Infant Support Device
The infant support device that is unobtrusive and includes a frame having an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion of the frame defines a substantially elliptical shape for receiving the head of an infant, and the lower portion of the frame defines a substantially elliptical shape for receiving the body of an infant. The upper portion and the lower portion of the frame are arranged to form a substantially planar surface relative to one another. A cover that stretches across the frame that has a sleeve on the periphery of the cover, wherein the sleeve encloses the frame.
The present invention relates generally to an infant support device and more generally relates to a device that supports both an infant's head and body utilizing a frame having an upper portion for receiving the infant's head and a lower portion for receiving the infant's body, whereby the upper portion and lower portion are arranged to form a planar surface relative to one another.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to an infant support device. As is well known, infants do not have developed neck muscles, which would allow the infant to control its head. Therefore, the head and body of the infant must be supported with care to prevent injury to the infant. Extreme care must be exercised to provide the adequate support to the head and body for preventing injury, especially while passing the infant from one individual to another.
It is therefore desirable to provide an infant support device that would adequately support the body and head of the infant, while being unobtrusive. It is also desirable to provide an infant support device that can be incorporated into a blanket or swaddling blanket that would provide adequate support to the body and head of the infant, while being unobtrusive and providing comfort and warmth.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccording to one embodiment of the present invention, an infant support device includes a frame having an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion of the frame defines a substantially elliptical shape for receiving the head of an infant, and the lower portion of the frame defines a substantially elliptical shape for receiving the body of an infant. The upper portion and the lower portion of the frame are arranged to form a substantially planar surface relative to one another.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the infant support device includes a cover that stretches across the frame.
According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the infant support device includes a lower portion of the frame that has two distal ends that are in a spaced-apart arrangement.
According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the infant support device includes a padded frame for providing added protection to the infant.
According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the infant support device includes an upper brace positioned between the upper portion and the lower portion of the frame for providing further stability and support.
According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the infant support device includes a blanket for receiving the infant support device.
According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, an infant support device for safely transporting and holding an infant includes a frame having an upper portion, a neck portion, and a lower portion. The upper portion of the frame defines a substantially elliptical shape for receiving the head of an infant, and the lower portion of the frame defines a substantially elliptical shape for receiving the body of an infant. The neck portion of the frame engages the upper portion and the lower portion for receiving the neck of an infant. A cover encloses the frame and stretches across the frame for supporting an infant, whereby the upper portion, the neck portion, and the lower portion of the frame are arranged to form a substantially planar surface relative to one another.
According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the infant support device includes an upper brace positioned in close proximity to the neck portion of the frame for providing further stability and support.
According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the infant support device includes a swaddling blanket having a pocket therein for receiving the infant support device.
According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the infant support device includes a cover having a sleeve on the outer periphery of the cover for receiving the frame, wherein the sleeve encloses the frame.
According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the infant support device includes a strap positioned on the swaddling blanket for releasably securing the infant support device within the swaddling blanket.
According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, an infant support device includes a frame having an upper portion, a neck portion, and a lower portion. The upper portion of the frame defines a substantially elliptical shape for receiving the head of an infant and having a predetermined diameter that is greater than the diameter of the infant's head the upper portion is designed to receive. The lower portion of the frame defines a substantially elliptical shape for receiving the body of an infant while allowing the legs of the infant to protrude off an edge of the lower portion, but providing support to the body of the infant and having a predetermined diameter that is greater than the diameter of the infant's body the lower portion is designed to receive. The neck portion of the frame engages the upper portion to the lower portion for receiving the neck of an infant. A cover stretches across the frame and has a sleeve on the periphery of the cover, wherein the sleeve encloses the frame, and the upper portion, the neck portion, and the lower portion of the frame are arranged to form a substantially planar surface relative to one another.
The present invention is illustrated and described herein with reference to the various drawings, in which like reference numbers denote like method steps and/or system components, respectively, and in which:
Referring now specifically to the drawings, an exemplary infant support device and its internal components are illustrated in
As shown in
The term “infant” has used herein is to be taken to include a small child unless the context requires otherwise.
As illustrated in
The distal ends of the frame 12, as shown in
A cover 20 encloses the frame 12, as illustrated in
As shown in
In another embodiment, the frame 12 includes an upper brace 28, as illustrated in
In another embodiment, the device 10 may be placed within a cover, such as a blanket or like device for swaddling a baby. In such an embodiment as illustrated in
Alternatively, the device 10 may be placed between two receiving blankets 30. The infant is then placed on the blankets 30 with the blankets 30 in the unfolded position. After the infant is placed on the blanket 30 with the device 10 located beneath the infant, the blanket 30 is securely wrapped around the infant. Alternatively, the device 10 is placed on top of a blanket 30, and the infant is placed within the device 10 on top of the unfolded blanket 30. The blanket 30 is then wrapped around the infant for warmth and comfort.
