Girth-adjustable sleeping bag
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sleeping bags are restrictive, uncomfortable, and fail to adapt to varying temperature conditions or user sizes, requiring multiple bags and compromising on comfort and thermal efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A girth-adjustable sleeping bag design featuring a top cover and bottom sheet with flexible lateral flaps that can be secured to a sleeping pad, allowing conversion between wrapped and expanded configurations for optimal comfort and thermal integrity across different conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a larger sleeping bag is used, then comfort and freedom of movement are improved, but thermal efficiency deteriorates due to larger interior volume requiring more body heat
Solution Approach 1:
The sleeping bag incorporates adjustable girth through detachable lateral flaps that can be configured in multiple positions, allowing the interior volume to dynamically adapt between expanded (for comfort and movement) and wrapped (for thermal efficiency) states based on user needs and environmental conditions
2Loss of energy
If a smaller sleeping bag is used, then thermal efficiency is improved, but comfort and freedom of movement deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable girth system with detachable lateral flaps enables the sleeping bag to expand to larger dimensions when comfort and movement are priorities, while maintaining the ability to contract to smaller dimensions for thermal efficiency, providing dynamic adaptation rather than a fixed compromise
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sleeping bags are acquired for different temperature conditions, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sleeping bag integrates multiple functions within a single design: it can operate in expanded configuration for warmer conditions and comfort, wrapped configuration for colder conditions and thermal efficiency, and intermediate configurations for moderate temperatures, replacing the need for multiple specialized bags
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable girth system provides continuous adaptability across a range of temperature conditions by allowing users to modify the interior volume and insulation layering, creating a versatile single-bag solution that replaces multiple fixed-configuration bags
4Loss of energy
If the sleeping bag is restrictive to maintain thermal efficiency, then energy loss is reduced, but comfort and ability to accommodate different sleeping positions deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The detachable lateral flaps allow users to dynamically adjust the girth and configuration of the sleeping bag, enabling relaxed, comfortable positions when thermal efficiency is less critical, and more restrictive wrapped configurations when thermal conservation is prioritized
Data Source
AI summary
A sleeping bag includes a top cover and bottom sheet. The bottom sheet can be secured to a sleeping pad and includes a sheet portion and lateral flaps connected to the sheet portion along opposite lateral edges of the sleeping pad when the bottom sheet is secured thereto. The top cover and lateral flaps enable attachment, detachment, and reattachment of the lateral flaps along their lateral edges to a top cover outer surface along corresponding attachment paths displaced medially from top cover lateral edges, enabling a top cover headward portion to assume wrapped and expanded configurations, and enabling conversion between those configurations. When wrapped, headward portions of the top cover outer surface, that are lateral of the attachment paths, are positioned against the sheet portion; when expanded, the lateral flaps and lateral portions of the top cover extend upward or laterally away from the sleeping pad lateral edges.