GB2225230A - Safety device - Google Patents

Abstract

A safety device 10 for use in providing a protective shield covering a region of a surface comprises pad means comprising a pad portion 12 and a cover portion 14 leaving an opening through which the portion 12 can be introduced and a flap 16 to fully enclose the portion 12 within the cover portion 14. The device 10 also comprises securing means preferably including connecting members 22 attached to the cover portion 14 and corresponding securing members 24 which can be attached to the surface adjacent the region to be protected. The members 22, 24 are preferably contact fabrics, eg. "Velcro" (R.T.M.). The safety device 10 can readily be removed from the wall surface, for example for washing, and simply replaced afterwards. <IMAGE>

Description

SAFETY DEVICE This invention relates to a safety device and especially to a safety device suitable for use in providing a protective shield covering a region of a surface for example a wall, whereby to reduce the risk of injury which might occur if a person collided with or came into violent contact with the surface.

When a small child is first moved into a bed out of a cot having protective padding for the cot sides (which prevents injury should the child violently contact the sides), there is a risk that the child may injure itself by collision with any wall or other hard surface adjacent the bed. Similarly, any adult prone to violent movement in bed is at risk.

One of the various objects of the present invention is to provide a safety device suitable for use in forming a protective shield covering a region of a surface.

In one aspect the invention may be considered to provide a safety device suitable for use in providing a protective shield covering a region of a surface comprising pad means having an area sufficient to cover the region and securing means by which the pad means can be detachably secured to the surface to cover said region.

Preferably the securing means of a device in accordance with the invention comprises one or more connecting members associated with the pad means and positioned to engage one or more corresponding securing members attached to the surface adjacent the region to be shielded to detachably secure the pad means to the surface. Suitably both the securing and the connecting members comprise contact fabrics, for example the contact fabrics supplied under the trade name "Velcro" which make a detachable connection when brought into contact with one other.

Preferably the pad means of a safety device in accordance with the invention the pad means comprises a pad portion, suitably a sheet of foam polymeric material eg. rubber or plastics material and a cover portion adapted to cover the pad portion so that the cover portion provides the surface of the pad means which is exposed and which would be struck by a person when the safety device is secured in position. Preferably the cover portion is adapted to substantially enclose the pad portion and may conveniently comprise an envelope having an opening through which the pad portion can be introduced and a flap which can be secured by suitable means over the opening to fully enclose the pad portion.

Alternatively the cover portion may not be readily separable from the pad portion.

Whereas the pad portion preferably comprises a sheet of foam polymeric material, other padding materials may provide pad means in accordance with the invention, provided that they have sufficient dimensional stability to retain their shape when secured to the surface to be protected and that they have sufficient substance to provide an adequate protective shield.

There now follows a detailed description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of a safety device embodying the invention. It will be realised that this safety device has been selected for description to illustrate the invention by way of example.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a safety device embodying the invention: and Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the illustrative safety device installed in position on a wall surface adjacent a bed.

In figure 1 a safety device 10 embodying the invention is shown. The device comprises pad means including a pad portion 12 provided by a slab of foam rubber of sufficient density and thickness to provide adequate protection in the region at which it is intended to be used. The pad means of the illustrative safety device further comprises a cover portion 14 made of a suitable textile fabric material fabricated to provide an envelope having an opening through which the pad portion 12 can be introduced. A flap 16 is attached to the remainder of the cover portion at an edge portion 18 and can be secured over the opening by means of press-studs 20 (or other suitable fasteners for example buttons).

Pad portion 12 can be introduced through the opening in the cover portion 14 and then the flap 16 secured by the press-studs 12 so that the pad portion is fully enclosed by he cover portion 14.

The illustrative safety device 10 further comprises securing means including two connecting members 22 associated with the pad means. The connecting members 22 are in fact secured to the cover portion 14, one at either end portion of a face of the pad member which is intended to be positioned against a surface when the device 10 is in use. Connecting members 22 are intended to engage corresponding securing members 24 which are intended to be attached to the surface to which the device 10 is to be applied. adjacent the. region to be covered by the device.

Both the connecting members 22 and the securing members 24 of the illustrative device 10 are provided by so-called contact fabrics which make a detachable connection when the surfaces of the fabrics are brought into contact with one another. Suitable fabrics are sold under the trade name "Velcro" and may comprise projecting surface members which interengage when the fabrics are brought into contact with one another, the projecting surface members having portions which interlock with one another so that a certain amount of force must be used in order to separate the fabrics: for example, the interengaging members may be i the form of interengaging hook and loop portions. Such contact fabrics are readily available commercially.

