Variable insulation system for outdoor equipment

Abstract

A variable insulation system for an article of outdoor equipment that allows a user to adjust the amount of insulation within the article of outdoor equipment. The article of outdoor equipment may include at least one resealable channel that is configured to receive one or more insulation pouches. The insulation pouches may include first and second attachment members for connecting the insulation pouches before they are inserted into the resealable channels. A user may add insulation pouches to or remove insulation pouches from the resealable channels depending on the user's insulation needs.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of outdoor equipment comprising:
 an interior layer;   an exterior layer;   a plurality of resealable channels disposed between the interior layer and the exterior layer; and   a plurality of insulation pouches;   wherein each of the resealable channels is configured to receive one or more of the plurality of insulation pouches.   
     
     
         2 . The article of outdoor equipment of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of resealable channels is configured to receive a plurality of insulation pouches. 
     
     
         3 . The article of outdoor equipment of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of insulation pouches are releasably connected to one another. 
     
     
         4 . The article of outdoor equipment of  claim 3 , wherein each insulation pouch includes a first connection area and a second connection area, the first connection area and the second connection area are each configured to releasably connect the plurality of insulation pouches to one another. 
     
     
         5 . The article of outdoor equipment of  claim 4 , wherein the first connection area includes a first attachment member and the second connection area includes a second attachment member. 
     
     
         6 . The article of outdoor equipment of  claim 5 , wherein the first connection area includes a connector flap, and the first attachment member is disposed on the connector flap. 
     
     
         7 . The article of outdoor equipment of  claim 5 , wherein the first attachment member is selected from the group consisting of: a button, a button hole, a zipper, a hook, a loop, a male snap fastener, and a female snap fastener. 
     
     
         8 . The article of outdoor equipment of  claim 5 , wherein the second attachment member is selected from the group consisting of: a button, a button hole, a zipper, a hook, a loop, a male snap fastener, and a female snap fastener. 
     
     
         9 . The article of outdoor equipment of  claim 1 , wherein the article of outdoor equipment is selected from the group consisting of: a sleeping bag, a tent, a coat, a jacket, a liner, a hat, a boot, a glove, a pair of pants, a vest, a sleeping pad, a comforter, and a blanket. 
     
     
         10 . The article of outdoor equipment of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of resealable channels comprise:
 a resealable end, a closed end, and an interior volume located between the resealable end and the closed end, the interior volume configured to receive at least one of the plurality of insulation pouches.   
     
     
         11 . The article of outdoor equipment of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of resealable channels extend from a first end of the article of outdoor equipment to a second end of the article of outdoor equipment. 
     
     
         12 . The article of outdoor equipment of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of insulation pouches are configured to be connected vertically and horizontally to form a variety of different shapes. 
     
     
         13 . The article of outdoor equipment of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of insulation pouches each have a height, a width, and a length and the plurality of resealable channels each have a height, a width, and a length; and wherein the width of the each insulation pouch is approximately equal to the width of at least one of the resealable channels. 
     
     
         14 . The article of outdoor equipment of  claim 13 , wherein the height of the each insulation pouch is approximately equal to the height of at least one of the resealable channels. 
     
     
         15 . The article of outdoor equipment of  claim 13 , wherein the length of at least one of the resealable channel is a multiple of the length of each insulation pouch; and wherein the multiple is greater than or equal to 1. 
     
     
         16 . The article of outdoor equipment of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one intermediate layer located between the interior layer and the exterior layer. 
     
     
         17 . The article of outdoor equipment of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of resealable channels are located between the intermediate layer and the exterior layer. 
     
     
         18 . The article of outdoor equipment of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of resealable channels are located between the intermediate layer and the interior layer. 
     
     
         19 . A coat comprising:
 an interior layer;   an exterior layer;   a plurality of resealable channels disposed between the interior layer and the exterior layer;   wherein the plurality of resealable channels are disposed in a body of the coat and one or more sleeves of the coat; and   wherein the plurality of resealable channels are configured to receive at least one insulation pouch.   
     
     
         20 . A sleeping bag comprising:
 an interior layer;   an exterior layer;   a first set of resealable channels disposed along the top of the sleeping bag between the interior layer and the exterior layer, each resealable channel in the first set of resealable channels comprising a closed end and a resealable end;   a second set of resealable channels disposed along the bottom of the sleeping bag between the interior layer and the exterior layer, each resealable channel in the second set of resealable channels comprising a closed end and a resealable end;   wherein the closed ends of the first set of resealable channels abut the closed ends of the second set of resealable channels; and   wherein each resealable channel is configured to receive at least one insulation pouch.