U.S. patent application number 12/319871 was filed with the patent office on 2009-07-16 for portable diaper changing pad.
Invention is credited to Stacy Jo Sager.
Application Number | 20090178204 12/319871 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40849375 |
Filed Date | 2009-07-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090178204 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sager; Stacy Jo |
July 16, 2009 |
Portable diaper changing pad
Abstract
A portable, foldable, and machine-washable diaper changing pad
which provides a sanitary area to change a baby or toddler in
public restrooms is a single rectangular pad composed of several
layers. The pad is sized so that, when folded, it is approximately
the size of a small to medium-sized handbag. When unfolded, the top
layer upon which the child rests is made of an impermeable material
(e.g. vinyl) that is easy to clean. One end of the pad has an
internal pocket which is sized to hold clean diapers, baby wipes,
or other related accessories. A loop handle is attached to one side
of the pad which allows the folded pad to be hung from a stroller,
handbag, or other suitable location. The portable diaper changing
pad is designed for one-handed use; that is, by a person who is
assumed to be holding a child with the other hand.
Inventors: |
Sager; Stacy Jo; (Canton,
GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Gregory T. Ourada
Suite 800, 3350 Riverwood Parkway
Atlanta
GA
30339
US
|
Family ID: |
40849375 |
Appl. No.: |
12/319871 |
Filed: |
January 13, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61020824 |
Jan 14, 2008 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
5/655 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47D 5/006 20130101;
A47D 15/003 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
5/655 |
International
Class: |
A47G 9/06 20060101
A47G009/06; A47C 31/00 20060101 A47C031/00; A47D 5/00 20060101
A47D005/00 |
Claims
1. A portable rectangular diaper changing pad, comprising: An
inside layer and an outside layer, each of said inside layer and
said outside layer having two long sides and two short sides of
congruent dimensions, said inside layer being comprised of
water-impermeable material, A middle layer, A loop handle, A
fastening strap, and An internal pocket; Wherein said internal
pocket is positioned to allow a parent to hold a child in position
with one hand and access the contents of said internal pocket with
their other hand.
2. The portable rectangular diaper changing pad of claim 1, wherein
said inside layer and said outside layer have said long sides 31
inches in length, and said short sides are 12 inches in length.
3. The portable rectangular diaper changing pad of claim 1, wherein
said loop handle is attached to one of said long sides 8 inches
from said short side opposite said side containing said internal
pocket.
4. The portable rectangular diaper changing pad of claim 1, wherein
said loop handle is comprised of two nylon straps fastened with a
side release buckle.
5. The portable rectangular diaper changing pad of claim 1, wherein
said fastening strap is attached to said short side opposite said
side containing said inside pocket.
6. The portable rectangular diaper changing pad of claim 1, wherein
said water-impermeable material is vinyl.
7. The portable rectangular diaper changing pad of claim 1, wherein
said batting material is comprised of polyester.
8. The portable rectangular diaper changing pad of claim 1, wherein
said fabric comprising said outside layer is 100% polyester
chenille.
9. The portable rectangular diaper changing pad of claim 1, wherein
said fastening strap is positioned and configured so that said
fastening strap can be unfastened and said pad unrolled with, one
hand.
10. A portable rectangular diaper changing pad, comprising: An
inside layer made of machine-washable water-impermeable material,
An outside layer made of machine-washable fabric material, said
inside layer and said outside layer having two long sides 31 inches
in length and two short sides, A middle layer made of
machine-washable batting material, An internal pocket having an
opening in one of said short sides; A loop handle formed from two
straps joined by a side release buckle, said loop handle fastened
to one of said long sides 8 inches from said short side opposite
the short side containing said internal pocket; and A fastening
strap.
11. The portable rectangular diaper changing pad of claim 10,
wherein said inside layer is comprised of vinyl.
12. The portable rectangular diaper changing pad of claim 10,
wherein said outside layer is comprised of chenille fabric.
13. The portable rectangular diaper changing pad of claim 10,
wherein said outside layer is comprised of fleece fabric.
14. The portable rectangular diaper changing pad of claim 10,
wherein said two short sides are 12 inches in length.
