INFANT ATTIRE
The infant wrap or swaddle (1) has a body portion (3) that forms the majority of the infant wrap or swaddle (1). The body portion (3) has extending out each side thereof, a left hand side arm region (5) and a right hand side arm region (6), which extend either side of the central region (4). The overall look in plan view is a boomerang shape, particularly in the side arm regions. This shape provides the best form for conforming to the infant and wrapping the infant securely. The central region (4) has extending perpendicularly, from top to bottom, a medial plane (7). Transverse to this is a mid-transverse plane (8). In the preferred embodiment the side arm portions (5) and (6) extend from the central region (4) at an acute angle (16) to the medial plane (7). The front side (9) has a pouch (11) located on an inferior portion (14) (i.e. that region at least in part below the mid-transverse plane 8) of the central region (4). The pouch (11) has an opening (15) directed in the superior direction (13). A back side aperture (18) is provided on the back side (10) of the body portion (3) to facilitate the harnessing of an infant in a car seat or the like. This back side aperture (18) is located approximately equally either side of the medial plane (7) and is preferably located in or toward the inferior portion (14). The back side aperture (18) communicates to the interior of the pouch (11).
The present invention relates to infant attire and in particular to a wrap or swaddle for a newborn or infant baby.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe benefits of wrapping, or swaddling as it is also known, an infant or newborn baby are well known.
Traditionally such wrapping is done with a rectangular piece of material folded in a particular fashion and then wrapped around the infant. Such use required knowledge of how to fold the piece of material as well as the skill to do so.
Improved swaddles and wraps are shaped in a particular fashion to lay an infant thereon and thereafter wrap them accordingly. Such improved products in some instances, have fasteners, such as domes, hook and loop fasteners or similar, or have ties or other ways of holding the wrapping elements about the infant.
One disadvantage of the improved products is that they cannot easily be used with a harness, such as present in a car seat, baby capsule, stroller or buggy. Thus the effectiveness of the harness and safety of the infant may be compromised.
In this specification where reference has been made to patent specifications, other external documents, or other sources of information, this is generally for the purpose of providing a context for discussing the features of the invention. Unless specifically stated otherwise, reference to such external documents is not to be construed as an admission that such documents, or such sources of information, in any jurisdiction, are prior art, or form part of the common general knowledge in the art.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTIONIt is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an infant attire article that at least goes some way to overcoming the above disadvantages, or will at least provide the public with a useful choice. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method of use of such an infant wrap.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn a first aspect the present invention may be said to broadly consist in an infant swaddle or wrap formed from a planar material, comprising or including,
a body portion having a central region from which there extends side arm regions from said central region in,
(a) opposite directions to a medial plane of said central region, and
(b) at an acute angle to a mid-transverse plane of said central region,
said body portion having a front side and a back side and a pouch with a superior direction presented opening located at least in part at an inferior portion of said central region at said front side.
Preferably there are two said side arm regions, one either side of said medial plane.
Preferably said side arm regions each extend at the same acute angle to said mid-transverse plane.
Preferably said side arm regions are longer than they are wide.
Preferably a first of said side arm regions (“first side arm region”) is longer than a second of said side arm regions (“second side arm region”).
Preferably said first side arm region is approximately twice as long as said second side arm region.
Preferably said side arm regions have substantially parallel edges, save for a transition from said central region and at ends of said side arm regions.
Alternatively said side arm regions have substantially tapering edges, save for a transition from said central region and ends of said side arm regions.
Preferably said pouch extends across a lower half of said central region.
Preferably said pouch has a pouch top edge that defines a flap portion extending in said superior direction.
Preferably said pouch top edge forms a flap portion with a curved edge.
Alternatively said pouch top edge defines a flap portion with squared edges.
Preferably an inferior edge of each of said side arm regions extends from immediately adjacent said opening of said pouch.
Preferably said side arm regions extend from the upper half of said body portion.
Preferably said planar material is a resiliently elastic material.
Preferably said body portion is formed from one panel of said planar material.
Preferably an edge or edges of said body portion is/are less elastic than an interior of said body portion.
