Abstract:
The present disclosure provides a unique infant seat cover that protects a baby&#39;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 
       [0001]    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 
       [0002]    The present application relates in general to infant carrier seats and more specifically to a cover for an infant carrier seat. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    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. 
         [0004]    More specifically, partially covering an infant carrier seat with a blanket, and leaving the baby&#39;s face exposed, does not protect the baby&#39;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. 
         [0005]    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&#39;s handle. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    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&#39;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 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a front of an example infant seat cover according to the present disclosure. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is perspective view of the back of the example infant seat cover of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0009]    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&#39;s arm near the user&#39;s elbow. Alternatively, the handle aperture  102  may be partially or completely closed when the user is not holding the handle. 
         [0010]    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. 
         [0011]    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. 
         [0012]    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. 
         [0013]    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&#39;s edges. 
         [0014]    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. 
         [0015]    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. 
         [0016]    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 . 
         [0017]    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. 
         [0018]    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 . 
         [0019]    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. 
         [0020]    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.