Child-safe fastening device

• US 7,356,889 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2005
• Issued: 04/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adrienne Alitowski
• Original Assignee: Adrienne Alitowski
• Inventors: Alitowski, Adrienne
• Primary Examiner(s): Sandy; Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rodriguez; Ruth C
• Application Number:
  US11/145,098
• Publication Number:
  US 20060272135A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• Field of Search: 244/89, 245/13, 24499-511, 24517-521, 269/6, 446/330, 446/376, 446/378, 446/379
• US Class Current: 24/521
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44017 with specific mounting means for attaching to rigid or semirigid supporting structure or structure-to-be-secured
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44376 Spring or resiliently biased about pivot
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44444 having specific surface material or irregularity on or along engaging face
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44564 having specific surface material or irregularity on or along engaging face
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44932 having specific surface material or irregularity on or along engaging face

Abstract

A child-safe fastening device comprises a clip, one or more than one padded layer covering one or more surfaces of the clip, and one or more than one cover layer secured to the padded layer. The clip, the padded layer, and the cover layer form a plush device.

Claims

1. A child-safe fastening device for securing an article onto a child-supporting device, comprising:

a clip comprising;

a first member including a first gripping region and a first handle region;

a second member including a second gripping region and a second handle region; and

a biasing element to bias the first gripping region of the first member against the second gripping region of the second member with a low tension so as to prevent injury to a child;

one or more padded layer covering the clip to provide cushioning so as to further prevent injury to the child, wherein the one or more padded layer is adhesively attached to the clip; and

a cover layer completely covering the one or more padded layer.

2. The child-safe fastening device of claim 1, wherein the one or more padded layer comprises foam, high-density foam, or cotton padding.

3. The child-safe fastening device of claim 1, wherein a thickness of the one or more padded layer is about one-half of an inch.

4. The child-safe fastening device of claim 1, wherein a thickness of the one or more padded layer is configured to form a plush feel when touched.

5. The child-safe fastening device of claim 1, wherein the cover layer comprises a water-resistant material, stain-resistant material, cotton, cotton blends, nylon, rayon, silk, spandex, or combination thereof.

6. The child-safe fastening device of claim 1, wherein the child-supporting device comprises a stroller, crib, chair, or swing.

7. The child-safe fastening device of claim 1, wherein the article comprises a blanket, a bib, a baby cloth, a bag, a shopping list, or a paper.

8. The child-safe fastening device of claim 1, wherein the first and second gripping regions are configured to define an opening configured to grasp or fit around an object.

9. The child-safe fastening device of claim 8, wherein the object comprises a tubular part of a stroller, a surface of a chair, a surface of a swing, or a surface of a crib.

10. The child-safe fastening device of claim 8, wherein only one of the first or second member includes a recess to define the opening.

11. The child-safe fastening device of claim 1, wherein the first and second members are each generally S-shaped.

12. A child-safe fastening device for securing an article onto a child-supporting device, comprising:

a clip comprising;

a first member including a first gripping region and a first handle region;

a second member including a second gripping region and a second handle region, wherein the first and second members are pivotally coupled together at a region between the respective first and second gripping regions and the respective first and second handle regions; and

a biasing element to bias the first gripping region of the first member against the second gripping region of the second member with a low tension so as to prevent injury to a child in a case the child'"'"'s finger or hand becomes situated between the first and second members of the clip;

one or more padded layer covering the clip to provide cushioning so as to further prevent injury to the child, wherein the one or more padded layer is friction-fitted to the clip; and

a cover layer completely covering the one or more padded layer.

13. The child-safe fastening device of claim 12, wherein the first and second members respectively include first and second concave recesses, and wherein the first and second concave recesses define a cavity when the first and second members are biased in a closed position.

14. The child-safe fastening device of claim 12, wherein the cover layer is reversibly fitted over the one or more padded layer.

15. The child-safe fastening device of claim 12, wherein at least one of the first and second members has a concave recess.

16. The child-safe fastening device of claim 15, wherein the concave recess is in the shape of a semi-circle, rectangle, diamond, or triangle.

