US20160066707A1

US20160066707A1 - Nursing Pillow

Info

Publication number: US20160066707A1
Application number: US14/845,931
Authority: US
Inventors: Rodney V. Telford; Daruni M. Gotel; Carol J. Lubick
Original assignee: Ergo Baby Carrier Inc
Current assignee: Ergo Baby Carrier Inc
Priority date: 2014-09-05
Filing date: 2015-09-04
Publication date: 2016-03-10
Also published as: KR20170053672A; EP3188620A1; CN106922120A; WO2016037060A1; EP3188620A4; JP2017526454A

Abstract

Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to a nursing pillow that positions the baby in an ergonomically beneficial position. Embodiments of such a nursing pillow may have a pillow body with a medial region and two arms. Medial region and arms may partially surround and define a central opening open between the arms so that the pillow may be worn around a mother's torso with the central opening encompassing the mother's torso. An inner surface is disposed between the central opening and the outer side. The inner surface faces the central opening and is sloped from a low point of the inner surface proximate the central opening to a high point of the inner surface proximate the outer side. As such, the inner surface is adapted to place a child in an ergonomic position facing a wearer with the head of the child above the stomach of the child

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 USC §119 to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/046,547, entitled “Nursing Pillow” by Telford et al., filed Sep. 5, 2014, which is hereby fully incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to baby care products. In particular, this disclosure relates to nursing pillows. Even more specifically, this disclosure related to nursing pillows that position and maintain a child or mother in an ergonomically or physiologically beneficial position while nursing.

BACKGROUND

Nursing pillows ostensibly allow a child to be supported while nursing. The nursing pillows currently available suffer from a number of deficiencies however. Chief among these deficiencies is that these nursing pillows do not position, maintain or support the child in an ergonomically beneficial position while nursing and, as a related defect, similarly do not allow the mother to maintain an ergonomically beneficial position. In the main, this lack of ergonomic support results from both the shape of current nursing pillows and the materials from which these nursing pillows are made. In particular, the shape of conventional nursing pillows tends to be low and have a flat or convex surface (e.g., with the highest portion of the pillow at a midpoint of the surface and low points near the mother and distal from the mother) on which the child is to be placed. As a result, a child positioned on such a pillow is not well placed for feeding, as the child may be positioned distant from the mother's breast and may not face the mother's breast. In order to nurse a child in such a position the mother may be forced to hunch over with their back in a rounded position in order to bring their breast to the mouth of the child. Alternatively or additionally, the mother may be required to hold the child (e.g., occupying use of her arms or hands) in order to bring the child to the breast or to combat the likelihood of the child rolling away from the mother when placed on nursing pillows having these shapes.
Exacerbating these problems, most nursing pillows are made using materials such as polyester batting or the like that lose their shape easily and are too soft to provide adequate support for the child, or to sufficiently lift the child to the mother's breast. Thus, a child placed on such a pillow will not be placed in an ergonomically beneficial position initially and the position of the child will tend to deteriorate the longer the child resides on the pillow as the pillow deforms in response to the child's weight. Moreover, the use of such nursing pillows may also require a mother to hold or constantly adjust the child to prevent the child from rolling away as the material of the pillow displaces.
As can be seen then, the use of conventional nursing pillows may result in a great deal of discomfort for both child and mother. What is desired, then, are nursing pillows that remedy these deficiencies by allowing the child to be positioned in an ergonomically beneficial position when nursing, while also facilitating the maintenance of the mother in an ergonomically beneficial position when nursing the child.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

