Child activity blanket

Abstract

An activity blanket provides stimulation for a child. According to one implementation, an activity blanket includes front and rear surfaces and an internal pocket between these surfaces. The front surface has an aperture positioned to allow access to the pocket. According to another aspect, an activity blanket is configurable for transition between open and stowed configurations. The blanket has a two-piece interlocking handle that includes an engaging member and a receiving member, each attached to the perimeter of the blanket at different locations. The receiving member is receives the engaging member when the blanket transitions to the stowed configuration. According to another aspect, an activity blanket in a stowed configuration has exposed blanket portions and a stowed concealed blanket portion between the exposed blanket portions. The blanket also has a two-piece interlocking handle with an engaging member and a receiving member attached to opposing outer edges of the blanket.

1 . An activity blanket, comprising: 
 a front material surface;    a rear material surface opposing the front material surface;    an internal pocket disposed between the front material surface and the rear material surface; and    an aperture in the front material surface positioned to allow access to the internal pocket through the front material surface.    
   
   
       2 . The activity blanket of  claim 1 , further comprising a two-piece interlocking handle.  
   
   
       3 . The activity blanket of  claim 2 , wherein the two-piece interlocking handle comprises: 
 a first handle piece comprising a sphere attached to a first end of a protrusion, wherein a second end of the protrusion is attached to a blanket perimeter; and    a second handle piece comprising a receiving member, wherein the receiving member comprises a concave surface configured to receive the surface of the sphere and a slot for receiving the protrusion.    
   
   
       4 . The activity blanket of  claim 1 , further comprising stitching, wherein the stitching secures the front material surface to the rear material surface and creates the internal pocket disposed between the front material surface and the rear material surface.  
   
   
       5 . The activity blanket of  claim 4 , wherein the stitching creates a plurality of internal pockets and wherein the activity blanket further comprises an aperture located in the front material surface at each of the plurality of internal pockets.  
   
   
       6 . The activity blanket of  claim 1 , further comprising a plush toy sized for insertion within the aperture.  
   
   
       7 . The activity blanket of  claim 1 , further comprising a collar secured to a perimeter of the aperture.  
   
   
       8 . The activity blanket of  claim 1 , comprising a flap secured to a portion of a perimeter of the aperture such that the flap may be raised to expose the aperture or lowered to cover the aperture.  
   
   
       9 . The activity blanket of  claim 1 , wherein the internal pocket comprises pocket material having an outer perimeter secured to a perimeter of the aperture and disposed between the front material surface and the rear material surface.  
   
   
       10 . An activity blanket configurable for transitioning between an open configuration and a stowed configuration, the activity blanket comprising: 
 a blanket material; and    a two-piece interlocking handle comprising 
 an engaging member attached to a perimeter of the blanket material at a first location, and  
 a receiving member attached to the perimeter of the blanket material at a second location and configured to receive the engaging member when the activity blanket transitions to the stowed configuration from the open configuration.  
   
   
   
       11 . The activity blanket of  claim 10 , wherein when the receiving member is mated to the engaging member, the blanket material comprises a front exposed blanket portion, a rear exposed blanket portion, and a stowed concealed blanket portion disposed between the front exposed blanket portion and the rear exposed blanket portion.  
   
   
       12 . The activity blanket of  claim 10 , further comprising at least one storage pocket located on the blanket material at a position that allows for external access when the activity blanket is in the stowed configuration with the receiving member mated to the engaging member of the two-piece handle.  
   
   
       13 . The activity blanket of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one storage pocket is removably attached to the blanket material.  
   
   
       14 . The activity blanket of  claim 10 , wherein the blanket material comprises: 
 a front material surface;    a rear material surface opposing the front material surface;    an internal pocket disposed between the front material surface and the rear material surface; and    an aperture in the front material surface positioned to allow access to the internal pocket through the front material surface.    
   
   
       15 . The activity blanket of  claim 14 , further comprising a collar secured to a perimeter of the aperture.  
   
   
       16 . The activity blanket of  claim 15 , comprising a flap secured to a portion of the collar such that the flap may be raised to expose the aperture or lowered to cover the aperture.  
   
   
       17 . An activity blanket in a stowed configuration, comprising: 
 a front exposed blanket portion;    a rear exposed blanket portion;    a stowed concealed blanket portion disposed between the front exposed blanket portion and the rear exposed blanket portion; and    a two-piece interlocking handle comprising 
 an engaging member attached to an outer edge of the activity blanket, and 
 a receiving member attached to an opposing outer edge of the activity blanket and mated to the engaging member.  
 
   
   
   
       18 . The activity blanket of  claim 17 , wherein each of the front exposed blanket portion and the rear exposed blanket portion comprises approximately ⅙ of the surface area of one side of the activity blanket.  
   
   
       19 . The activity blanket of  claim 17 , further comprising an aperture in the front exposed blanket portion positioned that allows access to an internal pocket through the front material surface.  
   
   
       20 . The activity blanket of  claim 17 , wherein the front exposed blanket portion and the rear exposed blanket portion comprise a center blanket panel approximately ⅓ the size of the activity blanket, and wherein the stowed concealed blanket portion comprises two panels, each panel adjacent to the center blanket panel, each panel comprising approximately ⅓ the size of the activity blanket, and each panel folded behind the center blanket panel.