US20080028519A1

US20080028519A1 - Waterproof blanket

Info

Publication number: US20080028519A1
Application number: US11/488,551
Authority: US
Inventors: Catherine D. Traynor
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-07-18
Filing date: 2006-07-18
Publication date: 2008-02-07

Abstract

A blanket for a young child that conceals an “accident” that may occur during the night by preventing liquid from leaking through and provides a pouch for stowing the child's wet garment. The blanket having a first blanket portion with a pouch integrally carried on the inner surface of the first blanket portion. The pouch can be dimensioned to hold a child's garment and can be waterproof for stowing wet articles of clothing. The blanket can also include a second blanket portion assembled together with the first blanket portion in a sleeping bag configuration with the first portion overlaying the second. The second portion or bottom layer includes a layer of waterproof material interposed between at least two layers of fabric material.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The subject invention relates to a waterproof covers. More particularly, the invention relates to sleeping bags, more specifically to covers with integrated pockets.

BACKGROUND

Sleeping bags and other travel bedding are popular among young children and are commonly used by children for travel and for overnight visits with friends and family. Such sleeping bags and blankets are well-known in the art.
However, many young children suffer enuresis or bed-wetting during sleep. As a result, a child suffering from enuresis will lack the self confidence to stay overnight with friends or family. Conventional sleeping bags and travel bedding do not provide a protective barrier to prevent liquid from leaking through onto the floor or other surface under the blanket. It is an objective of the present invention to provide a waterproof blanket that conceals an “accident” by preventing liquid from leaking through and provides a pouch for stowing the child's wet garment. The bag also provides a solution to a child if he soils his garment and is embarrassed to get out of the bag to change his clothes by providing an integrated pocket for stowing the soiled garment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a waterproof cover. The waterproof cover includes a first blanket portion having an inner and outer surface. The first blanket portion includes at least one fabric layer and a pouch integrally carried on the inner surface. According to one aspect, the pouch integrally carried on the inner surface of the first blanket portion includes a waterproof material lining and a fabric outer layer. The opening of the pouch can include means for closing the pouch. The pouch can be dimensioned to hold a child's garment.
According to another aspect, the waterproof blanket is configured similar to a sleeping bag. The blanket includes a second blanket portion that is substantially the same size and dimension of the first blanket portion. Each blanket portion has an inner surface, an outer surface, two longitudinal peripheral edges, and two lateral peripheral edges. The second blanket portion includes a waterproof layer interposed between at least two layers of fabric. The inner surfaces of the first and second blanket portions overlay one another. The waterproof blanket can prevent fluids from penetrating through the second blanket portion.
Other applications of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art when the following description of the best mode contemplated for practicing the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The description herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an assembled blanket including a first blanket portion;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an assembled blanket including a first and second blanket portion;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an assembled blanket generally taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the assembled blanket shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a waterproof blanket 10. In one aspect, shown in FIG. 1, the blanket includes a first blanket portion 12 made of at least one fabric layer 14. The fabric implemented in the first blanket portion 12 can be a lightweight and non-flammable material. The lightweight material provides easy transport and handling of the blanket. The first blanket portion includes an inner surface 16. A pouch 18 is integrally carried on the inner surface 16 of the first blanket portion 12.
The pouch 18 is integrally formed in the inner surface 16 of the first blanket portion 12 and includes an opening that is easily accessible to the occupant of the blanket 10. The pouch 18 can be stitched or heat seamed to the inner surface 16 of first blanket portion 12 to permanently attach the pouch 18 to the first blanket portion 12. Alternatively, the pouch 18 can be removably integrated with the first blanket portion 12 by fasteners such as VELCRO™, snaps or buttons.
The pouch 18 is located substantially center of the first blanket portion 12 to provide easy access to place or retrieve items in the pouch 18 while occupying the blanket 10 and is dimensioned to hold a child's garment. A dry garment can be stored in the pouch 18 prior to occupying the blanket, providing the child with clean clothes to change into during the night when the child has an enuresis accident. He can remove the wet garment and conceal and stow the soiled garment in the pouch 18 for the remainder of the night without having to get out from under the blanket 10 to change his clothes. The interior of the pouch 18 has a waterproof lining 20 to prevent the wet garment from soaking through to the occupant. The waterproof material employed in the pouch 18 can be a plastic laminate, plastic-coated cotton, a nylon material, or other machine washable waterproof material. By providing a machine washable waterproof lining, the entire blanket 10 can be washed by conventional means. A fabric material layer 22 covers the outer surface of the pouch 18 exposed to the occupant under the blanket 10. The fabric cover 22 of the pouch 18 can be the same or a different material from the fabric material of the first blanket portion 12.
The pouch opening can include means for releasably closing the pouch 18. The closure means can be a zipper or a strip of VELCRO™ extending across the opening. Alternatively, the opening can have a button configuration or snap configuration.
As shown in FIGS. 2-4, in addition to the first blanket portion as described above, the waterproof blanket 10 can also include a second blanket portion 24. The first and second blanket portions 12, 24 may be substantially the same size and dimension. The first and second blanket portions 12, 24 each have a first and second longitudinal peripheral edge 26, 28, a first and second lateral peripheral edge 30, 32, an outer surface 34 and an inner surface 16.
The second blanket portion 24 includes a waterproof layer 36 interposed between at least two layers of fabric 38. The fabric layers of the first and second blanket portions 12, 24 can be the same or can be different materials. The waterproof material employed in the second blanket portion 24 can be plastic laminate, plastic-coated cotton, a nylon material, or other machine washable waterproof material, allowing the blanket to be machine washed.
As shown in FIGS. 2-4, the blanket 10 is, by example, constructed such that the inner surfaces 16 of the first and second blanket 12, 24 portions overlay one another in a sleeping bag configuration. An occupant is positioned between the two inner surfaces 16, lying on the waterproof second blanket portion 24. The two blanket portions 12, 24 can be fixedly joined together along some of the peripheral edges. In one aspect, a seam 40 fixedly adjoins the first blanket portion 12 to the second blanket portion 24 along one of the longitudinal edges 26 and an adjacent lateral edge 30. The second longitudinal edge 28 of the first and second blanket portions 12, 24 can also be fixedly adjoined together by a seam 40. One of the lateral edges 32 is left unadjoined, providing an opening 42 for an occupant to enter and exit the blanket 10. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 1, a seam 40 can fixedly adjoin a section of the second longitudinal edge 28 of the two blanket portions 12, 24. The remaining unadjoined section of the second longitudinal edge 28 can be releasably fastened together by a zipper 44 or other means, allowing for temporary enlargement of the opening 42 of the blanket 10. In yet another aspect, the second longitudinal edge 28 of the two blanket portions 12, 24 can be releasably fastened together along the entire length, providing for further enlargement of the opening 42 for access into the blanket 10. In this aspect, only one of the longitudinal edges 26 and a lateral edge 30 of the two blanket portions 12, 24 are fixedly attached.
While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under the law.

