Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/WO1985001197A1/en
Timestamp: 2019-12-16 02:48:35
Document Index: 91685762

Matched Legal Cases: ['arts 10', 'arts 10', 'art 11', 'art 12', 'art 12', 'arts 13', 'arts 10', 'art 12', 'arts 13']

WO1985001197A1 - Baby changing mat - Google Patents
WO1985001197A1
WO1985001197A1 PCT/GB1984/000283 GB8400283W WO8501197A1 WO 1985001197 A1 WO1985001197 A1 WO 1985001197A1 GB 8400283 W GB8400283 W GB 8400283W WO 8501197 A1 WO8501197 A1 WO 8501197A1
PCT/GB1984/000283
Harold James Eves
Triton Emprise Trading Company, Limited
1983-09-17 Priority to GB8324920 priority Critical
1983-09-17 Priority to GB838324920A priority patent/GB8324920D0/en
1983-10-03 Priority to GB838326407A priority patent/GB8326407D0/en
1983-10-03 Priority to GB8326407 priority
1983-10-19 Priority to GB838327917A priority patent/GB8327917D0/en
1983-10-19 Priority to GB8327917 priority
1984-08-16 Application filed by Triton Emprise Trading Company, Limited filed Critical Triton Emprise Trading Company, Limited
1985-03-28 Publication of WO1985001197A1 publication Critical patent/WO1985001197A1/en
230000003019 stabilising Effects 0 abstract claims description 31
A baby changing mat (1) has releasable restraining straps (7, 8) for holding a baby down on the mat (1) and a transverse stabilising member (6), to which the straps (7, 8) may be anchored, for preventing a baby held by the restraining straps (7, 8) from rolling the mat (1) or itself over sideways. Extra padding (2A) may be provided for the baby's head.
"Baby Changing Mat" The present invention relates to a baby changing mat upon which a baby can be placed when being changed.
Known baby changing mats typically comprise a rectangular padded mat providing a central working area which is surrounded on three sides by a padded sill. The mat is generally formed by a flexible plastics material casing filled with a flexible foamed plastics material acting as padding. Due to this construction, the mat has little rigidity but provides a comfortable, easily cleaned, working surface upon which a baby can be laid while being changed,
Of course, a lively baby will not lie meekly on the mat while being changed but will wriggle and twist about. As a result, the person changing 'the * baby generally has to use one hand at least inter- -mittently to restrain the baby. Indeed, unless continually restrained, the baby is quite likely to roll off the mat which could possibly result in injury.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a baby changing mat which overcomes the diffculties, outlined above, that are experienced with known mats.
In one embodiment, the restraining means are constituted by two straps arranged to pass up around the chest of the baby and to be fastened together by releasable fastening means, for example, constituted by a press stud or studs or cooperating parts of a touch and close fastener. A suitable form of touch and close fastener is one formed by cooperating "Velcro" (Registered Trade Mark) strips. A buckle may alternatively*-be used.
^Z°. The restraining means and stabilising means can be provided as an integral part of the mat structure or else as separate items which can be bought as accessories to a basic mat. Thus where the restraining and stabilising means are jointly constituted by a substantially rigid member carrying a pair of straps, then either the said member can be incorporated within the mat with the straps extending up through the mat working surface, or both the rigid member and the straps can be provided as an accessory with the said member, in use, being placed beneath the mat and the straps threaded through preformed apertures in the mat to extend out of the mat's working surface.
The head of a baby, which is particularly vulnerable, may be supported and protected by the provision in the padded central working area of the mat of a region of increased thickness, for example, in the form of extra padding, in the part of the mat
\φ?NATi on which the baby's head rests in use of the mat. The mat may be provided with pockets for receiving spare baby clothes or nappies; such spare clothes may themselves act as additional padding.
