GB2270835A

GB2270835A - Baby changing device for mounting to a bath

Info

Publication number: GB2270835A
Application number: GB9220454A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Arthur George Buss; Brenda Mary Buss
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-09-29
Filing date: 1992-09-29
Publication date: 1994-03-30
Also published as: GB9220454D0

Abstract

A support device 2 includes a rigid rectangular base 4 which supports a rectangular front lip 6, two spaced apart pentagonal sides 8 and a rectangular back 10. Two spaced apart abutment members 12, 14 are fixed to an underside surface of the base 4. The device is arranged to span a standard-sized bath 20 and be securely supported in position on the upwardly facing spaced apart sides 16, 18 of the bath 20. An infant may be placed in position on the rectangular base 4 and supported whilst it's nappy or other clothes are changed. <IMAGE>

Description

8UPPORT DEVICE This invention relates to a support device and particularly, although not exclusively, to a support device for an infant.

It is necessary to ensure, when changing an infant's nappy or other clothes, that the infant is on a secure and hygienic surface. It is preferred that the surface is disposed at a convenient height. When a nappy is being changed, it is preferable for this to take place in a bathroom or other washroom so that the infant can be cleaned. Due to the unavailability of suitable space, a compromise generally must be made. Typically, an infant's nappy or other clothes are changed with the infant lying on a floor or a bed. This may not always be a desirable or satisfactory arrangement.

It is an object of the present invention to address the aforementioned problem.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a support device for supporting an infant relative to a bath, the device comprising a support surface on which an infant may be supported, infant restrictor means associated with said support surface for restricting movement of the infant away from the support surface and bath restrictor means for restricting movement of the device relative to the bath.

The device is preferably arranged to support an infant in a prostrate position.

Preferably, the support device is arranged to extend transversely to the bath. The device is preferably arranged to extend from one longitudinally extending side of the bath to an opposite longitudinally extending side thereof.

The support surface of the device is preferably arranged to extend from one longitudinally extending side of the bath to an opposite longitudinally extending side thereof. The support surface is preferably substantially planar. The support surface is preferably rigidly arranged. The device is preferably arranged such that, with the device supported relative to the bath, the support surface is substantially horizontally disposed.

Said bath restrictor means may be arranged to restrict movement of the device by means of friction between the device in use and the bath.

Said bath restrictor means may comprise an abutment member provided below said support surface. Said abutment member may be arranged to aid positioning of the support device. Said abutment member may be arranged to abut an upwardly extending wall of the bath. Said abutment member may comprise a projection which preferably extends downwardly from an underside surface of a support member.

Said support surface is suitably an upper surface of said support member. The device may include first and second abutment members as described. Said first abutment member is preferably arranged to abut one longitudinally extending side of the bath and said second abutment member is preferably arranged to abut an opposite longitudinally extending side of the bath.

The infant restrictor means preferably includes a first side member for restricting movement of the infant away from the support surface. Said first side member preferably extends upwardly from said support surface.

Preferably, said first side member is contigious with a first edge of said support surface. Said first edge of said support surface is preferably arranged to extend transversely relative to a bath in use. The device preferably further includes a second side member opposite said first side member. Said first and/or said second side members are preferably rigidly arranged. Said first and/or said second side members may have a height of at least 50 mm, preferably of at least 75 mm and more preferably at least 100 mm.

The device may include a back member extending upwardly from said support surface. Said back member is preferably contigious with a rear edge of said support surface. Said back member preferably is of about the same height as that of said first and/or said second members.

The device preferably includes a front lip extending upwardly from said support surface. Said front lip is preferably contigious with a front edge of said support surface. Said front lip preferably has a height of at least 5 mm.

The support device and restrictor means preferably comprise a unitary component which may, for example, be moulded, or otherwise formed, in one piece.

The device may include storage means for storing articles, for example, nappies or cleaning tissues.

Preferably, said storage means is provided along at least one edge, for example, a longitudinal edge, of said device. Said storage means may be releasably securable to said one edge. Said storage means preferably includes a plurality of separate compartments for articles. Said storage means may be provided along two opposite edges of the device.

The invention extends to an assembly comprising a bath and a support device as described in any statement herein.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of changing an article of wear, for example a nappy, of an infant, the method comprising positioning a support device as described in any statement herein relative to a bath, placing the infant on a support surface of the device, and changing the article of wear of the infant.

The invention extends to the use of a support device as described in any statement herein for changing an article of wear of an infant.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a support device supported on a bath; and Figure 2 is a cross-section along line II-II of Figure 1.

The support device 2 includes a rigid rectangular base 4 which supports a rectangular front lip 6, two spaced apart pentagonal sides 8 and a rectangular back 10.

Two spaced apart abutment members 12, 14 are fixed to an underside surface of the base 4. The device is arranged to span a standard-sized bath 20 and be securely supported in position on the upwardly facing spaced apart sides 16, 18 of the bath 20. An infant may be placed in position on the rectangular base 4 and supported whilst it's nappy or other clothes are changed.

