Abstract:
A wrap provides one or more stimuli to a child during feeding. This creates interest in feeding, increases the child&#39;s attention span, keeps the child occupied during feeding, provides comfort and security, fun and enjoyment, and generally improves the child&#39;s mood during feeding. The beverage container wrap has an inside face and an outside face, the outside face generally facing away from the beverage container, the outside face comprising at least one attachment configured to capture the attention of the child using the beverage container.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0001]     The field of the invention is beverage holders.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Many parents of infants and small children use bottles during feeding. These bottles usually lack any stimulus for the child besides the interface between the nipple and child, which can leave the child bored and restless during feeding. This restlessness may lead to bottle rejection, distraction, or the child may not eat as much from the bottle as he or she otherwise would eat. Alternately, the child may become generally unhappy while eating in a still and unstimulating environment.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0003]     The goal of the present invention is to create interest on the part of the child to feed, and to provide one or more stimuli to a child during feeding. This increases the child&#39;s attention span, keeps the child occupied and focused during feeding, provides comfort, security, enjoyment, and generally improves the child&#39;s mood. Another goal of the present invention is to provide a convenient insulating holder for a beverage container that is applied to the container similar to swaddling a small child. Such an application invokes the goodwill a parent associates with a child with the mere application of the wrap on a container.  
         [0004]     In one embodiment, the invention a beverage container wrap having an inside face and an outside face, the outside face generally facing away from the beverage container, and the outside face comprising at least one attachment configured to capture the attention of the child using the beverage container.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S)  
       [0005]      FIG. 1  is a front elevation view of a first embodiment of the inventive wrap.  
         [0006]      FIG. 2  is a rear elevation view of the inventive wrap in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0007]      FIG. 3  is a front elevation view of the inventive wrap of  FIG. 1 , shown as applied on a baby bottle.  
         [0008]      FIG. 4  is a rear elevation view of the inventive wrap of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0009]      FIGS. 5-8  show elevation views of the sequence of steps necessary to apply the wrap shown in  FIGS. 1-4 .  
         [0010]      FIG. 9  is a front elevation view of a second embodiment of the inventive wrap.  
         [0011]      FIG. 10  is a rear elevation view of the inventive wrap in  FIG. 9 .  
         [0012]      FIG. 11  is a front elevation view of the inventive wrap of  FIG. 9 , shown as applied on a baby bottle.  
         [0013]      FIG. 12  is a rear elevation view of the inventive wrap of  FIG. 11 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 13  is a front elevation view of a third embodiment of the inventive wrap.  
         [0015]      FIG. 14  is a rear elevation view of the inventive wrap in  FIG. 13 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 15  is a front elevation view of the inventive wrap of  FIG. 13 , shown as applied on a baby bottle.  
         [0017]      FIG. 16  is a rear elevation view of the inventive wrap of  FIG. 15 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 17  is a front elevation view of a fourth embodiment of the inventive wrap.  
         [0019]      FIG. 18  is a rear elevation view of the inventive wrap in  FIG. 17 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 19  is a front elevation view of the inventive wrap of  FIG. 17 , shown as applied on a baby bottle.  
         [0021]      FIG. 20  is a rear elevation view of the inventive wrap of  FIG. 19 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 21  is a front elevation view of a fifth embodiment of the inventive wrap.  
         [0023]      FIG. 22  is a rear elevation view of the inventive wrap in  FIG. 21 .  
         [0024]      FIG. 23  is a front elevation view of the inventive wrap of  FIG. 22 , shown as applied on a child&#39;s cup.  
         [0025]      FIG. 24  is a rear elevation view of the inventive wrap of  FIG. 23 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 25  is a front elevation view of a sixth embodiment of the inventive wrap.  
         [0027]      FIG. 26  is a rear elevation view of the inventive wrap in  FIG. 25 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 27  is a front elevation view of the inventive wrap of  FIG. 25 , shown as applied on a child&#39;s cup.  
         [0029]      FIG. 28  is a rear elevation view of the inventive wrap of  FIG. 27 .  
         [0030]      FIG. 29  is a front elevation view of a seventh embodiment of the inventive wrap.  
         [0031]      FIG. 30  is a rear elevation view of the inventive wrap in  FIG. 29 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 31  is a front elevation view of the inventive wrap of  FIG. 29 , shown as applied on a child&#39;s cup.  
         [0033]      FIG. 32  is a rear elevation view of the inventive wrap of  FIG. 31 .  
         [0034]      FIG. 33  is a front elevation view of a eighth embodiment of the inventive wrap.  
