US2456898A - Body restraint for infants - Google Patents

Description

21, 1948' H. 1. STRANDHAGEN 5 BODY RESTRAINT FOR INFANTS Filed Sept. 3, 1946 INVENTOR. Amway Jr/m/m/mam Patented Dec. 21, 1948 UNITED srA-r BODY RESTRAINT Fort. INFANTS Harry I. Strandhagen, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., as-

signor, *by mesne assignments, of one-half to Bassett Research Corporatioma corporation 'of Michigan Application September 3, 194d, Serial No. 694,470

This invention relates generally to garments for-infants and refers more particularly to improvements in restraining devices such asbaby harnesses.

One ofthe objects of this invention is to maintain an infant in a safe position in a crib, bed, playpen or other confined area by providing a harness allowing substantial freedom of movement while, at the same time, preventing the infant from climbing or falling.

Another object of this invention is to provide a harness which effectively retains .an infant on either its back or stomach and prevents crawling or sliding of the infant in any direction without appreciably restraining rolling of the infant. Actually the harness enables re atively free rolling' of the infant in either direction throughout approximately 80 and also allows unobstructed movement of the legs and arms of the infant.

Thus, the harness enables maximum freedom of movement of an infant in a bed, crib or similar confined area without permitting the infant to assume a dangerous position.

A further object of this invention is to provide a harness which when used in connection with properly applied covers or blankets assures restraining an infant against any movement which would dislodge the covers and cause exposure or which would result in strangulation or smothering f the infant.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a combined garment and harness capable of being readily applied to an infant with or without the usual rubber pants. In the event the infant is equipped with rubber pants, the

garment portion of the harness is applied over the rubber pants and need not be made of a moisture-repellent material. On the other hand, if rubber pants are not used, it is preferred to form the garment portion of moisture repellent material and to provide a pad of absorbent material at the proper location on the garment portion.

A still further feature of this invention is to provide a combined garment and harness which is not only capable of being economically manufactured, and applied to both the infant and crib but, in addition, is of a design which may be comfortably worn by the infant.

Other objects, advantages and novel details of construction of this invention will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a harness embodying the features of this invention applied to an infant and attached to a conventional crib;

Figure 2 is a plan View of the harness;

Figure 3 is an elevational view of a slightly modified form of harness; and

Figure 4 is an elevational view showing the harness in Figure 3 applied to an infant.

The infant harness shown in the several figends' of the latter.

restraining means II. The garment [0 has a waist-encircling portion l2, and has a portion l3 depending from the portion I2 intermediate the The portion I2 is of sufficient length to encircle the waist of an infant and the free ends thereof are adapted to be pinned, clipped or otherwise attached together. The depending portion [3 is adapted to be looped between the legs of the infant and is of sufficient length to enable the free end thereof to be fastened to the free ends of the waist-encircling portion 1 2. In the present instance, the free ends of the waist portion i2 and the free 'end'of the depending portion I3 are fastened by safety pins I 4.

As shown in Figure 1 of the drawing, the garment I0 is applied to an infant over the usual rubber or moisture-proof pants l5 and, therefore, may be fashioned from any suitable material such, for example, as cotton, wool, rayon or other synthetic materials. However, in the illustration shown in Figure 4 of the drawing, the rubber pants l5 are omitted and, when used under such conditions, the garment is preferably formed of rubber, synthetic rubber, or some equivalent moisture-proof material. Also, in instances where the pants I5 are omitted, it is preferred to locate a pad is of absorbent material on the inner face of the garment so that when the latter is applied to an infant, the pad will assume the required position.

The restraining means II comprises a pair of straps I1 and [8 formed of any suitable flexible material having the requisite strength. The straps extend transversely of each other in crossing relationship and are sewn or otherwise fixed at the zone of crossing to the outer face of the garment substantially midway of the Waist-encircling portion IZ. This limited fastening area enables unobstructed application of the garment to the infant and, at the same time, assures rigid- 1y securing the straps to the garment. The straps extend substantial distances beyond opposite sides of the garment to enable tying or otherwise fastening the free ends of the straps to suitable supporting structure and, if desired, suitable buckles the purpose of illustration, the supporting strucfl ture shown is in the form of a conventional crib" 20 having the usual side and end walls.

In Figure 1 of the drawings, the garment l is shown as applied to an infant with the straps at the back of the garment so that the infant is supported in the crib On its back. It is possible,

however, to support the infant on its stomach the crib by merely reversing the garment so that the straps are located at the front of the garment. In any case, the infant is placed approximately in straps are attached to opposite sides of the crib at points spaced lengthwise of the crib. Inasmuch as the straps are fiiiedly secured to the garment 10 on the infant, it-follows that they pre-' vent shifting movement of the infant in either direction laterally or longitudinally of the crib.

Thus, the infant is prevented from crawling in the crib and injury of the infant by falling out of 01' against the walls of the crib is avoided. Also, in instances Where blankets or other coverings are properly applied, the harness eliminates the danger of the infant displacing the coverings to an extent where exposure or smothering may result. It will further be noted that while the harness restrains harmful movements of an infant, it permits unobstructed movement of the arms or legs and enables the infant to roll in either direction throughout approximately 80. As a result, suflicient freedom of movement of the infant is al lowed to enable the infant to change positions at will.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. An infant harness comprising a garment having a waist-encircling portion and having-a portion depending from the waist-encircling pertion intermediate the ends of the latter and adapted to be looped between the legs of the inmm for attachment to the free ends of the waistencircling portion, relatively narrow straps eX- tending transversely with respect to one another and diagonally with respect to the waist-encircling portion at the outer side of the garment, said straps being secured at the point of crossing to the garment intermediate the ends of the waistencircling portion adjacent the juncture of the depending portion with the waist-encircling portion.

2. An infant harness comprising a garment having a waist-encircling portion and having a portion depending from the waist-encircling por 'tion intermediate the ends of the latter and the center of the crib and the free ends of the 1 ;adapted to be looped between the legs of the infant for attachment to the free ends of the waistencircling portion, and relatively long straps extending diagonally withrespect to the longitudinal center line of the depending portion, :and crossing one another at a point approximately on said center line adjacent the juncture of the depending portion with the waist-encircling portion; said straps being positioned at the outersideof the garment and beingsecured to the garmentat the point of crossing aforesaid.

HARRY I. STRANDHAGEN, REFERENCES CITED. The following references are of record in the file of this patent; I

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 458,035 Miller Aug-18, 1891 1,048,033 Brown Dec. 24,1912 1,310,958 OConnor July. 22,1919 1,348,818 MacCallum Aug; 3, 1920 Murphy Mar-..24,1936

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