GB2557315A

GB2557315A - Swaddling blankets

Info

Publication number: GB2557315A
Application number: GB1620732.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mercy Debbie
Original assignee: Gro Group International Ltd
Current assignee: Gro Group International Ltd
Priority date: 2016-12-06
Filing date: 2016-12-06
Publication date: 2018-06-20
Anticipated expiration: 2036-12-06
Also published as: GB201620732D0; GB2557315B

Abstract

A swaddling blanket 100 comprises a tripartite fabric sheet 102, comprising a body section 101 with a flared lower portion including a pocket 107, and left 103 and right 105 sectionsarranged on opposite sides of a generally upper portion 110. In use, the infant is placed in the pocket 107 of the body section 101 while the left 103 and right 105 sections extend laterally over the body section thereby wrapping the infant to be swaddled. The left 103 and right 105 sections are of respective different dimensions to one another.

Description

(54) Title ofthe Invention: Swaddling blankets Abstract Title: Swaddling blanket (57) A swaddling blanket 100 comprises a tripartite fabric sheet 102, comprising a body section 101 with a flared lower portion including a pocket 107, and left 103 and right 105 sectionsarranged on opposite sides of a generally upper portion 110. In use, the infant is placed in the pocket 107 ofthe body section 101 while the left 103 and right 105 sections extend laterally over the body section thereby wrapping the infant to be swaddled. The left 103 and right 105 sections are of respective different dimensions to one another.

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SWADDLING BLANKETS

TECHNICAL FIELD

Aspects relate, in general, to swaddling blankets.

BACKGROUND

Swaddling can be used to wrap an infant for warmth and security, and can prevent an infant baby from being disturbed by their own startle reflex. However, if an infant is swaddled too tightly there is a risk of the infant acquiring unilateral or bilateral hip dysplasia. This condition can arise if the swaddling is overly restrictive resulting in adduction of one or both of the hip joints.

SUMMARY

According to an example, there is provided a swaddling blanket comprising a tripartite fabric sheet, the swaddling blanket comprising a body section comprising a flared lower portion including a pocket provided on an inner side of part of the fabric sheet to receive the lower region of an infant and left and right sections arranged on opposite sides of a generally upper portion of the body section to extend laterally over the body section whereby to enable an infant to be swaddled, the left and right sections of respective different dimensions to one another. One of the left or right sections can be longer in one direction than the other of the left or right sections. The body section can widen in a direction towards the bottom of the body section. The pocket can be secured to the inner side of the fabric sheet along three adjacent sides. The left and right sections can be arranged on the body section above the pocket. The pocket can comprise an elongate portion extending from an unsecured side thereof in a direction towards the top of the body section. The elongate portion can be curved. The fabric sheet can comprises at least one layer. The fabric sheet can comprise multiple layers over at least a portion thereof. At least one of the multiple layers can be composed of a different material than the respective other ones of the multiple layers.

In an example, the pocket can be defined by a pocket sheet secured to the body section of the tripartite sheet. The pocket can further comprise an opening around at least a portion of the periphery thereof. The opening can extend around at least a portion of the periphery of the flared body section. The opening can be releasably fastened between a closed and an open configuration using poppers and/or a zipper. A front skirt configured to extend, in use, over at least an upper portion of an infant’s torso can be provided. The front skirt can be an extension of the pocket sheet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure I is a schematic representation of a swaddling blanket according to an example;

Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the swaddling blanket 100 of figure I shown from the rear;

Figures 3a-c are schematic representations of a swaddling blanket according to an example; and

Figures 4a-c are schematic representations of a swaddling blanket according to an example.

DESCRIPTION

Example embodiments are described below ir sufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to embody and implement the systems and processes herein described. It is important to understand that embodiments can be provided in many alternate forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples set forth herein.

Accordingly, while embodiments can be modified in various ways and take on various alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and described in detail below as examples. There is no intent to limit to the particular forms disclosed. Or the contrary, all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the appended claims should be included. Elements of the example embodiments are consistently denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the drawings and detailed description where appropriate.

The terminology used herein to describe embodiments is not intended to limit the scope. The articles “a,” “an,” and “the” are singular in that they have a single referent, however the use of the singular form in the present document should not preclude the presence of more than one referent. In other words, elements referred to in the singular can number one or more, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, items, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, items, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein are to be interpreted as is customary in the art. It will be further understood that terms in common usage should also be interpreted as is customary in the relevant art and not in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. As used herein, a swaddling blanket is a swaddle apparatus used to swaddle an infant whilst maintaining a degree of freedom of movement of the infant’s legs and hips. The term blanket is not intended to be limiting in terms of the function or material.

