AU690114B2 - Baby restraint - Google Patents

Description

WO 94126153 PCT/AU94/00251 1 BABY RESTRAINT FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus for restraining movement of a sleeping baby.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Medical practitioners having theorised that susceptibility 'to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome may be enhanced when a baby sleeps on its stomach with its face down. This theory has received wide support. It is also generally recognised that there is a risk that a baby can choke on its own vomit, postnatal mucus or the like if it sleeps on its back with its face up. Accordingly, it is generally regarded as desirable for a baby to sleep on its side; both from the point of view of its own health and for the peace of mind of its parents.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an apparatus for restraining movement of a sleeping baby comprising a strap and two chocks located atop the strap, wherein each of the chocks has an upstanding face and the chocks are located with the upstanding faces facing one another; in use, the upstanding faces are separated by a distance which allows the baby to lie on its side nestled between the chocks; and in use, the strap is arranged to lie substantially on the baby's bedding.

In a first preferred embodiment of Llie present invention, the strap and the chocks are integrally formed from a foam material. Preferably, prior to use, the strap sits atop the baby's bedding on lowermost edges of the apparatus and, in use, the apparatus yields under the baby's weight whereby the strap lies substantially on the baby's bedding and upper portions of the upstanding faces are urged towards one another.

In a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, the chocks are formed independently of the strap from foam material and at least one of the chocks ~k-p s- WO 94/26153 PCT/AU94/00251 -2is releasably secured to the strap whereby the distance between the upstanding faces can be varied. Preferably, the at least one or each chock is reieasably secured to the strap by a hook-and-loop fastening. Preferably, each of the chocks is generally prismatically shaped having two opposing substantially triangular ends and three substantially rectangular sides, each of the chocks sits atop the strap on a first of the substantially rectangular sides, and a second of the substantially '-ectangular sides forms the upstanding face of each chock. Preferably, the first of the substantially rectangular sides is flat, the second of the substantially rectangular sides is concavely shaped and a third of the substantially rectangular sides is convexly shaped. Preferably, the second of the substantially rectangular sides is of a height sufficient to extend above a baby nestled between the chocks. This allows a blanket or other element of bedding to be placed over a baby and the chocks thereby providing a ventilation gap between the baby and the blanket. When a baby is very young it is preferred for the baby to sleep between the preferred concavely shaped substantiaily rectangular sides of the chocks. When the baby is a little older, a greater degree of movement during sleep may be desirable in which case it is preferred that one or both of the chocks is turned through 1800 on the first of the substantially rectangular sides so that the preferred convexly shaped rectangular side(s) face(s) the baby.

In both the first and second preferred embodiments of the present invention it is preferred that the foam material is a cold formed polyurethane foam or the like.

The present invention is designed primarily for use when a baby is asleep in its cot or the like. However, it is to be understood that the present invention may also be used when a baby is awake. For example, the apparatus may be used to prevent a baby from rolling into a dangerous situation when it is playing unattended whilst lying on its back or for restraining sideways d~L WO 94/26153 PCT/AU94/00251 3 movement of a baby when it is being changed, given medicine or the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Two preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a baby restraint according to the presert invention prior to use, Figure 2 is a front elevation of the baby restraint illustrated in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a perspective view of the baby restraint illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 but in a use position, Figure 4 is a front elevation of the baby restraint illustrated in Figure 3, and Figures 5 and 6 are perspective views of a second embodiment of a baby restraint according to the present invention.

BEST METHODS OF PERFORMING THE INVENTION Referring firstly to Figures 1-4, the baby restraint is formed generally of a strap 11 connecting two chocks 12 and 13 and sits atop a sheet 14 of a baby's cot on lowermost edges 15 and 16 of the apparatus 10. For the sake of illustration, only a strip of the sheet: 14 is shown. The strap 11 and chocks 12 and 13 of the baby restraint 10 are integrally formed from a foam material.

Prior to use, the baby restraint 10 is located on the sheet 14 in the configuration illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 with outer faces 17 and 18 of the chocks 12 and 13 respectively positioned roughly parallel to the long edges of the cot mattress. A baby (not shown), which will typically be swaddled, is placed on its side atop the strap 11 with its hips/waist located between the chocks 12 and 13 thereby placing its head well clear of the restraint 10 to allow unobstructed breathing. Under the weight of a baby, the strap yields downwardly and the upstanding faces 19 and 20 of the chocks 12 and 13 respectively are urged towards one another until the WO 94/26153 PCT/AU94/00251 4 configuration illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 is reached.

