Abstract:
A baby holder including a cushioned support having pairs of curved channel or indent undersides at substantially right angles to one another to allow resting of the support on the upper legs of a seated parent with the baby facing the parent&#39;s chest or sideways, and with its head supported by the cushion and its legs extended along the cushion.

Description:
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0001]    Research and development of this invention and Application have not been federally sponsored, and no rights are given under any Federal program. 
     
    
     CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0002]    NONE 
       REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
       [0003]    NOT APPLICABLE 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0005]    This invention relates to the care of newborns, in general, and to an advanced form of baby swaddle care, in particular. 
         [0006]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0007]    As is well known and understood, “swaddling” is used to describe the art of snugly wrapping one&#39;s baby in a blanket for warmth and security. It can keep them from being disturbed by their own startle reflex, and it may even help them stay warm and toasty for the first few days of life until their internal thermostat kicks in. Most importantly, it can help to calm the baby to begin with. 
         [0008]    Acknowledging that “swaddling” helps fussy babies sleep, assists in preventing facial scratches, makes breast feeding easier and enhances comfort for the newborn, the “swaddling” procedure generally includes the following: 
         [0009]    a. Laying a blanket on a flat surface and folding down the top-right corner about 6 inches; 
         [0010]    b. Placing the baby on its back with its head on the fold; 
         [0011]    c. Pulling the corner near the baby&#39;s left hand across its body, tucking the leading edge under its back on the right side under the arm; 
         [0012]    d. Pulling the bottom corner up under the baby&#39;s chin; and 
         [0013]    e. Bringing the loose corner over the baby&#39;s right arm, tucking it under the back on its left side. 
         [0000]    Because the first few weeks in the wide-open world can be unsettling for the newborn (who&#39;s recently emerged from the closeness of the womb), swaddling the baby in a blanket can help it feel secure as it adjusts to its new environment. 
         [0014]    However, it is widely accepted that “swaddling” is only effective for the first few weeks after birth. Specifically, typically after one month, “swaddling” (which inhibits movement) can restrict the baby&#39;s motor development. Holding a baby then in a sling-type carrier is another way to help the newborn feel safe and secure. Such “over-the-shoulder” baby holders provide contact pressure, motion, pleasure, warmth, security and sound similar to the womb that the newborn&#39;s nervous system requires. Because a baby is born in a state of physiological flexion—literally curled in a ball and not at all comfortable if straightened out—, those sling carriers available in the art tend to hold the baby in this flexed position, and stimulates the baby&#39;s ability to pull out of this little ball into extension. As the muscle tone in the neck and back is greatly enhanced in babies who are worn this way, the very act of carrying the infant helps the baby to pull out of the flexion position it is held comfortably in. 
         [0015]    While “swaddling” the baby, and carrying it in a sling are effective, they lack the most critical ingredient of all—that of letting the baby know that it is in the hands of a person who nourishes it both physically and emotionally. That is, the baby who cannot feel, or see or hear its caregiver has been determined to possess more stress hormones circulating through its central nervous system, causing the baby to cry. Such stress has been found to irritate the immature digestive system causing the baby to spit-up, and increases diaper rash. Touching the baby has been noted to produce a positive effect on its digestive system. 
