One or more portions of this disclosure contain material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner makes no objection to reproduction by anyone of this disclosure as disclosed in the Patent and Trademark Office files, record, or the like. Otherwise, the copyright owner reserves any and all copyright rights whatsoever for this patent disclosure. 37 CFR 1.71(d).
The following information may be useful in a better understanding of this disclosure. Please note that information contained in this section is not an admission that the information provided is material or prior art to this disclosure or as described in claimed disclosure, or that any publication or document that is specifically, implicitly or otherwise referenced is prior art.
1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure relates generally to the field of diaper changing pads and more specifically relates to a novel diaper changing pad including a light source which can or cannot be detachable.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional diaper changing pads include pads, straps, support cushions, changing valets and the like.
For example, conventional diaper changing technologies include:
(1) a baby pad and mattress with a strap disposed in the middle of the mat, e.g., USD 436281; and an infant support cushion including a V-shaped mat (or a pad with triangular sides) as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,125,487;
(2) a lamp used in diaper changing devices, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,810,181 and US20060163236 both have lights close to the head of a baby and may include an aroma diffuser and a music playing device; and US20140311843 that has a night light on an edge of a case; and CN203000132U having two lights pointing at a baby's feet and not hurting a baby's eyes;
(3) a folding case having a diaper pad and lights disposed on a side of a case used for entertainment, such as U.S. Pat. No. 8,400,300 B2;
(4) a forced air dryer as part of a baby's diaper changing process, such as U.S. Pat. Nob. 6,928,235 B2;
(5) phototherapy lights including a plurality of blue lights, such as US20080116401, and CN203777515 U, used for neonatal jaundice treatment of baby;
(6) a bottom plate of a baby incubator has a warm light, such as CN203777515 U;
(7) a plumber's support pillow including a support cushion to provide light in front of a person, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,305,728 B2, working under a sink in a cabinet;
(8) a bottom plate of an incubator, e.g., CN203802728 U, has a warm light arranged on a base plate of the incubator (in a corner of the incubator) and can provide illumination when changing diapers; and
(9) beds or mattresses are provided with lights such as night light(s), such as CN202020099U, CN203882566 U, U.S. Pat. No. 4,220,984 A, U.S. Pat. No. 2,290,866, CN203915309U, and CN2907407Y.
None of the above disclosures and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the disclosure as claimed. Thus, a need exists for an improved diaper pad having any or all the following attributes, e.g., less complexity, e.g., less parts, improved diaper changing capability, e.g., longer life, better illumination, and additional features or options, or the like, e.g., provides entertainment or fun environment, within a more convenient means and ideally a smaller footprint means, e.g., compact sized design, while changing diapers and to reduce or avoid many of the above-mentioned problems.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known diaper changing pads, the present disclosure provides a novel diaper changing pad including illumination. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a specially designed diaper changing pad having illumination near a foot end of the pad.
In one aspect, a diaper changing pad is disclosed including a main body having a head end, a foot end, and marginal side edges. At least one light source is coupled to or integrated within the diaper changing pad proximal to the foot end.
In another aspect, a diaper changing pad is disclosed including a main body having a head end and a foot end and marginal side edges. At least one light source is coupled to or integrated within a lower half of the main body including the foot end.
In another aspect, a diaper changing pad is disclosed including a main body having a head end and a foot end and marginal side edges. The marginal side edges can be simply flat or they can be contoured bolsters to help centering the baby. The at least one light source can be coupled to or integrated within a lower region of the main body including the foot end, and/or coupled to or integrated within the marginal side edges.
The present disclosure holds significant improvements and serves as a diaper changing pad having a light source. As described herein, it is to be understood that not necessarily advantages, and novel features may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the disclosure. Thus, the disclosure can be embodied or carried out in a manner that optimizes or achieves one or a group thereof of advantages as taught herein without achieving many or all advantages as may be taught or suggested. Features of the disclosure which are believed to be novel are distinctly claimed in the specification. It should be noted that the drawing figures may be in simplified form and might not be to precise scale. In reference to the disclosure herein, for purposes of convenience and clarity only, directional terms such as top, bottom, left, right, up, down, over, above, below, beneath, rear, front, distal, and proximal are used with respect to the accompanying drawings. Such directional terms should not be construed to limit the scope of the embodiment in any manner
The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the present disclosure of a contoured diaper changing pad 100 according to the teachings of the present disclosure.
