U.S. patent application number 11/362264 was filed with the patent office on 2006-09-21 for child containment structure with ventilation panel.
This patent application is currently assigned to Graco Children's Products Inc.. Invention is credited to Cindy Berkey, Joshua E. Clapper, Jon J. DeHart, Jonathan M. Pacella.
Application Number | 20060207023 11/362264 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46301077 |
Filed Date | 2006-09-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060207023 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
DeHart; Jon J. ; et
al. |
September 21, 2006 |
Child containment structure with ventilation panel
Abstract
A child containment structure includes a floor and a sidewall
connected to the floor and defining a unitary structure with the
floor. The sidewall includes at least one side panel formed at
least partially of an air-restricting material and at least one
ventilation panel positioned between the floor and the side panel.
The ventilation panel has a maximum height smaller than that of the
side panel, and the ventilation panel permits air flow between an
interior of the containment structure and an exterior of the
containment structure along a sleeping surface of the child
containment structure.
Inventors: |
DeHart; Jon J.; (West Lawn,
PA) ; Pacella; Jonathan M.; (Coatesville, PA)
; Clapper; Joshua E.; (King of Prussia, PA) ;
Berkey; Cindy; (Honey Brook, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LEMPIA IP GROUP, LLC
223 WEST JACKSON BLVD.
SUITE 1100, BROOKS BLDG.
CHICAGO
IL
60606
US
|
Assignee: |
Graco Children's Products
Inc.
Exton
PA
|
Family ID: |
46301077 |
Appl. No.: |
11/362264 |
Filed: |
February 24, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10808597 |
Mar 25, 2004 |
7003821 |
|
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11362264 |
Feb 24, 2006 |
|
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|
29185439 |
Jun 30, 2003 |
D500213 |
|
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10808597 |
Mar 25, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
5/98.1 ;
5/93.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47D 13/06 20130101;
A47D 7/04 20130101; A47D 5/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
005/098.1 ;
005/093.1 |
International
Class: |
A47D 7/00 20060101
A47D007/00 |
Claims
1-17. (canceled)
18. A child containment structure comprising: a frame having a
lower end and an upper end; a play surface arranged and supported
generally horizontally near the lower end of the frame; an
upstanding sidewall supported by the frame and extending upward
from a perimeter of the play surface; and a removable bassinet
supported by the upper end of the frame and including a sleep
surface supported above and spaced upward from the play surface and
a bassinet sidewall extending upward from a perimeter of the sleep
surface, the bassinet sidewall spaced inward from the upstanding
sidewall of the containment structure, wherein a vented part of the
bassinet sidewall is formed of a ventilation material which can
permit air to pass therethrough, the vented part extending
vertically upward from the sleep surface to a height less than a
full height of the bassinet sidewall.
19. A child containment structure according to claim 18, wherein
the bassinet is suspended from the upper end of the frame structure
and can be readily lifted upward for removal.
20. A child containment structure according to claim 18, wherein
the vented part extends only partly around the periphery of the
bassinet sidewall.
21. A child containment structure according to claim 18, wherein
the vented part extends around the entire periphery of the bassinet
sidewall.
22. A child containment structure according to claim 18, wherein
the upstanding sidewall and the bassinet sidewall each have four
sides arranged in a rectangular peripheral shape.
23. A child containment structure according to claim 22, wherein
each side of the upstanding sidewalls bows outward between the
upper end and the lower end of the frame structure.
24. A child containment structure according to claim 22, wherein
the vented part extends an entire length of at least one of the
four sides of the peripheral sidewall.
25. A child containment structure according to claim 22, wherein a
vented part is provided on each of the four sides of the upstanding
sidewall.
26. A child containment structure according to claim 18, further
comprising a second vented part in the upstanding sidewall and
extending vertically upward a distance less than a full height of
the upstanding sidewall.
27. A child containment structure according to claim 26, wherein
the second vented part extends upward in the upstanding sidewall
from the position of the play surface.
28. A child containment structure according to claim 26, further
comprising a movable flap positioned adjacent the second vented
part and movable between a closed position covering the second
vented part and an open position not covering the second vented
part.
