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. 16/739,773, filed Jan. 10, 2020, which is a continuation reissue application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/722,880, filed Oct. 2, 2017, which issued on Jan. 14, 2020 as U.S. Pat. No. RE47,809, which is a continuation reissue application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/056,928, filed Feb. 29, 2016, which issued on Nov. 21, 2017 as U.S. Pat. No. RE46,611, 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, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/722,880, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/739,773, 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) comprising:
- A. said swaddling blanket 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 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, c) a left blanket 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 pouch having: 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, d) a closeable lower end and side end, e) a right side, and g) a left side, wherein to utilize said SBPC the left blanket flap commencing from the left pouch border attachment mark 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, likewise, the right blanket flap 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 with the outer edge of the right blanket flap attached by the attachment means to the left blanket 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 as specified in claim 3 wherein said pouch has a length that preferably places the open upper end of said pouch adjacent to the chest area of an infant and the lower end of said pouch adjacent to the lower edge of said swaddling blanket.
5. The swaddling blanket and pouch combination as specified in claim 4 wherein said pouch is made of a resilient, soft material that applies a comforting pressure around the infant.
6. The swaddling blanket and pouch combination as specified in claim 5 wherein the resilient, soft material is selected from the group consisting of cotton, spandex, stretch denim, stretch vinyl and stretch velvet.
7. The swaddling blanket and pouch combination 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 selected from the group consisting of hook and loop fasteners, male and female detents, and buttons.
8. The swaddling blanket and pouch combination as specified in claim 3 wherein the closeable lower end of said pouch further comprises an opening and closing means that extends along the lower end of said pouch and continuous partially along either the right or the left side of said pouch, wherein the opening and closing means allows said pouch to be opened to allow a soiled diaper to be easily removed and replaced or to take a rectal temperature.
9. The swaddling blanket and pouch combination as specified in claim 8 wherein the means for opening and closing said pouch means is selected from the group consisting of hook and loop fasteners, male and female detents, a zipper and a drawstring.
10. The swaddling blanket and pouch combination as specified in claim 3 wherein said pouch further comprises an infant head cover that is removably attached to and extends from the open upper end of said pouch.
11. The swaddling blanket and pouch combination as specified in claim 10 wherein said infant head cover is removably attached to the upper end of said pouch or to the upper edge of said blanket by an attachment means that is selected from the group consisting of hook and loop fasteners, male and female detents and buttons.
12. The swaddling blanket and pouch combination as specified in claim 10 wherein said infant head cover is made of a resilient, soft material that is selected from the group consisting of cotton, spandex, stretch denim, stretch vinyl and stretch velvet.
13. The swaddling blanket and pouch combination as specified in claim 3 wherein:
- a) the upper edges of the right and left blanket flaps are angled downward from the respective upper edge of said blanket, and
- b) the lower edges of the right and left blanket flaps are angled upward from the respective lower edge of said blanket, wherein the right and left blanket flaps terminate at an outer edge configured as a centered radiused apex.
14. The swaddling blanket and pouch combination as specified in claim 3 wherein the upper edges of the right and left blanket flaps are in respective alignment with the upper edge of said blanket, and the lower edges of the right and left blanket flaps are in respective alignment with the lower edge of said blanket.
15. The swaddling blanket and pouch combination as specified in claim 3 wherein:
- a) the upper edges of said right and left blanket flaps are in alignment with the respective upper edge of said blanket, and
- b) the lower edges of said right and left blanket flaps are angled upward from the respective lower edge of said blanket, wherein the right and left blanket flaps terminate in an outer edge configured as an off-centered radiused apex.
16. The swaddling blanket and pouch combination as specified in claim 3 wherein:
- a) the upper edges of said right and left blanket flaps are angled downward from the respective upper edge of said blanket, and
- b) the lower edges of said right and left blanket flaps are in alignment with the respective lower edge of said blanket, wherein the right and left blanket flaps terminate at an outer edge configured as an off-centered radiused apex.
