US3747596A

US3747596A - Apparatus for supporting a small child in standing position

Info

Publication number: US3747596A
Application number: US00122358A
Authority: US
Inventors: S Mills
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-03-09
Filing date: 1971-03-09
Publication date: 1973-07-24
Anticipated expiration: 1990-07-24
Also published as: CA955168A

Abstract

A web for girdling a child at armpit level is supported within an outer rigid curved support by a plurality of flexible connecting webs attached between the child-girdling webs and the rigid support. Connecting straps are provided on the support and coupled with the girdling web, the lengths of the connecting straps being adjustable. The rigid support is mounted so that its height is also adjustable. All or portions of the girdling web may be elastic or inelastic and one or all of the connecting straps may be elastic or inelastic. The rigid support is carried by a free-standing mount or is attached to a mount adapted to be secured to a wall.

Description

[111 3,747,596 July 24,1973

1 1 APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING A SMALL CHILD IN STANDING POSITION [76] Inventor: Susan C. Mills, 1 Vernon Rd.,

Scituate, Mass. 02066 [22] Filed: Mar. 9, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 122,358

[52] US. Cl. 128/134, 269/328 [51] Int. Cl A6lg 13/00 [58] Field of Search 128/134; 272/58,

2,833,332 5/1958 Nabors 272/70.4 X

823,812 6/1906 Ritter 272/70.3 1,206,203 11/1916 Brockway 272/70.2 X 3,198,465 8/1965 Sutton 248/221 X 3,177,035 4/1965 Halstrick 248/226 R X Primary ExaminerRichard A. Gaudet Assistant ExaminerLee S. Cohen Att0rney-Schiller & Pandiscio [57] ABSTRACT A web for girdling a child at armpit level is supported within an outer rigid curved support by a plurality of flexible connecting webs attached between the childgirdling webs and the rigid support. Connecting straps are provided on the support and coupled with the girdling web, the lengths of the connecting straps being adjustable. The rigid support is mounted so that its height is also adjustable. All or portions of the girdling web may be elastic or inelastic and one or all of the connecting straps may be elastic or inelastic. The rigid support is carried by a free-standing mount or is attached to a mount adapted to be secured to a wall.

23 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Patehte'd July 24, 1973 3,747,596

SUSAN 6. MILLS //Vl/E/VTOR.

APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING A SMALL CHILD IN STANDING POSITION This invention relates to childrens furniture and more specifically to a stand for facilitating the changing of a child's attire, particularly diapers.

At least until a child has reached an age at which the child is capable of standing without support and has been disciplined to the extent that he will do so during the time required to change his diapers and/or other soiled and dirty clothing, it is the usual practice to change" the child while he is lying down. However, once a child has learned to stand, it is difficult to persuade the child to lie down in order to have his diapers or other apparel changed. Moreover, childrenin the age group ranging from about 7 to 18 months are usually very active and mobile in addition to being reluctant to lie down, so that affecting a routine diaper change can prove to be an arduous and time consuming task as well as a severe test of patience.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel stand for facilitating changing a small childs apparel, particularly diapers, by confining and supporting the child in a standing position.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a stand of the type described which: is adjustable for both height and girth of a particular child; is comfortable for the child and does not give the child a feeling of confinement; is safe and harmless; prevents the child from using his hands to interfere with the changing operation; is convenient and easy to adjust and use; and is sturdy, yet simple and inexpensive in construction.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention are achieved by apparatus which basically comprises a rigid support member designed to encompass a standing child approximately at shoulder level and a flexible web adapted to be fastened around the childs body at armpit level. The web is attached within and to the rigid support by flexible, variable length support members. The height of the rigid support member is adjustable as required in order to support the child in a standing position.

The invention accordingly comprises the apparatus possessing the construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which are exemplified in the following detailed disclosure, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a free-standing em" bodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another free-standing embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention particularly adapted for mounting on a wall; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of another embodiment of the invention adapted for wall mountmg.

