Infant accomodation apparatus

Abstract

An infant accommodation apparatus comprising an inflatable support device and a frame which abuts and extends over the device and includes toys arranged to stimulate an infant accommodated within an accommodation region of the device. The device maybe inverted to reveal a second infant accommodation region which is arranged to provide a safe and secure environment for a baby from birth. A region includes a padded headrest and a body support region. A harness is provided and arranged to receive a baby's legs. In use, a baby can be placed on a region, with its head resting in a region of a headrest and safely secured in position by engagement with the harness.

Claims

1. An infant accommodation apparatus comprising a support device which includes a base, said support device including an enclosure extending away from said base on a first side of the base, wherein said enclosure surrounds an infant accommodation region in which an infant may be positioned in use and wherein a headrest is provided on a second side of the base, wherein said infant accommodation apparatus is arranged to be positioned in a first configuration wherein the base directly contacts and/or is supported by a support surface and said enclosure extends away from said base on said first side of the base wherein: (i) said apparatus is arranged in said first configuration, said headrest faces downwardly; and/or (ii) said apparatus is arranged in said first configuration, said headrest directly contacts a support surface on which the infant accommodation apparatus is arranged, in use; and wherein a harness is provided on said second side of the base for securing an infant to the support device, wherein, when said apparatus is in said first configuration and wherein said headrest faces downwardly, said harness faces downwardly.

2. An apparatus accordingly to claim 1, wherein said enclosure is defined by an inflated member which inflated member can be deflated; wherein said support device is arranged to define an endless enclosure around the region for accommodating an infant; and wherein said support device incorporates a cover which is removable from an insert member of the device.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said headrest includes a first part which is arranged to contact and/or seat the back of an infant's head, in use.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said headrest is superimposed on a region of the support device which is outside an area occupied by the infant accommodation region.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein in said first configuration, said harness directly contacts a support surface on which the infant accommodation apparatus is arranged in use.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said support device includes a cover and said harness is secured to the cover.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said harness is superimposed on the infant accommodation region of the support device.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said infant accommodation apparatus is arranged to be positioned in a second configuration which is inverted relative to said first configuration, wherein, when in said second configuration, said headrest faces upwardly.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said support device includes an infant support part which defines an area for supporting an infant's body when the support device is in said second configuration, wherein said infant support part comprises a shaped material secured relative to a cover of the apparatus, wherein said support is arranged such that, when in second configuration with an infant contacting said infant support part, a concave region is defined in which the infant can lie.

10. An infant accommodation apparatus comprising a support device which includes a base, said support device including an enclosure extending away from said base on a first side of the base, wherein said enclosure surrounds an infant accommodation region in which an infant may be positioned in use and wherein a headrest is provided on a second side of the base, wherein said headrest is positioned between parts of inner and outer enclosure walls of said support device which have a greater radius of curvature than other parts of the inner and outer enclosure walls.

11. An apparatus according claim 10, wherein said inner enclosure wall includes a first region which has a smaller radius of curvature than respective second and third regions of said inner enclosure walls adjacent to said first region; and said outer enclosure wall includes a first region which has a smaller radius of curvature than respective second and third regions; and said headrest is positioned between said second region of said inner enclosure wall and a second region of said outer enclosure wall.

12. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein when said support device includes a harness, said harness is positioned in line with parts of the inner and outer enclosure walls which have a small radius of curvature than other parts of the inner and outer enclosure walls.

13. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said inner enclosure wall includes a fifth region, adjacent the third region, which has a radius of curvature which is less than that of a third region of the inner enclosure wall; and includes an outer enclosure wall which includes a fifth region, adjacent the third region, which has a radius of curavature which is less than that of the third region of the outer enclosure wall, wherein said harness is positioned in line with the fifth regions of the inner and outer enclosure walls.

14. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said infant accommodation apparatus includes a frame extending above the support device for visually stimulating an infant positioned in the support device, wherein said support device includes first securement means for securing said frame in position, wherein said first securement means is arranged on an outwardly facing surface of the support device, wherein said first securement means is arranged to releasably engage the frame when the infant accommodation apparatus is in said first configuration and also when it is in said second configuration.

