US20080030056A1

US20080030056A1 - Kart kozy

Info

Publication number: US20080030056A1
Application number: US11/498,499
Authority: US
Inventors: Randall Bentley; Melinda Bentley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-08-02
Filing date: 2006-08-02
Publication date: 2008-02-07

Abstract

An apparatus for providing a safe and comfortable place for an infant or small child to lie down in a shopping cart includes a cushioned mat and one or more of an optional integrated blanket, an optional integrated pillow, and an optional integrated strap adapted to secure the apparatus once it has been rolled up. The strap may double as a handle and may allow a user to insert their hand and part of their arm through the strap, thus freeing the user's hands for other items. The cushioned mat may be oversized so that when placed in the bottom of the interior of a major compartment of a shopping cart, a portion of the cushioned mat may fold in a manner so as to form bumpers along the sides of the interior of the major compartment of the shopping cart.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is related in general to the field of baby and infant comfort and protection devices. In particular, this invention is a comfortable cushion adapted to be placed in a shopping cart to facilitate the placement of an infant or small child.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Parents and other persons responsible for the care of infants or small children often take their children to grocery stores and other shopping centers. Because small children, including infants, are easily injured, these parents and caregivers are reluctant to place their children in a metal wire-frame shopping cart as the sides and bottoms of the cart would be uncomfortable or potentially harmful to the child. Accordingly, most parents that shop with a small child simply hold the child in their arms while they shop, which is very uncomfortable and tiring, or leave the child in a portable carrier placed into the shopping cart. One problem with leaving the child in a portable carrier is that the child is usually positioned in a sitting position rather than a more comfortable lying-down position.
One approach to solving the parent's dilemma is to use one of many different types of cushions adapted for the seat of a shopping cart. However, these solutions still suffer from an inability of the infant or child to lie down. Additionally, unless the seat cushion includes significant support, an infant will most likely fall over if placed in a sitting position in a shopping cart seat cushion.
Accordingly, it is desirable to have an apparatus that allows a user to place an infant or small child into a shopping cart in a manner that is safe and comfortable. Additionally, it is desirable that the apparatus allow the infant or small child to lie down. Another desirable feature is the inclusion of an integrated blanket to provide warmth and a feeling of security to the infant or small child. Yet another desirable feature would be the inclusion of a pillow for the infant or small child to rest his head on. And still another desirable feature would be a means for folding or rolling the apparatus up and securing it in a manner that makes it convenient to carry and store.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention disclosed herein utilizes a cushioned mat adapted to approximate the size and shape of the bottom of the primary compartment of a shopping cart. The cushioned mat may be slightly oversized so as to form cushioned bumpers along the sides of the inside of the shopping cart.
In another embodiment of the invention, the cushioned mat may include an integrated pillow adapted to provide cushioning for a small child or infant. By attaching the pillow to an end of the cushioned mat, thereby integrating the pillow to the cushioned mat, the pillow is more likely to be available whenever the cushioned mat is utilized.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, the cushioned mat may include an integrated blanket adapted to provide warmth or security to the small child or infant.
And in yet another embodiment of the invention, a strap is attached to the cushioned mat, thereby become integrated with the cushioned mat, whereby the strap both secures the cushioned mat when it is rolled up but also provides a convenient handle through whish a parent or caregiver may insert their arm, thus allowing them to hold or carry the cushioned mat while leaving their hands free to carry other items.
Various other purposes and advantages of the invention will become clear from its description in the specification that follows and from the novel features particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Therefore, to the accomplishment of the objectives described above, this invention comprises the features hereinafter illustrated in the drawings, fully described in the detailed description of the preferred embodiments, and particularly pointed out in the claims. However, such drawings and description disclose just a few of the various ways in which the invention may be practiced and are not limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a child protection device according to the invention including a cushioned mat, an optional pillow, an optional blanket, and an optional strap.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of the child protective device of FIG. 1 which has been rolled up and secured by the optional strap.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

This invention is based on the idea of using a cushioned mat to provide a secure and comfortable place for a small child or infant to lie down and rest. Referring to figures, wherein like parts are designated with the same reference numerals and symbols, FIG. 1 is an illustration of a child protective device 10 including a cushioned mat 12. As previously indicated, the cushioned mat 12 is adapted so that its size and shape approximate that of the bottom of the primary compartment of a shopping cart (not shown). Alternatively, the cushioned mat 12 may be oversize so that the excess material of the cushioned mat lies along the sides of the primary compartment of the shopping cart, thus forming bumpers. While the primary surface of the cushioned mat is effective in separating the small child or infant from the surface of the shopping cart, thus providing a clean and secure environment for the child, the bumpers prevent the child from striking its head or other body parts against the side material of the primary compartment of the shopping cart.
An optional element of the child protective device 10 is a blanket 14 attached to one end of the cushioned mat 12. This allows the blanket 14 to be readily available to be placed either under or over the indicated small child or infant. When placed over the infant, the blanket provides warmth and sense of security. When placed under the infant, the blanket may provide additional cushioning for the child.
Another optional element of the child protective device 10 is a pillow attached to, and thereby integrated with, the cushioned mat. The function of the pillow is provide additional cushion for the indicated child's head or to elevate the child's head in a more comfortable position. Furthermore, the optional blanket 14 and the optional pillow may be used in conjunction with each other and the cushioned mat to provide a fully featured sleeping area for the indicated child.
Yet another optional element of the child protective device 10 is a strap 18 adapted to secure the cushioned mat 10 when it has been rolled up, as illustrated in FIG. 2. Not only may the optional strap be used to secure the child protective device 10, it may also be used as a handle to assist the parent or caregiver in carrying the child protective device. Additionally, the optional strap 18 may be appropriately sized so as to provide sufficient space for a parent or caregiver to insert their hand and a significant portion of their arm into. This would allow the parent or caregiver to carry the child protective device 10 while leaving their hands free to carry other items. It should be noted that the optional strap 18 may be used solely with the cushioned mat 12, or with the cushioned mat with either or both of the optional blanket 14 and optional pillow 16.
Those skilled in the art of making child protection devices may develop other embodiments of the present invention. However, the terms and expressions which have been employed in the foregoing specification are used therein as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, it being recognized that the scope of the invention is defined and limited only by the claims which follow.

Claims

1. A child protection device, comprising:

a cushioned mat adapted to approximate the size and shape of a bottom of a primary compartment of a shopping cart; and

an integrated pillow.

2. The child protection device of claim 1, further comprising an integrated blanket.

3. The child protection device of claim 1, further comprising an integrated strap adapted to contain the child protection device in a rolled-up manner.

4. The child protection device of claim 2, further comprising an integrated strap adapted to contain the child protection device in a rolled-up manner.

5. A child protection device, comprising:

an integrated blanket.

6. The child protection device of claim 5, further comprising an integrated strap adapted to contain the child protection device in a rolled-up manner.

7. A child protection device, comprising:

an integrated strap adapted to contain the child protection device in a rolled-up manner.