U.S. patent application number 10/854531 was filed with the patent office on 2005-01-13 for bassinet selectively rockable when mounted upon a support as well as being displaced therefrom.
This patent application is currently assigned to Simplicity, Inc.. Invention is credited to Drobinski, Jerome, Waldman, Kenneth C..
Application Number | 20050005353 10/854531 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33563732 |
Filed Date | 2005-01-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050005353 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Waldman, Kenneth C. ; et
al. |
January 13, 2005 |
Bassinet selectively rockable when mounted upon a support as well
as being displaced therefrom
Abstract
A bassinet is releasably mounted upon a support frame which is
capable of being selectively rocked or locked against rocking and
having locking casters which are releasable to selectively
rollingly move the support frame. The bassinet when released from
the support frame may be rocked by rocking members provided along
the underside. Anti-rocking assemblies provided at opposite ends of
each rocking member may be moved to and locked in an anti-rocking
position to prevent rocking. Mounting members are provided along
the underside of the bassinet and preferably joined to the rocking
members releasably locking the bassinet into place upon the support
frame.
Inventors: |
Waldman, Kenneth C.;
(Reading, PA) ; Drobinski, Jerome; (Reading,
PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
VOLPE AND KOENIG, P.C.
UNITED PLAZA, SUITE 1600
30 SOUTH 17TH STREET
PHILADELPHIA
PA
19103
US
|
Assignee: |
Simplicity, Inc.
Reading
PA
|
Family ID: |
33563732 |
Appl. No.: |
10/854531 |
Filed: |
May 26, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60474275 |
May 29, 2003 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
5/101 ;
5/105 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47D 13/02 20130101;
A47D 9/02 20130101; A47D 9/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
005/101 ;
005/105 |
International
Class: |
A47D 009/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An infant enclosure, comprising: an infant support of a size
sufficient to accommodate and support an infant; a support frame
having spaced apart cross rails for supporting said infant support;
said infant support having mounting brackets sized and positioned
on a side of said infant support to be affixed to an associated one
of said rails; and spaced apart rocking assemblies mounted on the
same side of said infant support as the mounting brackets.
2. The infant enclosure of claim 1 wherein end portions of said
rocking assemblies each having retractable anti-rocking assemblies
movable between an extended state and a collapsed state; and said
extended state preventing said infant support from being rocked and
said collapsed state enabling the infant support to rock.
3. The infant enclosure of claim 1 wherein the rocking assemblies
are swingably mounted upon said infant support and swingable
between an extended, upright state and a folded down, collapsed
state.
4. The infant enclosure of claim 1 wherein said support frame has a
pair of caster assemblies and a pair of spaced apart arcuate
members positioned therebetween; said caster assemblies being
movable between a collapsed position enabling said frame to be
rocked and an extended position preventing the frame from being
rocked and rollingly supporting said frame on a support
surface.
5. The infant enclosure of claim 4 wherein said caster assemblies
are provided with mechanisms for releasably locking the caster
assemblies to prevent the caster assemblies from rolling.
6. The infant enclosure of claim 4 wherein said arcuate members are
hollow, lightweight, tubular members providing an arcuate convex
surface for engaging the support surface to enable the apparatus to
be rocked when the caster assemblies are in the collapsed
position.
7. The infant enclosure of claim 3 wherein the opposed ends of the
rocking members each provided with a recess for pivotally mounting
an anti-rocking member and to receive the anti-rocking member when
in the collapsed position.
8. The infant enclosure of claim 7 wherein each anti-rocking
assembly includes a spring-biased pushbutton urged toward a side
wall of its associated recess; said sidewall having a slot for
receiving a portion of said pushbutton when the anti-rocking
assembly is in the extended position thereby maintaining the
anti-rocking assembly in the extended position.
9. The infant enclosure of claim 8 wherein said pushbutton is
telescopingly mounted within a cooperating housing enabling the
pushbutton to be depressed to clear said slot enabling the
pivotally mounted anti rocking assembly to be pivoted to the
collapsed position.
