Patent Publication Number: US-2011062202-A1

Title: Infant Essentials Attachment To An Infant Carrier

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPLICATION 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates in general to a portable infant essentials attachment to an infant carrier. More particularly, the invention is a wearable, hands-free, lightweight diaper bag that functions to cover the infant&#39;s arms and legs to prevent the infant from sun exposure while in the infant carrier. The invention opens to be a diaper-changing pad and an infant play surface. The invention also is a breastfeeding privacy cover. 
     B. Background of the Invention 
     For various reasons, many infants are carried in infant carriers rather than being pushed in a stroller. The design for carrying an infant in an infant carrier is that the infant&#39;s arms and legs are supposed to stick out through the infant carrier. In warm, sunny weather, infants are dressed in onesies or short sleeve shirts and shorts, which, when placed in the infant carrier, leave the infants&#39; arms and legs exposed to sunburns. Infants are not supposed to wear sun block until they are 6 months old. 
     In addition to wearing an infant carrier to carry an infant, parents traditionally carry diaper bags to hold essential, but bulky, items, such as diapers, wipes, diaper-changing pad, items for other children, keys, cell phone, wallet, and something to cover the mother while breastfeeding. Such traditional diaper bags are difficult and/or uncomfortable to hold on the parent&#39;s shoulder while wearing the infant carrier because the infant carrier is designed to go around both shoulders with the infant held in the front of the parent. Holding a diaper bag on a shoulder also makes the weight on the parent unbalanced and the parent therefore is uncomfortable and prone to injury. A diaper bag is also impractical to hold in the parents&#39; hands while wearing an infant carrier because parents need their hands to be free to take care of their infant, assist other children, and to do things such as open doors to their house, car or stores. Holding all of this bulky infant gear makes it difficult and cumbersome for new parents to go outside. Parents are therefore forced to either not bring some essential items out with them or leave the items in their diaper bag in their houses, cars or other places, and the parents walk back and forth to the diaper bag when items are needed. 
     Many traditional diaper bags are made of thick, padded materials that are heavy. Due to the combined weight of the infant and infant carrier, it is important that any additional infant gear, including the diaper bag, be of minimal weight. 
     In addition, due to the number of items held in many traditional diaper bags, it is difficult for parents to quickly find what they are looking for in the diaper bag. It is also difficult for parents to quickly open many traditional diaper bags, especially with one hand, due to their closing mechanisms, i.e., zippers or snaps. It is often important that parents find their infant&#39;s diapers, wipes, and/or diaper-changing pad quickly to change their infant. 
     With respect to changing an infant, many parents with traditional diaper bags carry a separate diaper-changing pad to provide a clean surface in which to change a diaper. These diaper-changing pads traditionally are multilayered and thus bulky. The diaper-changing pads are also traditionally folded multiple times to make them smaller for transport in the diaper bag, but this makes it more time consuming and difficult to open and close when needed. 
     Parents may also want to give their infants time out of the infant carrier when they are outside, such as in a park or at a beach. Traditional diaper bags do not contain a surface for infants to lie down or sit on the ground and not get dirty and be safe from debris. Many parents therefore also separately carry sheets or blankets for their infant to lie down or sit on the ground to play, thus adding to the weightiness of infant gear being carried by the parents. 
     Many breastfeeding mothers also prefer some privacy when they are feeding their infants or are required by law not to expose a breast in public during breastfeeding. Privacy covers are traditionally sold separately from diaper bags and are another item to be separately held in the traditional diaper bag. 
     Accordingly, what is desired is a portable, wearable, hands-free, lightweight diaper bag/diaper-changing pad/infant play surface/breastfeeding privacy cover that functions as a sun protector for infants. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a device for protection of infants&#39; arms and legs from sun exposure while the infant is being carried in an infant carrier. In particular, the invention is meant to protect infants under 6 months old who cannot wear sun block. 
     Another objective of the invention is to provide a portable, weight-balanced diaper bag to carry essential items, such as diapers, wipes, items for other children, keys, cell phone, and wallet. 
     Another objective of the invention is to provide an attachment to infant carriers so that parents are hands-free, which allows parents to take care of their infant, assist other children, and do things such as open doors to their house, car or stores. 
     A further objective of the invention is to provide a lightweight diaper bag so that it causes minimal additional weight and burden on the parent carrying the infant. 
     A further objective of the invention is to allow parents to easily find the infant items they are looking for in the invention. 
     A further objective of the invention is to provide a lightweight, easily openable, water resistant diaper-changing pad. 
     A further objective of the invention is to provide a clean, safe surface for infants to lie down and/or sit on the ground. 
     A further objective of the invention is to provide a privacy cover for breastfeeding mothers. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS AND APPENDIX 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the front of a portable, wearable diaper bag according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the back of the portable, wearable diaper bag of  FIG. 1  with part of the diaper bag folded out according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the portable, wearable diaper bag of  FIGS. 1 &amp; 2  taken along lines  4 - 4  according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the attaching means on the portable, wearable diaper bag of  FIGS. 1 &amp; 2  according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 5  is an overhead perspective view of the portable, wearable diaper bag of  FIGS. 1 &amp; 2  according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 6  is an overhead perspective view of a diaper-changing pad according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded view of the diaper-changing pad of  FIG. 6  according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS. 8-9  are drawings showing a woman utilizing the wearable diaper bag of  FIGS. 1 &amp; 2  according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a drawing of an infant on the diaper-changing pad of  FIG. 6  according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a drawing of a woman utilizing a breastfeeding privacy cover according to one embodiment of the invention; and 
     
