Baby bottle tether

Abstract

A tether for securing a baby bottle or toy to a structure such as a highchair or car seat for the baby. The tether has an elongated member with a flexible portion and having opposed ends with a securing device at each of the opposed ends. Both of the securing devices are straps that have a fastening system such as a hook and loop system such that the securing devices can form a loop of a desired size to encircle an item, such as a baby bottle or a toy and structure to secure the tether to both the item and the structure. As such, the baby bottle or toy can be secured to a structure such as a highchair or car seat and if dropped, the item will be restrained so as to not contact the floor and become contaminated.

1 . A tether for securing an item to a structure, the tether comprising a elongated member having opposed ends and having a flexible portion, a flexible securing means located at each end of the elongated member, each of the flexible securing means comprising a strap adapted to encircle a structure and form a variable size loop to retain one end of the elongated member to an item and the other end to a structure. 
   
   
       2 . The tether of  claim 1  wherein the flexible portion of the elongated member is pre-coiled having a shortened, at rest length and a stretched out length. 
   
   
       3 . The tether of  claim 2  wherein the flexible portion has a memory that tends to return the flexible portion to the shortened, at rest length. 
   
   
       4 . The tether of  claim 1  wherein the flexible securing means comprises a strap having an attachment means thereon and the loop is formed by attaching one end of the strap to another portion of the strap. 
   
   
       5 . The tether of  claim 4  wherein the attachment means comprises a hook and loop system located thereon at least partially along its length for forming the variable size loop. 
   
   
       6 . The tether of  claim 5  wherein the hook and loop system is located substantially along the length of the flexible securing means. 
   
   
       7 . A method of securing an item to a structure, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing an elongated member having flexible portion and a flexible securing means located at each end thereon, the flexible securing means comprising a strap adapted to be formed into a loop of varying size,   securing one of the flexible securing means to an item by forming a loop in the strap encircling the item and sized to retain the item snugly within the loop,   securing the other of the flexible securing means to a structure by forming a loop in the strap encircling the structure.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the step of securing one of the flexible securing means to an item comprises forming a loop in the strap and securing the strap to itself by attaching means. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the step of securing one of the flexible securing means to an item comprises using a hook and loop attaching means. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the steps of securing one and another end of the flexible securing means comprises forming a loop in each of the flexible securing means to encircle the item and the structure. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the step of providing an elongated member comprises providing an elongated member having a pre-coiled flexible portion that has a shortened, at rest length and a stretched out length. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the step of providing a pre-coiled flexible portion comprises providing a pre-coiled flexible portion that is biased toward its shortened, at rest length. 
   
   
       13 . A combination comprising:
 a structure;   an item;   a flexible member having opposed ends, each of the opposed ends having a securing means comprising a strap adapted to be formed into a loop of varying size,   one of the straps having a loop encircling the item and the other of the straps having a loop encircling the structure.   
   
   
       14 . The combination of  claim 13  wherein the structure is a baby highchair or a baby car seat. 
   
   
       15 . The combination of  claim 13  wherein the item is a baby bottle or baby toy. 
   
   
       16 . The combination of  claim 13  wherein the securing means comprises a strap having an attachment means thereon and the loop is formed by attaching one end of the strap to another portion of the strap. 
   
   
       17 . The combination of  claim 16  wherein the attachment means comprises a hook and loop system located thereon at least partially along its length for forming the variable size loop 
   
   
       18 . The combination of  claim 17  wherein the hook and loop system is located substantially along the length of the securing means 
   
   
       19 . The combination of  claim 13  wherein the flexible member has a pre-coiled flexible portion that has a shortened, at rest length and a stretched out length. 
   
   
       20 . The combination of  claim 19  wherein the pre-coiled flexible portion is biased toward its shortened, at rest length.