Abstract:
An infant-nursing platform includes a cushion adapted for supporting a baby while nursing. The cushion has a support surface. Weighing means are disposed within the cushion and operably coupled to the support surface to weigh the baby on the support surface of the cushion. A user interface device is operably coupled to the weighing means to obtain measurement information therefrom. The user interface device and produces an output in response to the measurement information obtained from the weighing means.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates generally to infant-nursing platforms. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A common concern of parents who breastfeed their newborn children is whether their infant is eating enough. The concern is particularly acute when their baby is born prematurely; to a small infant weighing only a few pounds, the feedings of the first months are critical. Mothers are keenly aware of this critical period and can be understandably anxious, especially if they are first-time mothers who are new to breastfeeding. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect, the invention features an infant-nursing platform comprising a cushion adapted for supporting a baby while nursing. The cushion has a support surface. Weighing means is disposed within the cushion and operably coupled to the support surface to weigh the baby on the support surface of the cushion. The platform further comprises a user interface device operably coupled to the weighing means to obtain measurement information therefrom. The user interface device produces an output in response to the measurement information obtained from the weighing means. 
     In another aspect, the invention features a method comprising receiving a baby on a cushion of an infant-nursing platform having an integrated weighing means and a user interface device, weighing, by the weighing means, the baby on the cushion before the baby is fed, weighing, by the weighing means, the baby on the cushion after the baby is fed, and calculating and displaying, by the user interface device, a weight gain of the baby as a result of the feeding. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and further advantages of this invention may be better understood by referring to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals indicate like structural elements and features in various figures. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a top view of an embodiment of a nursing platform. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-section side view of an embodiment of the nursing platform. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the nursing platform. 
         FIG. 4  is a partially assembled view of the nursing platform. 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of a woman who is nursing a baby using the nursing platform. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Described herein are embodiments of infant-nursing platforms that integrate a weighing means (e.g., a scale) with a breastfeeding cushion. In brief overview, the nursing platform enables mothers to weigh their babies conveniently before and after each feeding. A user interface (UI) device can calculate the weight gain and display the approximate number of ounces consumed by the baby during a feeding. Other features provided by the UI device can include displaying the present weight of the baby before, during, or after the feeding, storing a record of the baby&#39;s weight and amount consumed over time, recording the elapsed time for each feeding, and tracking the date and time of each measurement to provide additional analytical information to the user. When not being used to nurse the baby, the platform can function as a baby scale for providing absolute weight measurements (e.g., 13.2 lbs). 
     The UI device can also have communication means for sending and receiving information from a computing device, for example, a mobile smartphone, a tablet computer, a PC, etc. This communication means can upload data from the infant-nursing platform to provide the user with a set of graphical display means for interpreting the data, and can allow the user to download updated software to the infant-nursing platform to add new features or correct software errors. 
       FIG. 1  shows a top view of an embodiment of an infant-nursing platform  10  including a support cushion  12  connected to a back pillow  14  by an adjustable strap  16 . The design of this embodiment of the infant-nursing platform  10  is for wear about the waist of the nursing woman while she feeds her infant. Infant-nursing platforms  10  can have a variety of sizes to accommodate the waist size of the wearer, the size of the infant, or both. Other embodiments of the infant-nursing platform  10  can exclude the back pillow  14  and strap  16 , being designed to sit on the lap of the nursing woman. 
     The support cushion  12  has a substantially flat support surface  18  upon which the infant can lay during breastfeeding. The support surface  18  may be slightly recessed relative to its immediate surroundings (i.e., a concavity) to assist in keeping the infant situated atop the support cushion  12  (in particular over the weighing means). Other features of the support surface can include a pillow to prop up the head of the baby or to aid in positioning the baby for nursing or weighing (or combinations thereof). The underside of the support cushion  12  can have a contour shaped to fit comfortably on the lap of the nursing mother. 
     The contour of the support cushion  12 , back pillow  14 , and strap  16  define a substantially circular or slightly elliptical shape. The support cushion  12  and back pillow  14  are made of a resilient material (e.g., foam) that conforms to the contour of the wearer&#39;s lap, waist, hips, and lumbar. In addition, the support surface, underside, and edges of the support cushion  12  and back pillow  14  can be soft and rounded to enhance comfort to the wearer and promote safety to the child. The support cushion  12  has a curved inset region  20  for curving around the wearer&#39;s stomach, and the back pillow  14  has an interior arcuate edge  24  for curving around the small of the wearer&#39;s back. 
     At opposite ends of the strap  16  are mating clip ends  26 , as an illustrative example of one means of securing the two ends. Other means include hook and loop strips attached to both ends of the strap, for example VELCRO™. A wearer can use the adjustable strap  16  to tighten the infant-nursing platform  10  securely about her waist. Means other than the waist strap  16  can be used to enable the nursing mother to hold or to wear the support cushion  12 , for example, straps around the shoulders, handles, sleeves, arms that partially encircle the waist, and combinations thereof. 
