US2495965A

US2495965A - Baby handling device

Info

Publication number: US2495965A
Application number: US779498A
Authority: US
Inventors: Clarence J Gustaveson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1947-10-13
Filing date: 1947-10-13
Publication date: 1950-01-31
Anticipated expiration: 1967-01-31

Description

319% c. J. GUSTAVESON f fifi fi BABY HANDLING DEVICE Filed Oct. 15, 1947 2 Sheets$heet 1 INVENTOR. l2 2| CLARENCE J, GUSTAVESON ATTORNEY Jame {M mm c. .J. GUSTAVESON BABY HANDLING DEVICE 2 SheetsSheet 2 Filed Oct. 15, 1947 INVENTOR.

8 CLARENCE J, GUSTAESON Patented Jan. 31, 195

ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to baby handling devices and is particularly adapted for the bathing of babies in bath tubs.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a tray upon which the baby can be placed while being bathed and dressed.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for raising and lowering the tray to different elevations so that the operator can either stand or sit while handling the baby.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tray that can be readily collapsed and made portable after the same has been used.

A still further object of the invention is to provide shelves and towel racks connected to the tray for supporting the toilet articles and towels.

And a further object of the invention is to provide brackets connected with the tray for holding rolls of paper towelling to be used in connection with the handling of the baby.

These and other incidental objects will be apparent in the drawings, specification and claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of my new and improved baby handling device mounted upon the upper rim of a bath tub.

Figure 2 illustrates the same in folded position.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 1 looking in the direction indicated.

Figure 4 illustrates a detail fragmentary view taken on line t4. of Figure 1 illustrating the locking means for supporting the tray.

Figure 5 is a large sectional detail view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4 of the locking mechanism.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the tray shown in Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a detail fragmentary view, parts removed for convenience of illustration and illustrating an auxiliary back rest in place.

In the drawings:

My new and improved baby handling device is comprised of a tray I, having a perforated bottom 2 and upwardly extending side walls 3 with end walls 4. A depression 5 is formed in the bottom 2 best illustrated in Figures 3 and 6. The object of this depression is to hold the baby centrally of the tray while being handled. The bottom of the tray has perforations I for draining the same and a sponge rubber mat may be placed over the bottom of the tray, but I have not shown this mat in place in the drawings.

Mounted to the end of the tray are brackets 8 for supporting a roll of paper 9. This paper may be spread over the bottom of the tray and torn from the roll after the same has been used.

The tray is supported by the pair of bars ill and H. These bars are pivotally connected together at [2. The upper ends of the bars I'll are pivotally mounted at l3 to the bracket 14 forming part of the tray I and having the lower ends fixedly secured to the crossbar 15 at 16. One of the ends of the cross bars 15 are bent up as indicated at I? (Figure 3) for engaging the side and top of the tub l8 while the opposite end of the bars are inserted within the bracket members I9 which are turned up at for engaging the top side of the tub. The bracket I9 is adjustable along the end of the cross bar IE to adapt the same to any width of bath tub, and this bar may be located permanently in place.

The upper ends 2| of the bars H are slidably mounted within the slots 22 of the bracket '23 forming part of the tray. A cross bar 24 connects the upper ends of the bars ll tieing them together. The lower ends of the 'bars II are fixedly secured to the cross bars [5 as above described. The cross bar 24 is held in the position shown by the locking dog 25. This dog has a multiple .of notches 26 formed thereon and is pivotally mounted to the bottom of the tray at 21. Beyond this pivot the dog extends forward at '28. .A spring forces the notches 26 against the bottom of the bar, thereby holding the cross bar 24 in any desired fixed position.

In the drawings the tray is illustrated as being held in the upper or standing position, the notch 26 engaging the cross bar 24 best illustrated in Figure 5, maintaining the supporting bars H] and II in their upper position. The broken line illustrates the position of the tray while the operator is working from a sitting position. It is held in this position by the notch 26A of the locking dog engaging the cross bar 24.

