CHILD TRANSFER WRAP

Abstract

A child transfer wrap has a fabric body and a connector on the fabric body for removably connecting the child transfer wrap to an adult. The fabric body has an opening for an arm of the adult so the adult is able to reach through the opening and pick up and hold the child while the child portion of the transfer wrap is being connected to the adult. The fabric body permits passing the wrap around the child as well as the adult's child-holding arm. There is an attachment mechanism fixed to the wrap and positioned so that the adult can releasably secure the child transfer wrap to itself after picking up and wrapping the child for added protection from the elements.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application relies upon and claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/361,664, filed Jul. 13, 2016.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to child wraps, and, more particularly, to a wrap that provides warmth and/or protection from precipitation, especially when transferring an infant or small child from a building to a vehicle or vice versa. The wrap is adapted for temporary attachment to an adult during the transfer process, when the adult is about to expose the child to the outdoor elements, such as when removing the child from an automobile or from a building. Likewise, removal of the wrap is very facile and permits the child to be unwrapped quickly for securing in an automobile child seat or to be comfortable within the protection of a building.

Related Art

[0003] Previous outdoor wraps for infants and children have often been limited to clothing with sleeves and/or legs, such as snow suits, jackets and coats, with or without attached hoods. Since the advent and required use of infant and child seats in automobiles, many changes have evolved in the seats themselves and the methods of attachment of the seats in vehicles, as well as in the proper procedures for securing an infant or toddler in the child protective seats. Among the more recent changes is the recommendation that a child (hereafter intended to include infants) be secured by straps in the child seat without a coat or other bulky garment. Such bulky clothing articles worn beneath the car seat straps have been found to sometimes cause improper securement of the child in the seat, potentially leading to injury or death, particularly in a collision. This can occur because a coat is compressible but prevents the harness from being properly tightened. Under the forces of a collision the child can slip out from the harness and be tossed around within the vehicle, or even from the vehicle. Once the automobile has been warmed to a comfortable temperature, bulky garments can also be uncomfortable for the child in that they can become much too warm, and of course cannot remove themselves from the troublesome clothing. Nonetheless, when outdoor temperatures become uncomfortably or dangerously cold it is necessary that especially young children be well protected as they are transferred to and from a heated vehicle. It is, of course, very cumbersome and inconvenient for an adult (or other care-giving responsible person) to have to remove a child's outerwear before putting him or her into the child seat and then to have to re-clothe the child after removal from the seat but before getting the child out of the warm vehicle. In severe weather this creates a great deal of trouble and discomfort for the child and the adult, as well as any other people in the vehicle or waiting outside during the described process. Accordingly, there is a need in the marketplace for a suitable child protective wrap which can be very quickly and easily placed around the child for transfer to and from a warm vehicle.

[0004] Known child wraps, other than coats and jackets, generally have consisted of just a small blanket placed around or over the child. While certainly better than having no protection at all, many imperfections exist with this method of protection. Among these problems include loss of coverage due to wind, slippage or insufficient ability of the adult to grip the blanket due to other tasks required for the adult's hands, in addition to actually carrying the child. The blanket frequently ends up on the ground, being stepped on, getting very dirty or wet and/or actually tripping the adult, which is dangerous for both adult and child. This scenario then requires the adult laden with child and other articles such as keys, purses, diaper bags, etc. to lean over to the ground level to retrieve the blanket while trying not to drop anything else, including the child, in the process. Thus, a goal of the present invention is to minimize the time the parent and child are exposed to the weather and still keep car seat safety a priority.

[0005] Heretofore, there have been coats available for an adult to wear that permit zipping a child inside the adult's coat right along with the parent or other adult. The present invention does not require the purchase of any special adult clothing. Rather, the parent or other person caring for the child can wear anything they like and avoid a special, expensive clothing purchase which must be worn during many trips with the child. The new child protective wrap can be used in essentially any weather or season and may be formed for cold weather or simply be made of a water-proof material or some material suitable for the combination of both cold and wet weather.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The new child protective wrap described herein is the first such known wrap for a small child, such as an infant or toddler for quick, safe grasping and wrapping of a child, and then for carrying the child from one place to another outdoors, with the wrap also being connected to the adult carrier of the child.

