CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is related to and claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/553,163 filed on Sep. 1, 2017 titled Improved Sleep Suit Designs.
BACKGROUND Infants and young children are notorious for having difficulty sleeping through the night. One method for helping infants sleep better, both more deeply and for longer periods of time, is by swaddling (i.e.: wrapping infants tightly in a blanket). It is unknown why precisely swaddling helps infants sleep, but one possibility is that the wrapping simulates the pressure and security found in the womb. Swaddling may also reduce instances of spontaneous arousal by suppressing the startle reflex and/or the Moro reflex, both of which usually result in an infant waking and crying.
Traditional swaddling has a number of disadvantages including that it can be complicated to learn how to swaddle correctly and makes checking a baby's diaper difficult without at least partially unswaddling and possibly waking the baby. Swaddled infants will also be more likely to be overly warm while sleeping as they are wrapped tightly in a blanket. Sleepwear designed for infants attempt to recreate the benefits of swaddling without some of the drawbacks. Such sleeps suits are typically easier to put on and take off an infant, but they also make checking a diaper without partial removal difficult. Many of these sleep suits also have the problem of causing infants to be overly warm while sleeping as they are made from thickly padded material in an attempt to simulate the comforting effects of swaddling. What is needed are sleep suits which mimic the beneficial effects of swaddling without the drawbacks embodied in current sleepwear for infants.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front plan view of an infant sleep suit according to one embodiment of the disclosed technology.
FIG. 2 is another front plan view of the infant sleep suit of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of a ventilation feature according to one embodiment of the disclosed technology.
FIG. 4 is a back plan of an infant sleep suit according to one embodiment of the disclosed technology.
FIG. 5 is a back plan of an infant sleep suit according to another embodiment of the disclosed technology.
FIG. 6 is a back plan of an infant sleep suit according to still another embodiment of the disclosed technology.
FIG. 7 is a back plan of an infant sleep suit according to yet another embodiment of the disclosed technology.
FIG. 8 is a front plan of an infant sleep suit according to an embodiment of the disclosed technology.
FIG. 9 is a back plan of an infant sleep suit according to an embodiment of the disclosed technology.
FIG. 10 is a back plan of an infant sleep suit according to another embodiment of the disclosed technology.
FIG. 11 is a back plan of an infant sleep suit according to yet another embodiment of the disclosed technology.
FIG. 12 is a front plan of an infant sleep suit according to an embodiment of the disclosed technology.
FIG. 13 is a front plan of an infant sleep suit according to another embodiment of the disclosed technology.
FIG. 14 is a front plan of another infant sleep suit according to an embodiment of the disclosed technology.
FIG. 15 is a front plan of yet another infant sleep suit according to an embodiment of the disclosed technology.
FIG. 16 is a front plan of still another infant sleep suit according to an embodiment of the disclosed technology.
FIG. 17 is a front plan of an infant sleep suit according to a further embodiment of the disclosed technology.
FIG. 18 is a front plan of an infant sleep suit according to another embodiment of the disclosed technology.
FIG. 19 is a front plan of an infant sleep suit according to still another embodiment of the disclosed technology.
FIG. 20 is a front plan of an infant sleep suit according to an embodiment of the disclosed technology.
FIG. 21 is a front plan of an infant sleep suit according to yet another embodiment of the disclosed technology.
FIG. 22 is a cross sectional view of material according to an embodiment of the disclosed technology.
FIG. 23 is a cross sectional view of material according to another embodiment of the disclosed technology.
FIG. 24 is a cross sectional view of material according to a further embodiment of the disclosed technology.
DESCRIPTION For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the claimed technology and presenting its currently understood best mode of operation, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the claimed technology is thereby intended, with such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device and such further applications of the principles of the claimed technology as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the claimed technology relates.
