BLANKET FOR BABY CARRIER

Abstract

A blanket for securing in combination a baby and a baby carrier, the blanket including a front and back panels to form a pouch receiving the baby and the baby carrier. The blanket with the baby and the carrier are supported on the shoulder or neck a person by the strap of the carrier. Lateral panels attached to the pouch secure the blanket to the body of the person.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A. Field of Invention

This invention pertains to a blanket that is disposed about and surrounds a baby in a baby carrier. The blanket is particularly suited for protecting a baby during harsh weather conditions (e.g., rain, snow, etc.) as it is being carried by an adult, typically on the adults chest.

B. Background of the Invention

Traditionally, babies were carried by placing them in strollers pushed around by an adult. However, strollers are not very practical, especially for small babies, and they hamper the movement of the adult. Baby carriers have become a popular means of carrying babies, especially if they are very young. These carriers usually consist of a supporting body that surrounds the baby and several straps to attach the body to the waist and shoulders or neck of the adult carrying the baby. The supporting body could be made of a hard, plastic material.

Carriers of this type are advantageous for several reasons:

• • They are safe.
  • They provide a means of carrying the baby without interfering with the movement of the adult,
  • They leave the adults hands free to carry other items or do other chores.
  • They put the baby in close proximity and contact with the adults body, thereby providing the baby with warmth and a sense of security;
  • They allow the baby to move his/her head to look around.

One disadvantage of sling type carriers is that they do not provide sufficient warmth and protection against the elements when the weather gets cold. The usual recourse for an adult in such situations is to bundle up the baby in warm clothes, blankets, hats, etc. Of course, these additional garments make the baby uncomfortable since he/she cannot move around too much. In addition, an overdressed baby is harder to put into a carrier, especially as the baby grows bigger.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention takes a different approach by providing a blanket that is shaped and configured to drape or surround both the baby and the carrier. The blanket is designed to surround the baby completely (except for the face). Accordingly, the baby can be placed into the carrier first and the baby and the carrier are placed in the blanket, or the blanket is wrapped around the baby and the carrier while the carrier and baby are affixed to the adult.

Advantageously, the blanket includes front and main panels forming a pouch with an opening at the top for the baby's face. The straps of the carrier extend through the opening. Side panels are attached to the pouch and are provided with two sets of straps. One set of straps is deployed around the carrier to secure the blanket in plate. The second set of straps together with the straps from the carrier are used to attach and support the baby and the carrier on the chest of an adult.

A top panel is attached to the rear panel and can be shaped to form a hood. The top panel is preferably detachable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a bottom view of a blanket constructed in accordance with this invention opened so that it can receive a baby in a carrier;

FIG. 2 shows a top view of the blanket of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a left side view of the blanket wrapped about a baby in a carrier, the blanket, baby and carrier all being attached to an adult; and

FIG. 4 shows a right side view of the blanket as configured in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION OF THE INVENTION

Preferably, a blanket constructed in accordance with this invention is made of a fabric such as a plush velvet-type material, but it can be made of any suitable woven or non-woven fabric. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, blanket 10 includes a main panel 12 having a generally rectangular shape. Attached to a middle section of the panel 12 there is a smaller piece of fabric 14 sewn to form a pocket 16. A flap 18 is disposed above the piece of fabric 14 to form a closure for the pocket 16.

Also secured to panel 12 are a first set of side panels 20A, 20B. These side panels have a triangular shape and terminate in straps 22A, 22B. Strap 22A terminates with a female snap member 24A. Strap 22B terminates with a male snap member 24B. The two snap members 24A, 24B can be selectively joined together to form an interlocking snap 24. The lengths of the straps 22A, 22B are adjustable.

A second set of side panels 26A, 26B are attached to the rear panel 12 above panels 20A, 20B, as shown. These panels 26A, 26B are terminated in interlocking members 28A, 28B that can also be coupled to each other to form a closed loop with the side panels 26A, 26B. For example, the interlocking members can be oval rings, however other types of interlocking means may be used as well.

