Infant Support Surface With Leg Grip to Prevent Prone Rollover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing baby support devices fail to effectively retain infants in a prone position during 'tummy time' without restricting movement, leading to issues like rolling over and sliding down, which can cause cranial disfiguration and require constant caregiver attention.
Innovation Solution
A baby support device with an inclined surface and a T-shaped leg grip made of soft, non-toxic foam that cradles the infant, preventing rollover and allowing for full upper body movement while keeping the baby secure and comfortable.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If babies are kept on their backs for long periods, then the risk of SIDS is reduced, but cranial disfiguration (flattening of the skull) occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The device performs preliminary positioning action by pre-configuring the inclined surface and leg grip to automatically hold the infant in prone position, enabling tummy time before the infant develops the ability to roll over independently
Solution Approach 2:
The support device acts as an intermediary between the infant and the sleeping surface, providing a safe inclined platform that mediates the transition from back-sleeping to prone positioning, allowing controlled tummy time while maintaining safety
2Object-affected harmful factors
If babies are placed in prone position for tummy time, then cranial disfiguration is prevented and muscle development is promoted, but babies roll over to supine position
Solution Approach 1:
The leg grip structure performs preliminary anti-action by positioning the infant's legs in a way that prevents the rolling motion before it can occur, counteracting the natural tendency to roll over to supine position
Solution Approach 2:
The inclined surface uses a curved, contoured design that follows the natural shape of the infant's body, creating a stable positioning that prevents rolling while maintaining comfort and proper alignment
3Stability of the object's composition
If restraining straps are used to prevent rolling over, then position stability is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the complex restraining strap system entirely, replacing it with a simpler geometric structure (inclined plane with leg grip) that achieves the same stabilization function through passive mechanical design rather than active restraint mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The device structure itself provides the restraining function through its inherent geometry - the inclined surface and leg grip configuration automatically prevent rolling without requiring separate restraining components or complex adjustment mechanisms
4Reliability
If restraining straps are used to keep baby secure, then safety is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the restraining straps entirely, replacing passive strap-based safety with active geometric safety built into the inclined surface and leg grip structure, which prevents rolling through design rather than restraint
Solution Approach 2:
The device structure automatically provides safety functions through its inherent geometry - the inclined plane and leg grip configuration self-regulate to prevent rolling without requiring caregiver intervention to adjust or engage restraining mechanisms
Data Source
AI summary
An infant support device for supporting an infant in a prone position, comprising a base with a front, a back, a top, a bottom and two side members, said base having a support surface extending between the side members on the top of the base;the support surface being defined by two portions: (I) a body support surface disposed proximate the front of the support device and terminating adjacent the front of the device, and (II) a leg support surface extending rearwardly from terminus of the body support surface toward the back of the device;and having a grip for retaining the posterior side of the legs of the infant and extending upwardly from the support surface between the side members;wherein an infant is supported in a prone position on the support surface between the side members, and the legs are supported on the leg support surface and are retained by said grip to minimize infant rollover toward a supine position.