The present disclosure is generally directed to children's products, and more particularly to systems, apparatuses, and methods for providing a product that is breathable.
Certain children's products are well-known in the art. For example, a product can be designed to provide an infant, toddler, or child with comfort through cushioning and/or bolstering. In certain instances, comfort for an occupant can be increased through cushions, pillows, bolsters, and/or other similar devices.
More specifically, children's beds are well-known in the art. The typical children's bed is designed to provide an infant, toddler, or child with a comfortable bed that is more size-appropriate for a child when compared to conventional beds. Typically, the children's bed includes cushions, pillows, bolsters, and/or other similar devices to increase comfortability for the child.
A need remains for products that are breathable, flat, and/or have an adequate height for supporting an occupant, for example, an infant or a child.
The present disclosure describes systems, apparatuses, and methods for supporting a resting or sleeping occupant, for example, an infant or a child.
In embodiments, the present disclosure describes an apparatus for supporting a resting or sleeping occupant. The apparatus may include a compressible structure configured to allow airflow through the compressible structure. The apparatus may further include a cover removably coupled to the compressible structure and overlaying at least a portion of the compressible structure.
In embodiments, the present disclosure describes an apparatus for supporting a resting or sleeping occupant. The apparatus may include a cover including a foldover portion. The foldover portion may include a zipper along an edge of the foldover portion. The apparatus may further include a compressible structure configured to removably receive the cover by securing the foldover portion about at least a portion of the compressible structure. The compressible structure is configured to allow airflow through the compressible structure.
In embodiments, the present disclosure describes a method of assembling an apparatus for supporting a resting or sleeping occupant. The method may include inserting a cover through a compressible structure. The cover may include a foldover portion including a zipper. The compressible structure is configured to allow airflow through the compressible structure. The method further includes wrapping the foldover portion around an outer rim of the compressible structure. The method further includes manipulating the zipper along the foldover portion to secure the foldover portion about the compressible structure.
The detailed description is set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings. The use of the same reference numerals may indicate similar or identical items. Various embodiments may utilize elements and/or components other than those illustrated in the drawings, and some elements and/or components may not be present in various embodiments. Elements and/or components in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. Throughout this disclosure, depending on the context, singular and plural terminology may be used interchangeably.
This disclosure will now provide a more detailed and specific description that will refer to the accompanying drawings. The drawings and specific descriptions of the drawings, as well as any specific or alternative embodiments discussed, are intended to be read in conjunction with the entirety of this disclosure.
Example embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments are shown. The concepts disclosed herein may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the example embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the concepts to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like, but not necessarily the same or identical elements throughout.
Certain relationships between features of the children's product are described herein using the term “substantially” or “substantially equal.” As used herein, the terms “substantially” and “substantially equal” indicate that the equal relationship is not a strict relationship and does not exclude functionally similar variations therefrom. Unless context or the description indicates otherwise, the use of the term “substantially” or “substantially equal” in connection with two or more described dimensions indicates that the equal relationship between the dimensions includes variation that, using mathematical and industrial principles accepted in the art (e.g., rounding, measurement or other systematic errors, manufacturing tolerances, etc.), would not vary the least significant digit of the dimensions. As used herein, the term “substantially parallel” indicates that the parallel relationship is not a strict relationship and does not exclude functionally similar variations therefrom. As used herein, the term “substantially orthogonal” or “substantially perpendicular” indicates that the orthogonal relationship is not a strict relationship and does not exclude functionally similar variations therefrom.
The present disclosure relates to, among other things, systems, apparatuses, and methods for an apparatus for supporting a resting or sleeping occupant, for example, an infant or a child. The apparatus may be a breathable children's product.
In embodiments, the present disclosure describes an apparatus for supporting a resting or sleeping occupant. The apparatus may include a compressible structure configured to allow airflow through the compressible structure. The apparatus may further include a cover removably coupled to the compressible structure and overlaying at least a portion of the compressible structure.
In embodiments, the present disclosure describes an apparatus for supporting a resting or sleeping occupant. The apparatus may include a cover including a foldover portion. The foldover portion may include a zipper along an edge of the foldover portion. The apparatus may further include a compressible structure configured to removably receive the cover by securing the foldover portion about at least a portion of the compressible structure. The compressible structure is configured to allow airflow through the compressible structure.
