Patent Publication Number: US-2006006710-A1

Title: Novel baby seat covers

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention is directed to novel baby and child car seat covers. In particular, the present invention is directed to a baby or child car seat cover constructed from natural skin such as sheepskin, shearling, angora, cashmere or canvas.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Child car seats are a critical part of the lives of millions of families with babies and small children. Virtually all U.S. states and Canadian provinces require these seats by law. Most modern child car seats, while suitable for providing safety, are not particularly comfortable for the child or baby. Many have rough edges and have hard surfaces. Moreover, they often do not match the upholstery of the rest of the vehicle.  
      There are several patents directed to the area of baby seat covers. U.S. Pat. No. 6,394,543 discloses a covering for children&#39;s seating devices such as car seats, strollers, swings, infant carriers or the like includes a main body portion forming a pocket that fits over a seating device, and at least one blanket flap portion provided inset from a side of the main body portion. The blanket flap portion is foldably coupled to the main body portion to cover a child seated in the seating device when inwardly folded. Once the covering has been fastened to the seating device, a child is placed thereon so that the rear of the child comes into contact with the main body portion, which covers the seating device. Harness straps of the seating device, which serve to secure the child within the seating device, can be engaged through a divided opening through the main body portion prior to fitting it over the seat. The blanket flap portion is then folded over the body of the child so as to insulate the child in the manner of a blanket.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 6,036,261 discloses a vehicular child seat cover is provided including a cover and a plurality of rods each coupled to the cover for maintaining the same in an erected orientation. The cover defines an enclosed space adapted for housing a vehicular child seat therein.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 6,601,917 discloses a seat assembly for a vehicle having an anchor for a child seat disposed between a seat cushion and a seat back. The invention is characterized by a cover movable into a retracted and closed position between the seat cushions and the seat back covering the anchor and out of the retracted position to an extended and fully open position out from between the seat cushions and seat back exposing the anchor for attachment to the child seat. The cover includes guide slots for slidably receiving side portions of the anchor and a ramped surface automatically moves the lid from the closed position to the fully open position in response to the housing moving relative to the anchor.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 6,454,352 is directed towards a car seat pad for use in child safety seats is described. The seat pad is formed of isotonic foam or encapsulated gel material to insulate an infant or small child from the hard surface of the safety seat. The pad includes a back portion and a hingedly joined seat portion. The back portion includes a number of slots designed to accommodate the seat belt webbing of the child safety seat. The seat portion includes a notch to provide space for the buckle of the seat belt. A removable washable cover is provided for the seat pad. The cover includes reinforced openings aligned with the slots in the back portion of the pad. In versions of the seat pad designed for larger children, a lumbar support pas is attached to the lower end of the back portion and an additional seat pad is attached to the upper end of the seat portion. The side edges of the back and seat portions are tapered to eliminate additional padding material from accumulating in the safety seat when the seat pad is fold to fit within the seat.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 5,026,115 is directed towards a child car seat cover for covering a generally triangular front retaining plate of a child car seat having a generally rectangular locking member extending from a lower apex portion and a pair of shoulder straps extending from a top edge portion between spaced radiused corners includes a generally triangular cover formed from a washable padded fabric material. The cover has spaced front and back surfaces connected by sidewalls which converge from upper arcuate corners of the front surface to a rectangular lower flared apex portion. The cover has a plurality of flaps including cooperating hook and loop type fastening strips for securement to the retaining plate.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 5,005,903 discloses a protective cushion for a child&#39;s auto seat comprising a cover, padding encased by the cover and structure for removably attaching the cushion to the exterior of a child&#39;s auto seat, whereby persons or things seated or placed next to a child&#39;s auto seat, whether occupied or not, will be protected from injury or discomfort from the hard, angular or rough surfaces of the exterior of the auto seat.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 5,618,082 discloses a one-piece terry cloth member sized to cover a seat includes a terry cloth top section selectively sewn to the cloth member to provide a first opening to allow the top of the cover to pass over the headrest while limiting downward and lateral movement of the cloth member covering the front portion of the seat back. A cloth bottom section is selectively sewn to the cloth member to provide a pocket. The pocket is pulled onto a seat, preferably placing a small amount of tension on the cloth member, to limit rearward and lateral movement of the cloth member on the seat cushion. Advantageously, a portion of the cloth bottom section is detached from the cloth member to cover the front face of the seat cushion.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 6,702,381 discloses a kit for covering a seat assembly and securing a child therein. The kit includes a generally rectangular blanket large enough to cover areas of the seat assembly within the immediate adjacency of a seated child. The blanket includes at least one leg opening to mate with the leg aperture of the seat assembly. It also includes at least one restraint opening. The kit includes a removable safety belt that may be threaded through the blanket restraint opening to secure the child in the covered seat assembly. Also disclosed is the combination of such a blanket and safety belt in combination with a seat assembly including a back portion, a seat, oppositely disposed side bars, and a front portion having at least one aperture to accommodate the legs of a child.  