To remedy these deficiencies, among others, and to provide a number of other advantages, embodiments disclosed herein are directed to a nursing pillow that positions the baby in an ergonomically beneficial position Embodiments of such a nursing pillow may have a pillow body that is generally defined in terms of a medial region and two opposing arms. Medial region and arms may partially surround and define a central opening open between the arms so that that the pillow may be worn around a mother's torso with the central opening encompassing the mother's torso. Embodiments of the nursing pillow may thus generally have a U-shaped geometry so that, when worn, the pillow body may rests on the mother's lap, with portions of the arms positioned adjacent to the wearer's sides.
Specifically, in certain embodiments a pillow body includes a medial region, a first arm and a second arm opposing the first arm. The medial region, first arm and second arm define a central opening with an outer side of the pillow body positioned distal the central opening. An inner surface is disposed between the central opening and the outer side. The inner surface faces the central opening and is sloped from a low point of the inner surface proximate the central opening to a high point of the inner surface proximate the outer side. As such, the inner surface is adapted to place a child in an ergonomic position facing a wearer with the head of the child above the stomach of the child.
In some embodiments, the pillow body may include a top surface between the outer side and the inner surface where the top surface has substantially a height of the high point of the inner surface at the inner surface.
In particular embodiments, the inner surface has a first slope at a center of the medial region and a second slope at the end of each of the first arm and second arm and the second slope is greater than the first slope and a third slope between the center of the medial region and the end of each of the first arm and second arm where the third slope is between the first and second slope. For example, the first slope can be between 25 degrees and 33 degrees, the second slope can be between 55 and 65 degrees and the third slope can be between 38 and 42 degrees.
A pillow according to certain embodiments may be worn by placing a first arm, a second arm and a medial region of a pillow body around a torso of a wearer such that the torso of the wearer is positioned in a central opening defined by the first arm, second arm and medial region. The pillow body includes an outer side distal the central opening and an inner surface between the central opening and the outer side. The inner surface faces the central opening and is sloped from a low point of the inner surface proximate the central opening to a high point of the inner surface proximate the outer side. A child can be positioned between the torso of the wearer and the inner surface, such that the child is in an ergonomic position facing the wearer with the head of the child above the stomach of the child. Such an ergonomic position may be achieved, for example, when the child's head is positioned on the first arm or the second arm of the pillow body.
As discussed, then, in certain embodiments an inner surface of the nursing pillow facing the central opening may be curved or sloped from a high point at an outer side of the nursing pillow distal from the central opening to an edge of the inner surface proximate the central opening to form a pocket. In particular, in certain embodiments, the slope of the inner surface of the nursing pillow may increase from an angle of around 25-33 degrees at a center plane of the medial region to an angle of around 55-65 degrees at the ends of the arms. The increase in slope of the inner surface may be substantially linear or may increase according to some other function travelling radially from the center axis around the pillow toward the ends of the arms. For example, the slope may increase at one rate from the center axis of the medial region to the start of the arms and may increase at a greater rate from the start of the arms to the ends of the arms. In this manner, the highest points or surface of embodiments of such a nursing pillow may be distal from the central opening (and thus the mother when the pillow is worn), and proximate the outer surface of the pillow.
In particular embodiments, the nursing pillow may be higher at the arms (or the ends of the arms) than at the center of the medial region. In these embodiments the height of the nursing pillow may be around 16-18 cm at the end of the arms and around 11-13 cm at the center of the medial region. In such embodiments, the height may increase substantially linearly from the center of the medial region to portions at the end of the arms where the nursing pillow has its maximum height.
Additionally, in certain embodiments the nursing pillow may comprised of a material such as polyurethane foam with a durometer of around 45-65 on the Shore A scale and may have a density of around 2.8-3.4 pounds per cubic foot.
Accordingly, embodiments as disclosed herein may have a number of advantages over other nursing pillows. In particular, because of the unique contour of embodiments, including the slope of the inner surface and the height of the nursing pillow, particularly at the arms, when a baby is placed in the pocket between the inner surface of the nursing pillow and the mother's body the baby may be in an ergonomically or physiologically beneficial position that places the head of the baby above the torso when nursing, aiding in the digestion of a baby. Moreover, because of the height of the pillow the child residing in the pocket may be in an ergonomically beneficial position that places the baby at the level of the mother's breast. Thus, the mother does not have to lean or slouch to bring her breast down to the baby. As an added benefit, because of the slope of the inner surface of the pillow the baby may be secured in a position tilted towards the mother, achieving a desired position for nursing that includes stomach to stomach positioning with the baby's head tilted toward the mother's breast without restraint or additional positioning required by the mother.
As can be seen then, the unique contour of certain embodiments of a nursing pillow positions the baby at the right height for nursing comfort and success, resulting in a comfortable and ergonomic positioning for both the nursing mother and the baby. Furthermore, embodiments of such a nursing pillow serve to position a nursing baby's head above its stomach for better digestion; tilt the baby towards the mother for ideal stomach-to-stomach position; support the baby, bringing baby to breast, not breast to baby; does not require the mother's arms to secure the child; and supports the nursing mother's arms to reduce arm fatigue and back pain from leaning or slouching. Moreover, the materials used in embodiments better maintain their shape for continued support of both baby and mother and reduced leaning or slouching resulting from alteration of the position of the baby from its initial position as a result of insufficient support or displacement of the pillow material.
The disclosure and various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the exemplary, and therefore non-limiting, embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of known starting materials and processes may be omitted so as not to unnecessarily obscure the disclosure in detail. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and the specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiments, are given by way of illustration only and not by way of limitation. Various substitutions, modifications, additions and/or rearrangements within the spirit and/or scope of the underlying inventive concept will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification are included to depict certain aspects of the invention. A clearer impression of the invention will become more readily apparent by referring to the exemplary, and therefore nonlimiting, embodiments illustrated in the drawings, wherein identical reference numerals designate the same components. Note that the features illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of an embodiment of a nursing pillow;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of an embodiment of a nursing pillow;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of an embodiment of a nursing pillow;

FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C are diagrammatic representations of one embodiment of an embodiment of a nursing pillow;

FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E and 5F are diagrammatic representations illustrating an embodiment of a nursing pillow;

FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C are a diagrammatic representation of a child positioned in one embodiment of a nursing pillow; and

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic representation of one embodiment of a child positioned in one embodiment of a nursing pillow being worn by a mother.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Nursing pillows and related methods and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the nonlimiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known starting materials, processing techniques, components and equipment are omitted so as not to unnecessarily obscure the invention in detail. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and the specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only and not by way of limitation. Various substitutions, modifications, additions and/or rearrangements within the spirit and/or scope of the underlying inventive concept will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.
The present disclosure relates to nursing pillows that allow a child to be nursed in an ergonomically beneficial position. In particular, embodiments of nursing pillow described herein allow a child to be supported and maintained at breast height in an ergonomically beneficial position angled toward the mother. According to one embodiment, such a nursing pillow may have a pillow body that defines a central opening so that the pillow may be worn around a mother's torso with the central opening encompassing the mother's torso and arms of the nursing pillow positioned adjacent to the mother's sides. An inner surface of the nursing pillow facing the central opening may be sloped from a high point or top surface proximate the outer side of the nursing pillow toward the central opening to form a pocket. In this manner, the height of the inner surface increases from the edge of the inner surface proximate the central opening to the outer side when viewed in a cross sectional plane such the maximum height of the inner surface in that cross sectional plane may be proximate the outer side. Embodiments may also have an inner surface with a higher slope at the arms relative to a medial portion of the nursing pillow, or have a greater height at the arms relative to the height of the pillow at certain portions of the medial portion.
According to embodiments then, when worn by a nursing mother the slope of the inner surface serves to advantageously position a nursing child in an orientation facing the mother. Moreover, an angle of the slope of the inner surface at the arms relative to an angle of the slope of the inner surface at one or more other portions of the nursing pillow may serve to position the head of the child above its stomach when nursing, aiding in digestion. The height of the nursing pillow may also serve to position the child at breast height while the hardness of the nursing pillow may serve to maintain the shape of the pillow and thus maintain the ergonomically beneficial position of the child. The child can thus nurse in a position that is both ergonomically and physiologically beneficial and be maintained in such a position without restraint or additional positioning by the mother.
Embodiments of such a nursing pillow can be ergonomically beneficial to the wearing mother as well. As discussed the height of the pillow serves to position the child at the mother's breast allowing a latch on the breast to be achieved by the child without the mother having to lean over or slouch to bring the breast to the child's mouth. Additionally, the height of the pillow, especially at the arms positioned adjacent to the wearer's sides, may allow a mother to nurse a child without requiring use of the mother's arms to secure the child while serving to support the nursing mother's arms to reduce arm fatigue and further reduce back pain.
Turning now to FIGS. 1-3, one embodiment of a nursing pillow is depicted. Nursing pillow 10 has a pillow body 12 that, while substantially continuous, can generally be defined in terms of medial region 14 disposed between two opposing arms 16, 18 (e.g., first arm 16 and second arm 18 opposing first arm 16). Medial region 14 and arms 16, 18 partially surround and define a central opening 20 open to one side between the arms 16, 18 so that that pillow 10 may be worn around a mother's torso, with the mother's torso disposed in central opening 20 when worn. In some embodiments, the pillow body 12 may be substantially bilaterally symmetric about a central vertical plane running though the central vertical axis (“3” where a cross sectional view of pillow body 12 is depicted in FIG. 3) and bisecting the pillow body 12, while in other embodiments it may be desired that the dimensions of the pillow body 12 do not exhibit such bilateral symmetry. For example, arms 16 and 18 of nursing pillow 10 may differ in dimensions from one another to provide different options for positioning a child. Pillow 10 may have a generally U-shaped geometry so that pillow body 12 rests on the mother's lap, with portions of arms 16, 18 positioned adjacent to the mother's sides. Although the outer shape of the pillow 10 is generally a continuous curve, it will be appreciated that other shapes may be used as well, such as the pillow having corners where the arms 16, 18 and medial region 14 meet.
