Abstract:
Body orienting harnesses and associated structures are disclosed, along with methods of use. The body orienting harness can position a body, such an infant, with respect to the associated structure, such as a bed, bed frame or crib, a sheet, or a blanket for example. The harness may be integrated with a sheet or blanket in order to secure not only a body in position but also secure the sheet or blanket in position with respect to the body. The sheet, blanket, or other cover, can provide a slip cover for an underlying support surface, such as a mattress for example. Alternatively, the cover can be secured in other ways to form a pocket in association with other structure, such as a bed sheet for example. The harness can be mounted in association with the pocket to secure a body in position with the respect to the pocket and associated structure, such as a mattress, crib, etc. When used to secure an infant during sleep, certain embodiments of the harness and associated structure can help significantly reduce the chance of overheating, suffocating, or otherwise harming the infant.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of, and claims the benefit of, the applicants&#39; prior parent regular utility patent application, entitled Safety Apparatus and Method of Use, Ser. No. 11/640,809, filed Dec. 18, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. ______, which is a continuation of, and claims the benefit of, the applicants&#39; prior parent regular utility patent application, entitled Safety Apparatus and Method of Use, Ser. No. 11/233,675, filed Sep. 22, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,150,054, issued Dec. 19, 2006, which prior parent regular utility patent application claimed the benefit of the applicants&#39; prior U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/719,671, filed Sep. 21, 2605, entitled Safety Apparatus and method of Use. The contents of the above-referenced prior patent application are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The application concerns a device for orienting a body with respect to another object and method of use. In one embodiment, the application concerns a device for relatively securely orienting a human body, such as a sleeping infant for example, with respect to an adjacent blanket or sheet and method of use. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    A common problem faced by caregivers and parents of an infant, particularly a young infant, is that the infant typically is unable to keep a blanket over a lower portion of the infant while the infant is asleep. This arises because the infant may move around during sleep or kick off the blanket. This can result in the infant becoming cold during sleep and therefore waking, requiring the attention of an adult to re-cover the infant. In more serious cases, the blanket can be moved up over the face of the infant or the infant may slip down under the blanket thus increasing the risk of overheating and suffocation of the infant. 
         [0004]    A further problem commonly faced by caregivers and parents of infants is that the infant may roll over onto its stomach during sleep thus also increasing the risk of suffocation. Also, the infant may roll over during sleep and wedge their face against the side of a cot in which it sleeps, again increasing the risk of suffocation. 
         [0005]    Yet another problem for caregivers and parents is the possible loss of oxygen and other problems (such as falling out of bed) that may arise for an infant if it moves toward the sides or headboard of bed. 
         [0006]    One solution known in the art is to tuck a blanket tightly around an infant and hope that the infant does not have enough strength to remove the blanket. However, there is a risk that the blanket could be tucked too tight and thus restrict the infant&#39;s breathing. A further known solution is to simply not cover the infant during sleep, but provide a very warm room in which the infant can sleep. However, the cost of heating a room to a suitable temperature, and maintaining the same, renders such a solution impractical to most parents. Also, the use of heaters to maintain such a temperature increases the risk of fire thus endangering the infant. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    Certain embodiments of the present invention address one or more of the above mentioned problems and provide a solution which reduces the risk of suffocation to an infant while also reducing the infant&#39;s discomfort. 
         [0008]    Some embodiments provide a safety device for offering increased safety to a sleeping infant comprising cover means operable to cover at least a portion of an infant and securing means operable to secure at least a portion of an infant to the cover means. 
         [0009]    In certain embodiments, the cover means comprise a blanket or sheet. The cover means may be formed of a soft material which may be a fabric material. The cover means may be formed from any natural or synthetic fabric, or any woven or non-woven fabric. Examples of a soft fabric material include brushed cotton and fleece. 
         [0010]    In certain embodiments, the securing means are adjustable. The securing means may comprise a support member that may be adapted to fit between the legs of an infant. The support member may comprise a seat that is preferably adapted to support the seat of an infant. The support member may be attached to a first face of the sheet, such as, for example, toward a first end thereof. The support member may comprise a crotch strap or support. 
         [0011]    In some embodiments, the securing means comprises strapping means, which strapping means may be adapted to strap an infant to the cover means. The strapping means may comprise a strap, a center section of which may be attached toward a second end of the support member. The securing means can generally triangularly or T-shaped. The securing means may comprise a harness that may fit between an infant&#39;s legs and around an infant&#39;s waist or torso. 
