Abstract:
An individual crib rail bumper providing protective padding in and around a child&#39;s crib to increase bodily protection and to provide additional comfort, support, and aesthetic design. An individual crib rail bumper is a long, cushioned, 2-sided, rectangular shaped soft protective material that securely wraps 360 degrees around each individual crib rail by use of strategically placed fasteners. A set of individual crib bumpers offers different fabric choices on each side and is designed to accommodate any size crib rail. They can easily be applied and are simple to remove for washing. The individual vertical crib bumpers also provide critical safety features that resolve long outstanding safety hazards of the standard and widely used conventional crib bumper.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to the field of crib bumpers and the use of protective padding in or around a child&#39;s crib to increase bodily protection and to provide additional comfort and support. Conventional bumper pads are a cushioned material that encompass the entire inside perimeter of a crib, widely used and accepted by parents and guardians to protect their child from injury in case the child would fall against the hard, wooden rails or slats. Although this invention is different than a conventional crib bumper; it has similar usage. A crib bumper serves to protect a baby from bumping and/or laying his head against the hard rails of a crib. A bumper also provides an aesthetically pleasing and soft surrounding for a newborn baby. Bumper pads are usually about 6″-12″ high, normally made of 1 or 4 piece(s), and are typically fastened by strings tied around the crib rails. They also can provide a major aesthetic component of a child&#39;s bedding and room design. Although a bumper is a safety device, it is most often designed with attractive colors, fabrics, and print designs for today&#39;s consumer. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The preferred embodiments of the present invention comprise of a long, cushioned, 2-sided, rectangular shaped soft protective material that wraps securely around each individual crib rail. The layered material most likely contains a particular density of foam, or foam-like material, between the two outer surfaces. This invention provides a soft surface for the baby&#39;s head and body and prevents any part of the hard rail from coming into contact with the baby. Because the present invention tightly wraps around the crib rail, a baby cannot use it as leverage to push its body over the crib, even when the present invention is compressed to accommodate a shorter crib rail. The present invention also allows air to circulate between the crib rails, thus reducing any unnecessary risk of SIDs. 
         [0003]    Due to the many complications with the usage of a conventional crib bumper, there is a need for something that is more practical, safer, and can be used longer. The current design of a conventional crib bumper can actually render it useless and even dangerous because of the following: 1) a standard crib bumper is only about 6″-12″ high, a baby can easily bump its head against the hard crib rails as soon as it can sit up or prop its body on all arms and legs as it learns to crawl. Once a baby can crawl or climb, it is recommended that the standard bumper be removed so that the baby cannot use the bumper as a step to hoist its body over the side of the crib. Thus, the shelf-life of an expensive bumper is only about 4 months, and once the bumper pad is removed, the crib slats are left unprotected, and so is the occupant inside. The present invention overcomes this safety issue; it can be used in the crib from the time the baby is born, until it can sleep in a regular or toddler bed (usually around 2-3 years of age; 2) the average height also prevents a newborn from looking out of the crib. Most parents would like for their babies to see what is going on around them. Neither can the parent or guardian view the child while the child is lying in the crib, unless the parent or guardian is standing next to the crib and is looking down upon the child; 3) a standard crib bumper is difficult to wash and can easily loose its shape and size after washing; 4) the conventional bumper make it extremely difficult to remove the crib sheet. Most often, one must untie or remove all four bumpers to simply remove the, crib sheet for washing. The ties are cumbersome to tie and untie, plus they can be dangerous to have near a baby, and can distract from the overall aesthetic look of a bumper; 5) usage of standard crib bumpers is often discouraged due to concerns about Sudden Infant Syndrome (SIDS) because it may disrupt air circulation, especially if a baby is nestled in the corner; 6) the conventional bumpers are difficult to use when lowering the side rail of a crib to reach a child (because the bumper pad is tied to the crib rails, it moves with the rail and does not stay in one place); and 7) due to the raising and lowering of the crib rail, the ties may become loose, and potentially allow for the bumper pad to fall onto an infant who may not have the strength to push it off, thus creating a suffocation hazard. 
