U.S. patent application number 11/698476 was filed with the patent office on 2008-07-31 for child support wedge.
Invention is credited to Tracy Kachtick-Anders.
Application Number | 20080178387 11/698476 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39666278 |
Filed Date | 2008-07-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080178387 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kachtick-Anders; Tracy |
July 31, 2008 |
Child support wedge
Abstract
The present infant or small child support device includes a
wedge shaped foundation with an inclined upper surface formed to
support a child or small child in an inclined supine position. At
least one side panel projects away from a longitudinal periphery of
an inclined upper surface. In a preferred embodiment, opposing side
panels project from the longitudinal periphery of an inclined upper
surface. An inverted T shaped lower extremity support projects away
from a lower region of an inclined upper support surface. In a
preferred embodiment, an inverted T shaped lower extremity support
is positioned between and at a lower end of the opposing side
panels to form a basin which securely holds an infant or small
child in a inclined supine position. In a preferred embodiment, the
present support device is constructed from a resilient
non-absorbent material. In yet another embodiment, the present
support device can be inflatable.
Inventors: |
Kachtick-Anders; Tracy;
(Seabrook, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WILLIAM P. GLENN, JR.;ROYSTON, RAYZOR, VICKERY & WILLIAMS, L.L.P.
2102 MECHANIC STREET, SUITE 205
GALVESTON
TX
77550
US
|
Family ID: |
39666278 |
Appl. No.: |
11/698476 |
Filed: |
January 26, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
5/603 ;
5/655 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61G 7/065 20130101;
A47D 13/025 20130101; A61G 7/0503 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
5/603 ;
5/655 |
International
Class: |
A47C 16/00 20060101
A47C016/00 |
Claims
1. A child support device comprising: a wedge shaped foundation
with an inclined upper support surface formed to support a child in
an inclined supine position; at least one side panel projecting
away from a longitudinal periphery of said upper surface to
restrain lateral movement of the child; an inverted T shaped lower
extremity support projecting away from a lower region of said
inclined upper support surface, wherein said lower extremity
support separates the child's legs from each other and further
position the lower extremities of the child to eliminate or at
least minimize infant movement due to leg movement; and a harness
system connected to said foundation to securely hold the child in
the child support device.
2. An child support device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a lower
surface of said wedge shaped foundation is curved to allow rocking
of the child support device.
3. An child support device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least
one inflatable internal chamber is formed in said wedge shaped
foundation.
4. An child support device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least
one inflatable internal chamber is formed in said side panel.
5. An child support device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least
one inflatable internal chamber is formed in said inverted T shaped
lower extremity support.
6. An child support device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a groove
is formed in said upper support surface to releasably hold at least
a portion of a medical device.
7. An child support device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a groove
is formed in said side panel to releasably hold at least a portion
of a medical device.
8. An child support device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a groove
is located in said inverted T shaped lower extremity support to
releasably hold at least a portion of a medical device.
9. An child support device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
wedge shaped foundation is constructed from a resilient
non-absorbent material.
10. An child support device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
side panel is constructed from a resilient non-absorbent
material.
11. An child support device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
central support post is constructed from a resilient non-absorbent
material.
12. An child support device comprising: a pair of opposing
longitudinal side panels projecting away from the peripheral region
of an upper inclined support surface of a wedge shaped foundation
to restrain lateral movement of a child positioned on said inclined
support surface; an inverted T shaped lower extremity support
projecting away from a lower peripheral region of said upper
inclined support surface and between said opposing longitudinal
side panels to separate the child's legs and further restrain
longitudinal movement of a child positioned on said inclined
support surface; and at least one groove formed in the child
support device to releasably hold at least a portion of a medical
device.
13. An child support device as claimed in claim 12, wherein a
releasable harness fixed to said wedge shaped foundation to provide
further restraint to the child.
14. An child support device as claimed in claim 12, wherein at
least a portion of a lower surface of said wedge shaped foundation
is cambered on at least one axis to allow rocking of the child
support device.
15. An child support device comprising a basin formed from a pair
of opposing side panels and an inverted T shaped lower extremity
support projecting away from the peripheral region of an upper
inclined support surface of a wedge shaped foundation, said basin
formed to securely hold and support a child in an inclined supine
position.
16. An child support device as claimed in claim 15 wherein at least
one groove is formed in the child support device to releasably hold
at least a portion of a medical device.
17. An child support device as claimed in claim 15, wherein at
least a portion of a lower surface of said wedge shaped foundation
is curved on at least one axis to allow rocking of the child
support device.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to supporting devices which
provide a surface to support at least a portion of a user's body
and particularly to such devices that are particularly constructed,
shaped, or sized to support an infant or small child (hereinafter
grouped together under the term "child").
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Support devices constructed, shaped or sized to support
children are typically used to cradle, hold or restrain a child
while he or she is not playing or in the arms of a parent or
guardian. Currently a number of such child support devices include
an inclined surface and a harness restraint system.
