AU2020101458A4 - Infant bed liner - Google Patents

Abstract

There is disclosed an infant bed liner comprising a three-dimensional spacer mesh and a cover mesh layer. The three-dimensional spacer mesh comprises an outer mesh layer, an inner mesh layer, and a monofilament core layer disposed between the outer and inner mesh layers. The cover mesh layer is adjacent the inner mesh layer and is formed of a combed cotton material. 2/6 100 -124 10 18110 H 112a18 12 110111 114 11_1 0 - 16Ir16 V 114b 11418 1 111 112b 118 T 18 110 116 Fig. 3

Description

2/6

100

-124 10 18110 H 112a18 12

110111 114 11_1 0 - 16Ir16 V 114b

11418 1 111 112b 118

T 18 110

116

Fig. 3

INFANT BED LINER

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an infant bed liner, and in particular, an infant bed liner that is suitable for use in a cot, crib or other similar bedding equipment that is used by babies, infants or young children.

Background

[0002] Infant beds, such as cots or cribs are known and provide an enclosure for allowing infants, babies or young children to sleep or rest. Cots are typically constructed using hard or rigid materials to ensure that they have the required strength to safely support the occupant. Many of the hard or rigid materials have surfaces that are exposed. This can be problematic as an infant may inadvertently strike or contact the hard surfaces during their sleep, causing harm or even injury to the infant. To protect an infant from contacting the hard surfaces of the cot, cot bumpers are used to provide a protective barrier in the cot.

[0003] Cot bumpers provide a continuous layer of padding around the enclosure of the cot, thus protecting the infant against striking the exposed hard surfaces of the cot. However, a disadvantage of known cot bumpers is that they are typically padded with polyester and have a minimum thickness of 1.5 cm, which provides no or limited air permeability therethrough. Surrounding the enclosure of the cot with cot bumpers can therefore prevent or restrict air from flowing into the cot, which may lead to suffocation and even Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) of the infant.

[0004] Further, cot bumpers are typically attached to the cot and held in place via numerous ties. A further disadvantage of cot bumpers is that these ties are typically exposed. An infant can pull on those ties, thus resulting in the cot bumper being released from its position onto the infant, which can lead to possible entanglement and suffocation of the infant.

Object

[0005] It is an object of the present disclosure to substantially overcome or ameliorate one or more of the above disadvantages, or at least provide a useful alternative.

Summary

[0006] In an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an infant bed liner, comprising: a three-dimensional spacer mesh comprising: an outer mesh layer; an inner mesh layer; and a monofilament core layer disposed between the outer and inner mesh layers; and a cover mesh layer adjacent the inner mesh layer, wherein the cover mesh layer is formed of a combed cotton material.

[0007] The combed cotton material may be weft knitted having a plurality of pores. Each of the pores may define an area of about 0.5 mm 2 .

[0008] The combed cotton material may have a yarn count of 40s.

[0009] The three-dimensional spacer mesh may be formed from a polyester material.

[0010] A distance from the outer mesh layer to the inner mesh layer maybe about 5 mm or less.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0011] Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described hereinafter, byway of examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0012] Fig. l is a perspective view of a cot with an embodiment of an infant bed liner attached thereto;

[0013] Fig. 2 is a rear view of the infant bed liner of Fig. 1;

[0014] Fig. 3 is an enlarged rear view of the infant bed liner of Fig. 1;

[0015] Fig. 4 is a front view of the infant bed liner of Fig. 1;

[0016] Fig. 5 is an enlarged front view of the infant bed liner of Fig. 1;

[0017] Fig. 6 is a front view of the infant bed liner of Fig. 1 attached to the cot;

[0018] Fig. 7 is a top view of a cot with the infant bed liner of Fig. 1 and a further infant bed liner attached thereto;

[0019] Fig. 8 is a rear view of another embodiment of an infant bed liner;

[0020] Fig. 9 is a front view of the infant bed liner of Fig. 8; and

[0021] Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the cot of Fig. 7.

Description of Embodiments

[0022] Figs. I to 5 show an embodiment of an infant bed liner 100. The infant bed liner 100 is suitable for use in an infant bed, such as a cot, crib or other similar bedding equipment that is used by babies, infants or young children. In this embodiment, the infant bed liner 100 is used in a cot 10. With reference to Fig. 1, the cot 10 generally comprises two end walls 12a, 12b, two side walls 14a, 14b, four corner posts 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d and a mattress base 18. The end walls 12a, 12b, side walls 14a, 14b, corner posts 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d and mattress base 18 together form an enclosure 20 to receive an infant therein. Each of the end walls 12a, 12b and the side walls 14a, 14b has an upper rail 22, a lower rail 24 and a plurality of spaced-apart slats 26 that extend between the upper and lower rails 22, 24. In use, the infant bed liner 100 is attached to the end walls 12a, 12b and/or the side walls 14a, 14b of the cot 10 so as to surround the enclosure 20, thus providing a protective barrier inside the cot 10.

