All-season sleep swaddle

Abstract

An infant sleep swaddle is designed with a wrap portion featuring two flaps extending laterally from a back portion, where one flap is longer and includes an attachment patch. The swaddle also includes a pouch defined by a fabric layer and an outer panel with a higher thermal grade rating than the fabric layer. The outer panel is insulated and can be moved between the posterior and anterior sides of the pouch. The fabric layer is breathable, and the attachment mechanisms utilize hook-and-loop fabric. Additionally, an infant sleep pouch is described with similar features, including an anterior and outer layer, where the outer layer is insulated and movable, and the anterior layer is breathable.

Description

ALL-SEASON SLEEP SWADDLECROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 626,480, filed January 29, 2024, and entitled “All-Season Sleep Swaddle,” and which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present disclosure relates to the field of sleep swaddles for infants, and, in particular, to the field of sleep swaddles that may be used in a variety of seasons.BACKGROUND

[0003] Some infant sleep swaddles typically include a pouch with a wrap where the infant’s legs are inserted into the pouch with its torso and head extending outside the pouch. The wrap is swaddled around the infant to make the infant feel secure. The pouch is generally constructed by attaching a layer of a fabric to the wrap portion which is also formed from a layer of fabric. This is acceptable for pleasant weather, but for cooler temperatures the infant needs more insulation.

[0004] Infant sleep safety is a critical concern for parents and caregivers, as improper sleeping conditions can lead to discomfort or even health risks for infants. Traditional swaddles and sleep sacks have been used for generations to provide warmth and security to sleeping infants, mimicking the snug environment of the womb. However, these traditional solutions often lack the adaptability needed to cater to varying environmental conditions and the specific needs of each infant.

[0005] In recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the importance of regulating an infant's body temperature during sleep to prevent overheating or excessive cooling, both of which can disrupt sleep and pose health risks. This has led to a demand for more advanced sleep solutions that offer both comfort and safety. The challenge lies in creating a product that not only secures the infant comfortably but also adapts to different thermal requirements while ensuringbreathability to prevent suffocation risks. As such, there is a need for innovative designs that address these multifaceted requirements, providing a safer and more comfortable sleep environment for infants.SUMMARY

[0006] For purposes of summary, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features are described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment. Thus, the apparatuses or methods claimed may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.

[0007] The infant sleep swaddle may include a wrap portion with an anterior and posterior side, featuring a first flap extending laterally from a back portion and a second flap extending in the opposite direction. The first flap can be longer than the second flap and may have an attachment patch on its posterior side, while the second flap can include attachment tabs designed to connect to the attachment patch. The swaddle may also have a pouch defined by a fabric layer attached to the lower periphery of the wrap portion, and an outer panel attached to the lower periphery of the swaddle, which can convertibly overlay the fabric layer. The outer panel may have a greater thermal overall grade rating than the fabric layer.

[0008] Some examples of the infant sleep swaddle may have an insulated outer panel.

[0009] In some examples, the fabric layer of the infant sleep swaddle can be made of breathable fabric.

[0010] The attachment patch and tabs in some examples may be made of hook-and-loop fabric.

[0011] The fabric layer in some examples may include a second attachment patch near its upper edge, and the first flap can have a corresponding attachment patch on its anterior surface, designed to attach to the second attachment patch.

[0012] In some examples, the second attachment patch and the corresponding attachment patch may be made of hook-and-loop fabric.

[0013] The outer panel of the infant sleep swaddle may be designed to move between the posterior side of the wrap portion and the anterior side of the pouch.

[0014] Some examples of the infant sleep swaddle with a moveable outer panel may have an insulated outer panel.

[0015] In some examples, the fabric layer of the swaddle with a moveable outer panel can be made of breathable fabric.

[0016] The infant sleep pouch may have an anterior and posterior side, comprising an anterior layer and an outer layer. The outer layer can be designed to move between the posterior and anterior sides of the pouch and may have a greater thermal overall grade rating than the anterior layer.

[0017] Some examples of the infant sleep pouch may have an insulated outer layer.

[0018] In some examples, the anterior layer of the infant sleep pouch can be made of breathable fabric.

[0019] The infant sleep pouch may also include a posterior layer with first and second flaps extending in opposite directions, where the second flap can be configured to attach its outer end to the posterior side of the first flap. In some examples, the first flap may be designed to attach to the anterior side of the anterior layer.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The all-season sleep swaddle is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. Additionally, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the drawing in which the reference number first appears.

