DRYING MAT FOR BABIES

NATTE DE SECHAGE POUR BEBES

English Abstract

A drying mat for babies comprising of a pad, a pad cover and a removable cloth cover, which absorbs moisture from the body of the baby and provides a comfortable place for the baby to lie on while being dried with a towel after a bath. Should the baby soil one side of the removable cloth cover, the side in use is folded upward to contain the soiled side. The mat is turned over and the unsoiled side is used. The removable cloth cover is removed from the pad and pad cover and washed.

French Abstract

L'invention considérée porte sur un tapis de séchage pour bébés, comprenant un tampon, un revêtement de tampon et un autre revêtement en tissu amovible, qui absorbe l'humidité du corps du bébé et constitue un endroit confortable où étendre le bébé pendant qu'on le sèche au moyen d'une serviette après un bain. Si le bébé souille un côté du revêtement en tissu amovible, le côté utilisé est plié vers le haut pour contenir la souillure. Le tapis est retourné et le côté non souillé est utilisé. Le revêtement en tissu amovible est retiré du tampon et du revêtement de tampon, et lavé.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR
PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A drying mat for babies, comprising:
a pad portion wrapped with a pad cover, wrapped with a removable cloth
cover comprised of an absorbent exterior and waterproof interior with a
longitudinal length and latitudinal length large enough to lay a baby on in
which the pad portion comprises ferromagnetic metal plates positioned
symmetrically at both pad portion ends so as to join to nickel-plated magnets
comprised in the removable cloth cover.
2. A drying mat for babies according to claim 1 in which nickel-plated magnets
in the removable cloth cover are positioned with identical poles facing
toward the pad cover so as to fasten with the ferromagnetic metal plates
comprised in the pad portion.
3. A drying mat for babies according to claim 1 or 2 in which the removable
cloth cover splits midway so as to fold in half allowing nickel-plated magnets
comprised in the removable cloth cover to fasten to metal plates in the pad
portion in order to contain soiled material from a baby.

Description

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DRYING MAT FOR BABIES
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a drying mat used to dry babies after bathing of up
to
about one year. Although different types of surfaces have been created for
babies to
be placed on while changing their diaper or clothes, there is a need for a
surface to
place a baby on after a bath, where the baby is comfortable while being dried
by the
caregiver. Babies are slippery when bathed therefore making it difficult for
the
caregiver to hold and handle while drying the wet baby. Some babies panic in
their
state of vulnerability and may move in a spastic manner when removed from a
bath.
The head of younger babies must be supported at all times including the drying
process after a bath. Current methods such as holding the baby while drying it
or
placing the baby on a carpeted or bedding surface are unsuited to address the
issues
raised.
European Patent No. 2,699,391 (Primault et al.) describes a bath robe that
includes a sponge portion designed to retain a baby and dry a baby on after a
bath.
However the design of the above discussed prior art does not take into
consideration
the possibility of a baby soiling the drying mat.
We have found that these disadvantages may be overcome by providing a
drying mat enabling the baby to be dried on an absorbent and comfortable area
after a
bath.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To attain the above object, this invention provides a drying mat for babies
comprising of a pad, a pad cover and a removable cloth cover. It absorbs
moisture,
providing a comfortable place for the baby to lie on while being dried with a
towel
after a bath. Should the baby soil one side of the removable cloth cover, the
side in
use is folded upward to contain the soiled side. The mat is turned over and
the
unsoiled side is used. The removable cloth cover is removed from the pad and
pad
cover and washed.
The above and its characteristic features and advantages of this invention
will
become apparent from the description of the invention given hereinbelow with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing the pad and pad cover according to
how the interior of the drying mat is constructed.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing the pad cover and removable cloth
cover according to how this invention is constructed.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the pad cover and the upper and lower
cloth covers of the removable cloth cover, showing how the upper and lower
cloth
covers fasten to the pad cover according to this invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
This invention will now be described in detail with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, a drying mat according to this invention comprises of a
pad 1 having a length, width and height large enough to lay a baby on. The pad
1 has
a length L of about 30 inches (76.2 cm), a width W of about 16 inches (40.6
cm) and a
height H of about 1.5 inches (3.8 cm). The pad portion 1 is desirably made of
a soft
and supportive material. Examples include foam and air.
In use, the pad 1 provides a comfortable area for the baby to lie on while
being
dried after a bath.
As shown in FIG. 1, a drying mat according to this invention comprises of a
pad cover 2 having a surface area large enough to wrap around the pad I in a
form-
fitting manner. The pad cover 2 has a length L of about 30 inches (76.2 cm), a
width
W of about 16 inches (40.6 cm) and a height H of about 1.5 inches (3.8 cm).
The pad
cover 2 is desirably made of a thin, flexible and waterproof material.
Examples
include vinyl, polyvinyl and plastic.
In use, the pad cover 2 separates the pad 1 from dirt, moisture and air.
As shown in FIG. 2, the drying mat according to this invention constitutes of
a
pad cover 2 comprising of four metal plates 3, two on the bottom wall 4 and
two on
the top wall 5, each about 1 centimeter away from the corner of the respective
wall.
As shown in FIG. 3 the metal plates are attached to the interior side of the
pad cover
2. Each metal plate has an area about eight centimeters squared. The metal
plates 3,
are desirably made of metal with magnetic properties. An example includes
ferromagnetic material.
As shown in FIG. 2 the drying mat according to this invention, comprises of a
removable cloth cover 6 that constitutes an upper and lower cloth cover, 6U
and 6L

