Patent Application
20220202106
The present invention relates generally to garments for children. More particularly, the present invention relates to a wearable sleep suit for children having one side that contains weighted compartments gradually increasing in weight from top to lower portion of the body.
Lack of sleep can adversely affect the health and development of a young child and can also indirectly affect every member of a family. The learned ability to self-soothe is a developmental milestone that cannot be rushed, and for some babies, this means that they struggle more than others when trying to sleep independently. With a significant number of studies suggesting the positive effects of physical touch on an infant, it is evident that subtle pressure produces a measurable impact that assists babies in reducing stress, calming down, and sleeping better. Cradling an infant throughout a night or duration of a nap is less than ideal and can even lead to compromising safe sleep practices. Parents are left with a long unfulfilled desire for a solution that can calm their babies and help them to sleep.
Weighted blankets have gained significant popularity among older children and adults alike for their ability to reduce cortisol levels while inducing the release of serotonin. The result is a calmer, relaxed sensation with promising effects on improved sleep; helping those fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. Similarly, it has been proposed by early studies that the weighted blankets provide a sensory stimulus to the babies which similarly calms them and can improve sleep, as would be the result of uninterrupted touch or cradling from a caregiver or parent.
Weighted blankets are heavier than normal blankets which may include beads, rice, and like for additional weight. The known weighted blankets suffer from a major drawback of putting the undesired weight on infants and small children on body parts that could pose a risk to their mobility of shoulders, neck, and upper torso. Additionally, any loose garment poses an immediate threat to the safety of an infant or young child given that, when unsecured in place, a garment could migrate up and over the face and cause restricted airflow. Thus, a need is appreciated for an improved, safe, and more effective weighted garment for kids that is devoid of the above drawbacks.
The following presents a simplified summary of one or more embodiments of the present invention in order to provide a basic understanding of such embodiments. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated embodiments and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of all embodiments nor delineate the scope of any or all embodiments. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more embodiments in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
The present invention is a children's garment with a gradually distributed weight system that provides for soothing weight across the child's body.
The object of the present invention that the sleep suit helps to calm a child by increasing the release of serotonin and melatonin in the body, while decreasing cortisol levels. This allows for better sleep for the child by simulating being held or swaddled, which has a physiological reaction in children as stated above.
In one aspect, sleep suit includes an upper portion that cover the torso portion of the child and has an opening for the neck, arms, and legs, the upper portion further having individually sewn weighted compartments. The sleep suit has a superior weight distribution that graduation puts pressure on the child, starting with lighter weight at the top of the thoracic area and gradual increase in weight from top to lower portion of the body with the purpose of more safely mimicking the human hold across the body.
These and other objects and advantages of the embodiments herein and the summary will become readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The accompanying figures, which are incorporated herein, form part of the specification and illustrate embodiments of the present invention. Together with the description, the figures further explain the principles of the present invention and to enable a person skilled in the relevant arts to make and use the invention.
Subject matter will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and which show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. Subject matter may, however, be embodied in a variety of different forms and, therefore, covered or claimed subject matter is intended to be construed as not being limited to any exemplary embodiments set forth herein; exemplary embodiments are provided merely to be illustrative. Likewise, a reasonably broad scope for claimed or covered subject matter is intended. Among other things, for example, the subject matter may be embodied as methods, devices, components, or systems. The following detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be taken in a limiting sense.
The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Likewise, the term “embodiments of the present invention” does not require that all embodiments of the invention include the discussed feature, advantage, or mode of operation.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of embodiments of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising,”, “includes” and/or “including”, when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
The following detailed description includes the best currently contemplated mode or modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention will be best defined by the allowed claims of any resulting patent.
Referring to
Again, referring to
The front side of the sleep suit 100 is having a weight density that is different from the rear side i.e., the front side is heavier than the rear side. Moreover, the weight density of the top portion 110 is lesser than the second gradient portion 120, and the weight density of the second gradient portion 120 is lesser than the third gradient portion 130. This provides the gradual distribution of weight on the child's body, such as not to put unwanted pressure around the neck/shoulders of the infant. The lungs of the children grow faster and the unique weight distribution of the disclosed sleep suit 100 can support all movement efforts of the children ensuring that the children can safely lift their head/chest and roll back over as desired. Weight blankets of the prior art can put too much pressure near the shoulder and neck area of a child that may compromise the breathing and mobility of a child.
The gradual weight distribution of the disclosed sleep suit 100 can be adapted to the age and weight of a child, to ensure that the sleep suit 100 is safe to use. The gradual weight distribution of the disclosed sleep suit 100 can naturally soothe a baby with an overall pressure sensation to mimic the child being cuddled, without compromising the safety. In one exemplary embodiment, the top portion can have a weight density around 25% of the third gradient portion 130. The weight density of the second gradient portion 120 can be 40% of the weight density of the third gradient portion 130.
Referring to
While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above-described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63130588 | Dec 2020 | US |
