Baby Band

Abstract

The Baby Band is a chest band with attached toys that are always reachable, in any natural infant position. The infant constantly rediscovers toys when returning hands to a natural resting position. The toy tethers are not long enough to wrap around the infant's neck or get tangled when the infant rolls over or crawls. The toys compress to flat or near flat to allow for normal movement and development, such as rolling or crawling. The flexible band is adjustable for comfort, can be reversible, and gives enough not to be binding, so the infant can wear it for prolonged periods of time without discomfort, but is securely fastened in the back with a variable fastener, such as hook and loop, to prevent it coming off. Also, the adjustable fastener of the chest band allows it to be worn in any state of dress or undress.

Description

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

This disclosure relates generally to a technical field of toy manufacturing and, in one embodiment, to a method, system and apparatus for a Baby Band.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates in general to the fact that infants are constantly dropping toys, which the care giver then has to find, pick up, and return to them. While said care giver is searching for the toy, often the infant is in distress, which then causes distress to the care giver, as well as everyone around them. Studies show that, until the age of 8-10 months, objects that are out of an infant's sight are believed by said infant to have disappeared forever. Until the milestone of permanence is reached, the continued presence of objects is reassuring and can be soothing to an infant.

The earliest patent on file addressing this issue is from 1945. U.S. Pat. No. 2,413,395 uses a full torso harness that attaches to a chair and then has long cords to which attach to toys. In 1959, U.S. Pat. No. 3,087,277 uses a similar harness, but with straps that go down the arms of an article of clothing. In 1962, U.S. Pat. No. 3,184,883 also uses a body harness and toys attached to cords.

In 1985, U.S. Pat. No. 4,498,613 uses an over the shoulder harness with an attached cord to the chest that can be attached to a bottle or toy. In 2002, U.S. Pat. No. 20020124297A1 uses a band of ribbed elastic with three elastic cords that toys can be attached to with Velcro loops. In 2007, U.S. Pat. No. 20070181754A1 uses a harness that can be adjusted to situate a bottle or toy at the infant's mouth.

The use of a full torso harness in U.S. Pat. No. 2,413,395 is bulky and it is intended to anchor an infant in a seated position. This makes it both unusable for infants before they can sit up and cannot be used at all times as a wearable toy. Even if the back strap were removed to allow an older infant to crawl or roll about, the cords could become tangled around the infant's legs and/or other objects. The cords are a safety hazard for another reason, as they are long enough to become tangled around the infant's neck. They are also not placed so that an infant, with its hands in a natural resting position, would encounter them. Finally, because the toys are detachable, they could come off or be pulled off the cords by the infant.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,087,277 also uses a torso harness. It has the limitation of only working under a shirt or similar clothing, as it uses the sleeves to guide it down the arms to be within the reach of the infant's hands. However, if the toys were to fall behind the arm, the infant would be unable to reach them. Without a shirt of some sort, the toys would fall too low for the infant and the cords would be long enough to tangle around the infant's neck. The harness is also designed only for the sitting or standing position and will not work when an infant is lying down or crawling. The toys are designed to detach and so they could come off with vigorous play.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,184,883 uses a torso harness, which is bulky and may be uncomfortable for an infant to wear. It uses elastic cords to attach toys to the harness, which have several downsides. An elastic cord can fray over time and break. If the infant teethes on the cord, it can chew through it and possibly choke on a piece of it. If the infant pulls a toy out to the full extent and releases it, while lying down, the toy could hit the infant quite hard in the face and cause pain. The detachable toy holders again mean that the toys could come off.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,498,613 is a band designed to be worn over the shoulder or around the chest. In the shoulder configuration, it would put uneven pressure on the infant's neck and could cause discomfort. It has a cord which can attach to a toy or bottle. The toy could come off. Also, if the infant were lying down and dropped a bottle or heavy toy from the full extension of the cord, it could hurt them and cause distress.

U.S. Pat No. 2002012497A1 again uses elastic to form a chest band and straps from which to hang toys. When worn it has the possibility of catching on things and entangling the infant. It is designed only to be worn in a sitting position and so is unfit to wear for long periods of time or for younger infants. The elastic cords are very long and could wrap around an infant's neck, causing injury or death. The toys are attached with Velcro loops, which a determined infant can undo; so the toys could come off and get lost or cause the infant distress.

U.S. Pat No. 20070181754A1 uses a harness to position a bottle or sippy cup within an infant's reach. If used when lying down, the infant could drop a heavy bottle or hard toy and be hurt. Also, if the infant were to roll over onto the stomach, the bulky bottle, sippy cup, or toy would cause discomfort and impede normal movement. If worn often, it could slow down normal motor skill development, such as rolling or crawling.

