Infant changing board

Abstract

An improved infant changing board utilizes a shaped support board enclosed in a washable cover and a safety strap in order to provide a relatively rigid surface upon which a caregiver can place an infant in order to change his or her diaper. The infant changing board is shaped so as to fit within most infant carriers and can transition from a folded configuration to an expanded infant changing configuration. In the expanded infant changing configuration, the apparatus can be placed in a car carrier and rests in an approximately horizontal position, yet is securely braced within the carrier. In this configuration, the caregiver can place the infant on the changing board and have easy access to the diaper and the infant's groin area for changing. When not needed, the infant changing board can be folded and put away.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An infant changing board, comprising:
 a shaped support board sized so as to fit within a child carrier, the shaped support board having side cut-outs to allow access for repositionable child carrier shoulder straps and wherein above and below the cut-outs, the shaped support board flares outwards to provide extra support for an infant's head and bottom;   wherein the shaped support board has an infant support head board and an infant support bottom board;   a washable cover having a front and a back and shaped so as to fit over the shaped support board, and wherein the washable cover is removable from the shaped support board;   an adjustment handle comprising a strap extending out from the washable cover and providing a means of adjusting the position of the infant changing board within the child carrier; and   a hinge area comprising a plurality of hinges attached to both the infant support head board and the infant support bottom board and effectively attaching the infant support head board to the infant support bottom board, the plurality of hinges adapted to allow the infant changing board to be placed in a folded configuration when not in use.   
     
     
         2 . The infant changing board of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an access port configured within the washable cover and adapted to allow extraction of the shaped support board therefrom.   
     
     
         3 . The infant changing board of  claim 2 , wherein the access port in the washable cover is opened and closed via a plurality of washable cover closures. 
     
     
         4 . The infant changing board of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of washable cover closures comprises snaps. 
     
     
         5 . The infant changing board of  claim 1 , further comprising an adjustment handle which extends outwards from the washable cover and provides a caregiver with a means of adjusting a position of the infant changing board. 
     
     
         6 . The infant changing board of  claim 2 , further comprising an adjustment handle which extends outwards from the washable cover and provides a caregiver with a means of adjusting a position of the infant changing board. 
     
     
         7 . The infant changing board of  claim 3 , further comprising an adjustment handle which extends outwards from the washable cover and provides a caregiver with a means of adjusting a position of the infant changing board. 
     
     
         8 . The infant changing board of  claim 4 , further comprising an adjustment handle which extends outwards from the washable cover and provides a caregiver with a means of adjusting a position of the infant changing board. 
     
     
         9 . The infant changing board of  claim 1 , wherein the shaped support board is made from a rigid plastic. 
     
     
         10 . The infant changing board of  claim 2 , wherein the shaped support board is made from a rigid plastic. 
     
     
         11 . The infant changing board of  claim 3 , wherein the shaped support board is made from a rigid plastic. 
     
     
         12 . The infant changing board of  claim 4 , wherein the shaped support board is made from a rigid plastic. 
     
     
         13 . The infant changing board of  claim 5 , wherein the shaped support board is made from a rigid plastic. 
     
     
         14 . The infant changing board of  claim 6 , wherein the shaped support board is made from a rigid plastic. 
     
     
         15 . The infant changing board of  claim 7 , wherein the shaped support board is made from a rigid plastic. 
     
     
         16 . The infant changing board of  claim 8 , wherein the shaped support board is made from a rigid plastic.