U.S. patent application number 12/010531 was filed with the patent office on 2008-12-25 for protective play enclosure.
Invention is credited to Fen-Ying Lai.
Application Number | 20080314427 12/010531 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39539861 |
Filed Date | 2008-12-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080314427 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lai; Fen-Ying |
December 25, 2008 |
Protective play enclosure
Abstract
A protective play enclosure includes a frame unit, a bed unit
mounted on the frame unit, and a tent mounted on the frame unit.
The tent includes a surrounding wall and a roof member. The
surrounding wall surrounds the bed unit and cooperates with the bed
unit to confine a play chamber. The surrounding wall is formed with
at least one doorway for access into the play chamber, and at least
one window. The play chamber has an open side opposite to the bed
unit. The roof member functions to close the open side of the play
chamber.
Inventors: |
Lai; Fen-Ying; (Taichung
City, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PILLSBURY WINTHROP SHAW PITTMAN, LLP
P.O. BOX 10500
MCLEAN
VA
22102
US
|
Family ID: |
39539861 |
Appl. No.: |
12/010531 |
Filed: |
January 25, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
135/96 ;
135/117 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H 33/008 20130101;
E04H 15/006 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
135/96 ;
135/117 |
International
Class: |
E04H 15/58 20060101
E04H015/58; E04H 15/00 20060101 E04H015/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 22, 2007 |
TW |
096210140 |
Claims
1. A protective play enclosure, comprising: a frame unit; a bed
unit mounted on said frame unit; and a tent mounted on said frame
unit, said tent including a surrounding wall surrounding said bed
unit, and cooperating with said bed unit to confine a play chamber,
said surrounding wall being formed with at least one doorway for
access into said play chamber, and at least one window, said play
chamber having an open side opposite to said bed unit, and a roof
member for closing said open side of said play chamber.
2. The protective play enclosure as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said bed unit includes a flexible bed body and a plurality of
elastic anchoring components for connecting said bed body to said
frame unit.
3. The protective play enclosure as claimed in claim 2, wherein
each of said elastic anchoring components includes an elastic
strap.
4. The protective play enclosure as claimed in claim 3, wherein
each of said elastic anchoring components has a pair of strap
sections, one of said strap sections being provided with a hook,
the other of said strap sections being provided with a loop to
engage said hook so as to interconnect removably said strap
sections, thereby permitting removal of each of said elastic
anchoring components from said frame unit.
5. The protective play enclosure as claimed in claim 2, wherein
each of said elastic anchoring components includes an extension
spring.
6. The protective play enclosure as claimed in claim 2, wherein
each of said elastic anchoring components includes a hook and loop
fastening unit for attaching removably each of said elastic
anchoring components to said frame unit.
7. The protective play enclosure as claimed in claim 2, wherein
said bed unit further includes a plurality of non-elastic support
components removably attached to said frame unit and supporting
said flexible bed body thereon.
8. The protective play enclosure as claimed in claim 2, wherein
said roof member of said tent is detachably mounted on said frame
unit.
9. The protective play enclosure as claimed in claim 2, wherein
said roof member of said tent is detachably mounted on said
surrounding wall.
10. The protective play enclosure as claimed in claim 9, further
comprising a zipper for detachably mounting said roof member of
said tent on said surrounding wall.
11. The protective play enclosure as claimed in claim 9, wherein
said tent further includes a plurality of sleeves attached to said
surrounding wall for extension of said frame unit thereinto.
12. The protective play enclosure as claimed in claim 11, wherein
said tent further includes a roll-up curtain for selectively
covering and uncovering said doorway.
13. The protective play enclosure as claimed in claim 11, wherein
said tent further includes a net for covering said window.
14. The protective play enclosure as claimed in claim 11, wherein
said tent further includes a roll-up curtain for selectively
covering and uncovering said window.
15. The protective play enclosure as claimed in claim 11, further
comprising a ladder situated at said doorway of said tent.
16. The protective play enclosure as claimed in claim 11, wherein
said surrounding wall of said tent is formed with a pair of said
doorways, said protective play enclosure further comprising a
ladder situated at one of said doorways, and a slide situated at
the other of said doorways.