*The mat according to the invention may be designed to be folded upwardly along fold lines on both sides of the transverse stabilising member to form the side walls of a carrier bag when the mat is not in use, releasable fastener means being provided for interconnecting the longitudinal side edges of the mat when the latter is so folded, the transverse stabilising member then serving as a base for the bag. The bag thus formed may be used for carrying baby feeding bottles, talcum powder, nappies and clothes. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the two restraining straps are each anchored to the substantially rigid transverse member by two press studs or rivets which can act as or secure feet on which the mat may rest when it is folded to form a carrier bag.
The invention will now be more particularly described, by way ofexample, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first form of baby changing mat embodying the invention;
Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the first form of mat in use with a baby held firmly on the mat by restraining straps with which the mat is provided;
Figure 3 is a plan view of the Figure 1 mat;
Figure 4 is a cross-section taken on line IV-IV in Figure 1;
Figure 5 is a cross sectional view similar to Figure 4 but showing two separate components of a second form of baby changing mat embodying the invention;
Figures 6 and 7 are respective cross sectional views showing two further variants of the baby changing mat shown in Figure 4;
Figure 8 is a plan view of a baby changing mat according to another embodiment of the invention, and
Figure 9 is a perspective view of the mat shown in Figure 8, folded up to form a carrier bag.
The form of baby changing mat shown in Figures 1 to 4 comprises a rectangular padded body generally indicated 1 which provides a central working zone 2 that is surrounded on three sides by a low sill 3. The padded body 1 takes the form of a waterproof casing 4 of flexible plastics material filled with foam rubber or other suitable padding 5. The padded body 1 has little inherent rigidity and can be readily deformed from its generally flat condition illustrated in Figure 1. However in the illustrated mat, the padded body 1 is given transverse rigidity by means of a rigid transverse member 6 that extends substantially the whole way across the body 1. The transverse member 6 is interposed between the bottom of the padding 5 and the casing 4 'in a longitudinally central region of the mat.
Width - 50-150 mm Thickness - 3-5 mm
The position of the member 6 and of the apertures 9 is such that the straps 7 and 8 pass through the casing 4 at locations which would normally be just below the armpits of a baby laid on the mat in the orientation illustrated in Figure 2. These locations are also such that the straps 7 and 8 will pass up beside a baby laid centrally on the mat either inwardly inclined or slightly outwardly inclined, according to the size of the baby.
The straps 7 and 8 are provided with respective cooperating parts 10 and 11 of a touch and close fastener, these parts 10 and 11 being, for example, constituted by 150 mm lengths of hook and loop VELCRO (Registered Trade Ma'rk) material. A fastener of this form permits the straps 7 and 8 to be releasably fastened together over a range of different positions. Press studs or other suitable fastenings may be used in place of the touch and close fasteners.
In addition to the touch and close fastener part 11, the strap 8 is also provided, at its free end, with one part 12 of a press stud fastener. This part 12 is arranged to engage in any one of three complementary press-stud parts 13 provided on the strap 7 in positions respectively nearer the root of this strap. Alternatively a retaining loop 13A may be providedon the lower strap 7 to hold the end of the upper strap 8.
In use of the baby changing mat of Figures 1 to 4, a baby to be changed is laid on the central working area 2 of the mat and the straps 7 and 8 are pulled gently over the baby's chest and fastened together by means of the touch and close fastener constituted by the cooperating parts 10 and 11. The free end of the uppermost strap 8 is also fastened down by engagement of the press-stud
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3?*NAT. part 12 in the appropriate one of the complementary press-stud parts 13 provided on the strap 7, or by passing this free end through the retaining loop.
The form of baby changing mat shown in Figure 5 is very similar to that of Figures 1 to 4 except that the transverse member 6 and the straps 7 and 8 are made separate from the padded body 1. To this end, the apertures 9 are extended to open out into the bottom surface of the casing 4 as well as the upper surface of the latter. Furthermore, the rigid member 6 is not enclosed within the casing 4.
In use of the form of mat shown in Figure 5, the straps 7 and 8 are threaded through the apertures 9 from below until the padded body 1" is seated on the rigid transverse member 6.
Thereafter, the mat is used. in exactly the same manner as the mat shown in Figures 1 to 4.