10. The infant enclosure of claim 9 wherein said pushbutton is an
elongated member having a longitudinal axis wherein, when the
cooperating housing is pivoted to the collapsed position, the
longitudinal axis of the pushbutton is transverse to said slot and
wherein rotation of the cooperating housing to the extended
position moves the longitudinal axis of the pushbutton into
alignment with the slot enabling the pushbutton to be snap-fitted
into the slot.
11. The infant enclosure of claim 8 wherein each pushbutton has
guide pins on opposing sidewalls and each housing has guide slots
on opposing sidewalls receiving associated ones of the guide pins
to limit movement of the pushbutton within a given range.
12. The infant enclosure of claim 1 wherein the mounting brackets
for mounting the infant support upon said cross pieces comprise two
pairs of bifurcated arms on each rocking member for embracing the
associated cross rail.
13. The infant enclosure of claim 12 wherein one pair of said
mounting brackets is fixedly secured to the underside of the infant
support and another pair of the mounting brackets is pivotally
secured to the underside of the infant support.
14. The infant enclosure of claim 12 wherein both pairs of said
mounting brackets are fixedly secured to the underside of the
infant support.
15. The infant enclosure of claim 14 wherein one set of mounting
brackets has aligned arms transverse to the arms of the other set
of mounting brackets.
16. The infant enclosure of claim 14 wherein both sets of mounting
brackets have support arms which are aligned in a given
direction.
17. The infant enclosure of claim 12 wherein said mounting brackets
each have at least one flexible arm and include means for
snap-fittingly receiving a cross rail therebetween.
18. An infant support of a size sufficient to accommodate and
support an infant; comprising: a pair of rocking assemblies mounted
on an underside of said infant support in spaced apart fashion,
said rocking assemblies each having an arcuate convex central
portion, said assemblies being movable between a first position
enabling the support to rock and a second position preventing
rocking of the support.
19. The support of claim 18 wherein said rocking assemblies each
have a pair of retractable anti-rocking assemblies arranged at ends
of said rocking assemblies and movable between an extended state
and a collapsed state, respectively corresponding to said first and
second positions; and said extended state preventing said infant
support from being rocked and said collapsed state enabling the
infant support to rocked.
20. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein end portions of said rocking
assemblies each having retractable anti-rocking assemblies movable
between an extended state and a collapsed state respectively
corresponding to said first and second positions; and said extended
state preventing said infant support from being rocked and said
collapsed state enabling the infant support to rock.
21. The infant support of claim 18 wherein the opposed ends of the
rocking members each provided with a recess for pivotally mounting
an anti-rocking member and to receive the anti-rocking member when
in the collapsed position.
22. The infant support of claim 21 wherein each anti-rocking
assembly includes a spring-biased pushbutton urged toward a side
wall of its associated recess; said sidewall having a slot for
receiving a portion of said pushbutton when the anti-rocking
assembly is in the extended position thereby maintaining the
anti-rocking assembly in the extended position.
23. The infant support of claim 22 wherein said pushbutton is
telescopingly mounted within a cooperating housing enabling the
pushbutton to be depressed to clear said slot enabling the
pivotally mounted anti rocking assembly to be pivoted to the
collapsed position.
24. The infant support of claim 23 wherein said pushbutton is an
elongated member having a longitudinal axis wherein, when the
cooperating housing is pivoted to the collapsed position, the
longitudinal axis of the pushbutton is transverse to said slot and
wherein rotation of the cooperating housing to the extended
position moves the longitudinal axis of the pushbutton into
alignment with the slot enabling the pushbutton to be snap fitted
into the slot.
25. The infant support of claim 22 wherein each pushbutton has
guide pins on opposing sidewalls and each housing has guide slots
on opposing sidewalls each receiving associated ones of said guide
pins to limit movement of the pushbutton within a given range.
26. The infant support of claim 18 further comprising members
fixedly mounted to the underside of the support for supporting the
infant support on a support surface when the rocking assemblies are
in the collapsed, folded-down position.