Figure I is a schematic representation of a swaddling blanket according to an example. The blanket 100 comprises a tripartite fabric sheet 102. That is, the blanket 100 comprises a sheet with three generally distinct regions: a body section 101 and left 103 and right 105 sections.

In an example, the sheet 102 is made from a single piece of suitably hemmed fabric, although it will be appreciated that multiple pieces may be used and joined together in order to form a sheet 102 as depicted.

The body or central section 101 includes a flared lower portion 108 comprising a pocket 107 provided on an inner side of part of the fabric sheet 102 to receive the lower region of an infant. In the example shown in figure I, the pocket 107 is formed by attached an additional piece of fabric 99 to the sheet 102. The piece of fabric 99 can be so profiled as to fit over the corresponding portion of the sheet 102 at the bottom region of the bag, whereby to define the pocket 107. That is, the fabric piece 99 matches the shape of the sheet 102 over at least a portion thereof.

In an example, the left 103 and right 105 sections are arranged on opposite sides of the body section 101 at a generally upper region I 10 thereof and are configured to extend laterally over the upper region I 10 of the body section 101 whereby to enable an infant to be swaddled. In an example, the left 103 and right 105 sections are of respective different dimensions to one another. For example, as shown in figure I, left section 103 is longer than section 105. With the right (shorter) section 105 wrapped over the torso of an infant in the blanket, this can enable section 103 to be wrapped over and underneath in order to secure the left and right sections and prevent the infant from working their way loose from the swaddling.

As can be seen in figure I, the body section widens in a direction A. Accordingly, the lower portion I 10 and the pocket 107 are flared or generally bulbous in order to define a spacious pouch for an infant in which the legs and hips are free to move with restriction. In the example of figure I, the pocket is wider a point I 15 than at the entrance I 17 to the pocket 3

107. The bottom I I I c of the pocket 107 may the same width as the point I 15, the entrance I 17, or may be any other suitable dimension. As depicted in figure I, the pocket widens towards the point I 15 before narrowing slightly towards the bottom I I I c.

Thus, an infant’s legs, when in situ in the pocket 107, will not be restricted and the pocket 107 allows free movement. In an example, the pocket 107 is secured to the inner side of the fabric sheet 101 along three adjacent sides; the two sides I I la, b and the bottom I I Ic. As depicted in figure I, the pocket 107 is curved, although it may be any shape that enables an infant to freely move their legs whilst in situ in the blanket.

Generally speaking, the pocket 107 is therefore defined by a pouch which is secured around the edge of the bottom region 108 of the body section 101 from around the bottom/armpit area I I 3 of the left section 103 to around the bottom/armpit area I 15 of the right section 105. That is, in an example the left and right sections are arranged on the body section above the pocket. The exact positioning of the terminal points 113, 115 of the pocket 107 may be varied, and need not be positioned at I 13, I 15. For example, one or both may in fact be lower than this. Broadly speaking, providing that the pocket is spacious enough to enable free movement of the legs of an infant in the swaddling blanket and is such as to prevent the infant from being able to get their legs free of the pocket, any desired shape may be used.

In the example shown in figure I, the pocket 107 comprises an elongate portion 120 extending from an unsecured side thereof in a direction towards the top of the body section 101. This portion 120 forms a front skirt that, in use of the swaddling blanket, is laid against the infant’s stomach whilst they are in the pocket 107. The infant’s arms are then positioned as desired (discussed in more detail below) and upper wrapping is done using the left and right arm portions. This secures the front skirt 120 into position. That is, the front skirt (or flap) gets covered/anchored by the arm portions being wrapped around of the swaddle. The provision of the front skirt with a profile that causes it to extend up from the pocket 107 as depicted in, for example, figure I, prevents the need for hook and loop fastening or poppers to create a sealed closure between the skirt and upper body. The front skirt can prevent the infant, if they were to raise their legs for example, from escaping from the swaddling blanket from the gap that would be created. The front skirt 120 may be curved, as depicted, or may be any other suitable shape that enables it to be secured using the wrapped over arm portions.

Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the swaddling blanket 100 of figure I shown from the rear. As can be seen from figures I and 2, the top, T, of the blanket can be profiled/curved.

As the arm portions are arranged to slope down from the top in the example shown in figure I, an infant can be swaddled securely without the front of the neck being constrained.

In an example, a swaddling blanket includes a fabric sheet 102 that comprises one layer of fabric. However, the fabric sheet may be composed of multiple layers over at least a portion thereof. That is, the sheet 102 may be composed of multiple layers of material over part or all thereof, and at least one of the multiple layers may be composed of a different material than the respective other ones of the multiple layers.

In an example, the pocket 107 may comprise an opening (not shown) around at least a portion of the periphery thereof. For example, the opening can extend around at least a portion of the periphery of the flared body section and can be releasably fastened between a closed and an open configuration using poppers and/or a zipper. This can enable easy access to the pocket 107 in order to, for example, check/change a nappy.