The device 2 will now be described in greater detail.

The rectangular back 10 extends vertically upwards from a rear edge of the base 4. The spaced apart sides 8 extend vertically upwards from side edges of the base 4 and have the same depth as that of the back 10. The depth of the back 10 and sides 8 is selected so that an infant in either a prostrate or seated position is generally unable to fall from the device 2 into the bath 20. A front portion of each of the sides 8 is chamfered for ease of access to an infant supported by the device. The depth of the lip 6 is much less than that of the sides 8 and back 10.

The abutment members 12, 14 may extend across the whole width of the base 4 or only be provided adjacent each side edge thereof. The members 12, 14 are arranged to abut longitudinally extending sides of the bath 20 and thereby substantially prevent transverse movement of the device 2 relative to the bath 20.

The device 2 is made from a rigid self-supporting material. It may be made from wood and/or metal.

Preferably, it is moulded (or otherwise formed) from a plastics material, for example, PVC. The device is preferably lightweight and made of non-slip wipe clean material.

In a preferred embodiment, the junctures between base 4, sides 8, back 10 and/or lip 6 are rounded in order to allow relatively easy cleaning of the device.

The device 2 is preferably arranged to accommodate a baby changing mat laid flat upon the upwardly facing surface of the base 4. In this case, the depth of lip 6 is preferably slightly less than that of the mat so as not to catch the infant. The lip is, however, sufficiently high to restrict movement of the mat across the base 4.

The upwardly facing surface of the base 4 and the inwardly facing surfaces of the sides 8 and back 10 may be padded by means of cushioning members. The cushioning members are preferably made of a non-slip material. The cushioning members are preferably made of a wipe clean material for ease of cleaning. The cushioning members may be releasably securable to the device 2 so that they may be removed and washed, if necessary.

A plurality of compartments may be provided on the outside of one or both of the sides 8. The compartments may suitably be used to accommodate clean or soiled nappies, clothes and wipes, a cotton wool dispenser and/or cream. A removable container for water and/or space for toys may also be provided. One or more securable compartments may also be provided to accommodate, for example, nappy pins.

The compartments and the other parts of the device 2 may be moulded as a unitary component. Alternatively, the compartments may be provided in the form of one or more clip-on units arranged to be secured along one or both of sides 8. One clip-on unit may be provided and arranged to be secured along either the left or right side 8 to cater for left and right handed users.

The device 2 may include handles for ease of movement from one position to another.

As an alternative to supporting the device directly on a bath, a box-style base may be provided upon which the device may be supported. The box-style base may incorporate storage space. The base may be positioned on a bath so that the height of the device 2 above the bath is increased slightly.

It should be appreciated that device 2 provides a secure and hygienic environment for changing a nappy or other clothes of an infant up to, for example, three years of age. By utilising a bath for supporting the device 2, the device is disposed at a convenient height and allows efficient use of available space in a bathroom.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. A support device for supporting an infant relative to a bath, the device comprising a support surface on which an infant may be supported, infant restrictor means associated with said support surface for restricting movement of the infant away from support surface and bath restrictor means for restricting movement of the device relative to the bath.

2. A device according to Claim 1, the device being arranged to extend from one longitudinally extending side of the bath to an opposite longitudinally extending side thereof.

3. A device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, said bath restrictor means being arranged to restrict movement of the device by means of friction between the device in use and the bath.

4. A device according to any preceding claim, said bath restrictor means comprising an abutment member provided below said support surface.

5. A device according to Claim 4, said abutment member being arranged to abut an upwardly extending wall of the bath.

6. A device according to Claim 4 or Claim 5, said abutment member comprising a projection which extends downwardly from an underside surface of a support member.

7. A device according to any of Claims 4 to 6, including first and second abutment members.

8. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein said infant restrictor means includes a first side member for restricting movement of the infant away from the support surface.

9. A device according to Claim 8, said first side member extending upwardly from said support surface.

10. A device according to Claim 8 or Claim 9, further including a second side member opposite said first side member.

11. A device according to any preceding claim, including a back member extending upwardly from said support surface.

12. A device according to any preceding claim, including a front lip extending upwardly from said support surface.

13. A device according to any preceding claim, said support device being a unitary component which may, for example, be moulded or otherwise formed in one piece.

14. A device according to any preceding claim, including storage means for storing articles, for example, nappies or cleaning tissues.

15. A device according to Claim 14, said storage means being releasably securable to the device.

16. An assembly comprising a bath and a support device as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 15.

17. A method of changing an article of wear, for example, a nappy, of an infant, the method comprising positioning a support device as described in any of Claims 1 to 15 relative to a bath, placing the infant on a support surface of the device, and changing the article of wear of the infant.

18. The use of a support device as described in any of Claims 1 to 15 for changing an article of wear of an infant.

19. A support device, a method and the use of a support device, each being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.