Abstract:
A repositioning garment. The garment may include garment portion for enclosing a portion of a wearer&#39;s body, and a panel, coupled to the garment portion, defining at least two compartments between the garment portion and the panel, wherein the at least two compartments are adapted to be expanded and collapsed independently of each other, and wherein the at least two compartments are disposed proximate a wearer&#39;s back when the garment is worn.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 61/554,569, filed Nov. 2, 2011 and entitled MOVEMENT RESTRICTING GARMENT, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    When a person is sleeping, it is nearly impossible for the person sleeping to control the position they will remain in while asleep. For example, parents are routinely concerned about the position in which an infant child might be sleeping in because a child may easily roll into an unfavorable position causing asphyxiation or other health problems. Many experts and parents worry that if a child sleeps in a prone position it may increase the likelihood of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Additionally, there are concerns that if an infant sleeps on one particular side too often or for too long, the child may develop plagiocephaly, which is commonly known as Flat Head Syndrome. Parents may therefore wish for their children to sleep on a certain side in order to prevent or correct Flat Head Syndrome. Similarly, if an adult has had a medical procedure, such as an invasive surgery, the patient may be required to sleep in a certain position during recovery. 
         [0003]    Solutions for facilitating a person sleeping in a certain position, present certain downfalls. For example, some such solutions are designed to wedge an infant in place between several supporting members, so as to reduce weight load on one side of the cranium, thereby allowing the weight load to be redistributed and thereby “evening out” the head. However, these solutions require various pillows and other products to be inserted into the crib. Not only do such requirements clutter the crib, but they may also increase the risk of SIDS. Further, it is possible that an active infant may remove themselves from a wedging device, rendering the device ineffective. Additionally, many of the current solutions involve solid, uncomfortable positioning devices. Due to the aforementioned problems, a simple, effective, conformable and space-saving device for positioning a person is desired. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    According to at least one exemplary embodiment, a repositioning garment may be disclosed. The garment may include garment portion for enclosing a portion of a wearer&#39;s body, and a panel, coupled to the garment portion, defining at least two compartments between the garment portion and the panel, wherein the at least two compartments are adapted to be expanded and collapsed independently of each other, and wherein the at least two compartments are disposed proximate a wearer&#39;s back when the garment is worn. 
         [0005]    According to another exemplary embodiment, a repositioning device may be disclosed. The device may include a first layer, a second layer, and at least two compartments disposed between the first layer and the second layer, the compartments being adapted to be expanded and collapsed independently of each other, wherein the at least two compartments are disposed proximate a wearer&#39;s back when the device is worn. 
         [0006]    According to another exemplary embodiment, a method for repositioning a person may be disclosed. The method may include providing a garment having at least two compartments therein, the compartments and adapted to be expanded and collapsed independently of each other, donning the garment such that the at least two compartments are disposed proximate a wearer&#39;s back, and inflating a first compartment of the at least two compartments. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    Advantages of embodiments of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments. The following detailed description should be considered in conjunction with the accompanying figures in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a rear view of an exemplary embodiment of a repositioning garment. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2   a  is a cross-sectional view along line A-A of  FIG. 1 , showing an exemplary embodiment of a repositioning garment. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2   b  is a cross-sectional view along line A-A of  FIG. 1 , showing another exemplary embodiment of a repositioning garment. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a rear view of another exemplary embodiment of a repositioning garment. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4   a  is a cross-sectional view along line A-A of  FIG. 3 , showing an exemplary embodiment of a repositioning garment. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4   b  is a cross-sectional view along line A-A of  FIG. 3 , showing another exemplary embodiment of a repositioning garment. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a rear view of another exemplary embodiment of a repositioning garment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    Aspects of the present invention are disclosed in the following description and related figures directed to specific embodiments of the invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize that alternate embodiments may be devised without departing from the spirit or the scope of the claims. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention. 
         [0016]    As used herein, the word “exemplary” means “serving as an example, instance or illustration.” The embodiments described herein are not limiting, but rather are exemplary only. It should be understood that the described embodiments are not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Moreover, the terms “embodiments of the invention”, “embodiments” or “invention” do not require that all embodiments of the invention include the discussed feature, advantage, or mode of operation. 
