Patent Publication Number: US-7895692-B1

Title: Portable collapsible baby mattress apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Caring for a baby involves a great deal of time with the baby in a crib, whether the child is asleep or awake. Various devices have provided entertainment for babies, while in the crib, and have also provided features that mimic a caregiver, such as simulated breathing and heartbeat devices. The present apparatus provides a combination of features not heretofore provided for in-crib baby care. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The portable collapsible baby mattress apparatus relates to baby care devices and more especially to a multi-functional baby care apparatus that can fit within or without a crib and provide features not heretofore provided. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The general purpose of the portable collapsible baby mattress apparatus, described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a portable collapsible baby mattress apparatus which has many novel features that result in an improved portable collapsible baby mattress apparatus which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by prior art, either alone or in combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the portable collapsible baby mattress apparatus provides a multitude of features that not only comfort, educate, and entertain a baby but also protect the baby. The apparatus fits into virtually any crib, whether the preferably inflatable pads are used in total or only part. The pads are ideally offered in inflatable design but may also be provided as cushions. Pads may be joined by zippers, hook and loop, or other appropriate devices. Inflatable pads may contain at least two or more air tubes for inflation. In the ideal embodiment, the apparatus may feature two identical larger pads along with two smaller pads. The computer case may be attached to either of the two smaller pads, in the ideal embodiment, along the pad length, with the same length as the pad and a minimal width of only about 5 cm. Other embodiments may provide identical pads with optional computer case attachment as chosen. The smaller pads, with computer case on one and inflatable rib on the other then have the same width dimension as the two larger pads. One selected pad may be selectively inflated to elevate an infant&#39;s head for safety and also to simulate rise and fall of a caregiver&#39;s breathing and rocking. 
     The controls disposed upwardly within the computer case may provide for controlling the various functions of the apparatus. The controls may be in communication with the inflation fan, the battery pack, the alarm, the view screen, the speaker/mic, the heartbeat nodule, the vent with fan, and the strap monitor. The inflation fan, via the controls, inflates the air tubes within the pads to a selected rigidity level. The alarm can be set to notify a caregiver if any abnormality in a baby&#39;s pulse or breathing is detected by the strap monitor, which may be affixed around a limb of the baby. The controls allow a caregiver to dictate the optionally detachable, foldable view screen content and speaker/mic output with choices contained within the controls, choices such as videos for entertainment and education. The speaker/mic allows communication with an infant from afar. The heartbeat nodule can be set by the controls to simulate a caregiver&#39;s heartbeat, thereby offering the baby comfort. The vent with fan can be set to blow warm air to the baby in simulation of a caregiver&#39;s breath. 
     The apparatus multitude of functions provide for institutional use as well as home use in monitoring, caring for, educating, and entertaining a baby, in a crib or elsewhere. The apparatus is provided with pads of various sizes, although the preferred embodiment provides critically dimensioned pads that best afford fit to various cribs, whether used in total horizontal plane, or with only part of the pads used. The most critical dimensioned pads are also designed for best collapse and portability. The computer may also be used as a multimedia play device. 
     Thus has been broadly outlined the more important features of the improved portable collapsible baby mattress apparatus so that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. 
     An object of the portable collapsible baby mattress apparatus is to provide exceptional care features for a baby in a crib. 
     Another object of the portable collapsible baby mattress apparatus is to provide exceptional care features for a baby outside of a crib. 
     A further object of the portable collapsible baby mattress apparatus is to be collapsible. 
     An added object of the portable collapsible baby mattress apparatus is to capable of substantial disassembly. 
     And, an object of the portable collapsible baby mattress apparatus is to be capable of substantial inflation and deflation. 
     Yet another object of the portable collapsible baby mattress apparatus is to be highly portable. 
     Still another object of the portable collapsible baby mattress apparatus is to mimic a caregiver&#39;s breathing. 
     And, an object of the portable collapsible baby mattress apparatus is to mimic a caregiver&#39;s heartbeat. 
     Another object of the portable collapsible baby mattress apparatus is to monitor a baby&#39;s vital signs. 
     Still a further object of the portable collapsible baby mattress apparatus is to entertain a baby. 
     A further object of the portable collapsible baby mattress apparatus is to educate a baby. 
     And, another object of the portable collapsible baby mattress apparatus is to provide a selectively positionable view screen for the baby&#39;s entertainment and education. 
