GB2516289A - Monitoring temperature of a sleeping infant - Google Patents

Abstract

A cot has a plurality of sides, a sleeping space surrounded by the sides, and temperature indicating apparatus 20 carried on at least one of the sides within the sleeping space. The temperature of the sleeping space is indicated by an indicating element of the indicating apparatus 20 by the colour of a thermochromic material 26. The indicating apparatus 20 may be attached directly to the side of the cot, for example by adhesion or transfer. Alternatively, the temperature indicating apparatus may include a mounting component 22 upon which indicating elements 26 are carried, the mounting component being removably mountable on the side of the cot. A typical operating temperature range of the temperature indicating apparatus may be from 10°C to 40°C and preferably between 16°C and 20°C.

Description

Monitoring temperature of a sleeping iHfaHt This invenLion relales Lu Moni Luring LemperaLure of sleeping infanls. In parLicular, IL relales to arrangements that are suitable for use within the environment close to a sleeping infant.

It is known that infants that become too hot whilst sleeping are at greater risk of dying from a condiLion known as "sudden infanL deaLh syndrome" (SIDS). PaediaLricians and health bodies including the Foundation for Sudden Infant Death (FSID) recommend that an infanL's sleeping environmenL he ideally wiLhin a LemperaLure range of l6-20C.

Many producLs are available LhaL moniLor Lhe LemperaLure of a room wiLhin which an infanL is sleeping. MosL basically, Lhis can be done using a convenLional room LhermomeLcr. More specialist products may he decorated in a manner in keeping with a nursery, or may he configured Lo be readable from a disLance Lo reduce Lhc chances of disLurhing a sleeping infant.

A disadvanlage ol Lhis Lype of LemperaLure moniLor is LhaL IL is measuring Lhe LemperaLure of the air some distance from a sleeping infant. Air temperature can vary dramatically from one pan of a room Lu anoLher, being influenced, for example, by a door or a window (even when closed), the presence of a room heater, or exposure to sunlight. Therefore, the LemperaLure indicaLed by such a device may deviaLe considerably from LhaL experienced by a sleeping infant.

Thermometers are also known that include a probe which can be placed at any location at which a temperature measurement is to he taken. While, in principle, such a probe could he placed arbiLrarily close Lu a sleeping infanL, Lhis is noL pracLicable for a number of reasons: such thermometers are expensive, they require some source of electrical power (which may noL he available), and Lhere is a naLural and jusLifiable relucLance Lo inLroduce a device such as this into the immediate environment of a sleeping infant for fear of it causing the infant harm. In many cases, the probe will include small components that could be swallowed, and that can he difficuft to clean.

An aim of ihis invenLion is lo provide a sleeping environmeni Lhai includes a iemperaiure monitoring device that can be placed in close proximity to a sleeping infant, that is highly unlikely Lo be harmful, and Lhai is readily affordable, and is seif-conLained in operalion.

To this end, from a first aspect, the present invention provides a cot having a plurality of sides, a sleeping space surrounded by ihe sides, and Lemperalure indicaiing apparaLus carried on at least one of the sides within the sleeping space, in which the temperature is indicaled by an indicaling elemeni of ihe indicaiing apparaLus by Ihe colour of a ihermochromic maLerial.

The use of a ihermochromic maLerial lo indicaLe wiLhin a sleeping space is pariicularly advantageous because it can provide temperature indicating apparatus that is higMy innocuous, having no paris Lhai could he swallowed by, enLangle or oiherwise harm an in!ànL, in conirasL wiih olher lypes of Lemperalure indicaicrs.

Many suitable thermally-sensitive materials may be employed and such materials are well known to persons skilled in the technical field. For example the thermochromic material may comprise one or more liquid crysial sysiems, Lhe or each of which sysLems change colour over a specific temperature range or at a specific transition temperature characlerisiic of Lhe sysLem in quesiion. (Nob IhaL "colour" is iniended Lo include a colourless state unless the context requires otherwise.) The material may comprise a ihermochromic compound lhai is micro-encapsulaicd. Such maLerials are iypically relalively Lranspareni al a higher LemperaLure and relalively more visible al a lower temperature, the point of temperature change being determined in advance. Alternatively, the thermochromic compound may change from a colour to another colour at a predeLermined iemperaiure.

