U.S. patent application number 11/970814 was filed with the patent office on 2009-07-09 for playpen that is movable and foldable easily and quickly.
Invention is credited to Chuan-Kai Hsu.
Application Number | 20090172879 11/970814 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40843412 |
Filed Date | 2009-07-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090172879 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hsu; Chuan-Kai |
July 9, 2009 |
Playpen that is Movable and Foldable Easily and Quickly
Abstract
A playpen includes a frame, four upper folding devices, two
lower folding devices, a pull cord, and two lower collapsible
devices. Each of the lower folding devices includes a first
connecting member, a second connecting member, a mounting bracket,
a locking member, an elastic member, and a compression spring. Each
of the lower collapsible devices has a second compression spring.
Thus, each of the lower folding devices is operated to fold the
frame in a first stage, and each of the lower collapsible devices
is operated to fold the frame in a second stage, so that the
playpen is folded in a two-stage manner. In addition, the user only
needs to pull the pull cord to unlock each of the lower folding
devices so as to partially fold the frame easily and quickly.
Inventors: |
Hsu; Chuan-Kai; (Tainan
City, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KAMRATH & ASSOCIATES P.A.
4825 OLSON MEMORIAL HIGHWAY, SUITE 245
GOLDEN VALLEY
MN
55422
US
|
Family ID: |
40843412 |
Appl. No.: |
11/970814 |
Filed: |
January 8, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
5/99.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47D 13/063
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
5/99.1 |
International
Class: |
A47D 13/06 20060101
A47D013/06 |
Claims
1. A playpen, comprising: a frame including a plurality of support
rods pivotally connected with each other; four upper folding
devices mounted on an upper portion of the frame to fold the upper
portion of the frame; two lower folding devices mounted on two
opposite first sides of a lower portion of the frame to fold the
two opposite first sides of the lower portion of the frame; a pull
cord mounted between the two lower folding devices to control
operation of the two lower folding devices; two lower collapsible
devices mounted on two opposite second sides of the lower portion
of the frame to fold the two opposite second sides of the lower
portion of the frame; each of the two lower folding devices
including: a first connecting member mounted on a respective one of
the support rods of the frame; a second connecting member mounted
on a respective one of the support rods of the frame and pivotally
connected with the first connecting member; a mounting bracket
mounted on the first connecting member and the second connecting
member; a locking member movably mounted in the mounting bracket
and movable between a first position where the locking member locks
the first connecting member and the second connecting member so
that the first connecting member and the second connecting member
are locked onto the mounting bracket and a second position where
the locking member unlocks the first connecting member and the
second connecting member so that the first connecting member and
the second connecting member are pivotable relative to the mounting
bracket.
2. The playpen in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first
connecting member of each of the two lower folding devices has a
first end inserted into the respective one of the support rods of
the frame and a second end provided with a bifurcate mounting
portion provided with two spaced locking holes; the second
connecting member of each of the two lower folding devices has a
first end inserted into the respective one of the support rods of
the frame and a second end provided with a bifurcate mounting
section which is pivotally mounted in the mounting portion of the
first connecting member and is provided with two spaced locking
bores each juxtaposed to the respective locking hole of the first
connecting member; the locking member of each of the two lower
folding devices is driven by the pull cord and has a bottom
provided with two spaced locking blocks that are movable with the
locking member between the first position where each of the two
locking blocks of the locking member is inserted into the
respective locking hole of the first connecting member and the
respective locking bore of the second connecting member to lock the
first connecting member and the second connecting member and the
second position where each of the two locking blocks of the locking
member is detached from the respective locking hole of the first
connecting member and the respective locking bore of the second
connecting member to unlock the first connecting member and the
second connecting member.
3. The playpen in accordance with claim 2, wherein each of the two
lower folding devices further includes: an elastic member mounted
in the mounting bracket and biased between the mounting bracket and
the locking member to push the locking member to the first position
thereof.
4. The playpen in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of the two
lower folding devices further includes: a compression spring
mounted between any two of the support rods of the frame and
abutting the mounting bracket; a protective jacket mounted around
the compression spring.
5. The playpen in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of the two
lower collapsible devices is mounted between two of the support
rods of the frame and pressed by a second compression spring which
is mounted between the two of the support rods of the frame.
6. The playpen in accordance with claim 5, wherein the second
compression spring is provided with a protective jacket.
7. The playpen in accordance with claim 3, wherein the mounting
bracket of each of the two lower folding devices has an inside
provided with a mounting chamber for mounting the mounting portion
of the first connecting member and the mounting section of the
second connecting member.
8. The playpen in accordance with claim 7, wherein the mounting
bracket of each of the two lower folding devices has an upper
portion provided with a slideway in which the locking member is
slidable.
