosure seam disposed on at least one lateral aspect of the sleeping bag.

In embodiments, the sleeping bag may be configured to effectively insulate and maintain a body temperature of the child in an ambient temperature selected from the group consisting of no more than about 60 °F, no more than about 50 °F, no more than about 40 °F, no more than about 30 °F, no more than about 20 °F, no more than about 10 °F, and no more than about 0 °F. In embodiments, a length of at least one of the front panel and the back panel may be between about 22 inches about 50 inches. The length may, but need not, be about 32 inches.

In embodiments, at least one insulation layer may comprise at least one fill material selected from the group consisting of goose down, goose feathers, duck down, duck feathers, polyester fibers, and non-polyester fiber synthetic insulating materials.

The present invention comprises an insulation-filled, water-resistant, breathable and washable sleeping bag with enclosed sleeves that is designed to be long enough to fit most children up to 24 months of age, and safe for children as young as 6 months of age.

To provide safe temperatures in cold weather, the sleeping bags incorporate a down, polyester, or other synthetic insulation to safely provide protection in ambient temperatures generally ranging between 20 °F/-7 °C and 60 °F/15 °C, and potentially ranging at least as low as 0 °F/-18 °C. The sleeping bag may also include baffles, or walls of fabric, between each layer to prevent the shifting of insulation during use and to ensure a high volume of loft between the wearer and the outside air.

The outer and inner shell fabric should be nylon, polyester, taffeta, or similar breathable, water-resistant, insulation-proof fabric that is suitable for retaining the insulation, regulating temperature, and being sufficiently soft enough to be comfortably worn by the wearer.

The overall shape of the sleeping bag provides for a single chamber for the wearer’s body, with a collar at the top center to go around the neck of the wearer, plus sleeves attached to each side for the arms of the wearer. The sleeves may be open at the ends or may be sewn shut for increased effectiveness in insulating the wearer.

In some embodiments, the opening at the collar may measure about 30cm in diameter, and/or may be small enough such that no child age 6 months or above could potentially slip their head inside the opening, thereby avoiding the risk of suffocation, while still fitting wearers aged up to 24 months old. The risk of suffocation and/or strangulation is further mitigated by elimination of any hood or drawstring in association with the collar, in accordance with the safe sleep guidelines promulgated by the American Academy of Pediatrics. In some embodiments, the overall size of the sleeping bag might be made larger or smaller to accommodate wearers of different age ranges while maintaining the same function and overall design.

An additional section of insulated fabric may be placed behind the length of the zipper to insulate that area. Finally, the zipper of the sleeping bag unzips from the bottom of the bag (rather than the top, which is typical), to afford parents and caretakers the ability to change the wearer’s diaper without fully unzipping the sleeping bag and to prevent the wearer from accidentally unzipping the sleeping bag, which may cause the wearer’s head to slip through the collar and into the sleeping bag.

While specific embodiments and applications of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise configuration and components described herein. Various modifications, changes, and variations which will be apparent to those skilled in the art may be made in the arrangement, operation, and details of the methods and systems of the present invention disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including any such equivalent construction insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

The advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the disclosure contained herein.

As used herein, “at least one,” “one or more,” and “and/or” are open-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive in operation. For example, each of the expressions “at least one of A, B, and C,” “at least one of A, B, or C,” “one or more of A, B, and C,” “one or more of A, B, or C,” and “A, B, and/or C” means A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B, and C together.

It is to be noted that the term “a” or “an” entity refers to one or more of that entity. As such, the terms “a” (or “an”), “one or more,” and “at least one” can be used interchangeably herein. It is also to be noted that the terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” can be used interchangeably.

The embodiments and configurations described herein are neither complete nor exhaustive. As will be appreciated, other embodiments of the invention are possible utilizing, alone or in combination, one or more of the features set forth above or described in detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure l is a top view of a front side of a sleeping bag for a young child, according to embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top view of a back side of a sleeping bag for a young child, according to embodiments of the present invention. Figure 3 is a top view of an inside front panel of a sleeping bag for a young child, according to embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of an internal wall construction of a sleeping bag for a young child, according to embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a side view of a sleeping bag for a young child, according to embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments disclosed herein. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that various embodiments of the present disclosure may be practiced without some of these specific details. The ensuing description provides exemplary embodiments only and is not intended to limit the scope or applicability of the disclosure. Furthermore, to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present disclosure, the preceding description omits several known structures and devices. This omission is not to be construed as a limitation of the scopes of the claims. Rather, the ensuing description of the exemplary embodiments will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing an exemplary embodiment. It should however be appreciated that the present disclosure may be practiced in a variety of ways beyond the specific detail set forth herein.