17. The swaddling blanket and pouch combination as specified in claim 3 wherein said swaddling blanket is made of a material that is selected from the group consisting of wool, cotton, and waterproof nylon.
18. A swaddle comprising:
- a blanket having an outer perimeter; and
- a closable portion made of resilient material that aids in maintaining a comfortable pressure on an infant, the closable portion configured to apply the comfortable pressure to the infant, the closable portion comprising: an upper portion having a horizontal upper edge, a lower portion having a horizontal lower edge, a front side, a back side, a right side, a left side, and a closeable portion comprising fasteners configured to be secured,
- wherein the blanket and the closable portion are attached in use, wherein the closable portion fits within the outer perimeter of the blanket when the closable portion is attached to the blanket,
- wherein to utilize the swaddle, the fasteners of the closeable portion are secured and the closable portion applies the comfortable pressure to the infant, a first portion of the blanket is wrapped around a side of the infant and a side of the closeable portion, then a second portion of the blanket is wrapped around the other side of the infant and the other side of the closeable portion, wherein the second portion of the blanket is configured to be secured to the first portion of the blanket.
19. The swaddle as specified in claim 18 wherein the closable portion is sized and configured such that, when in use, the upper portion of the closable portion is near a chest area of the infant.
20. The swaddle as specified in claim 18 wherein the closable portion comprises a stretch material.
21. The swaddle as specified in claim 18 wherein the closable portion comprises spandex.
22. The swaddle as specified in claim 18 wherein the fasteners comprise hook and loop fasteners.
23. The swaddle as specified in claim 18 wherein the blanket comprises an upper blanket portion having a horizontal upper edge.
24. The swaddle as specified in claim 18 wherein the blanket comprises a lower blanket portion having a horizontal lower edge.
25. The swaddle as specified in claim 18 wherein the blanket and the closable portion are attached in an attachment area, the attachment area extending vertically.
26. The swaddle as specified in claim 18 wherein the blanket and the closable portion are attached in an attachment area, wherein the attachment area is rectangular.
27. The swaddle as specified in claim 18 wherein the swaddle comprises wool, cotton, waterproof nylon, cotton spandex, stretch denim, stretch vinyl, or stretch velvet.
28. The swaddle as specified in claim 18 wherein at least one side edge of the blanket is straight.
29. The swaddle as specified in claim 18 wherein the blanket is rectangular.
30. The swaddle as specified in claim 18 wherein the second portion of the blanket is configured to overlap and be secured by one or more hook and loop fasteners to the first portion of the blanket.
31. The swaddle as specified in claim 18 wherein the resilient material of the closable portion is breathable.
32. The swaddle as specified in claim 18 wherein the swaddle comprises a zipper.
33. The swaddle as specified in claim 18 wherein the blanket and the closable portion are attached in an attachment area configured to be positioned along the back of the infant.
34. The swaddle as specified in claim 18 wherein the blanket comprises vertical sides.
35. The swaddle as specified in claim 18 wherein the blanket comprises rounded corners.
36. The swaddle as specified in claim 18 wherein the blanket and the closable portion comprise different materials.
37. The swaddle as specified in claim 18 wherein the closable portion is configured to allow a diaper to be easily changed.