The present application discloses a variety of apparel designs for infants and small children. Specifically, clothing designed to be worn while a child is sleeping to enhance the quality of sleep, regulate temperature, and/or improve the duration of restful sleep. The individual features found in the examples shown below may be combined in such a manner to produce articles of clothing having two or more of the disclosed features, as desired. The examples disclosed below are not intended to be exhaustive or limit the disclosed inventions to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description and drawings. Rather, the examples are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may utilize their teachings.
The sleep suits shown in the following examples may be sized and/or configured to fit a variety of infants or small children such as those from 0-12 months in age, 7-26 pounds in weight, and any combination thereof. The sleep suits may be made from a variety of suitable materials or combinations of materials in a variety of colors, styles, and patterns. They may include one or more inner (lining) layer and one or more outer (shell) layer separated by one or more layers of filling. Optionally different portions of a suit may have different numbers and/or types of layers. For example, a suit may have one fill layer over the torso but two fill layers over the arms and legs. The inner and outer layers may be made from the same or different materials such as cotton, wool, flannel, linen, or suitable synthetic materials. The filling layers may be made from polyester, polyfil, polyester blends, cotton, wool, flannel, felt, and the like.
Some of the sleep suits in the following examples are designed to decrease or dampen the Moro reflex and/or startle reflex in infants. Other examples are designed to decrease or dampen the Moro reflex and/or startle reflex in infants while also allowing greater temperature regulation to prevent infants from overheating or sleeping warm while wearing the suit. Still other examples are designed to mimic the pressure of being held to provide a calming sense of comfort to an infant. Sleep suits according to the disclosed technology may combine two or more of these features.
FIGS. 1-2 show a one piece sleeper suit according to one example of the disclosed technology. In this example, the sleeper suit 30 includes arm portions (sleeves) 32 which are adjustable in length by rolling up (FIG. 1) or unrolling (FIG. 2) to expose more or less of an infant's arms and/or hands. The sleeper suit 30 also includes leg portions 34 which are adjustable in length by rolling up (FIG. 1) or unrolling (FIG. 2) to expose more or less of an infant's legs and/or feet. Adjustment of the leg portions 34 and/or arm portions 32 may be used to help control the temperature of the infant. Optionally the arm portions and/or sleeve portions may be flared or bugled so as to make rolling up the portions easier. The arm and leg portions may also include securing features such as snaps, buttons, hook and loop fasteners, and the like to prevent them from inadvertently unrolling.
The sleeper suit 30 further includes a zipper 38 which allows the anterior side of the sleeper suit 30 to be opened when placing the infant in the suit or removing the suit. Additionally, the sipper 38 allows an adjustable, scooped neckline 36 to be more open or closed as desired for comfort/temperature regulation of the infant. In other examples the suit may include more than one zipper. Buttons 40 and corresponding button holes 44 may be included to allow the neck 36 and/or upper portion of the anterior panel of the suit to be held open. Optionally the suit 30 further includes additional decorative buttons 42 as desired. Any such buttons 40, 42 used on a suit designed for infants should be sized, selected, and secured (such as by riveting) so as not to present a choking hazard. The suit 30 may further include a clip area 46 such as for attaching a pacifier or teething device. The suit 30 may also be widened near the waist 48 so as to allow extra room for a diaper.
FIG. 3 shows a sleep suit 50 having a ventilation feature 60. The ventilation feature 60 in this example is an opening 52 in the outer layer, inner layer, and fill layer extending from the armpit area 58 to generally the waist area 64 along the side 62 of the sleep suit 50. The opening 52 further includes a mesh portion 54 which allows for ventilation of the suit interior, expansion of the suit, and regulation of temperature. A zipper 56 may be used to adjustably open or close the ventilation feature 60 as desired. In other examples such ventilation features may be larger or smaller, located at different position(s) on a sleep suit, and/or different in number on a particular suit. Ins till other examples, such ventilation features may be held closed using other mechanisms such as buttons, snaps, hook and loop fasteners, and the like or may not include securing/closure features.