    
    
     Appendix A is an exemplary product specification of the wearable diaper bag of  FIGS. 1 &amp; 2  according to one embodiment of the invention. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, a portable, wearable, lightweight, hands-free diaper bag, is provided which is designed to be worn comfortably attached to an infant carrier. Having the attachment allows parents&#39; hands to be free to take care of their infant, assist other children, and to do things such as open doors to their house, car or stores. The attachment also permits quick and easy access to essential items. The wearer is able to reach down into the diaper bag and remove diapers, wipes, items of other children, keys, cell phone, or wallet, or place these items back into the diaper bag in one fluid motion. The wearer can also remove the diaper bag from the infant carrier for the diaper bag to become a diaper-changing pad, infant play surface, and/or breastfeeding privacy cover. 
     According to one embodiment of the invention, the diaper bag has an ergonomic shape that hugs the infant carrier when properly worn covering the infant&#39;s arms and legs and distributes the weight of the diaper bag around the waist of the wearer. The ergonomic shape allows the wearer to feel sleek and mobile instead of clumsy and bulky. The slim, lightweight design also allows the diaper bag to fold flat or into a small ball when not in use for easy transportation and storage. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  are respectively front and back perspective views of the wearable diaper bag according to one embodiment of the invention. The diaper bag is preferably made of one layer of a lightweight, water resistant, UV protected nylon material aimed to protect the infant&#39;s arms and legs from sun exposure and provide a water resistant surface for changing infant diapers and keeping moisture and dirt from the ground off the infant. The nylon material is smooth to not bother the infant&#39;s arms and legs. The nylon material is also firm enough not to blow off and stop covering the infant in the wind. 
     According to one embodiment of the invention, the diaper bag includes three individual pocket compartments  12   a - 12   c : one large pocket that encompasses the entire invention  12   a , one small pocket to accommodate infant wipes  12   b , and one medium-sized pocket to accommodate parent&#39;s keys, parent&#39;s cell phone, parent&#39;s wallet or one infant diaper  12   c . The large pocket,  12   a , is stitched together via straight stitching  28   a  and measures, for example, 20 inches in length from the bottom of the bag to 19 inches in width. There is preferably a 1-inch edge of folded nylon material lining all four sides of the inside of the diaper bag and the stitching occurs on this edge. The top and bottom edges are folded in first and then the side edges are folded in, thus creating a 1-inch fold on the back top of the diaper bag for the attaching means to attach. Five soft hook and pile fastener ⅝ inch squares are sewn, for example, every 4 inches on both side edges in the front inside of the large pocket,  12   a , of the diaper bag starting at 1 inch from the top of the diaper bag. The corresponding bumpy other side of the hook and pile fastener squares are sewn on the back inside edge on the side of the diaper bag in the same locations as the front soft hook and pile fastener squares. The small pocket,  12   b , is stitched together via straight stitching  28   a  that measures, for example, 6 inches deep and 5 inches wide with one piece of soft hook and pile fastener ⅝ inch square sewn in the middle of the top inside of the pocket with the bumpy hook and pile fastener side attached to the back of the pocket. The small pocket,  12   b , is stitched onto the back inside edge starting preferably 2 inches from the left side of the diaper bag. The medium-sized pocket,  12   c , is stitched together via straight stitching  28   a  that measures, for example, 6 inches deep and 8 inches wide with 2 pieces of soft hook and pile fastener ⅝ inch squares sewn 2 inches from each side of the pocket on the top inside of the pocket with the bumpy hook and pile fastener side attached to the back of the pocket. The medium-sized pocket,  12   c , is stitched onto the back inside edge starting preferably 2 inches from the right side of the diaper bag and also 2 inches from the small pocket,  12   b . In this regard, the pockets may be fastened via the hook and pile fasteners to prevent items from falling out, as is depicted in  FIGS. 1-3  and  8 - 9 , creating the large pocket  12   a.    
     The invention includes preferably 2 clips or other attaching means, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , to attach it to the infant carrier. The clips include a clamping element, a pair of opposed gripping means which when compressed open and close the clamping element. One side of each of the opposed gripping means in the clips are sewn into the 1-inch edge on both sides of the top back of the diaper bag. When the opposed gripping means is compressed, the clamping element opens for it to be attached onto the infant carrier. 
     The hook and pile fastener squares on the large pocket,  12   a , are separated and the nylon material is laid on a surface with the small pocket,  12   b , and medium-sized pocket,  12   e , facing upward. This creates a diaper-changing pad with the items needed for the diaper change being readily available. This embodiment also creates an infant play surface where the infant can lie down and not get their hands or feet dirty and provides a safe place to play away from debris on the ground. 
     To provide privacy for breastfeeding, the hook and pile fastener squares on the large pocket,  12   a , are separated, one attaching means of the invention is attached to a mother&#39;s shirtsleeve, and the unfolded configuration of the invention is draped across the mother and over the infant. This creates privacy for the mother and infant while breastfeeding. 
     Appendix A is an exemplary product specification of a portable, wearable, lightweight, hands-free diaper changing bag according to one embodiment of the invention. 
     Although this invention has been described in certain specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will have no difficulty devising variations which in no way depart from the scope and spirit of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that this invention may be practiced otherwise than is specifically described. Thus, the present embodiments of the invention should be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention to be indicated by the appended claims and their equivalents rather than the foregoing description. 
     APPENDIX A 
     Exemplary Production Specification for the Diaper Bag 
     Below are exemplary materials for the diaper bag:
         1. Three pieces of lightweight, water resistant, UV protected nylon material. One piece of nylon material, for large pocket  12   a , measures 23.00″×44.00″. A second piece of nylon material, for small pocket  12   b , measures 10.50″×6.50″. A third piece of nylon material, for medium-sized pocket  12   c , measures 16.50″×6.50″.   2. Thirteen ⅝″ hook and pile fastener squares—10 of the squares join the two halves of the large pocket  12   a , 1 of the squares closes the small pocket  12   b , and  2  of the squares close the medium-sized pocket  12   c.      3. Two clips measuring 1″ in length.   4. Thread.
 
