Infant sleeping apparatus
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to devices for holding a baby in a preferred sleeping position, in particular a sleeping position to alleviate the symptoms of reflux disease; more particularly but not exclusively apparatus for holding a baby in an inclined sleeping position on a conventional mattress.
Background
Babies suffering from gastroesophageal or laryngopharangeal reflux need to sleep in an inclined position so as to reduce symptoms of the disease. A number of devices exist to allow baby to sleep in this position and to hold the baby in place without slipping1 for example comprising wedge shaped mattresses (sleeping wedges') and means to hold a child in place on a mattress when the mattress or bed is inclined.
Prior art devices have disadvantages, principally in the means by which the baby is held to or on the mattress; the fixing means of the devices to the mattress are cumbersome, do not allow adjustment for different sizes of mattress, or do not offer secure support from the top of the mattress or sleeping wedge to prevent the baby from slipping. Additionally in most cases they do not make allowance for use of a sleeping bag or pouch. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved device for holding a baby in an inclined position.
Prior Art
Accordingly a number of patent applications have been filed in an attempt to resolve the problem or similar, including the following: US7251846 discloses a harness for positioning and securing an infant to a reflux wedge. The harness includes a crotch support having a front flap and a rear flap connected to each other by a transverse section. Two straps extend upward from the rear flap. An infant is placed in the harness and secured to the reflux wedge. The infant's position (up or down) on the surface of the reflux wedge is fully adjustable.
The straps are affixed to a horizontal slit found in the main body of the reflux wedge by hook and pile material. The straps are attached to each other by a material section. The harness prevents the infant from slipping down the slope of the wedge.
The unique design of the wedge and harness allows for either prone or supine positioning of the infant. Infant shoulder protraction is facilitated in either the prone or supine position when the infant rests within the harness attached to the wedge.
This device comprises a wedge to support the child, to be placed on a fiat bed. It has the disadvantages that the angle at which the child sleeps is not adjustable, there is no provision for the baby to sleep inside a sleeping bag and the harness does not allow the child to roll partiatly onto its side.
US6708356 discloses a bedding article that includes a bottom panel and a top panel for receiving a baby. A plurality of fasteners secure the top and bottom panels and define a openings for receiving the lower torso and legs of the baby. A plurality of fasteners are spaced about the periphery of the bottom panel to releasably secure the bottom panel in a fixed position on a sleeping surface. In another aspect, the bedding article includes additional leg openings to allow selective placement of the child in a prone, supine, or side position. In further aspects, a pouch for receiving a portion of the baby and a garment worn by the baby for attachment to the bottom panel are provided. The bedding articles herein are advantageously used in conjunction with a mattress which is inclined to prevent the subject from sliding down the incline under the influence of gravity.
This device comprises a bottom sheet with straps adapted to fix it to the rails of cot or under the sides of the mattress. The device has the disadvantages that no support for the sleeping bag is provided from top of mattress, so the device is poorly adapted for use for sleeping on a sloping surface, and the sleeping bag comprises simply a top sheet attached to the bottom sheet so baby can't roll.
US5233714 discloses an improved infant restraining device that is adapted for use with a mattress or other infant-supporting structure and which is used for dealing with infants afflicted with gastroesophageal reflux comprises an elongated flexible sheet having opposing first and second ends, two opposing side edges each provided with a flared portion capable of being wrapped around respective opposing side edges of the mattress on which the device is placed and cooperating releasable attachment means associated with the first end of the flexible sheet and with each of the flared portions to permit the infant restraining device to be firmly anchored to one end of the mattress when the opposing flared portions are attached to the first end of the flexible sheet on the underside of the mattress. The second end of the flexible sheet is designed to engage the lower torso of an infant and to restrain movement of the infant even though the mattress to which the device is anchored may be inclined at angles up to 45 degrees. This device comprises a sleeping cradle arrangement comprising a single fabric sheet folded up; it does not comprise a sleeping bag and does not allow the child to roll sideways.
