EP2512294B1 - Self-deployable device for a child - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to the field of children's beds and more particularly the transportable beds for children.

Classically known umbrella beds, or folding beds, forming a sleeping space defined by a substantially rectangular surface. The sleeping space is delimited by substantially vertical flexible walls held in place by uprights at the four corners of the sleeping space. The uprights are held in place by crossed tubes at their base and by four tubes connected to the upper ends. These folding beds generally have a safety device to prevent the accidental folding of the bed.

However, these folding beds are heavy to carry, bulky even folded, complicated to implement and especially to fold.

There are also known baby beds, and more particularly baskets, the structure of maintaining the sleeping space is in the form of arch.

These beds have a major disadvantage, when the child grows up and wants to take support on the structure, it collapses and the child can then out of the sleeping space.

The document US 5,809,592 describes a playpen comprising two flexible loops, two vertical support bars each connecting the loops together, and a horizontal bar between two ends of the same loop. These bars are attached to the loops removably. Bars must be attached to each park facility and removed after each use.

There are also self-deploying child restraints, as described in the documents US 2006/0117478 A1 and WO 00/26488 A1 .

There is a need for a child playground device that is easier to set up and / or undo.

It is proposed a self-expanding child area device, comprising an arch structure adapted to support in the deployed state at least one wall of flexible material defining a space for a child, and at least one buttress bar to counter a support on the arch structure, wherein only one of the two ends of the bar is secured to the arch structure by a fixed connection, so that said bar can remain connected to the structure in hoop when said structure changes from the folded state to the deployed state and / or vice versa.

For example, the other end, said free end, can be secured to the structure by a reversible connection, or it can be provided that this other end is not secured to the arch structure. In the first case, the connection can be formed by locking and / or defeat by unlocking, that is to say that for example the user disengages the free end of the structure by releasing a locking element, or the connection can be more simply formed and / or defeated by moving the bar. In the second case, corresponding to a lack of connection between the free end and the structure, it may for example be provided to provide the free end of a non-slip coating of rubber type to ensure a good grip with the ground Or other.

Thus, thanks to the attachment of one end and the reversible nature of the (or the absence of) fixing of the other end of the bar to the arch structure, the establishment and / or storage of the device is easy. The bar can in some ways follow the arch structure when the latter moves from the deployed state to the folded state and / or vice versa, which avoids steps of positioning the entire bar during the installation. installation of the device, and removal of the bar during storage.

By "self-deployable" is meant that the device is able to be folded, in particular for storage and / or transport, but that its equilibrium position in the absence of stress is the deployed state.

The fixed link securing the so-called non-free end of the bar to the structure is normally designed so that the user is unable to undo this connection under normal conditions of use. It may optionally provide a connection may be occasionally defeated, for example to allow a repair or a change of parts "provided that the device is arranged so that during deployment and / or refolding the buttress bar can remain secured to The structure is thus arranged so that the bar does not constitute an obstacle to the deployment and / or the folding of the structure, the presence of buttress bar is therefore less restrictive for the user during deployment and / or folding of the device as in the prior art.

The support that the bar can help counter can for example be the fact of a child who wants to get out of the space dedicated to him by tilting the device.

In the deployed state, the bar makes it possible to stiffen the structure by playing in particular a role of buttress, and can make it possible to counter a support on the arch structure thanks to an abutment against a ground element. The floor element may for example be the floor itself, a base loop to be placed on the floor, a wall of flexible material supported by the base loop, or the like.

The bar may be in contact with the ground element permanently or almost permanently when the device is in the deployed state, or even only in case of support. In the second case, it can be provided that in the absence of support, the free end of the bar is a few centimeters from the floor element.

The device described above may also be devoid of external points, such as sardines for example, as can be found in a tent or a hammock.

The free end may for example be secured by a reversible connection directly to one or more hoop (x) of the arch structure, for example a base loop intended to rest entirely on the ground, or even to a wall of material flexible support supported by one or more arches, for example, a wall of flexible material supported by the base loop, or a wall of flexible material raised in the deployed state, supported by a rolled bar in the expanded state.

In the case of a separation of the free end of the structure by displacement of the bar, this movement can be done by a user for the purpose of folding the device, or the bar can be discarded from it. even in the absence of support and remain in the free state for example a few centimeters from any soil element. When the displacement is done by a user, the device can be arranged so that the user expressly draws the bar to undo the connection between the free end and the arch structure. Alternatively, the device can be arranged so that the bar is driven by the rest of the structure when folding, which can avoid a user gesture dedicated to the buttress bar.

