CN113905638B

CN113905638B - Side-sleeping crib and related frame

Info

Publication number: CN113905638B
Application number: CN202080040988.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: L·佩德雷蒂; B·范·阿斯克
Original assignee: Artsana SpA
Current assignee: Artsana SpA
Priority date: 2019-06-03
Filing date: 2020-05-29
Publication date: 2023-11-10
Anticipated expiration: 2040-05-29
Also published as: PT3975798T; US20230225520A1; WO2020245713A1; IT201900007896A1; CN113905638A; ES2962978T3; EP3975798A1; EP3975798B1; PL3975798T3

Abstract

The crib (100) comprises at least one guide (7) on both sides of a movable bar (6), the movable bar (6) being adapted to drop a wall (113) of the crib (100). The slider (62) of the movable lever (6) is adapted to slide along the guide (7), and the return system (8) is configured to return the slider (62) toward the tip end portion (71) of the guide (7). A restraining element (9) for securing the crib (100) to the bed is movable close to the guide (7) and spaced apart from the guide (7) and is connected to the return system (8) to be able to return towards the guide (7) by the return system (8). When the constraining element (9) is kept in a position spaced apart from the guide (7), for example due to being fixed to the bed, the slider (62) is prevented from returning through the return system (8).

Description

Side-sleeping crib and related frame

Technical Field

The present application relates to a crib, and more particularly to a crib of the type having a drop side (drop side) that allows an infant to sleep with its parent by placing the crib on the side of the crib.

Background

Various examples of bedside cribs, also known as side-sleeping cribs (side-sleeping cribs), are known in the art. As with all cribs, the baby is placed on the bottom of the crib, possibly equipped with a mattress, surrounded by side walls that prevent the child from coming out or falling out.

In order to allow side-sleeping, i.e. the infant is safely sleeping beside his/her parents, one of the side walls is designed to be movable. In this way, the movable wall can remain in the raised position during the day or any situation when the crib is far from the parent's bed, and can drop down during the night, thereby eliminating any separation between the crib and the bed.

An example of a bedside crib is disclosed by the present inventors in EP 3354165. In this crib, the bottom and side walls are defined by a fabric rail (enclosure) supported by a frame. The movable wall of the rail is connected between a movable bar of the frame (which is placed above said wall) and a lower roller (which is able to wind around the cloth of the wall when sliding downwards). The sliding blocks are arranged at the end parts of the movable rods and slide in the corresponding guide pieces.

Furthermore, a strap is provided below the bottom of the rail, which strap can be unwound from an additional roller to secure the crib to the structural elements of the bed.

Problems of the prior art

The possibility of one wall of the crib falling down creates a safety issue when the crib is away from the bed. This is because if the movable wall is not well fixed in the raised position, or the baby can unlock the wall, or his/her parent is not aware, the crib may have accidentally dropped walls even if it is far away from the crib, and the baby may fall outside.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present application is to solve the above-mentioned problem, i.e. to prevent the movable wall from remaining in the lowered position when the crib is far away from the bed.

This and other objects are achieved by a crib as defined in any one of the appended claims.

The present application provides a return system configured to return at least one slider of a movable lever along a corresponding guide toward a tip end portion of the guide, thereby raising a movable wall. A restraining element (e.g. a strap similar to EP 3354165) adapted to be secured to the bed is connected to the return system so as to also return towards the guide.

When the constraint element is fixed to the bed, the bed itself holds the constraint element, preventing the constraint element from returning towards the guide. Thus, the constraining element is prevented from moving further towards the guide, irrespective of the force exerted by the return system on the constraining element, while stopping the action of the return system on the slider of the movable bar.

Advantageously, when the crib is secured to the bed via the restraining element, the movable bar may be left free in the lowered or raised position as desired, without being subjected to a return action automatically returning it upwards. Conversely, when the crib is far from the bed, the return system will always automatically return the movable bar to the raised position, preventing the child from falling outside, as long as nothing else keeps the restraining element spaced from the guide.