The various embodiments of the present disclosure will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.
As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to the field of diaper changing pads and more specifically relates to a novel diaper changing pad with illumination where the illumination piece can or cannot be a detachable accessory.
Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference there is shown in
Referring now to
One contemplated novel feature is to have at least one light source 118 disposed on the top surface of the diaper changing pad 100, wherein the light source 118 faces upward and is preferably flush with the top surface of the diaper changing pad 100 for ease of cleaning. In one contemplated embodiment, the light source 118 is not a spot light but an ambient light, so as not to cause discomfort to the person who is changing diaper on the baby and also facing the light source 118.
Advantageously, in some embodiments, the at least one light source 118 can includes a series of spaced-apart, recessed LED lights 120 integrated on (or coupled to, or detachably attached to) an approximately 50% lower portion 122 of the marginal side edges 108 extended proximally the foot end 106. Advantageously, by having light emitted at sides from marginal side edges 108, when changing the baby 101, the diaper does not block the light. In some embodiments, the at least one light source 118 integrated (or coupled to, or detachably attached to) includes a light source 118 disposed approximately at a lower half 128 from a mid-line position 126 of the main body 102 including the foot end 106.
In one exemplary embodiment, as illustrated most notably in
Although the above embodiments specifically requires a series of spaced-apart, recessed LED lights, it should be noted that any types of known illuminating elements (e.g., incandescent light bulbs, or other non-LED light) in any shapes or sizes (e.g., light strips, single light, light bars) are also contemplated in the above and below described embodiments.
As illustrated throughout this disclosure, the at least one light source 118 may be recessed, flat, cylindrical, spaced apart, elongated, or the like and may be located on at least one of the foot end 106, the head end 104, and the marginal side edges 108, for example, along a 50% lower portion 122, of the main body 10.
The security straps 110 may be made of nylon, cloth, fabric, rubber, composite material or the like and may have various length(s), width(s), and thickness(es), and various fastening means, e.g., attaching apparatus 147, as necessary to conform to the main body 102 and so that the baby 101 can be safely and comfortably secured thereto.
In some embodiments, as most notably illustrated in
The main body 102 may be various length(s), width(s), and height(s) that are necessary for comfort and security of the baby 101, for example, in accordance with room, surrounding, ambient conditions, size, length, and age of the baby, or the like.
In one exemplary example: the at least one light source 118 recessed includes a DIA =approximately 139.7 mm diameter and DEPTH=approximately 31.78 recess depth; the security straps 110 are SL (strap left)=approximately 444 mm in length and SR (strap right)=approximately 244 mm in length, and SW=approximately 25.44 mm in width; and the main body 102 include ML=approximately 787 mm in length and MW=approximately 406 mm in width and MH=approximately 101 mm in height.
In one example, most notably illustrated in
In some embodiments, a contoured, semi-light transparent, patterned hood 130 is utilized having an edge 132 extended and attached proximal to the foot end 106.
As most notably illustrated in
Advantageously, the contoured, semi-light transparent, hood 130 covers a portion of light emitted from the at least one light source 118. Advantageously, the contoured, semi-light transparent, hood 130 redirects light from the at least one light source 118 positioned approximately two thirds a distance 134 from a mid-line position 138 of the main body 102 proximal to the foot end 106.
Furthermore, as most notably illustrated in
In yet another embodiment, the semi-light transparent, hood 130 is located near the head end 104 and redirects light from the at least one light source 118 away from a user that stands near the foot end 106. There is an additional light source disposed at the foot end to illuminate the baby's bottom.
In yet another embodiment, the semi-light transparent, hood 130 can be detachably or permanently coupled to the diaper changing pad 100 at any desired location so to projects thorough its outer surface an after dark constellation scene 140 on a ceiling 142 of a room or a nursery at a user's choice.
In some embodiments, as most notably illustrated in
In some embodiments, as most notably illustrated in
In some embodiments, as most notably illustrated in
As discussed previously, the at least one light source 118, 152, 154 can include accent lighting, tasking lighting, ambient lighting, and directional lighting.
