Abstract:
An attachable apparatus for a child&#39;s accessory which comprises a leash that is capable of securing an accessory either along its length, or at multiple ends of a split leash, or both to a fixed point within the proximity of the child.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This Application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/530,422 
     
    
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH  
       [0002]     Not Applicable  
       SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM  
       [0003]     Not Applicable  
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The present invention relates to at least toys, bottles, and cups for children, and more particularly relates to at least an attachable leash for securing a child&#39;s apparatus to another fixed point.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     Young children are constantly dropping their toys, bottles, cups, and other accessories. Unfortunately, when one of these accessories falls to the ground, the accessory often becomes unsanitary and unsuitable for the child to use. The accessory must then be cleaned before the child can reuse it. This can be very inconvenient for a parent or care giver who may not be in a location or disposition that will allow the parent or care giver to conveniently pick up, clean, and return the accessory to the child. Further, a young child may lack the ability to pick up and/or clean the accessory herself. She may also lack the patience to wait while the parent retrieves the accessory, cleans it, and returns it to the child. The frequent result is a dissatisfied, crying child and a frustrated parent or care giver.  
         [0006]     A common scenario illustrates the problems mentioned above. A young child rides in the seat of a shopping cart while drinking from a spill-proof cup with her parent or care giver pushing the cart. The child, recklessly or defiantly, drops or throws the cup to the well-trodden floor of the supermarket. The parent, preoccupied with a shopping list and a busy day of chores, picks up the now unsanitary cup and puts it in his pocket. The child, still thirsty, begins crying and reaching for the cup. The parent, eager to stop the child from crying, becomes frustrated when he realizes that he is not likely to find a convenient location to clean the cup before returning it to the child.  
         [0007]     Another common scenario further illustrates the problems mentioned above. A child, riding in his car seat in the back seat of a car, recklessly or defiantly, drops or throws his cup or toy to the floor of the car. Alternately, the driver of the car brings the car to an abrupt stop or other change in direction that accidentally causes the child to release the accessory. The parent or care giver, preoccupied with driving through traffic, notices that the cup or toy has been dropped and the child is now crying for the parent to retrieve the fallen accessory. At this point the parent can either reach back to grab the cup, thus risking the safety of all who are in the car by a possible car wreck; or the parent can pull over and slow to a stop, reach back and retrieve the cup for the child (which often seems to inconvenient and time consuming for a parent with a screaming child); or the parent can simply refuse to retrieve the cup until reaching the final destination. In every case, the fallen accessory is likely to get dirty in the fall, and the parent may need to clean the accessory before returning it to the child. Or, the parent can simply return the accessory to the child and risk endangering the child&#39;s health by allowing it to handle an unsanitary accessory.  
         [0008]     In the worst cases, the process of retrieving a fallen accessory will endanger the health and well-being of the child, care giver, and others. In other cases, the accessory may be lost or irretrievable. In yet other cases, the accessory may soil the area surrounding it, i.e., with a cup that falls to the floor of a car and stains the upholstery.  
         [0009]     Such scenarios may occur near or in strollers, car seats, cribs, highchairs, tables, walkers, or in any other environment where a child is likely to hold an accessory. For example, parents have used straps with Velcro at one end and a clip at the other end to Velcro around a pacifier and clip the strap to the child&#39;s clothing. However, these straps are too small and inconvenient to attach to larger and heavier accessories such as cups and toys. Further, the clip of such a strap is simply not strong enough to prevent a falling accessory of substantially more weight than a pacifier from breaking the hold of the strap and falling to the ground. In sum, the dimensions and attachments of pacifier straps are simply incapable of securing cups full of liquid, toys, or other relatively heavy accessories from falling to the ground.  
         [0010]     Therefore, a need exists for an apparatus that prevents children&#39;s accessories from falling to the ground when a child releases the accessory, thereby potentially leaving the reach of a child or care giver, becoming lost, becoming irretrievable, or becoming unsanitary.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION—OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES  
       [0011]     Accordingly, besides the objects and advantages of the Attachable Apparatus for a Child&#39;s Accessory described herein, several objects and advantages of the present invention are: 
        a) The present invention solves the above and other needs by securing a children&#39;s accessory to another fixed point within the proximity of the child. The fixed point can be a portion of any combination of a stroller, car seat, seat belt, booster seat, high chair, table, crib, cart with wheels, walker, a bicycle, a swing set, any portion of the child&#39;s body or clothing, or any other vehicle or environment in which a child have a need to keep an accessory from falling to the ground.     b) An embodiment of the present invention secures the child&#39;s accessory to a fixed point using a leash or strap with at least two ends, a first end of which is configured to be attachable to the fixed point and the second end of which is configured to be attachable to the child&#39;s accessory. A child&#39;s accessory may be a bottle, a cup, a teething ring, a toy, or any other accessory of relatively substantial weight to which the second end is capable of securing. The leash may be constructed in whole or in part of one of, or a combination of, the following materials: nylon, canvass, ribbon, string, rope, Velcro, neoprene, lace, elastic, rubber, or any material known to those of ordinary skill in the art.     c) The first end of the leash may attach to the fixed point by employing at least one of a Velcro, hook, button, snap, clip, zipper, loop, eyelet, buckle, tied string or strap, adhesive, or any other fastener understood by one of skill in the art. Such fasteners may be used in any combination or orientation. The second end of the leash may attach to an accessory by employing the same means used to attach the first end to the fixed point. An embodiment of the invention may include a spring-loaded leash that is retractable into a case. The leash of the present invention may be separated and extended using leash extensions that are attachable to the leash. An embodiment of the present invention includes a leash that is capable of securing more than one accessory either along its length, or at multiple ends of a split leash, or both.        
 
