Abstract:
An improved infant changing board utilizes a shaped support board enclosed in a washable cover and a safety strap in order to provide a relatively rigid surface upon which a caregiver can place an infant in order to change his or her diaper. The infant changing board is shaped so as to fit within most infant carriers and can transition from an upright position to an infant changing configuration. In the upright configuration, the apparatus is stored mainly behind the back of the infant, between him or her and the back support of the infant carrier. In the infant changing configuration, the apparatus is pulled forward and out to rest in an approximately horizontal position, yet securely braced within the carrier. In this configuration, the caregiver can place the infant on the changing board and have easy access to the diaper and the infant&#39;s groin area for changing.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to the field of infant care, and more particularly to a universal, improved infant changing board that can be used with most infant carriers. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The field of infant carriers for motor vehicles has changed dramatically over the years. Relatively recently, there has been a large push towards carriers that secure the infant via shoulder belts in addition to a lap belt/leg belts and groin belt. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]      FIG. 1  illustrates a side elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of an infant changing board in an infant changing configuration; 
           [0004]      FIG. 2  illustrates a side elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of an infant changing board in an upright configuration; 
           [0005]      FIG. 3  illustrates a front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an infant changing board in an upright configuration; 
           [0006]      FIG. 4  illustrates a front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an infant changing board in an upright configuration; 
           [0007]      FIG. 5  illustrates a rear perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an infant changing board in an upright configuration. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0008]    In the following discussion, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that embodiments may be practiced without such specific details. Furthermore, lists and/or examples are often provided and should be interpreted as exemplary only and in no way limiting embodiments to only those examples. 
         [0009]    Exemplary embodiments are described below in the accompanying Figures. The following detailed description provides a comprehensive review of the drawings in order to provide a thorough understanding of, and an enabling description for, these embodiments. One having ordinary skill in the art will understand that in some cases well-known structures and functions have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments. 
         [0010]    Referring now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  illustrates a side elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of an infant changing board  100  in an infant changing configuration. The infant changing board  100  is illustrated in position within an infant carrier/car seat  200 . There are many different varieties of infant carriers, and, to the extent possible, the infant changing board  100  is designed to fit universally within them. While in the infant changing configuration, the infant changing board  100  spans what is normally the lower seat portion of the carrier, effectively raising the infant  900  up and partially out of the carrier so that a caregiver can easily access the infant  900  and his or her diaper so it can be changed. The infant changing board  100  rests securely in the infant changing configuration so the caregiver has a sturdy work area without having to fear for the child under his or her care during the changing process. 
         [0011]    The infant changing board  100 , has a number of components which provide the improved functionality of the invention, including: a shaped support board  110 , a washable cover  120 , a cover retention strap  160 , a safety strap stub  170 , an adjustment handle  150 , a safety strap connector  180 , a safety strap extension  172 , a strap cover  190 , a strap positioner  164 , and a strap lock  174 . 
         [0012]    The shaped support board  110  is a generally flat board that is shaped so as to fit within a child carrier. It has special side cut-outs to allow direct access for the ubiquitous infant carrier shoulder straps to clear the shaped support board  110  and secure the infant  900  in the carrier. Above and below the cut-outs, the infant support board  110  flares outwards to provide extra support for the infant&#39;s  900  head and bottom. The board  110  can be made from plastic, metal, plywood, or any other sufficiently light and yet rigid material that will adequately support the infant. 
         [0013]    The washable cover  120  is shaped so as to fit over the infant support board  110  and provide a more comfortable, and multi-function surface than that provided by the board  110  itself. The cover  120  can include a pattern, design, color(s), etc. on its surface for aesthetics. Additionally, the washable cover  120  is easily removed and reattached to allow it to be quickly washed as needed. The cover can incorporate padding or other similar cushioning material so that the infant isn&#39;t resting directly against a rigid surface. The washable cover  120  further cushions the corners and edges of the infant support board  110  in order to keep the infant safe. As the infant support board  110  is relatively rigid, the washable cover  120  should be made from relatively stretchy material(s) so that it can be slipped on and off the board  110 . Alternatively, a side access port can be incorporated in the washable cover  120  which would then be shut via a zipper, snaps, hook and loop material, or some other securing means. 
