Toy Tether
An apparatus for tethering an object includes a length of elastic material having a first end with a first baby-safe clasp capable of mechanically coupling the length of elastic to an object suitable for being handled by a baby and a second end opposing the first end, the second end having a second baby-safe clasp capable of mechanically coupling the length of elastic to a child carrier, thereby tethering the object to the child carrier.
The present invention relates generally to tethering objects, and more particularly relates to a tether for securing baby toys to a baby carrier.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONOne problem that parents of young children constantly face is a child's natural compulsion to throw things. As a result, it is not at all uncommon to see toys and other objects emitted from baby strollers as they are pushed through public places. This compulsion routinely results in lost or dirty and unsanitary items, such as pacifiers, bottles, toys, and others. Therefore, parents are forced to constantly monitor their children's handling of an object and to regularly take inventory of all objects within reach of the child. Because many times items are simply lost, parents are also forced to purchase replacement items. Even when the items are found, they cannot be immediately returned to the child due to germs that may have attached themselves to the item when it came into contact with the ground.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,150,504 ('504 Patent) discloses a tether apparatus for releasably attaching juvenile articles to the clothing of an infant. However, the tether of the '504 patent is designed to attach directly to the child. When parents or others pick the child up, they will have to deal with the tethered item as well or will have to take the extra step of unattaching the tether. In addition, the '504 patent requires both a male post-type attachment end and a female loop-type element. These attachment types involve an expense in manufacturing, packing, shipping, add points of failure, and also add complication in operation.
Other tethers and tie downs exist, but none secure baby items through use of baby-safe attachment mechanisms. Therefore a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art as discussed above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONBriefly, in accordance with the present invention, disclosed is an apparatus for tethering an object, where the apparatus includes a length of elastic material having a first end with a first baby-safe clasp capable of mechanically coupling the length of elastic to an object suitable for being handled by a baby and a second end opposing the first end, the second end having a second baby-safe clasp capable of mechanically coupling the length of elastic to a child carrier, thereby tethering the object to the child carrier.
In accordance with another feature, an embodiment of the present invention includes a sleeve of material surrounding at least a portion of the length of elastic material.
In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the baby-safe clasp includes a snap fastener.
In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the baby-safe clasp includes VELCRO.
In accordance with another feature, there is provided a third baby-safe clasp mechanically coupled to the length of elastic between the first end and the second end.
In accordance with yet another feature, the baby-safe clasp includes a first piece of material having a first clasping portion and a second piece of material having a second clasping portion able to securely mate to the first clasping portion.
With objects of the invention in view, there is also provided a length of material having a first fastener portion and a second fastener portion able to securely mate to the first clasping portion.
The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and to explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention.
While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. It is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting; but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention.
The present invention, according to an embodiment, overcomes problems with the prior art by providing a tethering device that easily, quickly, and removably secures virtually any baby-related item to a baby carrier, thereby preventing objects thrown by a child from becoming lost or making contact with the ground.
Described now are exemplary embodiments of the present invention. With reference to the drawings,
The baby stroller 100 includes a baby-holding area 106, designed to comfortably and securely hold a baby. The baby-holding area has sides 108 and 110 to prevent the baby from falling out of or otherwise getting out of the stroller 100. Most strollers 100 also have a restraint 112 that prevents the baby from falling forward and out of the stroller. However, the sides 108, 110 and restraint 112 are not designed to prevent objects from being thrown out of or simply falling out of the baby-holding area.
The baby stroller 100 shown in
With reference now to
In the embodiment shown in
The invention, however, is not limited to any particular type of fastener. For instance, the arms can each have one half of a pair of snap fasteners 226 and 228, as shown at the end 208 of the length of elastic 102 opposing the first end 206. A snap fastener (also called snap, popper, or press stud) is a pair of interlocking discs commonly used in place of buttons to fasten two objects together. Snap fasteners can be attached to the arms by hammering, plying, or sewing. For plying snap fasteners, special snap pliers are readily available. Other types of fasteners can be, for example, magnets, button and a loop, button 302 and a hole 304 (shown in
As shown in
For one embodiment, the tether 100 is of elastic material 202 to provided flexibility and economy of size. When the tether 100 is to be made longer, a baby or parent merely needs to tug on it. This elastic property also allows it to stretch when accidentally trapped between two objects and will not have a tendency to quickly jerk on the baby carrier. The elastic will, instead, exert an increasing force on the carrier. In addition, the elastic property of the tether 100 renders it less of a strangling hazard, even if it somehow became entangled around a baby's neck, it would expand enough to allow the baby to breath.
So that the tether 100 will retain this elastic property, the length of the material sleeve 300 is selected to be substantially equal to the length of the elastic band 102 when fully or significantly stretched. If the material sleeve 300 were the same length of the elastic band 102 at rest, the material sleeve 300, which does not have an elastic property, would prevent the band from stretching. Alternatively, a material having an elastic property, such as spandex, could be selected and made the same length of the elastic band 202.
