US20080235867A1

US20080235867A1 - Sliding device for playpen

Info

Publication number: US20080235867A1
Application number: US11/728,921
Authority: US
Inventors: Owen Chen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-03-27
Filing date: 2007-03-27
Publication date: 2008-10-02
Also published as: GB0808895D0; GB2460076A

Abstract

A sliding device for a playpen includes a support unit, a clamping unit juxtaposed to the support unit, a guide unit mounted on the support unit and the clamping unit, and a lifting unit movably mounted on the guide unit. The lifting unit is mounted on a support bar to move the support bar. Thus, the support bar can be moved downward so that a user's hands can extend into the playpen easily and conveniently to facilitate the user holding and taking care of the baby. In addition, the support bar is movable to a height equal to that of the user's bed so that the user can take care of the baby easily and conveniently.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sliding device and, more particularly, to a sliding device for a playpen.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional playpen comprises two shorter transverse support rods, two longer transverse support bars mounted between the transverse support rods, and four upright support rods mounted between the transverse support rods and the transverse support bars to support the transverse support rods and the transverse support bars. Thus, the transverse support rods, the transverse support bars and the upright support rods form a movable space to receive a baby therein. However, the transverse support rods and the transverse support bars are located at a determined height which is higher than that of a user's bed so that the user cannot take care of the baby easily and conveniently, thereby causing inconvenience to the user when needing to take the baby out of the playpen.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a sliding device, comprising a support unit, a clamping unit juxtaposed to the support unit, a guide unit mounted on the support unit and the clamping unit, and a lifting unit movably mounted on the guide unit.
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a sliding device for a playpen, wherein the support bar can be moved downward so that a user's hands can extend into the playpen easily and conveniently to facilitate the user holding and taking care of the baby.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a sliding device for a playpen, wherein the movable block of the lifting unit is unlocked from the guide track of the guide unit by pressing the push button of the support unit, so that the support bar is lifted or lowered easily and quickly, thereby facilitating the user moving the support bar.
A further objective of the present invention is to provide a sliding device for a playpen, wherein the movable block of the lifting unit is stopped by the stop block of the guide unit to stop a further movement of the support bar so that the support bar is located at a height equal to that of the user's bed so that the user can take care of the baby easily and conveniently.
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)