211077 | December 1878 | Watson |
1584853 | May 1926 | Dern |
2429168 | October 1947 | Padgett |
2469700 | May 1949 | Pterucelli |
2530464 | November 1950 | Haman |
2812516 | November 1957 | Hoffman |
2989753 | June 1961 | Burner |
3034132 | May 1962 | Bernard et al. |
3259126 | July 1966 | Greiert |
4125903 | November 21, 1978 | Farrell |
4172300 | October 30, 1979 | Miller |
4347629 | September 7, 1982 | Itoi |
4688270 | August 25, 1987 | Denicola et al. |
4759082 | July 26, 1988 | Mulligan |
4897885 | February 6, 1990 | Lunt |
4979250 | December 25, 1990 | Troncone et al. |
5062168 | November 5, 1991 | Kocib |
5611095 | March 18, 1997 | Schneider |
5722094 | March 3, 1998 | Ruefer |
5815833 | October 6, 1998 | Kuo |
5852827 | December 29, 1998 | Lear |
6009576 | January 4, 2000 | Gramme et al. |
6055686 | May 2, 2000 | Knight |
6145932 | November 14, 2000 | Hamel-Nyhus et al. |
6415442 | July 9, 2002 | Smith |
6457193 | October 1, 2002 | Li |
6868566 | March 22, 2005 | Gatten |
D504753 | May 10, 2005 | Gold et al. |
6928674 | August 16, 2005 | Blackburn |
6978479 | December 27, 2005 | Thach |
7043783 | May 16, 2006 | Gatten |
7076819 | July 18, 2006 | Trani et al. |
7150055 | December 19, 2006 | Wooten, Jr. |
7181789 | February 27, 2007 | Gatten |
7246392 | July 24, 2007 | Schmid et al. |
7254849 | August 14, 2007 | Fiebrich et al. |
7647658 | January 19, 2010 | Wilson |
7739748 | June 22, 2010 | Nilforushan et al. |
7774875 | August 17, 2010 | Zeidman |
8191189 | June 5, 2012 | Spell |
D691781 | October 22, 2013 | Coats |
8793813 | August 5, 2014 | Waters |
RE45903 | March 1, 2016 | Zeidman |
RE46611 | November 21, 2017 | Zeidman |
10188150 | January 29, 2019 | Zeidman |
10188151 | January 29, 2019 | Zeidman |
RE47809 | January 14, 2020 | Zeidman |
10779579 | September 22, 2020 | Zeidman |
10779580 | September 22, 2020 | Zeidman |
RE48330 | December 1, 2020 | Zeidman |
20040158925 | August 19, 2004 | Sims |
20060236441 | October 26, 2006 | Johnson et al. |
20070056098 | March 15, 2007 | Schmid et al. |
20080235848 | October 2, 2008 | Wilder et al. |
20110179546 | July 28, 2011 | Millette et al. |
20110231993 | September 29, 2011 | Schmid et al. |
20120023637 | February 2, 2012 | Neveu |
20120110716 | May 10, 2012 | Christensen et al. |
20130302555 | November 14, 2013 | Dunn et al. |
20140033430 | February 6, 2014 | Daugherty et al. |
20140033431 | February 6, 2014 | Zeidman |
20140298564 | October 9, 2014 | Miller |
20150342263 | December 3, 2015 | Taylor |
20160174619 | June 23, 2016 | Waters et al. |
20160295928 | October 13, 2016 | Bopanna et al. |
20170049158 | February 23, 2017 | Zeidman |
20190208831 | July 11, 2019 | Joshi |
20190223515 | July 25, 2019 | Zeidman |
20190223516 | July 25, 2019 | Zeidman |
20200237024 | July 30, 2020 | Glazer |
20210059318 | March 4, 2021 | Zeidman |
20210068472 | March 11, 2021 | Zeidman |
114792 | April 1926 | CH |
102010047125 | April 2012 | DE |
102016008165 | January 2018 | DE |
102018105989 | September 2019 | DE |
2967870 | June 2012 | FR |
2967870 | June 2012 | FR |
- U.S. Appl. No. 16/739,773, filed Jan. 10, 2020, Zeidman.
- U.S. Appl. No. 17/021,782, filed Sep. 15, 2020, Zeidman.
- U.S. Appl. No. 17/021,781, filed Sep. 15, 2020, Zeidman.
- Aug. 3, 2021, Complaint, Hindi R. Zeidman v. Freshly Picked, LLC (1:21-cv-01129-CFC).
Type: Grant
Filed: Nov 25, 2020
Date of Patent: Aug 30, 2022
Inventor: Hindi R. Zeidman (Upland, CA)
Primary Examiner: Patricia L Engle
Application Number: 17/104,805
International Classification: A47G 9/08 (20060101); A41B 13/06 (20060101);