In embodiments, the present disclosure describes a method of assembling an apparatus for supporting a resting or sleeping occupant. The method may include inserting a cover through a compressible structure. The cover may include a foldover portion including a zipper. The compressible structure is configured to allow airflow through the compressible structure. The method further includes wrapping the foldover portion around an outer rim of the compressible structure. The method further includes manipulating the zipper along the foldover portion to secure the foldover portion about the compressible structure.
In embodiments, a mattress pad can be disposed on a base portion of the cover. The cover may include a foldover portion that extends vertically upwards from the base portion. The cover may then be inserted through, for example, a ring-shaped compressible structure.
In embodiments, the cover may further comprise a zipper along an edge of the foldover portion, for example, an upper edge or a lower edge. During assembly, the foldover portion may be folded over and about the compressible structure, with the zipper closed to secure the foldover portion to the compressible portion.
In embodiments, a mattress pad may be disposed on a base portion of an infant sleep product, for example, a crib or a bassinet. The cover may include a foldover portion inserted through, for example, a ring-shaped compressible structure.
In embodiments, the cover may further include a zipper along the edge of the foldover portion. During assembly, the zipper may secured to the infant sleep product, and the foldover portion may be folded over and about the compressible structure, such that straps may attach to an underside of the infant sleep product. The straps may include hook and loop fasteners securable to complementary regions on the underside of the infant sleep product.
In embodiments, one or more components of the apparatus may include one or more breathable materials, which may be same or different. For example, the mattress pad may include a breathable material. In embodiments, the cover may include a breathable material. In embodiments, the compressible structure may include a rigid material. In some such embodiments, the compressible structure may include of a rigid material having perforations in order to allow air to pass through the compressible structure. Thus, the apparatus as a whole may permit or promote airflow to be substantially breathable, or without substantially restricting or reducing airflow, or without substantially impeding breathability.
In embodiments, the compressible structure may be capable of being bent or rolled up, such that the compressible structure can be bent or rolled up into the shape of a bolster or cushion. In some such embodiments, the apparatus may be assembled while the compressible structure is bent or rolled up, and the fully-assembled apparatus may form a bolster or a cushion.
In embodiments, the apparatus may form a portion of, or be secured to or placed on, a bed, an infant sleep product, a stroller, a seat, a car seat, a cushion, and a product used to support a child above a surface or the ground. In other embodiments, the apparatus may be used as a standalone apparatus to support a resting or sleeping occupant.
Turning to the figures,
As shown in
In some embodiments, the cover 104 includes a base portion 106 and a foldover portion 108. In some embodiments, the base portion 106 may be absent. In some embodiments, the base portion 106 may be of an oval shape, a rectangular shape with rounded or non-rounded edges, or any other shape. In some embodiments, the shape of the base portion 106 is substantially similar to the shape of the mattress pad 102.
In embodiments in which the base portion 106 is present, the base portion is coupled to the foldover portion 108. For example, the foldover portion 108 may extend vertically upward from the base portion 106. In some embodiments, the foldover portion 108 is connected to the outer rim of the base portion 106. In other embodiments, the foldover portion 108 is connected to a substantial portion of the outer rim of the base portion 106.
In some embodiments, the uppermost portion of the foldover portion 108 contains a zipper or other device for connecting one aspect of the uppermost portion of the foldover portion 108 to another aspect of the uppermost portion of the foldover portion 108. Instead of, or in addition to a zipper for securing portions of the foldover portion 108 to each other, the apparatus may include a zipper for securing the foldover portion 108 (or otherwise the cover 104) to an infant sleep product, for example, a crib or a bassinet.
As shown in
In the initial stage of
Although not depicted in
In some embodiments, the compressible structure 200 may be formed as a single piece, for example, as a unitary or integral structure. In other embodiments, the compressible structure 200 may be formed in multiple components that are assembled or coupled together. The components may be assembled or coupled by a manufacturer. In some embodiments, the components may be suitable for assembly by an end user. Further, the components may be substantially flat in an unassembled configuration, yet assume a three-dimensional compressible shape upon assembly. Thus, the compressible structure 200 may be initially unassembled with a substantially low profile, facilitating storage and shipping, and later assembled by a retailer or end user.
