Orthodontic Cradleboard

Abstract

The orthodontic cradleboard comprising a base having head, body and leg member supporting portions, the member supporting portions having member-conforming surfaces, each having raised marginal edges for restricting lateral shift of the members when positioned thereon, the member-conforming surfaces being stepped with regard to each other downwardly from the leg member-conforming surface to the head member-conforming surface.

Description

This invention relates to an orthodontic cradleboard for infants and more particularly to a cradleboard for infants wherein the infant is properly positioned therein to enable optimum development of the child's body.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTS

The prior art is replete with various devices for supporting infant children such as baby holders, baby carriers, cribs and the like. Most of these devices are used to support an infant in a variety of positions particularly while the infant is asleep, but likewise when sitting, being fed, etc.

Research has shown that a child's sleeping habits at an early age mold the facial form of the child, and when it is molded in such a fashion as to constrict the dental arches, the constriction is a cause of the retardation of normal and adequate growth. Since the size of the teeth is genetically predetermined, if the teeth erupt into an area where bone growth has been mechanically inhibited, a crowded condition will result and orthodontic corrective action will be necessary. Additionally, many faulty sleeping habits that result in crooked teeth, also result in other body deformations. Unnecessary curves in the spine and shoulders are caused by faulty sleeping habits. Proper habits established during the first year of life will give the body the greatest potential for continuing proper development.

It has been shown that sleeping on the stomach tends to put pressure on the lower jaw, thus hindering its forward growth. This posture helps to develop the Class II malocclusion. Also, it keeps pressure off the back of the head which is the first area of the head to calcify, while the maxillofacial complex (nose, cheeks and boney ridges investing the teeth) is the last place to calcify. Thus, sleeping on the stomach permits the overgrowth of the back of the head which causes a negative pressure in the temperomandibular joint, thus increasing the potential for underdevelopment of the lower jaw.

With the child lying on its back, there can be no pressure on the bones of the face to distort development there. The back of the head is thus prevented from becoming large and bulbous appearing as so many 2 year olds demonstrate.

Sleeping on the stomach is sometimes accompanied by the hands or arms under the pillow against the face, or directly against the face. This frequently results in lack of proper development of the malar processes, with resultant crowding of the teeth on that side into a cross bite. There can also be a nasal septum deviation resulting in a crooked nose, one nostril being smaller than the other, and possible breathing difficulties associated with the septum.

The overall posture is hunched over for stomach sleepers, and the shoulder blades tend to protrude.

American Indians frequently used cradleboards for their children, however, their cradleboards were flat, and the children's legs were held flat against it. This caused an increased incidence in congenital hip dysplasia. It occurred in about 6 percent of the populace, whereas only about 3 percent would be considered normal. This also caused an upward arching in the spine and the low back area.

Therefore, a primary object of this invention is to provide a cradleboard for infants for encouraging proper body development.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cradleboard for infants which assist in promoting good dental development.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cradleboard which encourages proper sleeping habits for infants.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a cradleboard for infants wherein proper spinal development is promoted.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a cradleboard of simple, lightweight construction.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a cradleboard having a padded body-supporting surface.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a cradleboard which overcomes the difficulties of prior art cradleboards.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent when considered in light of the following description and claims when taken together with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the cradleboard of this invention; and

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section along lines 2--2 of FIG. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides a support for infants which encourages proper development of the body according to the genetic pattern, and prevents extraneous pressures from malforming the body. Using the cradleboard of the invention, children will tend to develop flat shoulder blades and good posture. This is due to the spinal position on the cradleboard whereby it is held straight. The legs are elevated to help straighten the back, and the legs are held apart at approximately a 30.degree. angle. This holds the head of the femur into the acetabulum of the hip girdle at the proper angle to assure the proper formation of the hips. This also keeps weight off the hip girdle thus helping to prevent hip dysplasia.

Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the cradleboard generally designated 10 is seen to have a base portion 12, sides 14, a foot end 16 and a head end 18.

The cradleboard includes a body-supporting surface 20, and immediately adjacent thereto, is a head-supporting surface 22. As best seen in FIG. 2, the head-supporting surface 22 is slightly lower than the body-supporting surface 20 to accommodate the head in a natural position.

