DEVICE OF CONTRAST OF GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX IN CHILDREN

Abstract

The present invention concerns a device (10) to counteract gastroesophageal reflux in babies, including at least a flat rigid support (12), with a supporting side covered with stuffing or cushion (11), characterized in that it is supplied with mechanisms of assemblage (19) with a frame (30, 30) supplied with wheels, the supporting side of said rigid support (12) taking an inclination of 70-90 compared to the horizontal and by the fact that includes also a sling (13) coupled with said rigid support (12) and fitted on said supporting side for placing and securing a baby (20) with his abdomen facing said cushion, in the space between said cushion (11) and said sling (13), said sling (13) including a back rest (15) inclined in the same direction of the rigid support (12) and whose upper extremity is higher than the upper extremity of said rigid support (12) and said cushion (11).

Claims

1. A child support device comprising: at least a flat rigid support including a supporting side covered with a cushioning material, the flat rigid support having a top and bottom defining a length therebetween and a mechanism adapted for coupling msaid flat rigid support with a frame, wherein, when said flat rigid support is coupled to said frame, the supporting side of said flat rigid support is inclined at approximately 70-900 compared to the horizontal, a sling coupled to said flat rigid support and defining a space therefrom, said sling adapted to secure a baby placed in said space with his/her abdomen facing the cushioning material, said sling including a lower portion coupled to said flat rigid support proximate a midpoint of the cushion material, which is adapted, in use, to extend between the legs of a baby to form a seat which encloses and supports a bottom of the baby, and a back rest extending upward from the lower portion to the area of the baby's head, side bands located on either side of a central portion of said backrest, said side bands extending from said sling and removably tied to said flat rigid support at a location spaced from said lower portion of said sling; upper bands located on either side of an upper portion of said backrest, said upper bands having a first end extending from said sling and a second end removably tied to said flat rigid support at a location spaced from msaid lower portion of msaid sling; and wherein said back rest is inclined in the same direction of the flat rigid support and an upper extremity of said back rest is higher than an upper extremity of said flat rigid support and said cushioning material, and wherein said lower portion is tied to said flat rigid support to define said space between said sling and said flat rigid support.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said flat rigid support is inclined at approximately 75-80 compared to the horizontal.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein a superior portion of the supporting side of said flat rigid support is angled relative to a remainder of said supporting side of said flat rigid support by at least approximately 30.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein a superior portion of the supporting side of said flat rigid support is angled relative to said remainder of said supporting side of said flat rigid support by approximately 75-90.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein a superior portion of the supporting side of said flat rigid support is approximately parallel to the horizontal.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein said superior portion of the supporting side of said flat rigid support is removable.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein said superior portion of the supporting side of said flat rigid support is foldable.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein said superior portion of the supporting side of said flat rigid support is curved.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein said frame is a frame of a stroller.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein said frame includes wheels.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein said side bands are tied to said flat rigid support at a distance sufficient from said lower portion to allow passage of legs of said baby between said lower portion and said side bands.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein said upper bands are tied to said flat rigid support so as to enable placement of said baby in and removal of said baby from said space.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein a maximal distance between said back rest and said cushioning material is defined by a length of said upper bands when said upper bands are tied to said flat rigid support.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein a bottom portion of said flat rigid support forms a continuous plane with said flat rigid support, and is not curved relative thereto.

15. The device according to claim 1, wherein said lower portion of the sling is provided with mechanisms to adjust its height.

16. The device according to claim 1, wherein said sling is a single unitary piece.

Description

[0035] The present invention will now be described, only by way of example, and not restrictively, according to a preferable form of production, with special reference to the attached drawings in which:

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a device to counteract gastroesophageal reflux in babies according to a first embodiment of the present invention and of a baby placed in it,

[0037] FIG. 2 shows a prospective view of the device in FIG. 1 and of the frame of a first stroller, on which the device is being applied.

[0038] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the device in FIG. 1 applied to the frame of FIG. 2,

[0039] FIG. 4 shows a prospective view of a device to counteract gastroesophageal reflux in babies according to a second embodiment of the present invention and of a baby placed in it and of the frame of a second type of stroller, on which the cushion is being applied, and

[0040] FIG. 5 shows a side view of the cushion of FIG. 4 applied to the frame of FIG. 4.

[0041] Referring to FIG. 1, the device to counteract gastroesophageal reflux in babies according to the present invention is on the whole indicated with the reference number 10 and includes a cushion 11, with a rigid support 12, to which a sling 13 is attached, for the placement and securing of a baby 20, with his/her abdomen facing the cushion 11, in the space included between said cushion 11 and said sling 13, coupled through specific mechanisms to a stroller, mechanisms which guarantee an angle of the cushion itself 11 between 70 and 90 degrees, preferably between 75 and 80 compared to the horizontal. The combination with the structure of a stroller, of any form or weight, allows the device to keep its effective position, with the cushion 11 at an angle of 70-90 compared to the horizontal, besides guaranteeing its stability and the ease of mobility.

[0042] The superior portion 14 (approximately 5-7 cm) of the cushion 11 is curved over the rest of the cushion 11 and forms a support surface that is practically horizontal.