Inner surface 42 of the nursing pillow facing the central opening 20 may be curved or sloped from outer side 40 opposite the central opening 20 (or a top surface proximate outer side 40) of the nursing pillow 10 distal from the central opening 20 toward the central opening 20 to form pocket 30. In particular in certain embodiments, arms 16, 18 may be constructed to be generally curved from the top and bottom sides to the inside and arms 16, 18 and medial region 14 may be shaped so that inner surface 42 is curved or sloped down from outer side 40 toward central opening 20 to form pocket 30. Accordingly, medial region 14, in cooperation with arms 16, 18, forms a first pocket 30 on one side of the nursing pillow to accommodate a child. In some embodiments, medial region 14 may also be constructed to form a second pocket 32 on the other side of pillow 10. Specifically, in certain embodiments, bottom surface 44 may curve and or slope more gradually upward from outer side 40 toward central opening 20 to form pocket 32. The second pocket 32 may have a different geometry (depth, slope or other features) than first pocket 30. In some embodiments, the user may select which side of the pillow is up to better position the infant based on the depth/slope or other feature of pockets 30, 32.
In certain embodiments, the slope of the inner surface 42 of nursing pillow 10 may be less at the center of medial region 14 than at ends of arms 16, 18. For example, the slope of the inner surface 42 of nursing pillow 10 may increase from the center of the medial region 14 to the ends of arms 16, 18 (e.g., travelling radially from a center vertical plane to the ends of arms 16,18). The increase in slope of the inner surface 42 may be substantially linear or may increase according to some other function travelling from the center vertical place around the pillow toward the ends of the arms. For example, the slope may increase at one rate from the center vertical plane of the medial region to the start of the arms and may increase at a greater rate from the start of the arms 16, 18 to the ends of the arms 16, 18. In this manner, the highest points or surface of embodiments of such a nursing pillow 10 may be distal from the central opening 20 (and thus the mother when the pillow is worn) and proximate the outer surface 40.
Described another way, in one embodiment, the height of the inner surface 42 increases from the inner side or low point of the inner surface 42 proximate the central opening 20 to a high point proximate the outer side 40 when viewed in a cross-sectional plane parallel to (i.e., having a normal vector orthogonal to), and in some cases coplanar with, a vertical axis, such that the maximum height of the inner surface 42 in that cross-sectional plane is proximate to the outer side 40. In particular, the slope of the inner surface 42 of the nursing pillow may increase from an angle of around 25-33 degrees at a center plane of the medial region to an angle of around 55-65 degrees at the ends of the arms 16, 18.
In some embodiments, the pillow 10 may have a top surface between outer edge 40 and inner surface 42, where the top surface may be of the same, or substantially similar, height as the maximum height of inner surface 42 proximate the outer side 40 (e.g., when viewed in a cross-sectional place). This top surface may be of uniform width or may have increased width in certain areas. For example, the top surface may of greater width along arms 16, 18 compared with the width of such a top surface in medial region 14.
Additionally, the pillow 10 may have a substantially uniform height at the point where the outer side 40, or a top surface of the pillow 10, meets inner surface 42, or may have differing heights along different portions of the pillow 10. For example, the maximum height of the nursing pillow 10 at the center vertical plane of media region 14 may be less than the maximum height of the nursing pillow at ends of arms 16, 18. In such embodiments, the height increase may be linear from the center vertical plane of the medial region 14 to the ends of arms 16, 18 (e.g., travelling radially from the center plane to the ends of arms 16,18), may comprise a first portion where the height increases at according to a first function and a second portion where the height increases by a second function from the first portion to the 14 to the ends of arms 16, 18 (e.g., travelling radially from the center plane to the ends of arms 16,18) or may vary according to some other function. Again, described another way, in certain embodiments, the maximum height of the inner surface 42 proximate to the outer side 40, when viewed in a cross-sectional plane parallel to (i.e., having a normal vector orthogonal to), and in some cases coplanar with, a vertical axis, may be different in different ones of these cross-sectional planes.
