GB2520270A

GB2520270A - A diaper change device

Info

Publication number: GB2520270A
Application number: GB1320000.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Aylin Tatakis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-11-13
Filing date: 2013-11-13
Publication date: 2015-05-20
Anticipated expiration: 2033-11-13
Also published as: GB201320000D0; GB2520270B

Abstract

A diaper changing device comprising a frame 2, a planar bed surface 3 and a resiliently deformable sheet 1 wherein the frame 2 is arranged to support the sheet 1 and has means 5 to allow it to stand upright on the bed surface 3. In use the sheet 1 may be suspended over an infants waist area to prevent them interfering with the nappy changing process. The frame 2 may be attached to rigid edge members on the bed or a structure beneath the bed surface. The sheet 1 may be detachable from the frame and utilise a flexible fabric attachment 4 means which allows for movement along the frame 2. The device may be arranged so that is collapsible for transport or storage. The bed 3 may have a curved edges which provide raised side walls.

Description

A DIAPER CHANGE DEVICE

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a diaper change device, in particular a device to aid with diaper or nappy changing; more particularly but not exclusively a device for a user to entertain and prevent the infant from causing trouble during a diaper change.

Background

Diaper or nappy changing is an unpleasant task.

Particularly problematic parts of the task relate to the infant having his or her diaper changed. They can be problematic in relation to movement of their upper and or lower body.

For example the infant may move their body about and wriggle their bottom off the diaper when it is in the process of removal or attachment, and move the diaper out of position or their bottom out of position and generally cause difficulties for the user.

lii situations with particularly energetic infants this tends to lead to the user being required to hold the infant down, typically across the infant's stomach, and change the diaper, including clean-up, with their other hand. This can of course lead to other problems in manipulation and ease.

In addition or the alternative there is also a chance of the infant touching or contacting faeces or other unpleasantness with their roving hands or arms.

Prior Art

Accordingly a number of patent applications have been filed in an attempt to resolve the problem or similar, including the following: Granted United Kingdom patent GB 2 425 932 (ROGERS) discloses an apparatus for facilitating the changing of a baby's soiled sanitary wear comprising a lamina including a recess adapted to receive the torso of a baby whose soiled sanitary wear is to be changed and lamina-positioning means for positioning the lamina transversely of and orthogonal to a base member upon which the said baby can be laid, wherein the lamina positioning means comprises a pair of collapsible supports positioned on either side of each end of the lamina.

Granted United Kingdom patent GB 2 353 203 (HASKINS) discloses a device to aid nappy changing that keeps an infant's hands and arms away from it's nappy and lower body, characterised by comprising: two first panels configured to be placed beneath a lying infants head and shoulders; wherein each first panel further 1 0 comprises at least one second panel portion extending transversely from said first panel and configured to extend on either side of the infant's chest thereby keeping the infant's arms substantially transverse to the infant's body; and a third panel portion configured for attachment to, and extension between, said second panel portions above said infant's chest thereby preventing the infant's hands or arms from being manoeuvred downward; wherein said first panels can be moved over each other to adjust the gap between said second panel portions.

United States patent application US 4 17B 926 (COHN) discloses a restraint device for preventing a person's hands from contacting that person's legs while lying in a bed having side rails, comprising a generally flat plate which is positioned in a generally upright manner transversely to the person along the person's waist, said plate having a bottom wall which is contoured to define a base portion at opposite ends which is positioned on said bed on opposite sides of the person's waist, and a central portion which oveilies the person's waist, and means for releasably securing said plate to said bed.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a diaper change device comprising a frame arranged to upstand from a planar bed surlace in a relationship with the surface defined by the frame's ends; wherein the frame provides support for a resiliently deformable sheet extending therebetween.

Preferably in some embodiments the bed surface comprises a bed arranged for the device. In other embodiments the bed surface and bed comprise independently available parts, which may be adapted in use to cooperate with the device. For example wherein the frame is secured to a base arranged about the bed.

Advantageously the sheet is able to deform in use where the frame is rigid, wherein the frame is fixed in use across the bed surface transversely, upstanding therefrom, and an infant is laid on the surface, beneath the frame with the sheet between the infant's upper body and lower body.

