Abstract:
An infant simulator with a neck linkage connecting the head to the torso which includes at least (a) a longitudinally extending central shaft fixedly attached to the torso proximate the lower end of the central shaft, (b) a socket fixedly attached to the head, (c) a ball fixedly attached to the central shaft and pivotally captured within the socket for permitting pivoting of the socket relative to the central shaft as between a longitudinally aligned central rest position and a longitudinally angled position, and (d) preferably a spring coaxially positioned around the central shaft and captured between the socket and the upper end of the central shaft, whereby the spring biases the socket into the longitudinally aligned central rest position.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
   The invention relates to infant simulators used in educational programs for educating prospective parents about the realities of parenthood, assisting in the education and training of personnel entering the child-care profession, and assisting in the continuing education of persons working in the child-care profession. 
   BACKGROUND 
   Teen-age pregnancy is an ever increasing problem. Teen-age parents, surveyed as to why they elected to have a baby, gave such reasons as “babies are so cute,” “I wanted attention,” and “I needed someone to love and love me back.” Such idealistic feelings toward having a baby almost never include an understanding of the responsibilities imposed by a baby, including loss of sleep, loss of freedom, the need for constant attention, etc. Attempts to educate teen-agers about the trials and tribulations of caring for an infant and raising a child using the traditional educational methods of lecture and readings, are rarely successful. 
   Some resourceful educators, realizing that traditional educational methods are inadequate, have attempted to demonstrate the care requirements of an infant by requiring students to carry a sack of flour, an egg or a plant for several days. While somewhat exemplary of the care requirements of an infant, such programs do not fairly represent the care requirements of an actual infant and have proven to be of limited success. 
   Interactive infant simulator systems for use in educating students about the care requirements of an infant are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,443,388, 6,428,321, and 6,454,571. The infant simulators periodically generates a demand signal (e.g., a cry) throughout an assignment period on a schedule unknown to the student, with the student required to provide timely and appropriate care to the infant simulator (e.g., insert a key or change a diaper) in response to the cry. 
   It is well known and understood by those who have cared for an infant that it is absolutely necessary to continuously support the head of the infant whenever the infant is held. Infants are simply incapable of supporting their own head in an upright position for several months after birth. Failure to support the head when handling an infant can result in serious injury caused by flopping of the head. 
   A number of dolls have been designed with floppy necks, including the psychotherapy doll disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,762,494 issued to Woods and the training doll disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,575,351 issued to Gonzalez. However, neither of these dolls provide a realistic bending of the neck, (e.g., the neck of the doll disclosed in Gonzalez is simply pinched by a sew line to permit flopping of the head), nor do they include instrumentation to monitor and record undesirable flopping of the head. 
   Interactive infant simulator systems with a neck linkage allowing realistic rearward flopping of the head relative to the torso is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,941,757, 6,089,873, and 6,238,215. The disclosed infant simulators include a head floppily connected to a torso by a neck linkage which allows free rearward repositioning of the head relative to the torso as between an acceptable contented position and an unacceptable, harmful, rearwardly bent position. The infant simulator includes a head-position sensing unit for sensing the flopped position of the head relative to the torso as between the acceptable and unacceptable positions and at least one of (i) a data recording unit for recording a sensed positioning of the head in an unacceptable position for subsequent review, and (ii) a signal generating unit for generating a perceptible distress signal (e.g., a cry or scream) when the head is sensed in an unacceptable position. 
   While the infant simulator systems described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,941,757, 6,089,873, and 6,238,215 constitute a significant advance in infant simulators, a continuing need exists for improved infant simulators that realistically demonstrate the head support required by infants, and preferably include a system for monitoring, signaling and reporting flopping of the head as between acceptable and unacceptable positions so as to enhance the value of the infant simulator for use in educational programs for educating prospective parents about the realities of parenthood, assisting in the education and training of personnel entering the child-care profession, and assisting in the continuing education of persons working in the child-care profession. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The infant simulator of the present invention is a doll equipped with a realistically floppy neck. The infant simulator preferably includes a means for sensing and recording and/or reporting instances in which the head has not been properly supported during handling and thereby allowed to flop into an unacceptable position. 
   In a first aspect, the infant simulator comprises (i) a doll having at least a torso and a head connected to the torso by a neck linkage, wherein (A) the head defines a longitudinal primary axis, (B) the longitudinal primary axis defined by the head defines a longitudinal resting axis relative to the torso when the head is in a central rest position, and (C) the neck linkage allows gravitational tilting of the head in any direction from the longitudinal resting axis as between the rest position and a bent position, (ii) a means effective for sensing positioning of the head in the bent position, and (iii) one or both of (A) a data recording means in communication with the head-position sensing means effective for recording a sensed positioning of the head in the bent position as bent-neck occurrence data, and (B) a means in communication with the head-position sensing means for generating a perceptible distress signal when the head is sensed in the bent position. 
   A specific embodiment of the first aspect of the infant simulator comprises a neck linkage which includes at least (i) a longitudinally extending central shaft having an upper end and a lower end, defining a primary longitudinal axis, and fixedly attached to the torso proximate the lower end of the central shaft, (ii) a socket fixedly attached to the head, and (iii) a ball fixedly attached to the central shaft and pivotally captured within the socket for permitting pivoting of the socket relative to the central shaft as between a longitudinally aligned central rest position and a longitudinally angled position. 
