NZ584590A - Infant swaddle or wrap with pouch with flap covering torso of infant and wrap around wings at acute angle to mid-transverse plane - Google Patents

Abstract

The swaddle or wrap has a body portion with a central region with side arm regions extending at an acute angle to a mid-transverse plane. A pouch is provided in the body with a flap portion 50 as a top pouch edge portion that covers an infant's torso.

Description

NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT, 1953 Divided out of No: 562604 Date: 17 October 2007 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION IMPROVEMENTS IN INFANT ATTIRE I, AMELIA ANNE BRISTED NILSSON, a New Zealand citizen of 76 St Michaels Avenue, Point Chevalier, Auckland, New Zealand do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to infant attire and in particular to a wrap or swaddle for a newborn or infant baby.

The benefits of wrapping, or swaddling as it is also known, an infant or newborn baby are well known.

Traditionally such wrapping is done with a rectangular piece of material folded in a particular fashion and then wrapped around the infant. Such use required knowledge of how to fold the piece of material as well as the skill to do so.

Improved swaddles and wraps are shaped in a particular fashion to lay an infant thereon and thereafter wrap them accordingly. Such improved products in some instances, have fasteners, such as domes, hook and loop fasteners or similar, or have ties or other ways of holding the wrapping elements about the infant.

One disadvantage of the improved products is that they cannot easily be used with a harness, such as present in a car seat, baby capsule, stroller or buggy. Thus the effectiveness of the harness and safety of the infant may be compromised.

In this specification where reference has been made to patent specifications, other external documents, or other sources of information, this is generally for the purpose of providing a context for discussing the features of the invention. Unless specifically stated otherwise, reference to such external documents is not to be construed as an admission that such documents, or such sources of information, in any jurisdiction, are prior art, or form part of the common general knowledge in the art.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an infant attire article that at least goes some way to overcoming the above disadvantages, or will at least provide the public with a useful choice. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method of use of such an infant wrap.

In a first aspect the present invention may be said to broadly consist in an infant swaddle or wrap formed from a planar material, comprising or including, a body portion having a central region from which there extends side arm regions from said central region in, (a) opposite directions to a medial plane of said central region, and (b) at an acute angle to a mid-transverse plane of said central region, - J - said body portion having a front side and a back side and a pouch with a superior direction presented opening located at least in part at an inferior portion of said central region at said front side.

Preferably there are two said side arm regions, one either side of said medial plane.

Preferably said side arm regions each extend at the same acute angle to said mid-transverse plane.

Preferably said side arm regions are longer than they are wide.

Preferably a first of said side arm regions ("first side arm region") is longer than a second of said side arm regions ("second side arm region").

Preferably said first side arm region is approximately twice as long as said second side arm region.

Preferably said side arm regions have substantially parallel edges, save for a transition from said central region and at ends of said side arm regions.

Alternatively said side arm regions have substantially tapering edges, save for a transition from said central region and ends of said side arm regions.

Preferably said pouch extends across a lower half of said central region.

Preferably said pouch has a pouch top edge that defines a flap portion extending in said superior direction.

Preferably said pouch top edge forms a flap portion with a curved edge.

Alternatively said pouch top edge defines a flap portion with squared edges.

Preferably an inferior edge of each of said side arm regions extends from immediately adjacent said opening of said pouch.

Preferably said side arm regions extend from the upper half of said body portion.

Preferably said planar material is a resiliency elastic material.

Preferably said body portion is formed from one panel of said planar material.

Preferably an edge or edges of said body portion is/are less elastic than an interior of said body portion.

Preferably said back side has an aperture ("back side aperture") communicating to the interior of said pouch.

Preferably said back side aperture is a slit with a longest direction parallel to said mid-traverse plane.

Preferably there are no fastening means present to hold said side arm regions in place once wrapped about an infant.

Alternatively there is at least one fastening means present to hold said side arm regions in place once wrapped about an infant.

In a further aspect the present invention to consists in an infant swaddle or wrap formed from a planar material, comprising or including, a body portion having a central region from which there extends side arm regions from said central region in, (a) opposite directions to a medial plane of said central region, and (b) at an acute angle to a mid-transverse plane of said central region, said body portion having a front side and a back side and a pouch with a superior direction presented opening located at least in part at an inferior portion of said central region at said front side, wherein in use said pouch is adapted to receive at least a lower part of an infants body, said central region and each of said side arm portions are adapted to wrap about said infants body from approximately a neck region of said infant down.

