Infant body support and providing air flow for breathing
OwnerCharles E. Watkinsinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention solves a possible contributing cause of Sudden Infant Death syndrome. A body support pad having a support portion and a pillow portion is disclosed. The support portion is connected to the pillow portion. The pillow portion provides ventilation to the infant. The pillow portion has a thin outer sheet permeable to the passage of air which keeps the head of the infant in healthy repose. The interior of the pillow is subdivided into an upper portion containing a porous foam material and a lower portion containing an air pocket. An air pump supplies air to the air pocket to thus supply air to the nose and mouth of the infant.
Claims16
A pillow breathing aid means for supporting the head of an infant, supplying breathing air near the mouth and nose of said infant, and providing ventilation to the portion of the skin of said infant in contact with said pillow means comprising:
- a thin pliable outer sheet portion having a lower surface and sidewall surfaces which are relatively impermeable and having an upper support surface which is relatively permeable to the passage of air;
- said outer sheet portion enclosing an interior volume of sufficient length and width to fully underlie said head of said infant, said interior volume also being of sufficient overall thickness to support said head of said infant in a position of healthy repose;
- said enclosed interior volume being further subdivided into upper and lower portions, said upper portion being formed of a porous foam material and said lower portion being a void defining an air pocket bounded on the bottom and sides by said lower surface and sidewall surfaces of said thin pliable outer wall portion, and on the top by said sheet of porous foam material;
- air pump means for supplying steady breathing air flow to said air pocket, wherein:
- said steady breathing air flow to said air pocket cause air to flow near said nose and mouth of said infant without any effort on the part of the infant.
A body support pad having a body support portion and pillow portion, said body support portion comprising a covered foam padding support connected to said pillow portion, said pillow portion providing breathing aid means for supporting the head of an infant, supplying breathing air near the mouth and nose of said infant, and providing ventilation to the portion of the skin of said infant in contact with said pillow portion, said pillow portion comprising:
- a thin pliable outer sheet portion having a lower act and sidewall surfaces which are relatively permeable and having an upper support surface which si relatively permeable to the passage of air;
- said outer sheet portion enclosing an interior volume of sufficient length and width to fully underlie said head of said infant even during infant tossing and turning, said interior volume also being of sufficient overall thickness to support said head of said infant in a position of healthy repose;
- said enclosed interior volume being further subdivided into upper and lower portions, one above the other, with said upper portion being formed of a porous foam material and said lower portion being a void defining an air pocket bounded on the bottom and sides by said lower surface and sidewall surfaces of said thin pliable outer wall portion, and on the top by said sheet of porous foam material;
- air pump means for supplying steady breathing air flow to said air pocket, wherein:
- said steady breathing air flow to said air pocket causes air to flow past said nose and mouth of said infant without any effort on the part of the infant.
The body support pad 9, wherein said air pump means comprises:
- a vacuum pump capable of removing sufficient air from said air pocket to cause a steady breathing air flow past the nose and mouth of said infant as ambient air flows downward to replace that removed from the air pocket;
- and,
- conduit means for connecting said vacuum pump to said air pocket.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.