INFANT CARRIER SEAT COVER

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a unique infant seat cover that protects a baby's entire body (including the face) while providing maximum “tent space” in an over-the-handle design. The infant seat cover of the present application is easily attached and removed from any infant carrier as a single piece without limiting airflow or access to the baby. In addition, visibility is achieved with roll or fold open windows in a variety of kid themed designs, and convenient storage pockets may be included.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/089,243, filed Aug. 15, 2008, entitled “Infant Carrier Seat Cover,” the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates in general to infant carrier seats and more specifically to a cover for an infant carrier seat.

BACKGROUND

Often, parents place babies in infant carrier seats in order to more easily move around with the baby. Outdoors, a blanket or other cover may be placed over the seated baby to protect the baby from sun, rain, snow, etc. However, blankets and existing infant seat covers suffer from certain drawbacks.

More specifically, partially covering an infant carrier seat with a blanket, and leaving the baby's face exposed, does not protect the baby's face from the elements. Fully covering an infant carrier seat with a blanket closes off the baby and limits air flow and visibility. In addition, a blanket may easily slip off of the infant carrier seat and/or be blow by the wind.

Existing infant seat covers solve some of these problems, but create others. For example, attaching and removing some existing infant seat covers requires multiple pieces of the cover to be zipped together. This creates yet another burden for the busy parent. Some existing infant seat covers include an elastic bottom for attaching the infant seat cover to the carrier. However, this limits airflow and easy access to the baby. Some existing infant seat covers are designed to go under the handle of the carrier. Although this does have the advantage of allowing the carrier to be carried like a purse from an elbow, this type of cover reduces the “tent space” available to the baby and often requires the parent to attach straps to suspend the cover from the carrier's handle.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides an infant seat cover that addresses each of these drawbacks. As described in more detail below, a unique infant seat cover is disclosed that protects a baby's entire body (including the face) while providing maximum “tent space” in an over-the-handle design. The infant seat cover of the present application is easily attached and removed from any infant carrier as a single piece without limiting airflow or access to the baby. In addition, visibility is achieved with roll or fold open windows in a variety of child-themed designs, and convenient storage pockets may be included.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a front of an example infant seat cover according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is perspective view of the back of the example infant seat cover of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Turning to the figures, a perspective view of a front of an example infant seat cover 100 according to the present disclosure is illustrated in FIG. 1. The example infant seat cover 100 goes over the handle of the carrier. Therefore, the infant seat cover 100 includes a handle aperture 102 to allow a user to grab the handle of the infant seat cover 100. In this example, the handle aperture 102 includes an elastic perimeter 104. However, any suitable type of perimeter 104 may be used. For example, the perimeter 104 may be a sewed hem and/or include an adjustable elastic such as an adjustable cord lock drawcord system with a plastic tighter affixed to an elastic string. By using an adjustable elastic, the handle aperture 102 may be adjusted to accommodate different sized handles, different sized hands, and different holding styles. For example, the entire handle may be exposed to accommodate a “basket” holding style wherein the entire arm is placed though the handle and the infant seat is rested on the user's arm near the user's elbow. Alternatively, the handle aperture 102 may be partially or completely closed when the user is not holding the handle.

The one-piece infant seat cover 100 is preferably attached to an infant carrier with a front fitter 106 and a rear fitter. However, a fitter than encompasses all or nearly all of the circumference of the infant carrier may also be used. In either case, the infant seat cover 100 may be attached to almost any standard infant carrier and/or car seat. In this example, the front fitter 106 and the rear fitter include elastic. However, any suitable type of fitter may be used. For example, a bunched sewing area, a drawstring, and/or some other fastener may be used to create a snug fit between the infant seat cover 100 and an infant carrier and/or car seat. In one embodiment, the front fitter and/or the rear fitter may include an adjustable elastic such as an adjustable cord lock drawcord system with a plastic tighter affixed to an elastic string. By using an adjustable elastic, the infant seat cover 100 may accommodate a wide variety of infant seat sizes. In addition, the infant seat cover 100 may attached tightly or loosely.

Because the infant seat cover 100 does not include fitters on the sides, airflow through the carrier is increased, and a user, such as a parent, may easily reach in to the carrier from either side to access the baby inside. In some embodiments, the infant seat cover 100 does not include a front fitter 106 and/or a rear fitter to create an even looser free-flowing fit with the infant carrier.

The example infant seat cover 100 also includes a front window 108. In this example, the front window 108 does not include a barrier. As a result, a user may easily access the baby inside the carrier through the front window 108. FIG. 2 shows an example of a covered rear window. Any window may include a barrier, such as a mesh and/or clear plastic barrier. A mesh or similar barrier allows air to flow through the carrier while still keeping bugs and debris out.

Each window may include a cover. For example, the front window 108 includes a cover 110 in an open position, and the rear window includes a cover 210 in a closed position. Window covers may attach to any side of any window and may open in any suitable manner. In this example, the front cover 110 is rolled up to an open position. Any suitable method of opening a window cover 110, 210 may be used. For example, a window cover 110, 210 may be folded to an open position or zipped open around one or more of the window's edges.

