Baby changing stations are widely used, especially in public facilities. Conventional baby changing stations generally have a base that is mounted vertically onto a wall and a support platform that is hingedly mounted directly to the base. Typically, the base and platform are formed from a resinous or plastic material and react a majority, if not all, of the loads that the baby changing station is exposed to. Conventional baby changing stations are sufficiently strong to support the weight of a baby or a toddler. However, when excess weight is placed on such stations, as for example when an adult exerts his or her own weight on the changing station or when two children are placed on the baby changing station, the weight limits of a baby changing station may be exceeded and the baby changing station may fail, possibly causing injury to those being supported by it. Therefore, stronger baby changing stations capable of withstanding excess loads are desired.
In an exemplary embodiment, a baby supporting device is provided including a frame having a base portion for mounting onto a wall, a platform portion pivotally coupled to the base portion, the platform portion including a first rotatable section and two spaced apart arms extending from the first rotatable section, the first rotatable section rotating about a longitudinal axis. The device also includes a bracket coupled to the base portion, such that the bracket surrounds at least a portion of and supports the platform portion first rotatable section and allows the platform portion first rotatable section to rotate within the bracket relative to the bracket about the longitudinal axis, whereby rotation of the first rotatable section causes the platform portion to pivot relative to said base portion. The device also requires a first stop member extending from the first rotatable section, and a second stop member extending from the base portion, where the second stop member is engageable by the first stop member for stopping the rotation of the first rotatable section in a first direction. Moreover, the device requires a base covering at least a portion of the base portion, and a platform for supporting the baby extending over at least a portion of the frame platform portion. In a further exemplary embodiment, the device also includes an actuator connected to the base portion and the platform portion for providing a force for urging the platform portion to rotate toward the base portion. In yet another exemplary embodiment, the second stop member is an arcuate member, the frame platform portion first rotatable section is a tubular member, and the arcuate second stop member is connected to the tubular member outer surface. In yet another exemplary embodiment, the platform includes a first portion defining a supporting surface for supporting the baby and a second portion, wherein the arms are sandwiched between the first and second platform portions. In yet a further exemplary embodiment, each of the arms is a plate extending along a generally vertical plane. In a further exemplary embodiment, the device includes another bracket coupled to the base portion, the another bracket being spaced apart from the bracket and surrounding at least a portion of and supporting the platform portion first rotatable section and allowing the platform portion first rotatable section to rotate relative to the another bracket. In an exemplary embodiment, each bracket is generally U-shaped. In yet another exemplary embodiment, the second stop member engages the first stop member at a location which is at a level not above and not below the first rotatable section.
In another exemplary embodiment, a baby supporting device is provided including a frame having a base portion for mounting onto a wall, a platform portion pivotally coupled to the base portion, the platform portion including a first rotatable section and two spaced apart arms extending from the first rotatable section, the first rotatable section penetrating the base portion and rotating about a longitudinal axis. The device also has a first stop member extending from the first rotatable section, and a second stop member extending from the base portion, where the second stop member is engageable by the first stop member for stopping the rotation of the first rotatable section in a first direction. The device also includes a base covering at least a portion of said base portion, and a platform for supporting the baby extending over at least a portion of the frame platform portion. In an further exemplary embodiment, the second stop member engages the first stop member at a location which is at a level not above and not below the first rotatable section.
In another exemplary embodiment, a method is provided for mounting a baby changing station to wall. The method includes providing a frame first member, mounting the first member to the wall, mounting a baby support surface on a frame second member, and connecting the frame second member to the frame first member, whereby the second member can rotate relative to the first member for rotation of the support surface relative to the first member. In another exemplary embodiment, the method further includes connecting an actuator to the first member, and connecting the actuator to the second member. In yet another exemplary embodiment, connecting includes mounting brackets onto the first member for supporting the second member.