Infants bond to “security” blankets or toys and, previously, the solution to this was to always know where the infant's favorite toy was and to pick it up and return it when dropped.

It is difficult for a care giver to always know the location of a favorite toy or security object. In addition it is trying and tiring to be constantly fetching dropped items, only to have to do it again within minutes of retrieving it. Also, the toys must often be cleaned, as they are being dropped on the floor or the ground. Even when a toy or security object is quickly returned to an infant, the infant experiences distress at the disappearance of it.

From the moment they are physically capable until at least 10 months and often longer, infants will chew on their shirts to both explore and to teethe. This causes their shirts to be wet and can cause a yeast rash on their chests from the continuous moisture.

Previous approaches have not addressed the issue of yeast rashes that result from such moisture. However, the most common solution is to have the infant wear a teething bib at all times and to replace it when it is too wet.

However, bibs can get turned around on the infant's neck or come undone. They also add a layer of clothing and in the summer can be too hot. Infants can damage their clothing by teething on it also, after the emergence of the first tooth.

Most parents simply try to keep teething toys within reach, put a bib on the infant, or keep the infant in romper style clothing, which reduces, but does not stop, chewing on clothing.

Teething toys can be dropped or thrown out of reach, bibs can be turned around or removed and are hot in the summer, as well as often unattractive, and many care givers do not like the look of rompers. Also, rompers, if baggy, can be chewed on as easily as a shirt.

Infants like to have objects in their hands and, when being held, will often grasp the holder's hair, earring, necklace, glasses, etc. . . . Most parents try to keep toys in the infant's hands at all times or carry them facing away or in a carrier.

Toys can be dropped, causing the care giver to then have to juggle the tasks of holding the infant and retrieving the items. Studies show that infants who always face away from the person carrying them can be over stimulated with no way to turn away from the stimulation. This often causes the infant distress. Studies also show that infants like to be held and so never carrying them is not a viable solution either.

SUMMARY

The disclosure also known as the Baby Band has toys attached to the chest band that are always in reach and are in the natural resting place for an infant's hands, no matter what position the infant is in. The infant cannot lose the toys, as they are attached, and constantly rediscovers them when returning the hands to a natural resting position.

The toy tethers are not long enough to wrap around the infant's neck or get tangled when the infant rolls over or crawls. The toys are large enough to be easily gripped by an infant but will compress to flat or near flat in order to allow for normal movement and development, such as rolling over or crawling.

The flexible band is adjustable for comfort, can be reversible, and gives enough not to be binding, so the infant can wear it for prolonged periods of time without discomfort but is securely fastened in the back with a variable fastener, such as hook and loop, to prevent it coming off. Also, the adjustable fastener of the chest band allows it to be worn without a shirt or with a winter jacket with equal ease.

Studies show that, until the age of 8-10 months, objects that are out of an infant's sight are believed by said infant to have disappeared forever. Until the milestone of permanence is reached, the continued presence of objects is reassuring and can be soothing to an infant.

By being the first wearable infant toy that is suitable for prolonged use, the Baby Band can be a soothing presence in an infant's life. Much like a security blanket, but without the infant being able to drop or throw it out of sight and reach.

From the moment they are physically capable until at least 10 months and often longer, infants will chew on their shirts to both explore and to teethe. This causes their shirts to be wet and can cause a yeast rash on their chests from the continuous moisture.

The flexible chest band of the Baby Band holds the infant's shirt down so that the infant may not pull it up to the mouth to teethe on. Instead, the infant teethes on the absorbent toys and they absorb the saliva, keeping the shirt dry. In addition, the band is breathable; so the chest will get air while it is being worn in the summer heat.

Infants can damage their clothing by teething on it after the emergence of the first tooth. The Baby Band holds down the infant's shirt to prevent teething on it. The teething toys are made of a durable material that can withstand infant teeth more easily than many infant shirt materials.

Infants like to have objects in their hands and, when being held, will often grasp the holder's hair, earring, necklace, glasses, etc. . . . By providing an infant with toys that may not be dropped easily, they are more likely to play with those than to grab at the holder's hair or accessories. The frequency of the occurrences may be reduced by such device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF DRAWINGS

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings the form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view in accordance with the present invention showing the detail of materials while unfastened.

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation view in accordance with the present invention showing that it is identical to the front and so is fully reversible.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view in accordance with the present invention showing how it appears when fastened.

Drawings and from the Detailed Description are as follows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is merely illustrative in nature and is not intended to limit the embodiments of the subject matter or the application and uses of such embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as exemplary is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description.

