US20050115000A1

US20050115000A1 - Baby mat

Info

Publication number: US20050115000A1
Application number: US10/969,333
Authority: US
Inventors: Kenzou Kassai; Ichiro Ohnishi
Original assignee: Aprica Kassai KK
Current assignee: Aprica Kassai KK
Priority date: 2003-10-21
Filing date: 2004-10-20
Publication date: 2005-06-02
Also published as: KR20050038549A; EP1525825A1; JP2005124639A; TW200522900A; CN1608553A

Abstract

A baby mat comprises a main region having a constant width, a head region having a shape of semicircle, and a leg region. A projection part for holding a baby head is provided in the head region of the baby mat, and side projections are provided on both sides of the main region. The baby mat is increased in height from the leg region toward the head region.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a baby mat and more particularly, it relates to a baby mat with which a parent can sleep alongside a baby.
2. Description of the Background Art
Recently, sharing of a bed among parents and children in which the parents and the children sleep together in the same bed has been reviewed. An article about the above is described in “Newsweek, special edition of Japanese version, The New Health from Zero Year Old” published by Hankyu Communications Co., Ltd. Jul. 29, 2003, p.7.
According to the above document, the number of mothers who rear their babies at the breast is increased recently and the importance of physical contact is explained. Thus, new merits are discovered in sharing the bed among parents and children.
Meanwhile, the following precautions has to be taken when the parent sleeps with the baby. That is, it is necessary to be careful not to let the baby choke because a bed (or mat) of the parent is too soft. It is necessary to be careful not to let the baby lay on the face. In addition, it is necessary to be careful not to let the baby be squashed when the parent rolls over.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention was made in view of the above problems and it is an object of the present invention to provide a baby mat with which the parent can share the bed with the baby comfortably.
According to the present invention, a baby mat extends, maintaining a predetermined height and comprises a main region having a constant width dimension, a leg region positioned on the side of baby legs and a head region positioned on the side of a baby head and having a configuration in which its width dimension is decreased toward its top. A height of the baby mat is gradually increased from the leg region toward the head region.
Since the head region of the baby mat has a configuration in which the width dimension is decreased toward its top, the parent can nurse the baby, sliding an arm around the head region of the baby mat so as to hold the baby mat. In addition, since it has the predetermined height, even when the parent hit the baby mat when the parent rolls over and the like, the parent feels odd because of a difference in level of the baby mat and finds at once that the baby is sleeping with. In addition, since the height is gradually increased from the leg region toward the head region, the head of the baby can be held higher than the legs, so that the baby is likely to let out a burp after having milk.
As a result, there can be provided the baby mat with which the parent can share the bed with the baby comfortably.
In addition, the head region may be in the shape of semicircle, convexity and the like.
Preferably, a projection part projecting upward and extending along an edge is provided in the head region.
Since the projection part is provided in the head region, the baby is prevented from rolling over freely so as not to be choked.
More preferably, the mat has ventilation holes.
Since the ventilation holes are provided in the baby mat, a temperature of the baby can be appropriately maintained.
More preferably, the baby mat further comprises side projections provided on both sides of the main region.
In addition, the projection part and the side projections may be continuously formed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B are views showing a baby mat according to one embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 2A and 2B are views showing a baby mat according to another embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 3A and 3B are views showing a baby mat according to still another embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 4A and 4B are views showing a baby mat according to still another embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 5A and 5B are views showing a baby mat according to still another embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C are views showing a baby mat according to still another embodiment of the present invention; and
FIGS. 7A and 7B are views showing a sofa to which the baby mat is applied.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings hereinafter. FIG. 1A is a plan view showing a baby mat and FIG. 1B is a view in the direction of the arrows B in FIG. 1A according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the baby mat comprises a main region 11 having a constant width dimension in which a baby body is put, a head region 12 in which a baby head is put, and a leg region 13 in which baby legs are put. The head region 12 is in the shape of almost semicircle and the leg region 13 has a linear configuration.
The baby mat 10 is gradually increased in height such that it is lower on the side of the leg region 13 and higher on the side of the head region 12. In this constitution, since the head of the baby can be highly held in the head region, the baby is likely to let out a burp after having milk.
There is provided a projection part 14 which protrudes upward so as to hold the side of the baby head. In addition, there is provided a plurality of ventilation holes in the baby mat 10. The baby mat 10 may be formed of a material harder than a mat on which the baby mat 10 is set.
Then, a description will be made of how to use the baby mat 10. The baby mat 10 is separately used in the living room, for example near a mother in the daytime. While the baby is laid down on the baby mat 10, the mother can observe the baby, doing housework.
During the night, the baby mat 10 is set on the center of the mat of a bed for parents in the bedroom. The parents sleep across the baby mat 10 while the baby is laid down on the baby mat 10.
Since the head region 12 of the baby mat 10 is in the shape of semicircle, the parent can nurse the baby, sliding an arm around the head region 12 of the baby mat 10 so as to hold the baby mat 10. In addition, since the baby mat 10 has a predetermined height, the parent does not have to bend the neck and can bring the face close to the baby in a comfortable position.
Thereafter, even when the parent falls asleep and rolls over in the bed and hit the baby mat 10 eventually, since the baby mat 10 is highly positioned, the parent can find at once that the baby is sleeping with.
Besides, when the baby mat 10 is made of a material harder than the parent's bed, an accident in which a baby is choked on a soft mat will not occur.
Furthermore, since the projection part 14 for holding the baby head is provided and the baby cannot freely roll over, there is no fear that the baby is choked.
