U.S. patent application number 09/733941 was filed with the patent office on 2001-11-08 for liner for an infant bed.
Invention is credited to Blanch, Tracey Lee, Whatman, Susan Leign.
Application Number | 20010037526 09/733941 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 3749874 |
Filed Date | 2001-11-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010037526 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Whatman, Susan Leign ; et
al. |
November 8, 2001 |
Liner for an infant bed
Abstract
A liner which is attachable to an infant bed of the type having
side walls to prevent the infant from falling out of the bed, the
liner having one or more breathable side walls which, in use,
extend about the inside walls of the bed, an open top, top
attachment means to attach the liner to an upper part of the side
walls of the bed, a generally open bottom, and bottom attachment
means to attach the liner to a bottom part of the bed and/or the
bed mattress.
Inventors: |
Whatman, Susan Leign;
(Queensland, AU) ; Blanch, Tracey Lee;
(Queensland, AU) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NIXON & VANDERHYE P.C.
8th Floor
1100 North Glebe Road
Arlington
VA
22201-4714
US
|
Family ID: |
3749874 |
Appl. No.: |
09/733941 |
Filed: |
December 12, 2000 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
5/663 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47D 15/008 20130101;
Y10S 5/946 20130101; Y10S 5/922 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
5/663 |
International
Class: |
A47C 031/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 13, 1999 |
AU |
65256/99 |
Claims
The claims defining the invention are as follows:
1. A liner constructed from substantially soft materials which is
attachable to an infant bed of the type having side walls to
prevent the infant from falling out of the bed, the liner
comprising: one or more breathable side walls that are permanently
fixed relative to each other, wherein the side walls, in use,
extend about the inside of the side walls of the bed so as to
substantially cover the inside of the side walls of the bed; an
open top; top attachment means that can attach the liner to a
substantially horizontal upper portion of the side walls of the
bed, wherein the top attachment means is unpadded and substantially
childproof; a generally open bottom; and bottom attachment means to
attach the liner to a bottom part of the bed and/or the bed
mattress.
2. The liner of claim 1, wherein the one or more side walls are
formed of a mesh material, the mesh having a mesh size which is
small enough to prevent a babies arms and legs from passing through
the mesh.
3. The liner of claim 1, wherein the top attachment means comprises
a first Velcro.TM. band extending about the outside of the liner
and adjacent an upper edge thereof and a plurality of straps which,
in use, pass over a top horizontal rail of the bed and are attached
to the first Velcro.TM. band to secure the liner to the bed.
4. The liner of claim 1, wherein the bottom attachment means
comprises elastic on a lower edge of the liner and which, in use,
attaches to the mattress to hold the liner to the mattress.
5. The liner of claim 1, wherein all of the side walls are
breathable.
6. The liner of claim 1, wherein the liner has a shape that enables
the liner to conform generally to the inside shape of the infant
bed.
7. The liner of claim 3, wherein the length of one or more of the
plurality of straps can be adjusted.
8. The liner of claim 3, wherein each one of the plurality of
straps is attached to the upper edge.
9. The liner of claim 3, wherein the top attachment means further
comprises a second Velcro.TM. band that is attached over the top of
the plurality of straps and the first Velcro.TM. band.
10. The liner of claim 1, wherein the bottom attachment means
comprises one or more straps attached to the liner which, in use,
extend underneath the mattress.
Description
[0001] This invention relates to a liner for an infant bed, the bed
being of the type having side walls to prevent the infant from
falling out of the bed. These types of infant beds typically
include cots, bassinets, cribs and cradles. It is envisaged that
the invention can also extend to playpens. The invention will be
described with reference to a cot but it should be appreciated that
the invention is applicable to related types of infant beds.
[0002] Baby cots are typically rectangular in shape and have a
bottom wall, four side walls and an open top. A soft mattress is
placed in the cot and is supported by the bottom wall. One side
wall of the cot can drop down to provide easier access to and from
the cot. The side walls are not solid and are typically formed of
an array of vertical rails or palings to provide air flow and allow
the baby to be seen through the side walls of the cot. The spacing
between the side wall rails is such to prevent a baby from pushing
through the rails. However, the rails are typically sufficiently
spaced apart to allow a baby's hand or leg to pass through the gap.
There are many recorded instances of injuries to babies by becoming
wedged or stuck between the side wall rails.
