WO1997039661A1 - Safe dressing table for newborn babies and infants or safe swaddling table - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention discloses a device for taking care of an infant or the like while eliminating all risk of the infant falling when the user moves away from the table. This device consists of at least two interlinked rigid frames movable with respect to each other. The upper frame (6) constitutes, in a raised position, a controlled self-positioning rigid protection belt which retracts when the user exerts a counterforce on the control device (11) of the invention. This device automatically engages the safety means whenever the user moves away from the care table. In another embodiment the upper frame (6) can consist of two or more rectangular frames (15 and 16) fixed on the lower frame (4) of the device. One of the rectangular frames (15) is provided with an appropriately shaped piece (17) of suitable material guiding the second rectangular frame (16) and folding down simultaneously and symmetrically the two frames (15 and 16). The device is provided with a system (25) for locking the frames (15 and 16) in a raised position. The whole assembly can optionally be fixed on a rigid folding underframe high enough to allow the user to work in a standing position. The invention is particularly useful for the care of new born babies and infants.

Description

 SECURE TREATMENT TABLE FOR NEWBORNS AND YOUNG CHILDREN

OR "SAFETY CHANGING TABLE"

The present invention relates to a safe device for nursing support, for example a changing table.

Various types of furniture or accessories are currently known for changing or caring for infants or young children. There are thus models of changing or care tables composed of a tray or a bucket, provided with lateral beads and fixedly arranged on a folding support. This type of table does not offer any guarantee of safety for the baby, the side rolls which must hold the child on both sides of the table are insufficient to prevent falls.

Furthermore, there is no protection on the other two sides of these tables and the child who sits can also fall forwards or backwards from the table.

Devices are also known which consist of a foam mattress covered with a washable synthetic fabric, with or without inside a wooden board ensuring the rigidity of the mattress. This type of mattress, which is used on all types of support and in particular on tables not specifically designed for this use, does not offer any guarantee of safety against falling children.

Various devices have been made to solve the above problem and these devices are, in the light of statistics on child falls and comments from pediatricians, clearly ineffective.

The device according to the invention overcomes this drawback materialized by the high risk of the fall of the child, the consequences of which can be extremely serious. According to a first characteristic, the treatment table in fact comprises a barrier or protective frame in its upper part, with automatic positioning, retractable, fixed on the table or frame of the treatment table, disposed on the periphery of the plane of work or mattress on which the child to be cared for is placed.

That is to say that the user who will be in front of the treatment table must press with the foot or any other part of a lower limb to lower the protective barrier and free the periphery of the usable space (or the we put the baby down) and if for any reason he had to move away from the table, letting go of the pedal or lever would automatically reposition the protective frame in the high position or the engaged safety position, thus materializing the protection of the baby.

In known manner, the devices of this kind comprise on a support comprising two arches articulated to each other by scissors, a bathtub of flexible waterproof material and, a changing table or tray, the support being able to occupy at will either a folded position for storage, either a deployed position for use, and the changing table being hinged mounted so as to occupy in the position of use of the device either a retracted position or it allows the bath, or a position of use or it allows to change the baby.

The present invention aims to give care tables or changing tables conditions of use definitively reducing the risk of falls of young children.

According to the invention, the device of the type under consideration is characterized in that the changing table consists of a rigid structure, for example a metal tube, composed of two parallelepipid frames tangled one inside the other. , assembled and articulated at an axis point, forming a cross during the opening which is limited by any means (table top for example) and thus making it possible to obtain a base. This is a known device. The innovation of this secure treatment table device consists of a kind of frame which, made of a rigid material, constitutes a barrier or frame with automatic lifting, retractable from a certain height controlled and disposed at the upper periphery of the tray. said secure treatment table.

This secure treatment table device (1) is characterized in that it comprises a system consisting of two superimposed tubular frames (2), one of which is movable, connected to each other by at least two crosspieces (3), rigid, with a limited clearance arranged on either side of the short side of the rectangle formed by the frames (2).

The lower frame of the device (4) is integral with the base of the table on which is placed the plate (5) intended to receive the mattress on which the child or the subject in general is placed.

The upper frame of the device (6) connected to the lower frame (4) by the braces (3) is mobile and can therefore be moved in a vertical axis relative to the treatment table (1).

