GB2498751A

GB2498751A - Cushion that be reconfigured for use as a maternity cushion, infant support or infant enclosure

Info

Publication number: GB2498751A
Application number: GB1201296.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Karen Connolly
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-01-26
Filing date: 2012-01-26
Publication date: 2013-07-31
Also published as: GB201201296D0

Abstract

A reconfigurable cushion assembly that can be used in a first configuration as a maternity cushion/pillow for improving the comfort of pregnant women, and subsequently as a support or enclosure for an infant comprises: a deformable elongate cylindrical body 12 having a pair of opposed ends 14; and a support surface 16 detachably securable to the body. In a first configuration, the cushion forms an elongate cylinder that can be used by pregnant women as a support cushion [shown in Fig. 1]. The removable support surface 16 which may comprise a flexible fabric sheet can be secured to body 12 in a second configuration to retain the body in a substantially U-shaped configuration. In a third configuration, one or more couplings, e.g. zips or buttons, may be used to secure the opposed ends of the body in face to face engagement so as to retain the body in a closed loop that defines an infant enclosure [shown in Fig. 4]. An infant harness 18 may be provided on the support surface 16 and a mobile [22, Fig. 4] may be detachably secured to the cushion body.

Description

tM:;: INTELLECTUAL !. .*. PROPERTY OFFICE Application No. 0B1201296.9 RTM Date:24 May 2012 The following terms are registered trademarks and should be read as such wherever they occur in this document: Velcro Intellectual Properly Office is an operaling name of Ihe Patent Office www.ipo.gov.uk A Cushion Assembly

Field of the invention

This invention relates to a cushion assembly, and in particular a cushion assembly that can be used as a maternity cushion/pillow for improving the comfort of pregnant women and subsequently as a support or enclosure for an infant.

Background of the invention

Pregnancy pillows or maternity pillows are a common purchase among pregnant woman, providing comfort and support during the later stages of pregnancy. However, once the baby is born the pregnancy pillow is no longer required. Baby chairs/supports and baby activity rings or playpens are similarly common purchases and while they too are very useful products at the time, they too have a limited lifespan and will once again be surplus to requirements and are normally stored, passed on or disposed of.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a single simple alternative to the above mentioned products.

Sumniariof the invention According to the present invention there is provided a cushion assembly comprising an elongate body having a pair of opposed ends; a support surface reversibly securable to the body; wherein the body is displaceable between a first configuration of elongate cylindrical form, a second configuration folded to bring the opposed ends adjacent one another, and the support surface being secured about the body such as to form an upper surface on which an infant may be supported, and a third configuration in which the elongate body is shaped to define an enclosuree in which an infant can be located.

Preferably, the body, in the third configuration, is of closed loop form, the cushion assembly comprising one or more couplings operable to secure the opposed ends in face to face engagement such as to retain the body in the third configuration.

Preferably, each of the opposed ends comprise a substantially planar end face.

Preferably, the cushion assembly comprises a pair of cooperating couplings, one provided at each end of the body and circumscribing the respective end face.

Preferably, the support surface comprises a flexible material.

Preferably, the support surface comprises a fabric.

Preferably, the support is reversibly securable to the body when in the third configuration to form a base of the enclosure.

Preferably, the one or more couplings are selected from the group comprising zips, Velcro, and buttons.

Preferably, the body, in the third configuration, is of substantially U shaped form.

Preferably, the body is displaceable into a fourth configuration of substantially U shaped form defining an enlarged enclosure.

Preferably, the cushion assembly comprises a harness provided on the support and operable to secure an infant in position on the support when the body is in the second configuration.

Preferably, the cushion assembly comprises a mobile reversibly securable to the body when in the second, third and/or fourth configuration.

Preferably, the mobile comprises three legs in tripod configuration, a free end of each leg being securable to the body.

Preferably, the body and the free end of each leg comprise cooperating connectors.

Preferably, the body comprises an outer fabric skin and a cushioning interior fill.

