BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a garment and method for wrapping or swaddling an infant.

By way of background, swaddling an infant dates back to biblical times and is believed to comfort an infant by simulating the security of its mother's womb. In addition, swaddling is believed to encourage infants to sleep on their backs rather than on their stomachs. Sleeping an infant on their back is advised in order to reduce the incidences of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome ("SIDS") and is recommended by SIDS organisations worldwide. Swaddling can also prevent an infant being disturbed by their own "Moro" reflex ¹ . Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis have found that infants sleep with fewer awakenings when swaddled and swaddling helps infants remain on their backs.

Conventional baby blankets can be used to swaddle or wrap an infant however, conventional blankets have a number of limitations as follows: 1 difficulty folding the blanket to correctly swaddle the infant;

2 excess fabric which could potentially cause overheating or discomfort;

3 not sufficiently shaped and sized to swaddle baby effectively;

4 not fitted around the infant's neck and shoulders potentially allowing the infant to slip down inside the blanket raising safety concerns; 5 inability to check the infant's nappy without unswaddling or unwrapping the infant;

6 inability to place the infant in a car seat or pram or reduce the infant's temperature without unswaddling or unwrapping the infant;

7 inability to maintain closure of the entire swaddle as the infant is able to kick off the blanket;

8 potential to wrap baby too tightly to restrict movement of the infant's arms and legs which may inhibit their development; and

9 excess fabric swaddled or wrapped around the infant making it difficult to safely handle the swaddled infant

Conventional sleeping bags also have a number of limitations when used for newborn babies as follows:

1 inability to provide the security achieved by swaddling or wrapping an infant;

2 not fitted around the infant's neck and shoulders potentially allowing the infant to slip down inside the sleeping bag;

3 lack of overall fit allowing the infant to wriggle out of the sleeping bag;

4 inability to check the infant's nappy without uncovering the infant as the zip typically fastens from the bottom around to one side of the sleeping bag with the fastener ending at the top of one side of the sleeping bag; and

¹ The Moro reflex, also referred to as the Startle reflex, Startle response or Embrace reflex, is a primitive reflex present at birth and typically disappears in the first few months of life.

5 inability to place the infant in a car seat or pram or reduce the infant's temperature without uncovering the infant.

Prior art swaddling devices also have a number of limitations as follows: 1 restrict movement of the infant's arms and/ or legs. Movement of an infant's arms and legs is beneficial for their development;

2 some devices contain hoods for the infant's head or excess fabric around the infant's head which could cause baby to overheat or worse still pose a suffocation risk; 3 some devices have excess fabric which is wrapped around the infant restricting the infant's movement and potentially causing the infant to overheat; 4 some devices use Velcro or similar material which could scratch the infant's skin. Also Velcro or similar material can become ineffective after washing the device; 5 not typically made from a knitted fabric to allow movement of the infant, may are made from woven cotton; and

6 many are complex to use.

The limitations and problems of conventional baby blankets, sleeping bags and other swaddling devices are overcome by the present invention which provides a swaddling bag designed to swaddle the infant by simulating the mother's womb and also fit the infant without restricting movement and without excess fabric providing safety concerns such as overheating and difficulty handling an infant. US Patent 6,868,566 (GATTEN) (Prior Publication Data US 2004/0019969 A (GATTEN) 5 February 2004) ² describes a swaddling blanket for a baby having a back panel long enough to support a baby from neck to feet, a leg pouch to contain the baby's legs, arm restraints to hold baby's arms against and parallel to the baby's torso, a tapered short blanket arm to wrap over the baby, and a tapered long blanket arm to wrap around the baby more than once to provide pressure around the baby's arms and torso.

US Patent 6,839,924 (SIMS) 11 January 2005 (Prior Publication Data US 2004/0158925 A (SIMS) 19 August 2004) ² describes an infant swaddling blanket having a central section for engaging the infant's neck and shoulders; a first flap extending from one side of the central section; a tongue extending from the upper portion of the first flap; a second flap extending from the opposite side of the central section; and a skid resistant material on its bottom surface.

US Patent 6,640,340 (GIBSON) (Prior Publication Data US 2003/0131411 A (GIBSON) 17 July 2003) ² describes a swaddling blanket including a right-hand folding section with a right side edge having an angular extent and a left-hand folding section with a left side edge. Fold lines define the folds for right-hand and left hand fold sections which are folded around the infant forming the blanket snugly around the infant with a minimum of unsecured excess fabric.

¹ Cited by IP Australia.

