Abstract:
A stroller attachment device is provided. The stroller attachment device includes at least one anchor panel having first and second container holders with at least three pockets therebetween. The at least one anchor panel also has left and right attachment mechanisms. The first and second container holders are configured to secure full-size beverage containers therewithin. The stroller attachment device can be optionally equipped with fourth, fifth or mesh pockets. All of the pockets can include pocket top enclosures for securing personal property therewithin.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application is based on and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/686,328, filed Jun. 1, 2005, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a stroller attachment device. Specifically, this invention relates to a stroller attachment device providing support for cups, bottles and the like.  
         [0003]     While pushing their children in strollers, parents and caregivers often find themselves without the ability to carry their personal items, such as beverages, money, credit cards, identification cards, keys and the like. Several existing strollers are not equipped with a stroller attachment device that can be used for these purposes. There exists a need for a stroller attachment device that can be easily attached to and detached from various strollers.  
         [0004]     Much of the existing technology pertaining to stroller storage relates to storage of infant and child items, such as bottles, diapers, toys, etc. In fact, existing stroller attachment devices are generally designed with smaller cup holders to accommodate bottles and larger pockets areas to accommodate infant and toddler toys and gear. There exists a need for a stroller attachment device that provides sufficiently large container holders to accommodate various sizes of adult beverage containers as well as infant, toddler and child food and beverage containers. There also exists a need for a stroller attachment device having smaller, closed pockets where parents and care givers can store valuable personal items, such as money, credit cards, identification cards, keys and the like. There also exists a need for a stroller attachment device that is compatible with a variety of different strollers.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The present invention addresses the above-mentioned needs by providing a stroller attachment device with container holders and various sized pockets that can be easily attached to and detached from various strollers. The stroller attachment device in accordance with the present invention includes an anchor panel; first and second container holders attached to the anchor panel, with at least three pockets positioned between the first and second container holders, where the first and second container holders are configured to secure beverage containers therewithin; a left attachment means operably attached to one top corner of the anchor panel and configured to attach the stroller attachment to a stroller support; and a right attachment means operably attached to a second top corner of the anchor panel and configured to attach the stroller attachment device to the stroller support.  
         [0006]     Another aspect of the present invention provides a stroller attachment device including at least one anchor panel; first and second container holders attached to the anchor panel and having first, second and third pockets therebetween, where the first and second container holders are configured to secure beverage containers therewithin; a left attachment means operably attached to one top corner of the anchor panel and configured to accommodate attachment to a stroller; and a right attachment means operably attached to a second top corner of the anchor panel and configured to accommodate attachment to the stroller, where the first pocket is about 6 inches to about 9 inches high, and wherein the second pocket is about 4 inches high to about 5 inches high, and where the third pocket is about 2.5 inches high to about 3.5 inches high.  
         [0007]     The invention will be further described with reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a stroller attachment device.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of the stroller attachment device connected to a stroller. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     Referring now to  FIG. 1  there is shown a stroller attachment device  10  having at least one anchor panel  11  on which can be secured a first container holder  12 , a second container holder  14 , a first pocket  16 , a second pocket  18 , a third pocket  20 , a fourth pocket  42 , a fifth pocket  44 , a mesh pouch  22 , a left attachment mechanism  24  and a right attachment mechanism  26 . Stroller attachment device  10  is generally constructed of woven nylon pack material.  
         [0011]     Referring still to  FIG. 1 , first and second container holders  12 ,  14  are sized to hold and support a wide variety of different shaped cups, bottles, glasses and other drinking containers. In one embodiment, first and second container holders  12 ,  14  range in size from about 3 inches wide by to about 4 inches wide, about 3 inches deep to about 4 inches deep, and about 4 inches high to about 5 inches high with an open, semi-enclosed or fully enclosed bottom section. The semi-enclosed or enclosed bottom sections are constructed of woven nylon pack or other nylon type fabrics and configured to maintain a beverage container within the first and second container holders  12 ,  14 . In another embodiment, first and second container holders  12 ,  14  are about 3.25 inches wide, 3.25 inches deep and about 4.5 inches high with fully enclosed bottoms.  
