WO2005016077A1

WO2005016077A1 - Supporting device for babies

Info

Publication number: WO2005016077A1
Application number: PCT/HU2004/000087
Authority: WO
Inventors: Krisztina MOLNÁR
Original assignee: Molnar Krisztina
Priority date: 2003-08-18
Filing date: 2004-08-18
Publication date: 2005-02-24
Also published as: HUP0302680A2; HU0302680D0

Abstract

The subject of this invention is an supporting device for babies with a structural base, short and long sides, and a reclining surface. The invention is characterised by a soft reclining surface (4) fashioned at an incline of 10-45 degrees as it proceeds from the lower short side (21) to the higher short side (22), protective side pieces (41) rising in continuation of the long sides (3) on either side of the reclining surface (4), a slip inhibitor (42) that prevents the infant from sliding downward disposed at the centre of the lower short side (21) of the reclining surface (4), and a cover of a natural, sterilisable material fitted over all or part of the surface of the support.

Description

SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR BABIES

The subject of this invention is an supporting device for babies, the material and properly angled form of which allow the infant to be lay upon it safely when the mother can no longer manage to hold it for burping after feeding it (breast-feeding or offering a bottle).

Although childbirth and breast-feeding are wonderful parts of a woman's life, the fatigue that follows c ldbirth, the physical pain that accompanies the initial production of milk by the breasts, and the increased weight of the infant in the months after birth all place significant physical burdens upon the mother. The infant support is a device designed to alleviate the physical loads experienced during this period.

Traditionally, when a fatigued mother cannot manage to support her infant after feeding, then she places the infant upon some suitable device for sitting or lying down, generally by placing a pillow underneath to help create the proper angle of incline for the air swallowed during sucking to leave the mfant' s stomach. This activity is known as burping, which mother's usually' accomplish by placing the newly fed baby over their shoulders and holding it there with their arms until the air has exited from its stomach. No other patent or utility patent specifications are lαiown to have been submitted on the given subject. The closest example of an invention that might be regarded as prior art is represented by patent specification P 8702287 HU, which describes a combined toy and bathing device for children. This solution is a toy and bathing device for use with children that terminates in at least three suction cups, includes a leg fitted to a circular frame, and fixed to the bathtub by means of the suction cups, protects the child from falling into the water. By unscrewing the legs ending in suction cups and reattaching them in a position perpendicular to the original, or by unscrewing and reattaching one such leg in this manner, the circular frame may function as a basketball-type game that may be mounted to a vertical surface. Though the primary function of the solution is also to support the infant in a particular situation, the construction of the device makes it unsuited to the objective met by my invention.

The objective of my invention is to create completely novel infant support made of plastic moulded into a special form, which includes a reclining surface sufficiently soft for the infant and that lies at an angle of incline, a downward-widening trapezoidal cross-section, protective side pieces, and infant slip inhibitor that hold the infant safely, in a static position, until, placed on it stomach the reclining surface, the surplus air exits from its stomach, and a replaceable 100% cotton cover that provides the infant with a clean, sterile enviromnent. Leading me to fulfil the above objectives was the realisation that if I constructed the upper reclining surface of a foam rubber support of appropriate size (on which an infant wrjeid fit comfortably), preferably rectangular top view, and downward-widening trapezoidal cross-section so that as it proceeds from the lower short side to the higher short side it forms an angle of 10-45 degrees, but preferably 30 degrees, and if I construct side pieces on either side of the reclining surface and a slip inhibitor that prevents the infant from sliding down the surface disposed at the lower short side, then by placing an infant on its stomach over the inclined surf ace, the problem of after-meal burping may be solved comfortably and safely without the mother's having to place the infant over her shoulder. I also realised that if the foam rubber support constructed in this way were fitted with a cover made of a natural material that may be sterilised, then I could provide the infant with a reclining surface that is always clean and gives a pleasant feeling.

Thus, the subject of this invention is an supporting device for babies composed of a structural base, short and long sides, and a reclining surface, such that the soft reclining surface is inclined at a 10-45 degree angle as it proceeds from the lower short side to the higher short side, protective side pieces rise in continuation of the long sides on either side of the reclining surface, a slip inhibitor that prevents the infant from sliding downward is disposed at the centre of the lower short side of the reclining surface, and the entire support is fitted with a cover of a natural material that may also be sterilised. In one embodiment of the supporting device for babies according to this invention, the base widens outward at the bottom from the front, back, and side views in order to give it stability and prevent it from tipping over.