In the same way, when the free end is secured to the structure by a displacement of the bar, this displacement can be expressly the fact of a user, or be driven by the movements of the arch structure being deployed . And in the case where the bar remains at a distance from the floor element in the absence of support, the fastening may take place only in case of support of for example a child.

Advantageously, the device may comprise guide means for guiding the free end of the bar when the device moves from the deployed state to the folded state and / or vice versa. These guide means can make it possible to ensure the correct positioning of the buttress bar, and consequently to limit user gestures.

The guide means may be made for example of flexible material, thereby limiting the weight of the device. These guide means may for example comprise a sleeve made of flexible material sewn to a flexible material wall of the device.

The invention is in no way limited to guide means of flexible material. One can for example provide guidance of the bar in a cylindrical element of plastic or metal.

Advantageously, the device may be arranged to define at least one housing for receiving the free end of the bar in the deployed position. Such housing, opening on one or two sides, can ensure the correct positioning of the bar in the deployed position. This housing may for example be formed by an eyelet in the flexible material wall on the ground, supported by the base loop, or formed by a recess in the base loop, or else formed in a wall of erect flexible material, Or other. The eyelet may have edges of flexible or rigid material.

The housing may include an eyelet, so that the structure is relatively simple, but the invention is in no way limited to housing of this type. In particular, the housing may be formed by relatively high guiding walls, for example of more than 2, 5 or 10 centimeters, capable of covering a portion of the buttress bar. Such a housing can be formed of flexible material: may for example provide a cloth pocket sewn to a wall of flexible material erect, and arranged so that the bottom of the pocket reaches a floor element in case of support. Alternatively, this housing may be made of a rigid material: one can for example provide a cylindrical element, made of metal or plastic, whose base is fixed to a base hoop intended to rest entirely on the ground, and whose inner diameter is slightly greater than a diameter of the buttress bar, so that this bar can be received in the cylindrical element.

Advantageously, the arch structure can be maintained in the deployed position by at least one extension holding means adapted to counter efforts tending to separate elements of the structure. The means of maintaining extension can in particular to counter the efforts of the structure. The structure may have a tendency to open naturally due to its conformation. Efforts can also be made by someone trying to push the elements of the structure out of the child's space, such as a child inside or outside that space.

In particular, the extension holding means may comprise at least the wall of flexible material capable of retaining the structure. The wall of flexible material may be associated with a strap to consolidate the assembly.

The invention is not limited by the shape of the arch structure used.

Advantageously, the arch structure may comprise at least a first arch forming a base loop capable of resting on the ground and at least a second raised arch in the extended position, the front view of which is substantially U-shaped, the second hoop being adapted to support at least the wall of flexible material.

In particular, one can provide two support bars secured respectively to the two high points of the second arch.

Advantageously, in the deployed state, the space for a child is delimited by one or more wall (s) substantially vertical (s) relative to the ground and / or relative to the base loop. By "substantially" is meant a deviation less than or equal to 10%, and advantageously less than or equal to 5%.

The child space may for example be circumscribed between four substantially vertical walls and a bottom, the opposite side to the bottom remaining open or possibly closed for example by a mosquito net.

The device may include a child's bed, and the space may be a sleeping space. The sleeping space can be shaped to allow the installation of a mattress with substantially rectangular faces.

Alternatively, we could predict that the device evening a park for children, and that the space is a playground.

Advantageously, the device comprises a wall reinforcement means of flexible material to counter a support on this wall. The child may indeed seek to leave the space dedicated to him by stepping over the wall, for example, and this reinforcing means may make it possible to stiffen the wall and to limit sagging, especially when the flexible material has aged.

This means may advantageously comprise one or more bars secured to the wall. For example, it is possible to provide a substantially horizontal reinforcing bar when the device is deployed, disposed near an upper edge of the wall, and a substantially vertical reinforcing bar, arranged so as to abut on the one hand with the substantially horizontal bar and secondly with a floor element in case of support on the substantially horizontal bar. The reinforcement means can thus be implemented in a relatively simple manner, without modifying the flexible material itself.

