GB2448108A - Carry cot and frame stand - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a carrying devicefor a baby, comprising first and second portions, said first portion 110 defining a receptacle for receiving the baby, and said second portion 120 defining a substantially rigid external frame arranged to fit in close conformity to the first portion 110, wherein said second portion 120 is detachable from the first portion 110, such that it may be used to provide a stand upon which the first portion 110 may be placed.

Description

Nursery Apparatus The present invention relates to an improved

carry-cot device for holding a young baby whilst asleep. The device allows the baby to be moved without disturbing him/her and may also be used for extended periods of sleeping, such as night-time sleeping.

Prior art carry-cots are also sometimes referred to as Moses baskets, although the latter tend to be constructed from plaited palm leaves, rattan, cane or wicker, and the former tend to use synthetic materials. A prior art Moses basket is shown in Figure 1. The difference in naming is largely one of semantics and, for the sake of convenience, the term carry-cot will be used throughout this

specification to refer to both types.

Prior art carry-cots enable a small baby, typically up to a few months old, to sleep in a cosy, relatively enclosed, environment, whilst still being easily transportable so that a supervising parent can carry on with daily activities. Many parents use carry-cots in the day time, and perhaps place the child in a cot at night time.

However, in the first few months of life, many parents prefer to keep the baby in their own room at night so they can be tended and fed easily. A problem with such a use of prior art carry-cots is that they must either be placed on a suitable surface or on the floor. Placing the carry-cot on the floor is undesirable, particularly for a new mother who may have difficulty in picking the baby up from such a low position and often there is not a suitable surface available in the bedroom to accommodate the carry cot.

In an attempt to remedy this problem, some prior art carry cots are provided with a separate external support frame onto which the carry-cot may be placed. This is often in the form of an A-frame which collapses down when not in use.

However, a problem with such prior art carry-cots

incorporating a separate frame is that when a user wishes to take the carry-cot away, the support frame must be transported too. Also, when not in use, it must be stowed

away. These problems render prior art carry-cots

relatively troublesome to use.

An aim of embodiments of the present invention is to address problems with prior art carry-cots, whether mentioned herein or not.

According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus as set forth in the appended claims. Preferred features of the invention will be apparent from the dependent claims, and the description which follows.

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a prior art carry-cot of the Moses Basket variety; Figure 2 shows a prior art support frame suitable for use with the carry-cot of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention in a first configuration; Figure 4 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention in a second configuration; Figure 5 shows a top view of an embodiment of the invention; and Figure 6 shows a bottom view of an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 shows a view of a carry-cot 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. It comprises a receptacle 110, intended to accommodate a baby, and a frame 120 located about the receptacle and substantially surrounding it.

The receptacle is manufactured from a plastics material and is approximately elliptical in plan view (see Figure 5) . A suitable plastics material is clear or coloured random co-polymer and it may be manufactured using a known moulding process.

The interior of the receptacle 110 is able to receive a mattress (not shown) on which the baby may sleep. It may also receive removable padding material, positionable about its inner surface to protect the baby against knocks. The padding material may be manufactured from a moulded foam material. This is easily cleanable and offers a degree of protection to the baby, for instance, while being moved.

One end of the receptacle 110 is slightly elevated compared to the opposing end, arid this is the end intended for the baby's head. This end of the receptacle is provided with coupling means 130 to allow the attachment of a canopy or sun-shade (not shown) to shield the baby if the carry-cot is used outdoors.

The frame 120 which surrounds the receptacle 110 conforms closely to the outer profile of the receptacle. Two handles 122 project from the frame and allow the carry-cot to be picked up easily. Each handle 122 may also comprise a further flexible handle, enabling the entire carry-cot to be picked up using the two flexible handles such that the carry--cot is suspended from the two flexible handles. The flexible handles may be manufactured from synthetic webbing material or other suitable material.

The frame 120 may be manufactured from aluminium tubing or mild steel which has been bent into shape to conform to the receptacle 110. If mild steel is used, it may be powder coated to produce a more aesthetically pleasing finish.