In contrast the present invention provides a convenient device for supporting a baby lying on a sloping mattress in a sleeping bag, and in some embodiment for optionally allowing a degree of rolling motion.
Summary of the Invention
According to the present invention there is provided an infant sleeping apparatus comprising a mattress pad with a pouch; wherein the mattress pad comprises: a central portion, a first side strap from a first edge of the central portion, a second side strap from a second edge of the central portion opposing the first, and at least one end strap extending from an end edge of the central portion, each strap comprising an upper and a lower surface and an outer region distal from the central portion, with securement means provided on the outer regions arranged to secure the apparatus around a mattress, and a pouch fastening means provided on the upper surface of the central portion; and the pouch comprises a base layer and an upper layer joined at their edges to define an inside and an outside surface and a top opening, with a mattress pad fastening means on the outside surface of the base layer arranged so as to fasten to the pouch fastening means on the mattress pad.
Typically there are three straps, however in further embodiments four or more may be preferable, and/or the straps may fasten to the portion directly.
In this way the apparatus ideally provides a mattress pad adapted to mount on a mattress with the first and second side straps wrapping around the sides of the mattress and the top strap wrapping round the top of the mattress, the straps being joined together underneath the mattress, and a pouch for an infant fastened to the mattress pad. When the mattress is at an angle the infant or baby within the pouch is supported by the top strap of the mattress pad from sliding down the mattress and the mattress pad and hence the pouch are stabilised against side to side movement by the side straps. The apparatus thereby provides a convenient and comfortable means for a baby to sleep while supported stably in an inclined position.
In some embodiments the straps are configured such that in use when the central portion is positioned on a mattress they wrap underneath it so that all three of the end portions overlap to form a three layer stack of the end portions overlying one another, the securement means securing all three end portions together.
In some embodiments the first side strap comprises a first strap securing means on the upper surface of its outer region; the second side strap comprises a second strap securing means on the lower surface of its outer region configured to secure to the first strap securing means and a third strap securing means on the upper surface of its outer region; and the top strap comprises a fourth strap securing means on the lower surface of its outer region configured to secure to the third strap fastening means.
In this way in a method of use the mattress pad may be mounted on the mattress by placing the central portion on the mattress, wrapping the first and second side straps around and under the mattress and fixing their outer regions together to hold the mattress pad laterally in place on the mattress, then wrapping the top strap around and under the top of the mattress and securing its outer region to the outer regions of the side straps.
In some embodiments the straps are configured such that the top strap comprises a first and a third strap securing means on the upper surface of its outer region, the first side strap comprises a second strap securing means on the lower surface of its outer region configured to secure to the first strap securing means, and the second side strap comprises a fourth strap securing means on the lower surface of its outer region configured to secure to the third strap securing means.
In this way in a method of use the top strap is wrapped around and under the mattress so presenting the first and the third strap securing means on its upper surface facing away from the mattress, and the outer regions of the first and the second side straps may be secured to the outer region of the top strap.
In some embodiments a strap securing means comprises a hook and loop or fibre material such as Velcro (RIM). The first strap securing means may comprise a hook material and the second strap securing means a fibre material, or vice versa. The third strap securing means may comprise a hook material and the fourth strap securing means a fibre material, or vice versa.
In some embodiments the strap securing means comprises press studs, buckles and/or buttons.
In some embodiments the pouch fastening means comprises a zip fastener. In some embodiments the zip fastener is arranged substantially parallel to the axis of the pouch from top to bottom.
In some embodiments the pouch fastening means comprises a hook and fibre fastening material such as Velcro (RTM). The hook material may be provided on the base layer of the pouch and a fibre material is provided on the mattress pad or vice versa.
In some embodiments the pouch fastening means comprises one of: a press stud fastener, a buckle, a snap-in fastener, a shackle and eye fastener.
In some embodiments the pouch fastening means comprises a linear pouch fastening means such as a zip fastener or a linear arrangement of two or more fasteners selected from the list of: a pair of hook and fibre materials, a press stud fastener, a buckle, a snap-in fastener, a shackle and eye fastener, arranged in a line extending from the top to the bottom of the pouch.
