GB2562531A

GB2562531A - Baby Cot

Info

Publication number: GB2562531A
Application number: GB1708018.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kaur Nizzer Gurjit
Original assignee: Gurjit Kaur Nizzer
Current assignee: Gurjit Kaur Nizzer
Priority date: 2017-05-18
Filing date: 2017-05-18
Publication date: 2018-11-21
Anticipated expiration: 2037-05-18
Also published as: GB2562531B; GB201708018D0

Abstract

A sheet 3 for a baby cot 1 to support a baby being rested. The sheet 3 is permeable by air and liquid bodily discharge, including vomit, to prevent the baby from choking. The sheet 3 may be attached to a baby cot by fasteners 25. Alternatively, a baby cot 1 may include the sheet 3 suspended from a frame, above, and separated by an air gap, a waste collecting undertray 22. The undertray 22 stores the waste for later disposal. The frame may be a basket 5 with the sheet 3 suspended from a peripheral rim 24, extending into the basket 5. The sheet 3 may be a resiliently flexible material or partially transparent with the basket 5 having one or more openings 29a, 29b through which the sleeping position of the baby can be seen. The baby cot 1 may be accompanied by a height adjustable stand 21.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: Baby Cot

Abstract Title: Sheet and baby cot (57) A sheet 3 for a baby cot 1 to support a baby being rested. The sheet 3 is permeable by air and liquid bodily discharge, including vomit, to prevent the baby from choking. The sheet 3 may be attached to a baby cot by fasteners 25. Alternatively, a baby cot 1 may include the sheet 3 suspended from a frame, above, and separated by an air gap, a waste collecting undertray 22. The undertray 22 stores the waste for later disposal. The frame may be a basket 5 with the sheet 3 suspended from a peripheral rim 24, extending into the basket 5. The sheet 3 may be a resiliency flexible material or partially transparent with the basket 5 having one or more openings 29a, 29b through which the sleeping position of the baby can be seen. The baby cot 1 may be accompanied by a height adjustable stand 21.

l/l

BABY COT

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a baby cot and support membrane. In particular, they relate to a Moses basket comprising a support membrane.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Baby cots are known to generally comprise a small bed with high sides for a baby or very young child. Baby cots can come in various shapes and sizes including basket shapes. A small lightweight design of baby cot is a ‘Moses basket’, which is a carrycot or small portable cot made of wickerwork.

Sleep positioning plays a significant role in the reduction of sudden infant cot death syndrome (SIDS). Putting a baby to sleep on its back has been found to result in a lower risk of SIDS, compared with the baby’s front or side. Caregivers are currently advised to put the baby to sleep in the correct positioning. However, it is impractical to monitor the baby’s sleep positioning without significant disruption to the caregiver. There may be times when the baby turns on to its front and this goes unnoticed for some time. This can be a source of anxiety for caregivers.

It would be advantageous for the design of the baby cot itself to include safety features to reduce the anxiety felt by caregivers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments of the invention there is provided a baby cot comprising: a support membrane for supporting a baby to be rested, wherein the support membrane is configured to enable passage therethrough of air and of liquid bodily discharge; collection means for collecting the discharge that passes through the support membrane, and for storing the discharge for later disposal; and suspension means for suspending the support membrane to form an air gap beneath the support membrane above the collection means, while the baby is lying on the support membrane.

This provides the advantage that the design of the baby cot itself seeks to mitigate the risk of suffocation should the baby turn on its front or side. The baby can breathe fresh air through the support membrane, and there is a reduced risk of the pooling of vomit.

According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments of the invention there is provided a baby cot comprising: a support membrane for supporting a baby to be rested, wherein the support membrane is configured to enable passage therethrough of air and of liquid bodily discharge.

According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments of the invention there is provided a baby cot support membrane, wherein the baby cot support membrane is for supporting a baby to be rested, and wherein the baby cot support membrane is configured to enable passage therethrough of air and of liquid bodily discharge. The baby cot support membrane may in some examples be provided as a kit with baby cot fastening means for attaching the baby cot support membrane to a baby cot and suspending the baby cot support membrane to form an air gap beneath the baby cot support membrane above the base of the baby cot.

