Swaddling is the practice whereby an infant is wrapped in a blanket or similar cloth to tightly restrict movement of the limbs. Current studies suggest that swaddling helps an infant fall asleep and remain asleep while keeping the infant in a supine position, which lowers the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Conventional swaddles rely on proper wrapping techniques to sufficiently bind the limbs and maintain gentle pressure across the chest and abdomen. A swaddle that is wrapped too tightly may hamper normal breathing and may put an infant at risk of overheating. A swaddle that is improperly wrapped may loosen over time as the infant becomes restless, allowing the limbs to be freed and portions of the swaddle to migrate over the face, putting the infant at risk of suffocation.
Accordingly, what is needed are swaddle solutions that obviate the need for skilled wrapping techniques, do not loosen over time, and do not compromise an infant's ability to breath normally.
According to a first aspect, the present disclosure provides a swaddle including a main body including an upper portion and a lower portion continuous with the upper portion, the upper portion including a flap configured to be positioned in a tucked condition around an infant and the lower portion forming a pocket, a left side portion attached to at least the upper portion, the left side portion configured to be positioned in a folded condition over the upper portion in the tucked condition, a right side portion attached to at least the upper portion, the right side portion configured to be positioned in a folded condition over the upper portion in the tucked condition, first fasteners attached to each of the left side portion and the right side portion, the first fasteners when engaged maintaining the left side portion and the right side portion in their respective folded conditions, and second fasteners attached to each of the main body and the flap, the second fasteners when engaged maintaining the flap in the folded condition.
In some embodiments, the second fasteners include spaced fasteners positioned on a front of the upper portion and at least one fastener positioned on a front of the flap, wherein, when the flap is in the tucked condition, the spaced fasteners removably engage the at least one fastener positioned on the flap to maintain the flap in the tucked condition.
In some embodiments, the first fasteners include spaced hook fasteners positioned on one of the left side portion and the right side portion and spaced loop fasteners positioned on the other of the left side portion and the right side portion, wherein the hook fasteners when engaged with the loop fasteners maintain the left side portion and the right side portion in an overlapping condition.
In some embodiments, the flap is attached to the lower portion along one edge of the flap, and a width of the flap in an untucked condition is greater than a width of the flap in the tucked condition.
In some embodiments, the upper portion includes padding and the second fasteners attached to the upper portion are positioned proximal to the lateral extents of the padding.
In some embodiments, the lower portion includes a front portion and a back portion removably attached by a zippered engagement, wherein a first entrance into the pocket is formed proximal to the upper portion and a second entrance into the pocket is formed between the zippered engagement, wherein a zipper is attached to the lower portion configured to open and close the zippered engagement to open and close the second entrance into the pocket.
In some embodiments, in use, an infant is positioned on the upper portion, the flap is wrapped around the torso of the infant, and the second fasteners engage under the armpits of the infant.
In some embodiments, the left side portion and the right side portion are removably attached to at least the upper portion by a zippered engagement.
In some embodiments, at least one of the first and second fasteners includes a hook fastener and a loop fastener continuous with the hook fastener, wherein the hook fastener is configured to engage with the loop fastener to maintain the at least one of the first and second fasteners in a closed condition between uses of the at least one of the first and second fasteners.
In some embodiments, the hook fastener of the at least one of the first and second fasteners includes a hook element positioned on a cloth backing and cloth covering edges of the hook element.
In some embodiments, the upper portion forms at least one of a neck support, a head support, and a hood.
In some embodiments, the lower portion tapers in a direction away from the upper portion.