In some embodiments the apparatus provides two or more linear pouch fastening means arranged laterally spaced apart on the mattress pad and on the base layer of the pouch.
In some embodiments the apparatus provides two or more zip fasteners so arranged.
In some embodiments the two or more linear pouch fastening means are arranged so as to lie substantially parallel to the central axis from the top to the bottom of the pouch.
In this way the pouch may be attached to the mattress pad by means of linear pouch fastening means extending substantially parallel to the said top-bottom axis, allowing the pouch to rock laterally relative to the mattress pad but not to move vertically.
This allows a baby within the pouch to rock the pouch laterally or to roll the pouch onto its side, so allowing the baby to roll onto its side to sleep but not onto its front.
The linear pouch fastening means also prevents movement parallel to the top-bottom axis so supporting the pouch on the mattress pad when the mattress is inclined.
In some embodiments the apparatus comprises three such linear pouch fastening means spaced apart laterally.
In a method of use in such embodiments a central and one side linear pouch fastening means provided on the pouch and on the mattress pad may be fastened.
In this way the pouch may be attached to the mattress pad in two linear locations spaced apart, so allowing the baby to rock gently towards the side of the mattress remote from the detached pouch fastening means while hindering it from rocking in the other direction and substantially preventing motion downwards from the top of the mattress.
In some embodiments the pouch comprises an internal cradle comprising a fabric portion configured to receive a baby's legs and bottom. The fabric portion may extend from the upper layer to the base layer and be attached to the inside of both, defining openings to either side of it within the pouch adapted to receive the baby's legs. In this way the cradle may stabilise the baby's position within the pouch such that when the baby rocks, the pouch rocks with the baby and relative to the mattress pad rather than the baby being able to rock within the pouch. In this way the cradle acts to stabilise the baby against rocking movement relative to the mattress.
In some embodiments the pouch comprises a pair of shou'der straps extending from one of the upper layer and the base layer at their top end and configured to overlap and to fasten to the other layer. The shoulder straps and a region of the said other layer comprise fastening means to hold them together. Such fastening means may be as described herein, for example press stud fasteners.
The apparatus may further comprise means to raise a head end of a mattress from a horizontal position. In some embodiments the apparatus comprises two or more supports having an upper surface configured to receive a bed leg and a lower surface configured to rest on a supporting surface. In some embodiments the upper surface comprises a recess adapted to receive a bed leg. In some embodiments the apparatus comprises blocks configured to stack one on top of another so as to support a bed leg on a stack of blocks. In some embodiments each block comprises a projection and a recess adapted to receive the projection, such that the block may stack stably with the projection on a first block being received into the recess on a second.
According to a second aspect the invention provides a method for support of a baby while sleeping using an apparatus as herein described comprising the steps of: Placing a mattress pad onto a mattress, Wrapping a first and second side strap and a top strap around and underneath the mattress and securing or joining their outer regions together under the mattress, Fastening a pouch to the mattress pad by means of one or more pouch attachment means, Placing a baby into the pouch, and Raising the head end of the mattress or mattress pad from a horizontal position.
Brief Description of Figures
Figure 1 shows a bottom view of an embodiment of apparatus according to the invention with the straps in secured together as if around a mattress.
Figure 2 shows a top view of the embodiment of figure 1.
Figure 3 shows a first side view of the embodiment of figure 1.
Figure 4 shows a second side view of the embodiment of figure 1.
Figure 5 shows an upper side view of the embodiment of figure 1.
Figure 6 shows a lower side view of the embodiment of figure 1.
Figure 7 shows an isometric view of the embodiment of figure 1 with the pouch detached from the mattress pad.
Figure 6 shows a view of the upper side of a mattress pad forming part of the embodiment in figure 1.
Figure 9 shows a view of the lower side of a mattress pad as shown in figure 8.
