Abstract:
A foldable diaper changing station basically comprising a main frame, a substantially “π” shaped primary supporting assembly, a secondary supporting assembly, a substantially “

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    U.S. provisional patent application with U.S. APPLICATION NUMBER of 61/833,711, filed on Jun. 11, 2013. The NAME OF APPLICANT is Chunguang Kong, the TITLE OF INVENTION is Foldable Diaper Changing Station. The current application is for the nonprovisional patent for the same invention. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention relates to a foldable diaper changing station which provides a convenient means for changing diapers and related cleaning process. 
         [0005]    Babies usually don&#39;t know how to co-operate during diaper changing. They will not lie on pads stilly, and particularly, they won&#39;t raise their legs to let their guardians or babysitters to do the cleaning work on them. Usual diaper changing pads/stations only restrain babies&#39; bodies on pads but not support their legs. This invention provides a convenient means to restrain babies&#39; body as well as support/restrain their legs during the diaper changing and cleaning process. It is also structurally simple and foldable and therefore easy to be carried. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    This invention is about a diaper changing station comprising a substantially flat main frame that has at least two opposite side frames with pluralities of connecting or fixing elements on each of them, two sets of supporting assemblies pivotally connected with each other and one of them pivotally connected with the main frame, a constraint assembly rotationally connected with the one of the supporting assemblies, a pad or membrane attached to the main frame to support the person who needs diaper changing, a safety belt attached on the main frame or the membrane/pad to restrain the person on the station and a packing belt to secure the station in unfolding status. 
         [0007]    The primary supporting assembly has two opposite legs that connected by a beam at up ends. One or two rollers may rotationally attach on the beam. The secondary supporting assembly also has two opposite legs connected by a beam. A basically “         ” shaped restraint assembly connects the two legs of the primary or secondary supporting assembly and may rotate to and stay at several different positions. A pair of rollers may rotationally attach to the bottom beam of aforesaid restraint assembly. The primary and secondary supporting assemblies are pivotally connected together for moving between folding and unfolding positions. The primary supporting assemblies is also pivotally connected with the main frame by one pair of feet. In the folding position, the two supporting assemblies and the restrain assembly are folded towards the main frame to form a substantially flat structure, while in the unfolding position, all those components are unfolded away from each other and the bottom of the secondary supporting assembly is positioned on the connection/fixing elements on aforesaid side frames of the main frame to stabilize the unfolding structure. 
         [0008]    A method has been developed for using this invention: first, the foldable diaper station may be adjusted according to the size of the person who needs diaper changing, including the connecting positions between different components and the length of the legs of the primary and secondary supporting assembly, if applicable, and then put on a safe surface in folding status. Next, the baby may be laid on the membrane/pad with his/her legs resting on the rollers (or beam if no roller attached) on the restraint assembly and the primary supporting assembly, with his/her body secured by the safety belt. After the diaper released, the restraint assembly may be rotated upwards to separate the legs of the baby on the station, and then the primary supporting assembly may be raised up and the bottom of the secondary supporting assembly may be positioned in the right connecting/fixing elements on the side frames of the main frame to stabilize the unfolding status. Now the legs of the baby have been raised and separated and the diaper changing and cleaning work can be conducted easily. After the changing and cleaning work completed, the aforesaid procedure may be reversed to release the baby from the foldable diaper changing station. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0009]    The objectives, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. It should be clear that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the description herein and it is also important to understand that the drawing, phraseology and terminology used herein is only for the purpose of description but not of limitation. Modifications and variations may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the following description. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating the invention in unfolding status; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a top view illustrating the invention in folding status; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a side view illustrating the invention in unfolding status; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a side view illustrating the invention in folding status; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a longitudinal section diagram illustrating the structure of the primary supporting assembly and its connection with the main frame; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a front (or back) view illustrating the structure of the restraint assembly and its connection with the primary supporting assembly; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram illustrating the structure of one connection element may be used for the connection of the restraint assembly and the primary assembly; 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a front (or back) view illustrating the structure of the secondary supporting assembly. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    Referring  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings, the diaper changing station  10  generally comprises a main frame  100 , a primary supporting assembly  200 , a restraint assembly  300 , a second supporting assembly  400  and a membrane/pad  500 . The primary supporting assembly  200  pivotally connects with the side frame  110  of the main frame  100  by one pair of its ends. The restraint assembly  300  rotationally connects to the corresponding legs of the primary supporting assembly  200  by its bottom portion (in another embodiment of this design, the restraint assembly  300  rotationally connects to the corresponding legs of the secondary supporting assembly  400  by its bottom portion). The secondary supporting assembly  400  pivotally connects to the corresponding legs of the primary supporting assembly  200  by its up ends. The membrane/pad  500  attaches to the main frame  100  to form a supporting platform. A safety belt  510  attached on the membrane/pad  500  to help to restrain the person on the aforesaid membrane/pad  500 . A packing belt  600  may also be included to connect the bottom of the main frame  100  and the beam of either primary supporting assembly  200  or the restraint assembly  300  in folding status to stabilize the compact structure. 