[0007] The new child wrap requires no assembly and is simple and fast to use with a child of a size that necessitates use of an infant or child seat during auto transport. The new device features quick connection to and disconnection from the adult, so that the wrap does not slip away or become dropped or tangled during use. Simple, ready access by the adult to the child while also being connected to the wrap permits the adult to completely cover and secure the child within the wrap in a manner that helps prevent the possibility of dropping the child, yet leaves one of the parent's arms free to perform other necessary functions. It also permits facile removal from adult and the child and then folding into a very compact, light-weight unit for portability and temporary safe-keeping in a purse, diaper bag, or shopping cart, or a pocket in the automobile, for example.

[0008] A wide variety of materials, applications and features are available for the new child wrap, as will become apparent from the detailed description hereafter.

[0009] Accordingly, there has been a long-felt need in the industry for an economically manufactured, light-weight, easy to use short-term child wrap that can be readily handled by a parent or other adult needing to safely and securely hold the child for transfer from one place to another. The new child wrap is quick to be attached to the adult and then applied around the child, while still providing the adult user with the capability of doing a variety of other tasks, such as unlocking a car door and carrying a purse, bag or package, or even holding the hand of another child.

[0010] Accordingly, the invention is, briefly, a child transfer wrap having a fabric body and a connector on the fabric body for removably connecting the child transfer wrap to an adult. The fabric body defines at least one opening for receipt and passage there through of an arm of the adult to such extent that the adult is able to reach through the opening with one arm and to pick up and hold the child while the transfer wrap is being connected by the connector to the adult. The fabric body has dimensions sufficient to permit the adult to pass the wrap around the child as well as the adult's child-holding arm. There is at least one attachment mechanism fixed to the wrap and positioned so that the adult can releasably secure the child transfer wrap to itself after picking up and wrapping the child. Thus there is provided a wrap by which a child is protected from the elements for safe and comfortable transfer from a vehicle to a sheltering structure or from a sheltering structure to a vehicle while the child is being held by the adult and secured to the adult's body, as well as permitting the adult to have free usage of one arm.

[0011] Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred and practical embodiments of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0013] FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a new child wrap showing the side which faces the child.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the child wrap of FIG. 1, showing the opposite side, which faces the adult.

[0015] FIG. 3 is an enlarged schematic illustration of the adult neck strap of the child wrap of FIG. 1.

[0016] FIG. 4 is the same view as in FIG. 2, but illustrating with arrows the various connections of the new wrap during use.

[0017] FIG. 5 is the same as FIG. 1, but showing suitable dimensions.

[0018] FIG. 6 is the same as FIG. 2, but showing suitable dimensions.

[0019] FIG. 7 is the same as FIG. 3, but showing suitable dimensions.

[0020] Throughout the figures like parts are indicated by like element numbers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0021] With reference to the attached illustrations, a child transfer wrap, generally designated 10, is illustrated in an open state, prior to applying for use. Wrap 10 has a child-facing surface 12 and an adult-facing surface 14, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Child surface 12 is preferably, although not necessarily, formed of a warm, washable material, such as polyester fleece. Adult-facing surface 14, by contrast, is preferably, although not necessarily, formed of nylon or some other suitable, water-resistant or water-proof fabric. These choices of materials are preferred, for optimal light-weight, dry warmth for the child. However, there may be instances in which other fabric selections are suitable, such as all nylon, in warmer but wet weather, or all fleece, in particularly cold, but dry conditions. When wrap 10 is formed of multiple layers of fabric the layers are preferably joined together completely around the outer edges of the fabric with a binding, as illustrated, and the layers may be further connected by quilting, as illustrated, or otherwise, for example by gluing, although quilting is preferred. The body of wrap 10 may even be formed of more than two layers, for example, with a filling, such as polyester batting between two outer layers of different material.

