Portable sleeping systems, sleeping mats, and sleeping methods

Abstract

A sleep mat assembly for supporting bedding and a pillow from a sleep structure and facilitating transportation of the bedding and the pillow comprising a main panel and a pocket panel. The pocket panel is attached to the main panel to define a pocket chamber. The sleep mat assembly operates in a sleep mode and in a transportation mode. In the sleep mode, the sleep mat assembly is arranged substantially between the support structure and bedding and between the support structure and the pillow. In the transportation mode, the sleep mat assembly is folded up to at least partly contain the bedding and the pillow to facilitate transportation of the bedding, pillow, and sleep mat assembly.

1 . A sleep system comprising:
 a support structure;   bedding;   a pillow; and   a sleep mat assembly comprising
 a main panel, and 
 a pocket panel attached to the main panel to define a pocket chamber; wherein 
   the sleep mat assembly operates in
 a sleep mode in which the sleep mat assembly is arranged substantially between the support structure and the bedding and between the support structure and the pillow; and 
 a transportation mode in which the sleep mat assembly is folded up to at least partly contain the bedding and the pillow to facilitate transportation of the bedding, pillow, and sleep mat assembly. 
   
   
   
       2 . A sleep system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one transportation attachment system for detachably securing the sleep mat assembly in the transportation mode. 
   
   
       3 . A sleep system as recited in  claim 2 , in which the at least one transportation attachment system comprises first and second attachment portions that engage each other to detachably attach portions of a side edge of the main panel. 
   
   
       4 . A sleep system as recited in  claim 3 , in which the first and second attachment portions are straps that are tied together. 
   
   
       5 . A sleep system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one fold attachment system for detachably securing the sleep mat assembly in the transportation mode. 
   
   
       6 . A sleep system as recited in  claim 8 , in which the at least one fold attachment system comprises first and second attachment portions secured to a lower surface of the main panel. 
   
   
       7 . A sleep system as recited in  claim 9 , in which:
 the first attachment portion is formed by a hook fastener; and   the second attachment portion is formed by a loop fastener; whereby   the hook fastener is detachably attached to the loop fastener when the hook fastener comes into contact with the loop fastener.   
   
   
       8 . A sleep system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one sleep attachment system for detachably securing the sleep mat assembly to the support structure when the sleep mat assembly is in the sleep mode. 
   
   
       9 . A sleep mat assembly for supporting bedding and a pillow from a sleep structure and facilitating transportation of the bedding and the pillow comprising:
 a main panel, and   a pocket panel attached to the main panel to define a pocket chamber; wherein   the sleep mat assembly operates in
 a sleep mode in which the sleep mat assembly is arranged substantially between the support structure and bedding and the support structure and the pillow; and 
 a transportation mode in which the sleep mat assembly is folded up to at least partly contain the bedding and the  5  pillow to facilitate transportation of the bedding, pillow, and sleep mat assembly. 
   
   
   
       10 . A sleep mat assembly as recited in  claim 9 , further comprising at least one transportation attachment system for detachably securing the sleep mat assembly in the transportation mode. 
   
   
       11 . A sleep mat assembly as recited in  claim 10 , in which the at least one transportation attachment system comprises first and second attachment portions that engage each other to detachably attach portions of a side edge of the main panel. 
   
   
       12 . A sleep mat assembly as recited in  claim 11 , in which the first and second attachment portions are straps that are tied together. 
   
   
       13 . A sleep mat assembly as recited in  claim 9 , further comprising at least one fold attachment system for detachably securing the sleep mat assembly in the transportation mode. 
   
   
       14 . A sleep mat assembly as recited in  claim 9 , in which the at least one fold attachment system comprises:
 a hook fastener; and   a loop fastener; whereby   the hook fastener is detachably attached to the loop fastener when the hook fastener comes into contact with the loop fastener.   
   
   
       15 . A sleep mat assembly as recited in  claim 9 , further comprising at least one sleep attachment system for detachably securing the sleep mat assembly to the support structure when the sleep mat assembly is in the sleep mode. 
   
   
       16 . A method of supporting bedding and a pillow from a sleep structure and facilitating transportation of the bedding and the pillow comprising:
 forming a sleep mat assembly by attaching a pocket panel to a main panel to define a pocket chamber;   arranging the sleep mat assembly substantially between the support structure and bedding and between the support structure and the pillow; and   folding the sleep mat assembly such that the bedding and the pillow are at least partly contained to facilitate transportation of the bedding, pillow, and sleep mat assembly.   
   
   
       17 . A method as recited in  claim 16 , further comprising the step of detachably securing the sleep mat assembly in the transportation mode. 
   
   
       18 . A method as recited in  claim 16 , further comprising the step of detachably securing the sleep mat assembly to the support structure when the sleep mat assembly is in the sleep mode. 
   
   
       19 . A method as recited in  claim 16 , further comprising the steps of:
 defining first, second, and third fold lines relative to the main panel; and   folding the main panel at the first, second, and third fold lines to place the sleep mat assembly into the transportation mode.   
   
   
       20 . A method as recited in  claim 16 , further comprising the steps of:
 defining first, second, third, and fourth lower surface portions of a lower surface of the main panel; and   folding the main panel such that, when the sleep mat assembly is in the transportation mode   an upper surface of the main panel is substantially protected; and   the first and fourth portions of the lower surface of the main panel are exposed.