U.S. patent application number 14/201817 was filed with the patent office on 2015-09-10 for fitted blanket for use during transportation.
The applicant listed for this patent is Barbara K (Zarek) Gould. Invention is credited to Barbara K (Zarek) Gould.
Application Number | 20150250337 14/201817 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54016168 |
Filed Date | 2015-09-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150250337 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gould; Barbara K (Zarek) |
September 10, 2015 |
Fitted Blanket for Use During Transportation
Abstract
A blanket-like covering for an infant or child, intended for use
over safety restraints, when the infant or child is being
transported in a car seat, stroller, or similar transportation
device. The device provides protection from the elements while
being easily installed and removed when necessary, to prevent
overheating of the infant or child. The covering is blanket-like,
in that it is laid over the infant or child, to completely cover
the torso. There are openings to bring the infant or child's hands
and arms through the structure, to allow for free and easy
movement, and provides for the infant or child to hold or play with
toys while remaining covered. There is an opening at the top of the
device in order to fit the covering around the child's neck and
shoulders.
Inventors: |
Gould; Barbara K (Zarek);
(Warwick, NY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Gould; Barbara K (Zarek) |
Warwick |
NY |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
54016168 |
Appl. No.: |
14/201817 |
Filed: |
March 8, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
5/494 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 9/068 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47G 9/06 20060101
A47G009/06; A47D 15/00 20060101 A47D015/00 |
Claims
1. A covering for a child, comprising: a semi-rectangular panel,
with openings for arms, and with opening at top center for neck,
such that when child is placed in transportation device and
strapped in, covering can be slipped over child's arms and tucked
over child's shoulders to form a barrier to the elements while
allowing child's arms and head to move freely.
2. The covering of claim 1, further comprising: elastic at the arm
and/or neck openings to form a more secure fit to the body.
3. The covering of claim 1, further comprising: sleeves attached to
the arm openings.
4. The covering of claim 3, further comprising: pouches attached to
the end of the sleeves that encompass hands when turned inside
out.
5. The covering of claim 1, 2, 3, and/or 4, further comprising: a
pouch at the bottom of the apparatus, which can be turned over to
encompass the child's feet.
6. The covering of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, and/or 5, further comprising:
a removable hood, attached to the upper neck portion of the
covering.
7. The covering of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and/or 6, further
comprising: Velcro tabs that attach the covering to a car seat,
stroller, or other infant/child transporting device.
8. The covering of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and/or 7, alternatively
could be constructed with more rounded edges to produce a more oval
shaped covering.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] The present invention is in the field of infant and child
coverings, specifically those used with car seats, strollers, and
any other child transportation devices where the child is strapped
in.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Parents and caregivers of infants and children are charged
with protecting infants and children from cold temperatures, windy
conditions, precipitation, and UV rays. Bundling children and
infants against the elements can be time consuming, difficult,
uncomfortable for the child, and frustrating for the parent or
caregiver.
[0003] Infants and children are transported via various methods,
including car seats, strollers, carriages, carriers, wagons, and
sleds. All of these methods require securing the child to the
apparatus with varying styles and types of safety belts.
[0004] Bundling children or infants into safety harnesses installed
over the outerwear, layers of clothing or blankets can be time
consuming, frustrating for both the parent or caregiver and infant
or child, uncomfortable for the infant or child, and can require
the adjustment to many safety straps, thus reducing the
effectiveness of the safety apparatus.
[0005] The process of bundling and unbundling, strapping,
unstrapping, and readjusting straps, can become exponentially more
frustrating to the infant or child and the parent or caregiver when
multiple trips indoors or outdoors are called for. As an example,
shopping in a strip mall, or running multiple errands that require
repeatedly entering and exiting a vehicle. In either case, the
infant or child's layers of bundling need to be removed and/or
loosened to avoid overheating of the infant or child, then replaced
upon returning outdoors.
[0006] It is then desired and necessary to have a method of
covering of the infant or child that would not require movement of
the safety harness, safety belt, or equivalent mechanism, would
keep the infant or child protected from the elements, and would be
quickly and easily installed and removed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0007] This invention is a covering for an infant or child,
intended to be worn over safety restraints, harnesses, or the like.
