U.S. patent application number 11/221514 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-08 for multi-use blanket with attached fastening device.
Invention is credited to Amy Steinert.
Application Number | 20070050885 11/221514 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37828675 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070050885 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Steinert; Amy |
March 8, 2007 |
Multi-use blanket with attached fastening device
Abstract
Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a
blanket that can be used as a nursing shield, as well as a baby
blanket. In one embodiment of the present invention, two corners of
the blanket contain reversible corner flaps with two sides: a
covering side, and an attaching side with one or more attached
clips. In a first position, the attachment sides of the corner
flaps are exposed and the attached clips can be used to attach the
blanket to a nursing woman's clothing to hold the blanket in place
while the woman nurses a child. When the corner flaps are folded
inside out to a second position, the attached clips become
concealed between the corner flaps and the blanket. The clips are
out of view and unobtrusive, thus allowing the blanket to be used
as a baby blanket.
Inventors: |
Steinert; Amy; (Renton,
WA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Olympic Patent Works PLLC
P.O. Box 4277
Seattle
WA
98194-0277
US
|
Family ID: |
37828675 |
Appl. No.: |
11/221514 |
Filed: |
September 8, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/104 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 1/21 20180101; A41D
27/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
002/104 |
International
Class: |
A41D 1/20 20060101
A41D001/20 |
Claims
1. A blanket comprising: a reversible corner flap having a covering
side and an attaching side; and a fastening device connected to the
attaching side of the corner flap, the fastening device on an outer
surface of the blanket when the corner flap is in an exposed
position and covered when the corner flap is in a concealed
position.
2. The blanket of claim 1 wherein the fastening device is selected
from among: an alligator clip; a paper-clip-style clip; a
bobby-pin-style clip; a broach-style pin; and a magnetic
fastener.
3. The blanket of claim 1 wherein the corner flap further includes
a corner-flap fastener to maintain the corner flap in a concealed
position.
4. The blanket of claim 3 wherein the corner-flap fastener is
selected from among: a hook and loop fastener; a snap; a magnetic
fastener; a hook; string and grommets; and self-adhesive
strips.
5. The blanket of claim 1 further including one or more additional
corner flaps.
6. The blanket of claim 1 wherein one or more additional fastening
devices are connected to the corner flap.
7. A method for shielding a woman nursing a child, the method
comprising: providing a blanket with a reversible corner flap
having a covering side and an attaching side, and a fastening
device connected to the attaching side of the corner flap, the
fastening device on an outer surface of the blanket when the corner
flap is in an exposed position and covered when the corner flap is
in a concealed position; transitioning the blanket from a concealed
position to an exposed position by turning the corner flap inside
out; attaching the fastening device to the clothing of a nursing
woman; and positioning the child under the blanket.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the fastening device is one or
more of: an alligator clip; a paper-clip-style clip; a
bobby-pin-style clip; a broach-style pin; and a magnetic
fastener.
9. The method of claim 7 wherein the corner flap further includes a
corner-flap fastener to maintain the corner flap in a concealed
position.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the corner-flap fastener is one
or more of: a hook and loop fastener; a snap; a magnetic fastener;
a hook; string and grommets; and self-adhesive strips.
11. The method of claim 7 further including one or more additional
corner flaps.
12. The method of claim 7 wherein one or more additional fastening
devices are connected to the corner flap.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to blankets for use by
children, and, in particular, to a blanket that can be used as a
nursing shield.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Packing for an excursion out of the house can be an ordeal
for people with small children. Bags can easily become filled with
toys and other child-care-related items, including diapers,
sanitary wipes, clothing, powders, blankets, and pacifiers. Many
people with nursing children find it especially inconvenient to
take their children into a public setting for an extended period of
time due to the additional problems attendant with nursing their
children in public. Many mothers do not feel comfortable nursing
their children in public, and many use some sort of shielding
device, such as a nursing shield or a baby blanket, to cover their
breasts while nursing. Currently available nursing shields are
specialized items with unique shapes and intricate straps that have
little use other than as a nursing shield. Since women with
children of nursing age usually carry many child-care-related items
when they leave their houses, each additional item, such as a
nursing shield, can represent a significant additional burden.
