GB2220407A

GB2220407A - A receptacle for baby equipment

Info

Publication number: GB2220407A
Application number: GB8815733A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas Mitchell Counsell; Grace Elizabeth Counsell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-07-01
Filing date: 1988-07-01
Publication date: 1990-01-10
Also published as: GB8815733D0

Abstract

A receptacle for baby equipment comprises a square base panel 10 and four square side panels, 11, 12, 13, 14 hingedly connected to the side edges of the base panel so that they may be folded from an open position, in which the base panel and side panels lie substantially flat, to a closed position where the side panels and base panel define a box. A lid 15 is hinged to one side panel 13, and its peripheral wall 16 retains the side panels in the closed position when the lid is folded to close the box. The panels have padded interior surfaces so as to provide a soft mat when the receptacle is in the open, flattened position and the contents have been removed. <IMAGE>

Description

"A Receptacle for Baby Equipment" The invention provides a receptacle for baby equipment in which a parent may conveniently carry the majority of the items of equipment required to meet the needs of a baby, particularly when away from home. As is well known, the articles required for tending to the needs of a baby are many and various and include clean nappies, a container for soiled nappies, pins, powders, soaps, shampoos, lotions, cotton wool, tissues, brushes, flannels, medicines, feeding bottles, feeding utensils, bibs etc. The present invention provides a receptacle whereby such equipment may be conveniently transported in a single package.

There may also be difficulty, particularly when away from home, in finding a suitable surface upon which to lay the baby when changing its nappy and the receptacle according to the present invention also provides a mat which conveniently provides such a suitable surface.

According to the invention there is provided a receptacle for baby equipment comprising a base panel and a plurality of side panels hingedly connected to peripheral portions of the base panel so that the side panels may be folded from an open position, in which the base panel and side panels lie substantially flat, to a closed position where the side panels define, with the base panel, an enclosure, -releasable means being provided for retaining the side panels in the closed position, and one or more of the panels having a soft surface so as to provide a substantially flat soft mat when the receptacle is in the open position.

The enclosure defined by the panels, when in the closed position, may be open at the top, a lid panel being provided to close the open top of the enclosure.

Preferably, the lid panel is hingedly connected to one of the side panels so that the lid panel also lies substantially flat when the receptacle is in the open position.

The lid panel may be formed with a peripheral wall which, when the lid panel covers the top of the enclosure, extends around the exterior of the upper edges of the side panels. The peripheral wall may then prevent the side panels being folded down to the open position and thus provides the aforesaid releasable retaining means.

Preferably means are provided which tend to return the side panels automatically to the open position upon release of the retaining means. For example, the hinged connections between the side panels and the base panel may be resilient to achieve this effect.

The base panel, side panels and lid panel (where such is provided) may comprise different but integral portions of a larger unitary assembly, the hinge connections being provided by weaker fold lines on the larger assembly.

One or more of the panels of the receptacle may be provided with means for attaching articles to the panels. For example, there may be provided loops or bands of elastic material secured to the panels, into or beneath which articles may be inserted. Such attachment means are preferably so located as to lie within the receptacle when in the closed position.

In a preferred embodiment the panels are generally rectangular in configuration, four side panels being hingedly connected to the four sides of the rectangular base panel respectively. The panels may be substantially square so that, in the closed position, the receptacle is in the general form-of a cube.

Preferably there is provided a handle by means of which the receptacle may be carried when in the closed position.

The following is a more detailed description, by way of example, of one embodiment of the invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the receptacle when in the open position, and Figure 2 is a perspective view of the receptacle in the closed position.

Referring to the drawings: the receptacle comprises a square base panel 10, four side panels 11, 12, 13 and 14 and a lid panel 15.

The four side panels are hingedly connected respectively to the four sides of the base panel 10, and the lid panel 15 is hingedly connected to one of the side panels 14. The lid panel 15 is provided around three of its sides with walls 16.

The panels form portions of a single unitary cross-shaped assembly, weakened fold lines being provided to form the hinge connections between adjacent panels.

Figure 1 shows the assembly in the open, flat position and, in accordance with the invention, one or more of the panels are provided with a soft surface, which is uppermost in this position, so as to provide a flat soft mat on to which a baby may be placed, for example to change its nappy. In the arrangement shown all of the panels have soft upwardly facing surfaces so as to provide ease of manufacture and versatility in use, but if required only some of the panels may be provided with a soft surface.

The soft surface may be provided by the resilience of the upper surface of the material from which the panels are made, or the panels may be suitably padded.

