IES20070251A2

IES20070251A2 - Photographic child support

Info

Publication number: IES20070251A2
Authority: IE
Inventors: Sonya Carr
Original assignee: Sonya Carr
Priority date: 2007-04-10
Filing date: 2007-04-10
Publication date: 2008-02-06
Also published as: GB2448414A; GB2448414B; GB0806387D0

Abstract

A photographic child support 100 comprises a body portion 102 and a head portion 104. The body portion 102 comprising an elongate support member 106 that supports a child, in use. The head portion 104 comprises a head support 108 and restraint wings 110. The restraint wings 110 are inclined at an angle to a support surface 112 of the head support 108 such that the childÆs head lies substantially perpendicular to the support surface 112. <Figure 1>

Description

Tils invention relates to a photographic child support. More particularly, but not exclusively, it relates to a photographic child support Under current legislation a young child or an infant requires a passport. Consequently, the young child or infant must be photographed in order that their identity can be verified at border and immigration checkpoints.

Typically, such a passport photograph is required to show the child or infant’s head face-on on a mono-coloured background without extraneous features in the background. This requires that the child remains still whilst the photograph is taken. It is unlikely that a small child or an infant will remain still whilst a photograph is taken. This leads to the use of a number of exposures of film, or digital exposures, in order to achieve a photograph where the child’s head is viewed face-on.

In order to overcome this problem many parent’s hold their child’s head whilst the photograph is taken. However, this can result in the parent’s hand or finger appearing in the photograph of the child. Such a photograph will be rejected by the passport authorities.

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a photographic child support comprising a body portion and a head portion, the body portion comprising an elongate support member arranged to support the body of a user, the head portion comprising a head support member and restraint wings, the head support member and the elongate support member being linked , the restraint wings being inclined at an angle to a support surface of the head support member, the restraint wings being arranged to restrain a head of a user such that the head lies IE 07Q2S1 substantially perpendicular to the support surface of the head support member.

Such a support allows a child’s head to be supported such that they lie face on to a camera without the need for a parent's hand to hold their child’s head whilst the photograph is taken. This results in fewer photographs having to be taken in order to generate a photograph suitable for use in a passport, or other official documentation.

At least the head portion may be fabricated of a transparent material. The support may be fabricated of a transparent material.

The use of a transparent material results in the parts of the support that appear in the photograph of the child’s head to be at least only partially visible and preferably not visible in the photograph. This increases the likelihood of any given photograph being suitable for use in a passport, or other official documentation.

At least the head portion may be fabricated of, or covered with, a coloured material. The support may be fabricated of, or covered with, a coloured material. The coloured material may be arranged to match a coloured background.

The use of a coloured material results in the parts of the support that appear in the photograph of the child’s head to be at least only partially visible and preferably not visible in the photograph.

The support may comprise a background plate extending in a plane parallel to the support surface. The background plate may extend away IS 070211 from edges of the head portion. The background plate may be located on an opposite side of the support to the support surface.

A background plate provides sufficient area for the child’s face to be 5 photographed on a background of a single colour.

The restraint wings may be arranged to be inclined at varying angles with respect to the support surface. The restraint wings may be linked to the head portion by an extendable linkage piece so as to be spaced apart therefrom. The linkage may be lockable into position.

The variation of the angle of inclination and spacing of the restraint wings with respect to the support surface allows the support to be used for children of varying ages and sizes.

The head portion and the body portion may be linked by an extendable linkage. The linkage may be lockable into position.

This allows a single support to be used for children of differing ages and 20 sizes.

The body portion may comprise side pieces extending away from a surface thereof. The side pieces may be located on opposing edges of the body portion. The side pieces may comprise arms. Alternatively, or additionally, the side pieces may bolsters.

Side pieces prevent the child from rolling or falling off the support when they are lying on the support having their photograph taken.

The support may be fabricated of a plastics material. β979281 The use of a plastics material is hygienic and facilitates easy cleaning of the support should a child soil the support.

The support may comprise a stand arranged to raise the support. The stand may comprise a plinth or legs. The stand may be arranged to vary the height of the support.