According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments of the invention there is provided a baby cot system comprising the baby cot as described herein, and a stand.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of various examples of embodiments of the present invention reference will now be made by way of example only to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig 1 illustrates an example of a baby cot; and

Fig 2 illustrates another example of a baby cot.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Fig 1 schematically illustrates an example of a baby cot 1 able to function in accordance with various embodiments and examples of the invention.

In some, but not necessarily all examples the baby cot 1 of Fig 1 comprises a container 5 for the baby in the form of a basket. In some examples the basket 5 is a Moses basket. It would be appreciated that the container 5 may take other forms known in baby cot design.

In Fig 1 a baby 2 is located within the basket 5. However, rather than lying on the base of the basket 5 or lying on bedding on the base of the basket 5 as is known in the art, the baby 2 is suspended above a base 4 of the baby cot 1 by a baby cot support membrane 3 (support membrane 3 herein) creating an air gap. The size of the air gap may be in the range of one to two inches (25.450.8 mm) in some examples.

The support membrane 3 is within the basket 5 and extends between opposite walls of the basket 5. The support membrane 3 is supported by the walls of the basket 5, such that the lowest point of the support membrane 3 is suspended slightly above the base 4 of the baby cot 1. Therefore, the basket 5 is a form of ‘suspension means’ for suspending the support membrane 3 to form the air gap beneath the support membrane 3.

The support membrane 3 has sufficient permeability to enable passage therethrough of air and of liquid bodily discharge (herein referred to as discharge). Discharge primarily refers to vomit.

The sufficient permeability is provided at least at locations on the support membrane 3 where the baby 2 is able to sleep. In some examples, the sufficient permeability extends over the whole area of the support membrane

3.

The discharge is able to pass through the support membrane 3 and drop by gravity to the base 4 of the baby cot 1, rather than pooling on the support membrane 3 and presenting a suffocation hazard to a baby lying on its front or side.

Fig 2 illustrates an example baby cot 1 that incorporates the features of the baby cot 1 of Fig 1 and additional features. Each of the additional features may be taken alone or in combination with other ones of the additional features. Fig 2 also illustrates an optional stand 21 for the baby cot 1.

Starting from the bottom of Fig 2, a stand 21 is firstly provided on which the baby cot 1 can be supported. In some, but not necessarily all examples the stand 21 is an adjustable-height stand.

The stand 21 may have a total height of at least 50 cm so that a caregiver lying in bed can see the baby cot 1 adjacent their bed without having to get out of bed.

The stand 21 may be configured to form an integral part of the baby cot 1, or may in other examples be provided separately as part of a system or kit.

The baby cot 1 of Fig 2 comprises an undertray 22.

The undertray 22 is one example of a ‘collection means’ for collecting the discharge that passes through the support membrane 3, and for storing the discharge for later disposal. The undertray 22 has a raised rim to prevent spillage.

The undertray 22 may define the base 4 of the baby cot 1 and is therefore to be rested on the stand 21 or on another surface. A base of the undertray 22 may comprise a high-friction portion(s) such as a rubber sheet or rubber feet to increase its resistance to sliding motion. In some examples, the undertray 22 is coupled to the stand 21 via one or more connectors (not shown) such as magnetic connectors.

In Fig 2, the container (suspension means) 5, is positioned above the undertray 22. However, in other examples the undertray 22 may be contained within the container 5 underneath the support membrane 3.

The baby cot 1 of Fig 2 may be configured such that the container 5 rests on the undertray 22 or couples to the undertray 22 via one or more connectors (not shown).

In some, but not necessarily all examples the undertray 22 is at least as wide and long as the container 5 to ensure that substantially all discharge is caught in the undertray 22.

The container 5 in Fig 2 is a basket, more specifically a Moses basket comprising a wickerwork frame and carry handles 26. In other examples, the container 5 may take other forms known in baby cot design.

