Abstract:
The breathable bedding described here serves to protect an infant from suffocating due to close contact with bedding. The breathable bedding includes one or more breathable bedding elements, which are made of a material that allows air to pass through it freely, is flexible, yet has sufficient stiffness to hold a three-dimensional shape. The three-dimensional shape ensures a cushioning effect. The breathable bedding elements are covered with a breathable fabric, such as a light woven or open-weave fabric, to form a breathable bedding panel that may serve as a crib bumper or mattress.

Description:
BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to bedding for a baby crib. More particularly, the invention relates to mattress, crib bumpers, and support and carry devices for infants. 
         [0003]    2. Discussion of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    Newborns and very young infants have limited mobility and because of that, can maneuver themselves into hazardous situations, yet not be able to move away from the hazard. Suffocation, particularly, is a serious hazard for infants. The infant&#39;s face may become pressed or lodged against a mattress or crib bumper and either suffocate because he or she can&#39;t breathe or because of re-breathing CO2 that is trapped between the infant&#39;s face and the mattress or bumper. Mattresses for infants are typically made of a thick polyvinyl or polyurethane foam material that provides a cushioned surface for the infant to sleep on. The foam material does not allow sufficient air to pass through it, that would prevent the infant from suffocating. 
         [0005]    Crib bumpers have become a standard bedding accessory for baby cribs, primarily for safety reasons. The walls or side rails of the conventional baby crib are typically formed by vertical slats with open spaces between them. Infants can injure themselves by getting an arm or a leg caught between the slats. One common way of avoiding such injuries is to fit the crib walls with crib bumpers. One type of conventional crib bumper is a cushion that extends the length of a crib wall and is fastened to the crib slats with ties. The cushion is filled with a foam material or polyester fill, so the bumper is soft and also machine washable. As with the mattress, the padding in the bumper that is necessary to provide the desired cushioning effect also blocks a flow of air through it and, as a result, the infant is at risk of suffocation, should her face become lodged against the bumper. A further disadvantage of the conventional crib bumper is that, because it is a pad, it inherently provides a certain resistance to compression. As a result, an infant may stand on the bumper, in order to raise herself up so that she is able to clamber over the top of the crib wall. 
         [0006]    Another type of conventional crib bumper is made of a mesh material that allows ventilation through it, thereby reducing the risk of suffocation, should an infant&#39;s face become lodged against it. Typically, the mesh material is thin, so, although it does prevent the infant from extending an arm or a leg between slats, it does not provide the desired cushioning effect, should the infant roll or fall against the crib wall. 
         [0007]    Yet another type of crib bumper is a pad that is wrapped about the individual wall slats. This type of bumper reduces the risk of suffocation mentioned above, but it doesn&#39;t prevent the infant from pushing an arm or a leg through the space. Furthermore, this type of bumper is much more time consuming to install, in that each vertical slat has to be wrapped. It also requires significantly more material and more labor to manufacture and, thus, is costly, relative to the bumpers that extend along an entire crib wall and are fastened with ties in a couple of locations to the crib wall. 
         [0008]    What is needed, therefore, is bedding for a baby crib that eliminates the risk of suffocation and yet provides the desired cushioning effect. What is further needed is a crib bumper that cannot serve as a means of elevation, should an infant try to clamber over the crib wall. What is yet further needed is such bedding that can be laundered and is also economical to manufacture. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The invention is bedding that provides breathability and serves as a mattress, a cushion against the vertical slats of a crib wall, or other type of infant support, bedding, or enclosure. The word “bedding” as used herein, is understood to encompass any device that is used as a sleep or recreational support, enclosure, or carrier for infants. Examples of such bedding includes, but without limitation, a mattress, crib bumper, crib, basinette, playpen, carrier, etc. The bedding according to the invention significantly reduces the risk of suffocation and has an additional advantage, in that it provides a cushioning effect against a force applied in one direction, yet collapses when force is applied in another direction. This structural feature makes the bedding useful as material for a mattress or mattress pad to provide a cushioned support for an infant, as well as for a crib bumper. Should an infant stand on a crib bumper according to the invention in order to lift herself to position that will enable her to climb over the crib wall, the bumper will collapse. 