Although baby blankets can be useful for wrapping a child for
warmth and comfort, baby blankets often are not effective nursing
shields because baby blankets lack rigidity and are difficult to
maintain in a shielding position during nursing. Baby blankets
often fall out of place during the nursing process, exposing the
nursing mother's breast. Nursing mothers have, therefore,
recognized a need for easier-to-use, more convenient nursing
shields.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to
a blanket that can be used as a nursing shield, as well as a baby
blanket. In one embodiment of the present invention, two corners of
the blanket contain reversible corner flaps with two sides: a
covering side, and an attaching side with one or more attached
clips. In a first position, the attachment sides of the corner
flaps are exposed and the attached clips can be used to attach the
blanket to a nursing woman's clothing to hold the blanket in place
while the woman nurses a child. When the corner flaps are folded
inside out to a second position, the attached clips become
concealed between the corner flaps and the blanket and are out of
view and unobtrusive, thus allowing the blanket to be used as a
baby blanket.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] FIG. 1A shows the front side of a nursing-blanket embodiment
of the present invention with two corner flaps in an exposed
position.
[0005] FIG. 1B shows the back side of the nursing-blanket
embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1A.
[0006] FIG. 2A shows the front side of one nursing-blanket
embodiment of the present invention with corner flaps in a
concealed position.
[0007] FIG. 2B shows the back side of the nursing-blanket
embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 2A.
[0008] FIG. 3 shows the front side of one nursing-blanket
embodiment of the present invention transitioning from an exposed
position to a concealed position.
[0009] FIG. 4 shows one nursing-blanket embodiment of the present
invention attached to a nursing mother's shirt and covering her
nursing child.
[0010] FIG. 5A shows a close-up of the back side of one
nursing-blanket embodiment of the present invention with a corner
flap in an exposed position.
[0011] FIG. 5B shows a close-up of the back side of the
nursing-blanket embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.
5A with a corner flap in a concealed position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0012] Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to
a blanket that can be used as a baby blanket, as well as a nursing
shield. In one embodiment of the present invention, two corners of
the blanket contain reversible corner flaps with two sides: a
covering side, and an attaching side with one or more attached
clips. Corner flaps can be placed in several alternate positions to
either expose or conceal the attached clip. In a first position,
referred to as an "exposed position," the attaching side of a
corner flap is exposed and the attached clip can be used to attach
the blanket to the clothing of a nursing woman to keep the blanket
in place as a nursing shield while the woman nurses a child. When
corner flaps are turned inside out to a second position, referred
to as a "concealed position," the covering side of corner flap is
exposed and the attached clip is concealed between the corner flap
and the blanket.
[0013] FIG. 1A shows the front side of a nursing-blanket embodiment
of the present invention with two corner flaps in an exposed
position. Blanket 100 includes corner flaps 102 and 104. When
blanket 100 is in exposed position 106, the attaching sides 107 of
corner flaps 102 and 104 are on the front side 108 of blanket 100.
Clips 110 and 112 are connected to the attaching sides 107 of
corner flaps 102 and 104, respectively.
[0014] In the current nursing-blanket embodiment of the present
invention, the corner flaps are securely connected to the blanket
along the perimeter edges of the blanket. For example, in FIG. 1A,
corner flap 104 is securely connected to blanket 100 along edges
114 and 116 and is not connected to the front side 108 along edge
118. Edges 114 and 116 meet at corner 120. Clip 112 is attached to
the attaching side 107 of corner flap 104 and can be used to
removably attach blanket 100 to desired objects, such as the outer
garment of a nursing woman. The front side 108 of blanket 100 is
shown cross-hatched, in FIG. 1A, and in later figures, to
distinguish the front side 108 of blanket 100 from the back side
(not shown in FIG. 1A) of blanket 100 and corner flaps 102 and 104.
