Abstract:
The present invention provides for a an apnea apparatus comprising: a continuous, tubular garment having opposing ends, each of the opposing ends has an opening, and the garment is constructed of an elastic material and is designed to be slipped onto and worn around a torso of the user.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is related to Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/468,787 which was filed on Mar. 29, 2011 entitled “Slip On Apnea Belt”. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to securing devices, and more particularly, to a continuous, tubular garment made from soft fabric specially designed to secure electrodes of an apnea monitor to the torso of an infant for allowing parents and caregivers to monitor the pulse and respiratory rates of the infant. 
         [0004]    For most parents, making sure their baby is healthy and happy is of utmost concern. Unfortunately, no matter how loving a parent is, accidents and injuries occur, often leading to the tragic loss of the child. In many sad cases, a parent brings their seemingly healthy baby home from the hospital, only to find that the child has an undetected heart condition or similar malady, resulting in the loss of their infant. To help prevent this, many babies are sent home with an apnea monitor, which tracks the baby&#39;s pulse and breathing and alerts parents if either is irregular. However, apnea monitors are problematic because the electrodes attached to the infant&#39;s chest easily come off causing the alarm on the monitor to go off incessantly. 
         [0005]    The present invention seeks to resolve the foregoing issues by providing a belt to protect and secure the electrodes to an infant&#39;s chest. The belt is suitable for parents with newborns and infant age children, hospitals, pediatric units, public, private, children&#39;s, military, emergency rescue units, pediatricians, children&#39;s medical clinics, professional day care facilities, and world relief agencies. The belt is distributable through baby monitor sales and services, medical equipment for home use distributors, respirator equipment distributors, government purchasing agencies, military base exchange malls, mail order and catalog shopping, interne sites, television infomercials, and exporters. 
         [0006]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0007]    There are various prior art references that relate to apnea devices: U.S. Pat. No. 4,895,162 to Dolliver relates to an apnea monitor belt, U.S. Pat. No. 5,016,636 to Kulakowski relates to a belt for securing electrodes to the chest of an infant afflicted with apnea, United States Pat. App. No. 2008/0109047 to Pless relates to an apnea treatment device. 
         [0008]    Unlike the prior art, the present invention relates to a one-piece, tubular slip-on garment for securing electrodes of an apnea monitor to an infant&#39;s chest. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    In one embodiment, the present invention provides for an apnea apparatus comprising: a continuous, tubular garment having opposing ends, each of the opposing ends has an opening, and the garment is constructed of an elastic material and is designed to be slipped onto and worn around a torso of the user. 
         [0010]    In another embodiment, the garment has a width from about 3 inches to about 15 inches. In yet another embodiment, the garment has a height from about 1 inch to about 12 inches. In still another embodiment, the garment is a one-piece member. 
         [0011]    In still yet another embodiment, the garment is constructed of a non-compressive material. In a further embodiment, the garment is constructed of a soft, non-abrasive material. In another further embodiment, the garment is constructed of a hypoallergenic material. 
         [0012]    In yet a further embodiment, the garment is constructed of materials selected from a group comprising of silk, rayon, satin, nylon, satin, chambray, spandex, cotton, wool, polyesters, synthetics, elastan and mixtures thereof. 
         [0013]    In still a further embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a compartment for receiving electrodes. 
         [0014]    In still yet a further embodiment, the first opening of the garment has circumference greater than the circumference of the second opening of the garment. In another further embodiment, the openings of the garment have a circumference greater than a circumference of a mid-portion of the garment. In yet another further embodiment, the garment is an hour glass shape. 
         [0015]    In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a system for preventing monitoring devices and their components from becoming accidentally dislodged from a user, the system comprises: a one-piece, tubular garment having openings on opposing ends of the garment, at least one compartment for receiving electrodes for a monitoring device, at least a portion of the garment is constructed of an elastic material, the garment is designed to be worn by a user by slipping the garment over a torso of the user through the openings. 
         [0016]    In a further embodiment, the system further comprises at least one electrode and at least one monitoring device. 
         [0017]    In another further embodiment, the present invention provides for a system for preventing the removal of a medical dressing and irritation of wounds, and the system comprises: a one-piece, tubular garment having openings on opposing ends of the garment, at least a portion of the garment is constructed of an elastic material, the garment is designed to be worn by a user by slipping the garment over the torso of the user through the openings and positioning the garment over desired area. The desired area maybe a treated wound, a medical dressing and other wounds on an infant or child that needs to be covered and protected and prevent the infant or child from itching or scratching. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention. These drawings are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the present invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic perspective view of the garment of the present invention for use with an apnea monitor for securing electrodes ad lead wires therein; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic perspective view of the garment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a side view of one of the embodiments of the present invention; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a side view of another embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0023]    Among those benefits and improvements that have been disclosed, other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0024]    As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale, some features may be exaggerated to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. 
         [0025]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate the garment  10  of the present invention for use with an apnea monitor (not shown). The garment  10  is specially designed to secure and protect the electrodes  12  and lead wires  14  of the apnea monitor. 
         [0026]    The garment  10  allows patents and caregivers to keep a constant and reliable watch over a baby&#39;s pulse and respiratory rates via the apnea monitor. Typical apnea monitors have two electrodes which measure the air flow, breathing pattern, breathing rate, and chest movement of an infant. The electrodes are positionable on each side of the infant&#39;s chest. The electrodes couple to an apnea monitor by lead wires. The garment  10  of present invention envelops the infant&#39;s torso across their chest such that the electrodes  12  are secured underneath the belt. This positioning protects the electrodes  12  and lead wires  24  from dislodging as the infant moves. 
         [0027]    In one embodiment, the garment  10  is made from a fabric  16  such as cotton, rayon, satin, nylon, satin, chambray, spandex, silk, soft wool, organic fabric and synthetics. In another embodiment, the fabric  16  is soft and lightweight such that the garment  10  is flexible and comfortable against the infant&#39;s skin. The garment  10  is a substantially tubular one-piece member. The dimensions of the present invention is generally based the dimensions of the user&#39;s torso. In other words, the garment  10  must fit securely around the torso of premature infants and babies age zero to twenty four months and possibly older. In another further embodiment, the fabric  16  is made from a variety of colors and printed designs to suit the baby&#39;s gender and the aesthetics of their nursery. The fabric  16  is machine washable for easy cleaning as needed. 
         [0028]    In yet another embodiment, the garment  10  slips up and over the infants&#39; hips and is worn around their torso, covering their chest and back, thus holding the electrodes  12  comfortably and securely against the infant&#39;s chest. The garment  10  is wearable under the infant&#39;s clothing such that the garment  10  secures the electrodes  12  to the infant&#39;s chest at all times. 
         [0029]      FIG. 3  illustrates an embodiment where the first opening  2  of the garment  10  has circumference C 2  greater than the circumference C 3  the second opening  3  of the garment  10 . In another embodiment, the length L 2  of one end  4  of the garment  10  is greater than the length L 3  of the second end  5  of the garment  10 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 4  shows an embodiment where openings,  2  and  3  respectively, of the garment  10  have a circumference C 4  greater than a circumference C 6  of a mid-portion  6  of the garment  10 . In a further embodiment, the lengths, L 2  and L 3  respectively, of opposing ends,  4  and  5  respectively are greater than the length L 6  of the mid-portion  6  of the garment  10 . 
         [0031]    Numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the attendant claims attached hereto, this invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically disclosed herein.