Drawings

Other features and advantages of the application will emerge more clearly from the illustrative, non-limiting description of a method and a system for detecting objects in an environment, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 shows a perspective view of the crib of the present application when the movable bar is in the down position,

fig. 2 shows the crib of fig. 1, with the fabric rail removed for better illustration of the frame,

figure 3 shows a perspective view of the crib of figure 1 without a fabric rail when the movable bar is in the upper position,

fig. 4 is a partial front cross-sectional view of the crib of fig. 1 without a fabric rail, with the movable bar in an upper position in contact with the stop member,

fig. 5 is a partial front cross-sectional view of the crib of fig. 1 without a fabric rail, wherein the movable bar is in a lower position in contact with the stop member,

fig. 6 is a partial front cross-sectional view of the crib of fig. 1 without a fabric rail, with the movable bar in an upper position and spaced from the stop member,

FIG. 7 is a partial side cross-sectional view of the crib of FIG. 1 with the movable bar in an up position and spaced from the stop member, and

figure 8 shows a perspective view of certain parts and internal parts of the crib of figure 1.

Detailed Description

Referring to the drawings, reference numeral 100 generally designates a crib, i.e., a bedside or side-sleeper crib. The crib 100 includes a frame 1 and a fabric rail 110, and the frame 1 and the fabric rail 110 may be manufactured and sold together or separately.

The frame 1 comprises an upper structure 2 and a lower structure 3 spaced apart in a first direction X-X. The frame 1 further comprises uprights 4 connecting and fixing together the substructure 2 and the superstructure 3. Preferably, the upright 4 extends mainly in the first direction X-X.

The frame 1 may further comprise a support structure 5, which support structure 5 is configured to rest on the floor and to keep the superstructure 2 and the substructure 3 lifted from the floor. In the illustrated embodiment, the support structure 5 comprises support legs 51 connected to the superstructure 2. The support legs 51 are pivotally connected to the upper structure 2 to allow the upper structure 2 and the lower structure 3 to rock.

However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various types of alternative support structures 5 may be provided for the purposes of the present application, for example having one or more legs that form an extension of the upright 4 and are integral with the upright 4. Therefore, the support structure 5 will not be described in more detail here.

Furthermore, the frame 1 comprises a movable bar 6, the movable bar 6 being movable relative to the upper and lower structures 2, 3 in a position to be described in more detail below. In particular, the movable bar 6 may sometimes be in an upper position in which the movable bar 6 is substantially flush with the superstructure 2.

The movable bar 6 has two ends 61 spaced apart in a second direction Y-Y perpendicular to the first direction X-X.

When the movable bar 6 is in the upper position, the upper structure 2 and the movable bar 6 together define an upper opening. In some examples, the upper opening may have a plurality of sides, preferably four sides, and the movable bar 6 is disposed along at least a portion of at least one of the sides. On the other hand, the superstructure 2 occupies the remaining side of the upper opening and/or the remaining part of one side.

The lower structure 3 is configured to support a mattress 200. The superstructure 2, the substructure 3 and the upright 4 are configured to surround a compartment of the crib 100 adapted to receive an infant. Depending on the position of the movable bar 6, the compartment may be accessed through an upper opening, as well as from the side, as further described below.

The rail 110 of the crib 100 defines the compartment and is preferably constrained to the superstructure 2. In particular, the rail 110 comprises a bottom 111 arranged substantially flush with the substructure 3. Mattress 200 may be placed on bottom 111.

In addition, the rail 110 comprises side walls 112 connecting the bottom 111 to the superstructure 3 of the frame 1. Finally, the rail 110 comprises a movable wall 113, the movable wall 113 being connected to the movable rod 6 and movable together with the movable rod 6. The movable wall is at least partially arranged between the movable rod 6 and the bottom 111. Thus, the side wall 112 and the movable wall 113 laterally enclose the compartment, at least when the movable bar 6 is in the upper position.

The frame 1 comprises at least one guide 7, preferably two guides 7. Each guide 7 has a top end 71 adjacent the upper structure 2 and a bottom end 72 adjacent the lower structure 3.

In a preferred embodiment, each guide 7 is shaped like a guide bar connecting the superstructure 2 and the substructure 3. The guide bar has a slot 73 extending between the top end 71 and the bottom end 72, the slot 73 being for certain specific components to slide therein, as described below. In particular, the movable wall 113 has side edges spaced apart in the second direction Y-Y, and each side edge slides in a respective slot 73. Optionally, the slot 73 provides access to a cavity 74 inside the guide bar, which cavity 74 also extends between the top end 71 and the lower end 72 for sliding movement of additional components of greater thickness than the movable wall 113.

The movable rod 6 comprises at least one slider 62, which slider 62 is slidable along the guide 7, i.e. between the top end 71 and the bottom end 72. Slide 62 may be at least partially engaged in slot 73 and optionally in cavity 74.

