Diaper changing article

Details Diaper changing article Diaper changing article

1999-05-07

2001-01-23

Weaver, Sue A. (Department: 3727)

Trunks and hand-carried luggage

Convertible

C190S002000, C383S004000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06176356

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a diaper bag-like device for changing moist infants and, more particularly, to an article of manufacture that provides all of the accoutrements for protecting the infant from unsanitary environments, cleaning and making comfortable a baby requiring diapering at remote public locations which may include potential health risks.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the busy world of today, parents, grandparents and babysitters struggle to change their babies, while at work, while shopping, while traveling, while at play, and while engaged in athletic activities common to this hectic, modern era.
The caregiver presently uses a large tote bag for storing the many items needed to diaper and make comfortable the infant. The tote bag is often clumsy and inefficient. The presently used totes offer no consideration of or protection from potential health risks. Items like diapers and wipes needed to change the baby at remote locations, are intermixed with car keys, pens, tissues, wallets and other personal articles of the adult. These items, alone, can contribute to the health risks of the infant.
After struggling to locate all of the needed items during a diaper change, the parent is also faced with the problem of where to place a smelly baby. Placing a moist baby on a blanket or car seat is not very efficient. In a work place or at an athletic event, finding a convenient table, bench or space to position the baby for a diaper change is often discovered to be a scarce commodity, and very unsanitary, at best.
It is often difficult and inconvenient to find the immediate item needed, when searching and rummaging through a sea of extraneous articles in presently designed tote bags.
The present invention seeks to provide a tote bag or carrying article that organizes all of the needed baby items into easily located compartments or pockets for effortless access. The invention provides a safe, protected environment which is healthy and infection free. The invention also provides a space in which the baby itself can safely rest while the parent locates the diapering needs and attends to the diaper changing operation. The infant never comes into contact with foreign germs left behind by other infants. The sides of the article offer environmental (wind/sun) protection to the baby. In this way, the baby can be cared for (e.g., fed, changed, washed, dressed, entertained, etc.).
The compartments holding the diaper items are disposed inside of the tote bag. The liner of the tote bag comprises a layer of flexible, tough material. A draw string runs through the liner along a peripheral edge thereof. After the articles have been placed in their individual pockets, the draw string is pulled and the bag is ready to move to a remote location.
The compartments are individually shaped and sized to accommodate a particular baby item. Each compartment is stitched or thermally welded into the inner bag lining. Each compartment is designed to hold a specific item needed by the parent or adult custodian. For example, baby bottles are contained within an elongated pocket that is both waterproof and thermally insulated. Wallets and car keys are disposed in rectangular compartments as befits their shape and size. Moreover, such non-baby items could also be easily accessed from the outside of the closed bag.
All of the compartments have a transparent, plastic window so that each stored article is easily observable and recognized at a glance. The plastic window can form at least a portion of the pocket when the bag is deployed (opened). The bag contains compartments for other items, such as diapers, powder, lotion, toys, cleansing fabrics, towelettes and baby clothing.
The tote bag of this invention easily opens into an area, wherein all of the items needed by the infant caregiver present themselves to a presentation view. The circumference of the bag can be rigid to form a bowl-shaped structure to protect the infant from wind and to prevent pocket contents from spilling or rolling out. All of the pockets are circumferentially disposed about a center portion of the bag interior. The center portion is designed as a sanitary, safe, viewable resting place for baby during changing, and while the parent is busy extracting the needed items for diapering. The center portion is padded to provide comfort for the baby, and lined with a replaceable layer of vinyl to provide a waterproof surface. The center portion is provided with a built-in pillow.
DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,886,150, issued to Julie-Anna FITZSIMMONS on Dec. 12, 1989, and entitled BABY ACCESSORY CARRIER, a tote bag for carrying articles is shown. The tote has an inner, impermeable liner for protecting against extraneous fluids, but lacks insulated pockets for baby bottles and individual pockets for housing only one specific item per pocket. Nor does the article provide a resting place for baby during the diapering phase. The subject article does not locate all of the pockets in a circular fashion about the rest pad. The tote does not provide see-through compartments where items are easily observed and viewable.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,489,194, issued to D. H. HOOVER on Jan. 3, 1970, and entitled DIAPER CHANGER BAG, one pouch is shown having several undistinguished pockets. Any one of these pockets can contain a variety of items such as baby powder, baby bottles, soiled diapers, etc. There appears to be no distinguishing difference between any of these compartments, with the exception of a separate pouch for soiled diapers. None of the pockets is designed to be adjacent the rest area of the baby. In fact, HOOVER does not teach a rest area for the baby.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,606,087, issued to Margaret A. ALIVIZATOS on Aug. 19, 1986, and entitled CONVERTIBLE BODY SUPPORTING PADS, pads or mattresses are shown independent of a tote bag. ALIVIZATOS does not teach that a pillow can be folded away for ease of carrying within a tote bag, and either removed or flipped upwardly to accommodate larger children.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,156,446, issued to Ludwig NATHAN on May 29, 1979, and entitled TOTE BAG, a tote bag is disclosed for carrying snorkeling equipment. Although NATHAN teaches transparent panels, he does not teach that one can distinguish a particular baby bottle from a can of baby powder, for example, by the use of such panels.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a tote bag for carrying items needed to diaper a baby at remote locations. The lining of the tote bag comprises a layer of flexible, tough material. A draw string runs through the liner material, along a peripheral edge thereof, in order to draw the liner into a closed tote bag configuration. The inner section of the lining comprises a plurality of pockets or compartments layed out in a pattern. The pockets are specifically designed to hold individual baby items, such as diapers, powder, lotion, toys, cleansing cloths, towelettes, baby clothing and caregiver's belongings; e.g., keys, money, etc. The compartments are individually shaped and sized to accommodate the particular baby or parental item. Each compartment is stitched or thermally welded into the inner bag lining. Specific elongated pockets can hold warm baby bottles. These elongated pockets are both waterproof and thermally insulated. Wallets and car keys are disposed in rectangular compartments as befits their shape and size. All of the compartments have a transparent, plastic window so that each stored article is easily observable and recognized at a glance. The plastic windows can form at least a portion of the pockets. The tote bag easily opens into a substantially flat or bowl-shaped panoply of articles, wherein all of the items needed by the caregiver present themselves in a panoramic display view. The pockets are circumferentially disposed about a center portion of the bag interior. The center portion serves as a resting place for the baby during changing, and while the parent is busy extracting the needed items for diapering. The center

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