WO1991016842A1

WO1991016842A1 - Restrainer for limiting body movement

Info

Publication number: WO1991016842A1
Application number: PCT/CA1990/000145
Authority: WO
Inventors: Donald Cuyler Cotton
Original assignee: Donald Cuyler Cotton
Priority date: 1990-05-03
Filing date: 1990-05-03
Publication date: 1991-11-14

Abstract

A restrainer (1) for limiting body movement such as retaining a body on its side or in an upright position or for limiting the movement of only one limb. At least one soft chock (2) containing dense particulate matter is placed against the body or the limb to be restrained. In one embodiment a wide connecting band (4) between two soft chocks (2) is used to maintain the position of the chocks (2) next to the body. In another embodiment, straps (12) integral with a single soft chock (2') brace the limb to be restrained against the chock (2').

Description

RESTRAINER FOR LIMITING BODY MOVEMENT

1 Technical Field:

Professionals in paediatrics and neo-natal clinics and departments of hospitals as well as parents have long considered it advisable that babies, from birth to four months old, sleep on their sides. Infants to four months old spend most of their time sleeping. They are incapable of turning themselves over and usually fall asleep immediately after feeding. Placing the infant on his side prevents the infant from choking, spitting up and smothering. Moreover, an infant's digestion is eased by sleeping on his side. Placing a new-born infant on his side is also recommended for the prevention of jawbone damage which sometimes occurs as a result of the infant sleeping face down. Supports are also needed as an infant matures, for propping him in the sitting position and thus preventing him from falling over onto his face or side.

Background Art;

In the past, infants have been restrained on their sides by the use of rolled up diapers, receiving blankets, small pillows or like objects placed behind the baby's back. This method has many disadvantages including the need to constantly attend to the infant to ensure the prop has not become dislodged or lost its shape by the infant's movements. Constantly checking that the props are retaining their shape and thus preventing the infant from sleeping on his back or from falling onto his face adds to a new mother's and nursing staff's workload as well as their worry and concern for the newborn infant. Older infants, in the past, have been restrained in the upright sitting position by the use of rolled up diapers, receiving blankets, small pillows or like objects and placed on one or both sides of the infant. The disadvantage to this method is that the props must be constantly checked to ensure that the infant has not fallen over.

Disclosure of the Invention:

We have invented a new restrainer which maintains an infant on his side while lying down. Two soft weighted chocks are connected by a wide band of quilted fabric. One chock is snuggled into the back of the infant, the connecting band is placed across the infant's middle and the second chock is snuggled into the chest and stomach area wedging the infant into position.

The restrainer can also be used to position babies at times other than when sleeping. The restrainer can be used to position a baby in an upright sitting position in a car seat, a chair, a swing, a high chair, etc. preventing the infant from falling forward or sideways. One chock is snuggled into one side of the infant, the connecting band is placed across the infant's middle and the second chock is snuggled into the other side of the infant wedging him into the upright position.

The connecting band is made of washable fabric. Integral with the connecting band are pockets at each extremity made of washable fabric removably enclosed within which are water-resistant and tear-resistant shells each containing a quantity of sand, rice, beans or man-made equivalents of sufficient weight to retain the infant in the desired position. The materials out of which the pockets with connecting band are constructed, such as flannelette and quilted fabric, have insulating qualities.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET The restrainer can also, be used over the blanket of a sleeping child to keep the blanket in position and for added warmth and comfort.

The same principle of a weighted malleable chock can be used to restrain only one limb of an infant. In a second embodiment, a weighted soft chock has soft straps for bracing the infant's limb to the weighted chock so that the limb is held motionless for example, for intravenous administration.

In a similar manner, premature infants, handicapped and disabled children and adults as well as elderly people needing support, restraint, or positioning can benefit from the restrainer with only modification to the size and weight of the restrainer.