Preferably, the slider 62 is formed at the respective end 61 of the movable rod 6. More preferably, each end 61 of the movable rod 6 has a respective slider 62 sliding along the respective guide 7. However, the features applied to each guide 7 and each slider 62 will be described herein with reference to one guide 7 and one slider 62.

When the movable lever 6 is in the upper position, the slider 62 is located at the tip end portion 71 of the guide 7. Furthermore, the movable rod 6 is movable between an upper position and a lower position, in which the slider 62 is substantially at the lower end 72 of the guide 7. When the movable bar 6 is in the down position, not only the compartment of the crib 100 is accessible from the upper opening, but also the compartment of the crib 100 is accessible from the lateral opening between the two guides 7 above the movable bar 6.

In one aspect of the application, the crib 100 includes a return system 8, the return system 8 being configured to return the slider 62 toward the top end 71 of the guide 7, and thus the movable bar 6 toward the upper position. More specifically, each guide 7 may have its own return system 8, only one of which is illustrated herein, or a single return system 8 may be provided, although a plurality of guides 7 are provided.

It should be noted that in the prior art crib as in the crib of EP 3354165, unlike the crib of the present application, the movable bar 6 returns toward the lower position, rather than the upper position.

Preferably, the return system 8 comprises a first roller 81 mounted to the superstructure 2, close to the top end 71 of the guide 7. Furthermore, the return system 8 comprises a generally flexible upper connecting portion 82, which upper connecting portion 82 can be wound around the first roller 81. For example, the upper connection portion 82 may be provided in the form of a belt or a string. The first roller 81 is biased with a first force to wind around (rewind) the upper connection portion 82. When the wrapping over the first roller 81 is not completed, the upper connecting portion 82 extends at least partially along the guide 7, for example in the cavity 74.

In an embodiment not shown in the figures, the upper connection portion 82 may be connected to the slider 62. In contrast, in the preferred embodiment, the return system 8 comprises a stop member 83 sliding along the guide 7, in particular in the cavity 74 or alternatively in the groove 73. However, substantially parallel separate grooves or cavities may be provided in the guide bar for sliding various components therein, such as the slide 62 and stop member 83.

The upper connecting portion 82 connects the first roller 81 and the stopper member 83 if the stopper member 83 is provided. Thus, the first roller 81 and the upper connecting portion 82 constitute a return member configured to return the stopper member 83 toward the tip end portion 71 of the guide 7. These return members 81, 82 act indirectly on the slider 62 only via the stop member 83, as described below.

In particular, the sliding movement of the slider 62 along the guide 7 is limited below by the stop member 83 and also limited above significantly by the tip end portion 71 of the guide 7. For example, the stop member 83 may be placed below the slider 62, i.e. between the slider 62 and the lower end 72 of the guide 7.

The stopper member 83 has a support portion 84, and when the return members 81, 82 return the stopper member 83 toward the distal end portion 71 of the guide 7, the support portion 84 is adapted to contact the slider 62 and press the slider 62 toward the distal end portion 71 of the guide 7. In any case, the slider 62 may be separated from the support portion 84 of the stopper member 83, as shown in fig. 5.

Therefore, when the slider 62 and the stopper member 83 contact each other at the supporting portion 84, the stopper member 83, which moves toward the tip end portion 71 of the guide 7 by the return members 81, 82, pulls the slider 62. That is, the slider 62 is movable along substantially the entire guide 7 together with the stopper member 83, that is, between the top end portion 71 and the lower end portion 72.

In contrast, when the slider 62 is separated from the stopper member 83, the slider 62 can move only between the tip end portion 71 of the guide 7 and the stopper member 83 without receiving the action of the return members 81, 82. Therefore, when the slider 62 is separated from the stopper member 83, the slider 62 is not allowed between the lower end 72 of the guide 7 and the stopper member 83.

The frame 1 comprises at least one constraining element 9 (for example, a constraining element 9 for each return system 8 or for each guide 7), the constraining element 9 being configured as a structural element fixed to a bed (not shown) in the vicinity of the crib 100. The restraining element 9 may have different shapes depending on the desired bed securing means. In a preferred embodiment, the restraining element 9 comprises one or more straps which may be secured around the rods or beams of the bed.

According to one aspect of the application, the constraining element 9 is constrained to the guide 7 and is connected to the return system 8, i.e. to the stop member 83. That is, the return system 8 comprises a lower connecting portion 85 connecting the constraint element 9 and the stop member 83. Alternatively as an extension of the upper connection portion 82, the lower connection portion 85 may be provided, for example, in the form of a belt or a string. However, in the illustrated embodiment, the upper and lower connecting portions 82, 85 comprise different strips with thicknesses oriented in mutually perpendicular directions.

