Patent Application
20180168363
The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art nor material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
The present invention relates generally to the field of baby changing tables and more specifically relates to a travel changer system.
There are many times when a baby needs to have their diaper changed while on the go. Without a public changing table available, many parents and caretakers resort to changing diapers on the ground or on the seat of a car. In addition, public changing tables are commonly exposed to bacteria and germs that many parents would like to avoid. However, it can be difficult to find alternative locations for a diaper change. A baby changing table is a small raised platform designed to allow a person to change an infant/toddler's diaper, and it is often part of a nursery set. The topmost surface is used to rest the infant/toddler being changed, during the changing process. Many public restrooms have public baby changing tables available should a diaper change be required in a public place. A suitable solution is desired allowing for remote diaper changes.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,681,267 to Carmelina Hall relates to a collapsible and portable baby changing table. The described collapsible and portable baby changing table includes a collapsible and portable baby changing table having a folding frame and a changing surface. The folding frame has two sets of opposing sides. Each side has at least one pair of crossing support beams. The pair of crossing support beams is hinged where the crossing support beams cross. The crossing support beams have top ends and bottom ends. The folding frame is configured to be folded to a first position and unfolded to a second position. The changing surface is supported by the folding frame. When the folding frame is unfolded to the second position, the changing surface is contoured to cradle a baby's body when the baby is placed on the changing surface.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known baby changing tables art, the present disclosure provides a novel portable folding travel changer system. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a portable baby changing table for use in restrooms, outdoors or other areas where there is no suitable baby changing surface available.
A travel changer system is disclosed herein. The travel changer system includes a folding frame including a pair of support cross beams having a first end and a second end, a first-changing surface support beam, and a second-changing surface support beam, a changing surface, and a safety belt having a fastener. The travel changer system comprises the folding frame, the changing surface, and the safety belt in functional combination. The folding frame is defined by the pair of support cross beams, the first-changing surface support beam, and the second-changing surface support beam. The first end of the pair of support cross beams engage the first-changing surface support beam and the second-changing surface support beam. The second end of the pair of support cross beams is in contact with a planar surface during use. The folding frame is configured to support the baby at a thigh height of a user during changing and collapse for storing. The device is designed to be extremely compact and portable.
A kit is also disclosed herein including a folding frame, a changing surface, and a carrying case.
A method of using the travel changer system is disclosed herein. The method of using a travel changer system includes unfolding a folding frame, placing a baby on a changing surface coupled to the folding frame, securing the baby to the changing surface using fastener located on a safety belt, and changing the baby, collapsing the folding frame, and storing the folding frame and the changing surface.
For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.
The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, a travel changer system, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure.
The various embodiments of the present invention 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 baby changing tables and more particularly to a travel changer system as used to improve the travel changer system.
Generally, a travel changer system is disclosed which may be used in restrooms, outdoors or other areas where there are no baby changing surfaces available. The folding frame may be formed of foldable lightweight aluminum (or other suitably equivalent material) allowing the device to be folded and stored easily to increase portability while on-the-go. The frame further features safety brackets designed to hold the folding frame in an upright position until a user is finished with the changing surface. The changing surface is comprised of a canvas or otherwise suitable cloth to allow for reduced weight and easy cleaning. The changing surface may be a water-resistant, weather-resistant fabric surface for easily cleaning and wiping down. When unfolded into its upright position the changing surface is approximately thigh-height (on the average user) and offers safety and cleanliness unmatched by public baby changing surfaces. The present invention includes a light weight folding travel changer system used for parents and caregiver on the go while away from home. The device is suitable for parks, airports, and camping and provides a replacement for using a seat of a car, bed of a truck, or unclean public changer.
Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in
The travel changer system 100 comprises the folding frame 110, the changing surface 140, and the safety belt 144 in functional combination. The folding frame 110 is defined by the pair of support cross beams 120, the first-changing surface support beam 130, and the second-changing surface support beam 134. The first end 122 of the pair of support cross beams 120 engage the first-changing surface support beam 130 and the second-changing surface support beam 134. The second end 124 of the pair of support cross beams 120 is in contact with a planar surface during use. The folding frame 110 is configured to support a baby 10 at a thigh height of a user during changing and collapse for storing.
The pair of support cross beams 120 are located under the changing surface 140 when configured to use. The pair of support cross beams 120 comprise hinge members 156 and are configured in an x-shape for folding and unfolding repeatedly as desired at the hinge member 156. The pair of support cross beams 120 comprise the hinge members 156 in a middle section for folding. The hinge member 156 comprises a cross-beam pivoting hinge. The cross-beam pivoting hinge is configured to allow the pair of support cross beams 120 to move in relation to one another from a folded configuration to the in-use condition. The first end 122 of the pair of support cross beams 120 are disposed inset to four corners of the changing surface 140. The pair of support cross beams 120 are positioned at opposing corners of the changing surface 140. The pair of support cross beams 120 are inset from an outer perimeter of the changing surface 140. The pair of support cross beams 120 may be telescopic. The first-changing surface support beam 130 and the second-changing surface support beam 134 further support the outer perimeter of the changing surface 140. The device may further include locks for stabilizing the device and providing additional safety.
The first-changing surface support beam 130 and second-changing surface support beam 134 are rigid and comprise a folding member 160. The pair of support cross beams 120 comprise a height approximately equal to the thigh height of the user in an extended position. The device is designed to be extremely compact and portable.
The safety belt 144 comprises the fastener 146 which is configured to secure a baby 10 upon a top surface of the changing surface 140 when used. The fastener 146 comprises a buckle-strap-fastener or other suitable fastener. The buckle-strap-fastener comprises a quick release clasp and a strap clip fastener.
It should be noted that step five 505 and step six 506 are optional steps and may not be implemented in all cases. Optional steps of method of use 500 are illustrated using dotted lines in
The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.
The present application is related to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/437,484 filed Dec. 21, 2016, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62437484 | Dec 2016 | US |
