Patent Publication Number: US-2012037284-A1

Title: Protective sleeve for baby carrier

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to a sleeve adapted for covering and protecting at least a portion of a baby carrier. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A “baby carrier” (also called a “child carrier”) is a device typically used to carry an infant or small child on an adult&#39;s person. In its most common usage, the baby carrier holds the child next to the body of an adult without requiring the adult to physically support the child with their arms or hand. This arrangement keeps the child secure and in close contact with an adult while allowing the adult to maintain two free arms and hands to perform desired actions or activities. Baby carriers are designed in various forms such as slings, backpack carriers, and soft front or hip carriers, with varying materials and degrees of rigidity, decoration, support and confinement of the child. One of the most popular baby carriers is called a Baby Bjorn™, generally shown in prior art  FIG. 1  as reference number  34 . The Baby Bjorn™ includes lower portion  42  and upper winged extension  12  connected by winged extension connector  8 . Upper winged extension  12  includes opposing tips  36  and  38 . 
     One problem with baby carriers is that they can get worn or tarnished during use. This can occur in many ways, including from the baby itself, who may bite, drool on, or otherwise dirty the carrier. This is especially apparent in winged extension portion  12  of the baby carrier reachable to the baby&#39;s mouth, shown  FIG. 1 . Frequent biting or drooling by the baby can wear down, discolor, stain, or tarnish the baby carrier. This damage cannot always be rectified simply by washing or cleaning the baby carrier. The result is the inconvenience of a baby carrier that either must be frequently washed or the costly circumstance of a baby carrier that is permanently damaged and should be replaced. 
     A second issue is that baby carriers are not interactive with the baby. A baby held within a carrier typically does nothing other than sit there. There are no toys or attractive patterns to entertain the baby. This can cause problems for the wearer of the carrier if the baby demands too much attention, thereby making moot the entire reason the wearer is wearing the carrier in the first place. 
     As a further issue, portions of the baby carrier exposed to a baby&#39;s face may be harsh to the baby&#39;s chin or mouth. For example, babies have been known to have chafed skin underneath there chin where it rubs against the baby carrier. Similarly, biting the baby carrier may not be pleasing to the baby. Therefore, a need exists in the art for a sleeve covering at least of portion of a baby carrier that is accessible by the baby&#39;s mouth that can be replaced, cleaned and is pleasing to the touch and bite of a baby. There is a further need for such a device that is easy to secure to and remove from the baby carrier. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an interactive protective sleeve for a baby carrier having a winged extension, wherein the sleeve includes a winged body portion having a front surface, a back surface, a top side, a bottom side, side openings on opposing sides of the sleeve and a bottom opening on the bottom side. The front and back surface of the sleeve form a flexible cavity therein. The sleeve covers at least a portion of a winged extension of a baby carrier when the winged extension is placed within the flexible cavity such that the bottom side is transverse a winged extension connecter. 
     The present invention further contemplates a protective sleeve for a baby carrier having a winged extension, wherein the sleeve includes means for securing a portion of the winged extension within a flexible cavity of the sleeve. 
     The present invention further contemplates a method for protecting a portion of a baby carrier including the steps of providing a winged shaped sleeve having a bottom opening adapted to conform to a shape of a winged extension of the baby carrier, entering a first tip of winged extension through the bottom opening and into the winged shaped covering, sliding the first tip to a first side of the winged shape covering; entering a second tip of winged extension through the bottom opening and into the winged shaped covering, and sliding the second tip to an opposing second side of the winged shape covering. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Without restricting the full scope of the present invention, various preferred forms of the invention and its related articles are illustrated in the following drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a flat view of a prior art Baby Bjorn™. 
         FIG. 2  shows a side view of a winged sleeve with an extension. 
         FIG. 3  shows a patterned side view of a winged sleeve with an extension. 
         FIG. 4  shows a side view of a winged sleeve secured on a winged extension portion. 
         FIG. 5  shows a side view of a winged sleeve secured on a winged extension portion. 
         FIG. 6   a - 6   d  shows a method for securing the sleeve to the baby carrier. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 2  shows a winged sleeve  10  that substantially protects a winged extension portion  12  of the baby carrier shown in  FIG. 1 . Sleeve  10  has an upper side  14 , a first side opening  16 , and second side opening  18 , a bottom opening  20  between two bottom sides  22  and  24 . Winged guard  10  further has a flexible front surface  26  and a flexible back surface  28 . Back surface  28 , not pictured, is substantially the same size and shape as front surface  26 . A flexible cavity  30  can be potentially formed between front and back surface  26  and  28 , wherein the flexible cavity can be accessed by side openings  16  and  18  or bottom opening  20 . As can be readily understood, if the sleeve  10  is laying flat such that front surface  26  touches and lies directly on back surface  28 , flexible cavity  30  may not be present but can easily be recreated through simple manipulations. Note that while different parts of sleeve  10  are being referred to in segments, e.g. front surface  26 , back surface  28  and upper side  14 , it would be understood from one skilled in the art that the structure of the sleeve may be continuous as one moves, for example, from the front surface, around upper side  14  and onto back surface  28 . 
     In a first preferred embodiment, the general shape of sleeve  10  is a general winged shape having two generally opposing wings terminating at side openings  16  and  18  as shown in  FIG. 2 . The shape of winged sleeve  10  is substantially adapted to conform to the shape of winged extension portion  12  such that winged extension portion  12  can be secured within winged sleeve  10  without substantial movement within the sleeve. Winged sleeve  10  protects the winged portion  12  and provides interaction and a soft surface for any baby or child held in the baby carrier. 
