GB2309161A

GB2309161A - Adjustable cot shortener

Info

Publication number: GB2309161A
Application number: GB9601059A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David John Field; Jennifer Tracey Field
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-01-19
Filing date: 1996-01-19
Publication date: 1997-07-23
Also published as: GB9601059D0

Description

UNIVERSAL COT SHORTENED This invention relates to a universal cot shortener A great deal of study has been carried out in recent years into Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (511)5), commonly known as cot death. The latest advice relates to the position of a baby in the cot. Because the average cot is in the region of 125cm and the average new born baby is around 25cm it is suggested that infants should be placed "feet at foot" i.e. with its feet against the bottom of the cot. The principle is that this way the child cannot wriggle down beneath the covers and over heat.

Overheating is considered to be a contributory factor in SIDS. This method, as well as simply not looking or feeling right has the disadvantage that covers are two long and either have to be rucked up at the bottom, folded right under stopping the mattress laying flat and making bed making more awkward or cutting covers down which makes them useless latter in the child's development. It also means the baby's head is no longer over the ventilated breather section of a standard mattress.

According to the present invention there is provided a method of temporarily shortening an infants cot, making the cot length suitable for the present size of the infant and in doing so it will act as a safety device by preventing overheating of a downward moving infant. This is achieved without the need to place the baby in any unnatural position at the bottom of the cot, and negating the need to purchase any special mattress or bedding. The invention can be used on nearly all popular types of cot.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 . shows an exploded view of the two part assembly indicating the way one part fits into the other providing the width adjustment.

Figure 2 : shows the fixing straps with the invention in position against the cot bars.

Figure 3 illustrates the strap as figure 2 in the fixed position.

Figure 4 : shows in plan view the shortener in situ.

Figure 5 . shows a side elevation of the shortener in situ.

Referring to the drawings the shortener 5 comprises of two parts, the male section 1 narrows part way along its length to the same outside dimension as the internal dimension of the hollow female section 2. The two sections can therefore be inserted together to make a board which can be extended in its length to approximately 50 ,o its original (fully closed) length in order to fit any width of cot. There is no requirement that the two parts separate completely, it is just illustrated this way for clarity .4 fixing strap 3 is fitted to both ends.The strap is full width of the shortener 5 where it is attached but at the end of the shortener 5 it divides to form two straps which are wrapped around the cot side bars as shown in figure 3. This loop around the bars allows cot sides which are designed to slide up and down (to make lifting babies in and out more easy) to slip within the loop therefore not inhibiting the facility of a drop sided cot. The strap dividing into two and fixing back on itself as shown in figure 3 provides stability from rotation and strength because it is self attaching,i.e. consists of one part wrapped around and not two parts which can separate. The fixing method is via Velcro or similar.

The shortener 5 is fixed with the straps 3 around the cot bars 4 directly opposite each other across the cot, at whatever point is appropriate to the babies length as figure 4.

The shortener 5 is placed the baby side of the bars 4 with the straps 3 facing away (against the bars). This is essential so that the force applied by the baby is taken by the bars and not by the straps hanging on. The width is adjusted by simply pulling the shortener apart telescopically until the straps are in the correct position. The straps by their nature will wrap around the bars, whatever the construction of the bars -1 i.e.

round flat turned etc. of varying diameters. As the infant grows the shortener is removed and repositioned further down the cot.

The height of the shortener is such that it provides a stop for the infant but is low enough to allow covers to lay over the top of it as shown in figure 5. It should be noted the once the infant is mobile the shortener should no longer be used other wise it could become a trip hazard. By this age the dangers of cot death through overheating are less because the mobility allows the infant to either move back up the cot or push the covers down.

Claims

C LAINI S

CLAI1VIS Claim 1 A universal device for the temporary shortening of an infants cot making the cot length suitable for the present size of the infant.

Claim 2 A universal cot shortener as claim 1 to provide a safety device preventing overheating of a downward moving infant.

Claim 3 A universal cot shortener as claim 1 & 2 using a telescopic construction to make it variable in its width to suit any width of cot.

Claim 4 A universal cot shortener as claim 1,2 & 3 providing a method of fixing which is self attaching by wrapping around the cot making it suitable for any type of cot construction.

Claim 5 A universal cot shortener as claim 1,2,3 & 4 providing a loop fixing which does not restrict the up or down movement of a drop sided cot.

Claim 6 A universal cot shortener as claim 1,2,3.4 & 5 which is easily repositioned to cater for the growth of the infant Claim 7 A universal cot shortener substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 -5 of the accompanying drawings.