9. The playpen in accordance with claim 8, wherein the slideway of
the mounting bracket of each of the two lower folding devices has a
bottom provided with a guide channel connected to the mounting
chamber to guide movement of the two locking blocks of the locking
member.
10. The playpen in accordance with claim 8, wherein the locking
member of each of the two lower folding devices has a first end
provided with a fixing recess and a second end provided with a
receiving chamber; the mounting bracket of each of the two lower
folding devices has a first side provided with a through hole and a
second side provided with an opening connected to the slideway for
mounting a catch plate; the pull cord has two distal ends each
extending through the through hole of the mounting bracket and the
locking member of the respective lower folding device and each
provided with an enlarged head secured in the fixing recess of the
locking member; the elastic member of each of the two lower folding
devices has a first end abutting the first side of the mounting
bracket and a second end received in the receiving chamber of the
locking member to push the locking member toward the catch plate
which is used to stop movement of the locking member.
11. The playpen in accordance with claim 10, wherein the locking
member of each of the two lower folding devices has a periphery
provided with an elongated entrance slit connected to the fixing
recess; each of the two distal ends of the pull cord extends
through the entrance slit into the fixing recess of the locking
member.
12. The playpen in accordance with claim 1, further comprising: an
enclosure cloth enclosed around a periphery of the frame to
encompass the upper folding devices, the lower folding devices and
the lower collapsible devices; a plurality of snap fasteners
mounted on the support rods of the frame.
13. The playpen in accordance with claim 1, wherein the lower
portion of the frame has a periphery provided with four
castors.
14. The playpen in accordance with claim 2, wherein each of the two
lower folding devices further includes a pivot pin extending
through the mounting bracket, the mounting portion of the first
connecting member and the mounting section of the second connecting
member to combine the mounting bracket, the mounting portion of the
first connecting member and the mounting section of the second
connecting member.
15. The playpen in accordance with claim 1, wherein the mounting
bracket of each of the two lower folding devices has a
substantially inverted U-shaped cross-sectional profile.
16. The playpen in accordance with claim 10, wherein the locking
member of each of the two lower folding devices is pushed by the
elastic member to abut the catch plate so that each of the two
locking blocks of the locking member is inserted into the
respective locking hole of the first connecting member and the
respective locking bore of the second connecting member.
17. The playpen in accordance with claim 16, wherein the locking
member of each of the two lower folding devices is pulled by the
respective distal end of the pull cord to compress the elastic
member so that each of the two locking blocks of the locking member
is detached from the respective locking hole of the first
connecting member and the respective locking bore of the second
connecting member.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a playpen and, more
particularly, to a playpen for placing a baby therein.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] A conventional playpen comprises a frame having a plurality
of support rods pivotally connected with each other, and an
enclosure cloth enclosed around a periphery of the frame to
encompass the support rods. However, the conventional playpen
cannot be folded easily and quickly, thereby greatly causing
inconvenience to a user when folding the conventional playpen.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided
a playpen, comprising a frame including a plurality of support rods
pivotally connected with each other, four upper folding devices
mounted on an upper portion of the frame to fold the upper portion
of the frame, two lower folding devices mounted on two opposite
first sides of a lower portion of the frame to fold the two
opposite first sides of the lower portion of the frame, a pull cord
mounted between the two lower folding devices to control operation
of the two lower folding devices, and two lower collapsible devices
mounted on two opposite second sides of the lower portion of the
frame to fold the two opposite second sides of the lower portion of
the frame.
[0006] Each of the two lower folding devices includes a first
connecting member mounted on a respective one of the support rods
of the frame, a second connecting member mounted on a respective
one of the support rods of the frame and pivotally connected with
the first connecting member, a mounting bracket mounted on the
first connecting member and the second connecting member, and a
locking member movably mounted in the mounting bracket and movable
between a first position where the locking member locks the first
connecting member and the second connecting member so that the
first connecting member and the second connecting member are locked
onto the mounting bracket and a second position where the locking
member unlocks the first connecting member and the second
connecting member so that the first connecting member and the
second connecting member are pivotable relative to the mounting
bracket.
[0007] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide
a playpen that is movable and foldable easily and quickly.
[0008] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a
playpen, wherein each of the two lower folding devices is operated
to fold the frame in a first stage, and each of the two lower
collapsible devices is operated to fold the frame in a second
stage, so that the playpen is folded in a two-stage manner, thereby
facilitating a user folding the playpen.
[0009] A further objective of the present invention is to provide a
playpen, wherein the user only needs to pull the pull cord to
unlock each of the two lower folding devices so as to partially
fold the frame easily and quickly.
[0010] A further objective of the present invention is to provide a
playpen, wherein the second compression spring presses each of the
two lower collapsible devices to prevent each of the two lower
collapsible devices from being unlocked during operation of the two
lower folding devices to protect the user's safety.
