Diaper Changing Accessory Organizer

Abstract

A portable diaper changing accessory organizer including an elongated bag body having a plurality of pivotally connected or hinged sections, a capturing element, and a carrying strap such that a user may organize and store personal articles along with diaper changing provisions including an optional changing mat in the storage sections and then fold and capture the sections together and transport the organizer along with the packed articles in a relatively thin profile pack that may be opened flat to expose each of the storage sections for quick access to the articles necessary to change an infant.

1 . A diaper changing accessory organizer comprising: 
 an elongated bag body subdivided into a first storage section, a second storage section, and a common central section, said bag body including an interior surface with at least one storage pocket in each of said sections;    a first pivotal connection between said first storage section and one side of said central section and constructed to enable said first storage section to be folded over onto a first portion of said central section to form a first overlapping region;    a second pivotal connection disposed between said second storage section and an opposing side of said central section and constructed to enable said second storage section to be folded over onto a second portion of said central section to form a second overlapping region;    an intermediate pivotal connection, substantially parallel to said first and second pivotal connections, disposed within said central section and constructed to fall between said first and second overlapping regions when formed, said intermediate pivotal connection constructed to enable said first and second overlapping regions to fold into at least a partially abutting relationship;    a capturing element on one of said overlapping regions operable to releasably capture an opposing overlapping region when said overlapping regions are brought together in said abutting relationship; and    at least one carrying strap secured to said bag body whereby a user may fold said first and second storage sections onto said central section to form said first and second overlapping regions and then fold and releasably capture said regions together with said capturing element to transport said bag body in a folded configuration with said carrying strap.    
   
   
       2 . The diaper changing accessory organizer as set forth in  claim 1  her including: 
 a first fastener element located in at least one of said sections on said interior surface of said bag body;    a changing mat having a second fastener element complementary to said first fastener element and releasably secured to said bag body in a covering relationship with at least a portion of two underlying sections and at least one pocket in each of said underlying sections.    
   
   
       3 . The diaper changing accessory organizer as set forth in  claim 2  wherein: 
 said first fastener element is positioned on and aligned with one of said pivotal connections; and    said changing mat, when releasably secured to said first fastener element, may be flipped back and forth to expose at least one pocket in each of said underlying sections.    
   
   
       4 . The diaper changing accessory organizer as set forth in  claim 1  further including: 
 a central anchor coupled to said intermediate pivotal connection;    a first retention element on said first storage section proximate a distal end of said first storage section; and    a second retention element on said second storage section proximate a distal end of said second storage section, said retention elements being constructed to releasably fasten to said central anchor to inhibit said overlapping regions from unfolding during transport.    
   
   
       5 . The diaper changing accessory organizer as set forth in  claim 1  further including: 
 at least one stroller strap on an exterior surface of said bag body operable to form an enclosed loop; and    an intermediate rigid spine member spanning a height of said bag body within a region including said intermediate pivotal connection and coupled to said stroller strap, said spine being constructed to resist sagging along a top edge of said bag body when suspended in a folded configuration.    
   
   
       6 . The diaper changing accessory organizer as set forth in  claim 1  wherein: 
 said bag body includes a first edge and a second edge and a plurality of pockets substantially spanning an entire length of said bag body between said edges with at least one of said pockets including a transparent surface defining viewing window.    
   
   
       7 . The diaper changing accessory organizer as set forth in  claim 1  wherein: 
 at least one of said pockets includes a closure device.    
   
   
       8 . The diaper changing accessory organizer as set forth in  claim 1  wherein: 
 said interior surface includes a pair of oversized pockets with closures, a quick retrieval section with a set of pockets having an elastic band closure, and a pair of pockets vertically stacked above one another.    
   
   
       9 . The diaper changing accessory organizer as set forth in  claim 8  wherein: 
 said pockets in side quick retrieval section include a mesh outer wall.    
   
   
       10 . The diaper changing accessory organizer as set forth in  claim 1  wherein: 
 said carrying strap is constructed of a webbed material, is adjustable in length, and includes an adjustable shoulder pad.    
   
