CA1280778C - Infant postural support stroller accessory - Google Patents
Infant postural support stroller accessoryInfo
- Publication number
- CA1280778C CA1280778C CA 533407 CA533407A CA1280778C CA 1280778 C CA1280778 C CA 1280778C CA 533407 CA533407 CA 533407 CA 533407 A CA533407 A CA 533407A CA 1280778 C CA1280778 C CA 1280778C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- infant
- supports
- base
- support
- support system
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62B—HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES
- B62B9/00—Accessories or details specially adapted for children's carriages or perambulators
- B62B9/10—Perambulator bodies; Equipment therefor
- B62B9/102—Perambulator bodies; Equipment therefor characterized by details of the seat
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62B—HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES
- B62B9/00—Accessories or details specially adapted for children's carriages or perambulators
- B62B9/10—Perambulator bodies; Equipment therefor
- B62B9/102—Perambulator bodies; Equipment therefor characterized by details of the seat
- B62B9/108—Linings or cushions
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Transportation (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Carriages For Children, Sleds, And Other Hand-Operated Vehicles (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A postural support system for an infant comprising a base and a plurality of supports releasably attachable to the base. The supports are positioned on the base so that a child supported by the system will have a support on each side of the torso and at the groin, whereby the infant is prevented from sliding downwardly or sidewardly relative to the support.
A postural support system for an infant comprising a base and a plurality of supports releasably attachable to the base. The supports are positioned on the base so that a child supported by the system will have a support on each side of the torso and at the groin, whereby the infant is prevented from sliding downwardly or sidewardly relative to the support.
Description
The present inverltion relates to a postural support system for infant~ and is particularly suitable as a stroller accessory.
It is desireable for an infant's health, comfort) and orthopaedic development to be maintained in good postural alignment. Being inquisitive by nature, infants often prefer being elevated to being flat so that they are able to see more; but without ex-ternal support, young infant~ tend to ~lide down and/or sideways if the stroller is not fully reclined because they do not have the necessary muscle control to combat gravity. Exis-ting harness systems are less than effective and do no-t maintain the infant in proper postural alignment.
There is a horseshoe shaped foam roll commercially available designed to provide head support for infan-ts.
However, it is not suitable for infants who have attained head control and does not provide trunk support or prevent the infant from sliding down. In addition, this device will only prevent gross malalignment of the head and doe~ not necessarily maintain proper pos-tural alignment~
There is an orthopaedic support apparatu3 for infant~
patented in the United State~ ~ Pat, No, 4,383,713, Roston, May 17, 1983 ) which con~ists of a contoured head pillow and two side pillows affixed to a planar sheet. Thi~ is likely an efective system for very young inEant~. Developmentally, head control precedes trunk control. By about three to four months of age, most infants have gained independent head control and thus do not re~uire external support to maintain ~' -- ~L2~
its alignmen-t. Providing more support than necessary over time is not desireable because it discourages utilizing the skill and strenyth attained~ If the use if the head pillow is discontinued or if the infant actively brings his/her head forward, the infant would tend to slide down. If the use of the pillow is not cliscontinued after -the infant ha~ gained independent head control, the inPant may beco~e frustrated Prom having it's head movement restricted. Also, the infant would not be able to utilize the independence in head movement that it has achieved.
Accordingly, there is a need for a postural ~upport system tha-t overcomes the limitations of the existing devices.
The present invention provides a postural support system for an infant comprisiny a base;
a plurality of supports releasably attachable to the base~ khe supports being positioned on the base so that a child supported by the system will have a support on each side of the torso and at the groin, whereby the infant is prevented from ~liding downwardly or sidewardly relative to the ~upport.
Aspects of the present invention are illu~trated, merely by way oE example, in the accompanying Figure~, in which:
Figure 1 i~ a front view of a preferred embodiment Oe the pre~ent invention employing Eive Yupports;
Figure 2 i~ a three dimensional view of one oP the ~upports;
rn Figure 3 is a front view depicting an infant positioned in the support ~ystem of Figure 1, Figure 4 is a front view of a second arrangement of the invention with the head supports removed and replaced with the bib; ana Figure 5 is a front perspective view of a baby sitting upright in an arrangement of Figure 4.
