Abstract
A multipurpose cover, and method of use thereof, for shielding infants or young children from environmental elements, includes a wholly resilient fabric defining a cavity therein, the body having an exterior layer, extending from a lower end to an upper end, the exterior layers having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the upper and lower ends defining upper and lower openings into the cavity respectively, the resilient body having a releasable fastener adapted to releasable close a third, vertically extending opening into the exterior layer into the cavity, wherein the body tapers so as to narrow in width from the lower end to the upper end, and wherein the cover is adapted to be releasably mounted around and over a circumference of a container or the like so as to at least partially cover an upper opening into the container defined by the circumference.
Claims
1. A multipurpose cover for shielding infants or young children from environmental elements, the cover comprising: a wholly resilient fabric body defining a cavity therein, the body having an exterior layer, extending from a lower end to an upper end; the exterior layer having an interior surface and an exterior surface; the upper and lower ends defining upper and lower openings into the cavity respectively; the resilient body having a releasable fastener adapted to releasably close a third, vertically extending opening into the exterior layer into the cavity; wherein the body tapers so as to narrow in width from the lower end to the upper end; and wherein the cover is adapted to be releasably mounted around and over a circumference of a container so as to at least partially cover an upper opening into the container defined by the circumference.
2. The cover of claim 1 wherein the interior surface comprises a first half and a second half.
3. The cover of claim 1 wherein the interior surface includes a wholly resilient insulating layer.
4. The cover of claim 2 wherein the insulating layer covers the interior surface partially.
5. The cover of claim 2 wherein the insulating layer covers the interior surface wholly.
6. The cover of claim 2 wherein the insulating layer is manufactured from resilient fleece fabric, comprising polyester and Spandex?.
7. The cover of claim 1 wherein the exterior layer is manufactured from breathable mesh fabric.
8. The cover of claim 1 wherein the cavity of the body includes a resilient mesh layer attached to a first side edge and shoulder and a second side edge and shoulder of either the first half or second half of the interior surface.
9. The cover of claim 7 wherein the resilient mesh layer is not attached to the upper end or lower end.
10. The cover of claim 1 wherein the releasable fastener is a two-way zipper.
11. The cover of claim 1 wherein the exterior layer includes at least one pocket.
12. The cover of claim 10 wherein the pocket having a bottom, 1.sup.st side and 2.sup.nd side, and a pocket opening, is mounted so that the bottom is proximate the lower end of the body and the pocket opening is oriented towards the upper end.
13. The cover of claim 10 wherein the pocket includes a cavity accessed through the pocket opening, wherein the pocket cavity is adapted to store objects.
14. The cover of claim 10 wherein the pocket cavity is adapted to store the body of the cover.
15. The cover of claim 1 wherein the cover is adapted to be used as a breastfeeding cover, wherein the cover is mounted over the shoulders and torso of a breastfeeding caregiver to shield the caregiver's breast and baby from public view.
16. A method of using the multipurpose cover of claim 1 for shielding infants or young children from environmental elements, the method comprising: providing a wholly resilient fabric body defining a cavity therein, the body having an exterior layer, extending from a lower end to an upper end, wherein: the exterior layer has an interior surface and an exterior surface; the upper and lower ends define upper and lower openings into the cavity respectively; the resilient body has a releasable fastener adapted to releasably close a third, vertically extending opening into the exterior layer into the cavity; wherein the body tapers so as to narrow in width from the lower end to the upper end; and wherein the cover is adapted to be releasably mounted around and over a circumference of a container so as to at least partially cover an upper opening into the container defined by the circumference; placing a child into the container having an opening so that the child is facing out through the opening; pulling the lower end of the cover over and completely around the perimeter of the opening so that the upper end of the cover extends upwardly over the opening and child; and adjusting the fastener on the cover between its fully open and full closed positions to allow ventilation for the child and covering for the child adjusted for the environmental conditions.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of an infant carrier seat to which a cover may be mounted.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of an umbrella stroller to which a cover may be mounted.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of an embodiment of the cover in accordance with the present disclosure mounted to the infant carrier seat illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0018] FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of the embodiment of the cover illustrated in FIG. 3.