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respectively, and having a surface area large enough to wrap around the pad I
and pad
cover 2 in a form-fitting manner. The removable cloth cover 6 constitutes an
absorbent exterior and waterproof interior. The removable cloth cover 6 has a
length I
of about 30 inches (76.2 cm), a width II of about 16 inches (40.6 cm) and a
height III
of about 1.5 inches (3.8 cm). Beginning at about the midway point 7 of the
sidewalls
8 the removable cloth cover 6 splits into the upper and lower cloth covers, 6U
and 6L,
respectively. The upper and lower cloth covers 6U and 6L, respectively, each
comprises of two magnets 9 each about 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) from the respective
corners. As shown in FIG. 3 the magnets 9 have identical poles facing towards
the
pad cover 2. The removable cloth cover 6 is desirably made of an absorbent,
toweling
exterior and a waterproof interior. An example includes waterproof terrycloth
also
known as terry cloth laminate. The magnets 9, have an area of about two
centimeters
squared and is desirably rust-proofed. An example includes nickel-plated
magnets.
In use, the baby is laid face up on the removable cloth cover 6 so that its
head
is positioned towards the top wall 5 and the lower portion of the body is
positioned
towards the bottom wall 4 as shown in FIG. 2.
In use, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the magnets 9 of the lower cloth cover
6L fastens to the metal plates 3 on the bottom wall 4 as shown by the arrow
6'. The
magnets 9 of the upper cloth cover 6U overlaps the magnets 9 of the lower
cloth cover
6L. As a result of the polar arrangements of the magnets 9, the upper and
lower cloth
covers 6U and 6L, respectively, can be fastened to the metal plates 3 on the
bottom
wall 4, interchangeably.
In use, should the baby soil the upper cloth cover 6U, it is folded
approximately in half as shown by the arrow 6" in FIG. 2 where the removable
cloth
cover splits 7, and the magnets are fastened to the metal plates 3 of the top
wall 5. As
a result of the symmetrical nature, the upper and lower cloth covers 6U and
6L,
respectively, can be used interchangeably.
As has been described in the foregoing, the drying mat according to this
invention has a pad portion, a pad cover portion and a removable cloth cover
portion.
It absorbs moisture from the body of the baby, providing a comfortable place
for the
baby to lie on while being dried with a towel after a bath. Should the baby
soil the
removable cloth cover, the upper cloth cover is folded upward to contain the
soiled
side. The upper cloth cover is fastened to the metal plates of the top wall
and turned

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over to reveal a dry, unused side of the drying mat where the baby can be
dried off
and changed. The removable cloth cover is separated from the pad and pad cover
and
washed.

Representative Drawing