GB2485410A

GB2485410A - Cover

Info

Publication number: GB2485410A
Application number: GB1019257.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alison North
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-11-15
Filing date: 2010-11-15
Publication date: 2012-05-16
Also published as: GB201114583D0; GB2485432A; GB201019257D0

Abstract

The cover 1 comprises a sheet 2, e.g. of waterproof and/or low friction material, which is arranged to be developed into a substantially planar state for receiving an item thereupon, e.g. a child carrier, bicycle or a shoe, and attachment means 3 for raising the peripheral edge of the sheet up around the item and securing the sheet to the item. The attachment means 3 is an elasticated draw cord extending around the periphery with exposed loops 6 on opposite sides.

Description

The present application relates to a cover. More particularly it relates to a cover arranged to cover the underside of an item.

Prams and pushchairs (also referred to as buggies) are extremely widely used for the movement of babies and young children. These are provided with wheels which facilitate movement along the ground. A problem arises when the wheels are wet and/or dirty and the pushchair is taken inside. The wheels are prone to transfer moisture and/or dirt to the floor.

The same problem is encountered with bicycles, trolleys and shoes.

Prior art pushchair wheel covers are known, which cover individual wheels. Such individual wheel covers, however, are fiddly to apply and must be applied outside. This often results in the user getting wet and/or the wheel covers getting wet or dirty before the pushchair is brought inside.

The present invention arose in a bid to provide a solution to this problem.

According to the present invention, in a first aspect, there is provided a cover comprising a sheet, which is arranged to be developed into a substantially planar state for receiving an item thereupon, and attachment means for raising the peripheral edge of the sheet up around the item and securing the sheet to the item.

According to the present invention, in a further aspect, there is provided a cover, as recited above, in combination with a pushchair or pram, wherein the sheet has a greater footprint in its substantially planar state than the pushchair, the pushchair has a plurality of wheels, and the sheet is arranged to cover all of the wheels of the pushchair.

According to the present invention, in a yet further aspect, there is provided a cover, as recited above, in combination with a bicycle, wherein the sheet has a greater footprint in its substantially planar state than the bicycle, and the sheet is arranged to cover the wheels of the bicycle when the peripheral edge is raised.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows, in plan view, a cover according to a first embodiment developed into a substantially planar state; Figure 2 shows, in plan view, a cover according to a second embodiment developed into a substantially planar state; and Figure 3 shows, in plan view, a cover according to a third embodiment developed into a substantially planar state.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a cover 1 for an item (including but not limited to a pushchair or pram). The cover comprises a rectangular sheet 2 that is provided with a draw cord 3 that extends about its peripheral edge 4.

The sheet preferably comprises a low friction waterproof fabric. It may be formed from a single layer or from multiple layers. It may be formed from an inherently waterproof material or may be coated to render it waterproof. The waterproof coating may be provided on an inner face of the sheet (the face not contacting the floor) so as to maintain the low friction characteristics of the outer face (the face contacting the floor). Suitable materials for the sheet include but are not limited to nylon or polyester.

By low friction, it is meant that the fabric of the cover is suitable to allow for sliding of a covered item along a hard or carpeted floor.

The cover is arranged such that it may be developed into a substantially planar state, as shown. That is, it may be developed into a flat state, wherein it may remain in this flat/planar state without the application of an external force. With the cover in this state it may be laid out on the floor and the item to be covered may be placed upon the sheet.

The draw cord allows the peripheral edge of the sheet to be raised up from the floor and around the item placed on the sheet. The draw cord has a greater length than the length of the peripheral edge of the sheet. The draw cord is exposed at the front and rear edges of the sheet. The exposed portions of the draw cord comprise loops 6. The peripheral edge of the sheet is raised from the floor by pulling these loops in opposed directions. Pulling the loops causes gathers to form in the sheet as the length of draw cord extending around the peripheral edge of the sheet is reduced.

In the present embodiment, the sheet is provided with a plurality of eyelets 5, provided around the periphery of the sheet, wherein the draw cord passes through these eyelets as shown. In alternative arrangements, there may only be front and rear eyelets, allowing for the emergence of the draw cord, with the remaining eyelets replaced with a closed channel within which the draw cord runs, the channel being formed by folding over (hemming) of the peripheral edge of the sheet and stitching or adhering.

