US20110140061A1

US20110140061A1 - Playpen including a frame member and a fabric enclosure member

Info

Publication number: US20110140061A1
Application number: US12/662,748
Authority: US
Inventors: Kenny Cheng; Song-Qiao Liu
Original assignee: Wonderland Nurseygoods Co Ltd
Current assignee: Wonderland Nurseygoods Co Ltd; Wonderland Nurserygoods Co Ltd Hong Kong
Priority date: 2009-07-03
Filing date: 2010-05-03
Publication date: 2011-06-16
Also published as: GB2471540A; GB2471540B; DE102010022325A1; GB201007452D0; CN101940417B; DE102010022325B4; CN101940417A

Abstract

A playpen includes a frame member and a fabric enclosure member. The frame member includes a top frame unit and a plurality of leg units that are connected to the top frame unit. Each of the leg units includes a plurality of first fasteners that are spacedly arranged along a longitudinal direction thereof. The fabric enclosure member includes a plurality of second fasteners for engaging respectively the first fasteners for securing the fabric enclosure member to the frame member. The fabric enclosure member cooperates with the leg units and the top frame unit of the frame member to define an inner play space.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Chinese Application No. 200910151600.7, filed on Jul. 3, 2009.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a playpen, more particularly to a playpen including a frame member and a fabric enclosure member.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional rectangular playpen includes a frame member 8 and a fabric enclosure member 9 that can be secured to the frame member 8. The frame member 8 and the fabric enclosure member 9 can be assembled to define an inner play space within which infants and young children can perform activities.
The frame member 8 includes four leg units 81 disposed at the four corners, respectively, and the fabric enclosure member 9 is disposed to enclose an outer periphery defined by the leg units 81. The fabric enclosure member 9 is secured to the leg units 81 in a stretched state by a plurality of screws 82, each of which extends through a washer 83, the fabric enclosure member 9, and a lower portion of a respective one of the leg units 81 in the order given.
However, securing the fabric enclosure member 9 to the leg units 81 with the use of the screws 82 generally requires a longer assembly time, and damages the fabric enclosure member 9 such that the fabric enclosure member 9 is susceptible to tearing at parts where the screws 82 pass. In addition, the playpen is aesthetically compromised by the screws 82.
Referring to FIG. 3, U.S. Pat. No. 4,811,437 discloses a playpen including a collapsible frame member 10, and a fabric enclosure member 15 adapted to enclose the frame member 10 so as to define an inner play space within which infants and young children can perform activities. The frame member 10 includes a plurality of corner pieces 11, a plurality of elongated hand rails 12 pivoted to the corner pieces 11, a plurality of foot pieces 13, and a plurality of leg units 14 connected to the corner pieces 11. In the assembly process of the playpen, the leg units 14 must be extended through the fabric enclosure member 15 for coupling between the corner pieces 11 and the foot pieces 13. However, the leg units 14 are free to move about relative to the fabric enclosure member 15, which may hinder the assembly process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a playpen including a frame member and a fabric enclosure member that can overcome at least one of the above drawbacks of the prior art.
According to the present invention, a playpen includes a frame member and a fabric enclosure member. The frame member includes a top frame unit and a plurality of leg units that are connected to the top frame unit. Each of the leg units includes a plurality of first fasteners that are spacedly arranged along a longitudinal direction thereof. The fabric enclosure member includes a plurality of second fasteners for engaging respectively the first fasteners for securing the fabric enclosure member to the frame member. The fabric enclosure member cooperates with the leg units and the top frame unit of the frame member to define an inner play space.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a frame member adapted for use with a fabric enclosure member that includes a plurality of fastener parts. Accordingly, a frame member of the present invention includes a top frame unit and a plurality of leg units connected to the top frame unit. Each of the leg units includes a plurality of fastener pieces that are spacedly arranged along a longitudinal direction thereof, and that are adapted for engaging respectively the fastener parts of the fabric enclosure member for securing the fabric enclosure member to the frame member in a manner that the fabric enclosure member cooperates with the leg units and the top frame unit of the frame member to define an inner play space.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a fabric enclosure member adapted to be secured to a frame member that includes a top frame unit and a plurality of leg units connected to the top frame unit. Each of the leg units includes a plurality of fastener pieces that are spacedly arranged along a longitudinal direction thereof. Accordingly, a fabric enclosure member of the present invention includes a fabric enclosure body provided with a plurality of fastener parts that are adapted for engaging respectively the fastener pieces of the leg units for securing the fabric enclosure member to the frame member in a manner that the fabric enclosure member cooperates with the leg units and the top frame unit of the frame member to define an inner play space.
