Nursing Blanket
An exemplary nursing blanket includes a fabric panel configured to provide cover for at least a portion of a mid-torso area of a user nursing a child, and at least two of the following: a first gathered corner of the panel forming a first pouch for receiving an elbow of the user when the nursing blanket is in a first position, a second gathered corner of the panel forming a second pouch for receiving the other elbow of the user when the nursing blanket is in a second position, a first anchor mechanism attached to the panel and configured to anchor the panel to a shoulder of the user when the nursing blanket is in the first position, and a second anchor mechanism attached to the panel and configured to anchor the panel to the other shoulder of the user when the nursing blanket is in the second position.
The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/837,041 by Diane E. Jensen, filed on Aug. 10, 2006, and entitled NURSING BLANKET, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUND INFORMATIONNursing blankets are commonly used for privacy when nursing a child at a non-private location. Conventional nursing blankets, however, suffer from one or more shortcomings, including, lack of convenience, comfort, and control. For example, certain nursing blankets are not easy to keep in place while nursing, especially when a child has a tendency to move about underneath the blanket or when a user is exposed to wind. Other conventional nursing blankets require a user to inconveniently fasten or engage the blanket for use such as by slipping the blanket over her head, inserting an arm through a sleeve or hole, or tying or otherwise fastening the blanket around her neck. Such product limitations can be quite frustrating to a user. For example, it is not an easy process for a user of such a nursing blanket to discretely switch a nursing child from one breast to another. For these and other reasons, conventional nursing blankets cause many of their users to feel a lack of control, comfort, convenience, and/or privacy when using the blankets.
The accompanying drawings illustrate various embodiments and are a part of the specification. The illustrated embodiments are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the disclosure. Throughout the drawings, identical reference numbers designate identical or similar elements.
Various embodiments of an exemplary blanket are disclosed. The blanket may be used in a variety of ways. For example, an exemplary blanket may be used for privacy when a user is nursing a child. When used in this context, the blanket generally provides a user with improved control, convenience, and privacy as compared to conventional nursing blankets. Other exemplary uses may include, but are not limited to, a cover for a stroller and a pouch for the legs of a child sitting in a stroller.
An exemplary blanket may include a combination of one or more anchor mechanisms and/or one or more pouches configured to provide the user with privacy, convenience, and control when nursing the child. For example, when the blanket is placed in a nursing position, the anchor mechanisms may be configured for anchoring the blanket to, or proximate to, various body parts (e.g., a shoulder and a hip) of the user, thereby helping to hold the blanket in the nursing position. A pouch may be configured to receive an elbow of the user when the blanket is in the nursing position. The insertion of the elbow into the pouch may provide the user with significant control over the movement and positioning of the blanket. An exemplary blanket having an exemplary configuration of anchor mechanisms and pouches is described further below.
In certain embodiments, the blanket may be configured for convenient user transitioning between different functional positions. For example, in a nursing context, the blanket may enable a convenient transition from a first nursing position to a second nursing position. Such a transition may be useful when a user switches a nursing child from one breast to another. These and other features and embodiments of the exemplary nursing blanket will now be described in reference to the Figures.
In certain embodiments, the blanket 100 may be configured for use by a user nursing a child. Accordingly, the panel 110 may be sized appropriately to provide cover for at least a portion of a mid-torso area of the user. An exemplary nursing application of the blanket 100 will be described in more detail further below.
As shown in
In
In other embodiments, the anchor mechanisms 120 may include other mechanisms for anchoring the panel 110 to another object, including, but not limited to, clip fasteners, spring-loaded fasteners, etc.
As shown in
In a nursing context, the curved edge 130 may include one or more concave portions 132-1 and 132-2 (i.e., collectively “concave portions 132” or “neckline curves 132”) configured to provide curvature for accommodating a neckline of a user nursing a child. The curved edge 130 may include a convex portion positioned between the concave portions 132 and configured to extend the coverage provided by the panel 110. In a nursing context, the concave portion 135 of the curved edge 130 may extend coverage over at least a portion of the chest area of the user. Positioning of the blanket 100, including the curved edge 130, for use when nursing a child will be described further below.
