Infant Co-Sleeping Enclosure With Hinged Roll-Over Bars

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for protecting infants during bed-sharing and co-sleeping do not effectively prevent injuries and asphyxiation, as they lack mechanisms to automatically adjust and alleviate pressure when a co-sleeper moves on top of the infant, and fail to maintain a safe sleeping environment.

Innovation Solution

The development of protective enclosures with roll-over bars and frame bases that incorporate hinges and rotational elements, which automatically elevate when pressure is applied, ensuring the infant's extremities are not subjected to weight and promoting a safe supine sleeping position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a co-sleeper shares a bed with an infant, then emotional bonding and comfort are improved, but the risk of accidental asphyxiation and injury increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveemotional bondingVSAvoidasphyxiation risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The protective enclosure divides the sleeping space into a safe infant zone and an adult zone, segmenting the bed surface to allow co-sleeping while preventing harmful contact between the co-sleeper and infant

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The protective enclosure acts as an intermediary barrier between the co-sleeper and infant, allowing proximity for bonding while physically preventing asphyxiation hazards from occurring

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a protective enclosure is added to the bed, then infant safety is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinfant safetyVSAvoidenclosure structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The protective enclosure utilizes flexible mesh or fabric material instead of rigid structures, creating a safe barrier that is simple to implement and does not add significant structural complexity to the bed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The enclosure incorporates movable elements such as roll-over bars with hinges that can rotate to follow the infant's movements, providing continuous protection without requiring complex fixed structures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If roll-over bars are made rigid to prevent injury, then protection is improved, but the risk of trapping the infant increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection from injuryVSAvoidtrapping hazard

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The roll-over bars are designed with hinges or rotational joints that allow them to move dynamically in response to infant contact, following the infant's movements rather than trapping them, while still maintaining protective function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The roll-over bars change their positional parameter from fixed to movable, allowing them to rotate or flex when the infant approaches, thereby eliminating the trapping hazard while preserving the protective barrier function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution provides a safe and inexpensive means to protect infants from accidental suffocation and injury during co-sleeping by automatically adjusting to prevent pressure on the infant, thus reducing the risk of asphyxiation and promoting safe sleeping practices.

Implementation Method 1

The roll over-bar(s) and/or frame base elements is/are hinged, so that either end of the frame base can move up or rotate should an infant or neonate or one of his body parts finds itself accidentally caught under the enclosure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHinge mechanism: Hinge

Implementation Method 2

Pressure in the roll-over bar is transmitted through hinges, pivots, or rotational elements to the frame base portions, thereby elevating at least one frame base portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure transmission: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS10362885B2Devices and methods to protect neonates during bed-sharing and co-sleeping

Publication Date: 2019.07.30 WALTERSPIEL JUAN NEPOMUC

AI summary

This disclosure provides designs for inexpensive devices that can be sturdy, pleasing to the eye, light in weight, and attractively padded, to form an enclosure around an infant or neonate that is open at its bottom. These devices protect neonates from injury during bed-sharing or co-sleeping with other individuals. These enclosures can include single or multiple roll-over bars to protect infants and neonates from being injured or asphyxiated by weight of a co-sleeper inadvertently moving on top of a roll-over bar. Devices can be shaped to allow for easy placement and removal of the infant, or to place the enclosure with the respective roll-over bar(s) over an infant. Roll-over bar(s) can be/hinged or intercalated with pivots to deflect frame base portions when an infant body part finds itself accidentally caught under them. The rotation can be limited to an angle that still allows for the roll-over bar to be above an infant's body when frame base portion(s) are raised above the sleeping surface by the pressure and forces exerted on a roll-over bar when a co-sleeper inadvertently moves over a roll-over bar.