US20040031099A1

US20040031099A1 - Weighted blanket

Info

Publication number: US20040031099A1
Application number: US10/403,578
Authority: US
Inventors: James Mastandrea
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-02-26
Filing date: 2003-03-31
Publication date: 2004-02-19
Also published as: WO2002067732A3; CA2437895A1; US20020116762A1; WO2002067732A2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a blanket or cover with a weighted perimeter or border for covering mammals or humans. The blankets or covers of variable thickness and/or weight and made of various known materials or fabrics having a weighted perimeter or border provide an “anchoring” ability to keep the blanket or cover in the position desired and chosen by the user.

Description

WEIGHTED BLANKET

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application No. 09/792,968 filed Feb. 26, 2001.[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a blanket or cover with a weighted perimeter or border useful for covering humans. This invention is an improvement over known blankets and covers because the weighted perimeter or border serves as a type of anchor, improving the physics of the blanket or cover, by allowing the blanket or cover to rest more firmly on the user, minimizing shifting. The present invention also relates to a “pellet” filled tube useful for adding weight to the perimeter of blankets, coverings and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Numerous materials have been used as blankets and covers for people engaging in sleep, rest, relaxation and the pursuit of warmth. Blankets and covers come in many different shapes, sizes and designs based on particular needs, tastes, preferences and materials available.

A primary problem with the typical blanket or cover and lighter weight blankets or covers is that when the user engaging in sleep, rest, relaxation or pursuit of warmth shifts the body either consciously or unconsciously, such shifts often tend to cause the blanket or cover in use to also shift thereby falling or moving out of the desired position chosen by the user. The user of the blanket or cover must then readjust the blanket or cover to replace it in its original desired or chosen position. Such shifting commonly occurs with thin blankets or covers which tend to shift often due to their light weight. Afghans, throws and other blankets and covers used for warmth while relaxing, resting sleeping or while engaging in leisure activities such as reading a book on a couch, watching television on a couch or chair etc., also have the tendency to shift, move or fall out of position when the user shifts his/her body.

Airplane blankets are small and thin and also shift position frequently when being used. It is difficult to keep such blankets or covers of this size and weight in place, especially when the user is trying to sleep in a somewhat upright position.

Prior to this invention blankets, covers, sheets, bedspreads, comforters, afghans, throws and other similar cloths used for covering humans have relied on bulk, thickness, shape and/or size to stay in the desired position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a blanket or cover with a weighted perimeter or border for covering mammals or humans. The blankets or covers of variable thickness and/or weight and made of various known materials or fabrics having a weighted perimeter or border which provides an “anchoring” ability to keep the blanket or cover in the position desired and/or chosen by the user.

In a specific embodiment the invention provides for light or medium thickness blankets or covers for use in covering mammals or humans which are weighted along the perimeter or border having the “anchoring” ability without the bulk of a thick blanket or cover.

In another embodiment the invention provides blankets or covers with a weighted perimeter or border that can be used as a layer of warmth for covering mammals or humans engaging in outdoor leisure activity such as camping, sporting event spectating, etc.