         [0010]    The common element for the breathable bedding according to the invention is a cushion or bumper element, that is used to construct a breathable bedding panel that can then be used as a mattress, a mattress pad, crib bumper, etc. For ease of description, and regardless of the intended use of the bedding according to the invention, whether it be as a mattress, a crib bumper, or other type of cushioning or supporting device, the element shall be generally referred to hereinafter as a “breathable bedding element,” and a configuration of two or more breathable bedding elements assembled to form a panel, as a “breathable bedding panel.” 
         [0011]    The breathable bedding element is constructed of a mesh material that is flexible, yet has some stiffness to it. The mesh material is used to form a flat, i.e., essentially two-dimensional, back wall and a front wall that is affixed to the upper and lower edges of this back wall such that the front wall bulges away from the back wall. Looking directly at an end of the element, the shape looks similar to the letter “D”. The mesh material ensures good ventilation. The three-dimensional structure of the breathable bedding element provides a desired cushioning effect, such that it is very suitable for various types of bedding, yet provides a desired degree of compressibility when the element is installed as a crib bumper. The bulge of the front wall resists a horizontal compression force that is applied perpendicular to the plane of the back wall, providing the cushioning, yet pre-biases the element to fold or collapse when a vertical compression force is applied in a direction approximately parallel to the vertical back wall. 
         [0012]    The breathable bedding panel may have a cover or enclosure that encases the one or more breathable bedding elements that form a panel, or may not, depending on the intended use. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The present invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. The drawings are not drawn to scale. 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a breathable bedding element according to the invention, showing the shape of the element. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the breathable bedding element of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a front plane view of the crib bumper according to the invention, showing a panel with four breathable bedding elements. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of the crib bumper of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a side view of a second embodiment of the crib bumper according to the invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a crib with the crib bumper according to the invention fastened to two crib walls. 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  illustrates a mattress with mattress pad constructed of the breathable bedding elements. 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  illustrates a nesting pillow constructed of the breathable bedding elements. 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  illustrates a sleep wedge for positioning a baby for sleep. 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  illustrates portable crib, constructed of the breathable bedding elements. 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  shows the results of the carbon dioxide rebreathing tests performed on various products. 
           [0025]      FIG. 12  shows the results of the suffocation hazard tests. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0026]    The present invention will now be described more fully in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention should not, however, be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, they are provided so that this disclosure will be complete and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. 
         [0027]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a breathable bedding element  10  according to the invention. One or more breathable bedding elements  10  may be used to construct a breathable bedding panel  100  according to the invention. 
         [0028]    The breathable bedding element  10  has a back wall  12  and a front wall  14 . The walls  12  and  14  are affixed to each other at an upper end  10 A and a lower end  10 B. In the embodiment shown, a fabric tape  16  is stitched or adhesively applied along the upper  10 A and lower  10 B edges, enclosing the edges of both walls within the tape. Depending on the material used or on the intended use, it may not be necessary to enclose the edges in tape or fabric. Rather, it may be suitable to simply fuse the edges together, glue, or stitch them together. The height dimension for the front wall  14  is greater than that of the back wall  12 , such that when the respective upper  10 A and lower  10 B edges of the two walls are joined, the breathable bedding element  10  takes on a three-dimensional structure that is similar to a “D”, as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0029]    For purposes of description, the breathable bedding panel and the breathable bedding element will be described in terms relative to their position when the breathable bedding panel is used to support or cushion an infant. Thus, “front” wall or surface is the curved portion of the D-shaped element; “rear” wall or surface is the straight side of the D-shaped element; “side” refers to the ends of the panel or element. “Thickness” refers to the depth dimension of the breathable bedding element measured at the greatest distance of the front wall from the rear wall. Because the thickness of a fabric is generally very small relative to its width and length dimensions, fabric is often referred to as a flat or two-dimensional structure. For reasons of simplicity and clarity, the term “three-dimensional shape” (or “structure”) used hereinafter shall refer to a structure formed of two layers of fabric, whereby the overall height or depth of the structure is substantially greater than the thickness of the two layers of fabric. 
