U.S. patent application number 11/613072 was filed with the patent office on 2008-06-19 for baby feeding cushion.
Invention is credited to Rosalind G. Woods.
Application Number | 20080141462 11/613072 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39525397 |
Filed Date | 2008-06-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080141462 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Woods; Rosalind G. |
June 19, 2008 |
BABY FEEDING CUSHION
Abstract
The invention relates to a cushion for providing support when
holding and/or feeding a baby. The cushion includes a sleeve to
allow a user to removably attach the cushion to the user's arm.
Inventors: |
Woods; Rosalind G.; (Los
Angeles, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DAVIS WRIGHT TREMAINE LLP/Los Angeles
865 FIGUEROA STREET, SUITE 2400
LOS ANGELES
CA
90017-2566
US
|
Family ID: |
39525397 |
Appl. No.: |
11/613072 |
Filed: |
December 19, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
5/655 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 20/023 20130101;
A47C 16/00 20130101; A47D 13/083 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
5/655 |
International
Class: |
A47G 9/10 20060101
A47G009/10 |
Claims
1. A device for a user to hold a baby on the user's arm,
comprising: a cushion of generally cylindrical shape having a first
end and a second end and a top and a bottom, the cushion adapted to
be positioned between the user's arm and a surface and thereby
support the user's arm while feeding the baby in a position that is
comfortable for the user and the baby; a sleeve mechanically
affixed to the top of the cushion, the sleeve adapted to come into
mechanical contact with the user's forearm and the baby when
holding the baby and to allow movement of the user's forearm within
the sleeve; and a pocket positioned on the first end or the second
end of the cushion, the pocket having an upward opening in the
direction of the top of the cushion, wherein, the device is
configured such that, when in use, only the user's forearm resides
within the sleeve.
2. (canceled)
3. The device of claim 1, wherein the sleeve has a first end and a
second end, and wherein both ends are open.
4. (canceled)
5. The device of claim 1, wherein the bottom of the cushion
comprises a substantially flat portion.
6. The device of claim 1, comprising an outer portion comprising an
outer fabric and the sleeve, wherein said outer portion is adapted
to be removable from the cushion.
7. The device of claim 1, wherein the sleeve is irremovably padded
to impart comfort to the back of the baby's head and/or neck.
8. A device for a user to hold a baby on the user's arm comprising:
a cushion of generally cylindrical shape having a first end and a
second end and a top and a bottom, wherein the bottom comprises a
substantially flat portion, the cushion adapted to be positioned
between the user's arm and a surface and thereby support the user's
arm while feeding the baby in a position that is comfortable for
the user and the baby; a sleeve mechanically affixed to the top of
the cushion, the sleeve adapted to come into mechanical contact
with the user's forearm when holding the baby and to allow movement
of the user's forearm within the sleeve; and a pocket positioned on
the first end or the second end of the cushion, the pocket having
an upward opening in the direction of the top of the cushion
wherein, the device is configured such that, when in use, only the
user's forearm resides within the sleeve.
9. The device of claim 8, wherein the sleeve has a first end and a
second end, and wherein both ends are open.
10. The device of claim 8, comprising an outer portion comprising
an outer fabric and the sleeve, wherein said outer portion is
adapted to be removable from the cushion.
11. The device of claim 8, wherein the sleeve is irremovably padded
to impart comfort to the back of the baby's head and/or neck.
12. The device of claim 8, wherein the sleeve is further adapted to
come into mechanical contact with the baby when holding the
baby.
13. A method for a user to hold a baby on the user's arm while
supporting the user's arm, comprising: providing a device,
comprising: a cushion of generally cylindrical shape having a first
end and a second end and a top and a bottom, a sleeve mechanically
affixed to the top of the cushion, and a pocket positioned on the
first end or the second end of the cushion, the pocket having an
upward opening in the direction of the top of the cushion; placing
the user's forearm through the sleeve; and holding the baby on the
user's arm, wherein the sleeve sits between the user's arm and the
baby, the cushion supports the user's arm by contacting a surface,
and, during use, only the user's forearm resides within the
sleeve.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the sleeve has a first end and
a second end, and wherein both ends are open.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein the device comprises an outer
portion comprising and an outer fabric and the sleeve, wherein said
outer portion is adapted to be removable from the cushion.
16. The method of claim 13, wherein the sleeve is padded.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a device for providing
support when holding and/or feeding a baby.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The following description includes information that may be
useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an
admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art
or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any
publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
[0003] When cradling a baby--particularly an infant--configuring
oneself in a position that is comfortable and that is also
comfortable for the baby can be a challenge. It may be especially
important for the baby to be in a comfortable position;
particularly when the baby is being fed. Moreover, once one finds a
position that is sufficiently comfortable, it can be difficult to
remain in that position as other things require attention (e.g., a
ringing telephone, a knock at the door, etc.) or require the
individual to move to a different location. It would therefore be
desirable to have a cushion that supports the arm of an individual
holding a baby in a position that may be comfortable for both the
individual and the baby, and, further, for such cushion to be
easily transportable.
