Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Background of the Invention:
The invention provides an infant/child product that is 5 products in 1. As
Canadian
patent #2089947 recognizes that the need for multifunction is very important
for
parents. The multi function helps keep costs down in caring for babies and
children.
Another important feature for parents is items designed to grow with their
children, it
becomes wasteful and frustrating purchasing items and then giving them away a
few
short months later. This invention can be used as young as 0 and enjoyed till
the teen
years.
Currently there are several different versions of car seat bags that exist,
most are only
one function items, there are a few that provide 2 or functions such as
Canadian patent
#2089947. Although several different car seat bags exist Golfy jumper has made
many
different versions) and sell well commercially, there has been a continuing
need for
improvement when it comes to function and practicality of baby products.
Canadian patent #2089947 also recognizes that it is important to keep a child
warm
while in the car seat however, it fastens around the child then the
hamess/restraint is
put on over top. It is designed to sit under the restraint system which the
Ontario
government has recommended is not ideal to keep a child safe while in a car
seat, due
to the bulk of the fabric interfering with the restraint system.
U.S. patent #4,993,090 recognizes the need to keep babies warm while in the
car seat.
It also recognizes that it is important for parents to be able to easily
remove the baby
and the blanket from a car seat, and that it is important that the blanket not
interfere
with the harness restraint system. This invention has snaps along all the
slits which do
up to keep the baby warm when taken out of the seat however the snaps make it
more
difficult to remove the baby and blanket quickly and easily. U.S. patent
#4,993,090
does not recognize the need for multifunctional baby products.
U.S. patent #5,611,095, invented by Schneider recognizes the need for
multifunctional
baby products; this invention converts from a baby wrap to a blanket, bunting,
pad and
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shoulder wrap. Schneider also describes the need for a blanket that can be
used in the
car seat without falting off through the prior art section of the patent.
However,
Schneider has not recognized the need to create a product that can grow with
the child
and be useful after the childs early years.
AII prior art that exists are very different configurations than this
invention. There are no
baby blanket inventions that wrap around a baby in a car seat and stroller
(not
interfering with the hamess system), are multifunctionat products, and can be
used into
the early teen years.
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Summary of the Invention:
This invention converts from a baby blanket (Fig. 1), to a car seat bag (Fig.
10 and 11),
stroller bag (Fig. 12 and 13), toddler sfeeping bag (Fig.6), and a pillow
(Fig. 9).
This invention allows parents to have a blanket with them at all times and not
take up
valuable room in their diaper bag. The invention is all one piece, most car
seat bags (sold
in stores) have compartments that either zip off completely, or open
impractically. There
are no removable parts to be misplaced. This blanket opens up and allows the
baby to sit
comfortably and not overheat while indoors when in a carrier or stroller, it
then zips up and
covers the baby keeping them warm when heading outside in cooler weather. When
the
blanket is open in the car seat or stroller it does not drag on the ground.
The invention considers that the Ontario government recommends that
babies/small
children not wear bulky jackets or sweaters while in the car seat. Most parent
still do
because there is no other solution to how to keep their child warm while in
the car and
transferring to the stroller. Patent #2089947 also recognized the need for a
car seat bag,
although they did not take into account that the bulk of the bag being paced
under the car
seat safety restraints actually could be dangerous if there was a car
accident. The bulk
interferes with the restraints, they need to be as close to the infant/childs'
body as possible
in order to function properly.
This invention even eliminates the needs for hats and mittens for young
babies; since it can
zip up to their shoulders keeping their hands inside, the top flap (5a) can
flip over to contain
the childs' head replacing the need for a hat. Even once the child outgrows
the sleeping
bag function the child can still have the pillow for their bed or to be used
for traveling.
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Detailed Description of the Invention:
The blanket is approx. 36" by 36" square (3) (4), made out of two layers of
polar fleece
clean finished together with a double ended zipper (1 a) (1 b) on two sides of
the square.
Although the blanket (3) (4) can be made out of many different fabrics as long
as they have
a soft hand and are washable and durable.
The length of the zipper (1a) (1b) is approx. 30" long allowing the sleeping
bag!car seat
bag and stroller bag to adjust to any sized baby from 0-2years old. The zipper
(1 a) (1 b)
can be left open for smaller/younger babies, and zipped up higher for
larger/older babies.
The zipper (1a) (1 b) is double ended allowing the parent to open the blanket
from the top
or bottom, allowing easy access for diaper changes etc. The zipper 1(a) (b) is
back tacked
at the top and bottom to secure it and keep it from detaching from the
blanket.
The large double layered blanket (3) (4) has 3 flaps (5a) (5b) (5c) sewn to
the back of the
blanket. Flap (5a) is two layers of fabric stitched together and stitched to
the upper portion
of the blanket (4) along the top and both sides. Flap (5b) is two layers of
fabric stitched
together and stitched to the lower portion of the blanket (4) along the bottom
and both
sides. There is one long vertical slit (2a) approx 17" in length starting from
the upper
portion of the blanket, and one lower horizontal slit (2b) that is 4'f2 "
long, both are stitched
with a single needle machine around the slits holding the two layers of fabric
together.
