Crib bumper and mattress

Abstract

A bumper for use in an infant crib or the like includes at least one upstanding section adopted to rest along the peripheral edge of the upper surface of the mattress inside the side rail of the crib adjacent thereto. Means are provided for connecting the bumper section to the crib in such a fashion as to prevent vertical movement of the bumper relative to the mattress. In a preferred form the connecting means comprise an elastic tab having spaced interlocking snaps thereon such that when joined a closed loop is formed to encircle the horizontal frame member of the crib. As an alternative preferred method, a third snap is provided on the tab which may interlock with a snap provided on another tab mounted on the mattress.

Description

The present invention relates to crib bumpers and particularly to a crib bumper provided with means of attaching the bumper to the crib -- as to the crib frame or to the mattress supported by the frame -- such that the infant is unable to slip underneath the bumper and force part of his body through the side rails.

Conventional cribs generally comprise four posts or vertical supports definitive of an elevated box-like formation comprising a front section, a back section and two sides. The sides are usually composed of a plurality of vertically extending spaced slats or panels and are known as side rails. Often, at least one of the side rails is mounted on the crib for limited vertical movement relative thereto to facilitate access to the child in the crib. A bed of springs is provided mounted to a frame-like support which in turn is attached to the box-like structure. Upon this support the mattress rests.

Normally, infants' cribs are provided with bumpers that line the insides of the box-like structure immediately above the mattress and are designed to prevent the bumping of the infant against the hard wooden or metal sections and rails which form the crib. These bumpers are ordinarily formed of elongated resilient compressible sections flexibly secured end to end and are arranged in a rectangle within the rails of the crib. The bumpers are conventionally held in the crib by strings or tabs that extend from the elongated sections and are tied or fastened around the side rails and occasionally to the head and foot boards of the crib.

However, this method of attaching the bumpers to the crib is unsatisfactory because it permits vertical movement of the bumper sections relative to the upper surface of the mattress. Therefore, infants are often able to slip beneath the bumper and force part of their bodies between adjacent rails. This is a potential hazard as injury may result if the infant is unable to extricate that portion of his body which has been forced between the adjacent rails.

It is, therefore, a prime object of the present invention to provide a crib bumper for use in infants' cribs having means for attaching the bumper to the crib in such a fashion as to prevent vertical movement of the bumper relative to the upper surface of the mattress.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a crib bumper which may also be secured directly to a mattress having the appropriate connecting means provided thereon.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a crib bumper having the appropriate connecting means such that it may be connected either to the mattress support or to the mattress itself when used in conjunction with a mattress having the appropriate interlocking connecting members.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a crib bumper formed of a series of elongated sections adopted to function as cushions along the interior surfaces of the crib in the area immediately above the mattress. These elongated sections, which are flexibly connected end to end and may be arranged to form a rectangle, are provided with means for releasably connecting the bumper either to a horizontal frame member of the mattress support or the mattress itself if a mattress is provided with the appropriate interlocking connecting members.

The connecting members are preferably in the form of elastic tabs secured to the bumper sections and depending therefrom. Each of the tabs is provided with first and second interlocking snap members which are spaced along the tab such that when they are connected together a closed loop is formed. The spacing between the snaps is such, and the snaps are so located along the tab, that the closed loop is spaced far enough below the bumper and is large enough to encircle one of the horizontal frame members of the mattress support, thereby securing the tab to the crib strcuture with the bumper securely held to the upper surface of the mattress.

A third snap may also be provided on each tab. The third snap is adopted to interlock with a snap mounted to the mattress itself, or to a tab extending from the mattress, this, of course, involving a mattress specially designed for this purpose to be used in conjunction with the bumper. It may be that one of the two loop-forming snaps could function for this purpose, in which case the third snap would not be necessary, but the provision of three snaps provides a universal type of arrangement which is highly desired.

In this manner, the tabs are adopted either to secure the bumpers to the crib frame itself or the mattress. As a result, vertical movement of the bumper relative to the upper surface of the mattress is prevented, thereby eliminating the danger of the infant forcing a portion of its body between the bumper and mattress and through adjacent side rails.

To the accompishment of the above and to such other objects as may hereinafter appear, the present invention relates to a crib bumper as defined in the appended claims and as described in the specification, taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric exploded view of the bumper of the present invention and a mattress designed for use therewith;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the bumper and mattress of FIG. 1 situated in the crib and showing the alternate methods of attachment;

FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the bumper and mattress of FIG. 1 showing the tab connected to the mattress; and

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the tab connected to the crib frame.

As best seen in FIG. 1, the bumper of the present invention, generally designated A, is preferably made of a series of interconnected elongated sections 10. Each section 10 is preferably formed of a cushioning material which may typically comprise a flexible resilient compressible inner material such as foam rubber or down, continuously covered with a sheet, preferably waterproof, of fabric or plastic material. The sections 10 are arranged into a rectangular shape such that they stand upright and form a continuous cushion around the periphery of the crib. Some or all of the sections 10 are provided with tabs 12 which are mounted thereto (in any conventional manner) and depend from the lower edge of bumper A. Although tabs 12 may be affixed to each of the sections 10, FIG. 1 shows tabs 12 being affixed only to those sections 10 which are adjacent the side rails of the crib. Tabs 12 are preferably made of an elastic material.