         [0012]    The cover means may comprise at least one aperture. Alternatively, the cover means may comprise at least two apertures. The strapping means may be adapted to pass through the at least one aperture in the cover means. The strapping means can be adapted to pass through the at least two apertures in the cover means. 
         [0013]    In some embodiments, the securing means is operable to secure at least a portion of an infant to a first face of the cover means. The securing means can be operable to be adjusted at a second face of the cover means. 
         [0014]    The safety device may also further comprise strap retaining means operable to secure the strapping means to the cover means. The strap retaining means can be attached to the second face of the cover means. 
         [0015]    In certain embodiments, toward a first end of the strapping means are attachment means operable to removably attach the first end of the strapping means to the strap retaining means. Toward a first end of the strapping means may be strap attachment means operable to removably attach a second end of the strapping means thereto. In additions toward a second end of the strapping means may be attachment means operable to removably attach the second end of the strapping means to the first end of the strapping means. 
         [0016]    In certain embodiments, the safety device is adapted to be attached to or incorporated within a surface, which surface may be substantially planar. In certain embodiments, the surface is a surface upon which an infant sleeps. Alternatively, the safety device may be sized and used with other than infants, in order to more reliably secure a non-infant in position, such as infirm elderly person. 
         [0017]    The safety device may be attached to or incorporated within a bed sheet or mattress such that an infant (or other body) may be held in position relative to the bed sheet or mattress by the safety device. The safety device can be attached to or incorporated within a bed sheet or mattress so as to form a pocket. The pocket can be adapted to receive an infant therein and may be locate to maintain the infant in a desired position with respect to the bed or other structure, including the bed sheet. 
         [0018]    In some embodiments, the support member is attached to an internal face of the cover means when the safety device is attached to or incorporated within a bed sheet or mattress. By internal face of the cover means it is meant a face of the cover means which directly abuts the mattress or bed sheet. The strapping means may be operable to be secured to an external face of the cover means when the safety device is attached to a mattress or bed sheet (and in this application, the term “sheet” includes blankets as well as conventional bed sheets). 
         [0019]    In certain embodiments, a method of securing an infant (or other body) to a surface comprises the steps of: attaching a safety device comprising cover means and securing means to a surface, placing an infant or other body between the safety device and the surface, adjusting the securing means to fit the infant or other body, and securing the infant or other body to the safety device using the securing means. The method may instead or in addition comprise placing a cover on the infant or other body after first placing the infant or other body in the security means, such as a harness, and securing the harness in place. Other methods are disclosed. 
         [0020]    In certain embodiments, the surface is a mattress or bed sheet. 
         [0021]    All of the above aspects may be combined with any of the features disclosed herein in any combination. 
         [0022]    The foregoing is a brief summary of aspects of the various embodiments disclosed in this specification. There are additional aspects that will become apparent as this specification proceeds. In addition, it is to be understood that embodiments of the invention need not include all such aspects or address all issues in the Background above. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    The preferred and other embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawing in which: 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a front surface of a safety (or securing) device; 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of a rear surface of a safety device; 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of a safety device attached to a mattress cap; 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of a safety device attached to a fitted bed sheet in a predetermined position (for example to secure an infant adjacent the foot of a bed or at least away from the head or head board of a bed); 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  shows a partial cross-sectional view from the top of a safety device attached to a bed sheet, the bed sheet being fitted to a mattress; 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of a rear surface of a second embodiment of a safety device; 
           [0030]      FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of a safety device secured to a fitted mattress with straps penetrating passages in the fitted sheet; 
           [0031]      FIG. 8  shows a bottom view of the fitted sheet with the safety device mounted to the fitted sheet as in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 9  shows a perspective view of an alternative arrangement for securing a safety device to a fitted mattress at the sides of the mattress; 
           [0033]      FIG. 10  is a side view showing a method in which a blanket is slid over the bottom end of a mattress with a cover sheet; 
           [0034]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view showing insertion of a harness on top of the mattress, in the method of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0035]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view showing insertion of an infant between the harness and upper blanket, in the method of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0036]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view showing the opposing securing straps of the harness pulled through mating strap passages in the blanket providing for strap locations on opposing sides of the infant&#39;s torso, in the method of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0037]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view showing a first securing strap secured to a mating hook and pile fastener section on the upper surface of the blanket above the infant&#39;s torso, in the method of  FIG. 10 ; and 
           [0038]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view showing a second securing strap secured to a mating hook and pile fastener section on the upper surface of the first secured strap above the infant&#39;s torso, completing the method of  FIG. 10 . 