As used herein, unless otherwise specified, the term “infant” refers to a human being between about six months of age and about twelve months of age. Without limitation as to the scope of the invention disclosed herein, infants are generally characterized as having a length or height of between about 28 inches (70 centimeters) and about 31 inches (80 centimeters).

As used herein, unless otherwise specified, the term “toddler” refers to a human being between about twelve months of age and about 24 months of age. Without limitation as to the scope of the invention disclosed herein, toddlers are generally characterized as having a length or height of between about 31 inches (80 centimeters) and about 37 inches (95 centimeters).

As used herein, unless otherwise specified, the term “young child” refers to a human being between about six months of age and about five years of age. As the terms are used herein, “infants” and “toddlers” are each subsets of “young children.” Various features of the sleeping bags disclosed herein are disclosed as being sewn and/or as comprising seams or stitching. Unless otherwise specified, it is to be expressly understood that such features may, in embodiments, be affixed by (or comprise a means for) any suitable method of affixation of such elements, including but not limited to heat-sealing, riveting, sewing, stitching, and the like, and that such embodiments are within the scope of the present invention. Such affixation methods and means therefor may be provided instead of or in addition to the sewing, seams, stitching, etc. disclosed herein.

Sleeping bags for young children according to the present invention generally comprise two panels, respectively defining a front side and a back side of the sleeping bag. Each of the two panels, in turn, comprises two layers (an inner layer and an outer layer) of a breathable, water-resistant fabric on either side of an intermediate layer of an insulation material, or “fill.” Suitable insulation/fill materials include, but are not limited to, goose down, goose feathers, duck down, duck feathers, polyester fibers, other synthetic insulating materials (e.g. PrimaLoft®, a synthetic microfiber insulation material), and combinations thereof.

In embodiments of the invention, the insulation material, e.g. goose down, synthetic insulation materials, and combinations thereof, may be selected to maximize the insulation capability and/or minimize the weight of the sleeping bag; in particular, where the insulation material is or comprises goose down, the goose down may be selected based on the loft or “fill power” of the down, e.g. at least about 450 fill power, at least about 500 fill power, at least about 550 fill power, at least about 600 fill power, at least about 650 fill power, at least about 700 fill power, at least about 750 fill power, at least about 800 fill power, at least about 850 fill power, or at least about 900 fill power.

The insulation or fill material(s) may also be selected to provide certain additional advantages, benefits, and/or features to the sleeping bag. By way of non-limiting example, synthetic fill materials, in general, dry easily, do not readily absorb water, and can retain their insulation ability even when wet, and so may be particularly useful in embodiments in which the sleeping bag is likely to get wet, e.g. in damp conditions. By way of further non limiting example, natural down fill materials, in general, retain heat well and are relatively lightweight, and so may be particularly useful in embodiments in which the sleeping bag may be moved from a warm environment to a cold one shortly before use (e.g. “car camping”) or when weight constraints require that the weight of the sleeping bag be minimized. It is to be expressly understood that the front panel and back panel of sleeping bags of the present invention may comprise the same fill material, or may comprise different fill materials; by way of non-limiting example, sleeping bags in which a fill material of the front panel is a natural down material (e.g. to limit weight) and a fill material of the back panel is a synthetic fill material (e.g. to resist compression under the wearer’s weight and provide water-resistance against damp ground) are expressly contemplated and are within the scope of the present invention.

Referring now to Figure 1, a front panel 6 of a sleeping bag for a young child according to the present invention is illustrated. As illustrated in Figure 1, the sleeping bag comprises a collar 1; a front shell material 2; a plurality of rows of stitching 3; two sleeves 4, disposed on either lateral side of the front panel 6 and adapted to receive the wearer’s arms; a zipper 7, comprising a zipper pull 8 and extending between the collar 1 and a terminal point 9; zipper stitching 10; and a bottom portion 11.