Bumper A is also provided with conventional tabs or ties 14 which are provided in pairs at each junction between adjacent sections 10. Tabs 14 are preferably on the exterior surface of bumper A. Tabs 14 are used to affix the bumpers to the side rails of the crib to retain them in their upright position, but they do not prevent vertical movement of the bumper A relative to the mattress.

The bumper A of the present invention may be used in conjunction with a specially designed mattress, as shown in FIG. 1, and generally designated B. Mattress B is similar to conventional crib mattresses except that it is provided with a series of tabs 16 which are affixed to the lower peripheral edge thereof. Tabs 16 are preferably made of plastic material similar to the material used for tabs 12 and 14. Tabs 16 are positioned along mattress B such that each tab 16 aligns with one of the tabs 12 on bumper A. Although bumper A is designed such that tabs 12 may be releasably connected to tab 16 on mattress B, the use of a specially designed mattress is not required. As will be described in detail below, bumper A may be connected to mattress B or to the crib frame itself and thus may be used in conjunction with a conventional mattress as well.

As shown in FIG. 2, a conventional crib is a box-like structure having four vertical posts 18, a rear section 20, and a front section 22. A pair of side rails 24 are provided, one on each side of the crib, to complete the box-like structure to enclose the infant. Mattress B is mounted on a bed of springs 26 which are mounted on a metal or wood frame 28 which in turn is mounted to the crib structure.

As can be sssen in FIGS. 3 and 4, bumper A can be attached to either spring frame 28 or mattress B depending upon whether or not a specially designed mattress B is used with the bumper. FIG. 3 shows the method of attachment when bumper A is used in conjunction with mattress B. Bumper A is provided with a tab 12 which has three snap members 30, 32 and 34 thereon. Each snap member has an operative side, and the operative sides of each of the members 30, 32, 34 are preferably situated on the same side of the tab. Snap member 30 is a male snap member and snap member 32 and 34 are female snap members. A male snap member is designed to fit within a female snap member such that a releasable connection is made therebetween. The mattress B is provided with a tab 16 which has a male snap member 36 mounted thereon. Snap member 36 of tab 16 may be releasably connected to snap member 32 of tab 12 in order to retain the lower surface of bumper A in contact with the upper surface of mattress B thereby preventing the infant from pushing a part of his body between bumper A and mattress B and getting caught between the side rails. Preferably, the length of tab 16 and that section of tab 12 fron the point where it is mounted to the bottom of bumper A to snap member 32 is designed such that the tab members are under a slight tension when the tabs are releasably connected together such that bumper A is held firmly on the surface of mattress B.

FIG. 4 shows the method of attaching bumper A when a specially designed mattress, such as mattress B, is not used in conjunction therewith. In this instance, tab 12 is looped around horizontal frame member 28 such that snap member 34 may be releasably connected to snap member 30. A portion of tab 12 is passed between springs 26 such that it encircles horizontal frame member 28. Since the operative side of snap members 30 and 34 are on the same side of tab 12, the loop may be conveniently formed without twisting or distorting the tab. Preferably, the length of tab 12 is such that when it is attached as shown in FIG. 4 it is under slight tension such that the bottom of bumper A is held firmly on the upper surface of the mattress.

Thus, it can be seen that tabs 12 of bumper A are designed to be connected with a specially designed mattress B or any conventional crib frame in order to hold the bottom surface of bumpers A firmly against the upper surface of the mattress to prevent an infant from pushing a portion of his body between the bumpers and the mattress. The tabs 14, on the outer periphery of bumper A near the top surface thereof, are designed to encircle one of the vertical side rails, as shown in FIG. 2, to keep bumper A in an upright position. As a result, bumper A is firmly situated relative to the remainder of the crib in an easy and convenient manner thus providing complete safety for the infant.

While but a single embodiment of the present invention has been here specifically disclosed for purposes of illustration, it is apparent that many variations and modifications may be made therein. For example, other types of interengagement means, other than snaps could be utilized. Variations in the number of snaps are also possible. The tabs each could be equipped with only a single snap for use exclusively with the specially designed mattress. On the other hand, the tabs could be equipped with two snaps only for fastening the bumper to the frame. As an alternative, the latter configuration could be set up so that one of the snaps could be used with the specially designed mattress while when both are used the loop is formed for fastening to the frame. Another variation could have tabs provided on the frame instead of the mattress and the tabs could be removable and perhaps loop-forming. Snaps or other engagement means could be fastened directly on the mattress without tabs, if desired. It is intended to cover all of these variations and modifications which fall within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. A bumper for use in an infant crib or the like of the type having a frame with a horizontal frame member and side rails extending up from said horizontal member, said bumper comprising at least one upstanding section adapted to rest inside the side rail adjacent thereto, and means depending from said upstanding section and engageable with said horizontal frame member for connecting said upstanding section to said horizontal frame member in vertical-movement-preventing fashion.

2. The bumper of claim 1 wherein a mattress is interposed between said upstanding section and said frame such that said elastic tab must be elongated in order to engage said horizontal frame member.

3. The bumper of claim 1 wherein means comprises an elastic tab and first and second snap means mounted thereon, said first and second snap means being adopted to be releasably joined together and being so spaced from one another as to form a loop encircling a frame member.

4. The bumper of claim 3 wherein said first and said second snap means each have an operative side, each of said operative sides being situated on the same side of said tab.