U.S. patent application number 14/339374 was filed with the patent office on 2016-01-28 for clothing to aid in swaddling an infant.
The applicant listed for this patent is JEFFREY BENJAMIN DELANO. Invention is credited to JEFFREY BENJAMIN DELANO.
Application Number | 20160021936 14/339374 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55165625 |
Filed Date | 2016-01-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160021936 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
DELANO; JEFFREY BENJAMIN |
January 28, 2016 |
CLOTHING TO AID IN SWADDLING AN INFANT
Abstract
An article of clothing to aid in swaddling an infant while
minimizing the risk the infant will overheat or develop hip
dysplasia is provided. The apparatus includes a fabric layer able
to be secured to the infant and having an upper portion, a lower
portion, a first side portion, a second side portion, a first arm
portion and a second arm portion, a first fastener disposed along
an interior portion of the first arm portion, a second fastener
disposed along an interior portion of the second arm portion, a
third fastener disposed along the first side portion, and a fourth
fastener disposed along the second side portion. The first fastener
is detachably coupled to the third fastener and the second fastener
is detachably coupled to the fourth fastener.
Inventors: |
DELANO; JEFFREY BENJAMIN;
(Colorado Springs, CO) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
DELANO; JEFFREY BENJAMIN |
Colorado Springs |
CO |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
55165625 |
Appl. No.: |
14/339374 |
Filed: |
July 23, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/80 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41B 13/065 20130101;
A41B 13/005 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A41B 13/06 20060101
A41B013/06; A41B 13/00 20060101 A41B013/00 |
Claims
1. An article of clothing for use with an infant and configured to
aid in swaddling the infant while minimizing the risk the infant
will overheat or develop hip dysplasia, the apparatus comprising: a
fabric layer configured to be secured to the infant and comprising
an upper portion, a lower portion, a first side portion, a second
side portion, a first arm portion and a second arm portion; a first
fastener disposed along an interior portion of the first arm
portion; a second fastener disposed along an interior portion of
the second arm portion; a third fastener disposed along the first
side portion; and a fourth fastener disposed along the second side
portion, wherein the first fastener is detachably coupled to the
third fastener and the second fastener is detachably coupled to the
fourth fastener to swaddle the infant.
2. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the first fastener,
second fastener, third fastener and fourth fastener comprise zipper
components.
3. The article of clothing of claim 2, further comprising a fifth
fastener affixed to an end portion of the first arm portion and a
sixth fastener affixed to an end portion of the second arm
portion.
4. The article of clothing of claim 3, further comprising a seventh
fastener and an eighth fastener both affixed to the upper portion
of the fabric layer, wherein the fifth fastener is configured to
detachably couple with the seventh fastener and the sixth fastener
is configured to detachably couple with the eighth fastener.
5. The article of clothing of claim 4, wherein the fifth and sixth
fasteners each comprise a male snap component and the seventh and
eighth fasteners each comprise a female snap component.
6. The article of clothing of claim 4, wherein the fifth and sixth
fasteners each comprise a female snap component and the seventh and
eighth fasteners each comprise a male snap component.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The embodiments herein relate generally to apparatuses for
swaddling infants.
[0002] Parents often swaddle their infants when they sleep. This
technique mimics the comfort of the womb and enables the infant to
stay warm, sleep soundly and for a longer period of time.
Currently, to place an infant in a swaddle, a blanket is wrapped
around the infant. However, this practice has several risks,
particularly if the blanket is wrapped too tight around the infant.
This can increase the risk the infant overheats or develops a
respiratory infection. Further, if the infant's hips or knees
cannot move when wrapped by the blanket, the infant can develop hip
dysplasia.
[0003] To address these problems, parents loosen the blanket around
the infant. However, this often renders the procedure ineffective
and/or impractical because the infant can then wiggle his/her arms
out of the blanket, thereby interrupting the infant's sleep.
[0004] As such, there is a need in the industry for an article of
clothing that effectively aids in swaddling an infant, which
addresses the limitations of the prior art discussed above.
SUMMARY
[0005] An article of clothing for use with an infant and configured
to aid in swaddling the infant while minimizing the risk the infant
will overheat or develop hip dysplasia is provided. The apparatus
comprises a fabric layer configured to be secured to the infant and
comprising an upper portion, a lower portion, a first side portion,
a second side portion, a first arm portion and a second arm
portion, a first fastener disposed along an interior portion of the
first arm portion, a second fastener disposed along an interior
portion of the second arm portion, a third fastener disposed along
the first side portion, and a fourth fastener disposed along the
second side portion, wherein the first fastener is detachably
coupled to the third fastener and the second fastener is detachably
coupled to the fourth fastener to swaddle the infant.
[0006] In certain embodiments of the invention, the article of
clothing can be used by itself or in combination with a blanket to
swaddle the infant. If the article of clothing is used in
combination with a blanket, the blanket does not have to be secured
as tightly around the infant, which prevents the occurrence of
several health risks discussed above.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0007] The detailed description of some embodiments of the
invention will be made below with reference to the accompanying
figures, wherein the figures disclose one or more embodiments of
the present invention.