15. A portable rectangular diaper changing pad, consisting of: A
vinyl inside layer; A chenille outside layer, said inside layer and
said outside layer having two long sides 31 inches in length and
two short sides; A middle layer consisting of polyester batting; An
internal pocket formed by said inside layer, said middle layer, and
said outside layer; A loop handle formed from two straps joined by
a side release buckle, said loop handle fastened to one of said
long sides 8 inches from said short side opposite the short side
containing said internal pocket; and A fastening strap.
16. The portable rectangular diaper changing pad of claim 15,
wherein said two short sides are 12 inches in length.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No. 61/020,824 filed on Jan. 14, 2008, the entirety of
which is incorporated herein by reference.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Parents of newborn infants and toddlers routinely face a
daunting logistical challenge; namely, how to easily carry the
child, along with spare diapers and associated accessories such as
baby wipes, through often-crowded public places such as shopping
malls, airports, and grocery stores. In spite of the proliferation
of baby changing stations in public restrooms, parents are still
faced with the problem of locating a clean, soft, sanitary surface
on which to change the diapers of a child. Therefore, there is a
need for a portable diaper changing pad that is machine-washable
and can be used on any surface; e.g. car, grass at a park,
airplane, or other inconvenient places. Another problem is that one
parent often changes the child's diapers alone because many baby
changing stations are located in gender-segregated bathrooms. This
presents a challenge for the parent, who usually has to secure the
child on the changing surface with one hand, leaving only one hand
free to reach for spare diapers, baby wipes and other items.
[0004] There are a number of patents and patent applications for
diaper changing pads. Fitzsimmons (U.S. Pat. No. 4,886,150)
discloses a tri-fold "Baby Accessory Carrier" that features a
detachable, rectangular changing pad with adjacent panels
containing pockets for carrying baby diaper changing items.
Fitzsimmons folds up into a compact, purse-like article for easy
carry. Vickers (U.S. Pat. No. 6,298,509) describes a tri-fold
diaper changing pad that folds into a carrying bag. Stackman,
et.al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,918,147) discloses a portable diaper
changing pad incorporating a plurality of support panels hinged
together that provide rigidity allowing the pad to be used above a
sink, countertop, or between two chairs. Telegadis, et. al (U.S.
Pat. No. 7,350,252) also describes a tri-fold diaper changing pad
incorporating a memory foam pad designed to enhance the child's
comfort. The Telegadis pad rolls up to allow convenient carry.
[0005] These prior art devices do not allow a parent to easily use
them with one hand. Typically, the parent holds a child with one
arm, leaving only one hand free. The parent when changing the
child's diaper typically must reach into a diaper bag for the
diapers, wipes, lotions, or other products required for changing
the child's diaper. This usually requires the parent to use both
hands and leave the child momentarily unattended. Moreover,
searching in a diaper bag for the necessary products to change a
diaper is inconvenient. Therefore, there is a need for a diaper
changing pad that is conveniently used with one hand.
[0006] Another problem not addressed by the prior art is the size
of the diaper changing pad. For example, the diaper changing pad
claimed by Telegadis is not large enough for toddlers (as opposed
to infants) to be changed on the pad. In other words, an infant
quickly outgrows diaper changing pads found in the prior art and
necessitates their replacement. There is a need for a diaper
changing pad that is large enough to be used until the child is
fully potty trained.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention is distinguishable from the prior art
because it contains features specifically configured to allow
one-handed operation. It is also larger than prior art diaper
changing pads, allowing use with both small newborns and larger
toddlers. This makes it more cost-effective than prior art pads
because parents can use it from infancy until the child is potty
trained. The pad is composed of three rectangular layers-inside,
middle, and outside-sewn together using Extra Wide Double Folded
Bias Tape. The inside layer, upon which the child rests during
changing, is made of a water-impermeable material such as vinyl or
plastic. A middle layer is made of batting (usually 100%
machine-washable polyester), and the outside layer, which is on the
outside when the pad is folded, is made of a machine-washable soft
material, such as chenille or fleece fabric. A loop handle with a
side-release buckle is attached near one corner of the rectangular
pad which allows the parent to easily carry the pad. The loop
handle with side-release buckle makes it easy for a parent to carry
the pad around her wrist or clip it onto her stroller or diaper
bag. Finally, a fastening strap allows the pad to be quickly
unrolled using only one hand. An internal pocket is located between
the layers at one end of the pad. This pocket is sized so that
diapers, baby wipes, and other associated accessories can be easily
carried and reached with one hand while the child is being
changed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the pad in the folded
configuration.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the pad in a partially
unrolled configuration.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a close-up perspective view of the loop handle
attached to the pad.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the top layer of the
unrolled pad and the inside pocket.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The portable diaper changing pad is rectangular in shape
when unfolded flat and is comprised of three foldable layers.
