Abstract:
A multipurpose infant travel blanket and manufacturing method are disclosed. A material is folded such that a first edge and a second edge, opposite the first edge, of the material meet. A zipper, when closed, holds together a part of the first edge and a corresponding part of the second edge. A first seam joins remaining parts of the first and second edges and a second seam is formed along a bottom edge of the material to form a pocket for protecting an infant. Loops are attached to an inner surface of the material, between the edges and folds, and are capable of securing the multipurpose infant travel blanket to an infant travel device. One or more cinch mechanisms formed on the outer surface of the material may be used to resize the pocket.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 62/102,531 titled “Multipurpose Infant Travel Blanket and Associated Methods”, filed Jan. 12, 2015, and incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to a blanket that can be secured to an infant travel device without hindering security of the travel device and safety of the infant. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    There are many known ways to protect an infant during travel in infant travel devices (e.g., carriers and car seats). Most of these ways use specific items that function with only one infant travel device. One example is the “cold weather boot” that is sold with many car seats. Other items fasten to a car seat but interfere with the seat&#39;s straps by adding unnecessary bulk between the infant and the strap, putting the car seat&#39;s warranty coverage and the infant&#39;s safety into danger. Some car seat covers require the straps to be threaded through the blanket, which is also time-consuming and cannot be removed without removing the infant. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    In one embodiment, a multipurpose infant travel blanket includes a material with a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge. The material has a first and second fold such that the first and second edges meet. A zipper is attached to a part of the first edge and a corresponding part of the second edge such that, when the zipper is closed, the first and second edges are held together. A first seam joins a part of the first edge and a corresponding part of the second edge and extends from the zipper to a second seam formed along a bottom edge of the folded material such that the first and second seams and closed zipper form a pocket within the material for protecting an infant. A first loop is attached to an inner surface of the material between the first edge and the first fold, and a second loop is attached to the inner surface of the material between the second edge and the second fold. The first and second loops are capable of securing the multipurpose infant travel blanket to an infant travel device. 
         [0005]    In another embodiment, a method manufactures a multipurpose infant travel blanket. A material is folded at a first and second fold such that a first edge and a second edge, opposite the first edge, of the material meet. A zipper is attached to a part of the first edge and a corresponding part of the second edge such that when the zipper is closed the first and second edges are held together. A first seam is formed to join a part of the first edge and a corresponding part of the second edge where the first and second edges are not attached to the zipper. A second seam is formed proximate one end of the first seam and along a bottom edge of the material, such that the first and second seams and the closed zipper form a pocket within the material for protecting an infant. A first loop is attached to an inner surface of the material between the first edge and the first fold, and a second loop is attached to the inner surface of the material between the second edge and the second fold. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a first view of one exemplary multipurpose infant travel blanket with an optional hood attached, in an embodiment. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a second view, opposite the first view, of the multipurpose infant travel blanket of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  shows material of the multipurpose infant travel blanket of  FIG. 1  prior to forming the pocket. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  shows the multipurpose infant travel blanket of  FIG. 1  with the zipper closed. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  shows the multipurpose infant travel blanket of  FIG. 1  configured with an infant car seat. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  shows the multipurpose infant travel blanket of  FIG. 1  configured with a stroller. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  shows exemplary use of the multipurpose infant travel blanket of  FIG. 1  configured with a carrying harness. 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  shows an exemplary multipurpose infant travel blanket with tapered pocket, an optional hood, and cinching mechanism, in an embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0014]      FIG. 1  is a first view of one exemplary multipurpose infant travel blanket  100  with an optional hood  140 .  FIG. 2  is a second view, opposite the first view, of the multipurpose infant travel blanket of  FIG. 1 .  FIGS. 1 and 2  are best viewed together with the following description. 
