Convertible infant care apparatus

Abstract

An infant care apparatus convertible between a bassinet and changing table, including a carrier removable from a support frame for transporting an infant. The carrier is placed upon the frame for use as a bassinet. The frame also supports a changing table surface exposed for use with the carrier removed. The base of the frame includes retractable wheels and rockers. The frame is releasably securable to an adult bed for co-sleeping.

1 . An infant care apparatus comprising: 
 a structural frame having spaced-apart rails at an upper end thereof; and    a carrier configured to be laterally constrained when placed on the frame between the rails, the carrier defining a compartment sized to accommodate an infant sleeping in the carrier while supported by the frame;    wherein the carrier is removable from the frame to expose a changing table surface between the rails, the changing table surface secured to the structural frame and disposed below the carrier when the carrier is resting between the rails, the rails extending above the changing table surface to form at least part of a safety rim above the changing table surface.    
     
     
         2 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a restraint secured to the frame and extending above the changing table surface for holding an infant during changing.  
     
     
         3 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the carrier comprises a carrier frame having wall members extending from an infant support member to an upper rim of the carrier to define a receptacle for holding an infant; and 
 a handle attached to the carrier frame, the handle pivotable between a carrying position in which the handle extends relatively perpendicularly from the rim and a stowed position in which the handle approaches the rim.    
     
     
         4 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the removable carrier further comprises a battery-powered device and the handle comprises a button electrically connected to the battery-powered device for activation thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the battery-powered device comprises a light mounted on the removable carrier.  
     
     
         6 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the battery-powered device comprises an audio speaker.  
     
     
         7 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the carrier comprises a restraint disposed within the compartment to secure an infant within the compartment.  
     
     
         8 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the frame has a lower end configured for rocking the apparatus upon a supporting floor.  
     
     
         9 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the frame is supported on wheels mounted on caster pivots.  
     
     
         10 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the frame has retractable wheels selectively extendable for rolling of the apparatus upon a supporting floor.  
     
     
         11 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the wheels are retractable to enable rocking of the apparatus upon the floor.  
     
     
         12 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the frame comprises a framework of connected, tubular steel members.  
     
     
         13 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the frame is adjustable in height.  
     
     
         14 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the carrier comprises an infant support surface with a head end selectively tiltable with respect to a foot end of the infant support surface, for inclining a torso of an infant placed on the supporting surface.  
     
     
         15 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising means to releasably secure the apparatus adjacent a bed.  
     
     
         16 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising 
 an anchor insertable between a mattress and mattress support of an adult bed; and    at least one strap extending from the anchor, the strap carrying a releasable fastener for releasably securing the apparatus to the adult bed.    
     
     
         17 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 16  comprising multiple straps each separately securable to or about respective portions of the apparatus.  
     
     
         18 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the anchor comprises a restraint cushion of sufficient thickness that the mattress conforms about a contour of the cushion to hold the cushion in place.  
     
     
         19 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the anchor comprises a flat, flexible sheet of material insertable between the mattress and mattress support and the flat pad and having a surface that generates sufficient frictional resistance against the mattress to resist a pull-out force of at least 10 pounds.  
     
     
         20 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the spaced-apart rails of the frame are each elevated above opposite sides of the safety rim.  
     
     
         21 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the spaced-apart rails of the frame are disposed at opposite ends of the apparatus.  
     
     
         22 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the spaced-apart rails define pockets at either end of the frame to receive and laterally restrain the carrier when the carrier is placed between the rails.  
     
     
         23 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the spaced-apart rails comprise tubular steel members.  
     
     
         24 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the spaced-apart rails are curved.  
     
     
         25 . An infant care apparatus including: 
 a changing table portion comprising:    a changing table frame including a receiving portion defining an aperture in an upper region of the changing table frame;    a changing table surface of a size to accommodate an infant, the changing table surface supported by the changing table frame and arranged within the aperture, sidewalls of the receiving portion rising above an upper surface of the changing table surface; and    a removable carrier of an interior size to accommodate an infant and an exterior size to fit through the aperture so as to rest in an engaged position on the receiving portion, such that placing the removable carrier in the engaged position configures the infant care apparatus as a bassinet and removing the removable carrier from the engaged position exposes the changing table surface for use as a changing table.    
     
     
         26 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 25  wherein the changing table frame comprises a base having a plurality of rocking members oriented substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the changing table frame, and a plurality of longitudinal members extending between the rocking members, the rocking members each having a lower surface together defining an arc for engagement with a floor supporting the infant care apparatus for rocking.  
     
     
         27 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 26  wherein the rocking members each include a plurality of wheels movable between a recessed position, in which the wheels are withdrawn within the arc, and an extended position in which the wheels are exposed beyond the arc for engagement against the floor.  
     
     
         28 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 27  wherein the rocking members each further comprise a lock engagable to secure the wheels against movement between the recessed and extended positions.  
     
     
         29 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 26  wherein the changing table frame is adjustable to change a height of the changing table surface with respect to the floor.  
     
     
         30 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 25  wherein the changing table surface comprises a rigid planar member supported by the changing table frame in a substantially horizontal position.  
     
     
         31 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 30  wherein the changing table surface further comprises a pad with a non-absorbent upper surface overlying the planar member.  
     
     
         32 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 31  wherein the pad is detachable from the planar member for washing.  
     
     
         33 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 25  wherein the changing table surface comprises a sling suspended from and spanning a top portion of the changing table frame.  
     
     
         34 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 33  wherein the sling has a non-absorbent upper surface.  
     
     
         35 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 33  wherein the sling is removable for washing.  
     
