US20080209639A1 - Formable sleep positioner along with method for adjusting same - Google Patents
Formable sleep positioner along with method for adjusting same Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20080209639A1 US20080209639A1 US12/013,382 US1338208A US2008209639A1 US 20080209639 A1 US20080209639 A1 US 20080209639A1 US 1338208 A US1338208 A US 1338208A US 2008209639 A1 US2008209639 A1 US 2008209639A1
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- formable
- sleep
- positioner
- infant
- sleep positioner
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47D—FURNITURE SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CHILDREN
- A47D13/00—Other nursery furniture
- A47D13/08—Devices for use in guiding or supporting children, e.g. safety harnesses
Abstract
Description
- The present application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/897740 filed on Jan. 24, 2007, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
- One of the strongest human instincts involves the care and nurturing of offspring. Parents provide for their children in a wide variety of ways. At a basic level, however, most parents provide their children with the necessities of food, clothing and shelter. While the needs of children last from birth through later years, the care and nurturing of newborns and young infants present special issues.
- In response to these special issues, the infant/baby industry continues to grow with new and innovative products that are continuingly made available to expectant mothers and fathers for the care of their children. Presently, the infant industry offers a vast number of products ranging from bedding products, travel products, feeding products, toys; bathing and health products, clothing, and the like. More specifically, for example, numerous cushion devices, such as sleep positioners are sometimes used to create a better sleeping environment for a young child. Of these products, perhaps the most sought after items are those that improve the comfort of an infant while sleeping to both maximize their time asleep and keep them safe.
- There are various kinds of infant sleep aids that accomplish these goals. For example, some products play soothing sounds to help lull an infant to sleep and may even be sound activated so that if the infant awakes, the soothing sounds may again return the infant to sleep. Sleep aids may also come in the form of sleep supports to support an infant in a particular sleeping position. For example head supports position a sleeping infant's head in a manner that helps prevent Flat Head Syndrome (Plagiocephaly).
- Oftentimes infant sleep aid products are developed in response to pediatrician recommendations. For example, some pediatricians recommend that an infant be placed either on his/her back while others recommend that the infant be placed on his/her side in an effort to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, commonly referred to as SIDS. As a result, various infant sleep positioners have been developed and typically take the form of support pillows or wedges that may be positioned about the infant to maintain the infant in the desired sleeping position.
- Some pediatricians have also recommended that an infant's overall sleep may be improved if the infants head is elevated. According to some pediatricians, elevating an infant's head makes breathing easier and improves digestion, particularly for nasal congestion and digestive problems. An example of an infant sleep aid directed toward elevating an infant's head is sometimes referred to as a crib wedge. Crib wedges may be in the form of an inclined pad are typically designed to fit within a crib. Some crib wedges are configured to fit underneath a standard crib sheet while others remain above the crib sheet similar to a pillow
- While crib wedges may improve the overall comfort of an infant while sleeping infants tend to roll out of position due to the slope of the wedge. As a result, the infant is unable to realize the benefits of the crib wedge and, perhaps more importantly, may shift into a position that is potentially harmful to the infant's health. Accordingly, there is a need for an infant sleep aid that both elevates an infant's head and maintains the infant in a safe position while sleeping.
- Various embodiments of a formable sleep positioner are provided. According to one exemplary embodiment the positioner comprises a head portion) a foot portion, a pair of opposite side portions, a bottom surface for confronting a support surface, and a top surface opposite the bottom surface. The positioner is adapted to assume an unformed state wherein it is a linearly inclined upwardly from the foot portion to the head portion at an acute angle, and a formed state wherein the side portions flare upwardly to form a trough-shaped channel such that the upper surface has a concave shape with the side portions defining lateral wings for resisting lateral movement of an infant placed longitudinally on the top surface. In preferred embodiments, the sleep positioner incorporates an inner pad which is received in an outer casing. The inner pad has an upper surface and a bottom surface. A forming member is embedded in the pad between these surfaces and is manually conformable into a formed state so that the side portions flare upwardly to form the trough-shaped channel.
