AU2006100949A4

AU2006100949A4 - Baby play mat

Info

Publication number: AU2006100949A4
Application number: AU2006100949A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Duncan James Cartledge
Original assignee: DUNCAN CARTLEDGE
Current assignee: DUNCAN CARTLEDGE
Priority date: 2006-11-09
Filing date: 2006-11-09
Publication date: 2006-12-07
Anticipated expiration: 2014-11-09

Description

Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT

APPLICANT:

NUMBER:

FILING DATE: INVENTION TITLE: Duncan James Cartledge BABY PLAY MAT The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: IND) 2

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c(KI BABY PLAY MAT 0 Z Technical Field of the Invention The invention relates to the area of baby furniture and accessories and in particular, to a baby play mat which provides a play area for babies that offers safety and protection without restricting the activity of the baby.

SWhist the invention can also be applied to mats for infants or young children, for Sconvenience sake it shall be described herein as a play mat for babies.

Background to the Invention When a baby or infant is not being carried, they are commonly placed onto a mat or blanket or the like on which they can lie and/or play. However, as the baby can easily roll of the mat they must constantly be monitored to ensure they do not get injured.

In recent times, there have been many baby play mats that have been designed as protective enclosures with foam walls to keep a baby contained within the area provided by the mat. The disadvantage with the current baby play mats is that are restricted in the play area that they are able to provide with only a small number of toys being able to be stored within the play area. They also fail to provide a means for enabling more than one baby to be kept safely within the play area and do not adequately cater for active babies as the side foam walls are attached with Velcro or the like which can easily become detached with a heavy or active baby or infant.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a baby play mat which provides a play area for babies that offers safety and protection without restricting the activity of the baby.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a baby play mat which still provides easy access to the baby.

I3 6 Summary of the Invention 0 Z The present invention provides a baby play mat including a body portion having an upper and a lower layer, said body portion having at least one compartment, and at least one inflatable member positioned within said body portion whereby, the baby play mat provides a play area for babies that offers safety and protection without restricting the activity of the baby.

SIt is preferred that the upper and lower layers be joined together via stitching.

y It is preferred that a first compartment is a central compartment having a cushioning member which is adapted to be positioned between the upper and lower layer of the body portion.

It is further preferred that the cushioning member is made of a foam material to provide a soft support for a baby placed on the play mat.

It is preferred that a second compartment extends around the perimeter of the central compartment and is divided into at least one segment to form at least one side wall.

It is further preferred that the or each side wall has provided an opening, and a closure means associated with the opening, for enabling an inflatable member to be inserted into and kept within the side wall(s) to provide a protective barrier for a baby.

It is further preferred that the closure means is in the form of a zipper or other suitable fastening or closure device.

It is preferred that the inflatable member has provided an air inflation/release portion which enables the inflatable member to be inflated or deflated.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood we will describe by way of non-limiting example, a specific embodiment thereof.

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C1 Brief Description of the Drawing Figures 0 Z Figure 1 shows a top perspective view of the baby play mat according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 shows a top plan view of the baby play mat according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3 shows a side cross-sectional view of the baby play mat according to a

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Spreferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 4 shows a bottom perspective view of a corner of the baby play mat showing inside the side wall segments according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention Figures 1 to 4 show the baby play mat according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In this preferred embodiment, the invention provides a baby play mat 1 which provides a play area for babies that offers safety and protection without restricting the activity of the baby. The baby play mat 1 may preferably be square, rectangular or round in shape.

However, it is envisaged that any shape, style or colour may be adopted as desired. The baby play mat 1 is preferably made of a fabric material which provides a surface which is soft and gentle to the touch of a baby whilst also being washable. It is envisaged that any other suitable material may also be employed so long as the requirements of the invention are met.

The baby play mat 1 preferably has provided a body portion 2. The body portion is preferably formed from an upper layer 3 and a lower layer 4 made of a fabric material.

The upper layer 3 and lower layer 4 are preferably made of cotton, or any other suitable fabric, material. It is envisaged that the lower layer 4 could be made of a water-resistant material so that the baby play mat 1 could be used in an outdoor environment. In an 6 alternate embodiment of the invention, it is envisaged that a removable water-resistant O portion (not shown) could be attached to the lower layer 4 via a suitable attachment Z means and utilised as required.