Below are exemplary directions for building the diaper bag:
   1. One lightweight, water resistant, UV protected nylon material (23.00″×44.00″) is used to create a large pocket  12   a.      2. The nylon material for the large pocket  12   a  is folded and sewn to create a 1-inch edge lining all four sides of the inside of the invention. The dimensions of the material then becomes 19.00″×40.00″. The top and bottom edges are folded in first and then the side edges are folded in, thus creating a 1-inch fold on the back top of the attachment for the clips to be attached.   3. Five soft hook and pile fastener ⅝″ squares are sewn every 4 inches on both side edges in the front inside of the large pocket,  12   a , starting at 1 inch from the top of the diaper bag. The corresponding bumpy other side of the hook and pile fastener squares are sewn on the back inside edge on the side of the diaper bag at the same locations as the soft hook and pile fastener squares.   4. One lightweight, water resistant, UV protected nylon material (10.50″×6.50″) is used to create a small pocket  12   b.      5. The nylon material for the small pocket  12   b  is folded to create a top edge and then it is folded in half and sewn so that the dimensions of the pocket is 5.0″×6.0″.   6. One lightweight, water resistant, UV protected nylon material (16.50″×6.50″) is used to create a medium-sized pocket  12   c.      7. The nylon material for the medium-sized pocket  12   c  is folded to create a top edge and then it is folded in half and sewn so that the dimensions of the pocket is 8.0″×6.0″.   8. For the 2 clips, one side of each of the opposed gripping means is sewn into the 1-inch edge on both sides of the top back of the large pocket  12   a.