Baby crib safety blanket

Abstract

A baby safety blanket having upper and lower panel members defining a baby-receiving enclosure, the upper and lower panel members preferably joined along at least one side in a releasable manner, such as with a zipper or hook-and-loop fasteners. Lateral panel members extend to either side, whereby the lateral panel members can be rolled into wedging rolls and wedged between the mattress and rails of a crib to tautly draw the upper panel member across the torso and legs of the baby to restrict roll-over. A secondary pocket may be provided on the upper side of the upper panel member such that blankets can be inserted or removed.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of baby blankets, baby swaddling blankets, crib blankets and baby sacks, and more particularly relates to crib blankets that are structured to secure the baby in a safe supine position when the baby is placed into a crib or onto a horizontal surface.

While baby blankets, swaddling blankets and baby sacks are well known in the art to provide warmth to a baby while resting, recent studies have emphasized the need to protect an infant by restraining the infant in the supine position while sleeping, i.e., sleeping on its back, as it has been shown that non-supine sleeping habits may be a contributor to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). In addition, restriction of the baby to the supine position will also decrease accidental choking and suffocation.

Restrictive sleeping blankets are known in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,631,528 to Landry shows a restrictive baby blanket that secures around an infant and which attaches to a fitted crib sheet. U.S. Pat. No. 5,933,886 to Washington discloses a two-part blanket assembly wherein arms on the bottom panel extend through slots in the upper panel member. U.S. Pat. No. 7,076,819 to Trani et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,852,827 to Lear, and U.S. Pat. No. D518, 942 to Dandrea disclose other embodiments of swaddle blankets.

It is an object of this invention to provide a baby safety blanket that improves upon the known prior art. It is an object of this invention to provide a baby safety blanket that that restricts movement, and in particular the ability of the baby to roll onto its side or stomach, such that the baby remains in the supine position when sleeping. It is a further object of the this invention to provide such a baby safety blanket wherein a pocket is provided on the upper surface such that folded blankets or the like may be added or removed to account for changes in room temperature. Other objects not expressly set forth above will become obvious after review of the following disclosure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a baby or baby crib safety blanket comprising a lower panel member and an upper panel member, each composed of a blanket, fleece, terry cloth, fabric or similar material, the upper and lower panels being joined along three sides to define an opening, sized such that the torso and legs of the baby are received within the pocket or sack defined by the lower and upper member. One or more of the joined sides is preferably joined by releasable closure means, such as for example zippers or hook-and-loop fasteners, which allow the side or sides to be opened and then rejoined. A pair of lateral panel members, likewise composed of a blanket, fleece, terry cloth, fabric or similar material are joined to opposing sides of the baby-receiving pocket, the lateral panel members being relatively thick, whereby each lateral panel member can be rolled up to define a wedging roll which can impede roll-over of the baby, can be wedged into the space between a crib mattress and crib rails, and which together maintain the upper panel member in a taut manner to restrain the baby from turning. A secondary pocket member may be provided on the exterior of the upper panel member, such that a blanket or similar object can be inserted or removed to adjust the warmth of the baby. The secondary pocket may be provided with a flap to cover the opening such that the baby cannot pull the blanket from the secondary pocket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the invention, shown with closure means on one side of the baby pocket opened such that one of the lateral panel members a portion of the upper panel member can be folded over to provide for easier insertion or removal of the baby.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the invention retaining a baby and having the lateral panels rolled into wedging rolls.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the wedging rolls wedged between the crib mattress and crib rails.

FIG. 5 is a partial exposed view showing an alternative embodiment of the invention, wherein a pocket flap member is provided to cover the secondary pocket opening, a blanket being retained therein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the drawings, the invention will now be described in detail with regard for the best mode and the preferred embodiments. In general, the invention is a baby safety blanket or baby crib safety blanket, the terms being used interchangeably, structured to secure the baby in the supine position during sleeping and resting, the invention defining a baby-receiving sack or enclosure having lateral members, the lateral members acting to secure the blanket within a crib or to provide support when on a horizontal surface, such that the blanket is tautly drawn across the baby to preclude roll-over.

An embodiment of the baby safety blanket is illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, wherein the baby safety blanket is shown to comprise a lower panel member 11 and an upper panel member 12, each of which is composed of a blanket, fleece, terry cloth, fabric or similar material having a degree of bulkiness, cushioning or insulating properties, and preferably having limited elasticity or stretch. The lower panel member 11 and upper panel member 12 are joined along two opposing sides 14 and bottom 19, such that an opening 13 is defined and the combination of the lower and upper panel members 11 and 12 form a baby-receiving sack or enclosure 18. Preferably, one or more sides 14, and possibly the bottom 19 as well, are joined in a releasable manner through releasable closure means 15, such as for example zippers, hook-and-loop fasteners, snaps or the like, whereby the closure means 15 can be released so as to allow one or more sides 14 to be opened such that the upper panel member 12 can be folded back from the lower panel member 11, thus making it easier to insert or remove the baby from the interior enclosure 18 of the baby safety blanket. Most preferably, the closure means 15 are provided on both sides 14, such that increased accessibility is achieved from either side.

