GB2412309A - Bedside cradle for securing to the side of an adult bed. - Google Patents

Abstract

A bedside cradle comprising a container in which a baby can lie and a frame with feet 'A' for supporting the container on a floor surface. The side of the cradle adjacent to an adult bed can be displaced so as to abut against the bed. The height of the cradle is variable to allow the surface of the baby's mattress to be positioned at the same height as that of the adult mattress. The feet can be rotated with respect to the frame of the cradle in order to provide greater stability. When free standing, the feet ensure that adequate stability is maintained.

Description

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BEDSIDE CRADLE

Ibis invention Awes to a betide cradle.

Rho first few months of a baby's life can be so. Sleeping very chase helps develop the comiordag boM between mother arm baby, especially if the mother must be at work during the day soon the bit Sleeping close to its parent is lmown to help young babies adjust their brewing and SO reduce the risk of cot It also beeps build a motbeis c and inincdve capability. The baby is not lonely and has the security and pleasure of hamag peal voices and being froquey tout had. Loving touch is known to be the key to healthy brain development and contentment in babies and growing children. The ccc of the closes adage mothers to achieve relied sew and mammae distance It is defile that a mother sleeps within touch and breath reach of their baby so that instant nnhg and access is available.

However, the _ n to have a newborn baby sleeping in bed wig the parents is often felt to be unpbble for safety reasons.

The use of beside cradles or 'oo sleepers' has previously teem pi Bedside Ladles can rely on the parasol bed for support, either by attaching dirocHy to the side of a bed frame as in US 134,847 or by providing legs on one side of the cradle and attaching to the bed as in US 5,172,435. Altematively> a selforting cable can be provided which secures to the parental bed by a strap as, for example, in US 6,704,949. Selfng addles leave the benefit that they can be used as Malone craw, if desired Lee use of a bedside cradle can alleviate the stress caused by separation, and anxiety about cot death and provides the baby with its own secure space yet gives close and easy access.

It has been found that bedside cradles can be unstable in we, particularly when used away from the adult bed.

Ike present invention seeks to provide an improved bedside cradle.

Accusingly, the present invention provides a beside cradle comprising a container in which a baby can lie and a Shrine for suppordog the coiner on a floor surface, the cradle having a first side whim can abut al an adult bed and wherein the *ame teas a footprint which can be varied between a mduced footed - , which allows robust to Me adult bed, and a broad footprint whim provides addbtioml stability.

Advantageously, We flame teas at least one foot baying a floor e_ portion whim exams partake} to the floor surface, the foot being rotb}e with respect to the frame to set the floor engaging portion of the foot at a deed angle with respect to the flame. P'efenibly there are two such feet. Rho foot, or feet, In be rotted so that they}ie within the footprint ofthe cradle when the cradle is positioned against a bed.

Ahematively, or additionally, the frame comprises a she which can be folded out or down from me frame to extend the footprint of the she laterally outward from the edge ofthe cradle.

Alternatively, or additionally, the flame a sire which can be added to the flame to extend the footprint of the structure}any outward from the edge of the Ladle.

lo provide direct contact between the front of the baby bed and the side of the adult bed, the point of contact between them is fib on a vertical line over the floor line between the two beds. The ability to vary the footprint of the frame conks for the resulting instability when the cradle is filing. Ash as when positioned away from the adult bed.

In order to provide direct a between mother and baby, it is namely that they lie on an equal Eve}, and have no onion behave them. Those requirements are achieved by providing the cradle with a hinged, deniable or folding side adjacent to the bed. The crane has legs mat adjust to the height of the adult bed. The cradle is attached securely to the adult bed in a manner that ensures that a significant gap cannot devdap between the two beds that oozed endanger the baby.

All fabric used in the at of the cradle is easily removed for Laughlin& The flame is lightweight and easy to dismantle for paling or for transport lhe hinged or folded side of the cradle can be tidied iD a raised position to provide seventy for the baby when it is in use as a fieaing cradle.

The cradle can be Ed either of rind material droughout, or have a rigid fiance win a fabric based bed Emits of the invention will be descnbed, by way of example only, with reference to the #:anpanying drawings in which: Figure I shows the frame ofthe cradle in it's lowest position; Fame 2 shows the name the legs exam; Figure 3 shows the side elevation ofthe Dame, Figure 4 shows an alternative abilisiog amag, Figure 5 shows a fabric shag few to the name; and, Figure 6 shows the cradle fitted to an adult bed In order to clarify the following description, the coiner in which the baby lies will be referred to as the Baby boa.. The sire that carries the baby bed will be refeed to as the defame.. The members that alter the footprint of the cradle will be refened to as the feet., and Me whole as the cradle..

The following is by way of an example of the impl_tion. It employs a need frame with a fabric-based baby bed the fabric based bed will, in this implementadon, be referred to as the sling-.

One side of the crib is capable of berg detached from its supporting bar, and folded or dropped so as not to form an obsession between patent and baby. The bar can be den The cradle is capable of handbag its height ad31 to Mach the varying heights of an b - . A means of attaching the Cradle to the adult bed is provided which ensures that the two caned move But sufficiently to came an un#xe gap between the two.