         [0017]    Referring generally to  FIGS. 1-5 , according to at least one exemplary embodiment, a repositioning garment may be disclosed. The garment may be a repositioning garment that can facilitate a wearer sleeping in a desired position so as to distribute the weight load on the wearer&#39;s back and head. The garment may contain a plurality of compartments which may be inflated or may be capable of receiving inflatable items. The inflation of such compartments may adjust the position of a wearer sleeping in a supine position, for example, by elevating one side of the wearer higher than a second side of the person so as to reduce the weight load on the elevated side and on the side of the skull that corresponds to the elevated side. 
         [0018]    Turning to  FIGS. 1-2   b , an exemplary embodiment of a repositioning garment  200  may be disclosed. Repositioning garment  100  may be, for example, an infant sleeper such as a “onesie.” Garment  100  may be constructed from any desirable material, such as wool, cotton, nylon, spandex or some combination thereof. Further, garment  100  may be constructed in any manner known in the art, such as through traditional garment sewing methods. Garment  100  may be sewn together from multiple fabric cut patterns and may include overlapping panels. Generally, garment  100  may be manufactured by coupling together multiple fabric panels so as to create a tubular encasing. Further, garment  100  can be formed in any size or shape, for example, any other type of human-wearable garment, such as a shirt. Furthermore, garment  100  may contain openings, such as tubular openings, which may allow the garment to substantially cover the abdomen and waist areas of the wearer while allowing the wearer&#39;s extremities to remain uncovered. In some alternate exemplary embodiments, garment  100  may be constructed as a shirt, vest or any desirable upper body garment. However, a full body, or onesie configuration, may be utilized when the garment is used or worn by an infant. 
         [0019]    Garment  100 , in some exemplary embodiments, may include snaps, buttons and the like to secure garment  100  around a wearer. For example, garment  100  may include fasteners  102  which may serve to maintain garment  100  on the body of a wearer. Fasteners  102  may be, for example, buttons, hook-and-loop fasteners, snaps, drawstrings, or any other type of fastener that can facilitate coupling the front and rear portions of garment  100 . Complementary fasteners may further be provided on garment  100 , for example in the case of hook-and-loop fastener pairs, snap pairs, and the like. Fasteners  102  and the corresponding complementary fasteners may be provided on the bottom portion of garment  100 , on the sides of garment  100 , or at any desired location that enables garment  100  to function as described herein. 
         [0020]    Garment  100  may further include a plurality of compartments  104 . Compartments  104  may be manufactured from any desirable material and may be manufactured in accordance with any manner known in the arts. Further, compartments  104  may be shaped in any desirable shape of any desirable size. For example, compartments  104  may be constructed from synthetic fiber material. Furthermore, compartments  104  may be disposed such that, when the garment is worn, none of compartments  104  are disposed substantially over the wearer&#39;s spine. 
         [0021]    In some exemplary embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 1-2   b , compartments  104  may be formed by coupling at least one additional panel  108  to a garment panel  106  of garment  100 . Panels  106 ,  108 , may be coupled by any manner that allows garment  100  to function as described herein, for example by a plurality of peripheral seams  110  disposed at desired edges of additional panel  108 . Interior seams  112  may be provided to couple panels  106 ,  108  so as to separate compartments  104  from each other and to reduce the likelihood of any compartment  104  being disposed over the wearer&#39;s spine when the garment is worn. The additional panel  108  may be disposed externally in relation to garment panel  106 , as shown in  FIG. 2   a , or may be disposed internally in relation to garment panel  106 , as shown in  FIG. 2   b.    
         [0022]    In some exemplary embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 1-2   b , garment  100  may include a pair of compartments  104   a ,  104   b . Compartments  104   a ,  104   b  may be oriented substantially longitudinally along the rear of garment  100 , with compartment  104   a  being disposed such that it is on a first side of the wearer&#39;s spine when garment  100  is worn, and compartment  104   b  being disposed such that it is on a second side of the wearer&#39;s spine when garment  100  is worn. To that end, an interior seam  112  may be provided and oriented such that seam  112  is parallel to and proximate the wearer&#39;s spine when the garment is worn. 