         [0035]      FIG. 34  is a rear elevation view of the inventive wrap in  FIG. 33 .  
         [0036]      FIG. 35  is a front elevation view of the inventive wrap of  FIG. 33 , shown as applied on a child&#39;s cup.  
         [0037]      FIG. 36  is a rear elevation view of the inventive wrap of  FIG. 35 .  
         [0038]      FIGS. 37-52  show different embodiments of the inventive wrap applied to bottles. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0039]     The inventive wrap  10  is as shown in  FIGS. 1-48 , applied to baby bottles ( FIGS. 1-20 ), child or sippy cups ( FIGS. 21-36 ), and bottles ( FIGS. 37-48 ). It should be understood that a person could apply the wrap to any generally cylindrical container, although beverage containers are presently preferred.  
         [0040]     The wrap  10  generally encloses a beverage container (baby bottle  12 , child&#39;s cup  112 , or other beverage bottle  212 ) to thereby provide insulating properties to the container  12 . The wrap  10 , when laid flat as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 ,  5 , and  6  (as well as other Figures showing various attachments) has an inside face  14  and an outside face  16 . The inside face  14  faces the container  12  when folded to enclose the container  12 . The outside face  16  faces generally away from the container  12 .  
         [0041]     The wrap  12  has first and second wrap portions,  20  and  30  respectively divided along the line  22 . An axis of symmetry  40  divides the first (left)  42  and second (right)  44  side portions of the wrap  10 .  
         [0042]     A person applies the wrap to a beverage container  12  as shown in  FIGS. 5-8 . A person places the bottle  12  on the open wrap  10  second portion  30  as shown in  FIG. 6 , such that the container  12  rests against a non-slip material  18  (a rubber or other similar padding) that discourages movement of the container  12  relative to the wrap  10 . Next, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the first portion  20  folds over the container  12 . The final step, shown in  FIG. 8 , joins the left  42  and right  44  side portions of the second portion  30  to the first portion  20 . A person secures the wrap  10  around the container  12  by joining the VELCRO™ or other fasteners  22  and  32  to one another. Alternately the left  42  and right  44  side portions could be secured one to the other over the first portion  20 .  
         [0043]     The applied wrap that partially encloses the beverage container is as shown in  FIG. 8 , which shows that the container&#39;s nipple  13 , spout  113 , or opening  213  extends outside of the wrap  10 .  
         [0044]     It should be understood that the application of the wrap is the same for baby bottles  12 , child cups  112 , and bottles  212 .  
         [0045]     The above sequence describes the application of the wrap  10  to a container  12 , and  FIGS. 9-48  show additional inventive features of the invention.  
         [0046]     In order to provide a child with interesting visual, auditory, tactile, and/or scented stimuli during feeding, the wrap can further comprise various attachments, preferable extending from the wrap&#39;s outside face  16 . For example, the wrap my have attachments that light up or make sounds in response to pressure.  
         [0047]     These features include, as shown in a second embodiment of the wrap in  FIGS. 9-12 , ribbons  60 , buttons  62 , or fringe  64 . The ribbons  60  and fringe  64 , as well as other attachments discussed below, could be long enough to touch a child&#39;s face, or shortened so they cannot contact a child&#39;s face, depending on a child&#39;s preference. Each of the attachments provides visual and tactile stimulation.  
         [0048]      FIGS. 13-16  show a third embodiment of the wrap  10  that has handles  66 , in addition to ribbons  60 , buttons  62 , and fringe  64 . The handles  66  are such that a child can grasp them during feeding, or more likely, slide her hands under the handles  66  to better grasp the container  12 .  
         [0049]      FIGS. 17-20  show a fourth embodiment of the wrap  10  that has all of the aforementioned features of ribbons  60 , buttons  62 , fringe  64 , and handles  66 . In this embodiment, however, the fringe  64  is shown as longer and not as thickly woven, and the handles  66  are also longer to accommodate larger hands or at least allow movement of the hands within the handles to play with an attachment labeled in the Figures as  61 .  
         [0050]      FIGS. 21-36  show the wrap  10  as applied to a child&#39;s cup  112 . It should be appreciated from  FIGS. 21-24 , which show the fifth embodiment of the wrap  10 , that the wrap  10  is similar to that shown in  FIGS. 1-20 , although it is dimensioned to enclose a different sized container  112 .  
         [0051]      FIGS. 25-28  show a sixth embodiment of the wrap  10  that resembles a character face—in this case the face of an elephant. The placement of the nose  70 , tail  72 , and handles  76  contribute, along with the pattern on the wrap  10 , to the appearance of the wrap  10  as an elephant. It should be particularly appreciated from the placement of the handles  76 , that folding the wrap  10  around the cup  112  opens the handles  76  for easy grasping of the cup  112 .  