Figure 1 show~ a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprising a base 2 with a plurality of supports which serve to prevent the young infant from sliding clown or sideway~ in the semi-reclined stroller. The supports are relea~ably attachable to the ba~e, and the b~se is preferably rectangular and made from fabric. There are two support~ 4 for lakeral head support, two supports 6 for lateral trunk support and one center support 8 positioned at the groin to prevent the infant from ~liding down. ~ook and eye fasteners are used to attach the supports to the base to provide multiple adjustment possibilities and allow for quick removal and positioning of the supports. Ties 10 are used to attach tne ba~e to the s-troller frame at the top of the stroller backrest. Thi~ arrangement allows the fabric base to be easily lifted out of the way without being removed to permit the ~troller to be folded.
A scamline 12 is inaorporated into the fabric base to further increa~e the ease of ~ositioniny ~he invention in the stroller. The seamline is positioned along the joint where the ~troller ~eat and backrest meet.
~ 4 -A soft, high friction m~terial such as corduroy is most de3ireable for fabrication to help maintain the infant's position~ Other fabrics, of co~rse, could be used, especially those to which hook and eye fasteners readily adhere, however, durability, washability and flammability must be cons.idered in the fabric seleckion to ensure practicality and safety.
Figure 2 ~hows a three dimensional view of one oE the supporks. The supports are preEerably rectangular in shape, fabricated from a den~e, foamed plastic and covered with fabric. One part of an hook and eye attachment 13 covers the rear surface of the ~upport and a corresponding part is located on the ~abric ba~e 2 if the base i~ made of a fabric to which hook and eye attachment do not readily adhere. The support~ are de~irably of a uniform size making them interchangeable. The size, density and positioning of the swpports haQ been selected to provide optimum support and comfort without being re~trictive.
Figure 3 depicts a young infant 14 positioned in the stroller accessory of Figure 1. Head ~upports 4 provide lateral head support to keep the head in proper postural alignment with the body. Supports 6 snugly po~itioned along the inant'~ ~ides provide la-teral trunk support preventing the infant from sliding ~ideways in the semi-re~lined stroller. Suppor-t 8 iQ positioned between the inEant's legs at the groin~ preventing the infant from sliding downwardly.
This system has been Eound to effectively maintain the infan-t in proper pos-tu:ral alignment even when the stroller i~ taken ... . . .
L28~
up and down steep inclines, curbs and over rough terrain.
The removable/ adjustable nature of the supports allow them to be positioned to fit diEferent sized infants and to accommodate aifferent degrees of support required.
Figure 4 showY the invention with a soft bib 16 in place of the head supports 4. The head, side and central supports function independently there:fore removal of the head supports does no-t diminish the effectiveness of the other supports in preventing the baby from slidiny down or sideways. When the ~upport~ 4 are no longer required for head support, they can be replaced with fabric bib 16 which attache with hook and eye attachment~ to the base. The bib iæ positioned to receive infant 18 head or face when the stroller is f~lly reclined and the infant is in a prone position for sleeping.
Since bib 16 is removable, it is easily washable and can be decorated for aesthetics.
Figure 5 depicts a baby sitting upright and supported in the stroller accessory of Figure 4. When the infant has sufficient trunk control not to fall forward when sitting, the ~troller can be adjusted to the upright position where the side and central supports 4 and 6, respectively, will stabilize the baby's trunk and pelvis making it easier for the baby ko maintain the sittin~ position. When the baby is fully independent in sitting and the bolster~ are no longer required or wanted, they can all be removed, leaviny the base as a washable seat cover for the stroller. Even older babi.es tend to slide down or sideways in the stroller when sleeping, therefore, parents may find .it helpful to keep -the bolsters readily available even after the baby iæ able to sit independently.
Clearly, the invention of the preæent application is not limited to use in a stroller. Thi~ invention could be used to support infants in other device~ such as infant ~eats, or high chairs. Also, if the strollers, or other infant seats, etc. were covered with a fabric to which hook and eye attachments readily adhere, the supports could be used without the base.
The present invention provides the following functions:
a) to safely and effectively prevent infants from sliding down or sideways in the ~troller b) to be ~upportive without being restrictive c) to accommodate different sizes of infants and their changing needs for support (from newborns to babies who are able to sit independently) d) to accommodate either prone or supine sle~ping po~itions when the stroller is full reclined e) to easily attach to the stroller and be properly positioned wi-th a minimum of effort f) to not interfere with the folding mechanism of the ~troller.
Although khe present invention has been described in ~ome detail by way oE example for purpo~es o~ clarity and understanding, it will be apparen-t that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the scope of the appended claim~.
' ~: ' ' ,.
It is desireable for an infant's health, comfort) and orthopaedic development to be maintained in good postural alignment. Being inquisitive by nature, infants often prefer being elevated to being flat so that they are able to see more; but without ex-ternal support, young infant~ tend to ~lide down and/or sideways if the stroller is not fully reclined because they do not have the necessary muscle control to combat gravity. Exis-ting harness systems are less than effective and do no-t maintain the infant in proper postural alignment.