Preferably there are two said side arm regions, one either side of said medial plane, extending from a first side and a second side of said central region.

Preferably said side arm regions each extend at the same acute angle to said mid-transverse plane.

Preferably said side arm regions are longer than they are wide.

Preferably a first of said side arm regions ("first side arm region") extending from said first side is longer than a second of said side arm regions ("second side arm region") extending from said second side.

Preferably said first side arm region is approximately twice as long as said second side arm region.

Preferably said side arm regions have substantially parallel edges, save for a transition from said central region and ends of said side arm portions.

Alternatively said side arm regions have substantially tapering edges, save for a transition from said central region and ends of said side arm portions.

Preferably said pouch extends across a lower half of said central region.

Alternatively said pouch extends across a lower half of said central region and has a pouch top edge that defines a flap portion.

Preferably said pouch top edge forms a flap portion with a curved edge.

Alternatively said pouch top edge defines a flap portion with a square edge.

Preferably an edge of each of said side arm regions closest to said mid-transverse plane extends from immediately adjacent said opening of said pouch.

Preferably said side arm regions extend from the upper half of said body portion.

Preferably said planar material is a resiliency elastic material.

Preferably said body portion is formed from one panel of said planar material.

Preferably an edge or edges of said body portion is/are less elastic than an interior of said body portion.

Preferably said back side has an aperture ("back side aperture") communicating to the interior of said pouch.

Preferably said back side aperture is a slit with a longest direction parallel to said mid-traverse plane.

Preferably there are no fastening means present to hold said side arm regions in place once wrapped about an infant.

Alternatively there is at least one fastening means present to hold said side arm regions in place once wrapped about an infant.

Preferably said second side arm portion is of sufficient length to extend inward toward said medial plane and over an anterior portion of said infant, and locate an end of said second side arm portion under a posterior portion of said infant.

Preferably said first side arm portion is of sufficient length to extend inward toward said medial plane and over an anterior portion of said infant, and locate an end of said second side arm portion under a posterior portion of said infant.

Preferably said second arm side region is of sufficient length to wrap three quarters of the way round said infant from said second side to said first side, via an anterior portion of said infant to then locate under a posterior portion of said infant.

Preferably said first arm side region is of sufficient length to wrap one and three quarter times of the way round said infant from said first side to said second side, over an anterior portion of said infant to then locate under a posterior portion of said infant.

Preferably said central region, parallel to said medial plane, is approximately the same length as said infant is from a neck region to a foot or feet of said infant.

In yet a further aspect still the present invention consists in a method of use of an infant wrap or swaddle as herein before described with a back side aperture in said back side, comprising or including the steps of, (i) locating at least a lower part of an infant's body in said pouch, (ii) wrapping said infant with a first of said side arm portions, and then wrapping said infant with a second of said side arm portions over said first side arm portion and said central region, (iii) securing an end of said second side arm portion to retain said at least said second side arm portion in a wrapped configuration, wherein prior to or after any single one of said steps (i) to (iii) said pouch is located in or on a structure and part of a harness of said structure is located through said back side aperture to enable said infant to be restrained to said structure from which said part of a harness is secured.

Preferably said part of a harness connects with other parts of a harness secured to said structure to secure said infant to said structure.

Preferably said other parts of a harness pass over on an anterior portion of said infant exterior to said wrap.

Preferably said part of a harness passes from an interior of said pouch to an exterior of said wrap between a superior edge of said opening and inferior edges of said side arm portions to engage with said other parts of a harness.

Alternatively said part of a harness and other parts of a harness are connected to each other to securely harness said infant to said structure prior to wrapping in steps (ii) and (iii).

Preferably said structure is any one or more of, (i) A car seat, (ii) A capsule, and (iii) A buggy or seat thereof.

In a further aspect still the present invention consist in an infant wrap or swaddle as herein described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.

In a further aspect still the present invention consist in a method of use of an infant wrap or swaddle as herein described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.

