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Description  |
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FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to a travel bed and utility pad for small children
and, more particularly, to a light weight portable pad arrangement having
side and end restraints.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Infants and small children generally require a large measure of protection
when playing or sleeping, especially when left alone. The dangers to such
small children are numerous, such as falls, bruises, unsanitary areas,
such as rugs or floors, onto which the child might stray, or, where a
restraint means is used, being caught or tangled in the restraint means.
Most commonly, such small children are placed in cribs or play pens which
are relatively fixed as to location, and which are often padded to protect
the child and afford it a measure of comfort. Thus, the slats of the crib
are often draped with pads to prevent the child from being caught between
slats, and to cushion the child if it should fall against the sides of the
crib. From a safety and child security standpoint, a crib or playpen thus
padded is excellent, however, it is not conveniently portable and thus is
quite difficult to carry on trips. Thus, when the parent and child are
staying in a hotel room, for example, unless the hotel has cribs or
playpens available, there is no ready means for protecting the child while
it plays or sleeps.
By the time that a child has outgrown a travel crib, at about two years of
age, he or she tends to feel too confined by a crib and starts to try to
climb out. This can be extremely dangerous inasmuch as the child can fall
or become tangled in the crib while trying to get out. As a consequence,
the alternatives to a crib, such as an adult bed or a sleeping bag, are
often used. However, children usually roll frequently while sleeping, and
can roll off the bed. A sleeping bag has its own drawbacks, such as the
possibility of the child ending up totally inside of the bag, with a
danger of suffocation, or rolling out of the bag onto the unsanitary floor
or rug.
When a child is ill, or subject to bad dreams or the like, the parents want
the child to sleep near them, but not in bed with them. Thus, a trundle
bed arrangement, where the bed can be stored under the parents' bed and
pulled out when needed, is desirable.
As a consequence, there has been a great deal of emphasis placed on
designing portable arrangements for children that can be easily
transported and, where necessary, quickly assembled, and which afford the
child a reasonable measure of protection. The prior art is replete with
such devices, an example of which is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,626,407 of
Kurry. The device of that patent is a folding crib which can be carried in
a case and unfolded for use. The crib comprises a pair of bottom portions
of cardboard or the like which can be folded together and unfolded to form
the floor of the crib. A hollow U-shaped rim extends along the periphery
of each of the bottom portions and is filled with a soft filler material.
The rim portions are attached to the bottom portions so that when the
bottom portions are folded, the butting ends of the U-shaped rims
separate. The crib is designed to be placed upon a bed or sofa and the
mattress or cushions thereof constitute the cushioning means for the crib.
The rim members protect the child so that it cannot roll off the bed.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,103,514 of Leach there is shown a portable utility pad
which comprises a rectangular fabric tube filled with cushioning material
having a sheet of fabric attached thereto to form a floor for the pad. The
entire assembly may be folded into a compact triangular configuration and
held there by fasteners. A pair of Velcro.RTM. straps form a handle for
carrying the triangular bundle.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,088,139 of Bloom discloses a play mat having a cushioned
base portion and a cushioned circular wall portion, secured to each other
by suitable means, such as a zipper. The mat can be folded up for
transport and stored in a carrying case that is integral therewith.
The arrangements of prior art thus far discussed all have cushioned wall
portions wherein the cushioning material is integral with or incorporated
into the wall structure, which materially adds to the bulk of the folded
member, as well as necessitating, at least in some cases, a unique or
special way of folding the member for transport. In U.S. Pat. No.
4,754,509 of Pollard, there is shown a sleeping pad for infants or
patients which comprises a retainer sheet upon which are attached and
arrayed in a rectangular configuration a plurality of pockets.
Cylindrically shaped foam members are insertable into the pockets to form
a walled rectangular enclosure in which the child or patient can be
placed. The sheet itself is designed to be fitted to the mattress of a bed
so that it does not shift or slide, thus affording a stable, fixed
enclosure. U.S. Pat. No. 5,165,130 of Neudling likewise discloses walls
formed by cushions insertable into pockets formed on a flexible panel.
None of the foregoing patents discloses an infant bed or playpen that can
be broken down into its component parts for easy transportability. In most
cases, as with the Kurry, Leach, and Bloom arrangements, the bed or pad is
rolled up, usually in a complicated manner, to form a somewhat bulky
package. While the Pollard arrangement can be broken down into components,
the components themselves are bulky, and there is no suggestion as to how
the disassembled bed is to be folded and transported.