[0019] FIG. 5 is a laid flat view of an embodiment of the cover in accordance with the present disclosure.
[0020] FIG. 6 is a laid flat view of an embodiment of the cover in which the cover has been opened along the seams to expose the interior surface of the cover, in accordance with the present disclosure.
[0021] FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, taken along line 6A-6A.
[0022] FIG. 7 is a laid flat view of an embodiment of the cover in which the cover has been opened along the seams to expose the interior surface of the cover, in accordance with the present disclosure.
[0023] FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, taken along line 7A-7A.
[0024] FIG. 8 is a laid flat view of an embodiment of the cover in which the cover has been opened along the seams to expose the interior surface of the cover, in accordance with the present disclosure.
[0025] FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8, taken along line 8A-8A.
[0026] FIG. 9 is a laid flat view of an embodiment of the cover in which the cover has been opened along the seams to expose the interior surface of the cover, in accordance with the present disclosure.
[0027] FIG. 9A is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9, taken along line 9A-9A.
[0028] FIG. 10 is a side perspective view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, wherein the cover is mounted to a seating structure having a frame.
[0029] FIG. 11 is a front view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, wherein the cover is worn by a breastfeeding mother.
[0030] FIG. 12 is a front view of an embodiment of the cover in accordance with the present disclosure, in which the cover is stowed into the inverted pocket.
[0031] FIG. 13A is a front elevation view of an embodiment of the cover in accordance with the present disclosure, in which the cover includes a two way zipper, fully closed.
[0032] FIG. 13B is a front elevation view of an embodiment of the cover in accordance with the present disclosure, in which the cover includes a two way zipper, partially opened.
[0033] FIG. 13C is a front elevation view of an embodiment of the cover in accordance with the present disclosure, in which the cover includes a two way zipper, partially opened.
[0034] FIG. 14 is a laid flat view of the embodiment of the cover illustrated in FIGS. 13A, 13B, and 13C, in which the cover has been opened along the seams to expose the interior surface of the cover, in accordance with the present disclosure.
[0035] FIG. 15A is a rear view of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 13A, 13B, and 13C wherein the cover is worn by to a breastfeeding mother, the zipper closed.
[0036] FIG. 15B is a rear view of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 13A, 13B, and 13C wherein the cover is worn by to a breastfeeding mother, the zipper fully opened.
[0037] FIG. 16 is a front elevation view of an embodiment of the cover in accordance with the present disclosure mounted to the infant carrier seat illustrated in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0038] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, examples of the environment in which the multipurpose cover 10 disclosed herein may be used are provided so as to better illustrate some examples of the various uses for the multipurpose cover 10. FIG. 1 illustrates the infant carrier 1, also commonly referred to as a child seat or a car seat, which is designed for carrying a child to and from a motorized vehicle and also for securing the child in the motorized vehicle during travel. As defined above, the infant carrier is intended to fall within the definition of container as used herein. The infant carrier 1 typically includes a bucket seat shell 2 supported on a base 3, the bucket seat shell 2 defining a seat cavity 4 into which the child may be placed. Carrier 1 also includes a handle 5 pivotally attached to the bucket seat shell 2 at either end 5a of the handle 5 such that the handle 5 arches over the main opening 6 of the carrier 1.
