Abstrict
A baby monitor that monitors an infant while keeping the infant
in a safe sleeping position that consists of infant positioning
blocks incorporating a battery powered audio pickup with a low power
FM transmitter. Infant positioning blocks are popularly known as
baby wedges.
Claims
I claim:
1. A means of monitoring an infant while keeping the infant in
a safe sleeping position, said means comprising blocks for restraining
an infant, at least one of which contains an audio pickup with a
transmitter, said blocks being adjustable with respect to each other
so that a variable space exists between the blocks.
2. The means of claim 1 wherein the transmitter is a battery powered
FM transmitter.
Description CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not applicable.
STATEMENT AS TO RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY SPONSORED
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is a means of monitoring an infant while
keeping the infant in a safe sleeping position.
2. Description of Prior Art
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, also known SIDS is a concern of every
parent. Pediatricians recommend positioning an infant appropriately
to minimize the risk. These recommended positions seem to vary with
the pediatrician and seem to change over time. Infant positioning
products, such as positioning blocks known as baby wedges exist.
Also, constant monitoring of the infant is an additional safeguard
against SIDS. Infant monitors exist, but the ones I've seen on the
market are limited. Video monitors with sound are popular, but they
are relatively expensive and do not convey adequate information
when an infant is quiet and not moving. Video monitors are primarily
effective when the infant is moving, or awake, or noisy. Existing
audio monitors are popular, but are limited in that the ones I have
seen marketed for this application transmit background noises such
as humidifier noise or background radio that are confusing to the
person trying to monitor the infant while in a different room. Baby
positioning blocks such baby wedges exist to ensure the infant is
sleeping in an approved position, either on their back or on their
side, or whatever position is currently recommended by the family
doctor. However, I did not find any baby wedges that incorporated
a monitoring system such as does the present invention. I came up
with the present invention because I could not find what I felt
was needed to both monitor my infant and keep my infant in an appropriate
sleeping position, as recommended by my family doctor. Prior to
the present invention, existing inadequate means of monitoring a
sleeping infant meant concerned parents needed to continually re-check
the sleeping infant to be sure it was alright. As will be seen,
the present invention addresses these and other problems. I couldn't
find anything suitable, so I came up with my invention. To my knowledge,
this is a unique product.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention combines a means of audio monitoring a sleeping
infant with a means of holding the sleeping infant in a recommended
sleeping position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows the present invention.
FIG. 2 shows some details of the present invention.
FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the present invention.
FIGS. 4 and 5 show additional details of the present invention.
FIG. 6 shows the present invention in use.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIG. 1, the present invention, assembly 1 includes
a left block 10 and a right block 20. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,
the right block 20 has a cavity 30 and a cavity cover 23. Within
the cavity 30 is contained a battery 31 which powers an audio pickup
and low power transmitter 32. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of
the assembly 1. The cavity cover 23 is shown as movable from open
to closed position. The cavity cover 23 is held closed by a hooks
24 and loops 25 construction known by the Trademark VELCRO. While
the hooks 24 are shown as attached to the cavity cover 23 and the
loops 25 are shown as attached to the right block 20, it is obvious
that the hooks 24 and the loops 25 could be reversed. As shown in
FIG. 5, the left block 10 includes a left block extension 11 which
includes a hooks portion of the hooks and loops construction known
by the Trademark VELCRO and labeled, for purposes of description,
as the left block extension hooks 12. As shown in FIG. 4, the right
block 20 includes a right block extension 21 which includes a loops
portion of the hooks and loops construction known by the Trademark
VELCRO and labeled, for purposes of description, as the right block
extension loops 22. The left block extension hooks 12 when combined
with the right block extension loops 22 hold the left block 10 and
the right block 20 together, so as to hold an infant in place as
shown in FIG. 6.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the preferred
material of construction for the left block 10 and the right block
20 is a medium density rigid cell foam plastic with a Terrycloth
covering. The preferred material for the cavity cover 23 is a cardboard
reinforced with thin foam liner and Terrycloth covering. The audio
pickup and low power transmitter 32, in the preferred embodiment
of the invention would be an audio pickup with an FM transmitter.
The battery 31, in the prefered embodiment of the present invention
would be a 9 volt battery. While an electric cord could be used,
using household current, this does not seem desirable from a safety
standpoint.
FIG. 6 shows the present invention in use, where an infant is placed
on its back with the present invention, assembly 1 surrounding the
infant so that the infant's breathing, and perhaps even heartbeat
can be monitored.
The present invention, assembly 1, is designed to hold a sleeping
infant in a securely propped sleeping position, insuring that the
infant cannot roll or become tangled in bedding, thereby limiting
risk of death from SIDS or suffocation, and at the same time, monitor
the infants breathing, movement noises, possibly heartbeat, and
cries for help. While an infant monitor in itself is not inventive,
the combination of the infant monitor with the assembly 1 so that
the monitor is held closely to the infant so it can be more closely
monitored is different from anything this inventor has seen on the
market.
Although the description above contains many specificities, these
should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but
as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred
embodiments of this invention. For example, VELCRO is used to secure
the cavity cover 23 to the block 30. Snaps or a zipper or some other
means of fastening would suffice, although perhaps not as well.
Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended
claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples
given. |