At least because of the shape of inner surface 42 with respect to medial region 14 and arms 16, 18, and the height of the pillow 10, when worn by a nursing mother the slope of the inner surface 42 serves to advantageously position the nursing child in an orientation facing the mother. Moreover, the higher angle of the slope at the arms 16, 18 relative to an angle of the slope at one or more other portions of the nursing pillow 10 in medial region 14 serves to position the head of the child above its stomach when nursing, aiding in digestion while also positioning the child at breast height. The child can thus nurse in a position that is both ergonomically and physiologically beneficial and be maintained in such a position without restraint or additional positioning by the mother.
To aid in maintaining and supporting a child in such a position pillow 10 may be comprised of a material such as polyurethane foam with a durometer of around 45-65 on the Shore A scale and a density of around 2.75-3.25 pounds per cubic foot such that the pillow may weigh between 800-900 grams in certain embodiments. The hardness of the nursing pillow 10 may serve to maintain the shape of the pillow 10 and thus support and maintain the ergonomically beneficial position of the child. The pillow 10 may also include a covering (not shown) formed from one or pieces of material adapted to removably cover the polyurethane foam of the pillow 10.
It will now be helpful to an understanding of particular embodiments to describe certain of these embodiments in more detail. Referring first to FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C one embodiment of a nursing pillow 400 is depicted. In the embodiment depicted, the total foam length at the widest points of the nursing pillow 400 (“A”) along a horizontal axis is between around 60-68 centimeters. The height of nursing pillow 400 (“B”) (or the inner surface) at each of arms 416, 418 is the highest point of the nursing pillow 400 and may be around 16-20 cm. The width of nursing pillow 400 at its widest point from a point on the outer surface of the nursing pillow 400 to the end of arms 416, 418 (“C”) may be between 34-38 cm. The width of nursing pillow 400 at its widest point as measured along a from a point on the outer surface of the nursing pillow 400 to the beginning of the central opening (“D”) may be around 16-18 cm, while the height of the nursing pillow 400 (or the inner surface) as measured at the cross section defined by the center vertical plane may be around 10-14 cm.
Moving now to FIGS. 5A-5F, diagrammatic representations illustrating an embodiment of a nursing pillow 510 are presented. Nursing pillow 510 has a pillow body 512 that is substantially continuous and includes medial region 514 disposed between two opposing arms 516, 518. Medial region 514 and arms 516 and 518 partially surround and define a central opening 520 open to one side between the arms 516, 518. Pillow body 512 may be substantially bilaterally symmetric about a central vertical plane (taken along axis 5C) bisecting the pillow body 512.
Inner surface 542 of the nursing pillow facing the central opening 520 may be curved or sloped from top surface 544 proximate outer side 540 of the nursing pillow distal from the central opening 520 to the central opening 520 to form a pocket. Specifically, the slope of the inner surface 542 of nursing pillow 510 may increase from the center vertical plane (axis 5C where FIG. 5C depicts a cross sectional view taken along axis 5C) of the medial region 514 to the ends of arms 516, 518 (e.g., travelling radially from the center plane to the ends of arms 516, 518). The increase in slope of the inner surface 542 may be substantially linear or may increase according to some other function travelling from the center axis around the pillow 510 toward the ends of the arms. Thus, the maximum height of the inner surface 542 increases from the inner side of the inner surface 542 proximate the central opening 520 to the top surface 544 when viewed in a cross-sectional plane parallel to (i.e., having a normal vector orthogonal to), and in some cases coplanar with, a vertical axis, such that the maximum height of the inner surface 542 is proximate to the outer side 540. Additionally, in some embodiments the inner surface 542 may be concave such that while it is generally sloped from top surface 544 proximate outer side 540 of the nursing pillow distal from the central opening 520 to the central opening 520, the inner surface 542 is inwardly curved.
In particular, the slope of the inner surface 542 of the nursing pillow may increase from an angle of around 25-33 degrees at a center vertical plane of the medial region 514 to an angle of around 55-65 degrees at the ends of the arms 516, 518. To illustrate in more detail, looking at FIG. 5C, at a cross-sectional plane taken along axis 5C running through a mid-point of axis 590 between end points of arms 516, 518 where the cross-sectional plane is perpendicular to axis 590, the inner surface 542 may have a slope of around 31 degrees from central opening 520 to top surface 544 as measured from a horizontal plane. Travelling radially around the pillow body 512 then, and looking at FIG. 5D at a cross-sectional plane taken along axis 5D running through a mid-point of axis 590 between end points of arms 516, 518 at a 70 degree angle to horizontal axis 590, the inner surface 542 may have a slope of around 33 degrees from central opening 520 to top surface 544 as measured from a horizontal plane. Moving further radially around pillow body 512 and referring to FIG. 5E at a cross-sectional plane taken along axis 5E running through a mid-point of axis 590 between end points of arms 516, 518 at a 45 degree angle to horizontal axis 590, the inner surface 542 may have a slope of around 40 degrees from central opening 520 to top surface 544 as measured from a horizontal plane. Looking now at FIG. 5F, at a point further radially around pillow body 512 at a cross-sectional plane taken along axis 5F where the cross-sectional plane is coplanar with a vertical plane running through axis 590 and approximately 100 mm from such a vertical plane, the inner surface 542 may have a slope of around 58 degrees from central opening 520 to top surface 544 as measured from a horizontal plane.