[0039] FIG. 2 illustrates a typical umbrella stroller 8 commonly known in the art. A typical umbrella stroller 8 includes a foldable frame 13 supporting a seat 11 having a seat edge 11a, the seat 11 suitable for supporting a child in the stroller 8. Strollers 8 also have legs 15 connecting the frame 11 to wheels 17, and handles 19 for the caregiver to hold onto when pushing the stroller 8. Some umbrella strollers 8 may also include a canopy 9 providing shade from the sun over the head of the child when the child is seated in the stroller 8 by partially blocking rays of light from the sun directed towards the stroller 8. Carrier 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 and stroller 8 illustrated in FIG. 2 are merely examples of the type of containers on which the multipurpose cover 10 described herein may be releasably mounted, to shield a child seated in the container from environmental elements. Other examples may include: baby swings (on the playground), rocking baby swing devices (typically used for soothing young babies when indoors), infant seat baskets on shopping carts typically found in grocery and other retail stores, baby carriers, high chairs, bassinets, and other containers or structures that have a cavity into which a child may be placed and an opening through which environmental elements may pass through to make contact with or otherwise impact the child, and or surfaces that may have dirt and germs that the child or baby may come into contact with (again, collectively herein containers).
[0040] Now referring to FIGS. 3 through 16, the applicant will describe embodiments of the multipurpose cover 10 in accordance with the present disclosure. FIG. 3 Illustrates an embodiment of a multipurpose cover 10 mounted over a carrier 1, such as the infant carrier illustrated in FIG. 1. As may be viewed for example in FIGS. 4 and 5, a multipurpose cover 10 is approximately tubular, although preferably slightly conical or frusto-conical in shape, and includes an upper end 11 and upper opening 12, a lower end 13 and lower opening 14. A plan view of one half of the exterior side panel or surface 20 of the cover 10 includes two side edges 16, 18 (seen in FIG. 5). The oppositely disposed side edges 16, 18 may each include corresponding shoulders 16a, 18a. IN the preferred embodiment, the body of cover 10 gradually narrows from the shoulders 16a, 18a upwardly towards the upper end 11.
[0041] Furthermore, the width A of the lower opening 14 may be preferably greater than the width B of the upper opening 12 so as to provide a preferred shape of the cover when in use for example as a breast-feeding cover, such that the mother's shoulders are positioned inside the cover 10 approximately adjacent to the shoulders 16a, 18a of the cover 10 when the mother is inside the cavity of the cover 10. A further advantage of the width A of lower opening 14 being greater than the width B of upper opening 12 is that when the cover 10 is mounted on a container, such as an infant carrier 1 or stroller 8, the cover 10 provides a better resilient fit over the container opening, such as the main opening 6 of carrier 1, when mounted therearound, and the taper towards the smaller upper opening 12 fits over the back supporting structure and closes effectively over the container opening. This also provides for tensioning of the fabric across the container opening, inhibiting inwardly hanging fabric that might interfere with the child, and allowing the convenient use of a releasable fastener on the cover 10 along the length of the container opening. One example of such a releasable fastener is a zipper. As the zipper is undone the tension in the resilient cover parts the releasable fastener, allowing ventilation, for example through the mesh layer 25. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4, such a configuration of the cover 10 allows for only a portion of handle 5 and a small portion of main opening 6 of the carrier 1 to be exposed through upper opening 12 when the cover 10 is mounted to carrier 1, conveniently providing access to handle 5 for transporting the carrier 1 while leaving most of the main opening 6 covered by the cover 10.
[0042] The body of the cover 10 comprises an exterior layer 23 having an exterior surface 20 and interior surface 22a, 22b. The exterior layer 23 may be comprised of a flexible cloth, fabric or similar material that is elastic, i.e. resilient in at least one direction (for example, laterally), so as to permit multiple uses of the cover 10. Preferably, the exterior layer 23 is manufactured of a fabric or other material that feels soft against the skin, is lightweight and drapes in an attractive manner when worn as an accessory (for example, as an infinity scarf), is simple to care for in that it is machine washable and is durable. For example, without intending to be limiting, the applicant utilizes a fabric comprising 75% polyester, 20% rayon and 5% Spandex? to manufacture the exterior layer 23 of the cover 10, which exterior layer 23 possesses the above properties preferred for an exterior layer 23. As used herein, Spandex? (otherwise also known as Lycra? or elastane) is intended to refer to synthetic fibres having a minimum of 85% polyurethane polymer content or functional equivalent thereof.