17. A child-safe fastening device for securing an article onto a child-supporting device, comprising:

a clip comprising;

a first member including a first gripping region and a first handle region;

a second member including a second gripping region and a second handle region, wherein the first and second members are pivotally coupled together at a region between the respective first and second gripping regions and the respective first and second handle regions; and

a biasing element is adapted to bias the first gripping region of the first member against the second gripping region of the second member with a low tension so as to prevent injury to a child in a case the child'"'"'s finger or hand becomes situated between the first and second members of the clip;

one or more padded layer covering the clip to provide cushioning so as to further prevent injury to the child, wherein the one or more padded layer is adhesively attached to the clip; and

a cover layer covering the one or more padded layer.

18. The child-safe fastening device of claim 17, wherein the hinge assembly further comprises end caps for securing the rod between the first and second members of the clip.

19. The child-safe fastening device of claim 17, wherein the cover layer comprises a water-resistant material.

20. The child-safe fastening device of claim 17, wherein the cover layer comprises a stain-resistant material.

21. The child-safe fastening device of claim 17, wherein the cover layer comprises a nontoxic material.

22. A child-safe fastening device for securing an article onto a child-supporting device, comprising:

a clip comprising;

a first member including a first gripping region and a first handle region;

a second member including a second gripping region and a second handle region, wherein the first and second members are pivotally coupled together at a region between the respective first and second gripping regions and the respective first and second handle regions; and

a biasing element adapted to bias the first gripping region of the first member against the second gripping region of the second member with a low tension so as to prevent injury to a child;

one or more padded layer covering the clip to provide cushioning so as to further prevent injury to the child; and

a cover layer covering the one or more padded layer, wherein the cover layer is friction-fitted to the padded layer.

23. A child-safe fastening device for securing an article onto a child-supporting device, comprising:

a clip comprising;

a first member including a first gripping region and a first handle region;

a second member including a second gripping region and a second handle region, wherein the first and second members are pivotally coupled together at a region between the respective first and second gripping regions and the respective first and second handle regions; and

a biasing element to bias the first gripping region of the first member against the second gripping region of the second member with a low tension so as to prevent injury to a child in a case the child'"'"'s finger or hand becomes situated between the first and second members of the clip;

one or more padded layer covering the cup to provide cushioning so as to further prevent injury to the child, wherein the one or more padded layer is adhesively attached to the clip; and

a cover layer completely covering the one or more padded layer.

24. A child-safe fastening device for securing an article onto a child-supporting device, comprising:

a clip comprising;

a first member including a first gripping region and a first handle region;

a second member including a second gripping region and a second handle region, wherein the first and second members are pivotally coupled together at a region between the respective first and second gripping regions and the respective first and second handle regions; and

a biasing element to bias the first gripping region of the first member against the second gripping region of the second member with a low tension so as to prevent injury to a child in a case the child'"'"'s finger or hand becomes situated between the first and second members of the clip;

one or more padded layer covering the clip to provide cushioning so as to further prevent injury to the child;

a cover layer completely covering the one or more padded layer; and

an attachment means for securing the cover layer to the one or more padded layer, wherein the attachment means is an adhesive, a hook and loop fastener, a snap, a button, or a thread.

25. A child-safe fastening device for securing an article onto a child-supporting device, comprising:

a clip comprising;

a first member including a first gripping region and a first handle region;

a second member including a second gripping region and a second handle region, wherein the first and second members are pivotally coupled together at a region between the respective first and second gripping regions and the respective first and second handle regions; and

a biasing element to bias the first gripping region of the first member against the second gripping region of the second member with a low tension so as to prevent injury to a child in a case the child'"'"'s finger or hand becomes situated between the first and second members of the clip;

one or more padded layer covering the clip to provide cushioning so as to further prevent injury to the child; and

a cover layer completely covering the one or more padded layer, wherein the cover layer is friction-fitted to the padded layer.

26. A child-safe fastening device for securing an article onto a child-supporting device, comprising:

a clip comprising;

a first member including a first gripping region and a first handle region;

a second member including a second gripping region and a second handle region, wherein the first and second members are pivotally coupled together at a region between the respective first and second gripping regions and the respective first and second handle regions; and

a biasing element to bias the first gripping region of the first member against the second gripping region of the second member with a low tension so as to prevent injury to a child in a case the child'"'"'s finger or hand becomes situated between the first and second members of the clip;

one or more padded layer covering the clip to provide cushioning so as to further prevent injury to the child; and

a cover layer completely covering the one or more padded layer, wherein the one or more padded layer and the cover layer comprise a single unitary structure.