Figure 2 illustrates where the dog has been completely released from the cross bar 24! and the supporting bars l0 and l l have folded to folded position, the cross bar 24 has reached the end of the slot 22 which maintains the bars in their relative position. The ability to raise and lower the tray is one of the outstanding features of my invention and the locking mechanism employed must be positive and secure and easy for the operator to operate.

I have provided a supporting frame 3| for supporting the shelves 32, the upper end 33 of the frame provides a towel rack. The trays are used for holding the various toilet articles employed in the handling of the baby. The frame 3| is pivotally mounted to the tray at 3 1 and when in use in the position shown the extension 35 limits the travel rearwardly of the frame by contacting the bottom of the tray. The broken lines in Figure 3 indicate the position of the frame 3| while in folded position as shown in Figure 2.

Referring to Figure 7, I have illustrated a removable back rest 36 for the infant. This back rest consists of a simple sheet of material having fingers 31 passing through the perforations l and being supported by the right angle bends 38 on its sides. This provides a back rest simple of design and structure which can be removed from the tray.

I will now describe the operation of my new and improved baby handling device. The operator grasps the tray on either end compressing the lever 28 of the locking dog 25 permitting the cross bar 24 to travel along the slot 22 allowing the supporting bars 10 and ll, including the cross bars 15 to drop down to the position illustrated in Figure 1 on the top of the tub, then by releasing the lever 28 the dog will hold the cross bars 24 in the position shown together with the complete assembly.

The frame 31 is then raised from the broken line position to that shown in Figures 1 and 3 and the tray is ready for use, and when it comes time to fold the same by simply compressing the lever 28 and forcing the tray downwardly, the side supporting bars 18 and II fold to the position shown in Figure 2, the towel rack and trays then can be folded down against the top of the tray.

I do not wish to be limited to the exact mechanical structure as other mechanical equivalents may be substituted still coming within the scope of my claims.

What I claim is:

1. A baby handling equipment, including a tray in which the baby is to be placed during handling, a pair of supporting legs pivoted each side one end of the tray, a second pair of legs supported on a transverse rod extending through slots formed at the sides of the opposite end of the tray, the two pairs of legs extending downwardly at opposite angles and crossing each other and pivoted together, a latch pivotally mounted under one end of the tray to operate with the transverse rod, said latch having a series of notches in any one of which the transverse rod will engage, a spring between the free end of the latch and the underside of the tray to hold the latch in latching relation with the transverse rod, and a pair of bars to which the lower ends are pivoted, one end of each bar having an angular end to engage over the side of a tub, the opposite end of each bar having a telescopic connection with an angular extension to engage over the side of a tub.

2. A construction as defined in claim 1, wherein the tray has a perforated bottom and upwardly extending walls, one end wall being inclined outwardly from the bottom, and a back rest having ribs to engage the inclined end Wall of the tray, and prongs at the bottom to engage the perforations in the bottom of the tray.

3. A construction as defined in claim 1, wherein one side of the tray is provided with ears, and a frame hinged to the frame and having lugs extending inwardly beyond the edge of the tray to hold the frame in vertical position.

4. A baby handling equipment adapted to be opened up over a bath-tub and collapsible for storage or transportation comprising a tray, collapsible legs pivoted at opposite ends of the tray, rods pivotally mounted to the lower ends of the legs to support the equipment on a tub, a latch pivoted to the underside of the tray to lock the legs in adjusted position when the equipment is set up for use or when in collapsed condition, and a frame pivoted to one side of the tray with inturned lugs to engage the underside of the tray when the legs are in elevated position, said frame being collapsible over the tray when the equipment is in collapsible condition.

CLARENCE J. GUSTAVESON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 348,201 Goodnow Aug. 31, 1886 1,663,609 Peabody Mar. 27, 1928 1,766,085 Rumer June 24, 1930 1,808,376 Polacek et al June 2, 1931 1,833,178 Rice Nov. 24, 1931 2,299,136 Feldman Oct. 20, 1942 2,380,812 Webb July 31, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 250,617 Germany Sept. 12, 1912 458,603 Germany Apr. 12, 1928 562,933 Germany Oct. 31, 1932