Beds – Support means for discrete portion of user – useable with bed... – For head or neck
Patent
1995-11-06
1997-10-14
Grosz, Alexander
Beds
Support means for discrete portion of user, useable with bed...
For head or neck
5726, A47G 900
Patent
active
056758529
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to a body support pad, and more particularly to a pillow for supplying a sufficient amount of air passage to and from an infant lying thereon.
A leading cause of deaths nationally among infants from two weeks to one year of age has become known as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Medical researchers nationally have spent the past decades trying and failing to unravel the cause of death for such a significant number of infants. The majority of the studies conducted found that infants which are usually found dead are particularly newly born, premature and twins. However, the cause of death to these infants is frustrating because numerous instances exist where a parent has placed a normal healthy infant on its stomach in a crib or bed to only come back a short time later to find the infant dead.
The numerous studies that have been conducted and reported have only resulted in medical personnel advising parents to not place their infants face down on a crib or bed because this position seems to increase the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. For decades, these doctors, nurses and care guidebooks have advised placing infants on their back or side in the crib or bed. However, parents have been opposed to placing the infants in this position because of an infant's preference for sleeping on its stomach and/or the infant's tendency to vomit. Further, parents seem to believe that the risk is not so great to make the infants unhappy and sleepless by placing them into another position.
Applicant believes that a contributing cause of death for these infants results from the infants rebreathing of carbon dioxide. This occurs from the fact that the infants are placed on their stomachs and may be too weak to be able to move from this lying position. Accordingly, the infants rebreath the carbon dioxide that is trapped in the loose sheets held against the infants' face.
The present invention addresses the above problem and provides a solution to this possible contributing cause of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. As this application is being prepared, more research is expected on the above problems, but researchers and medical personnel have been unable to solve the mystery behind the sudden death of such a significant number of infants. Further, none of the references uncovered by Applicant's search recognizes or proposes solutions for the possible contributing causes of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a means for solving a possible contributing cause of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Applicant solves this problem by providing an infant support pad that is both cost effective to manufacture and simple to use.
A body support pad has a body support portion and pillow portion, said body support portion comprising a covered foam padding support which is connected to said pillow portion, said pillow portion providing breathing aid means for supporting the head of an infant, and providing ventilation to the portion of the skin of said infant in contact with said pillow portion, said pillow portion comprising: surfaces which are relatively impermeable and having an upper support surface which is relatively permeable to the passage of air; and width to fully underlie the 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; 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; wherein: said nose and mouth of said infant without any effort on the part of the infant.
An object of the present invention is to provide a pillow portion for supplying a sufficient amount of air flow near the infant's face and nose.
Another obj
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