         [0023]    Compartments  104  may be sized and shaped to accept inflatable members  120  therein. Inflatable members  120  may be any substantially airtight inflatable objects, such as, for example, inflatable tubes. Inflatable members  120  may be configured to accept and contain any desired substance, such as, but not limited to, air, water or any desired gaseous or liquid substance. Each inflatable member  120  may be provided with a valve  122 , which can allow a user to inflate, deflate, or otherwise fill or empty the inflatable member as desired. Valve  122  may be a resealable valve of any type, shape or size and may allow any desirable substance to be introduced into inflatable member  120 . Garment  100  may include at least one inflatable member. 
         [0024]    Inflatable members  120  may be insertable and removable into compartments  104 . To that end, additional panel  108  may be provided with a free edge  114  that is not permanently coupled to garment panel  106 , thereby providing an aperture through which inflatable members  120  may be inserted or removed. Fasteners  116  may be provided on additional panel  108  proximate to free edge  114 , so as to selectively couple free edge  114  to garment panel  106 , and to facilitate maintaining inflatable members  120  within compartments  104 . Fasteners  116  may be, for example, buttons, hook-and-loop fasteners, snaps, drawstrings, or any other type of fastener that can facilitate coupling panels  106 ,  108 . Complementary fasteners may further be provided on garment panel  106 , for example in the case of hook-and-loop fastener pairs, snap pairs, and the like. Alternatively, complementary fasteners  117  may be provided on flaps  124  coupled to garment panel  102  and positioned so as to couple to fasteners  116  and facilitate maintaining inflatable members  120  within compartments  104 . 
         [0025]    In some exemplary embodiments, removing inflatable members  120  from compartments  104  can allow the user to operate valve  122 , so as to fill or empty an inflatable member  120 . In other exemplary embodiments, apertures  118  may be provided within garment panel  108 . Apertures  118  can be sized, shaped and positioned so as to receive valve  122  therethrough when an inflatable member  120  is positioned within a compartment  104 . This can facilitate filling or emptying an inflatable member  120  while it is disposed within a compartment  104 . 
         [0026]    In some exemplary embodiments, a resilient band  126  may be disposed between garment panel  106  and additional panel  108 . Resilient band  126  can facilitate minimizing the volume of compartments  104 . When an inflatable member  120  is disposed within a compartment  104 , resilient band  126  can constrict the inflatable member  120  so as to maintain the inflatable member in place and reduce the likelihood of the inflatable member moving within compartment  104  away from a desired position. 
         [0027]    In operation, one of compartments  104   a ,  104   b  may be selectively inflated while the remaining compartment remains deflated. When one of compartments  104   a ,  104   b  is inflated while a wearer is in a supine position, the inflated compartment may raise the corresponding potion of the wearer&#39;s back, serving to tilt the wearer. Alternatively, if both compartments  104   a ,  104   b  are inflated, they may serve to elevate or prop up the wearer&#39;s back. 
         [0028]    When the wearer is in a supine position, the selective inflation of one of compartments  104   a ,  104   b  can facilitate reducing the weight load on the portion of the wearer&#39;s back and head that corresponds to the non-inflated compartment. In exemplary embodiments where garment  100  is worn by an infant, the inflation of alternate compartments may enable a user to prevent or correct Flat Head Syndrome in the wearer. For example, a user may inflate compartment  104   a  while leaving compartment  104   b  deflated, thereby relieving pressure from one side of the wearer&#39;s head and shift weight to a second side of the head. If the first side of a wearer&#39;s head has symptoms of Flat Head Syndrome, a user may have a child sleep such a configuration for a plurality of consecutive nights. Alternatively, if a user desires to simply prevent Flat Head Syndrome, the inflation of compartments  104   a ,  104   b  may be alternated on a nightly basis with compartment  104   a  being the only inflated compartment on a first night, compartment  104   b  being the only inflated compartment on a second night, alternating on a nightly basis thereafter to ensure even weight bearing on both sides of the head. Further, any exemplary methods or timing of inflating or deflating may be used, as desired. 
