REPOSITIONING GARMENT

Abstract

A repositioning garment. The garment may include garment portion for enclosing a portion of a wearer's body, and a panel, coupled to the garment portion, defining at least two compartments between the garment portion and the panel, wherein the at least two compartments are adapted to be expanded and collapsed independently of each other, and wherein the at least two compartments are disposed proximate a wearer's back when the garment is worn.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 61/554,569, filed Nov. 2, 2011 and entitled MOVEMENT RESTRICTING GARMENT, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

When a person is sleeping, it is nearly impossible for the person sleeping to control the position they will remain in while asleep. For example, parents are routinely concerned about the position in which an infant child might be sleeping in because a child may easily roll into an unfavorable position causing asphyxiation or other health problems. Many experts and parents worry that if a child sleeps in a prone position it may increase the likelihood of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Additionally, there are concerns that if an infant sleeps on one particular side too often or for too long, the child may develop plagiocephaly, which is commonly known as Flat Head Syndrome. Parents may therefore wish for their children to sleep on a certain side in order to prevent or correct Flat Head Syndrome. Similarly, if an adult has had a medical procedure, such as an invasive surgery, the patient may be required to sleep in a certain position during recovery.

Solutions for facilitating a person sleeping in a certain position, present certain downfalls. For example, some such solutions are designed to wedge an infant in place between several supporting members, so as to reduce weight load on one side of the cranium, thereby allowing the weight load to be redistributed and thereby “evening out” the head. However, these solutions require various pillows and other products to be inserted into the crib. Not only do such requirements clutter the crib, but they may also increase the risk of SIDS. Further, it is possible that an active infant may remove themselves from a wedging device, rendering the device ineffective. Additionally, many of the current solutions involve solid, uncomfortable positioning devices. Due to the aforementioned problems, a simple, effective, conformable and space-saving device for positioning a person is desired.

SUMMARY

According to at least one exemplary embodiment, a repositioning garment may be disclosed. The garment may include garment portion for enclosing a portion of a wearer's body, and a panel, coupled to the garment portion, defining at least two compartments between the garment portion and the panel, wherein the at least two compartments are adapted to be expanded and collapsed independently of each other, and wherein the at least two compartments are disposed proximate a wearer's back when the garment is worn.

According to another exemplary embodiment, a repositioning device may be disclosed. The device may include a first layer, a second layer, and at least two compartments disposed between the first layer and the second layer, the compartments being adapted to be expanded and collapsed independently of each other, wherein the at least two compartments are disposed proximate a wearer's back when the device is worn.

According to another exemplary embodiment, a method for repositioning a person may be disclosed. The method may include providing a garment having at least two compartments therein, the compartments and adapted to be expanded and collapsed independently of each other, donning the garment such that the at least two compartments are disposed proximate a wearer's back, and inflating a first compartment of the at least two compartments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Advantages of embodiments of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments. The following detailed description should be considered in conjunction with the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a rear view of an exemplary embodiment of a repositioning garment.

FIG. 2a is a cross-sectional view along line A-A of FIG. 1, showing an exemplary embodiment of a repositioning garment.

FIG. 2b is a cross-sectional view along line A-A of FIG. 1, showing another exemplary embodiment of a repositioning garment.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of another exemplary embodiment of a repositioning garment.

FIG. 4a is a cross-sectional view along line A-A of FIG. 3, showing an exemplary embodiment of a repositioning garment.

FIG. 4b is a cross-sectional view along line A-A of FIG. 3, showing another exemplary embodiment of a repositioning garment.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of another exemplary embodiment of a repositioning garment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects of the present invention are disclosed in the following description and related figures directed to specific embodiments of the invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize that alternate embodiments may be devised without departing from the spirit or the scope of the claims. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention.

As used herein, the word “exemplary” means “serving as an example, instance or illustration.” The embodiments described herein are not limiting, but rather are exemplary only. It should be understood that the described embodiments are not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Moreover, the terms “embodiments of the invention”, “embodiments” or “invention” do not require that all embodiments of the invention include the discussed feature, advantage, or mode of operation.