         [0012]     Again referring to  FIG. 1 , first, second and third pockets  16 ,  18 ,  20  are generally the same width and are horizontally positioned between first container holder  12  and second container holder  14 . In one embodiment, first, second and third pockets  16 ,  18 ,  20  are about 6 inches to about 9 inches wide. In another embodiment, first, second and third pockets  16 ,  18 ,  20  are approximately 8.5 inches wide. In yet another embodiment, first, second and third pockets  16 ,  18 ,  20  are approximately 6 inches wide.  
         [0013]     The height of first pocket  16  is slight larger than second and third pockets  18 ,  20  with a height ranging from about 6 inches to about 9 inches. In one embodiment, the height of first pocket  16  is approximately 8.5 inches. In another embodiment, the height of first pocket  16  is approximately 6 inches. First pocket  16  can be positioned behind second and third pockets  18 ,  20  such that second and third pockets  18 ,  20  are attached to an outer side of first pocket  16 .  
         [0014]     In one embodiment, first pocket  16  has a first pocket top enclosure  28 . First top pocket top enclosure  28  can be a flap type enclosure having a piece of material that hangs over the opening of first pocket  16  such that a user must lift up first pocket top enclosure  28  to access the area inside first pocket  16 . This sort of flap type enclosure can have an optional fastening mechanism to secure it to the outer side of first pocket  16 . In another embodiment, first pocket top enclosure  28  has a fastening mechanism extending horizontally along the top of first pocket  16 . This type of fastening mechanism is selected from the group including, but not limited to, zippers, Velcro, snaps, buttons, hook and eye fasteners and the like.  
         [0015]     Second pocket  18  ranges in height from about 4 inches to about 7 inches. In one embodiment, second pocket  18  is approximately 5.25 inches high. In another embodiment, second pocket  18  is approximately 6 inches high. Second pocket  18  also has an optional second pocket top enclosure  30 . Second pocket top enclosure  30  has a fastening mechanism extending horizontally along the top of second pocket  18 . This type of fastening mechanism is selected from the group including, but not limited to, zippers, Velcro, snaps, buttons, hook and eye fasteners and the like.  
         [0016]     Third pocket  20  ranges in height from about 2.5 inches to about 4.5 inches. In one embodiment, third pocket  20  is approximately 3.5 inches high. In another embodiment, third pocket  20  is approximately 4 inches high. In yet another alternate embodiment, third pocket  20  is omitted from stroller attachment device  10 . Third pocket  20  has an optional third pocket top enclosure  32 . Third pocket top enclosure  32  has a fastening mechanism extending horizontally along the top of third pocket  20 . This type of fastening mechanism is selected from the group including, but not limited to, zippers, Velcro, snaps, buttons, hook and eye fasteners and the like. In one embodiment, third pocket  20  has vertically extending separations  34  providing special storage for cards, including business cards, credit cards, driver&#39;s licenses, and the like.  
         [0017]     Fourth pocket  42  ranges in width from about 5 inches to about 7 inches. Fourth pocket  42  ranges in height from about 4 inches to about 8 inches. In one embodiment, fourth pocket  42  is approximately 6 inches wide and approximately 5.25 inches high. In one embodiment, fourth pocket  42  is optional and can be omitted from stroller attachment device  10 . In another embodiment, fourth pocket  42  is the same height as stroller attachment device  10 . Fourth pocket  42  has an optional fourth pocket top enclosure  46 . Fourth pocket top enclosure  46  has a fastening mechanism extending horizontally along the top of fourth pocket  42 . This type of fastening mechanism is selected from the group including, but not limited to, zippers, Velcro, snaps, buttons, hook and eye fasteners, and the like.  
