Patent Publication Number: US-2010125298-A1

Title: Markable blanket and comfort system

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of priority from and incorporates herein in its entirety, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/116,392, filed Nov. 21, 2008. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to bedding and more particularly, to a blanket and comfort system. 
     Children, such as babies and toddlers, can sometimes seek comfort from articles of fabric such as security blankets. When a child seeks refuge in a blanket, they are sometimes looking for a way to cope emotionally with circumstances or seeking to alleviate stress. Known security blankets can provide a warm fabric for comfort but can be limited in providing more constructive outlets or alternate forms of coping with a child&#39;s emotional issues. 
     As can be seen, there is a need for a blanket and comfort system that can provide alternative functionality over bedding alone. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the present invention, a children&#39;s comfort system, comprises a blanket including a markable and washable fabric material body; a marker set removably attached to the blanket; a cloth pocket attached to the blanket; and a markable and washable toy doll attached to the blanket. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a children&#39;s comfort system, comprises a blanket; a label affixed to the blanket; a message area including a printed message on the blanket; a pocket affixed to the blanket; a marker set stored in the pocket; a markable and washable toy doll attached to the blanket; and an interchangeable comfort device connected to the blanket. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a blanket according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 2  is a back view of the blanket shown in  FIG. 1  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
     Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. 
     Broadly, embodiments of the present invention generally provide a blanket and a comfort system designed to meet the physical, creative, and emotional needs of young children. The blanket and comfort system may, in general, be used by young children as a warming article, a creative outlet, and a form of identification or information repository. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an exemplary embodiment of a comfort system  10 , may include a blanket  18  comprising a fabric material body  12 , a toy doll  14 , a label area  16 , a message area  20 , and a cloth pocket  28  which securely closes and can hold a marker set or informational papers  27 . The toy doll  14 , label area  16  and message area  20  may be attached directly to the fabric material body  12 . 
     The fabric material body  12  and the toy doll  14  may be a markable and washable light colored textile that may be repeatedly drawn on and decorated with the use of the washable or permanent marker set  27 . The washable or permanent marker set  27  may be removably stored in the cloth pocket  28  and securably fastened within the pocket by use of a hook and loop system such as Velcro®. The fabric material body  12  may be washable to the extent that washable marker ink may be removed during wash to achieve a substantially clean and unmarked appearance on the blanket  18 . Thus, a user may customize the appearance of the blanket  18  at will or use the blanket  18  as a wearable journal for entry of textual thoughts. The stuffed doll  14  may also be covered in a markable and washable material allowing a child to draw on the doll to create customized facial expressions and fashion appearances. The label area  16  may be initially blank providing an area for a child to write their name in and thus, take ownership of the blanket  18 . Thus, when a blank canvas is desired on the fabric material body  12 , or the stuffed doll  14 , or the label area  16 , the blanket  18  may be washed accordingly and these elements may be drawn on again at will by a child. The fabric material  12  and stuffed doll  14  may also be decorated with permanent markers to permanently keep information such as the child&#39;s name. The message area  20  may be a either a temporary or permanent message printed on to the fabric material body  12  such as emergency safety procedures, immunization schedules, or marketing messages, or name of child. 
     The stuffed doll  14 , label area  16 , attached cloth pocket  28  and message area  20  may be sewn or adhesively affixed permanently to the fabric material body  12  or be removably fastened to the fabric material body  12 . The stuffed doll  14 , may be removably attached to the blanket  18  by temporary fasteners such as hook and loop systems, e.g. Velcro®, and the permanent or washable marker set  27  may be stored in the pocket  28  providing means for keeping the marker set  27  with the comfort system  10  when the comfort system  10  is stored or transported. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, the comfort system  10  may also include a connector  26  for replaceable connection of interchangeable comfort devices  22 . In the exemplary illustration shown, the comfort device  22  is a pacifier tethered by a tether  24  to the connector  26 . However, it will be understood that other desired accessories may be connected to the connector  26  that may aid in comforting a child and allowing the child creative expression. 
     It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.