A sack for storing a sleeping bag when the sleeping bag is not in use, and for attaching the sleeping bag to a pad, such as an air mattress, when the bag is in use. Provided herein is a combination having a sack comprising a body having a first part of a mating fastener thereon, a sleeping bag having a second part of the mating fastener thereon, the sleeping bag having a volume that fits within the sack, and a mattress having a width that fits within the sack.

The filling material includes down with synthetic fibers having particles present on the surface of the fibers. The particles are characterized by a configuration which allows attachment of the down to the fibers.

The associated method of manufacturing the filling material includes steps of obtaining a quantity of down and a quantity of synthetic fibers having particles on the surface thereof, wherein the particles allow attachment of the down to the fibers. The down and fibers are blended together to produce the filling material.

The filling material includes down with synthetic fibers having particles present on the surface of the fibers. The particles are characterized by a configuration which allows attachment of the down to the fibers.

The associated method of manufacturing the filling material includes steps of obtaining a quantity of down and a quantity of synthetic fibers having particles on the surface thereof, wherein the particles allow attachment of the down to the fibers. The down and fibers are blended together to produce the filling material.

Textile articles are readily convertible between stowed and unstowed configurations. The convertible articles include an outer cover portion and an inner textile portion. The outer cover portion forms an interior cavity having an opening therethrough, and the inner textile portion has a free end and an opposite bottom end. In the stowed configuration, the inner textile portion is stowed within the interior cavity of the outer cover portion such that the article forms a pillow, cushion, pad, or the like. In the unstowed configuration, the free end of the inner textile portion extends through the opening of the outer cover portion and the bottom end is attached to the interior cavity, such that the article forms a blanket, a quilt, a sleeping bag, a garment, or the like.

Textile articles are readily convertible between stowed and unstowed configurations. The convertible articles include an outer cover portion and an inner textile portion. The outer cover portion forms an interior cavity having an opening therethrough, and the inner textile portion has a free end and an opposite bottom end. In the stowed configuration, the inner textile portion is stowed within the interior cavity of the outer cover portion such that the article forms a pillow, cushion, pad, or the like. In the unstowed configuration, the free end of the inner textile portion extends through the opening of the outer cover portion and the bottom end is attached to the interior cavity, such that the article forms a blanket, a quilt, a sleeping bag, a garment, or the like.

A sleeping bag that provides a user a greater amount of room, on demand, within the interior of the sleeping bag by including at least one expandable panel. The expandable panel has an “open” position and a “closed” position. In the open position, the panel is expanded providing an increased girth and interior volume to the sleeping bag, compared to when the panel is closed. The expandable panel may have a reduced amount of insulation compared to the rest of the sleeping bag.

A sleeping bag that provides a user a greater amount of room, on demand, within the interior of the sleeping bag by including at least one expandable panel. The expandable panel has an “open” position and a “closed” position. In the open position, the panel is expanded providing an increased girth and interior volume to the sleeping bag, compared to when the panel is closed. The expandable panel may have a reduced amount of insulation compared to the rest of the sleeping bag.

Methods and apparatus for artificial kangaroo care supporting and promoting health needs in premature babies, babies in neonatal intensive care, and other newborn infants are disclosed. The artificial kangaroo care apparatus may imitate a pre-birth maternal environment and may include an odor-absorbent material imitating a mother's smell, a means for imitating a mother's heartbeat, a means for imitating a mother's breathing pattern, a means for imitating a mother's body temperature, or any combination thereof. The shape and structure of the artificial kangaroo care apparatus may support stand-alone use or use within an incubator or other structure. The shape and structure of the artificial kangaroo care apparatus may suggest a mattress, a mattress covering, or a pillow.

A sleeping bag with built-in cushion is comfort and convenience all-in-one; It alleviates the burden of having to carry a sleeping bag and sleeping pad separately.

Elastic thread lines can extend along borders of puckering areas of a fabric. The thread lines can include elastic thread line sections of the thread lines passing through thread line intersections and segments of the thread lines between the intersections. The elastic thread lines can bias the puckering areas in multiple different non-parallel directions toward a puckered configuration. In the puckered configuration, the puckering areas can be gathered together to pucker the fabric. The fabric can be stitched together to form a product, such as a sleeping bag sack that is stretchable in multiple orthogonal directions by stretching the thread lines. Elastic thread line sections passing through intersections can be made more secure by forming thread line section patterns that increase numbers of thread line crossings at the intersections. Densities of thread lines in different directions can be selected to produce different amounts of gathering, and for security.