   A specific embodiment of the means effective for sensing positioning of the head in the bent position useful with the first aspect of the infant simulator is a switch attached to the neck linkage which is electrically open when the socket is in the central rest position and electrically closed when the socket is in a longitudinally angled position. 
   In a second aspect, the infant simulator comprises a doll having at least a torso and a head connected to the torso by a neck linkage. The head is biased into a rest position relative to the torso by a biasing means and defines a longitudinal primary axis. The longitudinal primary axis defined by the head defines a longitudinal resting axis relative to the torso when the head is in the rest position. The neck linkage allows gravitational tilting of the head in any direction from the longitudinal resting axis as between the rest position and a bent position. 
   The second aspect of the infant simulator preferably further comprises (i) a means effective for sensing positioning of the head in the bent position, and one or both of (ii) a data recording means in communication with the head-position sensing means effective for recording a sensed positioning of the head in the bent position as bent-neck occurrence data, and (iii) a means in communication with the head-position sensing means for generating a perceptible distress signal when the head is sensed in the bent position. 
   A specific embodiment of the second aspect of the infant simulator comprises a neck linkage which includes at least (i) a longitudinally extending central shaft fixedly attached to the torso proximate the lower end of the central shaft, (ii) a socket fixedly attached to the head, (iii) a ball fixedly attached to the central shaft and pivotally captured within the socket for permitting pivoting of the socket relative to the central shaft as between a longitudinally aligned central rest position and a longitudinally angled position, and (iv) a spring coaxially positioned around the central shaft and captured between the socket and the upper end of the central shaft, whereby the spring biases the socket into the longitudinally aligned central rest position. 
   The specific embodiment of the second aspect of the infant simulator preferably further comprises (i) a switch attached to the neck linkage wherein the switch is electrically open when the socket is in the central rest position and electrically closed when the socket is in a longitudinally angled position, and one or both of (ii) a data recording means in electrical communication with the switch for recording an electrical closing of the switch as bent-neck occurrence data, and (iii) a sound generating means in electrical communication with the switch for generating a perceptible distress signal when the switch is electrically closed. 
   In a third aspect, the infant simulator comprises a doll having at least a torso and a head connected to the torso by a neck linkage. The head is biased into a forward-facing rest position atop the torso by a biasing means and defines a longitudinal primary axis. The neck linkage allows rotation of the head about the longitudinal primary axis in both (i) a clockwise direction from the forward-facing rest position towards a right-facing position, and (ii) a counterclockwise direction from the forward-facing rest position towards a left-facing position. 
   A specific embodiment of the third aspect of the infant simulator comprises a neck linkage wherein the head is biased into a forward-facing rest position atop the torso by a spring and first and second components, with one of the components fixedly attached to the torso and the other component fixedly attached to the head. The first component has a V-shaped surface defining a central nadir and a pair of ramped legs. The second component is biased by the spring against the V-shaped surface so as to bias the second component to rest within the nadir of the V-shaped surface when the head is in the forward-facing rest position. The second component is effective for traveling along a ramped leg of the V-shaped surface when the head is rotated about the longitudinal primary axis. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention with the head in the central rest position. 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic flowchart of one embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the neck linkage portion of the invention shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the neck linkage portion of the invention shown in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of the neck linkage portion of the invention shown in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged side view of the fitting component of the neck linkage portion of the invention shown in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of the fitting shown in  FIG. 6 . 
       FIGS. 8A and 8B  are schematic flowcharts of one embodiment of an abuse module of the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Definitions 
   As utilized herein, including the claims, the phrase “assignment period,” means the period of time during which the infant simulator is activated and the assigned person or team is given custody of the infant simulator (e.g., overnight, 48 hours, one week). 
   As utilized herein, including the claims, the term “doll” means a figure representative of a human being and including at least a portion representing a head and a portion representing a torso. The figure is preferably shaped as an infant and includes arms and legs. Other physical features can be represented as desired, including specifically, but not exclusively, hair, eyes, eye lashes, eyebrows, ears, nose, mouth, hands, fingers, fingernails, areolae, bellybutton, genitalia, feet, toes, toenails, skin pigmentation, and physical deformities. 
   As utilized herein, including the claims, the phrase “distress period,” when used in connection with the generation of a distress signal, means a time period of predetermined duration or bounded random duration beginning immediately or shortly after sensing of an unacceptable positioning of the head. 
   As utilized herein, including the claims, the term “infant” refers to a young human being ranging in age from a newborn, including a premature newborn, to an approximately one-year old child. 
   As utilized herein, including the claims, the phrase “longitudinal primary axis”, when used to reference an axis through the head of the infant simulator, refers to an axis extending through the center of gravity of the head and the center of the area bounded by the periphery line of attachment of the head to the torso. 
   As utilized herein, including the claims, the phrase “perceptible signal” means any and all means of communication capable of conveying notice or warning to a person, including specifically, but not exclusively audible signals (e.g., crying), olfactory signals (e.g., emission of odorous gas), tactile signals (e.g., wet diaper), visual signals (e.g., gesture), and multimedia signals (e.g., crying and tears). 
   As utilized herein, including the claims, the term “position,” includes both the singular and the plural form, such that sensing a “position” includes both sensing a specific singular position, sensing specific multiple positions or sensing a position within a defined range of positions. 
   Nomenclature 
   