Assembly of the sections 212 to the rigid base to form the compressible structure 200 is described with reference to
In this way, the compressible structure 200 may be assembled or disassembled by securing the sections 212 to or removing the sections 212 from the rigid base 204.
After assembly, the compressible structure 200 may be used as the compressible structure 110 described with reference to
While an apparatus may include a cover including a base portion, in other embodiments, a base portion may not be present. Some such embodiments are described with reference to
Thus, the apparatus 300 may include the compressible structure 310 configured to allow airflow through the compressible structure 310, and the cover 304 removably coupled to the compressible structure 310 and overlaying at least a portion of the compressible structure 310. The cover 304 includes a foldover portion (similar to the foldover portion 106).
Compressible structure 310 may be similar to the compressible structures 110 or 200 described herein. The cover 304 may include a zipper 320 along a length or periphery of the cover 304, for securing the cover 304 to an infant sleeping product. In embodiments, the foldover portion of the cover 304 includes the zipper 320 along an edge of the foldover portion. The cover 304 may thus be inserted through the compressible structure 310 with the foldover portion being wrapped around the compressible structure 310, and the zipper 320 being disposed below the compressible structure 310. The cover 304 may further include straps 322 for removably coupling or securing the cover 304 of the apparatus 300 about the support structure 310 to a separate infant sleeping product.
The assembly 400f is ready to be occupied for resting or sleeping. The steps from
Though the disclosed examples include particular arrangements of a number of parts, components, features, and aspects, the disclosure is not limited to only those examples or arrangements shown. Any one or more of the parts, components, features, and aspects of the disclosure can be employed alone or in other arrangements of any two or more of the same.
Although certain product features, functions, components, and parts have been described herein in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all embodiments of the teachings of the disclosure that fairly fall within the scope of permissible equivalents.
Unless otherwise noted, the terms used herein are to be understood according to conventional usage by those of ordinary skill in the relevant art. In addition to the definitions of terms provided below, it is to be understood that as used in the specification and in the claims, “a” or “an” can mean one or more, depending upon the context in which it is used.
Throughout this application, the term “include,” “include(s)” or “including” means “including but not limited to.” Note that certain embodiments may be described relating to a single glass, but the corresponding description should be read to include embodiments of two or more glasses. Different features, variations, and multiple different embodiments are shown and described herein with various details. What has been described in this application at times in terms of specific embodiments is done for illustrative purposes only and without the intent to limit or suggest that what has been conceived is only one particular embodiment or specific embodiments. It is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to any single specific embodiments or enumerated variations. Many modifications, variations and other embodiments will come to mind of those skilled in the art, and which are intended to be and are in fact covered by this disclosure. It is indeed intended that the scope of this disclosure should be determined by a proper legal interpretation and construction of the disclosure, including equivalents, as understood by those of skill in the art relying upon the complete disclosure present at the time of filing.
Conditional language, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain implementations could include, while other implementations do not include, certain features, elements, and/or operations. Thus, such conditional language generally is not intended to imply that features, elements, and/or operations are in any way required for one or more implementations or that one or more implementations necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without user input or prompting, whether these features, elements, and/or operations are included or are to be performed in any particular implementation.
What has been described herein in the present specification and annexed drawings includes examples of systems, apparatuses, methods, devices, and techniques that, individually and in combination, provide for a breathable children's product. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components and/or methods for purposes of describing the various elements of the disclosure, but it can be recognized that many further combinations and permutations of the disclosed elements are possible. Accordingly, it may be apparent that various modifications can be made to the disclosure without departing from the scope thereof. In addition, or as an alternative, other embodiments of the disclosure may be apparent from consideration of the specification and annexed drawings, and practice of the disclosure as presented herein. It is intended that the examples put forth in the specification and annexed drawings be considered, in all respects, as illustrative and not limiting. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/197,865, filed on Jun. 7, 2021, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63197865 | Jun 2021 | US |