[0011] A further objective of the present invention is to provide a
playpen, wherein the frame is movable easily and quickly by
provision of the castors.
[0012] Further benefits and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed
description with appropriate reference to the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a playpen in accordance with
the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a locally enlarged perspective view of the playpen
as shown in FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the playpen as
shown in FIG. 2.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the playpen as
shown in FIG. 2.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a schematic operational view of the playpen as
shown in FIG. 4.
[0018] FIG. 6 is a schematic operational view of the playpen as
shown in FIG. 1.
[0019] FIG. 7 is a schematic operational view of the playpen as
shown in FIG. 6.
[0020] FIG. 8 is a schematic operational view of the playpen as
shown in FIG. 7.
[0021] FIG. 9 is a schematic operational view of the playpen as
shown in FIG. 1.
[0022] FIG. 10 is a schematic operational view of the playpen as
shown in FIG. 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1-5, a
playpen in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present
invention comprises a frame 5, four upper folding devices 1 mounted
on an upper portion of the frame 5 to fold the upper portion of the
frame 5, two lower folding devices 2 mounted on two opposite first
sides of a lower portion of the frame 5 to fold the two opposite
first sides of the lower portion of the frame 5, a pull cord 3
mounted between the two lower folding devices 2 to control
operation of the two lower folding devices 2, and two lower
collapsible devices 4 mounted on two opposite second sides of the
lower portion of the frame 5 to fold the two opposite second sides
of the lower portion of the frame 5.
[0024] The frame 5 is a substantially rectangular body and includes
a plurality of support rods 50 pivotally connected with each other.
The lower portion of the frame 5 has a periphery provided with four
castors 51.
[0025] Each of the two lower folding devices 2 includes a first
connecting member 22 mounted on a respective one of the support
rods 50 of the frame 5, a second connecting member 28 mounted on a
respective one of the support rods 50 of the frame 5 and pivotally
connected with the first connecting member 22, a mounting bracket
21 mounted on the first connecting member 22 and the second
connecting member 28, a locking member 23 movably mounted in the
mounting bracket 21 and movable between a first position where the
locking member 23 locks the first connecting member 22 and the
second connecting member 28 so that the first connecting member 22
and the second connecting member 28 are locked onto the mounting
bracket 21 and a second position where the locking member 23
unlocks the first connecting member 22 and the second connecting
member 28 so that the first connecting member 22 and the second
connecting member 28 are pivotable relative to the mounting bracket
21, an elastic member 24 mounted in the mounting bracket 21 and
biased between the mounting bracket 21 and the locking member 23 to
push the locking member 23 to the first position thereof, a
compression spring 26 mounted between any two of the support rods
50 of the frame 5 and abutting the mounting bracket 21, and a
protective jacket 261 mounted around the compression spring 26.
[0026] The first connecting member 22 of each of the two lower
folding devices 2 has a first end inserted into the respective one
of the support rods 50 of the frame 5 and a second end provided
with a bifurcate mounting portion 220 provided with two spaced
locking holes 221.
[0027] The second connecting member 28 of each of the two lower
folding devices 2 has a first end inserted into the respective one
of the support rods 50 of the frame 5 and a second end provided
with a bifurcate mounting section 280 which is pivotally mounted in
the mounting portion 220 of the first connecting member 22 and is
provided with two spaced locking bores 281 each juxtaposed to the
respective locking hole 221 of the first connecting member 22.
[0028] Each of the two lower folding devices 2 further includes a
pivot pin 27 extending through the mounting bracket 21, the
mounting portion 220 of the first connecting member 22 and the
mounting section 280 of the second connecting member 28 to combine
the mounting bracket 21, the mounting portion 220 of the first
connecting member 22 and the mounting section 280 of the second
connecting member 28.
[0029] The locking member 23 of each of the two lower folding
devices 2 is driven by the pull cord 3 and has a bottom provided
with two spaced locking blocks 230 that are movable with the
locking member 23 between the first position where each of the two
locking blocks 230 of the locking member 23 is inserted into the
respective locking hole 221 of the first connecting member 22 and
the respective locking bore 281 of the second connecting member 28
as shown in FIG. 4 to lock the first connecting member 22 and the
second connecting member 28 and the second position-where each of
the two locking blocks 230 of the locking member 23 is detached
from the respective locking hole 221 of the first connecting member
22 and the respective locking bore 281 of the second connecting
member 28 as shown in FIG. 5 to unlock the first connecting member
22 and the second connecting member 28. The locking member 23 of
each of the two lower folding devices 2 has a first end provided
with a fixing recess 231 and a second end provided with a receiving
chamber 234. The locking member 23 of each of the two lower folding
devices 2 has a periphery provided with an elongated entrance slit
232 connected to the fixing recess 231.
