Patent Publication Number: US-6662390-B1

Title: Infant sleeping and receiving blanket

Description:
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
     Not Applicable 
     SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of Invention 
     This invention relates generally to blankets, specifically to a blanket used for securing a newborn or small infant. 
     2. Description of Prior Art 
     It is generally known that babies like to be swaddled to be kept warm and to mimic the environment of their mother&#39;s womb. Swaddling a baby has been done in the past using traditional square blankets, but there are some disadvantages to this approach. For example, square blankets do not stay in place, and so much of the material from the blankets remains unused, resulting in wasted material. 
     The traditional square blanket does not allow the baby to sleep covered, and an older, more active infant will quickly kick off the covers, becoming cold enough to wake up in the middle of the night. As an infant learns to sit up, the traditional square blanket will not stay secure to the infant. A traditional square blanket will not protect an infant against drafts and colder temperatures while playing close to the floor. 
     Several challenges occur in trying to create a non-traditional swaddling blanket. First, infants vary in height and weight, and the blanket needs to accommodate these differences. A “one size fits all” blanket is needed. Secondly, the blanket needs to keep the infant warm but not allow the infant to overheat. Such overheating would put an infant in serious danger. In addition, the blanket needs to securely attach to the infant, and stay attached as the infant gets more active. Finally, a blanket is needed that can accommodate the changing lifestyle of an infant; (a) the fragile newborn, (b) the wakefulness and kicking of an older baby, (c) the exposure to drafts and colder temperatures for the baby who wants to play on the floor, (d) the desire to be warm and swaddled for the baby who likes to be held and passed around from one adult to another, (e) the curious baby ready to see the outdoors, and finally, (f) the sleeping baby who wants to be warm throughout the whole night. 
     Several attempts at creating a non-traditional swaddling blanket have been attempted, yet a truly satisfactory blanket has heretofore not been developed. U.S. patents covering various types of swaddling blankets do exist. These include U.S Pat. No. 6,009,576, to Gramme et al., issued Jan. 4, 2000, discloses a body-conforming wrapping article for infants. This article forms a pouch by using wrapping flaps that are secured around the infant by using hook and loop fasteners. In this particular design an infant can kick his way out at the bottom, allowing the infant&#39;s feet to become cold. U.S. Pat. No. 5,852,827, to Lear, issued Dec. 29, 1998, discloses a baby wrapping blanket. This blanket consists of two flaps that are folded around an infant. An excess amount of material is used which doesn&#39;t allow for freedom of movement of the baby&#39;s arms and legs. U.S Pat. No. 1,583,419. to Perl, issued May 4, 1926, discloses a sleeping bag device. This device consists of a mattress portion and a cover portion. This device confines an infant too securely, allowing an infant&#39;s safety to be in question. 
     Other known U.S. Patents are U.S. Pat. No. 1,584,853, to Dern, issued May 18, 1926, discloses an infant&#39;s wrap. This wrap forms a pouch for the infant by using wrapping flaps that wrap around the infant&#39;s feet, and both the right and left sides of the body. This design for this wrap is complex, and poses a choking hazard for an infant because the infant&#39;s wrap contains small parts. Also in this design, it would be difficult for an infant to sit still long enough for an adult to finish all the steps needed to secure the infant in the wrap. 
     Still other known U.S. Patents are U.S. Pat. No. 2,227,751, to Idelman, issued Jan. 7, 1941, discloses a combination infant&#39;s garment and blanket. This garment and blanket consists of a zipper pouch for an infant&#39;s body, a hood, and a folded-up foot pouch. This design is too secure and does not allow much circulation of air when all the zippers, strings, and snaps are fastened. 
     OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES 
     Accordingly, several objects and advantages of my invention are: 
     (a) to provide a blanket with a gusset, which creates a three dimensional blanket, that will allow an infant to have freedom of movement while keeping the infant comfortable, warm, and secure. 
     (b) to provide a blanket with securing flaps, which will allow an infant to stay covered while sleeping, keeping the infant from kicking the blanket off. 
     (c) to provide a blanket comprising of hook and loop fasteners that allow the blanket to stay secure around the infant, provide adjustability for the varying sizes and shapes of each unique infant. Hook and loop fasteners will also provide the necessary adjustment to match the rapid growth rate of the infant. 
     (d) to provide a blanket comprising of vertically folded fabric, which allows an infant to be snuggly or loosely wrapped for maximum comfort. 
     (e) to provide a blanket with the option of one or more layers, which allows an infant to be protected from cold drafts and temperatures, while being safe from overheating. 
     (f) to provide a blanket which does not contain any removable parts or fancy decorations, keeping baby safe from choking and potential strangulation. 
     Other objects and advantages are ease of use. The blanket contains no complicated directions or folds. The blanket is easy to place baby in, even if the baby wiggles and squirms. The blanket is easy and quick to assemble, so as not to upset an infant. The blanket is a multipurpose blanket. It comprises of hook and loop fasteners for adjustability, allowing it to be used with the baby&#39;s arms inside, or outside the blanket. The blanket can wrap around the upper body or just the lower body to keep the legs warm. The diverse fabric selection creates a blanket that can be used both indoors and outdoors. The blanket is beneficial to newborns or older infants, who may still wear the blanket comfortably while sitting up and playing. This blanket is carefully shaped, so there is no excess material, and therefore, no wasted material. 
     Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance a blanket comprises a sheet of fabric of predetermined shape folded vertically, into three sections, and at the base of the folded fabric a gusset is attached. The folded fabric consists of a central area, a right-hand side and a left-hand side. Together, the central area, the right-hand side and the left hand side make up the securing compartment. Attached to the front base of the folded fabric is a T-shaped wrapping flap with right and left securing flaps. The right-hand side and left-hand side of the folded fabric may include hook and loop fasteners for securing an infant inside the securing compartment. The right and left securing flaps of the T-shaped wrapping flap include hook and loop fasteners that wrap around the sides and the back of the securing compartment. Both T-shaped wrapping flaps overlap and join in the back of the securing compartment, and thus, the back of the infant. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1A is a plan view of the preferred embodiment of blanket  10  in a flat or fully opened position. 
     FIG. 1B is a plan view similar to FIG. 1A, with blanket  10  being in an intermediate stage of enclosure. 
     FIG. 2A is a plan view of blanket  10 , with T-shaped wrapping flap  20  shown folded up over securing compartment  12  with right securing flap  22  and left securing flap  24  shown unattached. 
     FIG. 2B is a back perspective view of FIG.  2 A. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of blanket  10 . 
     FIG. 4A is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of blanket  10 . 
     FIG. 4B is a perspective view of FIG.  4 A. 
     FIG. 5A is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of blanket  10 . 
     FIG. 5B is a perspective view of FIG.  5 A. 
     FIG. 6 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of blanket  10 . 
     FIG. 7 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of blanket  10  with the addition of a hood. 
    