     Integrated into the support cushion  12  is a UI device  28  with a display screen  30 . The UI device  28  has buttons or keys  32  by which the wearer can control operation of a weighing means  40  disposed within the support cushion  12  and the information displayed on the display screen  30 . As examples, the UI device  28  can display the present weight of the child, changes in weight of the child, or both, as described in more detail below. 
       FIG. 2  shows a cross-section side view of the infant-support cushion  12  taken along line AA in  FIG. 1 . Within the infant-support cushion  12  is one example embodiment of the weighing means  40  disposed between a weight-supporting upper platform  50  and a lower frame portion  52 . Extending orthogonally from the upper platform  50  are four guideposts  54 , one near each of its corners. Corresponding receptacles  56  of the lower frame portion  52  receive the guideposts  54 . The guideposts  54  move up and down within the receptacles  56  in accordance with the weight of an infant placed on the support surface  18  immediately above the upper platform  50 . The weighing means  40  measures the weight of the infant on the upper platform  50 , preferably having a resolution of 0.1 ounces. Different implementations of the weighing means  40  can be based on producing digital or analog measurements. One example implementation of the weighing means is a strain gage based load cell. Another example implementation of the weighing means comprises a piezoelectric material stretched over the cushion  12  like a fitted sheet and a device for measuring deformation of the piezoelectric material when the baby lays upon the cushion. 
       FIG. 3  shows an exploded view of an embodiment of the infant-nursing platform  10  including the upper platform  50  and foam interior  60  of the support cushion  12 . The digital weighing means  40  resides in a compartment  64  in the foam  60 . The weighing means  40  has four holes  66  in its corners for receiving fasteners that fix the upper platform  50  to the movable top of the weighing means. 
     Also shown in  FIG. 3  are the back pillow  14  and a fabric cover  70  that wraps around the support cushion  12 . Here, the fabric cover  70  is peeled back to one end of the cushion to reveal the interior elements of the support cushion  12 . 
       FIG. 4  shows the embodiment of the infant-nursing platform  10  of  FIG. 3  as assembled. The upper platform  50  is secured to the weighing means  40  disposed inside of the support cushion  12  by fasteners  80 . Like  FIG. 3 , the fabric cover  70  is peeled back to one end of the support cushion  12  to expose the upper platform  50 . 
     In this embodiment, an electrical cord  82  tethers the UI device to the infant-support cushion  12 . The UI device  28  is in electrical communication with the weighing means  40  within the support cushion  12 . 
     The user can control the operation of the weighing means by pressing certain buttons  32  in certain sequences on the front panel of the UI device  28 . One button can start and stop the weighing means  40 . For example, the user can press this button once to capture an initial weight, and then press the button a second time to capture a post-feeding weight. Using these start and stop weight measurements, the UI device  28  can then calculate and display the weight gain of the infant on the display screen  30 . As another form of output, the UI device  28  may include a speaker to indicate audibly the amount of weight gain or the present weight of the baby. 
     Another button  32  can be for selecting a mode of display. For example, in one mode, the UI device  28  can display the weight of the infant; in another mode, the UI device  28  can display the change in weight of the infant during a feeding; in still another mode, the UI device  28  can display concurrently or alternately the present weight and the change in weight in different regions of the display screen  30 . Alternatively, one button  32  can be exclusively for displaying the present weight and a second button dedicated to displaying the weight gain. Display of these values can be continuous throughout a feeding, or the values may appear on the screen in response to a pressing of the button and then fade out or disappear after a predetermined period. In another embodiment, the weighing means  40  can measure, and the UI device  28  can display, the baby&#39;s weight in automatic response to the baby being placed on the support surface  18 . 
     To implement such functionality, the UI device  28  includes electrical components (not shown), such as a controller, memory, and a power source (e.g., replaceable batteries). In addition to the above-noted functionality, the controller can be programmed to store a record, in memory, of the weight of the infant measured over time (e.g., a timestamp is captured with each measured weight or each measured change in weight). As another example, the controller can be programmed to compute, record and/or display a length of a feeding (e.g., time between successive pressings of a start and stop button). Example embodiments of the controller include, but are not limited to, a processor (or CPU), a microcontroller, and an ASIC. 
       FIG. 5  shows a front view of a woman nursing a baby using an embodiment of the infant-nursing platform  10 , which rests on her lap while she nurses the baby. 
     Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular, feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the teaching. References to a particular embodiment within the specification do not all necessarily refer to the same embodiment. 
     While the invention has been shown and described with reference to specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. For example, other embodiments of the infant-nursing platform can be integrated with machines or devices for measuring other aspects of a child&#39;s physiology, such as temperature, respiration, and heart rate. Examples of such devices include, but are not limited to, thermocouples for taking temperature, EKG electrodes for measuring heart rate, and LED cuffs for measuring oxygenation.