         [0052]      FIGS. 29-32  show a seventh embodiment of the wrap  10  that resembles a cat&#39;s face. The placement and shape of the handles  76 , tail  78 , whiskers  80 , nose  82  and drawn face on the wrap  10  all contribute to the appearance of the wrap  10  as a cat&#39;s face.  
         [0053]      FIGS. 33-36  show an eighth embodiment of the wrap  10  showing another face with bendable arm-shaped handles  86 , a squeaky nose  88 , and a tail  90 .  
         [0054]     It should be appreciated that in order to make the faces in  FIGS. 25-36 , the faces must be illustrated, and attachments connected, on the outside face  16  of the wrap  10 . This arrangement, for example with reference to the seventh embodiment shown in  FIGS. 29-32 , requires forethought and layout. With reference to  FIG. 20 , the eyes are located on the second portion  30  of the wrap on either side of the axis  40 , while the teeth and mouth are located on the first portion  20 , and the eyes, teeth, ears and tail are so located such that when the wrap  10  is folded around the cup  112 , voila, it&#39;s a face.  
         [0055]     It should further be appreciated that the faces in  FIGS. 25-36  provide an additional benefit in terms of stimulating children, since children have been shown to enjoy faces more than other purely decorative designs.  
         [0056]      FIGS. 37-48  show embodiments of the wrap as applied to a larger bottle  212 , such as a wine, beer, water, or soda bottle.  
         [0057]      FIG. 37  shows a wrap  10  formed to resemble a football, which would appeal to a sports fan; similarly,  FIG. 38  is a baseball. In both cases, the preferred material for the wrap  10  would be leather, vinyl, vinyl, or a facsimile thereof.  
         [0058]     The wrap of  FIG. 39  resembles a purse, and includes a handle  96  by which the bottle can be held securely.  
         [0059]     The wrap of  FIG. 40  is decorated with ribbons to resemble a gift box, (similar to the wrap shown in  FIG. 45 ).  
         [0060]     The wrap of  FIGS. 41-44  resemble characters on one side, with certain accessory holders on the rear side of the bottle, including pouches  98  for holding a pen, paper clips, cell phone, sticky notes, and the like.  
         [0061]     The wrap of  FIGS. 46 and 48  resemble formal clothing (a tuxedo and formal dress respectively) and finally,  FIG. 47  is arranged as a seal resembling an award or degree.  
         [0062]      FIGS. 49 and 50  show front and rear views of a wrap  10  having lights  302  that light up to provide stimuli to the person using the bottle. The lights can light on touch, light in reaction to a bottle&#39;s movement, be constantly lit, light up in prearranged patterns, or light up in random patterns.  FIGS. 51 and 52  show that the lights can be shaped in different patterns, like stars  304 , or birds  306 . It should be appreciated that as the light turns on between the birds  306  on the wrap, the birds simulate movement. Preferably, a small battery positioned at the bottom of the container  12  powers all of the lights; such a battery could also power a digital music player.  
         [0063]     With respect to the squeaky nose shown in  FIGS. 34 and 35 , the goal was to stimulate a child with sound. An alternate sound stimulation could be contained in digital music player with music that would be part of the wrap, or a digital device that could play and/or record sounds. The ability to play back sounds might be particularly soothing to a child, if the recording was the voice of a loved on (such as a parent), that could be played in the parent&#39;s absence.  
         [0064]     Similarly, although not shown, a clear sleeve could be provided on the wrap  10  in which a photograph could be placed. Again, in the absence of a parent, this photograph might be of the parent, and provide the child with a known face to look at during feeding.  
         [0065]     All of the attachments described herein could be removably attached to the wrap using Velcro™. The advantages of this are several. First, a child could play with the attachments separately and apart from the wrap  10 . Second, the attachments could be mixed and matched according to a child&#39;s preference, which would allow a parent to find those attachments that most appeal to the child and attach those during feeding. Third, since the wrap is closely associated with a food item, the wrap itself and/or the attachments could be removed for easy washing of both the wrap  10  and the attachments. Fourth, the ability to sell the wrap with the flexibility of several faces, designs, and the like, would be a retail advantage.  
         [0066]     Finally, the simple application of the wrap to the container will engender goodwill in the person applying it, as the application of the wrap is similar to swaddling baby, and wrapping a bottle or sippy cup in the manner described above, will link the goodwill between the two.