Abstract:
An infant swaddle blanket that includes a torso wrap section with wings and a leg pouch for the infant&#39;s legs. The torso wrap section is designed to wrap around the infant&#39;s torso for swaddling. The swaddle includes various hook and loop fasteners which facilitates swaddling and makes the swaddle easier to use, as well as making the swaddle safer to use by providing a more secure, adjustable fit. External hold-down straps augment hook and loop closures on the wings. The leg pouch permits the infant&#39;s diaper to be changed without unwrapping the torso wrap section, thereby facilitating diaper changes.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of International Application Serial No. PCT/US2009/066368, filed on Dec. 2, 2009 and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/119,930, filed on Dec. 4, 2008, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     This disclosure describes a blanket swaddle for use in swaddling an infant. 
     BACKGROUND 
     There are many benefits to swaddling an infant, particularly with the advent of the supine sleep position which is encouraged as a means to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Swaddling, which is wrapping or binding around an infant, has traditionally been practiced using a blanket or strips of cloth which are tightly wrapped around the infant. Most infants who sleep in the supine position startle more easily (referred to as Moro reflex) and sleep for shorter durations of time. Swaddling an infant has been shown to increase sleep duration with fewer awakenings. 
     There are, however, risks to swaddling. If swaddled improperly, an infant can easily work out of the swaddle, creating a loose blanket which has been shown to increase the risk of SIDS or strangulation. If they do not completely free themselves, the swaddle may migrate over their face, creating an equally dangerous situation. Even the best-swaddled infants will eventually free themselves as they get older. Further, if bound too tight, a swaddle can inhibit chest wall movement, compromising an infant&#39;s ability to breathe normally. In addition, if the swaddle binds the infant&#39;s legs preventing them from flexing and abducting normally, this may lead to the development of hip dysplasia. 
     SUMMARY 
     An improved one-piece blanket swaddle is described that makes swaddling an infant easier, safer and more convenient for a caregiver. 
     The swaddle includes a leg pouch at the base thereof for receiving the infant&#39;s legs. The swaddle also includes a torso wrap section with wings for wrapping around the infant&#39;s torso. 
     The swaddle is made from a low-stretch material, for example cotton or fleece, suitable for use in blankets. The swaddle includes hook and loop fasteners which facilitates swaddling and makes the swaddle easier to use. 
     In addition, the swaddle is safer to use by providing two levels of hook and loop fasteners for a more secure, adjustable fit. External hold-down straps augment hook and loop closures on the wings. A common problem with conventional swaddles that use hook and loop fasteners is that babies can break out of them too easily, which increases the risk of entanglement or suffocation of the baby by the loose swaddle. Thus, many conventional swaddles are less secure, and when broken out of, even dangerous. 
     The leg pouch at the base of the swaddle is fastenable to the outside surface of the top layer on the swaddle wings. With the disclosed swaddle, the infant&#39;s diaper can be changed without unwrapping the swaddle, thereby facilitating diaper changes. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the one-piece blanket swaddle. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the swaddle. 
         FIG. 3  is a rear view of the swaddle. 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the swaddle in a first exemplary step of using the swaddle. 
         FIG. 5  shows a second exemplary step of using the swaddle. 
         FIG. 6  shows a third exemplary step of using the swaddle. 
         FIG. 7  shows an infant wrapped in the swaddle. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a diaper change without unwrapping the swaddle. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , a one-piece blanket swaddle  10  is illustrated. The swaddle  10  generally includes a torso wrap section  12  and a leg pouch  14 . The torso wrap section  12  and the leg pouch  14  are integrally formed as a one-piece construction so that the swaddle  10  can be characterized as one-piece, even though the swaddle  10  has different sections. The torso wrap section  12  is formed without arm holes therein because the infant&#39;s arms are intended to be wrapped in the swaddle. 
     The swaddle  10  is made from any material suitable for use in swaddling an infant while providing warmth to the infant. Examples of suitable materials include cotton and fleece. The material used is preferably low-stretch material. A knit or woven cotton or polyester fleece are examples of suitable low-stretch materials. The swaddle  10  may be made from one layer of fabric. 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , the torso wrap section  12  is generally in the shape of an elongated oval having a longitudinal axis La with a maximum length dimension B and a maximum height dimension A. The dimension B is selected to fully wrap an infant that fits the size, while the dimension A is selected to the length of a typical baby for that size. For example, for a newborn infant, the dimensions of B and A can be about 26 inches and about 12 inches, respectively. Preferably, the maximum height A is chosen such that the section  12  will primarily cover the torso and arms of the infant, leaving the infant&#39;s legs free to flex within the leg pouch  14 . The dimension B is chosen such that the section  12  is long enough to fully and securely wrap the infant. 
     The torso wrap section  12  includes a perimeter edge  16  that extends from one juncture  17  with the leg pouch  14  to a second juncture  18  with the leg pouch  14 . Included in the perimeter edge  16  is a top edge  19  that forms the uppermost edge of the swaddle  10 . The leg pouch  14  has an outer perimeter  16 ′ extending from the juncture  17  to the juncture  18 . 
     The section  12  has rounded wings  20 ,  22  and a central portion  24  between the wings  20 ,  22  with the maximum height A. The perimeter edge  16  of the wings  20 ,  22  extends beyond the perimeter  16 ′ of the leg pouch  14 . The section  12  also includes an inner surface  26  (i.e. the surface that in use faces the infant) and an outer surface  28  (i.e. the surface that in use faces away from the infant). As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , one of the wings  20  or  22  is larger than the other wing. In the illustrated embodiment, the wing  22  is larger than the wing  20 . 