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sliding device for a playpen in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the sliding device as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a support unit of the sliding device as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is another perspective view of the support unit of the sliding device as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a push button of the support unit as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a lifting unit of the sliding device as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a partially top cross-sectional view of the sliding device as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a partially front cross-sectional view of the sliding device as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a schematic operational view of the sliding device as shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a schematic operational view of the sliding device as shown in FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1-8, a sliding device for a playpen in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a support unit 1, a clamping unit 2 juxtaposed to the support unit 1, a guide unit 3 mounted on the support unit 1 and the clamping unit 2, and a lifting unit 4 movably mounted on the guide unit 3.
The support unit 1 includes a mounting seat 11, a push button 13 movably mounted in the mounting seat 11, and a biasing member 12 mounted in the mounting seat 11 and biased between the mounting seat 11 and the push button 13 to push the push button 13 outwardly relative to the mounting seat 11.
The mounting seat 11 of the support unit 1 has a substantially triangular shape and has a first end formed with a first mounting hole 110 (see FIG. 7) mounted on a transverse support rod 5 and a second end formed with a second mounting hole 112 (see FIG. 4) mounted on an upright support rod 6 and being perpendicular to the first mounting hole 110. The mounting seat 11 of the support unit 1 has a first side formed with a mounting recess 113 for mounting the push button 13 and the biasing member 12 and a second side formed with a fixing recess 111 located opposite to the mounting recess 113. The mounting seat 11 of the support unit 1 has a side wall formed with a passage 114 connected to the fixing recess 111 and aligning with the push button 13. The mounting seat 11 of the support unit 1 has an upper portion formed with a downward extending stop wall 116. The support unit 1 further includes a fixing rivet 14 extended through the mounting seat 11 and the transverse support rod 5 to secure the mounting seat 11 to the transverse support rod 5. The push button 13 of the support unit 1 is movably mounted in the mounting recess 113 of the mounting seat 11 and provided with a push rod 134 that is movable to extend through the passage 114 of the mounting seat 11. The push button 13 of the support unit 1 is provided with two opposite retractable snapping blocks 132 mounted in and retained by a peripheral wall of mounting recess 113 to prevent the push button 13 from being detached from the mounting seat 11. The biasing member 12 of the support unit 1 is mounted on the push rod 134 of the push button 13.
The clamping unit 2 includes a clamping block 21 juxtaposed to the mounting seat 11 of the support unit 1, and a fixing rivet 23 extended through the clamping block 21 and the upright support rod 6 to secure the clamping block 21 to the upright support rod 6. The clamping block 21 of the clamping unit 2 is clamped on the upright support rod 6 and has a first side formed with a fixing channel 211 aligning with the fixing recess 111 of the mounting seat 11 and a second side formed with a clamping recess 22 clamped on the upright support rod 6. The fixing channel 211 of the clamping block 21 has a lower end formed with a fixing hole 212.
The guide unit 3 includes a guide track 31 mounted on the mounting seat 11 of the support unit 1 and the clamping block 21 of the clamping unit 2 and having an upper end formed with a locking hole 314 aligning with the passage 114 of the mounting seat 11, and a stop block 32 mounted on a lower end of the guide track 31.
The guide track 31 of the guide unit 3 is mounted in the fixing recess 111 of the mounting seat 11 and the fixing channel 211 of the clamping block 21 and has an inside formed with a slideway 311. The guide track 31 of the guide unit 3 has two substantially L-shaped guide rails 310 between which the slideway 311 is located. The upper end of the guide track 31 is formed with an upward extending flange 316 secured in the stop wall 116 of the mounting seat 11. The lower end of the guide track 31 of the guide unit 3 is formed with a fixing bore 312 aligning with the fixing hole 212 of the clamping block 21. The stop block 32 of the guide unit 3 protrudes outwardly from the guide track 31 and has an inside formed with a fixing aperture 321 aligning with the fixing bore 312 of the guide track 31. The guide unit 3 further includes a fixing rivet 33 extended through the fixing aperture 321 of the stop block 32, the fixing bore 312 of the guide track 31 and the fixing hole 212 of the clamping block 21 to secure the stop block 32 to the guide track 31 and to secure the guide track 31 to the clamping block 21.
The lifting unit 4 includes a movable block 41 movably mounted on the guide track 31 of the guide unit 3, a locking rod 43 movably mounted in the movable block 41 and detachably locked in the locking hole 314 of the guide track 31 to lock the movable block 41 onto the guide track 31, and an elastic member 42 mounted in the movable block 41 and biased between the locking rod 43 and the movable block 41 to push the locking rod 43 toward the locking hole 314 of the guide track 31.
The movable block 41 of the lifting unit 4 has a first side formed with a receiving groove 412 to receive the locking rod 43 and elastic member 42 and a second side formed with a mounting bore 411 mounted on a transverse support bar 7 and being perpendicular to the first mounting hole 110 and the second mounting hole 112 of the mounting seat 11. The first side of the movable block 41 is provided with an elongated slide 45 inserted into and slidably mounted in the slideway 311 of the guide track 31. The slide 45 of the movable block 41 has a substantially T-shaped cross-sectional profile and is provided with two protruding limit flanges 450 limited by the guide rails 310 of the guide track 31 to prevent the slide 45 of the movable block 41 from being detached from the slideway 311 of the guide track 31. The receiving groove 412 of the movable block 41 is extended through the slide 45 and is movable to align with the locking hole 314 of the guide track 31. The lifting unit 4 further includes a fixing rivet 44 extended through the movable block 41 and the support bar 7 to secure the movable block 41 to the support bar 7. The locking rod 43 of the lifting unit 4 is extended through the passage 114 of the mounting seat 11 and rested on the push rod 134 of the push button 13.
In operation, referring to FIGS. 8-10 with reference to FIGS. 1-7, the locking rod 43 of the lifting unit 4 is locked in the locking hole 314 of the guide track 31 as shown in FIG. 8 to lock the movable block 41 onto the guide track 31. At this time, the locking rod 43 of the lifting unit 4 is extended through the passage 114 of the mounting seat 11 and rested on the push rod 134 of the push button 13.
As shown in FIG. 9, when the push button 13 of the support unit 1 is pressed toward the mounting seat 11, the locking rod 43 of the lifting unit 4 is pushed by the push rod 134 of the push button 13 and is detached from the locking hole 314 of the guide track 31 to unlock the movable block 41 from the guide track 31 so that the movable block 41 of the lifting unit 4 is movable on the guide track 31 of the guide unit 3 to move the support bar 7. Thus, the support bar 7 is lifted or lowered by moving the movable block 41 of the lifting unit 4 relative to the guide track 31 of the guide unit 3.
As shown in FIG. 10, when the movable block 41 of the lifting unit 4 is movable to the lowermost position of the guide track 31 of the guide unit 3, the movable block 41 of the lifting unit 4 is stopped by the stop block 32 of the guide unit 3 to stop a further movement of the support bar 7.
Accordingly, the support bar 7 can be moved downward so that a user's hands can extend into the playpen easily and conveniently to facilitate the user holding and taking care of the baby. In addition, the movable block 41 of the lifting unit 4 is unlocked from the guide track 31 of the guide unit 3 by pressing the push button 13 of the support unit 1, so that the support bar 7 is lifted or lowered easily and quickly, thereby facilitating the user moving the support bar 7. Further, the movable block 41 of the lifting unit 4 is stopped by the stop block 32 of the guide unit 3 to stop a further movement of the support bar 7 so that the support bar 7 is located at a height equal to that of the user's bed so that the user can take care of the baby easily and conveniently.
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.

Claims

1. A sliding device, comprising:

a support unit;

a clamping unit juxtaposed to the support unit;

a guide unit mounted on the support unit and the clamping unit;

a lifting unit movably mounted on the guide unit.