    
     REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 10 
                 blanket 
                 26 
                 right hook and loop fastener 
               
               
                 12 
                 securing compartment 
                 28 
                 left hook and loop fastener 
               
               
                 13 
                 gusset 
                 30 
                 right hook and loop fastener on 
               
               
                 14 
                 right-hand side 
                   
                 T-shaped wrapping flap 
               
               
                 15 
                 base 
                 32 
                 left hook and loop fastener on T- 
               
               
                 16 
                 left-hand side 
                   
                 shaped wrapping flap 
               
               
                 18 
                 central area 
                 34 
                 right alternative flap 
               
               
                 20 
                 T-shaped wrapping flap 
                 36 
                 left alternative flap 
               
               
                 22 
                 right securing flap 
                 38 
                 right seam 
               
               
                 24 
                 left securing flap 
                 40 
                 left seam 
               
               
                 25 
                 elastic band 
                 42 
                 hood 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Description-FIGS.  1 A- 1 B- 2 A- 2 B- 3 -Preferred Embodiment 
     A preferred embodiment of the blanket of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1A which is shown in its unwrapped or fully opened position. Blanket  10  can be considered as comprising generally of a securing compartment  12 , which comprises a sheet of fabric of predetermined shape, folded vertically into three sections, sewn together at base  15  and sewn to gusset  13 . Securing compartment  12  is made up of right-hand side  14 , left-hand side  16 , and central area  18 . Securing compartment  12  and gusset  13 , when sewn together, create a three dimensional blanket. 
     Right-hand side  14  and left-hand side  16  may further have mating hook and loop fasteners, that when joined, provide a secure attachment. The infant is secure inside securing compartment  12  by the joining of right hook and loop fastener  26  to left hook and fastener  28 . Right-hand side  14  and left-hand side  16  may contain no hook and loop fasteners or more than one set of fasteners depending on the size of the infant. Attached to base  15  and gusset  13  is T-shaped wrapping flap  20 . T-shaped wrapping flap  20  contains right securing flap  22  and left securing flap  24 , as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. T-shaped wrapping flap  20  is shown in its opened or unused position, with hook and loop fasteners  30  attached to the ends of right securing flap  22  and hook and loop fastener  32  attached to left securing flap  24 . 
     Referring to FIG. 1B, blanket  10  is in an intermediate stage of enclosure, with right hand side  14  and left-hand side  16  in use, joined to each other by hook and loop fasteners  26  and  28 . Central area  18  is shown containing an elastic band  25 . Central area  18  may contain no elastic bands, or more than one elastic band, depending on the need to secure the infant. In FIG. 2A, T-shaped wrapping flap is shown directly on top of securing compartment  12 , with right securing flap  22  and left securing flap  24  still unattached. FIG. 2B is a back perspective view of blanket  10  with right securing flap  22  and left securing flap  24  just before being folded onto each other. FIG. 3 shows blanket  10  in use. 
     In the preferred embodiment, blanket  10  is constructed of one layer of fleece material. However, the blanket may be constructed of one or more layers of material such as cotton, cotton blend, flannel, satin, terry velour, or any other material that is soft and durable enough to take the shape of a blanket. The edges of the fabric may contain a cover stitch, satin binding, wooly nylon, or any other means in which two pieces of material may be attached. 
     FIGS.  4 A- 4 B- 5 A- 5 B- 6 - 7 -Alternative Embodiments 