17. The protective play enclosure as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said bed unit includes a rigid bed body mounted on said frame
unit.
18. The protective play enclosure as claimed in claim 17, wherein
said bed unit includes a reinforcing frame mounted on an underside
of said rigid bed body.
19. The protective play enclosure as claimed in claim 17, further
comprising a play tunnel disposed between an underside of said
rigid bed body and the ground.
20. The protective play enclosure as claimed in claim 2, further
comprising a play tunnel disposed on the ground along an outer side
of said protective play enclosure.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority of Taiwanese application
no. 096210140, filed on Jun. 22, 2007.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates to a play enclosure, more
particularly to a protective play enclosure.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional trampoline 1 which
comprises a frame unit 11, a bed unit 12 mounted on the frame unit
11, and a protective fence unit 13, that is mounted on the frame
unit 11 and that surrounds the bed unit 12. The protective fence
unit 13 includes a surrounding net 131 and a protective skirt 132,
which are disposed above and below the bed unit 12, respectively.
The surrounding net 131 is formed with a doorway 133. When children
are jumping on the bed unit 12 and land too close to the boundary
of the bed unit 12, the surrounding net 131 prevents them from
falling from the trampoline 1 to the ground. However, apart from
this protective function, the surrounding net 131 is not designed
to provide other functions. Consequently, consumers may be
reluctant to pay a higher price for a product providing only one
new function.
[0006] Referring to FIG. 2, U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,743 discloses a
tent 3 that can be mounted on a trampoline 2. The trampoline 2
includes a frame unit 21 and a bed body 22 mounted on the frame
unit 21. The tent 3 is mounted on the frame unit 21, and is formed
with a doorway 31 and a plurality of windows 32. When mounted on
the trampoline 2, the tent 3 can provide a space for a user to rest
or sleep and can further provide protection against wind, rain, and
insects. However, apart from this protective function, the tent 3
is not designed to provide other functions. As noted above in the
case of the conventional trampoline with the protective fence unit,
consumers would likely be reluctant to pay a higher price for a
product providing only one new function.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide
a protective play enclosure that is capable of overcoming the
aforementioned drawback of the prior art.
[0008] According to the present invention, there is provided a
protective play enclosure that comprises a frame unit, a bed unit
mounted on the frame unit, and a tent mounted on the frame unit.
The tent includes a surrounding wall and a roof member. The
surrounding wall surrounds the bed unit and cooperates with the bed
unit to confine a play chamber. The surrounding wall is formed with
at least one doorway for access into the play chamber, and at least
one window. The play chamber has an open side opposite to the bed
unit. The roof member functions to close the open side of the play
chamber.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent in the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings,
of which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional trampoline
with a protective fence unit;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a trampoline tent disclosed
in U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,743;
[0012] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the first
preferred embodiment of a protective play enclosure according to
this invention;
[0013] FIG. 4 is an assembled perspective view of the first
preferred embodiment of a protective play enclosure according to
this invention;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a modification of the
protective play enclosure of FIG. 4, illustrating a dome-shaped
roof member;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the first
preferred embodiment of the protective play enclosure according to
this invention, illustrating a bed unit with a plurality of
non-elastic support components;
[0016] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the protective play
enclosure of FIG. 4, illustrating the protective play enclosure
with the roof member removed;
[0017] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a modification of the
protective play enclosure of FIG. 4, illustrating a tent with
roll-up curtains for windows thereof;
[0018] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of yet another modification of
the protective play enclosure of FIG. 4, illustrating the
protective play enclosure provided with a ladder and a slide;
[0019] FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of a second
preferred embodiment of a protective play enclosure according to
this invention, illustrating a bed unit mounted on a frame
unit;
[0020] FIG. 11 is a fragmentary schematic cross-sectional view of
the second preferred embodiment of the protective play enclosure
according to this invention, illustrating an elastic anchoring
component of the bed unit;
[0021] FIG. 12 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of a
modification of the second preferred embodiment of a protective
play enclosure according to this invention, illustrating a rigid
bed body and a reinforcing frame of a bed unit;
[0022] FIG. 13 is a fragmentary perspective view of the second
preferred embodiment of the protective play enclosure according to
this invention, illustrating the bed unit of FIG. 12 mounted on a
frame unit;
[0023] FIG. 14 is an assembled perspective view of the second
preferred embodiment of the protective play enclosure according to
this invention; and
[0024] FIG. 15 is an assembled perspective view of a third
preferred embodiment of the protective play enclosure according to
this invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0025] Before the present invention is described in greater detail
with reference to the preferred embodiments, it should be noted
herein that like elements are denoted by the same reference
numerals throughout the disclosure.
