Beds – Crib – Movable guards
Utility Patent
1999-05-25
2001-01-02
Melius, Terry Lee (Department: 3628)
Beds
Crib
Movable guards
C005S093100
Utility Patent
active
06167580
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The field of the invention relates to cribs and crib dropside assemblies, to certain components of such cribs and assemblies, and to methods of installing crib dropsides onto cribs.
2. Brief Description of the Related Art
Crib dropsides are employed for facilitating access to infants or small children confined by the sides and ends of a crib. A typical crib includes two opposing end boards and two opposing sides. At least one of the sides is movable between raised and lowered positions, and is referred to as the dropside. The end boards of the crib may be connected by stabilizing bars. A mattress support, which is also referred to as a spring deck, is conventionally secured to the corner posts of the crib.
Many types of dropside assemblies have been developed for use with cribs. A common objective of most, if not all dropsides is to prevent actuation thereof by children or infants. Adults, however, should be able to raise or lower the dropside without difficulty.
One type of dropside assembly which has been available for a number of years includes two opposing pin guides each having an inverted, generally J-shaped groove. The guides are mounted to opposing corner posts. A pin extends from each end of he lower portion of the dropside and within one of the grooves. The pins are positioned at the bottoms of the shorter legs of the inverted J-shaped grooves when the dropside is in the raised position. Conversely, the pins are positioned at the bottoms of the longer legs of the grooves when the dropside is in the lowered position. Dropside assemblies of this type may be difficult to assemble as the pins extending from each end of the dropside must be positioned within opposing grooves.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a height adjustment assembly for a crib dropside, a crib dropside assembly, a method of assembling a dropside to a crib, and to a crib having a dropside which is easy to assemble and reliable in operation.
A height adjustment assembly for a crib dropside is provided which includes first and second tracks, each of the tracks including a first groove having a bottom end, a second groove having a bottom end, each of the first and second grooves having a substantially vertical portion, the bottom end of the second groove being substantially below the bottom end of the first groove. A connecting groove portion extends between the first and second grooves, preferably at the top ends thereof First and second spring bracket assemblies are provided for engagement with the tracks. Each spring bracket assembly includes a body portion and a pin extending longitudinally from the body portion and positionable in the grooves within the first and second tracks. A spring arm is pivotably mounted to the body portion and extends laterally therefrom. The spring arm includes a substantially continuously curved upper surface. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, each of the tracks includes a wall extending substantially perpendicularly from the base portions of the tracks and proximate the second groove. The spring arms are engageable with the walls to urge the pin in the direction of the first groove. A crib dropside including such a spring bracket assembly is further provided in accordance with the invention.
A crib dropside assembly is provided in accordance with the invention. This assembly includes first and second upper tracks mounted, respectively, to first and second corner posts. First and second lower tracks are also mounted to the first and second corner posts. The dropside is slidably coupled to the lower tracks and upper tracks. Pins mounted to the dropside are employed for coupling the dropside to the lower tracks. Each of the lower tracks includes a first groove having a bottom end, a second groove having a bottom end, the bottom end of the second groove being substantially below the bottom end of the first groove. Each of the first and second grooves has a substantially vertical portion. A connecting portion connects the first and second grooves. Each of the first grooves includes a transition portion of reduced width between its bottom end and the connection portion. Each of the pins mounted to the dropside has a diameter which approximates the width of the transition portion. The transition portion accordingly provides resistance to movement of the pins between the bottom ends of the first grooves and the connecting portions. A lower track as described above forms another aspect of the invention.
A method of assembling a dropside to a crib is further provided. The crib includes first and second corner posts, first and second upper tracks and first and second lower tracks mounted, respectively, to the corner posts, each of the first and second lower tracks including grooves therein for receiving a pin, and each of the grooves including a lower end and an upper end. The method includes the steps of providing a dropside including a top rail, a bottom rail, and first and second connecting members mounted to opposite ends of the top rail, providing first and second bracket assemblies, each bracket assembly including a body portion and a pin extending longitudinally from the body portion, mounting the first bracket assembly to the bottom rail of the dropside, coupling the first and second connecting members to the first and second upper tracks, inserting the pin of the first bracket assembly into the groove of the first lower track, inserting the pin of the second bracket assembly into the groove in the second lower track, and mounting the second bracket assembly to the bottom rail of the dropside while the pin of the second bracket assembly remains in the second lower track.
Finally, a novel mattress support including pivotable hangers is provided by the invention. The hangers include tabs for engaging a support frame of the mattress support.
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patent: 5165124 (1992-11-01), Li
patent: 5617593 (1997-04-01), Pham
Draheim Harvey J.
Krueger Scott A.
Philippon Gaetan
Hoffmann & Baron , LLP
Melius Terry Lee
Santos Robert G.
Simmons Juvenile Products Company, Inc.
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