Abstract:
A portable, integrated baby or pet bumper device is described. The invention includes a flexible padded base and a plurality of padded wall sections integrally attached to each other. The wall sections may be raised and fastened together such that an interior cavity is formed. The bumper device may be used alone or inserted in part or all of a sleeping apparatus. When the wall sections are raised and fastened together, the playpen is in an erected configuration, and when the walls are unfastened, the playpen is in a collapsed and thus easily transported configuration.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS: 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 60/926,258. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to a portable, integrated baby or pet bumper device that has sides which may be raised to discourage the baby or pet from rolling off the pad. The sides of the pad may also be lowered to roll up the pad to make it easier to transport. The pad may be used alone or may be inserted into a baby bed, bassinet, crib, playpen or pet carrier. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Playpens, baby tents and other enclosed structures in which a baby could be kept within a restrained area to play, have been known and used for some time. Traditional playpens include a square base and square walls, the base having a soft cushion for the baby&#39;s comfort and the walls typically designed to keep the child inside. Traditional playpens may, however, utilize add-on bumper systems which must be tied in to place. These add-on bumper systems may result in choking hazards of loose fitting sheets and bumpers inside of a baby bed, bassinet, crib, playpen or pet carrier. Also, traditional playpens may be difficult to set up and collapse, and may be heavy, thereby limiting their portability. 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,823,547 to Harding describes an improved baby mattress is formed of four sections, with a two part central section including a pair of interactive cradles which provide safe and comfortable support for a sleeping infant. An upper life cradle area may be variably pressurized to produce a telescoping well which encourages placing the infant for safe sleeping on its back. A lower safety cradle is filled with strong and resilient foam rubber and serves to safely support the infant in the event of unwanted cradle deflation. An array of auxiliary support and shape retaining members serve to give the crib-sized mattresses a stable and smooth overall rectangular appearance. 
         [0005]    This patent attempts to limit the movements of the child or infant by introducing a cavity maintained either by variable pressure, a belt or foam rubber, however, this solution does not lend itself to portability. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. Design 359,869 to Oren depicts a portable, collapsible baby mattress having a fabric base and two curved supports extending from opposite comers of the mattress and crossing above the center of the mattress. 
         [0007]    This patent describes a pad that is easily collapsed and is very portable; however, there is nothing to prevent the baby from rolling or crawling off the pad. Additionally, there is a danger from the collapsible rods breaking or splintering and injuring the child. Furthermore, because the collapsible rods are removable, in order to collapse the pad, they may become lost or misplaced. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,357,462 to Laosunthara describes a portable playpen/mattress for babies which includes a flexible base and a plurality of substantially open perpendicular walls all consecutively attached to each other. When the walls are attached to the base, the playpen is in an erected configuration, and when the walls are detached and folded one on top of another, the playpen is a collapsed configuration. The base is attachable to the walls in two configurations. When the comers of the base are curled around the leg portions of the walls, the base is in a rimmed configuration, and when the leg portions are directly attached to an upper surface of the base, the base is in a flat configuration. A reversible roof is selectively attachable to the walls. An outer cover is adapted to enclose the base and the walls in the erected configuration. 
         [0009]    This patent is an improvement in portability, however, not only is it both complicated to set up and dismantle, but is also made of many different pieces which may be lost or accidentally discarded during multiple uses. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a portable, integrated baby or pet bumper device that is easily collapsible and portable. 
         [0011]    It is another object of the invention to provide a portable, integrated baby or pet bumper device that has sides which may be selectively raised or lowered. 
         [0012]    It is another object of the invention to provide a portable, integrated baby or pet bumper device whose component parts are integral to the pad and not easily lost or separated. 
         [0013]    It is another object of the invention to provide a portable, integrated baby or pet bumper device that protects babies from rolling or crawling off the pad. 
         [0014]    It is another object of the invention to provide a portable, integrated baby or pet bumper device that is insertable into all or part of an existing baby bed, bassinet, crib, playpen or pet carrier. 
         [0015]    It is another object of the invention to provide a portable, integrated baby or pet bumper device that can be collapsed, rolled up and constrained with a strap for convenient storage and carrying. 
         [0016]    It is another object of the invention to provide a water-proof skid-proof and washable portable, integrated baby or pet bumper device to allow versatile usage both indoors and outdoors. 
         [0017]    The above and other objects are achieved by the invention, which is a portable, integrated baby or pet bumper device for newborns, infants and young children or pets. The invention includes a flexible padded base and a plurality of padded wall sections integrally attached to each other. The wall sections may be raised and fastened together such that an interior cavity is formed. When the wall sections are raised and fastened together, the playpen is in an erected configuration, and when the walls are unfastened, the playpen is in a collapsed and thus easily transported configuration. The wall sections may be which may be selectively raised or lowered may be fastened together by any conventional attaching means, such as micro-hook fasteners (e.g., VELCRO), a zipper, a tie, laces, a snap, a buckle, a magnet, adhesive, and/or a hook. In the preferred embodiment, the four wall sections are secured together by tying them to each other with attached straps. 