Through engaging the first fasteners of the frame member with the second fasteners of the fabric enclosure member, the fabric enclosure member can be assembled to the frame member without the use of screws, thereby shortening the assembly time and improving the durability of the playpen.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a conventional playpen that uses screws to assemble a fabric enclosure member to a frame member;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged view of the conventional playpen of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another conventional playpen, which is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,811,437;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of a playpen according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view illustrating first and second fasteners of the playpen of the first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of a playpen according to the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view illustrating first and second fasteners of the playpen of the second preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that like elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the disclosure.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the first preferred embodiment of a playpen 2 according to the present invention includes a frame member 21 and a fabric enclosure member 22 assembled to the frame member 21. The frame member 21 is a rectangular frame member, and includes a top frame unit 211, a bottom frame unit 212, and a plurality of curved leg units 213 connected to and disposed at four corners of the top frame unit 211 and the bottom frame unit 212.
The top frame unit 211 includes a plurality of corner pieces 211 a and a plurality of elongated hand rails 211 b connected to the corner pieces 211 a. Each of the leg units 213 is connected to a corresponding one of the corner pieces 211 a. Each of the leg units 213 includes a plurality of first fasteners (or fastener pieces) 215 that are spacedly arranged along a longitudinal direction thereof. The fabric enclosure member 22 has a fabric enclosure body 220 with a plurality of elongated flap portions 222 that are respectively adjacent to the leg units 213, and a plurality of sleeve portions 221 for extension of the hand rails 211 b of the top frame unit 211 therethrough, respectively. The fabric enclosure member 22 further includes a plurality of second fasteners (or fastener parts) 223 that are disposed on the elongated flap portions 222 along a longitudinal direction of the same, that are disposed to correspond respectively to the first fasteners 215, and that are for engaging respectively the first fasteners 215 of an adjacent one of the leg units 213 so as to secure the fabric enclosure member 22 to the frame member 21. Each of the sleeve portions 221 is formed by folding a top portion of the fabric enclosure member 22 toward the bottom of the fabric enclosure member 22, and sewing the folded portion to the fabric enclosure member 22 along a transverse direction between two adjacent ones of the leg units 213.
The fabric enclosure member 22 is secured to the leg units 213 and the hand rails 211 b of the top frame unit 211 to define an inner play space 3 within which infants and young children can perform activities. The first fasteners 215 are disposed to face toward the inner play space 3.
The bottom frame unit 212 includes a plurality of foot pieces 212 a and a plurality of base rods 212 b pivoted to the foot pieces 212 a. Each of the foot pieces 212 a is connected to a corresponding one of the leg units 213.
Referring to FIG. 5, in the present embodiment, the first fasteners 215 are riveted to the leg units 213. Each of the first fasteners 215 is a male snap fastener formed with a protrusion 215 a, and each of the second fasteners 223 is a female snap fastener formed with a recess 223 a for engaging releasably the protrusion 215 a of a corresponding one of the first fasteners 215. However, arrangement of the first and second fasteners 215, 223 is not limited to such. That is to say, in another embodiment of the present invention, each of the first fasteners 215 can be a female snap fastener formed with a recess, and each of the second fasteners 223 can be a male snap fastener formed with a protrusion for engaging releasably the recess in a corresponding one of the first fasteners 215.
Assembling the fabric enclosure member 22 to the frame member 21 includes the steps of:
Step 1) disposing the fabric enclosure member 22 on the base rods 212 b;
Step 2) sleeving each of the sleeve portions 221 on a corresponding one of the hand rails 211 b; and
Step 3) engaging the second fasteners 223 on the elongated flap portions 222 to the first fasteners 215 of the leg units 213.
Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, in the second preferred embodiment of a playpen 2 according to the present invention, each of the leg units 213 includes a plurality of first fasteners (or fastener pieces) 219, each of which is formed with an insert slot 219 a. The fabric enclosure member 22 includes a plurality of second fasteners (or fastener parts) 224, each of which is formed with an inverted L-shaped hook 224 a for engaging the insert slot 219 a of a corresponding one of the first fasteners 219. Similar to the first preferred embodiment, arrangement of the first and second fasteners 219, 224 in the second preferred embodiment is not limited to such. That is to say, in another embodiment of the present invention, each of the second fasteners 224 can be formed with an insert slot, and each of the first fasteners 219 can be formed with an inverted L-shaped hook for engaging the insert slot of a corresponding one of the second fasteners 224.
In summary, by virtue of the first fasteners 215, 219 of the frame member 21 and the second fasteners 223, 224 of the fabric enclosure member 22, the fabric enclosure member 22 can be assembled to the frame member 21 without the use of screws, thereby shortening the assembly time and improving the durability of the playpen 2 of this invention.
While the present invention has been described in connection with what are considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. A playpen comprising:

