Weighted Sleepsuit with Gradient Pressure for Infant Self-Soothing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Children, especially infants and toddlers, often struggle with sleep due to the inability to self-soothe, leading to adverse health and developmental effects. Existing solutions like cradling are impractical and unsafe.

Innovation Solution

A wearable sleepsuit designed for children, featuring a front side with optimized weight distribution across rows and columns, providing a soothing pressure that mimics the sensation of being held or swaddled.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If weighted blankets are used to calm children and improve sleep, then the soothing pressure effect is achieved, but the weight distribution may not be optimized for children's specific body proportions and sleep needs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesleep qualityVSAvoidweight distribution optimization

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The sleepsuit applies different weight densities to different body regions, with heavier weighting in the torso and head area and lighter weighting in the limbs, matching children's specific sleep needs and body proportions rather than using uniform weight distribution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes the weight parameter by using a gradient distribution where the weight density varies by location, with the torso and head receiving higher weight density and limbs receiving lower weight density, tailored specifically for children's physiology

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If cradling an infant is used to calm the baby, then the soothing effect is achieved, but safe sleep practices are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecalming effectVSAvoidsafe sleep practice

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sleepsuit provides the soothing pressure effect that would normally require active parental cradling, allowing infants to self-soothe while sleeping independently in safe sleep positions without requiring continuous parental contact

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The weighted sleepsuit acts as an intermediary device that delivers the calming tactile stimulus of cradling through controlled pressure, eliminating the need for actual physical cradling while maintaining the beneficial soothing effect

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If uniform weight distribution is used in weighted blankets, then manufacturing is simplified, but comfort and effectiveness for children are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight distribution designVSAvoidchild comfort

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Rather than uniform weight distribution, the sleepsuit implements localized weight variations with higher density in the torso and head region and lower density in the limbs, optimizing comfort and effectiveness for children's specific body proportions and sleep patterns

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12336573B2Sleepsuit for children

Publication Date: 2025.06.24 CHAMPLIN MICHELE

AI summary

A sleepsuit for children having a front side and a rear side. The front side is heavier than the rear side. The front is divided into a top portion; a middle portion; and a lower portion. The middle portion is heavier than the top portion, and the top portion is heavier than the lower portion. The top portion is divided into consecutive four rows, wherein the first three rows are of equal heights, and the fourth row which is adjacent to the middle portion has a height larger than that of the first three rows. The middle portion can be divided into five rows.