[0021] FIG. 1 A presents a front side of an exemplary all-season sleep swaddle in an unswaddled configuration;

[0022] FIG. 1 B is another view of the front side of the exemplary all-season sleep swaddle of FIG. 1A;

[0023] FIG. 2 depicts the exemplary all-season sleep swaddle of FIG. 1A in a swaddled configuration;

[0024] FIG. 3A is a view the back side of the all-season sleep swaddle of FIG. 1 A in an unswaddled configuration showing an outer panel;

[0025] FIG. 3B is a section view of the all-season sleep swaddle of FIG. 1 A showing outer panel to the back revealing thin panel 105;

[0026] FIG. 3C shows the back side of the all-season sleep swaddle of FIG. 1A in a swaddled configuration;

[0027] FIG. 4A illustrates the front side of all-season sleep swaddle of FIG. 1 A in an unswaddled configuration showing reversal of the outer panel;

[0028] FIG. 4B is a section view of the all-season sleep swaddle of FIG. 1 A showing outer panel to the front covering thin panel 105;

[0029] FIG. 5 is a view of all season sleep swaddle of FIG. 1 A with the outer panel reversed in a swaddled configuration; and

[0030] FIG. 6 is a section view of the all-season sleep swaddle of FIG. 1 A illustrating reversal of the outer panel.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] The various embodiments of the sleep surface and their advantages are best understood by referring to FIGs. 1 A through 6 of the drawings. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the novel features and principles of operation. Throughout the drawings, like numerals are used for like and corresponding parts of the various drawings.

[0032] Furthermore, reference in the specification to “an embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “various embodiments,” or any variant thereof means that a particular feature or aspect described in conjunction with the particular embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearance of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in another embodiment,” or variations thereof in various places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to its respective embodiment.

[0033] This disclosure provides an infant sleep swaddle that may include a wrap portion with a first flap and a second flap extending laterally from a back portion. The first flap can be longer than the second flap and may include first attachment means, while the second flap may include attachment tabs. These features can secure the flaps in place, ensuring the infant is wrapped and secured. A pouch may be defined by a fabric layer attached to the wrap portion, creating a space for the infant. An outer layer can be configured to convertibly overlay the fabric layer, characterized by a greater thermal overall grade than the fabric layer, enhancing thermal insulation. The outer layer may be insulated to provide additional warmth, while the fabric layer can be breathable to allow air circulation. This combination of features can offer a secure, warm, and comfortable environment for the infant.

[0034] FIGs. 1 A and 1 B show the front side of an exemplary all-season sleep swaddle 100 comprising a t-shaped wrap portion with a back panel 111 with long flap 101 on one side and shorter flap 103 on the opposite side. Located in between the flaps is pouch 102 formed by thin panel 105 overlaying a downward extending back panel 111 and attached thereto around perimeter seam 115. Thin panel 105 may be formed with tab 113 disposed near its top edge that includes fastening patch 109b that mates with corresponding fastening patch 109a situated on long flap 101 . Shorter flap 103 may further comprise fastening tabs 107a, b. Fastening patches 109a, b may be patches of complementing hook-and-loop fabrics (e.g., “Velcro®”). Fastening tabs 107a, b may likewise preferably comprise a hook fabric. Swaddle 100 may be formed from any soft fabric, e.g., cotton, polyester, or blends.

[0035] FIG. 2 illustrates the exemplary swaddle 100 of FIGs. 1A and 1 B in a swaddled configuration. To swaddle an infant M, an infant’s legs are inserted intopouch 102 (see FIGs. 3B, 4B, and 6) and tab 113 of thin panel 105 is overlaid on the infant’s chest. The infant’s arms may remain outside pouch 102. Long flap 101 is wrapped around the infant’s shoulders with fastening patch 109a mating with complementary fastening patch 109b on tab 113. Shorter flap 103 is then wrapped over the infant in the opposite direction and secured by pressing hooked fabric tabs 107a, b onto a corresponding fastening patch 311 located on the back surface of the long flap 101 , as shown in FIGs. 3A and 3C.

[0036] Referring to FIG. 3A, the rear side of the exemplary swaddle 100 comprises an outer panel 301 on the opposite side of back panel 111 from thin panel 105 also attached at perimeter seam 115. Outer panel 301 may be permanently attached by the perimeter thereof. Outer panel 301 may also be partially attached or removably attached, e.g., with a hook-and-loop fastener or zipper or the like. FIG. 3B presents a section view of swaddle 100 with outer panel 301 toward the rear overlaying rear surface. FIG. 3C shows the back side of the all-season sleep swaddle 100 of in a swaddled configuration.