Preferably said back side has an aperture (“back side aperture”) communicating to the interior of said pouch.
Preferably said back side aperture is a slit with a longest direction parallel to said mid-traverse plane.
Preferably there are no fastening means present to hold said side arm regions in place once wrapped about an infant.
Alternatively there is at least one fastening means present to hold said side arm regions in place once wrapped about an infant.
In a further aspect the present invention to consists in an infant swaddle or wrap formed from a planar material, comprising or including,
a body portion having a central region from which there extends side arm regions from said central region in,
(a) opposite directions to a medial plane of said central region, and
(b) at an acute angle to a mid-transverse plane of said central region,
said body portion having a front side and a back side and a pouch with a superior direction presented opening located at least in part at an inferior portion of said central region at said front side,
wherein in use said pouch is adapted to receive at least a lower part of an infants body, said central region and each of said side arm portions are adapted to wrap about said infants body from approximately a neck region of said infant down.
Preferably there are two said side arm regions, one either side of said medial plane, extending from a first side and a second side of said central region.
Preferably said side arm regions each extend at the same acute angle to said mid-transverse plane.
Preferably said side arm regions are longer than they are wide.
Preferably a first of said side arm regions (“first side arm region”) extending from said first side is longer than a second of said side arm regions (“second side arm region”) extending from said second side.
Preferably said first side arm region is approximately twice as long as said second side arm region.
Preferably said side arm regions have substantially parallel edges, save for a transition from said central region and ends of said side arm portions.
Alternatively said side arm regions have substantially tapering edges, save for a transition from said central region and ends of said side arm portions.
Preferably said pouch extends across a lower half of said central region.
Alternatively said pouch extends across a lower half of said central region and has a pouch top edge that defines a flap portion.
Preferably said pouch top edge forms a flap portion with a curved edge.
Alternatively said pouch top edge defines a flap portion with a square edge.
Preferably an edge of each of said side arm regions closest to said mid-transverse plane extends from immediately adjacent said opening of said pouch.
Preferably said side arm regions extend from the upper half of said body portion.
Preferably said planar material is a resiliently elastic material.
Preferably said body portion is formed from one panel of said planar material.
Preferably an edge or edges of said body portion is/are less elastic than an interior of said body portion.
Preferably said back side has an aperture (“back side aperture”) communicating to the interior of said pouch.
Preferably said back side aperture is a slit with a longest direction parallel to said mid-traverse plane.
Preferably there are no fastening means present to hold said side arm regions in place once wrapped about an infant.
Alternatively there is at least one fastening means present to hold said side arm regions in place once wrapped about an infant.
Preferably said second side arm portion is of sufficient length to extend inward toward said medial plane and over an anterior portion of said infant, and locate an end of said second side arm portion under a posterior portion of said infant.
Preferably said first side arm portion is of sufficient length to extend inward toward said medial plane and over an anterior portion of said infant, and locate an end of said second side arm portion under a posterior portion of said infant.
Preferably said second arm side region is of sufficient length to wrap three quarters of the way round said infant from said second side to said first side, via an anterior portion of said infant to then locate under a posterior portion of said infant.
Preferably said first arm side region is of sufficient length to wrap one and three quarter times of the way round said infant from said first side to said second side, over an anterior portion of said infant to then locate under a posterior portion of said infant.
Preferably said central region, parallel to said medial plane, is approximately the same length as said infant is from a neck region to a foot or feet of said infant.
In yet a further aspect still the present invention consists in a method of use of an infant wrap or swaddle as herein before described with a back side aperture in said back side, comprising or including the steps of,
(i) locating at least a lower part of an infant's body in said pouch,
(ii) wrapping said infant with a first of said side arm portions, and then wrapping said infant with a second of said side arm portions over said first side arm portion and said central region,
(iii) securing an end of said second side arm portion to retain said at least said second side arm portion in a wrapped configuration,
wherein prior to or after any single one of said steps (i) to (iii) said pouch is located in or on a structure and part of a harness of said structure is located through said back side aperture to enable said infant to be restrained to said structure from which said part of a harness is secured.
