Patent Publication Number: US-2010109391-A1

Title: Protective cover for baby carrier

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/110,821 filed on Nov. 3, 2008, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure generally relates to a protective cover, and more particularly, to a protective cover for a baby carrier. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Babies in general are quite delicate and prone to illness. Therefore, the babies are required to be handled with great care. In order to handle the babies carefully, a carrier or a portable bed may be used. Generally, a baby occupying such a carrier or a portable bed may get disturbed by a sunshine falling onto the baby&#39;s face. Further, when outdoors, the baby may face strong and cold winds which can make the baby ill. Furthermore, the baby occupying the carrier or the portable bed may get infected or diseased due to flies and other insects present around the baby. 
     The babies occupying the carrier or the portable bed are generally protected by clothing or blankets. However, when a caregiver covers a baby with a blanket or with clothing, the baby generally shows an abnormal behavior. This is because the blanket may limit ventilation and contact between the caregiver and the baby. 
     The baby may also be protected using conventional carriers that may contain a cover to protect the baby. However, the cover used in the conventional carriers may be ineffective for being used on a sunny day or on a cold day. Furthermore, the cover may be ineffective to shield the baby from extreme atmospheric conditions and from other outside elements such as insects. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     One embodiment of a protective cover, for covering a baby in a baby carrier having a handle to carry the baby carrier, includes a canopy, a mesh, a flap, and an attaching mechanism. The canopy includes a first cutout portion and a second cutout portion. Further, the canopy is capable of spanning around the baby carrier such that a portion of the handle protrudes out of the first cutout portion for enabling a caregiver to carry the baby carrier from the handle. Furthermore, the second cutout portion enables the caregiver to monitor the baby in the baby carrier. The mesh is disposed on the second cutout portion for shielding the baby in the baby carrier. The flap is attached at a top portion of the canopy for removably covering the mesh. The attaching mechanism is configured for attaching the canopy to the baby carrier. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments and best mode, appended claims, and accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a protective cover mounted on a baby carrier; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a portion of the protective cover of  FIG. 1  and a baby in the baby carrier; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a protective cover mounted on a baby carrier; and 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a portion of the protective cover of  FIG. 3  and a baby in the baby carrier. 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the description of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The exemplary embodiments described herein in detail for illustrative purposes are subject to many variations in structure and design. It should be emphasized, however, that the present disclosure is not limited to a particular protective cover, as shown and described. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but these are intended to cover the application or embodiment without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present disclosure. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     The term “first,” “second,” “top,” “bottom,” and the like, herein do not denote any order, elevation or importance, but rather are used to distinguish placement of one element over another. Further, the terms, “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item. Unless limited otherwise, the terms “attached,” “connected,” “coupled,” and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect attachments, connections, and couplings. 
     The present disclosure provides a protective cover for a baby carrier. The protective cover is capable of protecting a baby occupying the baby carriers. The protective cover of the present disclosure will be explained in detail in conjunction with  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , one embodiment of a protective cover  100  mounted on a baby carrier  200  is shown. The baby carrier  200  to which the protective cover  100  may be attached includes a handle  220 . The handle  220  is attached to a periphery  240  of the baby carrier  200 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . Further, in the present embodiment, the protective cover  100  includes a canopy  10 , a mesh  30 , a flap  40 , and an attaching mechanism  50 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     In one form, the canopy  10  may be a piece of cloth that may be made of a flexible material. Further, the flexible material may be a waterproof or a water-repellant material. Alternatively, the canopy  10  may be made of any other material. Further, the canopy  10  is configured to have a first cutout portion  12  and a second cutout portion  14 . The second cutout portion  14  is configured adjacent to the first cutout portion  12 . Specifically, the first cutout portion  12  is configured on a top portion  16  of the canopy  10  and the second cutout portion  14  is configured on a central portion  18  of the canopy  10 . The first cutout portion  12  is configured in the form of an opening for accessing the handle  220  of the baby carrier  200 . The canopy  10  is further configured to have at least one pocket, such as pockets  20  for storing articles, such as a milk bottle or a diaper. The pockets  20  may be made of a textile material similar to the one used for making the canopy  10 . Alternatively, the pockets  20  may be made of any other material. Further, the pockets  20  may be sewn to the canopy  10  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     The canopy  10  is capable of spanning around baby carriers of varying shapes and sizes due to its flexible nature. In the present embodiment, the canopy  10  is wrapped around the baby carrier  200  in a manner such that a portion  222  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) of the handle  220  protrudes out of the first cutout portion  12 . The portion  222  of the handle  220  enables a caregiver to carry the baby carrier  200  with ease. 
     The second cutout portion  14  of the canopy  10  enables the caregiver to monitor a baby  300  occupying the baby carrier  200  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ). The second cutout portion  14  is covered with the mesh  30  in order to prevent the baby  300  from extreme atmospheric conditions and from other outside elements such as insects. The mesh  30  may be configured to assume similar dimensions as that of the second cutout portion  14  so as to entirely cover the second cutout portion  14 . Specifically, the mesh  30  is disposed on the second cutout portion  14  and is sewn to the canopy  10  for shielding the baby  300  in the baby carrier  200 . The mesh  30  may be made of a textile material and may have a lattice structure of a small mesh size. The textile material may be a waterproof or a water-repellant material. The mesh  30  enables the caregiver to monitor the baby  300  therefrom; and simultaneously protect the baby  300  from extreme atmospheric conditions and insects. Alternatively, the mesh  30  may be made of any other material. 