2. The sliding device in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the support unit includes a mounting seat, a push button movably mounted in the mounting seat, and a biasing member mounted in the mounting seat and biased between the mounting seat and the push button to push the push button outwardly relative to the mounting seat;

the clamping unit includes a clamping block juxtaposed to the mounting seat of the support unit;

the guide unit includes a guide track mounted on the mounting seat of the support unit and the clamping block of the clamping unit and having an upper end formed with a locking hole, and a stop block mounted on a lower end of the guide track;

the lifting unit includes a movable block movably mounted on the guide track of the guide unit, a locking rod movably mounted in the movable block and detachably locked in the locking hole of the guide track to lock the movable block onto the guide track, and an elastic member mounted in the movable block and biased between the locking rod and the movable block to push the locking rod toward the locking hole of the guide track.

3. The sliding device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the mounting seat of the support unit has a first side formed with a mounting recess for mounting the push button and the biasing member.

4. The sliding device in accordance with claim 3, wherein:

the mounting seat of the support unit has a second side formed with a fixing recess located opposite to the mounting recess;

the clamping block of the clamping unit is clamped on the upright support rod and has a first side formed with a fixing channel aligning with the fixing recess of the mounting seat;

the guide track of the guide unit is mounted in the fixing recess of the mounting seat and the fixing channel of the clamping block.

5. The sliding device in accordance with claim 4, wherein:

the fixing channel of the clamping block has a lower end formed with a fixing hole;

the lower end of the guide track of the guide unit is formed with a fixing bore aligning with the fixing hole of the clamping block;

the stop block of the guide unit protrudes outwardly from the guide track and has an inside formed with a fixing aperture aligning with the fixing bore of the guide track;

the guide unit further includes a fixing rivet extended through the fixing aperture of the stop block, the fixing bore of the guide track and the fixing hole of the clamping block to secure the stop block to the guide track and to secure the guide track to the clamping block.

6. The sliding device in accordance with claim 4, wherein the movable block of the lifting unit has a first side formed with a receiving groove to receive the locking rod and elastic member.

7. The sliding device in accordance with claim 6, wherein:

the guide track of the guide unit has an inside formed with a slideway;

the first side of the movable block is provided with an elongated slide inserted into and slidably mounted in the slideway of the guide track.

8. The sliding device in accordance with claim 7, wherein:

the guide track of the guide unit has two substantially L-shaped guide rails between which the slideway is located.

the slide of the movable block has a substantially T-shaped cross-sectional profile and is provided with two protruding limit flanges limited by the guide rails of the guide track to prevent the slide of the movable block from being detached from the slideway of the guide track.

9. The sliding device in accordance with claim 4, wherein:

the mounting seat of the support unit has a side wall formed with a passage connected to the fixing recess and aligning with the push button;

the locking hole of the guide track aligns with the passage of the mounting seat;

the push button of the support unit is movably mounted in the mounting recess of the mounting seat and provided with a push rod that is movable to extend through the passage of the mounting seat.

10. The sliding device in accordance with claim 9, wherein the biasing member of the support unit is mounted on the push rod of the push button.

11. The sliding device in accordance with claim 9, wherein the locking rod of the lifting unit is extended through the passage of the mounting seat and rested on the push rod of the push button.

12. The sliding device in accordance with claim 2, wherein:

the mounting seat of the support unit has an upper portion formed with a downward extending stop wall;

the upper end of the guide track is formed with an upward extending flange secured in the stop wall of the mounting seat.

13. The sliding device in accordance with claim 6, wherein:

the mounting seat of the support unit has a first end formed with a first mounting hole mounted on a transverse support rod and a second end formed with a second mounting hole mounted on an upright support rod and being perpendicular to the first mounting hole;

the movable block of the lifting unit has a second side formed with a mounting bore mounted on a transverse support bar and being perpendicular to the first mounting hole and the second mounting hole of the mounting seat.

14. The sliding device in accordance with claim 13, wherein the clamping block of the clamping unit has a second side formed with a clamping recess clamped on the upright support rod.

15. The sliding device in accordance with claim 13, wherein the clamping unit further includes a fixing rivet extended through the clamping block and the upright support rod to secure the clamping block to the upright support rod.

16. The sliding device in accordance with claim 13, wherein the support unit further includes a fixing rivet extended through the mounting seat and the transverse support rod to secure the mounting seat to the transverse support rod.

17. The sliding device in accordance with claim 13, wherein the lifting unit further includes a fixing rivet extended through the movable block and the support bar to secure the movable block to the support bar.

18. The sliding device in accordance with claim 7, wherein the receiving groove of the movable block is extended through the slide and is movable to align with the locking hole of the guide track.

19. The sliding device in accordance with claim 11, wherein:

when the push button of the support unit is pressed toward the mounting seat, the locking rod of the lifting unit is pushed by the push rod of the push button and is detached from the locking hole of the guide track to unlock the movable block from the guide track so that the movable block of the lifting unit is movable on the guide track of the guide unit to move the support bar;

when the movable block of the lifting unit is movable to a lowermost position of the guide track of the guide unit, the movable block of the lifting unit is stopped by the stop block of the guide unit.

20. The sliding device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the mounting seat of the support unit has a substantially triangular shape.