The present invention relates to a blanket. More particularly, the present invention concerns a temperature controlled stroller blanket having a plurality of pockets and configured to control the ambient temperature around a child.
Young children, especially infants, are particularly sensitive to temperature extremes. Maintaining the proper body temperature of a child, therefore, is an important part of the child's health and safety.
Children often are transported outdoors in strollers. Many such strollers are designed to maximize the comfort and safety of the child. For example, to protect the child from the elements—sun, rain, wind, snow, etc.—strollers often include a semi-enclosed, or in some cases fully-enclosed, interior compartment within which the child is contained. The compartment may be surrounded by a retractable canopy and may include a convertible seating device to allow the child to sit in multiple upright or reclined positions. Such strollers also typically include a harness system to secure the child in the stroller.
While it is advantageous to protect a child from the elements, a semi-enclosed, or fully-enclosed, stroller compartment creates an environment in which the ambient temperature within the compartment may vary dramatically based on the exterior conditions. For example, on a hot summer day, it is desirable to enclose the child within the stroller compartment to protect the child from direct exposure to the sun. However, the temperature within the enclosed stroller compartment may increase to levels unsuitable for the child.
Similarly, on a cold winter day, it is desirable to enclose the child within the stroller compartment to protect the child from cold temperatures and the effects of windchill. However, even when the child is well insulated with multiple layers of clothing, the temperature within the enclosed stroller compartment may decrease to levels unsuitable for the child.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide a device to control the ambient temperature within a stroller compartment. Preferably, such a device comprises a readily portable stroller blanket configured to provide heating or cooling of the air within the stroller compartment without the need for complex thermoelectric heating and cooling units requiring a power source.
The prior art has developed numerous types of heating and cooling blankets for highly specialized purposes, however no such prior art blankets are designed to be used in strollers. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,523,354 to Tolbert discloses a cooling blanket designed to be wrapped around a person to reduce the person's body temperature, primarily for medical purposes, such as fever reduction and treatment of night sweats. The device uses thermoelectric cooling units disposed within a blanket. However, the Tolbert device is not specifically designed for use in strollers and would be inappropriate for use on children in hot, summer weather.
Published U.S. Pat. Application US2006/0213156 to Nilfuroshan discloses a blanket designed to be placed on animals, particularly horses, in order to deliver a targeted temperature altering regimen to a specific part of the animal's body. Such device is not specifically designed to be used for humans and has no application for use in strollers.
Accordingly, there is a need for a temperature controlled stroller blanket configured control the ambient temperature around a child in a stroller compartment. Desirably, the stroller blanket includes a plurality of integrated pockets configured to hold hot and cold packs. More desirably, the stroller blanket includes a plurality of slits configured to permit passage of straps from the stroller harness system through the stroller blanket so the child may be secured in the stroller. Most desirably, the stroller blanket is easily constructed, readily portable, comfortable and simple to use, and does not require any external power source.
The present invention relates to a temperature controlled stroller blanket having a plurality of pockets configured to hold hot and cold packs for controlling the ambient temperature around a child in a stroller compartment.
In the preferred embodiment, the temperature controlled stroller blanket of the present invention is configured to be placed beneath a child within the compartment of a stroller. The top side of the blanket preferably is constructed of a soft, plush, comfortable material, such as fleece, designed to be in contact with the child. The bottom side of the blanket preferably is designed of a waterproof material, such as vinyl. The blanket preferably is formed in a quilted manner with an insulating batting disposed between the top side and the bottom side, and piping attached around the perimeter.
The bottom side of the blanket is constructed with a plurality of sealable pockets formed to cover substantially all of the area of the bottom side. The pockets include hook-and-loop (i.e., Velcro®) type closures for sealing (and resealing) the pockets in the preferred embodiment.
The pockets are sized to receive and hold hot and cold packs of the type commonly used to warm or cool food, or to treat injuries, for example. Such packs may be of the reusable variety (heated in the microwave and/or cooled in the freezer) or may be one-time use packets. The pockets preferably are formed from the same waterproof material as the bottom side of the blanket and are lined on one side with a slightly absorptive, insulating material to help absorb any condensation created by the packs and helps insulate the packs.