         [0030]    The material used for the breathable bedding element according to the invention is a plastic mesh fabric or perforated plastic sheet, such as is frequently used in making latch hook rugs. One such commercially available material is a plastic canvas that is manufactured by Darice, Inc. of Strongsville, Ohio. This material has sufficient stiffness for the breathable bedding element to maintain its three-dimensional shape, so that the breathable bedding element provides resistance to compression in a direction perpendicular to the back wall, which provides the cushioning effect. At the same time, the structure provides little resistance to compression when a force is applied in the vertical direction, i.e., in a direction approximately parallel to the back wall, and reverts to its original shape when the force is removed. As a result, the breathable bedding element according to the invention collapses easily if an infant stands on it. Other suitable materials may also be used, as long as the material is a mesh or open-weave material that will allow air to pass through it easily and also has sufficient stiffness to maintain a three-dimensional shape and dual functions described above. 
         [0031]      FIGS. 3A-5  show the breathable bedding panel  100  according to the invention, comprising a plurality of breathable bedding elements  10  arranged in adjacent rows, a cover  20  with attachment means  22  and closure means  24 . The cover  20  has a one or more pockets  26 . The embodiment shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B  is that of a crib bumper, but it is understood, that this construction of the breathable bedding panel  100  is also suitable for a mattress, a mattress pad, or a play mat, with or without fastening means. The cover  20  is constructed to have four individual pockets  26 , into each of which a breathable bedding element  10  is inserted. It is within the scope of the invention, however, to have a cover  20  that provides a single large pocket  26 , whereby the various breathable bedding elements  10  are stitched together to form a single unit that is slid into the cover, as shown in  FIG. 5 . The breathable bedding element  10  is not limited to a specific number of breathable bedding elements  10 , nor to specific dimensions. Thus, the breathable bedding panel  100  may be provided in different sizes, i.e., in various widths and thicknesses, and with one, two, three, four, five, or more breathable bedding elements  10 . It is also within the scope of the invention to provide a breathable bedding panel  100  that is without the cover  20 . This may be desirable for a mattress pad cover, for example, which would then be covered by a conventional sheet made of a breathable fabric, such as a thin cotton sheet. In this case, the breathable bedding elements are fastened together to obtain the mat. 
         [0032]    The breathable bedding element  10  and breathable bedding panel  100  allow an infant to breathe through it, thereby reducing the risk of an infant whose face has become pressed or lodged against the panel from suffocating. For this reason, it is suggested that the cover  20  be made of a material that does not impede breathability and preferably, of a fabric that can be laundered. Light woven or open-weave fabrics, such as, for example, cotton, silk, polyester, and nylon, mesh fabrics, and some knitted fabrics are suitable fabrics. It is conceivable, however, that the breathable bedding panel  100  be used in situations in which breathability is not an issue, but in which the dual function of cushioning and collapsing is desirable. In this case, the material for the cover  20  may be any fabric suitable for the intended purpose. 
         [0033]    The breathable bedding panel  100  shown in  FIG. 5  has a closure  24  along one edge. The closure  24  is shown along the lower edge of the panel  100 , but it can just as well be provided along the top or along the rear wall of the cover, whichever is most convenient for the particular use. For the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , in which individual pockets  26  are provided for the elements  10 , the closure  24  is provided along the back wall  12 , extending from an upper edge to a lower edge of the bumper  100 , and preferably close to one of the side edges of the bumper, so as to allow a breathable bedding element  10  to be inserted into each pocket  26 . In either case, the closure may be a zipper, a flap of fabric that tucks into the cover, a hook-and-loop fabric fastener stitched to the open edges of the cover, snaps, buttons and buttonholes, etc. 
