Abstract:
A bedding article for reflux babies and/or other infants or children having a medical condition that requires an inclined sleeping position has anti-rotation features. These features include multiple securements or fasteners between a sling and a base or mattress. These features can include removable blocks (e.g. foam or the like) that are removably attachable to the sling on one or both sides.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/057,081, filed May 29, 2008, incorporated herein by reference, is hereby claimed. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable 
     REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX” 
     Not applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to bedding articles for use with infants, wherein the infant has a medical condition that requires inclination or elevation of the torso and head (e.g. gastroesophageal reflux). 
     2. General Background of the Invention 
     Small infants that suffer from a condition known as gastroesophageal reflux condition are desirably kept in a crib that has a mattress with an inclined or partially elevated orientation of about thirty degrees (30°). The problem is that if the child is left unattended, it can very easily tumble or slide down the mattress if it begins to move about. 
     Previously, U.S. Pat. No. 4,989,286 (hereby incorporated herein by reference) provided a bedding article for supporting reflux babies upon an underlying crib mattress in an inclined position. The bedding article of the &#39;286 patent provides a band of bedding material that defines a partial covering for a crib mattress while forming a tensile load carrying connection therewith. The band had a lower end portion position during use at the middle area of the mattress. An infant support sling was connected to the band of bedding material at the lower end portion thereof and included a central panel portion, a left panel portion, and a right panel portion that can be connected to define a diaper that covers the infant&#39;s groin and pelvic areas. This support sling provided leg apertures accommodating the infant&#39;s legs, the leg apertures being pointed generally away from an upper tensile load carrying connection so that when the mattress is inclined, the diaper supports the infant and the band carried the infant&#39;s weight to prevent a sliding of the infant down the mattress during use. The band encircled the mattress with a first closed end adapted to register with an end of the mattress and a second lower end. 
     Some infants who are larger or stronger have used the device shown and described in the Tucker &#39;286 patent. These larger or stronger infants have in some cases attempted to turn over, twist or otherwise disorient the sling relative to the mattress. The present invention provides an improved bedding article for supporting infants with gastroesophageal reflux condition. The sling disclosed in the Tucker &#39;286 patent would have a tendency to twist if the baby attempted to roll over. The &#39;286 patent lacked cushion attachments and improved buckle arrangement of the present invention. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an improved bedding article for supporting reflux babies. The apparatus employs a base mattress having an inclined upper surface. 
     An infant support sling includes an upper section defining a whole or partial covering for the mattress and forming a connection therewith. The upper section provides a lower end portion positioned during use at the middle area of the mattress. The lower portion of the sling has a central panel portion, a left panel portion, and a right panel portion. These panel portions connect to form a diaper that covers the infant&#39;s groin and pelvic areas. Leg apertures of the diaper accommodate the infant&#39;s legs when the diaper is formed. The leg apertures are pointed generally away from the upper section of the sling so that when the mattress is inclined the diaper supports the infant and the upper section carries the infant&#39;s weight to prevent a sliding of the infant down the mattress during use. 
     A plurality of connector strips connect and hold the sling to the mattress. The strips can include at least two strips that are longitudinally spaced apart and at least two strips that are transversely spaced apart. The strips prevent a rolling or lateral displacement of the infant or child by holding the lower part of the sling to the upper surface of the base/mattress. 
     Optional blocks (e.g. foam) can be employed to further help prevent the child from rolling laterally. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a partial perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a partial perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a partial perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing the lower portion of the sling in an open position; 
         FIGS. 6 and 7  are sequential views illustrating an attachment of the lower part of the sling to an infant; 
         FIGS. 8 ,  9  and  10  are fragmentary perspective views of the block portions of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIGS. 1-11  show a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, designated generally by the numeral  10  in  FIGS. 4-7  and  11 . The present invention provides an improved bedding article  10  for an infant or toddler having a base  11  in the form of a mattress. The base/mattress  11  has an upper surface  12 , a pair of opposed side surfaces  13 ,  14 . The side surfaces  13 ,  14  can be preferably generally triangularly shaped. Lower edge  15  is an edge formed by the intersection of upper surface  12  and a lower surface which is substantially flat and rectangular. The lower surface can be the same general size and shape as the upper surface  12 , or of the same shape and slightly larger or slightly smaller than the upper surface  12 . An upper end panel  16  can be generally rectangularly shaped and extends between the upper  12  and lower surfaces of the base/mattress  11  and in between the side surfaces  13 ,  14 . 