[0022] For purposes of better understanding the description below, it may be useful to the reader to look now at FIGS. 5-7, which show the dimensions of a useful configuration of wrap 10. With a concept of the overall size of the device and parts thereof relative to one another it may be easier to comprehend the use and benefits of the new wrap. For example, it may be surprising how long the adult neck strap is, 201/2 inches, yet the ends of the strap are only 9 inches apart. The overall length of the body of the wrap, taken at the lower edge 22, is 52 inches, whereas the depth of the adult portion is only 20 inches. This may later help the reader to understand the surprisingly compact nature of wrap 10, which in use creates great convenience, as well as comfort and security. The dimensions shown are those determined for the preferred embodiment described below, although variations can be made to the dimensions without departing from the scope of the invention. Also, is should be pointed out that some dimensions shown on the figures may refer to a part as folded or unfolded. For example, the tab shown on the upper left of FIG. 5, is indicated as being four inches long. That would be the length in the unfolded state of manufacture. Once folded into its final form for use the tab will be closer to two inches long, so as to be easy to grasp, but not cumbersome. Again, the dimensions shown are only useful size examples and may vary somewhat as desired.

[0023] Wrap 10 has a short edge 18 and a long edge 20, which edges 18 and 20 are connected by a bottom edge 22. Short edge 18, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is the outer edge of the adult portion of wrap 10 and long edge 20 is the outer edge of the child portion of wrap 10. In FIG. 1 the adult portion is to the left of the figure and the child portion is to the right of the figure. These positions are reversed in FIG. 2, which shows the opposite side of wrap 10. Unlike short edge 18, long edge 20 is formed at the upper end thereof as the outer edge of child right shoulder flap 26b, so as to be slightly concave, arcing gently inwardly at a point approximately even with the lowest point of the child neck area 30. While this configuration of edge 20 is preferred for ease of wrapping and coverage of the child, a straight edge or other shapes may be conceived that could function adequately. It should be understood, throughout this description, that new child transfer wrap 10 can be provided in both right and left handed versions, depending upon the preference of the adult user. The necessary alterations should be clear upon understanding of the following detailed description of the structure and use of wrap 10.

[0024] An upper edge 24 on the adult portion of the wrap is connected at its outermost end to the upper extreme of short edge 18, from which upper edge 24 passes, parallel to bottom edge 22, until intersecting a lower end of an outer edge 28 of child right shoulder flap 26a. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, there are two shoulder flaps for the child, the flap which is positioned over the child's right shoulder is indicated at 26a and the flap to be positioned over the child's left shoulder is indicated at 26b. It is preferred that the shoulder flaps, which extend upwardly form the child portion of wrap 10, should meet one another at their lower ends to form a V-shaped neck-area 30, as shown, for the child's neck. Although other shapes for child shoulder flaps 26a, 26b may be useful and acceptable, the configuration shown is believed to be preferable for most thorough coverage and comfort for the child.

[0025] A neck band 16 for the adult user of child transfer wrap 10 is shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 to be connected by stitching of each of its opposed ends 32 to wrap 10, adjacent to upper edge 24 of the adult area of the wrap. Stitching of neck bank 16 to the adult surface of the wrap, adjacent to edge 24 is the preferred configuration, although other known means of affixing a strap to a fabric surface are know that could suffice. Adult neck band 16 could be formed of a variety of useful materials. It is preferred, however, to use neoprene or another thick, stretchy material for this purpose, for comfort of the wearer. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of neck bank 16, showing the preferred location of strips 36 of conventional hook and loop fastener (such as that made available under the registered trademark, Velcro.RTM.) disposed on neck band 16 toward each end 32. Strips 36 serve to receive and hold corresponding pieces of hook and loop material, which are fixed along the top edges of child shoulder portions 26a, 26b, preferably at sites adjacent to the child neck opening 30 defined by the inner edges of should flaps 26a, 26b. Hook and loop fastener pieces 38 and preferably each provided with a pull tab 40 to facilitate grasping and releasing the shoulder flaps 26a, 26b from the adult's neck strap 16 when it is desired to uncover the child from wrap 10. If desired, the new child transfer wrap 10 can also be provided with an optional hood portion for the child. The hood, not shown, can be of known variety and preferably removably connected to the adult side of the wrap, in known manner, just below or very near the point of the V-shaped opening for the child's neck, so as to be readily flipped up and over the back of the child's heat, as may be needed. This option could be preferable for some children who dislike or for some reason cannot wear a hat for warmth.