[0043] As shown in FIGS. 6, 6A, 7 and 7A, either one or both of the portions or halves of the interior surface 22a, 22b may include a second, insulating layer 24 of fabric, cloth, or other material that is flexible, breathable, and elastic. The elasticity of the insulating layer 24, for example stretchy fleece, maintains the multipurpose function of the cover 10. The insulating layer 24 provides insulation against the cold weather, and may also assist with reducing or preventing wind or precipitation from passing through the body of the cover 10, for example when the cover is being used outdoors during transportation. For example, without intending to be limiting, the applicant utilizes a fabric, commonly referred to as a minky type of fleece fabric, comprising 95% polyester and 5% Spandex? to manufacture the insulating layer 24 of cover 10, which fabric possesses the above properties preferred for an insulating layer 24.
[0044] The second insulating layer 24 may be included on both halves or panels of the interior surface 22a, 22b of the cover 10, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 6A, which is particularly helpful in colder climates or for winter weather. Herein, the applicant may refer to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 6A as a winter cover, as having the second insulating layer 24 on both halves or panels 22a, 22b of the interior surface of cover 10 may be particularly useful in cold winter weather. However, the term winter cover is not intended to be limiting and could also be referred to as a cold weather cover. It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the winter cover embodiment may be used in cold weather, regardless of the season.
[0045] In an alternative embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the first half 22a of the interior surface may include only the exterior layer 23, while the second half of the interior surface 22b may include the insulating layer 24. Advantageously, the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7 may be used for varying weather conditions, including both cold and warm weather conditions, and may be referred to generally herein as an all season embodiment of the cover 10, whereby the cover 10 is reversible and may be selectively oriented on an infant carrier 1 or other container depending on the weather conditions. For example, the cover 10 may be oriented on an infant carrier 1 such that the interior surface 22b including the second insulating layer 24 as well as a portion of the exterior layer 23 corresponding to the portion 20b of exterior surface 20 may cover the main opening 6 of the carrier 1, thereby covering main opening 6 of carrier 1 with two layers of cloth including both the insulating layer 24 and exterior layer 23, thereby providing additional warmth and shielding from environmental elements. In such an orientation, the interior surface 22a of the cover 10, comprising only a single layer of fabric or cloth namely exterior layer 23, may be oriented so as to cover the canopy opening 7 of the carrier 1, which is less exposed to the weather elements during transport of the carrier 1. In warmer weather conditions, where the cover 10 is used primarily to provide privacy for the child and/or to block the sun, the reverse orientation whereby the interior surface 22a including only the exterior layer 23 extends over the main opening 6 of carrier 1, and the interior surface 22b including the insulating second layer 24 extends over the canopy opening 7 of the carrier 1, such that more air is allowed to pass through the first half 22a of the cover 10 through the greater main opening 6 of the carrier 1 thereby keeping the child more cool in warmer weather. By reverse orientation the applicant means that the cover may be reversed end-for-end for example.
[0046] Similarly, the reversible orientations of the all season embodiment of cover 10, illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 7A, may be utilized when mounting the cover 10 to other containers, such as baby strollers, whereby the handles 19 and frame 13 of the stroller 8 are inserted through the bottom opening 14 and upper opening 12 of the cover 10 and oriented such that the first half 22a, comprising only the exterior layer 23, may be positioned over the rear 21 of stroller 8 and the second half 22b, comprising the insulating layer 22b, may be positioned over the gap G between the stroller canopy 9 and the edge of the stroller seat 11a. The applicant further notes that either the winter cover embodiment or all season embodiment of cover 10, illustrated respectively in FIGS. 6, 6A, 7 and 7A, may, in addition to being useful for covering an infant carrier 1 or similar container in cold weather, be particularly useful as a breastfeeding cover for situations where a mother is breastfeeding an infant outdoors in cold weather. Another use for either the winter or all season embodiments of cover 10 is as an extra layer of warmth that may be worn over both the torso T of the mother and an infant carried on the mother's chest in an infant carrier device, for example when the mother wishes to take the infant for a walk in an infant carrier worn by the mother (or caretaker) in cold weather. In such situations, as most cold weather coats for adults are not typically sized so as to fit over both the caretaker and the infant in an infant carrier worn by the caretaker, the cover 10 would usefully provide an additional layer of warmth without interfering with the caretaker's ability to also wear a cold weather coat.
