MXPA97009708A - Personal protection - Google Patents

Abstract

A transparent awning (7) covers an infant sitting inside a stroller to protect it from exposure to ambient air pollution and an energized filter unit (9) blows ambient air into the upper part of the compartment (8) between the awning (7) and the seat unit (4). The bottom of the compartment (8) opens when a lower protection portion (16) of the awning (7) is spaced from the legs of the seated infant. The entry of contaminated air through the opening is blocked by operating the energized filter unit (9) to create positive pressure inside the compartment (8) so that the filtered air flows down the face and body of the infant; (20) Mesh in the awning (7) gives a balanced ventilation and prevents the accumulation of heat. The seat unit (4) comprises a back panel (25) suspended by cloth sections (26-28) within a frame (5). The panel (25) can be unhooked (29) to adapt the seat unit (4) for use as a carriage

Description

PERSONAL PROTECTION D E S C R I P C I O N This invention relates to personal protection for infants The invention relates especially to providing protection to infants against air pollution, when they are, for example, in a stroller, stroller or the like.

Babies and other infants, when transported in a stroller or stroller down the street, are often exposed to air contaminated with high levels of exhaust fumes from motor vehicles. The levels of pollution to which they are exposed are generally higher than those experienced by adults since infants breathe air from a lower level and therefore closer to the source of smoke emission from the atmosphere. The issue is of particular importance because infants are physically less able than an adult to contend with pollution and are more likely to develop respiratory diseases with exposure to exhaust fumes.

A device for providing protection to infants against ambient air pollution in a stroller is known from DE-A-4241233 and comprises a portable unit containing an air filter and a motor fan that are attached to the side of the stroller. The stroller cap is raised and a transparent sheet is used to push the inside of the stroller away from the ambient atmosphere. The filtered air supplied from the unit is blown into the interior of the stroller through the sheet near the top of the cap via a hose connection. Although air vents are provided in the ventilation sheet, they are located where the sheet covers the opening toward the cap and there is no significant space in relation to the infant from where the air enters through the connecting hose. Therefore, there is the problem of the probability of air stagnation inside the stroller and the consequent danger that the filtered air will not reach the infant this problem is increased by the high location of the connection hose in the cap.

It is an object of the present invention to provide equipment to achieve infant protection against ambient air pollution that reduces to a significant degree the probability of air stagnation.

In accordance with the present invention, a device is provided to provide protection to infants against ambient air pollution, wherein a compartment for enclosing the infant comprises an elongated support base that is of a configuration to support the infant in a sitting position. appropriate or any other position within the compartment and an awning that is all transparent or at least partially transparent in a substantial portion for extension over the infant on the support base for closing the compartment except for at least one or more openings by means of which the chamber is ventilated freely to the ambient atmosphere and where the equipment also includes motor means carried by the base stand to blow the ambient air filtered inside the chamber in a spaced place of said one or more openings to create positive pressure in the chamber in relation to ambient air pressure, this equipment or is characterized in that the motor means is located at one end of the support base to blow the filtered air into the compartment so that it flows towards the other longitudinal end of the infant on the support base and in that the opening (s) is located towards or at the other end of the support base.

The awning can be fully extended on the support base and can comprise a flexible transparent sheet held on arch supports that are pivotable for selective extension of the awning on the support base. A mesh element can be inserted into the ventilation air canopy from the compartment and prevent the accumulation of heat inside the compartment.

The support base, which may be mounted on a wheeled chassis may be of an elongated plate configuration and may be suspended within an open frame member carrying the awning. More particularly, it can include a substantially rigid panel that is suspended over fabric sections defining walls of the support base, one of the sections can provide a seat for the infant with the panel as a backrest.

In order to seat the infant, the support base can be mounted so that it has an inclined attitude and in these circumstances the means for blowing filtered ambient air into the compartment can be mounted on the upper end of the support base for solar air filtered so that it flows down from the support base inside the compartment. In the latter circumstances, the awning may extend over the support base for hanging in the opposite direction and below the other lower end of the support base as a protective cover for the legs of the infant leaving the compartment open at that end.

The means for blowing filtered air into the compartment may comprise a filter and an electric fan energized by batteries to pass ambient air through the filter. The filter may include a dust filter to remove the particles from the ambient air.

A stroller for children equipped in accordance with the present invention to achieve protection of an infant against air pollution will now be described as an example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a general perspective view of the stroller according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic illustration showing the operation of the stroller equipment of Figure 1 to achieve protection for infants against ambient air pollution; Y Figure 3 is a perspective view of the stroller seat unit of Figure 1 adapted for use as a stroller.