At the top of the sleeping bag, the collar 1 creates a snug, secure fit around the neck of the wearer and prevents the wearer’s head from potentially slipping inside of the sleeping bag. In embodiments, the collar may have a diameter of about 30cm, but it is to be expressly understood that this diameter may vary, so long as the advantages and benefits of the collar herein described are provided. An interior surface of the collar 1 may be provided with a portion of a soft, flexible, and/or breathable material, e.g. a fleece or similar material, to improve the young child’s comfort when the sleeping bag is secured around the young child’s neck and prevent chafing or irritation of the young child’s skin.

As illustrated in Figure 1, the outer and inner layers of the front panel 6 of sleeping bags of the present invention are constructed of a front shell material 2 that is water-resistant, breathable, puncture-resistant, and resistant to leakage or shifting of the fill material within. Non-limiting examples of suitable materials for the front shell material 2 include nylons, polyesters, and combinations thereof. To form the front panel 6, one or more layers of fill material are disposed between the outer and inner layers, and the three or more layers are sewn together (e.g. with polyester thread); when the front panel 6 is joined together with a back panel (as described in greater detail below), the front and back panels thus act together to create an insulated sleep environment that wraps completely around the wearer.

The water-resistant, breathable nature of the front shell material 2 provides several advantages, including improved comfort of the wearer, a more aesthetically pleasing (e.g. softer) texture of the exterior of the sleeping bag, and decreased transfer of liquid from the outside of the sleeping bag to the inside (e.g. if the outside of the sleeping bag becomes wet, the wearer of the sleeping bag may remain warm and dry) and vice versa (e.g. if the wearer of the sleeping bag urinates or defecates while wearing the sleeping bag, as may commonly occur when the wearer is an infant or toddler, items in the surrounding environment, such as a sleeping pad, an interior of a tent, etc., may not be soiled). The front shell material 2 may also be selected to allow the entire sleeping bag to be machine-washable, providing another important advantage and benefit, particularly when the intended wearer is an infant or toddler. It is to be expressly understood that, with reference to the front panel 6 particularly, the outer and inner layers may be made of the same front shell material 2, or may be made of different materials or combinations of materials.

As illustrated in Figure 1, a plurality of rows of stitching 3 are provided on the surface of the front panel 6 of the sleeping bag. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, the rows of stitching 3 are generally linear, oriented generally parallel to each other and run in a generally diagonal (upper left to lower right, from the wearer’s perspective) direction, with the distance between rows remaining approximately constant, but it is to be expressly understood that the rows of stitching 3 may be provided in any number (e.g. one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, or more than ten), pattern (e.g. linear, curved, or curvilinear, parallel or intersecting obliquely or perpendicularly, etc.), and spacing (e.g. with constant or varying width between rows). Regardless of the spatial constructions of the rows of stitching 3, however, the purpose of the rows of stitching 3 is to partially or completely separate and/or enclose regions of the fill material sandwiched between the outer and inner layers of the front panel 6, thus preventing the fill material from shifting, “leaking,” or “bunching” between the outer and inner layers when the wearer of the sleeping bag repositions himself or herself, e.g. during sleep, and ensuring substantially uniform coverage of the wearer’s body by the fill material.

Sleeves 4 are disposed on opposing lateral sides of the front panel 6 and are adapted to receive and surround the wearer’s arms. The sleeves 4 may be open at the distal end, as in a typical jacket or other garment, or, as illustrated in Figure 1, they may be sewn shut or otherwise enclosed by an enclosing seam 5, e.g. to provide additional insulation and warmth to the wearer. In some embodiments, the sleeves 4 may be left open and may be provided with a cuff, and in some cases additional layers of fabric or padding may be provided to cover the sleeve opening for increased warmth. In some embodiments, the sleeves 4 may be omitted completely, and the sleeping bag may be secured to the wearer with fabric going over the shoulder, as in a vest. In some embodiments, each sleeve 4 may be provided with a selectively reconfigurable opening that allows a parent or caretaker of the wearer to open or close the sleeves as desired by reconfiguring a closure device (e.g. a zipper, a snap, a hook-and-loop fastener, or the like), and/or may be provided with a closeable flap that may selectively expose or cover the distal end of the sleeve 4.