The frame 120 offers an enhanced degree of protection to the receptacle 110 and consequently to any baby included therein. Thus, the receptacle 110 need not b manufactured from particularly bulky or heavyweight material as the outer frame 120 provides a considerable degree of structural integrity.

From a side view, the frame 120 resembles a W'. At each of the lower points of the W', a horizontal bar spans the base of the receptacle and meets the corresponding point on the other side of the frame. Each of the horizontal bars sits within a channel 112 formed on the underside of the receptacle. The channels 112 help to locate the frame in position in this first configuration and they play a more important role in the second configuration, described shortly.

Figure 4 shows the carry-cot of Figure 3, arranged in a second configuration. In this configuration, the frame 120 is removed from the receptacle, flipped through 180 , placed on the floor and used as a support frame for the receptacle 110. In this configuration, the baby can be placed to sleep in the carry-cot and be positioned at a height that allows easy access to the baby.

The channels 112 allow the receptacle to be positioned accurately on the frame such that it is prevented from sliding.

In this particular embodiment, the channels 112 are formed as recesses in a peripheral ridge 128 which extends from the lower surface of the receptacle 110.

Provision of a frame 120, which may be detached from the receptacle 110 and used in this manner, renders the carry-cot more useful and transportable and allows the baby to be placed to sleep at a height that enables easy access when he or she needs to be removed for feeding, changing or comforting.

A further feature of a carry-cot according to an embodiment of the invention is the provision of at least one transparent viewing window 114 at the head-end of the receptacle 110. When the carry-cot is arranged in the second configuration, the baby can be viewed through the viewing window 114, which is particularly useful if the carry-cot is positioned at the side of the parents' bed and allows the baby to be checked and/or observed from a recumbent position.

In alternative embodiments of the invention, the transparent viewing window may be replaced with, or replaceable by, other elements. These may include: a thermometer; a fabric area which can be dosed with a decongestant material for soothing cold symptoms in the baby; a mounting point for attaching a baby monitor; or various other items.

Figure 6 shows the underside of the carry-cot in the first configuration. Here, the construction of the frame 120 and, in particular, the two horizontal cross-members which span the base of the receptacle can be clearly seen. These cross-members are attached to the main structure of the frame using T-pieoes 126 manufactured of a suitable material, preferably a rigid plastics material, such as nylon The receptacle 100 is further provided with a plurality of ventilation holes 116, which are positioned towards the head-end of the receptacle and are intended to allow air to permeate the mattress in the vicinity of the baby's head. There is concern that if a baby were to roll over, he or she may become smothered by the mattress. The provision of a breathable mattress in combination with the ventilation holes 116 seeks to address this problem.

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 l() (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 (10)

1. A carrying device for a baby, comprising first and second portions, said first portion defining a receptacle for receiving the baby, and said second portion defining a substantially rigid external frame arranged to fit in close conformity to the first portion, wherein said second portion is detachable from the first portion, such that it may be used to provide a stand upon which the first portion may be placed.

2. The carrying device of claim 1 wherein the second portion comprises a tubular member arranged to substantially encircle the first portion.

3. The carrying device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the second portion comprises a! least one flexible carrying strap.

4. The carrying device according to any preceding claim wherein the first portion is substantially composed of a moulded plastics material.

5. The carrying device according to any preceding claim wherein the first portion comprises a plurality of ventilation apertures in its base.

6. The carrying device according to claim 5 wherein the ventilation holes are provided in a greater concentration towards an end of the first portion intended for the baby's head.

7. The carrying device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the first portion is provided with at least one substantially transparent portion positioned in a side wall to allow the baby to be viewed from alongside the device.

8. The carrying device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the second portion comprises a circumferential portion and a pair of cross members arranged to link opposing sides of the circumferential portion.

9. The carrying device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the first portion comprises a pair of recesses adjacent its base to receive the pair of cross-members such that the first portion is held securely in place when the second portion is used as a stand.

10. A carrying device as hereinbefore described, having particular regard to Figures 2-6 of the accompanying drawings.