INFANT SWADDLING GARMENT ASSEMBLY AND METHOD THEREFOR

Abstract

An infant swaddling garment assembly for selectively positioning the arms of an infant in a releasably secured condition against the torso of the infant includes an infant garment, which comprises a torso section to which is attached a plurality of sleeves that includes a left arm sleeve and a right arm sleeve. The torso section and the left and right arm sleeves receive a torso and arms of an infant, respectively. The torso section has an upper edge, which is open and which defines a neck opening. A connection assembly releasably attaches the left and right arm sleeves at respective selectable positions on a front side of the torso section. The connection assembly thus enables selectively positioning of the arms of the infant in a releasably secured condition against the torso of the infant.

Claims

1. An infant swaddling garment assembly comprising: an infant garment comprising a torso section having a plurality of sleeves attached thereto and being configured to receive a torso and arms of an infant, respectively, the plurality of sleeves including a left arm sleeve and a right arm sleeve, the torso section having an upper edge being open and defining a neck opening; and a connection assembly releasably attaching the left arm sleeve and the right arm sleeve at respective selectable positions on a front side of the torso section, wherein the connection assembly is configured to selectively position the arms of the infant in a releasably secured condition against the torso of the infant, wherein the connection assembly comprises: a pair of first mating members being attached singly to terminal ends of the left arm sleeve and the right arm sleeve; and a pair of second mating members, each being slidably disposed in a pair of tracks attached singly to a right portion and a left portion of the front side of the torso section.

2. The infant swaddling garment assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the second mating members are magnetically attracted to the first mating members to magnetically connect each of the second mating members to a respective one of the first mating members.

3. The infant swaddling garment assembly of claim 2, wherein each of the tracks is a flexible tube having a C-shaped cross-section and being embedded in said infant garment.

4. The infant swaddling garment assembly of claim 3, wherein each of the tracks includes flexible stops to impair sliding movement of the second mating members.

5. The infant swaddling garment assembly of claim 4, wherein each of the second mating members includes a slider ball and a magnetic projection projecting out of a respective one of said tracks.

6. An infant swaddling garment assembly comprising: an infant garment comprising a torso section and a leg pocket connected to said torso section and configured to contain the legs of an infant, said torso section having a plurality of sleeves attached thereto and being configured to receive a torso and arms of an infant, respectively, the plurality of sleeves including a left arm sleeve and a right arm sleeve, the torso section having an upper edge being open and defining a neck opening; a connection assembly releasably attaching the left arm sleeve and the right arm sleeve at respective selectable positions on a front side of the torso section, wherein the connection assembly is configured to selectively position the arms of the infant in a releasably secured condition against the torso of the infant; and a first portal being positioned in a front side of said leg pocket and a second portal being positioned in a rear side of said leg pocket, wherein said first and second portals are aligned and configured to permit passage of a central safety strap through said leg pocket and between the legs of the infant.

7. An infant swaddling garment assembly comprising: an infant garment comprising a torso section having a plurality of sleeves attached thereto and being configured to receive a torso and arms of an infant, respectively, the plurality of sleeves including a left arm sleeve and a right arm sleeve, the torso section having an upper edge being open and defining a neck opening; and a connection assembly releasably attaching the left arm sleeve and the right arm sleeve at respective selectable positions on a front side of the torso section, wherein the connection assembly is configured to selectively position the arms of the infant in a releasably secured condition against the torso of the infant, wherein the connection assembly comprises: a pair of first mating members being attached singly to terminal ends of the left arm sleeve and the right arm sleeve, wherein each of said first pair of mating members include a tab projecting outwardly and a magnetic piece contained inside said tab, and wherein each of said terminal ends includes a mitten being unfoldable to cover a hand of an infant and expose said tab and being foldable back into a cuff covering said tab to prevent access to said tab; and a plurality of second mating members being attached to the front side of the torso section and magnetically attracted to said first mating members.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0012] The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

[0013] FIG. 1 is an isometric perspective view of an infant swaddling garment assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 3 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 4 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0017] FIG. 5 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0018] FIG. 6 is a flow diagram for a method utilizing an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0019] FIG. 7 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0020] FIG. 8 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure in use.