27. The infant support of claim 18 wherein each of the rocking
assemblies comprises mounting brackets for swingably mounting an
arcuate rocking member, said brackets respectively locking the
rocking member in the extended, upright and collapsed, folded-down
positions.
28. The infant enclosure of claim 1 wherein one of said mounting
bracket assemblies comprises a member having a recess for receiving
one of said cross-rails and a pivotally mounted arm movable between
a locked position over said recess to embrace and lock a cross-rail
in said recess and an open position displaced from said recess to
remove/replace said cross-rail.
29. A selectively rockable infant enclosure comprising: an infant
support platform having an infant support side and an opposite
side; and, spaced apart rockable assemblies mounted on said
opposite side of said infant support platform, each of said
rockable assemblies having an arcute portion which engages a
support surface for rocking and a means for selectively preventing
the arcute portion from rocking engagement with the support
surface.
30. The enclosure of claim 29 wherein the means for selectively
preventing the arcute portion from rocking engagement with said
support surface are stops located adjacent to said arcute
portions.
31. The enclosure of claim 29 wherein the means for selectively
preventing said arcute portion from rocking engagement with said
support surface are pivots for moving said arcute portions adjacent
to said opposite side of said infant support platform.
32. The enclosure of claim 29, further comprising means for
mounting said enclosure on a supporting frame.
Description
CLAIM FOR PRIORITY
[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/474,275 filed on May 29, 2003.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to bassinets and more particularly to
bassinets which are selectively rockable.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Applicant's co-pending application, Ser. No. 10/103,580
filed Mar. 21, 2002, which is incorporated herein by reference as
if fully set forth, discloses a bassinet mounted upon a selectively
rockable support. The support includes rockable caster assemblies
that may be lowered and locked into place for rolling movement to
any desired location. The caster assemblies are selectively
lockable to prevent movement of the support and to prevent
rocking.
[0004] The support with the bassinet mounted thereon may further be
attached to an adult bed to convert the bassinet into a bedside
sleeper. The bassinet of Applicant's earlier application, is not
rockable when separated from its support. It is desired to provide
a bassinet that is a separate, independent and rockable bassinet
when separated from its support.
SUMMARY
[0005] The present invention provides an infant enclosure having an
infant support of a size sufficient to accommodate and support an
infant. The enclosure also having a support frame having rails for
supporting the infant support. The infant support also having
mounting brackets sized and positioned on one side of the infant
support to be affixed to an associated one of the rails. The
enclosure also having spaced apart rocking assemblies mounted to
the same side as the mounting brackets.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0006] The present invention will be understood from a
consideration of the accompanying figures in which like elements
are designated by like numerals and wherein:
[0007] FIG. 1 illustrates the support and bassinet's frame
embodying the principles of the present invention in a fully
assembled condition.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the support frame.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a rocker mounted to the
underside of the bassinet having a pair of fixed bifurcated
arms.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a perspective of another view of the rocker of
FIG. 3.
[0011] FIG. 5 is a detailed view of a bifurcated arm shown in FIG.
4.
[0012] FIGS. 6 and 7 are perspective views showing the pivotally
mounted members provided at the ends of each rocker and FIG. 8 is
an exploded perspective view of the components making up the
pivotally mounted assembly shown in 6 and 7.
[0013] FIG. 9 shows one of the pivotally mounted members in the
erect position and is useful in explaining the rocking/anti-rocking
operation.
[0014] FIG. 10 shows an alternative embodiment for an anti-rocking
assembly.
[0015] FIGS. 11 through 14 are perspective views showing another
alternative embodiment of the present invention and showing the
rocker members in the rocking position and the folded down
position, as well as the details of a locking member.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a bassinet assembly 10 comprised of a
support frame 20 and a bassinet 50. The support frame 20 comprises
a pair of arcuate, members 21, 22 having respective caster housings
23-26 secured at their ends. Each housing has mounted therein a
caster assembly moveable between a first position totally enclosed
within the housing, enabling the support frame to rock, and a
second extended position that permits rolling movement.