       
       
         
             10  Infant Simulator or Doll 
             20  Head 
             20   x  Longitudinal Primary Axis defined by the Head 
             29  Neck Opening in Head 
             30  Torso 
             30   x  Longitudinal Resting Axis 
             39  Neck Opening in Torso 
             40  Central Microcontroller Unit 
             50  Switch 
             51  First Electrical Contact 
             52  Second Electrical Contact 
             100  Neck Linkage 
             110  Central Shaft 
             110   x  Longitudinal Primary Axis defined by Central Shaft 
             110   a  Upper End of Central Shaft 
             110   b  Lower End of Central Shaft 
             111  First Transverse Bore through the Central Shaft 
             112  Second Transverse Bore through the Central Shaft 
             113  Third Transverse Bore through the Central Shaft 
             114  Longitudinally Extending Transverse Slot through the Central Shaft 
             120  Ball 
             121  Transverse Bore through Ball 
             129  Central Passage through Ball 
             130  Socket 
             140  Upper Portion of Socket 
             141  Collar on Upper Portion of Socket 
             142  Upper Surface of Collar 
             143  V-Shaped Segments of Collar 
             143   a  First Longitudinally Sloped Leg of First V-Shaped Surface 
             143   b  Second Longitudinally Sloped Leg of First V-Shaped Surface 
             143   n  Central Nadir defined by First V-Shaped Surface 
             144  Rotational Stops at distal ends of Legs 
             149  Central Passage through Upper Portion of Socket 
             150  Lower Portion of Socket 
             151  Internal Peripheral Shoulder on Lower Portion of Socket 
             159  Central Passage through Lower Portion of Socket 
             160  Fitting 
             161  Transversely Extending Annular Flange in Fitting 
             162  Lower Surface of Transversely Extending Annular Flange 
             163  Transverse Bore through Fitting 
             134  Longitudinal Threaded Bores in Fitting 
             168  Rocker Plate 
             169  Central Passage through Fitting 
             170  Spring 
             180  Cap 
             182  Longitudinally Extending Upwardly Open Transverse Slot through the Cap 
             189  Central Passage through Cap 
             190  Mounting Element 
             191  Upwardly Open Concavity defined by Mounting Element 
             192  Transverse Bore through Mounting Element 
             199  Central Passage through Mounting Element 
             201  First Retention Pin 
             202  Second Retention Pin 
             203  Third Retention Pin 
             204  Fourth Retention Pin 
             205  Washer 
             206  Set Screws 
             250  Switch 
             251  First Contact Plate 
             252  Second Contact Plate 
             253  Spacer Plate 
             300  Head Position Module 
             310  Signal Generating Feature 
             320  Recording Feature 
             340  Escalating Signal Feature 
           S 1  Distress Signal 
                      Bypass Signal 
             400  Abuse Module 
           S 2  Abuse Signal
 
Construction
 
         
       
     
  