Reference is now made to FIG. 1 of the drawings wherein there is illustrated apparatus embodying the invention for confining and supporting a child in a standing position while the child's apparel, particularly diapers, are being changed. The basic components of the apparatus include a flexible web for girdling the childs body at. the armpits, a rigid support for the web, flexible connecting members between the girdling web and rigid support, and means for mounting the support and providing for height adjustment.

The component of the apparatus which contacts and actually holds the child is a web 10 adapted to girdle the child at armpit level. The length or girth of web 10 should be adjustable and the web is provided with means for connecting its ends together. Web 10 may be formed of any conventional webbing materials although materials and weaves which are pliable and hence, less likely to scratch or injure a child, are preferred. It is also possible to provide web 10 with a protective covering of a soft fabric that will protect the child against chafing and the like. In the preferred embodiment shown, the same means provide for both easy and fast length adjustment as well as end-to-end connection of the web. These means comprise a pair of fas tening elements including a first element 12 composed of pile-like arrangement of small, flexible hooks adapted to engage another element 14 composed of a pile-like arrangement of loops. Fasteners of this type are well known and are available under the trade mark Velcro.

Web 10 is supported inside of a rigid support in the general form of a ring 16 dimensioned to encircle web 10 and having a substantially larger diameter. Ring 16 can be a complete circle, or can be formed in two sections including a main arcuate section 18 of a generally C-shaped configuration, and a shorter, arcuate connecting section 20 releasably joined, for example, by telescoping, to the ends of main section 18. The main section 18 of ring 16 is formed ofa rigid material, cylindrical metal tubing being preferred because of its light weight, ease of fabrication and freedom from edges or corners on which a child might injure himself. However, other materials such as wood, synthetic plastics and the like, may be employed aswell as other crosssectional configurations.

A plurality of flexible support members 22 are provided for connecting the web 10 to ring 16 to support the web within the rigid ring. In the form shown in FIG. 1, support members 22 are four in number and are uniformly spaced around the ring. The support members 22 are formed of flexible strappingor webbing, which may be woven or nonwoven and may take any conventional form. Extruded or woven synthetic plastics are preferred particularly because of their resistance to soiling and their ease of cleaning. Support members may be flexibly attached to web 10 and/or 16 by conventional means such as rivets, or the support straps may be merely looped around the web and/or ring so that the web is free to rotate to a limited extent within the ring. Suitable buckles or other conventional means (not shown) may be provided for adjusting the lengths of the support members.

Mounting means for the support ring 16 include four telescoping legs 24 connected at their lower ends to hinge mounts 26 secured to a base 28. The construction of the adjustable length, telescoping legs is conven tional and includes, for example, spring loaded pins mounted in the inner (smaller diameter) sections of the legs adapted to project outwardly through holes in the outer (larger diameter) sections of the legs. Hinge mounts 26 cooperate to permit extension and retraction of the legs to locate ring 16 at any desired height above base 28. The preferred height is about at the level of the shoulders of the child so that the girdling web will be immediately beneath the childs armpits when the child is standing erect.

The removable section of ring 16 functions to lend strength to the ring support structure and is preferred because it acts as a gate permitting the child to walk into the support ring and making it unnecessary to lift the child over the ring. This is particularly important if the child is heavy. It also has the advantage of permitting the apparatus to be mounted on a table, making it much more convenient to change the childs apparel, including diapers, pants, shoes, stockings and the like. The support ring construction has the added advantages of preventing the child from lowering his arms and interfering with the changing operation.

It has been found that children are more comfortable and feel less entrapped if they are permitted some freedom of movement. This can be accomplished by forming all or portions of web 10 of an elastic material and- /or by forming some or all support members of an elastic material. A particular structure found to be advantageous in that it securely supports and restrains the child while permitting lateral movement sufficient to make the child more comfortable and willing to use the apparatus, is to form the girdling web 10 and two rear support members (straps) 22 of an inelastic material while forming the forward members 22 (closest removable section 20) of an elastic material. This permits adjustment of the length of girdling web 10 as well as rearward motion of the child who will usually face section 20, while preventing forward motion against the connector and toward section 20 and maintaining control over the childs movements.