     The swaddle comprises a means for attaching the first wing  20  to the second wing  22  to secure the wings around the infant&#39;s torso. For example the means for attaching may include snaps, magnets, buttons, and hook and loop materials. Each wing may have one or more fastening means. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the wing  20  includes a pair of hook patches  30  disposed on the inner surface  26  near the perimeter edge  16  of the wing  20 . The hook patches  30  are spaced apart from each other to help maximize securement of the swaddle. The first wing  20  is not limited to a pair of hook patches and may have any number of hook patches so long as the wing  20  is capable of securing the infant inside the torso wrap section. 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , the wing  20  also includes a large loop patch  32  disposed on the outer surface  28  near the perimeter edge  16 . The patch  32  extends generally from the top edge  19  downwards to near the juncture  18  and extends inwardly from the perimeter edge  16  toward the central portion  24 . The large surface area of the patch  32  maximizes the chances of a corresponding hook patch engaging the patch  32  to ensure securement, and accounts for misalignment during swaddling. 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 3 , the wing  22  includes a large loop patch  34  disposed on the outer surface  28  near the perimeter edge  16 . In the illustrated embodiment, the patch  34  is spaced from the edge  16 , but the patch  34  could extend all the way to the edge if desired. The patch  34  extends generally from near the top edge  19  downwards to near the juncture  17  and extends inwardly from near the perimeter edge  16  toward the central portion  24 . The large surface area of the patch  34  maximizes the chances of a corresponding hook patch engaging the patch  34  to ensure securement, and accounts for misalignment during swaddling. 
     An additional means of securing the wings  20  and  22  together may be added to the torso wrap section. For example, a pair of hold down straps  36  are disposed on the outer surface  28 . The straps  36  augment the securement provided by the hook and loop patches  30  and  34 . Each strap  36  may be rectangular in shape with one end  38  secured generally at the central portion  24 . In the illustrated embodiment, the ends  38  are secured at the inward edge of the patch  34 . Each strap  36  also includes a second end  40 , with the strap between the ends  38 ,  40  not being secured to the swaddle  10 . The straps  36  include inward facing surfaces (i.e. surfaces that in use as shown in  FIG. 5  face toward the infant) that are provided over the majority of their lengths with hook fastener patches  42 . The straps  36  are spaced apart from each other to help maximize securement of the swaddle, and are intended to be secured to the patch  32 . 
     Returning to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the leg pouch  14  extends from the base of the torso wrap section  12 . The pouch  14  comprises a front panel  50  positioned on the front side of the swaddle  10 , and rear panel  52  (see  FIG. 3 ) positioned on the rear side of the swaddle. The panels  50 ,  52  are secured to each other along side edges  54  and a bottom edge  56  of the leg pouch  14  to create a pouch for receiving the infant&#39;s legs. The room provided in the pouch is sufficient to allow the infant&#39;s legs to flex and abduct normally. 
     The front panel  50  may also include a front flap  58  integrally formed therewith. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the flap  58  is sized so that it can overhang the outer surface of the front panel  50 , with the flap  58  tapering in width so that side edges  60  of the flap converge toward a terminal edge  62 . The outer surface (when viewing  FIG. 2 ) of the flap  58  includes a means for releasable engagement with the torso wrap section  12 . For example, the flap may include a means such as hook patch  64  near the terminal edge  62  that extends between the side edges  60 . The hook patch  64  is capable of attaching to the loop patch  34  and  32  on the torso wrap section  12 . 
     Operation of the swaddle  10  will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 4-7 . First,  FIG. 7  illustrates an infant  70  wrapped in the swaddle  10 , with the swaddle fully secured. To begin swaddling, the swaddle can be laid out as illustrated in  FIG. 2  on a flat surface. The infant  70  is then laid on the swaddle with the infant&#39;s legs either within or outside of the pouch  14 . The wing  22  is then folded over the infant as depicted in  FIG. 4 , which makes the loop patch  34  now face upward. Next, the wing  20  is then folded over the top of the wing  22  as depicted in  FIG. 5 , with the hook patches  30  being fastened to the loop patch  34 . The loop patch  32  on the wing  20  is now exposed and faces upward. The straps  36  are then secured in place by connecting the hook patches  42  to the loop patch  32  on the wing  20 . The infant&#39;s legs are then placed in the pouch  14  if not already in the pouch, and the flap  58  is folded upwardly so that the hook patch  64  thereof engages with the loop patches  32  and  34  to close off the pouch as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     As evident from  FIG. 7 , the infant&#39;s body below the head is encased in the swaddle  10 , so that the swaddle functions as a blanket keeping the infant warm. The swaddle is designed to allow the infant&#39;s diaper to be changed without unwrapping the torso wrap section  12  of the swaddle, thereby facilitating diaper changes. This can be seen in  FIG. 8  which shows the flap  58  disengaged from the torso wrap section  12  and folded back down over the front panel  50  of the pouch  14 . This provides access to the infant&#39;s lower region and legs, and the legs are removed from inside the pouch  14 . The diaper can then be changed while the swaddle effect of the torso wrap region  12  is maintained. Once the diaper change is complete, the infant&#39;s legs can be placed back inside the pouch, and the flap  58  folded upwardly to engage with the torso wrap section  12 . 
     The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the composition of the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.