[0026] FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 each show an adult arm opening, illustrated as a preferred slit shape, defined by the body of wrap 10. Opening 40 penetrates all layers of the body of wrap 10, in this case, surfaces 12 and 14. The location of opening 40 is substantially central within the body of wrap 10, approximately in line with and beneath the intersection of left arm flap 26a with upper edge 24. So located, opening 40 permits facile and secure access of the adult's child-holding arm to the child during the wrapping and unwrapping procedures, as well as during the actual transfer of the child from vehicle

[0027] FIG. 1 illustrates an added feature at the upper end of each child shoulder flap 26a, 26b. At this position there is provided a small pocket 42 for hands of the child protected by wrap 10. While this element is optional, it is preferred, given that the present child transfer wrap is intended for use during inclement weather. As shown, pockets 42 are configured as an extra piece of fleece fabric connected at the upper ends of the child neck flaps 26a, 26b, so that a wrapped child facing the adult user of wrap 10 and having both arms directed upwardly around or on each side of the adult's neck, can merely slide their hands upwardly under the pocket flap in order to protect the hands from cold air. While the configuration of wrap 10 with pockets 42 is preferred, as shown, is it possible that some other placement is conceivable that would be useful in some circumstances.

[0028] A further preferred, but optional, feature of new child transfer wrap 10 is a mechanism to quickly and selectively releasably attach the wrap around the child to prevent inadvertent slippage or flapping of the child portion of the wrap due to wind or movement. This feature is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. FIG. 1 shows the child (fleece) surface of the wrap, wherein at the upper left corner, i.e., at the corner extending away from the adult's neck band 16, there is attached a section 46 of hook and loop fastener and an associated release tab 48 for gripping the corner when it is desired to release the connection. After the child is lifted and otherwise wrapped, tab 48 can be grasped by the adult user's free hand, and that corner of wrap 10 pulled around the child's back, and there securing piece 46 by pressing it against a corresponding piece of hook and loop fastener 50. Piece 50 is seen most clearly in FIG. 2, on the exterior surface of the wrap. As shown this connection is just below the child neck area 30. It should be understood, in all cases of use of hook and loop fastener material on wrap 10, that any pull tabs 40, 48 and highly preferred for best ease of use. However, the hook and loop fastener mechanisms will certainly function sufficiently without the added pull tabs. Further, although this closure mechanism is preferred, other known closures, such as buttons, snaps, or hook and eye combinations, for example, could be used effectively, although not as easily.

[0029] FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 are provided to show examples of useful dimensions for new child transfer wrap 10 and the various parts thereof. While the dimensions shown are preferred, there may be instances wherein reasonable variations may be suitable and will still be considered to be within the parameters of the invention.

[0030] Use of new child transfer wrap 10 may be better understood by now referring to FIG. 4, and the arrows indicating necessary changes in the position of parts of wrap 10 during the child wrapping procedure. As discussed above, a child in a car seat will frequently not be dressed in heavy clothes, such as a snowsuit or heavy jacket and pants. Rather the child might be dressed as for indoors and uncovered except possibly for a lightweight throw blanket.