Another and somewhat simpler, free-standing embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 2. This embodiment differs from that of FIG. I basically in that the rigid support, designated 30, is generally U-shaped and is formed integrally with two leg sections 32 extending downwardly into telescoping engagement with two upstanding legs 34 of mounting means having a U- shaped section 36 secured as by screws 37 to a base 28. Both the rigid support 30 and the mounting means are each formed ofa corresponding single length of tubular material'and height adjustment is achieved by employing pins and holes as previously described.

A restraining strap 38 may be secured between the ends of U-shaped section 30 where it joins leg sections 32 to insure additional restraint of the child. The entire assembly may be formed of a material which is not affected by water so that it can be employed in a bath tub as an aid in bathing the child. In such an embodiment, provision can be made for removing the supporting mounting means from base 28 in order to facilitate fitting the stand into a bath tub.

The embodiments of the invention shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 include a single mounting member attached to the rigid support at the rear thereof by means permitting vertical adjustment of the height of rigid support along the mounting member. Although the mounting member may be mounted in an upstanding position at its lower end on a base 28, in the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, it is designed to be mounted on a vertical surface such as a wall. The child support illustrated in FIG. 3 comprises a U-shaped rigid support 40 mounted on a slider 42. In turn, the latter is slidably mounted on a mounting member 44 having an I-shaped cross-section. Holes 46 are provided in member 44 forbolts or screws employed to mount member 44 on a wall or the like and a wing bolt 48 is threaded into slider 42 for retaining the slider and support 40 in any desired (vertical) position. In this embodiment, a number of mounting members 44 may be provided at different locations throughout the home and a single support 40 and slider 42 combination employed with any of the mounting members. FIG. 3 also illustrates the use of three, rather than four, support members 22 in which the rearmost member 22 secured adjacent slider 42 is preferably inelastic and the other two members 22 are elastic. This permits adjustment of the size of the girdling loop formed by web 10 to limit mobility of the child. A band may be provided secured at its ends to the end sections of support 40 to further restrain the child. It should be understood, however, that the rigid support 40 may be circular as shown in FIG. 1 and three or four support members 22 may be employed.

An alternative form of mounting member especially adapted for wall mounting is illustrated in FIG. 4. It comprises a length of cylindrical bar stock or tubing 50 having an elongated straight section and bent at right angles near opposite ends which are secured in conventional pipe flanges 52 adapted to be mounted on a vertical surface. A rigid support 40, either circular or U- shaped, is secured to a slider 54 engaged around the straight section of member 50 for sliding movement and a wing bolt 56 is provided in a tapped hole in slider 54 for restraining the slider against movement along member 50.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the objects of the present invention are achieved by a novel, simple and inexpensive structure that is easy and convenient to use, is comfortable for and will not harm a child, while it effectively restrains and supports the child, regardless of height, in a standing position.

Since certain changes may be made in the above apparatus without departing from the scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A changing stand for restraining and supporting a small child in a standing position comprising, in combination: a rigid support for encompassing a childs body on at least three sides; a length of flexible webbing; fastening means on the ends of said length of webbing for fastening said webbing around the body of a child immediately beneath the arms; a plurality of flexible support members each attached to said support and said webbing and being dimensioned and positioned relative to one another to support said webbing as a loop for surrounding a childs body; mounting means bearing said rigid support, and means for fixedly positioning said mounting means comprising a base member dimensioned so as to directly support at least a portion of said childs weight whereby said stand is substantially immovable in a horizontal direction by any activity of said child when the latter is held by said webbing, and means for adjusting the height of said rigid support in a vertical direction with respect to said base member.

2. Changing stand as defined in claim 1 wherein said rigid support is generally circular.

3. Changing stand as defined in claim 1 wherein said rigid support is in the form of a ring including a section removable to permit a child to enter said ring.