       
    
    
       [0039]    In the following Detailed Description section various spatially orienting terms are used such as “upper” and “lower.” It is to be understood that such terms are used for convenience in association with the drawings but are not be themselves limiting or requiring of any absolute orientation in space. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0040]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a safety device  102  comprises cover means in the form of a rectangular sheet  104 , and a harness  106 . The sheet  104  and the harness  106  are formed of a flexible, soft, and breathable material, such as fleece. It should be appreciated that the sheet  104  and the harness  106  may be made from any suitable material. Factors to consider when choosing a suitable material include the softness of the material, possible irritation to the infant&#39;s skin, climate in which the device will be used (i.e., cooling fabrics for warmer climates, etc.) fabrics which will not react to an infant&#39;s bodily excretions such as saliva, vomit and urine, etc. 
         [0041]    The harness  106  comprises a gusset strap  108  as displayed in  FIG. 2  and a securing strap  110  extending perpendicularly away from each side of a first end thereof. The gusset strap  108  of the harness  106  is attached at a second end thereof to a rear face  112  of the sheet  104 . The attachment may be accomplished in a wide variety of ways, such as by stitching or with buttons in mating button holes in the harness, or via other fastening techniques. 
         [0042]    The opposing ends of the securing strap  110  pass from the rear face  112  of the sheet  104  to a front face  114  of the sheet  104  via two laterally spaced elongate apertures  116  in the sheet  104 . Therefore, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the harness  106  forms a T shape, but other shapes may be utilized. 
         [0043]    An alternative embodiment of a harness  206  is shown in  FIG. 6 . In this embodiment, the harness  206  has a seat  208  of a shape that an infant can sit in, for example, in the shape of a seat of a pair of briefs. A bottom edge  210  of the seat  208  is secured to the rear face  112  of the sheet  104 . Attached at opposing sides toward the top of the seat  208  are securing straps (not shown) which extend through the apertures  116  and function in the same manner as will be described below. The front face  114  of the sheet  104  fitted with the preferred harness  206  is as described with reference to  FIG. 1  below. 
         [0044]    The front face  114  of the sheet  104  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) has a securing pad  118  approximately centrally disposed between the two apertures  116 . The securing pad  118  is attached to the sheet  104  by stitching and has female hook and pile fastener on its outer surface, e.g., the pile portion of the hook and pile fastener. 
         [0045]    Toward a first end  120  of the securing strap  110  there is attached a portion of hook and pile fastener on each face thereof (not shown), one portion being male hook and pile fastener, the other portion being female hook and pile fastener. Toward a second end  122  of the securing strap there is attached a portion of male hook and pile fastener (not shown). 
         [0046]    It is preferred that the male hook and pile fastener (i.e., the hook portion) be attached on the surfaces which are least likely to come into contact with an infant, in use. This is because the texture of the male hook and pile fastener is coarse and may irritate an infant, whereas the female hook and pile fastener (the pile) has a softer texture. This is exemplified by providing the female hock and pile fastener on the securing pad  118  which faces upwards, away from the infant, in use. 
         [0047]    The device  102  may be attached to or form part of a mattress or cushion upon which an infant sleeps. 
         [0048]    Alternatively, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the device  102  may be attached to or form part of a fitted bed sheet  126 . In this embodiment, a fitted bed sheet has an upper face  128  and side faces  130  of an appropriate size to fit an infant&#39;s mattress  132 . The device  102  may be attached to the upper face  128  of the fitted bed sheet  126 . 
         [0049]    The attachment or incorporation of the device  202  onto or into a bed sheet, mattress, cushion etc. should incorporate a pocket  124  as shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5  into which an infant may be placed. 
         [0050]    A further alternative (shown in  FIG. 3 ) is to form the sheet  104  into a pocket which may be fitted over one end of a mattress already fitted with a bed sheet. The device  102  would therefore be held in place by the weight of the mattress. 
         [0051]    The sheet.  104  is shown in a preferred rectangular shape, however it should be appreciated that many shapes of sheet could perform the same function in a similar manner. 
