Shade for child carrier

Abstract

A shade for attachment to a child carrier between a foot portion of the child carrier and a canopy portion of the child carrier includes a first cuff adapted to receive the foot portion of the child carrier and secure the shade to the foot portion; an edge located opposite to the first cuff and adapted to secure to the canopy portion of the child carrier; and a cover extending between the first cuff and the edge, wherein the cover defines opposed first and second sides. Other embodiments of the shade, and methods for its use, are described herein.

1 . A shade for attachment to a child carrier between a foot portion of the child carrier and a canopy portion of the child carrier, the shade comprising:
 a first cuff adapted to receive the foot portion of the child carrier and secure the shade to the foot portion;   an edge located opposite to the first cuff and adapted to secure to the canopy portion of the child carrier; and   a cover extending between the first cuff and the edge, wherein the cover defines opposed first and second sides.   
     
     
         2 . The shade of  claim 1 , wherein the edge is adapted to secure to a handle portion of the child carrier. 
     
     
         3 . The shade of  claim 1 , further comprising a back strap extending between the first and second sides of the cover, the back strap dimensioned to extend around the child carrier from the first side of the cover to the second side of the cover. 
     
     
         4 . The shade of  claim 3 , wherein the back strap includes a releasable connector selected from the group consisting of: cooperating pieces of hook-and-loop fastener, cooperating hooks, a buckle, and a clip. 
     
     
         5 . The shade of  claim 1 , further comprising a first hook or clip extending from the first side of the cover and adapted to engage a portion of the child carrier to retain the shade on the child carrier. 
     
     
         6 . The shade of  claim 5 , further comprising a second hook or clip extending from the second side of the cover and adapted to engage a portion of the child carrier to retain the shade on the child carrier. 
     
     
         7 . The shade of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a channel extending around at least a portion of a perimeter of the shade;   a cord extending through the channel, the cord having first and second ends; and   at least one locking mechanism adapted to secure the cord within the channel.   
     
     
         8 . The shade of  claim 7 , wherein the cord is elastic. 
     
     
         9 . The shade of  claim 1 , further comprising an elastic reinforcement band located at the edge opposite to the first cuff. 
     
     
         10 . The shade of  claim 1 , further comprising a second cuff located at the edge opposite to the first cuff, wherein the second cuff is adapted to receive a leading edge of the canopy portion of the child carrier. 
     
     
         11 . The shade of  claim 10 , wherein the second cuff includes a second cuff opening to receive the leading edge of the canopy portion, and the second cuff opening includes at least one elastic reinforcement band. 
     
     
         12 . The shade of  claim 10 , wherein the second cuff includes a cuff extension connected by at least one line of stitching or seam. 
     
     
         13 . The shade of  claim 1 , wherein the first cuff includes a first cuff opening to receive the foot portion of the child carrier, and the first cuff opening includes at least one elastic reinforcement band. 
     
     
         14 . The shade of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one connector located at the edge opposite to the first cuff, the at least one connector adapted to connect the edge to a leading edge of the canopy portion of the child carrier, the connector selected from the group consisting of: a magnet, a clip, and a c-channel. 
     
     
         15 . The shade of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one window located in the cover. 
     
     
         16 . The shade of  claim 15 , wherein the window is defined by a first layer of material and a second layer of material overlapping the first layer, wherein the first layer is elastically movable away from the second layer to open the window. 
     
     
         17 . The shade of  claim 15 , wherein the window comprises a layer of mesh and a second layer of material overlapping the mesh, wherein the second layer of material is elastically movable away from the mesh to expose the mesh. 
     
     
         18 . The shade of  claim 17 , further comprising at least one fastener adapted to hold the second layer of material over the layer of mesh, wherein the at least one fastener is selected from the group consisting of: a magnet, cooperating pieces of hook-and-loop material, and a zipper. 
     
     
         19 . The shade of  claim 1 , further comprising a pocket located in the cover, wherein the shade is adapted to fold substantially entirely into the pocket. 
     
     
         20 . The shade of  claim 1 , wherein the child carrier comprises a car seat, a stroller, a stroller toddler seat, or a bassinette. 
     
     
         21 . The shade of  claim 1 , wherein the cover defines first and second sides, each extending substantially from the first cuff to the edge opposite to the first cuff, wherein at least one of the first and second sides is dimensioned to provide an access port to a seat portion of the child carrier between the respective side and the child carrier. 
     
     
         22 . A shade for attachment to a child carrier, the shade comprising:
 a first cuff adapted to receive a foot portion of the child carrier and secure the shade to the foot portion;   an edge located opposite to the first cuff;   a cover extending between the first cuff and the edge, wherein the cover defines opposed first and second sides; and   a reinforcement member extending from at least one of the first and second sides of the cover, the reinforcement member adapted to connect at least one of the first and second sides to the child carrier.   
     
     
         23 . The shade of  claim 22 , wherein the reinforcement member comprises a back strap extending between the first and second sides of the cover, the back strap dimensioned to extend around the child carrier from the first side of the cover to the second side of the cover. 
     
     
         24 . The shade of  claim 22 , wherein the reinforcement member comprises a hook or clip extending from at least one of the first and second sides of the cover. 
     
     
         25 . The shade of  claim 1 , wherein the first cuff includes a first cuff opening to receive the foot portion of the child carrier, and the first cuff opening includes at least one elastic reinforcement band. 
     
     
         26 . A method for attaching a shade to a child carrier, comprising:
 placing a first cuff of the shade over a foot portion of the child carrier;   stretching the shade away from the foot portion of the child carrier toward a canopy portion of the child carrier; and   securing at least one of a first side and a second side of the shade to the child carrier using at least one reinforcement member.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising securing an edge of the shade opposite to the first cuff to a leading edge of the canopy portion of the child carrier. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising securing the edge of the shade opposite to the first cuff to a handle portion of the child carrier. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein securing an edge of the shade to the leading edge of the canopy portion comprises securing a second cuff of the shade over the leading edge of the canopy portion. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the reinforcement member comprises a backstrap that a user secures around the child carrier from the first side of the shade to the second side of the shade. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the reinforcement member comprises a hook or clip located on at least one of the first side or the second side of the shade that a user attaches to the child carrier.