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , the infant simulator  10  comprises a doll  10  having a neck linkage  100  connecting a head  20  to a torso  30 . The head  20  defines a longitudinal primary axis  20   x . When the primary head  20  occupies a central rest position relative to the torso  30 , the longitudinal primary axis  20   x  defined by the head  20  defines a longitudinal resting axis  30   x  relative to the torso  30 . The head  20  is preferably biased into the rest position relative to the torso  30  by a biasing means (e.g., a spring  170 ). The neck linkage  100  allows gravitational tilting of the head  20  relative to the torso  30  in any transverse direction from the longitudinal resting axis  30   x  as between the rest position and a bent position when the head  20  is horizontally tilted greater than a defined amount from a vertical position of gravitational equilibrium (i.e., beyond a trip angle) unless properly supported by a care provider (not shown). The neck linkage  100  provides a realistically appearing neck as well as a realistic movement of the head  20  relative to the torso  30  in all transverse directions when the head  20  is tilted beyond the trip angle and is not properly supported. 
   The doll  10  preferably has the appearance of a young infant (e.g., approximately 40 to 80 cm in length and approximately 3 to 5 kg in weight). The doll  10  can be sculpted to depict the skin color and facial feature of various ethnic groups including specifically, but not exclusively, African American, Asian, Caucasian, Hispanic, and Native American. 
   A preferred neck linkage  100  is shown in  FIGS. 3–5 . The preferred neck linkage  100  includes a central shaft  110 , a ball  120 , a socket  130  including an upper portion  140  and a lower portion  150 , a fitting  160 , a spring  170 , a cap  180  and a mounting element  190 . 
   The central shaft  110  extends through a central passage  129  in the ball  120 . The ball  120  is fixedly attached to the central shaft  110  by a retention pin  201  which is frictionally engaged within transversely aligned bores  111  and  121  in the central shaft  110  and ball  120  respectively. 
   The upper portion  140  of the socket  130  is slidably engaged along the longitudinal length of the central shaft  110  between the upper end  110   a  of the central shaft  110  and the ball  120 . The central shaft  110  extends through a central passage  149  in the upper portion  140  of the socket  130 . The lower portion  150  of the socket  130  is slidably engaged along the longitudinal length of the central shaft  110  between the lower end  110   b  of the central shaft  110  and the ball  120 . The central shaft  110  extends through a central passage  159  in the lower portion  150  of the socket  130 . The ball  120  is captured between upper  140  and lower  150  portions of the socket  130  to form a ball-and-socket joint. 
   The area of actual contact between the lower portion  150  of the socket  130  and the central shaft  110  is longitudinally minimized (e.g., planar contact) so that the lower portion  150  of the socket  130  may rotatably reposition relative to the longitudinal primary axis  110   x  of the central shaft  110  as the head  20  tilts relative to the torso  30 . 
   A fitting  160 , spring  170 , and cap  180  are sequentially engaged along the longitudinal length of the central shaft  110  between the upper portion  140  of the socket  130  and the upper end  110   a  of the central shaft  110 . 
   The central shaft  110  extends through a central passage  169  in the fitting  160 . The fitting  160  has a transversely extending annular flange  161  defining a lower surface  162  which engages the upper portion  140  of the socket  130 . The fitting  160  is attached to the central shaft  110  by a retention pin  202  which is engaged within transversely aligned bores  163  in the fitting  160  and longitudinally extending transversely aligned slots  114  in the central shaft  110 . The longitudinally elongated nature of the slots  114  in the central shaft  110  permit limited longitudinal sliding of the fitting  160  along the longitudinal length of the central shaft  110 . The retention pin  202  may be secured into position within the transversely aligned bores  163  in the fitting  160  by means of set screws  206  threadably engaged within threaded longitudinal bores  164  in the fitting  160  which extend into and communicate with a corresponding transverse bore  163  in the fitting  160 . 
   A washer  205  may be positioned between the fitting  160  and the upper portion  140  of the socket  130  for providing a smooth and flat surface for contacting the lower surface  162  of the fitting  160 . 
   The central shaft  110  extends through a central passage  189  in the cap  180 . The spring  170  is coaxially positioned around the central shaft  110  and captured in a partially compressed state between the fitting  160  and the cap  180  whereby the spring  170  longitudinally biases the fitting  160  and the upper portion  140  of the socket  130  towards the lower portion  150  of the socket  130  so as to bias the upper portion  140  of the socket  130  into engagement with an internal peripheral shoulder  151  on the lower portion  150  of the socket  130  and thereby secure the ball  120  within the socket  130 . The cap  180  is secured to the central shaft  110  by a retention pin  203  which is engaged within longitudinally extending, upwardly open and transversely aligned slots  182  in the cap  180  and transversely aligned bores  113  in the central shaft  110 . The longitudinally elongated and upwardly open nature of the slots  182  in the cap  180  permit the spring  170  to be partially compressed between the fitting  160  and the cap  180  by sliding the cap  180  onto the central shaft  110 , pressing downward upon the cap  180  towards the fitting  160  so as to compress the spring  170 , inserting the retention pin  203  into the transversely aligned bores  113  in the central shaft  110 , longitudinally aligning the ends (unnumbered) of the inserted retention pin  203  with the slots  182  in the cap  180 , and then allowing the spring  170  to force the cap  180  upward along the length of the central shaft  110  until the retention pin  203  contacts the lower closed ends (unnumbered) of the slots  182  in the cap  180  or other structural component of the cap  180 . 
   The mounting element  190  is fixedly attached to the central shaft  110  between the lower portion  150  of the socket  130  and the lower end  110   b  of the central shaft  110  by a retention pin  204  which is frictionally engaged within transversely aligned bores  112  and  192  in the central shaft  110  and mounting element  190  respectively. The central shaft  110  extends through a central passage  199  in the mounting element  190 . The mounting element  190  has an upwardly open concavity  191  for nesting with the lower portion  150  of the socket  130  so as to allow rotary motion of the lower portion  150  of the socket  130  relative to the mounting element  190 . 
   A collar  141  extends upward from the upper surface (unnumbered) of the upper portion  140  of the socket  130  concentric with the central passage  149  through the upper portion  140  of the socket  130 . The upper surface  142  of the collar  141  defines diametrically opposed V-shaped segments  143 , each having a central nadir  143   n  and a pair of upwardly sloped circumferential legs  143   a  and  143   b  extending in a clockwise and counterclockwise direction from the central nadir  143   n  respectively. Upwardly extending stops  144  are provided at the distal end (unnumbered) of each leg  143   a  and  143   b.    
   The transverse ends (unnumbered) of the pin  202  extending through the fitting  160  rest upon the upper surface  142  of the collar  141 . The spring  170  biases the pin  202  towards the upper surface  142  of the collar  141  and thereby encourages the ends of the pin  202  to rest within the diametrically opposed central nadirs  143   n  of each V-shaped segment  143  of the collar  141 . 
   The head  20  of the infant simulator  10  is secured to the upper portion  140  of the socket  130 . The torso  30  of the infant simulator  10  is secured to the mounting element  190 . The upper portion  140  of the socket  130  may be secured to the head  20  and the mounting element  190  may be secured to the torso  30  by any suitable means, including adhesive bonding, thermal welding, friction fitting, a plurality of latches, a retaining ring, threading, snap fasteners, etc. 
   Since the head  20  and torso  30  are preferably constructed of a soft flexible material simulating the skin of an infant, the upper portion  140  of the socket  130  is positioned within and attached to the head  20  at a neck opening  29  in the head  20 , and the mounting element  190  is positioned within and attached to the torso  30  at a neck opening  39  in the torso  30  for providing the structural rigidity necessary to accommodate repetitive tilting of the head  20  relative to the torso  30 . 