[0021] FIG. 9 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0022] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a component of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0023] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the component of the embodiment of the disclosure in FIG. 10.

[0024] FIG. 12 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0025] FIG. 13 is a rear view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0026] FIG. 14 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0027] FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of a component of the embodiment of the disclosure in FIG. 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 15 thereof, a new swaddling garment embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

[0029] As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 15, the infant swaddling garment assembly 10 generally comprises an infant garment 12 having a torso section 14 to which is attached a plurality of sleeves 16. The plurality of sleeves 16 typically includes a left arm sleeve 18, a right arm sleeve 20, and a pair of leg sleeves 22. The torso section 14, the left 18 and right 20 arm sleeves, and the pair of leg sleeves 22 are configured to receive a torso, arms, and legs of an infant, respectively. As is shown in the figures, the left 18 and right 20 arm sleeves may open so that hands of the infant protrude from the left 18 and right 20 arm sleeves, respectively. The present invention also anticipates the left 18 and right 20 arm sleeves each being closed with a mitten, or the like. Also as is shown in the figures, the leg sleeves 22 may be open, although the present invention also anticipates each leg sleeve 22 being terminated by a bootie, or the like.

[0030] The torso section 14 has an upper edge 24, which is open and which thus defines a neck opening 26. The torso section 14 has a slit 28 positioned therein, with the slit 28 extending from the neck opening 26 downwardly into the torso section 14. A closure 30 is attached to the torso section 14 to releasably close the slit 28. As is shown in FIG. 1, the slit 28 is positioned in a front side 32 of the torso section 14, although the present invention also anticipates the slit 28 being positioned in a back side 34 of the torso section 14. Such garments for infants typically include slits to facilitate donning of an infant with the garment. The closure 30 may comprise a zipper 36, as is shown in the figures, or other closing means, such as, but not limited to, buttons, snaps, ties, hook and loop fasteners, or the like.

[0031] A connection assembly 38 releasably attaches the left 18 and right 20 arm sleeves at respective selectable positions on the front side 32 of the torso section 14. The connection assembly 38 thus is configured to selectively position the arms of the infant in a releasably secured condition against the torso of the infant.

[0032] The connection assembly 38 comprises a pair of first mating members 40, the first mating members 40 of which are attached singly to terminal ends (42 and 44, respectively) of the left 18 and right 20 arm sleeves, and a pair of second mating members 46, the second mating members 46 of which are attached singly to a right portion 48 and a left portion 50 of the front side 32 of the torso section 14. As is shown in FIG. 2, each second mating member 46 is formed as an elongate strip 52 having opposed ends 54. Thus, each first mating member 40 is releasably attachable to a respective elongate strip 52 at a respective position between the opposed ends 54. As shown in FIG. 2, the first mating members 40 may also be positioned at the elbows as well to add additional connection points between the arm sleeves 18, 20 and the front side 32 of the torso section 14.

[0033] The elongate strips 52 may be magnetically attracted to the first mating members 40 so that each first mating member 40 is releasably attachable to and slidable along a respective elongate strip 52. The connection assembly 38 is configured to restrict a range of motion of the arms of the infant relative to the torso of the infant. The present invention also anticipates the first mating member 40 and the elongate strip 52 comprising hook and loop fastener, a snap closure, or the like, so that the arms of the infant are selectively positionable in a releasably secured condition against the torso of the infant at selectable positions between the opposed ends 54 of the elongate strips 52.

[0034] In one embodiment, the first mating members 40 are magnetic and the elongate strips 52 are paramagnetic. In another embodiment, the first mating members 40 are paramagnetic and the elongate strips 52 are magnetic. In yet another embodiment, the first mating members 40 and the elongate strips 52 are magnetic and the first mating members 40 are pole matched to the elongate strips 52. Such magnetic mating members are well known to those skilled in the art of magnets and include flexible strips that can be attached to the infant garment 12 by conventional means. In addition to the well documented benefits of swaddling, the infant swaddling garment assembly 10 is anticipated to be useful in monitoring preferred positioning of hands of infants and providing recommendations to parents to optimize the effectiveness of swaddling their infants.

