Portable infant changing pad

Abstract

The present invention is a portable infant changing pad that provides a surface upon which to change an infant. The portable infant changing pad is comprised of a base portion which sits upon a changing surface, a top pad portion which is made up of a stack of disposable changing pads, and an attachment portion connecting the base portion to the top pad portion. The portable infant changing pad may be unrolled upon a surface as selected by the user, and then rolled back up after the infant has been changed. Alternatively the portable infant changing pad may be setup in a permanent location such as on an incubator, examination table, change table, table, floor or other surface as selected by the user, and left in that position to act as a permanent and/or semi-permanent infant changing space. The portable infant changing pad is portable, convenient, easy to setup and use, simple to transport, and provides for a hygienic environment before, during and after changing an infant.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A portable infant changing pad comprising:
 a base portion;   a top pad portion; and   an attachment portion connecting the base portion to the top pad portion.   
     
     
         2 . The portable infant changing pad of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom of the base portion is adapted to help secure the portable infant changing pad to a changing surface. 
     
     
         3 . The portable infant changing pad of  claim 2 , wherein the top of the base portion is adapted to help secure base portion to the top pad portion. 
     
     
         4 . The portable infant changing pad of  claim 3 , wherein the top pad portion is comprised of a stack of at least one disposable pad. 
     
     
         5 . The top pad portion of  claim 4 , wherein the bottom of the top pad portion is attached to the top of the base portion. 
     
     
         6 . The top pad portion of  claim 5 , wherein each disposable pad in the stack is connected at one end of the pad. 
     
     
         7 . The top pad portion of  claim 6 , wherein each disposable pad in the stack is comprised of a top liquid absorbent layer and a bottom liquid impermeable layer. 
     
     
         8 . The top pad portion of  claim 6 , wherein each disposable pad in the stack is comprised of at least one top liquid absorbent layer, at least one middle layer, and at least one bottom liquid impermeable layer. 
     
     
         9 . The portable infant changing pad of  claim 3 , wherein the top pad portion is comprised of a support plate that is adapted to accommodate a stack of at least one disposable pad. 
     
     
         10 . The top pad portion of  claim 9 , wherein the bottom of the support plate is attached to the top of the base portion. 
     
     
         11 . The top pad portion of  claim 10 , wherein the bottom of the stack of at least one disposable pad is attached to the top of the support plate. 
     
     
         12 . The top pad portion of  claim 11 , wherein each disposable pad in the stack is connected at one end of the pad. 
     
     
         13 . The top pad portion of  claim 12 , wherein each disposable pad in the stack is comprised of a top liquid absorbent layer and a bottom liquid impermeable layer. 
     
     
         14 . The top pad portion of  claim 12 , wherein each disposable pad in the stack is comprised of at least one top liquid absorbent layer, at least one middle layer, and at least one bottom liquid impermeable layer. 
     
     
         15 . The portable infant changing pad of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment portion is comprised of at least one adhesion strip. 
     
     
         16 . The portable infant changing pad of  claim 1 , wherein the base portion and top pad portion are comprised of flexible materials. 
     
     
         17 . The portable infant changing pad of  claim 9 , wherein the top pad portion is comprised of a flexible material. 
     
     
         18 . The portable infant changing pad of  claim 16  or  claim 17 , wherein the portable infant changing pad may be rolled up into a rolled position and fastened in the rolled position using at least one rolling clasp mechanism. 
     
     
         19 . The portable infant changing pad of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one rolling clasp mechanism consists of a strap, said strap attached in the middle of the strap to the portable infant changing pad, the strap with a first distal end supporting a loop, and a second distal end supporting a cylindrical fastener that is capable of fitting through the first distal end loop. 
     
     
         20 . The portable infant changing pad of  claim 1 , wherein each component of the portable infant changing pad may be sold together as a kit. 
     
     
         21 . The portable infant changing pad of  claim 1 , wherein each component of the portable infant changing pad may be sold separately. 
     
     
         22 . A method of changing an infant using the portable infant changing pad comprising the steps of:
 selecting a surface upon which to change the diaper of an infant;   undoing the rolling clasp mechanism and unrolling the portable infant changing pad upon the selected surface;   placing the infant upon the portable infant changing pad;   changing the infant diaper and removing the infant from the portable infant changing pad;   removing the top disposable pad from the stack disposable pads, and discarding the top disposable pad;   removing the portable infant changing pad from the selected surface; and   rolling the portable infant changing pad and securing the rolling clasp mechanism.   
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein once the infant is placed upon the portable infant changing pad, the top pad portion may be used to clean the infant prior to or after removing the top disposable pad from the stack disposable pads, and before discarding the top disposable pad. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein once the top disposable pad is removed and there are no remaining disposable pads left in the stack, the stack is replaced by a new stack of disposable pads, which is attached to the base portion of the portable infant changing pad. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein a support plate is also removed once there are no remaining disposable pads left in the stack, and both the support plate and stack of disposable pads are replaced with a new support plate and stack of disposable pads.