Abstract:
A crib bumper ( 1 ) having a bottom securing panel ( 14 ) that rests under a crib mattress ( 3 ) and fully separates the crib mattress from a crib ( 2 ), thereby securing the bottom of the crib bumper in place. A perimeter wall ( 19 ) of the crib bumper extends upward from the bottom securing panel between the mattress and the crib slats ( 10 ) and up the crib slats a predetermined distance, thereby preventing any spaces between the crib bumper and the mattress that a baby could become trapped in. The perimeter wall of the crib bumper is secured to the slats using securing straps ( 23, 24 ) and hook and loop fasteners. The strap are located on an outer surface of the perimeter wall, thereby making the securing straps inaccessible to a baby in the crib. Although the sidewall of the crib bumper may be made out of a padded cloth material, the sides are preferably made of a mesh material ( 28 ) that will allow airflow through the sides of the crib bumper into the crib.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to crib bumpers, more particularly, a crib bumper having a bottom securing panel that separates a crib mattress from the crib, thereby securing the bottom of the crib bumper to the crib and securing straps for safely securing the upper portion of the crib bumper to the crib. 
         [0002]    Conventional crib bumpers are normally elongated strips of a quilted cloth material that are secured around the inner perimeters of cribs above crib mattress. Crib bumpers are used to pad the sides of a crib to prevent babies from hurting themselves and to prevent a baby&#39;s arms and/or legs from becoming stuck in-between the slats of the crib. Unfortunately there are many safety concerns with current crib bumpers. The main safety concern is the risk of strangulation if a baby becomes trapped in between the crib bumper and the crib mattress. Another major safety concern is sudden infant death syndrome (“SIDS”) which occurs when a baby has a decreased supply of oxygen. Many health professionals believe that when babies are overheated or lack sufficient oxygen during sleep, they become unable to arouse themselves enough to prevent hypoxia and death. This is why it is important that crib bumpers do not inhibit air circulation. An even further problem with current crib bumpers is that they are attached to the crib slats using long ties which can pose a risk of strangulation to babies. 
         [0003]    Therefore, a need exists for a safer crib bumper that extends underneath the mattress thereby eliminating any spaces between the crib bumper and the mattress that a baby can become stuck in, a crib bumper that allows for air flow into the crib, and a crib bumper that attaches to the slats of the crib with a securing means that does not pose a health risk to babies. 
         [0004]    The relevant prior art includes the following references: 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Pat. No. 
                   
                   
               
               
                 (U.S. unless stated otherwise) 
                 Inventor 
                 Issue/Publication Date 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 7,523,513 
                 Waters et al.  
                 04-28-2009 
               
