US3675256A

US3675256A - Suspendible sleeping cocoon

Info

Publication number: US3675256A
Application number: US41915A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert A Tallarico; Don L Goff
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-06-01
Filing date: 1970-06-01
Publication date: 1972-07-11
Anticipated expiration: 1989-07-11

Abstract

A combination sleeping bag and hammock has the body portion of the hammock encompassed by the sleeping bag with suspension lines attached to and projecting from the ends of the body portion for the suspended support thereof. A rectangular-type sleeping bag has the body portion of the hammock generally conforming in shape to the inner bottom section of the bag and is secured thereto and a mummy-type sleeping bag has a generally pod-shaped body portion attached at each end to a suspension line within the bag with the attached lines extending through opposite ends of the bag.

Description

United States Patent Tallarico et a1.

[54] SUSPENDIBLE SLEEPING COCOON [72] Inventors: Robert A. Tollarico, 948 East 115th Place, Denver, Colo.; Don L. Golf, 616 South Sheild Street, Fort Collins, Colo. 80233 [22] Filed: June 1,1970

[21] App1.No.: 41,915

[52] U5. CL ..5/120 [51] Int. Cl.

[58] FieldoISearch ..SI120,|21,343, 124, 122

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,071,764 9/1913 Lowrimore ..5/122 2,321,966 6/1943 Andersson ..5/l22 2.971.205 2/1961 Shultz ..5/343 51 July 11, 1972 1,204,416 11/1916 Doser ..5/120 1,401,846 12/1921 Wiles ..5/121 Primary xaminer-Bobby R. Gay Assistant Examiner-Garry Moore Attorney-Reilly and Lewis ABSTRACT A combination sleeping bag and hammock has'the body portion of the hammock encompassed by the sleeping bag with suspension lines attached to and projecting from the ends of the body portion for the suspended support thereof. A rectangular-rype sleeping bag has the body portion of the hammock generally conforming in shape to the inner bottom section of the bag and is secured thereto and a mummy-type sleeping bag has a generally pod-shaped body portion attached at each end to a suspension line within the bag with the attached lines extending through opposite ends of the bag.

lflclalmllbrawingflgures PATENTEDJUL 11 1:12 3. 675 2 5s sum 1 or 2 ggx.

INVENTORS ROBERT A. TALLARICO DON GOFF BY I ATTORNEYS P'A'TEN'T'EDJUL 1 1 m2 3, 575,255

sum 2 or 2 INVENTORS ROBERT ATALLARICO DON GOFF SUSPENDIBLE SLEEPING COCOON This invention relates to camping type sleeping equipment and more particularly to novel suspendible sleeping cocoons which are particularly suitable for outdoor camping and the like.

Sleeping bags are the most common type of portable bed presently in use for camping and the like. The usual practice with a sleeping bag is to place the bag on an air mattress on the round. In many situations it is not as desirable or as comfortable to sleep in this manner on the ground such as during the winter when there is snow on the ground. Further, for some applications such as back packing the additional weight and space taken up by an air mattress is prohibitive.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a simple, durable and lightweight portable sleeping device which is suspendible from spaced points of support such as between trees, upright posts or the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved sleeping cocoon which facilitates the suspension of conventional insulated sleeping bags from spaced points of support during occupancy while utilizing the insulation properties of the bag most efficiently.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a suspendible sleeping cocoon which is particularly lightweight and especially suitable for back packing and is principally characterized by having an insulated sleeping bag encompassing the body portion of the hammock on which the occupant rests in a suspended condition.

In accordance with the present invention, a sleeping bag and hammock are brought together with the body portion of the hammock forming an interlining for the sleeping bag so that the occupant rests directly on this body portion and the bag fully encompasses the occupant without compressing the insulation in the bag for a maximum insulation effect. A rectangular-type sleeping bag has the body portion of the hammock sewn to the bottom section of the bag or made an integral part of the bag with suspension lines being attached at spaced intervals to the ends of the body portion. In a mummytype sleeping bag the body portion is of a generally pod-like shape and has at least one suspension line secured to each end which in turn extends through openings in opposite ends of the bag without necessarily requiring a direct attachment of the body portion to the sleeping bag.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the present invention will become more apparent as the following description proceeds taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. l is a perspective view of one form of sleeping cocoon shown suspended from spaced points of sport with a portion of the top section of the bag folded open;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the sleeping cocoon shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the sleeping cocoon of FIG. I with the top section of the bag spread open to a flat condition in the same plane as the bottom section;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the sleeping cocoon shown in FIG. 1-,

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along lines 5-5 of the cocoon of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along lines 6-6 of the cocoon shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along lines 7-'! of FIG. 2 with the upper and lower sections of the bag spread as if the cocoon were being occupied;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another form of sleeping cocoon shown suspended from spaced points of support;

FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of the hammock portion of the cocoon of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the sleeping cocoon of FIG. 8 with portions of the bag broken away to show the interior parts;

