Sleeping bag

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a zipperless sleeping bag having a catenary opening for providing a user ingress to and egress from the sleeping bag and/or an integral comforter.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sleeping bag comprising:
 an elongate shell defining an inner volume sized and shaped to receive a user therein, the shell having a head portion, a foot portion, a middle portion extending longitudinally between the head and foot portions, an overlying portion adapted to overlie the user during use, and an underlying portion adapted to underlie the user during use; and   a hood being located in the head portion of the shell, the hood including a catenary opening such that the overlying portion of the shell adjacent the opening is spaced from the underlying portion of the shell when the sleeping bag is laid out for use.   
     
     
         2 . The sleeping bag as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the opening in the hood is one of oval, ovate, elliptical or circular. 
     
     
         3 . The sleeping bag as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the shell is free from zippers, the opening in the hood providing a user ingress to and egress from the inner volume of the shell. 
     
     
         4 . The sleeping bag as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the shell further comprises a head end panel, a foot end panel, and a pair of spaced side panels extending longitudinally between the head end panel and the foot end panel. 
     
     
         5 . The sleeping bag as set forth in  claim 4  wherein the opening in the head portion of the shell is spaced from each of the side panels and the head end panel. 
     
     
         6 . A sleeping bag comprising:
 an elongate shell defining an inner volume sized and shaped to receive a user therein, the shell having an overlying portion adapted to overlie the user during use, an underlying portion adapted to underlie the user during use; and   an opening disposed on the overlying portion of the shell, the opening being configured to provide a user ingress to and egress from the inner volume of the sleeping bag, the opening having a width less than a width of the shell.   
     
     
         7 . A sleeping bag as set forth in  claim 6  wherein the opening is a rounded opening. 
     
     
         8 . The sleeping bag as set forth in  claim 7  wherein the opening is one of oval, ovate, elliptical or circular. 
     
     
         9 . The sleeping bag as set forth in  claim 6  wherein the shell further comprises a head end panel, a foot end panel, and a pair of spaced side panels extending longitudinally between the head end panel and the foot end panel, the opening being spaced from the foot end panel and each of the side panels. 
     
     
         10 . The sleeping bag as set forth in  claim 9  wherein the opening is spaced from about 7 inches to about 12 inches from each of the side panels. 
     
     
         11 . The sleeping bag as set forth in  claim 9  wherein the opening is spaced from the head end panel. 
     
     
         12 . The sleeping bag as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the opening is spaced from about 4 inches to about 13 inches from the head end panel. 
     
     
         13 . A sleeping bag comprising:
 an elongate shell defining an inner volume sized and shaped to receive a user therein, the shell having an overlying portion adapted to overlie the user during use, an underlying portion adapted to underlie the user during use, and an opening disposed on the overlying portion of the shell; and   a comforter attached to the overlying portion of the shell for selectively closing the opening.   
     
     
         14 . The sleeping bag as set forth in  claim 13  wherein the comforter has a width greater than a width of the shell. 
     
     
         15 . The sleeping bag as set forth in  claim 13  wherein the comforter is made from the same material as the shell. 
     
     
         16 . The sleeping bag as set forth in  claim 13  wherein the comforter is permanently attached to the shell. 
     
     
         17 . The sleeping bag as set forth in  claim 13  wherein the comforter is removably attached to the shell. 
     
     
         18 . The sleeping bag as set forth in  claim 13  wherein the comforter has a length less than a length of the shell. 
     
     
         19 . The sleeping bag as set forth in  claim 13  wherein the comforter is selectively moveable from an interior position wherein the comforter is disposed in the inner volume of the shell and an exterior position wherein the comforter is at least partly disposed outside the inner volume of the shell and overlies at least part of the middle portion of the shell. 
     
     
         20 . The sleeping bag as set forth in  claim 19  wherein the comforter is generally face-to-face with the outer layer of the overlying portion of the shell in the exterior position. 
     
     
         21 . The sleeping bag as set forth in  claim 20  wherein the comforter has a length approximately one-half the length of the shell. 
     
     
         22 . A comforter for use with a sleeping bag, the comforter including a pair of longitudinally extending pockets. 
     
     
         23 . The comforter set forth in  claim 22  wherein the pockets are sized and shaped for receiving the arms and hands of a user. 
     
     
         24 . The comforter set forth in  claim 22  in combination with a sleeping bag, the comforter being attached to the sleeping bag.