The present invention relates to bumper pads and protective devices for furniture and indoor surfaces. More specifically, the present invention relates to a child protective device that secures to the interior surface of a door frame or entryway frame and provides a padded, yet decorative surface that prevents a child from impacting the frame when playing.
Children often run throughout the house while playing and are known to injure themselves by impacting various articles of furniture and interior structures. Protective devices are available for padding the various surfaces of a home and for covering potentially hazardous items that a you child may contact in the home. These generally include pads for the corners of furniture and the like. The present invention provides a new bumper pad device that is suited for attachment to the interior frame of a door or entryway.
The present invention is particularly suited for children playing in a doorway jumper assembly, whereby a young child is positioned within a harness that is suspended from the vertical portion of a doorway such that the child can jump and be supported by the apparatus without completely falling to the ground. These are popular items for young children who cannot walk yet and who are building leg strength. It is contemplated that the present invention be deployed along the adjacent vertical portions of the doorway frame to prevent inadvertent impacts therewith while the child is in such a device. Moreover, the present invention contemplates decorative and functional features on the outer surfaces of its construction that are appealing to young children.
The present invention comprises a bumper pad device that is affixable around a rectangular or rounded wall, and particularly around an exposed doorway or entryway frame. The assembly comprises a body portion, a pair of extended flaps, and a connector system that secures the assembly to the exposed frame. The pad is a cushioned member having a thickness and an interior batting that reduces the energy of impacts when a child inadvertently falls or jumps towards the frame and would otherwise be injured. The limited example of use with doorway frames and while a child is in a jumping assembly is considered a non-limiting example, and one of many applications considered falling within the scope of the claimed invention.
The following summary is intended solely for the benefit of the reader and is not intended to be limiting in any way. The present invention provides a new bumper pad device that is particularly suited for attachment to interior wall structures and can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when protecting young children, pets, and other users from injury upon inadvertent impact with a doorway frame or similar interior feature.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved bumper pad device that has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a bumper pad device that is affixable to the surface of an interior structure and is well suited for securing corners or edges of a doorway, entryway, or similar interior corner.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a bumper pad device having a body portion that is padded and includes flared flaps that extend outward and are fastened to a wall surface to secure the device in a static position.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device that is well suited to prevent injuries to young children either learning to walk or still prone to injury while playing indoors.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a bumper pad device having an exterior surface that may adorned with various ornamental features and include colors, indicia, or three dimensional shapes that are pleasing to young children or are appropriate for the intended environment.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a bumper pad device that may be readily fabricated from materials that permit relative economy and are commensurate with durability.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.
Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the bumper pad device of the present invention. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for preventing child injury upon contact with a wall surface, whereby the bumper pad device provides a protective layer along a wall surface, around an interior corner, or around an exposed wall or interior frame. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.
Referring now to
The bumper pad device 11 comprises an elongated body portion 12 that is preferably a substantial rectangular shape. The pad body portion 12 comprises an elongated length with a pair of sides 14, an outer surface, an interior surface 19, an exterior surface, a thickness, and a width. Between the interior 19 and exterior surfaces is an enclosed interior volume that supports the filler material therein. Extending from the sides 14 of the body portion 12 are a pair of flaps 15, which extend substantially orthogonally from the body portion sides 14 such that the body portion 12 and the flaps 15 forma substantial X-shaped bumper pad device 11.
The flaps 15 include an elongated length that is parallel to the length of the body portion. The flaps 15 are preferably rectangular members having an outer edge 16, an interior surface, and an inner edge 18 that aligns with the side 14 of the body portion 12. The intersection of the flap inner edge 18 with the body portion sides 14 is a pivotable connection, whereby each flap 15 can rotate relative to the body portion 12 such that the flaps can secure around corners or remain in plane with the body portion. The pivotable relation between the flaps 15 and the body portion 12 along the inner edge 18 is preferably a stitched formation that prevents the filler material of the body portion 12 from moving into the flap portions and interfering with the pivotable relation therebetween. The flaps 15 may comprises an interior volume, or alternatively may comprises a more flattened construction relative to the padded body portion 12, which supports the filler material within its interior volume to fill out its thickness and attenuation impact energy when contacted.
The body portion length preferably extends beyond the extents of the flaps 15, whereby the body portion 12 comprises an upper and lower portion 13 extended above the extent of each flap 15. Therefore, the flaps 15 include a length that runs along the length of the body portion, however the padded body portion 12 is one that fulfills a protective function and therefore must extend further along the wall surface to protect the same and to protect those that would contact the wall. The flaps 15, in contrast, are designed to support an elongated fastener 17 that connects the bumper pad device 11 to the wall surfaces. The shape of the bumper pad device 11 is therefore X-shaped with a pair of opposing flaps 15, a central pad body portion 12 that extends above and below the extent of the flaps 15, and whereby the flaps 15 are pivotably attached to the body portion sides 14.
Disposed along the interior surface of each flap 15 is one or more fasteners 17. This first fastener 17 is one that is configured to have a complimentary second fastener supported on an adjacent wall surface. The first fastener 17 is removably connected to the second fastener, and the second fastener is supported along the wall surface by a wall fastener. The wall fastener is one that is supported along an elongated surface and positioned along the wall such that the flaps 16 can be secured thereto using the corresponding fasteners. Once the corresponding fasteners are joined, the device 11 is supported in a static position on a wall, around a door frame, or around an exposed corner.
Referring now to
The elongated surface 20 is supported along a wall surface 30 and is positioned such that the first fastener 17 will make contact with the second fastener 21 when the pad body portion 12 is positioned as desired along the wall or around the corner 34 of a wall or entryway frame 31. The elongated surface 20 comprise a first side supporting the second fastener 21 thereon, and a second surface supporting a wall fastener thereon. The wall fastener is one that is configured to make contact and secure against the surface 30 of a wall and prevent the elongated surface 20 from detaching therefrom. In turn, the wall fastener ensures the flap 15 will remain connected to the wall surface 30 when the first fastener 17 and the complimentary second fastener 21 make connection. It is preferred that the wall fastener have a grip strength greater than the grip strength between the first fastener 17 and the second fastener 21, thereby facilitating placement of the elongated surface 20 on a wall surface and allowing the user to remove the flaps 15 and the pad from the wall without also removing the elongated surface 20. In this way, the mounting system for the bumper pad assembly can remain in place even if the bumper pad device is temporarily removed. Contemplated wall fasteners include adhesive, physical fasteners, or the like. Any fastener with a greater grip strength that will not separate from the wall when the flap 15 is forcibly pulled from the elongated strip will fulfill this objective.
As shown in
Referring now to
Overall it is submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, 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 the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention 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 invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/939,981 filed on Feb. 14, 2014. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61939981 | Feb 2014 | US |