Changing table with barrier

Abstract

A changing station includes base portions pivotally attached to a joining portion that also define receptacles for receiving arms of a barrier. A gap between the arms of the barrier is sized to receive the torso of an infant. A deformable insert secures to the barrier and engages the torso of the infant. A mat rests on the base portions and joining portions. The mat and base portions may be folded against the barrier for storage and transport. An actuator on the barrier is coupled to latches on the arms for releasing the barrier from the joining portion. In one embodiment, push rods couple the actuator to pins that disengage spring-loaded hooks from tabs protruding into the receptacles.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . A changing station comprising:
 a first base portion;   a second base portion pivotably secured to the first base portion such that the first and second base portions are pivotable relative to one another, the first and second base portion defining an open opposition wherein a first surface of the first base portion and a second surface of the second base portion are coplanar; and   a barrier secured to the first and second base portions, the barrier defining an opening between a lower edge thereof and the first and second base portions, the opening sized to receive a torso of the infant.   
     
     
         2 . The changing station of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion, second portion, and barrier define a closed position wherein the first surface is parallel to and facing the second surface and the barrier is positioned parallel to and between the first and second surfaces. 
     
     
         3 . The changing station of  claim 1 , further comprising a mat, the first base portion defining a first indentation and the second base portion defining a second indentation, the first and second indentations sized to receive the mat, the first surface being defined by a bottom of the first indentation and the second surface defined by a bottom of the second indentation. 
     
     
         4 . The changing station of  claim 1 , further comprising a sizing insert comprising a separate member engaged with the lower surface of the barrier. 
     
     
         5 . The changing station of  claim 4 , further comprising a mat positioned over the first and second base portions, the sizing insert having a concave lower surface such that the sizing insert and the mat define a gap therebetween, wherein the sizing insert and mat are formed of deformable foam. 
     
     
         6 . The changing station of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a mat positioned over the first and second base portions;   a joining portion comprising an oblong member having first and second ends offset from one another along a transverse direction;   wherein the first base portion is pivotably secured to the joining portion such that the first base is pivotable about a first axis of rotation parallel to the transverse direction;   wherein the second base portion is pivotably secured to the joining portion such that the first base is pivotable about a second axis of rotation parallel to the transverse direction; and   wherein the barrier comprises a first arm removably fastened to the joining portion and a second arm removably fastened to the joining portion such that the first arm and second arm are offset from one another in the transverse direction and such that the opening is defined between the first and second arms, the lower edge, and the mat.   
     
     
         7 . The changing station of  claim 6 , wherein the mat further includes a groove on at least one side of the mat positioned over the joining portion and extending parallel to the transverse direction effective to facilitate folding of the mat along the groove. 
     
     
         8 . The changing station of  claim 6 , further comprising a first receptacle and a second receptacle each secured to the joining portion and offset from one another along the transverse direction having the mat positioned therebetween, the first arm being releasably securable within the first receptacle and the second arm being releasably securable within the second receptacle. 
     
     
         9 . The changing station of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a first latch mechanism mounted on the first arm and a second latch mechanism mounted on the second arm;   an first engagement member mounted on the first receptacle and sized to engage the first latch mechanism and a second engagement member mounted on the second receptacle and sized to engage the second latch mechanism;   an actuator mounted to the barrier; and   a first coupler extending between the actuator and the first latch mechanism and a second coupler extending between the actuator and the second latch mechanism, the actuator configured to transfer force through the first coupler to the first latch mechanism and through the second coupler to the second latch mechanism effective to disengage the first latch mechanism from the first engagement member and to disengage the second latch mechanism from the second engagement member in response to actuation by a user.   
     
     
         10 . The changing station of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the actuator comprises a button slidably mounted to the barrier and defining a first ramp and a second ramp;   the first coupler comprises a first wedge engaging the first ramp and a first transfer member coupling the first ramp to the first latch mechanism; and   the second coupler comprises a second wedge engaging the second ramp and a second transfer member coupling the second ramp to the second latch mechanism.   
     
     
         11 . The changing station of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second transfer member each include a curved solid rod. 
     
