Patent Application
20190246806
This disclosure relates generally to an infant confining device cover, and more specifically to a universal shading cover for infant confining devices such as play pens, cribs, and the like.
Infant confining devices are used to keep an infant or small child, generally under about the age of 4, in a confined space so the child may sleep or play safely. In general, infant confining devices include cribs, play pens, play yards and infant devices.
Some infant confining devices sit directly on the floor and others are raised off the floor by feet. In this way, parents or caretakers carefully control the child's environment, allowing for safe play or quiet sleep. Some infant confining devices are portable for travel convenience and may collapse or detach into a smaller, more easily moved configuration. Other infant confining devices are rigid for home use.
The present invention describes a cover for infant confining devices and may be used for both travel and at-home use infant confining devices. The cover may be especially suited for travel when it may be particularly difficult to find a dark or shaded place for the child to rest. The cover may also be used as part of an outdoor infant confining device, to provide shade from direct sunlight as well as insect protection.
Embodiments of this disclosure pertain to one or more systems for shielding a child in an infant confining device from unwanted light and insects. A stretchy, close mesh fabric surrounds the side walls of the infant confining device such that air continues to circulate through to the inside, but blocks a portion of light to shade the inside. A roof flap over the top of the infant confining device may be opened to allow the child to be placed inside and closed to act as a roof, further darkening the interior and providing insect protection. In some embodiments, the roof flap may be separated from the cover on three sides and attached to the walls of the cover by a zipper on the fourth side, allowing the roof flap to be removed as needed.
For the purpose of illustration, there are shown in the drawings certain embodiments described in the present disclosure. In the drawings, like numerals indicate like elements throughout. It should be understood that the full scope of the inventions disclosed herein are not limited to the precise arrangements, dimensions, and instruments shown. In the drawings:
Reference will now be made in detail to implementations of the technology. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the technology only, not as a limitation of the technology. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present technology. For instance, features described as part of one implementation of the technology can be used on another implementation to yield a still further implementation. Thus, it is intended that the present encompass such modifications and variations.
The body 201 is configured so that the upper and lower portions 214b and 214c of the cover 200 extend over the top and bottom of the infant confining device 100. For instance, the body 201 is smaller than the device 100 so that it has to be stretched over and around the device 100. That way, when the cover 200 is placed over the device 100, the upper and lower portions 214b and 214c of the cover 200 extend inward over the top and bottom of the device 100. This engages the cover 200 to the device 100 so that the cover 200 can completely surround the device 100. In addition, elastic bands 203 can be provided at the upper and lower edges of the body 201 to further draw the upper and lower portions 214b and 214c inward and hold the cover in place on the device 100.
The sides 212, 214 of the cover 200 completely surround the four side walls 112, 114 of the infant confining device 100 to darken the inside area of the device 100. The dark fabric io may be a close mesh to allow air flow inside the play pen while still blocking a substantial amount of light. The fabric can also be lightweight, soft and breathable. In some embodiments, the fabric is 50% elastane and 50% polyester, such that the fabric stretches underneath feet 116 easily. In those embodiments, the cover 200 securely attaches to the infant confining device 100 without need for any locking or attachment devices such as hooks, loops, buttons, Velcro®, ties, other child safety hazards, and the like. (Velcro® is a registered trademark owned by Velcro Industries.) Further, the fabric's stretch allows cover 200 to fit any size or style of crib, play pen, or other infant confining device 100. In this view, open top 110 of infant confining device 100 is left open and uncovered.
The cover 200 has two configurations, namely a storage configuration and an operating configuration. In the storage configuration, the cover 200 may be folded, rolled, or otherwise collapsed into a compact, easy to carry form. The storage configuration allows the cover 200 to pack easily into a small shape for travel and/or storage. In the operating configuration, the cover 200 is at least partially stretched over the infant confining device 100 to provide at least partial shade to the interior of infant confining device 100.
To operate the cover 200, the upper and lower edges of the four side walls 212, 214, such as 214a and 214d, are stretched over the open top 110 to at least partially cover the side walls 112, 114 of the infant confining device 100. To do so, for example, the user can place one transverse side 212 of the cover 200 around the transverse side 112 of the device 100, for instance by hooking the bottom portion of the cover 200, such as 214c, under the bottom or feet 116 and placing the top portion of the cover 200, such as 214a, over the upper edge of the sides 112. The user can then stretch the body 201 of the cover around the longitudinal sides 114 and to the far transverse side 112, and slide the body down over the longitudinal sides 114 and far transverse side 112. The user then hooks the bottom portion of the cover 200, such as 214c, under the bottom or feet 116 and places the top portion of the cover 200, such as 214b, over the upper edge of the sides 112, 114. Thus, the four side walls 212, 214 are at least partially stretched over the side walls 112, 114, and the cover 200 is optionally stretched over the feet 116 for secure attachment to the infant confining device 100.
As further shown in
When the flap 216 extends over the device 100, the entire sides and top of the device 100 are completely surrounded to provide a completely darkened inside area of the device 100. That is, the cover body 200 extends at least partially around the sides 112, 114 of the device 100, and in one embodiment completely around the sides 112, 114 of the device 100 from the top to the bottom of the device 100. And the flap 216 extends over the top of the device 100 to cover the top opening. The bottom need not be surrounded by the cover since the floor blocks light.
The flap 216 can also be a separate member that has attachments along all four sides that matably engage respective attachments positioned along the sides 212, 214 of the cover 200. For example, one or more elongated Velcro strips can be placed at the edges of the four sides of the flap 216, and elongated Velcro strips can also be placed at the top portion of the sides 212, 214 (such as inset from the upper edges) and aligned to mate with each other when the flap 216 is placed over the sides 212, 214 of the body 200. Still further, one side of the flap 216 can be integrally formed or attached (sewn) to one of the body sides 214, and the other three sides of the flap 216 can be removably attached to the body sides 212, 214. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the flap 216 is attached along one side and the other sides are unattached from the sides 212, 214 and simply draped over the sides 212, 214 so that the child can easily open the flap 216 and is not locked inside the device 100.
It is further noted that the cover 200 is shown and described as being substantially rectangular in shape. That is provided to match the shape of the infant confining device 100. It will be readily apparent that the cover 200 can be any suitable shape, such as round or square. In addition, because the cover 200 is flexible and stretches, the shape of the cover 200 need not match the shape of the device 100. In addition, though the cover 200 is described as having four sides 212, 214, it can also be described as having one continuous side (or side wall) having side portions (or side wall portions).
The invention is lightweight, yet stretchable so it can easily stretch over and around an infant confining device. So the cover 200 is easy to use, store and transport. The cover 200 can be used with all infant confining devices to provide a darkened, calm and distraction-free sleep environment for infants wherever they are, and is especially useful for travel. In addition, the material allows air to circulate in the infant confining device when in use. The cover 200 doesn't have any complicated parts or features (such as loose cords, bands, rope, string, buttons or the like) that can otherwise pose a choking hazard, and so is safe for use with an infant. The roof flap 216 is designed to simply drape over the top of the infant confining device, which is also easy to use and avoids any potential hazard. The infant is able to open the roof flap, so that the cover 200 does not trap the infant inside the infant confining device.
The various embodiments described above are provided by way of illustration only, and should not be construed so as to limit the scope of the disclosure. Various modifications and changes can be made to the principles and embodiments described herein without departing from the scope of the disclosure and without departing from the claims which follow. Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C § 112, sixth paragraph.