Extending from the body surface 20 are a pair of leg-supporting surfaces 24 which are elevated above the body-supporting surface 20. Additionally, the leg-supporting surfaces 24 are separated by a raised portion 26 of the cradleboard. The raised portion 26 serves to separate the leg-supporting surfaces 24 at an angle of approximately from about 25.degree. to about 35.degree., and preferably at an angle of about 30.degree..

Head, body and leg-supporting surfaces 20, 22 and 24 respectively are seen to include a plurality of fastener members 28 such as snaps, Velcro fasteners or other suitable fastening devices.

Immediately adjacent the body-supporting surface 20 are a pair of longitudinally extending slots 30 which receive a strap or belt 32. A pad 34 is shown and includes fasteners 36 which correspond to fasteners 28. Fasteners 28 and 36 cooperate to secure pad 30 in position if desired.

Surfaces 20, 22 and 24 are all contoured slightly to receive the appropriate portions of the human body in a comfortable manner. The pad 34 is such that it can conform to the surfaces.

Around the periphery of each of the surfaces 20, 22 and 24 is an upstanding rim 38 which assists in positioning an infant on the cradleboard and restricts lateral shift of the body on the cradleboard.

The base portion 12 is seen to include outwardly turned flanges which suitably support the cradleboard 10.

In the preferred embodiment, the cradleboard 10 is molded from a high impact strength plastic such as the various acrylics, polystyrenes or the like. This provides a light weight yet rigid structure.

The strap 32 serves to secure an infant in the cradleboard 10, and serves as a swaddling band. Psychiatrists have demonstrated that a swaddled baby is generally a happier baby, and with arms confined alongside of the body by means of the strap 32, thumb sucking and scratching of the face and the eyes by fingernails are prevented. The strap also stimulates isometric muscle exercise which in some ways is superior to isotonic exercise.

The upstanding rim 38 serves to protect the child if the cradleboard 10 is dropped, and suitable attachments could be made to the cradleboard for carrying the same by hand, or for securing it in an automobile.

Further, the structure could be made from more than one piece to permit lengthening of the cradleboard as the child grows. Additionally, the hollow area under the cradleboard could be adapted for storage of diapers, bottles and other infant necessities, and a cover 40 may be provided which can be snaped or otherwise secured to the base 12.

While this invention has been described, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification, and this application is intended to cover any variations, uses and/or adaptations of the invention following in general, the principle of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains, and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth, as fall within the scope of the invention or the limits of the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A cradleboard for supporting infants while sleeping comprising:

a. a base having a head member supporting portion, a body member supporting portion, and two spaced leg member supporting portions,

b. said member supporting portions each having a concave surface conforming substantially to the respective members,

c. each of said surfaces having raised marginal edges for restricting lateral shift of the respective members when positioned on said surfaces,

d. each of said surfaces having a longitudinal centerline and each of said centerlines lying in substantially parallel planes,

e. said planes being spaced vertically from each other in such a manner that the plane containing the centerlines of said leg member supporting surfaces is above the plane containing the centerline of said body member supporting surface and the plane containing the centerline of said head member supporting surface is below the plane containing the centerline of said body member supporting surface,

f. so that when an infant is positioned on said cradleboard with said planes substantially horizontal, the infants head will be supported lower than its back and legs.

2. A cradleboard as in claim 1 and including:

a. cushion means covering said member supporting portions.

3. A cradleboard as in claim 2 and including:

a. means for securing said cushion means to said base.

4. A cradleboard as in claim 3 and including:

a. means for securing an infant in said cradleboard.

5. A cradleboard as in claim 1 and wherein:

a. said body member conforming surface is stepped downwardly from said leg member conforming surfaces a first predetermined distance,

b. said head member conforming surface is stepped downwardly from said body member conforming surface a second predetermined distance,

c. said first predetermined distance is substantially greater than said second predetermined distance.

6. A cradleboard as in claim 5 and wherein:

a. said base includes an outwardly turned flange around the periphery thereof.

7. A cradleboard as in claim 6 and wherein:

a. said concave upwardly facing surfaces of said leg member supporting portions are separated by a convex upwardly facing portion.

8. A cradleboard as in claim 7 and wherein:

a. said concave upwardly facing surfaces of said leg member supporting portions diverge from said body member supporting portion at an angle of about 30.degree..