Now that the shape of embodiments of nursing pillow as disclosed herein are well understood it may be helpful to disclose the use and advantages of such embodiments in more detail. FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C are diagrammatic representations of a child positioned in one embodiment of a nursing pillow. As discussed, embodiments of a nursing pillow as disclosed may be worn around a mother's torso (not pictured) with the central opening encompassing the mother's torso and arms of the nursing pillow positioned adjacent to the mother's side. FIG. 6A depicts a view of a child 620 positioned in a nursing pillow 610 looking from the back of a wearer, FIG. 6B depicts a view of a child positioned in nursing pillow 610 looking toward a wearer and FIG. 6C depicts a view of a child positioned in nursing pillow 610 from the side of the wearer. As can be seen from these figures, a child 620 may be placed in the pocket formed by sloped inner surface of the nursing pillow 610 facing and canted toward the mother. Specifically, child 620 may be placed in the pocket between the mother's torso and the sloped inner surface of the pillow 610.
As discussed, in embodiments the height of the inner surface of the pillow 610 increases from the edge of the inner surface proximate the mother's torso to the outer side of the pillow such the maximum height of the pillow may be proximate the outer side of the pillow 610. Additionally, the inner surface of the pillow 610 has a higher slope at the arms relative to a medial portion of the nursing pillow and a greater height at the arms relative to the height of the pillow at certain portions of the medial portion. Thus, inner surface of the pillow 610 serves to advantageously position the nursing child 620 in an orientation facing or canted towards the mother, promoting a stomach-to-stomach position. This position can be seen for example, in FIG. 6C where the head of the child 620 is higher and proximate a wearer while the buttocks of the child 620 is lower and distal the wearer. Moreover, the difference between the angle of the slope of the inner surface at the arms and the an angle of the slope at one or more other portions of the nursing pillow positions and supports the head of the child 620 above its stomach when nursing, aiding in digestion while also serving to angle the head and body of the child 620 toward the mother (and thus the mother's breast) aiding in achieving and maintaining a latch with the mother's breast and contributing to greater comfort when nursing.
Further illustrating these points among others, FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic representation of one embodiment of a child positioned in one embodiment of a nursing pillow actually being worn by a mother. As can be seen from FIG. 7, nursing pillow 700 may be placed about the torso of mother 710 and may conveniently and comfortably rest on the legs of the mother 710. The child 720 can be placed in the pocket formed by the inner surface of the pillow 700 between the inner surface of the pillow 700 and the torso of the mother 710. The height of the nursing pillow 700 (e.g., at the end of the arms where the child's head may rest) serves to position the child at breast height while the hardness of the nursing pillow 700 may serve to maintain the shape of the pillow and thus maintain the position of the child. The child can thus nurse in a position that is both ergonomically and physiologically beneficial and be maintained in such a position without restraint or additional positioning by the mother. Specifically, the child may be maintained in such an ergonomic position without requiring use of the mother's arms
Additionally, the height of the pillow 710 of serves to position the child 720 at the mother's breast allowing a latch on the breast to be achieved by the child without the mother having to lean over or slouch to bring the breast to the child's mouth. Additionally, the height of the pillow 710, especially at the arms positioned adjacent to the mother's sides, may allow the pillow 710 to provide support for the nursing mother's arms to reduce arm fatigue and further reduce back pain.