29. A child containment structure comprising: a frame structure
having a lower end and an upper end; a horizontally arranged floor
surface positioned near a lower end of the frame structure; an
upstanding sidewall extending around a perimeter of the floor; at
least one vented part provided in the upstanding sidewall and
positioned adjacent the floor, the vented part formed of a material
permitting air flow therethrough; and a movable flap rearrangeable
between an open position not covering the at least one vented part
and a closed position covering the at least one vented part to
prevent air flow therethrough.
30. A child containment structure according to claim 29, wherein
the vented panel is positioned with a bottom end at a level of the
floor surface.
31. A child containment structure according to claim 29, wherein
the upstanding sidewall has four sides arranged to form a
rectangular periphery around the floor.
32. A child containment structure according to claim 31, further
comprising a plurality of the vented parts, one positioned in each
of four corners formed between adjacent sides of the upstanding
sidewall.
33. A child containment structure according to claim 31, further
comprising at least four vented parts, one positioned in each of
four corners formed between adjacent sides of the upstanding
sidewall, and each vented part positioned with a bottom end at a
level of the floor surface.
34. A child containment structure according to claim 29, further
comprising a plurality of the ventilation panels and flaps.
35. A child containment structure according to claim 29, further
including a removable bassinet supported by the upper end of the
frame structure, the bassinet comprising: a sleep surface
positioned above and spaced upward from the floor surface; a
bassinet sidewall extending upward from a perimeter of the sleep
surface, the bassinet sidewall spaced inward from the upstanding
sidewall of the containment structure; and a ventilation part in
the bassinet sidewall formed of a ventilation material which can
permit air to pass therethrough, the ventilation part extending
vertically upward from the sleep surface to a height less than a
full height of the bassinet sidewall.
36. A child containment structure according to claim 35, wherein
the bassinet sidewall has four sides and the upstanding sidewall
has four sides, each of the bassinet and upstanding sidewalls being
arranged to form a rectangular periphery, and wherein each side of
the bassinet sidewall has a ventilation part.
37. A child containment structure according to claim 36, wherein
each side of the upstanding sidewall is bowed outward between the
upper end and lower end of the frame structure.
Description
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of design
Application No. 29/185,439, filed Jun. 30, 2003, which is
incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to a child containment structure.
More specifically, this invention relates to a child containment
structure with a ventilation panel to allow passage of air between
an interior of the containment structure and an exterior of the
containment structure along the child sleeping surface.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Child containment structures, such as cribs, bassinets, and
playards, provide a safe environment in which a child can rest
and/or play. Adequate air circulation along the child sleeping
surface is desirable to promote safe and comfortable sleeping.
There is a need in the art for an improved child containment
structure to promote the passage of air across the child sleeping
surface.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] 004 An aspect of the invention relates to a child
containment structure that comprises a floor and a sidewall
connected to the floor and defining a unitary structure with the
floor. The sidewall includes at least one side panel formed at
least partially of an air-restricting material and at least one
ventilation panel positioned between the floor and the side panel.
The ventilation panel has a maximum height smaller than that of the
side panel, and the ventilation panel permits air flow between an
interior of the containment structure and an exterior of the
containment structure along a sleeping surface of the child
containment structure.
[0005] According to another aspect of the invention, a child
containment structure comprises a floor, a sidewall including at
least one padded side panel, and at least one ventilation panel
positioned between the floor and the side panel to define a unitary
structure. The ventilation panel permits air flow between an
interior of the containment structure and an exterior of the
containment structure along a sleeping surface of the child
containment structure.
[0006] 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
[0007] 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.
[0008] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a bassinet that includes
a ventilation panel according to an embodiment of the invention
mounted to a playard.
[0009] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the bassinet and playard of
FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the bassinet of FIG.
1.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a partially exploded, top perspective view of an
alternative bassinet that includes a ventilation panel according to
an embodiment of the invention.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the bassinet of FIG. 4,
with a portion of the outer skirt of the bassinet cover cut away to
make the ventilation panel visible.