[0003] It is known to provide cot bumpers which are usually placed
around the periphery of the mattress and can be loosely tied onto
the side wall rails and which provide a cushioning against the baby
striking themselves on the hard rails when sleeping. However, these
bumpers restrict the air flow around the infant and can prevent the
parents from seeing the position of the infant unless they are
standing over the cot.
[0004] The cot gaps often result in infants having their arms and
legs caught through the gap as they sleep, and by being restricted
in this way, the infant usually awakes interrupting the quality of
their (and the parents) sleep.
[0005] Another disadvantage with cot bumpers and the like is that
they are loosely tied to the cot rails, and older babies, being
naturally busy and inquisitive, can usually fiddle with the ties to
make them loose.
[0006] The present invention is directed to a liner for a cot and
other related types of infant beds (e.g. cribs and bassinets) which
prevents a baby's legs or arms from passing between the side wall
rails, is breathable, and which is relatively easy to attach to the
cot.
[0007] It is an object of the invention to provide a liner which
may overcome the abovementioned disadvantages or provide the public
with a useful or commercial choice.
[0008] In one form, the invention resides in a liner which is
attachable to an infant bed of the type having side walls to
prevent the infant from falling out of the bed, the liner having
one or more breathable side walls which, in use, extend about the
inside walls of the bed, an open top, top attachment means to
attach the liner to an upper part of the side walls of the bed, a
generally open bottom, and bottom attachment means to attach the
liner to a bottom part of the bed and/or the bed mattress.
[0009] In a more particular form, the invention resides in the
liner as described above wherein the one or more side walls are
formed of a mesh material, the mesh having a mesh size which is
small enough to prevent a babies arms and legs from passing through
the mesh, the top attachment means comprising a Velcro.TM. band
extending about the outside of the liner and adjacent an upper edge
thereof and a plurality of straps which, in use, pass over a top
horizontal rail of the bed and are attached to the Velcro.TM. band
to secure the liner to the bed, the bottom attachment means
comprising elastic on a lower edge of the liner and which, in use,
attach to the mattress to hold the liner to the mattress.
[0010] The liner is attachable to a cot, bassinet, crib and similar
types of infant beds of the type having side walls. The liner has
one or more side walls which are breathable and which in use extend
about the inside walls of the bed. Suitably, the liner is sewn into
a generally rectangular shape or a shape which can be inserted into
a cot to conform generally to the inside shape of the cot.
[0011] The liner has breathable side walls, and it is preferred
that all the walls of the liner are breathable. The breathable side
walls are preferably formed from a mesh material which is
sufficiently open to provide good air flow and also to allow the
baby to be viewed through the side wall, but sufficiently closed to
prevent the baby from passing an arm, leg or even a finger through
the mesh. The liner may be formed from a strong mesh material.
While not being limiting to the invention, these materials may
include woven or non-woven fabrics, nylons, other types of plastic
threads, composite threads, a canvas weave, liners made from
cotton, rayon, mixtures of fibres and composites.
[0012] The liner has an open top to allow a baby to be easily
placed into and removed from the cot. It is envisaged that the top
of the liner may be overlaid with a mosquito net or other type of
protective material. The liner has a top attachment means which
attaches the liner to an upper part of the side walls of the cot.
Typically, infant beds such as cots, bassinets and the like have a
top horizontal rail and the top attachment means can be attached
about this rail. The top attachment means may be in the form of a
number of straps which pass about the rail. An array of straps may
be provided to ensure that the liner does not appreciably sag about
the top of the cot.
[0013] The liner has an upper edge, and the array of straps may be
attached to the upper edge. The upper edge may have an outwardly
extending band of Velcro.TM. material, and the straps may also be
provided with Velcro.TM. material such that the straps can pass
about the top rail and then be connected to the band of Velcro.TM.
material to secure the liner to the top rail of the cot.
[0014] In order to minimise the natural inquisitiveness of babies
and fiddling by babies of the straps, a second Velcro.TM. band may
be attached over the top of the straps and the Velcro.TM. band
which is adjacent the upper edge of the liner, in essence to
sandwich the straps between two Velcro.TM. bands. It is considered
that this will be almost impossible for a baby to fiddle with and
to open the straps.
[0015] The straps can be length adjustable by various suitable
means to make a single liner suitable for various different types
of infant beds.