               
                 7,404,219 
                 Berkey 
                 07-29-2008 
               
               
                 2008/00334499 
                 Parish et al. 
                 02-14-2008 
               
               
                 2006/0075555 
                 Komisar 
                 04-13-2006 
               
               
                 7,003,821 
                 DeHart et al. 
                 02-28-2006 
               
               
                 6,957,455 
                 Misson 
                 10-25-2005 
               
               
                 6,957,464 
                 Coauette 
                 10-25-2005 
               
               
                 6,684,437 
                 Koenig 
                 02-03-2004 
               
               
                 6,438,775 
                 Koenig 
                 08-27-2002 
               
               
                 6,421,857 
                 Whatman et al. 
                 07-23-2002 
               
               
                 6,178,573 
                 Wagner et al.  
                 01-30-2001 
               
               
                 6,055,690 
                 Koenig 
                 05-02-2000 
               
               
                 5,937,458 
                 DeRosa 
                 08-17-1999 
               
               
                 5,933,885 
                 Glassford 
                 08-10-1999 
               
               
                 D365,957 
                 Ferrari 
                 01-09-1996 
               
               
                 5,241,718 
                 Pope 
                 09-07-1993 
               
               
                 5,010,611 
                 Mallett 
                 04-30-1991 
               
               
                 4,670,923 
                 Gabriel et al. 
                 06-09-1987 
               
               
                 4,370,765 
                 Webber 
                 02-01-1983 
               
               
                 3,619,824 
                 Doyle 
                 11-16-1971 
               
               
                 3,137,870 
                 Fink 
                 06-23-1964 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The primary object of the present invention is to provide a crib bumper that extends underneath the mattress thereby eliminating any spaces between the crib bumper and the mattress that a baby can become stuck in. 
         [0006]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a crib bumper that allows for air flow into the crib. 
         [0007]    An even further object of the present invention is to provide a crib bumper that attaches to the slats of the crib with a securing means that does not pose a health risk to babies. 
         [0008]    The present invention fulfills the above and other objects by providing a crib bumper having a bottom securing panel that rests under a crib mattress and fully separates the crib mattress from the crib, thereby securing the bottom of the crib bumper in place. A perimeter wall of the crib bumper extends upward from the bottom securing panel between the mattress and the crib slats and up the crib slats a predetermined distance, thereby preventing any spaces between the crib bumper and the mattress that a baby could become trapped in. The perimeter wall of the crib bumper is secured to the slats using securing straps and hook and loop fasteners. The securing straps are located on an outer surface of the perimeter wall, thereby making the securing straps inaccessible to a baby in the crib. Although the sides of the crib bumper may be made out of a padded cloth material, the sides are preferably made of a mesh material that will allow airflow through the sides of the crib bumper into the crib. 
         [0009]    The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention should become even more readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described illustrative embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    In the following detailed description, reference will be made to the attached drawings in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a crib bumper of the present invention, a crib and a crib mattress; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a crib having a crib bumper of the present invention secured thereto; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a front cutaway view of a crib having a crib bumper of the present invention secured thereto; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a side cutaway view of a crib having a crib bumper of the present invention secured thereto; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a partial plan view of a head board and a corner post of a crib having a crib bumper of the present invention secured thereto. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0016]    For purposes of describing the preferred embodiment, the terminology used in reference to the numbered accessories in the drawings is as follows:
     1 . crib bumper     2 . crib     3 . mattress     4 . mattress support     5 . corner posts     6 . first side board     7 . second side board     8 . headboard     9 . foot board     10 . slat     11 . bottom surface     12 . top surface     13 . mattress side     14 . bottom securing panel     15 . first side wall     16 . second side wall     17 . head wall     18 . foot wall     19 . perimeter wall     20 . inner surface     21 . outer surface     22 . securing means     23 . first securing strap     24 . second securing strap     25 . attachment means     26 . upper edge     27 . lower portion     28 . mesh     29 . cloth   
 