[0013] FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of an alternative playard
that includes a ventilation panel according to an embodiment of the
invention.
[0014] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a portion of the playard of
FIG. 6, taken from inside of the playard.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0015] Reference will now be made in detail to presently preferred
embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in
the accompanying drawings. An effort has been made to use the same
reference numbers throughout the drawings to refer to the same or
like parts.
[0016] Child containment structures, such as cribs, bassinets, and
playards, provide a safe environment in which a child can rest
and/or play. It is important in such child containment structures
that adequate air flow be provided across the sleeping surface of
the structure. In the past, adequate air flow was achieved by
including all-mesh sidewalls in the structure. The child
containment structure of the present invention includes a floor, a
sidewall, and a ventilation panel as part of the sidewall,
strategically located between the side panel of the sidewall and
the floor so that adequate air flow occurs between an interior of
the containment structure and an exterior of the containment
structure along a surface of the floor. The ventilation panel can
be dimensioned so that it is substantially level with a child's
head when the child is lying down in the child containment
structure.
[0017] Because the child containment structure includes a
ventilation panel, the side panel of the sidewall can be made of a
more comfortable and more protective fabric material than mesh,
even if that material is an air-restricting material. For example,
a bassinet designed to be mounted to a playard, as shown in FIG. 1,
can include a side panel formed of a quilted material, similar to
bumper pad material for a standard crib. As another example, a
ventilation panel can be incorporated into the sidewall of a
free-standing bassinet, such as that shown in FIGS. 4-5 and that
disclosed in co-pending application Ser. No. ______, filed Mar. 25,
2004 in the name of Joshua E. Clapper et al. and entitled BASSINET
AND CHANGING TABLE ASSEMBLY, which is incorporated by reference
herein in its entirety. The free-standing bassinet has soft
comfortable side panel material. Further, a playard for outdoor use
having a water-protective floor can include a ventilation panel at
its lower corners, both for ensuring adequate air flow where the
side panels meet and for water drainage in the event of inclement
weather.
[0018] FIGS. 1-3 show an embodiment of a child containment
structure in accordance with the invention. The child containment
structure of this embodiment is a bassinet 100 that is mounted to a
playard 200. The playard 200 is shown in dashed line in FIG. 1 for
ease of understanding of the bassinet structure. The bassinet 100
includes a floor 110, shown best in FIG. 2, and a sidewall 120
connected to the floor 110 to define a unitary structure with the
floor 110. The floor 110 can be planar, or it can curve upward at
its edges to join sidewall 120. The floor 110 can be formed of a
mesh material, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, or it can be formed of any
other suitable material, such as nylon, polyester, a poly nylon
blend, and cotton. A mattress pad 130 can be positioned above the
floor 110 of the bassinet 100 to provide a comfortable
sleeping/playing surface for the child. A fitted sheet can be
placed over the mattress pad 130 for additional comfort.
Alternatively, the floor 110 itself can include padding to provide
a cushioned sleeping/playing surface.
[0019] The sidewall 120 of this embodiment includes four side
panels 122A, 122B, 122C, 122D arranged in a rectangular shape. The
side panels 122A, 122B, 122C, 122D of this embodiment are formed of
quilted padding. In other embodiments, the side panels 122A, 122B,
122C, 122D can be formed of nylon, polyester, a poly nylon blend,
cotton, Lycra.RTM., or other materials that provide a comfortable,
protective environment for the child. Side panels 122A, 122C
additionally include a ventilation panel 124 positioned between the
floor 110 and the respective side panels 122A, 122C. The
ventilation panels 124 each have a maximum height H1 smaller than
the maximum height H2 of their respective side panel 122A, 122C, as
seen in FIG. 3. In addition, the side panels 122A, 122B, 122C, 122D
are formed at least partially of an air-restricting material by
comparison to the material of the ventilation panels 124. In this
regard, the ventilation panels 124 permit air flow between an
interior of the bassinet 100 and an exterior of the bassinet 110
along an upper surface 114 of the floor 110.