     These together with additional objects, features and advantages of the improved portable collapsible baby mattress apparatus will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the improved portable collapsible baby mattress apparatus when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     In this respect, before explaining the current embodiments of the improved portable collapsible baby mattress apparatus in detail, it is to be understood that the portable collapsible baby mattress apparatus is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustration. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the concept of this disclosure may be readily utilized as a basis for the design of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the improved portable collapsible baby mattress apparatus. 
     It is therefore important that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the portable collapsible baby mattress apparatus. It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a second side perspective view, mattress assembly pads folded out and affixed to each other. 
         FIG. 2  is a second side perspective view, mattress assembly pads stacked one atop the other, hinged view screen unfolded. 
         FIG. 3  is a second side perspective view, one pad detached from the other pads, view screen partially elevated via the accordion arms. 
         FIG. 4  is a top plan view with mattress assembly pads affixed to each other. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the apparatus installed in an existing crib. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular  FIGS. 1 through 5  thereof, the principles and concepts of the portable collapsible baby mattress apparatus generally designated by the reference number  10  will be described. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the apparatus  10  partially comprises the mattress assembly  20  comprised a pair of larger pads  30  and a pair of smaller pads comprising the first smaller  31  pad and the second smaller pad  32 . The larger pads  30  and the smaller pads each have a pad length  33  of about 67.5 cm. The larger pads  30  have a pad width  34  of about 42.5 cm. The smaller pads have a pad width  34  of about 37.5 cm. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the plurality of pad fasteners  36  selectively joins the pads into a rectangular plane. A plurality of selectively inflatable air tubes  38  is disposed within each pad. The vent with fan  37  is disposed upwardly in the first smaller pad  31 . The vital signs nodule  39  is disposed within the first smaller pad  31 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the pair of spaced apart blanket sections  40  is removably connected outwardly to the first smaller pad  31 . A plurality of spaced apart blanket fasteners  42  is affixed to each blanket section  40  for selectively and adjustably fastening the blanket sections  40  together. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 4 , the inflatable rib  35  is disposed along the pad length  33  of the second smaller pad  32 . The rib  35  has a rib length  35   b  of about 67.5 cm and a rib width  35   a  of about 5 cm. Importantly, the combined rib width  35   a  and second smaller pad  32  pad width  34  are equal to the larger pads&#39;  30  pad widths  34  of about 42.5 cm. The computer case  50  is disposed along the pad length  33  of the first smaller pad  31 . The computer case  50  has a case length  51  of about 67.5 cm and a case width  52  of about 5 cm. Importantly, the combined case width  52  and pad width  34  of the first smaller pad  31  are equal to the pad width  34  of the larger pads  30 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 3 , the view screen  53  is disposed atop the computer case  50 . The alarm  55  is disposed within the view screen  53 . The speaker/mic  57  is disposed within the view screen  53 . The strap monitor  44  is connected to the computer case  50  and selectively monitors the vital signs of an infant. The swivel  62  with upwardly disposed frictionally engaged accordion arms  60  connects the view screen  53  to the computer case  50 . 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the inflation fan  59  is disposed within the second smaller pad  32 . The inflation fan  59  is in selective communication with the inflatable rib  35  and the air tubes  38  via connections  58 . The battery pack  56  is disposed within the second smaller pad  32 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5  and again to  FIG. 3 , the controls  54  are disposed upwardly within the computer case  50 , the controls in communication with the inflation fan  59 , the battery pack  56 , the alarm  55 , the view screen  53 , the speaker/mic  57 , the vital signs nodule  39 , the vent with fan  37 , and the strap monitor  44 . The apparatus  10  is positioned within the typical crib  12 . The view screen  53  is disposed upwardly and swiveled to provide best viewing for a baby. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the portable collapsible baby mattress apparatus, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and the manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the portable collapsible baby mattress apparatus. 
     Directional terms such as “front”, “back”, “in”, “out”, “downward”, “upper”, “lower”, and the like may have been used in the description. These terms are applicable to the embodiments shown and described in conjunction with the drawings. These terms are merely used for the purpose of description in connection with the drawings and do not necessarily apply to the position in which the portable collapsible baby mattress apparatus may be used. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the portable collapsible baby mattress apparatus. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the portable collapsible baby mattress apparatus to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the portable collapsible baby mattress apparatus.