One reason for providing the member 6 and straps 7 and 8 in the form of a separate entity to the padded body 1 is that it would enable a basic mat of the Figure 5 form to be purchased and later improved by the addition of the member 6 and straps 7.
The straps 7 and 8 may simply be constituted by opposite ends of a single strap passed through both apertures .
It is not essential that the straps 7 and 8 be
^*Sm directly attached to the rigid transverse member 6; thus the straps could be attached to the upper surface of the casing 4 and in this case this upper surface is preferably directly attached to the member 6. One such version of a baby changing mat is shown in Figure 6, in which the two straps 7 and 8 are anchored to the upper surface of the casing 4 by respective rivets or other fastenings 14, 15 which pass through the padded body 1 and are anchored to the transverse stabilising member 6, which may be beneath the mat, as shown, or within the padding 5.
The fastenings 14, 15 may to advantage incorporate releasable press-stud fasteners at the upper surface of the casing 4 by means of which the straps 7,
8 can be releasably attached to the mat. The straps 7, 8 may then be made of soft washable material such as towelling and may easily be detached from the mat for periodic washing.
Where the straps 7 and 8 are not directly attached to the substantially rigid stabilising member 6, the latter need not lie directly beneath the straps 7 and 8. For example, a stabilising member or members could be provided at one or both ends of the mat. In one practical form of such a mat, illustrated in Figure 7, the two straps 7, 8 comprise the opposite ends of a single strip of plastics material welded, stitched or otherwise attached to the upper surface of the casing 4. The two straps 7, 8 could, of course, be attached separately to the upper surface of the casing.
In theory at least, transverse stabilising means other than a rigid transverse member could be provided such as, for example, very heavy weights contained in the longitudinally running sills 3. These weights would serve to hold the edges of the mat down thereby preventing the baby turning the mat over sideways. This latter form of transverse stabilising means is not,of course, very practical and the use of a rigid transverse member is pre- -ferred. The transverse stabilising means could alternatively take the form of suitably placed suction cups on the underside of the mat.
The mat itself may be incorporated in other items of
OMPI equipπent such as a changing dresser/table unit or a portable hanging ma /bag. In the former case, it is known to provide a padded body on the rigid top of a dresser unit; with such an arrangement, there is no need to provide a separate rigid transverse member 6 since the rigid top to the unit will itself ensure the required transverse stability. The baby changing mat may be incorporated into a baby- carrying frame, in which case the frame itself may be such as to provide adequate transverse stability during use of the mat.
Figures 8 and 9 illustrate a further embodiment of the invention according to which the baby changing mat, when not in use, can be folded up to form a convenient carrier bag. The mat has a padded body 1 incorporating, in a central position, a substantially rigid transverse stabilising member 6 of sufficient width to act as a base of a bag formed by upward folding of the body on both sides of the member 6 {Figure 9) . The padded sill 3 is omitted, and the body 1 is formed with transverse fold lines or creases 16, 17 on opposite sides of the stabilising member 6.
Two restraining straps 7, 8 are attached to the upper surface of the mat, each strap 7, 8 being secured by a respective pair of rivets 14, 15 passing through the body 1 and anchored to the transverse stabilising member 6. The rivets 14, 15 also serve to attach rubber, metal or plastics feet 14A, 15A to the bottom of the mat. The two rivets of each pair 14, 15 are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction so that the feet 14A, 15A lie at the four corners of the rectangular stabilising member 6 and can support the mat stably when it is folded up to form a bag (Figure 9) . It will be appreciated that other methods of securing the straps 7 , 8 to the mat or to the stabilising member 6 may be employed, as, for example, in the embodiments described previously.
