Patent Application
20190133337
The present invention is directed to devices for assisting in changing baby diapers and, more particularly, to a portable device for supporting a baby's feet while changing the baby's diaper.
Changing a baby's diaper can be a trying experience, especially for someone who does not regularly perform the chore. The challenges are often exacerbated when changing a diaper away from home where the necessary items are packed away in a diaper bag. For example, the person changing the diaper may get half way into the job only to realize that the wipes, ointment or powder are still in the diaper bag. Trying to retrieve the wipes, open the package, and extract a wipe with one hand while holding the baby's feet out of the mess with the other hand can be very difficult. Having to do that again with the ointment and then the powder can be exasperating. Letting go of the baby's feet for only a few seconds can make matters even worse, particularly with a squirming or crying infant. There is, therefore, a continuing need for a better approach to diaper changing.
The present invention may be embodied in a baby foot support for assisting in changing a baby's diaper. A base includes a suction cup for removably attaching the base to a flat surface. A support arm has a first end that connects to the base and a second end that connects to a pair of tethers. A pair of cuffs connected to the tethers removable attach around the ankles of a baby to support the baby's feet to assist in changing the baby's diaper. A range of fasteners may be utilized, such as captured or removable wing bolts. The baby support device can be folded, telescoped and/or disassembled to facilitate storing and transporting the device.
In a first example embodiment, the support includes a first bar with a channel. A first fastener attaches a first end of the first bar to a yoke of the base at various angles with respect to the base. A second fastener attaches a first end of a second bar at various positions along the channel of the first bar. The opposing end of the second bar is attached to the tethers. The second fastener allows the second bar to be attached at various angles with respect to the first bar. Another example embodiment uses a telescoping support arm.
Another illustrative configuration includes an articulating arm. This type of support arm has a first arm and a first fastener that attaches a first end of the first arm to a yoke of the base at various angles to the base. A second fastener connects a second end of the first arm to a first end of a second arm at various angles to the first arm. The tethers are attached to the opposing end of the second arm. Gear surfaces on the yoke of the base and mating gear surfaces on the first end of the first arm may be used to selectively secure the first arm at a variety of angles with respect to the base when the first fastener is tightened. Similar gear surfaces may be used at the elbow between the first and second arms.
It will be understood that specific embodiments may include a variety of features in different combinations, as desired by different users. In view of the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the present invention provides an effective yet easy to use portable baby foot support for diaper changing. The specific techniques and structures for implementing particular embodiments of the invention and accomplishing the associated advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments and the appended drawings and claims.
The numerous advantages of the invention may be better understood with reference to the accompanying figures in which:
The embodiments of the invention include a portable baby foot support with a suction cup that can be easily attached and removed from flat surfaces, such as wall and tables, to assist in changing the baby's diaper. A support arm has a first end that connects to the base and a second end that connects to a pair of tethers. A pair of cuffs connected to the tethers removable attach around the ankles of a baby to support the baby's feet to assist on changing the baby's diaper. Several types of support arms are described including a two-part arm with a sliding connection between the arms, a telescoping arm, and an articulating arm. The device can be easily folded, telescoped and/or disassembled for storing and transporting the device, for example in a diaper bag. The folding, telescoping and demountable sections may be combined with each other and with fixed support arm sections, such as a fixed section extending from the base or supporting the tethers, as a matter of design choice to make other types of support arms. A range of fasteners may be utilized, such as captured or removable wing bolts. Other alternatives and modifications may become apparent to those skilled in the art.
The first wing bolt 17 can be tightened and loosened to allow the first support bar 16 to be positioned at various angles with respect to the to the base 11. The second wing bolt 19 can be tightened and loosened to allow the second support bar 18 to be positioned at various places along the channel in the first support bar 16. The second wing bolt 19 also allows the second support bar 18 to be positioned at various angles with respect to the first support bar 16 and folded for easy stowing, for example in a diaper bag. The wing bolts may be captured to prevent them from becoming misplaced, if desired, or removable to facilitate disassembly.
To show how the baby foot support is used,
While wing bolts are inexpensive and convenient fasteners for the baby foot support, any other suitable type of fasteners may be utilized, such as thumb screws, captured bolts and wing nuts, ball detent mechanisms, push-button detent mechanisms, clip detent mechanisms, shoulder bolts, lever-operated clips, push-and-twist quick connectors, connector screws, split bolt screws, pivot joints, pinion yokes, U-bolts, J-bolts, and so forth. Although a range of materials may be utilized, certain materials are believed to be well suited for the baby foot support. For example, the suction cup base 11 may be manufactured from a durable plastic housing, such as ABS, PET, TPE, PVC, PA Nylon, Lexan and so forth. The suction cup may be made from silicon, latex, natural rubber, Nitrile, polyurethane, BENZ and so forth. The lever and linkage may be made from a durable plastic, such as those listed above, or a suitable metal, such has stainless or electroplated steel. The support arms 12, 32 and 52 and wing bolts 17, 19 may also be made from a durable plastic or metal, such as the materials listed above. The tethers may be elastic bands or cords similar to shoe laces made from any suitable material, such as cotton, polyester, acrylic, hemp, etc. The cuffs may be a plush cotton, polyester, velvet or other that soft material suitable for holding the baby's ankles. Velcro, elastic, snaps, clips or other fasteners may be used as a matter of design choice.
In view of the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the present invention provides significant improvements devices to assist in baby diaper changing. The foregoing relates only to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and that numerous changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.