There is a horseshoe shaped foam roll commercially available designed to provide head support for infan-ts.
However, it is not suitable for infants who have attained head control and does not provide trunk support or prevent the infant from sliding down. In addition, this device will only prevent gross malalignment of the head and doe~ not necessarily maintain proper pos-tural alignment~
There is an orthopaedic support apparatu3 for infant~
patented in the United State~ ~ Pat, No, 4,383,713, Roston, May 17, 1983 ) which con~ists of a contoured head pillow and two side pillows affixed to a planar sheet. Thi~ is likely an efective system for very young inEant~. Developmentally, head control precedes trunk control. By about three to four months of age, most infants have gained independent head control and thus do not re~uire external support to maintain ~' -- ~L2~
its alignmen-t. Providing more support than necessary over time is not desireable because it discourages utilizing the skill and strenyth attained~ If the use if the head pillow is discontinued or if the infant actively brings his/her head forward, the infant would tend to slide down. If the use of the pillow is not cliscontinued after -the infant ha~ gained independent head control, the inPant may beco~e frustrated Prom having it's head movement restricted. Also, the infant would not be able to utilize the independence in head movement that it has achieved.
Accordingly, there is a need for a postural ~upport system tha-t overcomes the limitations of the existing devices.
The present invention provides a postural support system for an infant comprisiny a base;
a plurality of supports releasably attachable to the base~ khe supports being positioned on the base so that a child supported by the system will have a support on each side of the torso and at the groin, whereby the infant is prevented from ~liding downwardly or sidewardly relative to the ~upport.
Aspects of the present invention are illu~trated, merely by way oE example, in the accompanying Figure~, in which:
Figure 1 i~ a front view of a preferred embodiment Oe the pre~ent invention employing Eive Yupports;
Figure 2 i~ a three dimensional view of one oP the ~upports;
rn Figure 3 is a front view depicting an infant positioned in the support ~ystem of Figure 1, Figure 4 is a front view of a second arrangement of the invention with the head supports removed and replaced with the bib; ana Figure 5 is a front perspective view of a baby sitting upright in an arrangement of Figure 4.
Figure 1 show~ a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprising a base 2 with a plurality of supports which serve to prevent the young infant from sliding clown or sideway~ in the semi-reclined stroller. The supports are relea~ably attachable to the ba~e, and the b~se is preferably rectangular and made from fabric. There are two support~ 4 for lakeral head support, two supports 6 for lateral trunk support and one center support 8 positioned at the groin to prevent the infant from ~liding down. ~ook and eye fasteners are used to attach the supports to the base to provide multiple adjustment possibilities and allow for quick removal and positioning of the supports. Ties 10 are used to attach tne ba~e to the s-troller frame at the top of the stroller backrest. Thi~ arrangement allows the fabric base to be easily lifted out of the way without being removed to permit the ~troller to be folded.
A scamline 12 is inaorporated into the fabric base to further increa~e the ease of ~ositioniny ~he invention in the stroller. The seamline is positioned along the joint where the ~troller ~eat and backrest meet.
~ 4 -A soft, high friction m~terial such as corduroy is most de3ireable for fabrication to help maintain the infant's position~ Other fabrics, of co~rse, could be used, especially those to which hook and eye fasteners readily adhere, however, durability, washability and flammability must be cons.idered in the fabric seleckion to ensure practicality and safety.
Figure 2 ~hows a three dimensional view of one oE the supporks. The supports are preEerably rectangular in shape, fabricated from a den~e, foamed plastic and covered with fabric. One part of an hook and eye attachment 13 covers the rear surface of the ~upport and a corresponding part is located on the ~abric ba~e 2 if the base i~ made of a fabric to which hook and eye attachment do not readily adhere. The support~ are de~irably of a uniform size making them interchangeable. The size, density and positioning of the swpports haQ been selected to provide optimum support and comfort without being re~trictive.
Figure 3 depicts a young infant 14 positioned in the stroller accessory of Figure 1. Head ~upports 4 provide lateral head support to keep the head in proper postural alignment with the body. Supports 6 snugly po~itioned along the inant'~ ~ides provide la-teral trunk support preventing the infant from sliding ~ideways in the semi-re~lined stroller. Suppor-t 8 iQ positioned between the inEant's legs at the groin~ preventing the infant from sliding downwardly.
This system has been Eound to effectively maintain the infan-t in proper pos-tu:ral alignment even when the stroller i~ taken ... . . .
