Abstract:
An infant hugging and comforting device including the combination of a cloth hugging device and a vibrating device. Preferably, the cloth hugging device has adjustable arm portions to accommodate different size infants, and allow the device to be fitted to a particular infant. Further, the vibrating device is preferably a separate device removably attached to the soft cloth hugging device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]    Infants are typically swaddled after being born using a small light blanket. Swaddling an infant simulates the infant being inside the uterus of the mother, and typically comforts the infant so that the infant will rest and sleep. 
         [0002]    There exists a need for a device configured to be easily and conveniently used to wrap around and hug the infant for providing comfort and a feel of security to the infant. This particularly important for colic infants, reflux infants, and drug withdraw infants. 
         [0003]    The positioning aide or infant hugging and comforting device should be designed or configured to comfort such newborn infants, reflux infants, colicy infants, and drug withdraw infants. Infants are comforted by being held with arms wrapped around them. The infant hugging and comforting device should “re-create” or stimulate the baby being held, and optionally can be provided with vibration to provide additional comfort to the infant. The hugging and comforting device will aide in the infant getting to sleep and rest since it will sooth the infant as a comfort measure. The hugging or comforting device should be designed or configured so that the infant can be swaddled in a thin blanket, or can also be used without swaddling. 
         [0004]    The advantages of an infant hugging and comforting device compared to just a “swaddling blanket” is “re-creating” or stimulating the arms of a human holding and comforting the infant as well as the option of vibration so that the infant can be put to sleep or held while using same. A regular blanket can be used to swaddle the infant but there is no “hugging” or “vibration” comfort that can be provided by the infant hugging and comforting device. 
         [0005]    Medically for the reflux or drug withdrawal infant the goal is to get the infant calmed enough to be able to rest and be comforted. The reflux infant cries a lot due to being uncomfortable. The infant hugging and comforting device can be offered for these infants, and the vibration option as well for an added comfort measure. The parents may hold the infant and offer a pacifier if they wish until the infant goes to sleep. The infant may then be put down to get some rest in the infant hugging and comforting device. Infants have also been willing to go right to sleep with the infant hugging and comforting device without being held. 
         [0006]    The drug withdrawal infant is most of the time inconsolable due to the withdrawal affect. The infant hugging and comforting device can be offered to these infants as a comfort measure. These infants seem to be comforted by the infant hugging and comforting device, and the vibration it offers. The goal for these infants is to get the infant into their dark, quite room for rest, not in the middle of a nursing unit being held by a nurse where it is bright and can be loud. 
         [0007]    The positioning device or infant hugging and comforting device will allow the infant to rest more, be more comfortable, and will enable these infants to grow, eat better, and neurologically develop better. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]    A first object of the present invention is to provide an infant hugging device. 
         [0009]    A second object of the present invention is to provide an infant comforting device. 
         [0010]    A third object of the present invention is to provide an infant hugging and comforting device. 
         [0011]    A fourth object of the present invention is to provide an infant hugging and comforting device configured to wrap around and hug an infant&#39;s chest. 
         [0012]    A fifth object of the present invention is to provide an infant hugging and comforting device configured to wrap around and hug an infant&#39;s chest, and be adjustable in size and fit for the particular infant. 
         [0013]    A sixth object of the present invention is to provide an infant hugging and comforting device including a back panel portion, a left panel portion, and right panel portion connected to the back panel portion. 
         [0014]    A seventh object of the present invention is to provide an infant hugging and comforting device including a back panel portion, a left panel portion having a left arm portion and a right panel portion having a right arm portion, the left panel portion and the right panel portion being connected to the back panel portion, and including a releasable fastener for releaseably connecting the arm portions together. 
         [0015]    A eight object of the present invention is to provide an infant hugging and comforting device including a vibrating device. 
         [0016]    A ninth object of the present invention is to provide an infant hugging and comforting device including a back panel, a left panel portion connected to the back panel portion, a right panel portion connected to the back panel portion, the left panel portion including a left arm portion, the right panel portion including a right arm portion, and including a vibrating device. 
         [0017]    A tenth object of the present invention is to provide an infant hugging and comforting device configured to adjustably fit around and hug the chest of an infant including a vibrating device. 
         [0018]    The present invention is directed to an infant hugging and comforting device. The device is preferably a soft infant hugging and comforting device. 
         [0019]    The infant hugging and comforting device according to the present invention includes the combination of a cloth hugging device, preferably a soft cloth hugging device, configured to fit around the chest of the infant in combination with a vibrating device that is incorporated into the cloth device, or preferably is releaseably connected thereto. For example, the vibrating device can be sewn into pockets of the cloth device, or incorporated into the space between cloth panels, plys or layers of the cloth device, and remain incorporated in the cloth device (e.g substantially not removable). Alternatively, the vibrating device can be inserted into a one or more pockets of the cloth device, or releaseably connected to the cloth hugging device by a fastener, for example, a hook and loop type fastener such as a Velcro fastener. 