     Further, the flap  40  is attached at the top portion  16  of the canopy  10  for removably covering the mesh  30 . The flap  40  may be sewn at the top portion  16  of the canopy  10 . Alternatively, the flap  40  may be attached in any other way at the top portion  16  of the canopy  10 . The flap  40  may be made of same material as that of the canopy  10 , and may have similar dimensions as that of the mesh  30 . The flap  40  may be used to removably cover and uncover the mesh  30  upon need. For covering the mesh  30 , the flap  40  may be untied and rolled down, as shown in  FIG. 1 . Further, for uncovering the mesh  30 , the flap  40  may be rolled up and tied, as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     Furthermore, the attaching mechanism  50  is configured for attaching the canopy  10  to baby carrier  200 . The attaching mechanism  50  may be a hook and loop fastener. Specifically, the attaching mechanism  50  may include a first strap  52  having a plurality of hooks carried by a bottom peripheral portion  22  of the canopy  10 , and a second strap  54  having a plurality of loops carried by a portion, such as a portion  260 , of the baby carrier  200 . The loops of the second strap  54  are configured to engage with the hooks of the first strap  52 . The first strap  52  and the second strap  54  may be stitched or glued to the bottom peripheral portion  22  of the canopy  10  and the portion  260  of the baby carrier  200 , respectively. Alternatively, any other attaching mechanism that is known in the art may be used for attaching the canopy  10  to the baby carrier  200 . In another embodiment, the attaching mechanism  50  may be a band made of a material, such as an elastic material, sewn at the bottom peripheral portion  22  of the canopy  10  for securely attaching the canopy  10  to the baby carrier  200 . The material may be a water-proof or a water repellant material. However, the band may be made of any other material. 
     The protective cover  100  may be made as per a manufacturer&#39;s preference in order to fit a baby carrier that may have a size either larger or smaller than that of the baby carrier  200 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , another embodiment of a protective cover  500  of the present disclosure will be explained. The protective cover  500  is shown to be mounted on a baby carrier  600  for a baby  700 . The baby carrier  600  may be similar to the baby carrier  200 , and may include a handle  620  having a portion  622 . The handle  620  is attached to a periphery  640  of the baby carrier  600 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . Further, in the present embodiment, the protective cover  500  includes a canopy  60 ; at least one pocket, such as pockets  70 ; a mesh  80 ; a flap  90 , and an attaching mechanism  95 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     The protective cover  500  may be similar to the protective cover  100 . Specifically, the canopy  60  is similar to the canopy  10  of the protective cover  100 , and is configured to have a first cutout portion  62  on a top portion  66  and a second cutout portion  64  on a central portion  68  thereof. Further, the pockets  70  are similar to the pockets  20  of the protective cover  100 , and the flap  90  is similar to the flap  40  of the protective cover  100 . Furthermore, the attaching mechanism  95  is similar to the attaching mechanism  50 , and is configured for attaching the canopy  60  to the baby carrier  600 . Specifically, the attaching mechanism  95  may include a first strap  97  having a plurality of hooks carried by a bottom peripheral portion  72  of the canopy  60 , and a second strap  99  having a plurality of loops carried by a portion, such as a portion  660 , of the baby carrier  600 . The loops of the second strap  99  are configured to engage with the hooks of the first strap  97 . The first strap  97  and the second strap  99  may be stitched or glued to the bottom peripheral portion  72  of the canopy  60  and the portion  660  of the baby carrier  600 , respectively. However, the mesh  80  of the protective cover  500  may have a mesh size larger than that of the mesh  30  of the protective cover  100 . Further, the mesh  80  may be made of any material. Furthermore, the mesh  80  may have a length smaller than that of the mesh  30  of the protective cover  100 , as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
     The protective cover  500  may be made as per a manufacturer&#39;s preference in order to fit a baby carrier that may have a size either larger or smaller than that of the baby carrier  600 . 
     The present disclosure provides a protective cover, such as the protective cover  100  and the protective cover  500 , for a baby carrier. The protective cover has a simple structural configuration and may be effectively used in varying atmospheric conditions. Specifically, a flap, such as the flaps  40  and  90 , may be folded or unfolded to uncover or cover a mesh, such as the meshes  30  and  80 , depending upon the atmospheric conditions. Further, when the flap is folded, the caregiver is able to monitor the baby occupying the baby carrier from the mesh. Further, the protective carrier may provide proper ventilation and contact between the caregiver and the baby. The protective cover is also capable of protecting the baby from insects. Furthermore, the canopy of the protective cover includes a first cutout portion, such as the first cutout portions  12  and  62 , through which a portion of a handle of the baby carrier protrudes outwards when the protective cover is mounted over the baby carrier. Mounting the protective cover in such a manner facilitates the caregiver to carry the baby carrier by gripping the handle while covering the baby in the baby carrier. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present disclosure have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present disclosure to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present disclosure and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present disclosure and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omission and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but such are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present disclosure.