   A sensor may cooperatively engage the neck linkage  100  for sensing positioning of the head  20  as between an acceptable rest position and an unacceptable bent position. Exemplary suitable sensors include specifically, but not exclusively, mechanical switches such as a toggle switch, magnetic sensors, optical sensors, etc. 
   The sensor can be positioned so as to be actuated and sense a bent-neck occurrence at any desired trip angle so long as the trip angle bears at least some resemblance to the angle at which injury is likely with an actual infant. The trip angle, below which the head  20  is sensed in an acceptable rest position and above which the head  20  is sensed in an unacceptable bent position, is preferably between about 10° and 45°, most preferably between about 15° and 25°. A trip angle of less than 10° can result in false reporting of a bent-neck occurrence as such angles can be reached during normal safe handling of an infant, while trip angles of greater than 45° can result in missed reporting of a bent-neck occurrence as less severe angles are often indicative of a lack of proper head support. 
   A particularly suitable sensor is a switch  50  comprised of a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact cooperatively engaging the neck linkage  100  for sensing positioning of the head  20  in an unacceptable bent position by opening/closing whenever the head  20  tilts more than a predetermined amount relative to the torso  30  (i.e., beyond a trip angle) in any transverse direction from the longitudinal resting axis  30   x . One such switch  50 , shown in  FIG. 4 , includes first 51 and second  52  semicircular electrical contacts coaxialy mounted around the central shaft  110  between the socket  130  and the mounting element  190 . The electrical contacts  51  and  52  are biased towards one another so that they provide a normally closed electrical circuit. The electrical contacts  51  and  52  are forced apart and the switch  50  opened by the central shaft  110  when the central shaft  110  is angled a predetermined distance by tilting of the head  20  into an unacceptable bent position which exceeds a predetermined amount relative to the torso  30  (i.e., beyond a trip angle) in any transverse direction from the longitudinal resting axis  30   x.    
   An alternative electrical switch  250 , shown in  FIG. 7 , is a normally open switch  250  comprised of a first disc-shaped electrical contact  251  and a flexible second disc-shaped electrical contact  252  coaxially positioned around the central shaft  110  and captured between the fitting  160  and the upper portion  140  of the socket  130 . A nonconductive disc-shaped spacer  253  is coaxially positioned around the central shaft  110  between the first 251 and second  252  electrical contacts so that the switch  250  is normally open. The nonconductive spacer  253  has a diameter which is substantially less than the diameter of the first 251 and second  252  electrical contacts. This allows the periphery of the flexible second contact  252  to be bent towards and contact the first electrical contact  251  and thereby close the switch  250  when the central shaft  110  is angled by tilting of the head  20  into an unacceptable bent position which exceeds a predetermined amount relative to the torso  30  (i.e., beyond a trip angle) in any transverse direction from the longitudinal resting axis  30   x.    
   When the switch  50  is opened, or the switch  250  is closed, an electrical signal is transmitted to a central microcontroller unit  40  of the sort detailed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,443,388 issued to Jurmain et al. The central microcontroller unit  40  is designed and programmed to (i) record receipt of the electrical signal as a bent-neck occurrence and/or (ii) producing a perceptible distress signal S 1  in response to receipt of the electrical signal. Other data can also be recorded and/or processed by the central microcontroller unit  40  as desired. 
   When a distress signal S 1  is generated in response to receipt of the electrical signal, the central microcontroller unit  40  may optionally continue the distress signal S 1 , (e.g., screaming) for a predetermined period of time (e.g., 10 seconds to 10 minutes), much as an infant would be expected to continue screaming and/or crying after experiencing such a traumatic event. 
   The head position sensor can also be configured to sense the duration of a bent-neck episode, (i.e., the length of time the head  20  remains in an unacceptable bent position) and transmit such duration data to the central microcontroller unit  40 . The duration data may be used to establish the intensity and/or duration of the perceptible distress signal S 1  generated during the bent-neck episode (e.g., a cry for the first two minutes followed by a piercing scream thereafter until the head  20  is returned to an acceptable position), and/or simply recorded for subsequent review by an educator or other administrator (e.g., duration of each bent-neck episode occurring within an assignment period or total duration of all bent-neck episodes occurring within an assignment period). 
   The neck linkage  100  may also optionally be equipped with a sensor (not shown) capable of measuring the force with which the head  20  is allowed to flop from an acceptable rest position to an unacceptable bent position and transmitting such force data to the central microcontroller unit  40 . The force data, as with the duration data, may be used to establish the intensity and/or duration of the perceptible distress signal S 1  generated in response to the bent-neck occurrence (e.g., a short cry for a bent-neck occurrence effected with minor force, a long loud cry for a bent-neck occurrence effected with modest force, and a scream followed by an extended period of crying for a bent-neck occurrence effected with significant force), and/or simply recorded for subsequent review by an educator or other administrator. 
   Such force data may also be used by the central microcontroller unit  40  to reduce the recording of false bent-neck occurrences (i.e., instances when the head  20  is properly supported but happens to reach the trip angle at a slow speed) by preventing the recording of a bent-neck occurrence, even though the head  20  reaches the trip angle and activates the switch  50 , unless the force exerted by the head  20  also exceeds a predetermined threshold indicative of mishandling or neglect. Similar control on the reporting of false bent-neck occurrences can be achieved by providing a spring  170  with sufficient biasing strength to maintain the head  20  in the rest position so long as the longitudinal primary axis  20   x  defined by the head  20  is tilted less than a defined amount from vertical (e.g., 45°). 
   A mechanical solution effective for reducing the recording of false bent-neck occurrences is shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the lower surface  162  of the fitting  160  is beveled at an angle which is slightly less than the trip angle. Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 7 , a rocker plate  168  having a beveled lower surface (unnumbered) may be provided between the lower surface  162  of the fitting  160  and the washer  205 . The fitting  160  tilts relative to the upper portion  140  of the socket  130  when the head  20  tilts relative to the torso  30 . Before the trip angle is reached, the beveled lower surface  162  of the fitting  160  or the beveled lower surface of the rocker plate  168  will rest flush upon the washer  205  intermediate the fitting  160  and the upper portion  140  of the socket  130  and thereby provide an intermediate rest position. Absent sufficient force to tilt the fitting  160  beyond the intermediate rest position by lifting the fitting  160  or rocket plate  168  onto the peripheral edge (unnumbered) of the fitting  160  or rocket plate  168 , the head  20  will not reach the trip angle. 
   The entire infant simulator  10 , including the neck linkage  100 , should be sufficiently sturdy to withstand rough handling by frustrated care providers. Hence, the materials of construction and the means for attaching the various components should be selected to ensure that the infant simulator  10  will survive such anticipated abuse. 
   The components of the neck linkage  100  may be formed from a number of suitable materials including metals, such as aluminum and steel, and plastics such as polyacrylates (PA), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene terpolymers (ABS), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). 
   In a first embodiment of the infant simulator  10 , a recording function within the central microcontroller unit  40  records sensed bent neck occurrence for later review by the program administrator. The specific information recorded and reported by the central microcontroller unit  40  can range from the relatively simple to the complex. For example, the central microcontroller unit  40  can be programmed to simply record and report the occurrence of at least one sensed bent neck occurrence during the assignment period. Alternatively, the central microcontroller unit  40  can record and report the number of sensed bent neck occurrences during an assignment period and the duration of each sensed bent neck episode. A nonexhaustive list of options for recording and reporting bent neck occurrence data is set forth in Table One, provided below. 
   