     There are various possibilities with regard to the relative positioning and shape of T-shaped wrapping flap  20  of blanket  10 . T-shaped wrapping flap  20  may be eliminated and replaced with two additional flaps; right alternative flap  34  and left alternative flap  36 , as shown in FIG.  4 A. These side flaps may be from a continuous piece of material which extends around the back of securing compartment  12 , or two separate pieces, individually attached to right seam  38  and left seam  40 . The right alternative flap  34  and the left alternative flap  36  may each contain at least one hook and loop fastener. 
     The alternative flaps may have many shapes and sizes, ranging from wide and oval, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, to narrow and rectangular, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. In FIGS. 4A,  4 B,  5 A, and  5 B, right alternative flap  34  and left alternative flap  36  attach to each other in the front of securing compartment  12 . Another alternative is to eliminate T-shaped wrapping flap  20  altogether, as shown in FIG.  6 . In FIG. 7, one of the alternative embodiments of blanket  10  is shown comprising of hood  42 , which can be formed using the same piece of material used in forming securing compartment  12 , or added by attaching a separate piece of material to central area  18 . 
     OPERATION 
     Referring now to FIG. 1A, a method for wrapping a “blanket” around an infant according to the principles of the present invention will be described. In use, an infant is placed inside securing compartment  12  with the head resting on central area  18 . The arms of the infant may either be placed inside or left out of securing compartment  12 . Right-hand side  14  is folded over the infant so that it covers a portion of the infant&#39;s body. Left-hand side  16  is then folded over and secured to right-hand side  14  using right hook and loop fastener  26  and left hook and loop fastener  28  to secure the infant in place. T-shaped wrapping flap  20  is then folded up and over the front of securing compartment  12 . Next, right securing flap  22  and left securing flap  24  are joined in the back of securing compartment  12  and thus the back of the infant by attaching right hook and loop fasteners on T-shaped wrapping flap  30  with left hook and loop fasteners on T-shaped wrapping flap  32 . Hook and loop fasteners are sewn in the appropriate overlapping regions of right-hand flap  22  and left-hand flap  24  so that when connected, the infant is secure in the blanket. 
     A variation to the above mentioned method would be to place the infant into the securing compartment  12  so that the waist is even with the top edge of securing compartment  12 . Following the rest of the above mentioned method would allow just the infant&#39;s waist and legs to be completely covered by the blanket. 
     The operations of the alternative embodiments shown in FIGS. 4A,  5 B, and  6  are identical to the operation of the preferred embodiment with one exception; instead of using T-shaped wrapping flap  20  to secure the infant, right alternative flap  34  and left alternative flap  36  are folded over each other in front of securing compartment  12 , and thus in front of the infant, and further secured with hook and loop fasteners attached to right alternative flap  34  and left alternative flap  36 . 
     CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE OF INVENTION 
     Thus the reader will see that the infant sleeping and receiving blanket provides a safe and secure blanket for an infant to be comfortably swaddled in while maintaining its usefulness as the infant continues to grow. 
     While my above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as an exemplification of one preferred embodiment thereof. Many other variations are possible. For example, the invention should not be limited in the following ways: in shape (the blanket may be made of a different shaped material as to form a hood for the blanket), in size (this blanket may be used for adults, or for premature infants), the type of material of manufacture (hospitals may have use for a soft paper version for intensive care babies), in use (this blanket may be manufactured as a toy blanket for dolls or teddy bears), means of fastening material together (this includes a number of materials besides traditional thread), orientation (right side may fold over left side first, or left side may fold over right side first), and location of securing flaps. 
     Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.