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. A method of swaddling an infant using an infant swaddling garment assembly comprising left and right arm sleeves and a torso section having an upper edge being open and defining a neck opening, said method comprising: positioning a torso and arms of an infant into a torso section and left and right arm sleeves of an infant garment, respectively; releasably attaching a first mating member attached to a terminal end of the left arm sleeve to a second mating member attached to a left portion of a front side of the torso section 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 attached to a terminal end of a right arm sleeve to a second mating member attached to a right portion of a front side of the torso section to selectively position a right arm of the infant in a releasably secured condition against the torso of the infant.

2. The method of claim 1, further including: the second mating members are magnetically attracted to the first mating members; each second mating member being formed as an elongate strip such that each first mating member is releasably attachable to and slidable along a respective elongate strip, wherein the connection assembly is configured to restrict a range of motion of the arms of the infant relative to the torso of the infant; and the method including an additional step of sliding of the first mating members relative to the elongate strips by the infant to comfortably position their arms.

3. The method of claim 1, further including: the second mating members are magnetically attracted to the first mating members; each second mating member being formed as a block and defining a connecting point; the left portion of the front side of the torso section has a plurality of the second mating members attached thereto, and the method further includes selectively positioning the left arm of the infant at any one of the plurality of the second mating members attached to the left portion of the front side of the torso section; and the right portion of the front side of the torso section has a plurality of the second mating members attached thereto, and the method further includes selectively positioning the right arm of the infant at any one of the plurality of the second mating members attached to the right portion of the front side of the torso section.

4. 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 plurality of second mating members each being formed as a block and being disposed at different locations at a right portion and a left portion of the front side of the torso section, each defining a connecting point for a corresponding one of the pair of first mating members.

5. The infant swaddling garment assembly of claim 4, wherein the second mating members are magnetically attracted to the first mating members such that each first mating member is releasably attachable and movable from one of the second mating members to another to selectively change the connecting point of each of the first mating members.

6. The infant swaddling garment assembly of claim 5, wherein the first mating members are magnetic and the second mating members are paramagnetic.

7. The infant swaddling garment assembly of claim 5, wherein the first mating members are paramagnetic and the second mating members are magnetic.

8. The infant swaddling garment assembly of claim 5, wherein the first mating members and the second mating members are magnetic and the first mating members are pole matched to the second mating members.

9. The infant swaddling garment assembly of claim 4, further including: the torso section having a slit positioned therein and extending from the neck opening downwardly into the torso section; and a closure being attached to the torso section to releasably close the slit.

10. The infant swaddling garment assembly of claim 4, wherein the plurality of sleeves comprises a pair of leg sleeves configured to receive legs of the infant.

11. The infant swaddling garment assembly of claim 4, wherein the infant garment further comprises a leg pocket connected to the torso section and configured to contain the legs of an infant

12. The infant swaddling garment assembly of claim 11, wherein: the leg pocket comprises a slit positioned therein and extending across a bottom edge of the leg pocket; and the infant swaddling garment assembly further comprises a closure attached to the leg pocket to releasably close the leg pocket.

13. The infant swaddling garment assembly of claim 12, further including: the torso section having a slit positioned therein and extending from the neck opening downwardly into the torso section; and a closure being attached to the torso section to releasably close the slit.

14. The infant swaddling garment assembly of claim 13, wherein the closure of the torso section and the closure of the leg pocket are connected together to form a single continuous closure extending from the neck opening downwardly across the torso section and then curving all the way around the bottom edge of the leg pocket.

15. The infant swaddling garment assembly of claim 4, further comprising a flap attached to a back portion of the torso section and wrappable around the torso section to cover at least the arms and torso of an infant, wherein the flap comprises at least two of said first mating members to releasably attach the flap in a wrapped position on the torso section.

16. The infant swaddling garment assembly of claim 4, wherein each of the first mating members and the plurality of second mating members is disposed within the garment material of the infant garment.

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.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 9 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.

[0023] As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 9, 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.

[0024] 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.

[0025] 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.

[0026] 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.

[0027] 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.

[0028] 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.

[0029] 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.

[0030] 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.

[0031] 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.

[0032] 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.

[0033] 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.

[0034] 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.

[0035] 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.

[0036] 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.

[0037] 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.

[0038] 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.

[0039] 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.