Swaddling blanket and pouch combination
A swaddling blanket and pouch combination (SBPC) (10) that allows an infant to be comfortably and easily swaddled. The blanket (12) is comprised of a right blanket flap (28) and a left blanket flap (46) and includes a designated area to which is removably attached the pouch (70). The pouch features a lower end (78) which includes an opening and closing means that allows an infant's soiled diaper to be easily removed and replaced or to take a rectal temperature. The SBPC (10) is used by first placing the left blanket flap (46) over the pouch (70), which is then followed by placing the right blanket flap (28) over the pouch. The right and left blanket flaps (28,46) as well as the pouch (70) are preferably held in place by hook and loop fasteners (88).
This application is a continuation reissue application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/056,928, filed Feb. 29, 2016, which is a continuation reissue application of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/571,009, filed on Aug. 9, 2012, which issued on Mar. 1, 2016 as U.S. Pat. No. RE45,903, which is a reissue application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/381,131, filed on Mar. 6, 2009, which issued on Aug. 17, 2010 as U.S. Pat. No. 7,774,875.
Notice: More than one reissue application has been filed for the reissue of U.S. Pat. No. 7,774,875. The reissue applications include U.S. application Ser. No. 13/571,009, U.S. application Ser. No. 15/056,928, and the present application.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe invention generally pertains to the field of infant swaddling blankets, and more particularly to a swaddling blanket and pouch combination. The pouch, which is removably attached, is made of a resilient material and includes a lower end that can be opened to change an infant's diaper or to take a rectal temperature.
BACKGROUND ARTArchaeological records indicate that infant swaddling blankets were first used around 4000 B.C. in the desert regions of Central Asia in combination with a back-pack cradle board. As time progressed, the migration of people from region to region became a relatively permanent way of life. Swaddling subsequently also became a common part of child-rearing.
Early swaddling blankets consisted of a square piece of cloth. The infant was laid on the cloth diagonally and the corners of the cloth were folded over the feet, body and under the head, and the corners were tied to hold the blanket in position. A swaddling blanket typically formed the clothing for an infant until the infant was about a year old. The confinement provided by the swaddling blanket provided warmth and security for the infant who had recently left the mother's womb.
Today, swaddling is a standard newborn care practice in most hospitals and consists of swaddling blankets that are tucked and are useful for keeping the baby warm and comfortable, without increasing the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), because the wrappings stay well clear of the baby's face and airway. By the time the infant learns to roll over, usually around 6 months, the infant should be sleeping in less restrictive coverings so it has more freedom to respond when the infant succeeds in rolling over.
Current infant swaddles are designed to make it easier to swaddle an infant than with traditional square sheets or blankets. Typical, swaddling blankets having flaps that fold around the infant's body or down and over the baby's shoulders and around and underneath the infant. These current swaddling blankets have the problem of having a wakeful infant loosening the blanket and kicking the swaddling blanket off. These problems are eliminated or at least minimized by the swaddling blanket and pouch combination disclosed in the instant patent application.
A search of the prior art did not disclose literature or patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention, however the following U.S. patents are considered related:
The 7,181,789 patent discloses a swaddling blanket having a back panel that supports an infant from the neck to the feet, a leg pouch that loosely contains the infant's legs, arm restraints that hold the infant's arms against and parallel to the infant's torso, a tapered short blanket arm to wrap over the infant and a tapered long blanket arm. The long blanket arm is dimensioned to wrap around the infant more than once from the opposite direction to provide pressure around the infant's arms and torso.
The 7,043,783 patent discloses a swaddling blanket having a back panel that supports an infant from the neck to the feet, a leg pouch that loosely contains the infant's legs, arm restraints that hold the infant's arms against and parallel to the infant's torso, a tapered short blanket arm to wrap over the infant, and a tapered long blanket arm. The long blanket arm is dimensioned to wrap around the infant more than once from the opposite direction to provide pressure around the infant's arms and torso.