15. An infant accommodation apparatus comprising a support device which includes a base, said support device including an enclosure extending away from said base on a first side of the base, wherein said enclosure surrounds an infant accommodation region in which an infant may be positioned in use and wherein a headrest is provided on a second side of the base, wherein said headrest includes a first part which is arranged to contact and/or seat the back of an infant's head, in use, wherein the first part has a curved outer perimeter, wherein the headrest includes a proud region which extends around the first part and is arranged to restrict side to side movement of the infant's head in use.

16. An infant accommodation apparatus comprising a support device which includes a base, said support device including an enclosure extending away from said base on a first side of the base, wherein said enclosure surrounds an infant accommodation region in which an infant may be positioned in use and wherein a headrest is provided on a second side of the base; wherein said infant accommodation apparatus is arranged to be positioned in a first configuration wherein the base directly contacts and/or is supported by a support surface and said enclosure extends away from said base on said first side of the base wherein, when said apparatus is arranged in said first configuration, said headrest faces downwardly; wherein said enclosure is defined by means of an inflated member which inflated member can be deflated, wherein said support device is arranged to define an endless enclosure around the region for accommodating an infant and wherein said support device incorporates a cover which is removable from an insert member of the device; wherein a harness is provided on a second side of the base for securing an infant to the support device, wherein, when said apparatus is in said first configuration wherein said headrest faces downwardly, said harness faces downwardly; wherein said support device includes a cover and a said harness is secured to the cover; wherein said infant accommodation apparatus includes a frame extending above the support device for visually stimulating an infant positioned in the device, wherein said support device includes first securement means for securing said frame in position, wherein said first securement means is arranged on an outwardly facing surface of the support device, wherein said first securement means is arranged to releasably engage the frame when the infant accommodation apparatus is in said first configuration and when it is in said second configuration.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of an infant accommodation apparatus;

(3) FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a top plan view of an inflatable plastics member of the apparatus when in a deflated state;

(5) FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a support device which comprises an inflatable plastics member in an inflated state within a fabric cover;

(6) FIG. 5 is a cross-section along line V-V of FIG. 4;

(7) FIG. 6 is a plan view relating the shape of the outer periphery of the plastics member to an equilateral triangle;

(8) FIG. 7 is a plan view showing in dashed lines the plastics member of FIG. 3 superimposed on a circular member;

(9) FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the support device of FIGS. 4 and 5;

(10) FIG. 9 is a side elevation of the support device of FIG. 8 taken in the direction of arrow VIII. The device is in an inverted configuration compared to its configuration in FIGS. 1 and 2, so the usually bottom wall of the device facing upwardly;

(11) FIG. 10 is a cross-section along line X-X of FIG. 8;

(12) FIG. 11 is a cross-section along line XI-XI of FIG. 9;

(13) FIG. 12 is a front view of a second embodiment of an infant accommodation apparatus with a framework;

(14) FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 12; and

(15) FIG. 14 is a vertical cross-section through the apparatus of FIGS. 12 and 13 with a fabric cover of the apparatus omitted in the interests of clarity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(16) In the figures, the same or similar parts are annotated with the same reference numerals.

(17) In the first embodiment, the infant accommodation apparatus 2 comprises an inflatable support device 4 and a framework 6 which abuts and extends over the device 4 and includes toys (not shown) arranged to stimulate, for example to visually stimulate, an infant accommodated within an accommodation region 7 of the device.

(18) The apparatus 2 is described in greater detail below.

(19) The support device 4 comprises an inner inflatable plastics member 8 and an outer removable fabric cover 12 which is arranged to completely enclose the member 8. The support device incorporates a padded base part 14 (FIG. 5) upon which the infant may lie, kneel or sit within the accommodation region 7.