[0016] It is preferred that the liner has a generally open bottom
and that bottom attachment means are provided to attach the liner
to the bed or the bed mattress in such a way that the bottom of the
liner cannot be readily lifted up.
[0017] In one form, the bottom edge of the liner may be elasticised
to elastically fit around the bed mattress (in a manner analogous
to a fitted sheet) to provide a measure of attachment of the liner
to the bottom area of the cot. If desired, one or more straps may
extend underneath the mattress to more firmly secure the liner to
the mattress. Alternatively, or in addition to the above, the liner
may also be fastened to the bottom wall of the cot or to some other
lower area of the cot.
[0018] An embodiment of the invention will be described with
reference to the following drawings in which
[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates a liner prior to insertion into a
cot.
[0020] FIG. 2 illustrates the liner in a cot.
[0021] FIG. 3 is a part view of a secure top attachment means
according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0022] Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a liner 10
which is attachable to an infant bed such as a cot. A typical cot
11 is illustrated in FIG. 2 and consists of a bottom wall 12, a
mattress 13 placed on the bottom wall, four side walls 14 (only one
illustrated in FIG. 2) and an open top 15. Such cots are well-known
in the art. The side wall 14 of the cot is formed with a top rail
16 and an array of spaced apart vertical bars 17.
[0023] Liner 10, in the embodiment, is in the form of a rectangular
cross-section tube having an open top 18 and an open bottom 19. The
liner is formed of an open mesh weave having a mesh size of
typically up to 10 mm which prevents a baby's arm, leg or finger
from passing through the mesh but still provides good air flow and
allows a parent to see the baby through the mesh material.
[0024] The liner has an upper peripheral edge 20 and a lower
peripheral edge 21.
[0025] At the upper edge 20 is a top attachment means which
attaches the liner to the top rail 16 of cot 11. The top attachment
means comprises a plurality of length adjustable straps 22 which
can be formed of canvas or other sturdy material. One edge of the
straps is sewn or otherwise attached to the upper edge 20 of the
liner. The other end of each strap has a Velcro.TM. patch (not
illustrated). On the outside wall of the liner and at the upper
edge 20 is a band of Velcro.TM. material 23 which extends entirely
about the upper edge 20 of the liner.
[0026] In use, the liner can be opened up and inserted into cot 11
and the straps 22 can be passed about top rail 16 with the free
ends of the strap containing a Velcro.TM. patch which attaches to
Velcro.TM. band 23 to secure the liner to rail 16.
[0027] To prevent inquisitive babies from attempting to rip open
straps 22, there is provided a second Velcro.TM. band 24 (see FIG.
3) which extends generally over and is attached to Velcro.TM. band
23 and effectively sandwiches the ends of each strap 22 between the
two Velcro.TM. bands. Velcro.TM. band 24 can extend the entire
length of the cot side wall, and it is virtually impossible for a
baby to attempt to rip open Velcro.TM. band 24 because of its good
contact with Velcro.TM. band 23. Velcro.TM. band 24 runs over the
outside of bars 17 and attaches to Velcro.TM. band 23 in the
spacing between the bars.
[0028] The liner has an open bottom 19 and is provided with a
bottom attachment means to attach the liner to a bottom part of the
bed and/or the bed mattress. In the embodiment, the lower edge 21
of the liner is elasticised and can elastically fit about the
bottom of mattress 13 in a manner analogous to a fitted bed
sheet.
[0029] Alternatively, or in addition thereto, the lower edge may be
otherwise attached to the cot. If desired, one or more under
mattress bands or straps may be provided (not illustrated) to
further secure the liner to the lower part of the cot.
[0030] The mesh cot liner prevents the infant's head, arms, legs,
fingers and toes from becoming caught between the gaps in the side
walls of the cot. The liner does not restrict air flow around the
infant allowing natural cooling breezes to flow around in warm
weather. The parents can view the sleeping position of the infant
from a distance without having to stand over the cot, which might
awake the infant in many cases.
[0031] The liner can be adjustable to suit most standard cots. It
is held firmly in place by the mattress at the bottom of the cot,
tensioned by elastic, and is attached securely to the top rail of
the cot by the adjustable straps and the fastening tape.
[0032] It should be appreciated that various other changes and
modifications may be made to the embodiment described without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as
claimed.
* * * * *