Abstract:
Disclosed is a diaper changing apparatus which is adaptable for use on a variety of surfaces. Non limiting examples of suitable surfaces include a mat, bed, changing table, etc. The diaper changing apparatus comfortably elevates and restricts a baby&#39;s arm motions. In addition a lateral restraining member is provided to restrain the baby&#39;s waist area. In one embodiment the diaper changing apparatus includes a width adaptable mechanism to accommodate babies of varying sizes. The width adaptable mechanism comprises of a pair of base members with a removable means for fastening. The lateral width between the two base members can be modified to accommodate babies of varying sizes. In an alternative embodiment the diaper changing apparatus has a fixed lateral width and is constructed from one piece. In a further embodiment the diaper changing apparatus comprises at least two base members and one lateral restraining member.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Changing diapers of a baby or “changing a baby” and other small children not yet toilet trained can be an incredibly frustrating task. Infants typically do not remain still during a diaper change presenting the parent, sibling, or other person the challenge of removing the diaper while simultaneously restraining the infant. Another challenge is that babies have a tendency to reach for the pelvic region upon diaper removal, creating an unpleasant and unsanitary environment. In addition, while changing the diaper, the individual may also want to apply medication, such as diaper rash lotion or medication. Thus it is desirable to limit the baby&#39;s arm motions. Most individuals do not have the dexterity to restrain the body and control the arm motions of a baby while simultaneously changing the diapers. 
         [0002]    Accordingly there is a need for an apparatus which is adapted to elevate and position a baby&#39;s arms above the body and away from the pelvic area. Such an apparatus would also ideally help restrain the baby&#39;s body as well. An apparatus which restrains the baby&#39;s unwanted motions while keeping the baby comfortable, occupied and amused is highly desirable. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]    The present invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. Additionally, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the drawings in which the reference number first appears. 
           [0004]      FIG. 1   a  is a perspective view of a diaper changing apparatus in an unassembled form. 
           [0005]      FIG. 1   b  is a perspective view from the bottom of a diaper changing apparatus in an unassembled form. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1   c  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a diaper changing apparatus in an unassembled form. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a diaper changing apparatus in use with a diaper changing table. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a diaper changing apparatus assembled. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4   a  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a diaper changing apparatus. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4   b  is a perspective view from the bottom of an alternative embodiment of a diaper changing apparatus. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4   c  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a diaper changing apparatus. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5   a  is a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a diaper changing apparatus. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5   b  is a rear perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a diaper changing apparatus. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5   c  is a rear perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a diaper changing apparatus used in conjunction with a changing table. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a top view of a diaper changing apparatus in use with a baby. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a top view of an alternative embodiment of a diaper changing apparatus in use with a baby. 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a top view of an alternative embodiment of a diaper changing apparatus showing the use of an elbow shelf. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    Disclosed is a diaper changing apparatus which is adaptable for use on a variety of surfaces. Non limiting examples of suitable surfaces include a mat, bed, changing table, etc. The diaper changing apparatus comfortably elevates and restricts a baby&#39;s arm motions helping keep the diaper changing process sanitary and efficient. In one embodiment the diaper changing apparatus includes a width adaptable mechanism to accommodate babies of varying sizes. The width adaptable mechanism comprises of a pair of base members with a removable means for fastening. The lateral width between the two base members can be modified to accommodate babies of varying sizes. In an alternative embodiment the diaper changing apparatus has a fixed lateral width. 
         [0019]    In a further embodiment the diaper changing apparatus comprises at least two base members and one lateral restraining member. The base members are adapted to provide a support base for the restraining member and also to elevate and direct an infant&#39;s arms away from the baby&#39;s pelvic region. The base members also provide structural support for the restraining member in the vertical direction, with the restraining member resting horizontally across the base members in the lateral direction. The restraining member is adapted to fit snugly over the baby&#39;s abdomen area. Thus, the diaper changing apparatus limits the baby&#39;s movements in at least two ways by restraining the baby&#39;s abdomen area and the baby&#39;s arms. In one aspect the restraining member is attached to the base members with a removable fastening means such as Velcro or other suitable method. In operation, the restraining member is adapted to fit snugly, with moderate tension, over the baby&#39;s abdomen/waist area. The baby restraining system is adapted to fit snugly around the infant while providing a high level of comfort not found in the prior art. The diaper changing apparatus is generally constructed of a foam material and can be sheathed in a variety of materials including, but not limited to, cotton, polyester, leather, vinyl or other suitable material. Preferably the material is machine washable. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    To aid in the description of the invention references are made herein to “front portion,” “back portion,” and “side portion.” Front portion refers to the portion that faces the baby and is adjacent to the baby&#39;s arms. The baby&#39;s arms will generally rest on the front portion. The back portion generally refers to the portion that is directionally posterior or opposite of the front portion. The side portion generally refers to the area that is lateral to the sides of the front portion. However, it is to be understood that these portions are not sharply delineated. 