   
       11 . The diaper changing accessory organizer as set forth in  claim 1  wherein: 
 said bag body is constructed to lay substantially flat when unfolded and empty.    
   
   
       12 . The diaper changing accessory organizer as set forth in  claim 1  wherein: 
 said interior surface of said bag body and said pockets are constructed of a non-absorbent material.    
   
   
       13 . The diaper changing accessory organizer as set forth in  claim 1  further including: 
 said capturing element is an elastic restraining band secured to one of said storage sections and operable to expand over and capture an opposing overlapping region when said regions are in an abutting relationship.    
   
   
       14 . The diaper changing accessory organizer as set forth in  claim 1  wherein: 
 said capturing element includes opposing releasable fastening elements on each side of said overlapping regions.    
   
   
       15 . The diaper changing accessory organizer as set forth in  claim 14  wherein: 
 said capturing element projects outwardly from opposing long sides of said bag body.    
   
   
       16 . The diaper changing accessory organizer as set forth in  claim 1  wherein: 
 said bag body includes an exterior surface with at least one pocket exposed when said overlapping regions are in an abutting relationship.    
   
   
       17 . The diaper changing accessory organizer as set forth in  claim 1  wherein: 
 said bag body is flexible throughout its length.    
   
   
       18 . A diaper changing accessory organizer comprising: 
 an elongated, rectangular, bag body subdivided into first and second outer storage sections with a common central section with each section being pivotally connected to an adjacent section and said central section having an intermediate hinge, said outer storage sections being operable to fold over onto substantially complementary portions of said central section to form two overlapping regions and said central section being operable to fold about said hinge to bring said overlapping regions together in an abutting relationship;    at least one pocket in each of said sections on an interior surface of said bag body;    a first fastener element disposed on said interior surface of said bag body;    a mat with a complementary second fastener element operable to releasably attach said mat to said bag body with said mat aligned to one side of said hinge;    a first retainer located proximate a distal end of said first outer storage section;    a second retainer located proximate a distal end of said second outer storage section;    a stiffening element in said central section operable to resist sagging of said bag body when suspended from above,    an anchoring element connected to said stiffening element and operable to releasably attach to said first and second retainers when said outer sections are folded onto said central section;    a capturing element on said bag body and operable to releasably capture said overlapping regions together when said overlapping regions are brought together in said abutting relationship; and    at least one carrying strap secured to said bag body whereby a user may fold said first and second storage sections onto said central section to form said first and second overlapping regions and then fold said overlapping regions about said hinge and releasably capture said regions together with said capturing element to transport said bag body in a folded configuration with said carrying strap.    
   
   
       19 . A method of preparing a diaper changing accessory organizer for transportation comprising the steps of: 
 providing an elongated bag body subdivided into a first storage section, a second storage section, and a common central section by a pair of spaced apart, pivotal connections, said bag body further including an intermediate hinge element substantially parallel to said pivotal connections and further subdividing said central section, a capturing element, and a carrying strap;    folding said first storage section over onto a first portion of said central section about one of said pivotal connections to form a first overlapping region;    folding said second storage section over onto a second portion of said central section about the other of said pivotal connections to form a second overlapping region with said hinge disposed between an interior edge of each of said overlapping regions;    folding said overlapping regions together about said hinge into a partially abutting relationship; and    capturing said overlapping regions together with said capturing element to expose said carrying strap on an exterior surface of said folded up bag body.    
   
   
       20 . The method of preparing a diaper changing accessory organizer for transportation as set forth in  claim 19  further comprising the steps of: 
 prior to said folding steps, providing a first fastener element on an interior surface of said bag body;    providing a mat having a second fastener element complementary to said first fastener element;    fastening said mat to said interior surface of said bag body with said mat positioned between a distal end of one said storage sections and said hinge; and    folding any portion of said mat onto itself that extends beyond a boundary defined by said bag body.