Connection structure for the frames of a playpen

Abstract

A connection structure for the frames of a playpen including an upper frame, a lower frame and four corner posts. The upper frame is composed of four collapsible rails each having a pair of flat end portions respectively pivoted to the upper portion of the posts, each post being covered by one of four corner members. Four foot members are secured to the lower end of the posts respectively. The lower frame is of a conventional structure which has an octagonal hub at the lower center of the playpen, four elongate rods, each respectively pivoted between the hub and one of the four foot members to make a cross configuration, a pair of collapsible transverse rods spacedly pivoted between the adjacent elongate rods parallel to each other, and a strap connecting the transverse rods through the top of the octagonal hub. When the hub is pulled upward the rails are pushed downward, the four corner posts are forced to move inward so as to collapse the playpen into a compact rectangular configuration.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the playpen and more particularly to a connection structure for the frames of a playpen, said connection structure to make the playpen more stable and more durable in comparison to the conventional playpens.

[0002] Typical playpen is composed of an upper frame, a lower frame and four corner posts. The upper frame (as shown in FIG. 1) includes a pair of long rails 11 and a pair of short rails 12 (the two sets of rails may also be of the same length) each respectively connected to its corner member 10 by rivet pin 111 and 121 through the aligned thru holes 102 and 103. Each corner member 10 also has a socket 101 inside its body for receiving respectively the corner post 13 which is secured by the rivet pin 131. Therefore, the rails 11 and 12 and the corner posts 13 are respectively connected to the corner member 10.

[0003] FIG. 2 shows a U.S. Pat. No. 4,811,437 which is structurally similar to that described above and includes four corner members 20 for respectively connecting a pair of long rails 21 and a pair of short rails 22 by rivet pins through the aligned holes 202 and 203 and a socket to receive the corner post 23 which is secured by a rivet pin through the hole 201. Because the connection of each rail and corner post-to the connecting member is dependent upon the rivet pins, stress concentrates on the aligned thru-holes 102, 103 (202, 203) of the connecting member. After a certain number of oscillations or flexing from usage, these aligned thru holes 102, 103 (202, 203) may become worn or broken, rendering the structural integrity of the playpen greatly weakened and unsafe. In addition, since each corner member 10 (20) must be wide enough to receive the rails and the corner post, the esthetic quality of the corner member is diminished and limited.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0004] The present invention has a main object to provide a connection structure for the upper frame of a playpen to the corner posts wherein the stresses on each of the rails are evenly and directly distributed to a connection point on the corner post. Said connection structure eliminates the indirect connection of the upper frame rails to the post via the connecting member of the prior art.

[0005] Another object of the present invention is to provide a connection structure for the frames of a playpen which is readily and easily assembled and structurally, is both stronger and more durable.

[0006] Accordingly, the connection structure for the frame of a playpen of the present invention comprises generally an upper frame, a lower frame and four corner posts. The upper frame is composed of a pair of long rails and a pair of short rails, each set of rails having a medial connector enabling the rails to be in an in-line configuration when the playpen is erected or to be in a V-shaped configuration when the playpen is collapsed. Each set of rails has a pair of flat end portions being respectively and pivotably connected to an upper portion of the corner post. Each of four corner members covers the upper portion of its respective corner post. Each corner member has a L-shaped hollow interior body including a socket to receive the top end of the corner post, a gap at each of its two ends to receive the flat end portions of the rails, and an elongate projection inside the body and a thru-hole in a lower corner beneath the projection. A positioning block connects to an outer periphery of each of the corner posts having a recess in the top to receive the lower end of the corner member projection. The lower end of each post connects with its respective foot member.

[0007] The lower frame is of a conventional structure which includes an octagonal hub at its center, four divergent radial rods pivotably connected between the hub and the four foot members to form a cross configuration, a pair of transverse rods spacedly pivoted to the radial rods parallel to each other and each having a medial connector to enable the transverse rod to be collapsed and a strap connected between the transverse rods through the hub so that when grasps the hub upward and pushes the rails downward, the four corner posts move inward, and the playpen thusly becomes a compact rectangular configuration for convenient transport from one place to another.