     
       
             
           
             
             
             
             
           
         
             
               TABLE ONE 
             
           
           
             
                 
             
             
               (OPTIONS FOR RECORDING AND REPORTING 
             
             
               BENT NECK OCCURRENCE DATA) 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
                 
               DATA 
               SAMPLE 
             
             
               OPTION 
               DESCRIPTION 
               RECORDED 
               REPORT 
             
             
                 
             
             
               1 
               Records and reports 
               YES/NO 
               Light ON/OFF 
             
             
                 
               occurrence of first bent neck 
             
             
                 
               occurrence only. 
             
             
               2 
               Records and reports number 
               Number 
               “3.” 
             
             
                 
               of separate bent neck 
             
             
                 
               occurrences. 
             
             
               3 
               Records and reports highest 
               Force Level 
               High 
             
             
                 
               relative force of a bent neck 
               (Low/High) 
             
             
                 
               occurrence sensed during 
             
             
                 
               an assignment period. 
             
             
               5 
               Records and reports the 
               # 
               1: Low 
             
             
                 
               number of bent neck 
               Force Level 
               2: Low 
             
             
                 
               occurrences sensed during 
               (Low/High) 
               3: High 
             
             
                 
               an assignment period and 
                 
               4: Low 
             
             
                 
               the relative force of which 
             
             
                 
               each bent neck occurrence. 
             
             
               6 
               Records and reports the 
               # Low 
               3 Low 
             
             
                 
               number of bent neck 
               # High 
               1 High 
             
             
                 
               occurrences of each force 
             
             
                 
               category (i.e., high and low) 
             
             
                 
               sensed during an assignment 
             
             
                 
               period. 
             
             
               7 
               Records and reports the 
               #/Seconds 
               1: 01 
             
             
                 
               number and duration of each 
                 
               2: 01 
             
             
                 
               bent neck occurrence during 
                 
               3: 08 
             
             
                 
               an assignment period. 
                 
               4: 02 
             
             
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   In a second embodiment of the infant simulator  10 , the central microcontroller unit  40  is connected to a system (not shown) capable of generating a perceptible distress signal S 1 , such as an audible cry or scream. The central microcontroller unit  40  is programmed to generate the perceptible distress signal S 1  when a bent neck occurrence is sensed. Generation of the perceptible distress signal S 1  warns the student caring for the infant simulator  10  that the head  20  of the infant simulator  10  has not been properly supported and is in a dangerous bent position. The distress signal S 1  can be terminated, optionally after an appropriate delay, and timing of the bent neck occurrence episode, by returning the head  20  to the rest position relative to the torso  30 , thereby reopening the switch  50  and terminating transmission of an electrical signal from the switch  50  to the central microcontroller unit  40 . 
   The central microcontroller unit  40  can be programmed to generate the perceptible distress signal S 1  only at the beginning of a bent neck episode (i.e., generate a three second signal as soon as a bent neck occurrence is sensed), continuously throughout a bent neck episode, or continuously throughout a bent neck episode and for an additional time period after the bent neck episode has ceased, for purposes of simulating injury to the infant simulator  10 . 
   A preferred embodiment of the infant simulator  10  combines both the recording/reporting and signaling systems. 
   The distress signal S 1  may be intensified based upon (i) an increase in the maximum sensed force of the bent neck occurrence (i.e., the acceleration at which the head  20  flopped into the bent position), and/or (ii) an increase in the duration of the bent neck occurrence episode. The escalation can be effected in a variety of ways. An example of each is set forth in Table Two, provided below. For example, an audible cry can be escalated from a soft cry to a loud cry or from a cry to a scream. Similarly, a light can be changed from white to red. 
   The distress signal S 1  can be escalated through any number of continuous or stepped levels as desired. A simple single stepped escalation—normal to increased—is relatively simple to implement and generally effective for providing the student with appropriate notice of a bent neck occurrence. 
   