FIG. II is a side fragmentary elevation view of the sleeping cocoon of FIG. 8 with end portions of the side of the bag broken away to show interior parts; and

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken across the sleeping cocoon shown in FIG. 8.

the end portion of Referring now to the drawings, the cocoon shown in FIGS. 1-7 broadly stated comprises an insulated sleeping bag 8 and a hammock 9 shown in FIG. 1 as being suspended from spaced upright supports 1 and 12. The sleeping bag 8 shown generally rectangular shaped bag having similar rectangular upper and

lower sections

13 and 14 being foldable or hinged along one side 15 and provided with a zipper-type fastener 16 along the bottom 17 and the other side 18. This leaves an access opening 19 at the top for admitting an occupant into the bag. Upon releasing the zipper 16 the upper section I3 will then fold open to the same plane as the lower section or in a flat condition as shown in FIG. 3. The sleeping bag 8 may be of a conventional construction and as shown is composed of spaced inner and

outer layers

21 and 22 of a fabric material such as Dacron or nylon which is stuffed with a suitable filler or insulation material 23 such as Dacron, down, feathers and the like.

The hammock 9 comprises an occupant supporting body portion 26 which made of one or more layers or a sheet material. This material is a strong and durable material and may be nylon, cotton, or the like. A plurality of bottom suspension lines 27 are suitably attached at spaced intervals along the foot end of the body portion 26 and converge at the other ends to a common support point at 28 which may be described as a ring or the like. A spreader member 3! in the form of a circular rod is disposed across and preferably sewn into the head end or top of the body portion to maintain this end in a generally flat condition during suspension. A plurality of top suspension lines 33 attach or are tied at one end at spaced intervals to the rod 31 and are arranged in two groups 330 and 33b and each group converges to common support points defined by

rings

34 and 35 for tying at the ends of the suspension lines to the support post.

In the cocoon construction shown in FIGS. 1-7, the main body portion 26 is secured to or lines the inner or top surface of lower section 14 of the bag to in effect form an interlining in the bag on which the occupant rests, and the ends of the body portion project slightly beyond both the ends of the bag 8. The body portion of the hammock is preferably secured to the bag by stitching. This stitching may be arranged in a variety of patterns and as shown may be at spaced intervals across the top and bottom ends of the bag and along both sides as represented at 36. In this way the occupant is supported directly on the hammock and the insulation in the lower section 14 is not compressed during occupancy as it would be if the bag were disposed between the hammock and the occupant and accordingly this has been found to provide a better insulation effect for retaining body heat within the bag. While a separate layer of material is sewn to the bag to form the body portion to adapt existing sleeping bags, it is understood that the body portion may be an integral part of the bag serving as inner layer 21 or interlining for the lower section of the bag with the suspension lines directly attached to the ends thereof.

Referring now to the sleeping cocoon shown in FIGS. 8-12, this form broadly stated comprises a mummy-type insulated sleeping bag 38 and a generally pod-shaped hammock 39 shown in FIG. 8 as being suspended between

upright supports

41 and 42. The mummy-type sleeping bag 38 is more of a generally tubular shape with a length of zipper 43 along the upper section of the bag adjacent the forward end to permit access of the occupant thereinto. The bag is composed of inner and

outer cover layers

44 and 45 of a thin durable material such as nylon fabric material with a filler 46 between the layers forming the insulation for the bag being of a material such as Dacron, down or feathers. Stitching 47 is provided at spaced intervals laterally of the bag. The forward end portion 48 of the bag is enlarged and is in the nature of a hood with a head opening 50' and the bag tapers slightly inwardly toward the foot end and terminates in a somewhat upturned foot end portion 49.

The hammock 39 comprises a main body portion 50 which may be made from a rectangular shaped piece of sheet material folded in the middle along its length to provide

opposed side sections

51 and 52 and define a top opening 53. The ends of the material are merged or bunched together and an upper line 54 is tied to the head end 55 of the body portion and a foot line 56 ties to the foot end 57 of the body portion. Suitable stiffeners may be folded into the bunched ends to give more body at the point here the line ties. In this way, the upper edges of the side sections 5! and 52 are supported in a spaced arrangement and when suspended are close together to form a narrow top opening. The occupant will then merely spread or separate the side sections to enlarge the top opening and climb thereinto. The sleeping bag is provided with a grommet 61 along the bottom at the head end and a grommet 62 along the bottom at the foot end to form reinforced holes in the bag. The grommets are readily installed by punching holes in the required places in the ends of conventional mummy-type sleeping bags. The suspension cords or

ropes

54 and 56 extend through

grommets

61 and 62, respectively, to attach to the exterior supports. The ropes or lines tying to the bunched ends of the hammock body portion in this way make it a generally teardrop shape as viewed from the top, it being wider at the intermediate portion and tapering or narrowing toward each end, as best shown in FIG. 10. The body portion of the hammock is therefore supported wholly within the sleeping bag but does not require it to be sewn into the sleeping bag. How ever, the hammock is maintained in position therein by the ropes extending through the ends of the bag. A further feature of this form of cocoon is that the hammock portion may be readily inserted into and removed from the bag for back packing, cleaning and the like. One material for the bag which has been found satisfactory for the body portion 50 is a lightweight nylon.