     A sling  20  provides an upper sling section  21  and a lower sling section  22 . Upper section  21  of sling  20  is sized and shaped to fit over the upper, elevated part of base/mattress  11  next to upper end panel  16  as indicated by arrows  32  in  FIG. 4 .  FIGS. 5 ,  6 ,  7  show the connected position of upper section  21  of sling  20  to base or mattress  11 . A zipper  47  can be provided on sling  20  upper section  21  to enable part of upper section to be opened as shown in  FIG. 4 , easing placement of upper section  21  on base/mattress  11 . 
     The base/mattress  11  has a plurality of fastener strips  17 ,  18 ,  19  affixed to upper surface  12 . The fastener strips  17 ,  18 ,  19  can be either the hook or the loop part of a hook and loop fastener such as Velcro®. 
     Sling  20  provides a plurality of strip fasteners  23 ,  24 ,  25  that correspond in size and shape to the fasteners  17 ,  18 ,  19  of the base/mattress  11 . The fasteners  23 ,  24 ,  25  include a laterally extending fastener strip  23  that corresponds in size and shape to the laterally extending fastener strip  17 . The fasteners  23 ,  24 ,  25  include a pair of longitudinally extending fastener strips  24 ,  25  that correspond respectively in size and shape to the longitudinally extending fastener strips  18 ,  19  on the upper surface  12  of base/mattress  11 . 
     If the fastener strips  17 ,  18 ,  19  are hook strip fasteners, the corresponding fastener strips  23 ,  24 ,  25  would be loop fastener strips. However, the strips  17 ,  18 ,  19  could be loop type fastener strips in which case the fastener strips  23 ,  24 ,  25  would be hook type fastener strips. The laterally extending fastener strip  23  could be fastened to the lower end portion  26  of upper sling section  21 . 
     Lower sling section  22  has a generally T-shaped section  27 . The T-shaped section  27  includes left  28  and right  29  flaps as well as downwardly extending central flap  30 . The central flap  30  can provide a small diameter or narrowed portion  31  (see  FIG. 5 ). 
     Lower section  22  of sling  20  provides a plurality of fastener strips which enable a diaper shape (see  FIGS. 6 ,  7  and  11 ) to be formed of lower section  22  around the pelvic area of infant or child  40 . Laterally extending fastener strip  33  is carried by flap  30  as shown in  FIG. 2 . Fastener strips  34 ,  35  are provided on flaps  28 ,  29  respectively as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 6 . Fastener strips  34 ,  35  are on an opposite side of lower sling section  22  from the fastener strips  23 ,  24 ,  25 . Thus, lower sling section  22  has upper surface  55  with fastener strips  34 ,  35  and lower surface  56  with fastener strips  24 ,  25 ,  45 ,  46  as shown in  FIGS. 1-2 ,  4 - 5 . 
     Each of the flaps  28 ,  29  is provided with a belt section having a buckle part. Two of the buckle parts quickly connect and quickly disconnect. Such quick connect, quick disconnect buckles are commercially available. The flap  28  has belt section  36  and buckle part  37 . The flap  29  has belt section  38  and buckle part  39 . When the flaps  28 ,  29 ,  30  are assembled to form a diaper, openings  41 ,  42  are provided for the infant&#39;s legs as shown in  FIGS. 6-7  and  11 . Arrows  43  and  44  illustrate the assembly of flaps  28 ,  29 , when forming a diaper for the infant or child  40 . Arrow  43  illustrates the folding upwardly of flap  30  followed by a folding inwardly of the flaps  28 ,  29  as illustrated by arrows  44  in  FIG. 7 . 
     Each of the flaps  28 ,  29  has a fastener strip that connects to fastener strip  33  on flap  30 . The flap  28  has fastener strip  34 . The flap  29  has fastener strip  35 . If the fastener strip  33  is a loop type fastener, the strips  34 ,  35  will be hook type fasteners to provide a hook and loop type connection such as Velcro®. The fastener strips  17 ,  18 ,  19  of  FIG. 3  which are connected to fastener strips  23 ,  24 ,  25  respectively of  FIG. 2  provide an anti-roll, anti-shifting connection between the sling  20  and the base/mattress  11 . To provide an additional safety against rolling in a lateral direction, blocks (such as foam blocks or the like) are provided, each having a fastener strip that enables a connection to be formed between the block and the sling  20  at provided fastener strips  45 ,  46 . The strips  45 ,  46  are seen in  FIG. 7  prior to the application of a selected foam block. 
     The foam blocks shown in  FIGS. 8-11  can include a foam block  48  having a generally cylindrically shaped cross section with fastener strip  49 . Block  50  has a generally triangular cross section and a fastener strip  51 . Block  52  has a generally rectangular cross section and a fastener strip  53 . Any one of the blocks shown in  FIGS. 8-10  can be attached to the sling  20  as illustrated by arrow  54  in  FIG. 11 . The fastener strips  49 ,  51 ,  53  can be loop type fastener strips wherein the fastener strips  45 ,  46  would be hook type fastener strips. However, the reverse could be used. 
     The following is a list of suitable parts and materials for the various elements of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 PARTS LIST 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Parts  
                   