The prior art arrangements fail to show, in one or more particulars, a
utility pad arrangement for infants, e.g., children below the age of two
years, which is also a trundle bed arrangement for small children, e.g.,
children from two to six years old. Such an arrangement would be highly
desirable and useful.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention, in a preferred embodiment thereof, is a trundle bed
or utility pad which comprises a sheet of relatively soft, flexible
material such as, for example, nylon which may be coated with a thin film
of polyurethane, for example, to render it waterproof and easily
cleanable. The sheet, which is preferably, although not necessarily,
rectangular in shape has attached along each edge a pocket member which
comprises two layers of the sheet material and extends along the length of
the side to which it is attached. Thus, the sheet has attached thereto two
open ended end pockets, one at each end, and two open ended side pockets,
one extending along each side, with the length of each side pocket being
an integral multiple, preferably two, of the length of each end pocket.
A plastic foam, preferably rectangularly shaped, board is insertable into
each of the end pockets, the two boards being substantially identical in
dimensions and formed by polypropylene foam, for example. First and second
substantially identical polyethylene boards are inserted into each of the
side pockets into butting relationship with each other so that each side
pocket is substantially filled with the boards. Preferably, each of the
first and second boards is identical to the boards in the end pockets so
that all six boards are interchangeable.
Each of the side pockets has, at each end, a tab or extension member to
which is affixed a Velcro.RTM. or other type hook and loop fastening
member, and each of the end pockets has, at each end on the under side
thereof, a matching Velcro.RTM. or other type hook and loop member. When
the boards are in place in their pockets, the side and end pockets are
folded up to form walls, and are fastened together by means of the
Velcro.RTM. fasteners to hold them firmly in place. A mattress member
comprising a flexible sheet of polyethylene or polyurethane, which may be
enclosed in a vinyl case, and having approximately the same width and
length as the sheet surface within the walls, is placed upon the sheet
within the confines of the walls for the child's comfort. If desired, the
mattress may have Velcro.RTM. fasteners on the under side thereof which
mate with Velcro.RTM. fasteners affixed to the top surface of the sheet to
hold the mattress in place and prevent it from bunching up or sliding.
The assembled bed may quickly be broken down for transport by the user's
removing the mattress, unfastening the ends of the pockets, and removing
the side and end boards. For transporting, the side and end pockets are
folded inward, the mattress laid on top, the boards stacked and laid on
the mattress at on end, and the entire assemblage simply rolled up. The
invention includes a simple duffel bag of nylon or the like into which the
roll is stuffed. The open end of the bag is provided with a drawstring for
closing the duffel, and a suitable handle and/or shoulder strap is affixed
to the exterior of the bag for easy portability.
The bed of the invention is extremely light in weight and yet it is formed
in such a manner as to provide both stability and safety so that it may be
used on top of a bed, under or beside a bed, on the floor or a rug, on an
irregular surface such as beach sand, or simply out of doors on the lawn
or the like. It can quickly be broken down and stored in its bag without
the necessity of any complicated folding arrangement, and hand carried, or
included with other luggage. Because the stiffening boards are all
substantially identical, there is no confusion during assembly, as to
which part goes where.
The various features and advantages of the present invention will be more
readily apparent from the following detailed description, read in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a plan view of the sheet member from which the bed of the
invention is formed;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the components of the bed of the
invention showing their relationship to each other;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bed of the invention as assembled and
ready for use; and
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the disassembled elements of the bed of the
invention stowed in the duffel bag.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The sheet 11 of the invention, as shown in FIG. 1, is preferably made of a
soft material such as nylon treated with a thin film of polyurethane to
waterproof it. The polyurethane film also serves to make the sheet easily
washable. Other materials besides nylon might also be used, such as cotton
or a cotton blend, or vinyl, but nylon is preferred. Sheet 11 comprises a
main support surface 12 which forms the bottom surface of the bed, and
which, in the preferred embodiment, is rectangular in shape. For reasons
which will be apparent hereinafter, the length of the surface 12 is
preferably approximately twice the width. At one end of portion 12 and
extending across the width thereof is a pocket member 13 which is formed
by a strip of material 14 placed over an extension of sheet 12, with the
long edges 16 and 17 affixed thereto as by stitching or other suitable
means. The short edges 19 and 21 of strip 14 are not affixed to the
extension of sheet portion 12, thereby forming pocket member 13 which is
open at both ends. On the under side of pocket 13, i.e., the underside of
the extension of sheet 12, are a pair of Velcro.RTM. strips 22,22, shown
in dashed outline. On the other end of sheet 12, a second pocket 23
comprising a strip 24 having longitudinal edges 26 and 27 and side edges
28 and 29, is formed in the same manner as pocket 13 on an extension of
sheet 12. The under side of the extension, and hence, the pocket, has
Velcro.RTM. strips or patches 31, shown in dashed outline.
