Universal rain and cool weather carrier cover

Abstract

Provided is a universal cover for an infant carrier, wherein the cover is configured to provide warmth and/or protection from precipitation, such as rain, snow, etc. The cover includes a cape portion which may be draped over the infant seat of the infant carrier. The inside of the cape portion includes a strip of fabric at the peripheral edge thereof to form a peripheral pocket on the cape. The lower end of the pocket may be configured to receive the infant's feet/legs while the infant is seated within the carrier. The cover additionally includes a connector strip including a pair of lateral end portion which may be wrapped around respective shoulder strap(s) of the infant carrier to secure the cover to the infant carrier.

1 . A universal cover for use with an infant carrier, the universal cover comprising:
 a cape including:
 an outer panel defining a peripheral edge portion; and 
 an inner panel connected to the outer panel adjacent the peripheral edge portion thereof, the inner and outer panels collective defining a peripheral pocket configured to capture a portion of an infant seated within an infant carrier within the cape; and 
   a connector coupled to the outer panel and configured to be engageable with the infant carrier for connecting the cape to the infant carrier.   
     
     
         2 . The universal cover recited in  claim 1 , wherein the cape includes:
 a first cape shell including the outer and inner panels; and   a second cape shell disposable over the first cape shell such that the first and second cape shells assume a nested configuration.   
     
     
         3 . The universal cover recited in  claim 2 , wherein the second cape shell includes a second cape outer panel and a second cape inner panel defining a second cape pocket within which the first cape shell may be received in when the first cape shell is nested within the second cape shell. 
     
     
         4 . The universal cover recited in  claim 2 , wherein the first cape shell is formed from cotton, polyester or fleece material, and the second cape shell is formed from a water-resistant material. 
     
     
         5 . The universal cover recited in  claim 1 , wherein the cape includes a upper end portion, a lower end portion and a pair of opposed lateral portions extending between the upper and lower end portions, the cape being transitional between an expanded configuration and a contracted configuration such that the distance between the lateral end portions decreases as the cape transitions from the expanded configuration toward the contracted configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The universal cover recited in  claim 1 , further including a drawstring connected to the inner panel, the drawstring being configured to cinch the cape around the infant carrier. 
     
     
         7 . The universal cover recited in  claim 1 , further including a hand pocket connected to the cape, the hand pocket being configured to allow a user to place the user's hands therein. 
     
     
         8 . The universal cover recited in  claim 1 , wherein the connector includes a pair of connector strips coupled to opposed lateral end portions of the cape, each connector strip being disposable in a looped configuration about a respective one of a pair of shoulder straps of the infant carrier to connect the respective connector strip to the shoulder strap. 
     
     
         9 . The universal cover recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a hood connected to the cape. 
     
     
         10 . The universal cover recited in  claim 9 , wherein the hood is selectively removable from the cape. 
     
     
         11 . A universal cover configured for use with an infant carrier, the cover comprising a cape having a folded segment extending around a portion of the periphery thereof to define a cape pocket configured to capture at least a portion of an infant seated within the infant carrier and to dispose the cape over a portion of the infant carrier. 
     
     
         12 . The universal cover recited in  claim 11 , further including a connector coupled to the cape and connectable to the infant carrier for securing the cape to the infant carrier. 
     
     
         13 . The universal cover recited in  claim 11 , wherein the cape includes an outer cape shell and an inner cape shell disposable within the outer cape shell to define a nested configuration. 
     
     
         14 . The universal cover recited in  claim 13 , wherein the inner cape shell is formed from cotton, polyester or fleece material, and the outer cape shell is formed from a water-resistant material. 
     
     
         15 . The universal cover recited in  claim 11 , wherein the cape includes a upper end portion, a lower end portion and a pair of opposed lateral portions extending between the upper and lower end portions, the cape being transitional between expanded configuration and a contracted configuration such that the distance between the lateral end portions decreases as the cape transitions from the expanded configuration toward the contracted configuration. 
     
     
         16 . The universal cover recited in  claim 15 , further including a pair of complimentary fasteners connected to the cape, wherein the fasteners are connected when the cape is in the contracted configuration and disconnected when the cape is in the expanded configuration. 
     
     
         17 . The universal cover recited in  claim 11 , further including a drawstring connected to the cape, the drawstring being configured to cinch the cape around the infant carrier. 
     
     
         18 . The universal cover recited in  claim 11 , further including a hand pocket connected to the cape, the hand pocket being configured to allow a user to place the user's hands therein. 
     
     
         19 . The universal cover recited in  claim 11 , further comprising a hood connected to the cape. 
     
     
         20 . The universal cover recited in  claim 19 , wherein the hood is selectively removable from the cape.