[0031] To transfer the child from the car to a building during inclement weather the adult user of wrap 10 will unfold or open up the wrap, with the waterproof or otherwise non-fleece, surface facing the adult, as in FIG. 4. The adult will place their head through neck strap 16 and then place their left hand and left arm through opening 40, before picking up the child from the car seat. The child will be held in the left arm, against and facing the adult, so that the adult can reach with the right arm, extending outside of the wrap, around and behind the child and grasp non-straight edge 20. The adult then pulls edge 20 of the child portion of the wrap around behind the child and toward the adult's right. The child shoulder flaps 26a, 26b will then fall on each side of the child's neck, which will be within the open child neck area 30. So positioned, at this point it is a simple matter for the adult to grasp one of the shoulder flaps and secure it via the hook and loop fastener to a comfortable spot on the adult's neck strap, as indicated by the arrows X and Y. This is followed by repeating the last process with the other child shoulder flap. At this point the child is comfortably snuggled against the adult's chest and supported by the adult's left arm, which is mostly within wrap 10, and leaving the adult's right arm free of the wrap. Finally, by using the adult's free right hand, hook and loop fastener 46, or the tab 48 near it, can be easily be grasped and then secured behind the child at hook and loop section 50, behind the child's neck, as indicated by Arrow Z. The entire wrapping procedure can often be accomplished in less than one minute; much faster and less stressful for everyone as compared to dressing a child in a snow suit.

[0032] The child may be asleep or otherwise snuggled down into the wrap with their hands and arms also downward or perhaps at their chest. Alternatively, the child may have their hands positioned upwardly and within pockets 42 and still beneath the neck flap portions 26a, 26b of wrap 10. In either position, the only part of the child exposed is the head, which may be covered by a separate hat, or by the optional hood, discussed above. In either case, the child is well covered in a manner such that the wrap is quickly and simply secured against wind or flapping and fumbling. This is a very comfortable and safe position for the child and makes it easier and safer for the adult to manipulate other objects with their free right hand without fear of dropping the child or exposing the child unnecessarily to the elements. When the child and adult have reached their shelter, wrap 10 can be quickly and easily removed by reversing the previous steps. Wrap 10 can then be easily folded up for storage in a bag, coat, or shopping cart, for example.

[0033] When it is time to return to the vehicle the process is repeated and the wrap is removed from the child before the child is secured in the child car safety seat in the usual manner. The wrap is simply folded up and tucked away until the next need for use.

[0034] The above description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. Of course the new child transfer wrap can be provided in any number of colors, types of fabric, and fabric pre-printed designs, as well as being suitable for post-manufacture printing, monogramming and/or applique. As previously mentioned, the wrap can also be manufactured with the adult portion and arm hole 40 on the opposite side of the child portion, so as to perhaps be more convenient for a left-handed adult user. While it is unlikely, it is further conceivable that the new wrap can be provided with more than one adult arm hole and other adjustments so as to be useful from more than one direction.

[0035] As various modifications could be made to the exemplary embodiments, as described above with reference to the corresponding illustrations, without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims appended hereto and equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A child transfer wrap comprising: a fabric body; a connector on the fabric body for removably connecting the child transfer wrap to an adult; the fabric body defining at least one opening for passage there through of an arm of the adult to such extent that the adult is able to reach through the opening with one arm and to pick up a child while the child transfer wrap is connected by the connector to the adult; the fabric body having dimensions sufficient to permit the adult to pass the wrap around the child and the adult's child-holding arm; and at least one attachment mechanism fixed to the wrap and positioned so that the adult can releasably secure the child transfer wrap to itself after picking up and wrapping the child; to thereby provide a wrap by which a child is protected from the elements for safe and comfortable transfer from a vehicle to a sheltering structure or from a sheltering structure to a vehicle while the child is being held by the adult and secured to the adult's body, as well as permitting the adult to have free usage of one arm.

2. The child transfer wrap of claim 1, wherein the child transfer wrap further comprises an attachment mechanism that permits selected portions of the body of the wrap to be selectively removably attached to other selected portions of the wrap.

3. The child transfer wrap of claim 2, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises corresponding segments of hook and loop fastener material fixed to preselected portions of the body of the child transfer wrap to thereby permit the adult to removably secure the child transfer wrap around the child.

4. The child transfer wrap of claim 3, and further comprising tabs of fabric material attached to each of the hook and loop fastener material to facilitate selective grasping and separating the corresponding segments of hook and loop fastener material in order unwrap the child.

