Support device

Abstract

An infant support device for holding an infant. A fabric panel is taut between two or more anchor points. The anchor points may be disposed on a support frame or another structure capable of supporting the fabric panel and a weight of an infant. The fabric panel contains an aperture. A mesh insert is affixed to the fabric panel at the contour of the aperture. The mesh insert has a lower stiffness than the fabric panel. The mesh insert contains a plurality of holes sized to permit air to flow therethrough while preventing an infant's limbs and appendages from entering therein. Responsive to an infant being placed onto the mesh insert, the mesh insert elastically deforms thereby transitioning into a stretched configuration, in which the mesh insert urges the infant's spine into a convex curve.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An infant support structure comprising:
 a panel having an outer periphery and an inner contour, the inner contour defining an aperture within the panel, the panel configured to be deployed upon a support frame, wherein the panel is suspended in air;   an insert affixed to the panel at the inner contour thereof, the insert occluding the aperture within the panel, the insert having a modulus of elasticity such that the insert undergoes greater deformation than the panel when an infant is placed onto the insert;   wherein responsive to an infant being placed onto the insert, the insert undergoes an elastic deformation thereby transitioning from a first non-stretched configuration into a second stretched configuration in which the insert urges a spine of the infant into a convex curve;   whereby the infant's weight is supported by the insert and the panel which remain suspended in air after the infant is placed thereon.   
     
     
         2 . The infant support device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a support frame providing anchor points to which the panel is secured. 
     
     
         3 . The infant support device according to  claim 2 , wherein the support frame comprises a plurality of support frame members, wherein the support frame members can be connected to one another forming the support frame or disconnected to reduce an amount of space needed for storage and transportation thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The infant support device according to  claim 1 , wherein the insert comprises nylon, spandex, or both. 
     
     
         5 . The infant support device according to  claim 1 , wherein the aperture has a length between eighteen inches to forty-eight inches, whereby dimensions of the aperture dictate an extent of elastic deformation the insert undergoes responsive to receiving the infant. 
     
     
         6 . The infant support device according to  claim 1 , wherein the aperture has a width between twelve inches to twenty-four inches, whereby dimensions of the aperture dictate an extent of elastic deformation the insert undergoes responsive to receiving the infant. 
     
     
         7 . The infant support device according to  claim 1 , wherein the panel is disposed between four anchor points. 
     
     
         8 . The infant support device according to  claim 1 , further comprising straps attached to corners of the panel, the straps configured to loop around the anchor points thereby securing the panel thereto. 
     
     
         9 . The infant support device according to  claim 8 , further comprising a clip disposed on each strap, the clip configured to secure the strap in a looped configuration about the anchor point. 
     
     
         10 . The infant support device according to  claim 1 , wherein corners of the panel are tapered thereby reducing points of concentrated stress. 
     
     
         11 . The infant support device according to  claim 1 , wherein the insert has a plurality of openings each having a width ranging from one millimeter to ten millimeters when the insert is in the stretched configuration. 
     
     
         12 . An infant support structure comprising:
 a support frame;   a panel having at least two straps attached thereto, the panel being suspended in air between two or more anchor points on the support frame, wherein the panel is secured to the support frame by the straps, the panel having a first stiffness;   an aperture disposed within the panel, the aperture defining an inner contour within the panel;   an insert affixed to the panel at the inner contour thereof, the insert occluding the aperture within the panel, wherein the insert has a second stiffness that is lower than the first stiffness of the panel, the insert having a first non-stretched configuration and a second stretched configuration;   wherein responsive to an infant being placed onto the insert, the insert undergoes an elastic deformation thereby transitioning from the first non-stretched configuration into the second stretched configuration in which the insert urges a spine of the infant into a convex curve, the elastic deformation of the insert being greater than elastic deformation of the panel;   whereby the infant's weight is supported by the insert and the panel which remain suspended in air after the infant is placed thereon.   
     
     
         13 . The infant support device according to  claim 12 , wherein the support frame comprises a plurality of support frame members, wherein the support frame members can be connected to one another forming the support frame or disconnected to reduce an amount of space needed for storage and transportation thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The infant support device according to  claim 12 , wherein the insert comprises nylon, spandex, or both. 
     
     
         15 . The infant support device according to  claim 12 , wherein the aperture has a length between eighteen to forty-eight inches, whereby dimensions of the aperture dictate an extent of elastic deformation the insert undergoes responsive to receiving the infant. 
     
     
         16 . The infant support device according to  claim 12 , wherein the aperture has a width between twelve to twenty-four inches, whereby dimensions of the aperture dictate an extent of elastic deformation the insert undergoes responsive to receiving the infant. 
     
     
         17 . The infant support device according to  claim 12 , wherein the panel is disposed between four anchor points. 
     
     
         18 . The infant support device according to  claim 12 , further comprising a clip disposed on each strap, the clip configured to secure the strap in a looped configuration about the anchor point. 
     
     
         19 . The infant support device according to  claim 12 , wherein corners of the panel are tapered thereby reducing points of concentrated stress. 
     
     
         20 . The infant support device according to  claim 12 , wherein the insert has a plurality of apertures, each having a width ranging from one millimeter to ten millimeters when the insert is in the stretched configuration.