Referring generally to FIGS. 1-5, according to at least one exemplary embodiment, a repositioning garment may be disclosed. The garment may be a repositioning garment that can facilitate a wearer sleeping in a desired position so as to distribute the weight load on the wearer's back and head. The garment may contain a plurality of compartments which may be inflated or may be capable of receiving inflatable items. The inflation of such compartments may adjust the position of a wearer sleeping in a supine position, for example, by elevating one side of the wearer higher than a second side of the person so as to reduce the weight load on the elevated side and on the side of the skull that corresponds to the elevated side.

Turning to FIGS. 1-2b, an exemplary embodiment of a repositioning garment 200 may be disclosed. Repositioning garment 100 may be, for example, an infant sleeper such as a “onesie.” Garment 100 may be constructed from any desirable material, such as wool, cotton, nylon, spandex or some combination thereof. Further, garment 100 may be constructed in any manner known in the art, such as through traditional garment sewing methods. Garment 100 may be sewn together from multiple fabric cut patterns and may include overlapping panels. Generally, garment 100 may be manufactured by coupling together multiple fabric panels so as to create a tubular encasing. Further, garment 100 can be formed in any size or shape, for example, any other type of human-wearable garment, such as a shirt. Furthermore, garment 100 may contain openings, such as tubular openings, which may allow the garment to substantially cover the abdomen and waist areas of the wearer while allowing the wearer's extremities to remain uncovered. In some alternate exemplary embodiments, garment 100 may be constructed as a shirt, vest or any desirable upper body garment. However, a full body, or onesie configuration, may be utilized when the garment is used or worn by an infant.

Garment 100, in some exemplary embodiments, may include snaps, buttons and the like to secure garment 100 around a wearer. For example, garment 100 may include fasteners 102 which may serve to maintain garment 100 on the body of a wearer. Fasteners 102 may be, for example, buttons, hook-and-loop fasteners, snaps, drawstrings, or any other type of fastener that can facilitate coupling the front and rear portions of garment 100. Complementary fasteners may further be provided on garment 100, for example in the case of hook-and-loop fastener pairs, snap pairs, and the like. Fasteners 102 and the corresponding complementary fasteners may be provided on the bottom portion of garment 100, on the sides of garment 100, or at any desired location that enables garment 100 to function as described herein.

Garment 100 may further include a plurality of compartments 104. Compartments 104 may be manufactured from any desirable material and may be manufactured in accordance with any manner known in the arts. Further, compartments 104 may be shaped in any desirable shape of any desirable size. For example, compartments 104 may be constructed from synthetic fiber material. Furthermore, compartments 104 may be disposed such that, when the garment is worn, none of compartments 104 are disposed substantially over the wearer's spine.

In some exemplary embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 1-2b, compartments 104 may be formed by coupling at least one additional panel 108 to a garment panel 106 of garment 100. Panels 106, 108, may be coupled by any manner that allows garment 100 to function as described herein, for example by a plurality of peripheral seams 110 disposed at desired edges of additional panel 108. Interior seams 112 may be provided to couple panels 106, 108 so as to separate compartments 104 from each other and to reduce the likelihood of any compartment 104 being disposed over the wearer's spine when the garment is worn. The additional panel 108 may be disposed externally in relation to garment panel 106, as shown in FIG. 2a, or may be disposed internally in relation to garment panel 106, as shown in FIG. 2b.

In some exemplary embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 1-2b, garment 100 may include a pair of compartments 104a, 104b. Compartments 104a, 104b may be oriented substantially longitudinally along the rear of garment 100, with compartment 104a being disposed such that it is on a first side of the wearer's spine when garment 100 is worn, and compartment 104b being disposed such that it is on a second side of the wearer's spine when garment 100 is worn. To that end, an interior seam 112 may be provided and oriented such that seam 112 is parallel to and proximate the wearer's spine when the garment is worn.

Compartments 104 may be sized and shaped to accept inflatable members 120 therein. Inflatable members 120 may be any substantially airtight inflatable objects, such as, for example, inflatable tubes. Inflatable members 120 may be configured to accept and contain any desired substance, such as, but not limited to, air, water or any desired gaseous or liquid substance. Each inflatable member 120 may be provided with a valve 122, which can allow a user to inflate, deflate, or otherwise fill or empty the inflatable member as desired. Valve 122 may be a resealable valve of any type, shape or size and may allow any desirable substance to be introduced into inflatable member 120. Garment 100 may include at least one inflatable member.