In a further aspect still the present invention consist in an infant wrapping-arrangement, suitable for swaddling an infant, said infant wrapping arrangement comprising, a body member defining a superior portion and an inferior portion, and having an opposed front side and a back side; a pouch formation overlaid on the inferior portion of the front side of the body member; opposed side arm portions extending outwardly from the superior portion of the body member, wherein said body member defines an aperture suitable for receiving a bracing member for restraining an infant operationally.

Preferably said pouch formation defines an aperture in alignment with the aperture of the body member.

Preferably said opposed side arm portions extend at an acute angle from a mid-transverse plane of said body member.

Preferably said pouch formation is secured about at least part of its periphery to the body member to define a pouch that presents an opening towards the superior portion of the body member.

Preferably said wrap is composed of a material having alternate coloring and/or ornamentation on its opposed major sides, and is configured to be reversible by turning the wrap inside out.

To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and the descriptions herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

Other aspects of the invention may become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As used herein the term "and/or" means "and" or "or", or both.

As used herein "(s)" following a noun means the plural and/or singular forms of the noun.

The term "comprising" as used in this specification and claims means "consisting at least in part of3. When interpreting statements in this specification and claims which include that term, the features, prefaced by that term in each statement, all need to be present but other features can also be present. Related terms such as "comprise" and "comprised" are to be construed in the same manner.

The entire disclosures of all applications, patents and publications, cited above and below, if any, are hereby incorporated by reference.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown in the accompanying drawings in which; Figure 1 shows a plan view of the front of the infant article, in the preferred form whereby the side arm portions are of unequal length, Figure 2 shows the back of the same article of Figure 1, Figure 3 shows the front of the further embodiment the present invention, Figure 4 shows the back of the second embodiment of Figure 2, Figure 5 shows the present invention prior to locating an infant thereon, Figure 6 shows the present invention with an infant located in the pouch on the lower part of the central region of the infant wrap or swaddle with the side arm regions extending to the left and right hand sides of the central portion, Figure 7 shows the shorter of the two side arm portions wrapped over the infant and tucked underneath, Figure 8 shows the longer of the two side arm portions passed over the infant (and the other shorter arm portion) prior to wrapping underneath, Figure 9 shows the longer side arm portion of Figure 8 wrapped over to the front of the infant and infant article and then passed thereunder again, prior to tucking into the rear aperture or connecting with a fastener, or tucking into a fold in the back, the infant wrapped in the infant wrap or swaddle from the neck down, Figure 10 shows an front view of an infant wrapped in the infant wrap located in a baby seat with the harness of the baby seat located in place through the front of the infant article and the rear aperture, Figure 11 shows in schematic side view the location of the rear aperture, seat harness and infant wrap and infant, with the upper part of the harness on the anterior external surface of the wrap and the lower part of the harness passing from the posterior side via the back side aperture through the interior of the pouch to the exterior of the wrap to engage with the upper parts of the harness, Figure 12 shows in schematic side view the location of the back side aperture, seat harness and infant wrap and infant, with the upper part of the harness on the anterior exterior surface of the infant and the lower part of the harness passing from the posterior side via the back side aperture through the interior of the pouch to engage with the upper parts of the harness, Figure 13 shows the front view of a further embodiment wherein the front of the pouch has an extended curved edge to allow for the infant to be better encompassed and supported within the pouch, and Figure 14 shows the front view of a further embodiment wherein the front of the pouch has an extended flap from the top edge to allow for the infant to be better encompassed and supported within the pouch.

With reference to the above drawings, in which similar features are generally indicated by similar numerals, an infant wrap, wrapping arrangement or swaddle is generally indicated by the numeral 1.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying Figures 1 through 4 and Figures 13 and 14.

The infant wrap, wrapping arrangement or swaddle 1 is manufactured from a planar material. In the preferred embodiment the planar material is resiliency elastic, for example, formed from woven material such as, but not limited to, merino wool, elasticised merino wool, elasticised cotton and other materials that by the nature of their weave can take on an elastic properly, or by the addition of other materials to the weave can contain an elastic nature.

The infant wrap or swaddle 1 has a body portion 3 that forms the majority of the infant wrap or swaddle 1. The body portion 3 has extending out each side thereof, a left hand side arm region 5 and a right hand side arm region 6, which extend either side of the central region 4. The overall look in plan view is a boomerang shape, particularly in the side arm regions. The central region 4 has extending perpendicularly, from top to bottom, a medial plane 7. Transverse to this is a mid-transverse plane 8. In the preferred embodiment the side arm portions 5 and 6 extend from the central region 4 at an acute angle 16 to the medial plane 7. In the preferred embodiment, the side arm regions 5 and 6 extend from the central region 4 from above the mid-transverse plane 8. However, in other embodiments the side arm regions 5 and 6 may extend from any side region of the central region 4.