      U.S. Design Pat. No. D307,847 discloses the ornamental design for a child&#39;s car seat slipcover. U.S. Patent Publication No. 2002/0096919 discloses a temporary use seat cover comprises a flat, rectangular sheet with an exposed surface of moisture absorbent fabric and at least a partial backing of a material providing a high coefficient of friction to grip the underlying upholstery material and preclude slippage, upon its opposite upholstery contact surface. Two straps extend from the upper edge, for securing about a vehicle seat headrest. Additional straps may be provided extending across the back of the upper and lower portions of the cover, for extending around the back of the seatback and beneath the forward edge of the seat bottom for additional security.  
      Sheepskin is an extremely popular material for upholstery. It is very popular in vehicle adult seat covers. It provides warmth in the winter and provides insulation from heat in the summer. While natural sheepskin is very popular for adult car seats, it has heretofore not be used for child car seats. There is a need for a line of child car seat sheepskin covers and accessories for children from infants to toddlers, which are washable, and which will keep a child warm in the winter months and cool in the summer months. The object of the invention is to make a child as comfortable as possible as a passenger in an automobile and the like. The seat covers of the present invention are designed in different shapes to fit different brands of car seats.  
      While the prior art discloses a number of baby seat covers, none disclose such a baby seat cover constructed from sheepskin. None disclose a baby seat cover constructed with natural sheepskin or other natural animal skin.  
      It is an object of the present invention to provide seat cover for a baby or child car seat.  
      It is a further object of the present invention to provide a child or baby car seat cover made out of sheepskin or other natural skin such as shearling, cashmere, angora or canvas.  
      These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description which follows.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The child car seat cover of the present invention comprises a sheepskin cover which covers the front and sides of the seat. In one embodiment, the sheepskin fits over the outer frame of the child seat. It has the requisite apertures for seat belts which extend out of the seat. In another embodiment, the cover includes attachable tube members which cover the straps of the seat.  
      In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a child or infant seat cover comprising an animal skin cover member having a cuff to fit over the sides, top or underside of a child&#39;s car seat, such cover member having a plurality of apertures for permitting the straps on the member.  
      In a further embodiment, a child seat cover comprising a sheepskin cover having a plurality of cuffs to fit over the sides, top and underside of a child&#39;s car seat, such member having a plurality of apertures for permitting the straps on the car seat to fit through, a plurality of sheepskin strap cover members, and a detachable head support member comprising a sheep skin flap. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the sheepskin baby seat of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is an alternative embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 3  is a section view of still a further embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 4  is still a further embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      The present invention is described with reference to the enclosed Figures. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the present invention is a novel sheepskin child car seat cover. The teachings of the present invention are applicable to seats for infants, toddlers, pre-schoolers and older children.  
      The cover comprises an animal skin cover  10  which covers the front  12  and sides  14  and bottom  16  of the seat  17 . The animal skin may comprise sheepskin (including shearling), angora, cashmere. The shearing material may be combined with canvas. The cover  10  has a plurality of overlapped sections  16  which attach the sides, top and underside of the seat. In one embodiment, these overlapping sections  16  comprise cuffs  19  which fit over the outer frame of the child seat at the top  12 , sides  14  and bottom  16 .  
      The cover  10  of the present invention is intended to work with a large number of commercial child or infant car seats including, but not limited to, those made by Evenflo®, Cosco®, Graco®, Peg Perego® and Team Tex®.  
      As shown in  FIG. 4 , the cover seat has the requisite apertures  18  for the seat belts which extend out of the seat. In another embodiment, the cover includes attachable tube members  22  which cover the straps  25 . The tube members  22  also constructed from animal skin, may be connected by Velcro or snaps and will fit about the retention straps of the seat.  
      In still a further feature, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the invention include a removable head piece member  24 . The head piece member  24  may be padded for additional comfort.  
      The seat cover of the present invention can come in a series of colors, such as white, black, navy or brown. It can further include other fabrics, both natural and synthetic. It is preferred that the seat cover meet FAA Fireproof certification standards and further that the cover  10  be washable.  
      It is further to be appreciated that the teaching of the present application is applicable to other baby and child carrying systems. Specifically, the teachings of the present invention are applicable to such instrumentalities as wheeled baby joggers.  
      The present invention has been described with reference to the enclosed figures. It is to be appreciated that the true nature and scope of the invention is to be determined with reference to the attached claims.