     
         36 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 25  further including an infant restraint mounted to the changing table portion and securable to keep an infant on the changing table surface.  
     
     
         37 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 25  wherein the removable carrier comprises a carrier frame supporting an upper rim from which an infant receptacle depends.  
     
     
         38 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 37  wherein the removable carrier further comprises a handle attached to the carrier frame, the handle pivotable between a carrying position in which the handle extends relatively perpendicular to the rim, and a stowed position in which the handle is disposed adjacent the rim.  
     
     
         39 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 38  wherein the removable carrier further comprises a battery-powered device and the handle comprises a button electrically connected to the battery-powered device for activation thereof.  
     
     
         40 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 39  wherein the battery-powered device comprises a light mounted on the removable carrier.  
     
     
         41 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 39  wherein the battery-powered device comprises an audio speaker.  
     
     
         42 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 25  wherein the removable carrier is collapsible between an expanded position, in which the frame forms an upper rim spanning an open receptacle for receiving an infant, and a collapsed position in which opposite sides of the rim are pivoted toward one another.  
     
     
         43 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 42  further comprising a lock operable to maintain the carrier in its expanded position, and releasable to fold the carrier to its collapsed position.  
     
     
         44 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 25  wherein the removable carrier comprises an infant restraint securable to retain an infant in the removable carrier.  
     
     
         45 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 25  further comprising 
 an anchor insertable between a mattress and mattress support of an adult bed; and    at least one strap extending from the anchor, the strap carrying a releasable fastener for releasably securing the apparatus to the adult bed.    
     
     
         46 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 45  comprising multiple straps each separately securable to or about respective portions of the apparatus.  
     
     
         47 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 45  wherein the anchor comprises a restraint cushion of sufficient thickness that the mattress conforms about a contour of the cushion to hold the cushion in place.  
     
     
         48 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 45  wherein the anchor comprises a flat, flexible sheet of material insertable between the mattress and mattress support and the flat pad and having a surface that generates sufficient frictional resistance against the mattress to resist a pull-out force of at least 10 pounds with the mattress unloaded.  
     
     
         49 . A method of securing an infant bed to an adult bed, the method comprising 
 placing an anchor mat between a mattress of the adult bed and a supporting surface on which the mattress rests, the anchor mat comprising a flexible sheet of material with an upper surface exposed for engagement against the mattress, the upper surface configured to generate frictional resistance against the mattress to resist relative sliding of the mat against the mattress, the anchor mat being otherwise unsecured to the mattress; and then    releasably connecting the infant bed to the anchor mat.    
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49  wherein the infant bed is releasably connected to the anchor mat by releasable buckles secured to straps attached to the anchor mat.  
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 49  wherein the anchor mat is padded, the mattress conforming about a thickness of the anchor mat.  
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 49  wherein the anchor mat consists essentially of a flexible sheet of material and two releasable straps secured to and extending from an edge of the sheet of material.  
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 49  wherein the anchor mat is sized to fit completely within an area of a standard adult twin mattress.  
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 49  wherein the anchor generates sufficient frictional resistance against the mattress to resist a pull-out force of at least 10 pounds with the mattress unloaded.  
     
     
         55 . An infant care apparatus comprising: 
 an infant carrier defining therein a compartment sized to accommodate a sleeping infant; and    a structural frame configured to receive and support the infant carrier to form a bassinet, and to rock upon a supporting surface while supporting the carrier;    wherein the carrier includes 
 a restraint securable about an infant within the compartment to retain the infant as the carrier is carried; and  
 a handle selectively retractable from a deployed position extending above and spanning a rim of the carrier for carrying the carrier with an infant therein, to a retracted position folded toward the carrier rim.  
   
     
     
         56 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 55  wherein the carrier includes a backrest selectively movable between an inclined position and a prone position.  
     
     
         57 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 55  wherein the frame includes an upper planar surface exposed for use as a changing table surface with the carrier removed, the frame forming a rim extending above and about the planar surface.  
     
     
         58 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 55  wherein the handle is secured to opposite sides of the carrier rim at respective pivots.  
     
     
         59 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 58  wherein the pivots are located near centers of the opposite sides of the carrier rim, such that the handle extends across a central region of the carrier in its deployed position, for carrying of the carrier solely by the handle.  
     
     
         60 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 55  wherein the frame includes spaced-apart carrier restraints at an upper end thereof, and wherein the carrier is configured to engage the restraints to resist lateral movement when placed on the frame.  
     
     
         61 . The infant care apparatus of  claim 60  wherein the carrier restraints define pockets at either end of the frame, the pockets being sized to receive lower frame members of the carrier with the carrier placed on the frame.  
     
     
         62 . An infant care apparatus comprising: 
 a structural frame adjustable in height and comprising a framework of connected, tubular steel members, the frame including curved tubular steel members forming spaced-apart rails at an upper end of the frame, the spaced-apart rails disposed at opposite ends of the apparatus and defining pockets at either end of the frame, the frame having a lower end configured for rocking the apparatus upon a supporting floor and having retractable wheels selectively extendable for rolling of the apparatus upon the supporting floor; and    a carrier configured to be laterally constrained when placed within the pockets defined by the rails, the carrier defining a compartment sized to accommodate an infant sleeping in the carrier while supported by the frame, and including a restraint disposed within the compartment to secure an infant within the compartment;    wherein the carrier is removable from the supports to expose a changing table surface between the rails, the changing table surface secured to the structural frame and disposed below the carrier when the carrier is resting between the rails, the rails extending above the changing table surface to form at least part of a safety rim above the changing table surface.