US2299136A - Baby crib - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 20, 1942'. A. G. FELDMAN 2,299,136

BABY CRIB Filed Aug. 3l, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l @cada M Oct. 20, 1942.

A. G. FELDMAN BABY CRIB 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 31. 1939 Patented Oct. 20, 1942 l BABY cmBI Abraham G. Feldman, Chicago, Ill., assigner to Storkline Furniture Corporation, Chicago, Ill.,

a corporation of Illinois Application August 31, 1939, Serial No. 292,759

5 Claims.

'Ir'his invention relates generally to baby cribs, and specifically to a novel type of crib in which the bedding supporting structure, hereinafter termed the springs, may be adjustably elevated at either or both ends of the crib.

It has been customary to build baby cribs .with xed springs which bear a more or less permanent relationship to the crib structure and which are located a relatively short distance above the ground. Because the springs are `usually low, cribs have customarily been provided with one or more sliding gates'or side panels, enabling ready access to the interior of the cribwithout stooping. Cribs hitherto have served the function only of beds. It has customarily been necessary to provide other furniture fordressing the baby, such as the well known bathinettes which are used ehiey as a dressing table.

I have endeavored to combine the functions of a dressing table with those of a crib, at the same time rendering my new article of furniture more serviceable and useful than ever were the separate cribs and dressing tables..

My invention in general comprises adjustable means for elevating the springs of a baby crib above their normal height from the floor, thereby facilitating manipulation of the bedding within the crib and of the infant placed thereupon, and providing, when extended to its extreme vertical displacement inconjunction with `the low- 30 ered side gates, a useful and superior dressing table. 4 l

One of the objects of my invention therefore is to provide'a combined crib and dressing table.

Another object of my invention is to provide a baby crib including means for adjustably elevating the springs thereof at either or both ends.

Another object of my invention is to provide a crib of the class described of superior rigidity and strength, but yet of great simplicity and economy of manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent upon reading the following specication, taken in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my crib, the front gate being open;

Fig. 2 is a section through my crib, looking along the lines 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. `3 is a section through my crib, looking along the lines 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section through my crib, taken along the lines 4-4 of Fig. 1, showing one of the gate catches;

Fig. 5 isvan upward plan view of the gate catch, looking along the lines 5--5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a modification of my invention.

In all of the gures, like reference numerals refer to like parts.

My crib comprises the conventional head and foot ends, each provided with two corner posts I, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. Hook' plates 5, 6`, 1 and 8 are screwed one to each 'corner post I, 2, 3 and 4, respectively, at a short distance above the floor. caster 9, ner post is I3, I4, I5 and I6, each provided with a rightangled bend I'I at its upper end `terminating in a lug I8 secured to the corner post by means of a screw I9. The lower end of eachguide rod is slidably and spacedly held by means of angle brackets 20, 2|, 22 and 23 secured to each corner post by means of screws 24. To avoid metal-tof I0, II and I2, respectively. Each cori metal contact, I provide each angle bracket with a rubber bushing 25 through which passes the lower end of each guide rod, and upon each of which rests a compression spring 26.

The four corner posts supporting the head and foot ends are spacedly separated by and support a rectangular metal frame consisting of four angle iron members 30, 3|, 32 and 33 riveted together near their corners by rivets 34. The end angle iron members 3| and 33 extend somewhat beyond the angle irons 30 and 32 and are provided with slots 35, 36, 31 and 38 cooperating with the slotted hook plates 5, 6, 'I and 8, respectively, upon which they rest. The said angle iron frame supported by said posts is the base upon which rest the adjustable means for elevating the springs and`bedding.

The sides of my crib comprise two conventional sliding gates 40 and 44, whose transverse railings 4|, 42, 45 and 46 are provided with vertical holes 41 near both ends thereof through which pass the guide rods I3, I4, I5 and I6. When a gate is in its lowered position, as is gate 40 in Fig. 1, the ends of the lower transverse b-ars 42 and 46 rest upon the springs 25, which also prevent noise resulting from a sudden lowering of one of the gates.

'I'he lower railing 42 or 46 of each gate 4B and 44, respectively, has screwed thereto two catch plates 50 of stamped metal, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, provided with a catch bar 5| and two bent retaining lugs 52 which augment the action of the screws 53 fastening the plates to the rail.

At corresponding points on the angle members Each corner post is provided with a also provided with long guide rods' 38 and 32 are fastened the catch mechanisms which retain the catch bars 5| when the gate to which they are afxed is raised to its closed position. As illustrated in Figs. 1, 4 and 5, the catch mechanism comprises an angle bracket 54 fastened to one of the frame members 38 by means of rivets 55. The depending leg 56 of the bracket 64 is provided witha stop lug 51 and` terminates in a crotch 68. The depending leg 56 of bracket 54 mounts a headed pin 58 at the height of, but somewhat to the side of, stop lug 51. Upon this pin 58 is Journaled a. straight lever 68 sloping `downwardly at an angle. l

Lever 88 is urged in/ a direction' tending to close the crotch by a coil spring 63 surrounding pin 59 and situated between lever 68 and depending leg 56. One end of spring 63 reacts against stop lug 51; the other end reacts against the upper end 6| of lever 68. Movement of lever 68 under the inuence oi.' spring 63 is limited by the reaction of shoulder 62 of lever 68 against stop lug 51.