         [0020]    The infant hugging and comforting device according to the present invention is placed on support surface such as a bed, crib mattress, soft, blanket on floor, pillow, or other suitable support surface. The infant is then laid on top of the infant hugging and comforting device face upwardly, and then the infant hugging and comforting device is wrapped around the sides and front of the infant&#39;s chest to hug and comfort the infant. 
         [0021]    In a preferred embodiment of the infant hugging and comforting according to the present invention, the device includes a back panel portion, a left panel portion connected to the back panel portion, and a right panel portion connected to the back panel portion. Preferably, the left panel portion includes a simulated left arm portion and the right panel portion includes a right simulated arm portion. The arm portions are connected to a wrap around the sides and front of the infant, and then releaseably connected together. Preferably, a releaseable fastener such as a button, buckle, snap fastener, or preferably a soft hook and loop type fastener such as Velcro are used for releaseably connecting the arm portions together. 
         [0022]    In a more preferred embodiment of the infant hugging and comforting device according to the present invention, the arm portions are adjustably connected together to adjust for the size of the infant and the fit of the cloth hugging device on the infant. For example, one arm portion is provided a hand portion having a Velcro strip to cooperate with a Velcro strip on the opposite arm portion or panel portion. For example, strips of Velcro are applied to the front side hand portions of the arm portions, and Velcro strips are applied to both the panel portions and back side of the back panel portion to allow two different points of connection with the hand portions. Additional Velcro strips can be provided to provide additional points of contact for provide for many different size infants using the same device. 
         [0023]    In a preferred embodiment of the cloth hugging device, the back panel portion is preferably made of two separate soft cloth plies or layers connected together around the perimeter thereof. In a more preferred embodiment, piping is utilized around the perimeter of the back cloth panel to provide a more finished edge thereof. A left panel portion and a right panel portion are connected to the back panel portion. For example, the left panel portion can be connected at or adjacent the left side edge of the back panel portion, and the right panel portion can be connected along or adjacent a right side edge of the back panel portion. As a particular example, the left panel portion and the right panel portion can be surged to the upper cloth ply of the back panel portion adjacent to the side edges of the back panel portion. 
         [0024]    The cloth hugging device according to the present invention can be provided with a vibrating device to further comfort the infant. The vibrating device can be incorporated into one or more of the side panel portions, for example, one or more of the arm portions of the side panel portions. Preferably, the vibrating device is a separate vibrating device releasably connected to the side panel portion, in particular the arm portions of the side panel portions using a fastener. In a preferred embodiment, the vibrating device is enclosed in a separate soft cloth pocket, and a hook and loop fastener is utilized to releaseably connect the vibrating device to different desired positions along the side panels, in particular along the length of the arm portions of the side panel portions. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0025]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of an infant hugging and comforting device according to the present invention with an infant shown in ghost image. 
           [0026]      FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the infant hugging and comforting device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 3  is a top planar view of the infant hugging and comforting device shown is  FIG. 1 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 4  is a bottom planar view of the infant hugging and comforting device shown in  FIG. 1  with the arm portions laid open readied to receive the infant. 
           [0029]      FIG. 5  is a right side elevational view of the infant hugging and comforting device shown in  FIG. 1 , shown with the arm portions connected together. 
           [0030]      FIG. 6  is a left side elevational view of the infant hugging and comforting device shown in  FIG. 1 , shown with the arm portions connected together. 
           [0031]      FIG. 7  is a top planar view of the vibrating device according to the present invention with a battery operated vibrator located in a separate envelop readied to be attached to the cloth hugging device of the infant hugging and comforting device according to the present invention. 
           [0032]      FIG. 8  is a side elevational view of the infant hugging and comforting device showing the attachment of the vibrating device to the infant hugging and comforting device. 
           [0033]      FIG. 9  is a back side view of a side panel portion having a zippered pocket for accommodating a vibrating device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0034]    A preferred embodiment of the infant hugging and comforting device  10  is shown in  FIGS. 1-6 . 
         [0035]    The infant hugging and comforting device  10  includes the combination of a soft cloth hugging device  12  in combination with a vibrating device  14 . Preferably, the vibrating device  14  is a separate device releaseably connected to the soft cloth hugging device  12  to allow the soft cloth hugging device  12  to be cleaned or laundered. However, the vibrating device  14  can be incorporated into the soft cloth hugging device  12  so as to remain a portion thereof. For example, the vibrating device  14  can be enclosed within the two cloth plies or layers making up a panel or portion of the soft cloth hugging device  12 . 
         [0036]    The soft cloth hugging device  12  includes a back panel portion  16 , a left panel portion  18  connected along or adjacent the left side edge of the back panel portion  12 , and a right panel portion  20  connected adjacent or along the right side edge of the back panel portion  16 . For example, the back panel portion  16  is made of two separate cloth plies or layers stitched together around the perimeter thereof. Piping  22  can be provided around the perimeter of the back panel portion and wrapped around the perimeter edge of the back panel portion  16  and sewn thereto. The left panel portion  18  and the right panel portion  20  can be surged (i.e. by special sewing) to the upper cloth ply or layer of the back panel portion  16  adjacent the side edges  16   a,    16   b  of the back panel portion  16 . 
