Blanket especially adapted for covering a child placed in a supporting structure of the type having an interfering obstruction

A supporting structure for a child, comprising:

• (a) a supporting surface on which the child can be placed;
• (b) an obstruction projecting generally upward from the supporting structure,
• (c) a blanket, comprising
• (i) a blanket panel having an interior region, a first major surface, a second major surface, and an outer perimeter;
• (ii) a through throat aperture positioned in the interior region of the blanket panel, wherein said throat aperture provides open communication between the first and second major surfaces of the blanket panel, said obstruction being positioned in the throat aperture in a manner such that the obstruction passes through the throat aperture from one major surface of the blanket panel to the other;
• and
• (iii) a channel extending from the through throat aperture to the outer perimeter of the blanket panel, wherein the channel has an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein, in the open configuration, the channel provides open communication between the outer perimeter of the blanket panel and the throat aperture to allow the obstruction to be passed through the channel and positioned in the throat aperture, and wherein, in the closed configuration, open communication between the throat aperture and the outer perimeter is prevented such that when the channel is in the closed configuration and the obstruction is positioned in the throat aperture, the blanket is secured in place around the obstruction, and wherein the obstruction is positioned in the throat aperture and the channel is in the closed configuration;
• wherein the blanket is positionable to operatively engage the supporting structure and to cover over and cover the child while the child is in the supporting structure
• and wherein the blanket curves over and covers the child while fitted around the obstruction.

A method of covering a child with a blanket when the child is placed in a supporting structure of the type having an interfering obstruction, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a blanket, comprising:
• (i) a blanket panel having an interior region, a first side, a second side, and an outer perimeter;
• (ii) a through throat aperture positioned in the interior region of the blanket panel, wherein said throat aperture provides open communication between the first and second sides of the blanket panel, said obstruction being positioned in the throat aperture in a manner such that the obstruction passes through the throat aperture from one side of the blanket panel to the other;
• and
• (iii) a channel extending from the through throat aperture to the outer perimeter of the blanket panel, wherein the channel has an open configuration and a closed configuration wherein, in the open configuration, the channel provides open communication between the outer perimeter of the blanket panel and the throat aperture to allow the obstruction to be passed through the channel and positioned in the total aperture, and wherein, in the closed configuration, open communication between the throat aperture and the outer perimeter is prevented such that when the channel is in the closed configuration and the obstruction is positioned in the throat aperture, the blanket is secured in place around the obstruction;
• (b) while the blanket is in the open configuration, covering the child with the blanket in a mariner such that the obstruction is positioned in the throat aperture and such that the blanket curves over and covers the child, and
• (c) closing the channel to cause the channel to be in the closed configuration, whereby the blanket is secured in place around the obstruction.