[0047] The cover 10 includes a releasable fastener, such as a hook, button, Velcro? strip, hook and lop fastener, or zipper, installed to the exterior layer 23. The fastener would typically releasably close a gap in the cover which runs from the lower opening 14 to the upper opening 12. Opening the releasable fastener provides quick and easy access to a child I in a container or the like, in addition to increased air flow and ventilation for the child I in the carrier. For example, and without intending to be limiting, the cover 10 may include a two-way zipper 28, as shown in FIGS. 13A, 13B, and 13C. As seen in FIGS. 13A, 13B, and 13C, the two-way zipper 28 may be released partially or fully in either direction A or direction B. The zipper 28 allows a caregiver to expose more of the main opening 6 of the carrier 1 if the infant requires more air flow.
[0048] As discussed above, the use of winter jackets and and/or snowsuits while an infant or child is seated in a carrier 1 and being transported in a vehicle is no longer recommended. Applicant believes that bulky, for example padded, fabric between a child and the infant carrier straps can allow the straps to come loose during an accident, putting the child at risk of injuries and/or ejection from the carrier 1. The winter cover is an alternative option for keeping the child warm and firmly strapped in while being transported in a vehicle. As illustrated in FIG. 16, the cover 10 may be mounted to the carrier 1 without impacting use of or access to the carrier straps, and the releasable fastener 28 may be opened so as to expose the child's face, while still protecting the child from the cold.
[0049] It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the various embodiments of the cover 10 disclosed herein are manufactured with a combination of exterior layer 23 and insulating layer 24 each made of fabrics that are elastic and thereby capable of stretching so as to fit the perimeter or circumference of the lower opening 14 of the cover 10 over or around various differently sized and shaped objects, such as containers defined herein, people or surfaces, such as around the perimeter of the bucket seat shell 3 of an infant carrier 1, or over a mother's torso T and breast and the body of a breastfeeding infant (as illustrated for example in FIG. 12), or over the frame 13 and handles 19 of an umbrella stroller 8, and also resiliently returning to the original, un-stretched shape and width A of lower opening 14 when the cover 10 is not in use, or when being used for example as an infinity scarf or similar fashion accessory. In particular, to promote the multiple uses of the cover 10, including for example as a scarf or fashion accessory to be worn around the neck, the cover 10 advantageously does not feature any attachment members or clasps, ties, fasteners or the like for attaching the cover 10 to a container, such as strollers 8, carriers 1 or shopping cart infant seats, as the inclusion of any such attachment members or clasps, ties, fasteners or the like may cause the cover 10 to become bulky and to not drape as well or be as aesthetically pleasing when worn as a scarf.
[0050] In other embodiments of the present disclosure, such as those illustrated for example in FIGS. 8, 8A, 9 and 9A, either one or both of the halves or portions of the interior surface 22a, 22b may comprise of a mesh layer 25, mesh layer 25 being manufactured of a cloth, fabric or similarly flexible material that is elastic and loosely woven so as to provide a mesh or screen-like fabric or cloth, which is capable of allowing increased amounts of air to pass through the fabric (as compared to the fabrics used for the exterior layer 23 of any of the embodiments described herein or the insulating layer 24 of the winter or all season embodiments described herein) and which is also capable of partially or fully blocking light and/or insects. For example in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 8A, both halves or portions 22a, 22b of the interior surface comprise the mesh layer 25, and the corresponding exterior surface portion 20a comprises a second, exterior layer 23, while the exterior surface portion 20b only comprises the same mesh layer 25. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 9A, the interior surface portion 22b is comprised of a mesh layer 25 and the corresponding exterior surface portion 20b is also only comprised of the same mesh layer 25, while the interior surface portion 22a is comprised of the exterior layer 23 and the corresponding exterior surface 20a is also only comprised of the same exterior layer 23. The embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 8, 8A, 9 and 9A each utilize a fabric, cloth or similar material for exterior layer 23 that is, as described above with reference to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, elastic and breathable, but in which the threads or fibers of the fabric are more tightly woven so as to not create a mesh.