Carrying straps or handles 20, 21 are provided at the opposite ends of the padded body 1 of the mat, so that the two handles 20, 21 come together to facilitate carrying of the mat when it is folded up to form a bag. Alternatively, a single carrying handle 20 may be provided at one end of the mat. A pocket 22 is provided in the upper surface of the casing 4, in the lower half of the mat, the pocket being open towards the bottom edge of the mat. The pocket 22, which is formed by a plastics sheet welded or stitched along three edges to the casing 4 , is intended to receive clean baby clothes or nappies when the mat is folded up to form a bag, keeping them separate from soiled clothes which can be carried in the main body of the bag. A compartment 23 is formed by stitched or welded seams in the pocket 22 for the purpose of holding a baby's feeding bottle in an upright position when the mat is folded up to form a bag.
A pair of tabs 24, 25 provided with rings 26 , 27 are affixed to the two corners of the mat at one-erid, for releasably attaching a shoulder strap (not shown) for carrying the bag or for releasably attaching the bag to the handles of a perainbula or or push-chair.
AMENDED CLAIMS[received by the International Bureau on 14 January 1985 (14.01.85); original claims 1-18 replaced by amended claims 1-15 (4 pages)]
1. (Amended) A portable baby changing mat coirprising a flexible padded body (1) intended to be used on any flat substantially horizontal surface and provided with means for resisting lateral movement of a baby lying on the upper, working surface of the mat, characterised in that:
the mat further comprises a substantially rigid transverse stabilising member (6) incorporated in or located below the mat and extending across the full width of the mat but with a limited extent along the length of the mat, and in that the means for resisting lateral movement of a baby comprise a harness or straps (7, 8) anchored directly or indirectly to the transverse member (6) or to the working surface of the mat and arranged to be secured around the chest of a baby lying on its back on the mat to hold the baby on the mat, so that the baby is prevented from rolling the mat or itself over sideways by the transverse stabilising member (6).
2.(Original Claim 3,amended) A baby changing mat according to to Claim 1 , characterised in that the harness or straps (7,8) are releasably connected to anchorages attached to the mat.
3. (Original Claim 5, amended) A baby changingmat according to Claim 2, in which the anchorages for the straps (7, 8) or harness are secured to the stabilising member (6).
4. (original Claim 9, amended) A baby changing mat according to Claim 1 , characterised in that the restraining straps ( 7 , 8 ) are anchored to the transverse member ( 6 ) by rivets , stitches or other anchoring means passing through the mat to attach the straps to the working surface of the mat.
5. (Original Claim 10) A baby changing mat according to Claim 1 , characterised in that the restraining straps
( 7 , 8 ) are formed by the ends of a single strip or separate strips welded, stitched or otherwise attached to the working surface of the mat ( 4 ) .
6. (Original Claim 11) A baby changing mat according to Claim 1 , characterised in that the restraining straps
( 7, 8 ) are attached directly to the said transverse member ( 6 ) and pass through the working surface of the mat.
7. (Original Claim 13) A baby changing mat according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the mat has a padded central working area ( 2 ) , characterised in that the padded area ( 2 ) has a region of increased thickness in the part on which the baby ' s head rests in use of the mat.
8. (Original Claim 14) A baby changing mat according to any one of the preceding claims , characterised in that the mat is provided on its working surface with at least one pocket ( 22 ) for receiving spare baby clothes or nappies .
9. (Original Claim 15) A baby changing mat according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the mat is designed to be folded upwardly along fold lines (16, 17) on both sides of the transverse stabilising, member (6) to form the side walls of a carrier bag when the mat is not in use, releasable fastener means (18,19) being provided for interconnecting the longitudinal side edges of the mat when the latter is so folded, the transverse stabilising member (6) then serving as a base for the bag.
10. (Original Claim 16,amended) A baby changing mat according to Claim 9, characterised in that each of the restraining straps (7, 8) is anchored to the substantially rigid transverse member (6) by two press studs or rivets (14) spaced apart longitudinally of the mat, the four studs or rivets serving as or attaching feet(16, 17) on which the mat may rest when it is folded to form a carrier bag.
11. (Original Claim 17) A baby changing mat according to Claim 9 or Claim 10, characterised in that a carrying strap or handle (20) is provided at one or both ends of the mat, facilitating carrying of the latter when folded to forma bag.