         [0015]    Multipurpose infant travel blanket  100  is constructed of a layered material  101  that is sewn together for example. In an embodiment, material  101  has an outer cover made of cloth or weather-resistant material, a middle layer made of an insulating material, and an inner lining of cloth or other similar material. In another embodiment, material  101  has an outer cover made of a weather-resistant material and an inner layer made of lamb skin or similar material. More or fewer layers may be used without departing from the scope hereof. Layered material  101  wraps around to form a pocket  110  and a bottom edge  129  that is sewn together. Multipurpose infant travel blanket  100  may be used safely and easily with different infant travel devices, such as a car seat, stroller, and carrying harness. Multipurpose infant travel blanket  100  is made of materials that are selected to keep the infant warm while blocking wind, rain, dust, and the sun&#39;s harmful rays. For example, one or more layers of material  101  may be selected to provide certain types of protection from the environment. 
         [0016]    Material  101  meets to form a first side  103  and is partially sewn together, shown as a seam  126 . A zipper  120  is used to close together left and right sides  122 ,  124  to form pocket  110  into which the infant is placed for protection. Seam  126  and zipper  120  together may run from a top edge  128  to bottom edge  129  of multipurpose infant travel blanket  100 . Zipper  120  allows first side  103  to be opened as described in further detail below. 
         [0017]    Within pocket  110 , two loops  130 ( 1 ) and  130 ( 2 ) are attached (e.g., sewn to the inner lining) to an inner surface  127  of first side  103  as shown. Each loop  130  may be formed of cloth or similar material and may be opened and closed using a fastener such as a loop-and-hook fastener (e.g., VELCRO®), snap fastener, and/or by tying two ends together. 
         [0018]    Optionally, hood  140  may be attached to multipurpose infant travel blanket  100  at a second side  205  (see  FIG. 2 ) opposite first opening side  103 . Hood  140  is for example made of a material similar to, or the same as, material  101  and attaches to a top edge  128  using one or more of a snap, zipper, and loop-and-hook fastener (e.g., VELCRO®). Hood  140  may attach to provide more coverage of the infant while adding protection from the environment. Hood  140  is removed when second side  205  of blanket  100  is proximate the infant&#39;s front such that hood  140  does not present a suffocation risk to the infant. When the second side  205  of blanket  100  is proximate the infant&#39;s back, hood  140  may be attached and used to cover the infant&#39;s head. 
         [0019]    When used as a standalone blanket to carry an infant, zipper  120  is closed while the infant is within pocket  110 . Multipurpose infant travel blanket  100  then attaches to an infant travel device as needed. Multipurpose infant travel blanket  100  may be used as a car seat cover (see  FIG. 5  and accompanying description) for different infant car seat models without voiding warranty of the car seat manufacturer, since no modification of the car seat is required and since blanket  100  does not interfere with the intended operation and function of the car seat. Blanket  100  may be detached from the car seat (or other infant travel device) to remain with the infant when the infant is removed from the car seat, thereby avoiding any need for additional blankets or coverings. Size and positioning of zipper  120  and the shape of pocket  110  facilitates safe configuration of blanket  100  around securing elements of the infant travel device while providing protection to the infant. Loops  130  are optimally sized and positioned to facilitate securing and retaining of blanket  100  to the infant travel device without interfering with security and safety of the infant travel device and such that blanket  100  remains positioned to protect the infant. Multipurpose infant travel blanket  100  may also attach to a stroller (see  FIG. 6 ), a carrying harness (see  FIG. 7 ), and may have many additional uses. 
         [0020]      FIG. 3  shows material  101  of multipurpose infant travel blanket  100  of  FIG. 1  prior to sewing seam  126  and closing of zipper  120  to form pocket  110 .  FIG. 4  shows the multipurpose infant travel blanket  100  of  FIG. 1  formed by sewing material  101  at bottom edge  129  and seam  126 , and with zipper  120  closed.  FIGS. 3 and 4  are best viewed together with the following description. In an embodiment, material  101  is tapered such that bottom edge  129  is shorter than top edge  128 , and such that pocket  110 , when formed, is also tapered. See  FIG. 8  for example. However, material  101  and pocket  110  may be rectangular or otherwise shaped without departing from the scope hereof. Height  302  and width  304  of material  101  is selected such that pocket  110  comfortably and safely accommodates an average sized infant for which multipurpose infant travel blanket  100  is intended to protect. Alternatively, multipurpose infant travel blanket  100  may be specifically sized for different age ranges. 