As shown in FIG. 4, a sleep suit 70 includes two ventilation features 74, 76 having mesh portions 78, 80 selectively closable using zippers 82, 84 disposed on the anterior side 72 of the sleep suit 70. As shown in FIG. 5, a sleep suit 80 has a plurality of ventilation features disposed on the anterior portion 92 of the suit 90, including two on the arms 94, two on the back 96, and two on the legs 98. In this example, the ventilation features 94, 96, 98 do not include a closure feature. FIG. 6 shows a sleep suit 100 having an anterior portion 102 of mesh fabric 104. The mesh back panel 104 extends from the neck opening 106 to near the waist 108. FIG. 7 shows a sleep suit 110 having an anterior portion 112 where the back and legs are covered with mesh material. In such examples the front (anterior) portion and non-mesh covered portions of the suits may still be made from typical layered construction with fill material such as previously described.
FIG. 8 shows a sleep suit 116 having an anterior portion 118 made from mesh material 120. In such examples the rear (posterior) portion and non-mesh covered portions of the suits may still be made from typical layered construction with fill material such as previously described.
FIG. 9 shows a sleep suit 122 having an access feature 124 which may be held closed using a closure feature 126. In this particular example, the access feature 124 is held closed using a zipper, but in other examples it may be held closed using buttons, snaps, hook and loop material, or other suitable closure methods. Optionally the closure feature may be hidden or eliminated using a double over flap. The access feature allows for diaper status to be checked without removing the infant from a sleep suit. FIG. 10 shows a sleep suit 128 having an access feature 132 located near the crotch covered by a flap 130 which may be secured using buttons, snaps, zippers, hook and loop material, and the like. The access feature 132 allows for checking diaper status without having to remove in infant from the sleep suit.
FIG. 11 shows an example of a sleep suit 140 having a plurality of stiffeners or stays 142, 144, 146, 148 embedded within the layers of material of the suit. The stays may be rigid or semi-rigid, as desired, and act to reduce/muffle an infant's movement or startle reflex to improve sleep quality. The stays may allow for a reduced use of fill material in a suit allowing for a lighter sleep suit which retains less heat allowing for a cooler infant. The stays may be made from plastic, metal, composite, or any other suitable material. The location, shape, size, configuration, orientation, and/or number of stays may vary from suit to suit as desired. FIG. 24 shows a partial cross sectional view of an example stays embedded in material suitable in a sleep suit. In this example, the material 150 has a first layer 152 and a second layer 154 with stays 156 disposed therebetween. In this particular example, two stays are shown, but greater or fewer stays may be used. Space 158 surrounding the stays may be occupied using fill material or left empty as desired.
FIG. 12 shows an example of a sleep suit 160 having sleeves 162 which are removable. The sleeves 162 are shown in this example as being secured using zippers 164. In other examples, the sleeves may be secured using buttons, snaps, hook and loop fasteners, or other suitable securing means. In still other examples, the leg portions of the suit may be removable using similar securing means.
FIG. 13 shows an example of a sleep suit cover or shell 170 which includes several features designed to protect an infant from poor weather conditions. The outer shell 172 may be made from a weather/water resistant material such as latex, polyester, stretched polytetrafluoroethylene, and the like. The leg portions may include a foot covering/booty 176 secured using a securing feature 178 such as buttons, snaps, zippers, hook and loop fasteners, and the like. The arm portions may include fitted or adjustable wrists 174 to reduce airflow into the suit. Optionally, gloves or mittens (not shown) may be secured to cover the hands using securing features 186 such as buttons, snaps, zippers, hook and loop material, and the like. The neck opening 188 may include a collar 180 which may be rolled up and secured using a securing feature 182 to cover an infant's neck. Optionally, a removable hood (not shown) may also be secured to the collar using a securing feature 182. The shell may also include an adjustable/stretchable waistline to allow for easier donning/doffing of the shell 170. Optionally, a sleep suit include one or more of these features directly.