[0008] The present invention will become more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description thereof when read in conjunction with the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 and 2 are the exploded perspective views to show the rails and the corner post connected to the corner member according to the prior art,

[0010] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective to show the connection between the rails, corner posts and the corner members of the preferred embodiment to the present invention,

[0011] FIG. 4 is a perspective view to show the assembly of FIG. 3,

[0012] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of FIG. 4, looking from the top,

[0013] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of FIG. 4, looking from the bottom,

[0014] FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 6,

[0015] FIG. 8 is a plane view with partially sectional view to show that the rails are collapsible, and

[0016] FIG. 9 is a perspective view to show the playpen of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0017] With reference to FIGS. 3, 4 and 9 of the drawings, the connection structure for the frames of a playpen according to the present invention comprises an upper frame 31 of a conventional playpen 30. The upper frame 31 is composed of a pair of long rails 33 and a pair of short rails 34 (the rails may be of the same length) each having a medial connector 301 to permit the rails to be in an in-line configuration when the playpen is erected or in a V-shaped configuration when the playpen is collapsed and each set of rails having a pair of flat end portions 331 and 341 pivotably connected to the upper portion of the post 36 by connector 332 and 342. Each of the corner posts 36 has a transverse thru-hole 361 in its upper portion beneath the flat end portions 341 and 331 of the rails 34 and 33 for securing a positioning block 40 by the connector 362. The positioning block 40 has an acuate surface 41, a recess 42 in the top and a thru hole in a lower portion engaged with the transverse thru hole 361 of the posts 36. Each of the four L-shaped hollow interior corner members 35 engages with the conjunction of the post 36 and the rails 33 and 34 respectively, the corner member 35 having a socket 351 inside the its top to receive the upper end of the post 36, an elongate projection 352 alongside the socket 351 which inserts into the recess 42 of positioning block 40, a thru-hole 353 in its lower portion, a gap 355 formed in the upper portion of each end engageable with the flat end portion 331 and 341 of the rail 33 and 34 respectively and a pair of lateral walls 354 formed inside the gap 355. Each corner post 36 has a foot member 39 connected to lower end (FIG. 9).

[0018] The lower frame 32 is of a conventional type which comprises an octagon hub 38 at center of the playpen 30, four divergent radial rods 37 pivotably connected between hub 38 and the four foot members 39 respectively to formed a cross shaped configuration, a pair of transverse rods 371 pivotably and spacedly connected to the adjacent radial rods 37 and parallel to each other, each having a medial connector 372 to permit the transverse rods 371 to be laterally collapsed, and a strap 381 connected between the medial connectors 372 through the octagonal hub 8. When the hub 38 is pulled upward and the rails 33 and 34 downward are pushed downward, all the rails 33 and 34 and the rods 37 and 371 are collapsed into V-shaped configuration to force the four corner posts 36 to move inward, so that the playpen is collapsed into a compact rectangular configuration to facilitate moving from one place to another.

[0019] Referring to FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8: since the rails 33 and 34 are pivotably and perpendicularly connected to the upper portion of the corner post 36, the corner member 35 has a pair of gaps 355 to grasp the flat end portions 331 and 341 of the rails 33 and 34 and a positioning block 40 on the corner posts 36 for controlling the posts 36 by the elongate projection 352 inside the corner members 35, stresses are dispersed to the connection spot between the corner posts 36 and the rails 33 and 34 and socket 351 and gaps 355 of the corner members such that connecting structure is more stable than the prior art against the oscillations and flexings of the playpen.

[0020] The specification relating to the above embodiment should be construed as exemplary rather than as limitative of the present invention, with many variations and modifications being readily attainable by a person of average skill in the art without departing from the spirit or scope thereof as defined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

Claims

I claim:

1. A connection structure for the frames of a playpen comprising: four corner posts each having an upper end, a lower end a pair of aligned thru holes perpendicularly formed at different height adjacent the upper end, a thru hole in a periphery beneath the aligned thru holes for securing a positioning block by a connector, said positioning block having an arcuate surface engaged with an outer periphery of the post, a recess in top and a thru hole engaged with the thru hole of the post; a pair of long rails and a pair short rail pivotably and perpendicularly connected to aligned thru holes of the four corner posts respectively by a connector, said rails each having medial connecting means enabling the rails to be collapsed into a V-shaped configuration when the playpen is collapsed and two flat end portions; four hollow interior L-shaped corner members respectively covering the upper end of the four corner posts, said corner members each having a socket inside an upper corner engaged with the upper end of the posts, an elongate projection inside a corner abutting the socket including a lower end inserted into the recess of the positioning block, a narrow gap in upper portion of each end engaged with the flat end portions of the rails and a pair of side walls formed in lateral edges of each of the gaps; each of the four foot members fixedly secured to the lower end of the its respective corner post by a connector; a lower frame having a octagonal hub at the lower center of the playpen, four elongate rods each respectively and pivotably connected between hub and one of the four foot members to make a cross configuration, a pair transverse rods spacedly pivoted to the elongate rods each having medial connecting means enabling the transverse rod to be laterally collapsed into a V-shaped configuration when the playpen is collapsed and strap connecting the medial connecting means through top of the octagonal hub; whereby, when the octagonal hub is pulled upward and the respective sets of rails are pushed downward, the corner posts are forced to move inward so as to collapse the playpen and making it a compact rectangular configuration.