         [0021]    To form pocket  110 , a first portion  310  of material  101  having a first edge  312  is folded along fold line  314  and a second portion  316  having a second edge  318  is folded along a fold line  320 . When folded, edges  312  and  318  meet to form seam  126  and to allow zipper  120  to be added to at least part of edges  312  and  318 . 
         [0022]    Zipper  120  has a length  402  and seam  126  has a length  404 , where the sum of lengths  402  and  404  are substantially the same as height  302 . The ratio of length  402  to length  404  is may vary based upon the size of the infant relative to the length of blanket  100 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 5  shows multipurpose infant travel blanket  100  of  FIG. 1 , without optional hood  140 , configured with an infant car seat  502 . The infant is placed directly into car seat  502  and secured using restraints of the car seat in accordance with the safety instructions of the car seat. Multipurpose infant travel blanket  100  is positioned such that second side  205  (opposite zipper  120 ) is upper most and zipper  120  is fully opened such that blanket  100  is covering the front of the infant and no part of the blanket interferes with security (e.g., straps) of car seat  502 . Each loop  130  is secured to a different vehicle belt hook  504  of car seat  502  and does not interfere with securing of car seat  502  within a vehicle. In the example of  FIG. 5 , first portion  310  of material  101  is folded back to reveal inner surface  127 , left and right sides  122 ,  124  and zipper  120  of blanket  100  to show attachment of loop  130 ( 1 ) to vehicle belt hook  504 . 
         [0024]    In one example of placing the infant within car seat  502 , while the infant is within pocket  110 , zipper  120  is at least partially opened and the infant is placed within car seat  502  such that the bottom of blanket  100  remains over the infant&#39;s feet. Multipurpose infant travel blanket  100  is then fastened to the car seat by securing loops  130  to one or more of vehicle belt hooks  504 , carrying handle  506 , and/or other safe locations of car seat  502 . In one example of removing the infant from car seat  502 , loops  130  are unfastened from car seat  502  and straps securing the infant within car seat  502  are undone while the bottom of blanket  100  is still encasing the infant&#39;s feet. The infant is then lifted slightly out of car seat  502  and zipper  120  is closed behind the infant, converting multipurpose infant travel blanket  100  for carrying the infant. 
         [0025]      FIG. 6  shows the multipurpose infant travel blanket of  FIG. 1  configured with a stroller  602 . Second side  205  (opposite zipper  120 ) of blanket  100  is positioned to face up and positioned such that the infant is within pocket  110  while zipper  120  is open. Loops  130  are used to secure blanket  100  to framework of stroller  602  and function to keep blanket  100  in position without interfering with security and safety of stroller  602 . 
         [0026]    In one example of using blanket  100  with stroller  602 , the infant is secured into stroller  602  as per the stroller&#39;s instruction manual. Zipper  120  is opened and blanket  100  is positioned with the infant&#39;s feet inside pocket  110  and second side  205  facing up. Loops  130  are then secured to a safe place on the frame of stroller  602  to keep blanket  100  in position. 
         [0027]      FIG. 7  shows exemplary use of the multipurpose infant travel blanket of  FIG. 1 , without optional hood  140 , to protect the infant in a carrying harness  702 . In this configuration, zipper  120  is at least partially open to accommodate the infant and carrying harness  702 . Loops  130  are secured around one or more straps  704  of carrying harness  702  to keep multipurpose infant travel blanket  100  in place around the infant. 