US Patent 6,393,612 (THATCH) 28 May 2002 describes a garment for swaddling a baby including an elongated shell having an interior volume for receiving the arms, legs and trunk of a baby. US Patent 5,722,094 (RUEFER) 3 March 1998 describes an infant swaddling apparatus with a pocket that is closed on the sides and bottom, 2 hook-and-loop devices to adjust the pocket length to accommodate the differing infant sizes and widths to retain the infant's body heat. US Patent 4,979,250 (TRONCONE) 25 December 1990 describes a blanket and method for swaddling an infant. The blanket comprised of an upper portion having two symmetric wings. The opposing corners of the lpwer panel can be wrapped around and behind infant, leaving the infant snugly encapsulated within the multiple layers of the blanket with no excess accumulation of material.

Derwent Abstract Accession No. 2005-347200/35, Class P27, ZA 200404697 A (BONFIT SA PTY LTD) 26 April 2005 ² describes a blanket which comprises a blanket body and constraining means attached to the blanket body for constraining movement of the limbs of a person using the blanket. The blanket is of particular use for keeping babies warm in that it constrains movement of the baby's limbs such that the baby cannot wiggle itself out of the blanket.

WO 2001/005279 A (SAFE PASSAGE INC) 25 January 20012 describes a baby support system that includes two support structures. The first support structure is adjacent to the second support structure (102) which is made of a flexible resilient material which conforms to the baby's body.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The infant swaddling bag has improved fit features including (i) three separate pieces of fabric individually shaped to fit the infant, joined together by two seams to form the swaddling bag; (ii) curvature of the seams at the shoulder region to accommodate the infant's shoulders; (iii) a slight crew neck; (iv) a profiled inner tongue flap section for wrapping around the infant. The V-neck wrap around design ensures that the infant cannot slip down inside the swaddling bag. hi addition, the bottom opening side zip ensures that the infant will not be able to kick off the swaddling bag and become disturbed. The improved fit features result in less fabric being wrapped around the infant thereby providing sufficient room for the infant to move its arms and legs which is beneficial for their development, in particular the profiled inner tongue section for wrapping around the infant only wraps around the infant's arms, torso and the upper portion of the newborn infant's legs. In addition, the 100% knitted ³ cotton fabric allows the infant to move both its arms and legs within the swaddling bag without being able to get their arms out to startle themselves or scratch their face. Also the infant is unable to kick off the blanket.

² Cited by EP Australia.

³ Knitted fabric is constructed so that it has both horizontal and vertical stretch qualities.

The swaddling bag is easy to use due to the distinct three separate pieces being the central receiving section, the inner tongue flap and the outer flap which each perform a distinct function. The swaddling bag is laid out flat with the inner surface facing up. An infant is placed back down on the central receiving section between the two seams so that the infant's neck overlaps the slight crew neck with shoulders engaged by the curvature of the seams at the shoulder region, providing a logical reference point for positioning the infant. Once the infant is positioned the inner tongue flap is wrapped over the infant's right arm and tucked under the left armpit (the inner tongue flap can also be wrapped over the left arm and behind the infant's back). The shape and position of the inner tongue flap on the right side of the central receiving section facilitates an efficient first half of the wrap. The outer flap is wrapped around the infant's left arm, torso and the inner tongue flap. The outer flap is then fastened to the central receiving section via a zip to complete the fastened swaddling bag. The design, shape and zip closure of the swaddling bag provide an easy means for swaddling an infant.

The infant's legs and feet are accessible by partially opening the bottom of the swaddling bag's zip (which is the reverse of a conventional sleeping bag zip) but without unwrapping the inner tongue flap or outer flap and therefore the infant remains swaddled/ wrapped. This enables the infant's nappy to be readily checked or changed; the infant may be placed in a car seat or pram or the infant's temperature may be reduced, all without disrupting the wrap/swaddle or the comfort of the infant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To assist with understanding the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which diagrammatically detail the invention. A brief description of the drawings follows: FIGURE 1 is a top view of the inner surface of an unfolded swaddling bag detailing the sections of the swaddling bag with a central receiving section, an inner tongue flap and an outer flap.

FIGURE 2 is a top view of the outer surface of an unfolded swaddling bag.

FIGURE 3 is a top view of an infant positioned on the swaddling bag. FIGURE 4 is a top view of FIGURE 3 with the inner tongue flap wrapped around the infant's right arm, torso and tucked under the infant's left armpit and back. (Note that the inner tongue flap can also be wrapped around the infant's left arm and then tucked under the infant's back).

FIGURE 5 is a top view of FIGURE 4 with the outer flap wrapped over the infant's right arm, torso and the inner tongue flap with the zip fastened.