The front side 9 has a pouch formation or pouch 11 located on an inferior portion 14 (i.e. that region at least in part below the mid-transverse plane 8) of the central region 4. The pouch 11 has an opening 15 directed in the superior direction 13. In the preferred embodiment the pouch 11 extends completely across the inferior portion 14 of the central region 4, and runs from each left and right edge 26 and 27 of the lower portion 14 of the central region 4.

It is envisaged that the pouch or pouch formation may be made by flapping the body portion ad attaching it to itself, or by providing a separate piece of material and attaching it around at least part of its periphery to the body portion.

In the preferred embodiment the pouch edge 32 extends approximately parallel to the mid-transverse plane allowing part of the infants body 20 (i.e. the infants legs 34) to be located within the pouch 11 whilst the remaining portion of the Infants body 20 is exposed.

In an alternative embodiment shown in Figure 13 the pouch edge 32 extends in a curve in the superior direction 13 such that the pouch 11 has a flap 50 which extends largely into the central region 4. The flap 50 can be utilised to cover a larger portion of an infant's body 20 such that both legs and torso can be encompassed within the pouch 11 whilst still allowing the infants arms to move freely.

In a further alternative embodiment shown in Figure 14 the flap 50 is defined by the pouch edge 32 wherein the pouch edge forms a substantially square extension to the pouch 11. It is envisaged that the embodiments shown in figures 13 and 14 can also include a back side aperture (not shown in figure 13 or 14). The flap 50 provides greater support and warmth for the infant 33.

In the preferred embodiment the total height from the superior edge 28 to the inferior edge 9 of the central region 4 is approximately the same as that distance from the neck region 22 of an infant to the bottom of the infant's legs 34. More about this aspect will be explained below.

The side arm region edges 17 in one embodiment are substantially parallel on each of the left hand and right hand side arm regions 5 and 6 respectively as shown in Figure 2. However in other embodiments these edges 17 may taper towards the side arm region ends 30. In the preferred embodiment the actual side arm region ends 130 are rounded. However in other embodiments they may take on any particular form such as squared off or otherwise.

The edges 17 have a reinforcing property such that they are less elastically resilient or stretchy than a body portion interior 31. The function of this will be explained below. The pouch edge 32 also has a greater resilience than the interior of the material forming the pouch. However in other embodiments this is not necessarily required.

In the preferred embodiment one of the side arm portions is longer than the other of the side arm portions. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 it is the left hand side arm region 5 that is longer than the right hand side arm region 6. In the preferred embodiment the longer of the side arm regions is approximately twice the length of the shorter of the side arm regions.

A second embodiment of the infant wrap or swaddle 1 is shown in Figures 3 and 4. The main difference in this second embodiment is the presence of a back side aperture 18 on the back side 10 of the body portion 3. This back side aperture 18 is located approximately equally either side of the medial plane 7 and is preferably located in or toward the inferior portion 14. The back side aperture 18 communicates to the interior of the pouch 11. In this way an item (such as part of a harness) can be passed from the front side 9 through the opening 15 to the interior of the pouch 11 and thus through the backside aperture 18, or vice versa. The function of the backside aperture will be explained below.

The use of the infant wrap or swaddle 1 will now be described with reference to Figures 5 through 9. The infant wrap or swaddle 1 is laid out so that the front side 9 and pouch 11 and opening 15 of the pouch 11 are presented to the user.

An infant 33 is then located so that at least the lower part of the infants body 20 (i.e. the infant's legs 34) is located in the pouch. Thus the superior edge 28 lies approximately against the neck region 22 of the infant 33 and the infant's legs 34 are at least partially covered by the pouch 11. The shorter of the side arm regions (in this case the right hand side arm region 6) is the folded over toward the medial plane 7 and the infant 33 to wrap (i.e. in the embodiment shown from right to left), from the infants shoulder 35 closest to the shorter of the side arm regions, to the opposing side of the infant 33. The shorter side arm region can either wrap over the opposite arm of the infant 33 or can tuck underneath and securely against the side of the infants body 20. The side arm region is then tucked underneath the infant's body 20 and the weight of the infant's body will secure the side arm region, at least temporarily, in place. That is the shorter side arm region wraps about the infant at least three quarters of the way round to locate at the posterior 37 region. In yet other embodiments fastening means such as hook and loop fasteners, domes, or other releasable securement means such as, but not limited to, ties, may be used to retain the shorter of the side arm regions in place.

