Blanket for placement upon an infant secured in a seat and method of use

Abstract

A blanket for placement upon an infant in a seat and method having sleeves and an open back construction as well as stabilization means is provided that it can be readily donned upon an infant buckled within a seat without the need to adjust safety straps. The travel blanket includes a base section constructed with a base periphery integrated with base stabilization means therein for securing the base section of the blanket onto an outer, exterior bottom portion of the seat. Lateral sections of the travel blanket further include lateral perimeters appointed for aiding in securing the lateral sections over the infant, without wrapping the torso of the infant. Construction of the travel blanket ensures a significant amount of coverage over the entire body of the infant that does not lend to shifting, zero wrapping of the infant's body/torso, and minimal jostling of the infant when applied.

1 . A travel blanket for placement upon an infant secured in a seat, comprising:
 a. a central section, lateral sections, a base section, and a collar member arranged to form an open back construction so that said blanket is appointed to be placed upon said infant secured within said seat by way of safety straps;   b. left and right sleeve members constructed within said central section of said blanket adjacent to each of said lateral sections;   c. said base section comprising a base periphery having a base stabilization means integrated therein appointed for securing said base section of said blanket on an outer bottom portion of said seat; and   d. said lateral sections each comprising a lateral perimeter appointed for aiding in securing said lateral sections;   wherein said left and right sleeve members receive arms of said infant and said collar member and said central section rest against said infant's neck, chest, front torso, legs and feet, while said lateral sections and said base section extend over said infant and said seat and are appointed to be secured onto said seat, thereby avoiding any need for adjusting said safety straps and jostling or otherwise disturbing said infant.   
   
   
       2 . A blanket as recited by  claim 1 , wherein said collar member further comprises an abutting neck segment providing extra thickness to said collar member for comfort and added warmth to said infant. 
   
   
       3 . A blanket as recited by  claim 2 , wherein said abutting neck segment is in a rolled condition. 
   
   
       4 . A blanket as recited by  claim 2 , wherein said abutting neck segment includes cushion integrated therein. 
   
   
       5 . A blanket as recited by  claim 1  comprising elongated shoulder flaps located adjacent to and between said lateral sections and said collar member for enhanced coverage of shoulders of said infant. 
   
   
       6 . A blanket as recited by  claim 1 , wherein said base stabilization means located on said base periphery of said base section comprises a dense weighted cord and said base section extends over and weights on said outer bottom portion of said car seat so that legs and feet of said infant are not lifted or moved when said blanket is secured around said outer bottom of said car seat. 
   
   
       7 . A blanket as recited by  claim 1 , wherein said base stabilization means located on said base periphery of said base section comprise an elastic band so that said base section is merely stretched to extend over and clasped on said outer bottom portion of said car seat so that legs and feet of said infant are not lifted or moved when said blanket is secured around said outer bottom of said car seat. 
   
   
       8 . A blanket as recited by  claim 1 , wherein said lateral perimeter of each of said lateral sections include a lateral stabilization means further arranged to engage with said outer side portions of said car seat to aid in retaining said lateral sections so that said infant does not kick or jostle said blanket from position. 
   
   
       9 . A blanket as recited by  claim 8 , said lateral stabilization means located on said lateral perimeter of each of said lateral sections comprises a dense weighted cord and said lateral sections extend over and weight on outer side portions of said car seat so that said infant's torso, legs and feet are not moved when said blanket is secured around said outer side portions of said car seat. 
   
   
       10 . A blanket as recited by  claim 8 , wherein said lateral stabilization means located on said lateral perimeter of each of said lateral sections comprises an elastic lateral band so that said lateral sections are merely stretched to extend over and clasped on outer side portions of said car seat so that said infant's torso, legs and feet are not moved when said blanket is secured around said outer side portions of said car seat. 
   
   
       11 . A blanket as recited by  claim 1 , wherein said blanket includes attachment means appointed to removably attach and/secure items, such as pacifiers and toys, to said blanket so that said infant can easily reach and access said item while preventing said item from becoming lost or dropped. 
   
   
       12 . A blanket as recited by  claim 11 , wherein said attachment means is located on said central section of said blanket and comprises loops for clipping or temporarily attaching said item to said blanket. 
   
   
       13 . A blanket as recited by  claim 1  comprising an outer water proof shell covering said blanket for preventing water penetration onto said infant. 
   
   
       14 . A blanket as recited by  claim 13 , wherein said outer water proof shell covering said blanket is removable. 
   
   
       15 . A blanket as recited by  claim 1 , wherein said central section of said blanket includes a closable elongated opening for accessing said infant without removing said blanket from said infant. 
   
   
       16 . A blanket as recited by  claim 15 , wherein said closable elongated opening of said central section extends into and is integrated within said base section of said blanket so that said blanket can be substantially opened for access to said infant. 
   
   
       17 . A method of keeping an infant warm when traveling secured in a seat, comprising steps of:
 a. placing an infant in a seat, such as a car seat or stroller, and securing said child within said seat by way of safety straps;   b. covering said infant with a travel blanket, said travel blanket comprising:
 i. a central section, lateral sections, a base section, and a collar member arranged to form an open back construction so that said blanket is appointed to be placed upon said infant secured within said seat by way of safety straps; 
 ii. left and right sleeve members constructed within said central section of said blanket adjacent to each of said lateral sections; 
 iii. said base section comprising a base periphery having a base stabilization means integrated therein appointed for securing said base section of said blanket on an outer bottom portion of said seat; and 
 iv. said lateral sections each comprising a lateral perimeter appointed for aiding in securing said lateral sections; 
   c. inserting each arm of said infant within each of said sleeve members, respectively, and pressing said collar member against said infant's neck and said central section against said infant's chest so that said lateral sections and said base section extend proximate to outer side portions and an outer bottom portion of said seat, respectively; and   d. securing said lateral sections and said base section to said outer side portions and said outer bottom portion of said seat, respectively, while avoiding any need for adjusting said safety straps and jostling or otherwise disturbing said infant.