AIR FILTERING COVER ENGAGEABLE WITH INFANT CARRIER

Abstract

An air filtering cover is adapted to engage with an infant carrier to filter air communicated into an interior cavity thereof. A cover body having two sidewalls and a filter element form a flowpath for air communicating through the body and filter to remove dirt, dust, and pathogens from air reaching the occupant of the interior cavity. The filter may be replaceable within a pocket formed in the cover body. A gauge strip may be positioned on the filter which changes in appearance when the filter needs replacement.

Claims

1. An air filtering cover for an infant carrier, comprising: a cover body, said cover body having a shape defined by a perimeter edge thereof; said cover body configured to form an engagement around an exterior surface of a carrier sidewall of an infant carrier, to an engaged position therewith; said cover body having a first sidewall formed of fabric having first openings communicating therethrough; said cover body having a second sidewall having second openings communicating therethrough; a pocket positioned in-between said first sidewall and said second sidewall; a filter element positioned in said pocket, said filter element having air passages communicating therethrough; and a flowpath for air communicated to an interior cavity of said infant carrier with said cover body in said engaged position; and said flowpath communicating through said first openings, to and through said air passages and then to and through said second openings, whereby said air following said flowpath is filtered by said air passages.

2. The air filtering cover for an infant carrier of claim 1, additionally comprising: elastic engaged to said cover body along or adjacent said perimeter edge; and said cover body with said elastic so engaged forming a biased engagement of said cover body against an exterior surface of said carrier sidewall.

3. The air filtering cover for an infant carrier of claim 1, additionally comprising: connectors engaged to said cover body, said connectors configured to form a removable engagement with a handle of said infant carrier positioned over said interior cavity.

4. The air filtering cover for an infant carrier of claim 2, additionally comprising: connectors engaged to said cover body, said connectors configured to form a removable engagement with a handle of said infant carrier positioned over said interior cavity.

5. The air filtering cover for an infant carrier of claim 1, additionally comprising: an opening formed in said first sidewall, said opening communicating with said pocket; and said filter being removably positionable within said pocket whereby it can be replaced.

6. The air filtering cover for an infant carrier of claim 2, additionally comprising: an opening formed in said first sidewall, said opening communicating with said pocket; and said filter being removably positionable within said pocket whereby it can be replaced.

7. The air filtering cover for an infant carrier of claim 3, additionally comprising: an opening formed in said first sidewall, said opening communicating with said pocket; and said filter being removably positionable within said pocket whereby it can be replaced.

8. The air filtering cover for an infant carrier of claim 4, additionally comprising: an opening formed in said first sidewall, said opening communicating with said pocket; and said filter being removably positionable within said pocket whereby it can be replaced.

9. The air filtering cover for an infant carrier of claim 5, additionally comprising: said air passages communicating through said filter element have a diameter substantially between 1.5 to 0.4 microns.

10. The air filtering cover for an infant carrier of claim 6, additionally comprising: said air passages communicating through said filter element have a diameter substantially between 1.5 to 0.4 microns.

11. The air filtering cover for an infant carrier of claim 7, additionally comprising: said air passages communicating through said filter element have a diameter substantially between 1.5 to 0.4 microns.

12. The air filtering cover for an infant carrier of claim 8, additionally comprising: said air passages communicating through said filter element have a diameter substantially between 1.5 to 0.4 microns.

13. The air filtering cover for an infant carrier of claim 9, additionally comprising: a gauge strip engaged to said filter element; said gauge strip impregnated with reagents which change in appearance upon contact of said gauge strip with the atmosphere over a determined duration, and/or upon contact of said gauge strip with pathogens actuating a said reagent; and whereby said change in appearance defines a visual signal to change said filter element.

14. The air filtering cover for an infant carrier of claim 10, additionally comprising: a gauge strip engaged to said filter element; said gauge strip impregnated with reagents which change in appearance upon contact of said gauge strip with the atmosphere over a determined duration, and/or upon contact of said gauge strip with pathogens actuating a said reagent; and whereby said change in appearance defines a visual signal to change said filter element.

15. The air filtering cover for an infant carrier of claim 11, additionally comprising: a gauge strip engaged to said filter element; said gauge strip impregnated with reagents which change in appearance upon contact of said gauge strip with the atmosphere over a determined duration, and/or upon contact of said gauge strip with pathogens actuating a said reagent; and whereby said change in appearance defines a visual signal to change said filter element.

