Shopping cart cover

A versatile cover is described which can be secured onto a shopping cart, high chair, stroller or other similar seating apparatus. The cover is rollable into a low profile, shape with a handle, and can be unrolled to fit within a seat basket of a shopping cart or high chair.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The subject disclosure relates generally to the field of protective covers. In particular, the subject disclosure relates to a shopping cart or high chair cover.

BACKGROUND

Infants and toddlers often explore their new world by touching and tasting virtually everything they come into contact with. Although parents and caretakers often take precautions at home to ensure that the surfaces of various objects are clean and safe for contact, the same precautions cannot be taken when traveling outside of the home.

The environment outside of the home provides numerous opportunities for infants and toddlers to hurt themselves, or to make themselves sick by contact with unclear surfaces. For example, a frequent place where parents and caretakers must bring their young children is the supermarket. Most supermarkets provide standard shopping carts which allow the consumer to collect and transport numerous objects with minimal physical burden. However, the supermarket is also a dangerous environment for young children as they explore thousands of new items presented in attractive and colorful packaging, many of which are very harmful for the child. Thus, while parents and caretakers must continue to conduct the necessary chore of shopping, the exposure of their children to the shopping environment presents a tense experience for the parent or caretaker.

SUMMARY OF THE SUBJECT DISCLOSURE

The present subject disclosure provides a concept for novel devices which may be used as covers for standard shopping carts, high chairs, strollers, car seats, or other seating often used for young children. The present subject matter provides an easy to transport, use, and store package which may be carried by the parent or caretaker along with the young child, and used when needed to prevent the child from being exposed to dangerous items which can physically harm the child, or can make the child sick from exposure to various contaminated environments. The present subject matter also provides an easy to clean surface which serves to contain any mess that the young child has made and prevent further work by the parent or caretaker.

In one exemplary embodiment, the present subject matter is a seat cover. The seat cover includes a hood adapted to fit onto a backrest of a seat; a front portion adapted to extend over an edge; side portions connecting the hood portion to the front portion, and adapted to extend over side edges; and a securing device attached to the hood, the securing device adapted to attach the hood to the seat; wherein the cover is completely rollable and is maintained in its rolled position by the securing device.

In another exemplary embodiment, the present subject matter is a low profile, rollable seat cover for a shopping cart. The seat cover includes a reversible hood where in a first position is adapted to fit onto a backrest of a seat; a front portion attached to the reversible hood and adapted to extend over a handle; wherein the cover is completely rollable and is maintained in its rolled position by the reversible hood in a second position.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the present subject matter is a method of placing a cover over a seat. The container assembly includes providing a cover having a hood, a front portion, and side portions; placing the hood over a backrest of the seat; securing the hood to the backrest of the seat; unfolding the cover completely; extending the front portion over a front portion of the seat; and expanding the side portions over side portions of the seat.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Particular embodiments of the present subject disclosure will now be described in greater detail with reference to the figures.

An exemplary embodiment of the present subject disclosure is presented as a seat cover100, as shown inFIGS. 1A-1D. The seat cover100includes a back portion or hood101, a front portion102, with two side portions103extending along both lateral portions of the device100. The hood101, back portion102, and side portions103all have a hood-like or parachute-like configuration with an interior chamber like space which allows them to rest upon and surround an underlying object, as will be described in more detail below.

The front portion102further includes a pocket105, which may be used to store a mobile phone, keys, wallet, identification or other such sized items which may need to be stored. The pocket105may have a transparent window to easily identify the contents, or view an electronic device. Alternatively, the pocket105may be opaque to protect the security of the objects stored therein.

One or more loops106may be used to secure additional items to the front portion102, which can include, but are not limited to, toys, pacifiers, bottles, keys, or other object which can be secured to the fastener loop106. Other types of fasteners may also be used in place of the loop106, as the loop is only presented for sake of simplicity. Other similar function devices may be used as well and are within the purview of one having ordinary skill in the art.

A strap110having multiple apertures111is attached to an underside of the cover100and is adapted to mate with a corresponding hook112which is positioned on the underside of hood portion101. Both strap110and hook111are in close proximity together to be able to interact and connect both when the cover is completely stretched open atop a shopping cart, and when the cover is completely rolled up. A small hook housing113stores the hook112and prevents accidental attachment of the hook112to unintended devices. Other types of connection devices may also be substituted for the strap110and hook112and are within the scope of the present subject disclosure. A safety belt115with fastener/lock116is positioned on the upper side of the cover101, in the seat portion in between the back portion101and the front hood portion102.