Preferably said part of a harness connects with other parts of a harness secured to said structure to secure said infant to said structure.
Preferably said other parts of a harness pass over on an anterior portion of said infant exterior to said wrap.
Preferably said part of a harness passes from an interior of said pouch to an exterior of said wrap between a superior edge of said opening and inferior edges of said side arm portions to engage with said other parts of a harness.
Alternatively said part of a harness and other parts of a harness are connected to each other to securely harness said infant to said structure prior to wrapping in steps (ii) and (iii).
Preferably said structure is any one or more of,
(i) A car seat,
(ii) A capsule, and
(iii) A buggy or seat thereof.
In a further aspect still the present invention consist in an infant wrap or swaddle as herein described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.
In a further aspect still the present invention consist in a method of use of an infant wrap or swaddle as herein described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.
In a further aspect still the present invention consist in an infant wrapping arrangement, suitable for swaddling an infant, said infant wrapping arrangement comprising,
-
- a body member defining a superior portion and an inferior portion, and having an opposed front side and a back side;
- a pouch formation overlaid on the inferior portion of the front side of the body member;
- opposed side arm portions extending outwardly from the superior portion of the body member,
- wherein said body member defines an aperture suitable for receiving a bracing member for restraining an infant operationally.
Preferably said pouch formation defines an aperture in alignment with the aperture of the body member.
Preferably said opposed side arm portions extend at an acute angle from a mid-transverse plane of said body member.
Preferably said pouch formation is secured about at least part of its periphery to the body member to define a pouch that presents an opening towards the superior portion of the body member.
Preferably said wrap is composed of a material having alternate coloring and/or ornamentation on its opposed major sides, and is configured to be reversible by turning the wrap inside out.
To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and the descriptions herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.
Other aspects of the invention may become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings.
As used herein the term “and/or” means “and” or “or”, or both.
As used herein “(s)” following a noun means the plural and/or singular forms of the noun.
The term “comprising” as used in this specification and claims means “consisting at least in part of”. When interpreting statements in this specification and claims which include that term, the features, prefaced by that term in each statement, all need to be present but other features can also be present. Related terms such as “comprise” and “comprised” are to be construed in the same manner.
The entire disclosures of all applications, patents and publications, cited above and below, if any, are hereby incorporated by reference.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown in the accompanying drawings in which;
With reference to the above drawings, in which similar features are generally indicated by similar numerals, an infant wrap, wrapping arrangement or swaddle is generally indicated by the numeral 1.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying
The infant wrap, wrapping arrangement or swaddle 1 is manufactured from a planar material. In the preferred embodiment the planar material is resiliently elastic, for example, formed from woven material such as, but not limited to, merino wool, elasticised merino wool, elasticised cotton and other materials that by the nature of their weave can take on an elastic property, or by the addition of other materials to the weave can contain an elastic nature.
The infant wrap or swaddle 1 has a body portion 3 that forms the majority of the infant wrap or swaddle 1. The body portion 3 has extending out each side thereof, a left hand side arm region 5 and a right hand side arm region 6, which extend either side of the central region 4. The overall look in plan view is a boomerang shape, particularly in the side arm regions. The central region 4 has extending perpendicularly, from top to bottom, a medial plane 7. Transverse to this is a mid-transverse plane 8. In the preferred embodiment the side arm portions 5 and 6 extend from the central region 4 at an acute angle 16 to the medial plane 7. In the preferred embodiment, the side arm regions 5 and 6 extend from the central region 4 from above the mid-transverse plane 8. However, in other embodiments the side arm regions 5 and 6 may extend from any side region of the central region 4.
The front side 9 has a pouch formation or pouch 11 located on an inferior portion 14 (i.e. that region at least in part below the mid-transverse plane 8) of the central region 4. The pouch 11 has an opening 15 directed in the superior direction 13. In the preferred embodiment the pouch 11 extends completely across the inferior portion 14 of the central region 4, and runs from each left and right edge 26 and 27 of the lower portion 14 of the central region 4.
