Apparatus for cradling a baby

• US 5,715,535 A
• Filed: 07/27/1995
• Issued: 02/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Carlton B. Crutchfield, Melissa E. Hamilton
• Original Assignee: Carlton B. Crutchfield, Melissa E. Hamilton
• Inventors: Hamilton, Melissa E., Crutchfield, Carlton B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chapman, Jeanette E.
• Application Number:
  US08/507,976
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• Field of Search: 2/16, 2/22, 2/23, 2/24, 2/59, 2/46, 2/104, 2/242, 2/912, 2/913, 2/914, 2/915, 2/916, 2/917, 2/918, 2/919
• US Class Current: 2/59
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/08 Arm or hand protective gloves A41D19/015 ; protectors for the hands of players or sportsmen A63B71/14
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 2400/482 for babies

Abstract

An apparatus for cradling a baby with an arm comprising a padded biceps cuff for surrounding the upper arm, a padded forearm cuff for surrounding the forearm, and a connecting strap for connecting the padded biceps cuff to the padded forearm cuff to create a dual-cuff infant support cushion to provide comfort and support for an infant'"'"'s head, and protection against problems associated with cradling a baby including tiredness, soreness, stiffness, and reduced blood flow to the arm on which the baby'"'"'s head rests.

Claims

1. An apparatus for cradling with an arm, a baby, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a padded biceps cuff for surrounding an upper arm and said padded biceps cuff conforming to all infant safety requirements;

(b) a padded forearm cuff for surrounding a forearm and said padded forearm cuff conforming to all infant safety requirements; and

(c) a strap comprising fabric of a length sufficient to connect the padded biceps cuff to the padded forearm cuff to create a dual-cuff infant support cushion;

both said padded biceps cuff and said padded forearm cuff are comprised of an outer shell and an inner filling;

wherein said biceps cuff outer shell surrounds the inner filling of said padded biceps cuff and said forearm cuff outer shell surrounds the inner filling of the padded forearm cuff;

said outer shell of the padded forearm cuff is tapered and is comprised of a top forearm cuff outer shell and a bottom forearm cuff outer shell which are joined together along a seam to form one contiguous forearm cuff outer shell;

wherein the widest end of the forearm cuff outer shell is worn near the elbow portion of the forearm;

said outer shell of the padded biceps cuff and said outer shell of the padded forearm cuff are each comprised of a dryer safe breathable fabric; and

said inner filling of the padded biceps cuff and said inner filling of the padded forearm cuff are each of a non-toxic soft foam filling, wherein the inner filling of each cuff is positioned approximately in the center of the respective outer shell.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the outer shell of the padded biceps cuff is rectangular and is comprised of a top biceps cuff outer shell and a bottom biceps cuff outer shell which are joined together along a seam to form one contiguous biceps cuff outer shell.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein the biceps cuff outer shell is about thirty (30) to thirty-eight (38) centimeters wide and about four (4) to eight (8) centimeters long.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the widest end of the forearm cuff outer shell is about twenty-eight (28) to thirty-four (34) centimeters and the narrowest end is about twenty-three (23) to twenty-seven (27) centimeters, further wherein the length of the padded forearm cuff is about ten (10) to sixteen (16) centimeters.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the outer shell of the padded biceps cuff and the outer shell of the forearm cuff are each comprised of a washable cotton blend stretch terry cloth fabric with cotton bias tape along the seams.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the inner filling of the padded biceps cuff is secured in place by a suitable securing means, and is about five (5) to nine (9) centimeters wide and about the same length as the outer shell of the padded biceps cuff, further wherein the inner filling of the padded biceps cuff is worn on the apex area of a biceps.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the inner filling of the padded forearm cuff is secured in place by suitable securing means, is about five (5) to eight (8) centimeters wide and about the same length as the outer shell of the padded forearm cuff, further wherein the inner filling of the padded forearm cuff is worn on the inner, top portion of the forearm.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the padded biceps cuff is closed by wrapping the padded biceps cuff around the arm so that a first end having at least one biceps hook portion and a second end having at least one biceps loop portion form a secure closure around the upper arm when the two ends are pressed together.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 8 further wherein the biceps hook portion and the biceps loop portion are each about 1.5 to six (6) centimeters wide.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the padded forearm cuff is closed by wrapping the padded forearm cuff around the arm so that a first end having at least one forearm hook portion and a second end having at least one forearm loop portion form a secure closure around the forearm when the two ends are pressed together.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 10 further wherein the forearm hook portion and the forearm loop portion are each about 1.5 to six (6) centimeters wide.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the strap means includes:

(a) a first part having a strap, wherein one end of the strap is centered on the padded biceps cuff and the other end of the strap is attached to a connector hook portion;

(b) a second part having a connector loop portion centered on the padded forearm cuff wherein the connector hook portion and the connector loop portion form a secure closure when pressed together to connect and keep in place the padded biceps cuff and the padded forearm cuff.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein the strap is about three (3) to five (5) centimeters wide and three (3) to five (5) centimeters long, and the connector hook portion and connector loop portion are each about three (3) to five (5) centimeters wide and about one (1) to 2.5 centimeters long.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein the first part of the strap is contiguous with the padded biceps cuff and extends outwardly therefrom.

15. The apparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein the connector hook portion and the connector loop portion of the strap means are kept apart whereby the padded forearm cuff and the padded biceps cuff can be worn independently of one another.

16. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the padded biceps cuff is primarily rectangular with a convex shape in the area adjacent to the biceps cuff inner filling.

17. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the padded forearm cuff is a convex shape in the area adjacent to the forearm cuff inner filling.

18. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the strap is detachable.

19. A method for providing protection to a person'"'"'s arm and a baby'"'"'s head, while cradling a baby, comprising the steps of:

(a) wrapping a padded biceps cuff around an upper arm;

(b) wrapping a padded forearm cuff around a forearm on the same arm on which the padded biceps cuff has been placed;

(c) using a strap comprising fabric of a sufficient length for connecting the padded biceps cuff to the padded forearm cuff to create a dual-cuff infant support cushion which maintains its position during use and provides protection from the discomfort associated with cradling; and

laying said baby'"'"'s head on said padded biceps cuff and said padded forearm cuff, thus providing a cushioned resting place for said baby'"'"'s head.

20. The method as recited in claim 19 further wherein the padded biceps cuff and the padded forearm cuff are worn independently of each other.

21. The method as recited in claim 19 wherein the strap in step (c) is detachable.