United States Patent 3886607
A collapsible play crib for babies and small children, the body portion of which may be oscillated vertically and rotated horizonally at the same time.
Application Number:
05/404210
Publication Date:
06/03/1975
Other Classes:
472/135, 5/99.100, 5/102
International Classes:
A47D9/00; A47D13/06; A47D13/00; A47D9/00
Field of Search:
272/65,39,43,1R,57A,57B 5/99A,99C,102,104,101,105
Primary Examiner:
Gilliam, Paul R.
Assistant Examiner:
Dorner, Kenneth J.
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Branscomb, Ralph S.
Parent Case Data:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
This is a continuation-in-part of my U.S. Pat. Application bearing Ser. No. 351,234, filed Apr. 16, 1973, which application I now abandoned.
Claims:
I claim
1. A baby crib assembly comprising:
2. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said enclosure means comprises a continuous rail supported above said planar base by a plurality of collapsible posts and a net suspended from said rail.
3. Structure according to claim 2 wherein each of said collapsible posts comprises an upper and a lower section pivoted together and a sleeve enclosing the junction between said sections to define a rigid support, said sleeve being slidable on one of said sections clear of the pivotal junction to permit the collapse of said post.
4. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said stand assembly includes a pair of parallel rods and a pair of inverted U-shaped support members depending from said rods, said support members being pivotal beneath said rods to a horizontally extended position and having thereon a plurality of resilient bumper elements to protect a supporting surface when said support members are horizontally extended.
5. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said rotatable means includes a radially displaceable pin engageable with a portion of said body portion to prevent the rotation thereof.
Description:
To avoid boredom and amuse babies, as well as entertain those attending children it is sometimes desirable to provide much action as is practical.
Before my invention no one had provided a collapsible play crib which could be moved in a combination of directions for entertainment of babies and small children as well as those persons attending them.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
I have provided such a desired play crib. My device may be made without expensive machinery; it has a minimum of moving parts and it is foolproof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of my device ready for use.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of my device in the collapsed position.
FIG. 3 is in an exploded perspective view thereof.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals represent like parts throughout, the numeral 10 shows a body portion assembly in which the infant or child is placed; numberal 34 is a flat, preferably plywood, base thereof upon which a mattress or pad 32 may be placed for comfort.
The body portion preferably has a closed, substantially retangular bar or rail 12 in a parallel space relationship with base 34 which serves as a frame. Four uniform parallel vertical posts connect items 12 and 34. Each of such posts is preferably formed of two aligned sections having reference characters 22 and 24, with a slidable sleeve 20 mounted thereon. The lower section 24 has a conventional umbrella-type spring loaded clip 28 on which the sleeve rests when the device is in use. Such position causes the sleeve to surround a connection 26 at the adjoining ends of the sections holding them in vertical alignment. The opposite end of the lower section is similarly connected to a corner of base 34 at point 30. Therefore, manual force on clip 28 permits the sleeve to drop whereby connection 26 hinges or buckles with a resulting fold or collapse position shown in FIG. 2. Space is thus reduced for transporting or storage.
A netting 14 or other suitable material is provided as sides between items 12 and 34 to retain the infant. Dual openings 16 may be provided therein for convenient grasping of the bar 12.
The above mention base 34 is mounted on rotatable means 36 for a "lazy-Susan" effect. As can best be seen in FIG. 3, such means has preferably four in number casters 52 equally spaced around the periphery thereof. The casters are mounted on a flat, preferably plywood, disk with band 60 secured thereto as illustrated. A mounting block 46 is centerally located on the underside of base 34 and has a pin or spindle 48 depending therefrom to serve as an axle for disk 62. To secure same, nut 56 has threaded engagement with the end of pin 48 after it passes through orifice 54 upon which it is rotatably mounted. A locking pin 38 may be added to hold the body portion in a fixed position if desired. Such pin is slidably mounted through item 36 for engagement with illustrated orifices in item 46.
A third and final major portion of my invention is the stand assembly. It too is preferably foldable and consists of supports 44, preferably formed as dual tubular U-shaped members pivotally secured to each end of two parallel rods 40. Near the place of connection of each supports 44 I have provided a bumper 42 preferably made of rubber for protecting a floor or other surface on which the device may be placed. Two like cross members 72 are parallel to and are secured to the rods as illustrated. Each end of the cross member is about one third the distance from the end of a rod. Under each connection is a vertical stud or spacer 70 for abutment with item 44 whereby the leg portions are parallel to the rods for maximum contact with the floor or table surface upon which it might rest in the folded position of FIG. 3 or the extended position of FIG. 1 depending on the desired height of the body portion for use. A novel feature of my invention is a plurality of spring means 66 consisting, preferably, of four identical spiral springs equally spaced and uniformly and vertically mounted on the rods to support rotatable means 36. One end 68 of each spring is bolted or otherwise secured to the rods and cross-members, the other end, 64, to the underside of means 36. Obviously, such mounting permits a great variety of motions in response to even gently directed manual force. Such easily attainable vertical, lateral and combined motions, together with concurrent rotatable motion provides desired action not possible by any other practical and comparable means.