Else cradle either has sufficient inbacot stability, or can be configured to an acceptably stable condition warn filing.

lye whole is capable of diananding or folding for packing torpors or storage.

The accompanying figures describe this coguratioQ There are navy ablative configuron Only one such alternative is illusb Figure 1.

Figure 1. illustrates the frame in in lowest position. Hare the pivodog feet A are turned away from the ant bed in order to provide direct Foment between the Font of the flame and the side of the adult bed These feet are only eqed in this position if the he of the adult bed extends right to the floor agog the length again Ah the cradle is to be atlachod.

The four fittings at B allow team C and to detach from the side flames. This allows for and for Fox die sow Figure 2.

Figure 2 shows the frame win the legs en The two pivotable feet A are extending forwards so Mat they slide _h the adult bed They also provide stability when the Able is fi_hag. the Je - Gibe bar E is in place; this hoWs up the folding side on I 5 the front of the sling when it is requited in the raised portion.

Figure 3.

Figure 3 shows the side emotion of the frame the by pivoble foot A is shown in the forward position The back legs are angled. When filing thy fs give the cradle the stability that is sequin Figure 4.

Figure 4 shows an alternative stabilising anang_ The back legs Y are weighted to provide the stabiles that is red Figure S. The sling consists of two lengths of fabric. The first teas sod shoves to accept bars C, D and E. (figure 2) The run of fabric held by, and behead bars C and D < furies the total weight of the nrd, mattress and the baby. The continuation of the fabric ronmag from bar C can em be draped below bar C, or raised by inserting bar E through the last sleeve and attaching Be bar at points H and J. This panel is maid K On each side of panel K there is an extending flap which, when panel K is in the raised position is folded round the frame and sold to the corresponding And panels at M win selfattang material or any secure fitting.

lhe second non of fabdc is stigma the first from N to 0, 0 to P and P to R. leaving an opening N to R The Id slides info this envelope while the front flap K is in the dropped pi Abe two al of this Hugh are liaised and folded over the lop side bars H to F and J to G fly and sewed with self mung martial, or by other mews, at points S. This laglh is not wed' hi bearing The attaining side seams at points L are stitched together.

Aldematively the baby bed could be of rigid material that fits to or is integral with the This wow require the itont panel be bk of being hinged, lowered or removed.

Figure 6.

Figure 6 shows He come with panel K (figure 5) folded down below bar C, and bar E douched. Rho crane is atbeched to the adult bed by two pans of sow One soup firm each pair panes above, and the other strap fiom each pair pames bobw the bed base.

Altematively they can be pal above and below the m_ This choice is Jq on He design oftbe adult bed and the fewness of the my.

Each pair of straps is socked to a quid: rebate clip. lie Mae up win their Is which are seed to the bay legs oftle Game at points T. Having clipped the slaps to the flame, Huh pan of soaps is tensioned firm the Mite side ofthe adult bow plling1he baby bed firmly against the adult bed. Huh pair of soaps is then finely seemed Aged at U. Only the two clips need to be undone in of to release and move the cradle to anode position.

The invention is not limited to the dim described herein, which may be modified or Wed without deputing from the scope ofthe invendom c

Claims (1)

1. A bedside cradle s a Vintner in which a baby On lie and a frame for

Coning the container on a floor surface, the crane harms a first side which On abut against an adult bed and wbmein He frame 1 a footprint which can be varied between a romanced footprint, whim 8 t to the adult bed, and a broad footrest which pmndes Tuitional lability.

2. A cradle Ding to claim I wbeein Be fame teas at low one foot having a floor en poison which expels parallel the floor surfi-e, the foot being mile win respect to the flame to set the floor e'_ portion of the foot at a desired angle Oh respect to the fat 3. A he Coding to claim I or 2 Rein the frame comprises a sure which am be folded out or down from the frame to extend the footpdat of He sire lad outdid from the edge of the cradle.

4. A Ladle Dung to any one of the pig claims furler compress a stature winch can be to the frame to Rend the footprint of the stature laterally onward fiom the edge of He asdle.

5. A cradle Dung to any one of the pig claims wherein He fort is variable on the fast safe ofthe cud 6. A cradle Coding to claim 5 where the fun on the side of the cradle opposite the fast side, teas upaght support Ibid me angled Inch respect to wrticaL 7. A cradle Dung to any one of the pig claims wherein the flame is

adjustable in height 7

8. A He ding to any one of Be preceding claims wherein the first side of the container is capable of being did 9. A He fig to any cane of Me pawing clears Herein the container is in the form of a fed sling whim is Id by Be framer 1Q A crane dbg to any one ofthe Ding claims fi-her comprising means for attaching the cradle to an adult bed t l A cradle Ding to any "e oftbe prig clams wherein the frame composes a set of tubal-parks wbi mm be di_od.

12. A Cole Icy as despised herein win reference to and as shown in the get