Garment for assisting holding an infant

Abstract

A garment for assisting a user holding an infant is provided. The garment may include a first portion, a second portion, a first sleeve, and a second sleeve. The second portion may be configured to overlap the first portion when the garment is worn by the user. The first sleeve and the second sleeve may each extend from the first portion and the second portion, respectively. The first portion may define an elongated opening. The elongated opening may be positioned to provide access through the opening and to the infant from the outside of the garment while the first portion remains covered by the second portion. The garment may also include at least one fastener attached thereto. The at least one fastener may be positioned relative to the opening and may comprise at least one loop to secure at least part of a tubing or wire extending from the infant. The garment may also comprise a locking mechanism that can adjust the loop to the size of the tubing

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A garment for assisting a user holding an infant, the garment comprising:
 a first portion and a second portion configured to overlap the first portion when the garment is worn by the user while holding the infant, the first portion defining an elongated opening which is positioned to provide access through the opening and to the infant from outside of the garment while the first portion remains covered by the second portion;   a first sleeve and a second sleeve each extending respectively from the first portion and the second portion; and   at least one fastener attached to the garment and positioned relative to the opening to secure at least part of a tubing or wire extending from the infant.   
     
     
         2 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fastener comprises a locking mechanism, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to pull away from the user when the locking mechanism transitions from a locked configuration to an unlocked configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the garment comprises a plurality of fasteners. 
     
     
         4 . The garment of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of fasteners each comprises a plurality of loops each configured to hold at least part of the tubing extending from the infant, wherein the plurality of loops of one of the plurality of fasteners extend at different angles with respect to the plurality of loops of another of the plurality of fasteners. 
     
     
         5 . The garment of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of fasteners each comprises a locking mechanism, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to pull away from the user when the locking mechanism transitions from a locked configuration to an unlocked configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated opening extends vertically along the first portion. 
     
     
         7 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated opening extends horizontally along the first portion. 
     
     
         8 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fastener comprises a plurality of loops each configured to hold at least part of the tubing extending from the infant. 
     
     
         9 . The garment of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of loops are each placed at different angles with respect to the at least one fastener. 
     
     
         10 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fastener is configured to be detached from the garment, and wherein the at least one fastener is configured to be repositioned on the garment. 
     
     
         11 . The garment of  claim 1 , further comprising a second elongated opening on the second portion, the second elongated opening positioned to provide access through the opening and to the infant from outside of the garment. 
     
     
         12 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fastener is attached to the garment at the first portion and the first sleeve. 
     
     
         13 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the garment further comprises sensing fabrics configured to monitor physiological characteristics of the user and the infant. 
     
     
         14 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fastener has an L-shape. 
     
     
         15 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fastener has a T-shape. 
     
     
         16 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fastener has a substantially straight shape. 
     
     
         17 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fastener is located on the first portion, and wherein the at least one fastener is located on the first sleeve or on the second sleeve. 
     
     
         18 . The garment of  claim 1 , further comprising a cover comprising:
 a cover configured to be secured to at least a portion of a support for supporting the user, the cover having a back portion, a front portion, and a side portion, and at least one cover fastener attached to the cover, the at least one cover fastener positioned relative to the opening to secure at least part of the tubing or wire extending from the infant.   
     
     
         19 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fastener has at least one toy attached thereto, wherein the at least one toy is configured to be reached by the infant. 
     
     
         20 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fastener has at least one tab attached thereto, wherein the at least one tab is configured to be reached by the infant. 
     
     
         21 . A method of assisting a user holding an infant, the method comprising the steps of:
 placing a garment around the user and the infant, the garment having a first portion, a second portion, a first sleeve extending from the first portion, and a second sleeve extending from the second portion;   overlapping the first portion with the second portion when the garment is worn by the user while holding the infant, the first portion defining an elongated opening which is positioned to provide access through the opening and to the infant from outside of the garment while the first portion remains covered by the second portion; and   securing at least part of a tubing or wire extending from the infant with at least one fastener positioned relative to the opening.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising locking the at least one fastener with a locking mechanism, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to pull away from the user when the locking mechanism transitions from a locked configuration to an unlocked configuration. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the garment comprises a plurality of fasteners. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one fastener comprises a plurality of loops each configured to hold at least part of the tubing extending from the infant. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the plurality of loops are each placed at different angles with respect to the at least one fastener. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising detaching the at least one fastener from the garment, wherein the at least one fastener is configured to be repositioned on the garment. 
     
     
         27 . A garment for assisting a user holding an infant, the garment comprising:
 a first portion, a second portion, a back portion, a first sleeve extending from the first portion, a second sleeve extending from the second portion wherein the first portion defines an elongated opening positioned to provide access through the opening and to the infant from outside of the garment while the first portion remains covered by the second portion, wherein the opening can be at least partially closed with at least one tab;   a first fastener attached to the garment at the first portion, wherein the first fastener has an L-shape, wherein the first fastener comprises a locking mechanism, wherein the first fastener comprises a plurality of loops each configured to hold at least part of a medical tubing extending from the infant;   a second fastener attached to the garment at the second portion, wherein the second fastener has an L-shape, wherein the second fastener comprises a locking mechanism, wherein the second fastener comprises a plurality of loops each configured to hold at least part of the medical tubing extending from the infant;   a third fastener attached to the garment at the first portion and the back portion, wherein the third fastener has a T-shape, wherein the third fastener comprises a locking mechanism, wherein the third fastener comprises a plurality of loops each configured to hold at least part of the medical tubing extending from the infant; and   a fourth fastener attached to the garment at the second portion and the back portion, wherein the fourth fastener has a T-shape, wherein the fourth fastener comprises a locking mechanism, wherein the fourth fastener comprises a plurality of loops each configured to hold at least part of the medical tubing extending from the infant.