The zipper 7 of sleeping bags of the present invention is disposed generally vertically on the front panel 6 of the sleeping bag and extends generally downwardly from the collar 1 to the terminal point 9. Rows of stitching 10 along either side of the zipper keep the insulation contained in the appropriate section on both sides of the front panel 6, in much the same way as the rows of stitching 3. Additional fabric and/or stitching may be provided in association with the terminal point 9 to reinforce the shell material 2 and provide additional durability, e.g. improved impact and tear resistance.

The zipper 7 is oriented and configured such that the sleeping bag is opened when the zipper pull 8 is proximate to the collar 1 and may be closed, e.g. by the wearer’s parent or caretaker, by zipping the pull 8 downwardly, i.e. toward the terminal point 9; stated somewhat differently, when the zipper 7 is open, the front panel 6 itself is opened at the bottom, such that the two lateral (left and right) halves of the front panel 6 are separated from each other proximate to the terminal point 9. This orientation is notably different from currently available jackets and sleeping bags, which typically have the zipper oriented in the opposite direction (i.e. such that the zipper pull is pulled downwardly to open and upwardly to close). This orientation of the zipper 7 can provide several advantages and benefits. By way of first non-limiting example, the up-to-open/down-to-close orientation allows the wearer’s parent or caretaker to have access to the wearer’s legs, groin, and torso without fully opening the sleeping bag or removing the wearer therefrom, which in turn allows the parent or caretaker to tend to the wearer (e.g. to change the wearer’ s diaper or add or remove clothing from the lower part of the wearer’s body) with a minimum of disturbance and discomfort to the wearer. By way of second non-limiting example, the up-to-open/down-to- close orientation greatly reduces the probability that the wearer may accidentally unzip the sleeping bag, e.g. during sleep, because the zipper pull 8 is near the wearer’s feet (rather than the wearer’s neck) when the zipper 7 is closed. By way of third non-limiting example, the up-to-open/down-to-close orientation may make it easier for the wearer’s parent or caretaker to secure the wearer within the sleeping bag and/or remove the wearer from the sleeping bag. By way of fourth non-limiting example, the up-to-open/down-to-close orientation eliminates the possibility that the wearer’ s neck or chin may be caught or pinched within the zipper 7 when closing the zipper 7.

As illustrated in Figure 1, a bottom portion 11 of the sleeping bag may, in embodiments, be stitched closed to provide additional insulation and warmth to the wearer of the sleeping bag. In some embodiments, however, the bottom portion 11 may be open or partially open, and in particular may comprise leg holes that allow the wearer’s legs to protrude through the bottom portion 11 of the sleeping bag. In some embodiments, the bottom portion 11 may be left open and may be provided with a cuff, and in some cases additional layers of fabric or padding may be provided to cover the open bottom portion 11 for increased warmth. In some embodiments, the bottom portion 11 may be provided with a selectively reconfigurable opening that allows a parent or caretaker of the wearer to open or close the bottom portion 11 as desired by reconfiguring a closure device (e.g. a zipper, a snap, a hook-and-loop fastener, or the like). Whether the bottom portion 11 is open, partially closed, closed, or reconfigurable, the front panel 6 generally flares outwardly near the bottom portion 11 (as does the back panel, as illustrated in Figure 2) to provide greater freedom of movement of the wearer’s legs and feet.

Front panels 6 of sleeping bags according to the present invention may be provided with various additional features that provide certain advantages and/or benefits to the wearer and/or the wearer’s parent or caretaker. By way of non-limiting example, as illustrated in Figure 1, a zipper protector 12 may be provided in association with the collar 1 and the zipper 7. In embodiments, the zipper protector 12 is or comprises a small piece of fabric extending over an upper terminus of the zipper 7, adjacent to the collar 1. The zipper protector 12 thus protects the wearer’s chin and neck against abrasion and contact with the material of the zipper (e.g. metal or plastic), which may be uncomfortably cold as a result of exposure to a cold surrounding environment.