In a further exemplary embodiment, a baby supporting device is provided including a frame including a first portion and a second portion rotatably coupled to the first portion, a cover covering the first portion, and a platform including a first piece defining a bed for receiving a baby. The first piece includes a peripheral edge and a shoulder formed proximate the peripheral edge. The device also includes a second piece coupled to the first piece, wherein at least part of the frame second portion is sandwiched between the first and second pieces. The second piece includes a peripheral edge adjacent the first shoulder, a depression, and a second shoulder. The device also includes a trim piece. The trim piece includes a projection received in the depression and a third shoulder proximate the second shoulder. In yet a further exemplary embodiment, the third shoulder engages the second shoulder and wherein when the third shoulder engages the second shoulder and the projection is received in the depression, a tension is created between the third shoulder and the projection for retaining the trim piece on the second piece. In another exemplary embodiment, the trim piece includes a peripheral edge extending beyond the first shoulder in a direction away from the second piece.
In another exemplary embodiment, a baby supporting device is provided including a frame including a first portion and a second portion rotatably coupled to the first portion, a cover covering the first portion, and a platform including, a depression, and a second shoulder. The device also includes and a trim piece including a projection received in the depression and a third shoulder proximate the second shoulder. In yet another exemplary embodiment, the third shoulder engages the second shoulder and wherein when the third shoulder engages the second shoulder and the projection is received in the depression, tension is created between the third shoulder and the projection for retaining the trim piece on the second piece.
In the following description, only certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention are shown and described by way of illustration. As those skilled in the art would recognize, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited only to the embodiments set forth herein.
It should be noted that the terms “upper” and “lower” as used herein are terms used to denote the relative position of objects and not necessarily the exact position of such objects. For example, a “lower” object may in certain situations be located over an “upper” object.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a baby changing station (“BCS”) is provided that includes a frame. The frame includes a base portion and a platform portion. The frame platform portion is pivotally coupled to the frame base portion. The frame in an exemplary embodiment is formed from metallic materials. However, in other embodiments, it may be formed from other high strength materials, such as composite materials. The frame base portion is mountable onto a wall. A cover is mounted over the base frame portion. Such cover may be mounted to the base frame portion directly and/or to the wall. A platform is mounted over the frame platform portion.
An exemplary BCS of the present invention includes a frame 10 having frame base portion 12 and frame platform portion 14, as shown in
A member 38, 38′ referred to herein as a “support member” extends from each of the lateral members 16, 16′, respectively. In the shown exemplary embodiment, each of these members is a flat panel which may be welded or otherwise attached to its corresponding lateral member or may be integrally formed with its corresponding lateral member. For example, the member 38, 38′ may be part of the lateral member 16, 16′, respectively, and then bent forward, as for example shown in
In an exemplary embodiment as shown in
In an exemplary embodiment as shown in
In other exemplary embodiments, instead of a tubular main section, the frame platform portion main section may have other geometric shapes in cross-section. For example, the main section may be polygonal in cross-section as viewed along a vertical plane. In such case, the section may have to be modified in the areas that it is supported by the brackets 54 so as to allow it to rotate relative to the brackets.
A stop member 68, 68′ is attached to each of the support members 38, 38′. In an exemplary embodiment, the stop members 68, 68′ may be welded or otherwise attached to the support members or may be formed integrally with the support members. It should be noted that in an exemplary embodiment, the brackets 54, 54′ are attached to exterior surfaces of the support members 38, 38′. With this exemplary embodiment, the stop members 68, 68′ are attached to the interior surfaces of their respective support members 38, 38′. In other exemplary embodiments, this arrangement may be reversed where the brackets are attached to the interior surfaces of the support members and the stop members are attached to the exterior surfaces. In yet a further exemplary embodiment, a bracket may be attached to an exterior surface of one support member while the other bracket is attached to an interior surface of the other support member, and the stop members are attached to their respective opposite surfaces.