In a preferred embodiment, two ends of four of the crossbars (3) are articulated on the axes (7) secured to the movable upper (6) and lower (4) frame of the device.

The other two ends of the braces (3) are movable and move in a horizontal direction in slides (8) or any other mechanical means of guided movement, fixed for example on the plate (5) of the treatment table or on any other part that can be secured to it.

The assembly of the two upper and lower frames (2) linked together by the braces (3) as described below demonstrates that according to a preferred embodiment, the lower frame (4) is fixed and rigid and that the frame upper (6) is movable in a vertical axis, rigid and free from any lateral and longitudinal displacement by the use in this direction, of ropes (9) for example nylon, arranged diagonally between the upper frames (6) and lower (4) on each side of the long table. The present invention is also characterized by the fact that, in order to control the movements of the upper frame (6) of the treatment table, at least two gas springs or cylinders are arranged on either side of the treatment table. treatments acting directly on one of the arms of each spider (3), thus allowing the automatic lifting of the upper frame (6) therefore the automatic engagement of safety.

This characteristic of the invention makes it possible to slow down and control the movements from the bottom up and from the top to the bottom of the upper frame (6) of the device relative to the lower frame (4) and to eliminate any risk of trauma whose l child could be a victim due to the sudden and untimely rise of the senior manager (6).

An innovative care table device for children has therefore been produced, since the present invention is differentiated from known treatment tables or changing tables by the provision of an automatic and retractable system using a control device. by cable (1 1) which, as described above, provides active safety thanks to the fact that in the raised or raised position, the upper frame (6) situated for example 25 or 30 centimeters above the mattress of the device constitutes an effective protective barrier with automatic installation, against the fall of the child.

The present invention is also characterized in that the control device (1 1) of the upper frame (ό) consists in a preferred embodiment, of a lever or pedal (12) located on the ground or on any other part of the base of the treatment table, connected by a flexible cable (13) to the base of the braces circulating on pulleys (14), arranged between the lower (4) and upper (6) frames of the device.

The control device of the invention (1 1) allows the user when he acts on the pedal or other lever (12) to lower the upper frame (6) and to freely access the child or subject who needs to be treated. According to the characteristic of the invention, when the user releases his action on the pedal or other lever (12) the upper frame (6) automatically returns to the high or safety position, thanks to the action of the gas springs or cylinders. (10) In another embodiment, (Figure 3) the upper frame (6) may consist of two or more hoops (15 & 16) fixed in opposition relative to each other on the lower frame (4) of the device.

One of these two hoops (15) comprises a piece (17) of material and of suitable shape guiding the second hoop (16) and making it possible to fold the two hoops (15 & 16) simultaneously in a symmetrical manner. The second hoop (16) is provided with a roller (18) rolling on the part (17) itself fixed on the hoop (15) and with a stop (19) making it possible to stop the assembly in position high.

These two arches (15 & 16) are lowered by deploying on their point of attachment to the lower frame (4) when the user exerts an antagonistic force on the pedal (12) or actuates any other control lever.

This pedal (12) is connected by a cable (13) or cable to a jack, gas spring or compass (10) itself disposed between the poles (15 & 16) and fixed at one end directly on the part (17) and at the other end by means, for example, of a metal tab (24) fixed to the arch (16).

This secure treatment table device (1) is characterized in that it comprises a system consisting of two arches (15 & 16) or more, allowing when in the high position to produce a rigid and retractable protective belt, thus constituting a treatment table or changing table thus preventing the fall of the child.

According to a variant of the invention, the product which is the subject of this document can be, whatever its embodiment, separated from the traditional base and positioned by any means on any piece of furniture or tray while retaining all of the functions here. described (fig 5).

When it is detached from its base, (FIG. 5) the product which is the subject of the invention can be provided in a preferred mode with one or more removable mechanical fasteners (26) of any type, and for example sleepsuit, for gripping said device on a piece of furniture or any other flat support. The product object of the invention is provided with a locking system (25) fig.3

& 4 arches (158c 16) in the high position. In a preferred embodiment, this locking system (25) consists of two metal parts (20 & 21) respectively integral with each of the metal legs (24) fixed on the arches (15 & 16) and connected together by a rigid connecting bar (22 ).