[0020] The ventilation panels 124 can be made of a mesh material, a
breathable fabric with a high air flow rate, a perforated rigid
material, or any other material that enables sufficient air flow
between the interior and the exterior of the bassinet 100. A child
lying close to side panels 122A, 122C of the bassinet 100 will have
fresh air circulation through the ventilation panels 124 and, thus,
will not re-breathe its own expelled air. The ventilation panels
124 provide a comfortable and safe sleeping environment, while
enabling use of more versatile side panel material than mesh, such
as warmer, softer, and/or darker, light-blocking materials.
[0021] As can be seen in FIG. 3, the ventilation panel 124 extends
above the upper surface 132 of the mattress pad 130. The
ventilation panel 124 can extend, for example, about 1 inch above
the pad's upper surface 132.
[0022] Various alternatives to the bassinet embodiment illustrated
in FIGS. 1-3 are contemplated. It will be understood that in other
embodiments of bassinet 100, the sidewall 120 may have more than
four, or fewer than four, side panels. For example, the sidewall
120 may be oval in shape and, hence, have only a single side panel,
unbroken by a corner joint. It will also be understood that fewer
or more side panels than shown in FIGS. 1-3 can include ventilation
panels 124. For example, only one or all of the side panels can
include respective ventilation panels 124. Further, although the
ventilation panels 124 are shown as single continuous strips
extending along the entire length of respective side panels 122A,
122C in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, other shapes and
configurations of segments 124 are envisioned. For example, the
single continuous strip may be divided into adjacent segments of
ventilation material by nylon or some other air-restricting
material, effectively resulting in more than one ventilation panel
positioned between the floor and the respective side panel. In
addition, the ventilation panels 124 may have a shape that varies
along the length of the side panel; for example, the upper edge of
the segment may curve or undulate. In the latter example, the
height of the ventilation panel 124 would vary along its length,
but the maximum height of the ventilation panel still would be
smaller than a minimum height of the side panel.
[0023] In addition to the above features, the bassinet 100 can
include mounting fixture to mount the bassinet 100 to the playard
200. These mounting fixtures can include curved, plastic brackets
140 that suspend the bassinet 100 from the top rails 210 of the
playard. The mounting fixtures also can include rods 150 that
extend through sleeves 160 at opposite ends of the bassinet 100.
The rods 150 can fit into pockets molded into the playard frame.
These mounting fixtures are exemplary only; other suitable mounting
fixture may be integrated into the bassinet and/or playard to
facilitate mounting the bassinet to the playard.
[0024] Further, the bassinet 100 also can include straps 112 of
webbing extending across the width of the ventilation panel 124 and
the floor 100, on an exterior of the bassinet 100, to lend
additional structural stability to the floor 110.
[0025] Although the bassinet 100 shown in FIGS. 1-3 extends the
entire length of the playard 200, it will be understood that, in
other embodiments, the bassinet may be dimensioned to extend less
than the entire length of the playard, for example, three quarters
the length of the playard.
[0026] Ventilation panels can be employed in child containment
structures other than bassinets for use with playards. FIGS. 4-5
show a free-standing bassinet 300 that includes a fabric bassinet
cover 302 and a bassinet frame 304 (obscured in FIG. 4 by the
bassinet cover). An example of such a bassinet is disclosed in
co-pending application Ser. No. ______, filed Mar. 25, 2004 in the
name of Joshua E. Clapper and entitled CHILD SLEEPING ASSEMBLY WITH
INCLINABLE SLEEPING SURFACE, which is incorporated by reference
herein in its entirety; as described, the bassinet frame includes a
base 306 with an inclinable panel (not shown) to allow an end of
the bassinet sleeping surface to be elevated. The bassinet cover
302, which is configured to provide a child containment structure
when mounted to the frame, has a floor 310 and a sidewall 320
connected to the floor 312 to define a unitary structure with the
floor 310. The sidewall 320 includes a single, oval-shaped side
panel 322 formed of an air-restricting material. The sidewall 320
also includes a ventilation panel 324 positioned between the floor
310 and the side panel 322. The ventilation panel 324 of this
bassinet embodiment is continuous, extending around the entire
sidewall 320 of the bassinet 300. The height of the ventilation
panel 324 varies along its length. That is, the ventilation panel
324 gradually increases in height as the segment 324 approaches one
end of the bassinet 300, shown as the right end in FIG. 5.
