Infant incubator

Application filed August 3,

This invention relates to infant incubators, and has for its object to produce an incubator comprising a crib adapted for use with normal infants and a removable canopy whereby said crib may be converted into an incubator for use by premature or delicate infants.

A further object of the invention is to provide a readily removable canopy adapted to be mounted upon a crib, said canopy carrying heating means, temperature indicating means and ventilating means.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities will later more fully appear.

My invention further resides in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and while I have shown here a preferred embodiment, I wish the same to be understood as illustrative only and not limiting the scope of my invention.

In the drawing: _t

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the crib and canopy in assembled relation,

Fig. 2 is a transverse section thereof on the line 2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section thereof on the line 3 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is a detail showing the ventilator in perspective.

Referring to the drawing, the crib 10 is shown as an open topped box-like structure which is preferably made from sheet or other imperforate metal. The upper edges thereof are preferably strengthened by a bead 11 which may be formed integrally therewith or may be attached thereto in any suitable manner.' It will be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to a crib of this type since any crib having walls capable of protecting the infant from drafts and capable of supporting the canopy 12 can be employed, if desired. The canopy 12 is preferably constituted by an arcuate sheet of metal 13 which is.rigidly connected to an end piece 14 in any suitable manner. The lower edges of the sheet 13 and end piece 14 are provided with a horizontal flange 15 which is adapted to seat upon the upper edge of the crib 10 as shown in Figs.

1929. Serial No. 383,403.

and 3. From the flange 15 depends a skirt 16 which preferably engages snugly the bead 11. The skirt 16 is preferably re-inforced by bending the bottom thereof inwardly and upwardly to form a re-inforce- ⁵⁵ment and provide a finished lower edge. Clips 17 are mounted upon the lower edges of the sheet 13 and . the end piece 14 in the interior of the canopy,so. as to project below the flanges 15 and engage the inner sur- ⁸⁰face of the walls of the crib 10. The canopy is thus rigidly mountable upon the crib 10. the upper edges of the walls thereof being engaged on their outer side by the skirt 16 and on their inner side by the clips 17. ⁶⁵

An electric heating element is mounted upon the canopy ana preferably upon the end piece 14 thereof. This heating unit may take the form of an incandescent electric lamp 18 mounted upon a socket 19 ⁷⁰which contains a switch operable by the chain 20 in the usual manner. Said chain 20 extends to the exterior of the canopy for operation from without. Electric conductors 21 enable the heating unit to be con- ⁷⁵nected to any suitable source of electric energy.

Suitable ventilating means are provided in the uppermost part of the canopy. For this purpose a slot 22 is formed in the top ⁸⁰of the canopy and a slide guide plate 23 is applied thereover so that openings 24 therein register with said slot. A slide 25 is mounted in the slide guide plate 23 and is adapted to be moved therein by means of a ⁸⁵handle 26. The slide 25 is provided with openings 27 which are capable of being brought into register with the openings 24 in the slide guide plate 23. In this way ventilation of the canopy may be controlled ⁹⁰and adjusted as desired.

It will be understood from the drawing that the end piece 14 of the canopy is superimposed upon one of the ends of the crib when the canopy is applied thereto. The ⁹other end of the crib which is located in a transverse plane at an intermediate point in the length of the crib is preferably closed by a removable curtain 28 which is attached _nto the forward edge of the canopy in any ¹⁰

1.,000,34^ suitable way. For example, the canopy may be provided with rings 29 to which are fastened the ends of a cord 30 which is threaded through the upper edge of the cur5 tain 28. The curtain 28 depends into the crib so as to contact with the bedding and the infant therein. The lower edge thereof is preferably cut away as shown at 31 for engagement with said infant.

1θ A suitable temperature indicating means is mounted on the canopy. This means may ' suitably be a thermometer 32 mounted near the top of the canopy and rendered visible by the window 33 therein.

' 15 In operation the head of the infant is located in the uncovered portion of the crib 10, while the body of the infant is located beneath the canopy 12. In addition to the normal function of the incubator of main20 taining the temperature to which the infant is exposed at a suitable point, the device is capable of being used to give light treatments to infants, a suitable therapeutic lamp being mounted upon the socket 19 or ²⁵ any other suitable manner.

It will be understood that the crib 10 may be used as standard equipment in maternity hospitals and infants’ wards and that the canopy 12 may be readily applied to any ³⁰ crib to convert same into an incubator for premature or delicate infants.