Preferably, the interior fill may be removed from the outer skin in order to permit the outer skin to be cleaned.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a body forming part of a cushion assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 illustrates the body illustrated in Figure 1 having been displaced into a second configuration as a child seat/support; Figure 3 illustrates the body shown in Figure 1 having been displaced into a third configuration forming a closed loop; Figure 4 illustrates the body as shown in Figure 3 and having a mobile secured thereto; and FigureS illustrates the body shown in Figure 1 having been displaced into a fourth configuration forming an enclosure larger than the enclosure of the third configuration.

Detailed description of the drawings

Referring now to the accompanying drawings there is illustrated a cushion assembly, generally indicated as 10, which is multi-functional and can be displaced between a number of configurations to provide a maternity pillow, a child support/seat and a child's playpen or enclosure, as will be described in detail hereinafter.

The cushion assembly 10 comprises a body 12 that in a first or default configuration is a straight elongate cylindrical form having a pair of opposed ends in the form of substantially planar end faces 14. The body 12 is deformable, and in particular is cushion or pillow like and preferably comprised of a fabric outer skin, for example formed from 100% cotton, and an interior fill of suitable cushioning material. The filling material is preferably a machine washable, non-clumping, non-allergenic fibre fill, for example polyester hollow fibres, although any other suitable filling may be employed, for example polystyrene beads, an inflatable bladder, etc. The interior fill may be removed in order to allow the fabric outer skin to be cleaned. In this default configuration the body 12 may be used as a maternity pillow to provide comfort to pregnant women, particularly in the latter stages of pregnancy when lying flat, for example when sleeping. The body 12 may also be used, in this default configuration, as a feeding pillow once the baby has been born.

Referring now to Figure 2 the body 12 may be deformed into a folded configuration in which the body 12 is essentially folded in half such that the opposed end faces 14 are adjacent one another, and preferably retained in this position by a support 16, forming part of the cushion assembly 10, which support 16 is reversibly securable to the body 12 about, in use, an upper surface of the body 12 and spanning the gap or crease formed between the opposing portions of the body 12, as illustrated in Figure 2.

The support 16 is preferably formed from a substantially circular or oval portion of fabric and is securable to the body 12 via co-operating connectors (not shown) provided about the periphery of the support 16 and along the corresponding portion of the body 12, the co-operating couplings preferably being in the form of zips, strips of velcro, buttons or the like. The support 16 is preferably formed with a filling (not shown) of an aerated material, for example a machine washable polyester hollow fibre with ventilated foam core filling or a foam mat with an aerated inlay.

With the support 16 secured in position on the body 12 the support 16 is elevated off the ground and provides a cradle like surface onto which an infant may be placed to rest in comfort. The cushion assembly 10 may be provided with a harness 18 secured to the upper surface of the support 16 and which may then be used to actively secure the infant to the cushion assembly 10. The cushion assembly lOis preferably provided with a plurality of pockets 19 into which the harness 18, including the related straps 21, may be stored when the harness 18 is not in use. This will ensure that the harness 18 is not misplaced when not in use. It will however be appreciated that the harness 18 could be removably secured to the support 16 such as to allow the removal thereof when not required. The straps 21 circumscribe the underside of the body 12 and so both secure the harness 18 in position and retain the shape of the body 12 in the second configuration. The harness 18 is preferably formed with a filling (not shown) of an aerated material, for example a machine washable polyester hollow fibre with ventilated foam core filling or a foam mat with an aerated inlay.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, the body 12 may be deformed into a third configuration in which the pair of opposed end faces 14 are secured in face to face engagement with one another such that the body 12 forms a closed loop with an enclosure 20 defined therein. In order to secure the body 12 in this configuration the cushion assembly 10 comprises at least one, and preferably a pair of co-operating couplings (not shown) provided at the opposed end faces 14, which allow the opposed end faces 14 to be reversibly secured to one another in face to face engagement. These co-operating couplings (not shown) are preferably in the form of zips, velcro, buttons or the like circumscribing the end faces 14. It will however be appreciated that the couplings could for example be provided on the end faces 14, and thus when the opposed end faces 14 are brought into register with one another the couplings (not shown) will engage one another to secure the body 12 in a closed loop form.