In the present embodiment, the sheet is 120cm long and features a 5cm wide peripheral hem 8, in which the eyelets are provided. The hem is formed by folding the peripheral edge of the sheet inwardly and stitching with a 2cm seam stitch (partially shown at 9). Alternative arrangements will be readily appreciated. The sheet arranged for use with pushchairs is preferably at least lm in length. One size may be fitted for all pushchairs.

Alternatively, there may be different sized covers for different pushchairs.

The loops of the draw cord are provided with toggles 7. These are conventional spring loaded toggles. The toggles act to grip the loops, maintaining the edges of the sheet in their raised position, wherein the raised edges may grip the item being covered.

The cover is preferably provided with a bag in which it may be stored.

Considering the specific example of a pushchair, the sheet is arranged to have a greater footprint in its developed state, in plan view, than the pushchair in its unfolded, i.e. use state. The pushchair may take any conventional form and will be provided with a plurality of wheels. When entering a house, or similar, the cover is taken out, developed into its planar (flat) state and placed on the floor. The pushchair may then be brought into the house and placed on the developed sheet in its unfolded (use) state. During this operation the child may remain in the pushchair or not, as desired. Next, the loops, which are arranged, in use, at the front and rear ends of the pushchair on the sheet, are pulled outwardly in opposed directions by the user. This, as described above, raises the peripheral edge of the sheet up from the ground and in towards the pushchair. The sheet is sized such that the raised peripheral edge of the sheet lies above the top of the wheels. Generally, the raised edge will lie slightly above the vertical top of the wheels. With the application of further force the peripheral edge is brought to bear against the pushchair and is secured in place by use of the toggles, which hold the sheet in its raised state. Where the draw cord is elasticised, an improved attachment to the pushchair is achieved.

The sheet may be configured such that in attached form, the peripheral edge contacts an upper portion of the wheels and is attached thereto by virtue of the draw cord.

Alternatively, the peripheral edge may contact a portion of the body of the pushchair above the wheels.

Since the sheet is waterproof and covers all of the wheels, dirt or moisture collected on the wheels is retained by the cover and is prevented from soiling the house.

Once the cover is attached to the pushchair, by virtue of its attachment to the pushchair and its low friction, the pushchair can safely be slid along the floor of the house on the cover without wetting or soiling the floor. The pushchair may be used as a sledge.

This allows for easy repositioning of the pushchair.

When it is time to leave the house, the draw cord can be loosened to allow the removal of the pushchair from the cover, whilst still preventing the transfer of moisture and/or dirt to the floor. The pushchair may be moved outside and then the cover may be taken outside to be shaken out and returned to its bag for storage.

Figures 2 and 3 show alternative cover arrangements. Figure 2 shows a cover for a bicycle and Figure 2 shows a cover for boots or shoes. These covers are substantially identical to the cover of Figure 1 except for their size and shape. The cover of Figure 2 is substantially oval and the cover of Figure 3 is circular (and sized for boots/shoes).

Alternative shapes, sizes and configurations of covers, within the scope of the claims that follow, will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art.

Claims

Claims 1. A cover comprising a sheet, which is arranged to be developed into a substantially planar state for receiving an item thereupon, and attachment means for raising the peripheral edge of the sheet up around the item and securing the sheet to the item.
2. A cover as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the sheet comprises a waterproof material.
3. A cover as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the sheet comprises a low friction material.
4. A cover as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the attachment means comprises a draw cord extending around the peripheral edge of the sheet.
5. A cover as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the draw cord has a greater length than the length of the peripheral edge of the sheet and is arranged such that the sheet may maintain its substantially planar state without application of an external force.
6. A cover as claimed in Claim 4 or 5, wherein the draw cord features a pair of exposed loops located on opposed edges of the sheet.
7. A cover as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the opposed loops are each provided with a toggle.
8. A cover as claimed in any of Claims 4 to 7, wherein the draw cord is elasticised.
9. A cover as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sheet is rectangular.
10. A cover as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the sheet is circular or oval.
11. A cover as claimed in any preceding claim in combination with a pushchair or pram, wherein the sheet has a greater footprint in its substantially planar state than the pushchair, the pushchair has a plurality of wheels, and the sheet is arranged to cover all of the wheels of the pushchair when the peripheral edge is raised.
12. A cover as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 10 in combination with a bicycle, wherein the sheet has a greater footprint in its substantially planar state than the bicycle, and the sheet is arranged to cover the wheels of the bicycle when the peripheral edge is raised.
13. A cover as claimed in Claim 11 or 12, wherein the peripheral edge of the sheet is arranged to contact the wheels in its raised and secured state.
14. A cover substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated by, the accompanying drawings.