     Sleeve  10  is preferably made of a material to allow for efficient securing on and off of winged extension portion  12 . In preferred embodiments, the material is a soft, flexible material such as minke. The flexibility makes it easier to manipulate the sleeve  10  when in the process of covering the winged extension  12 . The softness of the a material such as minke provides a soft covering that substantially prevents chafing to a baby. Particularly when the baby is facing inward, the material of sleeve  10  provides a soft, warm, padding for the back of the baby&#39;s head. The material also protects the winged extension by covering substantially all of it. This protection prevents significant tarnishing of the winged extension  12  by protecting from the wear and bitings of a child. To the extent any sleeve  10  is damaged, it can be easily replaced by a different sleeve. This process costs considerably less than purchasing a new baby carrier. As shown in  FIG. 3 , various patterns may be placed on front and/or back surface  26  and  28 . 
     Upper side  14  is adapted to conform to the shape of a corresponding upper side on winged extension portion  12 . In the shown embodiment of  FIG. 2 , upper side  14  is substantially arcuate in shape, but different general shapes can be manufactured depending on the shape of the winged extension portion  12 . It is also understood that if a child being carried in a carrier chews or drools on a portion of winged protector, it would likely be on upper side  14  as this is the side closest to the child&#39;s mouth. 
     In preferred embodiments, sleeve  10  contains one or a multiplicity of couplers  32  to which devices may be attached. The couplers provide a level on interactivity to sleeve  10  by allowing attachment of entertaining devices for a baby held within the carrier. In further preferred embodiments, the devices coupled to couplers  32  are toys for the child to play with as shown in  FIG. 4 . Devices are preferably removable attached to couplers  32  such that they can be replaced or exchanged for other devices. In preferred embodiments, the couplers  32  are a strap that can fit through a hoop or other hole on the devices and then fasten back upon itself with a fastener known in the art. In other embodiments, however, other couplers can be used. 
     Couplers  32  are shown attached at or near upper side  14  but can be placed at any suitable location on sleeve  10 , for example, near the center of front surface  26 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , coupler  32  may be arch-shaped straps of flexible or non-flexible material, but one skilled in the art would contemplate a wide variety of shapes and materials could be used. 
     In preferred embodiments, the apparatus includes openings to secure sleeve  10  to winged extension portion  12 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , openings  16 ,  18  and  20  are adapted to accept tips  36  and  38  of baby carrier  34  such that sleeve  10  is securely attached to the winged extension  12  of the baby carrier. Note that the precise shape of tips  36  and  38  may vary depending on the type of baby carrier used. 
     In alternate embodiments, sleeve  10  may not include side openings  16  and/or  18 . Instead, sleeve  10  includes an upper side  14  that extends directly into bottom sides  22  and/or  24 . In this embodiment, the upper side  14 , bottom sides  22  and/or  24 , and front and back surface  26  and  28  can be extended further in a planar direction such that tips  36  and  38  of the winged extension are fully covered. As a result, tips  36  and/or  38  of winged extension portion  12  would be within cavity  30  and would not be outwardly visible when the sleeve is secured. 
     A method of protecting a winged extension portion  12  of a baby carrier with sleeve  10  is shown in  FIGS. 6   a - 6   d . As seen in  FIG. 6   a , tip  36  of winged extension portion  12  is entered into cavity  30  through bottom opening  20  and then out of cavity  30  through opening  18  such that it extends past and through opening  18 . Opposing tip  38  is then entered through opening  20  and opening  16  as shown in  FIGS. 6   b  and  6   c , such that tip  38  extends past and through opening  16 , thereby securing winged sleeve  10  on winged extension  12  as shown in  FIG. 6   d . As can be seen in  FIG. 6   d , a majority of winged extension  12  is contained within cavity  30 , save for the tips. Opening  20  is transverse winged extension connector  8 , although it is understood that this description includes situations where the precise location of opening  20  may actually be just above winged extension connector  8  and technically transverse to the winged extension itself. The location of opening  20  provides a quick and easy way to cover the winged extension. 
     In alternate methods, if no side openings are included, tip  36  of winged extension portion  12  is entered into cavity  30  through bottom opening  20  and to one side of sleeve  10 . Opposing tip  38  is then entered through opening  20  and moved to the opposing side of sleeve  10 . The sleeve can then be substantially straightened such that it lays flat. 
     In further embodiments, a lower extension  40  is provided, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 5 . Lower extension  40  extends bottom opening  20  such that more of baby carrier  34  is covered. 
     Securing sleeve  10  to winged extension portion  12  is preferably achieved without physical fastening, thereby allowing the sleeve to be secured or removed without damaging the sleeve or the baby carrier. In alternate embodiments, however, an additional physical fastener, including but not limited to snaps, buttons, zippers, Velcro™ or locking tabs, can be used to provide additional fastening of sleeve  10  to winged extension portion  12 . 
     Once the winged extension is secured within the sleeve, an interactive and removable covering is provided for a baby carrier that can entertain a baby when the baby is facing forward and provide a soft, warm, padding for the back of the baby&#39;s head when the baby is facing inward. The sleeve can be easily removed and cleaned or replaced. This ease is more concentrated by the fact that the sleeve only substantially covers the winged extension or the winged extension and a portion of the winged extension carrier, providing an easy on and off. 
     The present invention creates an method and apparatus for protecting a baby carrier and providing a more interactive and pleasing environment for the baby being carried. Various changes and modifications can be made in the invention without departing from its scope or spirit. For example, as shown in  FIG. 2 , side openings  16  and  18  are shown to be on opposing sides of the winged formation. In alternate embodiments, the side openings can be in different locations if tips  36  and  38  of the winged extension are in different locations. 
     While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims.