Patent ID: 6851749

Claim:
A multi-function insert adapted for use as a play mat and as a seat cover for a shopping cart which includes a handlebar and a seat having a seat bottom, a backrest, and a pair of leg openings, the insert comprising: an elongate panel defining opposed front and back surface, wherein the panel is rectangularly configured defining opposed pairs of parallel longitudinal and lateral peripheral edge segments; at least two flaps disposed within the panel and selectively movable between open and closed positions; and a plurality of fastening mechanisms attached to the panel and configured to selectively maintain a portion of the panel in releasable engagement to the handlebar of the shopping cart and to selectively maintain the flaps in releasable engagement to the panel; the panel being sized and configured to be selectively foldable and unfoldable between respective non-planar and planar configurations, the non-planar configuration of the panel being such that when the panel is releaseably engaged to the handlebar, extended over the seat bottom and draped over the back rest, the flaps will be substantially aligned with respective ones of the leg openings when the flaps are moved to the open position, the planar configuration of the panel being such that the front and back surfaces assume a flat configuration with the flaps being releaseably engagable to the panel in the closed position when the insert is unfolded for use as a play mat.