Patent Document

[0001]    This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/828,942 filed on Oct. 10, 2006, which is incorporated herein in its entirety. 
     
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The technology disclosed herein relates generally to protective covers, and more particularly to a protective cover for a restaurant-style high chair for children. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    There is a growing demand for cleaner public eating environments. However, no convenient systems are presently used for sanitizing high chairs in restaurants. As such, babies and toddlers are placed in restaurant high chairs having a potentially germ-infested top structure due to inadequate cleaning, or the common practice of using a high chair with the top of the high chair resting on a filthy restaurant floor to accommodate infant carriers. 
         [0004]    What is needed is a simple, effective solution that:
       protects a child from restaurant high chair grime, bacteria and germs   is easy to use   can be rapidly installed on a high chair   can be rapidly removed   is washable   covers the entire top rail of the high chair—especially that area that a child touches the most, and sometimes even teethes on   creates an effective barrier between the chair and a child to minimize a child&#39;s health risk   provides a clean, comfortable area for a child to rest his or her arms or teeth   minimizes bulk   is portable.       
 
         [0015]    Related art that addresses these and other problems includes the following patents. 
         [0016]    U.S. Pat. No. 2,254,466, inventor Albert, issued Sep. 2, 1941, discloses a high-chair pad. 
         [0017]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,678,888, inventor Sowell et al., issued Oct. 21, 1997, discloses a shopping-cart child-seat cover made from pliable material and has a seat section, a back section, a front section and two side sections. The seat section of the child-seat cover is sized and shaped to fit on top of a seat bottom of a child-seat portion of a shopping cart. Cover fasteners are positioned on portions of the back section of the child-seat cover at which a portion of the back section that is positioned against a back wall of the child seat engages a container-side portion of the back section that hangs down from over a top of the back wall of the child seat. In like manner, cover fasteners are positioned on portions of the front and side sections of the child-seat cover at which a portion of the front section that is positioned against a front wall of the child seat engages an outside portion of the front section that hangs down from over a top of the front wall of the child seat and at which portions of the side sections that are positioned against side walls of the child seat engage outside portions of the side sections that hang down from over tops of the side walls of the child seat. The pliable material is designedly washable, soft and cushiony thick. Optional features, including a safety seat belt, bottle holder, toy holders and cushion, are provided. 
         [0018]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,142,565, inventor Rieder, issued Nov. 7, 2000, discloses a chair liner for highchairs, strollers, shopping carts, car seats or the like includes a back panel extending from a bottom edge to about head height of an infant, and two relatively thick arms projecting from the back panel to a front edge. The back panel preferably has a curved top edge and the arms gradually taper inwardly from the back panel to the front edge. The arms and the back panel are of a one-piece construction. The liner has a washable fabric covering held on by a zipper which is easily opened to allow removal of the cover. The cover is machine washable and easily reinstalled. The liner fits most standard chairs and booster seats, and it must be used with chair restraints. 
         [0019]    U.S. Pat. No. D465,959 S, inventor Cameron, issued Nov. 26, 2002, illustrates a highchair protective cover. 
         [0020]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,676,210, inventor Peyton, issued Jan. 13, 2004, discloses a one-piece, flexible cover made from washable material and designed to cover the seating area and supports of a highchair, particularly highchairs used by the general public in restaurants. The cover has a generally square-shaped central base that serves as the seat portion and is cushioned to provide additional comfort for the occupant. Foldable front, rear, and side panels extend from the central base. The front panel is T-shaped having a crotch section and front flap. A plastic placemat for covering a highchair tray is connected to the front flap by snap fasteners. One or more straps connect to the front panel by snap fasteners and have mating patches of hook and loop fastening material for looping around and securing toys to the slipcover. A storage pocket is formed on the rear panel. 
         [0021]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,929,326 B2, inventor Cohen-Fyffe, issued Aug. 16, 2005, discloses a high chair clean seat for use as a seat cover on a restaurant high chair for the purpose of protecting babies and toddlers from the dirt and bacteria left on the restaurant high chair. The high chair clean seat includes a continuous connected sleeve covering the entire seating area of a high chair including the sides, back, front, corners and seat bottom with leg openings provided for legs to slide through. The high chair clean seat also comprises a strap and buckle for helping babies and toddlers sit more securely without using the soiled strap/buckle already found on restaurant high chairs. The strap/buckle system secures to the high chair by means of a small button-hole/slit on the bottom of each side of the high chair clean seat. 