         [0029]    Turning to  FIGS. 3-4   b , another exemplary embodiment of a repositioning garment  200  may be disclosed. Repositioning garment  200  may be, for example, an infant sleeper such as a “onesie.” Garment  200  may be constructed from any desirable material, such as wool, cotton, nylon, spandex or some combination thereof. Further, garment  200  may be constructed in any manner known in the art, such as through traditional garment sewing methods. Garment  200  may be sewn together from multiple fabric cut patterns and may include overlapping panels. Generally, garment  200  may be manufactured by coupling together multiple fabric panels so as to create a tubular encasing. Further, garment  200  can be formed in any size or shape, for example, any other type of human-wearable garment, such as a shirt. Furthermore, garment  200  may contain openings, such as tubular openings, which may allow the garment to substantially cover the abdomen and waist areas of the wearer while allowing the wearer&#39;s extremities to remain uncovered. In some alternate exemplary embodiments, garment  200  may be constructed as a shirt, vest or any desirable upper body garment. However, a full body, or onesie configuration, may be utilized when the garment is used or worn by an infant. 
         [0030]    Garment  200 , in some exemplary embodiments, may include snaps, buttons and the like to secure garment  200  around a wearer. For example, garment  200  may include fasteners  202  which may serve to maintain garment  200  on the body of a wearer. Fasteners  202  may be, for example, buttons, hook-and-loop fasteners, snaps, drawstrings, or any other type of fastener that can facilitate coupling the front and rear portions of garment  200 . Complementary fasteners may further be provided on garment  200 , for example in the case of hook-and-loop fastener pairs, snap pairs, and the like. Fasteners  202  and the corresponding complementary fasteners may be provided on the bottom portion of garment  200 , on the sides of garment  200 , or at any desired location that enables garment  200  to function as described herein. 
         [0031]    Garment  200  may further include a plurality of compartments  204 . Compartments  204  may be manufactured from any desirable material and may be manufactured in accordance with any manner known in the arts. Further, compartments  204  may be shaped in any desirable shape of any desirable size. For example, compartments  204  may be constructed from synthetic fiber material. Furthermore, compartments  204  may be disposed such that, when the garment is worn, none of compartments  204  are disposed substantially over the wearer&#39;s spine. 
         [0032]    In some exemplary embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 3-4   b , compartments  204  may be formed by coupling at least one additional panel  208  to a garment panel  206  of garment  200 . Panels  206 ,  208 , may be coupled by any manner that allows garment  200  to function as described herein, for example by a plurality of peripheral seams  210  disposed around the perimeter of additional panel  208 . Interior seams  212  may be provided to couple panels  206 ,  208  so as to separate compartments  204  from each other and to reduce the likelihood of any compartment  204  being disposed over the wearer&#39;s spine when the garment is worn. The additional panel  208  may be disposed externally in relation to garment panel  206 , as shown in  FIG. 4   a , or may be disposed internally in relation to garment panel  206 , as shown in  FIG. 4   b.    
         [0033]    In some exemplary embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 3-4   b , garment  200  may include a pair of compartments  204   a ,  204   b . Compartments  204   a ,  104   b  may be oriented substantially longitudinally along the rear of garment  200 , with compartment  204   a  being disposed such that it is on a first side of the wearer&#39;s spine when garment  200  is worn, and compartment  204   b  being disposed such that it is on a second side of the wearer&#39;s spine when garment  200  is worn. To that end, an interior seam  212  may be provided and oriented such that seam  212  is parallel to and proximate the wearer&#39;s spine when the garment is worn. 
         [0034]    Each compartment  204  may be provided with an air-impermeable internal liner  220 . Internal liner  220  may formed from a natural or synthetic elastomeric polymer, or any other material that enables garment  200  to function as described herein. Internal liner  220  may form a substantially airtight enclosure, so as to form an inflatable inner tube  224 , which can be configured to accept and contain any desired substance, such as, but not limited to, air, water or any desired gaseous or liquid substance. Each inner tube  224  may be provided with a valve  222 , which can allow a user to inflate, deflate, or otherwise fill or empty the inner tube as desired. Valve  222  may be a resealable valve of any type, shape or size and may allow any desirable substance to be introduced into inner tube  224 . 