Referring now to Figure 2, a back panel of a sleeping bag for a young child according to the present invention is illustrated. As illustrated in Figure 2, the sleeping bag further comprises a plurality of rows of stitching 13 and a shell material 15.

The rows of stitching 13 disposed on the back panel of the sleeping bag serve substantially the same functions as the rows of stitching 3 disposed on the front panel 6 of the sleeping bag, and in general the same or similar features or considerations generally apply to rows of stitching 13 as apply to rows of stitching 3. It is to be noted that, in general, it may be preferable for the rows of stitching 13 to be arranged in a mirror or opposite, or approximately mirror or opposite, pattern relative to the rows of stitching 3, so as to provide an aesthetic of continuity between the front panel 6 and the back panel of the sleeping bag.

As illustrated in Figure 2, the collar 1 comprises a rear portion 14 that wraps around a top of the back panel and thus forms a continuous layer of fabric that covers the entire circumference of the top opening of the sleeping bag. The opening of the collar is “tilted” toward the front panel 6, or in other words the rear portion 14 of the collar 1 extends higher than a corresponding front portion of the collar 1, to provide for and enhance the snug, ergonomic fit of the collar 1 around the neck of the wearer of the sleeping bag.

Like the front panel 6, the back panel of the sleeping bag is formed by disposing one or more layers of fill material between the outer and inner layers, and the three or more layers are sewn together (e.g. with polyester thread); when the front panel 6 and the back panel are joined together (as described in greater detail below), the front and back panels thus act together to create an insulated sleep environment that wraps completely around the wearer. Accordingly, the same or similar features or considerations generally apply to the shell material 15 as apply to the shell material 2, and in many embodiments the shell and/or fill materials of the front panel 6 and the back panel will be the same. It is to be expressly understood, however, that in certain embodiments, shell and/or fill materials of the front panel 6 and the back panel may be different, and particularly may be selected to provide a desired asymmetric characteristic to the sleeping bag; by way of non-limiting example, the back panel may be provided with a synthetic fill material to provide greater water resistance if/when the sleeping bag is placed on damp ground, whereas the front panel 6 may be provided with a natural down fill material to reduce the weight of the sleeping bag.

Referring now to Figure 3, the front aspect of a sleeping bag is illustrated, with the zipper 7 cut away to show features disposed interiorly of the zipper 7 in some embodiments. Because the zipper 7 necessarily represents a weak point or gap in the insulation of the sleeping bag, it may often be desirable to provide one or more features on an inner surface of the front panel 6 that reinforce or improve the insulation capabilities of the sleeping bag proximate the zipper 7. Particularly, as illustrated in Figure 3, sleeping bags of the present invention may comprise an insulated panel or “draft tube” 16, i.e. an additional piece or element of insulation or fill material disposed on the inner layer of the front panel 6 that separates the portion of the inner layer proximate the zipper 7 from the wearer’s body. The draft tube 16 thus insulates the wearer from cold outside air in the area of the zipper 7, and prevents air within the interior of the sleeping bag (e.g. air that has been warmed by the wearer’s body heat) from escaping to the colder surrounding environment. In embodiments, as illustrated in Figure 3, the draft tube 16 may include a portion 17 that extends slightly beyond the zipper, so that no parts of the zipper are exposed to the wearer.

Referring now to Figure 4, an internal structure of a layer of insulation of a sleeping bag of the invention is illustrated. To insulate the wearer, inner walls or baffles 20 may be provided between the inner and outer layers of fabric of each panel, as illustrated in Figure 4. These baffles may be of any suitable height, which in embodiments may be between about 0.25” and about 3”, to create chambers 18 of space to be filled with insulation or fill material. These inner walls may be made of nylon, webbing, or similar material that is resistant to leakage or shifting of the insulation or fill material. By segmenting the insulation into chambers 18, the insulation is prevented from spreading and clumping together. The baffles 20 may also ensure that the insulation remains fully lofted and prevent the insulation from shifting, thus preventing “cold spots” by ensuring uniform insulation about substantially all of the young child’s body during sleep.