16. The air filtering cover for an infant carrier of claim 12, additionally comprising: a gauge strip engaged to said filter element; said gauge strip impregnated with reagents which change in appearance upon contact of said gauge strip with the atmosphere over a determined duration, and/or upon contact of said gauge strip with pathogens actuating a said reagent; and whereby said change in appearance defines a visual signal to change said filter element.

17. The air filtering cover for an infant carrier of claim 2, additionally comprising: said biased engagement of said cover body with said exterior surface forming a seal of said cover body against said exterior surface of sidewall, said seal running substantially along a contact line running along said exterior surface of said infant carrier.

18. The air filtering cover for an infant carrier of claim 4, additionally comprising: said biased engagement of said cover body with said exterior surface forming a seal of said cover body against said exterior surface of sidewall, said seal running substantially along a contact line running along said exterior surface of said infant carrier.

19. The air filtering cover for an infant carrier of claim 8, additionally comprising: said biased engagement of said cover body with said exterior surface forming a seal of said cover body against said exterior surface of sidewall, said seal running substantially along a contact line running along said exterior surface of said infant carrier.

20. The air filtering cover for an infant carrier of claim 16, additionally comprising: said biased engagement of said cover body with said exterior surface forming a seal of said cover body against said exterior surface of sidewall, said seal running substantially along a contact line running along said exterior surface of said infant carrier.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES

[0018] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate some, but not the only or exclusive examples of embodiments and/or features of the infant carrier engageable air filtration device herein. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative of the invention herein, rather than limiting in any fashion.

[0019] In the drawings:

[0020] FIG. 1 is a depiction of the filtering cover device herein removably engaged over a conventional infant carrier.

[0021] FIG. 2 a side view of the device engaged over the infant carrier as shown in FIG. 1 showing the wrap around engagement extending to a perimeter edge and a contact line where the cover first contacts the exterior of the carrier.

[0022] FIG. 3 shows the device of FIG. 1-2 removed from the infant carrier and depicting the air filter component being removably engaged within a pocket formed in the body of the cover which has elastic at the perimeter edge.

[0023] FIG. 4 shows the cover device as in FIGS. 1-3 in an exploded view showing the filter element removed from engagement within a pocket in the body of the defining the cover device and showing a viewing aperture for the filter gauge when inserted.

[0024] FIG. 5 shows a sectional view across lines 5-5 of FIG. 4 showing the air filter positioned within the pocket formed between a first sidewall and second sidewall forming the body of the cover device and showing elastic engaged on the perimeter.

[0025] FIG. 6 is a view of the removably engageable filter showing an optional view opening which will align with sidewall openings for viewing, and showing a gauge which changes appearance to indicate a time to replace the filter.

[0026] FIG. 7 depicts the device herein engaged on a carrier as in FIG. 1-2 having an optional view opening communicating through sidewall openings positioned under a raisable cover flap.

[0027] FIG. 8 shows the device as in FIG. 7 showing an optional handle opening formed into the body of the cover device and filter providing an opening to grasp.

[0028] FIG. 9 depicts a particularly preferred mode of the device herein which includes at least one removably engageable connecting straps to connect the body to the handle of the carrier and support it above the occupant within the carrier.

[0029] FIG. 10 shows a side sectional view of the body of the device herein configured as in all modes with opposing sidewalls and a filter element within pocket, and showing the connecting straps, such as in FIG. 9, maintaining the body elevated above the occupant while still exposing the handle for use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] In this description, the directional prepositions of up, upwardly, down, downwardly, front, back, top, upper, bottom, lower, left, right and other such terms of direction or position, refer to the device as it is oriented and appears in the drawings and are used for convenience only, and such are not intended to be limiting or to imply that the device has to be used or positioned in any particular orientation.