[0023] The infant bed liner 100 will now be described in further detail with reference to Figs. 2 to 5. The infant bed liner 100 comprises a three-dimensional spacer mesh 102 and a cover mesh layer 104. With reference to Fig. 2, the spacer mesh 102 is an outwardly-facing layer of the infant bed liner 100 and is configured to engage with the end walls 12a, 12b and/or the side walls 14a, 14b of the cot 10. The spacer mesh 102 is formed from a polyester material and comprises an outer mesh layer, an inner mesh layer, and a monofilament core layer disposed between the outer and inner mesh layers. In this embodiment, a distance from the outer mesh layer to the inner mesh layer is approximately 5 mm. In other embodiments, the distance may be less than 5 mm. Each of the inner and outer mesh layers of the spacer mesh 102 is of an open weave knit construction having a plurality of spaced-apart pores 106, as shown in Fig. 3. Each of the pores 106 defines an area of approximately 6 mm 2 and may be of any suitable shape that allows airflow therethrough, whilst preventing a finger of an infant from passing therethrough. The spacer mesh 102 acts a cushion, providing resilience to the infant bed liner 100 should an infant touch, lean or press against the infant bed liner 100.

[0024] The cover mesh layer 104 is an inwardly-facing layer of the infant bed liner 100 and is arranged adjacent the inner mesh layer of the spacer mesh 102. The cover mesh layer 104 is the layer an infant would be in contact with, in use. The cover mesh layer 104 is formed from a combed cotton material and is of a weft knitted construction having a plurality of spaced apart pores 108. Each of the pores 108 defines an area of approximately 0.5 mm 2 and may be of any suitable shape that allows airflow therethrough. In this embodiment, each of the pores 108 is spaced at approximately 4 mm from an adjacent pore 108, however, it will be appreciated that the spacing between adjacent pores may be smaller or larger than 4 mm. Further, in this embodiment, the combed cotton material has a yarn count of 40s, which provides a soft feel should an infant touch, lean or press against the infant bed liner 100. In other embodiments, the combed cotton material may have a yarn count of 32s or any other yarn count that provides a similarly soft or softer feel. Preferably, the combed cotton material is of the type that is non-static and tear resistant.

[0025] Preferably still, the cotton material of the cover mesh layer 104 is a Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified material. The GOTS covers the processing, labelling, trading and distribution of all textiles made from at least 70% certified organic fibres. Under the GOTS, certified organic fibres must meet certain processing and manufacturing criteria. Key criteria for processing and manufacturing include, for example, that organic fibres are free from critical inputs such as toxic heavy metals, formaldehyde, aromatic solvents, functional nano particles, genetically modified organisms and their enzymes, and azo dyes that release carcinogenic amine compounds; the use of synthetic sizing agents is restricted; knitting and weaving oils must not contain heavy metals; raw materials, intermediates, final textile products as well as accessories must meet stringent limits regarding unwanted residues; and key conventions of the International Labour Organisation must be met by all processors and manufacturers.

[0026] The spacer mesh 102 and the cover mesh layer 104 are in the form of elongate sheets, that are generally rectangular in shape, and both stitched together along the edges with a cotton bind 110 to form the infant bed liner 100, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The infant bed liner 100 has two opposed longitudinal edges 112a, 112b with a length L and two opposed transverse edges 114a, 114b with a height H. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the infant bed liner 100 has a length L of 162 cm and a height H of 25 cm. A plurality of spaced apart stitches 116 extend transversely between the two longitudinal edges 112a, 112b and through both the spacer mesh 102 and the cover mesh layer 104. The transverse stitches 116 provide further stability to the infant bed liner 100 and also allows the infant bed liner 100 to be folded therealong to facilitate storage and transportation.

[0027] The infant bed liner 100 is attachable to the cot by fastening means disposed on end portions 120, 122 of the infant bed liner 100. In this embodiment, the fastening means includes hook and loop fastener strips 118, such as Velcro®, stitched along the longitudinal edges 112a, 112b and disposed on the outwardly-facing layer of the infant bed liner 100 to prevent an infant from touching or contacting the fastener strips 118, in use.