In this way a user is able to change the infant's diaper without interference from the infant or risk of the infant touching faeces or dirty diapers.

Preferably the frame secures to opposing side edges of the bed surface, wherein the edges are relatively rigid, and may comprise side rails or a subordinate structure beneath the surface. Such structure may extend underneath the surface and such rails may extend alongside the surface, and both are indicative of a base.

Advantageously this allows the frame to be held rigidly by the base, and the infant enabled to push against the sheet without dislodging the frame.

Preferably the frame secures onto and interacts with the rails or base at a securement means adapted so as to limit rotation movement in respect thereof from the vertical.

Advantageously the frame therefore resists toppling, wherein weight of the infant is centred over the base or surface between the rails, in or that it further mitigates against the rotation.

Preferably the sheet is detachable from the frame, wherein the sheet may be detached from the frame for cleaning purposes, transport or storage. In this way advantageously the sheet may be machine washable to increase hygiene.

In addition or the alternative the sheet may be replaceable, for example wherein a spare sheet may be used when a first sheet is in the wash, and wherein different patterns or aesthetic arrangements may be available, for example superheroes or cartoon characters. In this way the infant may be best amused whilst the diaper is being changed.

The sheet consequently includes attachment means for attachment to the frame in use.

Preferably said attachment means comprises hook and loop portions such as Velcro (RTM) and/or a peripheral section arranged to be closable about the frame. Other embodiments of the attachment means may comprise buttons, press-studs, zippers or other temporary means.

Preferably the attachment means allow lateral movement of the means along the frame to which the means is attached, in order that the sheet may be displaced along the frame, for example pushed up in the middle by the infant's body.

Preferably the sheet is formed of a flexible and/or elastic fabric, such that the sheet is capable of significant deformation In some embodiments the sheet is formed in a translucent or transparent material, so that the infant does not feel isolated from the user during diaper change.

Preferably the frame is collapsible, for example foldable, telescopic or multipartite. In this way the frame may be minimised or collapsed into a smaller footprint for transport or storage.

Preferably the frame is dismantled into parts tolerance fit together in use, wherein two parts are fit into the securement means to form the connection with the base, rail or wider bed.

Preferably the securement means is temporary in order that the frame may be displaced from the bed particularly for movement of the infant onto or off the surface.

Preferably the frame end parts are unfitted from the securement means to access the surface, and in consequence ideally the frame end parts and securement means cooperate to click-fit or otherwise easily and reversibly unfit and fit in use.

In some other embodiments the frame may be unhinged for access to the surface, for example wherein parts of the frame displace with the sheet.

In embodiments claiming an integrated bed or bed surface, the surface preferably augments at its edges, adjacent the frame, wherein chances of the infant rolling off the surface are minimised as are chances of the infant rolling into and against the frame ends.

In some embodiments not claiming an integrated surface the frame ends may be equipped with discrete padding. Such padding may be slidable on the frame for example away from the securement means to allow detaching of the ends, and towards or over the securement means to allow padding of the securement means, and minimise discomfort or injury to the infant.

In some further embodiments it may be envisaged that the frame allows hanging of toys or other distractions for the infant.

In yet further embodiments it may be envisaged that the sheet provides at least one pocket for storage of diaper changing equipment for the user.

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the device in use; Figure 2 shows a side view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows an end view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a reverse end view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 shows an isometric exploded view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1; And Figure 6 shows a plan view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1.

Detailed Description of Figures

With reference to the figures the frame 2 upstands from the bed 3 to create a vertical or substantially vertical baffler between an infant's upper and lower body (not shown) in use.

The frame 2 supports the sheet 1 which stretches between parts of the frame 2 to provide a flexible or elastic shield to prevent the infant reaching hands through the barrier.

The sheet us attached to the frame by an attachment means 4 comprising multiple straps 4 spaced apart along the frame 2 by the sheet I These straps 40 loop over the frame 2 and are attached to themselves or the sheet on the other side. Hook and loop portions may be utilised to make the attachment in addition or the alternative to the bi-partite press-studs 41 shown. The straps 40 may be elasticated and/or multiple lengths of straps 40 facilitated by multiple attachment means positions.