Attached to the upper portion of the main panel 12 is a top panel 30. Preferably top panel 30 is removable attached to the main panel 12, for example, by a zipper 31, a loop-and-hook fastener, etc. Panel 30 has two lateral edges 32A, 32b that are generally parallel to each other, and two curved edges at the top, 34A, 34B. Two respective zipper members 36A, 36B are attached to the edges 34A, 34B. The edges 34A, 34B can be selectively joined together by zipper members 36A, 36B or other similar fastening means thereby forming a removable hood 40.

The front of the blanket 10 is shown in FIG. 2. As can be seen in this Figure, the blanket 10 further includes a front panel 42. The front panel is attached along its lateral edges 44A, 44B and bottom edge 46 to the main panel 12. Alternatively, the front and the main panels 42, 12 are made from a continuous piece of fabric folded over itself.

The top edge 48 is preferably provided with an elastic or rubber tape or band so that it pulls the material of the front and main panels together to form a pouch 50.

The blanket 10 is used as follows. First, the blanket 10 is positioned on a flat surface as shown in FIG. 1. The baby is placed into a carrier and then the carrier and the baby are then placed so that the baby's body and the carrier are disposed inside the pouch 50.

Next, the blanket 10 is secured around the baby and the carrier (not shown) by interlocking the ends 28A, 28B of panels 26A, 26B. If it is very cold, the hood 40 is formed by interlocking edges 34A, 34B around the baby's head.

Typically, the carrier includes has a carrier body 70 (see FIG. 4) and two straps 72 that go either over the shoulders or the neck of the adult. When the baby is placed into pouch 50, these straps 72 remain outside the pouch. The adult now lifts the baby with the carrier and the blanket and places the straps over his/her shoulder or neck. He/she then secures the ends of straps 22A, 22B and closes the snap 24 around his/her waist. The baby within the carrier stays securely inside the blanket and the blanket is secured to the adult, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

As the day progresses, the temperature can rise. The adult can now easily open the hood and fold back the top panel 30.

If necessary the blanket 10 can also be installed or removed from the baby and the carrier while the carrier is attached to the adults chest.

Obviously numerous modifications can be made to the invention without departing from its scope as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A blanket for holding in combination a baby and a baby carrier of the type having a body portion engaging the body of the baby and at least one carrier strap arranged for holding the carrier and the baby by the neck or shoulder of a person, said blanket comprising:

a main panel;

a front panel attached to the main panel to form a pouch with two lateral sides and a bottom side that are closed and a top forming an opening, said main panel and front panel cooperating to form said pouch to receive said baby and said baby carrier, with at least the baby's head and said one carrier strap extending outwardly of said pouch; and

a pair of blanket securing members attached to said lateral sides, said blanket securing members being sized and constructed to be interlocked around the person's body.

2. The blanket of claim 1 wherein said blanket securing members are formed with respective interlocking members, said interlocking members forming a snap when interlocked.

3. The blanket of claim 1 further comprising a pair of baby securing members attached to one of said main panel and said front panel, said pair of baby securing members being selectively interlocked to secure said pouch around the baby after the baby has been inserted into the pouch.

4. The blanket of claim 1 further comprising a top panel sized and shaped to selectively form a hood for the baby when the baby is disposed in said pouch.

5. The blanket of claim 4 wherein said top panel is formed of two panel sections that can be selectively closed to form said hood or opened.

6. The blanket of claim 1 wherein said top panel is removable.

7. The blanket of claim 6 wherein said top panel is attached to said main body by a zipper.

8. The blanket of claim 1 wherein said top of said front panel includes a strip of elastic material to control the length of said top.

9. A blanket comprising:

a main panel;

a front panel attached to said main panel along its side edges and a bottom edge thereby forming with said main panel a pouch open at the top; and

a top panel attached to said main panel;

wherein said pouch is arranged and constructed to receive in combination a baby and a baby carrier with a carrier strap, the head of the baby and the strap being disposed outside said pouch.

10. The blanket of claim 9 wherein said top panel is selectively foldable to define a hood for the baby's head.

11. The blanket of claim 9 further comprising a first pair of side panels arranged and constructed to secure said blanket to a person's body so that said person can carry said baby and said baby carrier in combination within said pouch.

12. The blanket of claim 11 further comprising a second set of side panels arranged and constructed to selectively wrap and secure said baby within said pouch.

13. The blanket of claim 9 wherein said top panel is removable.

14. The blanket of claim 9 wherein said panel includes two sections that are selectively attached to form a hood.