4. Changing stand as defined in claim 1 wherein said rigid support is generally U-shaped.

5. Changing stand as defined in claim 1 wherein said webbing is substantially inelastic and at least one of said support members is elastic.

6. Changing stand as defined in claim 5 including at least three of said support members uniformly spaced around said ring formed by said webbing and wherein at least said support members closest said fastening means are elastic.

7. Changing stand as defined in claim 6 wherein the other support members are substantially inelastic.

8. Changing stand as defined in claim 1 wherein a portion of said webbing is substantially inelastic and at least another portion thereof is elastic.

9. Changing stand as defined in claim 8 including at least three support members at least one of which is elastic and another of which is inelastic.

10. Changing stand as defined in claim 1 wherein said fastening means are constructed to prevent alteration of the girth of the ring formed by said webbing.

11. Changing stand as defined in claim 10 including means providing for adjustment of the length of at least one of said support members.

12. Changing stand as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for adjusting the height of said support include portions of said mounting means having adjustable lengths.

13. Changing stand as defined in claim 1 wherein said rigid support is movably mounted on said mounting means.

14. A changing stand for restraining and supporting a small child in a standing position comprising, in combination: a rigid support for encompassing a childs body on at least three sides; a length of flexible webbing; fastening means on the ends of said length of webbing for fastening said webbing around the body of a child immediately beneath the arms; a plurality of flexible support members each attached to said support and said webbing and being dimensioned and positioned relative to one another to support said webbing as a loop for surrounding a childs body; mounting means bearing said rigid support; means adapted for attaching said mounting means to a fixed surface in a vertical direction and, means for adjusting the height of said rigid support in a vertical direction.

15. Changing stand as defined in claim 14 wherein said rigid support is generally circular.

16. Changing stand as defined in claim 14 wherein said rigid support is generally U-shaped.

17. Changing stand as defined in claim 14 wherein said webbing is substantially inelastic and at least one of said support members is elastic.

18. Changing stand as defined in claim 17 including at least three of said support members uniformly spaced around said ring formed by said webbing and wherein at least said support members closest said fastening means are elastic.

19. Changing stand as defined in claim 18 wherein the other support members are substantially inelastic.

20. Changing stand as defined in claim 14 wherein a portion of said webbing is substantially inelastic and at least another portion thereof is elastic.

21. Changing stand as defined in claim 20 including at least three support members at least one of which is elastic and another of which is inelastic.

22. Changing stand as defined in claim 14 wherein said fastening means are constructed to prevent alteration of the girth of the ring formed by said webbing.

23. Changing stand as defined in claim 22 including means providing for adjustment of the length of at least one of said support members.

Claims

1. A changing stand for restraining and supporting a small child in a standing position comprising, in combination: a rigid support for encompassing a child''s body on at least three sides; a length of flexible webbing; fastening means on the ends of said length of webbing for fastening said webbing around the body of a child immediately beneath the arms; a plurality of flexible support members each attached to said support and said webbing and being dimensioned and positioned relative to one another to support said webbing as a loop for surrounding a child''s body; mounting means bearing said rigid support, and means for fixedly positioning said mounting means comprising a base member dimensioned so as to directly support at least a portion of said child''s weight whereby said stand is substantially immovable in a horizontal direction by any activity of said child when the latter is held by said webbing, and means for adjusting the height of said rigid support in a vertical direction with respect to said base member.

14. A changing stand for restraining and supporting a small child in a standing position comprising, in combination: a rigid support for encompassing a child''s body on at least three sides; a length of flexible webbing; fastening means on the ends of said length of webbing for fastening said webbing around the body of a child immediately beneath the arms; a plurality of flexible support members each attached to said support and said webbing and being dimensioned and positioned relative to one another to support said webbing as a loop for surrounding a child''s body; mounting means bearing said rigid support; means adapted for attaching said mounting means to a fixed surface in a vertical direction and, means for adjusting the height of said rigid support in a vertical direction.