U.S. patent application number 11/326446 was filed with the patent office on 2006-08-10 for collapsible base frame for playyard.
This patent application is currently assigned to Link Treasure Limited. Invention is credited to Cheng-Fan Yang.
Application Number | 20060174406 11/326446 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36010684 |
Filed Date | 2006-08-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060174406 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yang; Cheng-Fan |
August 10, 2006 |
Collapsible base frame for playyard
Abstract
A collapsible base frame for playyard, comprising a control
device pivotally connected between a first lower frame assembly and
a second lower frame assembly. The control device including a joint
having a push-button for controlling a positioner to precisely and
accurately manipulate the first and second lower frame assembly
between an erected state and a folded state.
Inventors: |
Yang; Cheng-Fan; (Tainan
County, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Assignee: |
Link Treasure Limited
|
Family ID: |
36010684 |
Appl. No.: |
11/326446 |
Filed: |
January 6, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
5/99.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47D 13/063
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
005/099.1 |
International
Class: |
A47C 7/00 20060101
A47C007/00; A47D 13/06 20060101 A47D013/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 21, 2005 |
TW |
094201225 |
Claims
1. A collapsible base frame for playyard that is convertible
between an erected and a collapsed configuration, comprising a
first lower frame assembly pivotally coupled to lower end of the
foldable frame on one side; a second lower frame assembly pivotally
coupled to lower end of the foldable frame on another side; a
control device pivotally connected between the first lower frame
assembly and the second lower frame assembly, including a joint,
wherein the joint comprises a pair of sleeves, a positioner, a
push-button and a spring; while the collapsible base frame is
converting to the erected configuration, the positioner is
maintained by the spring between the pair of sleeves to keep the
collapsible base frame in the erected configuration; and while the
collapsible base frame is converting to the collapsed
configuration, the push-button is pushed to force positioner to
enter one side of the pair of sleeves, allowing the first lower
frame assembly and second lower frame assembly to be folded.
2. The collapsible base frame for playyard according to claim 1,
wherein the foldable frame is further comprising a foldable upper
frame assembly and an upright post, and wherein the upright post is
connected between the upper frame assembly and the lower frame
assembly.
3. The collapsible base frame for playyard according to claim 1,
wherein the first and second lower frame assembly are further
comprising a pair of connecting rods and a connecting base
respectively; and wherein one end of the pair of the connecting rod
is pivotally connected to one side of the foldable frame, and the
other end of the connecting rod is pivotally coupled to the
connecting base.
4. The collapsible base frame for playyard according to claim 1,
wherein the first and the second lower frame assembly are pivotally
connected to a supporting rod respectively.
5. The collapsible base frame for playyard according to claim 1,
wherein the collapsible base frame includes a pair of connecting
rods, which is connected between the joint, the first and the
second lower frame assembly.
6. The collapsible base frame for playyard according to claim 1,
wherein the pair of sleeves include a locking groove for
accommodating the positioner; while the collapsible base frame is
converting to the erected state, the positioner is kept in a
position between the pair of sleeves and biased by a spring to
inhibet the sleeves from rotation, thereby to keep the collapsible
base frame and the lower frame assembly in an unfolded state.
7. The collapsible base frame for playyard according to claim 6,
wherein the push-button is positioned on the other side of the
positioner, and wherein the positioner can be pushed by the
push-button to enter the locking groove, thus is allowing the pair
of the sleeves to be rotatable relatively to each other, and then
the lower frame assembly and the collapsible base frame are both to
be converted to a collapsible state, and are foldable carrying by
linkage with each other.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a collapsible base frame
for playyard, in particular to the collapsible base frame which is
pivotally connected to the playyard, and whereby forcing the
foldable frame in an erected or in a folded state by the joint.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Playyard is better provided with a roomy accommodation for
comforting the baby is placed inside the playyard. Nevertheless,
the roomy accommodation would take too much space for storage. In
order to overcome this problem, the current design tends to use a
foldable frame for the playyard.
[0003] The configuration of the collapsible base frame for playyard
basically consists of four panels and a base. As the playyard being
collapsed, the rails of the panels are folded by the joint and
closed up to the posts of the playyard. This well developed
technology is as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,811,437 and
5,697,111 to Dillner et al; besides, in order to fold the entire
frame of the playyard, the lower frame assembly is provided with a
foldable structure, whereby the entire frame is foldable controlled
by the lower frame assembly which is in either a locked or a
released condition. For example, the U.S. Publication No.
2003/0061657A1 includes a base which is connected to lower
supporting rods; the lower supporting rods are relatively confined
by a pair of locking members to be in an erected state fixedly. The
pair of locking members link respectively to a piece of cord, and
the locking members can be pulled by a band at the same time,
therefore releasing the supporting rod to be in a folded state.
[0004] However, as the structure mentioned above, the pair of
locking members are moved by pulling a band which links to a cord.
The supporting rod is released by pulling the pair of locking
member via the cord. The pair of locking members should be pulled
at the same time through a band in a straight upward direction, or
only one locking member can be released since the user pulls the
band in a slanting angle. The supporting rods are not released
completely if only one locking member is moved and leads the
disadvantages of failing to fold properly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention is directed to a collapsible base
frame for playyard that substantially obviate the problems of the
related art due to the inconvenience of using a band or a handle to
simultaneously pull a pair of detached locking members, or the
disadvantages of incompletely fold by releasing only one locking
member since the user pulls the band in a slanting angle.