         [0022]    U.S. Pat. No. D538,573 S, inventor Allen, issued Mar. 20, 2007, illustrates a removable baby-seat cover. 
         [0023]    While these patents and other previous methods have attempted to solve the problems that they addressed, none have utilized or disclosed a portable, washable high chair protective cover that is applied only over the top rails (front, left and right) of a high chair, as does embodiments of the technology disclosed herein. By limiting coverage to just the top rail, the technology disclosed herein is easier to install, easier to remove and more compact than previous solutions. 
         [0024]    Therefore, a need exists for a high chair protective cover with these attributes and functionalities. The high chair protective cover according to embodiments of the invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art. It can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved high chair protective cover which can be used commercially. In this regard, the technology disclosed herein substantially fulfills these objectives. 
         [0025]    The foregoing patent and other information reflect the state of the art of which the inventor is aware and are tendered with a view toward discharging the inventor&#39;s acknowledged duty of candor in disclosing information that may be pertinent to the patentability of the technology disclosed herein. It is respectfully stipulated, however, that the foregoing patent and other information do not teach or render obvious, singly or when considered in combination, the inventor&#39;s claimed invention. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0026]    In general, the technology disclosed herein features a high chair seat cover that provides a barrier system for the top rail contact area of a high chair. This configuration keeps restaurant high chair germs and grime away from babies and toddlers. The technology disclosed herein allows for rapid installation, removal, transport and cleaning. 
         [0027]    By limiting coverage to a high chair&#39;s top rail, the technology disclosed herein creates a simple, yet very effective cover to protect a child while minimizing bulk. When not in use the technology described herein rolls up quickly and easily and may be secured with a built-in strap and contoured buckle, to facilitate portability and storage in a diaper bag, a backpack or the like. 
         [0028]    In an exemplary embodiment the technology disclosed herein is designed to fit most standard restaurant-style high chairs and is made of high-quality neoprene double-lined with nylon or polyester plus other top quality components, and is machine or hand washable. Neoprene is preferred since it is waterproof, chemical resistant and flexible. In addition to being simple to install, the technology disclosed herein may be installed on the chair after a child is in the high chair, which is great when just one parent is present. 
         [0029]    One advantage of the technology disclosed herein is that it helps to protect a child from restaurant high chair grime, bacteria and germs. 
         [0030]    Another advantage of the technology disclosed herein is that it is easy to use. 
         [0031]    Another advantage of the technology disclosed herein is that it can be rapidly installed on a high chair. 
         [0032]    Another advantage of the technology disclosed herein is that it can be rapidly removed from a high chair. 
         [0033]    Another advantage of the technology disclosed herein is that it is washable. 
         [0034]    Another advantage of the technology disclosed herein is that it covers the entire top rail of a high chair. 
         [0035]    Another advantage of the technology disclosed herein is that it creates a barrier between the top structure of a high chair and a child. 
         [0036]    Another advantage of the technology disclosed herein is that it provides a clean, comfortable area for a child to rest his or her arms or teeth. 
         [0037]    Another advantage of the technology disclosed herein is that it minimizes bulk. 
         [0038]    Another advantage of the technology disclosed herein is that it is portable. 
         [0039]    Another advantage of the technology disclosed herein is that it may be made from readily available materials. 
         [0040]    Another advantage of the technology disclosed herein is that it may be economically produced. 
         [0041]    Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the technology disclosed herein are apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0042]    The invention, together with further advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description of the simplest form of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0043]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a high chair protective cover, according to an embodiment of the technology disclosed herein. 
           [0044]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of a stowed high chair protective cover, according to an embodiment of the technology disclosed herein. 