The attaching sides 107 of corner flaps 102 and 104 are shown
stippled, in FIG. 1A, and in later figures, to distinguish the
attaching side 107 of corner flaps 102 and 104 from the covering
side (not shown in FIG. 1A) of corner flaps 102 and 104, the front
side 108 of blanket 100, and the back side (not shown in FIG. 1A)
of blanket 100. FIG. 1B shows the back side of the nursing-blanket
embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1A. In the
current nursing-blanket embodiment of the present invention, when
blanket 100 is in exposed position 106, the back side 122 of
blanket 100 does not contain corner flaps 102 and 104.
[0015] FIG. 2A shows the front side of one nursing-blanket
embodiment of the present invention with corner flaps in a
concealed position. Concealed position 202 can be obtained by
turning corner flaps (102 and 104 in FIG. 1A) inside out. FIG. 2B
shows the back side of the nursing-blanket embodiment of the
present invention shown in FIG. 2A. Corner flaps 102 and 104 are
located on the back side 122 of blanket 100 and the covering sides
204 of corner flaps 102 and 104 are exposed. The covering sides 202
of corner flaps 102 and 104 are shown with horizontal lines, in
FIG. 2B, and in later figures, to distinguish the covering sides
204 of corner flaps 102 and 104 from the attaching sides (107 in
FIG. 1A) of corner flaps 102 and 104, the front side (not shown in
FIG. 1A) of blanket 100, and the back side 122 of blanket 100.
Attached clips 110 and 112 are located inside of the fold between
the back side 122 of blanket 100 and corner flaps 102 and 104.
Consequently, clips 110 and 112 are covered, and, therefore, hidden
from view when looking at blanket 100 either from the front side
108 or the back side 122.
[0016] FIG. 3 shows the front side of one nursing-blanket
embodiment of the present invention transitioning from an exposed
position to a concealed position. In other words, the blanket is
transitioning from the position shown in FIG. 1A, to the position
shown in FIG. 2A. FIG. 3 shows blanket 100 transitioning from
exposed position 106 to concealed position 202 in five steps
301-305. Step 1 301 shows the front side 108 of blanket 100 in
exposed position 106. Arrow 306 indicates a direction of movement
of corner 120 that can be used to transition blanket 100 from
exposed position 106 to concealed position 202 (shown in Step
5).
[0017] Step 2 302 shows corner flap 104 partially pulled inside
out. Corner 120 is pulled toward the center of blanket 100, passing
between the front side 108 of blanket 100 and corner flap 104.
Arrow 308 indicates the direction of movement of corner 120.
[0018] Step 3 303 shows corner flap 104 pulled closer to the center
of blanket 100. The covering side 204 of corner flap 104 is visible
as more of corner flap 104 is turned inside out. Clip 112 is
flipped over and is now tucked between corner flap 104 and the
front side 108 of blanket 100.
[0019] Step 4 304 shows corner flap 104 pulled towards the center
of blanket 100 until edge 118 is turned inside out. Arrow 310
indicates the direction of movement that can be used to transition
blanket 100 to concealed position 202 (shown in Step 5).
[0020] Step 5 305 shows corner flap 104 in concealed position 202.
Corner flap 104 is completely turned inside out and flipped over to
the back side 122 of blanket 100. Clip 112 is concealed between
corner flap 104 and the back side 122 of blanket 100.
[0021] In the current embodiment of the present invention, when the
clips are in the exposed position, the clips are accessible and can
be used to reversibly attach the blanket to various objects. For
example, the clips can be attached to the shirt of a woman to hold
the blanket in place as a privacy screen to partially shield a
woman and a nursing child while the woman nurses the child. FIG. 4
shows one nursing-blanket embodiment of the present invention
attached to a nursing woman's shirt and covering her nursing child.
