Patent Application
20240423378
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
The disclosure relates to tunnel devices and more particularly pertains to a new tunnel device for supporting a blanket above a user's legs. The device includes a frame that is structured to define a tunnel to facilitate the frame to be positioned over the user's legs when the user is seated or lying down. The device includes a blanket that is positionable over the frame to keep the user warm while the frame supports the blanket over the user's legs to protect the user's legs from the weight of the blanket.
The prior art relates to tunnel devices including a variety of frame devices which generally includes a pair of legs and a central portion supported above a support surface by the pair of legs and a blanket support frame that has a plurality of curved members arcing over a base for supporting a blanket over a user and collapsible blanket support frame that includes a pair of legs pivotally attached to a grate for supporting a blanket over a user's feet. In no instance does the prior art disclose a frame that is structured to define a tunnel which has a length sufficient cover the full length of a user's legs and a blanket that can be positioned over the frame.
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a frame that has a plurality of arched members strategically arranged such that the frame defines a tunnel. The frame can be positioned on a support surface having the frame extending over a user's legs when the user is either lying on the support surface or sitting on the support surface. The frame is elongated to extend over a full length of the user's legs when the frame is positioned over the user's legs. A blanket is positionable over the frame to cover the user's legs. The blanket is supported by the frame to inhibit the user from feeling the weight of the blanket while still facilitating the user to be warmed by the blanket.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
Each of the arched members 14 has a first end 24 and a second end 26 and each of the arched members 14 has a pair of bends 28 that are equally spaced from a respective one of the first end 24 and the second end 26 to define a central portion 30 extending between a pair of outward portions 32 of the arched members 14. Each of the outward portions 32 of a respective arched member 14 angles away from each other and the central portion 30 of the respective arched member 14 curves upwardly between the pair of outward portions 32 of the respective arched member 14.
The frame 12 includes a plurality of horizontal members 34 and each of the horizontal members 34 is attached between the plurality of arched members 14 such that the plurality of arched members 14 is evenly spaced apart from each outer. The plurality of horizontal members 34 includes a pair of outward members 36 and a central member 38. Each of the pair of outward members 36 is recessed into a respective one of the outward portions 32 of each of the plurality of arched members 14. Additionally, the arched members 14 are evenly distributed along a full length of the pair of outward members 36. The central member 38 is recessed into the central portion 30 of each of the plurality of arched members 14 having each of the plurality of arched members 14 is evenly distributed along a full length of the central member 38.
A blanket 40 is positionable over the frame 12 such that the blanket 40 covers the user's legs 20. The blanket 40 is supported by the frame 12 to inhibit the user 22 from feeling the weight of the blanket 40 while still facilitating the user 22 to be warmed by the blanket 40. The blanket 40 is draped over the central portion 30 of each of the plurality of arched members 14 having the blanket 40 extending downwardly along each of the outward portions 32 of each of the plurality of arched members 14. In this way the blanket 40 extends beyond each end of the tunnel 16 defined by the frame 12. The blanket 40 may be a comforter, a knitted blanket or any type of blanket that the user 22 might wish to employ to keep warm. Furthermore, the user 22 may be a person that is recovering from knee surgery, for example, or other person that needs to protect their legs 20 from pressure or impact.
In use, the user 22 places the frame 12 over their legs 20 when the user 22 is either sitting down or lying down and the user 22 positions the blanket 40 over the frame 12. In this way the frame 12 supports the blanket 40 above the user's legs 20 to inhibit the user's legs 20 from being exposed to the weight of the blanket 40. Furthermore, the frame 12 protects the user's legs 20 from a pet, such as a dog for example, that might be inclined to walk across the user's legs 20 while the user 22 is seated or lying down. In this way the user 22 can recover from leg surgery, for example, without the fear of being injured by the blanket 40 or pets.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded.
A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.
