Beds – Support for users body or part thereof – Specially adapted for infant support
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-19
2003-11-25
Shackelford, Heather (Department: 3673)
Beds
Support for users body or part thereof
Specially adapted for infant support
C005S644000, C005S911000, C005S655400
Reexamination Certificate
active
06651282
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED R & D
Not Applicable
REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX
Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
This invention is a pillow specifically designed to permit the easy adjustment of its filling to support the baby in a variety of nursing positions in anatomically correct mouth-nipple alignment for feeding at either breast through the entire nursing session. With the baby thus positioned and supported, the mother can also maintain an ergonomically correct position for herself. Nursing becomes a relaxed healthy experience for both baby and mother.
The invention addresses two key factors that contribute to breast feeding problems.
1. Alignment. Alignment of the baby's mouth and mother's nipple is key to ensure proper breast feeding. If the alignment is incorrect, the baby may receive an inadequate supply of milk, or in the worst case, actually expend more calories in getting the milk than are contained in the milk received. This condition, know as “Insufficient Milk Syndrome”, may jeopardize the health and development of the baby.
2. Fatigue. Once correct position is achieved, the mother can experience difficulty in maintaining it throughout the feeding due to factors such as fatigue, back ache and stress on arms and shoulders. Mothers often use support devices such as conventional pillows to reduce this fatigue.
The invention is designed for increased safety and cleanliness. The filling allows the passage of air and liquids. This reduces the risk of suffocation along with the opportunity for the growth of mold and bacteria.
Previous designs for pillows to assist mothers while nursing have addressed issues regarding the comfort of the mother. They are designed to reduce backache, neck, shoulder, arm and/or other stresses experienced by nursing mothers. These devises can be beneficial to the mother. They do not address the critical issue of anatomically correct mouth-nipple alignment for proper transfer of nutrition. In fact they often contribute to the problem, thus affecting the welfare of the baby. This is why many lactation specialists do not recommend their use.
We have found several products on the market and several patents for products in this field. None are directed toward solving the problem of mouth-nipple alignment, nor does their structure allow them to be effective in this regard. The three closet inventions are listed below.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,557, issued to Kay, Johnson and Mumaugh, is a pillow designed to assist nursing mothers. However, the pillow is of uniform firmness and does not allow for adjustment to the shape of the baby and or mother. This hampers establishment of correct nursing position. The applicants' pillow utilizes a lose filling of beads that can be shifted within the pillow to facilitate easy adjustment to the shape of baby and mother for an anatomically correct nursing position. The filling of Kay's pillow is “a foam substance or compressed and fused fibers” or “any sturdy, firm washable substance.” No reference is made to breath ability. Applicants' pillow uses filling that allows for the passage of air and liquids around the beads and through the pillow. This key feature reduces the danger of suffocation while limiting the opportunity for the growth of mold and bacteria.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,731,890, issued to Roberts, is a pillow adapted for nursing mothers. However, the pillow is “L” shaped and designed to support the mothers back and extending to the arm. This limits the positioning and support of the baby. The filling is polyester fiber which allows for some compression, but cannot shift withing the casing. The applicants' pillow is crescent shaped to support the entire length of the baby in various nursing positions. The filling of the applicants pillow is made of beads which shift within the case, allowing for total conformity to the shapes of the mother and baby for anatomically correct alignment in various feeding position. Roberts' pillow is not washable and makes no claims regarding breath ability. Applicant's pillow is completely washable. The applicant's pillow is designed to facilitate the flow of air and liquids through the pillow.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,134, issued to Mathews, is a pillow designed for infant support. It is for the purpose of supporting an infant in a sitting position. While it can be used as an aide in breast feeding, it is not specifically designed for this purpose and does not address the important issues of breast feeding. It's use in this application can cause difficulties for both mother and infant. The applicants pillow is specifically designed for breast feeding and the requirements thereof.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is made of a crescent shaped casing containing a lose filling of beads. The density of the bead filling is such that it is sufficient to support the nursing baby while still being able to shift within the casing to make the pillow flexible and adjustable. These two properties enable the mother to easily position and support her baby with anatomically correct nipple-mouth alignment in a variety of nursing positions at either breast and to help her by reducing fatigue. This helps ensure the free flow of milk and adequate nutrition to the baby. Thus supported and positioned, the mother can also maintain an ergonomically correct position for herself. Nursing becomes a healthy relaxed experience for both baby and mother.
The great flexibility of the invention makes it easily adjustable regardless of the size of the baby or mother.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4689844 (1987-09-01), Alivizatos
patent: 5109557 (1992-05-01), Koy et al.
patent: 5154649 (1992-10-01), Pender
patent: 5661861 (1997-09-01), Matthews
patent: 6161239 (2000-12-01), Grazel
patent: 6230349 (2001-05-01), Silver et al.
patent: 6233767 (2001-05-01), Horowitz
Igoe Kenneth Edward
Skattum Gurli
Skoug Stein Erik
Conley Fredrick
Davis & Bujold P.L.L.C.
Shackelford Heather
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