As shown inFIG. 1C, one or more leg holes107are positioned toward the front portion102of the cover100. In the exemplary embodiment shown, two leg holes107are presented, but only one large one may also be used to accommodate both legs. Using two leg holes107provides added security in preventing a toddler from wanting to stand up or move beyond what is safe. Each leg hole107may be covered with a cloth cover which is detachable at least partially to allow the cloth cover to dangle just underneath the leg or thigh of the toddler when seated on the cover100to keep the toddler comfortable while also protecting the legs from contact with the cart200.

As shown inFIG. 1D, the back hood101, the front portion102, and the side portions103are all shaped to rest upon and surround an underlying object, which may be a shopping cart, child's high chair, stroller, car seat, or any other apparatus which can reliably accommodate the cover100.

FIG. 2illustrates an exemplary shopping cart cover100in use as placed on a standard shopping cart200. The proper placement of the cover100on a shopping cart200allows a toddler to be securely fastened to the cover100using seat belt115and prevent the toddler from coming into contact with any germ or dangerous edges or moving parts on the shopping cart200. All that the toddler is exposed to, or can reach, is the upper side of the cover100. Further, an electronic device (not shown) may be placed inside the pocket105which may be set up to show a movie, a game or other sound or visual display which can be used to entertain the toddler, and prevent the toddler from wanting to stand up or get out of the shopping cart200. This will allow the parent or caretaker to shop as needed while minimizing the stress of having to entertain the toddler during the shopping trip.

FIG. 3illustrates the low profile nature and transportability of the cover100. As shown, the cover100may be rolled onto itself in a pillow like manner and secured with the same strap110and hook112used to secure the device100to a shopping cart200. The hood103serves to accommodate the rolled up body of the cover100. The compacted cover100may be packed into a purse to use as needed, or put into a luggage to use while traveling. The strap110is also useable as a handle to carry the cover100by hand as needed until needed for use.

FIGS. 4-5Illustrates the positioning of the cover100on a standard shopping cart200. A standard shopping cart200includes an adjustable seat/basket portion with a vertical portion or backrest201interacting with an external base frame202which moves from a substantially vertical portion when not in use, to a substantially horizontal position when in use. A seating platform203may be independently moved from a substantially vertical position (to store items in the basket portion without them falling out of the openings204), and a substantially horizontal position (to allow a toddler's legs to slide through and dangle from the openings204in the basket when the toddler is placed in the adjustable basket). Further, a handle205is positioned directly in front of the toddler when placed inside the adjustable basket.

As illustrated inFIGS. 4-5, the hood portion101of the cover100is placed atop the upper portion of the vertical backrest portion201, the front portion102is placed atop the shopping cart handle205, and the side portions103are stretched out and cover the side portions of the adjustable basket.

FIGS. 6-12illustrate an exemplary method of the use of the cover100on a standard shopping cart200. When a parent or caretaker brings a toddler into a store and obtains a shopping cart, the cover100is brought out to use. Initially, the cover will likely be in the transport configuration as shown inFIG. 3. It must be properly secured on to the shopping cart200.

FIG. 6illustrates the placement of the folded cover100onto the shopping cart200seat/basket. Cover100is placed onto the seat/basket with the strap110pointing upwards. Next, as shown inFIG. 7, the strap110is unhooked and pulled down under the seat/basket behind the base frame202. As shown more closely inFIG. 8, strap110must be hooked under the base frame202and pulled down tight to ensure a secure fit to the shopping cart200. Since this is the main source of connecting the cover100to the shopping cart200, proper installation is necessary to ensure the security of a toddler sitting atop the cover100.

As illustrated inFIG. 9, once the strap110is pulled down below the base frame202, the hood101of the cover100is unrolled, and flipped back over the backrest201. In this process, the hook112becomes exposed and comes in close proximity to the strap110.

FIG. 10illustrates the strap110being pulled up and secured to the hook112at an appropriate aperture111available from a plurality of apertures. The fit around the bottom frame202should be snug. A further check should be made to ensure that cover100is securely attached to shopping cart200and not easily removable.

FIG. 11illustrates the unrolling of the cover100over the handle205of the cart200. Front portion102is adapted to fit snugly over the handle205of the cart200and drape over it as needed. The hood portion101, the front portion102, and the side portions103all substantially cover most of the underlying components of the shopping cart200. SeeFIG. 2for front perspective view of the front portion102entirely covering the handle205. The cart200may be pushed by gripping the front portion102directly over the handle205. Alternatively, the handle205may be gripped from underneath the front portion102.