[0031] Now referring to drawings in FIGS. 1-10, wherein similar components are identified by like reference numerals, there can be seen in FIGS. 1-2 the cover device 10, which is adapted to engage with an infant carrier 12, in an engaged position upon such a conventional infant carrier 12. In the depicted engaged position of the cover device 10 with a conventional carrier 12 shown in FIGS. 1-2 and 7-10, elastic 14 engaged at or adjacent to the perimeter edge 25 of the body 16 of the device 10, provides a biased engagement of a portion of the body 16 of the cover device 10, against exterior surfaces of a carrier sidewall 17, of such a conventional infant carrier 12. Such is what is meant herein by adapted to engage an infant carrier 12. Additionally, by adjacent to the perimeter edge 25 is meant upon the body 16 at or within six inches of the perimeter edge 25 which defines the shape of the body 16.

[0032] This biased engagement of the elastic 14 also serves to form a sealing point or line around the body 16 of the cover device 10 against the carrier sidewall 17 of the carrier 12. It thus serves to insure air communicated into the interior cavity 18 follows a flow path to prevent unfiltered air from being communicated the interior cavity 18 of the carrier 12 where an infant or small child would sit or lay. In most instances where the filter device 10 is so engaged with a carrier 12 as it is adapted to do so, the body 16 of the cover device 10 will contact against the carrier sidewall 17 substantially along a contact line 13 and against the exterior surface of the carrier 12, and this contact forms a seal along the contact line 13 of the body 16 against the sidewall 17, which is maintained by the biased engagement of the body 16 of the carrier enabled by the elastic 14.

[0033] Generally this contact line 13 will be at or adjacent an upper edge of the carrier sidewall 17 on the exterior side of the carrier 12, where the carrier sidewall 17 surrounds and defines the interior cavity 18 of the carrier 12. However, this may vary depending on the shape of the carrier 12. With the elastic 14 at or adjacent the perimeter edge of the body 16, and contracting to bias the body 16 against the exterior surface of the carrier sidewall 17, a seal is also formed along this contact line 13 around the carrier sidewall 17.

[0034] In FIG. 3, FIG. 3 shows the cover device 10 of FIG. 1-2 removed from the infant carrier 12. As shown the cover device 10 is formed of body 16 having a first sidewall 22 opposite a second sidewall 24 which has a pocket 26 (FIG. 5) formed therebetween. The pocket 26 is sized for insertion of a removably engageable filter element 20 of substantially the same size therein, through a pocket opening 28 providing access to the pocket 26.

[0035] Elastic 14 is preferably engaged to the perimeter edge of the body 16 of the cover device 10. The elastic 14 may be sewn or glued or otherwise attached to the perimeter edge and in a default state, contracts to form a compressive engagement of the perimeter edge of the body 16, around and against the exterior surface of the sidewall 17 of the infant carrier 12 such as in FIGS. 1-2 and 6-7.

[0036] The first sidewall 22 and opposing second sidewall 24 on the opposite side of the formed pocket 26, are preferably formed of woven or non woven material having openings between the yarn or fibers forming the material. Shown herein is one preferred mesh material having openings 30 therein which is porous and easily passes air therethrough. However, the material forming one or both of the first sidewall 22 and second sidewall 24 may be woven fabric having openings 30 between the yarn or threads in the weave or knit, with decorative patterns thereon and opaque in that it would block the view into and out of the interior cavity 18 of the carrier 12 and provide shade.

[0037] The filter element 20 when inserted into the pocket 26, filters the air. Thus, with the body 16 of the device 10 in an engaged position upon the carrier 12, air follows a flow path for which communicates through the openings 30 in the first sidewall 22, then through said air passages in said filter element 20, and finally through the openings in the fabric forming the second sidewall 24, before that airflow reaches the interior cavity 18 carrier 12, and any occupant therein. The air following this defined flowpath is thus filtered by both the openings 30 and especially by the air passages 32 of the filter element 20, before reaching the occupant in the interior cavity 18.

[0038] The mesh fabric forming the first sidewall 22 and second sidewall 24 preferably is knitted or woven or non woven fabric formed in a manner to maintain the spacing and size of the openings 30 to maximize airflow therethrough. One preferred fabric with these characteristics is a polymeric coated mesh such as that sold by Phifer Incorporated which is formed of vinyl coated fiberglass or polyester in an 1814 or 1816 weave. Such material being vinyl coated has been found to fix the size of the openings between threads which maintains the openings 30 in their maximum size no matter the position or bend or fold of the material. This insures a maximum airflow through the openings 30 in the first sidewall 22 through the filter element 20 and then through the openings 30 in the second sidewall 24 to the occupant of the interior cavity of the carrier 12.