Detailed Description of Figures
Referring to figures 1 to 7, an embodiment of a an infant sleeping apparatus according to the present invention comprises a mattress pad 10 and a pouch 12 that is detachably securable to the mattress pad, wherein the mattress pad comprises: a central portion 14, a first side strap 16 extending from a first edge 18 of the central portion, a second side strap 20 extending from a second edge 22 of the central portion opposing the first, and a top strap 24 extending from the top edge 26 of the central portion, each strap comprising an upper and a lower surface and an outer region distal from the central portion, and further comprising securement or securing means provided on a surface in the said outer regions and configured to secure the three outer regions together, and a pouch fastening means 28 provided on the upper surface of the central portion; and wherein the pouch comprises: a base layer 30 and an upper layer 32 joined at their edges defining a pouch having an inside and an outside surface and having an opening 34 at the top of the pouch, and a pouch fastening means provided on the outside of the base layer configured to fasten to the pouch fastening means 28a, 28b, 28c provided on the mattress pad.
In this embodiment the straps are configured such that in use when the central portion is positioned on a mattress they wrap underneath it so that all three of the end portions overlap to form a three layer stack of the end portions overlying one another, the securing means securing all three end portions together as shown in figures ito 7.
In this embodiment the first side strap 16 comprises a first strap securing means 40 on the upper surface 42 of its outer region 44; the second side strap 20 comprises a second strap securing 46 means on the lower surface 48 of its outer region 50 configured to secure to the first strap securing means and a third strap securing means 52 on the upper surface 54 of its outer region 56; and the top strap 24 comprises a fourth strap securing means 58 on the lower surface 60 of its outer region 62 configured to secure to the third strap securing means.
In use the mattress pad mounts on a mattress with the central portion 14 resting on top of the mattress and the first 16 and second 20 side straps wrapping around the sides of the mattress and the top strap wrapping round the top of the mattress, the straps being joined and/or secured together underneath the mattress, which occupies the space 36 defined by the central portion and straps as shown in the figures The baby pouch is then fastened to the mattress pad. When the mattress is at an angle a baby within the pouch is supported by the top strap of the mattress pad from sliding down the mattress.
In this embodiment the strap securing means comprise a hook and fibre, material such as Velcro (RTM). The first strap securing means 40 comprises a hook material and the second strap securing means 46 a fibre material, or vice versa. The third strap securing means 52 comprises a hook material and the fourth strap fastening 58 means a fibre material, or vice versa.
In this embodiment the pouch fastening means 28 comprises: a central zip fastener 28b, and a left hand 28a and a right hand zip fastener 28c arranged substantially parallel to the axis 64 of the pouch from top 66 to bottom 68.
In this way the pouch may be fastened to the mattress pad by means of one more zip fasteners to control in which direction and to what extent a baby may rock the pouch, so allowing the baby to roll onto its side to sleep but not onto its front. lithe left hand zip fastener is fastened, the baby may rock the pouch to the left but not to the right, and if the right hand fastener is fastened the baby may rock the pouch to the right but not to the left. If the central zip fastener is fastened as well as one of the side zips, the baby will still be able to roll but to a lesser extent. If only the central zip is fastened the baby is able to roll either to the left or to the right. If all three fasteners are fastened the baby is not able to roll significantly.
In this embodiment the pouch comprises an internal cradle (not shown in the figures comprising a fabric portion configured to receive a baby's legs and bottom, extending from the upper layer to the base layer and be attached to the inside of both, defining openings to either side of it within the pouch adapted to receive the baby's legs. In this embodiment the pouch 12 comprises a pair of shoulder straps 70 extending from each of the upper layer and the base layer at their top end and configured to overlap and to fasten to the other layer. The shoulder straps and a region of the said other layer comprise fastening means to hold them together. Such fastening means may be as described herein, for example press stud fasteners. The pouch comprises a zip 76 joining the upper and base layers over a region of their edges so allowing the pouch to be partially opened to allow the baby to be placed easily within it and to allow a degree of control over heating and cooling of the baby. The pouch further comprises a removable additional bLanket 72 attachable to upper layer by attachment means 74 such as press studs.
The mattress pad and the baby pouch may be formed from fabric materials as known intheart.
The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as set out in the accompanying claims.