To assist the movement from the configuration illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 to that illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the baby restraint 10 is provided with two notches 21 and 22 which help facilitate the compression required in moving from the configuration of Figures 1 and 2 to that of Figures 3 and 4.

Referring now to Figures 5 and 6, the baby restraint is formed generally of a strap 31 and a pair of chocks 32 and 33. The strap 31 is made from a strip of soft material such as towelling to which is stitched or otherwise fastened to strips 34 and 35 of the loop portion of a hook-and-loop fastening such as VELCRO (trade mark). It is to be noted that the strips 34 and 35 may be conveniently replaced by a single strip of the loop portion of a hook-and-loop fastening. The chocks 32 and 33 are formed from a soft foam material of generally prismatic shape having opposing triangular ends 36 and three substantially rectangular sides. The first of the rectangular sides 37 is flat and forms the base of the chocks 32 and 33. Second and third rectangular sides 38 and 39 are concavely and convexly shaped respectively with the second rectangular sides 38 forming upstanding faces 40 of the chocks 32 and 33 between which a baby (not shown) nestles on its side when the restraint 30 is in use. The chocks 32 and 33 are conveniently covered by coverings (not shown) of soft material such as towelling which can be removed from the chocks 32 and 33 by action of zips, press studs or the like to facilitate washing of the coverings (not shown).

In the illustrated embodiment, both chocks 32 and 33 are releasably securable to the strap 31 by hook-and-loop fastening with the hook portion of the fastening stitched or otherwise secured to the first rectangular sides 37 of the chocks 32 and 33 or to corresponding portions of the chock coverings (not shown). Only one of the chocks 32 and 33 needs to be releasably securable to the strap 31 to enable the distance between the upstanding faces 40 to WO 94126153 PCT/AU94/00251 be tailored to any given requirement. However, it is preferred that both chocks 32 and 33 are releasably securable as this facilitates washing of the strap 31 and chock covering (not shown) where fitted.

In use, the restraint 30 is placed on an element of a baby's bedding (not shown), such as a sheet, and the distance between the upstanding faces 40 is adjusted by movement of one or both of the chocks 32 ar 33 with respect to the strap 31, to enable a baby (not shown) to lie on its side nestled between the chocks 32 and 33.

The baby, which will typically be swaddled, is placed on its side atop the strap 31 with its hips/waist located between the chocks 32 and 33 thereby positioning its head well clear of the restraint 30 to allow unobstructed breathing.

Referring now generally to the drawings, the restraints 10 and 30 are arranged to be used without being secured to the baby's cot or any element of its bedding to facilitate easy removal when changing the baby's bedding, transporting the restraint 10 or 30 to another location or' the like. However, it is to be understood that arrangements in which the restraints or 30 are secured to the baby's cot or an element of its bedding fall within the scope of the present invention.

As previously mentioned, the baby (not shown) will typically be swaddled when placed between the chocks 12 and 13 or 32 and 33. It is to be noted that elements of bedding such as blankets can be placed over the baby (not shown) and the restraint 10 or 30 if desired.

Claims (6)

1. 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein both chocks are mounted to the S" strap by means which allow the spacing between them to be adjusted.
2. 4. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein both chocks have a substantially concave upstanding face and the concave faces face each other.
3. 5. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the strap yields when the support surface is soft bedding.
4. 6. Apparatus according to ay:. one of the preceding claims wherein each of the chocks is generally prismatically shaped having two opposing substantially triangular ends.
5. 7. Apparatus for restraining movement of a sleeping baby substantially as herein described with reference to figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.
6. 17455-81 DOC ~I b ~FIL~ I Lb 9~ -7- 8. Apparatus for restraining movement of a sleeping baby substantially as herein described with reference to figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings. DATED this 28th day of January 1998 JOHN DAVID LESLIE ROSEN Attorney: IAN T. ERNST Fellow Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia of SHELSTON WATERS V o" 0 0 0 o* 17455-81.DOC ~ra lus