The invention alternatively provided for a “pellet” filled tube useful for providing weight to the perimeter, or portions of the perimeter, of blankets, coverings, cloths and the like. Such tubes are useful in that they allow for the blankets, coverings and cloths to be held more firmly in place.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings an embodiment of the invention. It is understood however that the invention is not limited to the specific elements and arrangement shown but encompasses various blankets and covers weighted at the perimeter or border for covering humans or mammals which variations would be obvious to one skilled in the art from a reading of the present specification. [0011]
FIG. 1 is a plan view of the blanket or cover with a weighted perimeter or border for covering humans or mammals. [0012]
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the blanket or cover showing with more specificity a particular embodiment of the weighted perimeter or border. [0013]
FIG. 3 shows an example of a pellet filled tube which can be used around the entire perimeter of a blanket. [0014]
FIG. 4 shows an example of how four pellet filled tubes can be used around portions of the perimeter of a blanket. [0015]
FIG. 5 shows a pellet filled tube sealed with a one-sided stitch. [0016]
FIG. 6 shows a pellet filled tube sealed with a two-sided stitch.[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows an elevated planar view of the blanket or cover A with the weighted perimeter or border B. The perimeter or border B contains a weighted material. The blanket or cover can be made of any suitable material for making blankets or covers known to those skilled in the art. The blanket or cover as shown is approximately in the shape of a square with, but not limited to, rounded edges. It is understood however that the blanket or cover may be of any shape suitable for covering a human or mammal, including but not limited to square, rectangular, circular, octagonal and the like. The preferred shape is square or rectangular. [0018]
FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the bottom side of the blanket or cover, wherein D is a flexible tube filled with beans, distributed throughout the tube. The tube D, in this particular embodiment, is secured within a folded over portion of the edge of the blanket or cover, thereby forming a retaining pocket around the perimeter or border of the blanket. In this specific embodiment, C represents a stitch securing the tube D, within the folded over portion of the edge of the blanket or cover. E represents particles used to create the weighted perimeter or border within the tube. In the present instance the weighted particles comprise beans, such as used in common bean bags. The weighted perimeter or border allows the human user to position the blanket in the desired position to hold the blanket or cover in place while resting, relaxing, sleeping and the like. [0019]
It is understood that the blanket, throw or cover can be made of any material known in the art suitable for a blanket or cover used for covering a human or mammal. As discussed above the blanket can be of any shape suitable for covering a human or mammal, which shapes include but are not limited to, square and rectangular. [0020]
As shown in the drawings the weighted perimeter or border comprises a cloth tube filled with beans sewn into a folded over portion of the edge of the blanket or cover. The tube can be comprised of any material or substance suitable for human use which is pliable or flexible, to allow for folding of the blanket or cover, yet is of sufficient strength to contain the weighting material. Such tube can be made of, but not limited to, cloth, rubber, plastic, cellophane and the like. The weighted material used to fill the tube can be any material suitable for providing sufficient weight to hold the blanket or cover in place on the human or mammalian user, but is capable of allowing folding of the blanket or cover for storage and is preferably, but not limited to, solid or semi-solid materials. Examples of such weighting material include but are not limited to, beans, rice, pellets, weighted particles, polypellets, weighted stuffing material, P.E. pellets, plastic particles, ppc pellets, plastic pellets and the like (collectively herein to be encompassed by the term “pellet”). [0021]
As shown in the drawings the tube is secured around the perimeter or border of the blanket or cover by stitching a folded over portion of the edge of the blanket around the tube. It is understood that such stitching can be achieved using any known material suitable for stitching on blankets or covers used by humans or mammals. Alternatively, the folded over portion of the edge of the blanket or cover can be secured with a zipper, buttons, snaps, Velcro, hooks and loops, tacking, fasteners or any other material known for securing such edge of material in place. Such alternative embodiments allow for easy access or removal of the weighted tube for repair of the tube or easy cleaning of the blanket or cover. [0022]
For illustration purposes a particular embodiment of the invention comprises a multipurpose domestic blanket or cover useful for covering humans or mammals with a weighted perimeter or border comprising a cloth tube filled with beans, pellets or plastic particles distributed throughout the tube, secured along the perimeter of the blanket or cover in a folded over portion of the edge of the blanket or cover, such edge being sewn closed or closeable with a zipper or other fastening means. [0023]
Alternatively, it is envisioned that the weighted perimeter or border may be a separate piece from the blanket or cover. Such separate piece would be made of a suitable material for attaching to the blanket or cover and would be tubular in nature. As used herein the term “tubular in nature” refers to any tube-like material of any shape or size capable of providing containment of a weighted material or substance yet being flexible enough for folding. Such separate tubular piece would then be attached to the perimeter or border of the blanket or cover by any securing or fastening means known to those skilled in the art for attaching two materials together. Such securing or fastening means include, but are not limited to, zippers, buttons, snaps, hooks, Velcro, tacking materials and the like [0024]
As used herein the term “perimeter” means the border, circumference or outer boundary of a blanket or cover material of any shape or size which terms can all be used interchangeably. Alternatively, the term “perimeter” can mean that the weighted material or substance is placed at a portion of the border or outer boundary, including, but not limited to, 1 side, 2 sides, 3 sides, a portion of any side, one or more corner portions and any combination thereof, or the like. [0025]
The pellet filled tubes of the present invention are made by stitching a flexible material such as cloth on one side or two sides such as to form a tube as depicted in FIG. 5 or FIG. 6. Such tubes are filled with pellets and can be used to form a weighted perimeter around a blanket, cover or cloth. Such weighted perimeter can be continuous as depicted in FIG. 3 or multiple tubes can be used around portions of the perimeter of a blanket, cloth or covering as depicted in FIG. 4. [0026]
Such pellet filled tubes are useful for adding weight to the entire perimeter or portion of the perimeter of blankets, cloths, coverings and the like. Such added weight allows for the blankets, cloths or coverings to be held more firmly in place. [0027]
Such tubes (made of cloth, nylon, poplin and the like) filled with pellets allows for weight to be added to the perimeter or a portion of a perimeter of a blanket, covering or cloth safely (e.g. non-toxic, nonflammable, etc), durably, and practically. The pellet filled tubing when used as a weighted perimeter on a blanket, covering or cloth is also washable, foldable for the convenience of transport or storage, and comfortable for use on a human or mammal. [0028]
The embodiments and illustrations of the invention herein are intended to be merely illustrative of the present invention, and not limiting thereof in either scope or spirit. Those with skill in the art will readily understand that known variations of shapes, sizes, materials and designs can be used to make the weighted blankets or covers of the present invention. [0029]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A blanket or cover with a weighted perimeter comprising a foldable tube filled with pellets for covering humans or mammals.