         [0021]    In one embodiment, as depicted in  FIG. 1   c , the diaper changing apparatus  100  generally comprises a pair of base member  102  and a lateral restraining member  120 . Preferably the base member  102  is about 5-9 inches long, 3-6 inches wide and 3-7 inches high. Base member  102  is generally comprised of two sections. The first section is a wedge shaped portion which comprises the front portion of base member  102  and includes the arm rest portion  106 . This first section generally has a thinner portion which transitions to a thicker portion. The second portion of base member  102  comprises the support structure of base member  102  and is located in the back portion of base member  102 . This second section is generally blocked shaped. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIGS. 1   b  and  1   c , base member  102  further comprises of arm rest portion  106 , a top portion  110 , bottom portion  140 , exterior wall  104 , rear portion  142 , interior wall  108  and a fastening portion  112 . Rising from bottom portion  140  in the longitudinal direction, arm rest portion  106  shares a common edge with top portion  110 . Downwards in the longitudinal direction, arm rest portion  106  also has a common edge with bottom portion  140 . Going in the lateral direction, armrest portion  106  shares a common edge with exterior wall  104  on one side and interior wall  108  on the other side, respectively. Rear wall  142 , rising in the lateral direction, has a common edge with top portion  110  in the rear portion. Sinking in the lateral direction, rear wall  142  shares a common edge with bottom portion  140 . In the lateral direction, rear wall  142  shares a common edge with exterior wall  104  on one side and interior wall  108  on the other side, respectively. Arm rest portion  106  is located at the front portion of device  100  and has an oblique angle to comfortably accommodate a baby&#39;s arms. In one aspect, arm rest portion  106  has an angle of α. The angle of α is 45 degrees in one embodiment. In another embodiment α is an angle selected between 35 degrees to 75 degrees. 
         [0023]    Base member  102  further comprises of base fastener  112  which is affixed to top portion  110 . Base fastener  112  removably attaches to restraining member fasteners  136  via a fastening means, such as a Velcro fastener (hook and pile) or another suitable mechanism. Fasteners  112  and fasteners  136  are of a predetermined width and length. In one embodiment base fastener  112  can attach to restraining member fastener  136  at different lateral widths, which allows the lateral width between the pair of base member  102  to be adjusted as shown by the directional arrows in  FIG. 2 . This adjustability allows the diaper changing apparatus  100  to accommodate babies of varying sizes and to ensure a snug comfortable fit. 
         [0024]    Base member  102  can optionally include an elbow shelf  150  as depicted in  FIG. 1   a . Elbow shelf  150  is carved out of the front portion of base member  102  through a series of lateral and longitudinal cuts. A person of ordinary skill in the art could readily determine the appropriate lateral and longitudinal cuts necessary to form the elbow shelf  150 . Elbow shelf  150  comprises of sidewall  114 , resting portion  116  and rear wall  118 . Sidewall portion  114  is triangle shaped with sides x, y, and z. Side x has a common edge with arm rest portion  106 . Side y has a common edge with resting portion  116 . Side z has a common edge with rear wall  118 . Resting portion  116  is shaped like a rectangle with one side having a common edge with side y of sidewall portion  114 . The back portion of resting portion  116  shares a common edge with rear wall  104 . In the lateral direction going away from the arm rest portion  106 , resting portion  116  shares a common edge with exterior wall  104 . Rear wall  118  has a common edge with top portion  110  and exterior wall  104 . Elbow shelf  150  is wedge shaped with a thinner first portion which transitions into a thicker second portion. The transition occurs at an angle γ. In one embodiment angle γ is selected from 15 degrees to 45 degrees. In a further embodiment angle γ is 25 degrees. 
