Crib Slat Bumper System

Abstract

A protective bumper pad system for installation on a crib having a plurality of vertical slats spaced a distance apart in parallel laterally spaced relation includes a plurality of generally rectangular soft flexible bumper pads, each having top and bottom ends, two laterally opposed longitudinal sides, a width sufficient to extend between two adjacent laterally spaced apart vertical slats of the crib, and ribbon tie members having one end secured to a respective longitudinal side of the pad, and having a free end extending a distance laterally outward therefrom to extend over the two adjacent laterally spaced apart slats of the crib and be tied together. The pads are removably secured between alternating adjacent pairs of the slats to span and occupy a space between the pairs of the slats leaving an unobstructed open space between adjacent pairs of the slats through which air can flow.

1 - 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A protective bumper pad for installation on a crib having a plurality of vertical slats spaced a distance apart in parallel laterally spaced relation, comprising:
 a generally rectangular bumper pad formed of a soft flexible fabric outer cover enclosing a padding material, said bumper pad having vertically opposed top and bottom ends, two laterally opposed vertical longitudinal sides of equal length, and a width sufficient to extend between two adjacent laterally spaced apart vertical slats of the crib so as to span the space therebetween; and   at least one pair of ribbon tie members each having one end secured to a respective one of said laterally opposed vertical longitudinal sides of said bumper pad, and having a free end extending a distance laterally outward therefrom a sufficient distance to extend over the two adjacent laterally spaced apart vertical slats of the crib, the free ends of said pair of ribbon tie members being configured to be tied together in a manner permitting adjustment of a separation distance between said longitudinal sides, said at least one pair of ribbon tie members including a first pair of said ribbon tie members with each said ribbon tie member having one end secured to said bumper pad at an intersection of said top end and a respective one of said longitudinal sides of said bumper pad;   wherein said generally rectangular bumper pad is adapted to be removably secured between two adjacent laterally spaced apart vertical slats of the crib by said at least one pair of ribbon tie members so as to span and occupy the space between the two adjacent laterally spaced apart vertical slats of the crib.   
     
     
         8 . The protective bumper pad according to  claim 7 , wherein said least one pair of ribbon tie members comprises a second pair of said ribbon tie members with each said ribbon tie member having one end secured to said bumper pad at an intersection of said bottom end and a respective one of said longitudinal sides of said bumper pad. 
     
     
         9 . The protective bumper pad according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a third pair of said ribbon tie members each having one end secured to a respective one of said laterally opposed vertical longitudinal sides of said bumper pad intermediate said top and bottom ends.   
     
     
         10 . The protective bumper pad according to  claim 7 , wherein said bumper pad has a length in the range of from about 10 inches to about 14 inches, and a width in the range of from about 5 inches to about 6 inches. 
     
     
         11 .- 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A method for padding a crib having a plurality of vertical slats spaced a distance apart in parallel laterally spaced relation while allowing airflow into the crib, comprising the steps of:
 providing a plurality of generally rectangular bumper pads each formed of a soft flexible fabric outer cover enclosing a padding material, each said bumper pad having vertically opposed top and bottom ends, two laterally opposed vertical longitudinal sides, and a width sufficient to extend between two adjacent laterally spaced apart vertical slats of the crib so as to span the space therebetween;   each said bumper pad having at least one pair of ribbon tie members each having one end secured to a respective one of said laterally opposed vertical longitudinal sides of each said bumper pad, and having a free end extending a distance laterally outward therefrom;   placing each of said generally rectangular bumper pads between alternating adjacent pairs of the laterally spaced apart vertical slats of the crib to leave an unobstructed open space between adjacent pairs of slats through which air can flow;   extending said free ends of said ribbon tie members over the immediately adjacent pairs of the laterally spaced apart vertical slats of the crib; and   tying the ribbon tie members together at a location along a length of the tie members effective to pull said longitudinal sides toward each other to create and maintain tension on the bumper pad such that each pad spans and occupies a space between alternating pairs of the slats regardless of a lateral spacing between the slats.   
     
     
         16 . The protective bumper pad according to  claim 7 , wherein said at least one pair of ribbon tie members is characterized by a pair of ribbon tie members being connected to said bumper pad at a single location along one of said longitudinal sides of said bumper pad. 
     
     
         17 . The protective bumper pad according to  claim 7 , wherein said least one pair of ribbon tie members comprises a second pair of said ribbon tie members with each said ribbon tie member having one end secured to said bumper pad at an intersection of said bottom end and a respective one of said longitudinal sides of said bumper pad, and a third pair of said ribbon tie members each having one end secured to a respective one of said laterally opposed vertical longitudinal sides of said bumper pad intermediate said top and bottom ends;
 wherein said at least one pair of ribbon tie members is characterized by a pair of ribbon tie members being connected to said bumper pad at a single location along one of said longitudinal sides of said bumper pad; and   wherein said bumper pad has a length in the range of from about 10 inches to about 14 inches, and a width in the range of from about 5 inches to about 6 inches.   
     
     
         18 . A system comprising:
 a crib having a plurality of vertical slats spaced a distance apart in substantially parallel and laterally spaced relation to each other;   a protective bumper pad removably mounted on a pair of adjacent said slats of the crib, the bumper pad comprising:
 a generally rectangular bumper pad formed of a soft flexible fabric outer cover enclosing a padding material, the bumper pad having vertically opposed top and bottom ends, two laterally opposed longitudinal sides, and a width between the opposed longitudinal sides being sufficient to extend between and at least partially cover each of a pair of adjacent laterally spaced apart vertical slats of the crib so as to span the space between the spaced apart vertical slats; and 
 at least one pair of ribbon tie members, each ribbon tie member having a free end and an opposite end secured to a respective one of the opposed longitudinal sides of the bumper pad, at least one said ribbon tie member extending from one said longitudinal side and at least one said ribbon tie member extending from an opposite said longitudinal side, said ribbon tie members extending toward each other from said opposed longitudinal sides and being tied together by a knot between the opposed longitudinal sides; 
 wherein a location of the knot on the ribbon tie members is adjustable to adjust a distance of separation between the opposed longitudinal sides to create and maintain tension on the bumper pad for slats regardless of a lateral spacing between the slats. 
   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  comprising a plurality of bumper pads, each bumper pad being attached to a respective pair of adjacent laterally spaced apart vertical slats, with spaces between alternate pairs of slats being free of a said bumper.