Sleeping bag with integrated inflatable ground mat
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sleeping bags with separate air mattresses often fail to provide adequate thermal retention and comfort due to large air pockets that allow convective currents, leading to heat loss and instability on uneven ground, while also being bulky and difficult to pack.
Innovation Solution
A sleeping bag with an integrated inflatable ground mat featuring segmented baffles and insulation, allowing for variable heat transfer characteristics and compact storage, which prevents heat loss and provides stability on uneven surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If large air pockets are used in the air mattress, then the mattress can be made lightweight and provide good support, but convective currents form and heat is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The air mattress is divided into multiple small air pockets or cells rather than using a single large air pocket. This segmentation prevents convective currents from forming while maintaining the lightweight and supportive properties of the air mattress structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The air mattress incorporates a porous or cellular structure that allows air to be distributed in small pockets throughout the material. This porous configuration eliminates the conditions necessary for convection while preserving the mat's weight and support characteristics.
2Ease of operation
If a separate air mattress is used with a sleeping bag, then comfort and support are improved, but the sleeping bag slides off the mattress
Solution Approach 1:
The sleeping bag and air mattress are merged into a single integrated unit with interlocking features. The sleeping bag includes attachment mechanisms such as straps, loops, or integrated borders that secure it to the air mattress, preventing sliding while maintaining comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary attachment system is introduced between the sleeping bag and air mattress. This may include elastic straps, Velcro fasteners, or integrated bonding elements that create a reliable connection while allowing for comfort and movement.
3Temperature
If an integrated air mattress is incorporated into the sleeping bag, then thermal retention and stability are improved, but the device becomes bulkier and harder to pack
Solution Approach 1:
The air mattress is designed to nest within the sleeping bag structure when deflated or in a compact state. The integrated design allows the mattress to be stored inside the sleeping bag's interior or compressed into a compact form that fits within the overall package, reducing packed volume while maintaining thermal retention when deployed.
4Loss of energy
If insulation material is added to the air mattress, then heat retention is improved, but the weight and bulk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The air mattress utilizes composite materials that combine the insulating properties of traditional insulation materials with the lightweight and supportive characteristics of air-filled structures. This may include reflective insulation layers, aerogel coatings, or hybrid materials that provide thermal retention without significant weight increase.
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
The integrated sleeping bag and ground mat combination retains heat effectively, is lightweight and compact, and prevents the user from sliding off, offering improved thermal comfort and convenience.
Implementation Method 1
the large air pockets currently used allow convective currents to form, robbing heat from the mattress. Foam, goose down, synthetic fibers, and other insulation materials are merely a means to hold small pockets of air. If an air mattress can be made with small pockets of air instead of large pockets, convective currents will not be able to form and the air mattress will retain more heat.
Implementation Method 2
Insulation is disposed in at least one of the plurality of baffles to provide improved heat transfer characteristics such as thermal resistance, etc.
Data Source
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AI summary
This disclosure relates to a sleeping bag with an integrated ground mat and a method for its manufacturing. The sleeping bag provides thermal comfort by effectively retaining heat and is lightweight, compact, and easily packed for transport or storage. The sleeping bag with integrated ground mat allows the user to bring only one item that doubles as a sleeping bag and a ground mat. Additionally, the integrated ground mat remains positioned under the user while the user is sleeping. The sleeping bag (2) comprises an inner shell (30) and an outer shell (14) and may have insulation between the inner and outer shells (30; 14). A lower portion of the sleeping bag (2) comprises the ground mat (4) comprising an inflatable member with baffles (24) forming channels (22). In at least one of the channels (22) an insulation material is disposed.