[0004] There are baby feeding cushions generally available to
assist in cradling and providing mechanical support to babies, but
none are easily transportable; for instance, the Boppy.TM. pillow
(available from The Boppy Company; Golden, Colo.). Instead, such
cushions require a user to separately grasp the cushion when rising
from a seated position and/or relocating. If the user is already
holding a baby, and perhaps other paraphernalia (e.g., a bottle,
pacifier, blanket, etc.), it can be quite inconvenient to
additionally grasp and carry a cushion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0005] Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced figures.
It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein
are to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive.
[0006] FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a device in accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention, including a cushion
and a sleeve.
[0007] FIG. 2 depicts a side view of a device in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention, including a cushion and a
sleeve.
[0008] FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of a device in accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention, including a cushion, a
sleeve and a pocket.
[0009] FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view of a device in accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention, including a cushion
with a flat portion.
[0010] FIG. 5 depicts a view of a device in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention when the device is being used by a user
to feed a bottle to a baby.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0011] All references cited herein are incorporated by reference in
their entirety as though fully set forth. Unless defined otherwise,
technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as
commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which
this invention belongs.
[0012] One skilled in the art will recognize many methods and
materials similar or equivalent to those described herein, which
could be used in the practice of the present invention. Indeed, the
present invention is in no way limited to the methods and materials
described. Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced
figures. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed
herein are to be considered illustrative rather than
restrictive.
[0013] The present invention relates to a device that may be used
to assist in holding and/or feeding a baby. In various embodiments,
the device includes a cushion with a sleeve to allow a user to
removably attach the cushion to the user's arm, and to thereby
easily transport the cushion. This may be particularly advantageous
if a user is, for example, cradling a baby while in a seated
position and then desires to rise and move to another location, all
the while holding the baby in the same configuration and without
the need to remove the baby from the cushion.
[0014] As illustrated in FIG. 1, an embodiment of the invention
includes a cushion 100 with a sleeve 101. The sleeve 101 may
include a segment of fabric or another material configured along an
external portion of the cushion 100. In one embodiment, the sleeve
101 includes a segment of fabric mechanically affixed to the
cushion 100 so as to create a passage through which a user's arm
may be inserted. In one embodiment, the sleeve 101 is open at both
ends, such that a user's arm may be positioned entirely through the
sleeve 101 with his or her hand protruding from the sleeve 101 at
the opposing end.
[0015] The sleeve 101 may be configured along any portion of the
cushion 100. In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the
sleeve 101 is positioned along a portion of the cushion 100 where
it may conveniently come into mechanical contact with the arm of a
user when holding or cradling a baby. The sleeve may be unitary (as
depicted in FIG. 1) or configured of multiple segments arranged
linearly (not shown) through which a user's arm may be placed. The
sleeve 101 may be padded to impart a greater level of comfort to
the back of a baby's head and/or neck when the device is in use.
FIG. 5 depicts an embodiment of the device in use.
[0016] The cushion 100 may be shaped in any number of
configurations. In the embodiment illustratively depicted in FIG.
1, the cushion 100 is of a generally cylindrical shape. In
alternate embodiments, the cushion 100 may be round or may be
generally tubular with any desirable shape in cross-section, such
as triangular, square, pentagonal, hexagonal and so on;
trapezoidal, diamond-shaped and so on; or any other irregular
and/or geometric configuration that may impart a convenient shape
and/or an attractive design. In an embodiment, as depicted in FIG.
4, the cushion 100 may have at least one substantially flat portion
103 adapted to rest on a flat surface, such as a table, when in use
and/or storage.
[0017] In an embodiment, as depicted in FIG. 3, the device may
include one or more pockets 102 on any of its outer surfaces. The
pockets 102 may be adapted to hold paraphernalia useful while
holding a baby (e.g., bottle, pacifier, blanket, etc.).
[0018] As one of skill in the art will readily appreciate, the
device may be constructed of a wide range of materials that are
typical for products of this nature. Such materials may be selected
based on their appearance, cost, durability, stain-resistance,
capacity to be machine-washed, hypoallergenic quality, and the like
or any combination thereof. Similar criteria may be used to select
the filling used for the cushion 100, although additional criteria
for the filling material may include the filling material's
firmness, weight, density and the like.
[0019] In one embodiment, the device may include an outer portion
including the outer fabric, the sleeve, the pockets, etc. In this
embodiment, the outer portion may be removable from the cushion
that houses the filling material, similar to a pillow cover.
Appropriate mechanisms and closures might be included on the outer
portion to aid in that purpose, such as zippers, snaps, buttons,
Velcro.TM., hook-and-eye closures and the like.
[0020] While the description above refers to particular embodiments
of the present invention, it should be readily apparent to people
of ordinary skill in the art that a number of modifications may be
made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying
claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall
within the true spirit and scope of the invention. The presently
disclosed embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all
respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the
invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than the
foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning of
and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced
therein.
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