The pouches 240 may be positioned along a common edge of the panel 110 of the blanket 100. In the example shown in
In the example shown in
Other embodiments of the blanket 100 may include different numbers of “corner areas,” anchor mechanisms 120, pouches 240, and combinations thereof. For certain embodiments, the blanket 100 may generally include a combination of at least two of the following items: a first pouch, a second pouch, a first anchor mechanism, and a second anchor mechanism. “Corner areas” may or may not correspond with anchor mechanisms 120 or pouches 240. Like the positioning of these elements at different corner areas of the blanket 100, the above combination can help to create a configuration can provide convenience, control, and privacy to a user of the blanket 100.
Returning to
Because each of the pouches 240 includes a side opening, it is convenient for a user to slip her elbow in and out of a pouch 240 as desired. The pouches 240 also enable the user to use an elbow to control the movement and positioning of the blanket 100, while keeping her hands free to work with the child or her clothing. As will be described below, the pouches 240 facilitate convenient transitioning of the blanket 100 between different nursing positions.
While pouches 240-1 and 240-2 may be described as being distinct from one another, the pouch areas form by each may be configured to expand into adjacent channels. In a nursing context, the channels may be configured to receive a forearm or upper arm of the user. When the blanket 100 is in a first nursing position, for example, an elbow of the user may be inserted in pouch 240-1, the forearm of the user may be inserted in channel 255, and the upper arm of the user may be inserted in channel 260-1. When the blanket 100 is in a second nursing position, an elbow of the user may be inserted in pouch 240-2, the forearm of the user may be inserted in channel 255, and the upper arm of the user may be inserted in channel 260-2.
As mentioned, the blanket 100 may be configured for user transitioning between different nursing positions. For example, when a user is nursing a child and the blanket 100 is positioned in a first nursing position as shown in
Once the switch has been made, the blanket 100 can be transitioned to a second nursing position such as illustrated in
From the above-described transition of the blanket 100 from a first nursing position to a second nursing position, it should be understood that the blanket 100 enables a convenient and private transition. Significantly, at least one hand of the user is free to work with her clothing and with the child when making the transition, and the mid-torso of the user remains covered by the panel 110 during the transition. The anchor mechanisms 120 and pouches 140 can free one or both of the hands of the user from having to try to keep the blanket 100 in place while nursing, including while repositioning a child and/or the blanket 100. Moreover, unlike conventional nursing blankets, the user is not required to remove or retie the blanket 100, release and reposition cumbersome fasteners, or insert an arm through a sleeve, to make the switch.
While the above description of the blanket 100 is directed to a nursing application, the blanket 100 is configured for other uses. For example, the blanket 100 may be used as a canopy-type cover for a stroller or car seat. The blanket 100 can be anchored in position while still providing room for air flow and child movement.
As further shown in
Another use of the blanket 100 may include tucking the legs of a child in a stroller into the pouches 240 and/or channel 255 and 260 of the blanket 100.
Another use for the blanket 100 is to cover a child lying on a generally flat surface. The anchor mechanisms 120 can help keep the blanket 100 in place and prevent it from being kicked off or being wind-blown out of position. The child's legs may be tucked into the pouches 240 and/or channels 255 and 260 of the blanket 100. Care providers should of course use caution and actively monitor the child to be sure his head and face are not restricted under the blanket 100.
The preceding description has been presented only to illustrate and describe exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto, and additional embodiments may be implemented, without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims that follow. The above description and accompanying drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.
Claims
1. A nursing blanket comprising:
- a flexible fabric panel configured to provide cover for at least a portion of a mid-torso area of a user nursing a child; and
- a combination of at least two of the following: a first gathered corner of said panel forming a first pouch configured to receive an elbow of the user when the nursing blanket is in a first nursing position, and a second gathered corner of said panel forming a second pouch configured to receive the other elbow of the user when the nursing blanket is in a second nursing position, a first anchor mechanism attached to said panel and configured to anchor said panel to a shoulder of the user when the nursing blanket is in the first nursing position, and a second anchor mechanism attached to said panel and configured to anchor said panel to the other shoulder of the user when the nursing blanket is in the second nursing position.
2. The nursing blanket of claim 1, wherein the nursing blanket is configured for transitioning between the first and second nursing positions.
3. The nursing blanket of claim 1, wherein said first anchor mechanism is configured to anchor said panel proximate to a hip of the user when the nursing blanket is in the second nursing position, and wherein said second anchor mechanism is configured to anchor said panel proximate to the other hip of the user when the nursing blanket is in the first nursing position.
4. The nursing blanket of claim 1, wherein said first anchor mechanism comprises a first weight mechanism and said second anchor mechanism comprises a second weight mechanism.