The straps 40 are not strapped so tightly to the frame 2 as to not allow movement along the frame 2, in order that the lowermost straps in particular may accommodate riding up on the frame 2.

The frame 2 is of circular cross-section in order to facilitate the strap tightening and/or movement.

Degree of tightening of the straps 40 is optional to the user, depending for example on stomach size of the infant.

Flexibility also allows the sheet I to be dose to the bed surface 32 in use and be displaced locally around the stomach of the infant. In this way the infant's hands are less likely to be capable of reaching along their sides.

The sheet 1 has a periphery 10 that is strengthened for support of the straps, and an interior 11 that is translucent or mesh. The sheet I or more particularly interior II is ideally printed with eye-catching aesthetics. The periphery andlO br straps 40 may be elasticated in some embodiments, so as to provide sufficient movement to accommodate the infant in use.

The frame 2 has ends 23 that slot into a securement means comprising adaptors 22 interacting with sockets 50 providing on the base 5.

The base 5 in the pictured embodiment comprises a structure arranged beneath the bed 3 in use, relying on the bed 3 to maintain the base 5, and accordingly frame 2. in position.

The sockets 50 have a star shaped female interaction pad into which a male star shaped interaction part secures, as provided by the adaptors 22.

In this way the frame 2 may interact at a variety of angles to the vertical, to comprise angles oblique or acute to the infant's head allowing greater visibility to the infant or user.

Other embodiments may be envisaged to have different arrangements but ideally the male and female parts interact to form a secure vertical arrangement when engaged.

The pictured embodiment is shown with a bed 3 integrated into the base 5 or viceversa, which bed 2 includes notches 31 for receipt of the base 5 andlor frame 2, or more particularly in the pictured embodiment braces 53 of the sockets 50 of the base 5, and raised sides 30 to prevent the Infant rolling from the surface 32.

The bed 3 is a closed cell structure covered in a plastics material for wipe-clean ease.

The base 50 comprises orthogonal strips 51,52 mirroring the bed axes. These strips 51,52 are typically made of a lightweight high tensile material to avoid disrupting the bed surface 32.

In some embodiments the strips may 51,52 fit together in use, for example using a central boss or guide. In such embodiments the base 5 may also be dismantled for transport or storage.

The frame 2 dismantles into three parts 20, 21 and the adaptors 22. All parts are typically formed in synthetic plastics and tolerance or friction fit together. In some embodiments displaceable flubs or sprung pins may fit into slots or holes to secure relative parts.

In some embodiments the frame 2 comprises tubular metal or alloy.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention. Firstly it will be understood that any features described in relation to any particular embodiment may be featured in combinations with other embodiments.

With respect to the specification therefore, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention, with variation and implementation obvious and clear on the basis of either common general knowledge or of expert knowledge in the field concerned. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as set out in the accompanying claims.

Claims

Claims 1. A diaper change device comprising a frame arranged to upstand from a planar bed surface in a relationship with the surface defined by the frame's ends; wherein the frame provides support for a resiliently deformable sheet extending therebetween.
2. A device according to claim I wherein the bed surface comprises a bed arranged for the device.
3. A device according to claim 1 wherein the bed surface comprises an independently available part, adapted in use to cooperate with the frame.
4. A device according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the frame secures to opposing side edges of the bed surface, the edges are relatively rigid and comprise side rails.
5. A device according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the frame secures to a subordinate structure beneath the bed surface.
6. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the frame secures to a securement means adapted so as to limit vertical rotation movement.
7. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the sheet is detachable from the frame.
8. A device according to any preceding claim wherein an attachment means between the sheet and frame allows lateral movement of the sheet along the frame.
9. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the sheet has an attachment means to the frame formed of a flexible and/or elastic fabric.
10. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the frame is collapsible, so the frame is minimised for transport or storage.

II. A device substantially as described herein with reference to the figures.