INFANT SLEEP POSITIONER

• US 20090044335A1
• Filed: 10/28/2008
• Published: 02/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The First Years Incorporated (TOMY Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: The First Years Incorporated (TOMY Company Limited)
• Inventors: Fernandes, Antonio S., Salvo, Lawrence J., Hotaling, Bryan R., Brewin, Joseph F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,810,181 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 5/424
• CPC Class Codes: A47D 15/003 foldable, e.g. baby mats
• CPC Class Codes: A47D 15/008 in beds, play-pens or cradles
• CPC Class Codes: A47D 9/016 capable of being suspended from, or attached to, other articles or structures, e.g. adult's bed

Abstract

A device for stabilizing the position of an infant while sleeping features a shell assembly including a base panel having two longitudinal sides and two lateral sides, an end wall extending generally upwardly from one of the lateral sides, two side walls extending generally upwardly from the longitudinal sides, a shell cover comprising an outer surface and conforming generally to the shell assembly, and a removable positioner insert disposed atop the base panel and comprising left and right nacelles attached to an insert base and separated by a distance selected to accommodate the width of an infant placed between the nacelles, to inhibit lateral motion of the infant while sleeping.

Claims

1. A sleep compartment for an infant, the sleep compartment comprising:

a shell assembly; and

a shell cover comprising

a pocket adapted to receive and substantially enclose the shell assembly,

a flexible bottom panel extending beyond the shell assembly, a portion of the flexible bottom panel adapted to fold over the shell assembly, and

an anchoring flap extending from the pocket and configured to be positioned between a mattress and a foundation.

2. The sleep compartment for an infant of claim 1 wherein the shell assembly comprises:

a base panel including a first longitudinal side, a second longitudinal side, a first lateral side, and a second lateral side;

an end wall extending generally upwardly from the first lateral side; and

two side walls extending generally upwardly from the first and second longitudinal sides.

3. The sleep compartment for an infant of claim 2 wherein the first longitudinal side has a first length and wherein one of the side walls has a second length, the first length being greater than the second length.

4. The sleep compartment for an infant of claim 2 wherein the flexible bottom panel of the shell cover is configured to rest on the base panel of the shell assembly, and wherein the flexible bottom panel extends beyond the base panel.

5. The sleep compartment for an infant of claim 2 wherein the base panel, the end wall, and the two side walls define a recess, and wherein the flexible bottom panel of the shell cover is configured to enclose the recess when folded over the shell assembly.

6. The sleep compartment for an infant of claim 1 wherein the anchoring flap includes a first portion configured to extend below a top surface of the mattress and a second portion configured to be positioned between the mattress and the foundation.

7. The sleep compartment for an infant of claim 5 wherein the first portion of the anchoring flap includes a fastener to removably connect to the pocket of the shell cover, the fastener being configured to allow for adjustment of a length of the first portion to coincide with a thickness of the mattress.

8. The sleep compartment for an infant of claim 1 wherein the shell assembly includes a plurality of standoffs extending into an interior thereof.

9. The sleep compartment for an infant of claim 8 wherein the standoffs provide a space between an interior surface of the shell assembly and the shell cover when the shell assembly is positioned in the pocket of the shell cover.

10. The sleep compartment for an infant of claim 8 wherein the shell assembly includes a plurality of apertures through a wall of the shell assembly, each aperture positioned between adjacent standoffs.

11. The sleep compartment for an infant of claim 10 wherein the shell cover includes an air-permeable section positioned adjacent to the standoffs to enable pneumatic communication between the interior of the shell assembly and the apertures.

12. A sleep compartment for an infant, the sleep compartment comprising:

a shell assembly including a first side wall having a standoff extending into an interior thereof and an aperture adjacent to the standoff; and

a shell cover comprising

a pocket adapted to receive and substantially enclose the shell assembly, a portion of the pocket having an air-permeable section overlaying the standoff to enable pneumatic communication between the interior of the shell assembly and the aperture, and

a flexible bottom panel extending beyond the shell assembly, a portion of the flexible bottom panel adapted to fold over the shell assembly.

13. The sleep compartment for an infant of claim 12 wherein the shell assembly includes an end wall connected to the first side wall, a second side wall connected to the end wall, and a base panel connected to the end wall, the first side wall, and the second side wall.

14. The sleep compartment for an infant of claim 13 wherein the first wall, the second wall, and the end wall are integrally formed together.

15. The sleep compartment for an infant of claim 13 wherein the first wall, the second wall, the end wall, and the base panel are integrally formed together.

16. The sleep compartment for an infant of claim 13 wherein the base panel includes a first longitudinal side having a first length and wherein one of the side walls has a second length, the first length being greater than the second length.

17. The sleep compartment for an infant of claim 13 wherein the flexible bottom panel of the shell cover is configured to rest on the base panel of the shell assembly, and wherein the flexible bottom panel extends beyond the base panel.

18. The sleep compartment for an infant of claim 13 wherein the base panel, the end wall, and the two side walls define a recess, and wherein the flexible bottom panel of the shell cover is configured to enclose the recess when folded over the shell assembly.

19. The sleep compartment for an infant of claim 12 wherein the shell assembly further comprises a rim positioned at an upper end of the first and second walls and the end wall, the rim having a width greater than a width of the first and second walls, the rim configured to define a space between an inside wall of the rim and an interior wall of the first and second walls.

20. The sleep compartment for an infant of claim 12 wherein the standoffs provide a space between an interior surface of the shell assembly and the shell cover when the shell assembly is positioned in the pocket of the shell cover.