[0039] However as noted, in many cases it is more desirable to employ a woven or non woven plain, or decorative print fabric with openings 30 between yarns. Such will provide shade and a blocked view into and out of the carrier 12. This configuration aids in shading the occupant and provides a calm space for napping. Such will work well as long as the openings between yarns or threads forming the woven or knitted fabric, will allow air passage therethrough.

[0040] Shown in FIG. 4 is the cover device 10 as in FIGS. 1-3 in an exploded view. As depicted the filter element 20 is removed from engagement within a pocket 26 in the body 16 of the defining the cover device 10. Also shown are the filter gauge strip 42 which is positioned to align with the pocket aperture 43 in the cover device 10 if employed. This pocket aperture 43 is positioned to register with and align with the filter gauge strip 42 and thereby allows the user to easily ascertain the current state of the filter element 20 while it is engaged within the pocket 26 without having to remove it to do so. The width and length of the planar filter element 20 are sized substantially equal to that of the pocket 26 so as to allow for a snug planar fit of the filter element 20 within the confines and perimeter defining the pocket 26.

[0041] While the pocket 26 is shown in FIG. 4 to cover substantially the entire area of the body 16 of the device 10, it may be formed smaller with a matching filter element 20. For example the pocket 26 and engaged filter element 20, may be sized smaller than the body 16 within an area surrounded by the contact line 13 of the body 16 which contacts against the exterior of the carrier 12. This would be appropriate where the body 16 extends around the outside surface of the carrier sidewall 17 to the elastic 14, but first makes contact at a contact line 13 miming around the exterior surface of the carrier sidewall 17. Since the seal formed at the contact line 13 is closer to the interior cavity 18 occupied by an infant or child, a smaller pocket 26 with size engaged with a substantially equal sized filter element 20 may be employed which may reduce cost.

[0042] Further, it is anticipated that different fabric may be employed about a perimeter area of the body 16 which may prevent air passage therethrough, such as vinyl or sealed rip-stop material. This sealed fabric would surround mesh or woven fabric which does pass air. In this mode, the pocket 26 and filter element 20 can be formed in a smaller area formed of the woven or mesh fabric, such as or example within the contact line 13. The area of the body 16 outside the exemplar contact line 13, can be formed of material which will prevent air passage. This mode will also allow for a smaller pocket 26 and substantially equal sized filter element 20.

[0043] In a current preferred mode of the device 10, the filter element 20 is formed of woven or non woven polymeric material such as polymeric expanded foam, or elongated polymeric filter fibers placed in fixed engagements to each other in a manner to maintain an opening size of air passages 32 communicating through the filter element 20. Currently a preferred air passage 32 diameter of passages communicating through the filter element 20, is substantially 1.5 to 0.4 microns. This size range is preferred in order to capture or render harmless, the maximum amount of bugs, pollen, particulate, and pathogens in the air. Such is available in both expanded polymeric foam material filters and non woven polymeric fiber material filters and the like.

[0044] Additionally preferred, is the employing filter material forming the expanded foam or fibers defining the filter element 20, which is impregnated or include one or a combination of anti-pathogenic materials, from a group of anti-pathogenic materials including silver ions, nickel ions, and activated carbon. Such can be added to the polymeric mix of material employed for forming either a foam filter or a fiber material filter during manufacture. These anti-pathogenic materials act to kill germs and viruses and other pathogens which may be in the air which communicate through the passages 32 of the filter element 20, when the filter is operatively engaged within the pocket 26.

[0045] FIG. 5 shows a sectional view across lines 5-5 of FIG. 4 showing the body 16 of the cover device 10 having the filter element 20 removably positioned within the pocket 26 formed between a first sidewall 22 and second sidewall 24 forming the body 16 of the cover device 10. Also depicted is the elastic 14 which as noted is preferably positioned around a perimeter of the body 16 to provide the biased engagement around the surface of a carrier 12.