The blanket also preferably includes a plurality of slits disposed about the area of the blanket. The slits extend through the blanket, from the top of the blanket to the bottom of the blanket. The slits are configured to permit passage of the straps of the stroller harness system through the blanket to secure the child in the stroller with the blanket disposed beneath the child.
In use, heated or cooled packs are placed in the pockets on the bottom side of the blanket and the pockets are sealed. The blanket then is placed along the bottom of the stroller compartment (generally lying flat along the stroller seat), and beneath the child. The stroller harness straps are passed through the slits and a child is secured in the stroller. The heated or cooled packs act to warm or cool the air around the child, creating a comfortable environment within the stroller compartment. Once the packs expire, they may be removed and recharged, or replaced.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and drawings in conjunction with the appended claims.
The benefits and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein:
While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there are shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described several preferred embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.
It should be further understood that the title of this section of the specification, namely, “Detailed Description of the Invention,” relates to a requirement of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and does not imply, nor should be inferred to limit the subject matter disclosed herein.
The present invention relates to a temperature controlled stroller blanket having a plurality of pockets configured to hold hot and cold packs for controlling the ambient temperature around a child in a stroller compartment. In the preferred embodiment, the temperature controlled stroller blanket of the present invention is configured to be placed beneath a child on the seat of the stroller.
As shown in
Blanket 1 preferably is formed in a quilted manner using techniques known to those skilled in the art. That is, blanket 1 comprises a top side 2 and a bottom side 3 (shown in
As shown in
For aesthetic purposes, blanket 1 may also include piping 4, disposed about the perimeter of blanket 1. Moreover, the outer surface of top side 2 may be printed with whimsical decorations or artwork to stimulate and entertain the child.
As shown in
Pockets 5 are formed by affixing pocket walls 6 (as shown in
In the preferred embodiment, pocket walls 6 are affixed to bottom side 3 by sewing the sides and bottoms of pocket walls 6 to bottom side 3 to form pockets 5. The tops of pocket walls 6 are not sewn to bottom side 3 in order to create openings to access pockets 5.
As shown in
Preferably, pockets 5 are sized and disposed such that pockets 5 cover substantially all of the area of bottom side 3. In this manner, the heating and/or cooling effect of temperature packs 8 (as further discussed below) can be distributed across substantially all of the area of blanket 1.
As shown in
Since the interior of each pocket 5 is comprised of a portion of the outer surface of bottom side 3 along with a portion of the inner surface of pocket wall 6, and since the inner surface of pocket wall 6 is backed with a slightly absorptive, insulating material 11 (such as a thin layer of polyester or cotton), condensation created by temperature packs 8 placed in pockets 5 may be advantageously absorbed by insulating material 11. Additionally, insulating material 11 of bottom side 3 and pocket walls 6 advantageously acts to insulate temperature packs 8 to prolong their effectiveness.
As shown in
In use, temperature packs 8 are activated to provide the desired heating or cooling effect and placed into pockets 5 of blanket 1 in the direction of the arrows as shown in
Although
In the summer, when temperature packs 8 produce a cooling effect, temperature packs 8 act to cool the ambient air around the child, providing a pleasant, comfortable environment within the stroller compartment. In the winter, when temperature packs 8 produce a heating effect, temperature packs 8 act to warm the ambient air around the child, again providing a pleasant, comfortable environment within the stroller compartment. Once temperature packs 8 expire, they may be removed and recharged or replaced.
Since the child is separated from temperature packs 8 by top side 2, the interior batting and bottom side 3 of blanket 1, the child is never in direct contact with temperature packs 8. Moreover, the radiated heating or cooling effect of temperature packs 8 is advantageously dispersed as it travels through bottom side 3, the interior batting and top side 2 of blanket 1.
From the foregoing it will be observed that numerous modifications and variations can be effectuated without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the present invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific embodiments illustrated is intended or should be inferred. The disclosure is intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.
In the present disclosure, the words “a” or “an” are to be taken to include both the singular and the plural. Conversely, any reference to plural items shall, where appropriate, include the singular.
All patents referred to herein, are hereby incorporated herein by reference, whether or not specifically done so within the text of this disclosure.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60870761 | Dec 2006 | US |