- The forming member may include upper and lower panels which are secured together to create a bendable backbone for the positioner. Each panel may be constructed of stiff, yet resilient material. The backbone mounts a transversely extending forming element for allowing configuration of the positioner into the formed state, while preventing collapse of the lateral wings under influence of an infant placed thereon. The forming element may be a malleable wire sandwiched between upper and lower panels of foam material, with the upper panel having a paper a thickness to provide an inclined surface for the sleep positioner.
- In another exemplary embodiment, the head portion includes upper and lower sections which move relative to one another and, preferably, independently of the side portions. Here, the forming member includes independently movable forming elements, a first one allowing the side portions to flare upwardly, and a second one allowing the head portion to pivot relative to the foot portion.
- Also provided is a method of adjusting a sleep positioner to accommodate an infant. According to the method, a pad is provided as described above. This pad is manually configured into a formed state to cause the side portions to flare upwardly and form the trough-shaped channel. Alternatively, or in conjunction, the pad's head portion is elevated relative to the foot portion.
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an infant placed on a sleep positioner according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention that has been configured into a formed state; -
FIG. 2 is a side view in elevation of the infant an sleep positioner ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the sleep positioner ofFIGS. 1 and 2 , in an unformed state, and showing the forming member thereof in phantom; -
FIG. 4( a) is a side view in elevation of the sleep positioner ofFIG. 3 in an unformed state; -
FIG. 4( b) is a side view in elevation, similar toFIG. 4( a), but showing the sleep positioner in a formed state; -
FIG. 5( a) is an end view in elevation of the sleep positioner ofFIG. 3 in an unformed state; -
FIG. 5( b) is a side view in elevation, similar toFIG. 5( a), but showing the sleep positioner in a formed state; -
FIG. 6( a) is a top plan view of the forming member according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 6( b) is a top plan view of an alternative construction for a forming member; -
FIG. 7 is an exploded side view in elevation showing the construction of the inner pad member of the sleep positioner according the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective view of the outer cover member the receives the inner pad member; -
FIG. 9 is a side view in cross-section of the outer cover member ofFIG. 8 ; -
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a sleep positioner according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention that has been configured into a formed state; -
FIG. 11( a) is a side view in elevation of the infant the inner pad of sleep positioner ofFIG. 10 configured into a formed state; -
FIG. 11( b) is a side view in elevation of the inner pad of the sleep positioner ofFIG. 10 in a partially formed state; -
FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the forming member according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 13 is an exploded side view in elevation showing the construction of the inner pad member of the sleep positioner according the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and -
FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an outer cover member for use with the sleep positioner according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. - The present invention broadly relates to positioners that are used to support an infant during times of rest and sleep. The embodiments described herein specifically disclose a sleep positioner the may be manually conformed to provide a contoured surface the has side portions that resist lateral movement of the infant placed therein. At the same time, the embodiments provide a longitudinally sloped surface operative to elevate the head of the infant. In one embodiment the head portion of the positioner may be selectively conformed to change the elevation of the infant's head.
- A first exemplary embodiment of the present invention is introduced in
FIGS. 1 and 2 where it may be seen thatinfant 12 is placed onpositioner 10 withpositioner 10 being in a formed state to resist lateral movement of theinfant 12.Infant 12 is oriented longitudinally on top ofsleep positioner 10 that extends along a longitudinal axis “L”. Accordingly,positioner 10 has ahead portion 14, afoot portion 16 and a pair ofopposite side portions 18. Abottom surface 20 is adapted to confront asupport surface 24 withinfant 12 located on atop surface 22 that is oppositebottom surface 20. - With reference now to