Leverv68 is provided with a notch 65 for receiving catch bar 5I when it is drawn up into crotch 58 as the gate to which it is attached is elevated. Spring 63 tends to urge lever 68 into contact with the catch bar 5| and to maintain it in locked position within notch 65, The lower railing 42 or 46 of each crib gate is provided with two catch mechanisms. It will be noted that I have made one of the levers 68 of each set of catches of greater length or provided with an extension 66 for ease of pedal or manual manipulation. .The shorter lever 68 is actuated by means of a rod 68 connecting the same to the long lever 68.

The mattress 18 and the bedding placed thereon are supported by the usual springs stretched upon a rectangular frame comprising four angle iron members 1|, 12, 13 and 14 securely joined at their corners by rivets 15. Each end member 12 and 14 of the springs frame, as well as the end members 3| and 33 of the supporting frame are provided with a narrow elongated slot, respectively 16 and 11, for the spring frame and the supporting frame, in vertically and horizontally aligned relationship to each other. These slots serve as guides for headed pins 18 ailixedto the upper and lower extremities respectively oi a pair of cross arms 88 and 8l located near each end of the crib.

These cross arms are mutually centrally pivoted about a loose rivet 82. The lower and upper extremities respectively of each of the cross arms 88 and 8| are pivoted to the respective extremities of members 12 and 3|, and members 14 and 33 by means of loose rivets 83 opposite the' end at which are provided the slots 16 and 11. It will now be apparent that by means of this unique and simple construction the springs and bedding may be elevated by grasping the fabric loops 85 attached to end angle irons 12 and 14, respectively, provided for that purpose. The cross arms 88 and 8| are so constrained by my construction that they allow for vertical movement of the springs frame yet maintain the same in its normal horizontal position when elevated and allow it to be brought into substantially coplanar relationship to its supporting frame.

In order to maintain the springs and bedding in any one of several desired vertical positions, I4 provide each of slots 11 with a simple locking mechanism. 'I'his consists of a lever 81 pivoted to each of members 3| and 33 by means oi a loose rivet 68. The free extremity of each lever is provided with a suitable handle 88 which may con,

said lever by slots 11, but havingits upper surface serrated to form a number of large teeth 82 of a shape adapted to engage and retain the pins 18. It is apparent that the height of the bed may be varied by locking pin 18 at varying points along its path through slot 11 by means of the locking mechanism described. To lower the springs and bedding at either or both ends o! the crib it is necessary only to pull upwardly on either or both levers 81 by means of the handles 88, thereby releasing the teeth 82 permitting sideward movement oi pins 18 and collapse of the cross arms 88 and 8|.

In a modication ofmy invention depicted in Fig. 6, I have joined each o! the handles 88 by means of a cross bar 83, preferably a simple angle iron. To insure secure locking of the bed at any desired vertical adjustment, each handle is urged downwardly into its locking position by means of a spring 84 reacting against members 3| or 33. The springs 84 are guided by means of a pin 85 pinned to members 3| or 33 and protruding through a small hole 88 inv bar 83 to allow for upward movement of the bar.

By manipulating bar 83 near its middle, both ends o1' the bed may be lowered simultaneously. Individual adjustments can be made by operating the ends of the bar. The handle, lever and connecting rod structures are suilicientiy ilexible and the connections between these members are sufiiciently loose to permit tilting of one end of the connecting rod to disengage the notched lever at that end of therod without releasing the notched lever at the other end of the connecting rod. Although the modication described above is most convenient, many will prefer the simple individual locks first described, because the fact that the `teeth 82 must be manually brought into engagement with pins 18 is conducive to the exercise of greater caution in making certain that the crib is safely locked in its elevated position, than when springs are relied upon.

To secure the spring frame against longitudinal movement, a single pair of cross arms 81 and 88 is provided at one side of the crib. The upper end of arm 81 is pivoted to member 1| by means of a loose rivet 88. The lower end of arm 81 bears a' headed pin |88 guided in a long narrow slot |8| in member 30. The short cross arm 88 is pivoted to the central part of arm 81 and to member 38 by means of loose rivets |83 and |84, respectively.

