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US 6,389,624 B1Granted
Portable child changing apparatus
AssigneeBalanced Health, Inc.
InventorBrenda L. Madole
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A lightweight, simple, foldable changing table is disclosed, which can be easily carried and utilized to provide a safe and clean platform on which a child can be laid, in any setting, including a floor, the ground, or the like. The portable changing table comprises a table member having first and second foldable portions, which may be unfolded to an extended position to provide a surface on which the child may be laid, and may be folded and secured in the folded configuration, for storage and transport. A convenient carrying strap is provided for carrying the table on one's shoulder or slung over the handle of a stroller, for example. Advantageously, the inventive portable changing table is foldable into a very compact configuration, and is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.
Claims17
A portable child changing apparatus, comprising:
- a table member, comprised of a first foldable portion and a second foldable portion, the first and second foldable portions each having a thickness and together being configurable into both a compact folded orientation, with the first foldable portion being stacked atop the second foldable portion, and an extended usable orientation, with the first foldable portion and the second foldable portion together forming a single planar surface on which a child may be laid;
- the thickness of each of said first and second foldable portions being substantially the same, such that a combined thickness of said first and second foldable portions when they are stacked in said compact folded orientation is approximately double the thickness of each of said first and second foldable portions individually and;
- a plurality of legs for supporting said table member when said table member is in said extended usable orientation, said plurality of legs being pivotable between a retracted position and a deployed position.
A method of changing a child's diaper, comprising:
- removing a portable child changing apparatus, comprising first and second foldable portions, from a position wherein said portable child changing apparatus is suspended from a supporting structure via a carrying strap;
- opening said portable child changing apparatus by unfolding one of said first and second foldable portions relative to the other one, so that said first and second foldable portions form a single planar surface upon which a child can be laid;
- deploying pivotable legs for supporting each of said first and second foldable portions, wherein at least one of said legs is pivotally attached to each of said first and second foldable portions, and when legs are deployed, each of said first and second foldable portions is elevated above a supporting surface, so that there is a space having a height approximately equal to that of each of the legs beneath each of said first and second foldable portions;
- securing a child on said single planar surface;
- changing said child's diaper;
- closing said portable child changing apparatus by folding one of said first and second foldable portions relative to the other one, so that a total thickness of said first and second foldable portions together is about twice the thickness of either one of said first and second foldable portions alone;
- and
- securing said folded first and second foldable portions together.
5 more elements
A portable child changing apparatus, comprising:
- a table member, comprised of a first foldable portion and a second foldable portion, the first and second foldable portions each having a thickness and together being configurable into both a compact folded orientation, with the first foldable portion being stacked atop the second foldable portion, and an extended usable orientation, with the first foldable portion and the second foldable portion together forming a single planar surface on which a child may be laid;
- the thickness of each of said first and second foldable portions being substantially the same, such that a combined thickness of said first and second foldable portions when they are stacked in said compact folded orientation is approximately double the thickness of each of said first and second foldable portions individually;
- a raised retaining edge disposed about a periphery of said single planar surface;
- and
- a strap for securing a child on said single planar surface, said strap extending across said surface from said raised retaining edge;
- wherein said single planar surface comprises a solid, smooth surface, having no substantial openings therein.
3 more elements
A portable child changing apparatus, comprising:
- a table member, comprised of a first foldable portion and a second foldable portion, the first and second foldable portions each having a thickness and together being configurable into both a compact folded orientation, with the first foldable portion being stacked atop the second foldable portion, and an extended usable orientation, with the first foldable portion and the second foldable portion together forming a single planar surface on which a child may be laid;
- the thickness of each of said first and second foldable portions being substantially the same, such that a combined thickness of said first and second foldable portions when they are stacked in said compact folded orientation is approximately double the thickness of each of said first and second foldable portions individually;
- a raised retaining edge disposed about substantially an entire periphery of said single planar surface;
- and
- a strap for securing a child on said single planar surface, said strap extending across said surface from said raised retaining edge.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.