A typical operating temperature range of the temperature indicating apparatus is from 10°C to 40°C, from 14°C to 24°C, and preferably between 16°C and 20°C. The thermochromic maierial may he Lhermochromic wiLhin ihe operaiing range.

In preferred embodiments, the temperature indicating apparatus provides a display only within an optimum part of the operating range, and outside the range shows only a dark or null display. Thus, unless a display is seen, an observer is alerted that the temperature is not optima]. Alternatively a second, or a third, display dement may he provided that operates to reveal an indication at either one. or both of a temperature outside of the.

oplimum pan of Ihe operaling railge. This lalLer arrangemeni provides a posilive indicalion Ihal the lemperalure is devialing from oplimum.

Alternatively, a plurality of different liquid crystal systems may be provided that operate throughout the temperature range to cover all temperatures over the entire temperature range. In such emhodimcnLs, a pluralily of lhermochromic maLerials or composilions may be included that change between a colourless and an opaque state at different temperatures or over narrow lemperalure ranges wiLhin Lhe wide lemperalure range, such an arrangemenL being capable of displaying alphanumeric or oLher symbols IhaL indicaLe a temperature.

In a further alternative arrangement, a plurality of liquid crystal systems may be provided which at different temperatures change from colourless to a colour, or from a colour to colourless, Iherehy crealing a display Lhal appears lo move cumulalively in one or oLber direction along a set path or scale. This arrangement provided a display that is analogous Lo Ihal provided by a Iradilional glass lube IhermomeLer.

the indicating element may be in the form of a display strip created using thermochroniic ink printed or coated onto a thin substrate. The thermochromic material may he applied in one or more layers of thks of micro-encapsulaLed liquid crysLal or olher lemperaLure changing material held together in a hinder. The thermochromic material may he applied by priiiLirg 11w ink onlo [be suhsLraLe, such as by screen prinLing or pad prinLirig, by a transfer process, or by a spraying process, or arranged beneath a flexible thin transparent Ironi layer and hacked by a dark hacking layer.

In a first arrangement, the or each indicating apparatus may be attached directly to the side of the cot, tbr example by adhesion or transfer.

Alternatively, the temperature indicating apparatus may include a mounting component UOB which the or each indicating element is carried, the mounting component being removably mountable on thc side of the cot. In such embodiments, the mounting component may he fhrmed from a moulded or extruded polymer material. In such embodiments, the or each indicating element may be incorporated into this polyme.r by means of addilion of Ihe lhermochromic maLerial mb pan or all of Ihe moulding or exirusion mounling componenL, or by coaling onLo ii.

From a second aspect, this invention provides a sleeping environment for an infant that includes a cot embodying the first aspect of the invention, the or each indicating element being visible from wilhin Ihe sleeping environmenL.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described th detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows parL of a cob for an infani IhaL incorporales Lemperalure moniLoring apparaLus and is an embodimenL of the invenLion; Figure. 2 shows temperature monitoring apparatus being a for mounting on a cot as in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-section along line X-X of Figure 2; Figure 4 shows Iwo allernalive displays (br Ihe apparalus of Figure 2; and Figure 5 shows pan of a cob for an infani LhaL incorporales an allennaLive LemperaLune monitoring apparatus and is an embodiment of the invention.

With reference to the drawings, a sleeping environment for an infant includes a cot. [he cot has thur sides, each of which has a plurality of upright bars 10 and a top rail 12.

The sleeping environment further includes temperature indicating apparatus 20, as shown in Figure 2. The Rmperabure indicabing apparalus comprises a mounling componenl 22 Ihab is formed as an exirusion ol resilienl polymer malerial. (Allernalive embodinienls may be moulded, 3D printed, or formed otherwise.) The mouiiting component has a cross-section that is shaped (when the components is arranged as for normal use) as an inverted "U", having two opposing leg regions interconnected by a convex interconnection region. The leg regions taper in thickness and spacing in a direction away from the interconnection region.

