Patents by Inventor Debra L. Dunne

Debra L. Dunne has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6363558
    Abstract: An infant head support which fits within an infant carrier, swing, stroller, or car seat, prevents the infant's head from falling to one side and protects the infant from injury during transport. The infant head support includes a main body portion and a head cushion element extending around a portion of the body portion. The body portion includes two panels which cooperate to facilitate securement of the support within the infant carrier or other device having shoulder restraint straps. The two panels, which are releasably coupled to one another, detach to form a wide opening for receiving simultaneously the shoulder restraint straps, including a V- or Y-joint. The panels can be re-attached to one another after the shoulder restraint straps have been threaded through the support, thereby separating the straps from one another and guiding the straps over the infant's shoulders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Noel Joanna, Inc.
    Inventor: Debra L. Dunne
  • Patent number: 5979981
    Abstract: An adjustable head support for use with a child ranging in size from a small infant to a toddler. A soft pliable body structure has a main body portion and an upper portion, and a pair of flanking openings provided on opposite sides between the main body portion and the upper portion. A pair of fastener elements is located on the main body portion adjacent a different one of a pair of flanking openings. The upper portion has a cushion element permanently arranged along the periphery and terminating in a pair of ends. Each end has a fastener engagement member adapted to be secured by a corresponding one of the fastener elements. A plurality of supplemental fastener elements is arranged on the upper portion inboard of the cushion element, and a supplemental cushion element having mating fastener elements removably attached to the upper portion inboard of the cushion element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Noel Joanna Inc.
    Inventors: Debra L. Dunne, Shirley Pepys
  • Patent number: 5857598
    Abstract: An infant sling carrier has a carrier panel terminating in a tail portion extending from one end. A pair of buckle rings is attached to the carrier panel at the opposite end and functions in concert with the tail portion to provide a sling of adjustable length for carrying an infant. The free end of the tail portion is provided with a safety stop member which can be maneuvered through the buckle rings when creating the sling, but which has a long dimension which will not pass through the buckle rings if the tail portion accidentally releases and slides through the buckle rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Noel Joanna, Inc.
    Inventor: Debra L. Dunne
  • Patent number: 5735576
    Abstract: A head support which grows with the child from small infant to advanced toddler. A soft body structure has a central portion comprising an upper, intermediate and lower section and a pair of flanking padded wing portions secured to the upper central portion and having a fold seam at the junction with the upper central portion. The intermediate central portion has a pair of flanking tab portions each provided with a fastener strip, and the lower central portion terminates in a pair of leg portions separated by a gap. The upper side edges of the lower central portion are provided with a plurality of fastener strips. A plurality of fastener tabs are attached to the lower edge of each wing portion in order to provide adjustment in three dimensions of the relative attitudes of the wing portions in the central body portion. The support can be used in a folded attitude or an upstanding attitude, depending on the size of the child.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Noel Joanna, Inc.
    Inventors: Shirley Pepys, Debra L. Dunne