The covering contains three openings: one for each arm to be
slipped through, and one for the apparatus to be molded against the
neck and shoulders. Arm openings are located in varying degrees
from the base of the neck opening, depending upon the size of the
wearer. The covering completely covers the feet and torso of the
wearer, such that the wearer is protected from the elements and
body heat is retained within.
[0008] The invention is designed for easy removal and
reinstallation to allow for convenience and flexibility to both
parents/caregivers and infants/children. This invention could
alternately be created with a more rounded bottom to have less
material overflow outside of the transportation device. The
covering could optionally have sleeves attached where the arm
openings are located, and further, could have flip over material
pockets that encompass hands to provide additional protection
against the elements. The option also exists for a pouch installed
at the bottom area of the device for an infant/child's feet to be
inserted, thus securing the covering to the child further. As an
alternative, Velcro dots or strips could be installed to secure the
device to a car seat or stroller, or other item of transport.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
[0009] Many inventions and products exist to keep a baby or child
protected and warm. No prior inventions or products could be
located that are installed over safety belts, and are easily
removable and installable in that they cover the front of the
child/infant only.
[0010] The majority of the other inventions and products located
were attached to the wearer (infant or child), and worn under the
safety belt. Some were designed for the safety belts to pass
through the structure of the invention. Some were designed to be
installed within the safety seat itself, then wrapped around the
infant or child. Some were designed to be installed over the entire
carseat or stroller, thus not attached to the child, but enveloping
the child.
[0011] Only a handful were installed over the safety belts, and
only two were remotely similar to this invention. U.S. Pat. No.
5,437,061A, is a poncho styled child covering, with a hood, and
music, that fits over the entire child as well as their method of
transport (i.e. carseat, stroller, etc). U.S. Pat. No. 8,118,364B2
is a device that covers the infant/child, and has arms, but
attaches to the stroller. Both devices are very different from this
invention, as this invention is not intended to cover the entire
traveling apparatus, nor to be attached to an apparatus, but only
the child/infant within the apparatus. Some overflow material is
intended to keep the child/infant warm and provide for coziness,
but this invention is intended to be worn to cover the front of the
child/infant as the rear of the child/infant is assumed to be
covered by the mode of transport.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] This invention is a covering to securely protect an infant
or child from the elements, while maintaining easy installation and
removal, and allowing infant or children's safety harnesses to
maintain secure adjustment. This invention is intended primarily
for use in car seats, strollers, carriages, and for additional
warmth for older children in vehicular booster seats.
[0013] The item this invention would closest resemble is a blanket,
though with openings at the appropriate areas for arms and head to
secure the covering to the child. There may be elastic to
facilitate a more fitted garment at the arm openings and neck
opening, with or without a removable hood; or there may be sleeves
with hand coverings at the ends, as well as a detachable hood, with
or without a flip over pocket that would serve to keep the bottom
securely covering the infant or child's feet in windy weather.
[0014] As shown in FIG. 1, this invention has similar features to a
blanket in its shape and ability to give warmth to the wearer, but
is further intended to create a secure yet easily removable
covering for infants and children when shopped into a safety
harness, as in a car seat, stroller, or the like.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a front view of the invention, showing openings
for arms and neck.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the invention, showing flap for
insertion of feet, if desired.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a front view of the invention, showing sleeves,
hand encompassing covers, foot cover flipped forward, and removable
hood.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 shows front view of the covering, with opening for
neck and holes for arms (10), such that invention, when worn, fits
loosely and comfortably over clothing and safety harnesses.
[0019] FIG. 2 shows rear view of invention, and includes (11)
depiction of foot covering as stated in claim 5.
[0020] FIG. 3 shows front view of invention, with depiction of
removable hood (12) as stated in claim 6.
[0021] FIG. 3 shows front view of invention, with sleeves (13), and
pouches for hand enclosure (14), illustrating claims 3 and 4,
respectively, and includes a view of foot covering flipped forward
as stated in claim 5.
[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, this invention has similar features to a
blanket in its shape and ability to give warmth to the wearer, but
is further designed to create a secure yet easily removable
covering for infants and children when strapped into a safety
harness, as in a car seat, stroller, or the like.
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