(20) Referring to FIG. 3, the plastics member 8 includes an enclosure wall 10 which defines an opening 9 which, when member 8 is inflated, defines the infant accommodation region 7. The enclosure wall 10 has respective parallel inner and outer walls 15, 17 in the shape of modified equilateral triangles. This is illustrated in FIG. 6 wherein three convex arcs 16 are shown extending between adjacent apexes 18 of an equilateral triangular in order to form the shape of the outer wall 17. Thus, outer wall 17 of the member 8 may be regarded as being of a modified triangular shape having three curved apex regions 20 each of which has a radius of curvature which is less than the radius of curvature of the outer wall at apex regions 21 between the apex regions 20. The inner wall 15 corresponds in shape to that of the outer wall 17 so the opening 9 defined by the inner wall 15 comprises three regions 22 (FIG. 7) having a radius of curvature which is less than the radius of curvature of regions of the opening between the apex regions.

(21) The plastics member 8 is preferably made from a plastics material which does not contain phthalates.

(22) The fabric cover 12 is shaped to snugly receive the plastics member 8 so that when the member 8 is arranged within it, the shape of the support device 4 substantially corresponds to that of the plastic member 8, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Thus, the region 7 is in the shape of a modified equilateral triangle with apex regions 30 having a lower radius of curvature compared to the radius of curvature of regions between the apex regions.

(23) The cover 12 includes a zip 32 (FIG. 1) arranged to define an opening through which the plastics member 8, in a partially deflated state, may be inserted for engagement with the cover. The member 8 may then be inflated to define the arrangement of FIG. 1. It should be appreciated that the padded base 14 of FIG. 5 is not secured to the underlying fabric 34 so that the plastic member 8 can pass between base 14 and fabric 34 when it is being positioned within the cover.

(24) When assembled, the support device 4 provides a safe, supportive environment for an infant who may sit or kneel within accommodation region 7. It will be appreciated that the infant is prevented from falling back by the support provided by the walls of the device.

(25) The infant accommodation apparatus is furthermore provided with an additional safe environment which may safely accommodate babies from age 0 who cannot support their necks. The additional safe environment is described below with reference to FIGS. 8 and 11.

(26) Note that all of the features shown in FIGS. 8 to 11 are not necessarily shown in other figures, in the interests of clarity.

(27) Referring to FIGS. 8 to 11, the support device 4 is shown inverted compared to its configuration shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 to reveal a second infant accommodation region 50 of the apparatus 2.

(28) The second infant accommodation region 50 is arranged to provide a safe and secure position for a baby from age 0. Region 50 includes a padded headrest 54 and a body support region 55. The headrest 54 comprises a piece of material which is sewn to the fabric 34 of the cover 12. It includes a circular region 56 and, extending there around, a padded region 58 (shown hatched in FIG. 8) which includes wadding so that region 58 extends outwardly away from circular region 56 to provide support for an infant's head which may rest upon circular region 56. Body support region 55 comprises a piece of material which is also sewn to the fabric 34 of the cover 12 and is padded (as shown hatched in FIG. 8). Towards one side of region 52, a harness 60 is provided and arranged to receive a baby's legs, through leg openings 61, so that elongate portion 62 is arranged around a baby's waist and/or hips in use. Firstly, when the device is inverted as shown in FIGS. 8 to 11, padded base 14 may fall away slightly from fabric 34 which in the FIGS. 1, 2, and 5 arrangements directly contacts the ground on which the support device 4 rests.

(29) Advantageously, the headrest 54 is positioned radially inwards of one apex region 21 (i.e. radially inwards of a region of enclosure wall 10 which has the lowest radius of curvature). This enables the baby's shoulders to rest on the widest part of enclosure wall 10. This arrangement provides a well-supported snug position for the baby.

(30) Advantageously, the headrest 54 and body support region 35 are sufficiently compact and compressible that they can be permanent features of the apparatus, even when the apparatus is used in the FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 positions. Thus, the headrest 54 does not need to be removable. Similarly, harness 60 can be a permanent fixture which is suitably sufficiently soft that it doesn't interfere with the apparatus when used in the FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 positions.

