Infant tummy time kit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tummy time products often put unnecessary pressure on infants' armpit areas and fail to promote proper head control and weight-bearing on elbows and hands, potentially blocking airways and being uncomfortable for the infant.

Innovation Solution

A tummy time kit featuring a mat with releasably attachable wedge-shaped supports that provide an inclined surface, allowing for weight-bearing through elbows and hands, and a toy support with a non-breakable mirror to maintain infant interest, designed to reduce strain on the armpit area and promote motor skill development.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a prop pillow is used to provide support during tummy time, then chest support is provided, but unnecessary pressure is put on the infant's armpit area and axilla

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechest supportVSAvoidpressure on armpit area

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the harmful prop pillow from the tummy time setup and replaces it with a wedge-shaped support that provides chest support through a different mechanism - by elevating the upper body at an angle rather than using a pillow that compresses the armpit area. This extracts the harmful element while preserving the beneficial support function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of providing support from below (as with a prop pillow), the invention inverts the approach by using a wedge-shaped support that elevates the upper body from the chest area, allowing weight to be distributed through the arms and hands rather than compressed through the armpits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Strength

If a prop pillow is used during tummy time, then the infant is supported, but the infant rests their chin on the pillow requiring no head control

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesupportVSAvoidhead control

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The wedge-shaped support inverts the support mechanism by elevating the chest and upper body rather than supporting the head directly. This inversion forces the infant to actively control their head position to avoid resting it on the wedge, thereby promoting head control development while still providing necessary support.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the support angle and position parameters by using a wedge-shaped support with a specific incline (approximately 30 degrees), which alters the infant's posture and requires active head control, unlike the horizontal support provided by a prop pillow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Strength

If a prop pillow is used during tummy time, then chest support is provided, but weight bearing on elbows or hands is prevented

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechest supportVSAvoidweight bearing on elbows and hands

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The wedge-shaped support inverts the support approach by elevating the chest area, which naturally positions the arms and hands to bear weight on the inclined surface. This inversion transforms the support mechanism from one that protects the arms (prop pillow) to one that actively promotes weight bearing through the extremities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

By changing the support angle to an incline of approximately 30 degrees, the patent alters the biomechanics of tummy time, allowing and encouraging weight bearing on elbows and hands while maintaining chest support, thus addressing the limitation of prop pillows.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Strength

If a prop pillow is used during tummy time, then support is provided, but the pillow can block the infant's airway

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesupportVSAvoidairway blockage

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the harmful prop pillow from the tummy time setup and replaces it with a wedge-shaped support that provides support through a different geometric configuration, eliminating the airway blockage risk while maintaining the beneficial support function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The wedge-shaped support inverts the support mechanism by elevating the chest and upper body at an angle, which naturally keeps the airway open and prevents the infant from rolling onto their back, thereby eliminating the airway blockage risk associated with prop pillows.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS11896916B2Infant tummy time kit

Publication Date: 2024.02.13 UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE RESEARCH FOUNDATION

AI summary

A tummy time support for infants has a wedge-shaped support having a flat bottom surface, a top surface inclined at a first angle in a range of about 8° to about 20° relative to the bottom surface, a front side at the peak of the incline, a rear side at the base of the incline. In a top view thereof, the front side has two concave recesses positioned proximate shoulder positions of an infant and the rear side has a single elongate concave recess with a peak centered between the two concave recesses. Kits are disclosed that have of a mat having a first fastener and a first tummy time support having a second faster releasably mutable to the first fastener. The kit can include a toy support and a second tummy time support that is bigger or smaller than the first tummy time support.