Day care sleeper

Abstract

A daycare sleeper includes a mat, a pillow, detachable blanket that is non-confining, and an integral storage pouch. The preferred storage pouch is a pocket generally equal in width to the sleeping pad and is located at or near the foot of the sleeping pad on the top surface of the sleeping pad. The storage pouch may be used both as a foot pocket for the person resting on the sleeping pad and as a container for the pad and blanket during non-use. The storage pouch opens toward the top end of the sleeping pad and is closed on the other sides, so that the sleeping mat and blanket may be rolled together from the head of the sleeping pad toward the storage pouch and into the storage pouch. The preferred blanket attaches to the sleeping pad at or near the open end of the storage pouch, is loose on the sides, and is removable. A handle may be positioned on the outside of the pouch for easier carrying. A zipper or similar device may be placed on one or more edges of the sleeping mat to allow the padding to be removed during washing.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] This invention relates generally to the sleeping pads, and more particularly to sleeping pads with integrated pillows and blankets. [0003] 2. Related Art [0004] Typically in day care centers, the children's need for nap-time is accommodated with a center-supplied floor mat and a blanket brought from the child's home. Because the mats are usually used repeatedly by many different children without regular washing or disinfecting, they fail to offer a clean, healthy environment for sleeping children. [0005] Witcoff (U.S. Pat. No. 1,925,358) discloses a sleeping pad designed to be placed on a couch or similar piece of furniture to create an improved sleeping surface. It contains an end-pocket into which the rest of the pad may be rolled up when not in use, and into which a pillow may be inserted while in use. [0006] Scheer (U.S. Pat. No. 3,579,675) discloses a child's sleeping bag with an attached ornamental pillow. The...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] The preferred storage pouch is a pocket equal in width to the sleeping pad and placed at the bottom end of the sleeping pad; the sleeping pad and blanket are preferably rolled from their top edges toward their bottom edges and rolled into the storage pouch. The preferred system for closing the pouch comprises cooperating hook-and-loop fasteners located on the back of the sleeping pad and just inside the opening of the storage pouch. A handle may be positioned on the outside of the pouch for easier carrying.

[0011] The preferred blanket detachably attaches to the sleeping pad at or near the bottom end of the sleeping pad. This may be done via cooperating hook-and-loop fasteners located near the bottom edge of the blanket and inside the opening of the storage pouch, so that the blanket extends into, and is attached to, the interior of the pouch during use. Preferably, the hook-and-loop fastener on the inside of the pouch, which connects to the blanket during use, is also used to close the pouch around the rolled-up pad and blanket during storage. Preferably but optionally, portions of the blanket may fold under the pad and fasten to the underside of the pad to provide additional securement of the blanket during use or to meet with the user's / day-care provider's preferences. Optionally, a zipper or similar device may be placed on one or more edges of the sleeping pad to allow the padding to be removed during washing. The preferred material for the pad is water resistant to reduce or prevent liquid absorption from spills or bed-wetting, or, alternatively, a soft polyester material such as often used in sleeping bags.

Problems solved by technology

Because the mats are usually used repeatedly by many different children without regular washing or disinfecting, they fail to offer a clean, healthy environment for sleeping children.

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