Crib Bumper

Abstract

A protective material for surrounding the inside of an infant's crib includes at least one panel having a substantial rectangular shape. The panel is composed of felt and has a plurality of apertures formed completely through the panel. The apertures comprise between 25% and 60% of the surface area of the panel. The panel has sufficient rigidity so that when positioned upright, and held from a bottom edge, the panel remains in the upright position. At least one fastener secures the panel to the side of a crib. In various further forms, the protective material may comprise a single panel having four segments which are foldably attached to one another, folded inward 90 degrees to thereby form four sides of a substantially rectangular box. Alternatively, the bumper comprises four discrete, separate panels.

1 . A protective material for surrounding an infant's crib, said material comprising:
 at least one panel having a substantially rectangular shape, the panel composed of felt and having a plurality of apertures formed completely through the at least one panel, the plurality of apertures comprise between 25% and 60% of the surface area of the at least one panel, the panel having sufficient rigidly so that when positioned upright, and held from a bottom edge thereof, the panel remains in said position; and   at least one fastener for securing the at least one panel to a crib.   
     
     
         2 . The protective material of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one panel comprises four foldably attached segments, each of the four segments are folded inward, 90 degrees relative to an adjacent segment to thereby form four sides of a substantially rectangular box. 
     
     
         3 . The protective material of  claim 1 , the wherein the at least one panel comprises four discrete segments, each of the four discrete segments positioned to form four sides of a substantially rectangular box. 
     
     
         4 . The protective material of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one panel comprises two pairs of panels, wherein respective panels of each pair are disposed opposite each other to form the four sides of a rectangular box. 
     
     
         5 . The protective material of  claim 1 , wherein the felt material is synthetic felt. 
     
     
         6 . The protective material of  claim 5 , wherein the synthetic felt material is polyester felt. 
     
     
         7 . The protective material of  claim 5 , wherein the felt material is selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, Nylon, and acrylic. 
     
     
         8 . The protective material of  claim 1 , wherein the felt material is wool felt. 
     
     
         9 . The protective material of  claim 8 , wherein the wool felt material is composed of wool fibers having been subjected to heat and pressure. 
     
     
         10 . The protective material of  claim 8 , wherein the wool felt is composed of needle-punched wool fibers. 
     
     
         11 . The protective material of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one panel comprises two pairs of panels, wherein respective panels of each pair are disposed opposite each other to form the four sides of a rectangular box. 
     
     
         12 . The protective material of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of fasteners for securing the at least on panel to the crib. 
     
     
         13 . The protective material of  claim 1 , wherein the felt is selected from the group consisting of die-cut felt and laser-cut felt, in which the die-cutting or laser-cutting, respectively, produced the plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         14 . The protective material of  claim 1 , wherein the at least on panel has a length of about 100-200 inches, a height of 5-15 inches and a thickness from ¼ to ¾ inches. 
     
     
         15 . A protective material for surrounding an infant's crib, said material comprising:
 at least one panel having a substantially rectangular shape, said at least on panel forming four sides of a rectangular box to be disposed about an inside of a crib, adjacent its sides;   the panel composed of felt and having a plurality of apertures formed completely through the at least one panel, the plurality of apertures comprise between 25% and 60% of the surface area of the at least one panel, the panel having sufficient rigidly so that when positioned upright, and held from a bottom edge thereof, the panel remains in said position; and   a plurality of fasteners for securing the at least one panel to the crib.   
     
     
         16 . The protective material of  claim 15 , wherein the felt material is synthetic felt. 
     
     
         17 . The protective material of  claim 16 , wherein the synthetic felt material is polyester felt. 
     
     
         18 . The protective material of  claim 15 , wherein the felt material is wool felt. 
     
     
         19 . The protective material of  claim 18 , wherein the wool felt material is composed of wool fibers having been subjected to heat and pressure. 
     
     
         20 . The protective material of  claim 15 , wherein the felt is selected from the group consisting of die-cut felt and laser-cut felt, in which the die-cutting or laser-cutting, respectively, produced the plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         21 . The protective material of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one panel comprises four foldably attached segments, each of the four segments are folded inward, 90 degrees relative to an adjacent segment to thereby form four sides of the substantially rectangular box. 
     
     
         22 . The protective material of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one panel comprises four discrete segments, each of the four discrete segments positioned to form four sides of a substantially rectangular box. 
     
     
         23 . The protective material of  claim 22 , wherein each of the panels are formed from a respective continuous piece of felt. 
     
     
         24 . The protective material of  claim 15 , wherein at least on panel is formed from a continuous piece of felt.