It should be noted that the connection between the constraint element 9 and the lower connection portion 85 may be permanent or releasable, for example by means of clamps. That is, in the illustrated embodiment, a first clamp 86 removably connects a first end of the constraint element 9 to the lower connection portion 85, and a second clamp 87 removably connects a second end of the constraint element 9 to a portion of the lower structure 3 remote from the guide 7.

On the other hand, in the case of a permanent connection, the constraint element 9 and the lower connection portion 85 may be simply defined as different portions of the same strap or string, or the constraint element 9 may be directly connected to the stop member 83.

The lower connecting portion 85 (and/or a portion of the constraining element 9) is adapted to be at least partially inserted into the guide 7 (i.e. the cavity 74) and removed from the guide 7 when the stop member 83 slides along the guide 7. For this purpose, the guide 7 has a first lower channel 75 at the lower end 72 of the guide 7 for accessing the cavity 74. The lower connecting portion 85 extends through the first lower channel 75.

As a result, the restraining element 9 can be moved relative to the guide 7 between a position close to the guide 7 when a large part of the lower connecting portion 85 is inserted into the guide 7 and a position spaced apart from the guide 7 when a large part of the lower connecting portion 85 is outside the guide 7.

By fixing the restraining element 9 to the structural element of the bed, the bed can be easily configured to hold the restraining element 9 in a position spaced apart from the guide 7. When the restraining element 9 is held in a spaced apart position (which occurs whether or not by securing the restraining element to the bed), the stop member 83 is still pulled towards the top end 71 of the guide 7 by the return members 81, 82.

In this case, however, the stopper member 83 is no longer able to slide toward the tip end portion 71 of the guide 7, and is unable to press the slider 62 toward the tip end portion 71 of the guide 7.

Thus, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the connections between the restraining element 9 and the various components of the return system 8 as described herein before are such that when the restraining element 9 is held in a spaced apart position, the return system 8 will prevent the slider 62 from returning. However, by separating the slider 62 from the stopper member 83, the movable lever 6 can still be raised when the user desires.

In case the restraining elements 9 are not kept in a spaced apart position, depending on the intended purpose, the return system 8 will prevent the movable bar 6 from remaining stably in the lower position when the crib 100 is moved away from the bed, and the slide 62 will return towards the top end 71 of the guide 7 each time the movable bar 6 is at least partially lowered.

In addition, when the constraining element 9 is fixed to the structural element of the bed while being held in a spaced apart position, the user can freely choose whether to hold the movable bar 6 in the upper position (the slider 62 is separated from the stop member 83 and placed on the top end 71 of the guide 7) or in the lower position (the slider 62 is placed on the stop member 83 at the lower end 72 of the guide 7).

Preferably, the movable bar 6 comprises at least one locking member 63 (preferably two), which at least one locking member 63 is located at one of the ends 61 of the movable bar 6. Thus, the locking member 63 may be placed close to the slide 62 and may optionally be mounted to the slide 62.

Thus, the superstructure 2 comprises a locking seat 21, the locking seat 21 being preferably formed near the top end 71 of the guide 7.

The locking member 63 is adapted to engage in the locking seat 21, preferably by snap engagement, to prevent the sliding of the sliding block 62 along the guide 7 when the sliding block 62 is located at the top end 71 of the guide 7. This will allow the movable rod 6 to be stably positioned in the upper position even if the restraining elements 9 are held in the spaced apart positions.

Further, the movable lever 6 has a release mechanism 64, the release mechanism 64 being operable to disengage the locking member 63 from the locking seat 21, thereby allowing the slider 62 to slide again along the guide 7. Only one release actuator of the release mechanism 64 associated with the movable lever 6 is shown.

It should be noted that the crib 100 preferably does not have any locking mechanism for holding the movable bar 6 in the lower position, so that when the restraining element 9 is released, the movable bar 6 can spontaneously return to the upper position by means of the return system 8 and can return to the access position.

In a preferred embodiment, the crib 100 comprises a second roller 10 for treating the cloth forming the movable wall 113 of the rail 110. In more detail, the second roller 10 is mounted to the substructure 3 below the bottom 111 of the rail 110. The movable wall 113 connects the movable lever 6 to the second roller 10, and biases the second roller 10 with the second force to rewind the movable wall 113.

