Patent Publication Number: US-2005125960-A1

Title: Baby blanket clip

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE AND PRIORITY  
      Applicants reference and claim the benefit of prior filed United States Provisional Application titled Baby Blanket Clip, by Iris Blitstein and Lisa Strunin, believed to be U.S. Ser. No. 60/528,394, and to have been filed on Dec. 11, 2003. 
    
    
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH  
      None  
     SEQUENTIAL LISTING  
      None  
     BACKGROUND  
      This invention relates to baby blanket accessories, specifically to accessories which attach to the rails of a baby carriage and retain the desired position of the baby blanket despite the movement of the baby and/or the movement of the baby carriage. Oftentimes, during carriage walks, the movement of the baby and/or the motion of the baby carriage itself can cause the blanket to shift its position. The shift may prevent proper covering or comfort of the baby. In addition, this shift may allow the blanket to become dirty or damaged by dragging on the ground, by entangling in the carriage wheels, or the like.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 5,081,730 to Moody (1992), U.S. Pat. No. 3,737,955 to Hakim (1973), U.S. Pat. No. 2,772,460 to Berkowicz (1956), U.S. Pat. No. 2,637,047 to Zurzolo (1953), U.S. Pat. No. 2,129,487 to Bleier (1938) all describe blanket holders which provide a means of retaining the position of a baby blanket in a crib. The retaining method for all of the patents consists of a feature of the invention which fixtures on the crib rail, and a second feature of the invention which grasps the blanket.  
      These blanket holder inventions for cribs do maintain the intended position of the blanket despite the movement of the baby, but they are not intended for use with a baby carriage. In addition, they cannot be readily used with a baby carriage because it would require disassembly of the carriage in order to correctly install the blanket holder.  
      No known blanket clip formerly developed provides both a means to easily attach to a baby carriage and a means to retain a baby blanket in the desired position, despite the movement of the baby and/or the movement of the baby carriage, thereby keeping the baby comfortable and protected while keeping the blanket safe against damage or wear.  
     SUMMARY  
      The invention, a baby blanket clip for baby carriages, fits over the rail of the baby carriage and is used to hold the baby blanket in the desired position for best protection and comfort of the baby, despite the movement of the baby and/or baby carriage. The baby blanket clip has flexible members which provide a means for applying a compressive and retaining force to a baby blanket which is draped over the baby carriage rail. These flexible members have an end feature which flexes around the geometry of the carriage rail to allow the baby blanket clip to pass over the baby blanket and baby carriage rail, without causing damage to the baby blanket. The spring characteristic of these flexible members then closes the around the baby carriage rail, providing the compressive and retaining force which maintains the position of the baby blanket despite the movement of the baby and/or the baby carriage. 
    