Referring now to Figure 5, a sleeping bag of the present invention is illustrated in side view. As illustrated in Figure 5, the sleeping bag is formed by affixing the front panel 6 and back panel together along a continuous seam 21 running along an outer edge of the sleeping bag, which in embodiments generally runs adjacent to the wearer’ s inseam and ribs when the sleeping bag is in use. The two panels may be connected by sewing the edge of the inner layers of each panel together, followed by the edge of the outer layer of both panels, thereby maintaining a space between the inner chamber of the sleeping bag and the outside air.

It is to be expressly understood that various sizes of sleeping bags of the present invention may be provided, and in particular lengths of the front panel 6 and back panel may be selected, to allow the sleeping bags to accommodate young children at various stages of development from about six months of age to about five years of age. By way of non limiting example, in the embodiments illustrated in the figures, each of the front and back panels is about 32” long and thus generally accommodates children of up to about 38” inches in length or height, i.e. a child up to about two years of age. In some embodiments, however, the length of the panels may be increased, such as, by way of non-limiting example, up to at least about 50” to accommodate wearers up to five years of age in the same manner. It is to be further understood that where the length of the front panel 6 and back panel are varied or modified, related dimensions and sizes may also be varied or modified to provide similar function in the resized sleeping bag; by way of non-limiting example, when the length of the panels is about 32”, a total length of the zipper 7 may be about 18”, whereas when the length of the panels is about 50”, a total length of the zipper 7 may be about 30”.

Sleeping bags of the present invention not only advantageously provide improved insulation and improved safety to young children, e.g. infants and toddlers, using the sleeping bag, but also advantageously have a smaller weight and/or volume, allowing the sleeping bags to be more easily carried by the young child or by the young child’s parent or caretaker. By way of non-limiting example, embodiments of the sleeping bag adapted for use by infants and toddlers, e.g. having a total length of about 32 inches and/or accommodating a child of up to about 38 inches in length or height, may have a weight of no more than about one pound and a collapsed volume of no more than about 1 liter, and even more preferably may have a weight of no more than about nine ounces and a collapsed volume of no more than about 750 milliliters.

Sleeping bags of the present invention are generally effective to insulate and maintain a body temperature of the wearer in ambient temperatures at least as low as about 40 °F/4 °C, preferably in ambient temperatures at least as low as about 20 °F/-7 °C, and in some embodiments in ambient temperatures at least as low as about 0 °F/-18 °C. It is to be expressly understood that those of ordinary skill in the art may, based on this disclosure, select materials and constructions of the sleeping bag to provide a desired range of ambient temperatures at which the sleeping bag is effective to insulate the wearer, which may in embodiments be higher or lower than those of the particular embodiments disclosed herein; such modifications and variations are within the scope of the present invention.

Sleeping bags of the present invention may further comprise various additional and/or optional features previously known and described in the art. By way of first non limiting example, at least one of the front panel 6 and the back panel, or a portion of at least one of the front panel 6 and the back panel, may comprise a semi-rigid material that allows the sleeping bag to maintain a desired shape when in use and/or when not in use, e.g. a lower portion of at least one panel may include a semi-rigid material to provide a footbox. By way of second non-limiting example, the back panel may include a sleeve configured to receive and hold a sleeping pad, e.g. to provide further separation between the wearer and the ground and/or to reduce compression of the insulation/fill material of the back panel.

The invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein. It is apparent to those skilled in the art, however, that many changes, variations, modifications, other uses, and applications of the invention are possible, and also changes, variations, modifications, other uses, and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention, which is limited only by the claims which follow.

The foregoing discussion of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. The foregoing is not intended to limit the invention to the form or forms disclosed herein. In the foregoing Detailed Description of the Invention, for example, various features of the invention are grouped together in one or more embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. The features of the embodiments of the invention may be combined in alternate embodiments other than those discussed above. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into this Detailed Description of the Invention, with each claim standing on its own as a separate preferred embodiment of the invention.

Moreover, though the description of the invention has included description of one or more embodiments and certain variations and modifications, other variations, combinations, and modifications are within the scope of the invention, e.g. as may be within the skill and knowledge of those in the art, after understanding the present disclosure. It is intended to obtain rights which include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted, including alternate, interchangeable, and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges, or steps to those claimed, whether or not such alternate, interchangeable, and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges, or steps are disclosed herein, and without intending to publicly dedicate any patentable subject matter.