For this purpose, the guide 7 has a second lower channel 76 at the lower end 72 of the guide 7 for accessing the slot 73. The side edges of the movable wall 113 are adapted to slide between the groove 73 and the second roller 10 via the second lower channel 76.

It should be noted that the direction of action of the second roller 10 on the movable lever 6 is opposite to the direction of action of the first roller 81. To achieve the above function, the effect of the first roller 81 will be dominant, i.e. the first force should be greater than the second force. This will not prevent proper wrapping of the movable wall 113 when the movable bar is moved to the downward position.

Many equivalent modifications of the above-described variants will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A crib (100), comprising:

-a frame (1) comprising:

-a lower structure (3) configured to support a mattress (200),

an upper structure (2) spaced apart from the lower structure (3),

-a column (4) connecting and fixing together said lower structure (3) and said upper structure (2),

a guide (7) having a top end (71) close to the superstructure (2) and a bottom end (72) close to the substructure (3),

a movable rod (6) having a slider (62) slidable along the guide (7),

when the slider (62) is at the top end (71) of the guide (7), the movable rod (6) and the upper structure (2) together enclose an upper opening,

-a fabric rail (110) having a bottom (111) substantially flush with the substructure (3), a side wall (112) connecting the bottom (111) to the superstructure (2), and a movable wall (113) connected to the movable bar (6),

a restraining member (9) configured to be fixed to a structural member of the bed,

the method is characterized in that:

-the constraining member (9) being constrained to the guide (7) and being movable with respect to the guide (7) between a position close to the guide (7) and a position spaced apart from the guide (7),

and, the crib (100) comprises a return system (8), the return system (8) being configured to return the slider (62) towards the top end (71) of the guide (7), wherein the return system (8) comprises:

a stop member (83) which is slidable along the guide (7), the sliding movement of the slider (62) along the guide (7) being limited below by the stop member (83) and above by the tip end (71) of the guide (7),

-a return member (81, 82) connected to the stop member (83) and configured to return the stop member (83) towards the top end (71) of the guide (7), the constraint member (9) being connected to the stop member (83) so as to return towards the approaching position by the return system (8) and to prevent the return system (8) from returning the slider (62) when the constraint member (9) is held in the spaced apart position.

2. The crib (100) of claim 1, wherein the slider (62) is movable along the entire guide (7) jointly with the stop member (83) and is movable separately from the stop member (83) between the top end (71) of the guide (7) and the stop member (83).

3. The crib (100) of claim 1, wherein the return system (8) comprises a lower connection portion (85) connecting the restraining member (9) and the stop member (83) together, the lower connection portion (85) being at least partially insertable into and removable from the guide (7) when the restraining member (9) moves between the approximated position and the spaced apart position.

4. The crib (100) of claim 1, wherein the return member (81, 82) comprises a first roller (81) mounted to the superstructure (2) and an upper connection portion (82) connecting the first roller (81) and the stop member (83), the first roller (81) being forced to wrap around the upper connection portion (82).

5. The crib (100) of claim 1, wherein the stop member (83) has a support portion (84), wherein the support portion (84) is adapted to contact the slider (62) and press the slider (62) against the top end portion (71) of the guide (7), the slider (62) being separable from the support portion (84) of the stop member (83), when the return member (81, 82) returns the stop member (83) towards the top end portion (71) of the guide (7).

6. The crib (100) of claim 1, wherein the movable bar (6) comprises:

-a locking member (63) adapted to engage in a locking seat (21) of the superstructure (2) to prevent the sliding of the sliding block (62) along the guide (7) when the sliding block (62) is located at the top end (71) of the guide (7), and

-a release mechanism (64) operable to disengage the locking member (63) from the locking seat (21).

7. The crib (100) of claim 1, comprising a second roller (10) mounted to the substructure (3), wherein the movable wall (113) connects the movable bar (6) to the second roller (10), and the second roller (10) is forced to wrap around the movable wall (113).

8. The crib (100) of claim 7, wherein:

-the return member (81, 82) comprising a first roller (81) mounted to the superstructure (2) and an upper connecting portion (82) connecting the first roller (81) and the stop member (83), the first roller (81) being forced to wrap around the upper connecting portion (82),

-exerting a force on the first roller (81) with a first force to wind around the upper connecting portion (82), and

-exerting a force on the second roller (10) to rewind the movable wall (113) with a second force, the first force being greater than the second force.