The 6,928,674 patent discloses a swaddling blanket which includes a tri-folded fabric sheet having a middle section with a pocket secured to an inner side of the fabric sheet on two adjacent sides to form a pouch. The pouch is dimensioned to receive an infant feet-first and is open on two other adjacent sides, and having left and right sections that border the middle section on opposite sides thereof and a width that is sufficient to overlap an infant in the middle section pocket. The left and right sections carry cooperating fasteners arranged to releasably secure the left and right sections to each other when overlapped abut an infant in the middle section pocket.
The 6,868,566 patent discloses a swaddling blanket having a back panel that supports an infant from the neck to the feet, a leg pouch that loosely contains the infant's legs, arm restraints that hold the infant's arms against and parallel to the infant's torso, a tapered short blanket arm to wrap over the infant, and a tapered long blanket arm. The long blanket arm is dimensioned to wrap around the infant more than once from the opposite direction to provide pressure around the infant's arms and torso.
For background purposes and as indicative of the art to which the invention relates, references may be made to the following remaining patents found in the search:
The swaddling blanket and pouch combination (SBPC) improves current swaddling blankets by providing a swaddling blanket design that includes a pouch that is made of a resilient material that aids in maintaining a comfortable pressure on an infant placed into the pouch. The pouch includes a means for allowing a lower and a side section of the pouch to be opened to allow an infant's soiled diaper to be removed and changed or to take a rectal temperature.
In its basic design configuration the SBPC is comprised of:
A. A swaddling blanket having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface has a marked pouch attachment area having a first side and a second side. From the first side extends longitudinally a first blanket flap and from the second side extends longitudinally a second blanket flap. The first blanket flap has a longitudinal length that is greater than the longitudinal length of the second blanket flap, and
B. A pouch having an inner surface with means for being removably attached to the marked pouch attachment area, an outer surface, an open upper end and a lower end. The lower end has means for being opened and closed to allow a diaper to be easily removed and replaced or to take a rectal temperature.
To utilize the SBPC, the second blanket flap is initially wrapped around the outer surface of the pouch and is attached thereto by an attachment means. After the second blanket flap is attached, the first blanket flap is wrapped around the second blanket flap and is attached thereto by the attachment means.
The means for attaching the inner surface of the pouch to the marked attachment area located on the swaddling blanket is selected from the group consisting of hook and loop fasteners, male and female detents and buttons. Likewise, the means for opening and closing the lower end of the pouch is selected from the group consisting of hook and loop fasteners, male and female detents and a zipper. The means for attaching the first and second blanket flaps is preferably a hook and loop fasteners.
In view of the above disclosure, the primary object of the invention is to provide a swaddling blanket and pouch combination that incorporates within a single article a swaddling blanket that has removably attached a pouch. The pouch features a lower end that is easily opened and closed to allow a diaper to be easily changed or to take a rectal temperature and can also include a removably attached infant head cover.
In addition to the primary object of the invention it is also an object of the invention to provide a swaddling blanket and pouch combination that:
-
- can be produced from various materials that will not gather at the infant's neck,
- can be produced in various dimensions to accommodate infants of various sizes,
- can be made of various colors such as a pink or a blue color to identify the sex of the infant,
- simulates a “womb-like” environment therefore is less traumatic on the infant,
- keeps the infant better positioned so the infant is less likely to turn, suffocate, and reduces the risk of SIDS,
- provides breath-ability so that the infant does not overheat,
- provides a pressure around the infant which is imperative for drug-exposed infants, and
- is cost effective from both a consumer's and manufacturer's point of view.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the preferred embodiment and the appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of a preferred embodiment for a swaddling blanket and pouch combination (SBPC) that is designed to improve current designs of swaddling blankets by including an infant pouch which is made of a resilient material that maintains a comforting pressure on an infant that is placed into the pouch. The pouch is removably attached and includes closeable lower and side openings that allow a diaper to be easily removed and a clean diaper attached or to take a rectal temperature.