It is envisaged that the pouch or pouch formation may be made by flapping the body portion ad attaching it to itself, or by providing a separate piece of material and attaching it around at least part of its periphery to the body portion.
In the preferred embodiment the pouch edge 32 extends approximately parallel to the mid-transverse plane allowing part of the infants body 20 (i.e. the infants legs 34) to be located within the pouch 11 whilst the remaining portion of the Infants body 20 is exposed.
In an alternative embodiment shown in
In a further alternative embodiment shown in
In the preferred embodiment the total height from the superior edge 28 to the inferior edge 9 of the central region 4 is approximately the same as that distance from the neck region 22 of an infant to the bottom of the infant's legs 34. More about this aspect will be explained below.
The side arm region edges 17 in one embodiment are substantially parallel on each of the left hand and right hand side arm regions 5 and 6 respectively as shown in
The edges 17 have a reinforcing property such that they are less elastically resilient or stretchy than a body portion interior 31. The function of this will be explained below. The pouch edge 32 also has a greater resilience than the interior of the material forming the pouch. However in other embodiments this is not necessarily required.
In the preferred embodiment one of the side arm portions is longer than the other of the side arm portions. In the embodiment shown in
A second embodiment of the infant wrap or swaddle 1 is shown in
The use of the infant wrap or swaddle 1 will now be described with reference to
An infant 33 is then located so that at least the lower part of the infants body 20 (i.e. the infant's legs 34) is located in the pouch. Thus the superior edge 28 lies approximately against the neck region 22 of the infant 33 and the infant's legs 34 are at least partially covered by the pouch 11. The shorter of the side arm regions (in this case the right hand side aim region 6) is the folded over toward the medial plane 7 and the infant 33 to wrap (i.e. in the embodiment shown from right to left), from the infants shoulder 35 closest to the shorter of the side arm regions, to the opposing side of the infant 33. The shorter side arm region can either wrap over the opposite arm of the infant 33 or can tuck underneath and securely against the side of the infants body 20. The side arm region is then tucked underneath the infant's body 20 and the weight of the infant's body will secure the side arm region, at least temporarily, in place. That is the shorter side arm region wraps about the infant at least three quarters of the way round to locate at the posterior 37 region. In yet other embodiments fastening means such as hook and loop fasteners, domes, or other releasable securement means such as, but not limited to, ties, may be used to retain the shorter of the side arm regions in place.
Thus the side arm region end 30 of the shorter side arm region lies at least in part under the body 20 of the infant 33.
The longer of the side arm regions, in this case, the left hand side arm region 5, is then folded (in this case from left to right) over that infants shoulder 35 closest to the, in this case, left hand side arm region 6 (i.e. from left to right) and passes on the outside (top or anterior 36) of the infant 33 and wrap or swaddle 1 and the longer of the side arm regions 6 is then wrapped to the opposite side of the infant wrap or swaddle 1 and infant 33 therein. The longer of the side arm regions is then wrapped around the back of the infant wrap or swaddle 1 and the infant 33 therein. This then brings the longest of the side arm regions back to the side from where started, it is then wrapped around again over the anterior side and toward the back of the infant wrap or swaddle and held there in a number of different ways. That is the longer side wraps about the infant (and the shorter side arm portion and central region) at least one and three quarter times to locate toward the posterior 37 region.
In the most preferred way, the side arm region end 30 of the longest side arm region (in this case left hand side arm region 6) is secured in the back side aperture 18. In other embodiments there may be fastening means such as ties, hook and loop fasteners, domes, or other means to retain one piece of material to another. In other embodiments it may be sufficient just for the weight of the infant 20 to hold the end 30 in place, and yet other embodiments the end 30 can be tucked into one of the wraps or folds present at the back of the wrapped swaddle 1.
The less resilient edges of the wrap or swaddle 1 when compared to the body portion interior 31 has the effect of making a firm wrap about the infant 20, yet allowing the infant some room to move their arms and legs due to the more elastic nature of the body portion interior 31. In this way the infant feels secure and wrapped with its attendant benefits, and yet still has some room to move, but cannot easily get an arm or leg out from the wrap 1.