In the description herein, numerous specific details are provided, such as examples of components and/or methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that an embodiment may be able to be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other apparatus, systems, assemblies, methods, components, materials, parts, and/or the like. In other instances, well-known structures, components, systems, materials, or operations are not specifically shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of embodiments of the invention. While the invention may be illustrated by using a particular embodiment, this is not and does not limit the invention to any particular embodiment and a person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that additional embodiments are readily understandable and are a part of this invention.
For example, though embodiments have been described herein as being used with a wearer who is a nursing mother and used to position a nursing child other embodiments may be utilized with other wearers and in other contexts. For example, embodiments may be effectively utilized to allow a child to sleep in a comfortable position with stomach to stomach contact with the wearer (who may or may not the child's mother). Additionally, embodiments may be usefully utilized for bottle feeding of a child again with a wearer who may, or may not, be the child's mother.
As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, article, or apparatus. Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary, “or” refers to an inclusive or and not to an exclusive or. For example, a condition A or B is satisfied by any one of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present). As used herein, including the claims that follow, a term preceded by “a” or “an” (and “the” when antecedent basis is “a” or “an”) includes both singular and plural of such term, unless clearly indicated within the claim otherwise (i.e., that the reference “a” or “an” clearly indicates only the singular or only the plural). Also, as used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
Additionally, any examples or illustrations given herein are not to be regarded in any way as restrictions on, limits to, or express definitions of, any term or terms with which they are utilized. Instead, these examples or illustrations are to be regarded as being described with respect to one particular embodiment and as illustrative only. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that any term or terms with which these examples or illustrations are utilized will encompass other embodiments which may or may not be given therewith or elsewhere in the specification and all such embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of that term or terms. Language designating such nonlimiting examples and illustrations include, but is not limited to: “for example,” “for instance,” “e.g.,” “in one embodiment.”
Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or “a specific embodiment” or similar terminology means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment and may not necessarily be present in all embodiments. Thus, respective appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment”, “in an embodiment”, or “in a specific embodiment” or similar terminology in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics of any particular embodiment may be combined in any suitable manner with one or more other embodiments. It is to be understood that other variations and modifications of the embodiments described and illustrated herein are possible in light of the teachings herein and are to be considered as part of the spirit and scope of the invention.
It will also be appreciated that one or more of the elements depicted in the drawings/figures can also be implemented in a more separated or integrated manner, or even removed or rendered as inoperable in certain cases, as is useful in accordance with a particular application.
Although the invention has been described with respect to specific embodiments thereof, these embodiments are merely illustrative, and not restrictive of the invention. The description herein of illustrated embodiments of the invention, including the description in the Abstract and Summary, is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed herein (and in particular, the inclusion of any particular embodiment, feature or function within the Abstract or Summary is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to such embodiment, feature or function). Rather, the description is intended to describe illustrative embodiments, features and functions in order to provide a person of ordinary skill in the art context to understand the invention without limiting the invention to any particularly described embodiment, feature or function, including any such embodiment feature or function described in the Abstract or Summary. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described herein for illustrative purposes only, various equivalent modifications are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize and appreciate. As indicated, these modifications may be made to the invention in light of the foregoing description of illustrated embodiments of the invention and are to be included within the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, while the invention has been described herein with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosures, and it will be appreciated that in some instances some features of embodiments of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth. Therefore, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the essential scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A pillow, comprising:

a pillow body, including:

a medial region;

a first arm;

a second arm opposing the first arm, wherein the medial region, first arm and second arm define a central opening;

an outer side of the pillow body distal the central opening; and

an inner surface between the central opening and the outer side, the inner surface facing the central opening and sloped from a low point of the inner surface proximate the central opening to a high point of the inner surface proximate the outer side.

2. The pillow of claim 1, wherein the inner surface adapted to place a child in an ergonomic position facing a wearer with the head of the child above the stomach of the child

3. The pillow of claim 1, wherein the inner surface adapted to place a child in an ergonomic position with the child's stomach contacting the torso of the wearer

4. The pillow of claim 1, the inner surface adapted to maintain the child in an ergonomic position without requiring use of the wearer's arms.

5. The pillow of claim 1, comprising a top surface between the outer side and the inner surface, wherein the top surface has substantially a height of the high point of the inner surface at the inner surface.

6. The pillow of claim 5, wherein the inner surface has a first slope at a center of the medial region and a second slope at the end of each of the first arm and second arm and the second slope is greater than the first slope.

7. The pillow of claim 6, wherein the first slope is between about 25 degrees and 33 degrees.

8. The pillow of claim 7, wherein the second slope is between about 55 and 65 degrees.

9. The pillow of claim 8, wherein the inner surface has a third slope between the center of the medial region and the end of each arm that is between about 38 and 42 degrees.

10. The pillow of claim 6, wherein the slope of the inner surface increases linearly from the first slope to the second slope

11. The pillow of claim 5, wherein the high point of the inner surface includes a first high point of the inner surface at the center of the medial region between 10 and 14 cm and a second high point of the inner surface at an end of each of the first arm and second arm is between 16 and 20 cm.

12. The pillow of claim 11, wherein the high point of the inner surface increases linearly from the first high point to the second high point.

13. The pillow of claim 1, wherein the pillow body is comprised of polyurethane foam with a durometer of around 45-65 on the Shore A scale.

14. The pillow of claim 13, wherein the polyurethane foam has a density of around 2.8-3.4 pounds per cubic foot.

15. The pillow of claim 1, wherein the inner surface is concave.

16. A method of positioning a child in a pillow, comprising,

placing a first arm, a second arm and a medial region of a pillow body around a torso of a wearer such that the torso of the wearer is positioned in a central opening defined by the first arm, second arm and medial region, wherein the pillow body further comprises an outer side of distal the central opening and an inner surface between the central opening and the outer side, the inner surface facing the central opening and sloped from a low point of the inner surface proximate the central opening to a high point of the inner surface proximate the outer side; and

positioning a child between the torso of the wearer and the inner surface such that the child is in an ergonomic position.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the ergonomic position includes the child facing the wearer with the head of the child above the stomach of the child.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the ergonomic position includes the child's stomach contacting the torso of the wearer

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the child is maintained in the ergonomic position without requiring use of the wearer's arms.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the inner surface has a first slope at a center of the medial region and a second slope at the end of each of the first arm and second arm and the second slope is greater than the first slope.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the child's head is positioned on the first arm or the second arm of the pillow body.

22. A pillow, comprising:

a bilaterally symmetric pillow body, including:

a medial region;

a first arm;

an outer side of the pillow body distal the central opening; and

an inner surface between the central opening and the outer side, the inner surface facing the central opening and sloped from the central opening to the outer side, wherein the inner surface has a greater slope at an end of the first arm and second arm than at a center of the medial region and wherein a first high point of the inner surface at the center of the medial region is lower than a second high point of the inner surface at each of the first arm and the second arm and the inner surface is adapted to place a child in an ergonomic position facing a wearer with the head of the child positioned on the first arm or the second arm above the stomach of the child with the child canted toward the wearer.