GB2350786A

GB2350786A - Bedrail Structure of child bed

Info

Publication number: GB2350786A
Application number: GB9913685A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Er-Jui Chen; Chuan-Tso Tai
Original assignee: Link Treasure Ltd
Current assignee: Link Treasure Ltd
Priority date: 1999-06-11
Filing date: 1999-06-11
Publication date: 2000-12-13
Also published as: GB9913685D0; DE29910791U1

Abstract

A bedrail structure comprises a protective mesh 1 provided on one side of the bed attached via a pair of connecting devices 2 to a pair of brace members 3. The brace members consist of a rod member 30 approximately equal to the width of the bed and a bar member 32 oriented so that it may hook on to the side of the bed opposite the mesh 1. Thus the mesh is held in place by the weight of the mattress on the rod members and laterally by the action of the bar members thus being securely anchored to the bed.

Description

2350786 BEDRAIL STRUCTURE OF CHILD BED The present invention relates to

bed structures, and more particularly to a bedrail structure of child bed in which the bedrail is secured to the bedstead for protecting a child from falling from the bed.

Many types of beds for child are currently in use. One type of bed is a "closed type bed". Typically, a pair of bedrails, a headboard, and a footboard are provided along the closed type bed. They are usually relatively higher than the height of a baby for preventing I C; the baby from falling due to the turning of the body.

These types of beds are mainly suitable for children under the age of about three. For children over the age of three, an "open type bed", i.e., bedrail free bed is used. However, it is possible for a child to fall from the side of the open type bed in sleep.

In a prior art, a bedrail structure is provided on one side of the open type bed. The prior art bedrail structure substantially comprises a pair of oppositely disposed L-shaped rods adjacent to the headboard and the footboard respectively, and a protection mesh connected between the rods. Horizontal portions of the L-shaped rods are laid on the bedstead. A mattress is laid on the bedstead so as to lend added weight on the horizontal portions of the L-shaped rods for keeping the L-shaped rods as well as the protection mesh in place.

However, this prior art bedrail structure is unsatisfactory for the following reasons:

1. The length of the horizontal portion of the L-shaped rod is fixed, i.e. , the horizontal portion is not retractable. As such, the applied force on the horizontal portions of the L shaped rods by the mattress are larger if the length of the horizontal portions is relatively long, and the applied force is smaller if the length of that is relatively short which in turn decreases the resistance of the protection mesh to push.

2. The force applied by the weight of the mattress is longitudinal. Thus, even if the weighf,' of the mattress is sufficient it is still possible for the protection mesh to move laterally child turning to the protection mesh side due to no counterbalance on the other side of the bed. As such, the protection mesh may move away from the bed, leaving a gap between the C protection mesh and one side of the bed sized to the width of the child's body when the child is sleeping. As a result, the child may fall from the gap.

1 It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a bedrail structure of child bed.

The advantages of the present invention are realized by providing a bedrail structure of child bed comprising a protection mesh provided on one side of the bed, a pair of brace members each having a rod member and a bar member provided on the bed being adapted to be approximately equal to the width of the bed for clinging to the other side of the bed with the bar member, and a pair of connecting devices for securing a pair of bottom portions of the protection mesh and the brace members. By utilizing this structure, the protection mesh is secured to the bed by the longitudinal force of the weight of the mattress as well as the lateral balance force exerted by the bar member. Thus, a child may not fall from the protection mesh side in sleep.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the brace member of a first alternative embodiment; FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the brace member of a second alternative embodiment FIG. 5A is a perspective view of the connecting device; FIG. 5B is a side elevational view showing different positions of the connecting device with respect to the protection mesh; 3 FIG. 6A schematically shows the location of the present invention mounted on the bed in which a mattress has not been laid on the bed, and FIG. 6B is schematically shows the location of the present invention mounted on the bed in which the mattress has been laid on the bed.

A bedrail structure of the present invention is provided on one side of an open type bed (see FIGS. 6A-6B), while the other side is abutted against a wall (not shown) for preventing a child from falling from the bed.

