Infant wrist tether

Abstract

A wrist tether generally in the form of an “I” shape, includes a first strap portion, a second strap portion, and a connecting tether portion. In use, ends of the first strap portion are brought around and fastened together to form a loop to secure the wrist tether to an infant's wrist. Ends of the second strap portion are brought around and fastened together to form a loop to secure an object, such as a toy or a pacifier, to the other end of the wrist tether. When the object is tethered to the infant's wrist, the object is retained within the grasp of the infant at all times and prevented from falling to the floor when dropped by the infant. The length of the tether portion may be adjustable.

1 . A wrist tether for retaining an object within sight and reach of an infant comprising:
 a first strap portion comprising a first end including a first end fastener and a second end including a second end fastener, said second end fastener configured to mate with said first end fastener to form a wrist loop;   a second strap portion comprising a first end including a first end fastener and a second end including a second end fastener, said second end fastener configured to mate with said first end fastener to form an object loop; and   a tether connecting portion having a first end connected to said first strap portion and a second end connected to said second strap portion;   wherein said wrist loop is formed around a wrist of said infant and said object loop is formed around said object and wherein a length of said tether connecting portion is between about 3 inches and about 10 inches thereby retaining said object within sight and grasp of said infant.   
   
   
       2 . The wrist tether in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said first strap portion, said second strap portion, and said connecting tether portion comprise washable fabric. 
   
   
       3 . The wrist tether in accordance with  claim 2  wherein said first strap portion, said second strap portion, and said connecting tether portion are formed with a single piece of said washable fabric. 
   
   
       4 . The wrist tether in accordance with  claim 2  wherein said first strap portion, said second strap portion, and said connecting tether portion are formed from separate pieces of said washable fabric. 
   
   
       5 . The wrist tether in accordance with  claim 2  wherein said first end of said connecting tether portion is connected to a midpoint on said first strap portion. 
   
   
       6 . The wrist tether in accordance with  claim 2  wherein said second end of said connecting tether portion is connected to a midpoint on said second strap portion. 
   
   
       7 . The wrist tether in accordance with  claim 2  wherein said first end fastener and said second end fastener of said first strap portion comprise coordinating hook and loop patches. 
   
   
       8 . The wrist tether in accordance with  claim 2  wherein said first end fastener and said second end fastener of said second strap portion comprise coordinating hook and loop patches. 
   
   
       9 . The wrist tether in accordance with  claim 2  wherein said washable fabric is elastic. 
   
   
       10 . The wrist tether in accordance with  claim 2  wherein said washable fabric is terrycloth. 
   
   
       11 . The wrist tether in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said first strap further comprises a length of about seven and one-half inches. 
   
   
       12 . The wrist tether in accordance with  claim 11  wherein said first strap further comprises a width of about one and one-half inches. 
   
   
       13 . The wrist tether in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said second strap further comprises a length of about six and one-half inches. 
   
   
       14 . The wrist tether in accordance with  claim 13  wherein said second strap further comprises a width of about one and one-half inches. 
   
   
       15 . The wrist tether in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said tether connecting portion comprises a first portion and a second portion wherein said first portion is adjustably connectable to said second portion for adjusting said length of the tether connecting portion. 
   
   
       16 . A wrist tether for retaining an object within sight and reach of an infant comprising:
 a first strap portion comprising a first end including a first end fastener and a second end including a second end fastener, said second end fastener configured to mate with said first end fastener to form a wrist loop;   a second strap portion comprising a first end including a first end fastener and a second end including a second end fastener, said second end fastener configured to mate with said first end fastener to form an object loop; and   a tether connecting portion having a first end connected to said first strap portion and a second end connected to said second strap portion;   wherein said tether connecting portion includes a first portion and a second portion;   wherein said first portion is adjustably connectable to said second portion for adjusting said length of the tether connecting portion; and   wherein said wrist loop is formed around a wrist of said infant and said object loop is formed around said object thereby retaining said object within sight and grasp of said infant.