         [0034]    Depending on the use of the breathable bedding panel  100 , attachment means  22  may be provided. If used as a crib bumper, for example, ties may be stitched to the cover  20  at several locations. Other suitable attachment means  22  may also be used, such as hooks, elastic straps with hooks or buckles, hook-and-loop fabric strips, fabric tabs that wrap around a corner post of the crib, a vertical slat on the crib wall, or around the upper bar of the crib wall and that are secured with buttons and button holes, snaps, buckles, etc. If the breathable bedding panel  100  is used as a mattress pad, elastic bands may be attached diagonally across two or more of the four corners, for securing it to the mattress or it may have no attachment means at all. 
         [0035]      FIG. 6  shows two breathable bedding panels  100  fastened to two walls of a crib, to serve as a breathable crib bumper. It is understood, that the breathable bedding panel may be attached to all of the walls. The breathable bedding panel  100  may also be used on a playpen or other enclosure for which a bumper with a cushioning effect is desired. 
         [0036]      FIG. 7  is a schematic cross-sectional view of a conventional mattress M, with a breathable bedding panel  100  placed over the mattress.  FIG. 8  illustrates a “nest” or sleep support cushion  200  that is constructed of a plurality of breathable bedding panels  100 . In this embodiment a plurality of breathable bedding elements are inserted into a sleep support cover  210  along a back section and two side sections to form a three-walled enclosure. The bottom of the nest  200  may be open or may be closed, or may also be fitted the breathable bedding panels  100 .  FIG. 9  illustrates a sleep wedge  300  which may be used to position the infant in a safe and comfortable position for sleeping. The wedge has a flat or angled support surface  310  with a breathable bedding element inserted into a pocket that is placed along each side of the support surface. The pockets are spaced apart to accommodate the size of the infant and to prevent the infant from rolling over. The support surface may be a cotton or other woven, absorbent fabric, or may also include the breathable bedding panel  100  according to the invention. The sleep wedge  300  may be provided in various sizes to accommodate infants of various ages. 
         [0037]      FIG. 10  illustrates a crib  400  having a rigid frame F and crib walls  410  and a mattress  420  constructed of the breathable bedding panel  100 . The crib  400  may be designed to be portable, with the walls  410  readily detachable from the frame  420  and the frame being collapsible. It is well known to construct a collapsible frame and the attach detachable walls or panels to a frame. Thus, it is not necessary to describe these features with any detail. 
         [0038]    It is understood that the inventive devices are the breathable bedding element  10  and a panel  100  constructed of two or more breathable bedding panels  10 . These elements may used individually or in combination with a plurality of elements or in combination with other materials and structures to form myriad devices, with at least a breathable surface. The breathable bedding panel according to the invention may also be provided as a retrofit kit, to fit out an already existing infant carrier or support, car seat or other type of support or bedding. The scope of the invention is not limited to a particular type of device or shape of device. 
         [0039]    The breathable bedding panel  100  was evaluated by a recognized laboratory test facility, Intertek, Risk Assessment and Management, of Oak Brook, Ill., with regard to potential risks of a baby re-breathing carbon dioxide or suffocating and the results presented in Intertek Technical Report No. WOUS07491, “Carbon Dioxide Rebreathing and Suffocation Hazard Assessments for the Bitzy Bumper,” Jul. 19, 2011, the contents of which are included herein in its entirety. The risk of carbon-dioxide-rebreathing, i.e., breathing in exhaled air, was assessed, using a breathable bedding panel  100  having three breathable bedding elements  10  arranged similarly to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3B  and covered with a cotton cover that included individual pockets for the breathable bedding elements, as shown in  FIG. 4 . This breathable bedding panel is referred to in the Intertek report as the “Bitzy Bumper.” 