[0046] Depicted in FIG. 6 is another view of a removably engageable filter element 20. In this view is also shown an optional aperture 34. One or more apertures 34 may be formed to align with a viewing opening 36 (FIG. 6) formed in the sidewalls of the body 16 and/or a handle opening 38 communicating through the body 16 which allows the grasping of the handle 40 of the carrier 12 during transport. Thus, one or more apertures 34 can be positioned in the filter element 20 which align with viewing openings 36 in both sidewalls of the body 16, and/or handle openings 38 communicating through both sidewalls 22 and 24 of the body 16.

[0047] Additionally shown in FIG. 6 is the visually discernable filter gauge strip 42 which reacts with the atmosphere over a calculated time period, and/or with pathogens, and changes color or appearance to signal that the filter element 20 should be replaced. The gauge strip 42 can for instance be impregnated with reagents which change appearance upon contact with the atmosphere over a determined duration, and/or, upon contact with the reagents with chosen pathogens determined particularly important.

[0048] Depicted in FIG. 7 is the device 10 herein engaged on a carrier 12 as in FIG. 1-2. In this mode of the device 10 a view opening 36 is provided which communicates through both sidewalls of the body 16 and an aligned aperture 34 in the filter element 20. The view opening 36 allows a user to look at the occupant of the carrier 12 as needed. Preferably a cover flap 37 is positioned to cover the view opening 36 when not in use to prevent air passage therethrough. The cover flap 37 may be a solid material so as to prevent air passage therethrough since the filter element 20 will not be present in the view opening 37.

[0049] FIG. 8, shows a mode of the device 10 as in FIG. 7 showing an optional handle opening 38, communicating through the sidewalls 22 and 24 of the body 16. In this mode an aperture 34 would also be formed into the filter element 20 which would align with the handle opening 38 once the filter element 20 is engaged in the pocket 26. A cover flap 37 (FIG. 7) is preferably positioned to cover this handle opening 38 when not in use. Of course differing modes of the cover device 10 can have one or both of the viewing opening 36 and the handle opening 38, and the filter element 20 will be configured with one or more apertures 34 registered in positions to properly align with such.

[0050] A particularly preferred mode of the cover device 10 herein is shown in FIG. 9. In this mode of the device 10, at least one handle connector 44 such as the depicted straps 46 are included. The connectors 44 are removably engageable to the handle 40 of the infant carrier 12 to provide support to the body 16 of the cover device 10 to hold it underneath the lower surface of the handle 40, while still maintaining it elevated above the interior cavity 18 and occupant. This mode is especially preferred in that it allows easy access and grasping of the handle for transport of the carrier 12, but maintains the body 16 of the cover device 10 operatively engaged to shade or provide an opaque or blocked view which is helpful if the infant is napping.

[0051] Currently the connector 44 is formed by straps 46 which are engaged to the body 16 and have cooperative fasteners thereon such as hook and loop fabric 48 or snaps or buttons. However other removably engageable connectors which will temporarily engage with the handle 40, and support the middle area of the body 16 between the side edges elevated above the interior cavity and occupant may be employed. This also maintains the aperture 34 shown with a transparent flexible window 35 which allows viewing of the occupant when the fabric forming the body 16 is decorative or opaque. Other connectors 44 such as C-clips, magnets, releasable adhesive, or such connectors 44 as would occur to those skilled in the art are anticipated within the scope of this patent.

[0052] In FIG. 10 is shown a side sectional view of the body 16 of the carrier device 10 herein, configured as in all modes noted above. As shown, the body 16 has a first sidewall 22 opposite a second sidewall 24 and a pocket 26 formed therebetween where a filter element 20 is located. This filter element 20 may be permanently located in the pocket 26, however as noted above, it is preferable if the filter element 20 is removable and replaceable with other filter elements 20 sized for positioning within the pocket 26 in-between the porous sidewalls 22 and 24.

[0053] It should be noted than any of the different depicted and described configurations and components of the infant carrier engageable filter device herein can be employed with any other configuration or component shown and described as part of the device herein. Additionally, while the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular embodiments thereof and steps in the method of production, a latitude of modifications, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosures, it will be appreciated that in some instance some features, or configurations, of the invention could be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. All such changes, alternations and modifications as would occur to those skilled in the art are considered to be within the scope of this invention as broadly defined in the appended claims.

[0054] Further, the purpose of any abstract of this specification is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers, and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. Any such abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting, as to the scope of the invention in any way.