Stop brackets 70 and 70′ are attached or otherwise formed on the main section 40 of the frame platform portion so as to be able to make contact with a stop surface 72, (72′ not shown) of the stop members 68, 68′. In an exemplary embodiment as shown in
In an exemplary embodiment, an actuator 67 is mounted at one end on the bracket 62, attached to the main section 40 and at the other end on the bracket 65 extending from the transverse member 18. The actuator provides a force to rotate the frame platform portion to the first position (i.e., the closed position) generally parallel to the frame base portion. Typically, the actuator has a housing 69 from which extends a housing bracket 71 having an opening. A pin 73 is fitted through such opening and through an opening formed on the bracket 65 to pivotable couple the base to the housing bracket. A piston extends into the housing and has an arm 75 having an opening. A pin 77 is fitted through this opening and an opening formed on the bracket 62 coupling the arm and thus, the actuator to the bracket 62. In this regard, as the frame platform portion is moved toward the frame base portion, the actuator provides a force on the bracket 62, pushing the bracket downward and causing the frame platform portion to rotate upward toward a closed position. As such, the actuator provides a self-closing function to the BCS, in that as the platform is rotated from the open position toward the closed position, the actuator exerts a force to smoothly close the BCS by moving the platform to the closed position relative to the base. In an exemplary embodiment, the actuator is a gas piston and is positioned such that when the platform is moved from an open position, relatively perpendicular to the base, to a position of about 45° relative to the base. The actuator also ensures that the platform does not rotate from the closed position toward the open position without the exertion of an external force, as for example a force applied by a user to open the platform relative to the base. With this exemplary embodiment, a force must be applied to rotate the platform more than 45° from the base. In an exemplary embodiment, an actuator is made Stabilus GmbH. These actuators are sometimes referred to in the industry as shocks in that they also act as shock absorbers.
In an exemplary embodiment, the frame base portion is mounted onto a wall. The frame base portion may be bolted onto a wall or otherwise fastened or attached to a wall using other fasteners and/or adhesives. A base cover 100 forming the base is mounted over the frame so as to hide the frame. The base cover may be mounted onto the frame or may be mounted directly onto the wall. In an exemplary embodiment, the frame base portion is placed against the wall, and the base cover is then placed over the frame base portion. Fasteners are then used to fasten the base cover onto the frame through fastener openings 102 and onto the wall (
A platform 106 in an exemplary embodiment is formed in two pieces, an upper piece 108 and a lower piece 110. The upper piece has an external surface 112 defining a support surface 114. On its inner surface 116, the upper piece defines a gap 120 for receiving the frame platform portion. In the exemplary embodiment, where the base cover covers the portion 104 of the frame platform portion main member, the remaining portion of the frame platform portion is received in the gap 120. It should be noted that the gap may be a groove or defined by spaced apart structures as for example pegs 122 which are spaced apart from ribs 124. In an exemplary embodiment, the gap has a width that varies as necessary for accommodating the various portions of the frame platform portion with minimal sideway play. In another exemplary embodiment, the gap may be defined entirely on the lower piece, or entirely on the upper piece, or partly on each of the upper and lower pieces. In another exemplary embodiment, a gap may or may not be used and the platform upper piece is fastened on the frame platform portion using fasteners or by having features that would allow it to snap onto the frame platform portion. The lower piece 110 may in an exemplary embodiment be fastened to the upper piece and/or to the frame platform portion sandwiching the frame platform portion between the upper and lower pieces. In other exemplary embodiments, the two platform pieces may be “snap” fitted together. In another exemplary embodiment, the platform may be formed as a single piece that that has rear openings for receiving the frame platform portion arms. In an exemplary embodiment, the platform, whether formed in two pieces, or a single member having openings to accommodate the frame platform portion, may be formed by blow molding. The base cover may also be formed blow molded.
In another exemplary embodiment, any of the platform, platform pieces and/or the base cover may be formed by other methods such as injection molding. In other exemplary embodiments, plastics, resinous, metallic or other materials may be used to form the base cover or the platform or platform pieces.
