Disposable sanitary cover for public child seats

Abstract

An elasticized edging stretches around a child seat and a single layer water proof seat cover fabric completely covers a child seat. Spaced slits in the back create seat belt openings and spaced openings in the front create leg openings. The white tear proof fabric is disposable and adapted for a child to write and draw on the seat cover.

Description

CLAIM OF PROVISIONAL APPLICATION RIGHTS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/502,647, filed on Sep. 12, 2003.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a protective sanitary cover and more particularly relates to a disposable protective cover that shields children from germs and dirt that may be found on shopping carts, high chairs, and similar publicly used seating devices and includes a write-on surface for children to entertain themselves while an adult is shopping and an elasticized edge for easy one-hand installation and removal.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Placing infants or young children in the child seats of public shopping carts presents the problems of sanitation. Shopping carts, high chairs or infant seats provided by supermarkets, restaurants or shopping malls are used by the public. Generally, these devices are not washed or disinfected between uses. Because of the repeated use of these devices by the public, these devices present problems of sanitation. Germs left as a result of the repeated use can easily be passed to the child occupant as a result of the child coming in contact with the shopping cart, car seat, public high chair, or publicly used strollers. Covering the cart seat and all surrounding areas from contact with the child is desirable. Installing a covering can be a problem, especially if the parent is holding the child. Entertainment for a child while in the seat is also an important consideration for a parent to enjoy shopping or dining. Prior art devices do not adequately address these problems. Prior art disposable devices often rely on adhesives for attaching the covers.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,129,418, issued Oct. 10, 2000 to Bergh, indicates a cushion for a shopping cart seat that provides a child riding in a shopping cart seat with a comfortable, safe, sanitary and entertaining environment. The cushion easily envelopes all surrounding areas of the shopping cart seat, giving complete coverage over the handle, seat, sides, top edges and back, and includes an attached pouch for storing the cushion. The pouch has a sealable opening, and is optionally provided with entertainment features.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,967,606, issued Oct. 19, 1999 to Bergh, puts forth a universal, adaptable shopping cart cushion that easily envelopes all surrounding areas of the shopping cart seat giving complete coverage over the handle, seat, sides, top edges and back. The adjustable perimeter seam allows easy adaptability to various size shopping carts. This cushion provides a child riding in a shopping cart seat, with a comfortable, safe, and sanitary environment. Safety seat belts are installed for the child's safety and security and an adjustable perimeter seam simplifies and expedites the installation and removal of the cushioned cover. An elastic strap secures the cushion when rolled for easy, compact storage. Sanitation is maintained by an easy, washable material and design. The cushion provides protection from being pinched, scratched or harmed by the hard movable shopping cart seat and protection from the results of various weather conditions.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,578,380, issued May 11, 1971 to Jacobus, illustrates a sanitary cover for a shopping cart seat. The cover comprises a thin sheet of pliable material configured to removably fit the seat of a conventional shopping cart seat in a covering relation to all of the cart surfaces forming a portion of and adjacent to such a seat. The sheet is formed of a double back portion slidable onto the back of a shopping cart seat, a central portion fitting the sides, bottom and front of the seat with openings to match the openings of the cart seat and an edge portion disposable over the top cart bars and handle with elastic or tie means for securing the cover in position.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,655,734, issued Dec. 2, 2003 to Hunter, describes a disposable sanitary seat cover, which includes a base sheet having a seat cover area provided with passages that are adapted for providing an opening through the seat cover area for a child's legs. Passages are provided on the seat cover area through which a safety belt may be positioned.

U.S. patent application No. 20040135407, published Jul. 15, 2004 by Hunter, is for a disposable sanitary seat cover, which includes a base sheet having a seat cover area provided with passages that are adapted for providing an opening through the seat cover area for a child's legs. Passages are provided on the seat cover area through which a safety belt may be positioned.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,491,996, issued Dec. 10, 2002 to Digangi, discloses a protective, sanitary cover for use on a shopping cart, infant seat and similar child seating devices. The cover is a strong, absorbent material having tabs which carry fasteners to secure the cover in place. Perforated areas are provided which can be removed or punched out to allow the child's legs to extend through the cover and through the openings, such as the leg receiving openings in a shopping cart seat.