Inflatable members 120 may be insertable and removable into compartments 104. To that end, additional panel 108 may be provided with a free edge 114 that is not permanently coupled to garment panel 106, thereby providing an aperture through which inflatable members 120 may be inserted or removed. Fasteners 116 may be provided on additional panel 108 proximate to free edge 114, so as to selectively couple free edge 114 to garment panel 106, and to facilitate maintaining inflatable members 120 within compartments 104. Fasteners 116 may be, for example, buttons, hook-and-loop fasteners, snaps, drawstrings, or any other type of fastener that can facilitate coupling panels 106, 108. Complementary fasteners may further be provided on garment panel 106, for example in the case of hook-and-loop fastener pairs, snap pairs, and the like. Alternatively, complementary fasteners 117 may be provided on flaps 124 coupled to garment panel 102 and positioned so as to couple to fasteners 116 and facilitate maintaining inflatable members 120 within compartments 104.

In some exemplary embodiments, removing inflatable members 120 from compartments 104 can allow the user to operate valve 122, so as to fill or empty an inflatable member 120. In other exemplary embodiments, apertures 118 may be provided within garment panel 108. Apertures 118 can be sized, shaped and positioned so as to receive valve 122 therethrough when an inflatable member 120 is positioned within a compartment 104. This can facilitate filling or emptying an inflatable member 120 while it is disposed within a compartment 104.

In some exemplary embodiments, a resilient band 126 may be disposed between garment panel 106 and additional panel 108. Resilient band 126 can facilitate minimizing the volume of compartments 104. When an inflatable member 120 is disposed within a compartment 104, resilient band 126 can constrict the inflatable member 120 so as to maintain the inflatable member in place and reduce the likelihood of the inflatable member moving within compartment 104 away from a desired position.

In operation, one of compartments 104a, 104b may be selectively inflated while the remaining compartment remains deflated. When one of compartments 104a, 104b is inflated while a wearer is in a supine position, the inflated compartment may raise the corresponding potion of the wearer's back, serving to tilt the wearer. Alternatively, if both compartments 104a, 104b are inflated, they may serve to elevate or prop up the wearer's back.

When the wearer is in a supine position, the selective inflation of one of compartments 104a, 104b can facilitate reducing the weight load on the portion of the wearer's back and head that corresponds to the non-inflated compartment. In exemplary embodiments where garment 100 is worn by an infant, the inflation of alternate compartments may enable a user to prevent or correct Flat Head Syndrome in the wearer. For example, a user may inflate compartment 104a while leaving compartment 104b deflated, thereby relieving pressure from one side of the wearer's head and shift weight to a second side of the head. If the first side of a wearer's head has symptoms of Flat Head Syndrome, a user may have a child sleep such a configuration for a plurality of consecutive nights. Alternatively, if a user desires to simply prevent Flat Head Syndrome, the inflation of compartments 104a, 104b may be alternated on a nightly basis with compartment 104a being the only inflated compartment on a first night, compartment 104b being the only inflated compartment on a second night, alternating on a nightly basis thereafter to ensure even weight bearing on both sides of the head. Further, any exemplary methods or timing of inflating or deflating may be used, as desired.

Turning to FIGS. 3-4b, another exemplary embodiment of a repositioning garment 200 may be disclosed. Repositioning garment 200 may be, for example, an infant sleeper such as a “onesie.” Garment 200 may be constructed from any desirable material, such as wool, cotton, nylon, spandex or some combination thereof. Further, garment 200 may be constructed in any manner known in the art, such as through traditional garment sewing methods. Garment 200 may be sewn together from multiple fabric cut patterns and may include overlapping panels. Generally, garment 200 may be manufactured by coupling together multiple fabric panels so as to create a tubular encasing. Further, garment 200 can be formed in any size or shape, for example, any other type of human-wearable garment, such as a shirt. Furthermore, garment 200 may contain openings, such as tubular openings, which may allow the garment to substantially cover the abdomen and waist areas of the wearer while allowing the wearer's extremities to remain uncovered. In some alternate exemplary embodiments, garment 200 may be constructed as a shirt, vest or any desirable upper body garment. However, a full body, or onesie configuration, may be utilized when the garment is used or worn by an infant.

