Beds – Receptacle or support for use with bed
Reexamination Certificate
2001-07-19
2003-12-09
Shackelford, Heather (Department: 3673)
Beds
Receptacle or support for use with bed
C005S658000, C005S663000, C446S227000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06658678
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to articles adapted to be releasably attached to the railings of beds such as cribs.
BACKGROUND
Beds, such as cribs or hospital beds, commonly have railings extending upward above the bed surface. Especially with cribs, it is known to attach various articles, such as for visual, aural, or play stimulation of infants, to these railings. For example, toys can be releasably attached to a crib railing. The attachment mechanism for holding an article in place on such a crib railing should preferably prevent the article from being removed from the railing by a toddler in the crib.
SUMMARY
The invention features a mechanism that can enable the article to be releasably attached to a bed railing in such a way that it is held in place until someone manually releases the article. In an aspect of the invention, an article is adapted to be releasably attached to a bed railing, the article comprising a housing defining an opening for slidingly receiving a portion of the railing when the article is mounted on the railing. It also includes a first pawl movably connected to the housing and arranged to be moved from a retaining position, in which the pawl is adapted to block the opening to prevent removal of the railing from the opening, to a release position retracted from the opening to enable removal of the article from the railing. The article also has a spring connected to the housing and bearing against the pawl to bias the pawl towards its retaining position with respect to the housing.
Embodiments of this aspect of the invention can include the following. The pawl is pivotably connected to the housing. The opening is a slot extending across the housing, and it has an open side through which the portion of the railing is slidingly received. The pawl has a surface arranged to extend into the opening between the portion of the railing and the open side of the slot, to block removal of the railing from the opening. The surface of the pawl defines a first step at a first distance from a distal closed side of the slot, and a second step at a second distance from the distal closed side of the slot, the second distance being greater than the first distance, for accommodating railing members of different sizes. The first distance is about 1.425 inches. The second distance is about 2 inches. The opening defined by the housing is arranged for receiving a generally horizontal portion of the railing. The article also includes a second pawl movably connected to the housing and spaced apart from the first pawl, with the second pawl also arranged to be moved from a retaining position in which the second pawl is adapted to block the opening to prevent removal of the railing from the opening, to a release position retracted from the opening to enable removal of the article from the railing. The first pawl and the second pawl are connected to a common side of the housing. The first and second pawls are independently movable. The first and second pawls are spaced apart a distance generally equal to or less than a spacing between two adjacent vertical crib railing portions. The distance between an outer edge of the first pawl to an outer edge of the second pawl is about 3.0-3.5 inches.
In another aspect of the invention, an article is adapted to be releasably attached to a bed railing, the article including a housing defining a slot for receiving a portion of the railing. The housing is adapted to extend below the railing when the housing is placed over the railing, and the slot has a closed side and an open side. The article also has a pawl with a first engaging surface. The pawl is connected to the housing and arranged to be moved from its first retaining position in which the pawl's first engaging surface blocks removal of the railing from the slot in a direction parallel to an axis extending between the slot's closed and open sides, to a release position to enable removal of the railing. The article also has a spring connected to the housing and bearing against the pawl to bias the pawl towards its retaining position with respect to the housing.
Embodiments of this aspect of the invention can include a pawl having a second engaging surface spaced apart from the first engaging surface for accommodating railings of different sizes. The pawl is arranged to be moved from its second retaining position, in which the second engaging surface blocks removal of the railing member from the slot, to its release position.
Advantageously, an article constructed according to the invention does not require threaded fasteners which can get lost or which can be ingested by a small child. The invention provides a railing gripping mechanism which is incorporated into the article, thereby minimizing the chances of the mechanism being misplaced. Also, the invention provides a mechanism for gripping a railing which encloses all sides of the railing, thus preventing accidental removal of the article from the railing. Further advantages of the invention include its ease of use, and its capability to be used with a wide range of railing dimensions.
The details of embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.
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Conforti Carl J.
Hotaling Bryan R.
Fish & Richardson P.C.
Saldano Lisa M.
Shackelford Heather
The First Years Inc.
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