In a tliird embodiment of the supporting device for babies according to this invention, the full or partial units of the support are made of foam rubber.

In a fourth embodiment of the supporting device for babies according to this invention, the support is fitted with a 100% cotton cover, one end of which is affixed to the support in removable fashion (such as with a zipper, button, or Velcro), so that it may be changed.

In the following section, the model is described in greater detail by means of drawings, according to the following:

Figure 1 : top-view of the supporting device for babies according to this invention, Figure 2 : front- iew of the supporting device for babies according to this invention, Figure 3: side-view of the supporting device for babies according to this invention, Figure 4: overall view of the supporting device for babies according to this invention.

As can be seen from Figure 1, the present construction of the supporting device for babies according to this invention consists of a rectangular base 1 of a size that allows the infant to be laid on it comfortably. The reclining surface 4 is disposed lengthwise in the centre and inclines upward from the lower short side 21 at an angle of approximately 35 degrees, so that the infant is held in a position roughly equivalent to that it would experience in the arms of its mother. The infant is prevented from sliding sideways by protective side pieces 41 disposed along the long sides 3 of the base, and is prevented from slipping downward on the incline by a slip inhibitor 42 disposed at the lower short side 21 of the surface.

Figure 2 shows a front view of the supporting device for babies. The drawing clearly shows the trapezoidal cross section of the base 1 that grows wider as it proceeds downward, a feature that is required to provide the support with as much stability as possible. The drawing also shows the slip inhibitor 42 disposed at the lower short side 21 of the base, which rises between the infant's legs when it is placed on the reclining surface 4 and which prevents the infant from sliding downward. Also visible on the drawing are the side pieces 41 fashioned along either of the long sides 3, which prevent the infant from turning on its side.

The side view of the supporting device for babies provided in Figure 3 clearly shows the high short side 22 of the support and the inclined fonn of the reclining surface 4 marked by a dashed line, upon which the infant is laid so that its head looks toward the higher end. Also clearly visible are the protective side pieces 41 rising in continuation of the long sides 3 at the edge of the reclining surface 4, and the form of the slip inhibitor 42 disposed at the lower short side 21, which is perfectly suited to preventing the infant from sliding down the incline.

The perspective drawing of the supporting device for babies shown in Figure 4 clearly displays the lower short side 21, one long side 3, the inclined reclining surface 4, the protective side piece 41, and the slip inhibitor 42.

The advantage of the supporting device for babies according to this invention is that the mother does not have to hold the infant in her arms when burping after a feeding, when she is otherwise highly fatigued. The device is safe and does not allow the infant to slide either sideways or downwards along the reclining surface.

The support holds the babie in a static position for as long as the burping process requires, thus removing a significant physical burden from the mother. The foam rubber support and the 100% cotton cover are always clean and impart a pleasant, soft feeling for the infant. The device is both easy to use and portable, and may even be used when entertaining the baby. It is a practical child care device for use in nurseries. The device should preferably be used once the umbilical cord has fallen off. KEY TO DRAWING

base lower short side higher short side long side reclining surface protective side piece slip inhibitor cover

Claims

1.) An supporting device for babies with a structural base, short and long sides, and a reclining surface, whereby the soft reclining surface (4) is fashioned at an incline of 10-45 degrees as it proceeds from the lower short side (21) to the higher short side (22), protective side pieces (41) rise in continuation of the long sides (3) on either side of the reclining surface (4), a slip inhibitor (42) that prevents the infant from sliding downward is disposed at the centre of the lower short side (21) of the reclining surface (4), and all or part of the surface of the support is fitted with a cover of a natural, sterilisable material.

2.) The supporting device for babies according to claim 1, whereby the support is trapezoidal in fonn, growing wider as it proceeds toward the base (1).

3.) The supporting device for babies according to claim 1 or claim 2, whereby the full or partial units of the support are made of foam rubber.

4_f) The supporting device for babies according to any of claims 1 through 3, whereby the support is fitted with a cover (5) of 100% cotton, one end of which is secured to the support in removable fashion, so that it may be changed.