According to another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for swaddling an infant. The method includes providing a swaddle including a main body including an upper portion and a lower portion continuous with the upper portion, the upper portion including a flap configured to be positioned in a tucked condition around an infant and the lower portion forming a pocket, a left side portion attached to at least the upper portion, the left side portion configured to be positioned in a folded condition over the upper portion in the tucked condition, a right side portion attached to at least the upper portion, the right side portion configured to be positioned in a folded condition over the upper portion in the tucked condition, first fasteners attached to each of the left side portion and the right side portion, the first fasteners when engaged maintaining the left side portion and the right side portion in their respective folded conditions, and second fasteners attached to each of the main body and the flap, the second fasteners when engaged maintaining the flap in the folded condition. The method continues with positioning the infant on the upper portion such that the spaced fasteners are positioned under the arms of the infant and the legs of the infant are positioned in the pocket, folding the flap upward, and securing the flap to the upper portion by engaging the second fasteners. The method concludes with folding one of the left and right side portions inward over the folded flap, folding the other of the left and right side portions inward over the folded one of the left and right side portions, and engaging the first fasteners to secure the left and right side portions in an overlapping condition. When swaddled, an upper edge of the flap is secured in the tucked condition positioned around the torso and under the arms of the infant thereby preventing downward migration of the swaddled infant into the pocket.
In some embodiments, the pocket is a zippered pocket including a zippered connection formed between front and back portions of the lower portion, wherein, when the infant is swaddled, the zippered pocket is configured to be unzipped to access the lower body of the infant.
Implementations of the inventive concepts disclosed herein may be better understood when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the included drawings, which are not necessarily to scale, and in which some features may be exaggerated and some features may be omitted or may be represented schematically in the interest of clarity. Like reference numerals in the drawings may represent and refer to the same or similar element, feature, or function. In the drawings:
Before explaining aspects the inventive concepts disclosed herein in detail, it is to be understood that the inventive concepts are not limited in their application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components or steps or methodologies set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. In the following detailed description of embodiments of the instant inventive concepts, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the inventive concepts. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the instant disclosure that the inventive concepts disclosed herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features may not be described in detail to avoid unnecessarily complicating the instant disclosure. The inventive concepts disclosed herein are capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
Broadly speaking, embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed herein are directed to swaddles generally including a body portions and folding portions that fold into place and secure to maintain their folded conditions. Fasteners strategically positioned on portions of the swaddle interact with fastener counterparts to secure swaddle portions in place to maintain the folded conditions. The swaddle facilitates defined and intuitive folding procedures that obviate the need for skilled folding techniques, while maintaining folded conditions while preventing downward migration into the swaddle.
Referring to
The upper portion 102, or main body, has a length generally corresponding to a length of an infant from head to toe, for example a median infant length or oversized, and a width generally corresponding to a width of an infant, for example a median infant width or oversized. In some embodiments, the upper portion 102 includes padding 110 strategically positioned to enhance comfort by relieving pressure on the posterior of the infant. A head end 112 of the upper portion 102 may support the head and/or neck and may have a particular configuration as discussed further below. The right side portion 106 is continuous with and positioned along one side of at least the upper portion 102. The left side portion 108 is continuous with and positioned along the opposing side of at least the upper portion 102. Thus, the right and left side portions 106, 108 are positioned on opposite sides of the upper portion 102 and separately fold inward.
Spaced fasteners 114 positioned on the upper portion 102, for instance positioned proximal to the lateral extents of the padding 110, function to secure in place the lower portion 104 when in a folded condition, as discussed further below. Each fastener 114 may be a hook carrying counterpart of a hook-and-loop fastener system, or vice versa. Each fastener 114 may include a hook carrying member having a fabric covered backing, edges and corners such that no edge of the framed hook element is left exposed. Each fastener 114 may be positioned proximal to or continuously formed with a loop carrying counterpart component such that the hook and look counterparts can be joined to ‘close’ the fastener between uses, such as when laundering, to prevent the hook counterpart from snagging on other articles or other loop counterparts.
Spaced left side portion fasteners 116a, 116b, 116b are spaced along the curvature of the left side portion 108 strategically positioned to engage respective counterpart fasteners 124a, 124b and 124c positioned on the opposite face of the right side portion 106, as shown in
In some embodiments, an elongate comfort-enhancing strip 118 such as muslin fabric may be provided along the detached edge of the lower portion 104, and at least a portion of the perimeter of the swaddle may be trimmed with a thin strip of folded fabric piping 120.