FIG. 3 , 4(a) and 5(a),sleep positioner 10 is illustrated in a flattened or unformed state. In this state, it may be seen thatpositioner 10 is linearly inclined upwardly fromfoot portion 16 tohead portion 14 at a small acute angle “a” of about ten to twenty degrees. This inclination has been found to assist in breathing, to aid in digestion, particularly in cases where there is nasal congestion or digestive problems. - It should be appreciated, however, that a forming
member 30 is embedded in the inner pad ofpositioner 10 as is shown in phantom inFIG. 3 . Thus, as is illustrated inFIGS. 4( b) and 5(b), theside portions 18 ofsleep positioner 10 can be selectively contoured or formed into a formed state whereinside portions 18 flare upwardly to form a trough-like channel 25. In this formed state,upper surface 22 ofpositioner 10 takes on a concave shape withside portions 18 defininglateral wings 26 that act to resist lateral movement of the infant placed inchannel 25. - The ability to conform
sleep positioner 10 as described above is provided by the formingmember 30 that is best shown inFIGS. 6( a) and 7. Here, it may be seen that formingmember 30 includes anupper panel 32 and alower panel 34 that are of common rectangular shape.Panels resilient backbone 40 for the positioner. As is seen inFIG. 3 ,panels positioner 10. -
Backbone 40 serves to mount a formable element that extends transversely tobackbone 40. In this exemplary embodiment, the formable element is provided by aloop 42 of malleable wire that is stitched into position betweenpanels loop portions positioner 10 into the formed state, yet be strong enough to prevent collapse ofwings 26 under the influence of theinfant 12 placed on the positioner. If desired, this wire may be plastic coated. Other suitable materials currently known or subsequently developed may also be appropriate. Alternative malleable structures are contemplated by this invention, such a malleable sheet material of metal, etc. - An alternative backbone construction is depicted in
FIG. 6( b). Here, backbone 40(1) has a shape corresponding to that generated by the intersection of a circle and a rectangle. As such, backbone 40(1) includes anenlarged portion 39 and arectangular portion 41.Enlarged portion 39 has a circular or bulbous shape and is wider thanrectangular portion 41 to provide additional lateral stability to the positioner and further prevent rocking motions when an infant is placed therein. Although not shown inFIG. 6( b), it should be appreciated that backbone 40(1) also preferably incorporates a pair of commonly shaped panels secured to one another with a formable element therebetween to achieve a forming element 30(1). Further, the skilled artisan will recognize that additional lateral stability could be provided by utilizing geometric configurations other than that illustrated inFIG. 6( b). - In any event, with reference now to
FIG. 7 , the construction of the inner pad 50 ofpositioner 10 may be understood in greater detail. Here it may be seen that theloop 42 of malleable wire is sandwiched betweenpanels member 30. Formingmember 30, in turn, is sandwiched between alower panel 52 of foam material, such as an open celled polyurethane foam.Lower panel 52 has a uniform thickness “t” of about one-half inch. Anupper panel 54 of foam material is then adhered topanel 52 by any suitable adhesive in order to entrap formingmember 30 therebetween.Panel 54 has a tapering thickness to provide the inclined surface forpositioner 10, and it may be constructed again of any suitable foam material, such as polyurethane. If desired,panel 54 can be constructed of a memory foam material.Panels foot portion 16 being slightly wider thanhead portion 14, as is shown inFIG. 3 . - Inner pad 50 is adapted to be received in an outer cover or
casing 60 that is depicted inFIGS. 8 and 9 . Here it may be seen that casing 60 is constructed of andupper sheet 62 of fabric material that is joined at its perimeter to the perimeter of alower sheet 64 of fabric material.Lower sheet 64, however, is separated into two sections, namelyhead section 66 andfoot section 68, which slightly overlap one another and that provide amouth 70 operative to permit insertion and removal of inner pad 50 into and out of the interior 72 ofcasing 60. Cooperative hook and loop fastening strips 74 and 76 may be located on the margins ofsections mouth 70 in order to releasablysecure sections mouth 70. - A second exemplary embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in