With reference to Figure 1, the stroller has a tubular metal chassis 1 which is provided with a handle 2 for pushing and maneuvering the stroller on the wheels 3 of the chassis 1. An elongated seat unit 4 for supporting the infant in a posture sitting or reclined is mounted on a generally elliptical frame 5 that is hung inside the chassis 1 from two diametrically opposed pivot assemblies 6.

To the extent that the stroller has been described, it is in a generally conventional manner and any infant transported near motor vehicles will, because of its location, be very exposed to the emission of exhaust fumes from those vehicles. However, the stroller of the present invention acts to minimize that exposure and in this regard incorporates an awning 7 of transparent sheet material that in conjunction with the unit 4, defines a compartment 8 for enclosing the infant. An energized filter unit 9 mounted on the frame 5 blows filtered air into the compartment 8 to ensure that the compartment 8 remains substantially free of contamination for the protection of infants.

The energized filter unit 9 includes, as illustrated in FIG. 2, a fan 10 which is energized with a rechargeable or common battery 11 for passing ambient air through a filter 12 and blowing it into the compartment 8 in front of unit 4. Filter 12 that includes a dust filter and polyurethane foam impregnated with carbon spheres or a carbon impregnated cloth is effective in removing contaminants (particles along with carbon-nitrogen and sulfur dioxide and hydrocarbons) to a degree of the ambient air so that the filtered air blown in the compartment 8 defined within the awning 7 is of a significantly improved breathability.

The awning 7 is made of three flexible knives 13 and 15 and a cover portion 16, all of clear polyvinyl chloride sheets, which are sewn and sealed together on three flexible rods or bras 17 to 19. The bras 17 to 19 are in arc, with the two ends of each, pivoted to the frame 5 to allow them opening outwardly to each other to stretch the blade of the blades 13 to 15 and to close the compartment 8. In this respect the blade 13 is attached to the unit 9 and also to the frame 5 but on the other hand the awning 7 is free of fastening intimate below this so the protection cover portion 16 hangs around, but spaced, from the infant's legs and lower body; Provisions may be made to secure the sheet of the cover portion 16 to the chassis 1 to maintain spacing if necessary. The lack of sealing and the spacing of the cover portion 16 ensures that the compartment 8 as a whole is adequately ventilated. However, additional ventilation is provided through a mesh insert 20 in the blade 14 above the head of the infant. The insert 20 also provides a degree of sun shadow; in an inclement weather a roller cover 21 attached to the blade 14 can be rolled and secured through the insert 20 to protect the infant.

The possibility of entry of contaminated ambient air into compartment 8 is prevented, operating unit 9 to maintain a positive pressure inside compartment 8, with respect to ambient air pressure. The filtered air outlet 22 of the unit 9 is fixed lightly back on the head of the infant in the upper part of the compartment 8 and the residual air is vented to the atmosphere through the open lower part of the awning 7 provided by the 16 portion of protective cover, so that a good air flow is established down the face and body of the infant. The added and balanced ventilation through the mesh insert 20 further assists in ensuring that there is no accumulation of carbon dioxide or heat inside the compartment 8. The filter 12 opens from the top of the unit 9 in the opposite direction of the air discharge through the mesh 20 and the unit 9 incorporates indicators 23 and 24 to respectively show the state of charge of the battery 11 and air flow inside the compartment 8, in order to allow the operation of the equipment that is actually monitored . Provisions can also be made for an audio alarm that prevents when the state of charge of the battery 11 is low.

The seat unit 4 has a substantially rigid backing formed by a panel 25 covered with fabric which is suspended within the frame 5 by upper and bottom sections 26 and 27 and two side wall sections 20 all of fabric. The section 27 provides the seat of the unit 4 and the panel 25 is slightly pointed forward forwards inside the frame 5 (figure 2) which is secured to the frame 5 so that the section 26 above the head of the infant is lightly angled back towards the unit 9. The lower portions of the side wall sections 28 are raised on either side of the panel 23 to provide restraint of the side protection arms of the infant sitting on the panel 25 inside the unit 4. orientation of the unit 4 as a whole on the chassis 1, it can be adjusted between that suitable for the infant to sit (as illustrated) or to recline it backwards so that it falls asleep.

