US2691177A - Folding crib - Google Patents

Description

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Lloyd t-Elw Leonard,

Patented Oct. 12, 1954 UNITED STATE-S ATENT lOFFICE FOLDING CRIB Lloyd H. Leonard, Valdosta, Ga.

Application November 28, 1949, Serial No. 129,820

5 Claims.

This invention relates to cribs or the like, and more particularly to folding or collapsible cribs for use when traveling.

The general object of the invention is to provide a crib which, when in open position, will afford comfortable and sanitary accommodation for a young child, and which is capable of folding into a smallcompact package for ready transportation or storage.

A specific object is to devise a crib of this character which shall be exceptionally light in weight, and relatively cheap and simple in construction.

Another specific'object of the invention is to provide a crib of this nature having a iiexible fabric body constructed with a rigid bottom comprising hingedly connected sections adapted to fold in such manner as to enclose the flexible body, whereby such rigid sections constitute the outer sides cf the folded crib.

A still further specic object is to devise a collapsible crib of this character having supporting -legs pivoted thereto in such manner that, when folded, they extend diagonally across the outside of the rigid bottom sections referred to in the preceding paragraph and lie closely against the same, so as to hold them in'position.

Yet another object of the invention is to so design the crib that the above mentioned rigid bottom is supported above the door, but near enough -for the floor to act as a stop to limit the downward movement of such bottom when it is subjected to excessive strains such as caused by the child jumping thereon.

With the above and other objects in view, and to improve generally on the details of such devices, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this speciiication, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the crib as it appears whenin operative position ready for use;

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are similar perspective views showing successive steps in the folding operation;

Fig. 4 illustrates the crib completely folded into a compact package;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the crib as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical section on'an enlargedscale through one end of the bottom of the crib;

Fig. 8 is a similar section through the middle portion of the bottom ofthe crib;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary elevation on an enlarged scale showing a corner oi the crib frame with one of the legs mounted thereon, the view comprising the portion of the crib indicated by the line 9 9 of Fig. 5 and looking in the direction of thearrows;

Fig. ll() is an enlarged fragmentary vertical vsection through one of the corners of the crib frame taken substantially on the line Ill-l0 of Fig. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. l1 is a similar View but showing the legs in folded position;

Figs. 12 and 13 are fragmentary elevations on an enlarged scale showing the hinge joint uniting the two sections of the crib frame;

Fig. 12 shows the position of the parts when the joint is rigid and Fig. 13 shows the joint ready to be folded; and

Fig. 14 is a similar view showing the joint in folded position.

Referring to the drawings in detail, my improved crib comprises a generally rectangular frame composed of a pair of U-shaped sections I and 2, this frame being preferably formed of light strong material such as-aluminum tubing. The adjoining ends of the two U-shaped sections are united by a hinge joint comprising a link 3 connected by pivots l to the ends of the respective sections. A sleeve 5 slides freely over the hinge joint just described and its endwise movement is limited by stop pins or rivets 6 and l as clearly shown in Figs. 12 and 13. When the sleeve '5 is positioned over the joint, and encloses the link 3 as shown in Fig. 12, the two sections are held rigidly in alignment and constitute in effect a rectangular frame. When, however, the sleeve is shifted to one side of the joint as shown in Fig. 13, the two sections may be swung toward each other about the pivots ,4 into a substantially parallel position, as shown in Fig. 14.

The rectangular frame composed of the sections l and 2 is shown as having rounded corners la and 2a, and on these rounded corners at each end of the frame are pivotally mounted a pair of supporting legs Il. To each rounded corner is 'secured as by riveting a bracket r (Figs. 9 and 10). The leg Il is secured to a bracket IE) which is pivoted at 9 to the bracket 8, as clearly shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

A tension spring i2 connects the two brackets 3 and ID, having one end hooked into an opening I3 in the bracket 8 and the other end hooked into an opening I4 in the bracket l0. These openings are so positioned that the spring lies on one side of the pivot 9 when the leg is extended in operative position as shown in Fig. 10, and lies on the other side of the pivot 9 when the leg is folded, as shown in Fig. ll. Thus as the leg is moved from one position to the other, the spring moves across the pivot. This arrangement constitutes a resilient toggle which serves to yieldingly maintain the leg in either operative or folded position. The outward movement of the leg when swung to operative position as shown in Fig. is limited by engagement of the bracket I8 with the frame.

By virtue of the fact that the leg-supporting brackets are secured to the rounded corners of the frame, it will be seen that these legs extend outwardly and downwardly from such corners in diverging relation to each other, as shown in Figs. l and 5, and are so disposed that they swing in planes which substantially bisect the angle between the side and end members of the frame, as will be clear from an inspection of Fig. 5. In other words the legs swing in planes lying at substantially 45 to the side and end members of the frame.