         [0015]     Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawing.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0016]     In accordance with the present invention an attachable apparatus for a child&#39;s accessory comprises a leash that is capable of securing an accessory either along its length, or at multiple ends of a split leash, or both to a fixed point within the proximity of the child. 
     
    
     DRAWINGS—FIGURES  
       [0017]     The above and other aspects of the present invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings wherein:  
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention secured to a fixed point, such as the seat belt of a child&#39;s car seat; and  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the present invention secured to an accessory, such as a cup.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0021]     The following detailed description is of the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing the general principles of the invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of the present invention includes a leash, strap or tether  100  of durable and strong material such as canvass. Leash or tether  100  may also be constructed in whole or in part of one of, or a combination of, the following materials: nylon, canvass, ribbon, string, rope, Velcro, neoprene, lace, elastic, rubber, or any material known to those of ordinary skill in the art.  
         [0023]     One end of the tether  100  includes at least one steel button  110  and accompanying snap  120 . The embodiment of  FIG. 1  includes two snaps  120  positioned so as to permit the tether  100  to be secured to two objects of different diameter. For example, button  110  may secure to a first snap  120  to secure the tether  100  to a small diameter object such as the handle of a shopping cart. Button  110  may also secure to a second strap  120  to secure the tether  100  to a larger diameter object such as a seat belt or a child&#39;s wrist.  
         [0024]     The present invention may be capable of securing to objects of varying diameters using at least one of a Velcro, hook, button, snap, clip, zipper, loop, eyelet, buckle, tied string or strap, adhesive, or any other fastener understood by one of skill in the art. Such fasteners may be used in any combination or orientation.  
         [0025]     Another end of the tether  100  includes a means for attaching the tether  100  to a child&#39;s accessory. An embodiment of this means includes a plastic loop  130  through which a portion of the tether  100  may be threaded and looped back to attach to itself using the male and female ends of a Velcro fastening  140  that is attached to the tether  100 . The tether  100  may be split, or separated and extended, at this end using leash extensions  150 . These extensions  150  may be constructed of neoprene material. Neoprene material provides a strong hold onto a child&#39;s accessory whether or not the accessory is wet. Alternatively, each extension  150  may be configured to independently retain a separate accessory from the other extension  150 .  
         [0026]     Thus, the present invention contemplates embodiments that are capable of simultaneously securing to multiple accessories along its length are at its ends, or both.  
         [0027]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention secured to a fixed point, such as the seat belt of a child&#39;s car seat. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the first end of an embodiment of the present invention may be secured to a fixed point, such as the seat belt of a child&#39;s car seat. A second end of an embodiment of the present invention is capable of simultaneously securing to a child&#39;s accessory, such as a spill-proof cup. The length of the tether is preferably long enough to permit the spill-proof cup to reach a child&#39;s mouth while the tether is attached to the seat belt, yet, the length of the tether is preferably shorter than a child&#39;s arm, so that a child can easily retrieve the spill-proof cup or other accessory if it falls from the child&#39;s grasp.  
         [0028]     Alternatively, as explained earlier, the tether is constructed of elastic material that is capable of stretching to a desired length during use.  
         [0029]      FIG. 3  shows a side view of an embodiment of the present invention secured to an accessory, such as a cup. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the second end of the leash of an embodiment of the present invention is configured to be secured to a child&#39;s accessory, such as a cup. A first end is configured to be securable to a child&#39;s wrist or arm, a stroller, a seat belt in a child&#39;s car seat, or to any other desired securable object.