Sheet 12 has another extension 32 extending along a first longitudinal side
thereof, and terminated at each end by tab members 33 and 34. Each tab
member has a patch or strip 36 of Velcro.RTM. on the top surface thereof
for mating with the Velcro.RTM. patches 22 and 31. A longitudinally
extending pocket 37 is formed by overlaying extension 32 with a strip 38
of material and affixing the longitudinal edges 39 and 41 thereof to the
edges of extension 32, with the ends 42 and 43 left open. On the other
side of sheet 12 is another longitudinal extension 44 having tabs 46 and
47 and Velcro.RTM. strips 48,48 for mating with strips or patches 22 and
31. A longitudinally extending pocket 49 is formed between extension 44
and a strip 51 of material overlaying extension 44 and affixed thereto
along its longitudinal edges 52 and 53. The ends 54 and 56 of the pocket
49 are left open. Thus, as shown in FIG. 1, the basic element of the bed
of the invention comprises a rectangular sheet 11 having four open ended
pockets 13, 23, 37 and 49 along the edges thereof.
In FIG. 2 there is shown the various parts of the bed of the invention and
their relationship and orientation relative to each other. In assembling
the bed, the assembler slides first and second rectangular boards 57 and
58 into end pockets 13 and 23. Boards 57 and 58 are preferably made of
semi-rigid polyethylene foam material which is extremely light in weight,
but strong enough to withstand any shocks likely to be encountered. On the
other hand, they are sufficiently soft and flexible enough to yield to
impact of a child falling against them, for example. While polyethylene
foam is a preferred material for boards 57 and 58, other foam materials
made of, for example, polyurethane, polypropylene, or polystyrene might
readily be used, provided the material is soft and flexible enough that
the child, falling against it, will not be injured, yet rigid enough to
hold its shape. Each of the boards 57 and 58 which are substantially
identical are approximately three-quarters of an inch (3/4") thick, and of
approximately the same length and width as their respective pockets 13 and
23, but easily slidable into and out of the pockets.
A pair of boards 59 and 61, substantially identical to boards 57 and 58 are
slidable into pocket 49, from either end, as shown, or from one end. As
pointed out hereinbefore, the long dimension of sheet 11 is preferably
twice the width. Hence, when boards 59 and 61, which are the same length
as boards 57 and 58, are inserted into the pocket 49, they completely fill
the pocket from end to end, and butt against each other at the midpoint of
the pocket. In like manner, two boards 62 and 63 are insertable into
pocket 37.
A mattress pad 64 having substantially the same dimensions as sheet 12 is
adapted to be laid onto sheet 12. Pad 64, which may be made of
polyurethane foam and which may have, as part of a mattress assembly, a
vinyl or nylon cover, is approximately three-quarters of an inch (3/4")
thick, and provides a resilient and comfortable support for a child. Other
foam materials might also be used for mattress 64, such as polyethylene,
or, alternatively, mattress 64 might be an inflatable vinyl member. If
desired, mattress 64 may have, on the underside thereof, strategically
located patches 66,66, of Velcro.RTM., as shown in dashed outline, which
mate with similarly located Velcro.RTM. patches 67,67 on sheet 12. Such an
arrangement insures that the mattress member or assembly 64 remains fixed
in place and is prevented from sliding and bunching up.
In FIG. 3, there is shown the completely assembled bed, ready for use.
After the boards 57, 58, 59, 61, 62 and 63 are inserted into the pockets,
as discussed hereinbefore, the pockets are folded up, as shown, and the
tabs 33, 34, 46 and 47 are wrapped around the corners thus formed to where
the Velcro.RTM. patches thereon mate with the corresponding patches on the
undersides of the lateral pockets, thereby forming the walled bed as shown
in FIG. 3. Mattress pad 64 fits within the walled enclosure and is held in
place thereby, hence, the use of patches 66,66 and 67,67 is not strictly
necessary, although such patches do insure against mattress 64 bunching
up.
In FIG. 4 the component parts of the disassembled bed are shown in the
traveling configuration. As can be seen, the six boards 57, 58, 59, 61, 62
and 63 are stacked and the sheet 11 and mattress 64 are rolled up around
them to form a roll 68 which can be inserted and carried in a bag 69. Bag
69 is closed at one end and has a draw string closure arrangement 71 at
the other end to close the bag after insertion of the roll 68. Bag 69 is
preferably made of the same material as the sheet 11, although this is not
necessary. It is provided with a fabric carrying handle 72 and/or a
shoulder strap 73. Reinforcing fabric bands 74,74 may also be provided.
The entire assembly shown in FIG. 4 is so light that it can easily be
carried by a child, all but perhaps the one for whom the bed is intended.
The foregoing embodiment of the invention, as shown in the drawings and
described hereinbefore, is illustrative of the features and advantages
thereof. It is clear that variations in the types of material, such as the
Velcro.RTM. fasteners, which might be replaced by other suitable fastening
means, are possible. One possible change could be enclosing the pockets
and making them inflatable by means of suitable valve members. Numerous
other changes or variations, such as the shape of the bed, might occur to
workers in the art without departure from the spirit and scope of the
invention.
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