[0035] Each elongate strip 52 may comprise a linear section 56 and an arcuate section 58, as is shown in FIG. 2. The linear section 56 has an upper end 60 that is positioned proximate to the upper edge 24 and extends downwardly to a lower end 62. The linear sections 56 of the elongate strips 52 are positioned so as to bracket a centerline 64 of the front side 32. The arcuate section 58 is attached to the lower end 62 of the linear section 56 and extends downwardly from the linear section 56 and away from the centerline 64. This shape of the elongate strips 52 positions the elongate strips 52 along the torso to cover a range of positions for releasably attaching the first mating members 40.

[0036] Each second mating member 46 may be formed as the elongate strip 52 along with a set of blocks 66, as is shown in FIG. 3. The blocks 66 are spaced along the elongate strip 52 between the opposed ends 54 so that each first mating member 40 is releasably attachable to one or more blocks 66 to selectively position the arms of the infant in a releasably secured condition against the torso of the infant. Also as shown in FIG. 3, the blocks 66 may be positioned so as to bracket the elongate strip 52. Blocks is used herein descriptively and is not intended to be limited to cuboid shapes. The present invention also anticipates the blocks 66 being disc shaped, triangular prismatic shaped, or the like. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the elongated strip 52 may be raised compared to the blocks 66. This will allow connection between first mating members 40 on the sleeves to the blocks 66 at points which do not allow the movement of the first mating member relative to the garment 12. As shown in FIG. 7, the elongated strips 52 may be omitted and only the blocks 66 are included such that a plurality of the second mating members 46, in this case the blocks 66, are attached at different locations on the right portion 48 and the left portion 50 of the front side 32 of the torso section 14, each defining a connecting point for a corresponding one of the pair of first mating members 40. The second mating members 46 are magnetically attracted to the first mating members 40 such that each first mating member 40 is releasably attachable and movable from one of the second mating members 46 to another to selectively change the connecting point of each of the first mating members 40. It should be noted that FIG. 7 shows one possible embodiment of the infant swaddling garment assembly 10, and thus it should be understood that the elongated strips 52 and the blocks 66 may be included or utilized in any of the embodiments of the infant swaddling garment assembly 10 disclosed herein, either independently or in combination.

[0037] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the infant swaddling garment assembly 10 can include a leg pocket 78 connected to the torso section 14 and designed to contain the legs of an infant. The leg pocket 78 functions as a swaddling-style alternative to the leg sleeves 22, though it would be possible to combine both in another possible embodiment. The leg pocket 78 comprises a slit 80 positioned therein and extending across a bottom edge 82 of the leg pocket 78. A closure 84 is attached to the leg pocket 78 to releasably close the leg pocket 78. In one possible embodiment, such as is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the closure 30 of the torso section 14 and the closure 84 of the leg pocket 78 are connected together to form a single continuous closure extending from the neck opening 26 downwardly across the torso section 14 and then curving all the way around the bottom edge 82 of the leg pocket 78.

[0038] FIGS. 7 and 8 show an additional possible component of an embodiment of the infant swaddling garment assembly 10, specifically a flap 86 attached to a back portion of the torso section 14 and wrappable around the torso section 14 to cover at least the arms and torso of an infant. The flap 86 includes at least two of the first mating members 40 to releasably attach the flap 86 in a wrapped position on the torso section 14. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, there are a pair of the first mating members 40 on the flap 86 and they are releasably attachable to a pair of the second mating members 46 on the torso section 14. FIG. 8 shows the flap 86 wrapped around and releasably attached to the torso section 14. This design allows for a quick and easy way to swaddle an infant without any complicated wrapping of lengthy cloths or garments. The flap 86 can be utilized with any embodiment of the infant swaddling garment assembly 10.

