GB2594458A

GB2594458A - An infant care device

Info

Publication number: GB2594458A
Application number: GB2006128.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Maratona Giuseppe
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2020-04-27
Filing date: 2020-04-27
Publication date: 2021-11-03
Also published as: GB202006128D0

Abstract

An infant care device 99 comprises a basal portion 7 and means 5 for attaching the base 5 to a changing mat 105. At least one extending section 1, 8 is adapted to move from a first position covering the base 5 to a second position extending away from the base 5. The coupling means 5 allows attachment of the base 5 to the pad 105 reversed, for example to allow attachment around a baby 100 positioned on the base 5 as well as attachment to the mat 105. The extensions 1, 8 may be made of an absorbent or towelling material and may protrude from the edges of the basal portion 5. The fastener 5 may comprise a drawstring or a ruched portion surrounding the perimeter of the base 5. The base 5 may be provided with a covering 6 such as a cowl or a hood.

Description

AN INFANT CARE DEVICE

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an infant device, in particular a device to aid in changing diapers or attending to an infant; more particularly a device for covering a changing mat.

Background

Increasing numbers of mothers or carers utilise dedicated areas for changing diapers and otherwise caring for infants.

In particular many carers utilise infant diaper changing mats, which provide a dedicated space, typically with raised sides. However these are generally plastic, with wipe-clean surfaces, and the carer is thereby required to have further elements, such as towelling, to dry or care for the infant, for example when placing a diaper on the infant after a bath.

Prior Art

US 2014 0 068 858 (WAMBEKE) discloses an assembly comprising: an exercise mat including a top surface and a bottom surface; a towel removably couplable to the exercise mat, the towel including a top surface and a bottom surface; a plurality of fastener portions extending from the top surface of the exercise mat and the bottom surface of the exercise mats.

CA 2 688 999 (CHUNG) discloses a drying mat for babies comprising of a pad, a pad cover and a removable cloth cover, which absorbs moisture from the body of the baby 30 and provides a comfortable place for the baby to lie on while being dried with a towel after a bath.

GB 2000 00 421 (RABBITTS) discloses a baby changing mat has a rigid base supporting shoulder and waist straps to anchor the upper torso of the baby to the mat. 35 The mat is provided with heel recesses for receiving the heels of a carer seated on the floor. A raised peripheral wall provides a barrier to fluids gravitating towards the carer.

Attaching strips enable an absorbent cloth to be fastened to the mat in a position to receive the lower torso of the baby The present invention arose in order to overcome problems suffered by existing 5 devices.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided an infant care device comprising: a basal portion; a changing mat attachment means for reversibly attaching the basal portion to the changing mat; and one or more extending sections adapted to move from a first position covering the basal portion to a second position substantially extending away from the basal portion.

The extending portions may be absorbent. In particular in some embodiments it may be envisaged that the extending sections are towelling material.

It may be envisaged that an infant in use is placed on the basal portion.

In this way the extending section may be envisaged to be placed over the basal portion, so as to clean, dry or cover over the infant in use.

It may be envisaged that the basal portion is arranged to cover the changing mat in part or whole. In this way the basal portion may comprise a flexible, fabric sheet for 25 example, which may be elastic or inelastic, and arranged to provide a comfortable, tactile and/or breathable covering over the changing mat.

The attachment means may thereby be envisaged to attach the whole of the basal portion over the changing mat.

Consequently it may be envisaged that the attachment means is arranged to attach more than one part of the basal portion to more than one part of the changing mat. For example in some embodiments the attachment means may be arranged to attach the basal portion to the corners of the changing mat. Or in other embodiments the attachment means may be arranged to attach the basal portion behind the changing mat, for example comprising bands that in use extend behind the changing mat.

For example it may be envisaged that the device in whole comprises a towel or similar absorbent piece of material with elastomeric attachment means to attach the device in position whilst in use, attached to a changing mat whilst drying an infant.

In some embodiments the attachment means comprises an adjustable and/or inelastic attachment means. For example such attachment means may comprise a drawstring or toggle. In some embodiments the attachment means may comprise a reversible attachment means allowing attachment with the basal portion reversed, for example so as to allow the basal portion to be attached around the infant as well as around the changing mat.