The body l5 of the crib is formed of iiexible textile material, preferably an open mesh fabric or netting. This is suspended from the frame I, 2 as by having its upper edge looped over the frame. It will, of course, be understood that the fabric is cut away at the middle of the sides to afford access to the sleeves 5, and is also cut away at the corners so as not to interfere with the pivotal movement of the legs.

The bottom of the crib body is preferably rigid and is shown as formed of three stiff panels l5, i9 and 20, made of plyboard or the like and enclosed between plies of fabric il. These plies of fabric are united around their outer edge and secured as by stitching to the lower edge of the body i5, the seam being preferably enclosed by a binding I8 of bias tape or the like, as clearly shown in Fig. '7.

By reference to Fig. 8 it will be seen that the fabric plies Il are stitched together transversely as at 2l between the panels l and i9 and the panels I9 and 2U, thus forming hinged connections about which the panels may be folded It will now be understood that the panels i6 and are each substantially co-extensive in size with the U-shaped sections l and 2 of the frame, while the panel I9 is relatively narrow and is of slightly greater width than the distance between the outside surfaces of the two frame sections when folded into parallel relation as shown in Fig. 14.

In other words, it will be clear that the rigid bottom of the crib body is made up of a central relatively narrow portion and two relatively wide end portions, all hingedly connected so that they may fold relative to each other. Straps 24 are preferably secured ,to and project beyond' the free ends of each of the end portions of the bottom, one set of straps being provided with buckles 24a. A carrying handle 25 is secured to the straps or buckles in any suitable way so that the folded crib may be conveniently handled when formed into a package as shown in Fig; 4.

A flexible mattress 22, conforming substantially with the size and shape of the interior of the crib body, is supported on the rigid bottom above described, as shown in Fig. '7.

From an inspection of Fig. 6, it will be seen that the legs li are of such length as to support the bottom of the crib a short distance above the floor. This is desirable to protect the occupant from cold and drafts. As is well known, children frequently have the habit of jumping up and down in a crib, and while the frame I, 2 is sufciently rigid to support the weight of the child when still, it is more or less resilient and will necessarily yield under the impact of excess loads such as caused by a child jumping, as described. It is therefore a feature of the present invention to so proportion the length of the legs relative to the depth of the crib, that while the bottom of the crib is normally supported above the floor, it is disposed sufficiently close so that the floor will act as a stop to limit the downward movement of the crib bottom when ,the frame yields under the excessive strains such as caused by the impact of a child when jumping.

When it is desired to fold the crib, the sleeves 5 are slipped to one side of the link 3, and thereupon the frame will collapse as shown in Fig. 2. The frame sections are then folded together into substantially parallel relation and the end portions IS and 20 of the rigid bottom are swung upwardly toward the outside of the frame sections. During this swinging operation the flexible material of the body I5 is conned and compressed between the end portions of the bottom and the frame sections. By careful manipulation of this flexible material the end portions of the bottom can be brought substantially into contact with the frame sections, as shown in Fig. 3.

After the end portions of the bottom have thus been folded up against the frame sections, the legs are swung downwardly into the position shown in Fig. 3. It will be seen that when so folded, each pair of legs lies against the corresponding end portion of the bottom in crossed relation, the legs of each pair extending diagonally of ythe bottom portion, One of the legs of each pair is preferably formed with a bend or offset ila adjacent the middle thereof so as to allow it to cross the other leg and at the same time lie fiat against the bottom portion. It will be understood that the reason why the legs when folded, extend diagonally of the end portions of the bottom as described, is because, as above pointed out, these legs are mounted to swing in planes disposed at substantially 45 to the end and side members of the frame sections.

By virtue of the resilient toggle comprising the spring I2, this spring tends to cause the legs to press firmly against the outside of the end portions of the bottom, thus tending to hold them in position. In order Ito maintain the legs securely in folded position and hold them against accidental displacement, I preferably provide pockets 23 at the lower corners of each end portion, into which pockets the extremities of the legs can be inserted, it being understood that the edges of the pockets are formed of elastic material so that they may be snapped over the legs. Instead of the pockets, simple resilient straps or bands may be employed.

It will further be understood that when the crib is folded as described, the mattress and any bed clothes employed are folded up between and inside of the frame sections and end portions of the crib bottom, so that they are completely enclosed within the device when in package form.

After the frame sections and end portions of the crib bottom have been folded as described, they are drawn together and held in a compact package by means of the straps 24, and this may be conveniently carried by means of the handle 25 like any other piece of luggage.

