Patent Publication Number: US-2021177168-A1

Title: Protective Cover for Public Diaper Changing Stations

Description:
The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 62/948,120 filed on Dec. 13, 2019. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to child-care devices. More specifically, the present invention is a sanitary cover that can be removably secured to a public diaper changing station and used to protect a child from the cold, hard, and unsanitary surface of the public diaper changing station during the process of changing the child&#39;s diaper. The present invention is specifically designed for using with public diaper changing stations. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many public facilities provide diaper changing stations to facilitate changing of a diaper of an infant or small child by providing a flat, horizontal, sturdy platform on which to place the child and change a diaper. A typical public diaper changing station comprises a base structure configured to be securely mounted to a wall and a support platform that is pivotally connected to the base structure and movable alternatively between stored and deployed positions. When in the stored position, the pivotally connected support platform is generally parallel to the wall and the base structure. When deployed, the support platform rotates down to a horizontal position and becomes perpendicular to the wall and the base structure. Several drawbacks are associated with the existing public diaper changing stations. For example, public diaper changing stations are often installed in restroom facilities such as public restrooms. Even if diaper changing stations are not typically located in restroom facilities, the surfaces of the support platforms are typically hard, cold, and include a variety of germs and viruses on their surfaces, especially when the surfaces are textured. Moreover, after use, the previous user usually does not properly clean the surfaces after changing a child&#39;s soiled diaper. This can result in viruses, bacteria, and other contaminants (e.g. fecal matter, etc.) being left on the surfaces, giving rise to the possibility of infecting subsequent users. Some parents resort to using paper towels, toilet paper, or changing pads to insulate their child from the horizontal surface during the diaper changing process. However, these items typically do not cover the entire flat surface of the support platform and have no means for keeping them in place between a squirming or wiggling child and the flat surface of the support platform. 
     The present invention aims to solve some of these problems by providing a protective cover for public diaper changing stations so that the child can be protected from the issues stated above. The present invention functions similar to a sock that covers the entire surface area of the public diaper changing station thus allowing the user to easily cover the public diaper changing station. Furthermore, the present invention provides two different opening to support the lengthwise overhang of the public diaper changing station or the widthwise overhang of the public diaper changing station to accommodate different configurations. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a protective cover for public diaper changing stations commonly found in public restrooms. The present invention covers both surfaces of support flatform of the public diaper changing station, is easily affixed to the support flatform, stays in place during use and provides a sanitary surface on which the child can be placed for diaper changing or other care. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present invention, showing the first opening being opened. 
         FIG. 2  is another perspective view of the present invention, showing the second opening being opened. 
         FIG. 3  is another perspective view of the present invention, showing the interception of the folded edge and the sewn edge. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the present invention, showing the first opening being closed and the second opening being opened. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the present invention, showing the first opening being opened and the second opening being closed. 
     
    
    
     DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION 
     All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. 
     The present invention is a protective cover for public diaper changing station and designed to be affixed to a support platform of a public diaper changing station. As a result, the present invention is able to provide a sanitary surface that can protect children from contaminated surfaces when changing a diaper using a public diaper changing station. It is another aim of the present invention to provide a cover that is flexible enough and compactable enough to be easily stored in a typical bag or purse. It is yet another aim of the present invention to provide a public diaper changing station cover that can fit support platforms of different configurations. 
     The present invention comprises a top rectangular panel  1 , a bottom rectangular panel  4 , a folded edge  7 , a sewn edge  8 , a fixed-corner connection  9 , and an insertion-corner connection  10  as shown in  FIG. 1-2 . In reference to the general configuration of the present invention, the top rectangular panel  1  and the bottom rectangular panel  4  are oppositely positioned of each other about the folded edge  7 . In other words, a single rectangular panel is folded in half so that the top rectangular panel  1  and the bottom rectangular panel  4  can be oppositely positioned of each other about folded edge  7 . The sewn edge  8  is perpendicularly positioned to the folded edge  7  about the fixed-corner connection  9 , wherein a corner point of the sewn edge  8  and the folded edge  7  delineate the fixed-corner connection  9 . The top rectangular panel  1  and the bottom rectangular panel  4  are terminally connected to each other through the sewn edge  8 . The insertion-corner connection  10  is diametrically opposed of the fixed-corner connection  9  as the top rectangular panel  1  and the bottom rectangular panel  4  are also connected to each other through the insertion-corner connection  10 . Since the folded edge  7  and sewn edge  8  prevent internal access to the top rectangular panel  1  and the bottom rectangular panel  4 , and the insertion-corner connection  10  connect the top rectangular panel  1  and the bottom rectangular panel  4 , the present invention is able to delineate a first opening  14  and a second opening  15 . The first opening  14  and the second opening  15  are able to provide two different openings so that the present invention can cover public diaper changing stations that folds down in the lengthwise direction or the widthwise direction. 
     In reference to  FIG. 1-3 , the top rectangular panel  1  comprises a top lengthwise edge  2  and a top widthwise edge  3 . The bottom rectangular panel  4  comprises a bottom lengthwise edge  5  and a bottom widthwise edge  6 . More specifically, the top lengthwise edge  2  is coextensively positioned with the bottom lengthwise edge  5  and the top widthwise edge  3  is coextensively positioned with the bottom widthwise edge  6  due to the perpendicular positioning of the folded edge  7  and the sewn edge  8 . In reference to the lengthwise edge, the top lengthwise edge  2  and the folded edge  7  are oppositely positioned of each other about the top rectangular panel  1 . The bottom lengthwise edge  5  and the folded edge  7  are oppositely positioned of each other about the bottom rectangular panel  4 . In reference to the widthwise edge, the top widthwise edge  3  and the sewn edge  8  are oppositely positioned of each other about the top rectangular panel  1 . The bottom widthwise edge  6  and the sewn edge  8  are oppositely positioned of each other about the bottom rectangular panel  4 . In other words, the top lengthwise edge  2  is perpendicularly positioned to the top widthwise edge  3 , and the bottom lengthwise edge  5  is perpendicularly positioned to the bottom widthwise edge  6 . 
     A length of the folded edge  7  ranges from 24 inches to 48 inches, and a length of the sewn edge  8  ranges from 15 inches to 35 inches. As a result, the present invention is able to retain the general rectangular profile of the top rectangular panel  1  and the bottom rectangular panel  4 . Furthermore, the specific dimensions of the folded edge  7  and the sewn edge  8  ensure that the present invention is compatible with different sized public diaper changing stations. 
     A fixed-corner connection  9  is defined where the folded edge  7  and the sewn edge  8  intercept. Due to the rectangular format of the top rectangular panel  1  and the bottom rectangular panel  4 , the fixed-corner connection  9  delineates a right angle. 
     In reference to  FIG. 2 , the insertion-corner connection  10  is terminally positioned to the top lengthwise edge  2 , the bottom lengthwise edge  5 , the top widthwise edge  3 , and the bottom widthwise edge  6  so that the top rectangular panel  1  and the bottom rectangular panel  4  can be connected thus delineating the first opening  14  and the second opening  15 . More specifically, the first opening  14  is delineated within the sewn edge  8 , the insertion-corner connection  10 , the top lengthwise edge  2 , and the bottom lengthwise edge  5 . Since the first opening  14  is positioned along the lengthwise direction of the present invention, the first opening  14  is utilized to cover any public diaper changing stations that hingedly and foldably connected along the lengthwise direction. The second opening  15  is delineated within the folded edge  7 , the insertion-corner connection  10 , the top widthwise edge  3 , and the bottom widthwise edge  6 . Since the second opening  15  is positioned along the widthwise direction of the present invention, the second opening  15  is utilized to cover any public diaper changing stations that hingedly and foldably connected along the widthwise direction. 
     In reference to  FIG. 1-2 , the present invention further comprises a decorative ornament  11 . The decorative ornament  11  is connected onto the insertion-corner connection  10  and adjacently positioned to the top rectangular panel  1 . More specifically, the decorative ornament  11  functions as an ornament body and location indicator of the insertion-corner connection  10 . As a result, the user can easily identify the parameter of the first opening  14  and the second opening  15 . Furthermore, the decorative ornament  11  also enables the user to easily identify the top surface and the bottom surface of the present invention so that the user can figure out which surface should face towards the baby. Furthermore, the decorative ornament  11  also functions as a hanging hook to secure lightweight storage bags, hanging containers such as body lotions containers and hand sanitizer containers, or any other baby related provides, car keys, or any other product that can be hung. 
     In reference to  FIG. 4 , the present invention further comprises at least one first fastening mechanism  12  so that the first opening  14  can be closed when necessary. More specifically, the at least one first fastening mechanism  12  is integrated onto the top lengthwise edge  2  and the bottom lengthwise edge  5  in such a way that the at least one first fastening mechanism  12  is positioned in between the sewn edge  8  and the insertion-corner connection  10 . As a result, when the second opening  15  is utilized to insert the top rectangular panel  1  and the bottom rectangular panel  4  around the public diaper changing stations, the user can close the at least one first fastening mechanism  12  to properly secure the present invention around the public diaper changing stations. 
     In reference to  FIG. 5 , the present invention further comprises at least one second fastening mechanism  13  so that the second opening  15  can be closed when necessary. More specifically, the at least one second fastening mechanism  13  is integrated onto the top widthwise edge  3  and the bottom widthwise edge  6  in such a way that the at least one second fastening mechanism  13  is positioned in between the folded edge  7  and the insertion-corner connection  10 . As a result, when the first opening  14  is utilized to insert the top rectangular panel  1  and the bottom rectangular panel  4  around the public diaper changing stations, the user can close the at least one second fastening mechanism  13  to properly secure the present invention around the public diaper changing stations. 
     The at least one first fastening mechanism  12  and the at least one second fastening mechanism  13  can include, but not limited to, hook and loop fasteners, magnetic fasteners, zippers, snaps fasteners, button fasteners, releasable adhesives, etc. Therefore, either of the first opening  14  and the second opening  15  can be temporarily closed to help maintain stability while the present invention is covering the public diaper changing station. Although in the illustrated embodiment the first opening  14  is shown to have three first fastening mechanisms  12  and the second opening  15  is shown to have two second fastening mechanisms  13 , the present invention is not limited to the illustrated numbers of the at least one first fastening mechanism  12  and the at least one second fastening mechanism  13 . In the preferred embodiment, hook and loop fasteners are used as the at least one first fastening mechanism  12  and the at least one second fastening mechanism  13 . More specifically, a hook portion for each of the hook and loop fasteners is connected to the internal side of the top rectangular panel  1  while a loop portion for each of the hook and loop fasteners is connected to the internal side of the bottom rectangular panel  4 . As a result, the first opening  14  or the second opening  15  can be selectively closed through the attachment of the hook portion and the loop portion. 
     The present invention may be made of any suitable material that is preferably thin, breathable and flexible, including but not limited to antibacterial microfiber cloth, such that the present invention can be easily folded for storage and carry. In addition, the present invention may also be made of waterproof material. It should be understood that the components of the present invention may or may not be made of the same material. 
     Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.