The angled nature of the side arm portions allows them to contour snugly to the form of the infant (for example only from the lower abdomen upwards) and provide the necessary swaddling tension. When used in other ways or embodiments the side arm portions may be sufficiently wide to wrap about the whole length of the infants body.
A use of the present invention will now be described with reference to
In the worst case scenario this renders the use of the harness 24 useless. With the presence of the back side aperture 18 however, the leg strap 25 can be passed through the back side aperture, between the infants legs 34 and joined to the buckle or otherwise of the remainder of the harness 24.
The present invention together with the back side aperture 18 allows an infant to be wrapped yet still be secured by a harness from the structure that is the car seat, capsule, buggy or stroller 23. The harness can pass from the interior of the pouch to the exterior or may lie underneath the wrap.
This can be achieved in several ways.
In the preferred way this is done by locating the wrap 1 in or on the seat 23. The infant 33 is then located at least in part into the pouch 11. The lower part of the harness is then brought through (if not already) the back side aperture 18. The other upper parts of the harness are then brought down to engage with the lower harness part over the anterior portion (i.e. chest) of the infant. The infant 33 is then wrapped in the normal way. The harness therefore is entirely underneath the wrap. The result of this is shown in
In yet other ways the infant can be located in the seat 23 already wrapped. The lower harness part is brought up through the back side aperture 18 and passed between the superior or upper edge of the pouch 11 and the inferior or lower edges of the side arm portions. The upper parts of the harness are then brought down over the external surface of the wrap and engaged with the lower harness part.
In a further way the infant can be secured and wrapped in a combination of the previous two ways. Namely the infant is put into the pouch 11 of the wrap located in the seat 23 structure. The lower part of the harness is passed through the back side aperture 18 (if not done so already). The infant is then wrapped by the side arm portions as described and the lower harness part locates to the external surface as described above. The upper parts of the harness and then engaged to the lower part. The upper parts at least lie on the external surface of the wrap. The result of these methods is shown in
In this way, an infant 33 can wrapped or swaddled from the neck region 22 down, can be securely harnessed in a car seat or capsule 23 that utilises a three point or more harness. Further more the contoured form of the side arm portions 5 and 6 due to their boomerang shape wraps the infant securely.
In another embodiment (not shown), it is envisaged that the front of the pouch can include a front side aperture in alignment with the back side aperture 18 in the back side of the body portion. It is further envisaged that the back side aperture 18 and the front side aperture could be connected by a sleeve (not shown) through which a harness may be received.
The foregoing description of the invention includes preferred forms thereof. Modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims.
Claims
1-69. (canceled)
70. An infant swaddle or wrap formed from a planar material, comprising or including,
- a body portion comprising a central region from which there extends side arm regions from said central region in, opposite directions to a medial plane of said central region, and at an acute angle to a mid-transverse plane of said central region,
- said body portion comprising a front side and a back side and a pouch with a superior direction presented opening located at least in part at an inferior portion of said central region at said front side.
71. The infant swaddle or wrap as claimed in claim 70, including two said side arm regions, one being disposed to either side of said medial plane.
72. The infant swaddle or wrap as claimed in claim 70, wherein said side arm regions each extend at the same acute angle to said mid-transverse plane.
73. The infant swaddle or wrap as claimed in claim 70, wherein a first of said side arm regions (the “first side arm region”) is longer than a second of said side arm regions (the “second side arm region”).
74. The infant swaddle or wrap as claimed in claim 70, wherein said side arm regions have substantially tapering edges, save for a transition region from said central region and at or towards the distal ends of said side arm regions.
75. The infant swaddle or wrap as claimed in claim 70, wherein said pouch extends across a lower half of said central region.
76. The infant swaddle or wrap as claimed in claim 70, wherein said pouch has a pouch top edge that defines a flap portion extending in said superior direction.
77. The infant swaddle or wrap as claimed in claim 70, wherein an inferior edge of each of said side arm regions extends from immediately adjacent said opening of said pouch.