     
       
             
           
             
             
             
           
         
             
               TABLE TWO 
             
           
           
             
                 
             
             
               (ESCALATING DISTRESS SIGNAL S 1 ) 
             
           
        
         
             
               STRENGTH OF 
                 
                 
             
             
               PERCEPTIBLE DISTRESS 
               BENT NECK 
             
             
               SIGNAL 
               DURATION 
             
             
               (AUDIBLE) 
               (SECONDS) 
               ACCELERATION 
             
             
                 
             
             
               1 st  Intensity (cry) 
               &lt;5 
               Low 
             
             
               2 nd  Intensity (scream) 
               &gt;5 
               High 
             
             
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   In a similar fashion, the central microcontroller unit  40  may be programmed to de-escalate the strength, intensity and/or severity of an escalated distress signal S 1  generated by the infant simulator  10  once the head  20  has been repositioned into the rest position for purposes of increasing the reality of the simulation (e.g., the infant simulator  10  immediately decreases an escalated perceptible distress signal S 1  from a shriek to a cry upon return of the head  20  to the rest position, and five minutes later terminates generation of the cry). 
   The infant simulator  10  with neck linkage  100  may also be programmed to detect and report abuse resulting from repeated striking or shaking of the infant simulator  10 . Rapid and repetitive bent neck occurrences occurring within a short time period (e.g., three bent neck occurrences within about two seconds) are usually the result of intentional abuse. Exemplary of such intentional abuses are striking and/or shaking an infant. While certain exceptions apply to this general statement, as exemplified by a care-provider falling down a flight of stairs while holding an infant, reporting of apparent intentional abuse would assist program administrators in providing meaningful feedback to the student and appropriate follow-up training and/or counseling. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B , the infant simulator  10  can detect and report intentional abuse resulting from shaking or repetitive striking of the infant simulator  10  through use of an abuse module  400  wherein the central microcontroller unit  40  is programmed to recognize rapid and repetitive bent neck occurrences as an intentional abuse event and generate an abuse signal S 2  and/or record an abuse event. 
   In one embodiment, a recording function within the central microcontroller unit  40  records the occurrence of an intentional abuse event whenever rapid and repetitive bent neck occurrences are detected for later review by the program administrator (not shown). The specific information recorded and reported by the central microcontroller unit  40  can range from the relatively simple to the complex. For example, the central microcontroller unit  20  can be programmed to simply record and report the occurrence of an intentional abuse event during the assignment period. Alternatively, the central microcontroller unit  40  can record and report the total number of sensed intentional abuse events during an assignment period and the duration of each sensed event. A nonexhaustive list of options for recording and reporting intentional abuse event data is set forth in Table Three, provided below. 
   
     
       
             
           
             
             
             
             
           
         
             
               TABLE THREE 
             
           
           
             
                 
             
             
               (OPTIONS FOR RECORDING AND REPORTING 
             
             
               INTENTIONAL ABUSE EVENT DATA) 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
                 
               DATA 
                 
             
             
               OPTION 
               DESCRIPTION 
               RECORDED 
               SAMPLE REPORT 
             
             
                 
             
             
               1 
               Records and reports 
               YES/NO 
               ABUSE: 
             
             
                 
               occurrence of 
                 
               Light ON/OFF 
             
             
                 
               first abuse event. 
             
             
               2 
               Records and reports 
               Number 
               ABUSE 2 
             
             
                 
               number of abuse events. 
             
             
               3 
               Records and reports the 
               #/Seconds 
               ABUSE 1: 02 
             
             
                 
               number and duration of 
                 
               ABUSE 2: 01 
             
             
                 
               abuse events during an 
                 
               ABUSE 3: 18 
             
             
                 
               assignment period. 
                 