In some embodiments, as most notably illustrated in
In some embodiments, the bendable, hidden, retractable arm 146 including the at least one light source 118, is attached at a foot end 106 to the pad 100 by any attaching apparatus 147, for example, a clip, a magnet, a hook and loop fastener, or the like, for retraction, storage, and extending capability into an out of the main body 102, and the attaching apparatus 147 is not limited to the examples provided herein.
In some embodiments, the bendable, hidden, retractable arm 148 attached at the head end 104 to the pad 100 by any attaching apparatus 147, for example, a clip, a magnet, a hook and loop fastener, or the like, for retraction, storage, and extending capability into an out of the main body 102, and the attaching apparatus 147 is not limited to the examples provided herein.
In some embodiments, the at least one light source 152 including an extended light bar 151, spaced part LED display 149, or a like, and is positioned approximately along the foot end 106.
For example, the at least one light sources 118, 152, 154 includes accent lighting, tasking lighting, ambient lighting, and directional lighting.
In some embodiments, for example, as most notably illustrated in
Another aspect of the invention relates to a detachable accessory to a diaper changing pad 100. Any of the above described light sources (i.e., light bar, light bulbs, series of LED lights, light on a retractable arm, light with a hood illuminating a constellation) can be a standalone accessory that can be placed on, inserted into, adhere to, coupled to, or wedged under, any known diaper changing pad.
Referring now to
The body portion 246 can be coupled to a base 255 that forwardly extends and is capable of wedging (or sliding) under the diaper changing pad 102 as shown in
Referring now to
In other contemplated embodiments, the hood 218 as shown in
Any embodiments of the standalone light accessory described herein can be powered by batteries, a power cord, or have recharging capabilities.
In yet another embodiment, the standalone accessory can having any mobile kit such as toy mobile, and musical mobile, as an alternative to, or in addition to, having a light source 218.
Thus far the embodiments of the standalone accessory are disclosed to be capable of being placed on, or wedged under, the diaper changing pad. In other embodiments, the standalone accessory can be detachably attached to the diaper changing pad 102 by any known methods such as by clips, by VELCRO adhesive tapes, and by clamps.
The turning on and off of the light source in any of the herein disclosed embodiments including the standalone accessories can be by any known switches 192, and can include proximity sensors, infrared sensors, or weight sensors. In one embodiment, when a baby is placed on the diaper changing pad, the weight sensor detects it and turns on the light source.
Throughout this specification, a diaper changing pad is sometimes described as a contoured diaper changing pad. It should be specifically noted that various shapes of the diaper changing pad are contemplated, whether with a contour top surface or without a contour top surface.
It is especially contemplated that an electronic audio device 195 can be included in any of the disclosed embodiments. This audio device 195 can include speakers to transmit sound (white noise, music, simulated sound from a mother's womb, etc.) to the baby. The content of the transmission can be made available by any known methods such as downloading, streaming, recording, rebroadcasting from an audio source via wireless transmission (e.g., BLUETOOTH), or a pre-recording embedded by the manufacturer. The location of the audio device 195 is contemplated to be anywhere on the diaper changing pad, or anywhere on the standalone accessory. Preferably, the audio device 195 is located on the top surface of the diaper changing pad near both sides of the baby's head.
Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as user requirements or wishes, design considerations, marketing preferences, cost(s), structural requirement(s), available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods of use arrangements such as, for example, orders within above-mentioned list that are different, eliminated and/or additional steps, including or eliminating, for example, procedure, process, and/or maintenance step(s), etc., may be sufficient.
It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the disclosed concepts herein. The embodiment, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context.
In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced. Insubstantial changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, and as described herein are expressly contemplated as being equivalent within the scope of the claims and understood by those knowledgeable in the art. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements and the reading of the specification as described herein.
The claims are thus to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually equivalent, what can be obviously substituted and also what essentially incorporates the essential idea of the embodiment. In addition, where the specification and claims refer to at least one of something selected from the group consisting of A, B, C . . . and N, the text should be interpreted as requiring only one element from the group, not A plus N, or B plus N, etc.
This application claims priority to and incorporates by reference in its entirety provisional application No. 62/245,187 filed on Oct. 22, 2015, by the same inventor(s).
Number | Date | Country | |
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62245187 | Oct 2015 | US |