The basket 5 of Fig 2 is formed from spaced longitudinal strips 23a and transverse strips 23b. Each strip may be formed from wickerwork. The use of spaced strips rather than a continuous basket shell enables a caregiver, by visual inspection through openings 29a, 29b between the strips 23, to identify a sleeping position of the baby.

Each opening 29a, 29b may occupy a significant proportion of the total surface area of the basket 5, e.g. in the range 2-20%. The basket 5 may comprise a plurality of the openings.

Side openings 29a help to improve air circulation and enable visual inspection of the sleep positioning of the baby from the side. Base openings 29b help to improve air circulation and promote passage of discharge to the undertray 22.

Fig 2 also shows the support membrane 3 of the baby cot 1. The support membrane 3 is suspended above the base 4 of the baby cot 1 in Fig 2.

The support membrane 3 is illustrated in the form of a sheet. The term ‘sheet’ encompasses continuous materials (e.g. moulded materials), meshes, lattices or the like. The peripheral edge of the sheet is coupled to a top rim 24 of the basket 5 at multiple locations by fastening means 25 as shown in Fig 2. Alternatively, the coupling could be continuous along the top rim 24. In other examples, the coupling is provided below the level of the top rim 24. The coupling can be achieved using suitable fastening means 25 such as poppers, clips, zips, pegs, buttons, etc. Optionally, the fastening means 25 are configured such that the support membrane 3 is user-releasable from the basket 5 for washing. For example, the fastening means 25 are not designed to be stitched or glued to the basket 5.

In some examples, the support membrane 3 is suspended such that the support membrane 3 only contacts the basket 5 at the top rim 24 of the basket 5 where it is fastened to the basket 5. The support membrane 3 may be supported by the basket only at the top rim 24 and by no other lower locations on the basket 5. The support membrane 3 therefore functions in the manner of a hammock, hanging above the base of the basket 5.

The support membrane 3 is suspended such that an air gap is formed between the lowest point of the support membrane 3 and the base 4 of the baby cot 1 (the undertray 22), while the baby is lying on the support membrane 3. The air gap (separation of the lowest point of the support membrane 3 and the base 4 of the baby cot 1) may be a value selected from the range one to two inches (25.4-50.8mm).

In some, but not necessarily all examples the support membrane 3 is suspended such that the air gap is in fact formed between the lowest point of the support membrane 3 and the base of the basket 5. This ensures that the strips 23 at the base of the basket 5 do not contact the support membrane 3, therefore avoiding localized areas where air circulation is reduced and discharge can pool.

To ensure that the air gap is formed, the support membrane 3 may be dimensioned to ensure the air gap is provided when the support membrane 3 is suspended. For example, if a width of the basket 5 measured from the top rim 24 on one side of the basket 5 to the top rim 24 on the opposite side of the basket 5 is W, and the height of the top rim 24 above the base of the basket 5 is /-/, the width w of the support membrane 3 enabling the support membrane 3 be suspended from the top rim 24 providing an air gap above the base of the basket 5 would be:

w > 2j(W/2)² + (H)²

The support membrane 3 is permeable as described above in relation to Fig

1. The permeability of the support membrane 3 is achieved by providing a plurality of regularly spaced apertures through the support membrane 3. Each aperture may be a through-hole enabling passage of liquid and/or gas therethrough. Each aperture may be a drilled or pre-formed perforation, or the support membrane 3 may be a mesh such that each aperture is defined as the space between adjacent rows and columns of the mesh.

The apertures in the support membrane 3 may be regularly shaped and sized, in contrast to the irregularly shaped and sized nature of gaps in wickerwork.

The apertures are configured to control various properties of the support membrane 3, including: permeability of the support membrane 3 to liquid bodily discharge; permeability of the support membrane 3 to air; and transparency of the support membrane 3.

Each aperture may be suitably permeable for air to pass through and for partially digested milk and similar viscosity substances associated with babies diets to pass through. For example, an average aperture diameter d (circular or circular-equivalent for non-circular shapes) in the range 2 < d < 20 mm would provide adequate permeability.