Advantageously, the bar or bars of the reinforcing means have a length less than or equal to the maximum dimension of the device in the folded state. Thus, if this or these bars are judiciously disposed, the transition from the deployed state to the folded state and / or vice versa can be done without a step dedicated to the reinforcing means, of the bar fixing type or the like.

The deployable structure thus defined is lighter than a traditional folding bed and also provides better support than a bassinet in case of support of the child.

It is possible that the wall of flexible material delimits a second sleeping space, for example for a second child.

There is further provided a method of deploying or folding a self-expanding child device, comprising an arch structure adapted to support in the deployed state at least one wall of flexible material defining a space for a child, and at least one buttress bar to counter a support on the arch structure, wherein during this deployment or folding only one of the two ends of the bar is secured to the arch structure by a fixed connection. The bar therefore remains linked to the arch structure when this structure goes from the folded state to the deployed state and / or vice versa.

• La figure 1 montre très schématiquement un exemple de lit pour enfant selon un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention;
• La figure 2 est une vue plus précise d'un lit pour enfant selon le premier mode de réalisation.

The invention is now described, with reference to the non-limiting drawings, in which:

• The figure 1 shows very schematically an example of a child's bed according to a first embodiment of the invention;
• The figure 2 is a more precise view of a child's bed according to the first embodiment.

According to the first embodiment, which is not limiting, represented on the figure 1 , a child's bed 1 is formed of a deployable arch structure. This structure comprises two hoops 110, 120, the first hoop 110 forms a base loop able to rest on the ground and a second hoop 120 erected whose front view in the deployed position has a substantially U-shaped, whose branches have tendency to deviate from each other.

The longitudinal axes (xx ', yy') of these loops are substantially perpendicular to one another.

The two longitudinal ends (B, B ') of the support loop 120 are associated with the two transverse ends of the base loop 110, so that the base loop 110 extends substantially in a plane and that the support loop 120 forms two arches 123, 124 extending upwards.

The two arches 123, 124 provide in particular the maintenance of a flexible wall 20 at four points C, D, E and F substantially forming a rectangle. The flexible wall is composed of one or more parallelepiped shaped elements.

In the example shown, the walls have substantially the same height h, for example 60 or 70 centimeters. According to another example not shown one could imagine that the sides two to two opposite of the parallelepiped have similar heights, the adjoining sides being of a different height.

The walls are advantageously substantially perpendicular to the ground, that is to say that they have an angle with respect to the vertical of +/- 10 ° or less.

The structure is held in the extended position by the wall 20 which acts as an extension holding means on the arches 123 and 124. The wall 20 makes it possible to counter the forces tending to move the arches 123, 124 away from one another. 'other.

Two rods or buttress bars 200, 201 make it possible to limit the risk of tilting of the device, by preventing the points 121, A and 122, A 'from getting closer to one another.

These bars 200, 201 each have a respective first end 210, 211 and a respective second end 220, 221. The first ends are secured to the respective high points 122, 121 of the loop 120, by means of plastic T 230, 231. The vertical leg of the T 230 receives the end 210, while the horizontal branches of this T 230 receive the ends of the loop 120 at the high point 122, and in the same way, the vertical leg of the T 231 receives the end 211, while the horizontal branches of this T 231 receive the ends of the loop 120 at the high point 121. The fastening of the first ends 210, 211 to the arch structure is therefore durable, the T being intended not to to be defeated by a user.

On the other hand, the second ends 220, 221 are simply intended to be received in respective eyelets (not shown) of a canvas wall supported by the base loop 110.

The structure is for example composed of tubes with a diameter of 5 mm. The buttress bars 200, 210 and the loops 110, 120 may be made of glass fibers, for example.

The base loop 110 has an unfolded length of about 4860 mm.

The support loop 120 has an unfolded length of about 4028 mm.

• Un premier patron sensiblement rectangulaire correspondant aux cotés de l'espace de couchage et un deuxième patron également sensiblement rectangulaire, mais de dimension plus réduite, correspondant aux extrémités de l'espace de couchage.
• Un troisième patron et un quatrième patron, adaptés pour fermer les surfaces s'étendant entre les cotés du de l'espace de couchage et la boucle support 120 en arceau, dont la forme est délimitée par la corde d'un cercle et sa périphérie. A titre d'exemple, le troisième patron présente une corde de 600 mm et une hauteur de 158 mm, le quatrième patron présente une corde de 1653 mm et une hauteur de 207 mm.
• Un cinquième patron, adapté pour fermer les surfaces extérieures de la structure s'étendant entre les points 121, A, B et B', et son symétrique 122, A', B et B'.
• Un sixième patron sensiblement ovale, adapté pour fermer le dessous de la structure, présentant les dimensions suivantes 1500 mm entre les points A et A' et 1000 mm entre les points B et B'.

