Technical field of the invention

This invention relates to an infant care and play device which serves numerous functions in one device.

Background to the invention

Infants need care, attention and stimulus for their physical, sensory and perceptual development. Numerous devices are known to assist a parent or caretaker. Known devices include a bath, bath seats, bath mats, seats, feeding chair, pram, stroller, cot, carrycot, camping cot, playpen, play mat, compactum, toys, toy boxes, bags for carrying feeding and care items, changing mat, rocker, and the list goes on. In order to care for an infant and to stimulate the infant's development most of the above items are normally used. Most devices are specialised for a specific task, which makes travelling or care while roaming about with a selection of the required devices cumbersome.

An object of the invention is to provide a lightweight, mobile and easily portable device for taking care of infants and which will eliminate the need for many of the specialised items mentioned above.

General description of the invention

According to the invention there is provided a multifunctional infant care device, which device includes: an open topped generally rectangular box receptacle shaped and dimensioned for receiving an infant therein; a removable seat configured to provide at least one sitting position and one reclining position; and wherein the receptacle is of a plastics material to receive water and provided with a closable outlet in the floor wall of the receptacle to drain the water.

The device may include a lid. The lid may extend past the side walls of the receptacle and include a bracket extending downward and inward to slide interlockingly in a groove provided on the outside of the opposed sidewalls of the receptacle. Alternatively, the bracket may be resiliently flexible and fit over the edges of the side walls of the receptacle in a snap fit manner. The lid may be in two parts which fit together to define one lid. The parts may fit together interlockingly. In one embodiment, the bracket may be shorter than a part of the lid and may fit in a complementary recess provided in the groove to lock in position. It will be appreciated that the lid would need to be lifted out of the recess to allow the lid to slide. Alternatively, the opposed inside upper parts of opposed side walls of the receptacle may be provided with a groove for slideably receiving the lid therein. The lid being in two parts provide that a part of the receptacle can be covered. Typically the front part of the lid may be configured to provide an eating or playing platform for an infant when sitting in the receptacle. The edges of the lid may be raised to provide a barrier to help prevent toys from falling of. The raised edge may also be provided with formations for attaching toys and accessories such as stringed toys and mobiles. The other, rear, part may be provided with ventilation holes. It will be appreciated that a fully closed receptacle will provide a conveniently raised nappy changing platform as well as a toy storage box.

The seat may be configured to provide both vertical and lateral support for the infant. The seat may be from a plastics material so that it can be used in the bath. In one embodiment, the bottom and backrest of the seat may include stubs projecting towards a complementary set of notches provided in the rear and lower wall and floor to allow the seat to be adjusted from a selection of positions from upright to reclined. In another embodiment, the backrest of the seat may include two or more vertically spaced latches for latching onto a strap fastened to the receptacle to allow the seat to be adjusted from a selection of orientations from upright to reclined. The seat may also include head support, which may be removable as the infant becomes stronger.

The side walls of the receptacle may extend past the bottom wall, or floor, to form two opposed legs along the length of the receptacle on which the device rests with the floor raised from the ground. Alternatively, the device may include a base and the lower part of the receptacle may fit snugly in an opening in the base.

The device may include a mattress.

The device may be configured to be rocked. The device may be configured for forward and backward rocking or side to side rocking. The underside of the receptacle, base or legs may be convexly curved. The lower rear area of the base or legs may be provided with a pair of wheels. The wheels may be positioned such that in the rocking resting position of the receptacle or base, the wheels are raised of the ground such that the front of the receptacle needs to be lifted so that the wheels can engage with the ground. Alternatively, the lower wall, floor, of the receptacle may be curved to allow a rocking movement of the device.

The device may include a handle for pulling the device along. A T-slot may be provided in the front wall of the receptacle to receive a T-bar for dragging the receptacle like a wheeled cart. Opposite the T-slot the rear wall may also be provided with a slot to allow the device to be manually carried by a single person. Preferably, a handle at the end of a strap may be retractably positioned at the front of the removable base.