a frame member including a top frame unit and a plurality of leg units that are connected to said top frame unit, each of said leg units including a plurality of first fasteners that are spacedly arranged along a longitudinal direction thereof; and

a fabric enclosure member including a plurality of second fasteners for engaging respectively said first fasteners for securing said fabric enclosure member to said frame member, said fabric enclosure member cooperating with said leg units and said top frame unit of said frame member to define an inner play space.

2. The playpen as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first fasteners are disposed on said leg units, and are disposed to face toward said inner play space.

3. The playpen as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fabric enclosure member has a plurality of elongated flap portions respectively adjacent to said leg units, and said second fasteners are disposed on said elongated flap portions and correspond respectively to said first fasteners.

4. The playpen as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first fasteners are riveted to said leg units.

5. The playpen as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of said first fasteners is formed with a protrusion, and each of said second fasteners is formed with a recess for engaging releasably said protrusion of a corresponding one of said first fasteners.

6. The playpen as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of said second fasteners is formed with a protrusion, and each of said first fasteners is formed with a recess for engaging releasably said protrusion of a corresponding one of said second fasteners.

7. The playpen as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said second fasteners is formed with an inverted L-shaped hook, and each of said first fasteners is formed with an insert slot for releasably engaging said hook of a corresponding one of said second fasteners.

8. The playpen as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said first fasteners is formed with an inverted L-shaped hook, and each of said second fasteners is formed with an insert slot for releasably engaging said hook of a corresponding one of said first fasteners.

9. The playpen as claimed in claim 1, wherein said leg units are curved.

10. The playpen as claimed in claim 1, wherein said frame member further includes a bottom frame unit, and said leg units are connected to said bottom frame unit.

11. The playpen as claimed in claim 10, wherein:

said top frame unit includes a plurality of corner pieces and a plurality of hand rails pivoted to said corner pieces, and

said bottom frame unit includes a plurality of foot pieces and a plurality of base rods pivoted to said foot pieces.

12. A frame member adapted for use with a fabric enclosure member that includes a plurality of fastener parts, said frame member comprising:

a top frame unit; and

a plurality of leg units that are connected to said top frame unit, each of said leg units including a plurality of fastener pieces that are spacedly arranged along a longitudinal direction thereof, and that are adapted for engaging respectively the fastener parts of the fabric enclosure member for securing the fabric enclosure member to said frame member in a manner that the fabric enclosure member cooperates with said top frame unit and said leg units of said frame member to define an inner play space.

13. A fabric enclosure member adapted to be secured to a frame member that includes a top frame unit and a plurality of leg units connected to the top frame unit, each of the leg units including a plurality of fastener pieces that are spacedly arranged along a longitudinal direction thereof, said fabric enclosure member comprising a fabric enclosure body provided with a plurality of fastener parts that are adapted for engaging respectively the fastener pieces of the leg units for securing said fabric enclosure member to the frame member in a manner that said fabric enclosure member cooperates with the leg units and the top frame unit of the frame member to define an inner play space.