         [0014]    A cover retention strap  160  is attached to the back of the washable cover  120  via a first retention strap attachment  162  and a second retention strap attachment  166 . The cover retention strap  160  extends along the back of the infant support board  110 , attaching the top of the washable cover  120  to the bottom of the washable cover  120  in order to retain the washable cover  120  on the infant support board  110 . The first and second retention strap attachments  162  and  166  can include one permanent attachment point and one re-attachable point in one embodiment (as illustrated in  FIG. 1 ). In another embodiment, both attachments can be re-attachable. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the first retention strap attachment  162  can be simple sewn attachment point. The second retention strap attachment  166  is illustrated in  FIG. 1  as being a snap closure, other attach/detach type closures are contemplated for either or both retention strap attachments  162  and  166 . 
         [0015]    Extending from the bottom of the washable cover  120  are a safety strap stub  170  and an adjustment handle  150 . The adjustment handle  150  comprises a strap or similar device which extends out from the cover and provides the caregiver with a means of adjusting the position of the infant changing board  100 . When the board  100  is in the upright position (see  FIG. 2 ), a caregiver can simply pull on the adjustment handle  150  to reposition the board  100  into the infant changing configuration, as shown in  FIG. 1 . The safety strap stub  170  also extends out from approximately the bottom edge of the board  100 . In normal operation, the strap stub  170  is wrapped under the infant changing board  100  and back towards the top of the infant carrier  200 . 
         [0016]    The safety strap stub  170  includes an elastic strap (or other stretchy material) inside a removable safety strap stub sleeve. The stub sleeve is removable so that it can be washed easily. At the free end of the safety strap stub  170  is a safety strap connector  180  which can be a buckle or other similar device for quickly attaching and detaching the safety strap stub  170  to the safety strap extension  172 . This configuration allows for the easy removal of the safety strap extension  172  from the washable cover  120  as needed (e.g., for washing the cover  120 ). 
         [0017]    The safety strap extension  172  can be a similar elastic strap as that used in the safety strap stub  170 . In another embodiment, other stretchable materials can be used. The safety strap extension  172  extends from the safety strap connector  180  to the top, back of the infant carrier  200 . When the infant changing board  100  is in the infant changing configuration (as shown in  FIG. 1 ), the safety strap extension  172  serves to keep the board  100  from sliding out of the infant carrier  200 . The tension provided by the elastic safety strap extension  172  ensures that the infant carrier  200  is unable to slide downwards and completely out of the carrier  200 . And yet, when the caregiver repositions the board  100  in the upright configuration (see  FIG. 2 ), the elastic safety strap extension  172  contracts and easily collapses onto itself. Although illustrated in  FIG. 2  as having extra, loose loops when in the upright configuration, strong enough elastic can be employed in the safety strap extension  172  so that no extra loose loops are present. 
         [0018]    Similar to the safety strap stub  170 , the safety strap extension  172  should include a strap cover  190 . This can be a simple fabric sleeve that covers and protects the extension  172  and yet is removable for washing when needed. The strap cover  190  extends with the elastic safety strap extension  172  when the board  100  is in the infant changing configuration shown in  FIG. 1  and then bunches up on itself when in the upright configuration of  FIG. 2 . Attached on the strap cover  190  is a strap positioner  164 . The strap positioner  164  can be a snap or some other easily attached/detached connector which serves to retain the safety strap extension  172  in position in approximately the center of the back of the shaped support board  110 . By virtue of being located on the strap cover  190 , the strap positioner  164  functions to keep the safety strap extension  172  in position, while allowing the elastic nature of the extension  172  to cause the strap extension  172  to extend and contract without interference from the strap positioner  164 . 
