Sleep Sack System for Infant Head Shaping

Abstract

A sleep sack system for treating or preventing a condition, characterized by abnormal head shape, in an infant. The sleep sack system includes an anterior infant pouch for containing a portion of an infant's body, a wedge, and a posterior wedge pouch, located on a back portion of the anterior infant pouch, for containing the wedge. When worn by an infant, the sleep sack system causes a specific portion of the infant's head to contact a sleeping surface, thereby generating a mild but consistent pressure to alter a shape of the infant's head. The invention is useful for correcting an abnormal head shape and treating or preventing a condition characterized by an abnormal head shape. The invention is particularly useful for treating or preventing plagiocephaly.

I claim: 
     
         1 ) A sleep sack system for treating or preventing plagiocephaly in an infant, comprising:
 a wedge, having a wide side and a narrow side;   a posterior wedge pouch, for removably securing the wedge therein, having:
 a left lateral sidewall, connected to a right lateral sidewall by a posterior sidewall, an anterior sidewall, and a cranial sidewall, thereby forming a caudal opening distal from the cranial sidewall, the caudal opening configured to receive the wedge therethrough; 
   an anterior infant pouch, for removably securing the infant therein, having:
 a left shoulder strap, comprising a left shoulder strap posterior portion, a left shoulder strap cranial portion, and a left shoulder strap anterior portion; 
 a right shoulder strap, comprising a right shoulder strap posterior portion, a right shoulder strap cranial portion, and a right shoulder strap anterior portion; 
 an anterior portion, continuous with the left shoulder strap anterior portion and the right shoulder strap anterior portion, having a closing mechanism thereon for reversibly securing a left anterior portion thereof to a right anterior portion thereof; 
 a posterior portion, continuous with a left swaddle wrap, a right swaddle wrap, the left shoulder strap posterior portion, and the right shoulder strap posterior portion, having the posterior wedge pouch attached thereto; 
 a swaddle wrap attachment mechanism configured to reversibly attach the left swaddle wrap to the right swaddle wrap. 
   
     
     
         2 ) The sleep sack system of  claim 1 , wherein the posterior wedge pouch is reversibly attached to the anterior infant pouch. 
     
     
         3 ) The sleep sack system of  claim 1 , wherein the posterior wedge pouch is irreversibly attached to the anterior infant pouch. 
     
     
         4 ) The sleep sack system of  claim 1 , wherein the closing mechanism includes a zipper. 
     
     
         5 ) The sleep sack system of  claim 1 , wherein the wedge includes a firm padding material. 
     
     
         6 ) The sleep sack system of  claim 1 , wherein the posterior wedge pouch is configured to conform to a shape of the wedge. 
     
     
         7 ) The sleep sack system of  claim 6 , wherein the posterior wedge pouch includes an elastic material. 
     
     
         8 ) The sleep sack system of  claim 1 , wherein the swaddle wrap attachment mechanism includes a hook and loop attachment mechanism. 
     
     
         9 ) The sleep sack system of  claim 8 , wherein the hook and loop attachment mechanism includes a loop surface on a posterior portion of the right swaddle wrap, and a hook surface on an anterior portion of the left swaddle wrap. 
     
     
         10 ) The sleep sack system of  claim 8 , wherein the hook and loop attachment mechanism includes a hook surface on a posterior portion of the right swaddle wrap, and a loop surface on an anterior portion of the left swaddle wrap. 
     
     
         11 ) A sleep sack system for treating or preventing plagiocephaly in an infant, consisting of:
 a wedge, having a wide side and a narrow side;   a posterior wedge pouch, for removably securing the wedge therein, having:
 a left lateral sidewall, connected to a right lateral sidewall by a posterior sidewall, an anterior sidewall, and a cranial sidewalk thereby forming a caudal opening distal from the cranial sidewall, the caudal opening configured to receive the wedge therethrough; 
   an anterior infant pouch, for removably securing the infant therein, having:
 a left shoulder strap, comprising a left shoulder strap posterior portion, a left shoulder strap cranial portion, and a left shoulder strap anterior portion; 
 a right shoulder strap, comprising a right shoulder strap posterior portion, a right shoulder strap cranial portion, and a right shoulder strap anterior portion; 
 an anterior portion, continuous with the left shoulder strap anterior portion and the right shoulder strap anterior portion, having a closing mechanism thereon for reversibly securing a left anterior portion thereof to a right anterior portion thereof; 
 a posterior portion, continuous with a left swaddle wrap, a right swaddle wrap, the left shoulder strap posterior portion, and the right shoulder strap posterior portion, having the posterior wedge pouch attached thereto; 
 a swaddle wrap attachment mechanism configured to reversibly attach the left swaddle wrap to the right swaddle wrap. 
   
     
     
         12 ) The sleep sack system of  claim 11 , wherein the posterior wedge pouch is reversibly attached to the anterior infant pouch. 
     
     
         13 ) The sleep sack system of  claim 11 , wherein the posterior wedge pouch is irreversibly attached to the anterior infant pouch. 
     
     
         14 ) The sleep sack system of  claim 11 , wherein the closing mechanism includes a zipper. 
     
     
         15 ) The sleep sack system of  claim 11 , wherein the wedge includes a firm padding material. 
     
     
         16 ) The sleep sack system of  claim 11 , wherein the posterior wedge pouch is configured to conform to a shape of the wedge. 
     
     
         17 ) The sleep sack system of  claim 16 , wherein the posterior wedge pouch includes air elastic material. 
     
     
         18 ) The sleep sack system of  claim 11 , wherein the swaddle wrap attachment mechanism includes a hook and loop attachment mechanism. 
     
     
         19 ) The sleep sack system of  claim 18 , wherein the hook and loop attachment mechanism includes a loop surface on a posterior portion of the right swaddle wrap, and a hook surface on an anterior portion of the left swaddle wrap. 
     
     
         20 ) The sleep sack system of  claim 18 , wherein the hook and loop attachment mechanism includes a hook surface on a posterior portion of the right swaddle wrap, and a loop surface on an anterior portion of the left swaddle wrap.