         [0016]    But, almost equally as important is the fact that the “swaddling” and sling-carrying restrict the ability of the parent to interact with the new baby to begin with. The baby holder of the present invention will be seen to satisfy that need of the newborn, and from the time it weighs 7-8 pounds until the baby reaches some 25 pounds or more. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    As will become clear from the following description, the holder of the invention provides a cushion support for resting and holding the baby on its back. Pairs of straps and alligator-type clips and clasps secure the baby in position, and additional securements allow the holder to be secured about the legs and thighs of the parent when sitting. As will be described below, curved channels or indents on the underside are included to provide for comfortable and secure resting of the holder on the upper legs of the seated parent in this manner, extending from the knee joint towards the waist. Handles are provided for ease of positioning and for carrying the holder, with the cushioning support being angled so as to orient the baby vertically, with the head on an upper portion of the holder and with the legs extended along a lower portion. When not in use, the holder of the invention can be easily mounted for storage in a hanging position. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    These and other features of the present invention will be more clearly understood from a consideration of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying Drawings, in which: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is a pictorial view of the baby holder of the invention as it would appear ready to receive the baby; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a break-away view of the baby holder of  FIG. 1 , showing its cushioning, an overlying cover, and curved cutouts for resting on the legs of a seated user; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a pictorial view of a further breakaway view of the baby holder helpful in an understanding of its construction; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a left-side view of the baby holder of FIG.  1 , a right-side view being a mirror image; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a rear view of the baby holder; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the baby holder of the invention; 
           [0025]      FIGS. 7 and 8  are helpful in an understanding of a manner of using the baby holder invention; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is a sectional side view showing the cushioning afforded to the invention and a pair of its curved leg support channels or cutouts. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0027]    The baby holder of the invention is shown at  10  in the Drawings as including a cushioned support  12  of any appropriate material and an overlying cover  14 , preferably of cloth. A pair of handles  16  are joined to the support  12  by means of a fastening arrangement, shown as including screws  18  and receiving holes for them,  20 . The cover  14  includes a pair of slots  22  on opposite sides to receive the handles  16  in allowing the handles to protrude through to be grasped. Slotted apertures  23  are provided on the cover  14  to allow a pair of straps  24  to extend through from the top surface of the cushioned support  12 . 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the straps  24  are arranged to be lengthened or shortened, and terminate in a pair of flexible alligator-type clips  26 . Further slotted apertures  28 ,  30  are provided in the cover  14  to permit an adjustably lengthable strap  32  to extend upwardly through the cover  14  from the cushioned support  12 . Such strap  32  terminates in a clasp  34  to receive the alligator-type clips  26  of the straps  24 . The cover  14  additionally includes a cut-out  46  overlaying a similarly shaped cut-out  38  in the support  12 , both being configured to receive the baby or infant to be placed thereupon, with its head adjacent the edge of the holder shown at  100 , and with its legs extending towards the edge  102 . As will be appreciated, joining the components provides the overall appearance of the baby holder of  FIG. 1 , as so far described. 
         [0029]    The baby holder of  FIGS. 1-3  illustrate three additional features of the invention. First, a pair of additional straps  40 ,  42  extend from the sides of the cushion support  12  and through further slots  44  in the cover  14 , with one strap terminating in an alligator-type clip  48 , with the other strap terminating in a clasp  50 , and with either or both straps being of adjustable length. Such straps  40  and  42 , and the alligator clip-clasp combination  48  and  50  serve in securing the cushion support about the waist of a seated parent, as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . Moreover, the strap  40  is illustrated as being of much greater linear dimension (at  75 ) to comfortably fit about the hip and back area in providing a comfortable wearing position. Tightening or loosening the straps  40 ,  42  allows for a wearing adjustment in meeting the parent&#39;s needs for comfort. 
         [0030]    In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, furthermore, both the cushion support  12  and the cover  14  are provided with pairs of curved channels or indents  60 ,  62 , substantially oriented at right angles to one another for resting the support  12  and the baby holder  10  on the parent&#39;s legs, adjacent the knee joint and extending back towards the torso or waist area. Specifically, the curved channels  60  of  FIGS. 1 and 7  will be appreciated in allowing the holder  10  to rest on the parent&#39;s upper legs in the front, to allow the supported baby to face the parent. The curved channels  62 , on the other hand, allow the holder  10  to be rotated horizontally 90° either way, to allow the supported baby to face sideways ( FIGS. 1 and 8 ). In the arrangements of  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the curved channels  60 ,  62  rest on the upper leg of the parent. 
         [0031]    As will be appreciated, in use, the baby is placed on its back in the cut-outs  36  and  38 , and the clips  26  are secured with the clasp  34  to hold the baby in place. Grasping the handles  16  allows for placement of the holder  10  and the baby on the seated parent&#39;s upper legs in the configuration of either  FIG. 7  or  8 . The clip  48  and the clasp  50  are then secured for tying as a belt about the parent&#39;s waist, orienting the segment  75  for comfort. This then allows for holding the baby in front ( FIG. 7 ) or sideways ( FIG. 8 ), and playing with it while the parent is sitting, relaxing on a chair, sitting in bed watching television, sitting at a personal computer, or when sitting on a couch. Both the baby and belt are secured so that neither the holder nor the baby would sway from side-to-side or fall over. 
         [0032]    When it is time to return the baby to its cradle or bed, the various clips, clasps and straps are simply released, and the baby is then able to be lifted out of the holder. Aperture  64  provided in the cushioned support  12  ( FIGS. 2 and 9 ) permits hanging the holder  10  from a screw or nail extending through the corresponding aperture  66  in the cover  14  ( FIG. 2 ). 
         [0033]    While there have been described what are considered to be preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the teachings herein. For at least such reason, therefore, resort should be had to the claims appended hereto for a true understanding of the scope of the invention.