Beds – Having safety device
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-14
2001-01-30
Grosz, Alexander (Department: 3628)
Beds
Having safety device
C005S946000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06178573
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to baby crib bumpers and, more particularly, to protecting an infant or a child from bodily impact against the sides of the crib while ventilating dangerous gases such as carbon dioxide out of the crib.
Crib bumper pads are widely used in baby cribs for protecting a child from injury caused by bodily impact against the sides of the crib that form the interior boundary of the crib. The accumulation of carbon dioxide or other dangerous gases inside the crib is a possible cause of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Existing crib bumper pads, however, tend to trap these dangerous gases inside the crib. Those bumper pads may pose a serious threat to the health and well-being of children.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes the difficulties and disadvantages of the prior art by providing a simple and effective way of ventilating the crib to minimize trapping of dangerous gases and ensure a supply of fresh air inside the crib. The invention provides a padded crib bumper having one or more ventilation portions with small openings that permit gas flow therethrough, particularly in the lower region of the crib. The ventilated crib bumper substantially eliminates trapping of dangerous gases, thereby lowering the risk of SIDS. At the same time, there is sufficient padding in the crib bumper to reduce bodily injury to the child caused by impact against the sides of the crib. The crib bumper can be used easily and conveniently to form a safer protective barrier around the interior boundary of the crib. The ventilated crib bumper can be inexpensively produced and does not require specialized manufacturing equipment.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a ventilated bumper pad is provided in a crib having spaced side supports defining an interior boundary extending around the periphery of a mattress disposed in the crib and being spaced from the periphery of the mattress by a spacing. The ventilated bumper pad is configured to be supported in the spacing between the interior boundary of the crib and the periphery of the mattress. The ventilated bumper pad comprises an upper bumper section disposed above the upper surface of the mattress. The upper bumper section has at least one padded portion which includes padding and at least one ventilated portion which includes a plurality of openings for ventilating between the interior of the crib and the exterior of the crib through the spaced side supports.
In a specific embodiment, the at least one ventilated portion comprises a mesh fine enough so that the child's fingers do not get caught in the mesh and the child's limbs will stay confined inside the interior boundary of the crib. The ventilated bumper pad includes a lower bumper section coupled with the upper bumper section and disposed at least partly in the spacing between the interior boundary of the crib and the periphery of the mattress. The lower bumper section serves to hold the mattress covering in place when tucked firmly in the spacing, thereby preventing the mattress covering from coming loose and bunching to create pockets that trap dangerous gases. The upper bumper section includes a ventilated portion which extends at least substantially around the periphery of the mattress. The ventilated portion has a lower boundary which is generally aligned with the upper surface of the mattress. The upper bumper section includes a padded section which is disposed above and coupled with the ventilated portion and which extends at least substantially around the interior boundary of the crib.
Another embodiment of the invention is a ventilated bumper for a crib having spaced side supports defining an interior boundary extending around the periphery of a mattress disposed in the crib and being spaced from the periphery of the mattress by a spacing. The ventilated bumper comprises a lower pad disposed at least partially in the space between the interior boundary of the crib and the periphery of the mattress. A ventilated portion is coupled with the lower pad and disposed at least partly above the upper surface of the mattress. The ventilated portion includes at least one opening for ventilating between the interior of the crib and the exterior of the crib through the spaced side supports. An upper pad is coupled with and disposed above the ventilated portion. In a specific embodiment, the ventilated portion extends at least substantially around the periphery of the mattress and has a generally uniform height between the lower pad and the upper pad of about 1-3 inches.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a ventilated bumper pad is provided in a crib having spaced side supports defining an interior boundary extending around the periphery of a mattress disposed in the crib and being spaced from the periphery of the mattress by a spacing. The ventilated bumper pad is configured to be supported in the spacing between the interior boundary of the crib and the periphery of the mattress. The ventilated bumper pad comprises a plurality of bumper pad segments each extending along a portion of the periphery of the mattress. The bumper pad segments are releasably coupled with each other. The ventilated bumper pad has at least one ventilated portion which includes a plurality of openings for ventilating between the interior of the crib and the exterior of the crib through the spaced side supports.
Another embodiment of the invention is a kit for ventilating a bumper pad for a crib having spaced side supports defining an interior boundary extending around the periphery of a mattress disposed in the crib and being spaced from the periphery of the mattress by a spacing. The kit comprises a lower pad coupled with an intermediate section. The lower pad is configured to be disposed at least partially in the space between the interior boundary of the crib and the periphery of the mattress to support the intermediate section above the upper surface of the mattress. The intermediate section has at least one ventilated portion which includes a plurality of openings for ventilating between the interior of the crib and the exterior of the crib through the spaced side supports. The kit includes at least one fastener for fastening an upper edge of the intermediate section to a lower edge of the bumper pad. The kit is easy to use and makes it even more economical for those who already own a non-ventilated bumper pad to convert it into a ventilated crib bumper.
Yet another embodiment of the present invention is a method of ventilating a bumper pad for a crib having spaced side supports defining an interior boundary extending around the periphery of a mattress disposed in the crib and being spaced from the periphery of the mattress by a spacing. The method comprises providing a lower pad coupled with an intermediate section. The intermediate section has at least one ventilated portion which includes a plurality of openings for ventilating between the interior of the crib and the exterior of the crib through the spaced side supports. The lower pad is placed at least partially in the space between the interior boundary of the crib and the periphery of the mattress to support the intermediate section above the upper surface of the mattress. An upper edge of the intermediate section is fastened to a lower edge of the bumper pad.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5410765 (1995-05-01), Dicken
patent: 5706534 (1998-01-01), Sherman
patent: 5933885 (1999-08-01), Glassford
patent: 6052853 (2000-04-01), Schmid
patent: 6055690 (2000-05-01), Koenig
Wagner Allen S.
Wagner Gina Rae
Grosz Alexander
Townsend and Townsend / and Crew LLP
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