FIG. 14 shows an example of a sleep suit 190 having two zippers 192, 194 for allowing donning/doffing of the suit. The zippers begin at an adjustable V-neck and terminate in the leg portions of the suit. The Disposed between the zippers is a flap 202 which may be pulled down as desired to increase ventilation of an infant. Optionally, the flap 202 may be secured in the down position using one or more securing features 198, 200. In this particular example, the securing features include metal portions 198 and magnetic portions 200. The securing features may be mounted to the surface of the sleep suit or disposed between layers of material in the sleep suit. In other examples, different type of securing features may be used such as buttons, snaps, hook and loop material, and the like. Optionally, additional metal securing features such as buttons and/or cloth replicas may be added for esthetic purposes.
FIG. 15 shows a sleep suit 210 having an adjustable V-neck opening 218. A pair of zippers 212, 214 begin at the neck opening 218 and terminate on the leg portions of the suit 210. Disposed between the zippers is a flap 216 which may be opened or closed as desired for comfort, heat regulation, and the like. The flap may be secured open using securing features which in this particular example are button openings 220, a first row of buttons 222, and a second row of buttons 224. This configuration allows the flap to be secured in the up position, a first open position (using the first row of buttons 222) and a second open position (using the second row of buttons 224). In other examples, more or fewer rows of buttons may be used. In still other examples, other types of securing feature may be used such as snaps, hook and loop material, magnets, and the like.
FIG. 16 shows a sleep suit 230 having a single zipper 232 which begins at a V-neck opening 236 and terminated on a leg portion. The zipper divides the anterior side of the suit into two portions 240, 246 which may be secured in a semi-open position by buttons 234 and button holes 238 when the zipper is not fully zipped. Optionally, the suit includes additional buttons 244 for aesthetic purposes. In this particular example, the suit 230 includes additional fill/weighting 242 added to the upper torso. This additional material may provide an infant with a feeling of security by simulated touch allowing for better, deeper sleep. The additional fill material may also act to dampen the Moro and/or startle reflexes of the infant. The material may be additional fill material or a different, heavier fill material than is used throughout the remainder of the suit.
FIG. 17 shows a sleep suit 250 having dual zippers 252 which begin at a V-neck opening 254 and terminated on the leg portions. The zippers create on the anterior side of the suit a middle portion 262 which may be secured in a semi-open position by buttons 258 and a button hole 256 when the zippers are not fully zipped. Optionally, the suit includes additional buttons for aesthetic purposes. In this particular example, the suit 250 includes additional fill/weighting 260 added to the upper torso. This additional material may provide an infant with a feeling of security by simulated touch allowing for better, deeper sleep. The additional fill material may also act to dampen the Moro and/or startle reflexes of the infant. The material may be additional fill material or a different, heavier fill material than is used throughout the remainder of the suit.
FIG. 18 shows a sleep suit 270 having a single zipper 274 which begins at a V-neck opening 272 and terminated on a leg portion. The zipper divides the anterior side of the suit into two portions 280, 282 which may be secured in a semi-open position by buttons 276 and button holes 278 when the zipper is not fully zipped. Optionally, the suit includes additional buttons 284 for aesthetic purposes. In this particular example, the suit 270 includes additional fill/weighting added to the upper torso 290, the arm portions 286, and the leg portions 288. This additional material may provide an infant with a feeling of security by simulated touch allowing for better, deeper sleep. The additional fill material may also act to dampen the Moro and/or startle reflexes of the infant. The material may be additional fill material or a different, heavier fill material than is used throughout the remainder of the suit.