           [0045]      FIG. 3  illustrates a rear plan view of the body of high chair protective cover, according to an embodiment of the technology disclosed herein. 
           [0046]      FIG. 4  illustrates a side plan view of a retention strap assembly, according to an embodiment of the technology disclosed herein. 
           [0047]      FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of an installation step for a high chair protective cover, according to an embodiment of the technology disclosed herein. 
           [0048]      FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of another installation step for a high chair protective cover, according to an embodiment of the technology disclosed herein. 
           [0049]      FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective view of another installation step for a high chair protective cover, according to an embodiment of the technology disclosed herein. 
           [0050]      FIG. 8  illustrates a perspective view of a typical rolling up of a high chair protective cover, according to an embodiment of the technology disclosed herein. 
           [0051]      FIG. 9  illustrates a perspective view of a typical fastening of a rolled up high chair protective cover, according to an embodiment of the technology disclosed herein. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0052]    The technology disclosed herein will now be described in detail with reference to at least one preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the technology disclosed herein. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that the technology disclosed herein may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well known operations have not been described in detail so not to unnecessarily obscure the technology disclosed herein. 
         [0053]    Referring to the drawings,  FIGS. 1-9 , where like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures, a high chair cover assembly  010  is comprised of a high chair cover  100 , a plurality of a hook-and-loop fastener  200 , and a retention strap assembly  300 . 
         [0054]    The high chair cover  100 , has a cover bottom  101 , a cover top  102 , a cover right side  103 , a cover left side  104 , a cover front side  105  and a cover back side  106 . The cover front side  105  may be colored, or have a pattern, logo, and/or information disposed thereon. 
         [0055]    The high chair cover  100  is further comprised of a plurality of a hook-and-loop fastener  200  affixed on the cover back side  106  near the edge of the cover bottom  101  and near the edge of the cover top  102  in corresponding arrays such that each hook-and-loop fastener  200  affixed to the cover bottom  101  is capable of engaging a corresponding hook-and-loop fastener affixed to the cover top  102 . The high chair cover  100  may be made of neoprene laminated with nylon or polyester. 
         [0056]    The high chair cover  100  may be further comprised of a first cover cut  110  and a second cover cut  120 . The first cover cut  110  and the second cover cut  120  are substantially identical and triangular in shape, with the base of the triangle positioned at the cover bottom  101  and the apex of the triangle approximately two thirds of the distance between the cover bottom  101  and the cover top  102 . The positioning of the first cover cut  110  and the second cover cut  120  is such that a left side panel  130  is formed that is substantially the same size as a right side panel  150 , with a middle panel  140  formed between the left side panel  130  and the right side panel  150 , where the middle panel  140  is substantially the same size as the left side panel  130  and right side panel  150 . 
         [0057]    The retention strap assembly  300  is comprised of a retention body  310  and a retention tail  340 . The retention body  310  is further comprised of a retention fixed section  320  and a retention adjustable section  330 . One end of the retention adjustable section  330  adjoins a corresponding end of the retention fixed section  320  via a tri-guide  360 . The other end of the retention adjustable section  330  terminates in a male buckle  351 . The other end of the retention fixed section  320  terminates in a female buckle  352 . The male buckle  351  and the female buckle  352  comprise the buckle assembly  350  for the retention strap assembly  300 . One end of the retention tail  340  is affixed to the retention fixed section near the joining of the female buckle  352  to the other end of the retention fixed section  320 . At the other end of the retention tail  340  is the cover attachment point, where the high chair cover  100  is affixed to the retention strap assembly  300 . 
         [0058]    A typical installation of an exemplary embodiment of the technology disclosed herein to a restaurant-style high chair by a user is as follows:
       Unbuckle the buckle assembly   Unroll the high chair cover assembly   Facing the front of the high chair, lay the high chair cover assembly flat along the front rail of the high chair with the cover back side against the chair, and the retention strap assembly on your left   Fold the High chair cover assembly over the front rail of the high chair and secure it with the hook-and-loop fasteners   Fold the right and left flaps of the high chair cover assembly over the corresponding side rails and secure them with the hook-and-loop fasteners, starting with the fastener at the rear of the high chair       
 
         [0064]    A typical removal of an exemplary embodiment of the technology disclosed herein by a user is as follows:
       Hold the high chair cover assembly vertically with the cover front side facing you and the retention strap assembly hanging towards the floor   Start rolling from the top of the high chair cover assembly   Roll the high chair cover assembly so that it is snug with each turn   As the strap approaches, keep rolling while the strap wraps around the high chair cover assembly   When the male and female ends of the buckle assembly meet, simply click them together       
 
         [0070]    A typical cleaning of an exemplary embodiment of the technology disclosed herein by a user is as follows:
       If needed, use a pre-wash to help remove stains   Wash the high chair cover assembly separate from other articles   Wash in cold water   Tumble dry on the low setting.
 
Embodiments of and/or methods pertaining to the technology disclosed herein may also be described as follows:
 
1. A compact, portable high chair rail cover for hygienic protection, the high chair rail cover comprising a barrier material portion of a generally long, rectangular shape to drape and attachably fold over each of a left, right, and front top rail of a high chair, to provide an interior flap and an exterior flap of the barrier material portion for each top rail of the high chair; and a plurality of fasteners located on and securely attached to the interior flap and the exterior flap of the barrier material portion of the high chair rail cover to securely fasten the interior flap to the exterior flap once the barrier material portion has been draped and attachably folded over each of the left, right, and front top rails of the high chair.
 
2. The compact, portable high chair rail cover for hygienic protection of Item 1, further comprising edge binding located on a perimeter edge of the barrier material portion of the high chair rail cover to strengthen the barrier material portion and to provide containment for a plurality of layers comprising the barrier material portion.
 
3. The compact, portable high chair rail cover for hygienic protection of Item 1, further comprising a pair of triangular wedge-shaped notches cut into a long edge of the barrier material portion of the high chair rail cover to facilitate an easy, generally right-angle corner fold at a first intersection area of the left and front top rails and at a second intersection area of the right and front top rails when the high chair rail cover is draped and attachably folded over each of the left, right, and front top rail of the high chair.
 
4. The compact, portable high chair rail cover for hygienic protection of Item 1, further comprising a retention strap located on and securely attached to the barrier material portion of the high chair rail cover; and a buckle located on and securely attached to the retention strap, the buckle comprising a male and a female side; where the retention strap and buckle are configured to retain the high chair rail cover when not in use and rolled up and where the buckle is a contoured side release buckle.
 
5. The compact, portable high chair rail cover for hygienic protection of Item 4, where the retention strap is configured to hang downwardly down from the portable high chair rail cover while in use, down the backside of the high chair, and is thereby inaccessible from a child in the high chair.
 
6. The compact, portable high chair rail cover for hygienic protection of Item 4, where the retention strap is configured to wrap around the portable high chair rail cover as rolling of the portable high chair rail cover completes and where the male and female ends of the buckle are configured to meet and be easily mated to securely hold the portable high chair rail cover in a stowed position.
 
7. The compact, portable high chair rail cover for hygienic protection of Item 4, where the buckle is comprised of a contoured side release buckle, such that a curved shape of the contoured side release buckle conforms to the shape of the portable high chair rail cover for hygienic protection when it is rolled up.
       
