Sleeping Bag for Infants and Children

Abstract

A new or improved ventilation system for an infant sleeping bag that overcomes the problem of inadequate ventilation while wholly containing the legs within the sleeping bag and reducing the risk of providing pressure points. The invention also provides a new or alternative sleeping bag for infants and young children with an improved air ventilation system, a new or alternative sleep garment for infants and children, and a new or improved ventilation system for sleeping bags generally.

1 . A ventilation system for a sleeping bag comprising:
 (a) a first vent;   (b) a second vent;   said first and second vents being positioned in opposing portions of fabric, the opposing portions of fabric defining an interior for accommodating a person.   
     
     
         2 . The ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein each of said first and second vents comprises an air-permeable panel secured to said opposing portions of fabric such that the air-permeable panel secures said opposing portions of fabric together at each vent. 
     
     
         3 . The ventilation system of  claim 2  wherein said air-permeable panel includes a panel of an air-permeable material. 
     
     
         4 . The ventilation system of  claim 3  wherein the air-permeable material is from any one of the following groups:
 (a) a mesh fabric; 
 (b) an open-weave fabric; 
 (c) a sheer fabric; 
 (d) criss-cross laces of any material. 
 
     
     
         5 . The ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein said opposing portions of fabric are is one or more of the following:
 (a) an outer layer of fabric   (b) an inner lining.   
     
     
         6 . The ventilation system of  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the first vent is positioned in a front portion of the sleeping bag, the front portion intended to be positioned against a person's front and front of the legs; 
 (b) the second vent is positioned in a back portion of a sleeping bag, the back portion intended to be positioned against a person's back and back of the legs, 
 wherein each said first and second vents is positioned in a central part of said front or back portions, the central part being any part of the front or back portions other than an edge. 
 
     
     
         7 . The ventilation system of  claim 6  wherein said vents positioned in a central part of said front or back portions, respectively, are further positioned in one or more of the following ways:
 (a) a first vent is positioned on an upper portion of said sleeping bag, said upper portion being the portion of the sleeping bag for accommodating a person's body, and
 a second vent is positioned in a lowermost portion of the sleeping bag, the lowermost portion being the portion of the sleeping bag for accommodating a person's lower legs; 
 
 (b) a first vent is positioned on one side of the sleeping bag and a second vent is positioned on an opposing side of the sleeping bag. 
 
     
     
         8 . The ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein each said vent is an opening of a shape and dimension capable of allowing air to enter or escape said interior. 
     
     
         9 . The ventilation system of  claim 8  wherein said opening comprises one of the following:
 (a) a slit of any shape; 
 (b) a hole of any shape. 
 
     
     
         10 . The ventilation system of  claim 9 , wherein said slit runs in one or more of the following directions in said central part of a front or back portion:
 (a) horizontally;   (b) vertically;   (c) diagonally;   (d) spirally.   
     
     
         11 . The ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said vents is from one of the following groups:
 (a) an elongate-shaped vent positioned diagonally across a front or back portion;   (b) an L-shaped vent positioned down and across a front or back portion.   
     
     
         12 . The ventilation system of  claim 11  wherein said elongate-shaped vent is of sufficient length to extend a significant proportion of a person's torso accommodated in said interior. 
     
     
         13 . The ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein each said first and second vents is moveable between an open state and a closed state. 
     
     
         14 . The ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein each said vent is moveable to a closed state through a vent closing means. 
     
     
         15 . The ventilation system of  claim 14  wherein the vent closing means is one or more of the following:
 (a) a zip; 
 (b) corresponding sections of hook and loop fastener; 
 (c) one or more press studs; 
 (d) one or more buttons; 
 (e) a number of corresponding hooks and eyes; 
 (f) a flap of fabric. 
 
     
     
         16 . The ventilation system of  claim 15  wherein the zip is a concealed zip. 
     
     
         17 . The ventilation system of  claim 14  wherein the vent closing means is a flap of fabric and the flap is openable by lifting said flap away from said vent, and wherein securing said flap in a lifted position using fastening means maintains said vent in an open state. 
     
     
         18 . A sleeping bag comprising:
 (a) opposed front and back portions, the front and back portions defining an interior for accommodating a person; and   (b) a ventilation system comprising at least one vent.   
     
     
         19 . A sleeping bag comprising:
 (a) an outer shell;   (b) a ventilation system according to any one of  claim 1  to  claim 17 .   
     
     
         20 . The sleeping bag of  claim 18 , wherein the sleeping bag further includes a shortening means to restrict access to a lowermost portion of the sleeping bag, the lowermost portion being the portion of the sleeping bag for accommodating a person's lower legs. 
     
     
         21 . The sleeping bag of  claim 20  wherein the shortening means comprises fastening means positioned on the sleeping bag so that the end of the sleeping bag can be folded up and secured in a folded state. 
     
     
         22 . The sleeping bag of  claim 18 , wherein said sleeping bag further includes corresponding slots on said front and back portions to allow passage of a child restraint belt through the sleeping bag. 
     
     
         23 . The sleeping bag of  claim 18 , wherein said sleeping bag further includes one or more sleeves. 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . (canceled)