         [0019]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  4 , the shape of the main frame  100  is preferably rectangular ( FIG. 2 ), but can also be oval, triangle and other shapes, in which at least two opposite side beams  110  can be defined. At least one pivotal connection element  111  is mounted on each side frame  110 , which connects with the primary supporting assembly  200  ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ). The pivotal connection element  111  may be relocated on multi-positions on side frame  110 . There are also plurality of reception elements  112  (a slot, for example) on each side beam  110  of the main frame  100  ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ), which are able to hold the bottom of the secondary assembly  400  in unfolding status ( FIG. 3 ). There may also be a holding element  113  on side frame  110  that can hold the legs of secondary supporting assembly  400  in folding status ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ). In unfolding status, the primary supporting assembly  200 , the restraint assembly  300 , the secondary supporting assembly  400  and the side frame  110  of the main frame  100  form an extended structure with the bottom of the secondary supporting assembly  400  positioned in the reception elements  112  ( FIG. 3 ). In folding status, the primary supporting assembly  200 , the secondary supporting assembly  400 , the restraint assembly  300  and the main frame  100  are roughly parallel to each other to form a compact structure ( FIG. 4 ). 
         [0020]      FIG. 5  illustrates the structure of one embodiment of the primary supporting assembly  200  and its connection with the aforesaid side frame  110 . The primary supporting assembly  200  comprises two opposite legs  201  that have two segments  210  and  220  each. Segment  210  and segment  220  are sliding connected together. There are plurality of pinholes  211  and  221  on leg  210  and  220  so that the two parts can be fixed on each other by the fixing element, such as a pin  260 , at different positions. One pair of ends of segments  210  pivotally connect with side beams  110  of the main frame via the pivotal connection element  111 . One pair of ends of segments  220  are connected by the beam  230 . One or two rollers  240  with soft surface rotationally attach to the beam  230 . There may be a connection element  212  on each of either parts  210  or parts  220  for connection with the secondary supporting assembly. The primary supporting assembly  200  may also has a pair of connection elements  270  attached on its leg parts  210  or  220 , which connect the restraint assembly. There may be multiple attaching positions for element  270  on parts  210  or  220  so that the restraint assembly can be connected at different positions. As indicated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the top portion of leg  201  may be bent downwards to facilitate the diaper changing process and packing of this station. In alternative embodiments of this invention, each of the legs  201  of this first supporting assembly can be a single segmental structure, and/or the beam  230  together with the rollers  240  can be omitted (not shown in drawings). 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , the frame of the restrain assembly  300  is a substantially “         ” shaped structure. It has a bottom beam  310 , a central protruding portion  320  with certain width and height, and a pair of restraint side bars  330  connected on the bottom beam  310  at positions close to ends. A pair of rollers  340  with soft surface rotationally attach on or above the bottom beam  310  between the restraint side bar  330  and the central protruding portion  320 . The size of the two concaves formed by the restraint side bar  330 , the central protruding portion  320  and the roller  340  should be big enough to hold the leg of the person who needs diaper changing. 
         [0022]    The restraint assembly  300  rotationally connects to the aforesaid primary supporting assembly  200  on its legs  201  through a specified connection element  270 , which enable as well as restrain the rotation of the restraint assembly  300 . Many mature designs can satisfy this requirement and  FIG. 7  illustrates one suitable design for the aforesaid connection. 
         [0023]    Now referring to  FIG. 7 , one embodiment of the element  270  mainly consists of two parts, the regular pivotal connection part  274  and the restraint part  271 , which substantially formed by springs  273  and cushions  272 . The connection portion of beam  310  has round axis portions that match to the aforesaid pivotal connection part  274 , and hexagonal portions that match to the restraint part  271 . Pivotal connection part  274  stand the weight comes from the restraint assembly  300  and enable its rotation, while the restraint part  271  enable the restraint assembly  300  to relatively stably stay at several positions. 
         [0024]    The foldable diaper changing station further includes a belt  600  attached on the foot end of the main frame  100 . It may tie or hook on beams of aforesaid supporting assemblies or restraint assembly to secure the folded structure of the invention. 
         [0025]    For safety purpose, all ends, corners and hard portions of the aforesaid diaper changing station may be covered by soft materials. To further protect the person from hurting by the movement of assemblies, other protection means may be applies. In the embodiment of this invention showed in these drawings, the connection of leg  201  and side beam  110  was designed to accomplish via connection element  111 , which raise the junction point to a certain height and also keep the leg  201  at a certain distance horizontally from the side beam  110  ( FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  4  and  5 ). In the case of the connection of leg  201  and leg  410  ( FIGS. 3 ,  4 , and  8 ), the element  212  lowers the junction point to a certain height but still keeps the secondary supporting assembly  400  a certain height above the side beam  110 . The aforesaid heights and distances and the size of the aforesaid holding element  113  may be determined by the size of the person&#39;s arms, legs/feet as well as the size of related components in the real products of this invention to ensure that the person won&#39;t be hurt during the movement of the assemblies and when the assemblies are being laid down towards the main frame. The shape of the element  111  and  212  may also be designed not to form sharp angels with the legs of those assemblies during their movement, and the gap between two moving parts within this junction area should be small enough to keep person&#39;s fingers out. More over, it is preferable to position the holding element  113  out of the person&#39;s reach when he/she is in position on the pad/membrane  500 . Other safety means may also be applied to this invention if necessary.