Abstract:
The present disclosure provides a hygienic and water-proof cover for Baby Saucers that avoids the hassles of having to clean the on-board toys and activities after the child is done with snack time.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY  
       [0001]     This application claims priority under 35 USC §119(e) from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No.______, filed Jan. 24, 2006, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The current disclosure relates to sanitary re-useable covers for baby activity centers.  
         [0004]     2. Background  
         [0005]     Baby activity centers, commonly known as “Baby Saucers”, “Stationary play circles” or “Exersaucers (a brand name of Evenflo Company, Inc, Ohio) are the modern answer to a baby walker. (Hereinafter, these devices will be called “Baby Saucers” or “Saucers” in this disclosure.) Though some baby walkers are still on the market, they are becoming less common due to safety concerns. However, parents still clamored for a safe product that would entertain babies who were not yet independently mobile. Enter the stationary Baby Saucer, which features a sturdy round base with an elevated seat for the baby. They are shaped much like a walker, however, the baby&#39;s feet do not touch the ground, instead resting on the saucer&#39;s base. Baby Saucers allow babies to remain upright to practice standing and play with available toys while taking in the action around them. Stationary Baby Saucers do not allow babies to move around a room, though. This eliminates the safety concerns present with walkers—namely the risks of falling down stairs or stumbling upon dangerous household items.  
         [0006]     Saucer-type activity centers are available in many shapes and sizes and usually have an interesting selection of on-board toys to keep the fun easily at hand for babies. The toys are often integrated with the Baby Saucer, and may feature movable objects and electronic sounds to keep the baby entertained.  
         [0007]     Since the baby can be kept safely out of trouble and be entertained at the same time, busy parents like to be able to keep them in the Baby Saucer for extended periods, including snack or meal time. However, since babies inevitably like to play with their food, food will soon be mashed, dried and stuck on the Saucer&#39;s many play objects, and in the fabric seat as well. It becomes a major chore to clean the many nooks and crannies on the Saucer. It may involve having to turn the heavy Saucer upside down to dislodge the food, or even bringing it outside to be hosed down.  
         [0008]     A solution is therefore desired to keep the Saucer clean and sanitary through snack time. What is desired is an apparatus that can neatly cover the on-board toys and activities and the foam seat so that food bits and drinks won&#39;t soil the Saucer. The child should be more or less oblivious to the apparatus, and can continue to have access to the on-board toys with the apparatus in place. The apparatus should also be easily removable once it isn&#39;t needed. It should be made of economically producible materials, and can be disposed once it becomes damaged or dirty. However, it should be durable enough to withstand a number of uses.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     The present disclosure provides a cover that can be removably attached to a Baby Saucer.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  depicts the a top planer view of the apparatus, according to one embodiment of the disclosure.  
         [0011]     FIG. 2  depicts the apparatus as it is applied to a Baby Saucer.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  depicts the apparatus as attached to the Baby Saucer.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  depicts an overhead planar view of the “Baby Saucer Cover”  100  according to one embodiment of the disclosure. The cover  100  comprises a cover of a sheet of transparent material  103  cut in the shape of doughnut (i.e., it is generally circular in shape with a generally circular opening in the center). The cover is affixed to an outer elastic band  101  at the outer edge and an inner elastic band  102  at the inner edge. The Baby Saucer Cover, as shown in  FIG. 1 , is depicted in its relaxed, or non-stretched stage, with the elastic bands  101  and  102  shown with exaggerated “ruffles”. Once the elastic bands are stretched, they are generally smooth along the edges of the Baby Saucer.  
         [0014]     The cover  103  should be made of material that is transparent, so that it does not block the baby from viewing and accessing the on-board toys through the cover when the Baby Saucer Cover is attached to the Saucer. The material should also be stretchable and flexible to a certain degree, so that it can be stretched over the on-board toys (which can protrude from the Saucer). It should be water-proof to keep out spills of food and drinks, and allow the cover to be washed for repeated use. Finally, the cover should be made of a germ-resistant material because the child will play with its food on the cover. The cover material can be made of clear plastic or other tough, water-proof, transparent and cleanable material convenient or known.  
         [0015]     The cover material should be tough enough to withstand repeated use and washing, but should also be made of material economical enough to be thrown out once it becomes sufficiently soiled and/or damaged.  
         [0016]     The elastic bands  101 ,  102  should be of a nature that they have the ability to stretch without giving too much resistance, especially since the inner elastic band  102  is to fit over the baby so that it loosely grabs the child. The bands should offer just enough resistance so that it loosely grabs onto the child and the Saucer when attached, and would not snap back violently should the child dislodge it.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  shows the Baby Saucer Cover  100  as it is lowered onto a typical Baby Saucer  200  to be attached. The typical Baby Saucer, show here for illustration purposes only and is not meant to be limiting, has a number a top tray  201  with on-board activities and toys  202 , and has an inner ring of foam or padded material  203 , into which the child is placed. The child (not shown in  FIG. 2  for clarity) should be placed into the Saucer first before the Baby Saucer Cover is attached.  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  shows the Baby Saucer Cover in operation as attached to the Saucer with the child  301  in place. Outer edge elastic  101  wraps around and loosely grabs the top shelf of the Saucer  201 . Clear transparent cover  103  covers and stretches over on-board toys and activities  202 , allowing the child to access and observe such toys even while the toys are covered. Inner elastic  102  fits over the child and grips the child loosely around the shoulders. This allows the cover  103  to stretch over and cover the easily-soiled inner ring of foam or padded material  203 . Alternatively, the elastic can fit under the child&#39;s armpits.  
         [0019]     As discussed above, the elastic must not be so strong as to pose a possibility of danger to the child. In an alternate embodiment of the Baby Saucer Cover, Velcro® or other sticky material known or convenient can be used instead to help hold the Baby Saucer Cover to the child&#39;s clothes.  
         [0020]     Once the child is done snacking, the parent can remove the Baby Saucer Cover to be cleaned, or simply leave it in place during the duration the child plays in the Saucer.  
         [0021]     Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appartus as described and hereinafter claimed is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.