[0039] It should be understood that the figures show the first mating members 40 and the second mating members 46 as being on or attached to the outer surface of infant garment 12 for purposes of clarity and as an exemplary embodiment, and that, in another possible embodiment, some or all of the first mating members 40 and the second mating members 46 are disposed within the material or material layers of the infant garment 12. In that embodiment, the first mating members 40 and the second mating members 46 are releasably attachable together through the garment material, that is to say, with the garment material in between. FIG. 9 shows an exemplary embodiment in which the elongate strips 52, the blocks 66, and the first mating members 40 are disposed within the garment material, such as in a pocket that is stitched shut or sealed by adhesive or otherwise embedded in the material.

[0040] In use, the infant swaddling garment assembly 10 enables a method of swaddling an infant 68. The method 68 comprises providing the infant swaddling garment assembly 10, according to the specification above. A first step 70 of the method 68 is positioning a torso and arms of an infant into a torso section 14 and a left arm sleeve 18 and a right arm sleeve 20 of the infant garment 12, respectively. A second step 72 of the method 68 is releasably attaching a first mating member 40 that is attached to the terminal end 42 of the left arm sleeve 18 to a second mating member 46 that is attached the left portion 50 of the front side 32 of the torso section 14 to selectively position a left arm of the infant in a releasably secured condition against the torso of the infant. A third step 74 of the method 68 is releasably attaching a first mating member 40 that is attached to the terminal end 44 of the right arm sleeve 20 to a second mating member 46 that is attached the right portion 48 of the front side 32 of the torso section 14 to selectively position a right arm of the infant in a releasably secured condition against the torso of the infant. In at least one possible embodiment, the method alternatively or additionally includes releasably attaching a first mating member 40 attached to the terminal end 42 of the left arm sleeve 18 to a second mating member 46 at a first connecting point to selectively position a left arm of the infant in a releasably secured condition against the torso of the infant, and releasably attaching a first mating member 40 attached to the terminal end 44 of the right arm sleeve 20 to a second mating member 46 at a second connecting point to selectively position a right arm of the infant in a releasably secured condition against the torso of the infant. The method further includes detaching the first mating member 40 of the left arm sleeve 18 and releasably reattaching to a second mating member 46 at a third connecting point, and detaching the first mating member 40 of the right arm sleeve 20 and releasably reattaching to a second mating member 40 at a fourth connecting point.

[0041] In some embodiments, the assembly 10 may include data collection means. In particular, the first 40 and second 46 mating members may include electronic contacts coupled to a processor and memory for collecting data on where an infant prefers to retain their arms while being in a swaddled position. This will allow for future improvements in design of the assembly 10 as well as be able to monitor movements of a child throughout their sleep cycle. The data would not include where the locations of the connections were being made, but also the duration of each contact.

[0042] The method 68 above is not intended to limit use of the infant swaddling garment assembly in any manner. For example, a first mating member 40 attached to the terminal end 42 of the left arm sleeve 18 could be attached to a second mating member 46 attached the right portion 48 of the front side 32 of the torso section 14 and a first mating member 40 attached to the terminal end 44 of the right arm sleeve 20 could be attached to a second mating member 46 attached the left portion 50 of the front side 32 of the torso section 14 to effectively cross the arms of the infant.

[0043] With each second mating member 46 being formed as an elongate strip 52 and being magnetically attracted to the first mating members 40, each first mating member 40 is releasably attachable to and slidable along a respective elongate strip 52. The method 68 in this case includes a fourth step 76 of sliding of the first mating members 40 relative to the elongate strips 52 by the infant to comfortably position their arms.