[0030] The mounting bracket 21 of each of the two lower folding
devices 2 has a substantially inverted U-shaped cross-sectional
profile and has an inside provided with a mounting chamber 211 for
mounting the mounting portion 220 of the first connecting member 22
and the mounting section 280 of the second connecting member 28.
The mounting bracket 21 of each of the two lower folding devices 2
has an upper portion provided with a slideway 212 in which the
locking member 23 is slidable. The slideway 212 of the mounting
bracket 21 of each of the two lower folding devices 2 has a bottom
provided with a guide channel 214 connected to the mounting chamber
211 to guide movement of the two locking blocks 230 of the locking
member 23. The mounting bracket 21 of each of the two lower folding
devices 2 has a first side provided with a through hole 210 and a
second side provided with an opening 216 connected to the slideway
212 for mounting a catch plate 25.
[0031] The pull cord 3 has two distal ends 30 each extending
through the through hole 210 of the mounting bracket 21 and the
locking member 23 of the respective lower folding device 2 and each
provided with an enlarged head 32 secured in the fixing recess 231
of the locking member 23. Each of the two distal ends 30 of the
pull cord 3 extends through the entrance slit 232 into the fixing
recess 231 of the locking member 23.
[0032] The elastic member 24 of each of the two lower folding
devices 2 has a first end abutting the first side of the mounting
bracket 21 and a second end received in the receiving chamber 234
of the locking member 23 to push the locking member 23 toward the
catch plate 25 which is used to stop movement of the locking member
23.
[0033] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 9, each of the two lower collapsible
devices 4 is mounted between two of the support rods 50 of the
frame 5 and pressed by a second compression spring 42 which is
mounted between the two of the support rods 50 of the frame 5. The
second compression spring 42 is provided with a protective jacket
421.
[0034] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 10, the playpen further comprises an
enclosure cloth 52 enclosed around a periphery of the frame 5 to
encompass the upper folding devices 1, the lower folding devices 2
and the lower collapsible devices 4, and a plurality of snap
fasteners 521 mounted on the support rods 50 of the frame 5.
[0035] In operation, referring to FIGS. 6-10 with reference to
FIGS. 1-5, the locking member 23 of each of the two lower folding
devices 2 is pushed by the elastic member 24 to abut the catch
plate 25 so that each of the two locking blocks 230 of the locking
member 23 is inserted into the respective locking hole 221 of the
first connecting member 22 and the respective locking bore 281 of
the second connecting member 28 as shown in FIG. 4 to lock the
first connecting member 22 and the second connecting member 28.
[0036] When a user wishes to fold the playpen, the locking member
23 of each of the two lower folding devices 2 is pulled by the
respective distal end 30 of the pull cord 3 to compress the elastic
member 24 so that each of the two locking blocks 230 of the locking
member 23 is detached from the respective locking hole 221 of the
first connecting member 22 and the respective locking bore 281 of
the second connecting member 28 as shown in FIG. 5 to unlock the
first connecting member 22 and the second connecting member 28,
such that the first connecting member 22 and the second connecting
member 28 are pivotable freely relative to the mounting bracket 21
about the pivot pin 27. In such a manner, when the pull cord 3 is
pulled upward, each of the two lower folding devices 2 is unlocked,
so that the two opposite first sides (containing the two lower
folding devices 2) of the lower portion of the frame 5 are folded,
and the two opposite second sides (containing the two lower
collapsible devices 4) of the lower portion of the frame 5 are
movable toward each other as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 until two
opposite sides of the frame 5 abut each other as shown in FIG. 8.
Thus, the frame 5 is folded in a first stage so as to fold the
playpen partially.
[0037] As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, each of the two lower
collapsible devices 4 is unlocked so that the two opposite second
sides (containing the two lower collapsible devices 4) of the lower
portion of the frame 5 are folded so as to fold the frame 5. Thus,
the frame 5 is folded in a second stage so as to fold the playpen
entirely. Then, the frame 5 is fastened by the snap fasteners 521
so as to fix the playpen.
[0038] Accordingly, each of the two lower folding devices 2 is
operated to fold the frame 5 in a first stage, and each of the two
lower collapsible devices 4 is operated to fold the frame 5 in a
second stage, so that the playpen is folded in a two-stage manner,
thereby facilitating a user folding the playpen. In addition, the
user only needs to pull the pull cord 3 to unlock each of the two
lower folding devices 2 so as to partially fold the frame 5 easily
and quickly. Further, the second compression spring 42 presses each
of the two lower collapsible devices 4 to prevent each of the two
lower collapsible devices 4 from being unlocked during operation of
the two lower folding devices 2 to protect the user's safety.
Further, the frame 5 is movable easily and quickly by provision of
the castors 51.
[0039] Although the invention has been explained in relation to its
preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood
that many other possible modifications and variations can be made
without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is,
therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will
cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true
scope of the invention.
* * * * *