         [0028]    In one example of configuring multipurpose infant travel blanket  100  for use with carrying harness  702 , carrying harness  702  is donned by an adult and the infant is secured into the carrying harness in accordance with the manufacturer&#39;s instruction manual. Zipper  120  of multipurpose infant travel blanket  100  is opened and positioned with first side  103  (zipper  120  side) towards the adult&#39;s front, pocket  110  is placed over the infant&#39;s feet and blanket  100  is lifted up to enshroud the infant&#39;s body. The open zipper  120  allows blanket  100  to divide around carrying harness  702 . Once positioned around the infant, loops  130  are looped around convenient straps  704  of carrying harness  702  to secure blanket  100  in position. Loops  130  may attach to any portion of carrying harness  702  that is safe and operate to prevent the top portion  401  (see  FIG. 4 ) of blanket  100  from falling. To detach blanket  100 , loops  130  are detached from carrying harness  702  and blanket  100  may be pulled downward and then removed completely. The adult is then free to remove the infant and doff carrying harness  702 . 
         [0029]    Optional hood  140  is recommended for use when multipurpose infant travel blanket  100  is used stand-alone or when used with carrying harness  702 . Hood  140  detaches for safety of the infant when second side  205  of blanket  100  is facing the front of the infant to prevent incidences of suffocation. 
         [0030]      FIG. 8  shows an exemplary multipurpose infant travel blanket  800  with tapered pocket  810 , an optional hood  840 , and cinching mechanism  850 . Blanket  800  is similar to blanket  100  of  FIGS. 1-7 . For example material  801  is similar to material  101 , having a top edge  828  that is similar to top edge  128 , a bottom edge  829  that is similar to bottom edge  129 , a left side  822  that is similar to left side  122 , and a right side  824  that is similar to right side  124 . Left side  822  and right side  824  may be fastened together, using a zipper, Velcro®, ties, buttons, or other such fastening means. Blanket  800  may include an optional hood  840  that is similar to hood  140  of blanket  100 . Blanket  800  forms a pocket  810 , similar to pocket  110  formed by blanket  100 , and may include loops (not shown) attached within pocket  810  that are similar to loops  130 ( 1 ) and  130 ( 2 ) of blanket  100 . 
         [0031]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , blanket  800  is formed such that a top opening of pocket  810  has a width  860  that is greater than a bottom width  862  of pocket  810 . Thus, sides of pocket  810  taper such that pocket  810  is narrower at the bottom (proximate bottom edge  829 ) as compared to the top (proximate top edge  828  and optional hood  840 ) of pocket  810 . 
         [0032]    Cinching mechanism  850  is formed on an outer surface  805  (i.e., outside of pocket  810 ) of blanket  800  and includes a fabric tab  852 , attached to material  801  at edge  853 , that has a first fastening device  854  coupled thereto and one or more matching second fastening devices  856  attached to the outer surface  805  of material  801 . Fabric tab  852  and second fastening device  856  are positioned such that when first and second fastening devices  854 ,  856  are coupled together, a portion of material  801  is folded to form a cinch, thereby reducing width  860  of pocket  810 . Multiple second fastening devices  856  may be provided at different distances from fabric tab  852  such that the cinched amount of material  801  may be varied by the user to select a desired size for pocket  810 . 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , blanket  800  has two separate cinching mechanisms  850 ( 1 ) and  850 ( 2 ) that may be used independently or together to vary the width (e.g., width  860 ) of pocket  810  as desired to suit the intended use. Fastening devices  854  and  856  are selected from the group of fasteners including snaps, poppers, buttons and button holes, loops and hooks, and so on. Cinching mechanism  850  may be formed using other devices such as elastic, cording, hook and pile tape, and other similar devices without departing from the scope hereof. One or more cinching mechanisms  850  may be incorporated with blanket  100  of  FIG. 1  to allow adjustment to the width of pocket  110 . 
         [0034]    Changes may be made in the above methods and systems without departing from the scope hereof. It should thus be noted that the matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings should be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. The following claims are intended to cover all generic and specific features described herein, as well as all statements of the scope of the present method and system, which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.