[0017] The caster assemblies and the mechanism for raising and
lowering them as described in the aforementioned co-pending
application, Ser. No. 10/103,580 are suitable for use in the
present invention. However, other casters with locking and
raising/lowering mechanism may be employed.
[0018] The housings 23-26 preferably extend beyond the ends of the
arcuate tubular members to limit the degree to which the support
frame may be tilted, thereby increasing the stability of the
support frame.
[0019] The support frame has four uprights 27, 28, 29 and 30 that
are preferably joined at their upper ends with the central portion
CP to form inverted U-shaped members. Alternatively, as shown in
FIG. 2, uprights 27-30 respectively may terminate in upper ends
that are received within tubular openings 31a through 34a whereas
the lower ends are telescoped into hollow cylindrical portions 23a,
24a, 25a and 26a of housing 23, 24, 25 and 26 respectively, as
shown in both FIGS. 1 and 2. In place of the central portions CP of
FIG. 1, the embodiment of FIG. 2 employs a pair of rails 35 and 36
that are secured within openings 31b-34b and vertically aligned
openings 31b-34b of brackets 31-34. The cross rails 37 and 38 are
each secured within horizontally aligned openings 31c-32c and
33c-34c. The rails 35, 36, 37 and 38 provide structural strength
and rigidity to the support frame.
[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates only the bottom board 51 and framework 70
of the infant enclosure 20 (a bassinet in this illustrative
embodiment) in order to better understand the features of the
present invention. The bottom board 51 is a flat, sturdy board made
of a suitable material for supporting an infant, such as plastic,
wood or a composition board, for example. The frame 70 is comprised
of supports 72 mounted upon board 51 and supporting loop-like rail
71 above the board 51. The swingably mounted curved struts support
a hood (not shown). The rail 71 supports a fabric that surrounds
the board 51. As shown in FIGS. 2 through 10, the underside of the
board is provided with a pair of spaced, substantially parallel
rocking members 52, 52 secured to the underside of board 51 by
suitable fastening means, such as rivets or bolts, not shown for
purposes of simplicity. Since the rocking members 52 are
substantially identical in both design and function, only one of
them will be described in detail. Making reference to FIG. 3,
rocking member 52 has an upper surface 52a which is substantially
flat and a bottom surface 52b which is arcuate at the intermediate
portion between its end portions 52c, 52d, which are substantially
parallel to bottom surface 52a. This parallel arrangement is
preferred but not required to obtain the advantages of the
invention. Arcuate surface 52b is configured to engage a support
surface, such as a floor, and permit rocking when the anti-rocking
assemblies 53 are collapsed into the rocking member as will now be
described.
[0021] Each end 52c, 52d of rocking member 52 defines a hollow
recess for respectively receiving a pivotally mounted anti-rocking
assembly 53. Anti-rocking assembly 53 is comprised of a hollow
rectangular shaped housing 53a having an open side. A pushbutton
53d having a substantially U-shaped cross section is slideably
mounted within the opening of housing 53a. A spring (not shown) has
one end thereof secured within the hollow interior of push button
53d and the opposite end thereof pressing against the interior
surface of housing 53a when pushbutton 53d is mounted therein.
Preferably, the spring is normally under compression. Pushbutton
53d has a pair of circular-shaped projections 53e-53f extending
outwardly from side 53d-1 and a similar pair of projections 53g-53h
extending outwardly from side 53d-2. Projections 53e and 53f are
slideably received within a pair of elongated slots 53a-1 and 53a-2
provided in a sidewall of housing 53a and a similar pair of slots
53a-1 and 53a-2 in another sidewall of housing 53a. The projections
in pushbutton 53d cooperate with the slots 53a-1 and 53a-2 to limit
the range of movement of pushbutton 53d. A pin P or other suitable
fastener extends through an opening (not shown) in the rear wall of
housing 53a as well as extending through the openings 52e-52f
provided in the sidewalls forming the recess 52d to pivotally mount
the anti-rocking assembly within the rocking member 52.