         [0004]    Standard crib bumpers are a wasteful investment, and once you remove the bumper, you are still left with the cold, hard crib rails, against which your baby will now more than ever likely bump its head in its attempts to crawl. The present invention addresses the problems and disadvantages of other conventional crib bumpers by providing a safer, more practical, and longer lasting alternative. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is an illustrative view of the outer surface of the preferred embodiment 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is an illustrative view of the second, outer surface of the preferred embodiment 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is an illustrative view of the present invention in use and wrapped around an individual crib rail, and displaying one outer surface 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is an illustrative view of the present invention in use and wrapped around an individual crib rail, and displaying the additional and reversible outer surface 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is an illustrative view of the present invention in use and wrapped around all the individual rails of a crib, and below the top edge of the crib mattress 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is an illustrative view of the present invention in use and compressed to wrap around all the individual rails of a crib, and above the top edge of the crib mattress with snap fasteners facing outward 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    While researching for prior art similar to the present invention, the inventors found two patents that were more similar to the present invention than others: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,437,071 and 6,742,751, herein known as the “prior art.” These two patents, albeit making fair attempts at responding to the deficiencies of a conventional bumper, fail to accommodate the ever expanding range of styles, sizes, and shapes of cribs available on the market as of 2008. Any new and innovative design in crib bumpers must be versatile enough to be used on all or most of the various cribs available today. By ignoring this most important issue, the prior art remains useless and provides little or no help to parents who are concerned about their children&#39;s sleep environment. 
         [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,742,751 (2004), the more recent of the two patents, attempts to address important issues overlooked by U.S. Pat. No. 5,437,071 (1995), which the present invention does as well; however, U.S. Pat. No. 5,437,071 will not be addressed to such degree in this document because the inventors seek to address the disadvantages of the more recent patent U.S. Pat. No. 6,742,751. Although the present invention fully compensates for the many deficiencies of U.S. Pat. No. 5,437,071 and others, it is unnecessary to repeat such deficiencies, if U.S. Pat. No. 6,742,751 and others are reviewed. The unique design and advantages of the present invention resolve all deficiencies of both these patents and others. In addition, the preferred embodiment of the present invention provides an unprecedented design to give parents increased design options and financial savings. 
         [0013]    The most distinguishing component of U.S. Pat. No. 6,742,751 is its biggest flaw: its rigidness and fixed vertical position. Although it claims to accommodate the various widths and shapes of crib rails, its built-in “vertical stabilizer” precludes it from ever being utilized among the hundreds of cribs whose length in crib rails varies. Without the dual option of flexibility in both width and length, a vertical crib bumper that wraps around each individual crib rail cannot respond to today&#39;s parents&#39; needs. For example, the local baby store carries hundreds of different styled cribs with almost every crib rail being of different length. The first seven cribs encountered and surveyed by the inventors included crib rail lengths of 7″, 14″, 6″, 13″, 9″, 28″, and 18″. Many of these cribs also contained rails of different lengths on the same crib. None of the prior art can accommodate such a wide range of lengths and still provide 360 degrees of protection around each rail. The prior art describes the typical crib rail as “usually rectangular in shape, four-sided, approximately 1″ to 1.5″, 0.5″ thick, spaced approximately 2.375″ apart, and normally 26″ long.” This prior art was designed to only accommodate such “typical” lengths of 26″. However, as of 2008, 26″ in length is now atypical and there is no longer a “typical” length in crib rails because of the enormity of style choices. The present invention&#39;s inner padding is durable enough to substantially add a protective barrier between a child&#39;s body and the hard consistency of the crib rails, but it is soft and flexible enough so that the user can elongate or shorten the present invention according to the length of the crib rail. The present invention can also be placed above or below the surface of the crib mattress, without compromising the position of the mattress or the security and placement of the present invention. This ability to accommodate all lengths of crib rails is essential to introducing a new and viable option for the parent unsatisfied with the conventional bumper and warrants the recognition of being a unique and unprecedented idea. 
         [0014]    Equally important, a baby cannot use the present invention as leverage to push its body over the crib (even when the present invention is compressed to accommodate a shorter crib rail) because the padding is not thick or wide enough to be used by a child as a step to crawl out of the crib. In addition, the strategic placement of the snap fasteners that ensure a tight and proper fit of the present invention around the crib rail would preclude a child from using it as a support mechanism for climbing. 
