GB2477716A

GB2477716A - Baby calming apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2477716A
Application number: GB1001713A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Georgina Avril Swain Parkes; Jade Keelie Lucas
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-02-03
Filing date: 2010-02-03
Publication date: 2011-08-17
Anticipated expiration: 2030-02-03
Also published as: GB2477716B; GB201001713D0

Abstract

A mat for calming a baby comprises a sheet of soft resilient material sufficiently large for a baby to lie on, typically having a foam core 14 together with a cover 15 extending thereover. A plurality of pockets are formed within the thickness of the sheet. Vibration devices are disposed in the pockets and an electrical power pack 20 is connected to the vibration devices through a power switch. The mat has corner pockets 22 in which are located loud speakers, there being an audio source for music, the human voice or similar sounds, for driving the loud speakers. A harness 24 may be attached.

Description

BABY CALMING APPARATUS

This invention relates to a apparatus for calming a baby.

In this specification, the term baby is used to mean a very young child, from shortly after birth through to the toddler stage and so before the young child is above to communicate effectively. The term baby should therefore be construed to cover that age range even though toddlers are not, strictly speaking, babies.

A common problem faced by parents of young babies is that of calming or soothing the baby when distressed. Sometimes, the cause of that distress is apparent and removing that cause is sufficient in itself to allow the baby to calm down. Other times, it is not at all apparent why the baby is distressed and it can be very difficult to calm or sooth the baby so that he/she is relaxed once more.

Moreover, sometimes a parent may wish to persuade the baby to sleep and yet the baby does not want to sleep and so may become fractious. Again, calming may encourage the baby to sleep.

This invention aims at providing apparatus which may assist the parent in calming a baby, when distressed, which apparatus is readily portable and may be used wherever it is required. In its preferred forms, in addition to the calming action, the invention aims at providing apparatus which may entertain the baby as well.

According to this invention, there is provided apparatus for calming a baby comprising a mat in the form of a sheet of soft resilient material sufficiently large for a baby to lie thereon, a plurality of pockets formed within the thickness of the sheet, a plurality of vibration devices disposed one in each pocket, a electrical power pack connected to the vibration devices and switch means to allow the operation of the vibration units whereby a baby lying on the mat is subjected to soothing vibrations.

The apparatus of this invention relies on the discovered fact that many babies are soothed by vibrations -this has already been well understood by parents who not infrequently take a baby out in a motor vehicle in an attempt to calm and sooth the distressed baby. It has been presumed that the motion and vibration of the vehicle has this calming effect. In a similar way, experiments and tests have shown that by subjecting a baby to gentle vibrations while the baby is prone on the mat of this invention has a very calming effect on the baby, if distressed.

The mat of this invention is preferably formed from a sheet of foamed natural or synthetic rubber material, of a high density flameproof furniture grade.

Such a sheet may be contained within a waterproof cover though that waterproof cover may itself have a comfortable fabric outer surface.

Vibration units, for example having an eccentric weight powered by a low-voltage electric motor, are mounted in pockets in the foamed material such that a baby lying on that sheet will be subjected to the vibrations generated by the vibration units. Other forms of vibration generators may be employed, such as those often used industrially to subject small parts and components to vibration testing and operating on principles similar to those of loudspeakers.

Other possibilities include using solid-state vibration units, such as those operating on the piezo-electric effect.

In a preferred form of the apparatus, six pockets are provided in the foamed core of the mat with a vibration unit mounted in each pocket. The pockets conveniently are disposed in pairs, with two near one end of the mat, two near the other end of the mat and a further pair equ i-spaced therebetween.

Depending upon the magnitude of the vibrations generated by the vibration units, different numbers of pockets and vibration units may be provided, as may the distribution of those vibration units within the mat.

The power pack conveniently comprises a battery holder loaded with rechargeable cells and may include a built-in charger for those cells. In the alternative, the power pack may include a connector for an external charger to ensure that there is no possibility of mains outlet power existing in the vicinity of the mat. The power pack may include a suitable control circuit for the vibration units, for example to select the frequency of vibration, or possibly to drive the vibration units with varying powers and frequencies. The wiring between the control circuit and the vibration units may be buried in the foam core of the mat or could be external of the core but internal to the cover but in this case should be on the underside of the mat.

In addition to the vibration units incorporated within the mat, at least one is loudspeaker is supported by the mat, in order to provide soothing sound to a baby on the mat. Preferably, there are two or perhaps four loudspeakers, arranged around the mat and in a specific embodiment there are four such loudspeakers disposed more or less at each corner of the mat.

The power pack may include a driver circuit for the or each loudspeaker and a storage device for sounds to be played back through the loudspeakers.

Such a storage device preferably is in the form of a solid-state memory and the associated circuitry is adapted to allow the recording of music or the human voice, such as that of the mother of the child. If music is recorded, it should be calming music appropriate for babies.

In addition to voices and/or music, the storage device may be pre-loaded with baby calming or soothing sounds, such as natural or synthesised noises from the womb. Such sounds may be particularly appropriate for a newly-born baby.

It is preferred for the mat to include a harness in order lightly to restrain a baby in a prone position on the mat. In this way, the baby may be restrained against rolling off the mat and the degree of constant supervision which otherwise might be required may be reduced.

By way of example only, one specific embodiment of baby calming mat of this invention will now be described in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:-Figure 1 is a plan view of the embodiment of mat; Figure 2 is a plan view of the foam core of the mat; and Figure 3 is a section taken on line A-A marked on Figure 2 but showing the cover also illustrated in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, the baby calming mat is of a generally rectangular shape when viewed in plan and is of a sufficient size comfortably to accommodate a baby up to the age of about one year. Thus, the mat typically may be about 750mm long by about 400mm wide. As shown in Figure 1, the ends 10 and 11 of the mat may be bowed outwardly slightly and the sides 12 and 13 may be bowed inwardly slightly but other shapes of mat could be used.