[0044] FIGS. 10 and 11 show an alternative embodiment of the first mating members 40, wherein each of the first pair of mating members 40 includes a tab 88 projecting outwardly and a magnetic piece 90 contained inside the tab 88. Each of the terminal ends of the sleeves includes a mitten 92 being unfoldable to cover a hand of an infant and expose the tab 88, as shown in FIG. 11, and being foldable back into a cuff covering the tab 88 to prevent access to the tab 88, as shown in FIG. 10. Such a design will further prevent an infant from inadvertently accessing the magnetic piece 90 inside the tab 88, as the mitten 92 must be folded over the hand of the infant, thereby enclosing the hand, in order to expose the tab 88. The mitten 92, when folded back into the cuff position, must cover the tab 88, so the magnetic piece 90 is covered when the hands of the infant are uncovered. In addition, the material of the mitten 92 could be designed such that, when folded into the cuff position, prevents magnetic attachment of the magnetic piece 90 with any other magnetic structure, so the hands and arms of the infant will be free to move.

[0045] FIGS. 12 and 13 show an additional component for the leg pocket 78. A first portal 94 is positioned in a front side of the leg pocket 78, as shown in FIG. 12, and a second portal 96 is positioned in a rear side of the leg pocket 78. The first portal 94 and the second portal 96 are aligned and designed to permit passage of a central safety strap through the leg pocket 78 and between the legs of the infant. This design will allow the leg pocket 78 to be usable with child safety seats, strollers, and chairs that include a central safety strap to secure a child in place. The first portal 94 and the second portal 96 are shown as fabric or cloth flaps, but could also be plastic pieces embedded in the leg pocket 78 to resist tearing and improve strength.

[0046] FIGS. 14 and 15 show an alternative design of the pair of second mating members 46, wherein each of the second mating members 46 is slidably disposed in a pair of tracks 98 attached singly to a right portion and a left portion of the front side of the torso section 32. In the exemplary embodiment, each of the second mating members 46 are magnetically attracted to the first mating members 40 to magnetically connect each of the second mating members 46 to a respective one of the first mating members 40. However, in another possible embodiment, snaps, clasps, or other connections could be used instead of magnetic force. Each of the tracks 98 is a flexible tube having a C-shaped cross-section and is embedded in the infant garment, as shown in FIG. 15. However, in other possible embodiments, the tube could be made of rigid or semi-rigid material, such as plastic or metal, or could have a different cross-sectional profile, such as rectangular or triangular. Each of the tracks 98 includes flexible stops 100 to impair sliding movement of the second mating members 46. The flexible stops 100 will prevent the infant from freely sliding the second mating members 46. In the exemplary embodiment, the flexible stops 100 are quite flexible and can be overcome by the infant, such that they only serve to resist free movement to slow down the movement of the arms of the infant, but still allow movement along the length of the track. In another possible embodiment, the flexible stops will divide the track 98 into segments that firmly restrict movement to that segment. To further explain, the flexible stops 100 are stiff enough to not be overcome by the strength of an infant, but flexible enough to be overcome by the strength of an adult. For example, a parent or caregiver can move the second mating members 46 into one of the segments by overcoming the resistance of the flexible stops 100, to thereby restrict the movement of the hand of the infant to the selected segment since the flexible stops 100 will be strong enough to resist movement by the infant. In the exemplary embodiment, each of the second mating members 46 includes a slider ball 102 and a magnetic projection 104 projecting out of a respective one of the tracks 98. However, this is only one exemplary embodiment, and the slider ball 102 could be a different shape, such as a block or rod, and the magnetic projection 104 could be virtually any shape as well, such as a ball or polygonal block. In one possible embodiment, the magnetic projection 104 is a magnet or a magnetic material, such as iron or steel.

[0047] It should be noted that several or all of the embodiments disclosed herein can utilize magnets and magnetic materials, such as metals, to form different detachable connections. However, it should be understood that any type of detachable connection could be utilized that produces a similar detachable connection, such as different types of connectors like snaps, clasps, buckles, buttons, interlocking pieces, and zippers, or different types of materials like plastic, non-magnetic metals, elastomers, and glass, or combinations of such materials and connector types, with or without magnets or magnetic materials.

[0048] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0049] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word comprising is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article a does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.