Inside layer 20 is comprised of a water-impermeable material that
is easy to clean, such as vinyl. Outside layer 30 is comprised of a
soft, machine-washable fabric, which can be chenille or fleece, or
other soft, napped fabric. Typically, this fabric is polyester,
although other suitable machine-washable fabrics can also be used.
There is also a middle batting layer to cushion the child that is
typically comprised of polyester or another suitable type of
machine-washable fabric. All three layers are sewn together using
Extra Wide Double Folded Bias Tape around the perimeter of the pad.
Having the inside layer made of water-impermeable material allows a
child to be changed on this layer, which is then easily wiped
clean.
[0013] The preferred embodiment of the portable diaper changing pad
is 12 inches wide by 31 inches long. The particular length was
chosen because shorter diaper changing pads cannot be used for as
long because of an infant's rapid growth. This pad is 31 inches in
length so that the pad can be used with infants as well as toddlers
until the child is potty trained. These dimensions were also
selected so that the folded pad is compact (roughly the size of a
small purse-like article) and easy to carry.
[0014] The pad contains an internal pocket 60 formed in the
interstice between two of the layers (i.e. either between the inner
and middle layer, or between the middle and outside layer). The
pocket is lined with chenille fabric which facilitates the
insertion of diapers and other articles such as baby wipes. This
pocket extends across the entire 12 inch width of the pad and for 8
inches along the long side. There is a 7 inch wide opening in the
edge of one of the short sides of the pad allowing access to the
pocket. The opening may be sealed using Velcro, zippers, buttons,
or other suitable closures known in the art. Closures on the
pocket's opening however are undesirable since they require two
hands to open and close. Closures are therefore omitted and
unnecessary in the preferred embodiment because the opening to the
pocket is in the interior of the pad when the pad is folded so the
items contained in the pocket will not fall out. The size of the
internal pocket was designed to allow storage of 2-4 diapers,
depending on diaper size, a container of baby wipes, or other baby
changing accessories. Its location, with the opening in the edge of
one of the short sides, was designed to facilitate easy access to
its contents with one hand, leaving the other hand free to hold the
child.
[0015] As shown in FIG. 2, the loop handle 40 is attached on one
long side of the pad, and is attached 8 inches from the pad edge
opposite the pocket. The loop handle in the preferred embodiment
consists of two 1 inch wide nylon straps, one 3 inches in length
and the other 10 inches in length. The two straps are attached to
the pad with stitches under the Extra Wide Double Folded Bias Tape,
as shown in FIG. 3. The distal ends of the straps are joined to
form the loop of the handle using a plastic side release buckle.
Using a side release buckle gives parents added flexibility and
portability as to where they can hang the folded pad, such as on a
stroller.
[0016] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, fastening strap 50 is a 1 inch
wide nylon strap 7 inches in length that is attached to the outside
layer of the pad. In the preferred embodiment, Velcro is attached
to the distal end of the strap, which attaches to a complementary
Velcro patch that is attached to the outside layer so that the pad
is held securely in the folded configuration. As shown in FIG. 1,
when completely folded, the pad is the size of a small purse-like
article that is easy to carry using loop handle 40. Fastening strap
50 is designed so that it can be quickly and easily unfastened and
the pad unfolded with one hand flat onto a horizontal surface such
as a floor, changing table, car seat, or ground.
[0017] Because many possible embodiments may be made of the
invention without departing from the scope thereof, it should be
understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the
accompanying drawings is to be interpreted in an illustrative, but
not in a limiting sense.
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