According to an advantageous feature of the infant stroller, the seat unit 4 can be easily adapted for use in the form of a stroller mounted substantially horizontally on the chassis 1; With the above, the age scale can be extended in which the stroller can be used to cover the period from before the infant can sit down. For such use, the ears 29 are unsecured to the frame 5 so that, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the paper 25 hangs over the fabric section 27 and the flat side wall sections 28 with the section 26 within the frame 5. The infant is placed on the panel 27 and its feet extended toward the unit 9. The unit 9 is operated in the same manner as previously described to maintain a positive air pressure inside the compartment although the awning 7 is replaced. for an awning 30.

The awning 30 has three transparent blades 31 to 33 with a mesh insert 34 for improved ventilation in the blade 33. However, instead of having an opening the protective cover around the section 27, the awning 30 has a blade 35. of fabric attached to the frame 6. Adequate ventilation is provided even when the insert 34 is covered by the cover 36 which is wound through the holes 37 of the blade 35. The holes 37 ensure that there is a good air flow about the infant from unit 9.

The seat unit 4 when configured as in Figure 1 to seat or recline the baby, or as in Figure 3 as a stroller, can be removed from the chassis 1 to use independently or there is interference with the unit 9 in this or in any other use in a manner that maintains the effectiveness and operational integrity of the infant's environment substantially free of ambient air pollutants.

Although the invention has been described in terms of protection against pollution caused by traffic, it can also be used to protect infants against pollen and other allergies of the atmosphere.

Claims (12)

R E I V I N D I C A C I O N S

1. - Equipment for achieving protection of infants against ambient air pollution, wherein a compartment for enclosing the infant comprises an elongated support base that is of a configuration to support the infant in an appropriate sitting position or any other position within the compartment and an awning that is all transparent or at least partially transparent in a substantial portion for extension over the infant on the support base to close the compartment except for at least one or more openings by means of which the compartment is freely ventilated to the ambient atmosphere and wherein the equipment also includes motor means carried by the support base to blow filtered ambient air into the compartment at a spaced location of said one or more openings to create positive pressure in the compartment relative to the ambient air pressure, This equipment is characterized because the motor medium is located at one end of the support base for blowing the filtered air into the compartment so that it flows towards the other longitudinal end of the infant on the support base and in that the opening (s) is located towards or at the other end of the support base.

2. Equipment according to claim 1, wherein the awning comprises a flexible transparent sheet held on arch supports that are pivotable for selective extension of the awning on the support base.

3. - Equipment according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the awning extends to completely cover the support base.

4. - Equipment according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the support base is of an elongated plate configuration and is suspended within an open frame element that carries the awning.

5. - Equipment according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the support base is mounted on a wheeled chassis.

6. - Equipment according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the means for blowing filtered air into the compartment comprise a filter and an electric fan energized with batteries to pass ambient air through the filter.

7. - Equipment according to claim 6, wherein the filter includes a dust filter to remove particles from the ambient air.

8. - Equipment according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the support base is mounted to have an inclined position to seat the infant and the means to blow the filtered ambient air inside the compartment is mounted on the upper end of the head of the support base to blow the filtered air so that it flows down from the support base into the compartment.

9. - Equipment according to claim 8, wherein the awning extends on the support base for hanging in the opposite direction and below the other lower end of the support base as a protective cover for the legs of the infant leaving the compartment open at that end.

10. - Equipment according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the support base includes a substantially rigid panel that is suspended on fabric sections defining walls of the support base.

11. - Equipment claim 10, wherein one of the fabric sections provides a seat for the infant with the panel as a backrest.

12. - Equipment claim 10 or 11, wherein a mesh element is inserted into the awning to ventilate air from the compartment. SUMMARY A transparent awning (7) covers an infant sitting inside a stroller to protect it from exposure to ambient air pollution and an energized filter unit (9) blows ambient air into the upper part of the compartment (8) between the awning (7) and the seat unit (4). The bottom of the compartment (8) opens when a lower protection portion (16) of the awning (7) hangs spaced from the legs of the seated infant. The entry of contaminated air through the opening is blocked by operating the energized filter unit (9) to create positive pressure inside the compartment (8) so that filtered air flows down the infant's face and body.; A mesh insert (20) in the awning (7) gives a balanced ventilation and prevents the accumulation of heat. The seat unit (4) comprises a back panel (25) suspended by cloth sections (26-28) within a frame (5). The panel (25) can be unhooked (29) to adapt the seat unit (4) for use as a stroller.