In another exemplary embodiment, the platform upper piece 108 may be formed with a shoulder 140 proximate the peripheral edge of the upper piece. In the exemplary embodiment shown in
When mounting the trim piece on the platform lower piece, the projection(s) 154 are pushed into the depression(s) 148 of the platform lower piece while at the same time the shoulder 156 of the trim piece seats against the shoulder 151 on the platform lower piece. The distance between the shoulder 156 formed on the trim piece and the projection 154 are such that a slight tension is provided between the shoulder 156 and the projection 154 which causes the trim piece to clamp on the platform lower piece. In this regard, the trim piece easily connects to the platform lower piece by snapping onto position.
In the shown exemplary embodiment, the edge of the trim piece extends over the edge portion 152 of the platform upper piece. In the shown exemplary embodiment, a recess 160 is defined along the platform upper piece edge portion 152 which receives an edge portion 162 of the trim piece. In the shown exemplary embodiment, the trim piece extends at a distance beyond the shoulder 140 defined on the platform upper piece in a direction away from the platform lower piece.
The baby changing station of the present invention may be mounted on a wall using different approaches. In one exemplary embodiment, the frame base portion is mounted, e.g. is fastened on a wall. The platform piece(s) may then be attached to the frame platform portion and the base cover is placed over the frame base portion and fastened to the frame base portion or directly to the wall. In one exemplary embodiment, the frame platform portion is separated from the base frame base portion by unfastening the brackets 54 and 54′ from the frame base portion and by disconnecting the actuator 67, if used, from the frame platform portion, i.e., from the bracket 62 extending the base platform portion (or from the frame base portion, i.e. from the bracket 65) or from both frame portions. In another exemplary embodiment, the frame base portion is not connected to the frame platform portion. With this exemplary embodiment, the frame base portion does not have to be disconnected from the frame platform portion as the two frame portions are already disconnected.
With these embodiments, the frame base portion is fastened or otherwise attached to the wall. The platform piece or pieces are then attached to the frame platform portion forming the platform 106. The platform is then attached to the frame base portion by connecting the frame platform portion to the frame base portion by positioning the brackets 54 and 54′ around the frame platform portion main section 40 and fastening such brackets on to their corresponding support member 38, 38′ of the frame base portion. The actuator, if used in then attached to the frame portion(s) so that it is connected to both frame portions. The base cover is then fastened to the frame base portion or directly to the wall and covers the frame base portion. This exemplary embodiment makes installation easier as the installer installs the baby changing station in sections.
As can be seen in one exemplary embodiment, the frame may be mounted onto a wall by securing the frame base portion onto a wall and the base cover and the pieces forming the platform are fitted over their corresponding frame portions afterwards. In this regard when the base cover and/or platform pieces are worn or mutilated, they may be easily replaced without having to replace the frame. In other words, the base cover and platform pieces may be removed exposing the entire frame which may then be outfitted with another base cover and platform pieces.
In an exemplary embodiment, the base cover forming the base may be formed with one or more depressions 200, as for example shown in
As can be seen with the exemplary embodiment BCS, the loads applied to the BCS, for example by the weight of a baby or a person leaning on the BCS platform and all reacted onto the frame which due to its design is capable of withstanding higher loads and especially loads greater than those that are withstood by conventional baby changing stations which typically react the loads on their plastic base and platform. In this regard, the base cover and platform do not have to react the such loads. Consequently they may be formed from materials of lower strength.
Although the present invention has been described and illustrated to respect to multiple embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited, since changes and modifications may be made therein which are within the full intended scope of this invention as hereinafter claimed. For example, in another exemplary embodiment, the frame base portion may only have two lateral members as for example, members 16 and 16′ that are directly mounted onto to a wall. Support members 38 and 38′ extend from the lateral members. This embodiment does not require that the frame base portion include the transverse members.
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 12/543,173 filed on Aug. 18, 2009, which is a continuation-in-part application of application Ser. No. 12/221,918 filed on Aug. 6, 2008, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 12543173 | Aug 2009 | US |
Child | 13448167 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 12221918 | Aug 2008 | US |
Child | 12543173 | US |