[0026] FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a first preferred embodiment of the
protective play enclosure 4 according to this invention. The
protective play enclosure 4 includes a frame unit 5, a bed unit 6
mounted on the frame unit 5, and a tent 7 mounted on the frame unit
5. The tent 7 includes a surrounding wall 71 and a roof member 77.
The surrounding wall 71 surrounds an upper side of the bed unit 6
and cooperates with the bed unit 6 to confine a play chamber 74.
The surrounding wall 71 is formed with a doorway 75 for access into
the play chamber 74, and a plurality of windows 76. The play
chamber 74 has an open side opposite to the bed unit 6. The roof
member 77 functions to close the open side of the play chamber
74.
[0027] Preferably, the frame unit 5 includes a circular bed frame
51 and three U-shaped leg frame members 52, which are distributed
evenly around the periphery of the bed frame 51 and which are
attached thereto.
[0028] Preferably, the bed unit 6 includes a flexible bed body 61
and a plurality of elastic anchoring components 62 for connecting
the flexible bed body 61 to the frame unit 5. In this embodiment,
each of the elastic anchoring components 62 includes an elastic
strap. The elastic straps allow the flexible bed body 61 to produce
a rebounding force in response to jumping of the user on the
flexible bed body 61. Alternatively, each elastic anchoring
component 62 could include an extension spring for producing the
rebounding force.
[0029] Preferably, the tent 7 further includes a protective skirt
72 to surround a bottom side of the bed unit 6, and a plurality of
sleeves 73 attached to the surrounding wall 71 for extension of the
leg frame members 52 of the frame unit 5 thereinto. In this
embodiment, the tent 7 further includes a roll-up curtain 751 for
selectively covering and uncovering the doorway 75, and nets 761
for covering the windows 76. It is noted herein that the numbers of
the doorway 75 and the windows 76 should not be limited to what are
shown in the drawings, and could include any number from the
minimum number of one to a plurality depending on design
requirements.
[0030] Preferably, the roof member 77 includes a covering layer 771
and a partitioning layer 772, which is disposed between the
covering layer 771 and the bed unit 6. The covering layer 771
cooperates with the partitioning layer 772 to confine a storage
space 773. The partitioning layer 772 is formed with an access
opening 774 for providing access into the storage space 773. In
this embodiment, the roof member 77 is detachably mounted on the
surrounding wall 71 with the use of a zipper or a hook-and-loop
fastener (not shown). Alternatively, the roof member 77 could be
detachably mounted on the frame unit 5. In this case, a quick
release buckle fastener could be used as the mounting means. The
covering layer 771 of the roof member 77 could be designed to
resemble a polyhedron cone (see FIG. 4) or to have a dome-shaped
appearance (see FIG. 5), thereby providing the protective play
enclosure 4 with an attractive appearance.
[0031] The following description explains how the protective play
enclosure 4 protects the user at play, and how the play chamber 74
might be used for various activities.
[0032] In FIG. 4, the first preferred embodiment is provided with
the roof member 77, which closes the open side of the play chamber
74 to form a complete tent shape. The user may enter or exit the
play chamber 74 through the doorway 75. If the protective play
enclosure 4 is set up outdoors, the roof member 77 can protect the
user from wind, rain, and insects or small animals should the user
choose to rest or sleep inside the play chamber 74.
