FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains generally to a blanket. More particularly, the present invention pertains to an apparatus for use in keeping a person's body and legs warm and comfortable. The present invention is particularly, but not exclusively, useful as an apparatus maintaining its position on the body to stay warm and comfortable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Historically, when a person wants to get warm in a bed or couch, they would utilize a blanket by wrapping the blanket around their body. A blanket is a category of sheet, usually a swath of soft cloth large enough to either cover or to enfold most of the user's body while keeping the body warm by trapping radiating body heat that would otherwise be lost through convection. There are many different types of blankets that provide people with different levels of comfort and warmth.
The issue with traditional blankets is that they have no anchoring points or configuration that allows for the blanket to fully envelop a person's body and consistently maintain the fully enveloped configuration. This therefore forces the user to continuously re-adjust the blanket so that the body is fully enveloped and warm.
Where the traditional blanket may slide off, the present invention is configured in a way that allows the blanket to remain in its preferred place and configuration on an individual's body. Being able to maintain its configuration is a result of the body facing folds of the foot pouch that fold toward the body and allows for the blanket to maintain its intended orientation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Disclosed is a Blanket with Foot Pouch. A preferred embodiment is particularly useful in keeping one's body and legs warm and comfortable. The Blanket with Foot Pouch is the first blanket which provides the user with full and consistent coverage for their legs.
The Blanket with Foot Pouch was designed to be used while laying down, sitting down, or standing up. Current blankets that are in the market provide the user with the ability to wrap the blanket around one's legs but do not provide full and consistent coverage of an individual's whole body like the Blanket with Foot Pouch of the present invention.
The Blanket with Foot Pouch is specifically and uniquely designed with a strategically positioned pocket section, or pouch, that provide support to the legs when worn. The shape and dimensions of the pouch are determined to provide optimal comfort to the legs. The remainder of the Blanket with Foot Pouch includes a rectangle/quadrilateral section with a size that provides focused comfort to an individual's torso.
In a preferred embodiment, the blanket is a long sheet of fabric that has a lower rear pocket made by sewing along the fabric horizontally and vertically. The sew line separates the fabric into a torso section and a foot pouch section. The bottom pouch is seamless and it is two layers of fabric sewn together before the pouch is brought up to create the foot pouch of the invention.
In a preferred embodiment, the blanket also includes a front facing pouch that may be utilized in many different ways such as: to store snacks; store remote controls; and even place one's hands when they need to be warmed.
The invention is manufactured by permanently sewing the pocket section into the bottom tapered-in location of the blanket. The pocket is positioned at the bottom of the blanket in order to provide additional warmth and support to the legs as well as provide a folding point to maintain the intended in-use configuration of the blanket.
The top of the blanket is a rectangular/quadrilateral fleece section that tapers out and may have Velcro tabs for fastening of the blanket when it is placed around an individual's body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The novel features of this invention, as well as the invention itself, both as to its structure and its operation, will be best understood from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description, in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts, and in which:
FIG. 1 is a front lower left perspective view of the Blanket with Foot Pouch that illustrates the apparatus in a preferred embodiment that includes a front facing pouch that may be used to place one's hands or store items, and the Velcro tabs that assist in keeping the blanket on and in its proper configuration when worn;
FIG. 2 is a rear upper right perspective view thereof that illustrates the open foot pouch, the stitching that allows the foot pouch to keep its intended orientation, and the Velcro tabs that assist in keeping the blanket on when worn;
FIG. 3 is a front view thereof in includes a front facing pouch that may be used to place one's hands or store items, and the Velcro tabs that assist in keeping the blanket on and in its proper configuration when worn;
FIG. 4 is a rear view thereof that illustrates the foot pouch, the Velcro tabs, and the stitching that allows the apparatus to keep its intended orientation when worn;
FIG. 5 is a right side view thereof that shows the side of a front facing pouch that may be used to place one's hands or store items, the Velcro tabs, and the stitching on the perimeter of the foot pouch that allows the apparatus to keep its intended orientation when worn;
FIG. 6 is a left side view thereof that shows the side of a front facing pouch that may be used to place one's hands or store items, the Velcro tabs, and the stitching on the perimeter of the foot pouch that allows the apparatus to keep its intended orientation when worn;
FIG. 7 is a top view thereof that includes a front facing pouch, the foot pouch is shown, the Velcro tabs, and the stitching on the perimeter of the foot pouch that allows the apparatus to keep its intended orientation when worn;
FIG. 8 is a bottom view thereof that includes a front facing pouch, the front facing pouch is shown facing upwards, and the stitching on the perimeter of the foot pouch that allows the apparatus to keep its intended orientation when worn;
FIG. 9 is a front perspective view thereof in a preferred embodiment that includes a front facing pouch that may be used to place one's hands or store items, being worn and used by an individual; and
FIG. 10 is a rear left side perspective view thereof that illustrates an individual's legs placed within the foot pouch and the intended orientation maintained by the fold points of the foot pouch.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring initially to FIG. 1, a front lower left perspective view of the Blanket with Foot Pouch is illustrated and generally designated 100. Blanket with Foot Pouch 100 includes two basic portions, the upper portion 102 and the lower portion 104 separated by a midsection 120. Blanket with Foot Pouch 100 has an upper edge 106 and lower edge 108, and a left side 110 and a right side 112. A front facing pouch 122 is included adjacent midsection 120 and sized to receive hands to keep them warm during use, or other items, such as television remote controls and cellular telephones.