[0051] The embodiments shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 may be particularly useful for warmer weather conditions where it is desired to shield a child or infant from insects while allowing the infant to see through the cover 10, and the same cover 10 may be optionally utilized so as to block sunlight or provide privacy to the child by orienting the reversible cover 10 in another direction. For example, the portion of the cover comprising interior surface 22a and corresponding exterior surface 20a, in both of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, include an exterior layer 23 which as described above is a more tightly woven fabric that is not a mesh and which is more effective at blocking light and providing privacy, while the portion of the cover comprising interior surface 22b and corresponding exterior surface 20b, in both of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, are each comprised of a single layer of mesh fabric 25 which is a loosely woven fabric allowing greater passage of light, and which may be seen through more easily. Where it is desired to use the cover 10 as a partial shield against light and/or insects while allowing the child to see through the cover 10, the section of the cover 10 corresponding to the single mesh layer 25 for exterior and interior surface portions 20b, 22b may be oriented so as to cover the main opening 6 of a baby carrier 1 or the gap G of a stroller 8, for example. And on the other hand, where greater shielding from light and/or insects is desired and/or where privacy for the child is desired, the cover 10 may be selectively oriented so as to cause the section of the cover corresponding to the double layer including a mesh layer 25 and an exterior layer 23 for interior and exterior surface portions 22a, 20a (in the FIG. 8 embodiment) or comprising a single exterior layer 23 for interior and exterior surface portions 22b, 20b (in the FIG. 9 embodiment) to cover the main opening 6 of an infant carrier 1 or a gap G of a stroller 8.
[0052] With reference in particular to FIGS. 13A, 13B, and 13C, an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure is disclosed, which herein the applicant may refer to as a summer cover. The summer cover may be useful for warmer weather conditions, and for shielding a child from insects and ultraviolet radiation. The term summer cover is not intended to be limiting and it will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the summer cover embodiment may be used in any warm weather, regardless of the season. The summer cover includes a mesh layer 25 attached along edges 16 and 18, and shoulders 16a and 18a, as illustrated in FIG. 14. The mesh layer 25 may be attached to either interior surface 22a or 22b. The exterior layer 23 of the cover is manufactured of a fabric that is lightweight, breathable, and elastic. For example, without intending to be limiting, the applicant utilizes a bamboo rayon, cotton blend with Spandex?. The exterior layer 23 and mesh layer 25 provide protection from ultraviolet radiation, which is especially important for young infants, as sunscreen is not recommended in children less than 6 months of age. The cover 10 includes a releasable fastener to close a third vertical opening in the cover 10, such as those described above. The cover 10, as illustrated in 13A, 13B, and 13C, which includes a two-way zipper 28, may be mounted to an infant carrier 1, the mesh layer 25 oriented so as to cover the opening 6 of the carrier 1. The zipper 28, when in a closed position, conceals the mesh layer 25 within the cavity of the cover 10 and shields a child or infant from the sun, insects, and public view, as shown in FIG. 13A. Alternatively, the zipper 28 may be partially or fully open, exposing portions of the mesh layer 25 and allowing greater airflow and light to pass through the cover 10. The mesh layer 25, when exposed, is capable of partially or fully blocking sunlight and/or insects. When the mesh layer 25 is not required, the cover 10 may be selectively oriented so as to cause the mesh layer 25 to be positioned at the rear of the bucket seat shell 2, so that only the exterior layer 23 and zipper 28 cover the opening 6 of the carrier 1. As described above, because the cover is resilient, and fits snugly over the sides of and around the opening of various containers in which a child is carried or seated, the cover is in tension over the opening which then spreads open the mesh panel 25 as the zipper 28 is undone.