Blanket 100 is attached to the outer garment worn by nursing woman
400 while she nurses child 402. Clip 110 is attached to the outer
garment, proximal to the nursing woman's 400 left shoulder, and
clip 112 is attached to the outer garment, proximal to the nursing
woman's 400 right arm. When the nursing woman 400 is finished
nursing child 402, clips 110 and 112 can be unfastened from the
outer garment and exposed clips 110 and 112 can be covered by
turning corner flaps 102 and 104 inside out to concealed position
202, as described above with reference to FIG. 3. Child 402 can
then be wrapped in the blanket 100.
[0022] Although the present invention has been described in terms
of a particular embodiment, it is not intended that the invention
be limited to this embodiment. Modifications within the spirit of
the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In
another embodiment of the present invention, corner-flap fasteners
are used to maintain the corner flaps in a concealed position. FIG.
5A shows a close-up of the back side of one nursing-blanket
embodiment of the present invention with a corner flap in an
exposed position. Blanket 100 employs hook and loop fastener 500 to
keep corner flap 102 closed and in a concealed position while clip
110 is not in use. Hook and loop fastener 500 includes: first strip
502 attached to the back side 122 of blanket 100, and second strip
504 attached to the attaching side 107 of corner flap 102 (not
shown in FIG. 5A), which is located on the front side 108 of
blanket 100. When corner flap 102 is in exposed position 106, first
strip 502 and second strip 504 are on opposite sides of blanket 100
and are unfastened. FIG. 5B shows a close-up of the back side of
the nursing-blanket embodiment of the present invention shown in
FIG. 5A with a corner flap in a concealed position. In concealed
position 202, first strip 502 and second strip 504 can be aligned
and fastened to keep corner flap 102 closed and clip 110 covered. A
hook and loop fastener is but one of many possible fasteners that
can be used to fasten a corner flap in the concealed position.
Other fasteners can be used as well, including snaps, hooks,
buttons, string and grommets, self-adhesive strips, and
magnets.
[0023] Other modifications within the spirit of the invention may
be made as well. For example, the discussed embodiments of the
present invention show alligator clips used as a fastening device
to attach the blanket to desired objects. However, other types of
fastening devices may be used as well, including: clips that fasten
in a manner similar to paper clips, pins that pierce and hold
clothing in a manner similar to broaches, fasteners that fasten in
a manner similar to bobby pins, and magnetic fasteners. The
attached clips can also be used to attach the blanket to objects
other than the clothing of a nursing woman, including: a crib, a
stroller, a baby carrier, a car seat, and the outside of a diaper
bag. The blanket can be made from any number of natural or
synthetic fibers of various levels of warmth and softness. Some
desirable materials may include flannel and fleece. The blanket can
also be made from multiple layers of material. Each layer could be
of the same material or of different material. Corner flaps can be
of the same material as a front side or a back side of baby
blanket, or corner flaps can be made from material that is
different from the material used for the front side or the back
side of the baby blanket. Corner flaps can also be made from
multiple layers of material, with each layer being of the same
material or of different material from the material used in another
corner flap or the blanket. The size of and shape of the blanket
can be varied. The blanket can be any number of shapes, including
rectangular, triangular, and pentagonal. Shapes with rounded edges
and corners can be used as well. The term "corner flap" is meant to
also apply to blankets with vertices that are other than ninety
degrees, as well as to blankets with rounded vertices. The number
of corner flaps on a blanket can be varied to just one corner flap,
or two or more corner flaps. The number of fastening devices per
corner flap can also be varied. Each corner flap on a particular
blanket may have a different number of fastening devices than other
corner flaps on the blanket.
[0024] The foregoing detailed description, for purposes of
illustration, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough
understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one
skilled in the art that the specific details are not required in
order to practice the invention. Thus, the foregoing descriptions
of specific embodiments of the present invention are presented for
purposes of illustration and description; they are not intended to
be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms
disclosed. Obviously many modifications and variation are possible
in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and
described in order to best explain the principles of the invention
and its practical applications and to thereby enable others skilled
in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments
with various modifications as are suited to the particular use
contemplated.
* * * * *