DE20000537U1 - Playpen with changing table - Google Patents

Description

FOLDABLE COMBINATION OF PLAYPEN AND CHANGING TABLE ATTACHMENT

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a collapsible combination of playpen and changing table attachment.

State of the art

A research has revealed the following different playpen models:

U.S. Patent Nos. 4,811,437 and 4,985,948 disclose a playpen generally comprising a plurality of frame members defining a generally rectangular area, the frame members and the frame members being loosely covered with fabric to provide a space or environment for babies to play in safely. Generally, a playpen is deep enough to prevent babies from falling out, thereby increasing the safety of babies. However, this depth makes it inconvenient for the person caring for the baby to lift the child out of the playpen to change clothes or diapers.

US Patents 4,967,432, 5,339,470 and 5,553,336 disclose an improvement of the above patents, whereby US Patent 4,967,432 entitled "Baby Playpen-Bassinet Combination" discloses a relatively high area created by a changing table attachment placed on a playpen to facilitate changing of the baby's clothes or diapers, the changing table

table attachment is hooked into side rails of the playpen; US-PS 5,339,470 entitled "Combination Foldable Playpen And Dressing/Changing Table" discloses a fabric covered table near the top cross rail of the playpen which serves as a surface when changing the baby's clothes or diapers; and US-PS 5,553,336 entitled "Playyard And Bassinet Combination" also discloses a relatively high area created by a changing table attachment, the frame members being connected by four corner members to define a space between them which forms the playpen, a vertical end of each frame member being inserted into a cylindrical opening in the playpen so as to form a releasably secured playpen and changing table attachment system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a collapsible playpen and changing table attachment combination, wherein the changing table attachment is firmly secured to the playpen to promote the safety of babies playing therein.

The advantages of the present invention are achieved by providing a collapsible playpen and changing table combination in which the playpen is comprised of a plurality of frame members, a fabric covering, and a plurality of corner members defining a space therebetween; and the changing table can be selectively secured to corner members so that it is located above the playpen to facilitate changing of clothes or diapers.

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The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a

collapsible combination of playpen and changing table attachment of a preferred embodiment according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of FIG. 1;

FIG.3A is a schematic perspective view showing a connecting mechanism in which the frame member and the corner member are not connected to each other;

FIG. 3B is a schematic perspective view in which the frame part and the corner part of FIG. 3A are detachably connected to each other;

FIG. 3C is a sectional view of FIG. 3B; and

FIG. 4 shows a connection mechanism for detachable connection

of two frame parts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1-2 show a playpen 10 and a changing table attachment 20, which make up the playpen and changing table attachment system according to the invention.

The playpen 10 comprises four upper frame parts 111, 112, 113 and 114, four vertical rails 121, 122, 123 and 124, two cross-connected lower frame parts 131 and 132, a fabric covering 14, four corner parts 151, 152, 153 and 154 and four support elements 161, 162, 163 and 164, each of the corner parts 151, 152, 153 and 154 being connected to the corresponding corner of the upper frame parts 111, 112, 113 and 114 to the upper end of each of the vertical rails 121, 122, 123 and 124, while each of the support elements 161, 162, 163 and 164 supports the cross-connected lower Frame part 131 or 132 is connected to the lower end of each of the vertical rails 121, 122, 123 and 124 so that a rectangular shape is formed. The above-mentioned components are detachably connected to one another, i.e. the playpen 10 is a collapsible device which can be set up when in use and folded up when not in use to save space. The fabric covering 14 has a central rectangular section and runs around the upper frame parts so that a play area 101 for babies can be created between them. Each corner part 151, 152, 153 and 154 has a bracket on its inside (e.g. bracket 1511 of the corner part 151). The description of one corner part applies to all corner parts since they are the same parts. The clip 1511 has a recess 1512 with a top opening 1513, a side opening 1514 and depressions 1515 (see FIGS. 3A and 3C). The fabric covering 14 further has a plurality of buttons 141 on two opposite sides, see FIG. 1A.

The changing table attachment 20 comprises two side rails 201 and 202, wherein a play area 22 is formed by a grid 21, wherein the ends of the rails 201 and 202 connecting parts 2011, 2012, 2021 and 2022

which each have a projection 2013, 2014, 2023 and 2024. Two panels 211 and 212 of the fabric covering 21 are located on two opposite sides between the side rails 201 and 202. Each of these panels 211 and 212 has a plurality of buttons 23 which can be securely fastened to the buttons 141 of the fabric covering 14.

To reiterate, the playpen 10 includes a play area 101 in which babies can play safely. In addition, the playpen 10 has a predetermined depth that allows the insertion of the changing table attachment 20.

As shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C, the connecting part 2011 of the side rails is placed in the bracket 1511 of the corner part 151 with the projection 2013 engaging the recess 1515 so that the changing table attachment 20 is securely attached to the playpen 10. Since the changing table attachment 20 is not as deep as the playpen 10, changing clothes or diapers is easier for the person caring for the baby when the baby is on the changing table attachment.

The playpen 10 and the changing table attachment 20 can also be designed as a collapsible device, i.e. with a folded and an erected position. FIG. 4, for example, shows in this context a two-piece side rail with a first bar 2015 and a second bar 2016. In the first bar 2015 there is an opening 2017, and a spring-loaded upstanding part 2018 is attached to the

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second rod 2016. The upstanding part 2018 is depressed prior to engaging the opening 2017 when the second rod 2016 is pushed into the first rod 2015. The interconnected rods 2015 and 2016 can be released from each other by depressing the upstanding part 2018 so that it releases from the opening 2017.

Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, further developments and modifications are possible by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the claims.

Claims (8)

1. Foldable combination of playpen and changing table attachment, with:
a playpen comprising a rectangular frame assembly, a plurality of corner pieces for connecting the frame assembly to form a space therebetween, and a first fabric covering stretched around the space and the frame assembly so that the playpen can assume both an erected and a folded position; and each of the corner pieces has a bracket with a recess; and
with a changing table attachment with two side rails, wherein a second fabric covering is provided which creates a play area, and each of the side rails has at its end a connecting part with a projection which is securely held in the recess when the side rail is securely attached to the corner part. 2. A collapsible playpen and changing table combination according to claim 1, wherein the frame assembly comprises four upper frame members, four vertical rails, at least two cross-connected lower frame members, four corner members, and four detachably connected support members. 3. A collapsible playpen and changing table combination according to claim 1, wherein the recess has a top and a side opening. 4. A collapsible playpen and changing table combination according to claim 1, wherein the upper opening has a recess. 5. A collapsible playpen and changing table combination according to claim 1, wherein the first fabric covering has a plurality of buttons on two opposite sides of the upper frame members. 6. A collapsible playpen and changing table combination according to claim 1, wherein each connecting part has a projection. 7. A collapsible playpen and changing table combination according to claim 1, wherein the second fabric covering has two panels on two opposite sides between the side rails. 8. The collapsible playpen and changing table combination of claim 1, wherein each of the panels includes a plurality of buttons.