The preferred embodiment of the SBPC 10, as shown in
The swaddling blanket 12, as shown attached to the pouch 70 in
The right blanket flap 28 is further comprised of a inner edge 30 that is integral with the right pouch border attachment mark 20, an outer edge 32, an upper edge 34, a lower edge 36, an inner surface 38 and an outer surface 40. Likewise, the left blanket flap 46, as also shown in
As shown in
The blanket's 12 right blanket flap 28 and left blanket flap 46 can be configured in at least four different shapes. In the first shape, as shown in
The second shape, as shown in
Third shape, as shown in
The fourth shape, as shown in
The pouch 70, which is the second major element of the SBPC 10, is shown attached to the swaddling blanket 12 in
The inner section 72 is dimensioned to be attached by an attachment means 86 to the area bordered by the right and left pouch border attachment marks 20,22 which are located on the swaddling blanket 12, as shown best in
The pouch 70, as shown in
As shown in
To utilize the SBPC 10, as shown in
While the invention has been described in detail and pictorially shown in the accompanying drawings it is not to be limited to such details, since many changes and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and the scope thereof. Hence, it is described to cover any and all modifications and forms which may come within the language and the scope of the claims.
Swaddling Blanket and Pouch Combination Element Designation
Claims
1. A swaddling blanket and pouch combination (SBPC) comprising:
- a) said swaddling blanket having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface has a marked pouch attachment area form where laterally extends a right blanket flap and a left blanket flap, wherein the left blanket flap has a longitudinal length that is less than the longitudinal length of the right blanket flap, and
- b) said pouch having an inner surface with means for being removably attached to the marked pouch attachment area, an outer surface, an open upper end and a lower end having means for being opened and closed to allow a diaper to be easily removed and replaced or to take a rectal temperature, wherein said means for removably attaching the inner surface of said pouch to the marked pouch attachment area located on said swaddling blanket is selected from the group consisting of hook and loop fasteners, male and female detents and buttons, wherein to utilize said SBPC the left blanket flap is initially wrapped around the outer surface of said pouch, which is then followed by wrapping the right blanket flap over and around the left blanket flap.
2. A swaddling blanket and pouch combination (SBPC) comprising:
- a) said swaddling blanket having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface has a marked pouch attachment area from where laterally extends a right blanket flap and a left blanket flap, wherein the left blanket flap has a longitudinal length that is less than the longitudinal length of the right blanket flap, and
- b) said pouch having an inner surface with means for being removably attached to the marked pouch attachment area, an outer surface, an open upper end and a lower end having means for being opened and closed to allow a diaper to be easily removed and replaced or to take a rectal temperature, an infant head cover that is removably attached to the open upper end of said pouch by means of hook and loop fasteners, male and female detents and buttons, wherein to utilize said SBPC the left blanket flap is initially wrapped around the outer surface of said pouch, which is then followed by wrapping the right blanket flap over and around the left blanket flap.
