Baby diaper changing station

• US 6,049,928 A
• Filed: 01/27/1998
• Issued: 04/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Foundations Worldwide Incorporated
• Original Assignee: John A. Helmsderfer
• Inventors: Helmsderfer, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRETTEL, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US09/013,971
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 5/136, 5/160, 5/429, 5/655, 5/280, 5/908, 5/949, 108/38, 108/40, 40/594, 40/611
• US Class Current: 5/655
• CPC Class Codes: A47D 5/003 attached to the wall
• CPC Class Codes: A47D 5/006 foldable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 5/907 with decorative structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 5/908 Mirror
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 5/922 with hook and loop type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 5/949 Comprising animal derived product

Abstract

A baby diaper changing station comprises a base and a support platform hingedly mounted at one side to the base and a rail structure on at least one side of the platform to increase the effective depth of the platform. A utility channel surrounds the platform for holding various diaper changing supplies and removable protective panels are positioned on bottom and side surfaces of the platform to reduce vandalism damage. A waste chute is formed in the base or support platform of the diaper changing station and cooperates with a waste receptacle proximate the station for receiving used diapers and other related waste. Accessory hooks on the platform are configured to receive and hold diaper changing supplies, such as a diaper bag. An alternative embodiment of the diaper changing station utilizes a platform having nested sections which telescope to increase the effective depth of the platform.

Claims

1. A wall-mounted station for changing the diapers of a baby comprising:

a support platform having top and bottom surfaces and opposing sides, the support platform being hingedly fixable at one side with respect to a wall;

the support platform being movable between a closed position up against a wall wherein the platform top surface is partially hidden from view and the bottom surface is exposed for view and an opened position hinged away from a wall wherein the support platform is disposed generally perpendicular to a wall and the top surface is exposed for receiving a baby;

a generally flat protective panel, formed of a non-glass, abrasion-resistant material, the platform bottom surface being configured for receiving said panel such that said panel overlies at least a portion of the platform bottom surface and covers the exposed bottom surface of the platform when the support platform is in a closed position to create vandalism proof support platform for reducing the effects of graffiti and abrasions on the platform and for improving the inner decor of a facility in which the changing station is installed.

2. The baby changing station of claim 1 further comprising at least one aperture formed in the bottom surface of the support platform and a fastener configured to be received by the aperture, the fastener being in operable contact with the protective panel to secure the panel to the bottom surface when placed in the aperture.

3. The baby changing station of claim 1 further comprising a hook and loop fastener structure operably coupled between said protective panel and said platform bottom surface to secure the panel to the bottom surface.

4. The baby changing station of claim 1 wherein the bottom surface has opposing side edges and the support platform comprises a groove along at least one side edge of the bottom surface, the groove configured to receive an edge of the protective panel for securing the panel to the support platform.

5. The baby changing station of claim 1 wherein the support platform includes a second groove positioned along an edge opposite the first groove, the protective panel being slidable between the opposing grooves for securement to the platform bottom surface.

6. The baby changing station of claim 1 further comprising a protective cap structure surrounding the protective panel, the cap structure configured to engage the platform and secure the panel to the platform.

7. The baby changing station of claim 6 wherein the protective panel is integrally formed with the protective cap structure.

8. A wall-mounted station for changing the diapers of a baby comprising:

a support platform having top and bottom surfaces and opposing sides, the support platform comprising a first section hingedly fixable at one side with respect to a wall and a second section telescopically mounted with the first section;

the support platform being movable to an opened position wherein the first section is hinged away from a wall and is disposed generally perpendicular to a wall, the second section operable for telescoping away from the first section in the opened position to define an effective depth for the support platform for receiving a baby thereon;

the platform further being movable to a closed position wherein the first section is hinged up against a wall, the second section further operable for telescoping toward the first section in the closed position to nest partially within the first section and form a relatively thin platform against a wall surface which is compliant with building regulations.

9. The baby changing station of claim 8 wherein the second section is telescopically mounted inside of the first section and includes a lip around a top periphery thereof which rests against a lip along a bottom periphery of the first section to hold the sections together when the platform is in the opened position.

10. The baby changing station of claim 8 further comprising a biasing device coupled between said first section and said second section, the biasing device driving the second section toward the first section to nest the two sections together when the platform is in the closed position.

11. The baby changing station of claim 10 wherein the biasing device comprises a spring.

12. The baby changing station of claim 8 wherein the first section is configured to completely receive the nested second section when the second section is telescoped toward the first section.

13. The baby changing station of claim 8 wherein the platform first section comprises a generally concave top surface to receive a baby, the top surface extending into the first section with respect to an upper edge of the first section to increase the effective depth of the platform.

14. A wall-mounted station for changing the diapers of a baby comprising:

a base configured for vertical mounting to a wall;

a support platform having top and bottom surfaces and opposing sides, the support platform hingedly fixed at one side with respect to the base;

the support platform being movable between an opened position wherein the support platform is hinged away from a wall and is disposed generally perpendicular to a wall for receiving a baby and a closed position up against the base;

a chute formed in one of the platform and the base, the chute having an inlet end proximate the platform top surface and extending downwardly from said top surface to an outlet end;

a waste receptacle positioned below said chute and proximate the outlet end when the platform is in the open position, the chute configured to receive waste products from the changing of diapers of a baby which are placed in the inlet end of the chute and operable to direct the waste products to said waste receptacle.

15. The baby changing station of claim 14 wherein said chute is formed in said platform and the inlet end is positioned proximate a side of the platform such as to be generally away from a baby on the platform top surface for unobstructed access to the chute.

16. The baby changing station of claim 14 wherein the waste receptacle is configured to be mounted inset within the wall to which the station is mounted, the waste receptacle having an opening which aligns with said chute inlet end when the receptacle is inset in the wall and the support platform is moved to the opened position.

17. A wall-mounted station for changing the diapers of a baby comprising:

an elongated and generally planar support platform having top and bottom surfaces, and opposing sides, the support platform hingedly fixable at one side with respect to a wall;

the support platform being movable between an opened position wherein the platform is hinged away from a wall and is disposed generally perpendicular to a wall for receiving a baby and a closed position up against a wall;

a utility channel formed in said platform proximate a side of the platform, the utility channel being formed in the platform around the top surface generally coextensive with at least two adjacent sides of the platform to be accessed from various positions around the baby changing station and being configured for holding supplies for changing the diapers of a baby to be in readily accessible from the top surface for producing an easy, convenient changing environment.