Extending from sides 14 of the combined panel members 11 are 12 are opposing lateral panel members 16. Lateral panel members 16 are also composed of a blanket; fleece, terry cloth, fabric or similar material, and must be relatively thick and bulky. Most preferably, the lateral panel members 16 are joined to the upper panel member 12 in a manner whereby the closure means 15 are covered by the lateral panel members 16 when the baby safety blanket is in use. The lateral panel members 16 extend laterally sufficient distance to allow the later panel members to be rolled into a wedging roll configuration 17, as shown in FIG. 3. In this configuration, the wedging rolls 17 restrict roll-over of the baby from the supine position. When the baby safety blanket is used within a crib, the wedging rolls 17 are wedged into the gap between the crib mattress 21 and the crib rails or sides 22, such that the upper panel member 12 is pulled tautly across the baby's torso. The particular shape or configuration of the lateral panel members 16 may vary, but a generally rectangular configuration is preferred so that the upper panel member 12 is pulled snuggly across its full surface.

Most preferably, the baby safety blanket is also provided with a secondary pocket 31 disposed over or across the majority of the upper side of the upper panel member 12, the secondary pocket 31 defining a pocket opening 32 of sufficient size such that a folded blanket 23 or similar article can be received within the secondary pocket 31. A covering flap member 33, as shown in FIG. 5, may be provided on the secondary pocket 31 to preclude access to the blanket 23 by the baby. The secondary pocket 31 may open in any direction, and may also be provided with alternative closure means such as a zipper, hook-and-loop fastener, snaps or the like.

In this manner, a baby is secured in the supine position within a crib by first placing the baby safety blanket onto the crib mattress 21 with the lower panel member 11 contacting the mattress 21, as shown in FIG. 1. The baby is then positioned between the lower panel member 11 and the upper panel member 12. If a closure means 15 is present, this is accomplished by folding back one of the lateral panel members 16 to expose the closure means 15, opening or releasing the closure means 15 and folding back a portion of the upper panel member 12. This configuration is shown in FIG. 2. The baby is then placed between the lower panel member 11 and the upper panel member 12, the closure means 15 is closed, and the lateral panel members 16 are rolled or folded into wedging rolls 17, as shown in FIG. 3. The wedging rolls 16 are then forced between the crib mattress 21 and the crib rail 22, as shown in FIG. 4, to draw the upper panel member 12 snuggly across the baby. The tautness of the upper panel member 12 and the lateral panel members 16 maintain the baby in the supine position. Adjusting the warmth of the baby is accomplished by inserting or removing blankets 23 from the secondary pocket 31.

It is understood that equivalents and substitutions for elements and structure set forth above may be obvious to those skilled in the art, and therefore the true scope and definition of the invention is to be as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A baby safety blanket comprising:

a lower panel member and an upper panel member joined along two sides and a bottom and defining a baby-receiving enclosure having an opening to receive a baby, wherein said lower panel member and said upper panel member are joined alone at least one side by releasable closure means, and wherein said lateral panel members are joined to said upper panel member above and covering said releasable closure means;

opposing lateral panel members extending from said sides sufficient distance whereby said lateral panel members are each foldable or rollable to define a wedging roll of sufficient size and thickness to maintain said baby in a supine position.

2. (canceled)

3. The blanket of claim 1, wherein said lower panel member and said upper panel member are joined along both sides by releasable closure means.

4. The blanket of claim 1, wherein said releasable closure means is chosen from the group of releasable closure means consisting of zippers, hook-and-loop fasteners and snaps.

5. The blanket of claim 3, wherein said releasable closure means is chosen from the group of releasable closure means consisting of zippers, hook-and-loop fasteners and snaps.

6. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

8. The blanket of claim 1, further comprising a secondary pocket disposed over the majority said upper panel member, said secondary pocket being of sufficient size to receive a folded blanket.

9. The blanket of claim 8, said secondary pocket further comprising a flap member.

10. A baby crib safety blanket adapted for use in combination with a crib having a mattress and crib rails, said blanket comprising:

a lower panel member and an upper panel member joined along two sides and a bottom and defining a baby-receiving enclosure having an opening to receive a baby, wherein said lower panel member and said upper panel member are joined along at least one side by releasable closure means, and wherein said lateral panel members are joined to said upper panel member above and covering said releasable closure means;

opposing lateral panel members extending from said sides sufficient distance whereby said lateral panel members are each foldable or rollable to define a wedging roll of sufficient size and thickness to be wedged between said mattress and said crib rails in a manner that pulls said upper panel member taut to maintain said baby in a supine position.

11. (canceled)

12. The blanket of claim 10, wherein said lower panel member and said upper panel member are joined along both sides by releasable closure means.

13. The blanket of claim 10, wherein said releasable closure means is chosen from the group of releasable closure means consisting of zippers, hook-and-loop fasteners and snaps.

14. The blanket of claim 12, wherein said releasable closure means is chosen from the group of releasable closure means consisting of zippers, hook-and-loop fasteners and snaps.

15. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

17. The blanket of claim 10, further comprising a secondary pocket disposed over the majority of said upper panel member, said secondary pocket being of sufficient size to receive a folded blanket.

18. The blanket of claim 17, said secondary pocket further comprising a flap member.

19. A baby crib safety blanket adapted for use in combination with a crib having a mattress and crib rails, said blanket comprising:

a lower panel member and an upper panel member joined along two sides and a bottom and defining a baby-receiving enclosure having an opening to receive a baby, said lower panel member and said upper panel member being joined along at least one side by releasable closure means;

opposing lateral panel members extending from said sides sufficient distance whereby said lateral panel members are each foldable or rollable to define a wedging roll of sufficient size and thickness to be wedged between said mattress and said crib rails in a manner that pulls said upper panel member taut to maintain said baby in a supine position, wherein said lateral panel members are joined to said upper panel member above and covering said releasable closure means.

20. The blanket of claim 19, further comprising a secondary pocket disposed over the majority of said upper panel member, said secondary pocket being of sufficient size to receive a folded blanket.