A pair of corresponding hook-and-loop fasteners, such as Velcro tabs 124 and 126, are included in order to allow the upper portion 102 to be fastened around a user's neck, as will be more fully described in conjunction with FIGS. 9 and 10. The fasteners 124 and 126 are aligned and adhered to each other when in use, in a ‘bib-like’ configuration around an individual's 4 neck or torso so that the Blanket with Foot Pouch 100 will remain in place on the individual when worn.
Referring now to FIG. 2 a rear upper right perspective view of the Blanket with Foot Pouch 100 is shown. Fasteners 124 and 126 provide for the bib-like fastening of the Blanket with Foot Pouch 100 around the neck of the user. A foot pouch 114 is seen here with its entrance 116. With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the details of foot pouch 14 can be seen. As shown, Foot pouch 114 is formed by connecting back panel 114A of the lower portion 104 along sides 110 and 112 to form a pouch 114 that can be opened along seam 120 near midsection 120. As shown in detail in FIG. 4, sides 110 and 112 are tapered inwards slightly near midsection 120 so that folds 118 are formed to cause the sides 110 and 112 to fold inwards slightly.
As shown in FIG. 3, the width 130 near lower end 108 of lower portion is greater than the width 132 at midsection 120 before expanding to width 134 near upper end 106 of upper portion 102. This tapered configuration, along with the fold 118 formed because the opening 116 of pouch 114 is less than width 132, results in the Blanket with Foot Pouch 100 curving backwards toward the pouch 114 in use. This feature prevents the pouch 114 from folding forward during use, and keeps the sides 110 and 112 of Blanket with Foot Pouch 100 from extending outwards where it can result in trip hazards.
Referring again to FIG. 4, the fasteners 124 and 126 are shown, and the side stitching along the lower end 108 and sides 110 and 112 foot pouch 114 can also be seen here keeping the intended configuration of the Blanket with Foot Pouch 100.
Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, right and left side views of the Blanket with Foot Pouch 100 are shown with the double-thickness at the lower end 102 where pouch 114 is formed. Also, front facing pouch 122 is shown near midsection 120, and fasteners 124 and 126 are shown adjacent sides 110 and 112 near upper end 106.
Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, top and bottom views of the Blanket with Foot Pouch 100 are shown. Curved portions 118 are shown in FIG. 7 showing opening 116 of pouch 114. Also, fasteners 124 and 126 are shown on the upper corners of Blanket with Foot Pouch 100 to maintain position during use.
Referring now to FIG. 9, a front view of the Blanket with Foot Pouch 100 in use is shown. An individual 200 is shown in broken lines wearing the Blanket with Foot Pouch 100 while sitting, such as on a chair 202 (shown in FIG. 10). When in use, the foot pouch 114 is where a user positions their legs so that their feet would be surrounded by a blanket and kept warm.
As shown more clearly in FIG. 9, front facing pouch 122 (shown in broken lines) is included to provide user 200 a place to place their hands 201 to warm up. Alternatively, or additionally, user 200 may use front facing pouch 122 to store snacks, removes, and other items. To facilitate these uses, a number of vertical stitches may be placed in front facing pouch 122 to form a number of vertical pockets for storage of separate items.
Referring now to FIG. 10, a rear side view of the Blanket with Foot Pouch 100 as used is shown to depict how the legs of an individual 200 are placed in pouch 114 using opening 116 when sitting, such as on chair 202. From this view it can be appreciated how the narrowing of midsection 120 to width 132 results in the sides of the lower portion 104 being caused to curve inwards towards the legs of user 200 at area 118. As mentioned briefly above, folds 118 cause the lower portion 104 to wrap back away from the front of the Blanket with Foot Pouch 100 towards the user preventing the sides 110 and 112 from expanding outwards into the path of passersby avoiding creation of a trip hazard.
From FIG. 10 it can also be appreciated how fasteners 124 and 126 cooperate to connect the upper end 106 of Blanket with Foot Pouch 100 together behind the user 200's neck to maintain the upper portion 102 in place on the torso of the user 200. While it has been described that fasteners 124 and 126 are, in a preferred embodiment, hook and loop fasteners such as Velcro, it is to be appreciated that these fasteners can be any fastener known in the art including but not limited to snaps, buttons, hook and eyelet, as well as magnetic fasteners. The purpose of fasteners 124 and 126 are to temporarily fasten the upper edge 106 of Blanket with Foot Pouch 100 around the user 200's neck to maintain position of the Blanket with Foot Pouch 100 during use, but to be readily removed when needed.
The Blanket with Foot Pouch 100 may be made from a variety of readily available materials. With a key purpose of the invention is that the Blanket with Foot Pouch 100 provides warmth to the user 200, it is best to use heavy materials, such as cotton, wool, or combinations of materials. Indeed, in some instances, a preferred embodiment of the Blanket with Foot Pouch 100 would include an internal insulation layer 140 shown by cutout portion 142 of FIG. 3. It is to be appreciated that any material known in the art and suitable for use as an insulator blanket would be suitable for use in the Blanket with Foot Pouch 100 of the present invention.
While there have been shown what are presently considered to be preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made herein without departing from the scope and spirit of the Blanket with Foot Pouch 100 of the present invention.
Patent Application
20250194826