12.(Original Claim 18) A baby changing mat according to Claim 9, Claim 10 or Claim 11, including attachments
(26, 27) at one end of the mat for releasably attaching a carrying strap or for releasably suspending the mat when the latter is folded up to form a bag.
13. (New) A device for stabilizing a portable baby changing mat, and for holding a baby on the mat, characterised in that the device comprises a substantially rigid transverse stabilising member (6) which is intended to be placed below the mat to extend across the full width of the mat, and a harness or straps (7, 8) anchored to the stabilising member (6) , the straps being such that they can be secured around the chest of a baby lying on its back on the mat to hold the baby on the mat, so that the baby is prevented from rolling the mat or itself over sideways by the transverse stabilising member (6) in use of the device.
PCT/GB1984/000283 1983-09-17 1984-08-16 Baby changing mat WO1985001197A1 (en)
GB8324920 1983-09-17
GB838324920A GB8324920D0 (en) 1983-09-17 1983-09-17 Baby changing safety and restraining harness
GB838326407A GB8326407D0 (en) 1983-09-17 1983-10-03 Baby changing mat
GB8326407 1983-10-03
GB8327917 1983-10-19
GB838327917A GB8327917D0 (en) 1983-09-17 1983-10-19 Baby changing mat
WO1985001197A1 true WO1985001197A1 (en) 1985-03-28
PCT/GB1984/000283 WO1985001197A1 (en) 1983-09-17 1984-08-16 Baby changing mat
AU (1) AU573258B2 (en)
IT (2) IT8467894D0 (en)
FR2714280A1 (en) * 1993-12-23 1995-06-30 Siep Sarl Accessory bath type mattress or cushion provided for receiving, lying or sitting, a child.
WO2001065980A1 (en) * 2000-03-08 2001-09-13 Kibble Anthony W Baby restraint arrangement
AU2002304978B2 (en) * 2001-06-06 2007-08-16 Margareth Thullan Lillebeth Curran Child support device
JP2005124639A (en) * 2003-10-21 2005-05-19 Aprica Kassai Inc Baby mat
NO20045143A (en) * 2004-11-25 2006-02-06 Margrethe Alnes Mattress with turn-up edges for storing baby in parents bed
TWM345538U (en) * 2007-11-09 2008-12-01 Apex Medical Corp Air mattress with rim-protection components
NL1036004C2 (en) * 2008-10-01 2009-08-19 Jasper Voorn Mat for child, has suction cups and hook and look fastener strip to be worn on chest of child, and safety net attached to front side of mat at different heights by strips, where strips are attached to mat by hooks
FR2947708B1 (en) * 2009-07-09 2011-06-17 Pascale Malet Safety change mattress
1983-09-17 GB GB838324920A patent/GB8324920D0/en active Pending
1983-10-03 GB GB838326407A patent/GB8326407D0/en active Pending
1983-10-19 GB GB838327917A patent/GB8327917D0/en active Pending
1984-08-16 WO PCT/GB1984/000283 patent/WO1985001197A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
1984-08-16 US US06/942,956 patent/US4712258A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
1984-08-16 AU AU33108/84A patent/AU573258B2/en not_active Ceased
1984-08-16 EP EP84903077A patent/EP0157785A1/en not_active Withdrawn
1984-09-10 IT IT8467894A patent/IT8467894D0/en unknown
1984-09-10 IT IT8453796U patent/IT8453796V0/en unknown
WO2001049151A1 (en) 2000-01-07 2001-07-12 Virginia Mary Rabbitts Baby changing mats
EP0157785A1 (en) 1985-10-16
GB8326407D0 (en) 1983-11-02
AU573258B2 (en) 1988-06-02
US4712258A (en) 1987-12-15
IT8453796V0 (en) 1984-09-10
AU3310884A (en) 1985-04-11
IT8467894D0 (en) 1984-09-10
GB8327917D0 (en) 1983-11-23
GB8324920D0 (en) 1983-10-19
Ref document number: 1984903077
1990-04-20 WWW Wipo information: withdrawn in national office