    
     DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1 . is a perspective right-side view of the preferred embodiment of the baby blanket clip;  
       FIG. 1   a . is a perspective right-side view of the preferred embodiment of the baby blanket clip shown with a gripping feature;  
       FIG. 2 . is a front view of the baby blanket clip;  
       FIG. 3 . is a perspective right-side view of the baby blanket clip and baby blanket as assembled on a typical baby carriage rail;  
       FIG. 4 . is a perspective right-side view of a second embodiment of the baby blanket clip;  
       FIG. 5 . is a perspective right-side view of the second embodiment baby blanket clip assembled on a typical baby carriage rail, with a baby blanket attached;  
       FIG. 6 . is a perspective right-side view of a third embodiment of the baby blanket clip;  
       FIG. 7 . is a perspective right-side view of a third embodiment of the baby blanket clip in the open position;  
       FIG. 8 . is a perspective right-side view of a third embodiment of the baby blanket clip and baby blanket as assembled on a typical baby carriage rail;  
       FIG. 9 . is a perspective front view of a baby blanket clip with an elliptical shaped clip interior space;  
       FIG. 10 . is a side perspective view of a baby blanket clip;  
       FIG. 11 . is a plan view of the top of a baby blanket clip;  
       FIG. 12 . is a plan view of the bottom of a baby blanket clip;  
       FIG. 13 . is a front perspective view of a baby blanket clip with a round interior space;  
       FIG. 14 . is a side perspective view of a baby blanket clip with a round interior space;  
       FIG. 15 . is a plan view of the front of the baby blanket clip shown in  FIG. 9 ;  
       FIG. 16 . is a plan view of the side of the baby blanket clip shown in  FIG. 9 ;  
       FIG. 17 . is a plan view of the front of the baby blanket clip shown in  FIG. 13 ; and  
       FIG. 18 . is a plan view of the side of the baby blanket clip shown in  FIG. 13 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       FIG. 1 . is a perspective right-side view of the right side of the preferred embodiment of the baby blanket clip  11 .  
       FIG. 1   a . is a perspective right-side view of the preferred embodiment of the baby blanket clip which shows a gripping feature  38 .  
       FIG. 2 . is a front view of the baby blanket clip. The baby blanket clip features two flexible legs  12 . A protective edge  13  is located at the end of each flexible leg  12  and runs along the entire length of the baby blanket clip. A foam insert  14  may be attached to the underside of the baby blanket clip  11 .  
       FIG. 3 . is a perspective view of the right side of the baby blanket clip and baby blanket as assembled on a typical baby carriage rail. The baby carriage rail  16  is covered by the baby blanket  15 . The baby blanket clip  111  is placed over the baby blanket  15  and around the baby carriage rail  16 .  
       FIG. 4 . is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the baby blanket clip  17 . This second embodiment features two flexible legs  18 . A rounded edge  19  is located at the end of each flexible leg  18  and runs along the entire length of the baby blanket clip  17 . A foam insert  14  may be attached to the underside of the baby blanket clip  17 . An open cut-away  20  is located on one side of the baby blanket clip  17 . A flexible finger  21  is located within the open cut-away  20 . A finger protective edge  22  runs along the flexible finger  21 .  
       FIG. 5 . is a perspective right side view of the second embodiment of the baby blanket clip  17  and the baby blanket  15  as assembled on a typical baby carriage rail  16 .  
       FIG. 6 . is a perspective right side view of a third embodiment of the baby blanket clip  23 . This third embodiment comprises of an upper clip  24 , a lower clip  25 , an attachment clip  34  and a spring element  26 . The baby blanket clip  23  may have cut-outs  27  and raised finger grips  28 . The upper clip  24  features a grip end  29  and a clip end  30 . The lower clip  25  features a grip end  31  and a clip end  32 .  
       FIG. 7 . is a perspective right-side view of the third embodiment in the open position. The upper clip  24  rotates about the pivot point  33 . A foam insert  14  may be used on the underside of the upper clip  24  and/or the underside of the lower clip  25 . The attachment clip  34  is hinged to the lower clip  25 . The lower clip  25  features a flexible leg  35  and a rounded edge  36 . The upper clip  24  features a protective edge  37  which runs along the entire length of the upper clip  24 .  
       FIG. 8 . is a perspective right-side view of the third embodiment of the baby blanket clip  23  and baby blanket  15  as assembled on a typical baby carriage rail  16 .  
     REFERENCE NUMERALS  
     
         
         
           
               11  baby blanket clip, first preferred embodiment  
               12  flexible leg  
               13  protective edge  
               14  foam insert  
               15  baby blanket  
               16  baby carriage rail  
               17  baby blanket clip, second preferred embodiment  
               18  flexible leg  
               19  rounded edge  
               20  cut-away  
               21  flexible finger  
               22  finger protective edge  
               23  baby blanket clip, third preferred embodiment  
               24  upper clip  
               25  lower clip  
               26  spring element  
               27  cut-out  
               28  finger grips  
               29  upper clip, grip end  
               30  upper clip, clip end  
               31  lower clip, grip end  
               32  lower clip, clip end  
               33  pivot point  
               34  attachment clip  
               35  flexible leg  
               36  rounded edge  
               37  protective edge  
               38  gripping feature  
               39  cantilevered wing  
               40  arced surface  
               41  connecting portion  
               42  clip interior space  
               43  side  
               44  edge  
               45  baby blanket clip, fourth preferred embodiment  
               46  baby blanket clip length  
               47  baby blanket clip width  
               48  baby blanket clip height  
               49  leg interface 
 
