Infant food & debris catcher

Abstract

An easily attachable, washable food, utensil and debris catcher device is easily fitted to all types of commercially available high chairs using a wide variety of attachment structures and operates to hold any small items or food spilled in the area of the child's seat and legs which would otherwise pass through to the floor. The catcher is designed to be attached to and detached from the high chair quickly and easily, yet can be attached for long periods of time especially where it is employed to catch dry objects such as toys or dry food such as whole peas or cereal. The catcher can be made from a wide range of material and can employ a wide range of attachment systems, including snap members, hook and loop members, hook and eyelet members, and latch members to name a few. Construction of the catcher is illustrated as well as variations in the construction which may enable the shape of the deployed catcher to be altered as well as one and two ply versions.

1 . A catcher for use with a seat structure comprising:
 an expanse of material having a first edge having a first end and a second end, and a second edge having a first end meeting said first end of said first edge and a second end meeting at said second end of said first edge;   a first attachment member attached to said expanse of material adjacent said first end of said first edge;   a second attachment member attached to said expanse of material adjacent said second end of said first edge, said first and second attachment members for attachment to lateral sides of a seat structure to catch debris passing through said seat structure.   
   
   
       2 . The catcher as recited in  claim 1  wherein said second edge is at least partially curved. 
   
   
       3 . The catcher as recited in  claim 2  wherein said partial curvature of said second edge is interrupted by at least one dart resulting from removal of a portion of said expanse of material. 
   
   
       4 . The catcher as recited in  claim 3  wherein said dart is formed by removal of material along angled cutting lines. 
   
   
       5 . The catcher as recited in  claim 1  where said first edge bears force from opposing displacement of said first and second attachment members with respect to each other. 
   
   
       6 . The catcher as recited in  claim 1  where said expanse of material is two ply and wherein said first edge is formed by folding. 
   
   
       7 . The catcher as recited in  claim 1  and further comprising an elastic member having first and second ends associated with said first and second attachment members, respectively. 
   
   
       8 . The catcher as recited in  claim 7  wherein said elastic member is attached to said expanse of material along said first edge. 
   
   
       9 . The catcher as recited in  claim 7  where said expanse of material is two ply and wherein said first edge is formed by folding and wherein said elastic member extends within said fold. 
   
   
       10 . The catcher as recited in  claim 9  wherein said fold is closed by an enveloping stitch to form a tube and wherein said elastic member can move axially within said tube. 
   
   
       11 . The catcher as recited in  claim 1  wherein said first and second attachment members are at least one of hook and loop fasteners. 
   
   
       12 . The catcher as recited in  claim 1  wherein said first and second attachment members are at least one of first and second complementary snap members. 
   
   
       13 . The catcher as recited in  claim 1  and further comprising at least a third attachment member attached to said expanse of material along said second edge and spaced apart from said first and said second attachment members for supporting said second edge adjacent a forward member of said seat structure.