Beds – Crib – Movable guards
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-29
2001-01-23
Grosz, Alexander (Department: 3628)
Beds
Crib
Movable guards
C005S428000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06175974
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The field of the invention relates to crib dropside assemblies and the hardware used in connection with such assemblies.
2. Brief Description of the Related Art
Cribs are generally provided with dropsides which can be maintained either in raised or lowered positions. The dropside is raised to prevent an infant from climbing out of the crib. It is moved to the lowered position to facilitate access to the infant. A number of dropside assemblies have been developed for positioning the dropside in selected positions. U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,464 discloses one such assembly including a cable and spring-loaded locking pins. Another type of dropside assembly, which is presently in commercial use, includes a generally J-shaped pin track and a pin which is positioned in the pin track. The positioning of the pin in the track determines whether the dropside is in the raised or lowered positions.
Cribs are often provided to consumers in unassembled form. Ease of assembly is accordingly desirable. Some cribs are designed for conversion to day beds upon removal of the dropside. The ability to easily remove the dropside facilitates such conversion. As dropsides are frequently raised and lowered, the ability to do so smoothly is a desirable feature.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a crib dropside assembly and certain unique components thereof.
In accordance with the invention, an assembly for a crib is provided which includes a crib endboard, a dropside and a dropside track including a generally J-shaped pin track and a pin access slot extending between the pin track and an exterior surface of the dropside track. The dropside track is preferably mounted to the dropside. Means are provided for opening and closing the pin access slot. A pin is preferably secured to the crib endboard, and is slidably positioned within the pin track. The dropside may be coupled to the crib endboard by causing the pin to move through the pin access slot and into the pin track when the pin access slot is opened. The pin access slot is thereafter closed to prevent the dropside from being unintentionally uncoupled from the crib endboard.
A crib dropside assembly is further provided by the invention which includes a top rail, a bottom rail, and a plurality of connecting members extending between the top and bottom rails. A pin track including a relatively long and generally vertical segment, a relatively short and generally vertical segment, a connecting segment connecting the relatively long and short segments, and a pin access slot extending into one of the segments of the pin track. A moveable gate is provided for blocking the pin access slot when in a first position and opening the pin access slot when in a second position.
A pin track assembly is further provided by the invention. The assembly includes an elongate member, a pin track defined by the elongate member and including relatively short and relatively long vertical segments, a connecting segment, a pin access slot extending into one of the segments, and a gate coupled to the elongate member, the gate being movable between a first position blocking the pin access slot and a second position opening the slot. The pin track assembly is mountable to one of the dropside and crib corner post, but preferably to the dropside.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1695571 (1928-12-01), Baxter
patent: 5072464 (1991-12-01), Draheim et al.
patent: 5617593 (1997-04-01), Pham
patent: 872296 (1961-07-01), None
Grosz Alexander
Hoffmann & Baron , LLP
Simmons Juvenile Products Company, Inc.
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