The device may include stoppers extending from the underside of the raised floor to allow a person to prevent rocking should a stable seat, bath or bed be required. The stoppers and/ or wheels may be removable or pivotable to allow the device to rock. If removable, the stoppers and/ or wheels may be securely lockable my means of complementary snap fit formations. The walls of the base or receptacle may include an outer and inner layer of plastics material with air trapped in between. It will be appreciated that the receptacle can then be formed by means of a blow moulding process to save weight and provide heat insulation.

The closable outlet, or drain, may be provided with a thread so that a plug can be inserted, preferably from the bottom or from the top and bottom, whichever is most convenient.

The device may also include means for restraining the infant inside the receptacle and a means for restraining the device inside a vehicle, should the infant be transported without access to a normal infant safety chair.

Apart from the cushions and mattress, the entire device should preferably of moulded plastics material and it will be appreciated that the device will be easily cleaned and dried to be kept hygienic.

The device or base may be decorated with any appropriate child friendly motif such as a car or animal.

It will be appreciated that there are many ways to provide the functions of the device, in accordance with the invention and it should be understood that essentially the invention is a multifunction device for taking care of infants, which device includes an infant bed, removable and adjustable seat, bath, feeding station and any one or more of a play pen, changing station, changing mat, rocker, carriage box, wheeled trolley or wagon and toy storage box.

It will also be appreciated that although the device in accordance with the invention is ideal for infants from birth to 18 months, it can serve as a toy wagon and a toy store box for older ages. The device is also an ideal one-in-all travelling accessory, which also provides space for packing other necessities for an infant. It will also be appreciated that the device can be adapted as the infant grows and develops by changing seat sizes, supports and accessorising the device with appropriate fun and/ or educational toys.

In Summary, the device provides primarily:

• A seater

• A play den

• A bath

• A bed • A feeding station

• A changing station

• A toy storage box

With additional features being:

• Rocking movement or stable position • Water outlet

• Pulling action on wheels

• Seat adjustment/removal

• Lid removal

• Manual carrying • Add-on accessories like toys

Detailed description of the invention

The invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a multifunctional infant care device configured for seated upright sitting and playing, while rocking in a forward backward plane, in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a multifunctional infant care device configured for sitting and playing, while rocking, in accordance with the invention;

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a multifunctional infant care device configured for sleeping, sitting and playing on a mattress, while rocking, in accordance with the invention; Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a multifunctional infant care device configured for seated sitting, eating and playing with a the lid forming a table top, while rocking, in accordance with the invention;

Figure 5 shows an exploded perspective view of a multifunctional infant care device;

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of a multifunctional infant care device configured for seated upright sitting and playing, in accordance with the invention;

Figure 7 shows a perspective view of a multifunctional infant care device configured for bathing, sitting and playing, in accordance with the invention;

Figure 8 shows a perspective view of a multifunctional infant care device configured for sleeping, sitting and playing on a mattress, in accordance with the invention;

Figure 9 shows a perspective view of a multifunctional infant care device configured for seated sitting, eating and playing with a the lid forming a table top, in accordance with the invention;

Figure 10 shows a perspective view of a multifunctional infant care device configured for seated sitting, sleeping, playing or bathing with the seat in a reclined position, in accordance with the invention; Figure 11 shows a perspective view of a multifunctional infant care device configured for bathing, sitting and playing, in accordance with the invention;

Figure 12 shows a perspective view of a multifunctional infant care device configured seated for sitting, sleeping or playing in a reclined seated position, while rocking, in accordance with the invention; Figure 13 shows a perspective view of a multifunctional infant care device configured for use as a changing station, with or without the mattress, in accordance with the invention;

Figure 14 shows a perspective view of a lid of a multifunctional infant care device configured for use as a changing station, with or without the mattress in accordance with the invention;

Figure 15 shows a bottom perspective view of a multifunctional infant care device; Figures 16 and 17 shows a perspective view of a multifunctional infant care device configured for use as a pull along wheeled cart, in accordance with the invention;