2. A blanket or cover according to claim 1 wherein the tubular means is a cloth tube.

3. A blanket or cover according to claim 1 wherein the tubular means is a rubber tube.

4. A blanket or cover according to claim 1 wherein the tubular means is a plastic tube.

5. A blanket or cover with a weighted perimeter comprising a tube filled with beans, pellets or plastic particles distributed throughout the tube, wherein the tube is secured to the perimeter of the blanket or cover.

6. A blanket or cover according to claim 5 wherein the tube is secured to the perimeter of the blanket within a folded over portion of the edge of the blanket or cover.

7. A blanket or cover according to claim 6 wherein the folded over edge of the perimeter of the blanket or cover is sewn or zipped closed to the blanket thereby forming a retaining pocket around the perimeter of the blanket or cover.

8. A weighted blanket or cover for covering a human mammal comprising:

(a) a blanket or cover;

(b) a foldable tube filled with a pellet material;

(c) the tube being attached continuously to the perimeter of the blanket or cover.

9. A blanket or cover according to claim 8 wherein the tube is a cloth or rubber tube.

10. A blanket or cover according to claim 9 wherein the tube is filled with beans or plastic particles or pellets to form a weighted perimeter.

11. A blanket or cover according to claim 10 wherein the tube is attached to the perimeter of the blanket or cover by forming a pocket at the edge of the blanket or cover by folding over the outer edge of the blanket and securing it to the blanket with a fastening means.

12. A blanket or cover according to claim 11 wherein the fastening means is selected from the group consisting of stitching, zipper, hooks, Velcro, snaps and buttons.

13. A tube for adding weight to the perimeter, or portion of the perimeter, of a blanket, cloth or cover such tube comprising a cloth stitched on one side or two sides to form a tube, wherein said tube is filled with a pellet material and stitched closed.