         [0052]    In use, an infant (not shown) is placed under the sheet  104  such that the gusset strap  108  of the harness  106  sits between the infant&#39;s legs and the securing strap  110  around the infant&#39;s waist or torso. The ends of the securing strap  110  are then pulled through the apertures  116  so that the infant is pulled toward the rear face  112  of the sheet  104 . The first end  120  of the securing strap  110  is then attached to the securing pad  118  by the hook and pile fastener thereon. The second end  122  of the securing strap  110  is then attached to the first end  120  of the securing strap  110  by the hook and pile fastener between them. 
         [0053]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , yet another embodiment of the safety or securing device has a harness  200  that is mountable to fitted or other sheet  202 , which is in turn mounted to a bed mattress (not shown). In this embodiment, the harness  200  has a generally semi-triangular or T-shape with three securing straps  204 ,  206 ,  208  extending from the central body  210  of the harness  200 . Two collinear but opposing securing straps  206 ,  208  penetrate mating securing strap passages,  212 ,  214  respectively, in the sheet  202 . The mating securing strap passages  212 ,  214  are equidistant from the axial center A of the bed mattress, in order to center a body secured by the harness  200  in the axial center of the bed mattress and equally spaced from the opposing lateral sides  216 ,  218  and top and bottom sides  220 ,  222  of the sheet on the bed mattress. 
         [0054]    A center, axially extending securing strap  204  extends from the central body  210  transverse to the opposing securing straps  206 ,  208  toward the bottom or foot of the bed  222 . The remote end  224  of the axially extending strap  204  is secured to the bed sheet  220  such as by stitching or other fastening means. 
         [0055]    Each of the opposing securing straps, e.g.,  204 , extends from its mating securing strap passage, e.g.,  212 , between the sheet  202  and underlying mattress (not shown) to then protrude outwardly from mating side strap passage, e.g.,  226 , in the associated side  216  of the sheet  202  and underlying bed mattress. The distal, protruding end  228  of the securing strap  204  is then secured to side  216  of the sheet  202  such as by a hook and pile fastener sections matingly mounted between the protruding end  228  and the side  216  of the sheet  202 . Other types of fasteners may also be used. Alternatively, the protruding end  228  may be lengthened and tied to adjacent structure (not shown) such a as a crib gate. 
         [0056]    As shown in a somewhat alternative construction in  FIG. 8 , the axially extending strap  204  may be adjustable and/or removable rather than fixed to the bed sheet  202  as in  FIG. 7  and, for example, extend through a mating strap passage  230  in the bed sheet  202 . The fastening end  232  of the axially extending strap  204  may similarly be secured to the bed sheet  202  by hook and pile or other fasteners (not shown). Alternatively, the axially extending strap  204  may extend through yet an additional passage (not shown), such as in the bottom side  222  of the bed sheet  202  to be secured in the fashion of the opposing securing straps  206 ,  208  as shown in  FIG. 7 . Numerous other harness securing structures and techniques may be utilized. 
         [0057]    For example, in yet another embodiment, the mating side strap passage  226  of  FIG. 7  may be enlarged  240  as shown in  FIG. 8 . Further, the hook and pile fastener portion  242  secured to the bed sheet  202  may be widened to cover a greater lateral area on the side  216  of the bed sheet  202 . This configuration can allow for lateral adjustment of the mounting or fastening position of the associated opposing or sidewardly extending securing strap  244 . In this manner, the securing strap  244  may be mounted in various locations along the side  216  of the bed  202  and avoid interfering structure such as a crib gate or side bed post (not shown). 
         [0058]    The securing harnesses shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9  may thus be relatively easily removed from the associated bed sheet and replaced, washed, or repaired as desired. Further, they can be secured in position, to maintain an associated body in position, in a fashion that can be difficult or impossible for an infant, or perhaps other body, to undo the orientation of the harness when secured to the associated bed street or other structure. 
         [0059]    In the embodiments of  FIGS. 7-9 , the harness is shown unattached to a sheet or blanket. A sheet (meaning herein any other desired cover, such as a blanket as noted above) may be either attached to the harness before or after installation of the harness and in any number of ways. For example, a sheet might be secured in position with respect the harness and associated infant or other body by securing corners of the sheet to a crib gate or other structure. The corners of the sheet may have any number of fastening devices attached to such or other locations. Examples can include straps secured to the sheet location, mating hook and pile fasteners mounted on the straps of mating structures, or button and mating passage fastening structures. 