The average spacing s of neighbouring apertures may be in the range 1.2c/ < s < 3d for adequate permeability and transparency.

The support membrane 3 should be comfortable enough for a baby to lie on directly without the need for additional bedding. This is because additional bedding would impede the passage of fluid through the support membrane 3.

In the example of Fig 2, the support membrane 3 is configured to resiliently elastically deform when a baby is placed thereon. The strength and elasticity of the support membrane 3 and the basket 5 are configured such that the air gap is maintained while the support membrane 3 is displaced (sags) to its greatest extent from its neutral equilibrium position due to normal loads (e.g. 15 kg baby).

A suitable material for the elastic support membrane 3 may be plastic, e.g. polyvinyl chloride or other resilient polymeric material. The support membrane 3 may be a non-textile/non-fabric material, such as a moulded material. The support membrane thickness may be in the range 1-15mm. In some, but not necessarily all examples the support membrane 3 comprises anti-allergen material.

The baby cot 1 of Fig 2 further comprises a privacy sheet 28 which can be manually drawn to open and close the top of the basket 5. The privacy sheet 28 is semi-transparent to provide the baby with increased shade while enabling a caregiver to check the sleeping position of the baby by visual inspection through the privacy sheet 28.

The privacy sheet 28 of Fig 2 is folded over a diaphragm 27 coupled to the top rim 24 of the basket 5 via any suitable fasteners. In some examples, the privacy sheet 28 is user-releasable from the diaphragm 27 for washing. The edge of the privacy sheet 28 may be elasticated to provide a biasing force such that the elasticated material must first be pulled under tension in order to separate the privacy sheet 28 from the diaphragm 27. Other arrangements are possible.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in the preceding paragraphs with reference to various examples, it should be appreciated that modifications to the examples given can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed.

Features described in the preceding description may be used in combinations other than the combinations explicitly described.

Although functions have been described with reference to certain features, those functions may be performable by other features whether described or not.

Although features have been described with reference to certain embodiments, those features may also be present in other embodiments whether described or not.

Whilst endeavoring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

l/we claim:

Claims

1. A baby cot comprising:

a support membrane for supporting a baby to be rested, wherein the support membrane is configured to enable passage therethrough of air and of liquid bodily discharge;

collection means for collecting the discharge that passes through the support membrane, and for storing the discharge for later disposal; and suspension means for suspending the support membrane to form an air gap beneath the support membrane above the collection means, while the baby is lying on the support membrane.

2. The baby cot as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support membrane is a sheet of resiliently flexible material.

3. The baby cot as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the collection means is an undertray.

4. The baby cot as claimed in claim 1,2 or 3, wherein the suspension means is in the shape of a basket.

5. The baby cot as claimed in claim 4, wherein the support membrane is suspendable from a peripheral rim of the basket for supporting the baby within the volume of the basket.

6. The baby cot as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the support membrane is at least partially transparent, and wherein the basket comprises one or more openings for enabling a caregiver, by visual inspection through the one or more openings, to identify a sleeping position of the baby.

7. The baby cot as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the support membrane comprises regularly spaced apertures.

8. The baby cot as claimed in claim 7, wherein the average diameter of the apertures is in the range 2-20 mm.

9. The baby cot as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the strength and elasticity of the support membrane and suspension means are configured such that the average air gap beneath the baby is at least one inch (25.4 mm) in use while the baby is lying on the support membrane.

10. The baby cot as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the support membrane comprises anti-allergenic polymeric material.

11. A baby cot support membrane, wherein the baby cot support membrane is for supporting a baby to be rested, and wherein the baby cot support membrane is configured to enable passage therethrough of air and of liquid bodily discharge.

12. A system comprising the baby cot support membrane as claimed in claim 11 and fastening means for attaching the baby cot support membrane to a baby cot.

13. A baby cot system comprising the baby cot as claimed in any one or more of claims 1 to 10, and a stand.

14. The baby cot system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the stand is heightadjustable.

Intellectual

Property Office

Application No: GB1708018.5