Garment 200, in some exemplary embodiments, may include snaps, buttons and the like to secure garment 200 around a wearer. For example, garment 200 may include fasteners 202 which may serve to maintain garment 200 on the body of a wearer. Fasteners 202 may be, for example, buttons, hook-and-loop fasteners, snaps, drawstrings, or any other type of fastener that can facilitate coupling the front and rear portions of garment 200. Complementary fasteners may further be provided on garment 200, for example in the case of hook-and-loop fastener pairs, snap pairs, and the like. Fasteners 202 and the corresponding complementary fasteners may be provided on the bottom portion of garment 200, on the sides of garment 200, or at any desired location that enables garment 200 to function as described herein.

Garment 200 may further include a plurality of compartments 204. Compartments 204 may be manufactured from any desirable material and may be manufactured in accordance with any manner known in the arts. Further, compartments 204 may be shaped in any desirable shape of any desirable size. For example, compartments 204 may be constructed from synthetic fiber material. Furthermore, compartments 204 may be disposed such that, when the garment is worn, none of compartments 204 are disposed substantially over the wearer's spine.

In some exemplary embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 3-4b, compartments 204 may be formed by coupling at least one additional panel 208 to a garment panel 206 of garment 200. Panels 206, 208, may be coupled by any manner that allows garment 200 to function as described herein, for example by a plurality of peripheral seams 210 disposed around the perimeter of additional panel 208. Interior seams 212 may be provided to couple panels 206, 208 so as to separate compartments 204 from each other and to reduce the likelihood of any compartment 204 being disposed over the wearer's spine when the garment is worn. The additional panel 208 may be disposed externally in relation to garment panel 206, as shown in FIG. 4a, or may be disposed internally in relation to garment panel 206, as shown in FIG. 4b.

In some exemplary embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 3-4b, garment 200 may include a pair of compartments 204a, 204b. Compartments 204a, 104b may be oriented substantially longitudinally along the rear of garment 200, with compartment 204a being disposed such that it is on a first side of the wearer's spine when garment 200 is worn, and compartment 204b being disposed such that it is on a second side of the wearer's spine when garment 200 is worn. To that end, an interior seam 212 may be provided and oriented such that seam 212 is parallel to and proximate the wearer's spine when the garment is worn.

Each compartment 204 may be provided with an air-impermeable internal liner 220. Internal liner 220 may formed from a natural or synthetic elastomeric polymer, or any other material that enables garment 200 to function as described herein. Internal liner 220 may form a substantially airtight enclosure, so as to form an inflatable inner tube 224, which can be configured to accept and contain any desired substance, such as, but not limited to, air, water or any desired gaseous or liquid substance. Each inner tube 224 may be provided with a valve 222, which can allow a user to inflate, deflate, or otherwise fill or empty the inner tube as desired. Valve 222 may be a resealable valve of any type, shape or size and may allow any desirable substance to be introduced into inner tube 224.

In operation, one of compartments 204a, 204b may be selectively inflated while the remaining compartment remains deflated. When one of compartments 204a, 204b is inflated while a wearer is in a supine position, the inflated compartment may raise the corresponding potion of the wearer's back, serving to tilt the wearer. Alternatively, if both compartments 204a, 104b are inflated, they may serve to elevate or prop up the wearer's back.

When the wearer is in a supine position, the selective inflation of one of compartments 204a, 204b can facilitate reducing the weight load on the portion of the wearer's back and head that corresponds to the non-inflated compartment. In exemplary embodiments where garment 200 is worn by an infant, the inflation of alternate compartments may enable a user to prevent or correct Flat Head Syndrome in the wearer. For example, a user may inflate compartment 204a while leaving compartment 204b deflated, thereby relieving pressure from one side of the wearer's head and shift weight to a second side of the head. If the first side of a wearer's head has symptoms of Flat Head Syndrome, a user may have a child sleep such a configuration for a plurality of consecutive nights. Alternatively, if a user desires to simply prevent Flat Head Syndrome, the inflation of compartments 204a, 204b may be alternated on a nightly basis with compartment 204a being the only inflated compartment on a first night, compartment 204b being the only inflated compartment on a second night, alternating on a nightly basis thereafter to ensure even weight bearing on both sides of the head. Further, any exemplary methods or timing of inflating or deflating may be used, as desired.