To keep a cover 110, 210 in the open position, the infant seat cover 100 preferably includes a window fastener 112, 212. In this example, each window fastener 112, 212 includes an elastic loop on the window cover 110, 210 and a corresponding button on the infant seat cover body. It will be appreciated that the position of these elements may be reversed, and that any suitable type of window fastener may be used. For example, a snap, Velcro, a hook, or a zipper may be used to secure a window in an open position.

One or more window fasteners may also be used to keep a cover 110, 210 in the closed position (e.g., due to wind). Again, it will be appreciated that the position of the window fastener elements may be reversed, and that any suitable type of window fastener may be used. For example, a snap, Velcro, a hook, or a zipper may be used to secure a window in an closed position.

A window may be placed on any side of the infant seat cover 100. Each of these windows may be any suitable shape and/or size. In some embodiments, the shape and/or size of one or more windows may fit a particular theme 114. For example, a window 108 may appear to be a sunroof or a trunk of a car theme 114. Similarly, the color of any of the elements of the infant seat cover 100 may be coordinated to a theme 114. For example, theme-based additions such as black tires 116 may be added to a car theme 114.

Preferably, the theme 114 for the infant seat cover 100 is geared toward children and/or parents. For example, the infant seat cover 100 may have the appearance of a creature, a character, a vehicle, a sport, etc. Theme based additions to the infant seat cover 100 can be made from the same and/or different materials as the infant seat cover 100. For example, the infant seat cover 100 and/or the theme based additions may be made from cotton and/or polyester. However, any suitable material may be used. In one embodiment, some or all of the infant seat cover 100 and/or the theme based additions mat be made from a material with a sun protection factor (SPF). For example, an SPF liner may be added to the infant seat cover 100 and/or the theme based additions.

Any element of the infant seat cover 100 may be attached in any suitable manner. For example, elements may be sewn, glued, and/or printed on to the infant seat cover 100.

The example infant seat cover 100 also includes a pocket 118 on each side. Pockets may be included in any suitable location on the infant seat cover 100 and may be any suitable shape and size. In some embodiments, one or more pockets may include a pocket fastener to secure the pocket in a closed position. A button, snap, Velcro, hook, zipper or any other suitable fastener may be used to secure a pocket in the closed position.

In summary, persons of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that a unique infant seat cover has been provided. The foregoing description has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the exemplary embodiments disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. It is intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description of examples, but rather by the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. An infant seat cover comprising:

a top portion including a handle aperture;

a front portion attached to the top portion, the front portion including a front fitter;

a rear portion attached to the top portion, the rear portion including a rear fitter; and

a window in at least one of the top portion, the front portion, and the rear portion.

2. The infant seat cover of claim 1, wherein the handle aperture includes a bunched sewing area.

3. The infant seat cover of claim 1, wherein the handle aperture includes a drawstring.

4. The infant seat cover of claim 1, wherein the handle aperture includes elastic.

5. The infant seat cover of claim 4, wherein the elastic includes adjustable elastic.

6. The infant seat cover of claim 5, wherein the adjustable elastic includes an adjustable cord lock drawcord.

7. The infant seat cover of claim 1, wherein the front fitter includes a bunched sewing area.

8. The infant seat cover of claim 1, wherein the front fitter includes a drawstring.

9. The infant seat cover of claim 1, wherein the front fitter includes elastic.

10. The infant seat cover of claim 9, wherein the elastic includes adjustable elastic.

11. The infant seat cover of claim 10, wherein the adjustable elastic includes an adjustable cord lock drawcord.

12. The infant seat cover of claim 1, wherein the rear fitter includes a bunched sewing area.

13. The infant seat cover of claim 1, wherein the rear fitter includes a drawstring.

14. The infant seat cover of claim 1, wherein the rear fitter includes elastic.

15. The infant seat cover of claim 14, wherein the elastic includes adjustable elastic.

16. The infant seat cover of claim 15, wherein the adjustable elastic includes an adjustable cord lock drawcord.

17. The infant seat cover of claim 1, wherein the window includes a barrier.

18. The infant seat cover of claim 17, wherein the barrier includes a mesh material.

19. The infant seat cover of claim 17, wherein the barrier includes a clear plastic material.

20. The infant seat cover of claim 17, wherein the window includes a cover.

21. The infant seat cover of claim 20, further comprising a window fastener wherein the cover is attachable to the window fastener positioned to keep the cover in an open position.

22. The infant seat cover of claim 21, wherein the window fastener includes at least one of a loop, a button, a snap, a hook, and a zipper.

23. The infant seat cover of claim 20, further comprising a window fastener wherein the cover is attachable to the window fastener positioned to keep the cover in a closed position.

24. The infant seat cover of claim 21, wherein the window fastener includes at least one of a loop, a button, a snap, a hook, and a zipper.

25. The infant seat cover of claim 1, wherein at least one of the top portion, the front portion, and the rear portion includes a sun protection factor material.

26. The infant seat cover of claim 1, wherein at least one of the top portion, the front portion, and the rear portion includes a pocket.

27. The infant seat cover of claim 26, further comprising a pocket fastener wherein the pocket is attachable to the pocket fastener positioned to keep the pocket in a closed position.

28. The infant seat cover of claim 27, wherein the pocket fastener includes at least one of a loop, a button, a snap, a hook, and a zipper.