When the crib is to be used as a bed, the cross arms 88 and 8| are completely collapsed. They may also be adjusted to any desired height at either end. I prefer so to dimension my cribs that at the maximum height the top of the mattress 18 will be flush or, at most, slightly higher than the top railings 4| or 45 of one of the gates 48 or 44, when they are lowered. By lowering the front gate 48, one may conveniently use the crib as a dressing table, the surrounding ends of the crib and the elevated rear gate 44 providing a most desirable protection against the occupants falling out of the crib.

Although I have described my invention in explicit terms for the sake of clarity, it is to be understood that departures therefrom in form although not in substance are within the scope of the following appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a combined baby crib and dressing table, the combination with acrib having side and end enclosure members, a lower supporting frame of substantially rectangular shape secured to said end enclosure members in spaced relation to the lower ends thereof, a secondary spring frame adapted to Isupport a mattress above said supporting frame. and a pair of cross arms at each end of said supporting frame, said cross arms extending to said spring frame, each cross arm having pivoted connection with one of said frames and having slidable connection with the other of said frames, to permit relative vertical movement of said spring frame with respect to the supporting frame` of a releasable latching lever pivoted to one of said frame members at one side of a slidable connection of one of each pair of said cross arms, said levers having a plurality of locking detents located to engage selectively a slldable portion of a cross arm to lock said cross arm in adjusted position with said spring frame raise-d to dressing table height, a handle carried by said levers and positioned for engagement by an operator, and spring means mounted between each of said levers and its mounting frame normally to urge said levers into locking position.

2. In a combined baby crib vand dressing table, the combination with a crib having side and end enclosure members, a lower supporting frame of substantially rectangular shape secured to said end enclosure members in spaced relation to the lower ends thereof, a secondary spring frame adapted to support a mattress above said supporting frame, and a pair of cross arms at each end of said supporting frame, said cross arms extending to said spring frame, each cross arm having pivoted connection with one of said frames and slidable connection with the other of said frames, to permit relative vertical movement of said spring frame with respect to the supporting frame, of a releasable latching lever pivoted to one of said frame members at one side of a slidable connection of one of each pair of said cross arms, said levers having a plurality of locking detents located to engage selectively a slidable portion of a cross arm to lock said cross arm in adjusted position with said spring frame raised to dressing table height, and a rigid handle cross-connected to bo-th of said levers, said handle extending below said supporting frame to move both of said levers simultaneously to releasing position by a force applied to a middle poring pivoted connection with one of said frames and slidable connection with the other of said frames, to permit relative vertical movement of said spring frame with respect to the supporting frame, of a releasable latching lever pivoted to one of said frame members at one side of aslidable connection of one of each pairof said cross arms, said lever having a plurality of locking detents located to engage selectively a slidable portion of a cross arm to lock said cross arm in adjusted position Awith said spring frame raised to dressing table height, a rigid handle cross-connected to both of said levers, said handle extending belo-w said supporting frame to move both-of said levers simultaneously to releasing position by a -force applied to a middle portion of said handle, and spring means mounted to operate between said handle and one of said frames normally to urge said levers into locking position.

4. In a combined baby crib and dressing table, the combination with a crib having side and end enclosure members, a lower supporting frame of substantially rectangular shape secured to said end enclosure members in spaced relation to the lower endsthereof, a secondary spring frame adapted to support a mattress above said supporting frame, and a pair of cross arms at each end of said supporting frame, said cross arms extending to said spring frame, each cross arm having pivoted connection with one of said frames and slidable connection with the other ofsaid frames, to permit relative vertical movement of said spring frame with respect to the supporting frame, of a releasable latching lever pivoted to one of said frame members at one side of a slidable connection of one of each pair of said cross arms, said. levers having a plurality of locking detents located to engage selectively a slidable portion of a cross arm to lock said cross arm in adjusted position with said spring frame raised to dressing table height, a' rigid handle crossconnected to both of said levers, said handle extending below said supporting frame to move both of said levers simultaneously to releasing position by a force applied to a middle portion of said handle, said assembly of handle and levers being laterally bendable by a force applied'to anv end portion of said handle to move only the handle at the end to which said force is applied to a releasing position, and spring means mounted to operate between said handle and one of said\ frames normally to urge said levers into locking position.

5. In a variable height spring unit for baby cribs and the like, the combination of a supporting frame of substantially rectangular shape, comprising a pair of end frame members and a pair of side frame members secured together at the corners, and provided with means for attachment to a baby crib' enclosure at the four corners of said frame, with a spring'comprising a second rectangular frame having two side frame members and two end frame members secured together at the corners, and supporting a bed spring, and means for lsupporting said spring frame on said supporting frame in a plurality of adjustable positions, comprising a pair of links located at each end of said frames, each pair being pivoted together substantially midway between their ends, and each pair having one end of each link pivotally'secured to the adjacent end frame members ofsaid supporting frame and spring frame, respectively, the opposite ends of the links of each pair boing slidably mounted with respect to the end frame members of the v supporting frame and spring frame, respectively,

ABRAHAM G. FELDMAN.

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