Thus the side arm region end 30 of the shorter side arm region lies at least in part under the body 20 of the infant 33.

The longer of the side arm regions, in this case, the left hand side arm region 5, is then folded (in this case from left to right) over that infants shoulder 35 closest to the, in this case, left hand side arm region 6 (i.e. from left to right) and passes on the outside (top or anterior 36) of the infant 33 and wrap or swaddle 1 and the longer of the side arm regions 6 is then wrapped to the opposite side of the infant wrap or swaddle 1 and infant 33 therein. The longer of the side arm regions is then wrapped around the back of the infant wrap or swaddle 1 and the infant 33 therein. This then brings the longest of the side arm regions back to the side from where started, it is then wrapped around again over the anterior side and toward the back of the infant wrap or swaddle and held there in a number of different ways. That is the longer side wraps about the infant (and the shorter side arm portion and central region) at least one and three quarter times to locate toward the posterior 37 region.

In the most preferred way, the side arm region end 30 of the longest side arm region (in this case left hand side arm region 6) is secured in the back side aperture 18. In other embodiments there may be fastening means such as ties, hook and loop fasteners, domes, or other means to retain one piece of material to another. In other embodiments it may be sufficient just for the weight of the infant 20 to hold the end 30 in place, and yet other embodiments the end 30 can be tucked into one of the wraps or folds present at the back of the wrapped swaddle 1.

The less resilient edges of the wrap or swaddle 1 when compared to the body portion interior 31 has the effect of making a firm wrap about the infant 20, yet allowing the infant some room to move their arms and legs due to the more elastic nature of the body portion interior 31. In this way the infant feels secure and wrapped with its attendant benefits, and yet still has some room to move, but cannot easily get an arm or leg out from the wrap 1.

The angled nature of the side arm portions allows them to contour snugly to the form of the infant (for example only from the lower abdomen upwards) and provide the necessary swaddling tension. When used in other ways or embodiments the side arm portions may be sufficiently wide to wrap about the whole length of the infants body.

A use of the present invention will now be described with reference to Figures 10 through 12. Normally when transporting an infant 33, the infant is located in a capsule, car seat or buggy seat 23. Normally such seats or capsules 23 have a harness to restrain the infant 33, from falling out of the car seat 23 or in the result of an accident, for example when transporting by vehicle. A problem with some harness 24 systems is that they are at least a three point harness, having a leg strap 25 and two shoulder straps 38. This leg strap 25 cannot easily be connected to the other components of the harness 24, for example the shoulder strap 38, when there is no gap or region between the infant's legs 34 (for example when swaddled or wrapped). This is either because there is not enough length in the harness to go around the bottom of the legs, or it is not safe to do so.

In the worst case scenario this renders the use of the harness 24 useless. With the presence of the back side aperture 18 however, the leg strap 25 can be passed through the back side aperture, between the infants legs 34 and joined to the buckle or otherwise of the remainder of the harness 24.

The present invention together with the back side aperture 18 allows an infant to be wrapped yet still be secured by a harness from the structure that is the car seat, capsule, buggy or stroller 23. The harness can pass from the interior of the pouch to the exterior or may lie underneath the wrap.

This can be achieved in several ways.

In the preferred way this is done by locating the wrap 1 in or on the seat 23. The infant 33 is then located at least in part into the pouch 11. The lower part of the harness is then brought through (if not already) the back side aperture 18. The other upper parts of the harness are then brought down to engage with the lower harness part over the anterior portion (i.e. chest) of the infant. The infant 33 is then wrapped in the normal way. The harness therefore is entirely underneath the wrap. The result of this is shown in Figure 12.

In yet other ways the infant can be located in the seat 23 already wrapped. The lower harness part is brought up through the back side aperture 18 and passed between the superior or upper edge of the pouch 11 and the inferior or lower edges of the side arm portions. The upper parts of the harness are then brought down over the external surface of the wrap and engaged with the lower harness part.

