Beds – Crib – Bedstead attached
Reexamination Certificate
2001-01-02
2003-04-22
Will, Thomas B. (Department: 3673)
Beds
Crib
Bedstead attached
C005S093100, C005S011000, C005S100000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06550082
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The instant invention relates to the field of convertible units for use with babies and very young children; in particular to units which may be easily converted to a crib or child's bed-side sleeping enclosure, hereinafter referred to for convenience as a “co-sleeper”, that attaches securely to the parents' bed. The invention also includes a stand-alone unit for use with existing cribs.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Furniture and fixtures for use by babies and small children often presents a problem for parents with limited living space. For this reason it is desirable that such furniture serve more than one purpose. A bedside co-sleeper is very useful for an infant or very young child as it prevents a parent from having to get out of bed to deal with a child requiring minor attention or comforting. If the co-sleeper can then be put to other uses, the parents will save both space and the cost of other furniture. Various examples of such multi-purpose children's furniture have been patented and sold.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,349,709, issued to Cheng teaches a folding combination playpen and baby bed having an elevated floorboard. U.S. Pat. No. 5,339,470, issued to Shamie discloses a combination foldable playpen and dressing/changing table. Mariol adds an upper level to a playpen to provide a bassinet. The short legs of the upper level are inserted into openings in the top of the vertical supports of the playpen. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,553,336). U.S. Pat. No. 2,632,186, issued to Berk et al. discloses a portable combination crib and playpen. Saldana teaches a unit designed for home and travel that may be used as a support for a playpen, bassinet or baby chair (U.S. Pat. No. 2,691,176).
Beside cribs that attached to the parents' bed were known at the turn of the century (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,548,005; 620,069; 1,138,451; 1,283,169; 1,267,244) but fell out of favor for many years. Recently there has been a resurgence in the practice of having babies adjacent the parents' bed. Such bed-side devices are taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,172,435 to Griffin et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,148,561 to Tharalson et al; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,293,655 to Van Winkle et al.
It is an objective of the present invention to provide a crib that can be adapted for use as a baby co-sleeper. It is a further objective of the invention to provide a stand-alone unit that can be used to convert an existing crib to a co-sleeper. It is still a further objective of the present invention that the unit provide a means for adjusting the height of the co-sleeper unit within the crib structure so as to be adaptable for use with platform-style beds that are typically lower than conventional beds. Finally, it is an objective of the invention that the stand-alone unit be readily collapsible for transport and storage. Other features and advantages of the invention will be seen from the following description and drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention addresses all of the deficiencies of prior art convertible co-sleeper inventions and satisfies all of the objectives described above.
A crib convertibly adapted for use as a co-sleeper providing the desired features may be constructed from the following components. A first rigid enclosure with an open top, a floor, a front wall, and at least one surrounding wall is provided. The front wall is removably mounted to the crib and the enclosure is of a first predetermined height. A second enclosure sized to fit substantially within the first enclosure and having an open top, a bottom and at least one surrounding wall is provided. Means are provided for adjustably supporting the second enclosure within the first enclosure at at least one predetermined distance from the top of the first enclosure. A securing strap assembly for securing the crib to a parental bed is provided. When the front wall is removed from the crib, the second enclosure is supported by the supporting means, the securing strap assembly is properly positioned and the crib is secured to the parental bed the crib will serve as a co-sleeper.
In a variant of the invention, a crib convertibly adapted for use as a co-sleeper may be constructed from the following components. A rigid first enclosure having an open top, a floor, a front wall, a back wall, a first side wall and a second side wall is provided. The front wall is removably mounted to the crib and the first enclosure is of a first predetermined height. A second enclosure having an open top, a floor, a front, a back, a first side and a second side is provided.
First, second, third and fourth mounting rails, each of the rails having a first end and a second end are provided. The first mounting rail is affixed at its first end and its second end to the first side wall adjacent the front wall. The second mounting rail is affixed at its first end and its second end to the first side wall adjacent the back wall. The third mounting rail is affixed at its first end and its second end to the second side wall adjacent the front wall. The fourth mounting rail is affixed at its first end and its second end to the second side wall adjacent the back wall. Means are provided for adjustably mounting the second enclosure to the first, second, third and fourth mounting rails within the first enclosure at at least one predetermined distance from the top of the first enclosure. A securing strap assembly for securing the crib to a parental bed is provided. When the front wall is removed from the crib, the second enclosure is mounted within the first enclosure, the securing strap assembly is properly positioned and the crib is secured to the parental bed the crib will serve as a co-sleeper.
In a further variant of the invention, the back, first side and second side of the second enclosure are of a second predetermined height and the front of the second enclosure is of a third predetermined height, less than the second predetermined height.
In still a further variant of the invention, the first side and the second side of the second enclosure extend past a front edge of the first side wall and a front edge of the second side wall, respectively, for a second predetermined distance.
In yet a further variant, the means for adjustably mounting the second enclosure to the first, second, third and fourth mounting rails includes first, second, third and fourth locking guide tube assemblies. Each of the locking assemblies includes a length of rigid tubing. The tubing is sized and shaped to fit slidably over one the first, second, third and fourth mounting rails. Means for attaching the locking assembly to the second enclosure, and means for releasably securing the locking assembly to one of the mounting rails are provided.
The first locking guide assembly is attached to the second enclosure at an intersection of a front edge and a top edge of the first side. The second locking guide assembly is attached to the second enclosure at an intersection of a back edge and the top edge of the first side. The third locking guide assembly is attached to the second enclosure at an intersection of a front edge and a top edge of the second side. The fourth locking guide assembly is attached to the second enclosure at an intersection of a back edge and the top edge of the second side.
In still a further variant of the invention, the means for adjustably mounting the second enclosure to the first, second, third and fourth mounting rails includes first, second, third and fourth guide tube assemblies. Each of the guide tube assemblies includes a length of rigid tubing. The tubing is sized and shaped to fit slidably over one the first, second, third and fourth mounting rails. Means are provided for attaching the guide tube assembly to the second enclosure. The first guide tube assembly is attached to the second enclosure at an intersection of the front edge and a bottom edge of the first side. The second guide tube assembly is attached to the second enclosure at an intersection of the back edge and the bottom edge of the first side. The third guide tube assembly is attached
Tharalson Diana
Tharalson Douglas
Arm's Reach Concepts, Inc.
Belasco David A.
Belasco Jacobs & Townsley LLP
Saldano Lisa
Will Thomas B.
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