[0022] The operation of the anti-rocking assembly 53 is as
follows:
[0023] With the anti-rocking assembly in the erect position shown
in FIGS. 3, 6, 7, and 9 the aforementioned coil spring urges push
button 53d to extend outwardly and away from the housing 53a and
into notch 52g of rocking member 52 to prevent rocking. The free
end surfaces S of the anti-rocking assemblies 53 are spaced a
distance D (FIGS. 6 and 9) from the underside of support board 51
which is substantially equal to the distance of the center point Cp
of arcuate surface 52b from the underside of board 51 so that when
the anti-rocking members are in the position shown in FIG. 3 the
board 51 is prevented from rocking by making the line L extending
between the surfaces S substantially tangential to the center point
Cp of arcuate surface 52b. The board 51 is thus prevented from
rocking while the rocking member nevertheless provides support at
the center point Cp, together with the anti-rocking assemblies,
which serve as support legs.
[0024] By pressing the button 53d inwardly by a distance sufficient
to clear the notch 52g, the anti-rocking assemblies may be pivoted
within the recess 52d, as shown in FIG. 9, thereby enabling the
support board 51 to be rocked.
[0025] If desired, a "half-rocking" condition may be achieved by
folding the assemblies 53 on only one side.
[0026] The anti-rocking assemblies are moved from the collapsed
position to the extended position by applying a downward force
(such as finger pressure) in the region R as shown in FIG. 7.
[0027] An alternative anti-rocking assembly is shown in FIG. 10
wherein a toggle switch locking device 100, similar to that
employed for raising and lowering the casters and shown in detail
in co-pending application Ser. No. 10/103,580, may be employed to
raise and lower the anti-rocking assemblies.
[0028] Rocking members 52 and 54 are each further provided with a
pair of mounting members for releasably mounting the bassinet to
the support frame. These members are, in one embodiment, identical
in design and function. For purposes of simplicity, one such pair
of mounting members will be described. Rocking member 52 shown in
FIG. 4 is provided with a pair of mounting brackets B1 and B2
integrally joined thereto. The brackets are substantially U-shaped
and are each comprised of arms A1 and A2 joined to one another by a
center portion C. Arms A1 are integrally joined to the rocking
member 52. Making reference to FIG. 5, the inner surfaces of arms
A1 and A2 are provided with projections which extend toward one
another and are defined by two arcuate concave surfaces S1, S2
which meet at a mid-point P1. Sides A2 have similar concave
surfaces S3 and S4 which meet at a mid-point P2.
[0029] Brackets B1 and B2, for example, are mounted upon
cross-piece 37 by placing the open ends of the U-shaped brackets
above cross piece 37 as shown in FIG. 5. As the board 51 is pressed
downwardly, arm A2, which is flexible, moves away from arm A1 as
the cross rail 37 moves between the points P1 and P2. When the
cross piece 37 clears points P1 and P2, arm A2 snaps inwardly,
securing the brackets B1 and B2 to the cross rail. Preferably, the
brackets of one of the rocker members are inserted onto one of the
cross rails and thereafter the second member is mounted in a
similar fashion, using the mounted set as a pivot about which the
board 51 is swung. The length of the rocking members 52-53 is
slightly less than the distance between the inner surfaces of the
brackets 31 and 32, enabling the rocker members to fit
therebetween.
[0030] As an alternative to the mounting brackets described
hereinabove, one set of the mounting brackets may be aligned so
that their arms extend horizontally and so that the center piece C
is integrally joined to the rocker member. The rocker member having
these horizontally oriented arms is then mounted first by tilting
the support board 52 by an amount sufficient to align the open ends
of the brackets having the horizontally aligned arms with the cross
rail, such as cross rail 37. When these brackets are snapped into
place, the support board may then be swung downwardly using the
connected end as a pivot to lock the vertically aligned arms of the
remaining rocker member with the remaining cross rail 38.
