Abstract:
A baby blanket for keeping a baby warm and having a detachable burp cloth. The present baby blanket preserves a baby&#39;s body heat, thereby keeping the baby warm, yet allows for non-confining, natural movement of the baby&#39;s arms and hands. Further, the present blanket of the present invention includes a detachable burping cloth, and, in one embodiment, includes a coordinating cap, sometimes referred to as a beanie or toboggan, that includes a strap for securing a pacifier to the cap. The blanket conforms to the infant&#39;s body providing warmth and comfort for the baby and peace of mind for the mom.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/219,976, filed on Sep. 17, 2015, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0004]    The invention relates to an article of baby clothing with attached accessories. More particularly, it relates to a baby blanket adapted to be used in conjunction with an attached burp cloth. Further, in one embodiment, the blanket could be part of an outfit which further includes a cap with an attached pacifier. 
         [0005]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0006]    In the art of infant care, it is known to wrap an infant with a blanket in order to, among other things, keep the infant warm; and it is also known to use what is colloquially referred to as a burp cloth. Burp cloths are commonly placed on the caregiver&#39;s shoulder while an infant, commonly one that has been recently fed, is burped. Further, caregivers, especially mothers, know that it is wise to keep a burp cloth at the ready at all times because infants are known to spit up at times other than when being burped. What is missing in the art is an infant accessory that combines the positive effects of wrapping an infant with a blanket and the convenience of having a burp cloth at the ready. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The baby blanket of the present invention provides a blanket that creates warmth for the baby at all times. The baby blanket of the present invention does not encumber the infant&#39;s arms and hands and, thus, supports the infant&#39;s ability to self-console by bringing his or her hands to its face and mouth. The palms of the hands and the area around the mouth are very sensitive and potent sources of stimulation. Rather than deprive the infant of this access as most presently known swaddling blankets do, the baby blanket of the present invention supports it. The baby blanket of the present invention is designed for infants, newborn to 6 months, and incorporates a burping cloth. The present baby blanket provides a means to keep the infant warm, yet allows for non-confining, natural movement. Further in one embodiment, the present baby blanket can be combined with a traditional infant onesie, in a mix and match fashion, such that the blanket is adapted to be secured to the onesie in a non-intrusive way and further includes a detachable burping cloth. Additionally, in still a further embodiment, the infant blanket is adapted into a kit, or ensemble, that includes a coordinating cap, sometimes referred to as a beanie or toboggan, that includes a strap for securing a pacifier to the cap. The blanket conforms to the infant&#39;s body providing warmth and comfort for the baby and peace of mind for the mom. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The above-mentioned features of the invention will become more clearly understood from the following detailed description of the invention read together with the drawings in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is an inside plan view of the blanket of the present invention showing the preferred points of attachment for the attachable burp cloth; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is an outside plan view of the blanket illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is an inside plan view of the blanket illustrated in  FIG. 1  with the attachable burp cloth attached thereto; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is an inside plan view of the attachable burp cloth of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is an inside perspective view of the attachable burp cloth illustrated in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is an inside perspective view of the blanket illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  are plan views of the blanket illustrated in  FIG. 1 , with  FIG. 7A  representing the view after the first step of folding the blanket has been completed; and  FIG. 7B  representing the view after the second step of folding has been completed. In  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the straps and the burp cloth are not shown for clarity of view; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is perspective view of the cap with the attached pacifier of the present invention; and 
           [0017]      FIGS. 9A-9I  are perspective views of the steps of placing the blanket on an infant. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    The blanket  10  of the present invention can be utilized with a traditional onesie with hand covers. In this regard, the blanket  10  can be secured to a onesie that has been modified with selectively placed snaps thereby providing a combined onesie garment with a snap-on blanket in a variety of fabrics and styles. However, in the preferred embodiment, the blanket  10  is provided with straps that can be worn over the baby&#39;s shoulders in the manner of suspenders or galluses. In the preferred embodiment, the upper edge of the blanket  10  is disposed just under the baby&#39;s arms so the baby can move its arms and hands freely and maintain motor control. The blanket  10  and the attached burp cloth  40  folds along its length, as illustrated in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , and as further illustrated in  FIG. 9A-9I , around the baby so as to stay away from the baby&#39;s face such that it is wrapped around the lower part of the baby&#39;s body. The attached figures illustrate a preferred embodiment of the baby blanket  10  with a detachable burp cloth  40  of the present invention. The following represent the features of the present baby blanket. In one embodiment, illustrated in  FIGS. 1-6 , blanket  10  includes straps  15  adapted to be worn over the baby&#39;s shoulders, in the style of suspenders or galluses, such that the blanket  10  is worn over an existing outfit. The straps  15  are worn over the baby&#39;s shoulders, as seen in  FIGS. 9B-9D , and are secured to the blanket  10  using infant-approved hook and loop type fasteners. Use of infant approved hook and loop fasteners allows the blanket  10  and the straps to be adjustable so as to grow with the baby. Further, as seen in  FIGS. 9A-9I , the blanket  10  folds up and snaps into a bunting position for outside use to keep the baby warm. 