U.S. patent application No. 20010048235, published Dec. 6, 2001 by Hartranft, shows a cover for child safety seats, particularly those attached to shopping carts. The cover is preferably comprised of a rectangular padded section and a similarly configured rectangular liner section of liquid impervious material, the padded section consisting of a central rectangular section and rear, front, and side flap sections for securing the cover to the child seat, and preferably having aperture for receiving a restraining strap or belt attached to a child safety seat, padded covers for the safety straps of the seat, and the rear and side flap sections are fitted with external pockets designed for receipt of personal items of the infant, small child, or parent or guardian. An alternate disposable embodiment is also provided.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,428,098, issued Aug. 6, 2002 to Allbaugh, is for a one-piece, flexible liner for a high chair or other type of child seat. The liner includes: a) a central, generally square-shaped seat portion; b) a pair of arm portions extending from opposite sides of the seat portion; c) a front portion extending from a third side of the seat portion; d) a generally rectangular-shaped back portion extending from a fourth side of the seat portion opposite to the front portion; e) one or more fastening mechanisms for detachably attaching the liner to the high chair or child seat; and f) a storage pouch, which is a part of the liner, for holding the folded liner. The present invention also encompasses a disposable seat liner which includes: (a) an upper layer of flexible, liquid-permeable sheet material; (b) a middle layer of an absorbent core material; (c) a lower layer of liquid impermeable material, and (d) a detachable adhesive on the lower layer for contacting the chair seat. A method for folding a one-piece liner into an attached storage pouch is also included herein.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,517,155, issued Feb. 11, 2003 to Landine, provides a disposable shopping cart seat liner, for use in protecting a shopping cart and its contents from contamination from a child seated therein. The device comprises a bottom panel, a front panel, a rear panel, and a pair of side panels. The bottom panel, front panel, rear panel, and side panels are attached to create a vessel which is open at a top lip for allowing the child to be seated: therein, and which is capable of folding flat prior to use. Leg cutouts are pre-scored on the front panel to create leg openings which allow the child's legs to extend outward from the seat liner therethrough.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,669,289, issued Dec. 30, 2003 to Hays, shows an infant seat with a shopping cart system. The infant seat includes base, front, rear, and side panels. A box-like region provides for the receipt of an infant. The box-like region is enclosed at its lower extent to form a lower periphery and at its upper extent to form an upper periphery. The upper periphery is greater than the lower periphery. A tubular hem is formed in the upper periphery. An elastic band is located within the hem. The upper periphery is rolled over into a scroll-like cross section to preclude an infant within the infant seat from touching the shopping cart. Large apertures are provided in the rear panel for the passage of the legs of an infant within the infant seat. Small vertical slits are provided in the front panel for the passage of the seat belt. The seat belt provides for the removable retention of an infant within the infant seat.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,891,454, issued Jan. 2, 1990 to Perdelwitz, Jr., claims a disposable infant seat liner with shoulder strap receiving slots and leg or crotch strap receiving slots designed to fit infant seat liners having various strap placements. Infant carrier handle or strap receiving slots may also be included, and may be of an arcuate shape, for receiving infant carrier handles or waist straps. The strap receiving slots may be selectively opened by a user and may also be perforated to facilitate this selective opening.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,655,502, issued Apr. 7, 1987 to Houllis, concerns a multi-adjustable, foldable seat cushion having at least one blank for use in the seat basket of a shopping cart. The device is constructed so that the back portion of the seat cushion can be adjusted for the width of the seat basket and affixed in position thereupon, while the front portion of the seat cushion may be rolled about the handle of the shopping cart and secured with an adjustable fastener. The invention includes a pair of apertures provided for legs of the child through the seat cushion, a seat belt for retention of the infant therein and accessory tethering straps for the application of toys or like objects for the entertainment of the child while seated upon the seat cushion. An alternate cushion pad device for a shopping cart is also provided, which is constructed similarly to a paper diaper and is disposable in the same fashion.

