WO1994026153A1

WO1994026153A1 - Baby restraint

Info

Publication number: WO1994026153A1
Application number: PCT/AU1994/000251
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joseph Elie Tefaye
Original assignee: ROSEN, John, David, Leslie
Priority date: 1993-05-17
Filing date: 1994-05-16
Publication date: 1994-11-24
Also published as: CA2162988A1; AU690114B2; AU6717394A

Abstract

An apparatus for restraining movement of a sleeping baby comprises a strap (11/31) and two chocks (12, 13/32, 33) located atop the strap. Each of the chocks has an upstanding face (19, 20/38, 40) and the chocks are loacted atop the strap (11/31) with the upstanding faces facing one another. In use, the strap is arranged to lie substantially on the baby's bedding (14) and the upstanding faces are separated by a distance which allows the baby to lie on its side nestled between the chocks.

Description

BABY RESTRAINT FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus for restraining movement of a sleeping baby. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

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

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an apparatus for restraining movement of a sleeping baby comprising a strap and two chocks located atop the strap, wherein (a) each of the chocks has an upstanding face and the chocks are located with the upstanding faces facing one another;

(b) in use, the upstanding faces are separated by a distance which allows the baby to lie on its side nestled between the chocks; and

(c) in use, the strap is arranged to lie substantially on the baby's bedding.

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

In a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, the chocks are formed independently of the strap from foam material and at least one of the chocks is releasably secured to the strap whereby the distance between the upstanding faces can be varied. Preferably, the at least one or each chock is releasably secured to the strap by a hook-and-loop fastening. Preferably, each of the chocks is generally prismatically shaped having two opposing substantially triangular ends and three substantially rectangular sides, each of the chocks sits atop the strap on a first of the substantially rectangular sides, and a second of the substantially rectangular sides forms the upstanding face of each chock. Preferably, the first of the substantially rectangular sides is flat, the second of the substantially rectangular sides is concavely shaped and a third of the substantially rectangular sides is convexly shaped. Preferably, the second of the substantially rectangular sides is of a height sufficient to extend above a baby nestled between the chocks. This allows a blanket or other element of bedding to be placed over a baby and the chocks thereby providing a ventilation gap between the baby and the blanket. When a baby is very young it is preferred for the baby to sleep between the preferred concavely shaped substantially rectangular sides of the chocks. When the baby is a little older, a greater degree of movement during sleep may be desirable in which case it is preferred that one or both of the chocks is turned through 180° on the first of the substantially rectangular sides so that the preferred convexly shaped rectangular side(s) face(s) the baby.

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

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

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Two preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a baby restraint according to the present invention prior to use, Figure 2 is a front elevation of the baby restraint illustrated in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the baby restraint illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 but in a use position,

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the baby restraint illustrated in Figure 3, and

Figures 5 and 6 are perspective views of a second embodiment of a baby restraint according to the present invention.

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

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

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

Referring now to Figures 5 and 6, the baby restraint 30 is formed generally of a strap 31 and a pair of chocks 32 and 33. The strap 31 is made from a strip of soft material such as towelling to which is stitched or otherwise fastened to strips 34 and 35 of the loop portion of a hook-and-loop fastening such as VELCRO

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

In the illustrated embodiment, both chocks 32 and 33 are releasably securable to the strap 31 by hook-and-loop fastening with the hook portion of the fastening stitched or otherwise secured to the first rectangular sides 37 of the chocks 32 and 33 or to corresponding portions of the chock coverings (not shown) . Only one of the chocks 32 and 33 needs to be releasably securable to the strap 31 to enable the distance between the upstanding faces 40 to be tailored to any given requirement. However, it is preferred that both chocks 32 and 33 are releasably securable as this facilitates washing of the strap 31 and chock covering (not shown) where fitted. In use, the restraint 30 is placed on an element of a baby's bedding (not shown), such as a sheet, and the distance between the upstanding faces 40 is adjusted by movement of one or both of the chocks 32 and 33 with respect to the strap 31, to enable a baby (not shown) to lie on its side nestled between the chocks 32 and 33. The baby, which will typically be swaddled, is placed on its side atop the strap 31 with its hips/waist located between the chocks 32 and 33 thereby positioning its head well clear of the restraint 30 to allow unobstructed breathing.

Referring now generally to the drawings, the restraints 10 and 30 are arranged to be used without being secured to the baby's cot or any element of its bedding to facilitate easy removal when changing the baby's bedding, transporting the restraint 10 or 30 to another location or the like. However, it is to be understood that arrangements in which the restraints 10 or 30 are secured to the baby's cot or an element of its bedding fall within the scope of the present invention. As previously mentioned, the baby (not shown) will typically be swaddled when placed between the chocks 12 and 13 or 32 and 33. It is to be noted that elements of bedding such as blankets can be placed over the baby (not shown) and the restraint 10 or 30 if desired.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. An apparatus for restraining movement of a sleeping baby comprising a strap and two chocks located atop the strap, wherein (a) each of the chocks has an upstanding face and the chocks are located with the upstanding faces facing one another;

(c) in use, the strap is arranged to lie substantially on the baby' s bedding.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the strap and the chocks are integrally formed from a foam material.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein prior to use the strap sits atop the baby's bedding on lowermost edges and, in use, the apparatus yields under the baby's weight whereby the strap lies substantially on the baby's bedding and upper portions of the upstanding faces are urged towards one another.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the chocks are formed independently of the strap from foam material and at least one of the chocks is releasably secured to the strap whereby the distance between the upstanding faces can be varied.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the or each chock is releasably secured to the strap by a hook-and-loop fastening.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 wherein each of the chocks is generally prismatically shaped having two opposing substantially triangular ends and three substantially rectangular sides, each of the chocks sits atop the strap on a first of the rectangular sides, and a second of the rectangular sides forms the upstanding face of each chock.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the first of the rectangular sides is flat and the second of the rectangular sides is concavely shaped.

8. An apparatus for restraining movement of a sleeping baby substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1-4 of the accompanying drawings.

9. An apparatus for restraining movement of a sleeping baby substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.