         [0018]    These, together with other advantages of the integrated baby or pet bumper device, along with the various features of novelty, which characterize the design, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the integrated baby or pet bumper device, its operating advantages and the specific advantages attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of this application. There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the integrated baby or pet bumper device in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the integrated baby or pet bumper device that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a top view of a preferred embodiment of the integrated baby or pet bumper device in its unfolded configuration, completely flat. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a bottom view of the integrated baby or pet bumper device in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view in elevation along section line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the integrated baby or pet bumper device in  FIG. 1  folded and with the straps tied together on each corner. 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the strap used to keep the integrated baby or pet bumper device secure when in a rolled up position as in  FIG. 6 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a left perspective view of the integrated baby or pet bumper device rolled up with the strap from  FIG. 5  attached to hold the integrated baby or pet bumper device in a rolled up position. 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the integrated baby or pet bumper device assembly shown in its raised side configuration inside a baby crib. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0026]    Referring now to the drawings and  FIGS. 1 and 2  in particular,  FIG. 1  is a top view of an integrated baby or pet bumper device assembly  100  constructed in accordance with the invention. A material cover  102  encloses a central portion of the integrated baby or pet bumper device  104 . The material cover may be selected for any particular desired quality including, but not limited to, softness, durability, waterproofing, non-slip, non-skid or a combination thereof. The central portion of the integrated baby or pet bumper device may be made of foam, foam rubber, wool or cloth batting, or other material chosen to obtain a particular desired quality including, but not limited to, firmness, resilience, retention of shape, etc. or a combination thereof. A plurality of additional side pad sections  106 ,  108 ,  110  and  112  are enclosed in cover  102  along each of the sides of the central portion of the integrated baby or pet bumper device  104 . Each side pad section has at least a first longitudinal edge ex.  110   a  and at least a second longitudinal edge ex.  110   b . This embodiment further has a first transverse edge  110   c  and a second transverse edge  110   d . The side pad sections  106 ,  108 ,  110  and  112  of the integrated baby or pet bumper device assembly  100  may be made of foam, foam rubber, wool or cloth batting, or other material chosen to obtain a particular desired quality including, but not limited to, firmness, resilience, retention of shape, etc. or a combination thereof. A joining flap  114  connects each of the side pad sections  106 ,  108 ,  110  and  112  to their adjoining neighbors. A fastening device is provided on or near the side pad sections  106 ,  108 ,  110  and  112  to fasten adjoining side pad sections. In this embodiment the fastening devices  116  are straps  118   a ,  118   b ,  120   a ,  120   b ,  122   a ,  122   b ,  124   a  and  124   b . When the side pad sections  106 ,  108 ,  110  and  112  are in their raised position, the straps  118   a  and  120   b ,  120   a  and  122   b ,  122   a  and  124   b  and  124   a  and  118   b  may each, in their respective pairs, be tied together to form an interior cavity surrounding the central portion of the integrated baby or pet bumper device  104  as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The straps may be made of any of a particular material chosen for a particular desired quality including, but not limited to, tensile strength, durability, waterproofing, non-slip, non-skid or a combination thereof and sewn on or near the second edge of the side pad sections  106 ,  108 ,  110  and  112 . 
         [0027]    Referring now to  FIG. 2  which is a bottom view of the integrated baby or pet bumper device assembly  200  constructed in accordance with the invention, showing zipper  202  in cover  102  to allow easy removal of the inner pad  104 . Further access openings are made in the cover  102  at locations  206   a ,  206   b ,  208   a ,  208   b ,  210   a ,  210   b ,  212   a  and  212   b . Each a and b pair of openings allows the easy removal and/or replacement of the interior side pad sections  106 ,  108 ,  110  and  112 , respectively. 
         [0028]    Referring now to  FIG. 3  which illustrates a cross-sectional view in elevation along central longitudinal line of  FIG. 1  of integrated baby or pet bumper device assembly  100 .  FIG. 3  shows a cross-section of cover  102 , side pad section  108 , central pad section  104 , and side pad section  112 . An alternate embodiment is represented by inclusion of a waterproof pad enclosure  302  for central pad section  104 . 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a perspective view of the integrated baby or pet bumper device assembly  400  shown in its raised side configuration. Each of the side pad sections  106 ,  108 ,  110  and  112  has been folded at its respective first longitudinal edge ex.  110  joining its first transverse edge to its adjoining neighbor&#39;s second transverse edge. Fastening devices  116  are secured to form an enclosure around central pad  104 . In this embodiment, the fastening devices  118   a  and  120   b ,  120   a  and  122   b ,  122   a  and  124   b  and  124   a  and  118   b  may each, in their respective pairs, be tied together to form an interior cavity surrounding the central portion of the pad  104  as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The straps may be made of any of a particular material chosen for a particular desired quality including, but not limited to, tensile strength, durability, waterproofing, non-slip, non-skid or a combination thereof and sewn on or near the second edge of the side pad sections  106 ,  108 ,  110  and  112 . Note that additional fastening methods may be used including, but not limited to, micro-hook fasteners (e.g., VELCRO), a zipper, laces, a snap, a buckle, a magnet and/or a hook. 
         [0030]    Referring now to  FIG. 5  which is a perspective view of the strap assembly  500  used to keep pad assembly  100  secure when in a rolled up position as in  FIG. 6 . A length of material may be cut and fastened so as to provide at least a first loop strap  504  and a second loop strap  506 . The loop straps may be pre-sized to fit the pad assembly  100  when rolled up. The loop straps may have an adjustable device  510  and  512  to snug fit the pad assembly  100  when rolled up. The adjustable device  510  and  512  may include, but not be limited to a button, a snap, a hook, micro-hook fasteners (e.g., VELCRO). The first loop strap  504  and the second loop strap  506  are then fastened together with a length of material  508 . The length of material  508  may then be used as the handle to hold and carry the rolled up pad assembly  100 . 
         [0031]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a left perspective view of pad assembly  100  rolled up and the strap assembly  500  placed around the rolled up pad assembly  100  to secure it from unrolling. Now the strap  508  can be easily placed around a shoulder or carried by hand for simple portability. Note that the pad assembly  100  is rolled tightly and the loops  504  and  506  fit tightly around the pad  100  in the rolled up position. 
         [0032]    Referring now to  FIG. 7  which is a perspective view of the integrated baby or pet bumper device assembly  400  shown in its raised side configuration inside a baby crib.