| Multi-use blanket with attached fastening device -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
  Multi-use blanket with attached fastening deviceUSPTO Application #: 20070050885Title: Multi-use blanket with attached fastening device Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a blanket that can be used as a nursing shield, as well as a baby blanket. In one embodiment of the present invention, two corners of the blanket contain reversible corner flaps with two sides: a covering side, and an attaching side with one or more attached clips. In a first position, the attachment sides of the corner flaps are exposed and the attached clips can be used to attach the blanket to a nursing woman's clothing to hold the blanket in place while the woman nurses a child. When the corner flaps are folded inside out to a second position, the attached clips become concealed between the corner flaps and the blanket. The clips are out of view and unobtrusive, thus allowing the blanket to be used as a baby blanket. (end of abstract) Agent: Olympic Patent Works Pllc - Seattle, WA, US Inventor: Amy Steinert USPTO Applicaton #: 20070050885 - Class: 002104000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Apparel, Body Garments, Vests, Nursing The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070050885. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to blankets for use by children, and, in particular, to a blanket that can be used as a nursing shield. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Packing for an excursion out of the house can be an ordeal for people with small children. Bags can easily become filled with toys and other child-care-related items, including diapers, sanitary wipes, clothing, powders, blankets, and pacifiers. Many people with nursing children find it especially inconvenient to take their children into a public setting for an extended period of time due to the additional problems attendant with nursing their children in public. Many mothers do not feel comfortable nursing their children in public, and many use some sort of shielding device, such as a nursing shield or a baby blanket, to cover their breasts while nursing. Currently available nursing shields are specialized items with unique shapes and intricate straps that have little use other than as a nursing shield. Since women with children of nursing age usually carry many child-care-related items when they leave their houses, each additional item, such as a nursing shield, can represent a significant additional burden. Although baby blankets can be useful for wrapping a child for warmth and comfort, baby blankets often are not effective nursing shields because baby blankets lack rigidity and are difficult to maintain in a shielding position during nursing. Baby blankets often fall out of place during the nursing process, exposing the nursing mother's breast. Nursing mothers have, therefore, recognized a need for easier-to-use, more convenient nursing shields. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0003] Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a blanket that can be used as a nursing shield, as well as a baby blanket. In one embodiment of the present invention, two corners of the blanket contain reversible corner flaps with two sides: a covering side, and an attaching side with one or more attached clips. In a first position, the attachment sides of the corner flaps are exposed and the attached clips can be used to attach the blanket to a nursing woman's clothing to hold the blanket in place while the woman nurses a child. When the corner flaps are folded inside out to a second position, the attached clips become concealed between the corner flaps and the blanket and are out of view and unobtrusive, thus allowing the blanket to be used as a baby blanket. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0004] FIG. 1A shows the front side of a nursing-blanket embodiment of the present invention with two corner flaps in an exposed position. [0005] FIG. 1B shows the back side of the nursing-blanket embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1A. [0006] FIG. 2A shows the front side of one nursing-blanket embodiment of the present invention with corner flaps in a concealed position. [0007] FIG. 2B shows the back side of the nursing-blanket embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 2A. [0008] FIG. 3 shows the front side of one nursing-blanket embodiment of the present invention transitioning from an exposed position to a concealed position. [0009] FIG. 4 shows one nursing-blanket embodiment of the present invention attached to a nursing mother's shirt and covering her nursing child. [0010] FIG. 5A shows a close-up of the back side of one nursing-blanket embodiment of the present invention with a corner flap in an exposed position. [0011] FIG. 5B shows a close-up of the back side of the nursing-blanket embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 5A with a corner flap in a concealed position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0012] Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a blanket that can be used as a baby blanket, as well as a nursing shield. In one embodiment of the present invention, two corners of the blanket contain reversible corner flaps with two sides: a covering side, and an attaching side with one or more attached clips. Corner flaps can be placed in several alternate positions to either expose or conceal the attached clip. In a first position, referred to as an "exposed position," the attaching side of a