[0033] As mentioned hereinabove, the flexible bed body 61 is
connected to the frame unit 5 through the elastic anchoring
components 62, thereby permitting the user to jump on top of the
bed unit 6. Such an arrangement, however, may result in user
discomfort should the user choose to rest or sleep on the bed unit
6. Therefore, to accommodate the user during periods of rest or
sleep, the flexible bed body 61 can be stabilized with the
inclusion of a plurality of non-elastic support components 63 (see
FIG. 6) in the bed unit 6. The non-elastic support components 63
can be removably attached to the bed frame 51 of the frame unit 5
for supporting the flexible bed body 61 thereon, so that the user
will perceive the flexible bed body 61 as stable.
[0034] Moreover, the roof member 77 of this embodiment provides the
storage space 773 accessible through the access opening 774 for
storing articles.
[0035] FIG. 7 illustrates the protective play enclosure of the
first preferred embodiment with the roof member 77 removed to
uncover the open side of the play chamber 74. If, while jumping,
the user stumbles or lands too close to the boundary of the
flexible bed body 61, the surrounding wall 71 of the tent 7
functions to prevent the user from falling from the flexible bed
body 61 to the ground. In addition, the protective skirt 72
functions to prevent small children from crawling under the
flexible bed body 61 while a user is jumping, thereby guarding
against accidental injury.
[0036] Referring to FIG. 8, the tent 7 could include roll-up
curtains 762 for selectively covering and uncovering the windows 76
instead of the nets 761 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). During playtime, users
could opt to roll-up the curtains 762 either partially or
completely, and challenge themselves to a game of catch in which
one user stands inside the play chamber 74 and another user stands
outside the play chamber 74, and the users attempt to throw the
ball to one another through one of the partially or completely open
windows 76. The protective play enclosure 4 according to this
invention can thereby add challenge and interest to the game of
catch.
[0037] Referring to FIG. 9, which is a modification of the
protective play enclosure 4 of FIGS. 3 and 4, the surrounding wall
71 of the tent 7 is formed with a pair of doorways 75', 75'', and
the protective play enclosure 4 further includes a ladder 81
situated at one of the doorways 75', and a slide 82 situated at the
other of the doorways 75''. When a user wants to play on the slide
82, the user can climb up the ladder 81 and enter the play chamber
74 through the respective doorway 75', and then exit through the
other doorway 75'' using the slide 82.
[0038] FIGS. 10 to 14 illustrate a second preferred embodiment of
the protective play enclosure 4 according to this invention. In the
second preferred embodiment, each elastic anchoring component 62 of
the bed unit 6 has a pair of strap sections. One of the strap
sections is provided with a hook 621, and the other of the strap
sections is provided with a loop 622 to engage the hook 621 so as
to interconnect removably the strap sections, thereby permitting
removal of each of the elastic anchoring components 62 from the bed
frame 51 of the frame unit 5 (see FIGS. 10 and 11).
[0039] The bed unit 6 of the second preferred embodiment further
includes a rigid bed body 64 mounted removably on the frame unit 5,
and a reinforcing frame 65 mounted on an underside of the rigid bed
body 64 (see FIGS. 12 and 13). The rigid bed body 64 may be a board
made of wood or plastic. The user, after removing the flexible bed
body 61 from the frame unit 5, may opt to mount the rigid bed body
64 on the frame unit 5, which may be more suitable to resting or
some play activities. The rigid bed body 64 of the second preferred
embodiment also provides for the safe use of a play tunnel 83
disposed between the underside of the rigid bed body 64 and the
ground (see FIG. 14).
[0040] FIG. 15 illustrates a third preferred embodiment of the
protective play enclosure 4 according to this invention. In this
embodiment, the protective play enclosure 4 further includes a play
tunnel 83'. One open end section of the play tunnel 83' is disposed
at a doorway (not visible in the drawing) and the other open end
section is disposed on the ground along an outer side of the play
enclosure 4. Since the play tunnel 83' is not disposed underneath
the bed unit 6, a user may jump on the flexible bed body 61 without
affecting the safety of a user playing inside the play tunnel
83'.
[0041] It has thus been shown that the protective play enclosure 4
of this invention provides a tent function to shelter the user, a
storage function inside the roof member 77, a safety function in
protecting the user from injury, a creative play function as
described in the game of catch, and a slide function.
[0042] While the present invention has been described in connection
with what are considered the most practical and preferred
embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to
the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various
arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest
interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and
equivalent arrangements.
* * * * *