What is needed is a sanitary cover for public shopping cart seats, high chairs, strollers, and other seats which covers all areas of contact by the child, and is easy to install, does not rely on adhesives and provides entertainment for the child.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a sanitary cover for public shopping cart seats, high chairs, booster seats, strollers, rental child car seats and other seats, which covers all areas of contact by the child, and provides an elasticized edge around the cover to make it easy to install with one hand by stretching the material around the seat so that the elastic holds the cover in place without the need for adhesives.

Another object of the present invention is that it provides a solid white cover which becomes a blank canvas for children to entertain themselves by drawing or writing on the cover while they are sitting and the parent is shopping or eating.

A contributory object of the present invention is to provide a sanitary shopping cart cover that is made of sturdy disposable material with a single durable layer which resists rips or tears and can be used effectively several times if necessary, but is inexpensive enough to be disposed of after a single use.

An ensuing object of the present invention is to provide a sanitary cover that is structured in a very wide oval shape adapted to fit in all shopping carts, including the double-wide shopping carts at warehouse stores, and may also be used in restaurant highchairs, public strollers, public infant seats, rental car seats or other similar publicly used seating devices.

Yet one more object of the present invention is to fabricate the cover of a water-resistant disposable fabric that keeps children dry and provides a barrier between them and the germs.

One more object of the present invention is to provide a child seat cover with slits in a back portion of the cover to allow seat belts to fit through the slits to be used with the cover to secure the child in the seat.

A still further object of the present invention is that the single layer cover folds up compactly so that several of the covers can be packaged together in a reusable, clear, vinyl zipper storage pouch which keeps them clean and all together and the pouch fits easily in a diaper bag.

In brief, a disposable sanitary cover structured in wide oval shape adapted to fit all sizes of child seats such as those on shopping carts, including the double-wide shopping carts at warehouse stores, and may also be used in restaurant highchairs, public strollers, public infant seats, rental car seats or other similar publicly used seating devices and provides complete coverage of all parts of the seat which could be contacted by the child. Slits in the back of the cover enable a seat belt to fit through the slits from the chair to attach around the child to hold the child securely in the seat. Spaced rectangular openings in the front of the cover form leg openings to let the legs of the child extend out.

An elastic edging, which may be sewn onto the material around the oval edge surrounds the cover so that the edge on one side may be grasped with one hand and easily installed on the seat by hanging the opposite edge over one side of the seat and stretching the cover over the remainder of the seat and releasing the edge so that the elastic edging secures the cover in place on the seat.

The seat cover material is a sturdy single layer of white material which resists rips and tears and may be reused a few times, but is inexpensive enough to be disposed of after a single use. The white material may be used by the child to draw or write on to entertain the child.

An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a barrier from germs and dirt.

A further advantage of the present invention is that it can be used on any shopping cart seat, high chair, stroller, or other public infant seat.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it is disposable.

A corollary advantage of the present invention is that it is easy to install with one hand.

Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it is inexpensive to manufacture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other details of my invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are furnished only by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention, and in which drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the disposable child seat cover of the present invention showing the elasticized edging, seat belt slits, and leg opening slits;

FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view of an edge of the seat cover of FIG. 1 showing the elasticized strip sewn onto the edge of the material;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the disposable seat cover of FIG. 1 mounted on a shopping cart with a child in the seat;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the disposable seat cover of FIG. 1 mounted on a restaurant type high chair.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In FIGS. 1-3, a disposable sanitary cover 20 is universally adaptable for a variety of public child seats including those on regular shopping carts, larger warehouse store shopping carts, restaurant high chairs, restaurant booster seats, rental strollers, car rental child seats and other public child seats provides complete coverage of all parts of the seat which could be contacted by the child in the seat.

A planar sheet of disposable fabric 21 comprises a seat cover 20 adapted to completely cover any of a variety of types and sizes of public child seats including a child seat on a shopping cart 30, as in FIG. 2, and a highchair 40, as in FIG. 3. An encircling elasticized edge 22 around the seat cover is adapted to be stretched around any of a variety of types and sizes of public child seats to secure the seat cover to a public child seat. The encircling elasticized edge is preferably formed by an elasticized strip 22 sewn onto the fabric 21 around the edge, as shown in FIG. 1A.