         [0035]    In operation, one of compartments  204   a ,  204   b  may be selectively inflated while the remaining compartment remains deflated. When one of compartments  204   a ,  204   b  is inflated while a wearer is in a supine position, the inflated compartment may raise the corresponding potion of the wearer&#39;s back, serving to tilt the wearer. Alternatively, if both compartments  204   a ,  104   b  are inflated, they may serve to elevate or prop up the wearer&#39;s back. 
         [0036]    When the wearer is in a supine position, the selective inflation of one of compartments  204   a ,  204   b  can facilitate reducing the weight load on the portion of the wearer&#39;s back and head that corresponds to the non-inflated compartment. In exemplary embodiments where garment  200  is worn by an infant, the inflation of alternate compartments may enable a user to prevent or correct Flat Head Syndrome in the wearer. For example, a user may inflate compartment  204   a  while leaving compartment  204   b  deflated, thereby relieving pressure from one side of the wearer&#39;s head and shift weight to a second side of the head. If the first side of a wearer&#39;s head has symptoms of Flat Head Syndrome, a user may have a child sleep such a configuration for a plurality of consecutive nights. Alternatively, if a user desires to simply prevent Flat Head Syndrome, the inflation of compartments  204   a ,  204   b  may be alternated on a nightly basis with compartment  204   a  being the only inflated compartment on a first night, compartment  204   b  being the only inflated compartment on a second night, alternating on a nightly basis thereafter to ensure even weight bearing on both sides of the head. Further, any exemplary methods or timing of inflating or deflating may be used, as desired. 
         [0037]    Turning to  FIG. 5 , in some exemplary embodiments, an automated electronic pump  250  may be provided with garment  200 . Pump  250  can facilitate inflating and deflating compartments  204  of garment  200 . To that end, pump  250  may be in fluid communication with compartments  204 , for example via conduits  252 , which may be, for example, hoses or the like. Each conduit  252  may be directly and hermetically coupled to an inner tube  224  via any coupling means that enables garment  200  to function as described herein. Alternatively, each conduit  252  may be removably and hermetically coupled to a valve  222 , for example via a fitting disposed on an end of conduit  252 , which facilitates a removable hermetic coupling with valve  222 . 
         [0038]    Pump  250  may be any known type of pump that enables garment  200  to function as described herein. Pump  250  may further include logic adapted to alternatively inflate and deflate compartments  204  at desired intervals and to maintain compartments  204  inflated for desired duration. Further, pump  250  may be adapted to inflate compartments  204  at a rate that does not disturb the sleep of a wearer of garment  200 . 
         [0039]    It should be appreciated that embodiments of the garments described herein may be adapted to various sizes, and may be adapted for wearers of diverse ages. To that end, embodiments of the garments described herein may be any type of upper body garment, and may include any desired number of inflatable compartments, which may be oriented longitudinally, transversely, or in any desired orientation along the wearer&#39;s body. The inflatable compartments may extend substantially over the area of the wearer&#39;s back. Embodiments of the garments described herein can provide for the repositioning of a wearer&#39;s body as well as for the restriction of a wearer&#39;s movement. Embodiments of garments described herein may provide the wearer with a comfortable, yet effective support to ensure that they do not unintentionally roll into an undesirable position while sleeping. This may prevent complications during recovery from medical procedures, prevent or correct problems commonly associated with infants sleeping in the wrong position, such as SIDS and Flat Head Syndrome, facilitate movement and positioning of nonambulatory patients, and so forth. 
         [0040]    The foregoing description and accompanying figures illustrate the principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the invention. However, the invention should not be construed as being limited to the particular embodiments discussed above. Additional variations of the embodiments discussed above will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. 
         [0041]    Therefore, the above-described embodiments should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Accordingly, it should be appreciated that variations to those embodiments can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.