FIG. 10 . Here,positioner 110 is shown in a fully formedstate having sides 118 contoured to resist lateral movement of an infant, similarly to that as described above. Accordingly,positioner 110 has ahead portion 114, afoot portion 116 and a pair ofopposite side portions 118. Abottom surface 120 is again adapted to confront a support surface with the infant located on atop surface 122 that is oppositebottom surface 120. -
Positioner 110 again has aninner pad 128, shown inFIGS. 11( a) and 11(b) that is adapted to be received in the interior of an outer cover or casing 180 (FIG. 10) . In this embodiment, however, it may be appreciated that thehead portion 130 ofpad 128 has two sections, alower section 132 and anupper section 134.Sections common vertex 136 and are relatively pivotal with respect to one another along this vertex.FIG. 11( a) illustratespad 128 in a fully configured state with bothsides 118 contoured and theupper section 134 of thehead portion 130 elevated. This allows a user to elevate the infant's head by a desired degree independently of the conforming ofsides 118.FIG. 11( b) illustratespad 128 in a partially configured state where theupper section 134 of thehead portion 130 confrontslower section 132 whilesides 118 remain contoured. This pivotal nature ofupper section 134 eliminates the tapering of thepad 128 from the foot portion to the head portion. - Once again, a forming
member 140 is embedded in theinner pad 128 ofpositioner 110 to allow desired configuration ofpositioner 110. With reference now toFIG. 12 , it may be seen that formingmember 140 includes a bendable, resilient backbone 142 mounting aloop 144 of malleable plastic coated wire sandwiched between two panels, as described above. To formlateral loop portions 145 and 146. - A second, generally D-shaped
loop 150 of wire is longitudinally-spaced fromloop 144 in order to provide the head elevating feature of this embodiment.Loop 150 has aninner portion 152 sandwiched between the panels of backbone 142 in order to increase stability. A pair of laterally projectingarm portions 154 extend generally perpendicularly to backbone 142 on opposite sides thereof. The outer ends ofarm portions 154 are then interconnected by anarcuate portion 156.Arm portions 154 andarcuate portion 156 are sandwiched between a pair of generally D-shaped strips of resilient, bendable plastic material that are stitched together to entrap the malleable wire and thus form ahoop 158. It should be understood that agap 160 is provided in this D-shapedhoop 158 so that free ends 162 are spaced from backbone 142. Accordingly,hoop 158 may be pivoted relative to backbone 142 so as to pivot theupper section 134 of thehead portion 130 ofpad 128. - The construction of the
inner pad 128 ofpositioner 110 may be understood in greater detail with reference toFIG. 13 . Here it may be seen that formingmember 140 is sandwiched between alower panel 172 of foam material, such as an open celled polyurethane foam.Lower panel 172 has a uniform thickness “t” of about one-half inch. Anupper panel 174 of foam material then has afoot portion 175 adhered tofoot portion 173 ofpanel 172 by any suitable adhesive in order to entrap the foot portion of backbone 142 therebetween. The upper or head portion of backbone 142 is then trapped between ahead portion 176 ofpanel 172 and anauxiliary foam panel 177 secured by a suitable adhesive. Similarly,hoop 158 is trapped betweenhead portion 178 ofpanel 174 by anauxiliary foam pane 179 secured by a suitable adhesive. - As noted above,
inner pad 128 is adapted to be received in an outer cover orcasing 180 that is depicted inFIG. 14 . The construction ofcasing 180 is similar to that ofcasing 60, but casing 180 includes apocket 182 to receive foot portion 129 ofpad 128 andpockets lower section 132 andupper section 134 ofpad 128, respectively. A suitable mouth to permit insertion and removal ofinner pad 128 into and out of the interior ofcasing 180 is again provided, and similar cooperative hook and loop fastening strips releasably secure to close this mouth. - Accordingly, the present invention has been described with some degree of particularity directed to the exemplary embodiments thereof. It should be appreciated, though, that the present invention is defined by the following claims construed in light of the prior art so that modifications or changes may be made to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention without departing from the inventive concepts contained herein.