In other embodiments, the present invention includes one or more additional clasps 306 that are attached to the tether 200 between the first 206 and second 208 ends. The additional clasp 306 advantageously allows multiple toys, or similar objects, to be attached to the tether 200. The additional clasp 306 can have the same characteristics as the other clasps 204 or can have a different clasping mechanism and/or a different loop size to hold objects of a varying sizes. The additional clasp 306 can be located anywhere along the length of the tether 200.
Also shown in
In one embodiment of the present invention, the clasps 204 are removable and can be interchanged with alternate clasps. Examples of alternate clasps include clasps with different loop sizes, clasps with different clasping mechanisms, clasps with different colors or patterns, clasps of different widths, and others.
The present invention provides a versatile device that tethers virtually any object to virtually any other object. The invention is safe to babies and eliminates a parent's need to constantly monitor the objects within reach of their children. The invention can be provided in any material, color, and pattern, so as to give the appearance of an original manufacturer's part. In addition, the invention is not limited to any number of fasteners along it's body or at its ends.
Although specific embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, those having ordinary skill in the art will understand that changes can be made to the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is not to be restricted, therefore, to the specific embodiments, and it is intended that the appended claims cover any and all such applications, modifications, and embodiments within the scope of the present invention.
The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one, or more than one. The term “plurality”, as used herein, is defined as two, or more than two. The term “another”, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having”, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled”, as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically.
Claims
1. An apparatus for tethering an object, the apparatus comprising:
- a length of elastic material having: a first end with a first baby-safe clasp capable of mechanically coupling the length of elastic to an object suitable for being handled by a baby; and a second end opposing the first end, the second end having a second baby-safe clasp capable of mechanically coupling the length of elastic to a child carrier, thereby tethering the object to the child carrier.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
- a sleeve of material surrounding at least a portion of the length of elastic material.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
- the baby-safe clasp includes a snap fastener.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
- the baby-safe clasp includes VELCRO.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
- the baby-safe clasp includes a button.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
- a third baby-safe clasp mechanically coupled to the length of elastic between the first end and the second end.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
- a third baby-safe clasp mechanically coupled to the length of elastic adjacent one of the first end and the second end.
8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the first, the second, and the third baby-safe clasps are removably attached to the length of elastic.
9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the baby-safe clasp comprises:
- a first piece of material having a first clasping portion; and
- a second piece of material having a second clasping portion able to securely mate to the first clasping portion.
10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the first and the second piece of material includes:
- a first end coupled to the length of elastic; and
- a second end opposing the first end and having the second clasping portion.
11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the baby-safe clasp comprises:
- a length of material having a first fastener portion and a second fastener portion able to securely mate to the first clasping portion.
12. An apparatus for tethering an object, the apparatus comprising:
- an elastic band;
- a sleeve surrounding at least a portion of the elastic band;
- a first piece of material at a first end of the elastic band;
- a second piece of material at the first end of the elastic band;
- a first fastener portion attached to the first piece of material;
- a second fastener portion attached to the second piece of material, wherein the second fastener portion mating with the first fastener portion to physically and removably couple the elastic band to an object;
- a third piece of material at a second end of the elastic band;
- a fourth piece of material at the second end of the elastic band;
- a third fastener portion attached to the third piece of material; and
- a fourth fastener portion attached to the fourth piece of material, wherein the fourth fastener portion mating with the third fastener portion to physically and removably couple the elastic band to a baby carrier.
13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the first and second pieces of material are baby safe.
14. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein:
- at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth fastener portions includes at least one of a snap fastener, VELCRO, and a button.
15. The apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:
- a fifth piece of material adjacent one of the first and second ends of the elastic band;
- a sixth piece of material adjacent one of the first and second ends of the elastic band;
- a fifth fastener portion attached to the fifth piece of material; and
- a sixth fastener portion attached to the sixth piece of material, wherein the sixth fastener portion mates to the fifth fastener portion so as to physically couple the elastic band to a baby toy.
16. An apparatus for tethering an object, the apparatus comprising: an elastic band having:
- a first end, the first end having at least one of: a first fastener having: a first piece of material having: a first fastener portion; and a second fastener portion mating with the first fastener portion physically and removably coupling the elastic band to an object; and a second fastener having: a first piece of material; a second piece of material; a first fastener portion attached to the first piece of material; a second fastener portion attached to the second piece of material, wherein the second fastener portion mates to the first fastener portion physically and removably coupling the elastic band to an object; and
- a second end, the second end having at least one of: a third fastener having: a third piece of material having: a third fastener portion; and a fourth fastener portion mating to the third fastener portion physically and removably coupling the elastic band to a baby-safe object; and a fourth fastener having: a third piece of material; a fourth piece of material; a third fastener portion attached to the third piece of material; a fourth fastener portion attached to the fourth piece of material, the fourth fastener portion mating to the third fastener portion so physically and removably coupling the elastic band to a baby-safe object.
17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the tether is baby safe.
18. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein:
- at least one of the fastener portions includes at least one of a snap fastener, VELCRO, and a button.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 28, 2007
Publication Date: Jan 1, 2009
Inventors: Jennifer Richard (Miramar, FL), Kelly Daly (Delray Beach, FL)
Application Number: 11/769,800