BABY FEEDING CUSHION

Abstract

The invention relates to a cushion for providing support when holding and/or feeding a baby. The cushion includes a sleeve to allow a user to removably attach the cushion to the user's arm.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for providing support when holding and/or feeding a baby.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

When cradling a baby—particularly an infant—configuring oneself in a position that is comfortable and that is also comfortable for the baby can be a challenge. It may be especially important for the baby to be in a comfortable position; particularly when the baby is being fed. Moreover, once one finds a position that is sufficiently comfortable, it can be difficult to remain in that position as other things require attention (e.g., a ringing telephone, a knock at the door, etc.) or require the individual to move to a different location. It would therefore be desirable to have a cushion that supports the arm of an individual holding a baby in a position that may be comfortable for both the individual and the baby, and, further, for such cushion to be easily transportable.

There are baby feeding cushions generally available to assist in cradling and providing mechanical support to babies, but none are easily transportable; for instance, the Boppy™ pillow (available from The Boppy Company; Golden, Colo.). Instead, such cushions require a user to separately grasp the cushion when rising from a seated position and/or relocating. If the user is already holding a baby, and perhaps other paraphernalia (e.g., a bottle, pacifier, blanket, etc.), it can be quite inconvenient to additionally grasp and carry a cushion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced figures. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive.

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, including a cushion and a sleeve.

FIG. 2 depicts a side view of a device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, including a cushion and a sleeve.

FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of a device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, including a cushion, a sleeve and a pocket.

FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view of a device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, including a cushion with a flat portion.

FIG. 5 depicts a view of a device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention when the device is being used by a user to feed a bottle to a baby.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

All references cited herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety as though fully set forth. Unless defined otherwise, technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs.

One skilled in the art will recognize many methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein, which could be used in the practice of the present invention. Indeed, the present invention is in no way limited to the methods and materials described. Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced figures. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive.

The present invention relates to a device that may be used to assist in holding and/or feeding a baby. In various embodiments, the device includes a cushion with a sleeve to allow a user to removably attach the cushion to the user's arm, and to thereby easily transport the cushion. This may be particularly advantageous if a user is, for example, cradling a baby while in a seated position and then desires to rise and move to another location, all the while holding the baby in the same configuration and without the need to remove the baby from the cushion.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, an embodiment of the invention includes a cushion 100 with a sleeve 101. The sleeve 101 may include a segment of fabric or another material configured along an external portion of the cushion 100. In one embodiment, the sleeve 101 includes a segment of fabric mechanically affixed to the cushion 100 so as to create a passage through which a user's arm may be inserted. In one embodiment, the sleeve 101 is open at both ends, such that a user's arm may be positioned entirely through the sleeve 101 with his or her hand protruding from the sleeve 101 at the opposing end.

The sleeve 101 may be configured along any portion of the cushion 100. In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the sleeve 101 is positioned along a portion of the cushion 100 where it may conveniently come into mechanical contact with the arm of a user when holding or cradling a baby. The sleeve may be unitary (as depicted in FIG. 1) or configured of multiple segments arranged linearly (not shown) through which a user's arm may be placed. The sleeve 101 may be padded to impart a greater level of comfort to the back of a baby's head and/or neck when the device is in use. FIG. 5 depicts an embodiment of the device in use.

The cushion 100 may be shaped in any number of configurations. In the embodiment illustratively depicted in FIG. 1, the cushion 100 is of a generally cylindrical shape. In alternate embodiments, the cushion 100 may be round or may be generally tubular with any desirable shape in cross-section, such as triangular, square, pentagonal, hexagonal and so on; trapezoidal, diamond-shaped and so on; or any other irregular and/or geometric configuration that may impart a convenient shape and/or an attractive design. In an embodiment, as depicted in FIG. 4, the cushion 100 may have at least one substantially flat portion 103 adapted to rest on a flat surface, such as a table, when in use and/or storage.