Brief Description of Drawings:

In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of the invention with a part cut away;

Figure 2 is a section view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the present invention as it is intended to be used.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of a second embodiment of the invention with the straps unfastened;

Figure 5 is a section view on the line 5-5 of Figure 5 with the straps fastened. Best Mode of Carrying Out the Invention:

Referring to Figure l, the restrainer 1 is comprised of two soft chocks 2 removably enclosed within pockets 3. Pockets 3 are connected by a wide connecting band 4. Pockets 3 is construed of one ply washable fabric and band 4 is constructed of two-ply washable fabric. The material out of which pockets 3 an band 4 are made may be manufactured quilted fabric. If not made from manufactured quilted fabric, band 4 may have a layer of washable insulating material, such as THERMAL LAMB*, positioned between the layers of fabric and stitched to the two-ply washable fabric. This treatment gives a quilted appearance to the band 4 and keeps the insulated layer from bunching up when laundered. This insulated layer aside from providing extra warmth to the user, gives the band 4 a soft padding.

Referring to Figure 2, chocks 2 have an outside covering 7 and an inside filler 8. Outside covering 7 is manufactured from a tear-resistant and water-resistant fabric such as RIP STOP*. Filler 8 is composed of particulate matter such as sand, rice, beans or man-made equivalents of these products. Also shown in Figure 2 is padding 9 of the manufactured quilted fabric from which the pockets 3 and the connecting band 4 could be constructed. If the pockets 3 and connecting band 4 are not made of manufactured quilted fabric, the connecting band 4 can have an insulating layer, such as THERMAL LAMB, situated between two layers of fabric and stitched to these fabric layers of * Trade-mark

SUBSTITUTE SHEET the connecting band 4. In this latter case the fabric out of which the pockets 3 and connecting band 4 are constructed could be a brushed fabric such as flannelette. Openings 5* are provided at the back of pockets 3 to allow the insertion and removal of the chocks 2. Openings 5 have VELCRO* type hook and loop fasteners 6.

Figure 3 shows the first embodiment as it is intended to be used. Chocks 2 are enclosed within pockets 3. Opening 5 is fastened with a VELCRO* type hook and loop fastener 6 (Figure 2). One of the chocks 2 enclosed within a pocket 3 is placed at the back of the infant. The connecting band 4 is placed across the infant's middle. The infant is propped into the desired position. The second chock 2 enclosed within its pocket 3 is wound around the excess length of connecting band 4 and tucked into the infant's stomach and chest area wedging the infant into position.

Chocks 2 are removable from pockets 3 through opening 5 (Figure 2). The one-piece connecting band 4 and pockets 3 are washable. Chocks 2 are contained in a tear- resistant and water-resistant shells 7 (Figure 2) which can be wiped clean. The connecting band 4 is padded or has an insulating layer to provide warmth to the infant's middle. The pockets 3 may also be padded to act as a buffer between the infant and the chocks 2.

The weight of the restrainer for use with an infant up to 4 months old and weighing up to 20 lbs, should be approximately 4 lbs. For a premature infant, the restrainer should be approximately half the weight; that is * Trade-mark

SUBSTITUTE SHEET 2 lbs. Larger versions of the restrainers can range in weight up to 20 lbs. For a child weighing between 20 and 40 lbs, a device weighing 8 lbs. would be used. Children weighing from 40 lbs. to 70 lbs. would require a restrainer of approximately 12 lbs. A teenage person, or a frail or ill adult weighing between 70 lbs. and 100 lbs. would use a restraining device weighing approximately 16 lbs. A 20 lb. device would be helpful in restraining frail or ill adults.

The following table sets out the approximate recommended dimensions of the restrainer components:

Weight Pocket 3 Connecting band 4

2 lbs. 4" x 5.5" 10" x 5"

4 lbs. 5.5" x 8.5" 18" x 5"

8 lbs. 10" X 16" 22" x 7"

12 lbs. 15" x 24" 27" x 9"

16 lbs. 20" x 29" 27" x 9"

20 lbs. 24" x 25" 27" x 9"

Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of my invention. The limb restrainer 11 is comprised of a single soft chock 2' removably enclosed within pocket 3' and two soft straps 12 permanently attached to pocket 3' at side seam 13. Pocket 3' and straps 12 are constructed of washable fabric and can be quilted. Opening 5* is provided at the back of pocket 3' to allow the insertion and removal of chock 2'. Opening 5' has a VELCRO type hook and loop fastener 6' (not shown). Parallel to and on either side of opening 5' are VELCRO type hook and loop fastener strips 14. Straps 12 have matching VELCRO type hook and loop strips 15 placed near their free ends 16.