This part (20) is fixed and articulated on the support (24) of the jack (10), it is provided with an orifice (23) allowing the fixing of the end of the cable or rope (13) itself connected to the pedal (12).

When the user exerts pressure on the pedal (12), the cable (13) rotates the parts (20 & 21) upwards, thus making it possible to unlock the hoops (15 & 16) before lowering them into the retracted position.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments which have been described, but it is on the contrary capable of receiving numerous modifications which will appear to those skilled in the art.

Thus, for example, the shapes and dimensions can easily be adapted to the shape, dimensions and weight of the child or animal that can be placed on the treatment table. (1)

Thus the device according to the invention finds immediate application for newborns and young children, as a changing table that can be used in hospitals or in the home.

Although I have represented and described what are currently considered to be the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is understood that it is not going beyond the ambit of the invention by using any system having the same function and producing the same result. it is obvious that a person skilled in the art will be able to make various changes and modifications thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. Treatment table device or changing table characterized in that it comprises in its upper part, a set of two frames (2) interconnected by crossbars (3) and whose movable upper frame (6) is retractable downwards, by means of a controlled control device (11) actuated by the user. 2. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the upper frame (6) which constitutes a protective barrier, is automatically positioned in the high or safety position with the action of the gas springs (10) or any other means when the user ceases to exert an antagonistic pressure on the pedal (12) of the control device (1 1), This is a safety principle known as "dead man ¹ 'which consists of a safety engaged in human failure. 3. Device according to claims 1 or 2 characterized in that when the user actuates the pedal (12) the cables of the control device (1 1) brings the upper frame (6) in the low or retracted position. 4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper frame (6) made rigid and mobile relative to the lower frame (4) by the use on the short side of the rectangle of movable braces (3) including the ends slide in slides (8) and by the use of ropes (9) stretched diagonally between the upper (6) and lower (4) frames on the long side of the rectangle. 5. Device according to claim 1 provided with a table locking system (1) when the upper frame (6) is in the low or retracted position, characterized in a preferred mode in that the pedal (12) comprises a device mechanical which, manually engaged, locks the pedal (12) in the low position. 6. Device according to the preceding claim allowing automatic passage to the "unlocked" position when a simple counter pressure of the foot on the pedal (12) of the control device (1). 7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which two arches (158cl6) fixed respectively on either side of the lower frame (4), pivot on their fixing point and lower when the user exerts pressure. antagonist on the pedal (12) or actuates any other control lever. 8. Device according to claim 7 according to which the pedal (12) is connected by a cable (13) to a jack, gas spring or compass (10) one end of which is fixed on the part (17) itself fixed on the arch (15) and the other end on the tab (24) itself fixed on the arch (16). 9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims according to which the product which is the subject of the invention can be separated from the traditional base (fig.5) and positioned on any piece of furniture or tray while retaining all of the functions described. 10. Device according to the preceding claim according to which the product which is the subject of the invention is provided in a preferred mode with removable mechanical fasteners of the latch type for gripping the said device on a piece of furniture or any other flat support (Fig. 5-26) . 11. Device according to claims 7 8c 8 according to which the product object of the invention is provided with a locking system (fig.4- 25) of the arches (15 & 16) in the high position. In a preferred embodiment, the locking system (25) consists of two metal parts (208c21) fixed on the legs (24) themselves fixed on the arches (158c 16) and connected together by a rigid connecting bar ( 22). The part (20) is fixed on the support (24) of jack (10), it is provided with an orifice (23) allowing the fixing of the end of the cable or rope (13) itself connected to the pedal (12). When the user exerts pressure on the pedal, the cable (13) pivots the parts (208c21) upwards; thus enabling the hoops (158c 16) to be unlocked before lowering them into the retracted position. 12. Device according to the preceding claim according to which one of the hoops (15) is provided with a piece of material and of suitable shape (17) allowing the guiding of the second hoop. (16) 13. Device according to claims 11 8c 12, according to which the second arch (16) is provided with a roller (18) rolling on the part (17) allowing its guidance on this part (17) and with a stop (19 ) to block the two arches (158cl6) in the high position.