               
               
                 Number 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 10 
                 infant/toddler sling bedding article 
               
               
                 11 
                 base/mattress 
               
               
                 12 
                 upper surface 
               
               
                 13 
                 side surface 
               
               
                 14 
                 side surface 
               
               
                 15 
                 lower edge 
               
               
                 16 
                 upper end panel 
               
               
                 17 
                 laterally extending fastener strip 
               
               
                 18 
                 longitudinally extending fastener strip 
               
               
                 19 
                 longitudinally extending fastener strip 
               
               
                 20 
                 sling 
               
               
                 21 
                 upper sling section 
               
               
                 22 
                 lower sling section 
               
               
                 23 
                 laterally extending fastener strip 
               
               
                 24 
                 longitudinally extending fastener strip 
               
               
                 25 
                 longitudinally extending fastener strip 
               
               
                 26 
                 lower end portion 
               
               
                 27 
                 T-shaped section 
               
               
                 28 
                 flap 
               
               
                 29 
                 flap 
               
               
                 30 
                 flap 
               
               
                 31 
                 narrowed portion 
               
               
                 32 
                 arrow 
               
               
                 33 
                 laterally extending fastener strip 
               
               
                 34 
                 fastener strip 
               
               
                 35 
                 fastener strip 
               
               
                 36 
                 belt section 
               
               
                 37 
                 buckle part 
               
               
                 38 
                 belt section 
               
               
                 39 
                 buckle part 
               
               
                 40 
                 infant/small child/toddler 
               
               
                 41 
                 opening 
               
               
                 42 
                 opening 
               
               
                 43 
                 arrow 
               
               
                 44 
                 arrow 
               
               
                 45 
                 fastener strip 
               
               
                 46 
                 fastener strip 
               
               
                 47 
                 zipper 
               
               
                 48 
                 block 
               
               
                 49 
                 fastener strip 
               
               
                 50 
                 block 
               
               
                 51 
                 fastener strip 
               
               
                 52 
                 block 
               
               
                 53 
                 fastener strip 
               
               
                 54 
                 arrow 
               
               
                 55 
                 upper surface 
               
               
                 56 
                 lower surface 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims.