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This application is based on Provisional Application No. 60/901,895 filed on Feb. 14, 2007.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a blanket for use in covering infants and more particularly to such a blanket which can be removably attached by means of clips to a person carrying the infant or to an object, such as a seat on which the infant is supported.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Infants are generally held by a person in a blanket or bib which is not only used to support the infant in one's arms but also to protect against “spit up” of the infant. These prior art blankets are not securely held in place and often tend to slip off. This is rather inconvenient to the person carrying the infant.
In the prior art, a device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,988,789 issued on Jun. 20, 1961 to Gerdes which keeps a bed cover in place over an infant by clipping the cover to a toy which the infant is holding, such as a play duck with a single elastic strap and clip. There is no suggestion in this patent of a device for holding a blanket or bib with a pair of clip assemblies and straps to the holder's apparel or to a seat. The device of this prior patent is incapable of operating to perform the function of Applicant's invention, namely to hold an infant in one's arms under a blanket which is retained firmly in place.
Clip assemblies are attached to an infant's blanket, bib, or other covering and can firmly be attached to the user's clothing, seat or other object on which the infant is seated and yet can readily be removed there from Each clip assembly is formed from a pair of opposing rigid arm members which are pivotally connected to each other. Each arm member has clip ends which are joined together under spring tension and can be clipped onto clothing or other items and open ends which extend away from each other. The open ends can be manually actuated to open the joined together clip ends in attaching or removing the clip ends from one's clothing or other retention member.
The arm members are spring actuated by means of a U-shaped spring member to firmly clamp them to the user's apparel or other support member, yet can readily be removed manually. The U-shaped spring member is fabricated of a highly resilient metal and is connected between the two rigid arm members with one of the legs of the “U” shaped spring member fitted in a slot formed in the outer surface of one of the rigid arm members and the other leg of the “U” shaped spring fitted against a sloping plate extending inwardly from the inner wall of the other rigid arm member.
The clip assemblies have fabric strips connected to them, which are sewn onto the blanket. With these clip assemblies, the blanket can be firmly attached to various portions of one's clothing depending on how the infant is being held. The clip assemblies can also be used to attach the blanket to a seat or baby carriage in which the infant has been placed.
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the clip assembly employed in the device of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the clip assembly;
FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the clip assembly;
FIG. 4 is a side cross sectional view of the clip assembly;
FIG. 5 is a front perspective view showing an infant about to be secured under the blanket with one of the clip assemblies attached to one shoulder of the holder;
FIG. 6 is a front perspective view showing both clip assemblies attached to the holder's baby carrier with the infant being held under the blanket;
FIG. 7 is a front perspective view illustrating the blanket attached to a stroller;
FIG. 8 is a top plan view showing the clip assembly attached to a blanket; and
FIG. 9 is front perspective view showing the blanket attached to a car seat.
Referring to FIGS. 1-4 and 8, the clip assembly used in the device of the invention is illustrated. This clip assembly has a pair of opposing rigid arm members 11a and 11b which are pivotally connected to each together at “A.” Arm members 11a and 11b are spring actuated by a highly resilient U-shaped spring member 12 having a pair of opposing legs 12a and 12b. One of the arm members 11a is attached to the blanket, usually spaced down from the top corners thereof by means of flexible strips 15 of material 3-4 inches in length, which may be of nylon. The strips 15, as shown in FIG. 8, are sewn to the blanket so that they are firmly held thereto and attached to connector slots 22 on the clip assemblies. Only two clip assemblies need be used in the average situation, but additional clip assemblies may be installed on the blanket if a particular requirement calls for more than two such assemblies. The flexible strips 15 are located in a position which is convenient for the holder of the infant to attach the clip assemblies to his or her clothing.
The spring member 12 of the preferred invention is in the form of a U-shaped spring having a pair of opposing legs 12a and 12b and is fabricated from a highly resilient metal. Arm member 11a has a concave portion 13. A leg 12a of the spring member 12 rests in this concave portion and can move therein. The other leg 12b of the spring member has an extension 210 which fits between the inner wall of arm member 11b and plate 26. Arm member 11a has a slot 22 formed therein onto which flexible strip 15 is wound on one end and sewn onto the blanket at the other end. Rigid plate 26 extends downwardly from an inner surface of arm 11b. The extension portion 20 of the spring abuts against plate 26 and resiliently urges the grips 17 firmly together and the open ends of arm members 11a and 11b apart.
Arm members 11a and 11b operate in conjunction with each other to be opened by hand and closed by spring 12. Further, both of the arm members have “grips” 17 at the heads thereof which come together to facilitate the holding capacity of the clip assemblies when connected to one's clothing. Grips 17 have teeth 17a formed thereon which firmly grasp the user's clothing or other object.
Referring now to FIG. 5, the preparation of the mounting the maternity blanket in holding an infant while nursing is illustrated. As shown in FIG. 6, the use of the device of the invention in holding an infant 20 while nursing is shown. As shown in FIG. 5, initially; one of the grips 17 is attached to a baby carrier on one of the shoulders of the person 21 holding the infant. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the blanket is wrapped around the infant and the other grip 17 is attached to the baby carrier on the opposite shoulder of the person 21. As can be seen, strips 15 of flexible material, which may be of nylon, are sewn onto the blanket and attached to the arms 11a of each assembly. The infant then can be held in place with the blanket securely in position without concern as to the blanket failing off.
Referring now to FIG. 7, the attachment of the blanket to a baby stroller is shown. Here, as can be seen the clip assemblies are attached to back portions of the stroller in a manner so that the blanket covers the infant and is held in place so that it will not fall off.
As shown in FIG. 9, The blanket can similarly be attached to car seats and other types of seats where an infant may be placed. Also, rather than a blanket, a bib or other covering can be used.
While the invention has been described and illustrated in detail it is to be understood that this is intended by way of illustration and example and not by way of limitation, the coverage of this patent being determined by the following claims;