78. The infant swaddle or wrap as claimed in claim 70, wherein said side arm regions extend from an upper half of said central region.
79. The infant swaddle or wrap as claimed in claim 70, wherein a plurality of edges of said body portion are less elastic than at least part of an interior of said body portion.
80. The infant swaddle or wrap as claimed in claim 70, wherein said back side includes a back side aperture communicating to the interior of said pouch.
81. The infant swaddle or wrap as claimed in claim 70, wherein the side arms are configured and adapted to be wrapped around and secured to an infant in a cooperative self fastening manner.
82. An infant swaddle or wrap formed from a planar material, said infant swaddle comprising,
- a body portion comprising a central region from which there extends side arm regions from said central region in, opposite directions to a medial plane of said central region, and at an acute angle to a mid-transverse plane of said central region,
- said body portion comprising a front side and a back side and a pouch with a superior direction presented opening located at least in part at an inferior portion of said central region at said front side,
- wherein in use said pouch is adapted to receive at least a lower part of an infants body into an interior region, and said central region and each of said side arm portions are adapted to wrap about said infants body downwardly from approximately a neck region of an infant.
83. The infant swaddle or wrap as claimed in claim 82, including a first arm region and a second arm region, one disposed on either side of said medial plane, extending from a first side and a second side of said central region respectively.
84. The infant swaddle or wrap as claimed in claim 82, wherein said side arm regions each extend at the same acute angle to said mid-transverse plane.
85. The infant swaddle or wrap as claimed in claim 82, wherein said side arm regions are longer than they are wide.
86. The infant swaddle or wrap as claimed in claim 82, wherein said pouch extends across a lower half of said central region.
87. The infant swaddle or wrap as claimed in claim 82, wherein at least one edge of said body portion is less elastic than at least part of the central region of said body portion.
88. The infant swaddle or wrap as claimed in claim 82, wherein said back side has a back side aperture in communication with the interior region of said pouch.
89. The infant swaddle or wrap as claimed in claim 82, wherein the side arms are configured and adapted to be wrapped around and secured to an infant in a cooperative self fastening manner.
90. The infant swaddle or wrap as claimed in claim 82, wherein said second side arm portion is of sufficient length to extend from the central region located at the posterior of an infant, over the anterior side of the infant, to locate a distal end of said second side arm portion under a posterior portion of the infant.
91. The method of use of an infant wrap or swaddle as claimed in claim 70, comprising or including the steps of,
- (i) locating at least a lower part of an infant's body in said pouch,
- (ii) wrapping with a first side arm portion anteriorly around said infant,
- (iii) wrapping a second side arm portion anteriorly around said infant and said first side arm portion, and
- (iv) securing said second side arm portion at or towards its distal end to retain said at least said second side arm portion in a wrapped configuration.
92. The method of use of an infant wrap or swaddle as claimed in claim 91, wherein the infant wrap or swaddle includes a back side aperture in said body member, and said method includes the step of locating at least part of a harness through said back side aperture for securing of said infant by said harness.
93. The infant wrapping arrangement, suitable for swaddling an infant, said infant wrapping arrangement comprising,
- a body member defining a superior portion and an inferior portion, and having an opposed front side and a back side;
- a pouch formation overlaid on the inferior portion of the front side of the body member; and
- opposed side arm portions extending outwardly from the superior portion of the body member.
94. The infant wrapping arrangement as claimed in claim 93, wherein said body member includes an aperture suitable for receiving a bracing member for restraining an infant operationally.
95. The infant wrapping arrangement as claimed in claim 93, wherein said pouch formation defines an aperture in alignment with the aperture of the body member.
96. The infant swaddle or wrap as claimed in claim 70, wherein the wrap is composed of a material having alternate coloring and/or ornamentation on its opposed major sides, and is configured to be reversible by turning the wrap inside out.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 17, 2008
Publication Date: Dec 2, 2010
Inventor: Amelia Anne Bristed Nilsson (Auckland)
Application Number: 12/734,223