The present invention is a flexible band which attaches around an infant's chest under the arms and has flat or near flat toys attached to the band with tethers, in the line of an infant's natural hand position, allowing the infant to have constantly accessible toys to manipulate and teeth on.

FIG. 1 shows a front elevation of the invention, unfastened and laid flat. The depicted example comprises a flexible band (201) which is worn around an infant's chest under the arms. A short piece of hook (205) and longer piece of loop (206) are attached to the bad (201) for fastening. This pattern of hook (205) and loop (206) allows for the band (201) to be adjustable without having any hanging straps. Attached to the top (204) of the band (201) are two flexible tethers (203). The tethers (203) are positioned the correct distance apart so as to hang on the infant's chest where the hands will cross them when in a natural resting position. The tethers (203) are of such a length that the infant can easily reach the toys (202) but not long enough to wrap around the neck or entangle the infant when involved in normal movements. Attached to the tethers (203) are toys (202) which compress flat and are made of flexible absorbent material.

The adjustability of the fastening enables the invention to be worn by an infant from the time grasping is developed until around one year of age. A further benefit of the invention is that it is composed of machine washable materials and may be laundered as needed.

FIG. 2 show a rear elevation of the invention, unfastened and laid flat. The purpose of this view is to illustrate that the rear is identical to the front and so the band (201) is fully reversible, allowing for two distinct designs.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the invention, showing how it would appear when worn around an infant's chest. Because of the manner in which the tethers (203) are attached to the top (204) of the band (201), the tethers (203) and toys (202) hang slightly away from the band (201), making them more attractive and accessible to the infant.

While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or embodiments described herein are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the claimed subject matter in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing the described embodiment or embodiments. It should be understood that various changes can be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the scope defined by the disclosure, which includes known equivalents and foreseeable equivalents at the time of filing this patent application.

Claims

1. The system and all of its embodiments refer to;

a wearable toy band that may be worn around an infant's trunk;

a variable fastener that may be used to secure a flexible band;

the flexible band to have a top and a bottom edge;

the top edge to have one or more attached tethers;

the tethers to suspend one or more infant toys;

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein;

the variable fastener to be hook and loop material;

the hook and loop material to be placed in such a manner that the hook material is always mated to the loop, regardless of adjusted length.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising of,

the flexible band to be worn around the infant's chest just below the arms;

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising of,

the flexible band to be made from slightly stretchy material to allow for comfortable long duration use

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein,

the flexible band to be made from breathable material to allow for air flow to infant's person.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein,

the tethers to be attached to the top edge in such a way as to suspend them slightly away from the infant's body for increased interest and interaction;

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising of,

the tethers to be of the correct length and positioning to cross the natural resting position of an infant's hands, thereby enabling rediscovery and ease of gripping

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein,

the tethers to be of the correct length to prevent danger of strangulation or entanglement

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising of,

the tethers and toys to be made of a durable material to withstand teething;

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein,

the toys to be permanently attached to the tethers to prevent distress caused by dropping or losing individual or detachable toys and reassure infant's who have not yet reached the milestone of permanence

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein,

the toys to be flat or to compress flat to avoid impeding normal motor development or movement caused by attached bulky toys

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising of,

the toys to have textured edges to encourage teething and the development of fine motor skills through manipulation

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising of,

the toys to be made from an absorbent material to reduce saliva on the infant's clothes or person and thereby reduce the possibility of a teething rash on the infant's chest

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising of,

The reversible flexible band;

15. Claim 2 comprises of

An apparatus comprising of: a wearable toy band to suspend toys where an infant will encounter them when its hands are in a natural resting position; a variable fastener to secure a flexible band to be worn around an infant's chest just below the arms;

the flexible band to have a top and a bottom edge;

the top edge to have two attached tethers that are the correct length and positioning to cross the natural resting position of an infant's hands, thereby enabling rediscovery and ease of gripping;

The tethers to suspend one or more infant toy.

16. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising of,

the variable fastener to be hook and loop material;

the hook and loop material to be placed in such a manner that the hook material is always mated to the loop, regardless of adjusted length;

17. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein,

the tethers to be attached to the top edge in such a way as to suspend them slightly away from the infant's body for increased interest and interaction.

18. Claim 3 comprises of;

An apparatus;

a wearable toy band to allow for use in any natural infant position;

a variable fastener to secure a flexible band;

the flexible band to have a top and a bottom edge;

the top edge to have one or more attached tethers of the correct length to prevent danger of strangulation or entanglement;

the tethers to suspend one or more infant toys which are flat or compress flat to avoid impeding normal motor development or movement caused by attached bulky toys.