[0037] Outer panel 301 is characterized by having a thermal overall grade (TOG) rating greater than that of the thin panel 105. For example, in one embodiment, outer panel 301 may be constructed of a first layer 303a and a second layer 303b with insulation 307, e.g., batting, interposed between the two layers 303a, b. In another embodiment, thin panel 105 may be a breathable, mesh-type fabric, while outer panel 301 may be a thicker fabric.

[0038] As shown in FIGs. 4A and 4B, sleep swaddle 100 is constructed such that outer panel 301 may be reversed and flipped from the rear of swaddle 100 to the front. Accordingly, in FIG. 4A, outer panel 301 can be seen overlaying thin panel 105. An infant (M) may be swaddled in the same manner as described above, with the infant’s legs inserted into the insulated pouch 102. In this configuration, outer panel 301 is disposed on the infant’s anterior side. FIG. 4B is a section view of the all-season sleep swaddle of FIG. 1A showing outer panel 301 to the front, covering thin panel 105. FIG. 5 illustrates sleep swaddle 100 in a swaddled configuration with the outer panel 301 facing forward with layer 303b comprising a print.

[0039] FIG. 6 shows that the outer panel 301 may be shifted from the front side of swaddle 100 back to the rear side.

[0040] As described above and shown in the associated drawings, the present disclosure is directed to an all-season sleep swaddle. While particular embodiments have been described, it will be understood, however, that any invention appertaining to the sleep swaddle described is not limited thereto, since modifications may be made by those skilled in the art, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings. It is, therefore, contemplated by the appended claims to cover any such modifications that incorporate those features or those improvements that embody the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:1 . An infant sleep swaddle (100) comprising: a wrap portion having an anterior side and a posterior side and comprising a first flap (101 ) extending laterally from a back portion (111 ) and a second flap (103) extending laterally from the back portion in an opposite direction, the first flap being longer than the second flap and including an attachment patch (311 ) on a posterior side thereof, the second flap including attachment tabs (107a, 107b) configured to attach to the attachment patch; a pouch (102) defined by a fabric layer 105 attached to a lower periphery of the wrap portion; and an outer panel (301 ) attached to a lower periphery of the swaddle and configured to convertibly overlay the layer of fabric; and wherein the outer panel is characterized by a greater thermal overall grade rating than the fabric layer.

2. The infant sleep swaddle of Claim 1 , wherein the outer panel is insulated.

3. The infant sleep swaddle of Claim 1 , wherein the fabric layer is breathable fabric.

4. The infant sleep swaddle of Claim 1 , wherein the attachment patch and the attachment tabs are a hook-and-loop fabric.

5. The infant sleep swaddle of Claim 1 , wherein the fabric layer comprises a second attachment patch (109b) disposed near an upper edge thereof and whereinthe first flap comprises a corresponding attachment patch (109a) adapted to attach to the second attachment patch and disposed on an anterior surface of the first flap.

6. The infant sleep swaddle of Claim 5, wherein the second attachment patch and the corresponding attachment patch are a hook-and-loop fabric.

7. The infant sleep swaddle of Claim 1 , wherein the outer panel is configured to be moveable between the posterior side of the wrap portion to an anterior side of the pouch.

8. The infant sleep swaddle of Claim 7, wherein the outer panel is insulated.

9. The infant sleep swaddle of Claim 7, wherein the fabric layer is breathable fabric.

10. An infant sleep pouch (102) having an anterior side and a posterior side, the sleep pouch comprising: an anterior layer (105); and an outer layer (301 ) wherein the outer layer is configured to be moveable between the posterior side to an anterior side of the pouch and the outer layer is characterized by a greater thermal overall grade rating than the anterior layer.11 . The infant sleep pouch of Claim 10, wherein the outer layer is an insulated panel.

12. The infant sleep pouch of Claim 10, wherein the anterior layer is breathable fabric.

13. The infant sleep pouch of Claim 10, further comprising a posterior layer (111 ) having first and second flaps (101 , 103) extending in opposite directions, the second flap configured such that an outer end thereof attaches to a posterior side of the first flap.

14. The infant sleep pouch of Claim 13, wherein the first flap is configured to attach to an anterior side of the anterior layer.

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