5. The nursing blanket of claim 1, further comprising a curved edge of said panel positioned between said anchor mechanism and said another anchor mechanism, said curved edge including at least one of the following:
- a first concave portion configured to accommodate a neckline of the user when the nursing blanket is in the first nursing position; and
- a second concave portion configured to accommodate the neckline of the user when the nursing blanket is in the second nursing position.
6. The nursing blanket of claim 5, wherein said curved edge further includes a convex portion configured to extend coverage over a chest area of the user when the nursing blanket is in the first or second nursing position.
7. The nursing blanket of claim 1, wherein said first anchor mechanism is configured to anchor said panel to the shoulder of the user and said second anchor mechanism is configured to anchor said panel to the other shoulder of the user when the nursing blanket is in a transition position, the nursing blanket being configured for transitioning between the transition position and either the first or second nursing position.
8. The nursing blanket of claim 1, wherein said panel includes a plurality of corner areas, said first anchor mechanism being positioned at a first of said corner areas, said second anchor mechanism being positioned at a second of said corner areas, said first pouch being positioned at a third of said corner areas, and said second pouch being positioned at a fourth of said corner areas.
9. The nursing blanket of claim 8, wherein said first and second anchor mechanisms are positioned along a common edge of said panel and said first and second pouches are positioned along an opposite edge of said panel.
10. A blanket comprising:
- a flexible fabric panel having a plurality of corner areas;
- a first weight-based anchor mechanism positioned at a first of said corner areas;
- a second weight-based anchor mechanism positioned at a second of said corner areas;
- a first gathered corner forming a first pouch at a third of said corner areas; and
- a second gathered corner forming a second pouch at a fourth of said corner areas.
11. The blanket of claim 10, wherein said first and second weight-based anchor mechanisms are positioned along a common edge of said panel and said first and second pouches are positioned along an opposite edge of said panel.
12. The blanket of claim 10, wherein said panel is configured to provide cover for at least a portion of a mid-torso area of a user nursing a child when the blanket is in either a first or second nursing position, said first pouch being configured to receive an elbow of the user when the blanket is in the first nursing position, said second pouch being configured to receive the other elbow of the user when the blanket is in the second nursing position.
13. The blanket of claim 10, wherein said panel is configured to provide cover for at least a portion of a mid-torso area of a user nursing a child when the blanket is in either a first or second nursing position, said first weight-based anchor mechanism being configured to anchor said panel to a shoulder of the user when the blanket is in the first nursing position, said second weight-based anchor mechanism being configured to anchor said panel to the other shoulder of the user when the blanket is in the second nursing position.
14. The blanket of claim 13, wherein said first weight-based anchor mechanism is configured to anchor said panel proximate to a hip of the user when the blanket is in the second nursing position, said second weight-based anchor mechanism being configured to anchor said panel proximate to the other hip of the user when the blanket is in the first nursing position.
15. A nursing blanket comprising:
- a flexible fabric panel configured to provide cover for at least a portion of a mid-torso area of a user nursing a child when the nursing blanket is in a nursing position;
- a gathered corner of said panel forming a pouch configured to receive an elbow of the user when the nursing blanket is in the nursing position; and
- an anchor mechanism attached to said panel and configured to anchor said panel to a shoulder of the user when the nursing blanket is in the nursing position.
16. The nursing blanket of claim 15, further comprising another anchor mechanism attached to said panel and configured to anchor said panel at least proximate to a hip of the user when the nursing blanket is in the nursing position.
17. The nursing blanket of claim 16, further comprising another gathered corner of said panel forming another pouch.
18. The nursing blanket of claim 17, wherein the nursing blanket is configured for transitioning from the nursing position to another nursing position, said panel being configured to provide cover for at least a portion of the mid-torso area of the user nursing the child when the nursing blanket is in the other nursing position.
19. The nursing blanket of claim 18, wherein said another pouch is configured to receive the other elbow of the user, said anchor mechanism is configured to anchor said panel proximate to the other hip of the user, and said another anchor mechanism is configured to anchor said panel to the other shoulder of the user when the nursing blanket is in the other nursing position.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 6, 2007
Publication Date: Feb 14, 2008
Applicant: Pookado Products, LLC (Centerville, UT)
Inventor: Diane E. Jensen (Centerville, UT)
Application Number: 11/834,503
International Classification: A41D 1/20 (20060101); A47G 9/00 (20060101); A47G 9/02 (20060101);