Breathable Baby Crib With Layered Detachable Mesh Walls

Abstract

A modular crib assembly with structures for providing layered, detachable mesh walls and other safety features is described. An optional insert for smaller children and a kit comprising the assembly components are further described.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]Claim is hereby made to the benefit of the priority of co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Appl. No. 62 / 113,996, filed on Feb. 9, 2015, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND[0002]This section introduces information from the inventor's own observations leading up to her invention, and from the art that may be related to or provide context for some aspects of the systems, apparatus and / or methods described and / or claimed herein. This information is background in the sense that it facilitates a better understanding of that which is disclosed and ultimately claimed herein. This discussion may include observations made by the inventor that were not necessarily evident to those of skill in the art at the time of the invention, as well as observations of “related” art. That such art may be related in no way implies that it is also “prior” art. The related art may or may not be prior art. The discussion in this section t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention is a dual mesh wall system for making a breathable, sturdy, and elastic enclosure for a mattress. It was designed to protect the occupant from injury and to allow for breathability and slight elasticity in every area where they are in contact with the inner wall of the structure. This system offers a tridimensional aesthetic that is pleasing and stimulating for both adults and children and can aid in the development of fine motor skills and depth perception in children.

Problems solved by technology

However, such enclosures have heretofore raised safety concerns.

Sadly, each structural element of current standard sized cribs for infants and toddlers have caused crib related injuries and fatalities.

Hard and sharp corner posts and slotted railings of current cribs are often the cause of head and body impact wounds as well as limb breakages, sprains and fractures.

In addition, limb injuries occur when a baby reaches through the crib railings and an older child pulls on the baby's limb from outside the crib, causing the limb to bend in too awkward a position.

Crib bumpers have created even MORE risk and resulted in even MORE injuries and fatalities.

Crib bumpers are never an exact fit on every crib and therefore become distorted as children pull at the contraption.

Mobile babies and toddlers get their limbs caught between the crib bumper and the posts and railings of the crib, resulting in limb injuries.

Many ambitious babies and toddlers succeed at detaching the crib bumpers from the railings and as they are playing with the contraption they become tangled, which has led to strangulation and suffocation.

Many use the bumper to climb on, in an effort to get out of the crib, which leads to impact wounds upon falling out from the top opening of the crib.

However, it is so thin that it does not prevent impact injury against the hard posts and railings of the crib.

Furthermore, the breathable crib bumper is just as easy for babies and toddlers to distort and detach from the crib, presenting the same injuries that may occur from opaque pillow-like crib bumpers.

The use of multiple mattress level settings has also been the cause of impact and limb injuries.

Caregivers cannot always predict when their child will reach a given milestone and are often surprised by a baby pulling up in his / her crib before the mattress has been lowered.

The result is often that the child falls out of the crib and suffers an impact injury or worse.

In addition to crib related accidents occurring when young children reach gross motor skill milestones, injuries also occur when babies and toddlers reach emotional and mental milestones and become more alert.

As a child develops mentally, they become more prone to physically “acting out” or experience a “tantrum” when they do not get what they want or when they feel emotionally vulnerable.

Given the hard and sharp structural elements of current cribs, ALL developing children are at serious risk of dangerous and repeated impact injury as they experience the stages of physical AND emotional growth.

Infants and toddlers alike often lack strength and muscle coordination to maneuver their own weight around in a controlled fashion as they reach physical developmental milestones.

Because of this, babies and toddlers endure a significant amount of injury and sadly fatality, if and when they are placed in an area that is unsafe for their physical and emotional stage of development.

However, as explicated above, the current standard sized crib does not meet the safety needs of babies and toddlers and is often the cause of injury and fatality.

Images