User-expandable changing pad

Abstract

The invention provides a user-expandable changing pad wherein a user may removably attach one or more sections, each section of which may contain one or more segments, each segment of which may have one or more pockets or other mechanisms for securing useful items. The user-expandable changing pad may be securely closed with and without any removably attachable sections, and two or more removably attachable sections may be securely closed to one another.

1 . A user-expandable changing pad comprising a changing pad, wherein at least one additional section can be removably attached to said changing pad by the user.  
   
   
       2 . A user-expandable changing pad as in  claim 1  wherein at least one first and at least one other removably attachable section can be removably attached.  
   
   
       3 . A user-expandable changing pad as in  claim 2  wherein said first and said other sections are different.  
   
   
       4 . A user-expandable changing pad as in  claim 2  wherein said first and said other sections are the same.  
   
   
       5 . A user-expandable changing pad as in  claim 1  wherein said one additional removably attachable section comprises at least one segment.  
   
   
       6 . A user-expandable changing pad as in  claim 1  wherein said one additional removably attachable section comprises at least two segments.  
   
   
       7 . A user-expandable changing pad as in  claim 1  wherein at least two sections can be independently removably attached.  
   
   
       8 . A user-expandable changing pad as in  claim 1  wherein at least one area of said changing pad includes padding.  
   
   
       9 . A user-expandable changing pad as in  claim 8  wherein the padded area supports the child's head.  
   
   
       10 . A user-expandable changing pad as in  claim 1  wherein at least one segment of said removably attachable section has at least one pocket.  
   
   
       11 . A user-expandable changing pad as in  claim 10  wherein said at least one pocket is secured to the outside surface of said removably attachable section.  
   
   
       12 . A user-expandable changing pad as in  claim 10  wherein at least one portion of said at least one pocket comprises mesh.  
   
   
       13 . A user-expandable changing pad as in  claim 10  wherein at least one portion of said at least one pocket comprises a solid opaque material.  
   
   
       14 . A user-expandable changing pad as in  claim 10  wherein said at least one pocket can be releasable sealed.  
   
   
       15 . A user-expandable changing pad as in  claim 10  wherein said at least one pocket contains additional components for securing articles within said pocket.  
   
   
       16 . A user-expandable changing pad as in  claim 1  wherein said at least one removably attachable section is affixed via at least one zipper.  
   
   
       17 . A user-expandable changing pad as in  claim 1  wherein said at least one removably attachable section is affixed via at least one piece of Velcro.  
   
   
       18 . A user-expandable changing pad as in  claim 1  wherein said at least one removably attachable section is affixed via at least one snap.  
   
   
       19 . A user-expandable changing pad as in  claim 1  wherein the changing pad, including its padded section, has a thickness of approximately one inch when folded.  
   
   
       20 . A user-expandable changing pad as in  claim 1  wherein said at least one removably attachable section has a thickness between one and two inches when folded.  
   
   
       21 . A user-expandable changing pad as in  claim 1  wherein the changing pad, including its padded section, and further including at least one removably attachable section, has a thickness between two and four inches when folded.  
   
   
       22 . A user-expandable changing pad as in  claim 1  wherein said changing pad can be securely closed without any removably attachable sections.  
   
   
       23 . A user-expandable changing pad as in  claim 1  wherein the set comprising said changing pad and at least one removably attachable section can be securely closed.  
   
   
       24 . A user-expandable changing pad as in  claim 1  wherein a set of at least two removably attachable sections, affixed to one another, can be securely closed without requiring said set to be affixed to said changing pad.  
     7.1.2 Second Aspect  
   
   
       25 . A changing pad wherein only at least one area of at least one portion includes padding.  
   
   
       26 . A changing pad as in  claim 25  wherein the padded area supports the child's head.  
     7.1.3 Third Aspect  
   
   
       27 . A device for changing the inner and/or outer garments of a child, comprising a changing pad and at least one section permanently attached to said changing pad, wherein said at least one section has at least one segment, and said at least one segment has at least one pocket, and said changing pad comprises a top portion, a center portion, a bottom portion, and left and right side portions, wherein said device when folded in such a fashion as to have at least one of its folded dimensions being approximately ⅓ the longest dimension of said changing pad's central portion, has an overall thickness of between two and four inches.  
   
   
       28 . A device as in  claim 27  wherein at least one of said pockets contains at least one container for holding elements essential for changing the garments of a child and/or said elements themselves without a container.  
   
   
       29 . A device as in  claim 27  wherein at least one area of said changing pad includes padding.  
   
   
       30 . A device as in  claim 27  wherein the padded area supports the child's head.