(31) In use, a baby can be placed on region 55, with its head resting in region 56 of headrest 54 and safely secured in position by engagement with harness 60. In this case, there is suitably a small amount of give associated with region 55 and underlying fabric 54, so a slightly bowl-shaped or concave region is defined in which the baby can comfortably lie.

(32) The infant accommodation apparatus may be used alone or may be used with the framework 6 extending over the device. Various different types of frameworks may be utilized. One type may be as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. A preferred infant accommodation apparatus incorporating a framework is shown in FIGS. 12 to 14.

(33) Referring to FIGS. 12 to 14, four elastic loops 16 are incorporated into the fabric cover 12 and spaced at 90 intervals around the periphery of the cover at a level which is approximately midway between the upper and lower walls of the device 4. The loops are arranged to resiliently engage members 118 of the framework 6.

(34) Generally upwardly facing outer surface 119 of the cover is highly decorated and provided with various means for stimulating the senses of an infant. For example, the cover may be visually stimulating by incorporating representations in bright and contrasting colours; it may stimulate the tactile sense by incorporating materials of different textures; and it may stimulate the auditory sense by incorporating means for causing squeaks or crinkle sounds or electronic devices for playing melodies or making other noises.

(35) Framework 6 is arranged to provide a dome-shaped structure over the device 4 and comprises a cruciform connector 120 which includes outwardly facing ports 122 which are spaced at 90 to one another and are arranged to slidably receive ends 124 of arcuate tubular struts 126. Each strut 126 has two strut parts 125 connected by a female connector 127. The framework 6 is provided with a one piece removable fabric cover 130 which encloses each strut 126 and connector 120. The cover comprises a first sleeve which is arranged to cover one pair of diametrically extending struts 126 and two other sleeves extending perpendicular to the first sleeve and stitched thereto for covering the other two struts. Access to the cover is obtained via an opening facing downwardly in use in the region of the cover which accommodates the cruciform connector.

(36) The framework 6 is assembled by inserting each strut in position in the sleeves of the cover and then inserting connector 120 into the cover via the downwardly facing opening described and securing the struts to the connector.

(37) The cover 130 is brightly coloured and it includes scalloped areas 132 which incorporate buttonholes to which toys 134 can be releasably secured.

(38) Framework 6 with cover 130 in position can be releasably secured to the support device 4 with the support device positioned with its fabric 134 of its base on the ground by pushing the fabric covered struts 126 through loops 16 until the struts are adjacent the floor on which the apparatus is supported. The struts and, therefore, the framework 6, are retained in position by virtue of the friction between the fabric of the framework and loops 16 and the force exerted by the resilient loops.

(39) In addition to the framework being securable in position as shown in FIGS. 12 to 14, the framework may, in view of the positioning and arrangement of loops 16, also be secured in position when the support device is inverted as represented in FIGS. 8 to 11.

(40) Thus, the apparatus may advantageously be used in a number of configurations to accommodate and/or stimulate a baby/infant from age 0 up to about 3 or 4 years, as follows:

(41) (i) From age 0, the plastics member 8 may be substantially fully inflated and, with the apparatus inverted, as represented in FIGS. 8 to 11, the baby may be secured in the harness 60 with its head resting on circular region 56 of headrest 54. In this position, the baby is in a very safe and secure environment. The baby cannot become dislodged from its position in the harness or tip the apparatus over.

(42) (ii) For added stimulation of the baby when the apparatus is arranged as described in configuration (i), the framework 6 described in FIGS. 12 to 14 may be positioned as described.

(43) (iii) Once the baby has outgrown the configurations described in (i) and (ii), the apparatus may be turned over and the position shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 adopted. In this case, an infant may sit or kneel in the infant accommodation region.

(44) (iv) For added stimulation of the infant when arranged in configuration (iii), the apparatus may be further provided with the framework 6 described in FIGS. 12 to 14.

(45) Thus, the apparatus described can provide a safe, stimulating environment for a baby/infant for many years.

(46) The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.