Claims

1. A blanket comprising:

a first blanket portion having at least one fabric layer; and

a pouch integrally carried on an inner surface of the first blanket portion, the pouch having an opening.

2. The blanket of claim 1 further comprising:

a second blanket portion, substantially the same size and dimension as the first blanket portion, each blanket portion having two longitudinal peripheral edges and two lateral peripheral edges and an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface of the first blanket portion overlaying the inner surface of the second blanket portion, the second blanket portion including a layer of waterproof material interposed between at least two fabric layers.

3. The blanket of claim 2 wherein the waterproof material is one of a plastic laminate, a plastic-coated cotton, and a nylon material.

4. The blanket of claim 2 further comprising:

means for fixedly adjoining the first blanket portion and second blanket portion along at least one of the longitudinal edges.

5. The blanket of claim 2 further comprising:

means for releasably fastening at least one unadjoined longitudinal edge of the first blanket portion to an unadjoined longitudinal edge of the second blanket portion and one of the lateral edges of the first blanket portion to a lateral edge of the second blanket portion.

6. The blanket of claim 2 further comprising:

means for fixedly adjoining one of the lateral edges of the first blanket portion to a lateral edge of the second portion; and

means for releasably fastening unadjoined longitudinal edges of the first blanket portion to unadjoined longitudinal edges of the second blanket portion.

7. The blanket of claim 4 wherein the means for fixedly adjoining the first and second blanket portions further comprises:

seams binding the adjoined edges of the first and second portions.

8. The blanket of claim 5 wherein the releasably fastening means further comprises a zipper.

9. The blanket of claim 4 wherein at least one lateral edge of the first and second blanket portions is unadjoined.

10. The blanket of claim 6 wherein the means for fixedly adjoining the first and second blanket portions further comprises:

seams binding the adjoined edges of the first and second portions.

11. The blanket of claim 6 wherein the releasably fastening means further comprises a zipper.

12. The blanket of claim 6 wherein at least one lateral edge of the first and second blanket portions is unadjoined.

13. The blanket of claim 1 wherein the pouch further comprises:

a waterproof material lining the interior of the pouch; and

a fabric outer layer.

14. The blanket of claim 1 wherein the pouch further comprises:

closure means for releasably closing the pouch opening.

15. The pouch of claim 14 wherein the closure means is one of a group consisting of a zipper, mating hook and loop fasteners, button configuration, and a snap configuration.

16. The blanket of claim 1 wherein the pouch is dimensioned to hold a child's garment.

17. The blanket of claim 1 wherein the pouch is positioned substantially center of the inner surface of the first blanket portion.

18. A blanket comprising:

a first blanket portion having first and second longitudinal peripheral edges and first and second lateral peripheral edges and an inner surface and an outer surface;

a second blanket portion of the substantially same size and dimension of the first blanket portion, the second blanket portion having first and second longitudinal peripheral edges and first and second lateral peripheral edges and an inner and outer surface, the inner surface of the first blanket portion overlaying the inner surface of the second blanket portion;

the first blanket portion including at least one fabric layer;

the second blanket portion including a layer of waterproof material interposed between at least two fabric layers;

a seam fixedly adjoining the first blanket portion to the second blanket portion along at least the first longitudinal edge and the first lateral edge, the seam section along the second longitudinal edge less than the length of the entire edge;

fastener means for releasably fastening an unseamed section of the second longitudinal edge of the first blanket portion to an unseamed portion of the second longitudinal edge of the second blanket portion; and

a pouch dimensioned to hold a garment integrally carried on the inner surface of the first blanket portion, the pouch having an interior waterproof material lining, an opening through the inner surface and closure means for releasably closing the pouch opening.

19. The blanket of claim 18 wherein the seam section along the second longitudinal edge is less than half of the length of the edge.