[0031] As a further alternative, a pair of spaced mounting brackets
B1' and B2' may be pivotally mounted to one of the rocker members.
The brackets in the remaining rocker member, which may be similar
to the brackets described hereinabove, are integrally joined to the
rocker arm and have either horizontally or vertically extending
sidewalls. These brackets are mounted first to one of the cross
rails and the support board is then swung downwardly using the
mounting cross rail of pivot, whereupon the pivotally mounted
brackets swing to a vertical position to lock the bassinet to the
support frame.
[0032] FIGS. 11 through 14 show another alternative embodiment of
the present invention wherein the bassinet 50, shown mounted to the
frame 20, is provided with a pair of rocking members 60 and 62
which are preferably hollow tubular members formed either of metal
or plastic. The intermediate portions of the members 60 and 62 are
smoothly arcuate. The ends are bent substantially at a right angle
and are pivotally mounted within brackets 61a, 61b and 63a, and
63b. The brackets are provided with a snap-fitting arrangement
which locks the rocker members 60 and 62 in the upright or rocking
position shown in FIG. 6, as well as the folded down position,
shown in FIG. 12.
[0033] The underside of board 51 is further provided with two pairs
of mounting brackets B1 and B2 having bifurcated arms which extend
in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of board 51 and
are configured in a manner similar to those shown in FIG. 5 for
snap-fittingly locking the bassinet 50 to cross-piece 38.
[0034] A bracket 64 is provided with an elongated recess 64a having
a curved bottom which conforms to the shape of tubular member 37. A
locking member 65 is pivotally mounted to bracket 64 by a suitable
pivot pin and is movable between a locking position shown in FIGS.
11 and 12 and an open position which, though not shown, it should
be understood that locking arm 65 is rotated either clockwise or
counterclockwise through a one-quarter turn so as to be displaced
from the elongated groove 64a.
[0035] The bassinet 50 is mounted in a manner similar to that
described hereinabove, namely the brackets B1 and B2 are aligned
with cross-piece 38 and snap-fitted thereto. The bassinet is then
swung down to a position where it receives cross rail 37 within
groove 64a. The locking arm 65 is then rotated from the open
position through a quarter turn to cooperate with recess 64a to
embrace tubular member 37.
[0036] When the bassinet 50 of FIG. 11 is removed from the support
frame 20 and the rocking members, 60, 62 are moved to the upright
position shown in FIG. 11, the bassinet may be rocked.
[0037] When it is desired to use the bassinet without the rocking
feature, the rocker members 60 and 62 are swung to their fold-down
positions shown in FIG. 12 whereupon the bassinet is supported by
brackets B1 and B2 and locking bracket 64. The length of locking
bracket 64 may be increased, if desired, in order to increase the
stability of the bassinet when supported by the brackets B1, B2 and
64. Alternatively a pair of legs L1 and L2 may be fixably mounted
to the underside of board 51 to further enhance the stability of
the bassinet when it is separated from the support frame 20 and is
being used with the rocking members folded down.
[0038] It should be understood that the infant receiving portion
may take any desired form so long it has a bottom or support board,
such as a board 51 shown in FIGS. 1 and 11, which will support the
weight of the infant and the desired supports.
[0039] FIGS. 11 and 12 show one form of bassinet structure which
may include a substantially oval shaped frame 70 supported on
opposite longitudinal sides of the board 51 by supports S mounted
at one end to opposite longitudinal sides of the board and at their
opposite ends to the oval-shaped frame 70. A pair of canopy
brackets CB are mounted on opposite sides of frame 70 (only one
being shown in FIG. 12) to support and swingably mount a pair of
gussets G1, G2 which are typically covered with a fabric (not
shown) serving as a canopy which may either be set up or folded
down. The oval-shaped frame 70 is likewise covered in a suitable
fabric (not shown) in a similar fashion, one example being shown in
the aforementioned co-pending application Ser. No. 10/103,580.
* * * * *