The mat comprises a foam core 14 typically made of a high density foamed natural or synthetic elastomeric material, such as high density foamed rubber of a fire-resistant furniture grade. The core, when viewed in plan, has the same shape and size as has been described above for the overall mat. The core advantageously has a minimum thickness of about 25 mm but could be significantly thicker, for enhanced comfort. A cover 15 for the core envelopes the entirety of that core and advantageously is made of a waterproof material such as a flexible plastics material sheet. Such a sheet may have a fabric outer layer and a plastic inner layer such that the sheet is comfortable for a baby but also is still fully waterproof. The cover may be made from several separate pieces which are fully stitched and piped at the corners between the main areas and the cover side faces. The cover may be removable, for example by providing an opening 16 thereto, which may have a zip fastener sewn to that opening. In the alternative, the material of the cover may be arranged to overlap at the opening. In either case, the opening preferably is on the underside of the mat, when in use.

The core includes six pockets 18 each in the form of a through-aperture, a vibration unit 19 being disposed in each of those pockets. Each vibration unit may comprise a motor driving an eccentric weight though other known forms of vibrator could be used. Each vibration unit is connected by wires (not shown) to an electrical power pack 20 disposed at one end of the cover, externally of the core 14. That power pack includes a holder for rechargeable cells and also electronic circuitry to control the supply of electricity to the vibration units 19, in such a way that the frequency of vibration may be adjusted. Typically, all the vibration units are driven to operate at more or less the same frequency.

At each end, the cover includes a corner pocket 22 within each of which is disposed a respect loudspeaker (not shown). Each loud speaker is also connected back to the power pack by suitable wiring (not shown) such that audio signals may be sent to the loud speakers. The power pack includes an audio signal storage device which may be pre-loaded with certain signals and also may permit the recording of other signals. The power pack further includes an adjustable amplifier whereby the volume and possibly also the balance of the sounds produced by the loudspeakers may be adjusted.

Slots 23 are formed through the cover to permit the attachment thereto of a harness 24 of a known design, adapted to restrain a prone baby on the mat.

Thus, the harness may be generally Y-shaped as shown and have a body portion 25 intended to extend between the legs of the baby and shoulder portions 26, a buckle arrangement 27 being provided to allow easy removal of the harness or securing thereof.

In use, a parent or other minder may select the kind of calming to which the baby is to be subjected. Thus, vibrations alone, sounds alone or both vibrations and sounds may be selected. The frequency of the vibrations may be selected to a chosen value or even to have the frequency of the vibrations varying in time. The sounds may comprise calming or soothing music at an appropriate volume, or a human voice such as that of the mother. For these purposes, the power unit may be arranged to allow the recording of these sounds and the storage thereof on the storage device. In addition, or perhaps instead, the sounds could comprise actual recordings taken from a womb, or simulated womb noises. These sounds could be pre-loaded into the storage device during manufacture.

The mat of this invention is readily portable for use wherever it may be required, and may be used in a vehicle such as a car or public transport such as in a bus or train. It may also be used in a shopping trolley, a buggy or other baby carrier or carriage. Also, though a harness for a baby has been described, this does not have to be used and if not used, the baby may be placed in any desired orientation on the mat.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Apparatus for calming a baby comprising a mat in the form of a sheet of soft resilient material sufficiently large for a baby to lie thereon, a plurality of pockets formed within the thickness of the sheet, a plurality of vibration devices disposed one in each pocket, a electrical power pack connected to the vibration devices and switch means to allow the operation of the vibration units whereby a baby lying on the mat is subjected to soothing vibrations.
2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mat is formed from a sheet of a foamed elastomeric material.
3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the foamed elastomeric material comprises a high density furniture grade of foamed natural or synthetic rubber.
4. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the sheet of soft resilient material is contained within a waterproof cover.
5. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein there are at least two spaced-apart pockets in the sheet.
6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein there are four pockets in the sheet, arranged in two pairs respectively at the two ends of the mat.
7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein there are six pockets in the sheet, arranged in three pairs, two pairs being respectively at the two ends of the mat and the third pair centrally between the other two pairs.
8. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the electrical power pack is arranged to allow the selection of a required frequency for the vibrations generated by each vibration unit to be varied.
9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the electrical power pack is arranged in operation to vary in time the frequency of the vibrations generated by each vibration unit.
10. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the power pack comprises a battery holder together with associated electrical circuitry to cause operation of the vibration units.
11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the power pack includes a charger unit for recharging rechargeable batteries located within the battery holder.
12. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the mat includes at least one loud speaker located in a holder, the loud speaker being connected to an audio source provided as a part of the power pack.
13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the mat includes a pair of loud speakers located one in each of two holders disposed at or adjacent one end of the mat, the loud speakers being connected to an audio source provided as a part of the power pack.
14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the mat includes a two pairs of loud speakers located one in each of two pairs of holders disposed at or adjacent the two ends of the mat respectively, the loud speakers being connected to an audio source provided as a part of the power pack.
15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 and also any of claims 12 to 14, wherein the or each holder is formed as a part of the cover.
16. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 12 to 15, wherein the power pack includes a storage device for audio frequency signals to be supplied to the or each loud speaker.
17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the storage device is arranged to permit the recording of a human voice.
18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16 or claim 17, wherein the storage device is pre-loaded with baby-calming or soothing sounds.
19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the storage device is pre-loaded with actual recorded sounds or simulated sounds of a human womb.
20. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the mat is fitted with a baby harness, to retain a baby in a prone position on the mat.
21. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the drawings.