         [0025]    In an exemplary embodiment, restraining member  120  is wedge shaped with a triangular cross section. Preferably restraining member  120  is about 13-17 inches wide in the lateral direction, about 3-5 inches high and about 3-5 inches deep. Restraining member  120  comprises of two oblique portion  122  capped or terminated in the lateral ends by two triangle shaped end portions  124 . The two oblique portions  122  meet to form an apex edge at the top end. Bottom portion  126  has a common edge with the two triangle shaped end portions  124  and the two oblique portion  122 . One of the oblique portion  122  is located at the front portion of the device  100 . The length of restraining member  120  is selected based on the width of an average sized baby. In one embodiment, the length of restraining member  120  is about 14 inches across. Bottom portion  134  further comprises at least two restraining member fasteners  136 . Restraining member fasteners  136 , in one embodiment, are located at the ends of restraining member  102 . Fasteners  136  can removably attach to fasteners  112  at different lateral positions. Thus the pair of base member  102  can be adjusted laterally, thereby adjusting the width of apparatus  100 , to accommodate different size babies. 
         [0026]    In still a further embodiment restraining member  120  further comprises of side straps  126 . Side straps  126  are located on the lateral ends of restraining member  102  and laterally attach restraining member  120  to, for example, a mat to add extra member. Side straps  126  terminate in a quick release buckle  128 ,  130 . Side straps  126  can also include an adjustable loop so that the length can be adjusted to accommodate different size mats or surfaces. Such straps are available from a wide variety of manufactures and are commonly seen on luggage items. A person of ordinary skill in the art can readily substitute other suitable type of fasteners in place of the loop and buckle straps. In another aspect, restraining member  120  further comprises a rear fastener  108  which attaches to, for example, a changing table to add extra support. Fastener  108 , in one embodiment, is a hook and pile type fastener. A person of ordinary skill in the art can readily substitute other suitable type of fasteners in place of a hook and pile type fastener.  FIG. 2  depicts how straps  126  and buckle  128 ,  130  operate in conjunction with a changing table  202 . In an additional aspect, bottom portion  134  has a sleeve  138  which allows straps  126  to be secured to bottom portion  134 . 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , restraining member  120  is attached to base member  102  via a Velcro fastener between base fasteners  112  and restraining member fasteners  136  (not shown). In one aspect, the removable nature of the fasteners  112 ,  136  allows a user to adjust base members  102  closer together in the lateral direction to accommodate a smaller baby as indicated by the directional arrows of  FIG. 3 . 
         [0028]    In operation, when restraining member  120  is attached to base members  102 , a flush member surface  302  is formed between oblique portion  122  of restraining member  120  and the arm rest portion  106  of base member  102 . In one embodiment a baby&#39;s arms rest in a comfortable position on flush member surface  302 . The angle of flush member surface  302  is determined by the angle of arm rest portion  106  and oblique portion  122 . When the arms of a baby are placed on flush member surface  302 , the baby&#39;s arms are elevated yet remain comfortable. 
         [0029]    In still a further embodiment, diaper changing apparatus  400  is constructed from one piece as depicted in  FIGS. 4   b  and  4   c . Preferably diaper changing apparatus  400  is about 11-16 inches wide in the lateral direction, about 4-8 inches deep and about 4-8 inches high. The diaper changing apparatus  400  is generally wedge shaped with a thinner front portion transitioning to a thicker back portion. An arch shaped opening  408  is centered on the lateral axis. The arch shaped opening is flanked by a pair of armrest  402 . In further detail, diaper changing apparatus comprises of interior sidewall  410  which is formed when an arch shaped opening is carved out from the wedge. Rising from bottom portion  422 , arm rest portion  402  rises at an angle β and terminates at an upper edge with top portion  434 . Laterally armrest portion  402  has a common edge with a pair of exterior wall  404  on either side. Exterior wall  404 , rear wall  420 , and bottom portion  422  add structural rigidity to the diaper changing apparatus  400 . In one embodiment, angle β is about 45 degrees. In another embodiment, angle β is selected between 25 degrees to 75 degrees. In another aspect, fastening strips  424  are affixed to bottom portion  422 . Fastening strips  424  can be used to provide extra gripping power for use with a mat as depicted in  FIG. 4   b . Diaper changing apparatus  400  is used in conjunction with a mat  430 . In operation a baby is placed on mat  430 . A user secures apparatus  400  to mat  430  via fasteners  424  and  432 . Fasteners  424  and  432 , in one embodiment are made from Velcro. In an alternative embodiment apparatus  400  rests upon a mat, bed, carriage etc., without any fasteners. 