A rectangular temperature indicating strip 26 is carried on the interconnection region of the mounting component 22. A recess is formed within the material of the interconnection region lo receive Ihe indicaling slrip 26, whereby an ouler surface of Ihe indicaling slrip 26 is flush with or received within the mounting component 22. The temperature indicating slrip 26 includes a pluralily of indicaling clemcnls, and wifi be described in furLher delall.

The indicating strip 26 comprises a front upper strip of thin flexible transparent sheet 30 of proLecLive clear plaslic maLerial and a lower adhesive coaLing 32. The inner surface of Ihe transparent sheet 30 has printed on it, for example, by screen printing, at least one deposit 34 of Lemperalure-responsive Lhermochromic ink IhaL is shaped lo have Ihe appearance of a graphical elemeni, and Ihereby consLilule an indicaling elemeni of Lhe lemperaLure indicating apparatus 20. In addition to one or more deposits of permanent ink 36 provide an unchanging pan of Ihe display produced by Lhe indicaLing sLrip 26. The deposils 34, 36 are visible through the transparent sheet 30. A black hacking layer 38 underlies the deposits 34, 36 and provides a visible background Lo Ihem. In Lhis emhodimenL, Ihe Lhermally sensilive printed ink comprises micro-encapsulated droplets of the liquid crystal or other Lhermochromic maLerial.

the transparent sheet 30 is a gloss surfaced polyester which may be surface modified to enable thermochromic ink systems to key directly onto the modified surface during in1ing. In Ihis embodimeni, Lhe shed 30 has a Ihickness of ahoul 2.4x104m and Ihe display device strip a thickness of about 4x10'm.

An optional clear polyurethane doming 40 is coated onto the upper side of the indicating slrip 26.

Figure 4 is a plan of the indicating strip 26. In one variation (shown at the lower part of Figure 4), when viewed from above through the transparent sheet 30, a plurality of deposits of temperature responsive thermochromie liquid crystal inks activate individually in response to changes in the temperature, changing from a cothurless state which when backed by the black layer 38 appears black to a coloured state which, in this variation, as the temperature increases appears coloured, as shown at 34'.

In anoiher varialion (shown al Ihe tipper pan of Figure 4), each consecuLive deposil of Ihermochnomic ink acLivales consecuLively along a scale Iherehy indicaling an increase or, in reverse, a decrease of the temperature by causing numbers or other indicia 44 to he displayed and posilion of lhc acLivaled lhermochromic deposils along Lhc scale.

For use, the mounting component 22 is placed over the rail 12 of a cot side, with the indicaling slrip 26 lacing inLo Lhe sleeping space of Ihe col. Tn Ihis posilion, Ihe thermochromic material is exposed to substantially the same temperature as a sleeping infanl wiLhin Ihe col. If Ihis posilioning would ohsLrucL visihilily, Ihe mounLing componenl 22 may be placed over the rail 12 of a cot side, with the indicating strip 26 facing out from Ihe coL.

In the alternative embodiment shown in Figure 5, the indicating strip 26 is applied directly Lo Ihe Lop rail 12 of the col. This may be done as pan of Ihe manufacluning process of Ihe cot, in which case, a recess 46 will typically he formed in the rail 12 to receive the strip 26.

AlLernalively, Ihe slnip 26 may be applied Lo an exisling coL, for example by iLs owner.

