Patent Publication Number: US-7581268-B2

Title: Methods and apparatus to facilitate sleeping of infants

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates generally to the pillows and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus to facilitate sleeping of infants. 
   A newborn, in the first days of life, may spend up to approximately two-thirds of each twenty-four hour period asleep. The fact that infants spend more time asleep than awake during the first three years of their life suggests that sleep plays a more crucial role during this age period. Sleep is important for physical recuperation, physical growth, the immune system, brain development, learning, memory, and information processing as well as many other systems of the brain and the human body. Moreover, as has been shown in studies, infants who don&#39;t get enough sleep or sleep poorly are often characterized by difficult temperament and as highly stressful to their parents. Babies may suffer from their poor sleep quality and from the adverse responses of their exhausted and inpatient parents. 
   Several recent studies suggest that infants sleep with fewer awakenings when swaddled, and swaddling may help sleeping infants remain on their backs. In addition, other studies have suggested that swaddling may make a baby feel more secure and thus may limit the startle reflex of the baby. Moreover, to facilitate reducing the risks of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) other studies have recommended that babies be placed on their backs to sleep. 
   However, it may be difficult for a parent to learn how to correctly swaddle an infant for sleep, even after receiving training at the maternity ward. For example, as an infant grows, if the infant is not wrapped correctly and rolls while swaddled, a loose blanket may become inadvertently positioned across the infant&#39;s mouth, thus making breathing difficult. Accordingly, at least some known blankets are sized, shaped, or textured to facilitate assisting parents in swaddling their infants and to facilitate the blanket staying wrapped around the infant. However, such blankets may be expensive and may only provide limited swaddling if the baby rolls while wrapped by such blankets. 
   BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   In one aspect, a pillow for an infant is provided. The pillow comprises a pillow body and a support member. The pillow body includes a medial portion and a pair of arms extending therefrom. Each of the arms includes a first end and a second end. The medial portion is formed integrally with, and extends generally laterally between, the arm first ends. The pair of arms are spaced apart in a mirrored relationship such that a well region is defined therebetween. The support member includes a body portion and a head portion extending from the body portion. The body portion extends across the well region and is between the pair of arms. The head portion is coupled to, and extends from, each of the arm second ends. 
   In another aspect, a restrainer for an infant is provided. The restrainer comprises a pillow body and a support member. The pillow body includes a medial portion and a pair of arms extending therefrom. Each of the arms includes a first end and a second end. The medial portion is formed integrally with, and extends generally laterally between, the arm first ends. The pair of arms are spaced apart in a mirrored relationship such that a well region is defined therebetween. The support member includes a body portion and a head portion extending from the body portion. The body portion extends across the well region and between the pair of arms. The head portion is coupled to, and extends from, each of the arm second ends. The support member is configured to support an infant while the pillow body retains the infant within the well region. 
   In a further aspect, a method for supporting an infant is provided. The method comprises providing a pillow comprising a pillow body and a support member, wherein the pillow body has a medial region and a pair of opposing arms extending from the medial region and spaced apart such that a well region is defined between the pair of arms, positioning the body of the infant on a portion of the support member that defines the lower surface of the well region and extends between the pair of opposed arms, and positioning the head of the infant on a portion of the support member that is coupled to and extends from an end of the arms, such that the infant is facilitated to be restrained within the well region by the pillow body. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary pillow for an infant; 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the pillow shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 3  is a plan view of an infant resting on the pillow shown in  FIG. 1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary pillow  10  for an infant  12 .  FIG. 2  is a side view of pillow  10  and  FIG. 3  is a plan view of an infant  12  resting on pillow  10 . Pillow  10  includes a pillow body  14  that includes a medial region  18  and a pair of opposing arms  20  and  22 . In one embodiment, medial region  18  is formed integrally with arms  20  and  22  such that pillow body  14  is generally U-shaped. It should be noted that pillow body  14  is not limited to being a generally continuous curve, but rather may be shaped differently. Alternatively, arms  20  and  22  may be fabricated separately from medial region  18  and then coupled to medial region  18  as described herein. 
   In the exemplary embodiment, arms  20  and  22  are identical and are positioned in a mirrored relationship. Alternatively, arms  20  and  22  may be different. Each arm  20  and  22  has a free end  24  and  26 , respectively, and a coupled end  28  and  29 , respectively. In the exemplary embodiment, coupled ends  28  and  29  are formed integrally with, and extend from, medial region  18  such that medial region  18  extends between arm ends  28  and  20 . 
   Arms  20  and  22  extend outwardly from medial region  18  and are spaced a distance D apart. In one embodiment, distance D is equal approximately seven inches. More specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, arms  20  and  22  are substantially parallel such that distance D is substantially constant between arms  20  and  22 . Alternatively, at least one arm  20  and/or  22  may be contoured such that distance D may vary between arms  20  and  22 . Because arms  20  and  22  are spaced distance D apart, a well region  30  is defined between arms  20  and  22 . More specifically, well region  30  is at least partially defined by, and bordered by, medial region  18  and arms  20  and  22 . 