Referring to Figure 5, chock 2' has an outside covering 7* and an inside filler 8'. External shell 7' is manufactured from tear-resistant and water-resistant fabric such as RIP STOP. Filler 8' is composed of particulate matter such as rice, sand, beans or man-made equivalents of these products. Also shown in Figure 5 is padding 9' of the quilted fabric which can be used for the pocket 3* and the straps 12. Chock 2' is enclosed within pocket 3'. A limb is placed on the top of the limb restrainer 11, the straps 12 are placed over the limb and wrapped around to the bottom of the limb restrainer 11; VELCRO type hook and loop strips 15 on straps 12 cross and are fastened to either of the two matching VELCRO type hook and loop strips 14 on pocket 3' in a number of settings. Opening 5' is closed with a VELCRO fastener 6'. Chock 2' is removable from pocket 3'. The one-piece straps 12 and pocket 3' are washable. Chocks 2' are enclosed in a tear-resistant and water-resistant shell 7' which can be wiped clean. The straps 12 can be padded to provide insulation to the user's limb. The pocket 3* can also padded to act as a buffer between the user's limb and the chock 2'.

The weight of the limb restrainer depicted in Figures 4 and 5 is approximately two pounds. The second embodiment restrainer can be used in other weights and sizes to keep one limb of a child or adult positioned. Generally, a 10 lb. limb restrainer would be sufficient for such a use. In addition, the second embodiment can be

BSTITUTE SHEET used with children and adults as a therapeutic weight for strengthening muscles and could be made in graduated weights between 4 and 10 lbs. The straps 12 brace the limb to be strengthened to the limb restrainer.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A restrainer for limiting body movement comprised of at least one chock member having a fabric exterior shell containing particulate matter of relatively high density and means for retaining the chock member against a body or a limb thereof.

2. A restrainer as in Claim 1 wherein said chock member is removably enclosed within a fabric pocket.

3. A restrainer as in Claim 1 wherein said fabric exterior shell is made from water-resistant and tear- resistant fabric.

4. A restrainer as in Claim 1 wherein said particulate matter is one or more substances selected from the group consisting of sand, rice, beans or man-made equivalents of such materials.

5. A restrainer as in Claim 1 wherein the weight of said restrainer ranges from 1 lb. to 10 lbs.

6. A restrainer for limiting body movement comprised of two chock members having fabric exterior shells retaining particulate matter of relatively high density and having a connecting means whereby the block members are positioned on either side of a body or a limb thereof and the connecting band retains the block members in fixed relation to each other. 7. A restrainer as in Claim 6 wherein said connecting means is a wide band of fabric.

θ. A restrainer as in Claim 6 wherein said wide band of fabric has a layer of insulating material .

9. A restrainer as in Claim 6 wherein said chock members are removably enclosed within fabric pockets.

10. A restrainer as in Claim 9 wherein said connecting means is integral with said fabric pockets.

11. A restrainer as in Claim 6 wherein said fabric exterior shells are made from water-resistant and tear- resistant fabric.

12. A restrainer as in Claim 6 wherein said particulate matter is one or more substances selected from the group consisting of sand, rice, beans or man-made equivalents of such materials.

13. A restrainer as in Claim 6 wherein the weight of said restrainer ranges from 2 lbs. to 20 lbs.

14. A restrainer for limiting body movement comprised of one chock member having a fabric exterior shell retaining particulate matter of relatively high density and having straps integral with said chock member which retain a body limb in fixed relation to the chock member.

15. A restrainer as in Claim 14 wherein said straps are made of fabric. 16. A restrainer as in Claim 14 wherein said chock member is removably enclosed within a fabric pocket.

17. A restrainer as in Claim 16 wherein said straps are integral with said fabric pocket.

18. A restrainer as in Claim 14 wherein said fabric exterior shell is made from water-resistant and tear- resistant fabric.

19. A restrainer as in Claim 14 wherein said particulate matter is one or more substances selected from the group consisting of sand, rice, beans or man-made equivalents of such materials.

20. A restrainer as in Claim 14 wherein said restrainer ranges in weight between 1 lb. and 10 lbs.

21. A restrainer as in Claim 14 wherein said straps are removably fastened to said chock member by at least one hook and loop type fastener.