Figure 18 shows a perspective view of a multifunctional infant care device together with an accessory toy installed, in accordance with the invention;

Figures 19, 20 and 21 shows a perspective view of the seat adjustment mechanism, in accordance with the invention;

Figure 22 shows a sectional side view and detail of the seat adjustment mechanism and bath outlet, in accordance with the invention; Figure 23 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of a multifunctional infant care device with a side to side rocking configuration, in accordance with the invention;

Figure 24 shows an end view of the other embodiment of a multifunctional infant care device with a side to side rocking configuration; Figure 25 shows an end view of the other embodiment of a multifunctional infant care device with stoppers installed to prevent side to side rocking; and

Figures 26 to 29 shows perspective views of a multifunctional infant care device configured for use as a toy wagon or toy storage box, in accordance with the invention.

For the sake of conciseness, the numbered features are not indicated in all the figures.

Referring now to the drawings, the multifunctional infant care device, in accordance with the invention, is generally indicated by reference numeral 10.

The multifunctional infant care device 10, includes an open topped generally rectangular box receptacle 12 shaped and dimensioned for receiving an infant therein on its floor or mattress 13 and a removable seat 14 configured to provide an upright and reclined sitting position and one or more reclining positions. The receptacle 14 is of a plastics material to receive and retain water to function as a bath and is provided with an outlet 16 closable with a threaded cap 18 in the floor wall of the receptacle to drain the water. The device 10 includes a two part lid, 20.1 and 20.2. The lid may extend past the side walls of the receptacle and include a bracket, not shown, the bracket being resiliently flexible and fit over the edges of the side walls of the receptacle 12 in a snap fit manner. The two parts 20.1 and 20.2 fit together to define one lid. The lid being in two parts provide that a part of the receptacle can be covered. Typically the front part of the lid may be configured to provide an eating or playing platform for an infant when sitting in the receptacle. The edges of the lid are raised to provide a barrier 22 to help prevent toys from falling of. The raised edge may also be provided with formations 24 for attaching toys and accessories such as stringed toys and mobiles 26. The fully closed receptacle 12 provides a conveniently raised nappy changing platform Figure 13 as well as a toy storage box. The device 10, as shown in Figures 23 to 25 includes a convenient accessory pocket 28.

The seat 14 is configured to provide both vertical and lateral support for the infant. The seat 14 is of a plastics material so that it can be used in the bath. The backrest of the seat 14 includes two or more vertically spaced latches, Figure 22, for latching onto a strap fastened to the receptacle to allow the seat to be adjusted from two or more orientations from upright to reclined and back. The device 10 shown in Figures 1 to 22 includes a base 34 and the lower part of the receptacle 12 fits snugly in an opening in the base. The base is provided with pairs of carrying handles or notches 36 for carrying the device 10.

The base 34 of the device shown in Figures 1 to 22 is configured to be rocked in a front to back plane, while the bottom of the receptacle of the other embodiment, Figures 23 to 25, is configured to rock in a side to side plane. It will be appreciated that the base can conveniently be configured to rock in either plane. The lower rear area of the base 34 is provided with a pair of wheels 38.

The wheels 38 are positioned such that in the rocking resting position of the base 34, the wheels 38 are raised of the ground such that the front of the receptacle needs to be lifted so that the wheels can engage with the ground, Figure 16.

In the other embodiment, Figures 23 to 25, the lower wall, floor, of the receptacle 12 is curved to allow a rocking movement of the device 10. This device 10 includes stoppers 40 extending from the underside of the raised floor to allow a person to prevent rocking should a stable seat, bath or bed be required. In this embodiment, the device 10 also includes a pocket 46 for storing infant accessories.

The device 10 further includes a handle 42 at the end of a strap 44 which is retractably positioned at the front of the removable base 34.

It shall be understood that the examples are provided for illustrating the invention further and to assist a person skilled in the art with understanding the invention and are not meant to be construed as unduly limiting the reasonable scope of the invention.