 Operation 
 
           
         
       
    
      In operation one uses the baby blanket clip to retain a baby blanket in the desired position relative to the baby carriage rail.  
      When using the first embodiment of the baby blanket clip  11 , shown in  FIG. 1 , the baby blanket  15  is draped over or otherwise placed on the baby carriage rail  16 , and the baby blanket clip  11  is pressed over the baby blanket  15  and baby carriage rail  16 . A baby carriage rail  16  and baby blanket  15  are not part of the invention, but rather are, respectively, a location, and an item on which the invention is used. As the baby blanket clip  11  is pressed over the baby carriage rail  16 , the protective edge  13  prevents damage to the baby blanket  15  and provides a lead-in to the flexible legs  12 . The flexible legs  12  flex outward to allow the baby blanket clip  11  to press around the baby blanket  15  and down to the baby carriage rail  16 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . Once in place, the flexible legs  12  provide a compressive force against the baby blanket  15  and baby carriage rail  16 , which keeps the baby blanket clip  11  and baby blanket  15  in the desired position, and some portion of the baby carriage rail  16  in the clip interior space  42 . The ends of the flexible legs having the protective edges  13  form a leg interface space  49 , which is a gap between the flexible legs. The leg interface space varies in size in different embodiments. As shown in  FIGS. 1, 9  &amp;  13 , when the flexible legs are unflexed, the leg interface space may vary from at or near zero distance to a distance that is a significant fraction of the widest part of the clip interior space  42 .  
      As shown in  FIGS. 2 &amp; 4 , a foam insert  14  may be used on the underside of the baby blanket clip  11 ,  17 ,  23  &amp;  45  meaning within the clip interior space to help prevent damage to the baby blanket  15 . The foam insert  14  can be many sizes and shapes, but preferably is a rectangular strip spanning most of the length of the clip interior space  42 . The purpose of the foam insert  14  is to provide additional compressive force on the baby blanket, as a means of further retaining the baby blanket in its desired relative position to the baby carriage rail, and to provide additional protection against damage to the baby blanket by the physical contact of the baby blanket clip.  
      To remove the baby blanket clip  11  shown in  FIG. 1 , the baby blanket clip  11  is grabbed along the sides  43 , or less preferably, the edges  44  and pulled up. The flexible legs  12  will flex outward as the baby blanket clip is pulled away from the baby carriage rail  16  and release the baby blanket  15 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the sides  43  correspond to the flexible legs  12  along the width of the baby blanket clip  11 , and the edge  44  to the flexible legs  12  along the length of the baby blanket clip  11 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 1   a , which is a fourth embodiment of the baby blanket clip, it may be desirable to add a gripping feature  38  to the baby blanket clip  45  to help aid in the removal of the baby blanket clip  11 . The baby blanket clip shown in  FIG. 1   a  has an arced surface  40  attached to, or formed as a part of, the connecting portion  41 , which arced surface  40  preferably extends to or over the flexible legs  12 . The arced surface  40  has two cantilevered wings  39  extending away from the connecting portion  41 , the cantilevered wings  39  terminate in the gripping feature  38 , which form edges  44  of the baby blanket clip  45 . This gripping feature  38  may run along the entire length of the baby blanket clip  11  in order to provide a comfortable and secure area for gripping the baby blanket clip during removal. The arced surface  40  also provides an ergonomic surface for resting the users hand when the baby blanket clip is in use. When removing the baby blanket clip, the user may reach around one gripping feature  38  with the index and middle fingers, and around the other gripping feature  38  with the thumb, and pull the baby blanket clip from the baby carriage rail  16 . The cantilevered wings  39  provide leverage to more easily remove the baby blanket clip.  