[0028] To attach the infant bed liner 100 to the cot 10, each of the end portions 120, 122 of the infant bed liner 100 is looped around a respective slat 26 of the end walls 12a, 12b and/or the side walls 14a, 14b and secured onto itself by way of the fastener strips 118, as shown in Fig. 6. The fastener strips 118 allow the end portions 120, 122 to be adjusted to ensure that the infant bed liner 100 is sufficiently taut along the end walls 12a, 12b and/or the side walls 14a, 14b. It will be appreciated the infant bed liner 100 may be attached to the cot 10 in any suitable arrangement so long as the infant bed liner 100 is sufficiently taut along the end walls 12a, 12b and/or the side walls 14a, 14b.

[0029] One such arrangement is shown in Fig. 7, which utilises the infant bed liner 100 and a further infant bed liner 100' to surround the enclosure 20 of the cot 10. The further infant bed liner 100', as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, is substantially similar to the infant bed liner 100 and like features have been indicated with like reference numerals. The infant bed liner 100' has a length Li of 329 cm and a height Hi of 25 cm and is attached to the cot 10 so as to extend across the end walls 12a, 12b and the side wall 14a, and around the corner posts 16a, 16b. The infant bed liner 100 is attached to the cot 10 so as to extend across the side wall 14b. The infant bed liner 100 and the infant bed liner 100' together form a protective barrier inside the cot 10. In use, air can freely pass through the infant bed liners 100, 100', as shown in Fig. 10. As neither the infant bed liner 100 or the infant bed liner 100' extends around the corner posts 16b, 16c, gaps are provided between the infant bed liners 100, 100' to allow for additional air flow into the enclosure 20 of the cot 10.

[0030] In other embodiments, the fastening means may include snap buttons, magnetic attachment mechanisms or the like that allow the infant bed liner 100 to be securely attached to the cot 10.

[0031] One or more ties 124 are also be provided along the infant bed liners 100, 100' for further securing the infant bed liners 100, 100' to the cot 10. The ties 124 are disposed on the outwardly-facing layer of each of the infant bed liners 100, 100' and are configured to be tied to a respective slat 26 of the cot 10 to further prevent the infant bed liners 100, 100' from sagging or leaning inwardly into the enclosure 20. Having the ties 124 disposed on the outwardly-facing layer of each of the infant bed liners 100, 100' prevents an infant in the cot from pulling on the ties 124, thus reducing the risk of choking and strangulation.

[0032] The above described embodiments have numerous advantages. Unlike traditional cot bumpers, the infant bed liners 100, 100' are slimline and are air permeable, allowing air flow into the enclosure 20 of the cot 10, thus improving the safety of an infant in the cot 10 and reducing the risk of suffocation and SIDS. The infant bed liners 100, 100' also forms a barrier inside the cot 10, protecting an infant in the cot 10 from contacting the hard or rigid surfaces of the cot 10. The spacer mesh 102 of the infant bed liners 100, 100' also acts as a cushion, providing resilience to the infant bed liners 100, 100', should an infant touch, lean or press against the infant bed liners 100, 100'. Further, the combed cotton material of the cover mesh layer 104 provides a softer and more pleasant feel for infants compared to polyester material used in traditional cot bumpers. Further still, the infant bed liners 100, 100' can be easily attached to the cot 10 in any suitable arrangement, and removed easily from the cot 10. The fastener strips 118 ensure that the infant bed liners 100, 100' are sufficiently taut along the end walls 12a, 12b and/or the side walls 14a, 14b. This prevents the infant bed liners 100, 100' from sagging or leaning inwardly into the enclosure 20, which may otherwise be hazardous to an infant in the cot 10 due to possible entanglement and suffocation. Having the ties 124 tied to a respective slat 26 also further prevents the infant bed liner 100 from sagging or leaning into the enclosure 20.

[0033] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments, without departing from the broad general scope of the present disclosure. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims (5)

CLAIMS:

1. An infant bed liner, comprising: a three-dimensional spacer mesh comprising: an outer mesh layer; an inner mesh layer; and a monofilament core layer disposed between the outer and inner mesh layers; and a cover mesh layer adjacent the inner mesh layer, wherein the cover mesh layer is formed of a combed cotton material.

2. The infant bed liner according to claim 1, wherein the combed cotton material is weft knitted having a plurality of pores, and wherein each of the pores defines an area of about 0.5 mm.2

3. The infant bed liner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the combed cotton material has a yam count of 40s.

4. The infant bed liner according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the three dimensional spacer mesh is formed from a polyester material.

5. The infant bed liner according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a distance from the outer mesh layer to the inner mesh layer is about 5 mm or less.