 
       8. The compact, portable high chair rail cover for hygienic protection of Item 4, further comprising a tri-glide buckle component to allow for an adjustable length of the retention strap. 
     9. The compact, portable high chair rail cover for hygienic protection of Item 4, where the retention strap is further comprised of hook-and-loop fasteners. 
     10. The compact, portable high chair rail cover for hygienic protection of Item 4, where the retention strap is further comprised of bungee cord. 
     11. The compact, portable high chair rail cover for hygienic protection of Item 1, where the barrier material portion is a woven fabric material. 
     12. The compact, portable high chair rail cover for hygienic protection of Item 1, where the barrier material portion is fabric-laminated neoprene. 
     13. The compact, portable high chair rail cover for hygienic protection of Item 1, where the barrier material portion is cotton. 
     14. The compact, portable high chair rail cover for hygienic protection of Item 1, where the barrier material portion is a non-woven fabric. 
     15. The compact, portable high chair rail cover for hygienic protection Item 1, where the barrier material portion comprises a disposable material. 
     16. The compact, portable high chair rail cover for hygienic protection of Item 1, wherein the barrier material is vinyl. 
       [0075]    17. The compact, portable high chair rail cover for hygienic protection of Item 1, wherein the barrier material portion is a layered combination of materials selected from the group of vinyl, cotton, woven fabric, fabric-backed neoprene, non-woven fabric. 
       18. The compact, portable high chair rail cover for hygienic protection Item 1, where the plurality of fasteners is comprised of hook-and-loop fasteners. 
     19. The compact, portable high chair rail cover for hygienic protection of Item 1, where the plurality of fasteners is comprised of snap fasteners. 
     20. The compact, portable high chair rail cover for hygienic protection of Item 1, where the plurality of fasteners is comprised of peel-and-stick fasteners. 
     21. The compact, portable high chair rail cover for hygienic protection of Item 1, further comprising one or more anchors located on the high chair rail cover configured to attach a tethered baby toy or a tethered baby bottle. 
       [0076]    22. A method for manufacturing a compact, portable high chair rail cover for hygienic protection, the method comprising utilizing a barrier material portion of a generally long, rectangular shape to drape and attachably fold over each of a left, right, and front top rail of a high chair; cutting the barrier material portion to a predetermined shape; and utilizing a plurality of fasteners, securely attaching the plurality of fasteners to the barrier material portion of the high chair rail cover to securely fasten the barrier material portion to itself once it has been draped and attachably folded over each of the left, right, and front top rail of the high chair.
 
23. The method for manufacturing a compact, portable high chair rail cover for hygienic protection of Item 20, further comprising utilizing edge binding on a perimeter edge of the barrier material portion of the high chair rail cover to strengthen the barrier material portion and to provide containment for a plurality of layers comprising the barrier material portion.
 
24. The method for manufacturing a compact, portable high chair rail cover for hygienic protection of Item 20, further comprising cutting a pair of v-shaped notches into a long edge of the barrier material portion of the high chair rail cover, facilitating an easy, generally right-angle fold at a first intersection area of the left and front top rails and at a second intersection area of the right and front top rails when the high chair rail cover is draped and attachably folded over each of the left, right, and front top rail of the high chair.
 
25. The method for manufacturing a compact, portable high chair rail cover for hygienic protection of Item 20, further comprising attaching a retention strap securely to the barrier material portion of the high chair rail cover; attaching a buckle securely to the retention strap; and configuring the retention strap and buckle to retain the high chair rail cover when not in use and rolled up.
 
26. The method for manufacturing a compact, portable high chair rail cover for hygienic protection of Item 20, further comprising attaching one or more anchors to the high chair rail cover; and configuring the one or more anchors to receive a tethered baby toy or a tethered baby bottle.
 
27. The method for manufacturing a compact, portable high chair rail cover for hygienic protection of Item 23 where the retention strap is configured to hang downwardly down from the portable high chair rail cover while in use, down the backside of the high chair, and is thereby inaccessible from a child in the high chair.
 
28. The method for manufacturing a compact, portable high chair rail cover for hygienic protection of Item 23 where the retention strap is configured to wrap around the portable high chair rail cover as rolling of the portable high chair rail cover completes and where the male and female ends of the buckle are configured to meet and be easily mated to securely hold the portable high chair rail cover in a stowed position.
 
29. The method for manufacturing a compact, portable high chair rail cover for hygienic protection of Item 23 where the buckle is comprised of a contoured side release buckle, such that a curved shape of the contoured side release buckle conforms to the shape of the portable high chair rail cover for hygienic protection when it is rolled up.
 
         [0077]    The foregoing description and drawings comprise illustrative embodiments of the technology disclosed herein. Having thus described exemplary embodiments of the technology disclosed herein, it should be noted by those skilled in the art that the within disclosures are exemplary only, and that various other alternatives, adaptations and modifications may be made within the scope of the technology disclosed herein. Merely listing or numbering the steps of a method in a certain order does not constitute any limitation on the order of the steps of that method. Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing description and the associated drawings. Although specific terms may be employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Accordingly, the technology disclosed herein is not limited to the specific embodiments illustrated herein, but is limited only by the following claims.

Technology Category: a