Although the preferred securing means comprise contact fabrics, other securing means may be used in order to secure the pad means of a safety device in accordance with the invention detachably to a surface.

For example, the securing means may comprise a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive applied to the pad means, which may be pressed into engagement with the surface but which may be peeled from the surface when it is desired to detach the safety device. Other forms of securing means may also be used if desired. The connecting members are secured to the cover portion 14 by any suitable means, for example stitching.

Figure 2 is a diagramatic view showing a room having a bed 26 including a headboard 28 positioned in a corner of the room with the headboard against a first wall 30 and with the bed 26 extending along a second wall 32. In order to protect the occupant of the bed 26 against injury upon violent contact with the wall 32, a safety device 10 in accordance with the invention is detachably secured to the wall 32 to provide a protective shield covering a region of the wall surface with which the occupant may come into contact.

In order to detachably secure the safety device 10 to the wall surface to cover the appropriate region, the securing members 24 are attached to the wall surface adjacent the region to be covered by the pad, using any suitable means. For example the securing members 24 may be provided with a suitable adhesive backing by which they may be stuck to the wall in a generally vertical orientation. The positioning and spacing of the securing members 24 is chosen to be such that they will be in register with the connecting members 22 on the cover portion 14 when the safety device 10 is presented to the wall surface. When the securing members 24 have been correctly attached to the wall, the pad means including the pad portion 12 enveloped in the cover portion 14 is presented to the wall surface so that the connecting members 22 are in register with the securing members 24, and the members 22 are pressed firmly against the members 24 thus to detachably secure the pad means to the surface. The members 22 are shown in dash line in figure 2.

If it is desired to remove the safety device 10 from the wall surface, the safety device 10 may be firmly grasped and the device peeled from the wall surface, the interengaging portions of the contact fabrics comprising the members 22, 24, peeling apart.

It is important that the pad means in accordance with the invention has sufficient substance, it is also important that it should not project substantially from the surface to which it is applied, at least sufficiently to cause an obstruction. For example where the device is to be used in association with the bed 26 as shown in figure 2, preferably the pad means does not exceed 30 mm in thickness.

The illustrative safety device 10 is intended for use as a protective shield covering a region of a wall surface, as shown in figure 2 of the drawings, to protect the occupant of a bed, for example a young child or an adult prone to epileptic fits or the like. Especially where the occupant of the bed is a child, it is important that the safety device should be readily cleaned. The illustrative safety device may be readily detached from the wall surface so that it can be cleaned. For example, the cover portion 14 may be removed and washed in a washing machine: the contact fabrics used are of a type which is readily washable and not susceptible to damage by washing. The pad portion 12 may also be washed if it is of an appropriate material or, where it is a slab of foam, may be readily replaced by a fresh slab of foam if it has become unpleasantly soiled. Should the decor of the room be changed, the cover portion 14 may be simply exchanged for a different cover portion matching the new decor.

Although the illustrative safety device is primarily intended for use as a protective shield for wall surfaces adjacent beds, it will be appreciated that safety devices in accordance with the invention may be used in other situations, for example on an exposed surface of a fire place or door (especially a glass door) against which a young child may fall and be liable to injury itself unless protected by a safety device in accordance with the invention.

Claims (7)

1. A safety device suitable for use in providing a protective shield covering a region of a surface, the device comprising pad means having an area sufficient to cover the region and securing means by which the pad means can be detachably secured to the surface to cover said region.

2. A safety device according to claim 1 wherein the securing means comprises at least one connecting member associated with the pad means and positioned to engage a securing member or a corresponding one of a plurality of securing members attached to the surface adjacent said region whereby to detachably secure the pad means to the surface.

3. A safety device according to claim 2 wherein the securing members and connecting members comprise contact fabrics which make a detachable connection when brought into contact with one another.

4. A safety device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the pad means comprises a pad portion and a cover portion, part at least of the securing means being attached to the the cover portion.

5. A safety device according to claim 4 wherein the cover portion comprises an envelope having an opening through which the pad portion can be introduced and a flap which can be secured over the opening to fully enclose the pad portion.

6. A safety device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the pad portion comprises a sheet of foam polymeric material.

7. A safety device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.