      The baby blanket clip shown in  FIGS. 1   a ,  13  &amp;  14 , also referred to herein as a circular type clip, has a substantially circular shaped clip interior space  42  identified in  FIG. 2 , which is defined by the flexible legs  12  and the connecting portion  41 . The clip interior space  42  can vary in its geometric shape, and should be shaped and sized to fit the baby carriage rail  16  in which it is intended to be used. As shown in  FIGS. 9 &amp; 10 , the clip interior space  42  of the fourth embodiment can be elliptical, and, not shown, a variety of shapes as appropriate to fit around a carriage rail.  
      The round style clip, shown in  FIG. 1   a ., is intended for use with baby carriage rails having a substantially circular cross-section, while the elliptical style clip, as shown in  FIG. 9 , is intended for use with substantially non-circular carriage rail cross-sections. A predominantly rectangular shaped interior space  42  could be used for baby carriage rails having right angles in their cross-sectional shapes.  
      In the preferred embodiments, the elliptical style blanket clip is approximately 3 inches in length, by approximately 1.5 inches in width (from gripping feature  38  to gripping feature  38 ), and approximately 2¾% inches in height (from protective edge  13  to connecting portion  41 ), and the round style blanket clip is approximately 2⅝ inches in length, by approximately 1.5 inches in width, and approximately 1¾ inches from protective edge  13  to connecting portion  41 .  
      The arced surface  40  is meant to provide a comfortable size and shape that fits well in either hand when pushing the clip into place. The distance from protective edge  13  to connecting portion  41 , also referred to as the height  48 , shown in  FIGS. 9 &amp; 10 , of the baby blanket clip, should be sized to provide the proper clearance and contact area to hold the clip in place on non-circular cross-sections. The width  47  should be sized to provide sufficient frictional area to hold the clip in place without damaging the blanket.  
      The length of the legs can vary greatly depending on the use. The nominal thickness of the legs for the round style clips,  FIG. 1   a , is approximately 0.08 inch, and the nominal thickness of the legs for the elliptical version,  FIG. 9 , is approximately 0.10 inch. Using a typical polypropylene homopolymer, this subjects the leg to a stress which is 80% of material yield stress in the worse case condition. This worse case condition occurs as the blanket clip passes over the widest area of the carriage rail. Since the blanket clip operates below the material yield stress, the blanket clip works within the elastic region and will not exhibit permanent deformation. This is the desirable operation. Typical elliptical carriage rail cross-sections range from 1.0 inch to approximately 1.5 inch in the direction of the shorter axis.  
      As shown in  FIGS. 4 &amp; 5 , when using the second embodiment of the baby blanket clip  17 , the baby blanket clip  17  is pressed over the baby carriage rail  16 . As the baby blanket clip  17  is pressed over the baby carriage rail  16 , the rounded profile of the protective edge  19  provides a lead-in for the flexible legs  18 . The flexible legs  18  flex outward to allow the baby blanket clip  17  to press down to and around the baby carriage rail  16 . Once in place, the flexible legs  18  provide a compressive force against the baby carriage rail  16  which keeps the baby blanket clip  17  in the desired position. A foam insert  14  may be used on the underside of the baby blanket clip  17  to provide better grip on the baby carriage rail  16 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 4 , this baby blanket clip  17  features a cut-away  20 . Within this cut-away section is a flexible finger  21 . To secure the baby blanket, the baby blanket  15  is pressed up and under the flexible finger  21 . The curved design of the flexible finger  21  provides a compressive force on the baby blanket  15 , and retains the baby blanket  15  in its desired position. The rounded edges of the finger protective edge  22  help prevent damage to the baby blanket  15 , and preferably are found on all edges of the flexible finger.  
      To remove the baby blanket  15 , the baby blanket  15  is gently pulled from underneath the flexible finger  21 . To remove the baby blanket clip  17 , the baby blanket clip  17  is grabbed along the sides  43  and pulled up. The flexible legs  18  will flex and release the baby blanket  15 .  
      As shown in  FIGS. 6, 7  &amp;  8 , when using the third embodiment of the baby blanket clip  23 , the clip end of the lower clip  32  of baby blanket clip  23  is pressed over the baby carriage rail  16 . As the lower clip  25  is pressed over the baby carriage rail  16 , the rounded edge  36  provides a lead-in for the flexible leg  35 . The flexible leg  35  flexes outward to allow the baby blanket clip  23  to press down to and around the baby carriage rail  16 . Once in place, the flexible leg  35  provides a compressive force against the baby carriage rail  16  which keeps the baby blanket clip  23  in the desired position.  