The coupling could also take the form of a flexible, and possible elastically deformable sleeve (not shown) into which the opposed ends 14 of the body 12 are locatable in order to retain the opposed ends in face to face engagement. Once secured in the closed loop, the support 16 may be again secured to the body 12, but at an underside thereof in order to form a base of the enclosure 20. This may be achieved by securing the support 16 in the same position as in the second configuration, and simply turning the cushion assembly 10 upside down such that the support 16 forms a base or floor of the enclosure 20. An infant can then be placed within the enclosure 20 in order to contain the infant in a comfortable and safe environment which thus acts as a playpen.

Referring in particular to Figure 4 the cushion assembly 10 may also comprise a mobile 22 which in the embodiment illustrated is of tripod form having three legs 24 which are joined at an apex 26. A free end 28 of each of the legs 24 is provided with a coupling, for example a button 30 or the like, which is reversibly connectable with a corresponding coupling (not shown) on the outer surface of the body 12, in order to allow the mobile 22 to be reversibly secured in position as illustrated. The mobile 22 may also be secured to the body 12 when in the second configuration as described above.

As an infant grows, the enclosure 20 created when the body 12 is in the third configuration may no longer be large enough to accommodate the infant. It is thus preferable that the body 12 may be displaced into a fourth configuration as shown in Figures, in which the body 12 is formed into a substantially U or horseshoe shaped configuration defining a larger enclosure 32 therein. In this fourth configuration the end faces 14 are released from one another, allowing the ends of the body 12 to separate from the position of the third configuration, in order to enlarge the enclosure created.

The body 12 is retained in this position by the support 16 secured to the underside of the body 12, as a base of the enclosure 32.

It will thus be appreciated that the cushion assembly 10 of the present invention provides a simple yet effective means of gaining multiple uses from a single item, in order to significantly prolong the usable life of the cushion assembly 10.

Claims

<claim-text>Claims 1. A cushion assembly comprising an elongate body having a pair of opposed ends; a support surface reversibly securable to the body; wherein the body is displaceable between a first configuration of elongate cylindrical form, a second configuration folded to bring the opposed ends adjacent one another, and the support surface being secured about the body such as to form an upper surface on which an infant may be supported, and a third configuration in which the elongate body is shaped to define an enclosure in which an infant can be located.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A cushion assembly according to claim I in which the body, in the third configuration, is of closed loop form, the cushion assembly comprising one or more couplings operable to secure the opposed ends in face to face engagement such as to retain the body in the third configuration.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A cushion assembly according to claim 1 or 2 in which each of the opposed ends comprise a substantially planar end face.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. A cushion assembly according to claim 3 comprising a pair of cooperating couplings, one provided at each end of the body and circumscribing the respective end face.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. A cushion assembly according to any preceding claim in which the support surface comprises a flexible material.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. A cushion assembly according to any preceding claim in which the support surface comprises a fabric.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. A cushion assembly according to any preceding claim in which the support is reversibly securable to the body when in the third configuration to form a base of the enclosure.</claim-text> <claim-text>8. A cushion assembly according to any of claims 2 to 7 in which the one or more couplings are selected from the group comprising zips, Velcro, and buttons.</claim-text> <claim-text>9. A cushion assembly according to claim 1 in which the body, in the third configuration, is of substantially U shaped form.</claim-text> <claim-text>10. A cushion assembly according to claim 2 in which the body is displaceable into a fourth configuration of substantially U shaped form defining an enlarged enclosure.</claim-text> <claim-text>11. A cushion assembly according to any preceding claim comprising a harness provided on the support and operable to secure an infant in position on the support when the body is in the second configuration.</claim-text> <claim-text>12. A cushion assembly according to any preceding claim comprising a mobile reversibly securable to the body when in the second, third and/or fourth configuration.</claim-text> <claim-text>13. A cushion assembly according to claim 12 in which the mobile comprises three legs in tripod configuration, a free end of each leg being securable to the body.</claim-text> <claim-text>14. A cushion assembly according to claim 11 in which the body and the free end of each leg comprise cooperating connectors.</claim-text> <claim-text>15. A cushion assembly according to any preceding claim in which the body comprises an outer fabric skin and a cushioning interiorfill.</claim-text> <claim-text>16. A cushion assembly according to claim 15 in which the interior fill may be removed from the outer skin in order to permit the outer skin to be cleaned.</claim-text>