Non-rollover apparatus and methods

Abstract

In some embodiments, apparatus for assisting in preventing a subject from rolling over from a lying position includes a garment portion capable of being worn by the subject and at least one bumper member engageable with the garment portion. The at least one bumper, when engaged with the garment, is capable of preventing rolling over of the subject from a lying position.

1 . An apparatus for assisting in preventing a subject from rolling over from a lying position, the apparatus comprising: 
 a garment portion capable of being worn by the subject; and    at least two bumper members engageable with said garment portion, said at least two bumper members being capable of preventing the subject from rolling over from a lying position when said at least two bumper members are engaged with said garment portion and said garment portion is worn by the subject.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said at least two bumper members are positionable on said garment portion so as to prevent contact of said at least two bumper members with the head of the subject wearing said garment portion.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said bumper members are engageable with said garment portion so that, when engaged with said garment portion, said bumper members cannot be moved away from the subject wearing said garment portion during normal operating conditions.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the subject is an infant and the lying position is a supine position.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said at least two bumper members includes two said bumper members.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said garment portion and said bumper members are securely engageable during use and selectively disengageable after use to allow at least one among the subject's wearing said garment portion by the subject without restriction caused by said bumper members, cleaning at least one among said garment portion and at least one said bumper member, repairing at least one among said garment portion and at least one said bumper member and replacing at least one among said garment portion and at least one said bumper member.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further including at least one connector capable of connecting said garment portion and each said bumper member, whereby said bumper members are selectively removable from said garment portion.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said at least one connector is positioned on the apparatus to avoid being disposed beneath the subject wearing said garment portion in a lying position.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said connector includes a zipper engageable between said garment portion and each said bumper member.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said garment portion includes left and right arm and leg portions and a torso portion having left and right sides, wherein a first said bumper member is connectable to said garment portion on the left side of said torso portion between said left arm and leg portions, and a second said bumper member is connectable to said garment portion on the right side of said torso portion between said right arm and leg portions.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said garment portion is one among a footed pajama and a legless baby suit.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said garment portion includes mitten cuffs.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein each said bumper member has a generally triangular cross-sectional shape.  
   
   
       14 . An apparatus capable of preventing a subject from rolling over from a supine position, the apparatus comprising: 
 a garment portion capable of being worn by the subject, said garment portion having left and right sides and left and right arm and leg portions; and    first and second bumper members engageable with said garment portion at said left and right sides thereof between said respective corresponding arm and leg portions.    
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the subject is an infant and said first and second bumper members are positionable on said garment portion so as to prevent contact of said bumper members with the head of the infant wearing said garment portion.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 14  further including at least one connector useful for securely engaging and selectively disengaging said garment portion and each said bumper member, wherein said at least one connector is positionable on the apparatus to avoid being disposed beneath the subject wearing said garment portion in a lying position.  
   
   
       17 . An infant safety device capable of preventing the infant from turning over out of a supine position, the infant safety device comprising: 
 a garment portion capable of being worn by the infant, said garment portion including a torso portion, said torso portion extending around at least part of the torso of the infant between the arms and legs of the infant when the infant is wearing said garment portion; and    at least two bumper members selectively releasably engageable with said garment portion on opposing sides of said torso portion of said garment portion.    
   
   
       18 . The infant safety device of  claim 17  wherein said at least two bumper members are engageable with said garment portion so that, when engaged with said garment portion, said bumper members cannot be moved away from the infant wearing said garment portion in a lying position during normal operating conditions.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 17  further including at least one zipper for securely engaging and selectively disengaging said garment portion and each said bumper member, wherein said at least one zipper is positioned on the apparatus to avoid being disposed beneath the subject while wearing said garment portion in a lying position.  
   
   
       20 . A method of inhibiting a subject from rolling over from a lying position with the use of a non-rollover device, the non-rollover device including a garment and at least one bumper member, the method comprising: 
 engaging the at least one bumper member with the garment;    placing the subject into the garment;    placing the subject in the lying position;    the at least one bumper member maintaining its general position relative to the subject; and    the at least one bumper member inhibiting the subject from rolling over from the lying position during normal operating conditions.    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the subject is placed in a supine position.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the subject is an infant, further including turning down mitten cuffs on the sleeves of the garment to cover the hands of the infant.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 20  further including disconnecting the at least one bumper member from the garment.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23  further including allowing the subject to continue wearing the garment without restriction caused by the at least one bumper member.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 23  further including reconnecting the at least one bumper member with the garment portion.