3. A swaddling blanket and pouch combination (SBPC) swaddle comprising:
- A. said swaddling blanket a wrap portion comprising: a) a pouch attachment area having: (1) an upper edge, (2) a lower edge, (3) a right pouch border attachment mark, and (4) a left pouch border attachment mark, b) a right blanket a first flap having: (1) an inner edge that is integral with the right pouch border attachment mark, (2) an outer edge, (3) an upper edge, (4) a lower edge, (5) an inner surface and (6) an outer surface, and c) a left blanket a second flap having: (1) an inner edge that is integral with the left pouch border attachment mark, (2) an outer edge, (3) an upper edge, (4) a lower edge, (5) an inner surface and (6) an outer surface, wherein the longitudinal length of said left blanket flap is less than the longitudinal length of said right blanket flap,
- B. said a pouch having: portion, sized and configured to allow an infant to be placed partially into the pouch portion, the pouch portion comprising a) an inner section that is dimensioned to be attached by an attachment means to the area bordered by the right and left pouch border attachment marks located on said swaddling blanket, b) an integrally attached outer section, c) an open upper and portion, d) a closeable lower end and side end portion, an outward-facing portion, a first side, e) a right second side, and a recloseable portion spaced apart from an open portion and extending along a segment of the lower portion and along 1) a first segment of the first side, or 2) a second segment of the second side, or 3) the first segment of the first side and the second segment of the second side, g) a left side, wherein to utilize said SBPC swaddle the left blanket second flap commencing from the left pouch border attachment mark of the wrap portion is wrapped sequentially around said pouch's inner section, the left side, the outer section and with the outer edge of the left blanket flap attached by an attachment means to the right side of said pouch the second side of the pouch portion and the outward-facing portion of the pouch portion, likewise, the right blanket first flap of the wrap portion is wrapped sequentially around the left blanket flap that is attached to the right side of said pouch, around the outer and left side section of said pouch the first side of the pouch portion and the outward-facing portion of the pouch portion, with the outer edge of the right blanket first flap configured to be attached by the attachment means one or more fasteners to the left blanket second flap that is attached to the inner section of said pouch, wherein said pouch is dimensioned to allow an infant to be placed into said pouch, with the infant's arms located internally within said pouch or with the infant's arms located externally to said pouch.
4. The swaddling blanket and pouch combination swaddle as specified in claim 3 wherein the first flap of the wrap portion comprises a lower portion, the second flap of the wrap portion comprises a lower portion, and said pouch has a length that preferably places portion is sized and configured such that, when in use, the open upper end upper portion of said pouch adjacent to portion is near the chest area of an the infant and the lower end portion of said pouch adjacent to portion is near the lower edge portion of said swaddling blanket first flap of the wrap portion and the lower portion of said second flap of the wrap portion.
5. The swaddling blanket and pouch combination swaddle as specified in claim 4 3 wherein said pouch portion is made of a resilient, soft material that applies configured to apply a comforting pressure around the infant.
6. The swaddling blanket and pouch combination swaddle as specified in claim 5 wherein the resilient, soft material is comprises one or more fabrics selected from the group consisting of cotton, spandex, stretch denim, stretch vinyl, and stretch velvet.
7. The swaddling blanket and pouch combination swaddle as specified in claim 3 wherein said means for attaching the inner section of said pouch to the pouch attachment area on said swaddling blanket is one or more fasteners comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of hook and loop fasteners, male and female detents, and buttons.
8. The swaddling blanket and pouch combination swaddle as specified in claim 3 wherein the closeable lower end recloseable portion of said pouch portion further comprises an opening and closing means a flap comprising an edge that extends along the lower end portion of said pouch portion and continuous partially along either the right or the left at least one of the first side of said pouch portion and the second side of said pouch portion, wherein the opening and closing recloseable portion further comprises means allows said pouch to be opened to allow a soiled diaper to be easily removed and replaced or to take a rectal temperature for opening and closing the flap to allow access to an interior of the pouch portion.
9. The swaddling blanket and pouch combination swaddle as specified in claim 8 wherein the opening and closing means for opening and closing said pouch means is selected from the group consisting of comprises hook and loop fasteners, male and female detents, a zipper and, or a drawstring.
10. The swaddling blanket and pouch combination swaddle as specified in claim 3 wherein said pouch further comprises further comprising an infant head cover that is removably attached to and extends from attachable to the open upper end of said pouch portion or the wrap portion.
11. The swaddling blanket and pouch combination swaddle as specified in claim 10 wherein said infant head cover is removably attached attachable to the upper end of said pouch portion or to the upper edge of said blanket wrap portion by an attachment means that is one or more fasteners selected from the group consisting of hook and loop fasteners, male and female detents, and buttons.
12. The swaddling blanket and pouch combination swaddle as specified in claim 10 wherein said infant head cover is made of comprises a resilient, soft material that is comprising one or more fabrics selected from the group consisting of cotton, spandex, stretch denim, stretch vinyl, and stretch velvet.