In one convenient form of construction separate comparatively rigid square panels (for example formed from fibreboard) are arranged side-by-side in the cross-like configuration shown and are sandwiched between two continuous pieces of similarly cross-shaped- material, suitable padding being interposed between the layers of material and the more rigid panels. The upper and lower sheets of material are then stitched together around the peripheries of the more rigid panels so as to hold the panels in position and also to provide the hinge lines between adjacent panels. The outer peripheral edges of the assembly are preferably bound.

The sheet of material which forms the upper surface when the receptacle is laid out flat, as shown in Figure 1, is preferably a waterproof, e.g. plastics, material. The sheet of material which faces downwardly, and will thus form the outer surface of the receptacle in the closed position, is preferably decorative.

One or more of the side panels may have attached thereto loops or bands of elastic material, such as indicated at 17, beneath which articles of baby equipment, such as are indicated at 18, may be retained. Other containers may be detachably connected by different means to the panels. For example there is indicated at 19 a waterproof pouch, suitable to receive used nappies, which is detachably connected by press studs 20 to the side panel 12.

In order to erect the receptacle, the four side panels 11, 12, 13 and 14 are swung upwardly from the flat position shown in Figure 1, so that their side edges come together as shown in Figure 2 to form a cubical enclosure containing the various items 18 and 19. The lid panel 15 is then folded over the top of the enclosure, as shown in Figure 2. The wall portions 16 of the lid panel 15 extend around the upper edges of the side panels 11, 12, 13 and 14 and thus retain them in the erected position shown in Figure 2. Alternatively or additionally separate retaining means, such as press studs or ties, may be provided to hold the side panels in the erected condition even when the lid panel 15 is open.

The lid panel 15 and one of the side panels 11 are provided with inter-engaging fastener parts 21 and 22, which hold the lid closed, and the lid is formed with a carrying handle 23.

Preferably the hinge connections between the side panels and the base panel are so arranged, for example by virtue of the resilience of the material, that the side panels tend to be automatically urged outwardly and downwardly to the open position under the effect of such resilience. This means that, as soon as the lid 15 is opened, the side panels automatically flip outwardly and downwardly to the open position shown in Figure 1.

This makes it particularly easy to open the receptacle out flat using one hand, which is a useful attribute in circumstances where the baby is being carried in the other arm.

The particular arrangements described above are by way of example only, and it will be appreciated that many changes may be made to the detailed design and construction of the receptacle without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A receptacle for baby equipment comprising a base panel and a plurality of side panels hingedly connected to peripheral portions of the base panel so that the side panels may be folded from an open position, in which the base panel and side panels lie substantially flat, to a closed position where the side panels define, with the base panel, an enclosure, releasable means being provided for retaining the side panels in the closed position, and one or more of the panels having a soft surface so as to provide a substantially flat soft mat when the receptacle is in the open position.

2. A receptacle according to Claim 1, wherein the enclosure defined by the panels, when in the closed position, is open at the top, a lid panel being provided to close the open top of the enclosure.

3. A receptacle according to Claim 2, wherein the lid panel is hingedly connected to one of the side panels so that the lid panel also lies substantially flat when the receptacle is in the open position.

4. A receptacle according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the lid panel is formed with a peripheral wall which, when the lid panel covers the top of the enclosure, extends around the exterior of the upper edges of the side panels.

5. A receptacle according to Claim 4, wherein the peripheral wall of the lid panel prevents the side panels being folded down to the open position, when the receptacle is in the closed position, and thus provides the aforesaid releasable retaining means.

6. A receptacle according to any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein means are provided which tend to return the side panels automatically to the open position upon release of the retaining means.

7. A receptacle according to Claim 6, wherein the hinged connections between the side panels and the base panel are resilient to tend to return the side panels automatically to the open position.

8. A receptacle according to any of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the base panel, side panels and lid panel (where such is provided) comprise different but integral portions of a larger unitary assembly, the hinge connections being provided by weaker fold lines on the larger assembly.

9. A receptacle according to any of Claims 1 to 8, wherein one or more of the panels of the receptacle are provided with means for attaching articles to the panels.

10. A receptacle according to Claim 9, wherein said attachment means comprise loops or bands of elastic material secured to the panels, into or beneath which articles may be inserted.

11. A receptacle according to Claim 9 or Claim 10, wherein said attachment means are so located as to lie within the receptacle when in the closed position.

12. A receptacle according to any of Claims 1 to 11, wherein the panels are generally rectangular in configuration, four side panels being hingedly connected to the four sides of the rectangular base panel respectively.

13. A receptacle according to Claim 12, wherein the panels are substantially square so that, in the closed position, the receptacle is in the general form of a cube.

14. A receptacle according to any of Claims 1 to 13, wherein there is provided a handle by means of which the receptacle may be carried when in the closed position.

15. A receptacle for baby equipment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.