Turning to FIG. 5, in some exemplary embodiments, an automated electronic pump 250 may be provided with garment 200. Pump 250 can facilitate inflating and deflating compartments 204 of garment 200. To that end, pump 250 may be in fluid communication with compartments 204, for example via conduits 252, which may be, for example, hoses or the like. Each conduit 252 may be directly and hermetically coupled to an inner tube 224 via any coupling means that enables garment 200 to function as described herein. Alternatively, each conduit 252 may be removably and hermetically coupled to a valve 222, for example via a fitting disposed on an end of conduit 252, which facilitates a removable hermetic coupling with valve 222.

Pump 250 may be any known type of pump that enables garment 200 to function as described herein. Pump 250 may further include logic adapted to alternatively inflate and deflate compartments 204 at desired intervals and to maintain compartments 204 inflated for desired duration. Further, pump 250 may be adapted to inflate compartments 204 at a rate that does not disturb the sleep of a wearer of garment 200.

It should be appreciated that embodiments of the garments described herein may be adapted to various sizes, and may be adapted for wearers of diverse ages. To that end, embodiments of the garments described herein may be any type of upper body garment, and may include any desired number of inflatable compartments, which may be oriented longitudinally, transversely, or in any desired orientation along the wearer's body. The inflatable compartments may extend substantially over the area of the wearer's back. Embodiments of the garments described herein can provide for the repositioning of a wearer's body as well as for the restriction of a wearer's movement. Embodiments of garments described herein may provide the wearer with a comfortable, yet effective support to ensure that they do not unintentionally roll into an undesirable position while sleeping. This may prevent complications during recovery from medical procedures, prevent or correct problems commonly associated with infants sleeping in the wrong position, such as SIDS and Flat Head Syndrome, facilitate movement and positioning of nonambulatory patients, and so forth.

The foregoing description and accompanying figures illustrate the principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the invention. However, the invention should not be construed as being limited to the particular embodiments discussed above. Additional variations of the embodiments discussed above will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

Therefore, the above-described embodiments should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Accordingly, it should be appreciated that variations to those embodiments can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A repositioning device, comprising:

a first layer;

a second layer; and

at least two compartments disposed between the first layer and the second layer, the compartments being adapted to be expanded and collapsed independently of each other;

wherein the at least two compartments are disposed proximate a wearer's back when the device is worn.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein each compartment comprises an air-impermeable liner.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein each compartment comprises a removable inflatable member.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least two compartments are oriented substantially longitudinally along the back of the wearer.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least two compartments are not disposed over the wearer's spine.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least two compartments are separated by at least one seam.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the seam is oriented parallel to and proximate the wearer's spine.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising a pump in fluid communication with the at least two compartments.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is sized to fit an infant.

10. A repositioning garment, comprising:

a garment portion for enclosing a portion of a wearer's body; and

a panel, coupled to the garment portion, defining at least two compartments between the garment portion and the panel;

wherein the at least two compartments are adapted to be expanded and collapsed independently of each other; and

wherein the at least two compartments are disposed proximate a wearer's back when the garment is worn.

11. The garment of claim 10, wherein each compartment comprises an air-impermeable liner.

12. The garment of claim 10, wherein each compartment comprises a removable inflatable member.

13. The garment of claim 10, wherein the at least two compartments are oriented substantially longitudinally along the back of the wearer.

14. The garment of claim 10, wherein the at least two compartments are not disposed over the wearer's spine.

15. The garment of claim 10, wherein the at least two compartments are separated by at least one seam.

16. The garment of claim 15, wherein the seam is oriented parallel to and proximate the wearer's spine.

17. A method for positioning a person, comprising:

providing a garment having at least two compartments therein, the compartments and adapted to be expanded and collapsed independently of each other;

donning the garment such that the at least two compartments are disposed proximate a wearer's back; and

inflating a first compartment of the at least two compartments.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

deflating the first compartment; and

inflating a second compartment of the at least two compartments.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the compartments are oriented substantially longitudinally along the back of the wearer.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein each compartment comprises one of an air-impermeable liner or a removable inflatable member.