In some embodiments the basal portion comprises an infant covering portion, for example a hood, cowl, or foot covering. In this way it may be envisaged that the basal portion is arranged to cover the infant at least in part, so as to provide a more comfortable and/or reassuring device for the infant. In addition or the alternative the covering portion may provide a warming and/or drying portion, for example comprising a cowl formed in towelling fabric.

In some embodiments the section provides an extending absorbent section from the basal portion and/or covering portion. For example the extending section may comprise a flap extendable from the basal portion. The extending section may be hinged to the basal portion for example.

In some embodiments there may be more than one extending section. For example in some embodiments there may be plural sections which extend from the basal portion, allowing the extending sections to be opened or folded back to allow the infant to be placed into the basal portion or displaced therefrom, as well as allowing for drying, covering or warming from plural directions to provide more options to a user.

In some embodiments the extending sections may comprise a closure or securement means. In some embodiments the closure or securement means is arranged to secure the extending sections to the basal portion, for example when not in use. In other embodiments the closure or securement means is arranged to close or secure the sections to themselves, for example when extended around the infant.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided an infant changing mat with a device substantially as described herein.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only 5 and with reference to the Figures in which:

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows a detail view of an embodiment of the device according to the present 10 invention in use on a changing mat with the extended sections extended over an infant; Figure 2 shows a plan view from the rear of the embodiment shown in Figure 1, in use on a changing mat; Figure 3 shows an isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 in use with the embodiment detached from the changing mat and the extending sections opened; Figure 4 shows an isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1, in use with an infant, with the extending sections extended around the infant, and the basal portion 20 wrapped around the extending section and infant; and Figure 5 shows an isometric detail view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 in use 25 on a changing mat but with no infant, and with the extending sections partially extended across the basal portion.

Detailed Description of Figures

With reference to the figures there is shown an embodiment of the device 99 according to the present invention generally comprising: a basal portion 7; a changing mat attachment means 5 for reversibly attaching the basal portion 7 to the changing mat 105; and two towelling sections 1,8 adapted to move from a first position over the basal portion to a second position substantially extending away from the basal portion 8.

In particular reference to the pictured embodiment the embodiment comprises a flat sheet basal portion 7, with a perimetric attachment means 5, comprising a ruched portion perimetric to the basal portion, and a sleeve 12 with internal drawstring 13.

The drawstring 13 comprises a toggle closure 10 around the perimeter of the attachment means 5. In use therefore the drawstring closure defines an open or closeable mouth.

In this way the basal portion may be attached onto and around a rectangular changing 10 mat 105, which changing mat may be envisaged to be separately or independently available.

The toggle closure enables the attachment means to be opened and tightened to rear of the changing mat so as to attach the device thereto. And additionally or alternatively the attachment means may be opened and tightened to its reverse, with the basal portion reversed, and in consequence having the attachment means 5 to the other side of the changing mat 105 and infant 100 in use, as shown in Figure 4.

This reversibility allows for the drawstring closure to close the mouth around the 20 changing mat or the infant.

The mouth further includes a closure mechanism, namely a pair of ties 11. These ties extend from the edge of the mouth and may be tied in front of the infant 100 as shown in Figure 4, or behind the mat 105 as shown in Figure 2.

The basal portion includes a covering portion, provided by a cowl covering portion 6, so as to comfort, locate and cover the infant's head. This covering portion is sewn to the basal portion in an upside down U shape semicircle proximate one end of the basal portion, extending downwards from this semi-circular seam 9.

An extending towelling section comprises two wing sections 1,8, which are sewn to the basal portion proximate the side edges of the basal section 7, and comprise substantially rectangular extensions therefrom. The extending sections are thereby hinged to the basal portion and enabled to fold over the infant as required. The extending sections are each substantially the same length and width as the basal portion, or changing mat.

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 as defined by the claims, in particular but not solely 5 combination of features of described embodiments.

Claims

Claims 1. A diaper-changing device comprising: a basal portion; a changing mat attachment means for reversibly attaching the basal portion to the changing mat; and one or more extending sections adapted to move from a first position covering the basal portion to a second position substantially extending away from the basal portion.
2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the extending sections are absorbent.
3. A device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the extending sections including towelling material.
4. A device according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the attachment means comprises a drawstring attachment means.
5. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the attachment means comprises a ruched portion extending perimetric the basal portion.
6. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the extending sections extend from the edges of the basal portion.
7. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the basal portion comprises a covering portion.
8. A device according to claim 7 wherein the covering portion comprises a cowl or hood.