Beds – Crib – Convertible
Reexamination Certificate
2001-04-20
2003-06-17
Lagman, Frederick L. (Department: 3673)
Beds
Crib
Convertible
C005S095000, C005S098100, C005S655000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06578211
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF 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 changing table or child's bed-side sleeping enclosure, hereinafter referred to for convenience as a “co-sleeper”, that attaches securely to the parents' bed.
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. U.S. Pat. No. 5,553,336 issued to 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. 2,632,186, issued to Berk et al. discloses a portable combination crib and playpen. U.S. Pat. No. 2,691,176 issued to Saldana teaches a unit designed for home and travel that may be used as a support for a playpen, bassinet or baby chair.
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 bedside co-sleeper that can be adapted for use as a changing table. It is a further objective of the invention to provide a stand-alone unit that is inexpensive, compact and portable. It is still a further objective of the present invention that the unit be simple to erect and collapsible for transport and storage. Finally, it is an objective of the invention that the co-sleeper design consider and address all possible safety considerations related to its use. Other features and advantages of the invention will be seen from the following description and drawings. The present invention addresses many of the deficiencies of prior art convertible sleeping unit inventions and satisfies all of the objectives described above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A combination co-sleeper and changing table providing the desired features may be constructed from the following components. A rigid frame is provided. The frame provides means for attaching a support platform at a first predetermined height. The first predetermined height is less than a height of a top surface of a mattress of a parental bed. An enclosure is provided. The enclosure has an open top, a surrounding wall and a floor, the floor has an upper surface and a lower surface. The enclosure is sized and shaped to fit removably over the rigid frame with the lower surface of the floor located upon the support platform. A mattress pad is provided. The mattress pad is sized and shaped to fit slidably within the enclosure. Means are provided for removably attaching the rigid frame to a side of the parental bed.
In a variant of the invention, the rigid frame includes a front side element, a back side element, a first side element and a second side element. The rigid frame is formed at a top by a rear upper horizontal rail and first and second upper side parallel horizontal rails and two upper front corner members and two upper rear corner members in cooperation with the rails. The rigid frame is formed adjacent a floor by front and rear lower parallel horizontal rails and first side and second side lower parallel horizontal rails and four lower corner leg members in cooperation with the rails. A pair of front vertical rails and a pair of rear vertical rails are in further cooperation with the two upper front corner members and the two upper rear corner members and the four lower corner leg members.
A front upper horizontal rail is in cooperation with the front vertical rails. The front upper horizontal rail has a first end and a second end. The rear upper horizontal rail and first and second upper side parallel horizontal rails are located at a second predetermined height and the front upper horizontal rail is located at a third, lower predetermined height. The third predetermined height is greater than the first predetermined height and the second predetermined height is greater than the third predetermined height.
In a further variant, the support platform includes first and second intermediate side parallel horizontal rails and first and second horizontal support rails. The first and second intermediate side parallel horizontal rails have first and second ends, a mid point and are removably connected at the first and second ends to the front and rear vertical rails of the first and second side elements, respectively. The first and second horizontal support rails have first and second ends, a mid point and are removably connected at the first and second ends to the first and second intermediate side parallel horizontal rails.
In still a further variant, the support platform includes first, second, third and fourth support hangers. Each of the support hangers has a first end, a second end, an inner side and an outer side. Each of the hangers has a curved hooking portion located at the first end. The hooking portion is sized and shaped to fit frictionally over the rigid frame and one of the first and second upper side horizontal rails. Each of the support hangers further includes at least two circular orifices. The orifices extend from the inner side to the outer side of the hangers. The hangers also include at least two spring button housings. The housings are located on the outer sides of the support hangers adjacent the orifices. Each of the spring button housings includes a finger opening.
Two support rods are provided. Each of the rods has a first end and a second end and is sized and shaped to extend between one of the first and second support hangers and one of the third and fourth support hangers when the support hangers are located on one of the first and second upper side horizontal rails. Each of the support rods has a spring button mounted at the first end and the second end. The spring button is sized and shaped to engage the spring button housing. When the first and second ends of the support rods are introduced into the orifices of the support hangers, and the support hangers are located on one of the first and second upper side horizontal rails, the spring buttons will removably engage the spring button housings of the hangers, thereby providing a support platform for the enclosure.
In yet another variant of the invention, the enclosure further includes at least one tie down strap. The strap is fixedly attached to a lower portion of the enclosure and serving to secure the enclosure to the rigid frame so as to prevent the enclosure from rocking on the support hangers.
In still another variant, the support platform includes a series of rigid floor panels. The floor panels are sized and shaped to fit within dimensions of the floor of the enclosure. A series of panel pockets is provided. The panel pockets have an upper surface and a lower surface and are fixedly attached at their upper surfaces to the lower surface of the enclosure. The panel pockets are sized and shaped to removably enclose the rigid floor panels.
A series of support bars are provided. Th
Martin Bruce
Tharalson Diana
Tharalson Douglas
Arms Research Concepts, Inc.
Belasco David A.
Belasco Jacobs & Townsley LLP
Lagman Frederick L.
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