Multi-climate sleeping bag

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional sleeping bags are limited in their ability to provide comfort and safety across a wide range of temperatures and environmental conditions, requiring users to select different bags for specific conditions rather than offering adaptable insulation.

Innovation Solution

A multi-climate sleeping bag design featuring detachable top panels with zipper-type fastener mechanisms, allowing users to configure the sleeping compartment for various climate zones, including a first climate zone rated at 1.6°C (35°F) and above, a second at -6.6°C (20°F) and above, and a third at -15°C (5°F) and above, using EN standard testing, with insulating materials like water-fowl down between shells.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a sleeping bag is designed for a specific temperature rating, then it provides optimal comfort and safety for that condition, but it cannot adapt to other temperature conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomfort and safety in specific temperatureVSAvoidadaptability to various temperatures
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The sleeping bag is divided into modular components including a base sleeping bag and detachable climate panels. Each panel can be independently attached or removed based on temperature requirements, allowing the sleeping bag to adapt to different climate conditions while maintaining optimal performance for each specific temperature range

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If multiple sleeping bags are provided for different climate conditions, then each bag provides optimal performance for its specific condition, but the user must carry and manage multiple bags

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptimal performance for specific conditionVSAvoidnumber of sleeping bags to manage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple climate-specific panels are merged into a single base sleeping bag system. The panels can be attached in different combinations to create sleeping bags with different temperature ratings, effectively combining the functionality of multiple separate sleeping bags into one unified system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If detachable panels are added to create multi-climate functionality, then adaptability to various temperatures is improved, but the device complexity and number of components increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature range adaptabilityVSAvoidnumber of detachable components
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The detachable climate panels are designed with universal attachment mechanisms that can be configured in multiple ways. The same panels can be used in different combinations to create different temperature ratings, making each component serve multiple functions and reducing the total number of unique parts needed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables users to adjust the sleeping bag's temperature rating selectively, providing comfort and safety across diverse conditions without the need for multiple sleeping bags, enhancing versatility and adaptability.

Implementation Method 1

The sleeping bag may include insulation. Very lightweight, compressible insulation materials, such as water fowl down, are extremely desirable since they are able to provide sufficient insulation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal Insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentEP3544471B1Multi-climate sleeping bag
Publication Date: 2022.06.15 NORTH FACE APPAREL CORP
  • EP3544471B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3544471B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP3544471B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Multi-climate sleeping bags and methods of making the same are described. One sleeping bag may comprise a bottom panel (102) comprising a head end (106) and a foot end (104), wherein the bottom panel is formed from an inner shell, an outer shell, and an insulating material disposed between the inner shell and the outer shell, a first top panel comprising an inner shell (120b), an outer shell (120a), and an insulating material disposed between the inner shell and the outer shell, a first fastening mechanism (128) configured to detachably couple an edge of the first top panel to an edge of the bottom panel, a second top panel (220) comprising an inner shell (220b), an outer shell (220a), and an insulating material disposed between the inner shell and the outer shell, and a second fastening mechanism (228) configured to detachably couple an edge of the second top panel to the edge of the bottom panel.