[0027] The increase in height of the ventilation panel 324 can be
advantageous. If a child caregiver wants to raise the bassinet
mattress pad 330 to help a child breathe easier, the child
caregiver can adjust the pad at the end of the bassinet where the
ventilation panel 324 increases in height and still preserve the
air flow across the upper surface of the mattress pad 330. In the
raised condition, the upper surface of the mattress pad 330 can
remain below the upper edge of the ventilation panel 324 so that
air can pass freely between the interior and the exterior of the
bassinet along the upper surface of the mattress pad 330.
[0028] The alternatives discussed above in connection with the
structure of the bassinet of FIGS. 1-3, such as the number of side
panels and the segmenting of the ventilation panel, apply to the
bassinet of FIGS. 4-5 as well.
[0029] In addition to the above-described structural features of
the bassinet 300, the bassinet cover 302 can include an outer skirt
304 (partially cut-away in FIG. 5). The outer skirt 302 can extend
down from an upper edge of the bassinet 300 to the ventilation
panel 324, and even beyond the ventilation panel 324; however, the
outer skirt 304 is designed to remain spaced from the ventilation
panel 324 so that air flow between the interior and the exterior of
the bassinet 300 through the ventilation panel 324 is not
restricted. The bassinet 300 also can include a collapsible canopy
308.
[0030] FIGS. 6-7 show a playard 400 that includes a frame 402 (a
representative frame leg is labeled in FIG. 6), a floor 410, and a
sidewall 420 having side panels 422 and ventilation panels 424. An
exemplary frame 402 for playard 400 is described in co-pending
application Ser. No. 10/446,132, filed May 28, 2003, which is
incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The sidewall 420
is connected to the floor 410 and defines a unitary structure with
the floor 410. Adjacent side panels 422 form corners 426, and
ventilation panels 424 are located at each corner 426 between the
adjacent side panels 422 and the floor 410. The ventilation panels
424 permit air flow between an interior of the playard 400 and an
exterior of the playard along the sleeping (or playing) surface of
the playard 400. The sleeping surface can be provided by an upper
surface of a mattress pad (not shown) placed on the floor 410 or by
the floor 410 itself. If the playard 400 is used outdoors, the
ventilation panels 424 also serve as a drainage site for any water
that enters an interior of the playard 400. In this regard, the
floor 410 can be formed of a water-resistant material, and it can
be slightly raised at its center so that any water captured in the
interior of the playard 400 flows toward the corner ventilation
panels 424.
[0031] The side panels 422 themselves can be formed of mesh, nylon,
a combination of mesh and nylon, as seen in FIGS. 5-6, or any other
suitable material. The presence of the ventilation panels 424
enables use of more versatile materials for the side panels 422.
For example, the side panels 422 can be formed of a heavier,
sturdier, and/or air-restricting material to guard against rough
surfaces, wind, water, and sun.
[0032] The playard 400 also can include flaps 428 positioned on the
exterior of the sidewall 420 to cover each corner ventilation panel
424. These flaps 428 can serve to keep sand or small debris from
blowing into the interior of the playard 400 through the corner
ventilation panels 424. Although FIG. 6 illustrates one flap 428
rotated up relative to the floor of the playard 400, the flaps 428
extend downward from their connection points to the sidewall 420.
In addition, the flaps 428 can be secured to the feet of the
respective frame legs by straps, for example, straps of webbing as
shown in FIG. 6 (see rightmost and leftmost flaps), to maintain the
flaps 428 slightly spaced from the corner ventilation panels 424,
thereby promoting air flow through the panels 424.
[0033] The preferred embodiments have been set forth herein for the
purpose of illustration. This description, however, should not be
deemed to be a limitation on the scope of the invention. Various
modifications, adaptations, and alternatives may occur to one
skilled in the art without departing from the claimed inventive
concept. The true scope and spirit of the invention are indicated
by the following claims.
* * * * *