The use of a stand allows the support to be raised such that a suitable level for photography can be achieved. Also, the raising of the support from to a suitable level reduces strain upon the person lifting the child from the support.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a first embodiment of a support according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the support of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side elevation of a second embodiment of a support according to an aspect ofthe present invention; and Figure 4 is a plan view of the support of Figure 3.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, a support 100 for use in the photography of a child comprises a body portion 102 and a head portion 104.

«U/βΙΙί The body portion 102 comprises a rectangular elongate support member 106. The body portion comprise side pieces extending away from a surface thereof. The side pieces may be located on opposing edges of the body portion. The side pieces may comprise arms. Alternatively, or additionally, the side pieces may bolsters.

The head portion 104 comprises a head support member 108 and restraint wings 110 that are inclined at an angle to a support surface 112 of the head support member 108.

The restraint wings 110 restrain a head of a child such that the child’s head lies substantially perpendicular to the support surface 112 of the head support member 108.

In the present embodiment, the restraint wings 110 can be inclined at varying angles with respect to the support surface 112, typically by means of frictionally self-locking hinges. Although, it will be appreciated that in an alternative embodiment the wings 110 may be fixed.

The restraint wings 110 are linked to the head portionl 04 by an extendable, lockable linkage piece 114. The linkage piece 114 allows the wings 110 be spaced away from the head portion 104 in order to accommodate variations in the size of childrens’ heads, In the present embodiment, the head support member 108 and the elongate support member 106 are linked by means of an extendable linkage 115 that can be locked into position. Typical means of locking the linkage into position comprise pin and hole combination, tooth and catch combination and frictional engagement of elements of the linkage 115.

In one embodiment, at least the head portion 104, and preferably the whole support 100, are fabricated of a transparent material.

In an alternative embodiment at least the head portion 104, and preferably the whole support 100, are fabricated of, or covered with, a coloured material that matches a coloured background against which the photograph is to be taken. For example, the head portion 104 or whole support 100 may be coloured white.

Both the use of a transparent material or a material matching the colour of a background have the effect that the parts of the support 100 that appear in a photograph of the child’s head are only partially visible, and preferably not visible, in the resultant photograph.

The support 100 is mounted upon a stand 113. In the present embodiment the stand is two pairs of legs. Each of the pairs of legs is collapsible by rotation about a respective pivot point. Typically, the pivot points are linked by a common axle.

In use, a child lain on the support 100 has their body on the body portion 102 and their head on the head portion 104. The restraining wings hold the child’s face facing outward from the support in order that a photograph of the child suitable for, for example, a passport can be taken.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4 a support 300 is substantially similar to the support of Figures 1 and 2, accordingly similar parts are accorded the same reference numerals in the three hundred series. *·>·»« * The support 300 comprise a background plate extends away from the edges of the head portion 304 parallel to the support surface on the opposite side of the head portion 304 to the support surface.

Typically, the background plate is the same colour as the head portion 304 of the support 300, and usually it is the same colour as the majority of the support 300.

The background plate provides a background of a single colour against which the child’s face is photographed. The background plate may be fixed to the support 300 or in an alternative embodiment it may be detachable from the support 300.

Although shown in both embodiments described herein to be flat it will be appreciated that the body portion of the support may be inclined such that the child is placed in a seated position.

While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art once given this disclosure that various modifications, changes, improvements and variations may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A photographic child support comprising a body portion and a head portion, the body portion comprising an elongate support member 5 arranged to support the body of a user, the head portion comprising a head support member and restraint wings, the head support member and the elongate support member being linked , the restraint wings being inclined at an angle to a support surface of the head support member, the restraint wings being arranged to restrain a head of a user such that the 10 head lies substantially perpendicular to the support surface of the head support member.

2. A support according to claim 1 wherein at least the head portion is fabricated of a transparent material, or is fabricated of, or covered with, a 15 coloured material.

3. A support according to either claim 1 or claim 2 comprising a background plate extending in a plane parallel to the support surface. 20

4. A support according to any preceding claim wherein the restraint wings are arranged to be inclined at varying angles with respect to the support surface.

5. A photographic child support substantially as described 25 hereinbefore with reference to the accompanying drawings.