         [0030]    Diaper changing apparatus  400 , in a further embodiment, comprises of an elbow shelf carved out from armrest  402  as depicted in  FIG. 4   a . Elbow shelf  418  is similar to elbow shelf  150  of  FIG. 1   a . Elbow shelf  418  is carved out from the edges of armrest portion  402  through a series of lateral and longitudinal cuts. Based on  FIG. 4   a , a person of ordinary skill in the art could readily determine the appropriate lateral and longitudinal cuts necessary to form elbow shelf  418 . Elbow shelf  418  comprises of sidewall portion  416 , resting portion  412  and rear wall  414 . Sidewall portion  416  is triangle shaped with sides x, y, and z. Side x has a common edge with arm rest portion  402 . Side y has a common edge with resting portion  412 . Side z has a common edge with rear wall  414 . Resting portion  412  is shaped like a rectangle with one side having a common edge with side y of sidewall portion  416 . The back portion of resting portion  412  shares a common edge with rear wall  414 . In the lateral direction going away from the arm rest portion  402 , resting portion  412  shares a common edge with exterior wall  404 . The upper edge of rear wall  414  has a common edge with armrest portion  402 . The side edge of rear wall  414  has a common edge with exterior wall  404 . Elbow shelf  418  is wedge shaped with a thinner first portion which transitions into a thicker second portion. The transition occurs at an angle γ. In one embodiment angle γ is selected from 15 degrees to 45 degrees. In a further embodiment angle γ is 25 degrees. 
         [0031]      FIGS. 5   a ,  5   b , and  5   c  depicts a further embodiment. Diaper changing apparatus  500  is similar to diaper changing apparatus  400  except that the bottom portion, exterior wall and rear portion have been trimmed. Preferably diaper changing apparatus  500  is about 11-16 inches wide in the lateral direction, about 4-8 inches deep and about 4-8 inches high. This allows diaper changing apparatus  500  to work with the widely available diaper changing table  520  which contains a restraining strap  518  as depicted in  FIG. 5   c . Diaper changing apparatus, in one embodiment, has an arch opening  506  with two flanking arm rest portion  504 . The two armrest portion  504  has an angle d which, in one embodiment, is selected from 25 degrees to 75 degrees. In one aspect, angle d is 45 degrees. 
         [0032]    The pair of arm rest portion  504  are part of a pair of pillar structure  522  supporting the arch opening  506  on either side of the arch. The pillar structure  522  comprise of a base member  502 , exterior side wall  510 , rear wall  508 , and interior wall  512 . Pillar  522  is supported below by base member  502 . An interior sidewall  512  is formed when arch opening  506  is carved out from the wedge. Referring to  FIG. 5   b , exterior sidewall  510  rises from base member  502  and shares a common edge with arm rest portion  504  in the front portion and with rear wall  508  in the back portion. Rising from base member  502 , rear wall  508  shares a common edge with interior sidewall  512 . A pillar angle e occurs at the intersection of base member  502 , exterior wall  510  and rear wall  508 . In one embodiment pillar angle e is an oblique angle selected from 95 degrees to 135 degrees. In a further embodiment, pillar angle e is 115 degrees. In one aspect, a plurality of fastening means  516  are located on back portion  514  and rear wall  508 , to secure diaper changing apparatus  500  to restraining strap  518  located on table  520  as depicted in  FIG. 5   c . Fastening means  516 , in one embodiment, are of the Velcro variety. 
       Example 1 
       [0033]    In operation an individual would assemble the diaper changing apparatus  100  as shown in  FIG. 2 . Referring to  FIG. 6 , with the baby  602  positioned horizontally, the individual places the diaper changing apparatus  100  snugly around the baby, appropriately adjusting the base members  102  laterally to ensure a snug fit. The restraining member  120  fits snugly with some tension atop the baby&#39;s abdomen or waist area. The pair of base member  102  fit snugly on either side of the baby as depicted in  FIG. 6 , with interior portion  108  resting adjacent to sides of baby  602 . The baby&#39;s arms rest comfortably on flush support surface  302 . In one aspect side fasteners  126  are attached to the diaper changing surface on the left and right sides, as depicted in  FIG. 6 . The individual proceeds to change the baby&#39;s diapers. Alternatively diaper changing apparatus  500  is used in a similar manner. In another embodiment, device  100  is used with a widely available diaper changing table  502  as depicted in  FIG. 5 . Side fasteners  106  are used to attach device  100  to table  502 . 
       Example 2 
       [0034]    As depicted in  FIG. 8 , diaper changing apparatus  400  is used in a similar manner as in Example 1 to assist a user in changing a diaper. In this embodiment, the elbow shelf  418  is used to elevate and limit the baby&#39;s arms  604  motion. In a similar manner, elbow shelf  150  of apparatus  100  can be used to elevate and limit the motion of a baby&#39;s arms. 
       CONCLUSION 
       [0035]    While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by the way of example only, and not limitation. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments