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The present invention is directed to barriers and, more particularly, to
barriers for safeguarding an area against intrusion by crawling insects
and reptiles.
Possibly the greatest detriment to sleeping outdoors is the real or
imagined fear of being beset upon in the nighttime by crawling insects
and/or reptiles. This fear, though predicated in part on the attendant
health hazard of some moment but the hazard is seldom fatal; moreover, it
is a risk either deliberately or knowledgeably undertaken. The
psychological aspect of the fear is, however, far less easily manageable
and of substantially much greater import. That is, many rational
intelligent persons simply refuse to camp and sleep outdoors because the
thought of having an insect crawl or a reptile slither upon them or even
join them in a sleeping bag is too horrible a thought to contemplate.
Consequently, many people will never experience the pleasures of
backpacking into remote areas or the pleasures of sleeping away from the
trappings of civilization.
Because it has long been recognized that the above described real and
psychological fears exist, various devices and apparatus have been
developed to sooth or alleviate these and apparatus have been developed to
sooth or alleviate these fears. The most common of such devices and
apparatus is that of a cot which provides off-ground support for an
occupant. The cot does provide some protection against intrusion of
insects and reptiles but only as against those insects and reptiles which
cannot or do not have the inclination to climb up the legs of the cot.
Therefore, a whole host of devices have been developed which, in essence,
partially or completely encapsulate an occupant within a sheath, cocoon or
enclosure. The following United States patents are representative of
various ones of such devices, U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,805,415, 1,892,378,
2,015,588, 2,301,511, 2,531,501, 2,659,905, 3,840,919 and 3,860,980. All
of these devices rely upon one main feature to inhibit unwanted intrusion:
the development of a sealed or sealable enclosure. However, unless the
enclosure is completely and well sealed, sufficient gaps will exist to
permit unwanted intrusion. Moreover, because the need for the development
of a cocoon-like enclosure, physical movement within the enclosure is
generally restricted resulting in discomfort or inconvenience to the
occupant. Where weight is an important consideration during a camping
trip, the weight of such enclosures may necessitate some real soul
searching to determine whether it should be taken along. Unfortunately,
many persons will decide that the weight penalty is too great and that the
prospect of sleeping outdoors without the security of the enclosure is too
frightening, thereby foregoing the pleasures available from such a camping
trip.
The present invention is directed to a barrier defining a perimeter about a
ground cloth. The barrier is constructed of smooth surfaced material, such
as one of the vinyl plastics, having a surface which makes it impossible
or extremely difficult for crawling insects in traverse. Moreover,
reptiles will generally not cross such a smooth surface since their scales
cannot develop sufficient purchase against the surface to propel them.
Thereby, the barrier effectively precludes unwanted intrusion of crawling
insects and slithering reptiles. To further assure non-intrusion of
reptiles, an extended smooth surfaced section of the ground cloth may
extend laterally from the barrier such that the total span from the edge
of the smooth surfaced ground cloth to the barrier is greater than that
which a reptile will span without firm engagement with its underside scale
edges. The barrier itself may be air inflatable for compact storage and
lightweight or the barrier may be of readily compressible foam-like
material to establish the shape of the barrier and yet allow compact
storage coupled with lightweight.
It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a
barrier against intrusion by crawling insects and reptiles.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a means for quelling
the psychological fears attendant sleeping on the ground.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a smooth
surfaced barrier which precludes traverse thereof by crawling insects and
reptiles.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a barrier for
avoiding the health hazards attendant crawling insects and reptiles.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a ground cloth
supported barrier for protecting the space interior the barrier from the
intrusion of insects and reptiles.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a smooth
surfaced extension lateral to a ground cloth supported barrier for
precluding traverse thereacross by reptiles.
A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a lightweight
transportable security device for soothing the psychological fears
attendant sleeping on the ground.
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to
those skilled in the art as the description thereof proceeds.
The present invention may be described with greater specificity and clarity
with reference to the following figures, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the present invention in use as a
barrier and surrounding a camper sleeping in a sleeping bag;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 2--2 as shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a top view of the present invention;
FIG. 4 illustrates a first variant of the present invention; and
FIG. 5 illustrates a second variant of the present invention.
In preparation for or when camping, many people speak of fears of
molestation by various wild animals. However, such talk is generally
without any real conviction and is generally engaged in to hide or
disguise the real fears present. These real fears are most often directed
to the fear of sharing one's sleeping bag or clothing with crawling
insects or slithering reptiles. The health hazard attendant such insects
and reptiles is, of course, always present but generally not of
substantial moment. Instead, the innate and irrational fear of being
touched by or even in proximity to seemingly horrible crawling insects and
reptiles is so strong as to sometimes place a person in a catatonic state.
The basis for both the health hazards and the innate fears can be
alleviated, if not laid to rest, by providing a barrier for insulating or
isolating the person during rest or sleep from crawling insects and
reptiles. The barrier, pictorially illustrated in FIG. 1, provides the
requisite isolation from crawling insects and reptiles.
The constructional and operational features of the barrier will be
discussed with primary reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. A ground cloth 10 is
dimensioned to support the activity to be conducted within the barrier.
Such activity is usually primarily that of supporting a single occupant
within a sleeping bag, such as sleeping bag 11. However, supplies and
equipment, such as food, tables and chairs, can be equally well protected
by the barrier. Moreover, it can be used for picnics as well as for sun
bathing purposes.
A tubular element 15 is secured to the perimeter of ground cloth 10 in such
a manner as to preclude any gaps therebetween. Tubular element 15 may be
developed as an inflatable tube closed upon itself. A valve 16 is included
for inflation and deflation of the tubular element, its location can be
suitably altered from that illustrated, if necessary. Because the
combination of tubular element 15 and ground cloth 10 serves as a catch
basin for rainwater, a cappable vent 17 is provided to effect drainage of
the water without having to lift and overturn the barrier/ground cloth
combination.
Exterior surface 18 of tubular element 15, particularly the outwardly
facing half of the surface, must be smooth surfaced in order to render it
very difficult or impossible for crawling insects to obtain sufficient
grip to crawl up the side of the tubular element. Presently, there are
commercially available vinyl plastics and similar materials which have a
sufficiently smooth surface to serve this purpose.
Generally, reptiles will not traverse over an area unless their
repetitively extending and contracting under surface scales can obtain a
grip on the underlying surface since lack of such grip renders the
reptiles essentially helpless. However, they will traverse short spans of
a length somewhat dependent upon the size of the reptile without
affirmative contact with the surface. As the exterior and top surface of
tubular element 15 is smooth surfaced, it will afford no grip for a
reptile. Accordingly, a reptile will be inclined to hesitate to traverse
the tubular element unless the remaining part of its body is solidly and
completely supported by the adjacent ground surface. Thus, tubular element
15, by itself, will serve as a barrier for most reptiles found in the
continental United States.
To further insure against intrusion by reptiles, a laterally extending
peripheral section 20 of ground cloth 10 may be incorporated. Upper
surface 21 of section 20 is smooth surfaced to a degree insufficient for a
reptile to bear against it for motive power. Accordingly, section 20 will
increase the span over which a reptile must traverse in order to breach
tubular element 15 and alight on ground cloth 10. With the increased span
created by section 20, it is extremely unlikely that any reptile will have
sufficient motivation to attempt to cross section 20 and tubular element
15. Hence, a very effective barrier against all reptiles can be
established.
To insure continuing lateral extension of section 20, grommets or apertures
22 may be disposed at the corners or along the perimeter of section 20.
Stakes, engaging the apertures directly or through tie-down lines,
maintain the section in the stretched-out configuration illustrated.
FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of a first variant 29 and
illustrating a ground cloth 30 extending up and partially over an
inflatable tubular element 31. It is to be understood that the terminal
edge 32 of overlapping segment 33 may extend about tubular element 31
further than depicted or it may terminate at a point shorter than
depicted. To insure against traverse of tubular element 31 and the
overlapping segment by insects and reptiles, the parts of these elements
located in proximity to at least the outer half of the tubular element
must be smooth surfaced.
FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of a second variant 39 wherein
ground cloth 40 extends beneath and upwardly about the outer surface of
tubular element 41. Terminating edge 42 of overlapping segment 43 may be
located at the point indicated in the figure or it may be positioned
upwardly or downwardly therefrom depending on cost and manufacturing
considerations.
Herein, tubular element 41, instead of being inflatable, is developed from
a compressible foam-like material 44. The use of such material obviates
the possibility of puncture and deflation with only a slight penalty of
weight and compactness in storage. The exterior surface of tubular element
41 and the exterior surface of overlapping segment 43 of ground cloth 40
is developed from smooth surfaced material for the reasons stated above.
While the tubular element depicted in FIG. 1 and in the variants shown in
FIGS. 4 and 5, illustrates a cylindrical element, it is to be understood
that the cross-sectional configuration may be square, rectangular of of
any other configuration provided only that it include a smooth surfaced
perimeter at a relatively steep angle to preclude traverse thereacross by
crawling insects. Additionally, the tubular element is preferably three
inches or more in height to discourage traverse thereof by reptiles and
high reaching insects.
Aside from the above discussed benefits with respect to insects and
reptiles, the present invention has a further benefit. During nighttime,
cooler and more dense air will flow across the ground and collect in low
areas. Usually, the layer of cool air is only a few inches deep,
particularly if it is flowing. The barrier surrounding the sleeping camper
serves as an effective baffle to channel the cool air away from the
encircled occupant. Thus, the occupant is protected against the cool
nighttime ground air flow.
While the principles of the invention have now been made clear in an
illustrative embodiment, there will be immediately obvious to those
skilled in the art many modifications of structure, arrangement,
proportions, elements, materials, and components, used in the practice of
the invention which are particularly adapted for specific environments and
operating requirements without departing from those principles.
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