         [0015]    The strategically placed, reversible snap fasteners used to attach the crib rail bumper to itself, also provide a unique and unprecedented aesthetic, but functional, use unforeseen in prior art. The option to have different colors and types of fabric choices for both sides of a vertical crib bumper is a commercially lucrative feature that would highly satisfy consumers, but also save them money. By providing possibly two very distinct fabric choices, a parent may be able to use the bumper for multiple children, including ones of different gender. It also gives them an additional design option without having to purchase an additional bumper. The series of reversible snap fasteners also provides an easy approach to wrapping the present invention around each crib rail, unlike the prior art. 
         [0016]    The present invention provides a standard level of protection despite the wide range of sizes and styles and resolves the many deficiencies of the conventional bumper, which is, unfortunately, used almost exclusively throughout the United States. The present invention gives parents a high standard of care while providing them with financial savings. 
         [0017]    The present invention addresses the problems and disadvantages of other conventional crib bumpers by providing a safer, more practical, and longer lasting alternative. 
         [0018]    The preferred embodiments of the present invention comprise of a long, cushioned, 2-sided, rectangular shaped soft protective material that wraps securely around each individual crib rail. The layered material most likely contains a particular density of foam, or foam-like material, between the two outer surfaces. This invention provides a soft surface for the baby&#39;s head and body and prevents any part of the hard rail from coming into contact with the baby. Because the present invention tightly wraps around the crib rail, a baby cannot use it as leverage to push its body over the crib, even when the present invention is compressed to accommodate a shorter crib rail. The present invention also allows air to circulate between the crib rails, thus reducing any unnecessary risk of SIDs. 
         [0019]    The present invention is also constructed from washable, soft fabrics that are comforting and aesthetically pleasing, and can easily be removed for individual wash. Because of its sleek design and independence of any ties to secure it, it does not hinder the removal of the crib sheet or the movement of the crib when retrieving the baby. The lack of ties also makes it less dangerous and less cumbersome in its overall use. The preferred embodiment of the present invention also allows the baby to see through the crib rails. 
         [0020]    The present invention wraps around the entire surface of each crib rail, and provides an equal amount of padding around the entire outer surface of the rail. By providing equal padding around the entire surface of the rail, one can easily attach the bumper to the rail without worrying where the most padding is located to best protect the baby. Also unlike other previous inventions, the outer surface of the preferred embodiment is reversible so that the user of this invention can utilize and appreciate the choice of two different outer fabric colors and styles. In addition, the flexibility of the materials allows the invention to be used on various sizes (both in length and width) and styles of crib rails. The growing number of different sizes, shapes, and styles of cribs must be addressed. Full use-and practicality of this invention depends on its flexible, yet precise, measurements and size. Unlike previous art, the invention fits all types of crib rails. The present invention also will be sold in sets of various amounts so that the consumer only has to buy the number they need. 
         [0021]    A preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1 , a crib bumper  100  that is rectangular in shape with two equal horizontal sides  101  and  102  and two equal vertical sides  103  and  104 . A second outer surface  107  is located on the reverse and opposite outer side of  106  ( FIG. 2 ) with vertical side  104  now located on the right side of outer surface  107  and vertical side  103  located on the left side. 
         [0022]    Outer surface sides  106  and  107  share and are bound together by top side  101  and bottom side  102 . They also share and are bound together by the two longer sides  103  and  104 . The outer surface sides  106  and  107  of crib bumper  100  are likely to be made of different fabrics options. 
         [0023]    Outer surface  106  contains two parallel and identical columns of snap fasteners, all of which are male (stud) components  105  and  108 , as in  FIG. 1 . Outer surface  107  contains two parallel and identical columns of snap fasteners, all of which are female (socket) components  109  and  110 , as in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0024]    Snap fasteners of crib bumper  100  contained on sides  106  and  107  are strategically placed so that the male (stud) snap fasteners  105  on side  106  fit into the female (socket) snap fasteners  109  on side  107  in order to display the outer surface side  107  around the crib rail, as shown in  FIG. 3 . To the display the outer surface of side  106 , the female (socket) snap fasteners  110  would adhere to the male components of snap fasteners  108  on side  106 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 5  illustrates a set of crib bumpers  100  wrapped around the crib rails of a crib. Crib bumpers  100  are wrapped around the crib rails below the top edge of the crib mattress  99  and are expanded to show the flexibility of crib bumper  100  to accommodate a longer crib rail length.  FIG. 6  illustrates that crib bumper  100  can also easily be used above the top surface of a crib mattress  99  and compressed to accommodate a shorter crib rail length.