         [0018]     Fifth pocket  44  ranges in width from about 5 inches to about 7 inches. Fifth pocket  44  ranges in height from about 4 inches to about 8 inches. In one embodiment, fifth pocket  44  is approximately 6 inches wide and approximately 5.25 inches high. In one embodiment, fifth pocket  44  is optional. In another embodiment, fifth pocket  44  is the same height as stroller attachment device  10 . Fifth pocket  44  has an optional fifth pocket top enclosure  48 . Fifth pocket top enclosure  48  has a fastening mechanism extending horizontally along the top of fifth pocket  48 . This type of fastening mechanism is selected from the group including, but not limited to, zippers, Velcro, snaps, buttons, hook and eye fasteners and the like.  
         [0019]     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , mesh pocket  22  of stroller attachment device  10  is generally positioned vertically beneath first and second container holders  12 ,  14  and first through fifth pockets  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  42 ,  44 . Mesh pocket  22  ranges in size from about 15 inches wide to about 19 inches wide and about 7.5 inches high to about 9.5 inches high. In one embodiment, mesh pocket is approximately 17 inches wide by about 8.5 inches high. In another embodiment, mesh pocket  22  is optional. Mesh pocket  22  is generally constructed of a woven mesh material such that items within mesh pocket  22  are visible through the woven mesh material. Mesh pocket  22  has an optional mesh pocket top enclosure  36 . Mesh pocket top enclosure  36  has a fastening mechanism extending horizontally along the top of mesh pocket  22 . This type of fastening mechanism is selected from the group including, but not limited to, zippers, Velcro, snaps, buttons, hook and eye fasteners, and the like.  
         [0020]     Left attachment mechanism  24  is generally positioned above first container holder  12 . Right attachment mechanism  26  is generally positioned above second container holder  14 . Left and right attachment mechanisms  24 ,  26  are constructed of a sturdy material having some sort of fastening mechanism. In one embodiment, left and right attachment mechanisms  24 ,  26  are constructed of ribbon material having a snap, hook and eye, button or other type of fastening means. In another embodiment, left and right attachment mechanisms  24 ,  26  are constructed of ribbon material covered a fastening type fabric, such as Velcro. In summary, any convenient mechanism can be used, which securely attaches stroller attachment device  10  to a stroller.  
         [0021]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a side perspective view of stroller attachment  10  of the present invention as it is mounted over a stroller support  40  and hangs via gravity from left and right attachment mechanisms  24 ,  26 .  
         [0022]     Now that each component of the present invention has been discussed, following is a discussion of a method of use of stroller attachment device  10  in accordance with the present invention. Referring again to  FIG. 2 , a user positions stroller attachment device  10  such that the back of stroller attachment device  10  faces stroller support  40  with left and right attachment mechanisms positioned at the top of stroller support  40 . The user then encircles stroller support  40  with left and right attachment mechanisms  24 ,  26  and fastens fastening means on left and right attachment mechanisms  24 ,  26 . In this manner, stroller attachment device  10  is securely attached to stroller support  40  and hangs via gravity from left and right attachment mechanism  24 ,  26 . In one embodiment, stroller support  40  is a stroller handle bar. In another embodiment, stroller support  40  may be any attachment point on the stroller, including independent handles, stroller support bars, and other hardware attached to the stroller (i.e., clips, hooks, and the like).  
         [0023]     Once stroller attachment device  10  is secured to stroller support  40 , a user may place food and beverage containers, pacifiers, personal items, and the like in first and second container holders  12 ,  14 . The user may also place sippy cups, pacifiers, personal items, and the like in first, second, third, fourth and fifth pockets  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  42 ,  44 . In addition, mesh pocket  22  may be used to store personal items for the user or for an infant or child being pushed in the stroller. Since mesh pocket top enclosure  36  extends horizontally along the top of mesh pocket  22 , users can access items stored in mesh pocket  22  quickly and efficiently.  
         [0024]     The invention has herein been described in its preferred embodiments to provide those skilled in the art with the information needed to apply the novel principles and to construct and use the embodiments. However, it is to be understood that the invention can be carried out by specifically different devices and that various modifications can be accomplished without departing from the scope of the invention itself.