[0053] The summer cover may be used as a breastfeeding cover in warm weather so as to shield a mother's breast and a breastfeeding baby from public view, wherein the cover is mounted over the shoulders and torso of a breastfeeding mother and the head and body of a breastfeeding child by sliding the mother's head and torso and the body of the child through the lower opening of the cover and the mother's head through the upper opening of the cover. With reference to 15B, the zipper 28 may be partially or fully open, the mesh layer 25 selectively oriented so as to cover the mother's back, while the exterior layer 23 shields the breastfeeding baby and the mother's breast. This orientation allows greater air flow for the mother and child while breastfeeding in warmer climates.
[0054] With reference in particular to FIGS. 3, 10 and 12, in some embodiments of the present disclosure the cover 10 may include a pocket 26 secured to the exterior surface 20 of the cover 10. Preferably, the pocket 26 may be positioned on the exterior surface 20 so as to be positioned across a junction or seam 28 between the halves or portions 20a, 20b, of the exterior surface 20, and proximate to the lower opening 14 of the cover 10. The pocket 26 may comprise side edges 26a, 26a and a bottom edge 26b, wherein each of the edges 26a, 26a and 26b are secured so as to span across seam 28. Means for securing the pocket 26 to exterior surface 20 may include for example, without intending to be limiting: stitching, gluing, heat fusion, or any other means known to a person skilled in the art. Preferably, the edges 26a, 26a, 26b of the pocket 26 may be secured to the exterior surface 20a, 20b, of the cover 10 in such a manner so as to not produce any visible seams when viewing the pocket 26 from the outside or from the inside of the pocket 26 for reasons that will be further explained below. Additionally, the pocket 26 may be made of a double layer of the same material utilized for the exterior layer 23 of cover 10, such as by forming the pocket 26 from a folded piece of cloth or fabric or forming the pocket 26 from two pieces of the material that are sewn such that the patterned side of the cloth or fabric is exposed on both the exterior surface 26d as well as the interior surface 26e of pocket 26, again for reasons that will be further explained below. However it will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the pocket 26 may be secured to the exterior surface 20a, 20b, with visible seams or visible stitches or other visible attachment means, and may be formed of a single layer of the same material utilized to form the exterior layer 23 of cover 10, and that such embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure.
[0055] The pocket 26 further has a free edge 26c that is not secured to the exterior surface 20a, 20b, and thereby forms pocket opening 27. Conveniently, when mounted to an infant carrier 1, the pocket 26 is oriented in such a way that the pocket opening 27 is oriented vertically in direction Z towards the handle 5 of the infant carrier 1, thereby providing easily accessible pocket cavity into which various articles may be stored when the cover 10 is in use, such as accessories for baby care including soothers wipes and similar accessories, in addition to keys, cell phones or other items that the baby's caregiver may wish to have handy and accessible during travel.
[0056] Advantageously, positioning the pocket 26 on the exterior surface 20 of cover 10 so as to be proximate to the bottom opening 14 ensures that the pocket 26 is located conveniently at the side of the carrier 1 when used to cover the carrier 1, where the pocket 26 is easily accessible for storing items without weighing down the cover 10 so as to cause the cover 10 to cave in through the main opening 6 (for example). Additionally, this provides for an ideal positioning of pocket 26 when the cover 10 is put to other uses. As illustrated in FIG. 10, cover 10 is mounted to a container-like vessel C, as an illustration of how the cover 10 may mount to various types of container-like vessel seats, typical examples of which include, without intending to be limiting: the infant seat basket of a shopping cart, a high chair or a baby swing at a playground, wherein such container-like vessel seats C may have an upper edge E over which the cover 10 is mounted by pulling the lower opening 14 over the upper edge E of seat C and pulled downwardly in direction Y until opening 14 is proximate the lower end X of container-like vessel seat C. Seat C further includes a front F and sides S, as shown in FIG. 10. In such circumstances, the caregiver may wish to protect the infant or child seated within the container-like vessel seat C to be protected from dirt, germs, liquids, food and other environmental elements that may be on the surfaces of such container-like vessel seats accessible to the infant or child.