FIG. 19 shows a sleep suit 300 having dual zippers 304 which begin at a V-neck opening 302 and terminated at on the leg portions. The zippers create on the anterior side of the suit a middle portion 310 which may be secured in a semi-open position by buttons 308 and a button hole 306 when the zippers are not fully zipped. Optionally, the suit includes additional buttons for aesthetic purposes. In this particular example, the suit 300 includes additional fill/weighting added to the upper torso 316, arm portions 312, and leg portions 314. This additional material may provide an infant with a feeling of security by simulated touch allowing for better, deeper sleep. The additional fill material may also act to dampen the Moro and/or startle reflexes of the infant. The material may be additional fill material or a different, heavier fill material than is used throughout the remainder of the suit.
FIG. 20 shows a sleep suit 320 having a single zipper 324 which begins at a opening 322 and terminates on a leg portion. The zipper divides the anterior side of the suit into two portions 332, 334 which may be secured in a semi-open position by buttons 330 and button holes 328 when the zipper is not fully zipped. Optionally, the suit includes additional buttons 326 for aesthetic purposes. In this particular example, the suit 320 includes additional fill/weighting added to the leg portions 338 and arm portions 336, the arm portions 286, and the leg portions 288. This additional material may provide an infant with a feeling of security by simulated touch allowing for better, deeper sleep and allow for a decrease or elimination of the amount of fill material in the torso area. The additional fill material may also act to dampen the Moro and/or startle reflexes of the infant. The material may be additional fill material or a different, heavier fill material than is used throughout the remainder of the suit.
FIG. 21 shows a sleep suit 340 having a securing feature 346 disposed on the legs of the suit. The securing feature in this example is a button 342 and corresponding elastic loop 344 which may be fastened together to secure/bind an infant's legs so as to restrict movement and simulate a full swaddle/wrap. Other types of securing features may be used such as snaps, magnets, hook and loop material, and the like.
FIGS. 22 and 23 show examples of layered materials suitable for constructing the sleep suits discussed above. As shown in FIG. 22, the material 400 a first layer 402 and a second layer 404 between which is disposed a fill layer 406. The first and second layers may be made from the same or different materials including, but not limited to, polyesters, cotton, wool, linen, silk, felt, flannel, composites of the same, and the like. The layers may be solid, porous, or mesh. The fill layer is a material which is more dense and/or heavier than one or both of the first and second layer including, but not limited to polyesters, cotton, wool, felt, flannel, composites of the same, and the like. The increased weight provided by the fill layer provides a weighted feeling to the infant which mimics touch and may provide a deeper sleep experience. As shown in FIG. 23, the material 408 a first layer 410 and a second layer 412 between which is disposed a fill layer 414. The first and second layers may be made from the same or different materials including, but not limited to, polyesters, cotton, wool, linen, silk, felt, flannel, composites of the same, and the like. The layers may be solid, porous, or mesh. The fill layer is a material which is less dense and/or lighter than one or both of the first and second layer including, but not limited to polyesters, cotton, wool, felt, flannel, composites of the same, and the like. The lighter fill layer may provide increased breathability of the material as well as decrease the heat trapped against the infant allowing for a cooler sleeping experience. The weight of fill material in the disclosed sleep suits as measured in grams per square meter (GSM) is typically from 50 to 1000 GSM. The weight of the inner lining and outer shell is typically 100 to 190 GSM. In other examples, materials for the fill, inner lining, and/or outer shell having a higher or lower weight as measured in GSM may be used. In some examples, portions of a sleep suit will have fill material with a heavier weight whereas other portions will have fill material with a lighter weight and/or no fill material at all. Sleep suits described herein may be made from combinations of the types of materials described in FIGS. 22 and 23 with the amount and placement of each material selected to achieve a particular combination of temperature regulation, comfort, weighted feeling, and the like.
While the claimed technology has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character. It is understood that the embodiments have been shown and described in the foregoing specification in satisfaction of the best mode and enablement requirements. It is understood that one of ordinary skill in the art could readily make a nigh-infinite number of insubstantial changes and modifications to the above-described embodiments and that it would be impractical to attempt to describe all such embodiment variations in the present specification. Accordingly, it is understood that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the claimed technology are desired to be protected.