In a further way the infant can be secured and wrapped in a combination of the previous two ways. Namely the infant is put into the pouch 11 of the wrap located in the seat 23 structure. The lower part of the harness is passed through the back side aperture 18 (if not done so already). The infant is then wrapped by the side arm portions as described and the lower harness part locates to the external surface as described above. The upper parts of the harness and then engaged to the lower part. The upper parts at least He on the external surface of the wrap. The result of these methods is shown in Figure 11.

In this way, an infant 33 can wrapped or swaddled from the neck region 22 down, can be securely harnessed in a car seat or capsule 23 that utilises a three point or more harness. Further more the contoured form of the side arm portions 5 and 6 due to their boomerang shape wraps the infant securely.

In another embodiment (not shown), it is envisaged that the front of the pouch can include a front side aperture in alignment with the back side aperture 18 in the back side of the body portion. It is further envisaged that the back side aperture 18 and the front side aperture could be connected by a sleeve (not shown) through which a harness mav be received. j The foregoing description of the invention includes preferred forms thereof. Modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims.

Received by IPONZ 25 Aug 2011

Claims (39)

1. An infant swaddle or wrap formed from a planar material, comprising or including, a body portion comprising a central region from which there extends side arm regions from said central region in, opposite directions to a medial plane of said central region, and at an acute angle to a mid-transverse plane of said central region, said body portion comprising a front side and a back side and a pouch with a superior direction presented opening, said pouch located at least in part at an inferior portion of said central region at said front side, and the pouch has a top pouch edge that defines a flap portion extending in said superior direction, said flap portion, in use extending substantially over said infant's torso.

2. An infant swaddle or wrap as claimed in claim 1, including two said side arm regions, one being disposed to either side of said medial plane.

3. An infant swaddle or wrap as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said side arm regions each extend at the same acute angle to said mid-transverse plane.

4. An infant swaddle or wrap as claimed in any of claims 1-3, wherein said side arm regions are longer than they are wide.

5. An infant swaddle or wrap as claimed in any of claims 1-4, wherein one of said side arm regions is longer than the other.

6. An infant swaddle or wrap as claimed in any of claims 1-5, wherein a first of said side arm regions (the "first side arm region") is longer than a second of said side arm regions (the "second side arm region").

7. An infant swaddle or wrap as claimed in claim 6, wherein said first side arm region is approximately twice as long as said second side arm region.

8. An infant swaddle or wrap as claimed in any of claims 1-7, wherein said side arm regions have substantially parallel edges, save for a transition region from said central region and at or towards the distal ends of said side arm regions.

9. An infant swaddle or wrap as claimed in any of claims 1-7, wherein said side arm regions have substantially tapering edges, save for a transition region from said central region and at or towards the distal ends of said side arm regions. Received by IPONZ 25 Aug 2011

10. An infant swaddle or wrap as claimed in any of claims 1-9, wherein said pouch extends across a lower half of said central region.

11. An infant swaddle or wrap as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein said pouch top edge forms a flap portion with a curved edge.

12. An infant swaddle or wrap as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein said pouch top edge defines a flap portion with squared edges.

13. An infant swaddle or wrap as claimed in any of claims 1-12, wherein an inferior edge of each of said side arm regions extends from immediately adjacent said opening of said pouch.

14. An infant swaddle or wrap as claimed in any of claims 1-13, wherein said side arm regions extend from an upper half of said central region.

15. An infant swaddle or wrap as claimed in any of claims 1-14, wherein said planar material is a resiliently elastic material.

16. An infant swaddle or wrap as claimed in any of claims 1-15, wherein said body portion is formed from one panel of said planar material.

17. An infant swaddle or wrap as claimed in any of claims 1-16, wherein at least one edge of said body portion is less elastic than at least part of an interior of said body portion,

18. An infant swaddle or wrap as claimed in any of claims 1-17, wherein a plurality of edges of said body portion are less elastic than at least part of an interior of said body portion.

19. An infant swaddle or wrap as claimed in any of claims 1-18, wherein said back side includes a back side aperture communicating to the interior of said pouch.