5. The child transfer wrap of claim 1, wherein the fabric body of the wrap has an adult portion for being connected to the adult just before and during use of the wrap on a child, and a child portion for wrapping around the child and attaching to the connector during use of the wrap.

6. The child transfer wrap of claim 4, wherein the child portion includes a pair of child shoulder flaps extending from the child portion and being separated by a receiving area for the child's neck, wherein each of the flaps of the pair of shoulder flaps is provided with an attachment device to thereby attach each of the child shoulder flaps to the connector on the adult.

7. The child transfer wrap of claim 4, wherein the connector is a strap, the strap being connected at first and second ends thereof to the adult portion of the wrap, the strap being of sufficient length to easily fit over a head and neck of the adult, to thereby ensure retention of the child transfer wrap on the adult during transfer of a wrapped child.

8. The child transfer wrap of claim 5, wherein the attachment device on each of the shoulder flaps is a segment of hook and loop fastener material, and further wherein the connector is a strap, the strap being connected at first and second ends thereof to the adult portion of the wrap, at least a portion of the strap being provided with sections of hook and loop fastener material to correspond to and selectively releasably connect with the segments of hook and loop fastener material on the shoulder flaps.

9. The child transfer wrap of claim 7, and further comprising fabric tabs connected to each of the sections of hook and loop fastener material to facilitate grasping and unfastening of the connectors to unwrap the child.

10. The child transfer wrap of claim 5, wherein each of the shoulder flaps comprises a pocket for receiving a hand of the child in the child transfer wrap.

11. The child transfer wrap of claim 7, wherein the strap is formed, at least in part, of a thick stretchy material for comfort of the adult.

12. The child transfer wrap of claim 1, wherein the fabric body of the child transfer wrap is made of multiple layers of fabric which are quilted together.

13. The child transfer wrap of claim 1, wherein the fabric body of the child transfer wrap is made of fabric which is at least water-resistant on at least one side.

14. The child transfer wrap of claim 1, wherein the fabric body of the child transfer wrap is made on at least one side of a fleece material.

15. The child transfer wrap of claim 1, wherein the opening defined by the body of the child transfer wrap is in the form of a slit, so as to minimize passage of air through the opening during use of the wrap.

16. The child transfer wrap of claim 1, wherein the wrap has a fleece surface and a nylon surface on opposing sides of the fabric body of the wrap, the fleece surface for facing the child and the nylon surface for facing away from the child during use of the wrap.

17. A method of wrapping a small child for weather protective transfer of the child by an adult, the method comprising the steps of: a. providing a child transfer wrap having: a fabric body; a connector for removably connecting the child transfer wrap to an adult; the fabric body defining at least one opening for passage there through of an arm of the adult to such extent that the adult is able to reach through the opening and around a child, thereby permitting the adult to pick up the child while the child transfer wrap is connected by the connector to the adult; the fabric body having dimensions sufficient to permit the adult to pass the wrap around the child and the adult's child-holding arm; and at least one attachment mechanism fixed to the wrap and positioned so that the adult can releasably secure the child transfer wrap to itself after picking up and wrapping the child; b. the adult placing the connector over the adult's head; c. the adult inserting one of the adult's arms through one of the at least one openings defined by the body of the wrap; d. the adult grasping the child and supporting the child with the arm of step c); e. the adult using the adult's free arm and hand to reach around the back of the child and grasp an end of the child protective wrap that is nearest the child supporting arm of the adult and wrapping that end portion of the wrap around the adult's supporting arm and the back of the child, toward the direction of the adult's free arm; f. the adult again using the adult's free arm and hand to grasp an end of the wrap that is closest to the adult's free arm and passing that end of the wrap at least partly across the back of the child, so as to overlap the first wrapping end; and g. securing the second wrapping end of the wrap to the end portion of step e, to thereby completely bundle the child to the adult so that the child is protected from the elements for safe and comfortable transfer from a vehicle to a sheltering structure or from a sheltering structure to a vehicle while the child is being safely held by the adult and secured to the adult's body, while still permitting the adult to have free usage of one arm.