1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to infant supports and more specifically, infant supports that are constructed to comfortably elevate and support an infant's torso when in a prone position for soothing, and relieving the infant while reducing its gas pains.
2. Discussion of the Background
Caring for an infant with Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), or gas pains can be difficult for both a parent and the infant. The parent has the burden of comforting the infant who appears to be in constant pain. The infant is unable to express clearly the cause of pain or to comfort herself. Typically parents comfort the infant by holding her upright while applying a small amount of pressure to the infant's belly and warming her stomach. This process can take hours, is cumbersome, and is not always effective.
The American Pediatric Association recommends that infants with GERD be held upright with their heads elevated and supported above their torso and legs to reduce the amount of gastric acid entering the esophagus, and to relieve gas pain. This conventional method of keeping an infant in this position requires that the adult hold the infant upright with the infant's head resting on the adult's shoulder.
U.S. Patent Publication 2002/0133881 discloses a baby apparatus for elevating a baby's upper body to strengthen the neck and back muscles, or to relieve congestion. The apparatus is shaped like a ramp, with a single inclined surface. The apparatus operates as an infant exercise device and purposefully does not support the infant's head.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,700,059 discloses a vertical baby support for simulating an ordinary holding position of a baby. The vertical baby support has a single inclined surface to which the baby is strapped and is intended to be used in place of adult contact.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,381,785 discloses an adjustable and releasable holding device for positioning an infant on an inclined platform without the need of a wedge-shaped apparatus. The primary objective of this device is to aid the infant's caregiver in safely laying the infant in an inclined position while sleeping.
These conventional devices do not address the care required for an infant with GERD. The infant with GERD should be soothed by an adult while laying stomach-down on her torso. The infant is usually uncomfortable and so it is beneficial to maintain contact with the adult caregiver during episodes of GERD.
The present invention enables the adult to aid in relieving the infant from the discomfort caused by GERD by holding the infant in the ideal position and enables the adult to maintain contact with the infant by speaking to the infant, reading to the infant, rubbing the infant's back, etc., while reducing the amount of physical stress and fatigue on the adult.
One object of the present invention is to overcome the difficulties and limitations of conventional approaches for soothing an infant with GERD or gas pains. While this is just one object of the present invention, numerous other features and attributes of the present invention will become evident from the accompanying figures and detailed description of the preferred embodiments.
One feature of the present invention is an infant support apparatus for supporting an infant lying on its torso, stomach-down. The infant support apparatus has a main body having a predetermined width, a predetermined length that extends from a front to a back, a thickness that varies along the predetermined length, and a top surface. In one embodiment the top surface is made up of three contiguous surface portions, which are at sloped angles to each other. A first surface portion is substantially oriented at a first positive slope with respect to a lengthwise direction of the main body. A second surface portion abuts the first surface portion and is substantially oriented at a negative slope with respect to the lengthwise direction of the main body. A third surface portion abuts the second surface portion and is substantially oriented at a second positive slope with respect to the lengthwise direction of the main body. The first surface portion is configured to support a head of the infant, the second surface portion is configured to support a torso of the infant, and the third surface portion is configured to support legs of the infant. A secondary support is included to aid in supporting the main body. The main body and the secondary support are formed as an integral unit.
The above and other objects may be accomplished with a reconfigurable infant support apparatus according to the present invention. In one embodiment, an extension platform protrudes beyond a front edge of the infant support apparatus, allowing the adult to place objects of interest in front of the infant to entertain and educate the infant while she is being soothed.
In one embodiment, the infant support apparatus includes a secondary support that is detachably attached to the main body.
In another embodiment, the infant support apparatus contains a variable heating device to warm the infant's belly and to warm the caregiver's legs.
Another feature of the infant support apparatus is a variable vibrator to soothe the infant and relax the caregiver. Another feature of the infant support apparatus is an audio transducer which can play songs, recorded messages, or the recorded sound of the mother's heartbeat.
Additional features of the infant support apparatus include a restraining strap to keep the infant secure on the infant support apparatus, a retractable guard to reduce the risk of the infant rolling off of the infant support apparatus, pouches, loops, and hook and loop fabric strips to enable easy storage and easy access of toys, rattles, pacifiers, bottles, and other infant paraphernalia.