Claims (26)
Priority Applications (5)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/013,382 US20080209639A1 (en) | 2007-01-24 | 2008-01-11 | Formable sleep positioner along with method for adjusting same |
US12/014,645 US7886384B2 (en) | 2007-01-24 | 2008-01-15 | Sleep aid along with method incorporating same |
US12/019,599 US20080178384A1 (en) | 2007-01-24 | 2008-01-24 | Heartbeat simulator and sleep aid incorporating the same |
US12/372,075 US20090217458A1 (en) | 2007-01-24 | 2009-02-17 | Sleep aid |
US12/389,170 US20090151080A1 (en) | 2007-01-24 | 2009-02-19 | Sleep aid with position indicator along with method incorporating same |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US89774007P | 2007-01-24 | 2007-01-24 | |
US12/013,382 US20080209639A1 (en) | 2007-01-24 | 2008-01-11 | Formable sleep positioner along with method for adjusting same |
Related Child Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/014,645 Continuation-In-Part US7886384B2 (en) | 2007-01-24 | 2008-01-15 | Sleep aid along with method incorporating same |
US12/019,599 Continuation-In-Part US20080178384A1 (en) | 2007-01-24 | 2008-01-24 | Heartbeat simulator and sleep aid incorporating the same |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20080209639A1 true US20080209639A1 (en) | 2008-09-04 |
Family
ID=39732048
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/013,382 Abandoned US20080209639A1 (en) | 2007-01-24 | 2008-01-11 | Formable sleep positioner along with method for adjusting same |
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Country | Link |
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US (1) | US20080209639A1 (en) |
Cited By (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20110042429A1 (en) * | 2009-08-19 | 2011-02-24 | ERGObaby | Infant Carrier |
US20110107518A1 (en) * | 2009-09-11 | 2011-05-12 | Mark Kelly | Infant sleep positioning aid |
US20130283536A1 (en) * | 2010-08-23 | 2013-10-31 | Beevers Manufacturing & Supply, Inc. | Infant Support Device |
US9265357B2 (en) * | 2013-10-15 | 2016-02-23 | Munchkin, Inc. | Nursing and infant support pillow |
US20170079447A1 (en) * | 2015-09-23 | 2017-03-23 | Deborah J. Yawn | Sleeping and Resting Cushion for Infant or Toddler |
US9700152B2 (en) | 2015-03-31 | 2017-07-11 | The Ergo Baby Carrier, Inc. | Hip seat device and system |
US20220279939A1 (en) * | 2021-03-05 | 2022-09-08 | Oregon Health & Science University | Infant feeding positioning cushion |
Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5918335A (en) * | 1998-06-03 | 1999-07-06 | Han; Tien-Hsi | Baby pillow |
US6877176B2 (en) * | 2003-05-02 | 2005-04-12 | Barbara S. Houghteling | Infant support system |
-
2008
- 2008-01-11 US US12/013,382 patent/US20080209639A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5918335A (en) * | 1998-06-03 | 1999-07-06 | Han; Tien-Hsi | Baby pillow |
US6877176B2 (en) * | 2003-05-02 | 2005-04-12 | Barbara S. Houghteling | Infant support system |
Cited By (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20110042429A1 (en) * | 2009-08-19 | 2011-02-24 | ERGObaby | Infant Carrier |
US9220352B2 (en) * | 2009-08-19 | 2015-12-29 | The Ergo Baby Carrier, Inc. | Infant carrier |
US9839302B2 (en) | 2009-08-19 | 2017-12-12 | The Ergo Baby Carrier, Inc. | Infant carrier |
US20110107518A1 (en) * | 2009-09-11 | 2011-05-12 | Mark Kelly | Infant sleep positioning aid |
US20130283536A1 (en) * | 2010-08-23 | 2013-10-31 | Beevers Manufacturing & Supply, Inc. | Infant Support Device |
US9226596B2 (en) * | 2010-08-23 | 2016-01-05 | Salter Labs | Infant support device |
US9265357B2 (en) * | 2013-10-15 | 2016-02-23 | Munchkin, Inc. | Nursing and infant support pillow |
US9700152B2 (en) | 2015-03-31 | 2017-07-11 | The Ergo Baby Carrier, Inc. | Hip seat device and system |
US20170079447A1 (en) * | 2015-09-23 | 2017-03-23 | Deborah J. Yawn | Sleeping and Resting Cushion for Infant or Toddler |
US20220279939A1 (en) * | 2021-03-05 | 2022-09-08 | Oregon Health & Science University | Infant feeding positioning cushion |
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: BASIC COMFORT, INC., COLORADO Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:LORD, JOHN;REEL/FRAME:020643/0918 Effective date: 20080304 |
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Owner name: SUMMER INFANT (USA), INC., RHODE ISLAND Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:BASIC COMFORT, INC.;REEL/FRAME:020753/0390 Effective date: 20080327 |
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Owner name: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., MASSACHUSETTS Free format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNOR:SUMMER INFANT (USA), INC.;REEL/FRAME:022137/0361 Effective date: 20080410 |
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STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: SUMMER INFANT (USA), INC., RHODE ISLAND Free format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT;REEL/FRAME:029900/0318 Effective date: 20130228 |