In use, an infant is positioned on the upper portion atop the padded portion with the head positioned ‘above’ or outside of the bounds of the upper portion and with the neck positioned over a padded neck portion. The feet may extend ‘below’ the padded portion and the shoulders are generally positioned between the spaced main body portion fasteners 114.
With continued reference to
In the folded and tucked configuration, the loop counterpart of the hook and loop pairing, for instance implemented as an elongate loop strip 122, aligns between the main body fasteners 114. The elongate strip 122 allows for selective positioning of the main body fasteners 114 along the length of the strip to accommodate different torso sizes and easy fastening and adjustment. In some embodiments, the lateral extents of the elongate strip 122 may be positioned inward of the respective lateral sides of the lower portion 104 such that the lower portion requires wrapping around the arms and tucking under the infant in order to position the ends of the elongate strip proximate the fasteners 114 for engagement. This ensures that the swaddler properly wraps and tucks the folded lower portion 104.
Referring to
The upper portion 202, or main body, has a length generally corresponding to a length of an infant from above the waist, for example a median infant torso length or oversized, and a width generally corresponding to a width of an infant torso, for example a median torso width or oversized. In some embodiments, the upper portion 202 includes padding 210 strategically positioned to enhance comfort by relieving pressure points on the back and shoulders. A head end 212 of the upper portion 202 may support the head and/or neck and may have a particular configuration as discussed further below. The right side portion 206 is continuous with and positioned along one side of the upper portion 202. The left side portion 208 is continuous with and positioned along the opposing side of the upper portion 202. Thus, the right and left side portions 206, 208 are positioned on opposite sides of the upper portion 202 and separately fold inward.
Spaced fasteners 214 positioned on the front of the upper portion 202, for instance positioned proximal to the lateral extents of the padding 210, function to secure in place the flap 204 when in a folded condition, as discussed further below. Each fastener 214 may be a hook carrying counterpart of a hook-and-loop fastener pairing, or vice versa. Each fastener 214 may include a hook carrying member having a fabric covered backing, edges and corners such that no edge of the framed hook element is left exposed. Each fastener 214 may be positioned proximal to or continuously formed with a loop carrying counterpart component such that the hook and look counterparts can be joined to ‘close’ the fastener between uses, such as when laundering, to prevent the hook counterpart from snagging on other articles or other loop counterparts.
Spaced left side portion fasteners 216a, 216b are spaced along the curvature of the right side portion 208 (or alternatively the left side portion) strategically positioned to engage at least one respective counterpart fastener 224 positioned on the opposite face of the opposite portion, implemented as a single loop strip, multiple loop fasteners or otherwise. Like the fasteners 214, each of the fasteners 216a, 216b may be hook carrying counterparts of a hook-and-loop fastener pairing, or vice versa, and may include a hook carrying member having a fabric covered backing, edges and corners. Each fastener 216a, 216b may be positioned adjacent a loop carrying counterpart component such that the hook and look counterparts can be mated to close the fastener when laundering or until needed. The swaddle may be trimmed with fabric piping 220.
In use, an infant is positioned on the upper portion 202 with at least the legs positioned in the pocket defined in the lower portion 228. The swaddle 200 transitions from the unfolded condition (
With specific reference to
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While the foregoing description provides embodiments of the invention by way of example only, it is envisioned that other embodiments may perform similar functions and/or achieve similar results. Any and all such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the scope of the present invention and are intended to be covered by the appended claims.
This nonprovisional patent application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. application Ser. No. 63/179,745 filed Apr. 26, 2021 for SWADDLE WITH PADDED BODY PORTION AND CLOSING FASTENERS, and U.S. Application No. 63/253,424 filed Oct. 7, 2021 for SWADDLES WITH PADDING, CLOSING FASTENERS AND SAFETY STRAP, each of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63253424 | Oct 2021 | US | |
63179745 | Apr 2021 | US |