Figures 3a-c are schematic representations of a swaddling blanket according to an example. More specifically, figures 3a-c show the steps that can be followed in order to use the blanket of figures I and 2. Accordingly, an infant is shown in an intended use position within the swaddling blanket, although the exact size and position of the infant as shown is not intended to be limiting. More generally, it will be appreciated that a swaddling blanket according to an example allows some flexibility in infant positioning whilst still achieving the same desired effects.

As shown in figure 3a, an infant is positioned in the pocket 107. More particularly, roughly the lower half of the infant is within the pocket, with the chest, arms head and neck free of the pocket. In order to swaddle the infant, in the example shown in figures 3a-c, the right-hand portion 105 (or more generally the shorter of the two arm portions) is wrapped over the infant and any excess can be tucked underneath the infant. The other arm portion 103 is then wrapped over the partially swaddled infant and any excess is tucked underneath the swaddling blanket (figure 3c). It will be appreciated that there is no need for the left-hand arm portion to be the one that is longer, and it may in fact be the shorter of the two with the other arm portion being longer.

As can be seen in figure 3c, the legs of the infant are free to move around within pocket 107, whilst the arms of the infant are controlled enabling the benefits of swaddling to be realised without any of the health issues that may otherwise occur. In the example of figure 3c, the infant is swaddled in such a way that the arms are provided in a ‘hands to stomach’ configuration. However, other arm/hand configurations are possible.

In this connection, figures 4a-c are schematic representations of a swaddling blanket according 5 to an example. More specifically, figures 4a-c depict several infant arm/hand configurations that can be adopted using a swaddling blanket according to an example. Figure 4a shows the same configuration as figure 3c, which is a ‘hands to stomach’ configuration. More generally, it can be seen that the arms ofthe infant are largely angled downwards with the hands fully covered by the swaddle.

In figure 4b, an alternative configuration is depicted in which the hands ofthe infant are outside ofthe swaddling blanket but the arms are confined. The hands in this position can enable nonnutritive sucking, which has been shown to have beneficial/soothing effects. Advantageously, the non-nutritive sucking is not impeded by any fabric in the configuration of figure 4b.

In figure 4c, an alternative configuration is depicted in which the arms and hands ofthe infant are outside of the swaddling blanket altogether. This can provide a transitional configuration in which an infant feels secure but has larger freedom of movement in preparation for transition to infant sleep bags for example.

The present inventions can be embodied in other specific apparatus and/or methods. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

In particular, the scope ofthe invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than by the description and figures herein. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

Claims

1. A swaddling blanket comprising a tripartite fabric sheet, the swaddling blanket comprising:

a body section comprising a flared lower portion including a pocket provided on an inner side of part of the fabric sheet to receive the lower region of an infant; and left and right sections arranged on opposite sides of a generally upper portion of the body section to extend laterally over the body section whereby to enable an infant to be swaddled, the left and right sections of respective different dimensions to one another.

2. A swaddling blanket as claimed in claim I, wherein one of the left or right sections is longer in one direction than the other of the left or right sections.

3. A swaddling blanket as claimed in claim I or 2, wherein the body section widens in a direction towards the bottom of the body section.

4. A swaddling blanket as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the pocket is secured to the inner side of the fabric sheet along three adjacent sides.

5. A swaddling blanket as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the left and right sections are arranged on the body section above the pocket.

6. A swaddling blanket as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the pocket comprises an elongate portion extending from an unsecured side thereof in a direction towards the top of the body section.

7. A swaddling blanket as claimed in claim 6, wherein the elongate portion is curved.

8. A swaddling blanket as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the fabric sheet comprises at least one layer.

9. A swaddling blanket as claimed in any of claims I to 7, wherein the fabric sheet comprises multiple layers over at least a portion thereof.

10. A swaddling blanket as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least one of the multiple layers is composed of a different material than the respective other ones of the multiple layers.

I I. A swaddling blanket as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the pocket is defined by a pocket sheet secured to the body section of the tripartite sheet.

12. A swaddling blanket as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the pocket further

5 comprises an opening around at least a portion of the periphery thereof.

I 3. A swaddling blanket as claimed in claim 12, wherein the opening extends around at least a portion of the periphery of the flared body section.

10

14. A swaddling blanket as claimed in claim 12 or 13, wherein the opening is releasably fastened between a closed and an open configuration using poppers and/or a zipper.

15. A swaddling blanket as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a front skirt configured to extend, in use, over at least an upper portion of an infant’s torso.

16. A swaddling blanket as claimed in claim 15 when appended to claim I I, wherein the front skirt is an extension of the pocket sheet.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: GB1620732.6 Examiner: Mr Philip J. Roe