Although the present invention has been described with a certain degree of particularlity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example and that changes in details of structure may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. A suspendible sleeping cocoon comprising a mummytype insulated sleeping bag including spaced inner and outer layers and a loosely packed insulation material in the space between said layers, said bag having an access opening for admitting an occupant into the bag and including releasable fastening means bordering said access opening to enlarge the access opening into the bag and a hammock encompassed by the bag including pod-shaped occupant supporting body portion made of a generally rectangular shaped sheet of fabric material folded in the middle along its length and at least one suspension line secured to each end of the body portion, one suspension line extending through an opening at the head end and the other line extending through an opening at the foot end of the bag whereby the bag and hammock may be suspended between a pair of spaced points of support.

2. A suspendible sleeping cocoon as set forth in claim I wherein said body portion is in the form of a piece of nylon material;

3. A suspendible sleeping cocoon comprising a generally rectangular-shaped insulated sleeping bag including spaced inner and outer layers and having a loosely packed insulation material in the space between said layers, said bag having an access opening for admitting an occupant into the bag and including releasable fastening means to enlarge the access opening into the bag, and a hammock encompassed by the bag including an occupant supporting body portion of a piece of material interlining an inner lower side of the inner layer of the bag and being secured thereto and suspension line means attached to each end of the body portion and projecting beyond the ends hereof whereby the bag and hammock may be suspended between a pair of spaced points of support.

4. A suspendible sleeping cocoon as set forth in claim 3 wherein said material is bunched together at the ends, said suspension lines being secured to the bunched ends to form the pod-shaped support body having an access opening along the to S. R suspendible sleeping cocoon as set forth in claim 3 wherein said suspension line means includes at least one line at each end extending through an opening at opposite ends of the bag.

6. A suspendible sleeping cocoon as set forth in claim 5 including grommet members in said openings in the ends of the bag to reinforce said openings.

7. A suspendible sleeping cocoon as set forth in claim 3 wherein the end portions of the occupant support portion project beyond the ends of the sleeping bag.

8. A suspendible sleeping cocoon as set forth in claim 7 wherein said hammock has a laterally extending rigid rod secured across the upper end of said body portion.

9. A suspendible sleeping cocoon comprising a generally rectangular-shaped insulated sleeping bag including spaced inner and outer layers and having a loosely packed insulating material in the space between said layers, said bag having an access opening for admitting an occupant into the bag and including releasable fastening means along the bottom and one side of the bag, and a hammock encompassed by the bag including an occupant supporting body portion of a piece of material interlining an inner lower side of the inner layer of the bag and being secured thereto and suspension line means attached to the ends of said body portion and projecting beyond the ends thereof whereby the bag and hammock may be suspended between a pair of spaced points of support.

10. A suspendible sleeping cocoon as set forth in claim 14 wherein said body portion is stitched to the bag.

a a s s e PO-W5O UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent 3,675,256 Dated 4 October 1972 lnventoz-( Robert A. Tallarico d on Goff It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 9, "round" should read --ground-.

Column 1, line 49, "sport" should read -support--.

Column 2, line 18, after "which" insert -is-;

after "layers", delete "or" and insert ---of-.

Column 3, line 5, "here"should read --where-.

Column 4, line 49, "claim 14" should read ---claim 3--.

Signed and sealed this 22nd day of May 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.PLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attestlng Officer Commissioner of Patents

Claims

1. A suspendible sleeping cocoon comprising a mummy-type insulated sleeping bag including spaced inner and outer layers and a loosely packed insulation material in the space between said layers, said bag having an access opening for admitting an occupant into the bag and including releasable fastening means bordering said access opening to enlarge the access opening into the bag and a hamMock encompassed by the bag including pod-shaped occupant supporting body portion made of a generally rectangular shaped sheet of fabric material folded in the middle along its length and at least one suspension line secured to each end of the body portion, one suspension line extending through an opening at the head end and the other line extending through an opening at the foot end of the bag whereby the bag and hammock may be suspended between a pair of spaced points of support.

2. A suspendible sleeping cocoon as set forth in claim 1 wherein said body portion is in the form of a piece of nylon material.

4. A suspendible sleeping cocoon as set forth in claim 3 wherein said material is bunched together at the ends, said suspension lines being secured to the bunched ends to form the pod-shaped support body having an access opening along the top.

5. A suspendible sleeping cocoon as set forth in claim 3 wherein said suspension line means includes at least one line at each end extending through an opening at opposite ends of the bag.