As shown in FIG. 1, the bedrail structure comprises a protection mesh 1, a pair of connecting devices 2, and a pair of brace members 3. The protection mesh I acts as preventing a child from falling from the bed. The protection mesh I comprises a frame 11, a piece of mesh 12, and a pair of joint members 13). Two tube members I I I and 112 form the substantially rectangular enclosed frame 11. Note that it is possible to implement the frame I I in a plurality of telescopic tubes. The frame I I is designed to be easily adapted to the length of the bed. The piece of mesh 12 is stitched to the frame I I to form the center portion of the frame 11. The mesh 12 is made of a soft cloth. The joint member 13 comprises a connecting portion 131 for connecting the tube member 111, a connecting portion 132 for connecting the tube member 112, and a connecting portion 133 having an opening 1331 for receiving the connecting device 2.

The length of the brace member 3 is adapted to be approximately equal to the width of a variety of beds. The brace member 33 comprises a rod member 30, a sleeve member 33 1, and a bar member 32. One end of the rod member 30 is threadedly secured within the sleeve member 3 1, while the other end is inserted into the connecting device 2 and secured therein. The bar member 3)2 is pivotably attached to and substantially at an angle 90 with respect to the sleeve member 3 1. As a result, the sleeve member 33 1 and the bar member -3 32 acts as a stop to the lateral movement of the bedrail structure for preventing the protection mesh 2 moving away from the bed.

A complete bedrail structure is finished by mounting the protection mesh I to the 4 2 and the brace members 3 -n connecting devices to the connecting devices 2, as shoNN in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG..3 3, the brace member 3) comprises an outer tube _3)3 3, an inner tube _3)4, and a bar member 321 in this embodiment. A plurality of parallel through holes 341 are provided on the surface of the inner tube _3)4. A pin 3) _3) I Is provided on the outer tube 3) 3. It is designed that the inner tube 34 is allowed to move within the outer tube 33 and secured in a plurality of predetermined positions therein for adjusting the length of the outer tube 33 extended from the inner tube 34. The pin 331 is inserted into the corresponding through hole 341 for securing the outer and inner tubes 33) and 34 together after a desirable extended length is determined. One end of the inner tube 34 is threadedly secured within the sleeve member 3) 1. In this embodiment, there is no sleeve member 33 1 provided and the bar member."32 is simply an extended hook portion of the inner tube 34.

In the second alternative embodiment, there is no sleeve member 31 provided. The outer and inner tubes 33) and 34 are replaced by the rod member 30 as shown in FIG. 4.

As shown in FIGS. 5A-513, the connecting device 2 is substantially an Lshaped member. The connecting device 2 comprises a pair of oppositely disposed vertical portions 21 and 22, a horizontal portion 23 attached to a side of each bottom of the vertical portions 21 and 22, a body member 24, and a pin 25. An elongated opening 210 is provided approximately on the center of the vertical portion 21, and an opposite elongated opening 220 is provided approximately on the center of the vertical portion 22 respectively. A guide slot 211 is provided between the elongated opening 210 and the top of the vertical portion 21, and an opposite guide slot 221 is provided between the elongated opening 220 and the top of the vertical portion 22 respectively. The body member 24 comprises a pair of substantially circular plates 241 and 242, a spring-biased raised portion 243, and a through hole 244. As stated above, the raised portion 243) may be received within the opening 1331 for securing the protection mesh I and the brace member 3 together.

In the assembly of the body member 24 and the connecting device 2, the body member 24 is inserted into the receiving space formed between the vertical portions 21 and 22 first.

Then, the pin 25 is inserted through the opening 220, the through hole 244, and the opening 22 1. The openings 220 and 22 1 define the movement of the body member 24 between an upper limit and a lower limit. When the body member 24 is moved to the lower limit, the circular plates -141 and 242 are completely received within the guide slots 22 11 and 221 for being secured there. When the body member 24 is moved to the upper limit, the circular plates 241 and 242 are completely pulled from the guide slots -7 11 and 22 1. Thus, the body member 24 can pivotably rotate at an angle at least 180' with respect to the pin 25.