The diagrams detail the swaddling bag as a flat garment however, the three piece design with seams encompassing curvature for the infant's shoulders; the inner tongue flap and outer flap attached to the central receiving section prevent the swaddling bag from lying completely flat.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Figure 1 details the inner surface 1 of an unfolded infant swaddling bag having three separate pieces of 100% knitted cotton fabric forming three distinct sections being an inner tongue flap 2; a central receiving section 3; and an outer flap 4.

The central receiving section 3 includes a surface for receiving the infant; a bottom edge with one half of the zip extending from the bottom edge 5 to 1/4^ from the top of the right side of the central receiving section; a top edge with a slight crew neck 6 for engaging the infant's neck.

The inner tongue flap 2 is attached to the central receiving section via a seam 7 on the right side edge of the central receiving section. The seam 7 is curved at the shoulder 8 thereby providing a good fit for the infant's right shoulder.

The inner tongue flap 2 includes a tapered top edge 11; a rounded right side 12; a tapered bottom side 13; a left side which is attached to the central receiving section via a seam 7. The top edge of the inner tongue flap has a tapered profile to ensure that when wrapped around the infant together with the outer flap 4, both the inner tongue flap and outer flap form a V-neck (refer to Figure 5 showing the V-neck 30). The V-neck 30 ensures that the infant is unable to slip down inside the swaddling bag providing both safety and comfort. The inner tongue flap 2 includes a rounded right side 12 and tapered bottom side 13 so that there is no excess fabric to ensure safe handling of the infant and prevent overheating of the infant Conventional blankets used for swaddling an infant are not specifically designed for swaddling and therefore the excess fabric can result in a bulky wrap and overheating. The inner tongue flap when wrapped around the infant (refer to Figure 4) only wraps around the arms, torso and upper most portion of a newborn infant's legs, therefore it does not restrict leg movement. This feature also ensures that the infant's nappy can be easily checked or the swaddled infant can be placed in a pram or car seat without unwrapping or unswaddling the infant. In addition, the inner tongue flap 2 when wrapped over the arms and torso prevents the infant's startle reflex and the infant scratching its face by containing its arms within the swaddling bag however, the infant can still move its arms within the swaddling bag.

The outer flap is attached to the left side edge of the central receiving section via a seam 9. The seam 9 is curved at the shoulder 10 thereby providing a good fit for the infant's left shoulder.

The outer flap 4 has a tapered top edge 14; a bottom edge 15; a left side 16; and a right side attached to the central receiving section via a seam 9. The outer flap has the opposite half of the zip extending from the entire left side 16 around the entire bottom side 15.

Figure 2 details the outer surface 17 of an unfolded infant swaddling bag including the

inner tongue flap 2; central receiving section 3; and outer flap 4. The fabric used for the swaddling bag is 100% knitted cotton.

Figure 3 illustrates an infant 20 placed on the inner surface 1 of the central receiving section 3. The infant has a neck 21, a head 22, a right arm 23, a left arm 24, a right leg 25; a left leg 26; and a torso 27. The infant's back is placed on the inner surface 1 of the central receiving section 3 with the infant's neck 21 over the crew neck 6. The infant's right arm 23 is placed against its side. Figure 4 details the zip fastener 18 commencing approximately 1/4* from the top of the right side of the central receiving section 19 and ending at the bottom of the central receiving section where the central receiving section is attached to the outer flap 29. The zip fastener is the reverse of a conventional sleeping bag to enable the leg section of the swaddling bag to be opened without unswaddling or unwrapping the infant. Accordingly, a swaddled infant's nappy may be checked and changed or a swaddled infant placed in a pram or car seat without unswaddling or unwrapping the infant. Using a zip to fasten the swaddling bag provides security for the infant by providing an encapsulated environment similar to the mother's uterus. In addition, the zip ensures that the infant is unable to kick off the swaddling bag.

Referring to Figure 4, the inner tongue flap 2 is wrapped over the infant's right arm and torso; the inner tongue flap 2 is tucked under the infant's left armpit and under the infant's back creating a folded edge 28 along the left side of the infant's torso. The wrap extends over the upper portion of legs but does not confine or restrict the legs. The infant's left arm 24 is free and is placed by the infant's left side. Alternatively, the inner tongue flap 2 can also be wrapped over the infant's left arm 24 and tucked under the infant's back.

Figure 5 shows the outer flap 4 wrapped over the infant's left arm, torso and the inner tongue flap 2 (which has been wrapped over the infant as detailed above). The outer flap 4 is fastened to the right side of the central receiving section via the zip commencing on the right side of the central receiving section 1/4* from the top at 19 and ending at the bottom left side of the central receiving section where the central receiving section is attached to the outer flap 29.