The upper layer 3 and the lower layer 4 may preferably be stitched together to form the body portion 2 of the baby play mat 1. However, it is envisaged that the layers 3, 4 of the baby play mat 1 may be joined together via any other suitable means. It is preferred that stitching be used along the edges of the body portion 2 in order to prevent a smothering Seffect on the baby play mat 1 when it is inflated. The upper and lower layers are Spreferably stitched together is such a way that that the body portion 2 is preferably divided into at least one compartment A first compartment 11 is preferably a central compartment which is adapted to provide the play area for at least one baby placed thereon. The central compartment 11 preferably has provided a flexible, cushioning member 12 which is adapted to provide support and comfort for a baby so that they are not in direct contact with the hard ground. The cushioning member 12 is preferably made of a foam material. However, it is envisaged that any other suitable material could also be used.

A second compartment 20 is preferably adapted to extend around the perimeter of the central compartment 11 in order to form the side wall of the baby play mat 1. In a preferred rectangular/square configuration of the baby play mat 1, the second compartment 20 is preferably divided into four segments to form each of the four side walls 20. It is envisaged that the number of side wall segments 20 may be variable depending on the shape, size and configuration of the baby play mat 1. The edges 23 of the side walls 20 are preferably rounded and soft to prevent the baby getting bumps and bruises when it comes in contact the edges 23 of the side walls 20 of the baby play mat 1. Whilst the height of an inflatable member 30 and/or side wall 20 may be variable, it is preferred that a suitable height be adopted so that when the baby is old enough to crawl and climb over the edge, it will not fall.

The side walls 20 of the baby play mat 1 are preferably adapted to receive at least one inflatable member 30 therein. The side walls preferably have an opening 21 which is adapted to enable the inflatable member(s) to be inserted therethrough. The opening 21 6 preferably extends across the entire length of the side wall 20. However, it is envisaged O that the opening may only extend partially across the length of the side wall 20. The side Z walls 20 preferably have provided a closure means 22 which is adapted to provide a means for sealing the openings 21 provided on the side walls. The closure 22 is preferably in the form of a zipper device which is adapted to extend along the entire length of the opening 21 and securely hold either side of the opening 21 in an open or closed configuration. However, it is envisaged that any other suitable fastening or closure device may also be used to provide a resealable closure for the openings 21 on Sthe side walls y The inflatable member 30 is preferably adapted to be made of a waterproof polyvinyl chloride (PVC) material. However, it is envisaged that any other suitable material may also be employed. It is envisaged that the shape of the inflatable member 30 can be varied to fit different shaped or styled baby play mat 1. In a preferred embodiment, the inflatable member 30 is preferably cylindrically shaped. The inflatable member preferably has provided an air inflation/release portion (not shown) which enables air to be added to, and/or released from, the inflatable member 30 to inflate or deflate the inflatable member 30 respectively. The air source (not shown) may preferably be from the mouth blown into the air inflation/release portion, or via a suitable air source connected to the air inflation/release portion 31 such as a hand/foot pump, air compressor or the like.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is envisaged the baby play mat 1 preferably has at least one inflatable barrier member (not shown) which can be attached to the body portion 2 to provide a means of separation when more than one baby is placed onto the baby play mat 1. The inflatable barrier member is preferably covered in the same soft material as the body portion 2 of the baby play mat 1 or other suitable material. The inflatable barrier member preferably has provided an attachment means (not shown) which is adapted to provide a means for securing the inflatable barrier member to the upper layer 3 of the body portion 1 of the baby play mat 1. The attachment is preferably a re-useable fastening means. In a further embodiment of the invention, it is further envisaged that the baby play mat 1 may have provide a sun shade/ cover (not shown) so that the baby is protected from the external elements when placed in an outdoor environment.

O In practice, the inflatable members 30 are inflated and inserted though the openings 21 Z into the side walls 20 of the body portion 2 of the baby play mat 1. The openings 21 are then closed using the closure means 22 to seal the inflatable members 30 within the body portion 2 of the baby play mat 1 to form inflated side walls 20. The protective side walls 20 are adapted to restrict the ability of the baby being able to roll off the play mat 1 whilst still enabling them to roll freely on the play mat 1 and play within its limits as defined by the inflated side walls SWhile we have described a particular embodiment of a baby play mat 1, it is further envisaged that other embodiments of the invention could exhibit any number and combination of any one of the features previously described. However, it is to be understood that any variations and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

Claims

2. A baby play mat as claimed in claim 1 wherein a first compartment is a central Scompartment having a cushioning member which is adapted to be positioned Sbetween the upper and lower layer of the body portion.
3. A baby play mat as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein a second compartment extends around the perimeter of the central compartment and is divided into at least one segment to form at least one side wall.
4. A baby play mat as claimed in claim 3 wherein the or each side wall has provided and opening, and closure means associated with the opening, for enabling an inflatable member to be inserted into and kept within the side wall to provide a protective barrier for a baby. A baby play mat as substantially described herein with reference to the above examples and drawings figures.