         [0060]    The sheet can be further secured in position in many other ways. One example is to secure the sheet to the harness above the infant or other body by means of mating hook and pile fastener sections mounted to the harness and the mating section of the sheet. 
         [0061]    Alternatively, the sheet can include included pocket structure with the harness of  FIGS. 7-9  mounted within the pocket to secure an infant or other body within the pocket. The pocket may be created by slip-over sheeting on a mattress, or it may be formed of a section of sheet stitched or otherwise fastened to another sheet. 
         [0062]    With reference now to  FIGS. 10-15 , one method of utilizing a harness and associated sheet with an infant comprises:
       A. sliding a pre-constructed or arranged pocket sheet  300  (such as, as one example, a stretchable fleece blanket in the embodiment of  FIGS. 10-15 ) over the bottom or lower end  302  of a mattress pre-covered with an underlying fitted sheet  304 ;   B. inserting a somewhat triangularly shaped securing harness  306  between the fitted sheet  304  and mating upper section  308  of the pocket sheet  300 ;   C. placing an infant  310  on the upper face  312  of the harness  306  and below the mating upper section  308  of the pocket sheet  300 , with the upper edge  314  of the mating upper section  308  of the pocket sheet  300  extending across the infant&#39;s torso  316  spaced from the infant&#39;s head  318  and, in this particular embodiment, shoulders  320 ;   D. pulling the two opposing securing straps  322 ,  324  of the harness  306  through mating strap passages, e.g.,  326 , in the sheet  300  providing for strap passage locations on opposing sides  328 ,  330  of the infant&#39;s torso  316 ;   E. securing a first securing strap  322  to a mating hook and pile fastener section  332  on the upper surface  334  of the sheet  300  above the infant&#39;s torso; and   F. securing the opposing second securing strap  324  to a mating hook and pile fastener section  336  on the upper surface  338  of the first secured strap  322  above the infant&#39;s torso  316 .       
 
         [0069]    The infant  310  is thereby secured safely in position on the lower end  302  of the bed mattress generally equidistant from the opposing lateral sides  340 ,  342  of the bed mattress. 
         [0070]    It can thus be seen that the applicants have provided body orienting device that may, depending on the embodiment utilized, relatively comfortably orient a body, such as a human body, with respect to other objects, particularly when the body is intended to be at rest. In this regard, the embodiments shown herein have shown particular structures for a harness. As noted above, other harness structures or configurations may be used to secure a body in position. For example, the harness may be enlarged to secure larger bodies, such as older children, infirm adults, or certain animals undergoing care. 
         [0071]    In the embodiments such as those in which the securing element or harness is used in conjunction with a flexible, relatively thin, fleece sheet secured to a fitted or otherwise relatively secured bed sheet, such as in  FIGS. 4 ,  5 , and  10 - 15  for example:
       reduces the risk of being kicked off or over the infant&#39;s head, thereby also reducing the risk of suffocation or breathing of oxygen reduced or depleted air;   reduces the risk that the baby may slip down under the blanket, further reducing the risk of overheating or suffocation;   reduces the need for excessive heating in the baby&#39;s room and further reducing the chance of overheating the baby;   allows comforting airflow around the baby as it kicks to maintain a desired body temperature;   positions the baby at the foot of the bed and away from the sides, thereby reducing danger of suffocation or breathing of oxygen reduced or depleted air;   maintains the baby in the correct sleeping position, comfortably, while reducing the danger sudden infant death syndrome;   maintains swaddling of the baby in the a soft harness, promoting increased sleep duration.       
 
         [0079]    All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. 
         [0080]    Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features. 
         [0081]    For example, the harness may be configured to consist of a central body with three corners, and each corner may have extending sections that may wrap around a separate mounting strap and secure to the strap or to themselves by mating hook and pile fastening sections or other fastener devices. In turn, the harness may be mounted to one or more separate, removable, and adjustable mounting straps secured around or to a mounting structure, such as a bed. For example, two corners of the harness might be mounted to one strap extending across a bed, and another corner mounted to another strap extending across the bed. 
         [0082]    It is to be understood that the foregoing is a detailed description of preferred and alternative embodiments. It would be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more modifications than mentioned above are possible without departing from the invention or while implementing it. The disclosure, therefore, is not to be restricted by the foregoing detailed descriptions, and the scope of the invention is to be determined by reference to the claims as issued.