[0005] However, the present child support devices do not provide a
means for managing medical devices, such as NG and IV tubes, which
may be connected to a child. Furthermore, such child support
devices do not provide a means to eliminate or at least minimize
the effect of leg movement. The patents disclosed below while
providing some type of support to a child, do not provide a means
to eliminate or at least minimize the effect of leg movement or the
management of medical devices.
TABLE-US-00001 U.S. Pat. No. Inventor Issue Date 4,471,767 Guimond
Sep. 18, 1984 4,873,735 Fermaglich et al Oct. 17, 1989 5,127,422
Colon Jul. 7, 1992 5,599,063 Lister Feb. 4, 1997 6,898,811 Zucker
May 31, 05 6,834,405 Hillstead Dec. 28, 04
[0006] The prior art devices do not adequately address the problem
of providing an effective means of preventing a child from becoming
entangled with or pulling out connected medical devices while
positioned in a support device. Nor do the above disclosed devices
provide resilient non-absorbent surfaces. Furthermore, the prior
art support devices do not adequately prevent a child's movement in
a support device as a result of leg movement.
[0007] What is needed is a sturdy child support device capable of
holding an active child in an inclined supine position and further
providing medical device management to prevent or at least minimize
entanglement or device disconnection.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a sturdy,
nonabsorbent, child support device capable of securely holding an
active child in an supine inclined position with a set of
peripherally located side panels and a lower extremity support. A
releasable harness fixed to the support device provides further
restraint of the inclined supine child. A related object of the
present invention is to provide a means to manage medical devices
connected to a supported supine child by at least one groove formed
in the wedge shaped foundation, side panel and/or lower extremity
support.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] These and other details of my invention will be described in
connection with the accompanying drawings, which are furnished only
by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention, and
in which drawings:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a side view of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a front view of the present invention; and
[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The present invention includes a wedge shaped foundation 10
with an inclined upper surface 20 formed to support a child in an
inclined supine position. At least one side panel 30 projects away
from a longitudinal periphery of an inclined upper surface 20. In a
preferred embodiment, opposing side panels 30 project from the
longitudinal periphery of an inclined upper surface 20 (See FIGS. 1
through 3). An inverted T shaped lower extremity support 40
projects away from a lower region of said inclined upper support
surface 20. In a preferred embodiment, the inverted T shaped lower
extremity support 40 is positioned between and at a lower end of
the opposing side panels 30 (See FIGS. 2 and 3). In such an
arrangement, a basin 70 is formed which securely holds a child in a
supine inclined position (See FIG. 3).
[0014] A side panel 30 is of sufficient thickness, length and
height to prevent a child from sliding, rolling or squirming
laterally out of basin 70. Similarly, an inverted T shaped lower
extremity support 40 is of sufficient thickness, length and height
to prevent a child from sliding, thrusting or squirming
longitudinally out of basin 70. Furthermore, the inverted T shaped
lower extremity support 40 separates the child's legs and positions
them in such a manner to eliminate or at least reduce body movement
that typically results from pushing or thrusting of the legs (See
FIG. 1).
[0015] The angle of the inclined upper surface 20 as well as the
basin 70 may range from about approximately 5 degrees to about
approximately 60 degrees to facilitate sleeping, medical treatment
and/or the reduction of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). In
a preferred embodiment, the angle of inclination is about
approximately 30 degrees to about approximately 45 degrees (See
FIG. 1).
[0016] In another embodiment, a releasable harness 50 can be fitted
to further secure or restrain the child in basin 70 (See FIGS. 1
through 3).
[0017] In yet another embodiment, at least one groove 60 is formed
in the child support wedge to releasably hold a portion of a
medical device (See FIGS. 1 through 3). In such an embodiment,
groove 60 manages and directs the wires, tubes or other types of
medical devices to and from the child to eliminate or at least
prevent entanglement and/or unintended disconnection. Such a groove
60 is formed to allow easy unattended release of a tube, wire or
medical device when the child is picked up from basin 70 or from
upper surface 20. Groove 60 can be located in a variety of places
about the child support wedge as depicted in FIGS. 1 through 3, but
do not necessarily represent all the locations or positions of a
groove 60.
[0018] In a preferred embodiment, a lower surface 25 of the wedge
shaped foundation 10 is flat to provide maximum stability to the
child support wedge. In another embodiment, lower surface 25 is
curved or cambered about at least one axis to allowing rocking of
the child support wedge (See FIG. 3).
[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the child support wedge is formed
from a solid piece of lightweight, sturdy polyurethane foam with a
non-absorbent surface. In another embodiment, a child support wedge
is an inflatable structure. In such an embodiment, at least one
chamber is formed in the child support wedge to provide the
necessary structure to support and/or restrain a child.
Specifically, the internal chamber can be formed in the wedge
shaped foundation 10, at least one side panel 30 and/or inverted T
shaped lower extremity support 40. In another embodiment, a
plurality of interconnected or independent internal chambers are
formed in the child support wedge to provide and vary the necessary
structure to support and/or restrain a child. In any of the
inflatable embodiments, inflation can be achieved with a liquid
and/or gas.
[0020] It is understood that the preceding description is given
merely by way of illustration and not in limitation of the
invention and that various modifications may be made thereto
without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.
* * * * *