     
         12 . The changing station of  claim 10 , wherein the button is a first button, the actuator further comprising:
 a second button slidably mounted to the barrier opposite the first button, the second button defining a third ramp engaging the first wedge opposite the first ramp and a fourth ramp engaging the second wedge opposite the second ramp; and   a biasing member positioned between the first button and the second button.   
     
     
         13 . The changing station of  claim 12 , wherein the first button defines one or more pins and the second button defines one or more channels having the one or more pins slidably positioned therein. 
     
     
         14 . The changing station of  claim 9 , wherein the first latch mechanism comprises
 first and second hook arms pivotally secured to the first arm, the first hook arm including a first hook and the second hook arm including a second hook;   a biasing member positioned between the first and second hook arms and urging the first and second hook arms outwardly; and   a slider including a first retraction member and a second retraction member, the slider being mounted to the first coupler, the first retraction member engaging the first hook arm and the second retraction member engaging the second hook arm when subject to an outward force from the first transfer member effective to retract the first and second hooks inwardly;   wherein the first engagement member includes a first tab and a second tab positioned to engage the first and second hooks, respectively, when not retracted by the slider and when the first latch mechanism is positioned within the first receptacle.   
     
     
         15 . The changing station of  claim 14 , wherein the slider comprises a box including a first slot and a second slot on an opposite side of the first slot, a pivot mounted to the first arm extending through the first and second slots, the first and second hook arms being pivotally mounted to the pivot, the box further defining a first opening and a second opening, the biasing member urging the first hook to protrude outwardly through the first opening and urging the second hook to protrude outwardly through the second opening. 
     
     
         16 . The changing station of  claim 14 , wherein the first retraction member is a first round pin extending across an interior volume defined by the box parallel to the pivot and the second retraction member is a second round pin extending across the interior volume parallel to the pivot. 
     
     
         17 . The changing station of  claim 1 , wherein the first base portion defines a first pivot point and the second base portion defines a second point, the first base portion being foldable about the first pivot point and the second base portion being foldable about the second pivot point. 
     
     
         18 . A changing station comprising:
 a base;   a barrier including a first arm and a second arm removably secured to the base and offset from one another along a transverse direction, the barrier defining an opening between a lower edge thereof and the mat, the opening sized to receive a torso of the infant; and   a sizing insert comprising a separate member engaged with the lower surface of the barrier, the sizing insert having a concave lower surface such that the sizing insert and mat define a gap therebetween, the sizing insert and mat being formed of deformable foam.   
     
     
         19 . The changing station of  claim 18 , wherein the base comprises:
 a first base portion;   a second base portion; and   a joining portion comprising an oblong member having first and second ends offset from one another along the transverse direction, the first base portion being pivotably secured to the joining portion such that the first base is pivotable about a first axis of rotation parallel to the transverse direction and the second base portion being pivotably secured to the joining portion such that the first base is pivotable about a second axis of rotation parallel to the transverse direction, the first and second arms of the barrier removable securable to the joining portion.   
     
     
         20 . The changing station of  claim 19 , further comprising a mat positioned extending over the base and defining an indentation extending over the first base portion, second base portion, and joining portion for receiving an infant. 
     
     
         21 . The changing station of  claim 20 , wherein the mat further includes a groove on at least one side of the mat positioned over the joining portion and extending parallel to the transverse direction effective to facilitate folding of the mat along the groove. 
     
     
         22 . The changing station of  claim 19 , further comprising a first receptacle and a second receptacle each secured to the joining portion and offset from one another along the transverse direction having the mat positioned therebetween, the first arm being releasably securable within the first receptacle and the second arm being releasably securable within the second receptacle. 
     
     
         23 . The changing station of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a first latch mechanism mounted on the first arm and a second latch mechanism mounted on the second arm;   a first engagement member mounted on the first receptacle and sized to engage the first latch mechanism and a second engagement member mounted on the second receptacle and sized to engage the second latch mechanism;   an actuator mounted to the barrier; and   a first coupler extending between the actuator and the first latch mechanism and a second coupler extending between the actuator and the second latch mechanism, the actuator configured to transfer force through the first coupler to the first latch mechanism and through the second coupler to the second latch mechanism effective to disengage the first latch mechanism from the first engagement member and to disengage the second latch mechanism from the second engagement member in response to actuation by a user.