Equipping baby cribs with refrigerators

Abstract

Kits, devices, and methods equip a baby crib with a small refrigerator. The refrigerator is attached to the crib, oriented such that the infant can open its door while still being in the crib. After the infant goes to sleep, the parent prepares a bottle of milk, and stores it in the refrigerator. When the infant wakes up, they can open the refrigerator and retrieve the bottle of milk by themselves, after a few days training. And if they need no more attention beyond the milk they might not cry, sparing the parent from having to wake up one more time.

1 . An assembly kit for a crib suitable for an infant to sleep in, comprising: 
 a crib base;    a plurality of side walls for attaching vertically with respect to the base so as to form a space suitable for the infant to sleep in; and    a refrigerator accessible to the infant while in the space.    
   
   
       2 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein 
 the refrigerator has an interior capacity of less than 4 cubic feet (0.108 m 3 ).    
   
   
       3 . The kit of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least one fastener to attach the refrigerator to at least one of the side walls.    
   
   
       4 . The kit of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a damper to provide vibration isolation between the refrigerator and one of the crib walls.    
   
   
       5 . The kit of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a cord fastener to attach to one of the side walls a segment of a power cord of the refrigerator.    
   
   
       6 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein 
 the refrigerator has an ON indicator light.    
   
   
       7 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein 
 the refrigerator has a door with a handle, and    the handle is shaped like a toy.    
   
   
       8 . The assembly kit of  claim 1 , wherein 
 the refrigerator has a door, and    one of the side walls has an access opening shaped such that the door can open through it.    
   
   
       9 . The assembly kit of  claim 8 , wherein 
 the wall has additional view openings that are constricted such that a rigid ball of a certain diameter cannot pass through them, while    the access opening is shaped such that the ball may pass through.    
   
   
       10 . A retrofitting kit for a crib having a crib base and a plurality of side walls attached vertically to the base so as to form a space suitable for an infant to sleep in, the kit comprising: 
 a refrigerator; and    at least one fastener to attach the refrigerator to at least one of the side walls such that the refrigerator is accessible to the infant while in the space.    
   
   
       11 . The kit of  claim 10 , wherein 
 the refrigerator has an interior capacity of less than 4 cubic feet (0.108 m 3 ).    
   
   
       12 . The kit of  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 a damper to provide vibration isolation between the refrigerator and one of the crib walls.    
   
   
       13 . The kit of  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 a cord fastener to attach to one of the side walls a segment of a power cord of the refrigerator.    
   
   
       14 . The kit of  claim 10 , wherein 
 the refrigerator has an ON indicator light.    
   
   
       15 . The kit of  claim 10 , wherein 
 the refrigerator has a door with a handle, and    the handle is shaped like a toy.    
   
   
       16 . The kit of  claim 10 , wherein 
 the refrigerator is to be attached such that it opens from its top side.    
   
   
       17 . A crib suitable for an infant to sleep in comprising: 
 a crib base;    a plurality of side walls attached to the base so as to form a space suitable for the infant to sleep in; and    a refrigerator attached to at least one of the walls so that the refrigerator is accessible to the infant while in the space.    
   
   
       18 . The crib of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 a damper between the crib wall and the refrigerator.    
   
   
       19 . The crib of  claim 17 , wherein 
 the refrigerator is attached near a top rim of the side wall.    
   
   
       20 . The crib of  claim 17 , wherein 
 the refrigerator has an interior capacity of less than 4 cubic feet (0.108 m 3 ).    
   
   
       21 . The crib of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 a cord fastener attaching to one of the side walls a segment of a power cord of the refrigerator.    
   
   
       22 . The crib of  claim 17 , wherein 
 the refrigerator has an ON indicator light.    
   
   
       23 . The crib of  claim 17 , wherein 
 the refrigerator has a door with a handle, and    the handle is shaped like a toy.    
   
   
       24 . The crib of  claim 17 , wherein 
 the refrigerator has a door, and    one of the side walls has an access opening shaped such that the door can open through it.    
   
   
       25 . The crib of  claim 24 , wherein 
 the wall has additional view openings that are constricted such that a rigid ball of a certain diameter cannot pass through them, while    the access opening is shaped such that the ball may pass through.    
   
   
       26 . A method comprising: 
 placing an infant to sleep in a crib;    preparing a snack for when the infant wakes up from sleeping; and    placing the snack in a refrigerator that is accessible to the infant from the crib.    
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising: 
 waiting until the infant falls asleep prior to placing.    
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising: 
 checking an ON indicator light of the refrigerator prior to placing.    
   
   
       29 . A method for an infant comprising: 
 the infant waking up in a crib;    the infant then opening the door of a refrigerator attached to the crib without leaving the crib; and    the infant then retrieving a snack stored in the refrigerator.