[0006] The present invention is providing an improved lower frame
assembly which can be folded accordingly; wherein the lower frame
assembly having a control device disposed between the first and the
second lower frame assembly; the control device includes a joint,
whereby a push-button can manipulate the first and the second lower
frame assembly to selectively be in an erected or folded state in
order to achieve the goal of being unfolded and collapsed
completely.
[0007] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description are exemplary
and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as
claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several
embodiments of the invention and, together with the description,
serve to explain the principles of the invention.
[0009] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the foldable frame of
the playyard.
[0010] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the joint.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view shown the joint in an
erected state.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view shown the joint in a folded
state.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a schematic view shown the playyard is converting
to a collapsible state.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a schematic view shown the playyard is converting
into a collapsed state.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0015] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a collapsible base frame
for a playyard according to the preferred embodiment of the present
invention, wherein said playyard includes a upper frame assembly 3
and a lower frame assembly 4.
[0016] The upper frame assembly 3 consists of 4 upper corner
housings 31 and a pair of upper rail assemblies 32, wherein said
upper corner housings 31 are respectively arranged at four corners
of the playyard (for triangle playyard would be of three corners)
and pivoted to the upper rail assemblies 32 respectively; the upper
rail assemblies consists of a pair of rails 321 and a lock assembly
322, whereby the lock assembly 322 extends the rails 321 in
alignment in an unfolded state (as shown in FIG. 1) and folds in a
V-shape folded state.
[0017] The lower frame assembly 4 includes a first lower frame
assembly 41 and a second lower frame assembly 42, wherein the first
and second lower frame assembly 41 and 42 are provided with a lower
corner base 43 in one end. The lower corner base 43 is opposite
below the upper corner housing 31. An upright post 5 is connected
between the upper corner housing 31 and the lower corner base
43.
[0018] The first lower frame assembly 41 is connected to lower end
of the upright post 5 to one side of the playyard. In accordance
with the present invention, the first lower frame assembly 41
includes a pair of connecting rods 411 and a connecting base 412,
wherein one end of one side of the pair of connecting rods 411 are
each pivotally coupled to the lower corner bases 43, and the other
ends are pivotally coupled together to the connecting base 412,
therefore the lower frame assembly 41 is in a general V-shaped
configuration. As shown in this invention additionally, a first
supporting rod 413 is pivotally coupled to one side of the
connecting rod 411 and support the playyard over the ground.
[0019] The second lower frame assembly 42 is connected to lower end
of the upright post 5 to the other side of the palyyard. According
to this invention, the second lower frame assembly 42 is in the
same configuration of the first lower frame assembly, which
includes a pair of connecting rods 421 and a connecting base 422,
wherein one end of one side of the pair of connecting rod 421 are
pivotally coupled to the lower corner bases 43, and the other ends
are pivotally coupled together to the connecting base 422,
therefore the second lower frame assembly is in a general V-shaped
configuration. As shown in this invention additionally, a first
supporting rod 423 is connected to one side of connecting rod
421.
[0020] Referring now to FIG. 2, 3 and 4, wherein the control device
6 is pivotally connected between the first and second lower frame
assembly 41, 42. The collapsible base frame includes a pair of
connecting rods 61, a joint 62 and a pair of second supporting rod
63. The connecting rod 61 is coupled to and between the first lower
frame assembly 41, second lower frame assembly 42 and the joint
62.
[0021] Said joint 62 consists of a positioner 622, a push-button
623, a spring 624 and a pair of sleeves 621 which are mutual
pivotally connected and rotated relatively thereon. According to
the preferred embodiment of this invention, wherein the positioner
is a tooth block. The pair of sleeves 621 has a locking groove for
accommodating the positioner 622, and the positioner 622 is movable
inside the locking groove 625. As shown in FIG.3, the spring 624 is
arranged at one side of the positioner 622. In the normal status,
the spring 624 maintains the positioner 622 between the locking
grooves 625 of the pair of sleeves 621, and prevents the sleeves
621 from being folded by rotating. The push-button 623 is arranged
at one of the sleeves 621 and on the other side of the positioner
622. The user is able to press the push-button 623 and forces the
positioner 622 to move into the locking groove 625 of the other
sleeve 621, whereby the sleeves are rotated as shown in FIG.4 in a
collapsible state.
[0022] As shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 5, when the foldable frame 2 is
fully extended, and the positioner 622 of the joint 62 on the lower
frame assembly 4 is located inside the locking groove 625 of the
pair of sleeves 621. As the entire collapsible base frame 6 is in a
fixed state, the foldable frame 2 is also erected fixedly. When the
user tends to fold the foldable frame 2, the push-button 623 is
being pushed in order to push the positioner 622 to enter the
locking groove 625 of the other sleeve 621. As the joint 62 is
being folded by rotating, the first and second lower frame assembly
41, 42 are being interlinked and rotated; therefore the lower frame
assembly 4 is being able to fold upwardly as shown as FIG. 6.
[0023] While the invention has been described by way of example and
in terms of preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the
invention is not limited thereto. On the contrary, it is intended
to cover various modifications and similar arrangements and
procedures, and the scope of the appended claims therefore should
be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such
modifications and similar arrangements and procedures.
* * * * *