Description:
Our invention relates to a safety device for babies, and more particularly to an anchored but non-restraining sleeping garment for an infant.
Infants are often very active at an early age when they are not yet strong enough to protect themselves. For example, they can move about and become entangled in blankets or the like. This can be dangerous in that an infant could be injured, suffocated, or perhaps be strangled. Therefore, it is desirable for the infants to be anchored in position so that they cannot be so injured. Yet the infant is frustrated if it cannot move, and that may produce an even more damaging psychological reaction.
An object of our invention is to provide an infant's garment for covering the shoulders and torso, and yet allowing free movement of the arms and legs of the infant.
Another object of our invention is to provide a device of the character described, that will retain an infant in a comfortable position, without requiring a tight belt, or the like, and without restricting any of the infant's actions or movement.
Still another object of our invention, is to design the device so it may be attached to either a crib, bed, chair, or the like, while the infant is disposed therein.
A further object is to provide a device, that is equipped with swivel clamps, to prevent the infant from being entangled by movement of its body.
The invention provides for the care of infants as well as of children, who are in the climbing and walking age group. It is most difficult when placing them in bed to keep them in a safe and comfortable position, and at the same time preventing them from getting out of the crib, bed, or the like.
The device described, illustrated and claimed herein is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and efficiently performs the function for which it is intended. It retains the infant in a relaxed safe position and yet may be attached in various ways by means of leashes, strands, or the like, forming a part thereof.
Other and further objects of our invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds, when taken in conjunction with the drawing, which is a perspective view of the inventive garment.
The reference character 10 indicates generally a body of the garment. It may be constructed of cotton, wool, rayon, other synthetic material, or the like. If desired, it may be equipped with a binding sewn around the entire outer edge as 11. The body portion 10 is equipped with a neck opening 12, and it is folded downwardly at the shoulders 13, to provide a back portion 14. It is folded upwardly at its lower end, to form the crotch portion 15. The lower portion 15 may be pleated to form a fold, as shown as 16, to make it adjustable to fit the infant as it grows.
The back portion 14 is equipped with a hookless fastener 17, here shown in a closed position, and extending vertically. A binding 18 at the neck opening 12 is extended on both ends 20 to form cords, which permit the neck opening 12 to be held in a closed position, as shown by the bow generally shown as 19.
At the lower end of the back portion 14, we show a ring 20 attached to the garment by means of a loop 21, for the engagement of a snap 22 attached, at 23, to the lower portion 15. The snap 22 enables the garment to be opened to change diapers, or for other purposes.
Two belt-like strands 24 are shown having loops 25, which loops 25 are variable in size using buckles or the like (indicated by dashed lines but not shown) to enable an adjustment of the garment to fit the child. These strands 24 are here shown as attached to the body 10, at 26, and to the back portion 14 at 27. At their ends 28 the strands 24 are equipped with loops 29 on both sides of the hookless fastener 17.
Obviously the hookless fastener 17 may be replaced with conventional "snaps" , or buttons (not shown), and the purpose of the loops 29 is to enable the snaps 30 to be clipped thereto, either through both loops 29, or a single loop as shown. The snaps 30 are here shown as being equipped with swivel mountings 31, to hold the back portion 14, and to keep it from spreading into open position.
The snaps 30 support leash bands 32 and 33, which bands may be arranged in any convenient manner. The band 33 is shown equipped with another swivel snap 30', for engagement with a loop 34 on an auxiliary band 35. The bands shown as 24, 32, and 35, may be of any form, or shape, and they are employed for fastening the unit to the bed, or crib, in any practical manner.
From the above description it will become apparent, that the device may be worn by an infant in a manner which permits a free movement of the legs and arms of the infant and yet retains the infant in a safe position.
Although we have shown a specific construction and arrangement of the parts and features constituting our invention, many changes may be made without affecting the operativeness of the unit. We therefore reserve the right to make such changes as we may deem necessary, or convenient. All equivalent structures which do not depart from the spirit of our invention fall within the scope of the appended claims.