The present invention enables the caregiver to comfortably hold the infant in an elevated position on the infant's belly. The infant is positioned to reduce discomfort caused by GERD (or simply gas pains) while the infant support apparatus easily conforms to any underlying surface, enabling the caregiver to comfortably hold the infant support apparatus on their lap.
A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and more particularly to
The main body 1 has a top surface 50 that includes a first surface portion 2 that supports the infant's head, a second surface portion 3 to support the infant's torso, and a third surface portion 4 to support the infant's legs. The first surface portion 2 enables the infant's head to be elevated above the infant's torso and legs. The second surface portion 3 enables the infant to rest on her torso in an elevated position, creating enough pressure so gas can escape and gravity will reduce the amount of gastric acids escaping from the infant's gastrointestinal tract.
In one non-limiting example, the thickness of the infant support apparatus at a front edge 24 is at least one inch, the thickness of the infant support apparatus at a first inflection point 25 is at least three inches, the thickness of the infant support apparatus at a second inflection point 26 is at least one inch, the thickness of the infant support apparatus at a back edge 27 is at least two inches, but other thicknesses can be used as well, depending on the size of the infant. The first inflection point 25 is located where a width-wise edge of the first surface portion 2 and where a width-wide edge of the second surface portion 3 coincide, and the second inflection point 26 is located where another width-wide edge of the second surface portion 3 and a width-wide edge of the third surface portion 4 coincide.
In this example, the length of first surface portion 2 is twenty five percent of the predetermined length L of the infant support apparatus, the length of the second surface portion 3 is fifty percent of the predetermined length L of the infant support apparatus, and the length of the third surface 4 portion is twenty five percent of the predetermined length of the infant support apparatus, but various lengths can be utilized, depending on the size of the infant.
The molded foam core 5 is preferably made from a fire-retardant material and is covered with a non-toxic and water resistant coating.
Optionally, a cloth cover 6 is adapted to fit over the top surface 50, or over the entire infant support apparatus 1. The cloth cover 6 is detachably attached, washable, and made from non-toxic fire-retardant materials. A topside of the cloth cover 6 is preferably made from a cotton fabric, but could also be made from a terry cloth fabric, or other infant-friendly material. An underside of the cloth cover 6 is preferably made from a non-skid, water repellant, non-toxic material. The non-skid material will enable the cloth cover 6 to remain in place over the molded foam core 5 while the infant rests upon the top surface 50. The cloth cover 6 can be removed from the top surface 50 for washing and also used as a changing pad.
A secondary support 7 has a bottom 11 which easily conforms to any underlying surface. The bottom 11 includes a fabric (plastic or other suitable) bag or container containing a plurality of small pieces of material, where this plurality of small pieces of material can move independently of each other, conforming to various shapes. In one example, the bottom of the secondary support 7 is made of a bean-bag (filled with any type of suitable material such as polystyrene pieces). The secondary support 7 contains a valley portion 9 and another valley portion 10 that are configured to substantially conform to the legs of a person's lap. The secondary support 7 is permanently attached to the main body 1, so that the main body 1 and the secondary support 7 are formed as an integral unit.
A battery powered or 115 VAC adapted audio transducer 20 is optionally inserted in the molded foam core 5 and is used to soothe the infant by playing pre-recorded songs, messages, or the mother's recorded heartbeat. The audio transducer 20 may use an audio tape, or optionally MP3 files loaded via an I/O port such as a USB port. A control to adjust the temperature of the variable heating mechanism 18 is located on the periphery of the molded foam core 5. A control to adjust the intensity of vibration for the variable vibrating mechanism 19 is located on the periphery of the molded foam core 5. A control to adjust the volume for the audible transducer 20 is located on an outer periphery of the molded foam core.
The fixed end 42 of the first restraining strap 40 is sewn into a side 36 of the second surface portion 3. Alternatively, the fixed end 42 of the first restraining strap 40 could be fixed to an underside of the molded foam core 5.
The fixed end 43 of the second restraining strap 41 is sewn into another side 37 of the second surface portion 3. Alternatively, the fixed end 43 of the second restraining strap 41 could be fixed to an underside of the molded foam core 5.
The first exposed end 44 has a loop fastening strip 46 and a second exposed end 45 has a mating hook fastening strip 47. Alternatively, the first exposed end 44 has a female clasp end, and the second exposed end 45 has a male clasp end that receives the female clasp end.
While various features and embodiments have been shown, it should be clear that features in one embodiment may be substituted (or deleted) for features in another embodiment.
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