Still further, since the plurality of ventilation holes 15 are provided in the baby mat 10, a temperature of the baby can be appropriately maintained.
In addition, the above effect can be provided not only in the case where the baby mat 10 is used on the parent's mat but also in a case where the baby mat 10 is separately used when the parent sleeps alongside the baby.
As described above, according to the baby mat 10, the parent can be physically affectionate with the baby anytime day or night without providing a baby bed. In addition, since the parent can be released from precautions which was conventionally taken when the parent sleep with the baby, the parent can sleep alongside the baby comfortably.
Another embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIGS. 2A and 2B are views showing a baby mat 20 according to another embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 2A is a plan view and FIG. 2B is a side view.
Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, although the baby mat 20 in this embodiment is basically the same as that in the above embodiment, this embodiment is different from the above embodiment in that there is no projection part but side projections 21 are provided on both sides of a main region 11 of the baby mat 20. The side projection 21 is higher than the projection part 14. Since other parts are the same as in the above embodiment, their descriptions are omitted.
Here, the side projections 21 restrain the sides of the baby when the baby is laid down on the baby mat 20. Since the sides of the baby is restrained by the side projections 21, the baby cannot roll over. Therefore, an accident in which a baby is choked during sleep will not occur.
Still another embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIGS. 3A and 3B are views showing the still another embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 3A is a plan view and FIG. 3B is a side view.
Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, a baby mat 30 comprises both projection part 14 in a head region 12 and side projections 21 on both sides of a main region 11. Since other parts in this embodiment are the same as in the above embodiments, their descriptions are omitted.
According to this embodiment, since the head and sides of the body are restrained by the projection part 14 and the side projections 21, the baby is further restrained and cannot roll over and the like. As a result, the baby can sleep on the mat further safely.
Still another embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIGS. 4A and 4B are views showing the still another embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 4A is a plan view and FIG. 4B is a side view.
Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, a projection part 41 in which a projection part and side projections are integrated is provided in this embodiment. In this case, a height of the projection part 41 is the same as that of the projection part 14 in the above embodiment.
Alternatively, the height of the projection 41 may be the same as that of the side projections 21, or only the sides of a main region 11 may be as high as the side projections 21 while a head region 12 is as high as the projection part 14.
According to this embodiment, since the projection part 41 in which the projection part and the side projections are integrated is provided, the entire body of the baby can be surrounded by it. As a result, there can be provided a baby mat in which the baby can sleep on the mat further safely.
Still another embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIGS. 5A and 5B are views showing the still another embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 5A is a plan view and FIG. 5B is a side view.
According to this embodiment, a baby mat 50 does not have a projection part nor side projections.
Even if there is no projection part nor side projection, since the baby mat 50 has a predetermined height such that the height is gradually increased from a leg part toward a head part, the baby can sleep on the mat safely. In addition, even when the parent sleeping alongside the baby rolls over, since the baby mat 50 has the predetermined height, the parent finds at once that the baby is sleeping with because the parent feels odd because of the mat.
In addition, although the description was made of the example in which the head region of the baby mat is in the shape of semicircle in the above embodiments, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and it is all right if the baby mat is constituted such that the head region is decreased in width toward its top and the height is increased from the leg region 13 toward the head region 12. Examples of such configuration are shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C. FIGS. 6A to 6C are plan views showing configurations the baby mat can have. In FIGS. 6A to 6C, upper parts are the head regions and lower parts are leg regions.
Next, an application example of the baby mat will be described. FIGS. 7A and 7B are views showing a sofa 70 to which the baby mat according to the present invention is applied. Referring to FIGS. 7A and 7B, the sofa 70 comprises a baby mat 60 having the configuration shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B or FIGS. 6A and 6B, a back face 65 and both side parts 66 a and 66 b provided so as to surround a head region of the baby mat 60. According to the baby mat 60 constituting the sofa 70, a notch is provided in the central part on the back side (opposite side of the side shown in FIG. 7A) shown by a dotted line in FIG. 7A, so that a leg part 60 a of the baby mat 60 can be folded along the notch as shown by an arrow in FIG. 7A. Therefore, when the leg part 60 a is folded, there can be provided the sofa 70 shown in FIG. 7B. Thus, the baby mat can be used not only as a baby bed by itself, but also as the sofa 70 by folding the baby mat.
Although the embodiments of the present invention were described with reference to the drawings above, the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments. Therefore, various kinds of modifications and variations can be made to the illustrated embodiments within the same or equivalent scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A baby mat extending with a predetermined height, comprising:

a main region having a constant width dimension;

a leg region positioned on the side of baby legs; and

a head region positioned on the side of a baby head and having a configuration in which its width dimension is decreased toward a top thereof, wherein the height is gradually increased from said leg region toward said head region.

2. The baby mat according to claim 1, wherein a projection part projecting upward and extending along an edge is provided in the head region.

3. The baby mat according to claim 1, wherein the mat has ventilation holes.

4. The baby mat according to claim 1, wherein said head region is in the shape of semicircle.

5. The baby mat according to claim 1, further comprising side projections provided on both sides of said main region.

6. The baby mat according to claim 5, wherein said projection part and said side projections are continuously formed.