         [0019]    The blanket  10  is, preferably rectangular in shape, having, preferably, its length extend along the length of the baby&#39;s torso and legs. A plurality of hook and loop type fasteners  25 , as are commonly known in the art by the brand name Velcro®, are provided along the bottom edge  30  of the inside of the blanket  10 , see e.g.  FIGS. 1, 3, and 4 . This allows attachment of the burp cloth  40  which includes a corresponding plurality of hook and loop type fasteners  45 . See  FIG. 4 . This allows the burp cloth  40  to be detachably secured to the inside of blanket  10 . 
         [0020]    A segment of “hook” fastener  60  is disposed at the upper right inside edge  65  (i.e. the baby&#39;s right side if positioned behind the baby) of the inside of the blanket  10 . See  FIG. 1 . A corresponding segment of “loop” fastener  70  is disposed at the upper left edge  75  of the outside of the blanket  10  (as viewed in the Figures; the baby&#39;s left side if positioned behind the baby). This preferred arrangement of the upper hook and loop fasteners  60  and  70  allows the left side of the blanket  10  (from the baby&#39;s perspective) to be folded in front of the infant as seen in  FIG. 7A . Then, the right side of the blanket, (again, from the baby&#39;s perspective) is folded over the blanket  10  and the hook and loop fasters  60  and  70  secure the blanket  10  in the folded position seen in  FIG. 7B . 
         [0021]    If desired, the bottom of the blanket  10  can be folded up and secured to the upper edge of the folded blanket. In this regard, in the preferred embodiment, a male snap  85  is provided proximate the midpoint along the inside bottom edge of the blanket  10 . A corresponding female snap  90  is located at the top of the blanket  10  on the inside left proximate the edge of the blanket  10 . In the preferred embodiment, the male snap  85  is disposed on the inside of the blanket  10  and the female receiving side of snap  90  is disposed on the outside of the blanket  10  such that when the blanket  10  is folded, the male snap  85  can snap into the female snap  90 . Of course, it will be appreciated that male snap  85  and female snap  90  should be sewn into the fabric of blanket  10  so as not to be uncomfortable to the baby and so as not to be a choking hazard. Of course, it will be further appreciated by those skilled in the art that snaps  85  and  90  could be replaced with corresponding portions of hook and loop fastener or other types of releasable securing devices, known in the clothing and textile arts, for example a button and corresponding button hole, could also be utilized to secure the blanket  10  in this folded position. 
         [0022]      FIG. 4  illustrates the preferred burp cloth  40 ; and  FIG. 3  illustrates the burp cloth  40  detachably secured to the blanket  10 . It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that in an alternate embodiment, not illustrated, other types of fasteners, rather than the hook and loop type fasteners described herein, such as plastic or metal snaps, could be utilized to secure the blanket  10  to itself when wrapped and/or to secure the burp cloth  40  to the blanket. Further, the blanket, in still a further alternate embodiment, could be adapted to be secured to an “onesie” type baby outfit. The blanket  10  of the present invention keeps the baby covered all day and night when needed, substantially eliminating the opportunity for the baby to become uncovered which would leave the baby exposed and cold. Blanket  10  of the present invention further allows the baby to be picked up without the blanket  10  falling off and leaving the baby exposed. Mix and match burp cloths can easily be switched when soiled, keeping baby comfortable at all times. 
         [0023]      FIG. 13  illustrates the cap  100  with an attached pacifier  110  of the present invention. In this regard, a cap  100 , which can be of the type commonly referred to as a beanie or a toboggan, is of a size selected to be worn by a baby  120 . A strap  105  is secured to a side of the cap  100 . The distal end of the strap  115  is adapted to secure a pacifier  110 . In this regard, when the baby  120  is not suckling the pacifier  110 , it can hang to the side within reach of the baby  120 . In the preferred embodiment, the strap  105  is substantially non-elastic. Preferably, the length of the strap  105  is selected such that the pacifier  110  hangs to just below the baby&#39;s chin. This length keeps the pacifier  110  in the baby&#39;s reach but substantially prevents the strap  105  from wrapping around the baby&#39;s throat so as to pose a strangulation hazard. 
         [0024]    While the present invention has been illustrated by description of several embodiments and while the illustrative embodiments have been described in detail, it is not the intention of the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and methods, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of applicant&#39;s general inventive concept.