Infant-supporting Device For A Crib

Abstract

A device for safely supporting an infant upon a crib for use while changing its diaper or clothing, the device spanning the sides of the crib at one end below and protected at two sides by a side and end railing of the crib.

Description

The present invention relates to a novel supporting device in the form of a frame or platform mounted on an infant's crib in such a manner as to conveniently support an infant and assure utmost safety when changing the diaper or articles of clothing of the infant lying thereon. This device comprises a horizontally arranged supporting surface comprising a supporting frame arranged so as to transversely span or bridge the side railings of the crib at one end with one end of the frame affixed to and depending from a raised side or railing at an end of the crib and the other end of the frame projecting over and supported upon the other lowered side or railing of the crib.

In this horizontal operative position the infant is fully protected at two sides; namely, one elevated side and an end of the crib and on the third side of the frame the infant is protected by the underlying mattress so that it can drop only a short distance onto the mattress and thereby involving no danger to the infant. At the other end where the projected end of the frame overlaps and seats upon the lowered side of the crib, the person changing or dressing the infant is positioned so that danger to the infant is effectively avoided.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a protective supporting device for mounting upon and affixed to a crib for use in changing the diaper or clothing of an infant.

The present invention further comprehends a protective device for supporting an infant between the opposite sides of a crib, one of which sides has been lowered, whereby the frame of this device is mounted and retained in a horizontal plane between these sides, one end of the frame being suspended and depending from the elevated side of and at one end of the crib, and the other end of frame supported upon the lowered side of the crib. The end of the frame is affixed to the elevated side and at one end of the crib by depending hangers and the other end of the frame is supported upon the upper railing of the lowered side of the crib.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, efficiency, economy and ease of assembly and operation, and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the infant-supporting device mounted in operative position on a crib.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged view in vertical cross section taken on the line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged top plan view of one corner of the supporting device and showing one of the hangers suspending an end of the device from the top railing of an elevated side of the crib.

Referring to the illustrative embodiment in the drawing disclosing the present invention, a crib 10 of the conventional type provides a bed for an infant, the crib having fixed end frame members with only the end 11 being shown and sides frame members 13 and 14 all projecting above the mattress 15 to protect the infant from falling when asleep or unattended. One or both of the crib sides 13 and/or 14 are adapted to be raised and lowered and when in raised position, the elevated side is retained in latched position.

The present novel safety supporting device for use when changing or dressing an infant, comprises a substantially rectangular and horizontally positioned frame or platform 16 of relatively lightweight tubular metal extends across the crib at one end with one end 17 of the frame disposed at the corner of the crib and extends from the invertor of an elevated side 13 and the opposite end 18 projecting over and resting upon the top rail 20 of the lowered side 14 of the crib. The inner end 17 at the interior of the elevated side 13 of the crib is there supported and suspended from the top rail 19 of the side 13 by means of spaced hangers 21. These hangers are of substantially inverted U-shape with each hanger having a relatively long leg 22 with an end loop 23 encompassing and pivotally connected to the end 17 of the frame 16, the upper end 24 being bent outwardly and downwardly to engage and fit conformably over the upper edge of the top rail 19 of the raised side 13 of the crib frame, and a downwardly projecting relatively short leg 25 with its end 26 inclined downwardly and outwardly to facilitate engagement over the top rail 19. The loop 23 frictionally encompasses the inner tubular end 17 of the frame 16 but permitting the hangers 21 to be pivoted about their mounting so as to lie against the frame 16 for convenient storage of the device when not in use.

By locating the device in the corner of the crib the side member 13 and the front end 11 of the crib provide protection of the infant at two elevated sides, and with the mother standing in front of the frame 16 at the other side 14 of the crib, but one side of the frame is unprotected and this is over the mattress 15 so that maximum protection is assured.

Locating the crib adjacent a table on which the diapers or change of clothing are located, or placing these on the mattress of the crib adjacent the frame 16, and the frame 16 disposed at a convenient height from the floor, everything may be arranged for readily and easily changing the infant without any necessity for leaving the infant alone. Furthermore, the height at which the frame 16 is located is such that the infant may be changed or dressed without bending, stooping or straining.

By making the frame 16 and its hangers 21 of lightweight aluminum, the frame is easily and readily lifted and placed in position or removed and stored, and the inclined hooked end or leg 25 of these hangers is readily located over the railing 19 at one side of the crib. The supporting surface on the frame 16 consists of crossed strips of flexible webbing 27.

The hangers 21 are pivotally mounted upon the frame 16 so as to pivot or fold and lie in the plane of the frame 16 whereby the device may be stored in a flat position when not in use. In the disclosed embodiment, the hangers 21 are each formed of a flat strap 28 of sheet metal such as aluminum, having the end loop 23 at one end with the end of the loop riveted at 29, and the strap having a vinyl plastic tubular covering 31 as added protection.

Claims

Having thus disclosed my invention, I claim:

1. A protective supporting frame for assembly in an infant's crib having elevated ends and sides having top rails with at least one of the sides capable of being raised and lowered, said protective supporting frame being of light tubular metal mounted in one end of the crib above the mattress and within the close confines of an end and an elevated side of the crib and positioned substantially below the top rails of said last mentioned elevated end and side, said frame having a flexible surface covering for supporting the infant while changing its diaper or clothing at a convenient weight from the front of the lowered side of the crib, spaced hangers of covered flat metal straps each having an elongated depending leg with the lower end of each leg having an end loop encompassing and freely pivoted on a tubular end part of the frame whereby the frame and hangers when removed may be folded together and collapsed for storage, the other end of each hanger having a short leg providing a supporting hook projecting over and anchored upon the top rail of the elevated side, the other end of the depending frame projecting over and supported upon the top rail of the opposite side with the latter in lowered position and the frame arranged and supported in a substantially horizontal plane when in operative position upon the crib with the adjacent end and one side of the crib closely adjacent and providing a protective barrier about two sides of the frame.