Once the cover100is securely fastened onto the shopping cart200, the toddler may be placed therein, as shown inFIG. 12. The toddler's legs will be pulled through the leg holes107and the toddler's bottom should be securely seated into the seat portion of the cover100. The belt115is then drawn around the midsection of the toddler and secured using fastener lock116. To tighten the seat belt115, a seat belt adjusting lock (not shown) may be used to adjust the size of the seat belt. The parent or caretaker can now proceed with shopping as the toddler is securely fastener to the cover100, which is also securely fastened to the shopping cart200. Optional toys, keys, or other distraction devices may be secured onto the hooks106and/or an electronic device, such as a smart phone, may be secured into pocket105to provide entertainment for the toddler.

FIGS. 13-16illustrate the steps involved in the folding of the cover100. These steps are essentially the reverse of the steps shown inFIGS. 6-12. As shown inFIG. 13, the front portion102of cover100is removed from the handle205of the cart200, while the sides103are tucked inwards.FIG. 14illustrates the step of the front102of cover100being rolled toward the hood101, which is still resting on the backrest201. At this point, if the strap110has not yet been unhooked from the hook112, it must be unhooked to proceed to the next step.FIG. 15illustrates removing the hood101from the backrest201and flipping it over completely and over the already rolled cover102. The hood101is reversible and serves two different functions in each of its two positions. The final step, as shown inFIG. 16, is the securing of the strap110to the hook112of the hood101to create a convenient carrying handle. The cover100is now tightly wrapped, compactly packaged, and easy to transport.

FIGS. 17-20illustrate the use of cover100on a toddler's high chair300, which may be a type used at home or in a restaurant or other public location. For sake of brevity, the details of the cover100will not be presented, but will be the same as that described inFIGS. 1-16. In the present embodiment, the strap110of the cover100is pulled down underneath the lower edge of the backrest301of high chair300, as shown inFIG. 17. Then, as shown inFIG. 18, the hood101is unrolled and flipped over the backrest301, further exposing the hook112.FIG. 19illustrates the step of pulling the strap110up and securing an aperture111of it to the hook112on the hood101. The fit around the backrest301should be snug to ensure that the cover100does not move or shift while the toddler is positioned therein. As illustrated inFIG. 20, the front portion102of the cover100is then unrolled over the front of the high chair300and the sides are draped over the sides or handles of the high chair.

Once the cover100is securely fastened onto the high chair300, the toddler may be placed therein, as shown previously inFIG. 12. The toddler's legs will be pulled through the leg holes107and the toddler's bottom should be securely seated into the seat portion of the cover100. The belt115is then drawn around the midsection of the toddler and secured using fastener lock116. To tighten the seat belt115, a seat belt adjusting lock (not shown) may be used to adjust the size of the seat belt. The parent or caretaker can now proceed with having a meal or other activity while the toddler is secured in the high chair300. Optional toys, keys, or other distraction devices may be secured onto the hooks106and/or an electronic device, such as a smart phone, may be secured into pocket105to provide entertainment for the toddler.

The subsequent folding of the cover100after use on the high chair is substantially the same as that described inFIGS. 13-16, but as applied to a high chair300. The folding process is essentially the reverse of the process illustrated inFIGS. 17-20.

The cover100may be used to prevent the toddler from making contact with any shopping cart, high chair, stroller, or other seating apparatus which may harm the child or expose the child to germs or other contaminants. Such seating apparatus may be outside the home, or inside the home. The versatile nature of the cover100, as well as its low profile and light weight and durability makes it ideal to be a part of the routine travel apparatus for a parent wherever the toddler is taken.

In one exemplary embodiment, the mid portion of the cover can be a soft material with stuffing. The outer material can be stretchable material to allow the rolling and unrolling and covering of the backrests of the shopping cart and high chairs. Further, the material may be designed to be flexible so that it can have a snug fit on smaller seating apparatus while being able to expand to larger seating apparatus. Further, the cover100is designed of any combination of fabric and/or soft and/or hard plastic which is hypoallergenic, machine washable, and durable to withstand daily use.

The illustrations and examples provided herein are for explanatory purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that changes or modifications may be made to the above described embodiment without departing from the broad inventive concepts of the subject disclosure. It is understood therefore that the subject disclosure is not limited to the particular embodiment which is described, but is intended to cover all modifications and changes within the scope and spirit of the subject disclosure.