      The third embodiment of the baby blanket clip  23  is considered to have a semi-permanent attachment. The attachment clip  34  is brought around the underside of the baby carriage rail  16  and firmly attached to the clip end of the lower clip  32 . The attachment clip  34  semi-permanently attaches the baby blanket clip to the baby carriage rail to impede unintentional removal or misplacement of the baby blanket clip.  
      Pressing together the grip end of the upper clip  29  and the grip end of the lower clip  31  opens the spring element  26 , pivots the upper clip  24  about the pivot point  33 , and puts the baby blanket clip  23  in the open position. The cut-outs  27  and finger grips  28  provide an aid for a secure grip. The baby blanket  15  is placed between the clip end of the upper clip  30  and the clip end of the lower clip  32 . The grip ends  29 ,  31  are released. The spring force of the spring element  26  provides a compressive force which gently engages and retains the baby blanket between the clip end of the upper clip  30  and the clip end of the lower clip  32 . The protective edge  37  of the upper clip helps prevent damage to the baby blanket. A foam insert  14  may be used on the underside of the clip end of the upper clip  30  to prevent damage to the baby blanket  15 . A foam insert  14  may by used on the underside of the clip end of the lower clip  32  for better fit to the baby carriage rail  16 .  
      To remove the baby blanket  15 , the grip end of the upper clip  29  and grip end of the lower clip  31  are pressed together. The upper clip  24  rotates about the pivot point  33 , releasing the baby blanket  15 . To remove the baby blanket clip  23 , the attachment clip  34  is released and the baby blanket clip  23  is grabbed along the sides and pulled up. The flexible arm of the lower clip  32  will flex outward around the baby carriage rail  23  and release the baby blanket clip  23 .  
      For all the preferred embodiments, the baby blanket clip may be used as a single clip, in pairs, or in large numbers. For example, one pair may be used for the baby carriage rail at each side of the seat area. An additional pair may be used for each baby carriage rail or foot rest edge at each side of the foot rest area. A single clip, or additional clips, may be used as desired to hold the baby blanket in such as way as to prevent damage from dragging on the ground, or from becoming entangled in the baby carriage wheels.  
      The baby blanket clip is a means of maintaining the desired relative position of the baby blanket to the baby carriage rail as a means of maintaining the baby blanket position which best provides to the baby the desired comfort level and protection against the elements while holding the blanket in such a way as to prevent damage to the blanket due to dragging on the ground, entangling in the baby carriage wheels, or similar.  
      All protective edges provided herein may be satisfied by the physical geometry of the flexible leg edge, such as by a rounded, tapered or chamfered edge created in the manufacturing process, by a separate component permanently attached to the protective edge, or by similar means.  
      The baby blanket clip also can be used on blankets that are not for babies, including blankets used by children, adolescents or adults, whether healthy or invalid, and can be used on other types of seats, including seated transportation means such as a baby stroller, wheelchair, infant bicycle seat, bicycle trailer, and can be used on fixed seats, such as stadium seats.  
      The blanket clip can be manufactured using a wide range of materials and processing techniques. The cross-section of the blanket clip is generally consistent over the entire length, making the clip suitable for manufacturing processes such as screw extrusion, injection molding, and the like.  
      Preferably, the blanket clip is formed of a material that can deform to pass over and grip the carriage rail cross-section while exhibiting a stress level sufficiently below that which will cause plastic deformation or fracture, i.e. operating in the elastic deformation region. Polypropylene, polyethylene, and similar materials are suitable for use in the geometry described above. Other polymers can be used as required to ensure proper stress at maximum deformation.