Infant suffocation prevention apparatus

Abstract

Apparatus ( 10 ) preventing suffocation of an infant (I) by a person (A) rolling over on top of the infant (I) when the infant is lying on a bed (B), rug, or floor. In one embodiment, a frame ( 12 ) affixed to the bed includes a vertical section ( 14 ) extending above the bed on one side of the bed and a horizontally extending section ( 16 ) projecting over the top of the bed from the side of the bed. A sleeve ( 20 ) connected to the horizontally extending section is sized to accommodate an arm (R) of a person laying on the bed next to the infant and keep the arm in its position above the bed so to prevent the person from moving over or on top of the infant and inadvertently smothering or suffocating the infant, thus allowing the infant to lay safe on the bed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: 
     
         1 . Apparatus for preventing suffocation of an infant who is lying down by a person lying down next to the infant, comprising:
 a support allowing a person to lie down next to the infant, the person, when lying down, being adjacent to the infant; and,   a hollow sleeve connected to the support, the sleeve sized to accommodate an arm of the person lying down, the sleeve, when the person's arm is inserted through it, keeping the person from moving over on top of the infant and inadvertently smothering or suffocating the infant.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  in which the support comprises a frame affixed to, or adjacent to, one side of a bed, the frame having a vertical section extending above the bed to one side of the bed and a horizontally extending section projecting over the top of the bed from the side thereof; and,
 the hollow sleeve being connected to the horizontally extending section so to maintain the person's arm in an elevated position above the bed and thereby prevent the person from moving over or on top of the infant and inadvertently smothering or suffocating the infant. 
 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  in which the bed has box springs and a mattress resting on the box springs, and the vertical section of the frame has a horizontal, inwardly extending segment inserted between the bottom of the mattress and the top of box springs on which the mattress is supported. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  in which the segments extends partially or fully across the bed between the mattress and box springs. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2  in which the horizontal and vertical sections of the frame are integrally formed. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 2  in which the horizontal and vertical sections of the frame are separate parts interconnected with each other when the apparatus is assembled. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 2  in which the sleeve is permanently attached to the horizontal section of the frame. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 2  in which the sleeve is removable attached to the horizontal section of the frame. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the sleeve is sufficiently long as to accommodate the length of a person's arm when the arm is inserted in the sleeve. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 2  in which the bed has box springs and a mattress resting on the box springs, and the vertical section of the frame has a footing which fits beneath the box springs and a floor on which the bed rests. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  in which the footing comprises a clamping mechanism that rests on the floor and clamps to an underside of the bed. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10  in which the footing includes a threaded one end of which bears against the floor with the other end of the screw bearing against a frame of the bed. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 6  in which the vertical and horizontal sections each have a notch formed in them that allows the sections to be interlocked when the notches are inter-fitted together. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 6  in which the vertical and horizontal sections are connected together by bolts or screws. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  in which the vertical and horizontal sections have spaced connection points so the apparatus can be installed on or by beds of different heights and beds having thicker or thinner mattresses. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1  in which the support comprises a pad that can be placed on a floor or rug, the pad being sized to substantially accommodate the body of a person lying on the floor or rug next to the infant, the mat including means for attaching the sleeve to the pad for the person to insert their arm into the sleeve when lying down on the mat next to the infant. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  further including a support installed on the pad and against which the person can support their back when lying down on the pad. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16  further including handholds formed in the pad by which a person can adjust their position on the pad. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16  in which the pad and sleeve are portable and the apparatus includes a pack in which the pad and sleeve are stored for transporting the apparatus. 
     
     
         20 . A method for preventing the suffocation of infant by a person rolling over on top of the infant when the infant is lying down, the method comprising:
 providing a support by which a person can lie down next to the infant, the person, when lying down, lying adjacent to the an infant; and,   a hollow sleeve connected to the support, the sleeve sized to accommodate an arm of the person lying on or next to the support, the sleeve, when the person's arm is inserted through it, keeping the person from moving over on top of the infant and inadvertently smothering or suffocating the infant.