         [0040]    The potential of the breathable bedding panel of the present application to retain carbon dioxide (CO2) that can then be breathed in by a baby was compared to the potential risks of products with known hazard levels. Sheepskin and cushions filled with polystyrene beans or pellets (beanbag) represent products that are associated with a high hazard for re-breathing CO2, whereas a firm mattress covered with a cotton sheet represents a low hazard. The presence of CO2 was evaluated within the product itself, in an area that would be in close proximity to the oral and nasal passages of an infant. A mannequin representing an approximately one-month old infant was used as the interface to evaluate the breathable bedding panel and was positioned so that the nose and mouth were placed directly against the breathable bedding panel, the firm mattress, the sheepskin, and the beanbag, respectively. Equipment was used to simulate the typical breathing pattern of an infant. A microprocessor collected sensor data and calculated various real-time parameters that included instantaneous CO2 concentration, respiration rate, end-tidal CO2, inspired CO2, and inspiration and expiration times. 
         [0041]      FIG. 11  and Table 1 show the carbon dioxide rebreathing test results that were obtained for four different product samples: a beanbag A, a sheepskin B, a firm mattress C, and the breathable bedding panel D according to the invention. The area under each curve represents the amount of CO2 that was retained by the particular sample. As can be seen, the curve for the breathable bedding panel D is significantly lower than the next lowest product, the firm mattress C. Compared to the firm mattress C, the beanbag presents a hazard that is 4.95 times greater than that of the mattress, and the breathable bedding panel D a hazard 0.095 times smaller than that of the mattress. In other words, the carbon dioxide rebreathing test results show that the breathable bedding panel has a risk value of less than 1/10 the risk of the firm mattress with the cotton sheet. The breathable bedding panel according to the invention, when covered in a cotton breathable material, presents an extremely low carbon dioxide rebreathing hazard. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Carbon Dioxide Rebreathing Results 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                   
                 Area under Curve 
               
               
                 Sample Description 
                 Scenario Description 
                 (% CO2-sec) 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Bean Bag 
                 High Hazard Comparator 
                 977.58 
               
               
                 Long Sheepskin 
                 High Hazard Comparator 
                 739.77 
               
               
                 Thin Mattress 
                 High Hazard Comparator 
                 197.33 
               
               
                 Bitzy Bumper 
                 Test Sample 
                 18.70 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0042]    Also assessed was the risk of suffocation, when a baby&#39;s face is pushed up against or into the breathable bedding panel, the panel being the same “Bitzy Bumper” as was used in the carbon dioxide rebreathing test. Suffocation due to asphyxia is caused by a mechanical barrier to breathing, i.e., caused by an object that conforms to the contour of the face and is in direct contact with the infant&#39;s mouth and nose. Again, a mannequin representing a one-month old infant was used, and a mechanical lung system was employed to simulate infant breathing. The breathable bedding panel  100  was used as the mechanical barrier and was placed proximate to the face of the mannequin. The peak pressure inside the mechanical lung was measured, to determine if breathing could be sustained through the bumper. The recommended upper limit for peak pressure, under which an infant is deemed capable of breathing for a reasonable amount of time, is 15 cm of water (H2O). The lower the pressure, the easier it is for the infant to breathe and the longer the infant can sustain breathing.  FIG. 12  shows the suffocation hazard test results for the bumper. Thirty tests measuring the highest peak pressure were carried out. The degree to which the highest peak pressure of a product exceeds the USL is an indication of a potential airway obstruction hazard that exists with the product. The highest peak pressure measured with the Bitzy Bumper was 1.93 cm H2O, a result that is significantly lower than the upper specification limit (USL) of 15 cm H2O. These results document that the “Bitzy Bumper”, i.e., the breathable bedding panel described above presents an extremely low suffocation hazard. 
         [0043]    Finally, a statistical analysis to determine the Z-value of the product was done, based on the results of the suffocation hazard test. Z-value is a statistical measurement that describes and predicts product performance. The industry standard Z-value for baby products is 4, and the higher the Z-value, the lower the risk. The Z-value is defined as: 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
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         [0044]    The Z-value for the Bitzy Bumper was determined to be 118.94, which represents a suffocation hazard 30 times smaller than the industry standard. 
         [0045]    It is understood that the embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the present invention. Variations in the construction of the breathable bedding panel and in its uses may be contemplated by one skilled in the art without limiting the intended scope of the invention herein disclosed and as defined by the following claims.