Drying mat for babies

Abstract

A drying mat for babies comprising of a pad, a pad cover and a removable cloth cover, which absorbs moisture from the body of the baby and provides a comfortable place for the baby to lie on while being dried with a towel after a bath. Should the baby soil one side of the removable cloth cover, the side in use is folded upward to contain the soiled side. The mat is turned over and the unsoiled side is used. The removable cloth cover is removed from the pad and pad cover and washed.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a drying mat used to dry babies after bathing of up to about one year. Although different types of surfaces have been created for babies to be placed on while changing their diaper or clothes, there is a need for a surface to place a baby on after a bath, where the baby is comfortable while being dried by the caregiver. Babies are slippery when bathed therefore making it difficult for the caregiver to hold and handle while drying the wet baby. Some babies panic in their state of vulnerability and may move in a spastic manner when removed from a bath. The head of younger babies must be supported at all times including the drying process after a bath. Current methods such as holding the baby while drying it or placing the baby on a carpeted or bedding surface are unsuited to address the issues raised.

European Patent No. 2,699,391 (Primault et al.) describes a bath robe that includes a sponge portion designed to retain a baby and dry a baby on after a bath. However the design of the above discussed prior art does not take into consideration the possibility of a baby soiling the drying mat.

We have found that the disadvantages may be overcome by providing a drying mat enabling the baby to be dried on an absorbent and comfortable area after a bath.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To attain the above object, this invention provides a drying mat for babies comprising of a pad, a pad cover and a removable cloth cover. It absorbs moisture, providing a comfortable place for the baby to lie on while being dried with a towel after a bath. Should the baby soil one side of the removable cloth cover, the side in use is folded upward to contain the soiled side. The mat is turned over and the unsoiled side is used. The removable cloth cover is removed from the pad and pad cover and washed.

The above and its characteristic features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the description of the invention given hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing the pad and pad cover according to how the interior of the drying mat is constructed.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing the pad cover and removable cloth cover according to how this invention is constructed.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the pad cover and the upper and lower cloth covers of the removable cloth cover, showing how the upper and lower cloth covers fasten to the pad cover according to this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, a drying mat according to this invention comprises of a pad 1 having a length, width and height large enough to lay a baby on. The pad 1 has a length L of about 30 inches (76.2 cm), a width W of about 16 inches (40.6 cm) and a height H of about 1.5 inches (3.8 cm). The pad portion 1 is desirably made of a soft and supportive material. Examples include foam and air.

In use, the pad 1 provides a comfortable area for the baby to lie on while being dried after a bath.

As shown in FIG. 1, a drying mat according to this invention comprises of a pad cover 2 having a surface area large enough to wrap around the pad 1 in a form-fitting manner. The pad cover 2 has a length L of about 30 inches (76.2 cm), a width W of about 16 inches (40.6 cm) and a height H of about 1.5 inches (3.8 cm). The pad cover 2 is desirably made of a thin, flexible and waterproof material. Examples include vinyl, polyvinyl and plastic.

In use, the pad cover 2 separates the pad 1 from dirt, moisture and air.

As shown in FIG. 2, the drying mat according to this invention constitutes of a pad cover 2 comprising of four metal plates 3, two on the bottom wall 4 and two on the top wall 5, each about 1 centimeter away from the corner of the respective wall. As shown in FIG. 3 the metal plates are attached to the interior side of the pad cover 2. Each metal plate has an area about eight centimeters squared. The metal plates 3, are desirably made of metal with magnetic properties. An example includes ferromagnetic material.

As shown in FIG. 2 the drying mat according to this invention, comprises of a removable cloth cover 6 that constitutes an upper and lower cloth cover, 6U and 6L respectively, and having a surface area large enough to wrap around the pad 1 and pad cover 2 in a form-fitting manner. The removable cloth cover 6 constitutes an absorbent exterior and waterproof interior. The removable cloth cover 6 has a length I of about 30 inches (76.2 cm), a width II of about 16 inches (40.6 cm) and a height III of about 1.5 inches (3.8 cm). Beginning at about the midway point 7 of the sidewalls 8 the removable cloth cover 6 splits into the upper and lower cloth covers, 6U and 6L, respectively. The upper and lower cloth 6U and 6L, respectively, each comprises of two magnets 9 each about 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) from the respective corners. As shown in FIG. 3 the magnets 9 have identical poles facing towards the pad cover 2. The removable cloth cover 6 is desirably made of an absorbent, toweling exterior and a waterproof interior. An example includes waterproof terrycloth also known as terry cloth laminate. The magnets 9, have an area of about two centimeters squared and is desirably rust-proofed. An example includes nickel-plated magnets.

In use, the baby is laid face up on the removable cloth cover 6 so that its head is positioned towards the top wall 5 and the lower portion of the body is positioned towards the bottom wall 4 as shown in FIG. 2.

In use, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the magnets 9 of the lower cloth cover 6L fastens to the metal plates 3 on the bottom wall 4 as shown by the arrow 6′. The magnets 9 of the upper cloth cover 6U overlaps the magnets 9 of the lower cloth cover 6L. As a result of the polar arrangements of the magnets 9, the upper and lower cloth covers 6U and 6L, respectively, can be fastened to the metal plates 3 on the bottom wall 4, interchangeably.

In use, should the baby soil the upper cloth cover 6U, it is folded approximately in half as shown by the arrow 6″ in FIG. 2 where the removable cloth cover splits 7, and the magnets are fastened to the metal plates 3 of the top wall 5. As a result of the symmetrical nature, the upper and lower cloth covers 6U and 6L, respectively, can be used interchangeably.

As has been described in the foregoing, the drying mat according to this invention has a pad portion, a pad cover portion and a removable cloth cover portion. It absorbs moisture from the body of the baby, providing a comfortable place for the baby to lie on while being dried with a towel after a bath. Should the baby soil the removable cloth cover, the upper cloth cover is folded upward to contain the soiled side. The upper cloth cover is fastened to the metal plates of the top wall and turned over to reveal a dry, unused side of the drying mat where the baby can be dried off and changed. The removable cloth cover is separated from the pad and pad cover and washed.

Claims

1. A drying mat for babies, comprising:

a pad portion wrapped with a pad cover, wrapped with a removable cloth cover comprised of an absorbent exterior and waterproof interior with a longitudinal length and latitudinal length large enough to lay a baby on in which the pad portion comprises ferromagnetic metal plates positioned symmetrically at both pad portion ends so as to join to nickel-plated magnets comprised in the removable cloth cover.

2. A drying mat for babies according to claim 1 in which nickel-plated magnets in the removable cloth cover are positioned with identical poles facing toward the pad cover so as to fasten with the ferromagnetic metal plates comprised in the pad portion.

3. A drying mat for babies according to claim 1 or 2 in which the removable cloth cover splits midway so as to fold in half allowing nickel-plated magnets comprised in the removable cloth cover to fasten to metal plates in the pad portion in order to contain soiled material from a baby.