[0043] The sling 13 includes a back rest 15. In order to support the baby's 20 head 22 in case it lolls backwards, the superior extremity of the back rest is higher than the superior extremity of the cushion 11 and has the same inclination of the cushion 11. The sling also includes a lower portion 16, tied to the cushion 11, to support the bottom of the baby 20, side bands 17, on both sides of the central portion of the back rest 15, which are tied to the cushion 11 at a sufficient distance from the lower portion 16, so as to allow the passage of the baby's legs 21 between the lower portion 16 and the side bands 17.

[0044] In addition, small bands 18 are applied to both sides of the upper part of the back rest 15. These bands can be tied to and untied from the superior portion of the cushion 11, so as to allow an easier placement of the baby 20 in the space between the cushion 11 and the sling 13 when the small bands are untied and the back rest 15 is folded outwards. It has to be defined the maximum distance of the back rest 15 from the cushion 11, when the little bands 18 are attached to the cushion 11. Between the larger side bands 17 and the little bands 18 there has to be sufficient room to allow the passage of the baby's 20 arms.

[0045] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the device 10 according to the prototype of the present invention already shown in FIG. 1, is seen combined with the structure 30 of a first type of stroller, while FIGS. 4 and 5, illustrate a variant of the device 10, combined with the structure 30 of a second type of stroller.

[0046] The baby 20 is secured in the sling 13 and well supported by it, with his/her abdomen facing the cushion 11 and the head leaning over the curved superior portion 14 of the cushion 11 itself, in exactly the baby's preferred position, i.e. in a position altogether similar to the one against the parent's chest and with his/her head leaning over parent's shoulder. This position allows the baby to belch easily and minimize regurgitation, as previously explained, and also allows him/her to go to sleep and stay asleep even for a long period, without any risk of suffocating, contrary to when he/she sleeps tummy down in a horizontal position or at an angle of 30-40 (as in the device of U.S. Pat. No. 6,931,683).

[0047] The elevated position of a baby placed on the device-stroller to counteract gastroesophageal reflux according to the present invention also allows the baby to look around without obstacles in front of his/her eyes, which amuses and relaxes him/her.

[0048] The height of the back rest IS has to be superior to the one of the cushion 11, or, in any case, adjustable so as to exceed the height of the head 22 of the baby 20 and prevent it from lolling backwards.

[0049] In addition, the back rest 15 has to have the same inclination of the cushion 11, to keep the head of the baby steadily near the cushion itself and prevent it from lolling backwards 22.

[0050] The sling 13 has to be equipped with mechanisms to adjust its height and width, so as to follow the increasing measurements of the baby as he/she grows older. Alternatively, one can supply accessory slings of growing sizes for babies of different ages.

[0051] After six months of age, the superior part of the back rest 15 can be folded down and back or eliminated altogether, so that the baby can be put in the device and carried around facing outwards, as it is usually done when parents carry the baby with the sling tied to their chest.

[0052] The use of the device to counteract gastroesophageal reflux in babies according to the present invention does not exclude that the stroller be equipped with a capote and/or with a plastic cover to protect the baby from sun and rain.

[0053] To increase the baby's impression of being held on mother's chest it is possible to add inside the superior, curved, portion 14 of the cushion 11, where the baby rests his/her head, an audio device to reproduce music or the recording of mother's voice and/or heart beat.

[0054] Finally, it is also possible to add under the cushion 11 a vibrator (which simulates the sound and movement of a car) to lull the baby to sleep more easily.

[0055] From what we have said so far, it is clear that the solution according to the present invention allows to reach the expected aims without any risks to the health or life of the baby.

[0056] In conclusion, the device to counteract gastroesophageal reflux in babies according to the present invention allows parents to keep their baby in the ideal position after feeding and for all the desired time, eliminating the need to carry him/her in their arms for a lengthy time, as it usually happens with babies that are affected by reflux. Tests done with many such babies have shown that, even immediately after feeding, they adapt with evident signs of relief to the special stroller and stay on it for extended periods without complaint (while they would protest vociferously if put sitting or lying down). The baby almost always falls asleep on the device, and stays quiet for all the time so far experimented, i.e. up to an hour.

[0057] For the very fact that it is equipped with wheels, the device 10 to counteract gastroesophageal reflux in babies according to the present invention allows the adult to carry the baby around in the ideal position for the baby and at the same time look into his/her face at a close distance, contrary to what happens when the baby is lying in a carriage or sitting in a stroller according to the known technique.

[0058] In addition, tests done have shown that some of the advantages that this device offers babies affected by gastroesophageal reflux can be extended to all babies. In fact all babies prefer being held in the described position after feeding and when they are carried around. This consideration suggests that this device to counteract gastroesophageal reflux in babies according to the present invention may be proposed as a valid help to manage the after feeding period and the stroll out of the house for any child, newborn or baby, even when perfectly healthy.

[0059] The present invention has been described by way of example, and without restrictions, according to its preferable forms of production, but it has to be understood that variations and/or modifications may be made by experts in the field, without this way avoiding the relative field of protection, as defined in the attached claims.