Abstract:
A safety blanket assembly includes a blanket and a frame that engages the blanket to limit the distortion or bundling of the blanket. The blanket has an outer perimeter that is surrounded by a border to receive a substantially U-shaped frame. The frame is insertable into the hollow border of the blanket to keep three of the four sides of the blanket stiff and prevent the blanket from wrapping around a child covered by the blanket.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This patent application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/687,682, filed on Jun. 6, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to blankets, and more specifically, to a safety blanket for use by an infant or child, and even more specifically, to a blanket that will not entangle and harm and infant or child.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Parents want to make sure that their infant or toddler is kept warm while reclining in a crib or bed, and therefore they frequently wrap their child in a blanket like an adult. However, one significant risk for babies while in a crib is suffocation in soft bedding, such as quilts, comforters, sheepskins, pillows, pillow-like stuffed toys, and other soft products that may keep the baby from breathing easily. With respect to blankets and quilts, the infant may easily entangle himself or herself as the baby rolls in the crib, thereby creating an opportunity for suffocation in the proximate sheet. Consequently, experts recommend that if a blanket or sheet is to be used in a crib, the parents should make sure the blanket is tucked in around the crib mattress to prevent the infant from pulling it forward above the infant&#39;s chest. Even with such instructions and warnings, it is still possible for the sheet to become un-tucked and flexible for the baby to pull around his or her head, once again endangering the child.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     A safety blanket assembly is described that helps to keep infants and children warm while protecting the child from suffocation and harm by restricting a blanket from twisting or tangling around the head of the covered child. The safety blanket assembly includes the blanket and a frame that engages the blanket to limit the distortion or bundling of the blanket by the covered infant. The blanket has an outer perimeter that is surrounded by a border to receive the frame. The frame is substantially U-shaped, and therefore insertable into the hollow border of the blanket to keep three of the four sides of the blanket stiff and prevent the blanket from wrapping around the child. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]     A safety blanket embodying the features of the present invention is depicted in the accompanying drawings, which form a portion of this disclosure, wherein:  
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of the safety blanket of the present invention; and  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view of the safety blanket illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0008]     The present invention of a safety blanket assembly  10  is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The safety blanket assembly  10  helps to keep infants and children warm while protecting the child from suffocation and harm by restricting a blanket  12  from twisting or tangling around the head of the covered child. In particular, the safety blanket assembly  10  includes the blanket  12  and a frame  14  that engages the blanket  12  to limit the distortion of the blanket  12  by the covered infant.  
         [0009]     Looking to  FIG. 1 , the safety blanket  12  may be rectangular in shape with a slightly rounded bottom edge created by a seam  17  around the blanket  12  that may create a border  16 . In one embodiment, the measurements of the blanket  12  are between twenty-four to thirty-six inches in width by approximately forty-two inches in length, although any particular dimensions may be set by the producer. The dimensions of the aforementioned embodiment help to ensure that the blanket  12  is sized to provide adequate coverage for an infant or young child. The dimensions of the blanket  12  are approximate and could be adjusted as necessary during the pre-production phase to ensure that the safety blanket  12  functions as intended for a child having a particular age.  
         [0010]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the blanket  12  includes a base portion  12   b  and a top portion  12   t , with the base and top portions  12   b ,  12   t  being made of a fabric such as flannel, which would be comfortable to the child since it is soft and warm. Other fabric options for the blanket could include cotton fabrics or cotton blends, silk, satin, or another fabric used with conventional blankets, and the base and top portion  12   b ,  12   t  may be made of independent fabrics. However, the fabric chosen for use in the production of the safety blanket  12  of the safety blanket assembly  10  should meet safety requirements for flammability. The fabric should additionally be machine washable and should resist shrinking and fading. In addition, a cushioning material  22  may be placed b/t base and top portions  12   b ,  12   t  to provide insulation for the blanket  12 .  
         [0011]     As noted above and shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the safety blanket  12  additionally has a border  16  that surrounds the entire outer perimeter of the blanket  12 . The border  16  may be a part of the blanket  12 , or made of satin for functionality and appearance, although other cotton fabrics could be used as well. This border  16  is designed to house the rigid frame  14  that sets this blanket assembly  10  apart from a standard baby blanket design. Thus, the border  16  itself could house a frame  14 , or the blanket  12  may simply include the two abutting sheets  12   b ,  12   t  that are joined by a connector  20 , such as a zipper, button, or hook and loop material, such that the frame  14  would fit between the two sheets  12   b ,  12   t.    
         [0012]     Looking to  FIG. 1 , the frame  14  includes three components, namely, a base  14   b  and two arms  14   a  extended therefrom in a common direction, to create a U-shape or horseshoe shape. The length of the base  14   b  of the frame  14  may be approximately twenty-four to twenty-six inches in length by approximately twenty inches, although this width of the frame  14  will generally correspond with the width of the blanket  12  as set by the producer. The frame  14  may be made of a variety of materials, such as plastic or some other resin material, such that it is stiff or substantially rigid yet still flexible or bendable. For example, the frame  14  could be made of a hard yet flexible plastic known by the trademark Lexan, or some other similar material. As a variation, it should be noted that the plastic frame  14  could be replaced with a softer material that would serve as the frame and would restrict roll-up of the blanket.  
         [0013]     A portion or all of the frame  14  may be covered with a padded material  18 , such as foam, which would is further encased by the border  16  (see  FIG. 3 ). For example, this padded material  18  may engage six inches of each arm  14   a  from the free end, or it may engage the whole arm  14   a , whichever is desired by the user. This padded material  18  further protects the child being covered by the safety blanket  12  from engaging hard edges of the frame  14  and provides a comfortable edge for the child to engage.  
         [0014]     A zipper  20  or other connection member may be sewn in the bottom border  16   b  adjacent the bottom of the safety blanket  12 . The zipper  20  secures the frame  14  within the border  16  of the safety blanket assembly  12  after it has been inserted into the safety blanket  12 .  
         [0015]     To insert the frame  14  into the safety blanket  12 , the user will unzip or disconnect the zippered edge along the bottom border  16   b . The user will then align the free ends of the arms  14   a  of the frame  14  with the open satin border  16  of the safety blanket  12 , and the frame  14  is then slid into the openings of the border  16  along the length of the safety blanket  12  and according to the length of the arms  14   a  of the frame  14 . The zipper  20  is then zipped to close the bottom edge  16   b  of the safety blanket  12 , so that the safety blanket  12  has a substantially firm or rigid edge along two sides and base of the safety blanket  12  to prevent the safety blanket  12  from being bundled together The frame  14  could then be removed as necessary when it is time to launder or store the blanket  12 .  
         [0016]     Consequently, when the safety blanket assembly  10  is assembled, it may be placed on the chest of an infant or child to warm and protect the infant while keeping the blanket  12  in a substantially stretched position. While stretched by the frame  14 , the infant will not be able to become entangled in the blanket  12  as the infant moves about in the crib, allowing parents to be confident that the infant will not suffocate or be harmed by having such a blanket  12  in the child&#39;s crib.  
         [0017]     While this invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that variations and modifications can be affected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described herein and as described in the appended claims.