corner flap is exposed and the attached clip can be used to attach the blanket to the clothing of a nursing woman to keep the blanket in place as a nursing shield while the woman nurses a child. When corner flaps are turned inside out to a second position, referred to as a "concealed position," the covering side of corner flap is exposed and the attached clip is concealed between the corner flap and the blanket. [0013] FIG. 1A shows the front side of a nursing-blanket embodiment of the present invention with two corner flaps in an exposed position. Blanket 100 includes corner flaps 102 and 104. When blanket 100 is in exposed position 106, the attaching sides 107 of corner flaps 102 and 104 are on the front side 108 of blanket 100. Clips 110 and 112 are connected to the attaching sides 107 of corner flaps 102 and 104, respectively. [0014] In the current nursing-blanket embodiment of the present invention, the corner flaps are securely connected to the blanket along the perimeter edges of the blanket. For example, in FIG. 1A, corner flap 104 is securely connected to blanket 100 along edges 114 and 116 and is not connected to the front side 108 along edge 118. Edges 114 and 116 meet at corner 120. Clip 112 is attached to the attaching side 107 of corner flap 104 and can be used to removably attach blanket 100 to desired objects, such as the outer garment of a nursing woman. The front side 108 of blanket 100 is shown cross-hatched, in FIG. 1A, and in later figures, to distinguish the front side 108 of blanket 100 from the back side (not shown in FIG. 1A) of blanket 100 and corner flaps 102 and 104. The attaching sides 107 of corner flaps 102 and 104 are shown stippled, in FIG. 1A, and in later figures, to distinguish the attaching side 107 of corner flaps 102 and 104 from the covering side (not shown in FIG. 1A) of corner flaps 102 and 104, the front side 108 of blanket 100, and the back side (not shown in FIG. 1A) of blanket 100. FIG. 1B shows the back side of the nursing-blanket embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1A. In the current nursing-blanket embodiment of the present invention, when blanket 100 is in exposed position 106, the back side 122 of blanket 100 does not contain corner flaps 102 and 104. [0015] FIG. 2A shows the front side of one nursing-blanket embodiment of the present invention with corner flaps in a concealed position. Concealed position 202 can be obtained by turning corner flaps (102 and 104 in FIG. 1A) inside out. FIG. 2B shows the back side of the nursing-blanket embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 2A. Corner flaps 102 and 104 are located on the back side 122 of blanket 100 and the covering sides 204 of corner flaps 102 and 104 are exposed. The covering sides 202 of corner flaps 102 and 104 are shown with horizontal lines, in FIG. 2B, and in later figures, to distinguish the covering sides 204 of corner flaps 102 and 104 from the attaching sides (107 in FIG. 1A) of corner flaps 102 and 104, the front side (not shown in FIG. 1A) of blanket 100, and the back side 122 of blanket 100. Attached clips 110 and 112 are located inside of the fold between the back side 122 of blanket 100 and corner flaps 102 and 104. Consequently, clips 110 and 112 are covered, and, therefore, hidden from view when looking at blanket 100 either from the front side 108 or the back side 122. [0016] FIG. 3 shows the front side of one nursing-blanket embodiment of the present invention transitioning from an exposed position to a concealed position. In other words, the blanket is transitioning from the position shown in FIG. 1A, to the position shown in FIG. 2A. FIG. 3 shows blanket 100 transitioning from exposed position 106 to concealed position 202 in five steps 301-305. Step 1 301 shows the front side 108 of blanket 100 in exposed position 106. Arrow 306 indicates a direction of movement of corner 120 that can be used to transition blanket 100 from exposed position 106 to concealed position 202 (shown in Step 5). [0017] Step 2 302 shows corner flap 104 partially pulled inside out. Corner 120 is pulled toward the center of blanket 100, passing between the front side 108 of blanket 100 and corner flap 104. Arrow 308 indicates the direction of movement of corner 120. [0018] Step 3 303 shows corner flap 104 pulled closer to the center of blanket 100. The covering side 204 of corner flap 104 is visible as more of corner flap 104 is turned inside out. Clip 112 is flipped over and is now tucked between corner flap 104 and the front side 108 of blanket 100. [0019] Step 4 304 shows corner flap 104 pulled towards the center of blanket 100 until edge 118 is turned inside out. Arrow 310 indicates the direction of movement that can be used to transition blanket 100 to concealed position 202 (shown in Step 5). Continue reading... Full patent description for Multi-use blanket with attached fastening device Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Multi-use blanket with attached fastening device patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Multi-use blanket with attached fastening device or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Shoulder pads Next Patent Application: Protective garment for use under an exoskeletal pad system Industry Class: Apparel ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Multi-use blanket with attached fastening device patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 5.08428 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Accenture , Agouron Pharmaceuticals , Amgen , AT&T , Bausch & Lomb , Callaway Golf |
||