In an embodiment, as depicted in FIG. 3, the device may include one or more pockets 102 on any of its outer surfaces. The pockets 102 may be adapted to hold paraphernalia useful while holding a baby (e.g., bottle, pacifier, blanket, etc.).

As one of skill in the art will readily appreciate, the device may be constructed of a wide range of materials that are typical for products of this nature. Such materials may be selected based on their appearance, cost, durability, stain-resistance, capacity to be machine-washed, hypoallergenic quality, and the like or any combination thereof. Similar criteria may be used to select the filling used for the cushion 100, although additional criteria for the filling material may include the filling material's firmness, weight, density and the like.

In one embodiment, the device may include an outer portion including the outer fabric, the sleeve, the pockets, etc. In this embodiment, the outer portion may be removable from the cushion that houses the filling material, similar to a pillow cover. Appropriate mechanisms and closures might be included on the outer portion to aid in that purpose, such as zippers, snaps, buttons, Velcro™, hook-and-eye closures and the like.

While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it should be readily apparent to people of ordinary skill in the art that a number of modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. The presently disclosed embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning of and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

1. A device for a user to hold a baby on the user's arm, comprising:

a cushion of generally cylindrical shape having a first end and a second end and a top and a bottom, the cushion adapted to be positioned between the user's arm and a surface and thereby support the user's arm while feeding the baby in a position that is comfortable for the user and the baby;

a sleeve mechanically affixed to the top of the cushion, the sleeve adapted to come into mechanical contact with the user's forearm and the baby when holding the baby and to allow movement of the user's forearm within the sleeve; and

a pocket positioned on the first end or the second end of the cushion, the pocket having an upward opening in the direction of the top of the cushion,

wherein, the device is configured such that, when in use, only the user's forearm resides within the sleeve.

2. (canceled)

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the sleeve has a first end and a second end, and wherein both ends are open.

4. (canceled)

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the bottom of the cushion comprises a substantially flat portion.

6. The device of claim 1, comprising an outer portion comprising an outer fabric and the sleeve, wherein said outer portion is adapted to be removable from the cushion.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the sleeve is irremovably padded to impart comfort to the back of the baby's head and/or neck.

8. A device for a user to hold a baby on the user's arm comprising:

a cushion of generally cylindrical shape having a first end and a second end and a top and a bottom, wherein the bottom comprises a substantially flat portion, the cushion adapted to be positioned between the user's arm and a surface and thereby support the user's arm while feeding the baby in a position that is comfortable for the user and the baby;

a sleeve mechanically affixed to the top of the cushion, the sleeve adapted to come into mechanical contact with the user's forearm when holding the baby and to allow movement of the user's forearm within the sleeve; and

a pocket positioned on the first end or the second end of the cushion, the pocket having an upward opening in the direction of the top of the cushion

wherein, the device is configured such that, when in use, only the user's forearm resides within the sleeve.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the sleeve has a first end and a second end, and wherein both ends are open.

10. The device of claim 8, comprising an outer portion comprising an outer fabric and the sleeve, wherein said outer portion is adapted to be removable from the cushion.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein the sleeve is irremovably padded to impart comfort to the back of the baby's head and/or neck.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein the sleeve is further adapted to come into mechanical contact with the baby when holding the baby.

13. A method for a user to hold a baby on the user's arm while supporting the user's arm, comprising:

providing a device, comprising: a cushion of generally cylindrical shape having a first end and a second end and a top and a bottom, a sleeve mechanically affixed to the top of the cushion, and a pocket positioned on the first end or the second end of the cushion, the pocket having an upward opening in the direction of the top of the cushion; placing the user's forearm through the sleeve; and holding the baby on the user's arm, wherein the sleeve sits between the user's arm and the baby, the cushion supports the user's arm by contacting a surface, and, during use, only the user's forearm resides within the sleeve.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the sleeve has a first end and a second end, and wherein both ends are open.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the device comprises an outer portion comprising and an outer fabric and the sleeve, wherein said outer portion is adapted to be removable from the cushion.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the sleeve is padded.