         [0046]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , an exploded perspective view of a crib bumper  1  of the present invention, a crib  2  and a crib mattress  3  are shown. The crib  2  has a mattress support  4 , corner posts  5 , a first side board  6  having a plurality of slats  10 , a second side board  7  having a plurality of slats  10 , a head board  8  having a plurality of slats  10  and a foot board  9  having a plurality of slats  10 . The mattress  3  has a top surface  12 , a bottom surface  11 , and sides  13 . The crib bumper  1  has a bottom securing panel  14  that fits between the bottom surface  11  of the mattress  3  and the mattress support  4 , thereby completely separating said mattress  3  and mattress support  4 . A first side wall  15 , a second side wall  16 , a head wall  17  and a foot wall  18  all extend upward from the bottom securing panel  14 , thereby forming a perimeter wall  19  having an inner surface  20  and outer surface  21 . At least one securing means  22  for securing the perimeter wall  19  to the vertical slats  10  and/or corner posts  5  of the crib  2  is located on the outer surface  21  of the perimeter wall  19 . As shown here, the securing means is a first securing strap  23  and a second securing strap  24  that are placed around a slat  10  or corner post  5  and attached to each other with an attachment means  25 , such as a hook and loop fastener, snaps, buttons, etc. The perimeter  19  wall may be made of a cloth  29 , quilted material, etc. or, as shown here, out of mesh  28 . In addition, the perimeter wall  19  has an upper edge  26  and a lower portion made of mesh  28 , quilted material, etc. or, as shown here, out of cloth  29  to add stability to the mesh  28  and a stronger material to attach the securing means  22  to the crib bumper  1 . 
         [0047]    Now referring to  FIG. 2 , a perspective view of a crib  2  having a crib bumper  1  of the present invention secured thereto is shown. The crib  2  has corner posts  5 , a first side board  6  having a plurality of slats  10 , a second side board  7  having a plurality of slats  10 , a head board  8  having a plurality of slats  10  and a foot board  9  having a plurality of slats  10 . The crib bumper  1  has a bottom securing panel  14  that fits between a bottom surface  11  of a mattress  3  and the crib  2 , thereby completely separating the bottom surface  11  of the mattress  3  and the crib  2 , as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . A first side wall  15  extends upward from the bottom securing panel  14  between the side  13  of the mattress  3  and the first side board  6  of the crib  2  and above the top surface  12  of the mattress  3  a predetermined distance. A second side wall  16  extends upward from the bottom securing panel  14  between the side  13  of the mattress  3  and the second side board  7  of the crib  2  and above the top surface  12  of the mattress  3  a predetermined distance. A head wall  17  extends upward from the bottom securing panel  14  between the side  13  of the mattress  3  and the head board  8  of the crib  2  and above the top surface  12  of the mattress  3  a predetermined distance. A foot wall  18  extends upward from the bottom securing panel  14  between the side  13  of the mattress  3  and the foot board  9  of the crib  2  and above the top surface  12  of the mattress  3  a predetermined distance. The first side wall  15 , second side wall  16 , head wall  17  and foot wall  18  form a perimeter wall  19  having an inner surface  20 , and outer surface  21 . At least one securing means  22  securing the perimeter wall  19  to the vertical slats  10  and/or corner posts  5  of the crib  2  is located on the outer surface  21  of the perimeter wall  19 . As shown here, the securing means is a first securing strap  23  and a second securing strap  24  that are placed around a slat  10  or corner post  5  and attached to each other with an attachment means  25 , such as a hook and loop fastener, snaps, buttons, etc., as shown in  FIG. 5  The perimeter wall  19  may be made of a cloth  29 , quilted material, etc. or, as shown here, out of mesh  28 . In addition, the perimeter wall  19  has an upper edge  26  and a lower portion  27  made of mesh  28 , quilted material, etc. or, as shown here, out of cloth  29  to add stability to the mesh  28  and a stronger material to attach the securing means  22  to the crib bumper  1 . 
         [0048]    Now referring to  FIG. 3 , a front cutaway view of a crib  2  having a crib bumper  1  of the present invention secured thereto is shown. The crib  2  has a mattress support  4 , corner posts  5 , a first side board  6  having a plurality of slats  10 , a second side board  7  having a plurality of slats  10  and a foot board  9  having a plurality of slats  10 . The mattress  3  has a top surface  12 , a bottom surface  11 , and sides  13 . The crib bumper  1  has a bottom securing panel  14  that fits between the bottom surface  11  of the mattress  3  and the mattress support  4 , thereby completely separating said mattress  3  and mattress support  4  and securing the crib bumper  1  in place. A perimeter wall  19  having an inner surface  20 , and outer surface  21  extends upward from the bottom securing panel  14  between the side  13  of the mattress  3  and the crib  2  and above the top surface  12  of the mattress  3  a predetermined distance. At least one securing means  22  secures the perimeter wall  19  to the vertical slats  10  and/or corner posts  5  of the crib  2  is located on the outer surface  21  of the perimeter wall  19 . The perimeter wall  19  may be made of cloth  29 , quilted material, etc. or, as shown here, out of mesh  28 . In addition, the perimeter wall  19  has an upper edge  26  and a lower portion  27  made of mesh  28 , quilted material, etc. or, as shown here, out of cloth  29  to add stability to the mesh  28  and a stronger material to attach the securing means  22  to the crib bumper  1 . 
         [0049]    Now referring to  FIG. 4 , a side cutaway view of a crib  2  having a crib bumper  1  of the present invention secured thereto is shown. The crib  2  has a mattress support  4  corner posts  5 , a first side board  6  having a plurality of slats  10 , a second side board  7  having a plurality of slats  10 , a head board  8  having a plurality of slats and a foot board  9  having a plurality of slats  10 . The mattress  3  has a top surface  12 , a bottom surface  11 , and sides  13 . The crib bumper  1  has a bottom securing panel  14  that fits between the bottom surface  11  of the mattress  3  and the mattress support  4 , thereby completely separating said mattress  3  and mattress support  4  and securing the crib bumper  1  in place. A perimeter wall  19  having an inner surface  20 , and outer surface  21  extends upward from the bottom securing panel  14  between the side  13  of the mattress  3  and the crib  2  and above the top surface  12  of the mattress  3  a predetermined distance. At least one securing means  22  secures the perimeter wall  19  to the vertical slats  10  and/or corner posts  5  of the crib  2  is located on the outer surface  21  of the perimeter wall  19 . The perimeter wall  19  may be made of cloth  29 , quilted material, etc. or, as shown here, out of mesh  28 . In addition, the perimeter wall  19  has an upper edge  26  and a lower portion  27  made of mesh  28 , quilted material, etc. or, as shown here, out of cloth  29  to add stability to the mesh  28  and a stronger material to attach the securing means  22  to the crib bumper  1 . 
         [0050]    Finally, referring to  FIG. 5 , a partial plan view of a head board  8  and a corner post of a crib  2  having a crib bumper  1  of the present invention secured thereto is shown. At least one securing means  22  securing a perimeter wall  19  of a crib bumper  1  to vertical slats  10  and the corner post  5  of the crib  2  is located on an outer surface  21  of the perimeter wall  19 . The securing means is a first securing strap  23  and a second securing strap  24  that are placed around a slat  10  and attached to each other with an attachment means  25 , such as a hook and loop fastener, snaps, buttons, etc. The perimeter wall  19  wall may be made of cloth  29 , quilted material, etc. or, as shown here, out of mesh  28 . In addition, the perimeter wall  19  has an upper edge  26  and a lower portion  27  made of mesh  28 , quilted material, etc. or, as shown here, out of cloth  29  to add stability to the mesh  28  and a stronger material to attach the securing means  22  to the crib bumper  1 . 
         [0051]    It is to be understood that while a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and drawings.