[0057] When any of the embodiments of the cover 10 which include at least one double layer of material, such as the embodiments illustrated for example in FIGS. 6A, 7A and 8A, is used to cover the infant-accessible surfaces of a container-like vessel seat C, such as those described above, advantageously the portion of the cover 10 having two layers of fabric, cloth or material may provide an additional barrier between the child or infant and the dirt, germs, liquids, food or other environmental elements that may be on the surfaces of the container-like vessel seat C when those double-layer portions of cover 10 are partially or fully covering those surfaces.
[0058] As shown in FIG. 10, when the cover 10 is mounted to seat C, such as a playground baby swing, high chair, infant seat basket of a shopping cart, or the like, pocket 26 may be conveniently located at the side S of the container, with the opening 27 of pocket 26 readily accessible for depositing items such as utensils or face cloths (for example when used on a high chair), or soothers, small toys, wipes or other baby accessories, or keys, cell phones or other accessories of the caretaker (for example when used on a baby swing or infant seat basket of a shopping cart). The remainder of the cover 10 is draped within the cavity of the container, and the child's legs and waist may optionally be inserted through the upper opening 12 (not shown) of cover 10 when sitting in the container C. While this may be a preferred positioning of pocket 26 on the exterior surface 20 of cover 10, it will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the pocket 26 may be positioned elsewhere on the cover 10 and such embodiments are intended to be within the scope of the present disclosure.
[0059] When it comes time to store the cover 10, the body of the cover 10 may be conveniently folded or stuffed into the pocket 26 by inverting the pocket 26 or in other words, turning the pocket inside out and stuffing the entire cover 10 into the inverted pocket 26. Advantageously, for embodiments in which pocket 26 is attached to the exterior surface 20 by means that are not visible, the pocket 26, when inverted for storing the cover 10, the seams or other attachment means for attaching the pocket 26 to exterior surface 20 of cover 10 will not be visible and will thus be more aesthetically pleasing as compared to a pocket 26 having visible seams between the pocket 26 and exterior surface 20, as shown for example in FIG. 12. Furthermore, for embodiments in which a double layer of material is used to form the body of pocket 26, both the exterior surface 26d and the interior surface 26e of pocket 26 will display the patterned side of the material, regardless of whether the pocket is in its regular orientation (as when the cover 10 is mounted to an object or device and exterior surface 26d of pocket 26 is visible, as shown for example in FIGS. 3 and 10) and when pocket 26 is inverted for storing cover 10, exposing interior surface 26e (as shown for example in FIG. 12). Although such a feature of not having any visible seams or other attachment means for securing the pocket 26 to the cover 10 is an aesthetically pleasing feature, it will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that other embodiments including visible means for attaching the pocket to the exterior surface of the cover 10 are intended to be included within the present disclosure.
[0060] Although various embodiments of the cover disclosed herein are illustrated and described as having an exterior surface comprising two portions 20a, 20b and an interior surface comprising two portions 22a, 22b, which are attached together along edges 16, 18 and shoulders 16a, 18a, forming a seam 28 so as to form a tube-like structure, it will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the interior and exterior surfaces do not necessarily need to be formed of two portions, and may for example be formed of a single, continuous piece of fabric. Thus, the embodiments described above as including two separate portions for each of the exterior and interior surfaces 20, 22 are not intended to be limiting and it will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that exterior and interior surfaces formed, for example, from a single piece of fabric or from more than two portions of fabric, are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure.