13. The swaddling blanket and pouch combination swaddle as specified in claim 3 18 wherein:
- a) the upper edges of the right and left blanket flaps are angled downward from the respective upper edge of said blanket, the first upper edge of the first flap of the wrap portion is angled downward from the first inner portion to the first outer portion, and the second upper edge of the second flap of the wrap portion is angled downward from the second inner portion to the second outer portion, and
- b) the lower edges of the right and left blanket flaps are angled upward from the respective lower edge of said blanket, the first lower edge of the first flap of the wrap portion is angled upward from the first inner portion to the first outer portion, and the second lower edge of the second flap is angled upward from the second inner portion to the second outer portion, and wherein the right first flap of the wrap portion terminates at a first outer edge configured as a first centered radiused apex, and left blanket flaps terminate the second flap of the wrap portion terminates at an a second outer edge configured as a second centered radiused apex.
14. The swaddling blanket and pouch combination swaddle as specified in claim 3 18 wherein the first upper edges edge of the right first flap of the wrap portion and left blanket flaps the second upper edge of the second flap of the wrap portion are in respective alignment with the upper edge of said blanket generally aligned and generally parallel, and the first lower edges edge of the right first flap of the wrap portion and left blanket flaps the second lower edge of the second flap are in respective alignment with the lower edge of said blanket generally aligned and generally parallel.
15. The swaddling blanket and pouch combination swaddle as specified in claim 3 18 wherein:
- a) the first upper edges edge of said right first flap of the wrap portion and left blanket flaps the second upper edge of the second flap of the wrap portion are in alignment with the respective upper edge of said blanket generally aligned and generally parallel, and
- b) the first lower edges edge of said right first flap of the wrap portion is angled upward from the first inner portion to the first outer portion, and left blanket flaps are the second lower edge of the second flap of the wrap portion is angled upward from the respective lower edge of said blanket second inner portion to the second outer portion, wherein the right first flap of the wrap portion terminates in a first outer edge configured as a first off-centered radiused apex, and left blanket flaps terminate the second flap of the wrap portion terminates in an a second outer edge configured as an a second off-centered radiused apex.
16. The swaddling blanket and pouch combination swaddle as specified in claim 3 18 wherein:
- a) the first upper edges edge of said right the first flap of the wrap portion is angled downward from the first inner portion to the first outer portion of the first flap and left blanket flaps are the second upper edge of the second flap of the wrap portion is angled downward from the respective upper edge of said blanket second inner portion to the second outer portion of the second flap, and
- b) the first lower edges edge of said right first flap of the wrap portion and left blanket flaps the second lower edge of the second flap of the wrap portion are in alignment with the respective lower edge of said blanket generally aligned and generally parallel, wherein the right first flap of the wrap portion terminates in a first outer edge configured as a first off-centered radiused apex, and left blanket flaps terminate the second flap of the wrap portion terminates at an a second outer edge configured as an a second off-centered radiused apex.
17. The swaddling blanket and pouch combination swaddle as specified in claim 3 wherein said swaddling blanket is made of comprises a material that is selected from the group consisting of wool, cotton, and waterproof nylon.
18. The swaddle as specified in claim 3 wherein
- the first flap of the wrap portion comprises a first upper edge, a first lower edge, an first inner portion, and a first outer portion, and
- the second flap of the wrap portion comprises a second upper edge, a second lower edge, a second inner portion, and a second outer portion.
19. The swaddle as specified in claim 3, the wrap portion configured to be removably attached to the pouch portion.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Oct 2, 2017
Date of Patent: Jan 14, 2020
Inventor: Hindi R. Zeidman (Upland, CA)
Primary Examiner: Cary E Wehner
Application Number: 15/722,880
International Classification: A47G 9/08 (20060101); A01M 1/24 (20060101); A01M 1/20 (20060101); A01N 43/16 (20060101); A01N 25/00 (20060101); A41B 13/06 (20060101);