         [0037]    The left panel portion  18  is provided with a simulated left arm portion  24 , and the left panel portion  18  is provided with a simulated right arm portion  26 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . The simulated left arm portion  24  is provided with a left hand portion  24   a,  and the simulated right arm portion  26  is provided with a right hand portion  26   a.  The arm portions  24 ,  26  are configured to criss-cross each other, as shown in  FIG. 3 , when wrapped around the infant and secured to the side panel portions or back panel portion. 
         [0038]    The left panel portion  18  and corresponding simulated left arm portion  24 , and right panel portion  26  and corresponding simulated right arm portion  26 , for example, are made of two cloth plies or layers stuffed with a soft filling material such as batting material. Again, the back panel portion  16 , for example, can be made of two soft cloth plies or layers, however, is preferably not filled so as to lay substantially flat with little to no rise, as shown on top of a support surface  S  (e.g. bed, crib, mattress, couch, pillow, floor), as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0039]    The left hand portion  26   a  is provided with a hook and loop type fastener  28   a  provided on the inside of the front side of the left hand portion  26   a,  and another hook and loop type fastener  28   a  provided on the front side of the right hand portion  26   a,  as shown in  FIG. 3 . The hook and loop type fasteners  28   a,    28   a  of the hand portions  24   a,    26   a  releaseably connect with hook and loop type fasteners  28   b,    28   b  provided on the left side panel portion  18  and right panel portion  20 , respectively, as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . Specifically, the hook and loop type fasteners  28   b,    28   b  are sewn to an outer side of the left side panel portion  18  and right panel portion  20  as shown. 
         [0040]    The back panel portion  16  can be provided with an additional set of hook and loop type fasteners  28   b,    28   b,  as shown in  FIG. 4 . The additional set of hook and loop type fasteners  28   b,    28   b  can be provided on the back side of the back panel portion  16  to provide an alternative position for securing the hook and loop type fasteners  28   a,    28   b  of the hand portions  24   a,    26   a,  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Specifically, for a small infant (e.g. new born infant or premature infant), the arm portions  24 ,  26  can be wrapped around the edges of the back panel portions  16  and secured to the alternative hook and loop type fasteners  28   b,    28   b,  as shown in  FIG. 4  to provide for the smaller torso of the small infant. In such case, the side ends of the back panel portion are wrapped around the sides of the infant again with the arms portions  24 ,  26  wrapping around the side edges of the back panel portion reaching the back side of the back panel portions  16  to secure to these alternative hook and loop type fasteners  28   b,    28   b.    
         [0041]    A vibrating device  14  according to the present invention is shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0042]    The vibrating device  7  includes a soft cloth envelope having a releaseably flap  32 , for example, provided with a hook and loop type fastener  34  for releaseably closing and opening the flap  32 . A two part Velcro strip can be provided for such purpose. A vibrator  36  is placed within the envelope  30 , and closed shut with the flap  32  using the hook and loop fastener  34 . The vibrator  36  is preferably a battery operated vibrator having an on and off switch. 
         [0043]    As an alternative to the separate vibrating device  14 , the vibrator  36  can be located in a pocket  38  having a zipper  40  provided in one or both side panel portions  16 ,  18 , for example, in the arm portions  24 ,  26  as shown in  FIG. 9 . The zipper  40  is opened and the vibrator  36  is placed therein, and then the zipper  40  is pulled shut. In this manner, the vibrator  36  is removable, for example, for washing the soft cloth hugging device  12 . 
         [0044]    As a further alternative, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the right arm portion  26  is provided with an L-shaped hook and loop fastener strip  42 . A hook and loop fastener  44  is provided on the back side of the vibrating device  14  to releaseably connect the vibrating device at any position along the L-shaped hook and loop fastener strip  42 . Moving the vibrating device  14  to different positions allows adjustment of the comforting of the particular infant. The left arm portion  26  can also be provided with a similar L-shaped hook and loop fastener. 
       OPERATION 
       [0045]    The cloth hugging device  12  is placed on a suitable support surface with the arm portions  24 ,  26  opened and disconnected. An infant face up is then laid down onto the cloth hugging device  12 , and the back of the infant&#39;s chest is positioned over the back panel portion  16 . 
         [0046]    The right arm portion  26  is wrapped over the top of the chest of the infant, and the hand portion  26   a  is secured to the left panel portion  18  using the hook and loop fasteners  28   a,    28   b.  Then, the left arm portion  24  is wrapped over the top of the chest of the infant on top of the right arm portion  26  and criss-crossing therof, and then the hand portion  28   a  is secured to the right panel portion  20  using the hook and loop fasteners  28   a,    28   b.    
         [0047]    The vibrator  36  is turned on, and then inserted into envelop  30  to provide the vibrating device  14 . The vibrating device  14  is then connected along the L-shaped hook and loop fastener  42 , at a suitable position. The infant just lays there while be comforted by both being hugged (i.e. swaddled) and the vibrating device  14  vibrates the infant&#39;s chest to sooths the infant so that the infant relaxes, feels comfortable, and the rests or falls asleep. After use, the vibrating device  14  is removed, and the arm portions  24 ,  26  are disconnected to then remove the infant from the device.