20. An infant swaddle or wrap as claimed in claim 19, wherein said back side aperture is a slit with a longest direction parallel to said mid-traverse plane.

21. An infant swaddle or wrap as claimed in any of claims 1-20, wherein the side arms are configured and adapted to be wrapped around and secured to an infant in a cooperative self fastening manner.

22. An infant swaddle or wrap as claimed in any of claims 1-20, further comprising at least one fastening means for holding said side arm regions in place once wrapped about an infant. Received by IPONZ 25 Aug 2011

23. An infant swaddle or wrap as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 22 wherein in use said pouch is adapted to receive at least a lower part of an infants body into an interior region, and said central region and each of said side arm portions are adapted to wrap about said infants body downwardly from approximately a neck region of an infant, said flap extending up over said infant's chest.

24. An infant swaddle or wrap as claimed in any of claims 1-23, wherein said second side arm portion is of sufficient length to extend from the central region located at the posterior of an infant, over the anterior side of the infant, to locate a distal end of said second side arm portion under a posterior portion of the infant.

25. An infant swaddle or wrap as claimed in any of claims 1-24, wherein said first side arm portion is of sufficient length to extend from the central region located at the posterior of an infant, over the anterior side of the infant, to locate an end of said first side arm portion under a posterior portion of an infant.

26. An infant swaddle or wrap as claimed in any of claims 1-25, wherein said second arm side region is of sufficient length to wrap three quarters of the way round an infant from said second side to said first side, via an anterior portion of said infant to then locate under a posterior portion of said infant.

27. An infant swaddle or wrap as claimed any of claims 1-26, wherein said first arm side region is of sufficient length to wrap one and three quarter times of the way round an infant from said first side to said second side, over an anterior portion of said infant to then locate under a posterior portion of said infant.

28. An infant swaddle or wrap as claimed in any of claims 1-27, wherein said central region, parallel to said medial plane, is approximately the same length as said infant is from a neck region to a foot or feet of said infant.

29. A method of use of an infant wrap or swaddle as claimed in any of claims 1-28, comprising or including the steps of, (i) locating at least a lower part of an infant's body in said pouch, (ii) wrapping with a first side arm portion anteriorly around said infant, (iii) wrapping a second side arm portion anteriorly around said infant and said first side arm portion, and (iv) securing said second side arm portion at or towards its distal end to retain said at least said second side arm portion in a wrapped configuration, Received by IPONZ 25 Aug 2011 -19 -

30. A method of use of an infant wrap or swaddle as claimed in claim 50, wherein the infant wrap or swaddle includes a back side aperture in said body member, and said method includes the step of locating at least part of a harness through said back side aperture for securing of said infant by said harness.

31. A method of use of an infant wrap or swaddle as claimed in claim 29 or 30, wherein prior to or after any single one of said steps (i) to (iv) said pouch is located in or on a structure and at least part of a harness of said structure is located through said back side aperture to enable said infant to be restrained to said structure from which said part of a harness is secured.

32. A method of use of an infant wrap or swaddle as claimed in claim 31, wherein said at least part of a harness located through said back side aperture for connection with other parts of a harness secured to said structure to secure said infant to said structure.

33. A method of use of an infant wrap or swaddle as claimed in claim 32, wherein said other parts of a harness pass anteriorly over said infant exterior to said wrap.

34. A method of use of an infant wrap or swaddle as claimed in any of claims 30-33, wherein said at least part of a harness located through said back side aperture passes from an interior region of said pouch between a superior edge of said pouch opening and inferior edges of said side arm portions to engage with said other parts of a harness.

35. A method of use of an infant wrap or swaddle as claimed in any of claims 30-33, wherein said part of a harness located through said back side aperture and other parts of a harness are connected to each other to securely harness said infant to said structure prior to wrapping in steps (ii), (iii) and (iv).

36. A method of use of an infant wrap or swaddle as claimed in any of claims 31-35, wherein said structure is any one or more of a car seat, a capsule, and a buggy or seat thereof.

37. An infant swaddle or wrap as claimed in any of claims 1-28, wherein the wrap is composed of a material having alternate coloring and/or ornamentation on its opposed major sides, and is configured to be reversible by turning the wrap inside out. Received by IPONZ 25^ug 2011

38. An infant wrap or swaddle as herein described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.

39. A method of use of an infant wrap or swaddle as herein described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.