               ABUSE 4: 03 
             
             
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   In another embodiment, the central microcontroller unit  40  is connected to a system (not shown) capable of generating a perceptible abuse signal S 2 , such as an audible cry or scream. The central microcontroller unit  40  is programmed to generate the perceptible abuse signal S 2  when intentional abuse is sensed. Generation of the perceptible abuse signal S 2  informs the student caring for the infant simulator  10  that the infant simulator  10  is being abused. The abuse signal S 2  can be terminated, optionally after an appropriate delay, and any timing of the abuse period ended, by returning the head  20  to an acceptable position and supporting the head  20  in that position, thereby opening the switch  50  and terminating transmission of an electrical signal through the switch  50  to the central microcontroller unit  40 . 
   The central microcontroller unit  40  can be programmed to generate the perceptible abuse signal S 2  only at the beginning of an abuse period (i.e., generate a three second signal as soon as shaking is sensed), continuously throughout an abuse period, or continuously throughout an abuse period and for an additional time period after abuse of the infant simulator  10  has ceased for purposes of simulating injury to the infant simulator  10 . 
   A preferred embodiment combines both the recording/reporting and signaling systems for the shaken infant module (not shown). 
   Referring to  FIGS. 8A and 8B , an exemplary abuse module  400  is entered whenever switch  50  is CLOSED as a result of a bent neck occurrence. Upon entering the abuse module  400 , a timer is started and the module  400  waits for a first defined period of time (e.g., about 0.2 to 5 seconds) for receipt of an electrical signal indicating that switch  50  is OPEN (hereinafter referenced as S OPEN ). If S OPEN  is not received within the first waiting period, the central microcontroller unit  40  exits the abuse module  400 . If S OPEN  is received within the first waiting period, the timer is reset and the module  400  waits for a second defined period of time (e.g., about 0.2 to 5 seconds) for receipt of an electrical signal that switch  50  is CLOSED (hereinafter referenced as S CLOSED ). If S CLOSED  is not received within the second waiting period, the central microcontroller unit  40  exits the abuse module  400 . If S CLOSED  is received within the second waiting period, an intentional abuse event has been detected (i.e., the head  20  has moved from an acceptable position to an unacceptable position (a first bent neck occurrence) back to an acceptable position and once again into an unacceptable position (a second bent neck occurrence) with the span of about 0.4 to 10 seconds). Upon detecting intentional abuse, an abuse signal S 2  is generated for a defined period of time representative of the time period an actual infant would likely scream and cry after being subjected to such abuse (e.g., 2 to 60 minutes). The timer is then reset, and the module  400  once again waits for a third period of time (e.g., about 0.2 to 3 seconds) for receipt of a S CLOSED  signal indicating that the head  20  has remained or is once again in an unacceptable position. If S CLOSED  is not received during the third waiting period, the central microcontroller unit  40  exits the abuse module  400 . If S CLOSED  is received during the third waiting period, the abuse signal S 2  is generated for another screaming period. The abuse module  400  continues to generate the abuse signal S 2  through sequential screaming periods until S CLOSED  is not detected during a third waiting period. 
   The abuse signal S 2  may be intensified, in accordance with the ancillary feature of providing an escalating demand signal, based upon the duration of the abuse period. 
   Use 
   Tilting 
   The head  20  is attached to the upper portion  140  of the socket  130 . The torso  30  is attached to the mounting element  190 . The mounting element  190  is fixedly attached to the central shaft  110  such that the torso  30  and central shaft  110  remain longitudinally aligned at all times. The socket  130  is rotatably attached to the central shaft  110  with the spring  170  biasing the socket  130  into a central rest position. Tilting of the head  20  relative to the torso  30  from the central rest position causes longitudinal rotation of the socket  130  about the ball  120 . Such longitudinal rotation of the socket  130  causes the upper portion  140  of the socket  130  to become transversely angled relative to the lower surface  162  of the fitting  160  and thereby pivot against the fitting  160  such that the upper portion  140  of the socket  130  contacts only a peripheral segment of the lower surface  162  of the fitting  160 . If the trip angle is reached, the normally open switch  50  is electrically closed so as to transmit a bent neck occurrence signal to the central microcontroller unit  40 . 
   Rotation 
   The head  20  is attached to the upper portion  140  of the socket  130 . The upper portion  140  of the socket  130  is biased into a “forward-facing” position by the spring  170  which biases the pin  202  towards the upper surface  142  of the collar  141  on the upper portion  140  of the socket  130  and thereby encourages the ends of the pin  202  to rest within the diametrically opposed central nadirs  143   n  of each V-shaped segment  143  of the collar  141 . Rotation of the head  20  about the longitudinal primary axis  110   x  of the central shaft  110  causes the pin  202  to ride up on the sloped legs,  143   a  or  143   b  dependant upon whether the rotation is clockwise or counterclockwise, thereby causing the fitting  160  to longitudinally slide upward along the central shaft  110  and further compress the spring  170 . Rotational stops  144  provided at the distal end of each leg  143   a  and  143   b  prevents over-rotation of the head  20  (i.e., limits rotation to between about 10° to 90° in either direction from the forward facing position. 
   Upon release of the force effecting rotation of the head  20 , the force of the spring  170  acting downward upon the fitting  160  causes the pin  202  to slide back down the sloped legs  143   a  or  143   b  and back into the rest position within the diametrically opposed central nadirs  143   n  of each V-shaped segment  143  of the collar  141 . 
   Sensing, Signaling and Reporting 
   The switch  50  detects the position of the head  20  as between the centrally biased acceptable position and the unacceptable bent position and signals the central microcontroller unit  40  when the head  20  is detected in the unacceptable bent position. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , the head position module  300  is bypassed so long as the head  20  is in an acceptable position relative to the torso  30 . However, when the head position module  300  receives a signal from the switch  50  that the head  20  is in an unacceptable bent position, the head position module  300  initiates generation of a perceptible distress signal S 1  by means of the signal generating feature  310  embedded within the module  300 , starts timing the length of time the perceptible distress signal S 1  is generated, and turns  OFF  the bypass signal            .
   If the perceptible distress signal S 1  is generated for longer than a predetermined time x (e.g., 2 minutes), the head position module  300  increases the intensity of the perceptible distress signal S 1  by means of the escalating signal feature  340  embedded within the module  300 . The perceptible distress signal S 1  is generated at the increased intensity thereafter until the head  20  is returned to the acceptable rest position. 
   Once the head  20  is returned to the acceptable rest position, generation of the perceptible distress signal S 1  is turned  OFF , the occurrence of a bent neck occurrence is counted, the duration of time during which the head  20  was in an unacceptable bent position (i.e., the length of time the perceptible distress signal S 1  was generated) recorded by the recording feature  320 , the timer is stopped and reset, the intensity of the perceptible distress signal S 1  is checked and returned to normal if intensified, the bypass signal             is turned back  ON , and the module  300  is exited.
   In order to allow the central microcontroller unit  40  to cycle through other modules even though the head  20  is improperly positioned for a prolonged period of time, the central microcontroller unit  40  can be programmed to terminate generation of the perceptible distress signal S 1  and exit the head position module  300  after a defined time period (e.g., 10–30 minutes) even though the head  20  remains improperly positioned (not shown in  FIG. 2 ). Timing of the duration of the bent neck episode can also be terminated, or continued until the head  20  is returned to an acceptable position. 
   The infant simulator  10  is used to train persons to properly support the head  20  of a young infant by simply assigning the infant simulator  10  to the person for an assignment period, typically 8 to 72 hours. 
   When the infant simulator  10  is constructed and programmed to generate a distress signal S 1  in response to the sensing of a bent-neck occurrence, the person is provided with immediate feedback as to their performance in supporting the head  20  of the infant simulator  10 . 
   When the infant simulator  10  is constructed and programmed to record bent-neck occurrence data and/or bent-neck-duration data, such data can be reviewed by an educator or other instructor at the end of the assignment period and discussed with the person to whom the infant simulator  10  had been assigned. 
   The specification is provided to aid in the complete nonlimiting understanding of the invention. Since many variations and embodiments of the invention may be created and devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the scope of the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.