0 The assembly of the bedrail structure and a bed 4 is shown in FIGS. 6A-6B.

Firstly, a mattress 41 is removed. Then, put the protection mesh I on one side of the bed 4. Then, lay the brace members 33 on the top of the bed 4 in which the brace members 3 are separated by a distance approximately equal to the length of the protection mesh 1. Then, cling the bar members 32 to the other side of the bed 4. Finally, lay the mattress 41 on the bed 4. As a result, the purpose of protecting a child from falling from the bed 4 is Mfilled, While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.

6

Claims

1. A bedrall structure of a child bed comprising a protection mesh (1) provided on one side of the bed and a pair of brace members (3), characterized by each of the brace members (3) 5 having a rod member (30) and a bar member (32) provided on the bed for clinging to the ty other side of the bed by the bar member (3) 2).

1 The bedrail structure of claim 1, characterized by the bar member (J32) being a hookshaped member.

The bedrall structure of claim 1, characterized by further comprising a pair of connecting 10 devices (2) for securing a pair of bottom portions of the protection mesh (1) and the brace members (3).

4. A bedrail structure of a child bed comprising a protection mesh (1) provided on one side of the bed and a pair of brace members (3), characterized by each of the brace members (3)) having a rod member (3) 0), a sleeve member (J3 1), and a bar member (33 2) provided on the bed for clinging to the other side of the bed by the bar member (3) 2); by one end of the rod member (30) being threadedly secured within the sleeve member (331), and by the bar member (J3 2) being pivotably attached to the sleeve member (3) 1).

5. The bedrail structure of claim 4, characterized by the bar member (332) being pivoted at an angle at least 900 with respect to the sleeve member (3) 1).

6. The bedrail structure of claim 4, characterized by the bar member (3)22) being a hookshaped member. 7. The bedrail structure of claim 4, characterized by farther comprising a pair of connecting devices (2) for securing a pair of bottom portions of the protection mesh (1) and the brace members (3).

7 8. A bedrail structure of a child bed comprising a protection mesh (1) provided on one side of the bed and a pair of brace members (3), characterized by each of the brace members (3) having an outer tube (33) and an inner tube (34) provided on the bed; by one end of the inner tube (34) being allowed to move within the outer tube (33) and secured in a plurality of predetermined positions therein; and by the other end of the inner tube (34) being clung to the other side of the bed.

9. The bedrail structure of claim 8, characterized by further comprising a plurality of parallel through holes (341) provided on a surface of the inner tube (34).

10. The bedrail structure of claim 8. characterized by further comprising a pin (3)-3) 1) on the outer tube (333) for being inserted into one of the through holes ()41).

11. The bedrail structure of claim 8, characterized by the other end of the inner tube (334) being a hook shape.

12. The bedrail structure of claim 8, characterized by further comprising a pair of connecting devices (2) for securing a pair of bottom portions of the protection mesh (1) and the brace members (3).

13. A bedrail structure of a child bed comprising a protection mesh (1) provided on one side of the bed and a pair of brace members (3), characterized by each of the brace members (3)) being telescopicly provided on the bed.

14. The bedrail structure of claim 113), characterized by, each of the brace members (3) comprising a rod member (30), a sleeve member (3) 1), and a bar member (J3 2) provided on the bed for clinging to the other side of the bed by the bar member (32).

15. The bedrail structure of claim 14, characterized by one end of the rod member (30) being threadedly secured within the sleeve member (3) 1); and by the bar member being pivotably attached to the sleeve member (3) 1).

16. The bedrail structure of claim 14, characterized by the rod member (30) having an outer 8 tube (33) and an inner tube (34) provided on the bed.

17. The bedrall structure of claim 16, characterized by further comprising a plurality of parallel through holes (341) provided on a surface of the inner tube (34).

18. The bedrail structure of claim 16. characterized by further comprising a pin (33 1) on the outer tube (3) 3) for being inserted into one of the through holes (34 1).

19. The bedrall structure of claim 14, characterized by the bar member (32) being pivoted at an angle at least 900 with respect to the sleeve member (J) 1), 20. The bedrail structure of claim 14, characterized by the bar member (32) being a hook shape.

21. The bedrail structure of claim 133, characterized by further comprising a pair of 1 1 connecting devices (21) for securing a pair of bottom portions of the protection mesh (1) and the brace members 22. A bedrail structure, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.