Beds – Crib
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-19
2001-02-27
Trettel, Michael F. (Department: 3628)
Beds
Crib
C005S093200, C005S097000, C005S099100, C005S416000, C135S096000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06192535
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention generally relates to a foldable play yard apparatus, and more particularly to an improved play yard that may be converted to accomplish other baby caregiving functions. One exemplary play yard apparatus in the prior art is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,381,570 to Cheng, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Folding play yards are well known in the prior art and comprise a standard item in parenting and baby caregiving. A conventional play yard enables a baby or toddler to play within a controlled and protected space without requiring continual attention by a responsible adult. Such conventional play yards can be folded into a small space for easy storage and transport and are therefore convenient items for use in high mobility situations.
However, conventional play yards do not address other baby caregiving functions, such as the need to provide adequate nap space for the child and the continual need for ready accessibility to diaper changing supplies, toys, clothing, linens, and other items associated with caring for an infant. Nor do conventional play yards address shielding the infant from sunlight, rain, wind, insects, and other undesirable aspects of the environment in which the play yard is likely to be used. As a result, parents or caretakers in mobility situations must transport other portable baby furniture, or must improvise these functions with whatever furniture is found at hand. For example, the shielding function may be accomplished with an umbrella, a towel, or some other linen. However, such an improvisation is fraught with unknown and unseen perils for the child, such as exposure to collapses, suffocation, the inability to observe the infant, and an arrangement that simply is not effective in providing a shield.
The frequent naps which small children require are often taken on the floor of conventional play yards, which is not designed for comfort in such use. Moreover, many small children sleep best in a smaller, cozier space, which conventional play yards do not provide. Thus, it has also been envisioned to provide conventional play yards with a removable bassinet structure that is generally suspended over a portion of the upper opening of the play yard. Such a bassinet is more suitable for newborn and infant use, due to the fact that a smaller, cozier sleeping space is preferred for such young children. According to the present invention, a storage unit may be fitted in the remaining portion of the upper opening for providing ready access to various supplies and other items for childcare.
The choice for many traveling parents or caretakers often is to transport a portable play yard, a folding bed or the like for naps, and a diaper bag or the like for carrying diaper changing supplies, food, toys, clothes, etc. Unfortunately, because these separate items must be transportable, it is often the situation that at least one of these items is not readily available, or does not provide ready access to the desired childcare item. Clearly, there is a need in the prior art for meeting these disparate apparatus requirements in an integrated, more organized, and still transportable form.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a storage unit for a play yard apparatus that it is also convertible to a baby bassinet. The storage unit provides a plurality of compartments whereby many of the items used to carry out the typical baby caregiving functions are arranged in an organized and readily accessible manner.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a canopy unit for shielding at least a portion of the baby bassinet for a play yard. The canopy readily attaches to the bassinet structure and provides reliable shielding for a baby in the bassinet.
A conventional play yard foldable frame structure generally includes an upper frame assembly comprised of two pair of parallel foldable rail assemblies which are supported by corner leg assemblies. The rail assemblies support the side panels of the play yard, while a lower frame assembly is secured to the leg assemblies to support the floor portion of the apparatus.
At each corner of the upper frame assembly there is typically provided an upper corner bracket. Each of such upper corner brackets includes diverging body portions extending relatively orthogonally that are adapted to engage respective foldable rail assemblies. A web extends across the included angle between the diverging body portions, and a concave pocket is formed in the top surface of the web.
A typical bassinet assembly is removably supported on a portion of the upper frame assembly. Such a bassinet assembly includes a pair of bassinet frame assemblies that each include a pair of J-tube assemblies joined by a cross tube. The J-tube assemblies include outer ends that are adapted to overly the upper rail assemblies and be suspended therefrom. The bassinet floor panel is disposed below the upper rail assembly and above the floor of the play yard, and is supported on the cross tubes. Bassinet side panels and end panels of soft fabric extend upwardly from the bassinet floor panel to form a coffer-like enclosure that is sufficiently small and cozy for the resting and napping functions of a bassinet. Sleeves formed in the end panels and floor panel secure portions of the cross tubes and J-tube assemblies.
Regarding the pair of J-tube assemblies that comprise each bassinet frame assembly, a first outer J end overlies a respective upper corner bracket. A second outer J end is secured in a hub adapter that supports the second J end of the bassinet tube. The hub adapter is configured to rest on and be supported by a foldable joint assembly located generally at the midpoint of a respective upper rail assembly of the play yard frame structure. Thus the bassinet assembly is supported entirely by suspension from the upper frame portion of the play yard, and may be installed and removed as a single unit. The bassinet assembly is also readily disassembled and folded for easy transport. The particular construction of these conventional play yard and bassinet assemblies does not form part of the invention, except for their relationship to the components described hereinafter.
According to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a storage unit that is removably supported on a play yard assembly. The storage unit includes a tubular frame comprising pairs of side tubes and end tubes, all of which are joined in a rectangular configuration. Two vertices of the rectangular storage unit frame are disposed adjacent to the hub adapters of a bassinet assembly. The storage unit frame includes a pair of first elbow connectors, each of which is disposed at a respective one of these vertices and adapted to join a side tube and an end tube in an orthogonal relationship. Each first elbow connector further includes a T-shaped key extending outwardly therefrom, and each hub adapter is provides with a key slot to receive the key of the adjacent first elbow connector, whereby the hub adapter of the bassinet assembly supports an adjacent vertex of the storage unit frame.
The storage unit frame further includes a pair of second elbow connectors, each disposed adjacent to one upper corner bracket of the play yard and adapted to join a side tube and end tube of the storage unit frame in an orthogonal relationship. Each second elbow connector includes a pair of oppositely projecting lugs that extend along an axis that is generally transverse to the storage unit frame. Each second elbow connector is disposed to engage the web of the adjacent upper corner bracket in a supported relationship, and the lugs are each configured to be received in the concave pocket of the web to locate and retain the storage unit frame with respect to the upper corners of the play yard frame assembly. Thus the storage unit frame is supported at two corners by the upper corner brackets of the play yard frame assembly and at the other two corners by the adjacent hub adapters of the bassinet assembly.
The s
Faa Leland M.
Warner, Jr. Robert J.
Foley & Lardner
Graco Children's Products Inc.
Trettel Michael F.
LandOfFree
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