Apparatus for supporting an infant

Abstract

An apparatus for soothing an infant, including: a torso support for supporting the torso of an infant in a prone position, the torso support being at an incline to a horizontal plane and having a crotch support provided at a lower end; and securing means for securing the infant to the apparatus, wherein the torso support is shaped to allow the legs of the infant to hang freely from either side of the torso support, and to support the infant's arms.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus for soothing an infant, comprising:
 a torso support for supporting the torso of an infant in a prone position, the torso support being at an incline to a horizontal plane and having a crotch support provided at a lower end; and   securing means for securing the infant to the apparatus,   wherein the torso support is shaped to allow the legs of the infant to hang freely from either side of the torso support, and shaped to support the infant in a position with their arms crossed in front of their chest, the torso support also being cushioned to receive the infant's arms in the crossed position.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the torso support is formed of a cushioned material that is sufficiently firm such that a baby will not sink excessively when its arms are extended sidewardly. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the torso support includes a head support formed of a breathable material. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the securing means includes a harness for strapping the infant to the torso support. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein a rearward part of the harness is secured to the torso support near the crotch support and a forward part of the harness is adjustably secured to a forward part of the torso support at a location which is movable forwardly and rearwardly along the torso support. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus according to  claim 23 , wherein a forward part of the harness is provided with a locking slider adapted to selectively move along piping formed on the torso support. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus according to  claim 19 , in conjunction with a mounting element for supporting or suspending the apparatus above the ground, the mounting element being formed of a resilient material to allow a rocking or bouncing action of the apparatus. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the apparatus and/or the mounting element is provided with at least one activating member for manually activating rocking or bouncing. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein one of the at least one activating members comprises a foot pedal. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus according to  claim 25 , wherein the apparatus is provided with a motor for activating rocking or bouncing. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the crotch support is formed as an upwardly projecting portion from the lower end of the torso support. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the securing means is in the form of a harness extending from the lower end of the torso support and substantially covers the back of the infant, the harness having sides which are securable to corresponding sides of the torso support. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus according to  claim 30 , wherein the sides of the harness are secured to the corresponding sides of the torso support by Velcro® hook and loop fastener material. 
     
     
         32 . An apparatus for soothing an infant, comprising:
 a torso support for supporting the torso of an infant in a prone position, the torso support being at an incline to a horizontal plane and having a crotch support provided at a lower end and a head support provided at an upper end; and   lateral constraining portions which are movable between an extended position for placing or removing the infant and a retracted position for substantially embracing a shoulder region of the infant once placed and containing the arms of the infant within the apparatus,   wherein the torso support is shaped to allow the legs of the infant to hang freely from either side of the torso support, and shaped to support the infant in a position with their arms crossed in front of their chest.   
     
     
         33 . The apparatus according to  claim 32 , wherein the lateral constraining portions are in the form of wings that attach to either side of the torso support and are moved between the extended position and the retracted position by means of hinges. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus according to  claim 32 , wherein the lateral constraining portions are in the form of wings that attach to either side of the torso support and are moved between the extended position and the retracted position by means of a spring-loaded and locking mechanism. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus according to  claim 32 , wherein the head support is adjustable. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus according to  claim 19 , further comprising a bar to which objects can be attached for entertaining or distracting the infant, the bar being suspended in front of the torso support. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus according to  claim 19 , further comprising an attachment for attaching the apparatus to an existing structure. 
     
     
         38 . A method of soothing an infant, including the steps of:
 providing an apparatus having a torso support for supporting the torso of an infant in a prone position and securing means for securing the infant to the apparatus, the torso support being at an incline to a horizontal plane and having a crotch support provided at a lower end, the torso support being shaped to allow the legs of the infant to hang freely from either side of the torso support and shaped to support the infant in a position with their arms crossed in front of their chest, the torso support also being cushioned to receive the infant's arms in the crossed position; and   positioning an infant on the support in a prone position with their arms crossed in front of their chest.