The folded crib as shown in Fig. 4, may, if desired, be enclosed within a cloth carrying case. to protect it from dirt and dust, but it will be particularly noted that when in the condition shown in Fig. 4, the rigid portions of the crib bottom form the outer sides and lower edge of the package, thus providing a rectangular article with hard walls.

While I have described the invention as a crib, it is obvious that the novel features of the design are equally applicable to other articles, such for example as a portable bath tub. In this case, of course the body would be formed of water proof canvas or the like, and the rigid bottom panels might or might not be used, as preferred. When, therefore, in the appended claims, I use the word cri I intend to include other articles such as bath tubs also.

While I have shown and described the corners of the frame as rounded, it is obvious that these corners need not necessarily be curved or arcuate but might consist of straight portions uniting the side and end members o1 the frame and disposed at an angle of approximately 45 to each, and where, in the appended claims, I use the word "rounded I mean to include such a modification.

What I claim is:

1. A folding crib comprising a rectangular frame made up of a pair of U-shaped sections hingedly connected at their ends, separate legs pivotally mounted at each corner of said frame to swing independently in planes substantially bisecting the angle between the ends and sides of the rectangle, and a body of flexible textile material suspended from said frame, said body having a substantially rigid bottom comprising a relatively narrow middle portion and relatively wide end portions, all hingedly connected, whereby, when said U-shaped sections are folded together about their hinged joint, said end portions may be folded up about their hinged connection with said middle portion into engagement with said respective U-shaped sections, thus forming a compact package, the said rigid end portions of the bottom constituting the outer side walls of said package, and said middle portion constituting the lower edge thereof.

2. A folding crib comprising a, rectangular frame made up of a pair of U-shaped sections hingedly connected at their ends, pairs of independent supporting legs secured to the corners of said frame, a body of flexible textile material suspended from said frame, said body having a substantially rigid bottom comprising a. middle portion and end portions, all hingedly connected, said end portions being of a size conforming substantially with that of said U-shaped frame sections, whereby, when said sections are folded together about their hinged joint, said end portions may be folded up about their hinged connection with said middle portion so as to lie substantially fiat against the outside of said sections, said legs being pivotally mounted on said frame to swing at such an `angle that the legs of each pair may be folded into positions extending diagonally of and in contact with the respective end portions, and in crossing relation with each other.

3. A folding crib comprising a rectangular frame made up of a pair of U-shaped sections hingedly connected at their ends, pairs of supporting legs secured to the corners of said frame,

a body of flexible textile material suspended from said frame, said body having asubstantially rigid bottom comprising a middle portion and end portions, all hingedly connected, said end portions being of a size conforming substantially with that of said U-shaped frame sections, whereby, when said sections are folded together about their hinged joint, said end portions may be folded up about their hinged connection with said middle portion so as to lie substantially flat against the outside of said sections, said legs being pivotally mounted on said frame to swing in planes lying at an angle of approximately to the side and end members of said frame, whereby the legs of each pair may either extend downwardly and outwardly from the corners of the frame when in supporting position, or may be folded into positions extending diagonally of the respective end portions, in crossing relation, and resilient toggle means tending to either maintain said legs in normal supporting position or to cause them to exert yielding pressure, when in folded position, on said end portions, to hold the latter in place.

4. A folding crib comprising a rectangular frame made up of a pair of hingedly connected sections, a pair of independent supporting legs secured to the corners of each of said frame sections, and a body of flexible, textile material suspended from said frame, each of said legs being pivotally mounted on its frame section in such manner as to swing in a single plane only, disposed at such an angle that the legs of each pair may be folded into positions extending diagonally of the frame section on which they are mounted and in crossing relation with each other.

5. A folding crib comprising a rectangular frame made up of a pair of U-shaped sections hingedly joined at their ends, a pair of independent supporting legs secured to the corners of each section, and a body of flexible textile material suspended from said frame, each of said pair of legs being pivotally mounted on its frame section in such manner .as to swing in a single plane only disposed at such an angle that the legs of each pair may be folded into positions extending diagonally of the frame section on which they are mounted and in crossing relation with each other, said legs being of such length that, when thus folded, they do not extend beyond the end of their own frame section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS` Number Name Date 823,321 DeJonge June 12, 1906 1,389,682 Melniker Sept. 6, 1921 1,429,969 Palmer Sept. 26, 1922 1,498,633 Lewis June 24, 1924 1,845,791 Gray Feb. 16, 1932 2,493,181 Andersen Jan. 3, 1950 2,587,255 Vogel et al. Feb. 26, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 342,350 Italy July 30, 1936

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