Visible indicia 42 may be located on the indicating strip 26 or on the mounting component 22 adjacent to the deposits of temperature responsive thermochromic liquid crystal inks to provide a clear indicaLion of wheLher Ihe lemperaltirc is wiLhin Lhe oplimum rage for a sleeping inlani, Lypically I 6-20t

Claims (21)

1. Claims 1. A col having a pluralily ol sides, a sleeping space surrounded by Ihe sides, and temperature indicating apparatus carried on at icast onc of the sides within or adjacenL Lo Lhe sleeping space, in which Ihe Lemperalure is indicaled by an indicating element of the indicating apparatus by the colour of a thermochronilc malerial.
2. 2. A col according Lo claim 1 in which Ihe lhermochromic maLerial comprises one or more liquid crystal systems, the or each of which systems change colour over a specific Lemperalure range or aL a specific IransiLion LemperaLure characLerisLic of Lhe sysLem in quesLion.
3. 3. A cot according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the thermochromic material comprises a thermochromic compound that is micro-encapsulated.
4. 4. A col according Lo any preceding claim in which Lhe Lhermochromic malerial is relatively transparent at a higher temperature and relatively more visible at a lower Lempera Lure.
5. 5. A coL according Lo any one of claims 1 Lo 3 in which the lhermochromic compound may change from a colour lo anolher colour aL a predeLermined Lemperalure.
6. 6. A cot according to any preceding claim in which a typical operating temperature range of the temperature indicating apparatus is from 10°C to 40°C.
7. 7. A coL according Lo any preceding claim in which Ihe lemperalure indicaling apparatus provides a display only within an optimum part of the operating range, and ouLside Ihe range shows only a dark or null display.
8. 8. A cot according to any preceding claim in which thc temperature indicating apparatus indudes a second, or a third, display element may he provided that operates to reveal an indication at either one or both of a temperature outside of the optimum part of the operating range.
9. 9. A col according lo any one of claims 1 lo 7 in which Ihe lemperalure iridicaLing apparalus includes a pluraliLy of differeni liquid crysial sysiems Lhai operale throughout the temperature range to cover all temperatures over the entire LcmperaLure range.
10. 10. A cot according to claim 9 in which the temperature indicating apparatus includes a pluralily of ihermochromic malerials or composilions ihal change helween a colourless and an opaque state at different temperatures or over narrow temperature ranges wiLhin ihe wide Lemperaiure range
11. 11. A coL according lo claim 10 in which Lhe pluraliiy of ihermochromic malerials or composiLions is capable of displaying alphanumeric or olher symbols thaL indicale a temperature.
12. 12. A cot according to any one of claims I to 7 in which the temperature indicating apparalus includes a pluralily of liquid crysial sysLems which aL differeni temperatures change from colourless to a colour, or from a colour to colourless, Lhereby creaLing a display thai appears lo move cumulaiively in one or oLher direction along a set path or scale.
13. 13. A cci according 1° any preceding claim in which Lhe indicaLing elemenL is in lhe form of a display strip crcatcd using thcrmochromic ink printed or coated onto a thin substrate.
14. 14. A cot according to any preceding claim in which the thermochromie material is applied in one or more layers of inks of micro-encapsulaied liquid crysial or oLher temperature changing material held together in a hinder.
15. 15. A cot according to claim 14 in which the thermochromic material is applied by printing the ink onto the substrate, such as by screen printing or pad printing, by a transfer process, or by a spraying process, or arranged beneath a flexible thin transparent front layer and hacked by a dark backing layer.
16. 16. A col according Lo any preceding claim in which Lhe or each indicaling apparaLus may he allached direcily lo a side of the col, for example by adhesion or lransfer.
17. 17. A cot according to any one of claims 1 to 15 in which the temperature indicating apparatus may include a mounting component upon which the or each indicating clcmenl is carried, Ihe mounling componenl being removably mounlahle on the side ollhe col.
18. 18. A col according lo claim 17 in which the mounling componenL is formed from a moulded or extruded polymer material.
19. 19. A cot according to claim 18 in which the or each indicating element is incorporated into this polymer by means of addition of the thermochromic material into part or all of Ihe moulding or exLrusion mounling componenl, or by coaling onlo iL.
20. 20. A cot substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
21. 21. A sleeping environmenL for an inlanl [hal includes a col according lo any preceding claim, in which the or each indicating element being visible from within the sleeping environmenl.