US20040226097A1

US20040226097A1 - Portable diaper changing station

Info

Publication number: US20040226097A1
Application number: US10/438,623
Authority: US
Inventors: William Wiese
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-05-15
Filing date: 2003-05-15
Publication date: 2004-11-18

Abstract

A portable diaper changing station for changing a child's diaper on a conventional countertop. The portable diaper changing station includes a planar member hingedly attached end-to-end to a second planar member with the hinge limiting the angle between said first planar member and said second planar member to ninety degrees; and also includes a restraining member being removeably attachable to the top side of one of the members for restraining a child thereon; and also includes a means for removably attaching the members to a conventional countertop.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field of the Invention

2. Description of Related Art

The use of portable baby changing station is known in the prior art. Specifically, portable baby changing stations have been previously devised and utilized consisting of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations. The portable baby changing stations in the prior art have been developed for of countless objectives and requirements, but none fulfill the specific function and purpose of the present invention.

Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. U.S. Pat. No. 3,489,194; U.S. Pat. No. 4,712,258; U.S. Pat. No. 4,886,150; U.S. Pat. No. 5,299,336 U.S. Pat. No. 6,272,704; U.S. Pat. No. 6,421,856; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 279,428.

While these stations fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose the portable diaper changing station of the present invention. The portable diaper changing station includes a planar member hingedly attached end-to-end to a second planar member with the hinge limiting the angle between said first planar member and said second planar member to ninety degrees; and also includes a restraining member being removeably attachable to the top side of one of the members for restraining a child thereon; and also includes a means for removably attaching the members to a conventional countertop.

In these respects, the portable diaper changing station according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of changing a child's diaper on a conventional countertop.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of portable baby changing station now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new portable diaper changing station assembly wherein the same can be utilized for changing a child's diaper on a conventional countertop.

The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new portable diaper changing station which has many of the advantages of the portable baby changing station mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new portable diaper changing station which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art portable baby changing station, either alone or in any combination thereof.

To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a planar member hingedly attached end-to-end to a second planar member with the hinge limiting the angle between said first planar member and said second planar member to ninety degrees; and also includes a restraining member being removeably attachable to the top side of one of the members for restraining a child thereon; and also includes a means for removably attaching the members to a conventional countertop.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new portable diaper changing station which has many of the advantages of the portable baby changing station mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new portable diaper changing station which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art portable baby changing station, either alone or in any combination thereof.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new portable diaper changing station which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new portable diaper changing station which is of a durable and reliable construction.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new portable diaper changing station which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such portable diaper changing station economically available to the buying public.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new portable diaper changing station which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new portable diaper changing station for changing a child's diaper on conventional countertop.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new portable diaper changing station that includes a planar member hingedly attached end-to-end to a second planar member with the hinge limiting the angle between said first planar member and said second planar member to ninety degrees; and also includes a restraining member being removeably attachable to the top side of one of the members for restraining a child thereon; and also includes a means for removably attaching the members to a conventional countertop.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new portable diaper changing station that is easy to carry and take along and gives the parent a station upon which to change the child's diaper.

Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new portable diaper changing station that is lightweight and can be taken anywhere.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosed invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show important sample embodiments of the invention and which are incorporated in the specification hereof by reference, wherein: [0025]
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. [0026]
FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. [0027]
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the present invention. [0028]
FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the present invention. [0029]
FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the present invention in a folded position. [0030]
FIG. 6 is a side view of one of the present invention in use.[0031]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The numerous innovative teachings of the present application will be described with particular reference to the presently preferred exemplary embodiments. However, it should be understood that these embodiments provide only a few examples of the many advantageous uses of the innovative teachings herein. In general, statements made in the specification of the present application do not necessarily delimit any of the various claimed inventions. Moreover, some statements may apply to some inventive features, but not to others. [0032]
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. A first [0033] planar member 104, 105, and 106 is attached by a hinge 102 to a second planar member 103 with the hinge 102 limiting the angle between the first planar member 104, 105, and 106 and the second planar member 103 to about 90 degrees. A clamp 101 is used to secure the first planar member 104, 105, and 106 to a horizontal flat surface. In the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, the first planar member 104, 105, and 106 is collapsible into three segments. Segments 104 and 105 are affixed together by a side bracket 107. Similarly, segments 105 and 106 are secured together by a side bracket 107. When the collapsible members 104, 105 and 106 are collapsed upon themselves, they are approximately the same size as the second planar member 103.
FIG. 2 is a rear elevation of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The first [0034] planar member 203, 204 and 205 are attached by a hinge 202 to a second planar member 206. In this embodiment, the hinge 202 is separated into three sections so as to facilitate placement of the clamp 201.
FIG. 3 is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention. Once again, a first collapsible [0035] planar member 305, 306 and 307 is attached by a hinge 302 to a second planar member 303. In this embodiment, the clamp 301 is removably attached to the first segment of the first planar member 305 by a pin 304. A restraining member can be attached to either the first planar member 305, 306 or 307 or the second planar member 303 in order to secure the infant. The restraining member may be, for example, a strap member and a hook and loop fastener whereby the hook and loop fastener can be easily secured around the infant. In addition, a handle may be attached to the second planar member 303 or a portion of the first planar member 305, 306, or 307 in order to carry the device when it has been collapsed.
FIG. 4 shows a front view of the, present invention in which the [0036] clamps 401 are removably attached to the first planar member 404 and 405 by a pin 403. The clamp 401 can be, for example, a pinched clamp or a compression clamp used to secure the changing station to the horizontal surface.
FIG. 5 shows a side view of the present invention in its folded state. Each of the three sections of the first [0037] planar member 503, 504 and 505 have been collapsed upon one another. The first planar member 503, 504 and 505 has then been folded towards the second planar member 502 by means of the hinge 501. To maintain the device in its folded state, a refastenable fastening device may be attached to a point on the first planar member 503, a point on the second planar member 502 so that when the first planar member 503 is folded onto the second planar member 502 the fastenable portions of the refastenable fastening device align.
FIG. 6 shows a side view of the present invention in use. [0038]
As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. [0039]
With, respect to the above description then, it is to be realized 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. [0040]
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. 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. [0041]

Claims

I claim:

1. A portable diaper changing station comprising:

a first planar member hingedly attached end-to-end to a second planar member with the hinge limiting the angle between said first planar member and said second planar member to about ninety degrees;

a restraining member being removeably attachable to the top side of one of said first planar member or said second planar member for restraining a child thereon; and

a means for removeably attaching said first planar member and said second planar member to a conventional countertop.

2. A portable diaper changing station as described in claim 1, wherein said restraining member includes a strap member and hook and loop fasteners securely attached to a top side of one of said planar members, said strap member being removeably attached to said hook and loop fasteners.

3. A portable diaper changing station as described in claim 1, wherein a handle member is securely attached to an end of one of said planar members for carrying said planar members in a folded position.

4. A portable diaper changing station as described in claim 1, wherein said planar members are foldable upon one another.

5. A portable diaper changing station as described in claim 1, wherein said means for removeably attaching said first planar member and said second planar member to a conventional countertop comprises a pinch clamp removeably attached to said first planar member.

6. A portable diaper changing station as described in claim 1, wherein first planar member consists of a collapsible element wherein when said first planar member is collapsed it is consistent in size with said second planar member.

7. A portable diaper changing station as described in claim 1, wherein said first planar member has a thickness of approximately ½ inches and has a width of approximately 12 inches and has a length of approximately 24 inches and said second planar member has a thickness of approximately ½ inches and has a width of approximately 4 inches and has a length of approximately 24 inches.

8. A portable diaper changing station as described in claim 1, wherein a refastenable fastening device is attached to a point on said first planar member and a point on said second planar member such that when said first planar member is folded on to said second planar member said point on said first planar member and said point on said second planar member align.