L28~
up and down steep inclines, curbs and over rough terrain.
The removable/ adjustable nature of the supports allow them to be positioned to fit diEferent sized infants and to accommodate aifferent degrees of support required.
Figure 4 showY the invention with a soft bib 16 in place of the head supports 4. The head, side and central supports function independently there:fore removal of the head supports does no-t diminish the effectiveness of the other supports in preventing the baby from slidiny down or sideways. When the ~upport~ 4 are no longer required for head support, they can be replaced with fabric bib 16 which attache with hook and eye attachment~ to the base. The bib iæ positioned to receive infant 18 head or face when the stroller is f~lly reclined and the infant is in a prone position for sleeping.
Since bib 16 is removable, it is easily washable and can be decorated for aesthetics.
Figure 5 depicts a baby sitting upright and supported in the stroller accessory of Figure 4. When the infant has sufficient trunk control not to fall forward when sitting, the ~troller can be adjusted to the upright position where the side and central supports 4 and 6, respectively, will stabilize the baby's trunk and pelvis making it easier for the baby ko maintain the sittin~ position. When the baby is fully independent in sitting and the bolster~ are no longer required or wanted, they can all be removed, leaviny the base as a washable seat cover for the stroller. Even older babi.es tend to slide down or sideways in the stroller when sleeping, therefore, parents may find .it helpful to keep -the bolsters readily available even after the baby iæ able to sit independently.
Clearly, the invention of the preæent application is not limited to use in a stroller. Thi~ invention could be used to support infants in other device~ such as infant ~eats, or high chairs. Also, if the strollers, or other infant seats, etc. were covered with a fabric to which hook and eye attachments readily adhere, the supports could be used without the base.
The present invention provides the following functions:
a) to safely and effectively prevent infants from sliding down or sideways in the ~troller b) to be ~upportive without being restrictive c) to accommodate different sizes of infants and their changing needs for support (from newborns to babies who are able to sit independently) d) to accommodate either prone or supine sle~ping po~itions when the stroller is full reclined e) to easily attach to the stroller and be properly positioned wi-th a minimum of effort f) to not interfere with the folding mechanism of the ~troller.
Although khe present invention has been described in ~ome detail by way oE example for purpo~es o~ clarity and understanding, it will be apparen-t that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the scope of the appended claim~.
' ~: ' ' ,.
Claims (9)
1. A postural support system for an infant comprising;
a base;
a plurality of supports releasably attachable to the base, the supports being positioned on the base so that a child supported by the system will have a support on each side of the torso and at the groin, whereby the infant is prevented from sliding downwardly or sidewardly relative to the support.
a base;
a plurality of supports releasably attachable to the base, the supports being positioned on the base so that a child supported by the system will have a support on each side of the torso and at the groin, whereby the infant is prevented from sliding downwardly or sidewardly relative to the support.
2. A support system as claimed in claim 1 including a further pair of releasable supports, one at each side of the infant's head.
3. A support system as claimed in claim 1 in which the base is generally rectangular.
4. A support system as claimed in claim 1 adapted to be received in an infant's stroller.
5. A support system as claimed in claim 1 in which the base is of a material having a relatively high coefficient of friction.
6. A support system as claimed in claim 5 in which the material is corduroy.
7. A support system as claimed in claim 1 in which the supports are releasably attached to the base by mutually engagable hook and eye attachments located at predetermined positions on the base and on the supports.
8. A support system as claimed in claim 1 in which the supports are made of a foamed plastic.
9. A system as claimed in claim 7 in which the supports are covered with a fabric.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 533407 CA1280778C (en) | 1987-03-31 | 1987-03-31 | Infant postural support stroller accessory |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 533407 CA1280778C (en) | 1987-03-31 | 1987-03-31 | Infant postural support stroller accessory |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1280778C true CA1280778C (en) | 1991-02-26 |
Family
ID=4135332
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 533407 Expired - Fee Related CA1280778C (en) | 1987-03-31 | 1987-03-31 | Infant postural support stroller accessory |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1280778C (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2442533A (en) * | 2006-10-05 | 2008-04-09 | Rachel Hinchliffe | Supportive insert for a pushchair |
-
1987
- 1987-03-31 CA CA 533407 patent/CA1280778C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2442533A (en) * | 2006-10-05 | 2008-04-09 | Rachel Hinchliffe | Supportive insert for a pushchair |
| GB2442533B (en) * | 2006-10-05 | 2011-05-11 | Rachel Hinchliffe | A supportive insert for a pushchair |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKLA | Lapsed |