Flap 5(c) is two layers of fabric sewn together and attached to the blanket
with stitching
across the top seam and bottom seam of the flap 5(c). Flap 5(c) is located
behind the
large vertical slit 2(a) to keep the baby warm when removed from a seat while
still bundled
in the blanket.
The placement of the slits (2a) (2b) allows the blanket to fit into any 3 or 5
point restraint
system in car seats as well as fit any stroller. The vertical slit (2a) allows
the blanket to be
easily removed with the baby!child inside it, whereas most car seat bags (sold
in stores)
have several individual slits that need the full safety harness removed in
order to remove
the car seat bag. Most car seat bags have five small slits on either side for
the safety
CA 02585254 2007-04-10
straps to pass through. The problem with this is that in order for the parent
to remove the
blanket from the car seat the parent has to release the strap from behind the
seat
which is very time consuming and difficult to do while caring for a baby. This
invention
allows the parent to slide the whole harness through the larger slit (2a) very
quickly and
efficiently, there is no need to completely release the safety straps. The
child can be taken
out of the seat while still bundled in the blanket.
This invention allows parents to keep the child warm while transporting the
child from a
building to the car seat. It makes transferring the child from the car seat to
stroller easy
while keeping the child warm. It also allows parents to easily take the child
out of the
stroller while remaining in the bag and transport them to a change table,
making diaper
changes more efficient. There is a horizontal slit (2b) above the lower flap
(5b) for the
safety hamess buckle to fit through. The placement of the slits also allows
for the blanket
to be place in various strollers that are also widely used for babies and
toddlers. The slits
(2a) (2b) are also positioned enabling the blanket to still fit in car seats
when they are
adjusted to accommodate the childs growth.
The blanket (3) (4) has the ability to transform into a stroller bag and car
seat bag. When
the blanket has been installed in the seat simply bring both sides of the
zipper (1 a) (1b)
together and fasten the zipper. Take the lc;wer flap (5b) and flip it over the
childs feet.
This works in both the stroller and car seat. The blanket can also be used as
a toddler
sleeping bag when it is folded and fastened in the above described manner.
The blanket (3)(4) has the ability to transform into a pillow. The blanket (3)
(4) in sleeping
bag form as shown in Fig. 6, folds over towards the bottom flap shown in Fig.
7. The
blanket is then folded over once more towards the bottom flap shown in Fig. 8
and put
inside the lower flap (5b) as shown in Fig 9 this creates a pillow.
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Description of the Figures:
Fig. #1: Shows the front of the blanket (3)
Fig. #2: Shows the back side of the blanket (4), there are 3 double layered
flaps, 5(a)
upper flap stitched on the top and both sides, 5(b) lower flap stitched on the
bottom and
both sides, 5(c) center flap stitched on the top and bottom only.
Fig. #3: Shows the first step of converting the blanket (3) (4) into the
sleeping bag. With
zipper (1 a) (1 b) running in the vertical direction fold the sides with the
zipper (1 a) (1b)
towards the center.
Fig. #4: Shows the second step to convert the blanket (3) (4) to the sleeping
bag. Do
up the zipper (1 a) (1 b).
Fig #5: Shows the third step to convert the blanket (3) (4) to the sleeping
bag. Fold the
lower flap (5b) from the back, over the bottom half of blanket (3) (4) towards
the front.
Fig. #6" Shows the blanket (3) (4) as a sleeping bag.
Fig. #7: Shows the first step to convert sleeping bag to pillow. Fold top hem
of blanket
(3) (4) towards top hem of lower flap (5b).
Fig.#8: Shows second step to convert sleeping bag to pillow. Fold over towards
lower
pocket (5b) and stuff the folded blanket (3) (4) into the lower flap (5b).
Fig. #9: Shows the blanket (3) (4) as a pillow
Fig. #1 0: Shows how blanket (3) (4) fits into the five point harness system.
The straps
and buckles fit in the large slit (2a) opened up and the lower buckle fits
into horizontal
slit (2b). Once the blanket (3) (4) is in the seat (stroller seat or car
seat), follow the
steps to convert blanket (3) (4) to the sleeping bag if baby needs to be
warmer.
Fig. #11: Shows the blanket (3) (4), wrapped around the baby while in a car
seat.
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Fig. #12: Shows how the blanket (3) (4) fits into a three point hamess system.
The
buckles and straps thread through the opened fong slit (2a) and the lower
buckle and
strap thread through the horizontal slit (2b). Once blanket (3) (4) is in the
seat (stroller
seat or car seat), follow steps to convert blanket (3) (4) to the sleeping bag
if baby
needs to be warmer.