In yet another embodiment, the device 10 may be incorporated into a swaddling blanket 32. The swaddling blanket may include a pocket 34 for receiving the device 10, as illustrated in
In yet another alternative embodiment, a strap 38 is engaged to the swaddling blanket 32, as illustrated in
The frame 12 may be composed of any material that is rigid and can provide the structural support to support an infant. Suitable materials may include, but are not limited to, aluminum, plastic, plastic composites, steel, stainless steel, metal composites, and the like. Additionally, the frame 12 may be a sheath/core arrangement, whereby the core is a metal and the sheath is composed of a plastic or a plastic composite. It is also understood that the frame 12 may be constructed in different sizes to accommodate the various sizes and dimensions of infants.
During use of the device 10 illustrated in
Although the present invention has been illustrated and described herein with reference to preferred embodiments and specific examples thereof, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments and examples may perform similar functions and/or achieve like results. All such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the spirit and scope of the present invention and are intended to be covered by the following claims.
Claims
1. An infant support device, comprising:
- a frame having an upper portion and a lower portion;
- the upper portion of the frame defining a substantially elliptical shape for receiving a head of an infant;
- the lower portion of the frame defining a substantially elliptical shape for receiving a body of the infant; and
- whereby the upper portion and the lower portion of the frame are arranged to form a substantially planar surface relative to one another.
2. The infant support device according to claim 1, further comprising a cover that stretches across the frame.
3. The infant support device according to claim 1, wherein the lower portion has two distal ends that are in a spaced apart arrangement.
4. The infant support device according to claim 1, wherein the lower portion has two distal ends engaged to one another by a lower brace for providing stability and support.
5. The infant support device according to claim 1, further comprising a padded frame for providing added protection to the infant.
6. The infant support device according to claim 1, further comprising an upper brace positioned between the upper portion and the lower portion of the frame for providing further stability and support.
7. The infant support device according to claim 1, further comprising a swaddling blanket having a pocket therein for receiving the infant support device.
8. An infant support device for safely transporting and holding an infant, comprising:
- a frame having an upper portion, a neck portion, and a lower portion;
- the upper portion of the frame defining a substantially elliptical shape for receiving a head of an infant;
- the lower portion of the frame defining a substantially elliptical shape for receiving a body of an infant;
- the neck portion of the frame engaging the upper portion and the lower portion for receiving a neck of the infant; and
- a cover that encloses the frame and stretches across the frame for supporting an infant;
- whereby the upper portion, the neck portion, and the lower portion of the frame are arranged to form a substantially planar surface relative to one another.
9. The infant support device according to claim 8, wherein the lower portion has two distal ends that are in a spaced apart arrangement.
10. The infant support device according to claim 8, wherein the lower portion has two distal ends engaged to one another by a lower brace for providing further stability and support.
11. The infant support device according to claim 8, wherein the frame is padded for providing added protection to the infant.
12. The infant support device according to claim 8, further comprising an upper brace positioned in close proximity to the neck portion of the frame for providing further stability and support.
13. The infant support device according to claim 8, further comprising a blanket for receiving the infant support device.
14. The infant support device according to claim 8, further comprising a swaddling blanket having a pocket therein for receiving the infant support device.
15. The infant support device according to claim 8, wherein the cover includes a sleeve on the periphery of the cover, wherein the sleeve encloses the frame.
16. The infant support device according to claim 14, further comprising a strap positioned on the swaddling blanket for releasably securing the infant support device within the swaddling blanket.
17. An infant support device for safely transporting and holding an infant, comprising:
- a frame having an upper portion, a neck portion, and a lower portion;
- the upper portion of the frame defines a substantially elliptical shape for receiving a head of an infant and having a predetermined diameter that is greater than the diameter of the infant's head the upper portion is designed to receive;
- the lower portion of the frame defines a substantially elliptical shape for receiving a body of an infant while allowing the legs of the infant to protrude off an edge of the lower portion, but providing support to the body of the infant and having a predetermined diameter that is greater than the diameter of the infant's body the lower portion is designed to receive;
- the neck portion of the frame engages the upper portion to the lower portion for receiving a neck of the infant;
- a cover that stretches across the frame and having a sleeve on the periphery of the cover, wherein the sleeve encloses the frame; and
- whereby the upper portion, the neck portion, and the lower portion of the frame are arranged to form a substantially planar surface relative to one another.
18. The infant support device according to claim 17, wherein the frame is padded for providing added protection to the infant.
19. The infant support device according to claim 17, further comprising a blanket designed to receiving the infant support device.
20. The infant support device according to claim 17, further comprising a swaddling blanket having a pocket therein for receiving the infant support device.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 15, 2010
Publication Date: Aug 18, 2011
Inventor: Rustam N. Wadia (Charlotte, NC)
Application Number: 12/705,734
International Classification: A47C 16/00 (20060101); A41B 13/06 (20060101);