[0008] FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of certain embodiments of
the infant article of clothing shown in use in an unsecured
configuration;
[0009] FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of certain embodiments of
the infant article of clothing shown in use in a secured
configuration via zipper teeth 12;
[0010] FIG. 3 depicts a front view of certain embodiments of the
infant article of clothing in an unsecured configuration; and
[0011] FIG. 4 depicts a front view of certain embodiments of the
infant article of clothing in a secured configuration via snap
fasteners.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS
[0012] As depicted in FIG. 1, clothing 10 is configured for use
with operator 20. Clothing 10 may be of any type including, but not
limited to, pajamas, one-piece article of clothing, two-piece
article of clothing, alternative multiple piece article of
clothing, or the like. Clothing 10 may be made from any type of
material or combination of materials including, but not limited to,
cotton, linen, wool, silk, polyester, nylon, other fabrics, or the
like. Operator 20 is typically an infant or baby up to three months
of age. However, it shall be appreciated that clothing 10 may be
used with babies of any age.
[0013] In a preferred embodiment, clothing 10 is a one-piece cotton
pajamas comprising an upper portion, lower portion, side portions
and arm portions comprising sleeves 22. Sleeves 22 correspond to
the left and right arms of operator 20. Zipper teeth 12 are
disposed along an interior portion of each sleeve 22 from an armpit
region to the cuff of sleeve 22. In addition, zipper teeth 12 are
also disposed along each side portion of clothing 10 at a location
proximate the armpit region of sleeve 22 and extending along the
side portion of the clothing where the torso of operator 20 is
located. Zipper handles 18 are slidably mounted to zipper teeth 12
on each side of clothing 10. In particular, each zipper handle 18
is mounted to any portion of zipper teeth 12, either to the teeth
disposed along the interior of sleeve 22 or the teeth disposed
along the side portion of clothing 10. As depicted in FIG. 2, this
allows sleeves 22 to be fastened to the side portions of clothing
10 when zipper handles 18 are used to engage the zipper teeth along
sleeves 22 with the zipper teeth on the side portions of clothing
10. It shall be appreciated that any alternative type of fasteners
may be used instead including, but not limited to, hook and loop
fasteners, lace, pins, snap components, or the like.
[0014] As depicted in FIG. 3, in one embodiment of the invention,
snap fasteners 14 are affixed near the cuffs of sleeves 22 and snap
fasteners 16 are affixed to the upper portion of clothing 10. In a
preferred embodiment, snap fasteners 14 comprise male snap
components and snap fasteners 16 comprise corresponding female snap
components, or vice versa. This allows snap fasteners 14 and 16 to
engage or disengage with one another. As depicted in FIG. 4, snap
fasteners 14 and 16 are shown in an engaged position that enables
sleeves 22 to be folded over the chest area of clothing 10. While
snap fasteners 16 are shown affixed to the chest area of clothing
10, it is understood that snap fasteners 16 can be affixed to any
alternative location on the upper region of clothing 10 extending
from the shoulder areas to the hip areas. Although the figures
depict a pair of snap fasteners 14 and a pair of snap fasteners 16,
it shall be appreciated that any alternative number and/or type of
fasteners known in the field may be used instead.
[0015] In operation, clothing 10 is secured around operator 20. As
depicted in FIG. 2, sleeves 22 can be secured to the side portions
of clothing 10 using zipper handles 18 and zipper teeth 12.
Alternatively, sleeves 22 may be secured to an upper portion of
clothing 10 using snap fasteners 14 and snap fasteners 16 as
depicted in FIG. 4. These secured configurations depicted in FIGS.
2 and 4 help aid a user to swaddle operator 20. In one embodiment,
operator 20 in either secured position can lie down on a flat
surface such as a bed or crib. Alternatively, clothing 10 may be
used in conjunction with a blanket to swaddle operator 20. This is
advantageous because the blanket does not have to be wrapped
tightly around operator 20 when clothing 10 is in a secured
position. This prevents operator 20 from suffering any
complications associated with a blanket that is too tightly wrapped
around the body, including overheating, respiratory infections and
hip dysplasia.
[0016] It shall be appreciated that the components of clothing 10
described in several embodiments herein may comprise any
alternative known materials in the field and be of any color, size
and/or dimensions. This allows the clothing to accommodate any
sized infant. It shall be appreciated that the components of
clothing 10 described herein may be manufactured and assembled
using any known techniques in the field.
[0017] Persons of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that
numerous design configurations may be possible to enjoy the
functional benefits of the inventive systems. Thus, given the wide
variety of configurations and arrangements of embodiments of the
present invention the scope of the invention is reflected by the
breadth of the claims below rather than narrowed by the embodiments
described above.
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