Infant changing pad

Abstract

An infant or toddler changing device, including a compressible foam support pad having a non-removable, cleansable cover, and a harness removably secured thereto. The harness has two shoulder straps and a waist strap. The harness may feature a primary fastener or connector having multiple female sockets for male connectors on the shoulder straps and the waist strap. Length of one or more of the straps may be adjusted, allowing the device to be used as the infant grows.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An infant or toddler changing device comprising:
 a) a compressible foam support pad comprising a foam pad and a non-removable, cleansable cover, the cover forming a front surface, a back surface, a top surface, a bottom surface, and two longer side surfaces of the device, the device having length and width sufficient to support infants of varying size as they grow;   b) optionally a cardboard or corrugated cardboard layer positioned between the support pad and the cover back surface; and   c) a harness removably secured to the compressible foam support pad and cover, the harness comprising:
 i) a primary coupling member; 
 ii) a transverse strap having first and second ends; and 
 iii) first and second shoulder straps, each having at least one length adjustment feature; and 
   wherein the transverse strap is positioned around the compressible foam support pad and cover such that its first and second ends are at least removably secured to the primary coupling member, the transverse strap having at least one length adjustment member; and   wherein each shoulder strap lower end is at least removably secured to the primary coupling member, and each shoulder strap upper end is at least removably secured to the compressible foam support pad and cover   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the primary coupling member comprises a first transverse coupling member comprising a female socket releasably connectable with a mating male portion of a second transverse coupling member. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the compressible foam support pad comprises foam selected from the group consisting of foamed polystyrene, foamed polyurethane, foamed polyolefin, and a foamed mixture comprising polyvinyl chloride and acrylonitrile butadiene rubber. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the non-removable, cleansable cover is laminated cotton fabric. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the front surface of the compressible foam support pad is contoured to form a concave depression and a sill defined at least by a top edge of the two sides. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  comprising fastening elements allowing the device to be releasably fastened to a permanent support, the elements selected from the group consisting of one or more suction cups adhered to the back and/or sides of the non-removable, cleansable cover, one or more auxiliary straps pendant from the non-removable, cleansable cover, one or more hook and loop fasteners on the non-removable, cleansable cover, one or more buckles on the non-removable, cleansable cover, one or more clasps on the non-removable, cleansable cover, one or more snaps on the non-removable, cleansable cover, one or more pins on the non-removable, cleansable cover, and one or more buttons on the non-removable, cleansable cover. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the foam of the compressible foam support pad has an IFD25 ranging from 7 to 35 lbs. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the back surface comprises an anti-skid material. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8  wherein the entire back surface comprises an anti-skid material. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1  having one or more slots in the compressible foam support pad and non-removable, cleansable cover for each of the shoulder straps to pass through. 
     
     
         11 . An infant or toddler changing device comprising:
 a) a compressible foam support pad comprising a foam pad and a non-removable, cleansable cover, the cover forming a front surface, a back surface, a top surface, a bottom surface, and two longer side surfaces of the device, the device having length and width sufficient to support infants of varying size as they grow;   b) optionally a cardboard or corrugated cardboard layer positioned between the support pad and the cover back surface; and   c) a harness removably secured to the compressible foam support pad and cover, the harness comprising:
 i) a molded or machined primary coupling member having multiple sockets; 
 ii) a transverse strap having first and second ends; and 
 iii) first and second shoulder straps, each having a tri-glide length adjustment member; and 
   wherein the transverse strap is positioned around the compressible foam support pad and cover such that its first and second ends are removably secured to the primary coupling member using male connectors fitting into two of the sockets, the transverse strap having at least one tri-glide length adjustment member;   wherein each shoulder strap lower end is removably secured to the primary coupling member using male connectors fitting into two other sockets, and each shoulder strap upper end passes through respective slots in the compressible foam support pad and cover and anchored to the back of compressible foam support pad and cover, the compressible foam support pad and cover including at least one other slot for each shoulder strap; and   
       wherein the front surface of the compressible foam support pad is contoured to form a concave depression and a sill defined at least by a top edge of the two sides. 
     
     
         12 . An infant or toddler changing device comprising:
 a) a compressible foam support pad comprising a foam pad and a non-removable, cleansable cover, the cover forming a front surface, a back surface, a top surface, a bottom surface, and two longer side surfaces of the device, the device having length and width sufficient to support infants of varying size as they grow;   b) optionally a cardboard or corrugated cardboard layer positioned between the support pad and the cover back surface; and   c) a single transverse strap having a first end threaded through a first transverse coupling member, the first end folded back on itself and secured to itself at a location adjacent the first end, the strap having a length allowing it to be positioned around the back surface of the support pad and cover so that a second end of the strap is threaded through a second transverse coupling member and releasably attached thereto, the first and second transverse coupling members being releasably connectable to form a transverse coupling, each of the first and second transverse coupling members further comprising a first shoulder strap coupling member; and   d) first and second shoulder straps each having an upper end releasably connected to the support pad and cover at separate locations away from the side surfaces and each generally about two-thirds of the length of the support measured from the bottom surface, and each of the first and second shoulder straps having lower ends releasably connectable to respective second shoulder strap coupling members, each of the second shoulder strap coupling members releasably connectable to one of the first shoulder strap coupling members.   
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12  wherein the first transverse coupling member comprises a female socket releasably connectable with a mating male portion of the second transverse coupling member. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 12  wherein the compressible foam support pad comprises foam selected from the group consisting of foamed polystyrene, foamed polyurethane, foamed polyolefin, and a foamed mixture comprising polyvinyl chloride and acrylonitrile butadiene rubber. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the non-removable, cleansable cover is laminated cotton fabric. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 12  wherein the front surface of the compressible foam support pad is contoured to form a concave depression and a sill defined at least by a top edge of the two sides. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 12  comprising fastening elements allowing the device to be releasably fastened to a permanent support, the elements selected from the group consisting of one or more suction cups adhered to the back and/or sides of the non-removable, cleansable cover, one or more auxiliary straps pendant from the non-removable, cleansable cover, one or more hook and loop fasteners on the non-removable, cleansable cover, one or more buckles on the non-removable, cleansable cover, one or more clasps on the non-removable, cleansable cover, one or more snaps on the non-removable, cleansable cover, one or more pins on the non-removable, cleansable cover, and one or more buttons on the non-removable, cleansable cover. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the foam of the compressible foam support pad has an IFD25 ranging from 7 to 35 lbs. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 12  wherein the back surface comprises an anti-skid material. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19  wherein the entire back surface comprises an anti-skid material. 
     
     
         21 . A harness for use with an infant or toddler changing pad, the harness comprising:
 i) a primary coupling member;   ii) a transverse strap having first and second ends; and   iii) first and second shoulder straps, each having at least one length adjustment feature; and   wherein the transverse strap first and second ends are at least removably secured to the primary coupling member, the transverse strap having at least one length adjustment member; and   wherein each shoulder strap lower end is at least removably secured to the primary coupling member.   
     
     
         22 . The harness of  claim 21  wherein each shoulder strap upper end is at least removably securable to a compressible foam support pad of size sufficient to support an infant or toddler. 
     
     
         23 . The harness of  claim 21  wherein the transverse strap has a length sufficient to fit around a compressible foam support pad of size sufficient to support an infant or toddler. 
     
     
         24 . The harness of  claim 21  wherein the primary coupling member comprises a molded or machined member having multiple sockets. 
     
     
         25 . The harness of  claim 21  wherein the transverse strap has at least one tri-glide length adjustment member. 
     
     
         26 . The harness of  claim 21  wherein each shoulder strap has at least one tri-glide length adjustment member.