Support assembly for infant
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Solution Overview
Problem
Newborns and infants up to 6 months old are at risk of spinal cord injuries due to inadequate support, which can lead to long-term issues like learning disabilities and Autism, and are prone to rolling off surfaces while being cared for, posing a risk of injury.
Innovation Solution
An infant support pad made of resilient material with an inclined top surface and raised side members to maintain the infant in an inclined position, preventing movement and providing support for the head, neck, and spine, while also featuring a recessed area for the head and optional integration with a swaddling blanket or bed to prevent rolling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an infant is laid down on a flat surface, then the infant can rest comfortably, but the infant may roll off the surface and suffer injury
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a support pad as an intermediary device between the infant and the flat surface. This pad provides both the comfort of a soft resting surface and the safety of raised edges that prevent rolling off, thus mediating between comfort and safety requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The support pad adds a vertical dimension to the otherwise flat surface by creating raised edges or walls around the perimeter. This dimensional change creates a containment structure that prevents the infant from rolling off while maintaining a comfortable flat resting area in the center
2Reliability
If a caregiver holds an infant manually, then the infant receives support, but the caregiver may become distracted and the infant may move causing injury
Solution Approach 1:
The support pad is prepared in advance with pre-positioned support surfaces and raised edges designed to automatically cradle and secure the infant. When the infant is placed on the pad, the support structure is already in place, providing immediate and consistent support without requiring continuous active intervention from the caregiver
Solution Approach 2:
The support pad is designed to provide self-contained support features including raised edges that automatically prevent rolling and contoured surfaces that naturally position the infant's head and body. The device serves itself by providing passive safety mechanisms that work without active monitoring or adjustment
3Reliability
If the infant is placed in an inclined position, then the infant's head, neck and spine are properly aligned, but the infant may slide down causing discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The support pad employs different surface qualities in different locations: the bottom surface provides a firm inclined plane for proper alignment, while the top surface features a softer, more compliant material that prevents sliding and enhances comfort. The raised edges also provide localized containment without interfering with the overall incline
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 support pad ensures proper alignment and stability for the infant's head, neck, and spine, reducing the risk of injury and promoting comfort, sleep, and digestion, while preventing the infant from rolling off surfaces, thereby minimizing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Implementation Method 1
a body of resilient material
Data Source
AI summary
An infant support pad assembly has a body of resilient material, a generally planar bottom surface and a top surface that is inclined relative to the bottom surface between a proximal end and a distal end of the body such that the infant is in an inclined position when placed on the body. The top surface has an opening in a distal portion of the body and curved surface configured to receive and support at least a portion of an infant's head. The support pad assembly also has a pair of raised side members on either side of the top surface configured to generally maintain the infant on the body and inhibit movement of the infant out of the body. The support pad assembly also has an outer padding to at least partially surround the body to generally maintain the infant on the body.