A pair of slits 23 cut into a back portion of the seat cover are adapted to receive two sides of a seat belt 31, as seen in FIG. 2, through the pair of spaced vertical slits for securing a child to a public child seat. A pair of spaced leg openings 24, preferably rectangular as indicated in FIG. 1, cut into a front portion of the seat cover adapted to receive a pair of legs of a child therethrough.

The seat cover 20 is preferably formed of a white write-on material adapted to enable a child sitting on the seat cover to write and draw with writing and drawing implements, such as crayons 10, on the seat cover so that a child may be entertained in making pictures 28 or writing on the seat cover, as seen in FIG. 2.

The fabric is preferably a single layer of inexpensive water proof and tear proof material so that the seat cover may be used multiple times without damage to the seat cover and yet is inexpensive enough to be thrown away after a single use.

The seat cover may be an elongated rectangle or preferably an elongated oval shape sufficiently long and wide, preferably 60 inches by 45 inches, to accommodate wide child seats to drape over all sides of a wide child seat such as a warehouse market shopping cart to completely cover the child seat.

The seat cover 20 is sufficiently flexible and the edging 22 sufficiently elasticized so that the seat cover is adapted to be grasped on one edge by a single hand of a user and adapted for an opposite edge to be hooked under one side of a child seat and adapted for the seat cover to be stretched over a child seat in a circular manner hooking the elasticized edge around a periphery of a child seat so that the elasticized edge secures the seat cover to a child seat completely covering a child seat.

It is understood that the preceding description is given merely by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention and that various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Claims

1. A disposable sanitary cover universally adaptable for a variety of public child seats including those on regular shopping carts, larger warehouse store shopping carts, restaurant high chairs, restaurant booster seats, rental strollers, car rental child seats and other public child seats provides complete coverage of all parts of the seat which could be contacted by the child in the seat, the cover comprising:

a planar sheet of disposable fabric comprising a seat cover adapted to completely cover any of a variety of types and sizes of public child seats, an encircling elasticized edge around the seat cover adapted to be stretched around any of a variety of types and sizes of public child seats to secure the seat cover to a public child seat, the seat cover having a pair of slits cut into a back portion of the seat cover adapted to receive two sides of a seat belt through the pair of spaced vertical slits for securing a child to a public child seat and a pair of spaced leg openings in a front portion of the seat cover to receive a pair of legs of a child therethrough, the seat cover formed of a write-on material adapted to enable a child sitting on the seat cover to draw and write on the seat cover.

2. The cover of claim 1 wherein the encircling elasticized edge is formed by an elasticized strip sewn onto the fabric around an outer edge of the fabric.

3. The cover of claim 1 wherein the fabric is water proof.

4. The cover of claim 1 wherein the fabric is made of a single layer of tear proof material.

5. The cover of claim 1 wherein the seat cover is an elongated oval shape to accommodate wide child seats.

6. The cover of claim 1 wherein the seat cover is an elongated rectangular shape to accommodate wide child seats.

7. The cover of claim 1 wherein the seat cover is sufficiently long and wide to drape over all sides of a wide child seat on a warehouse market shopping cart to completely cover the child seat.

8. The cover of claim 7 wherein the seat cover is 60 inches long and 45 inches wide.

9. The cover of claim 1 wherein the seat cover is sufficiently flexible and the edging sufficiently elasticized so that the seat cover is adapted to be grasped on one edge by a single hand of a user and adapted for an opposite edge to be hooked under one side of a child seat and adapted for the seat cover to be stretched over a child seat in a circular manner hooking the elasticized edge around a periphery of a child seat so that the elasticized edge secures the seat cover to a child seat completely covering a child seat.

10. The cover of claim 1 wherein the fabric is a white material adapted to receive markings thereon made by drawing and writing implements.

11. The cover of claim 1 wherein the fabric is sufficiently inexpensive to enable the seat cover to be discarded after a single use.

12. The cover of claim 1 wherein the legs openings are formed by a spaced pair of rectangular leg openings.