   In the exemplary embodiment, pillow body  14  is fabricated from a fill material that is covered with a fabric cover. Fill materials are known, and may include any type of materials that are deemed safe for use with humans and that provide a desired necessary firmness for pillow  10 . In an alternative embodiment, pillow body  14  is inflatable. More specifically, when pillow body  14  is completely fabricated, when an infant rests against pillow body  14 , body  14  only deforms slightly. For example, known fill materials include, but are not limited to, fibers, foams synthetic materials, and/or feathers. The fabric cover may be fabricated from any type of fabric that is deemed safe for use around infants, such as, but not limited to cotton and/or polyester fabrics. 
   Any known fabrication method that enables pillow body  14  to function as described herein may be utilized. For example, in one exemplary embodiment, the fabric cover includes a top layer, a middle layer, and a bottom layer that are sewn together to enclose the fill material. 
   Pillow  10  also includes a support member  40  that includes a head portion  42  and a body portion  44  that extends from head portion  42 . More specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, head portion  42  is formed integrally with, and is substantially centered with respect to, body portion  44  such that support member  40  is substantially T-shaped. Alternatively, body portion  44  may be coupled to head portion  42  in any means that enables support member  40  to function as described herein. 
   Head portion  42  has a width W that is at least as wide as a width W 1  of pillow body  14  as defined by arms  20  and  22 . Alternatively, head portion width W may be more narrow than pillow body width W 1  depending on the application of pillow  10 . Head portion  42  extends outwardly from pillow body  14  a distance D 1 . In one embodiment, distance D 1  is equal approximately four inches. Distance D 1  is variably selected based on the design and application of pillow  10 . More specifically, head portion width W enables head portion  42  to always extend outward from arm ends  24  and  26 . 
   A plurality of fasteners  46  extend from head portion  42 . In the exemplary embodiment, fasteners  46  are a plurality of cords, but are not limited to being cords, used to secure pillow  10  in position relative to a mattress (not shown) supporting pillow  10 . For example, fasteners  46  may be tied to crib posts to facilitate preventing pillow  10  from shifting position relative to the crib. 
   In the exemplary embodiment, body portion  44  extends between arms  20  and  22  from arm ends  24  and  26  to medial portion  18 . Moreover, in the exemplary embodiment, body portion  44  extends substantially continuously within well region  30  from arms  20  and  22 , and from medial region  18 . 
   In the exemplary embodiment, support member  40  is fabricated with the same thickness as head portion  42 . Alternatively, support member  40  may be fabricated such that head portion  42  is thicker than support portion  44 , and is thinner than the thickness of pillow body  14 . It should be noted that any known fabrication method that enables support member  40  to function as described herein may be utilized. For example, in one embodiment, body portion  44  is fabricated from one or more layers of fabric material that are coupled directly together, such as through sewing, and head portion  42  is fabricated by sewing a top layer and a bottom layer together such that a layer of fill material is enclosed therebetween. In other embodiments, support member  40  may be fabricated such that either head portion  42  and/or body portion  44  extends continuously from the fabric cover covering pillow body  14 , and is thus fabricated as a continuation of the fabric cover covering pillow body  14 . Alternatively, support member  40  may be fabricated such that either head portion  42  and/or body portion  44  is fabricated from a mesh material, from netting, from a stretchable or non-stretchable material, or from any other material that enables support member  40  to function as described herein. 
   An intersection  60  defined between the union of support member body portion  44  and medial portion  18  is contoured and is designed to rest against the buttocks or bottom of the infant  12 . More specifically, intersection  60  facilitates preventing the infant  12  from sliding out of well region  30  and the contour of intersection  60  and medial region  14  facilitates providing additional support to infant  12 . 
   During use, initially pillow  10  is secured in position relative to a crib or mattress using fasteners  46 . An infant  12  is then positioned within well region  30  and between arms  20  and  22 . Specifically, when infant  12  is positioned within well region  30 , the infant&#39;s head is supported by, and rests against, support member head portion  42 , and the infant&#39;s body or torso is supported by support member body portion  44  between the infants head and buttocks. More specifically, when fully inserted within well region  30 , the infants bottom will be positioned generally tightly against the contoured intersection  60  defined between the union of body portion  44  and medial portion  18 , and the infants legs will be supported by pillow body  14 . 
   The combination of arms  20  and  22 , and medial region  18  creates a secure, womblike environment that should facilitate enhancing the sleeping of the infant positioned therein. Moreover, the combination of arms  20  and  22 , and medial region  18  should also preventing infants from rolling while asleep, and limiting their startle reflex. To further simulate the womb-like environment, a blanket may be placed over the infant and tucked tightly around and under the outer edges of pillow  10 . Furthermore, pillow  10  should also facilitate reducing the risks of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) 
   The above-described pillow is cost-effective and facilitates enhancing sleep of infants. The pillow includes a well region that is defined by a U-shaped pillow body and a support member. The support member extends between the arms of the pillow body and extends outwardly from the free ends of the pillow body to provide a support region for the infant&#39;s head. When an infant is positioned within the well region, the pillow simulates a womb-like environment that promotes sleep of the infant, limits their startle reflex, and reduces the risks of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). As a result, the pillow facilitates increased sleep of infants in a cost-effective and reliable manner 
   Exemplary embodiments of pillows are described above in detail. The pillows are not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, but rather, components of each pillow may be utilized independently and separately from other components described herein. For example, the pillow well region may also be used in combination with other pillow bodies. 
   While the invention has been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.