         [0019]    The safety strap extension  172  can be removable affixed to the top rear of the infant carrier via a strap lock  174 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the strap lock  174  comprises a hook and loop attachment, where one component is affixed to the end of the safety strap extension  172  wile the other is affixed to the top rear of the infant carrier. The caregiver can then attach or detach the safety strap extension as needed for washing, etc. It is preferable that the loop material be attached to the end of the safety strap extension  172 . In other embodiments, other types of attach/detach connectors are used in the strap lock  174 . In yet another embodiment, the strap lock  174  permanently affixes the safety strap extension  172  to the infant carrier  200 . The elastic nature of the extension  172  allows the strap lock  174  to be attached at various locations on the back of variously sized carriers  200 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 2  illustrates a side elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of an infant changing board  100  in an upright configuration. The components illustrated in  FIG. 2  include those shown in  FIG. 1 . In the upright configuration, the infant changing board  100  fits between the back of the infant  900  and the infant carrier  200 . This location keeps the infant changing board  100  in a quick and easy access location, while being unobtrusive and completely out-of-the-way. Additionally, because the shaped support board  110  and/or the washable cover  120  are cushioned/padded, they provide extra cushioning for the infant. Although not visible in  FIG. 2 , the cut-outs of the support board  110  allow the shoulder harness straps of the infant carrier to be utilized while the infant changing board  100  is in the upright configuration. 
         [0021]      FIG. 3  illustrates a front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an infant changing board  100  in an upright configuration. The infant carrier  200  has an infant safety harness  230  comprising a pair of shoulder straps  232  and a pair of leg straps  234 . The safety harness  230  may also include a groin strap. The all important cut-outs  112  are easily seen in this view. They allow the carrier&#39;s  200  shoulder straps  232  to clear the infant changing board  100  so they can work effectively to retain the infant in the carrier. The elongated nature of the cut-outs  112  is important since the shoulder straps  232  can be repositioned up and down in many infant carriers  200  to adjust to the size of the infant. 
         [0022]    Since the washable cover  120  of the infant changing board  100  can completely enclose the shaped support board  110  from the front, the shaped support board  110  is not visible in  FIG. 3 . The strap cover  190  is visible extending up and over the top of the infant carrier  200 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 4  illustrates a front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an infant changing board  100  in an upright configuration. The infant changing board  100  is shown outside of the infant carrier in  FIG. 4 . The strap cover  190  is visible in  FIG. 4  as is the adjustment handle  150 . It is important to note the clipped lower corners of the infant changing board visible in  FIG. 4 . The cover  120  and board  110  are clipped and rounded on the outside corners to allow the board  110  to slide in and out of the carrier easily, not getting tangled in the harness straps that feed up through the bottom of the carriers, where the harness straps buckle into a center point between the infant&#39;s legs. 
         [0024]      FIG. 5  illustrates a rear perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an infant changing board  100  in an upright configuration. When viewed from the rear, it is easy to see the how the shaped support board  110  fits within the washable cover  120 . The cover retention strap  160  is shown stretching between the top portion of the washable cover  120  and the bottom portion. A portion of the strap positioner  164  can be seen on the retention strap  160 , with a corresponding portion present on the strap cover  190 . The safety strap connector  180  is shown in its detached configuration in  FIG. 5 , with half the component attached to the safety strap stub  170  and half attached to the safety strap extension  172 . 
         [0025]    While particular embodiments have been described and disclosed in the present application, it is clear that any number of permutations, modifications, or embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and the scope of this disclosure. 
         [0026]    Particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the embodiments should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects with which that terminology is associated. In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be construed to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification, unless the above Detailed Description section explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the claims encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the claimed subject matter. 
         [0027]    The above detailed description of the embodiments is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise embodiment or form disclosed herein or to the particular field of usage mentioned in this disclosure. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. Also, the teachings of the invention provided herein can be applied to other systems, not necessarily the system described above. The elements and acts of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. 
         [0028]    Any patents, applications and other references that may be listed in accompanying or subsequent filing papers, are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects of the invention can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions, and concepts of the various references to provide yet further embodiments of the invention. 
         [0029]    In light of the above “Detailed Description,” the Inventor may make changes to the invention. While the detailed description outlines possible embodiments of the invention and discloses the best mode contemplated, no matter how detailed the above appears in text, the invention may be practiced in a myriad of ways. Thus, implementation details may vary considerably while still being encompassed by the spirit of the invention as disclosed by the inventor. As discussed herein, specific terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the invention with which that terminology is associated. 
         [0030]    While certain aspects of the invention are presented below in certain claim forms, the inventor contemplates the various aspects of the invention in any number of claim forms. Accordingly, the inventor reserves the right to add additional claims after filing the application to pursue such additional claim forms for other aspects of the invention. 
         [0031]    The above specification, examples and data provide a description of the structure and use of exemplary implementations of the described articles of manufacture and methods. It is important to note that many implementations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.