AU2008100762A4 - Weighted Blanket - Google Patents

Description

oO 00 (N 1 m APPLICANT: DIANA MARIA YOUNG

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990

SPECIFICATION

S- HJo 0A FOR THE INVENTION ENTITLED: "A WEIGHTED BLANKET" The invention is described in the following statement: 2 o00 SA WEIGHTED BLANKET ;Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a blanket which is weighted.

Background 00 Some children and even adults like to feel blankets on CI them when sleeping as the weight is comforting and calming. Such use is sometimes referred to as deep pressure therapy. However, placing two or more blankets over a person can make them too hot and/or uncomfortable.

Instead a single blanket, which is heavy due to addition of weighting, can provide the comfort of the heavy feeling without making the person too hot. Known weighted blankets have removable tubes of weighting material in them or have weighting material around the periphery of the blanket. Usually, the weighting material is in the form of wheat. These sorts of weighted blanket have limitations, due to the need to remove the weighting for washing, or if the weighting is not removable, the blanket is not washable. Weighted blankets are also useful for people that suffer from restlessness, sleep walking and hyperactivity.

The present invention provides a new form of weighted blanket.

Summary of the Present Invention According to an aspect of the present invention there is 3 00 Cprovided a weighted blanket comprising a plurality of CI pockets arranged over the area of the blanket, a plurality of the pockets each holding a weight.

In an embodiment the pockets are closed.

ND In an embodiment each weight is comprised of particulate material sealed in a bag.

00 010 In an embodiment each bag is a sealable plastic bag.

In an embodiment the particulate material is "steel shot".

In an embodiment the pockets are arranged in rows and columns over the area of the blanket.

In an embodiment the pockets are evenly positioned over the area of the blanket.

In an embodiment the blanket is provided with a fastening strip extending across at least a portion of an end of the blanket.

In an embodiment the blanket is provided with a cover having a corresponding fastening strip inside the cover at an open end of the cover.

Summary of the Drawings In order to provide a better understanding of the present invention preferred embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 0- 4 0 Figure 1 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of weighted blanket according to the present invention; ;Figure 2 is a schematic representation of weight used within the weighted blanket of figure 1; and Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a cover for the blanket of Figure 1 according to an embodiment of the Ipresent invention.

0 Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments 0o Referring to the figures, there is shown a weighted blanket 10, which in the form of a rectangular piece of material comprising a plurality of pockets 12 extending over the area of blanket. In this case the pockets are arranged in the form of evenly distributed rows and columns of pockets. Each pocket contains a weight 14.

Each weight 14 is in the form of a sealed plastic bag 16 containing a weighting material 18. One embodiment the weighting material 18 is "steel shot". Typically each weight has a mass of 50 g. Other weighting material can be used, such as steel pellets, ball bearings or wheat.

The dimensions of the blanket can vary according need.

In the preferred embodiment of Figure 1 there are 8 rows and 5 columns, making 40 pockets evenly distributed across the area of blanket. Thus the total added weight to the blanket is 40 x 50 g 2 kg. Clearly a different number of pockets and/or weights of different mass can be used.

In an alternative embodiment the entire area of the blanket need not have pockets with each one filled with a weight 14.

The blanket will typically be placed in a cover 50. In 5 00 Sorder to limit the movement of the blanket within the CI cover a fastener strip 24 is provided along one end 22 of ;the blanket 10. The cover 50 has at its open end 52 a wide fastening strip 54 on one side which co-operates with the fastening strip 24 to hold the blanket in place inside the cover 50. Typically the fastening strip 24 will be Ihook material and the fastening strip 52 will be loop O material, although this may be the other way around.

SAdvantageously the fastening strip 52 can also co-operate 00 with a narrow fastening strip on the opposition side of C the opening of the cover so as to hold the opening to the cover 50 closed.

To construct the blanket 10 two pieces of textile material, such as calico, are sewn together inside out, (stitching is shown as 26) with one end left open. The edges can be overlock stitched and then it is turned correct-side-out. Stitching 30 forming the columns can then be made. A weight 14 is then inserted into each column and moved to the closed end of each column. Then stitching 28 forming a row of pockets is then made with each weight being in each pocket. Further weights 14 are added and rows sewn until all of the pockets 12 are made with weights 14 inside. The open end is then sewn closed along with sewing on the fastening strip 24.

In another embodiment the pockets can be open, or preferably sealable with hook and loop fastener.

For extra durability an addition line of stitching can be added around the perimeter of the blanket.

To construct the cover 50 two pieces of textile material, -6- 00 Ssuch as a cotton sheet, are sewn together inside out, with stitching shown as 56, with one end left open. The edges ;can be overlock stitched. The fastening strip 54 is sewn in place on one side of the open end 52. A fastening means can be employed to close the cover 50, such as another fastening strip (described above), buttons or IDstuds. The cover 50 is then turned correct-side-out. The blanket 10 can then be inserted inside the cover 00 For extra durability an addition line of stitching can be added around the perimeter of the cover.

By providing the weights 14 inside the sealed plastic bags, the blanket 10 is hand washable without the need to remove the weights 14.

Some embodiments of the present invention have the advantage of providing weighting evenly across the entire area of the blanket.

It will be understood to persons skilled in the art of the invention that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (7)

1. 2. A blanket as claimed in claim i, wherein the pockets are closed. 00
2. 3. A blanket as claimed in claim i, wherein each weight C is comprised of particulate material sealed in a bag.
3. 4. A blanket as claimed in claim 3, wherein each bag is a sealable plastic bag. A blanket as claimed in claim 3, wherein the particulate material is "steel shot"
4. 6. A blanket as claimed in claim i, wherein the pockets are arranged in rows and columns over the area of the blanket.
5. 7. A blanket as claimed in claim i, wherein the pockets are evenly positioned over the area of the blanket.
6. 8. A blanket as claimed in claim i, wherein the blanket is provided with a fastening strip extending across at least a portion of an end of the blanket.
7. 9. A blanket as claimed in claim 8, wherein the blanket is provided with a cover having a corresponding fastening strip into the cover at an open end of the cover.