With reference to the figure 2 , the structure is dressed with an envelope 500, comprising at least six different patterns. A pattern can be used for several pieces.

• A first substantially rectangular pattern corresponding to the sides of the sleeping space and a second pattern also substantially rectangular, but of smaller size, corresponding to the ends of the sleeping space.
• A third pattern and a fourth pattern, adapted to close the surfaces extending between the sides of the sleeping area and the support loop 120 in the form of an arch whose shape is delimited by the rope of a circle and its periphery. For example, the third pattern has a rope of 600 mm and a height of 158 mm, the fourth pattern has a rope of 1653 mm and a height of 207 mm.
• A fifth pattern, adapted to close the outer surfaces of the structure extending between the points 121, A, B and B ', and its symmetrical 122, A', B and B '.
• A sixth substantially oval pattern, adapted to close the underside of the structure, having the following dimensions 1500 mm between points A and A 'and 1000 mm between points B and B'.

To all these patterns it is necessary to add the overhangs required for assembly, which can extend for example between 20 mm and 30 mm.

The casing 500 is supported by the arch structure by means of fabric sleeves 510.

The deployable structure 110, 120 described in the figure 1 is advantageously a self-expanding structure well known to those skilled in the art.

The arches, once folded by a method well known to those skilled in the art, form a circle with a diameter ranging from 60 to 90 cm in diameter.

As shown on the figure 2 at the first boss is sewn a pocket 600 for receiving a horizontal reinforcing bar 300 and a vertical reinforcing bar 310. These bars each have a length adapted so that these bars do not constitute an inconvenience for folding, for example 60 centimeters .

The distance between the points F and C may for example be about 1 meter. Those skilled in the art will understand that the figures are not necessarily scaled and will eventually make the necessary adaptations.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the folding of the hoops, well known per se, is not inconvenienced by the presence of the bars 300, 310, 200, 210. The buttress bars 200, 210 are attached to the upper arch. using a plastic T 230, 231 and slide in a guide system along the lower rollbar. This system allows automatic installation during deployment and refolding without requiring disassembly or unlocking action on the part of the user. During deployment or refolding phases, the user only has the system "pop up" to manage, that is to say form an 8 with the two arches for folding. The set of additional stiffening elements 300, 310, 200, 210 is set up and folds automatically.

The bars 300, 310, here made of glass fibers, are joined together by a plastic T 320. The seams 330 make it possible to hold the bars 300, 310 in place.

The vertical bar 310 has one end secured to the horizontal bar 300, and the other end 710 located a few centimeters from the bottom of the sleeping space. If the child presses on the upper flange 700, the other end 710 abuts and helps counter the efforts related to the support.

Alternatively, in an embodiment not shown, it can be provided that the lower end of the vertical bar reaches the bottom of the wall, or even leads to the ground through eyelets formed in the envelope. For example, the height h of the walls may be 60 centimeters and the length of the vertical bar may also be equal to about 60 centimeters. In this case, it can be provided that the horizontal bar is maintained in a hem of the upper edge.

To return to the figure 2 , the fifth pattern has an opening 400 formed in the casing to pass the corresponding counter bar 200. In this fifth pattern is also attached a sleeve 410 by means of seam lines 460 for sliding guide the corresponding bar 200. When the structure is deployed, this sheath 410 constitutes a guiding means for bringing the second end 220 of the bar 200 to a corresponding metal eyelet 270 formed in the sixth pattern. When the structure is folded, the sleeve 410 ensures that the bar 200 will not hinder the folding.

For the sake of clarity, we have shown on the figures 2 the pockets 600 and the sleeve 410 as external, but it will be understood that for reasons of aesthetics, it may be advantageous to place them inside the envelope.

Also, for the sake of clarity, we have not represented entirely on the figure 2 only one of the buttress bars 200, 210. It will be understood that on the other side of the sleeping space is another buttress similar to that explicitly shown on the figure 2 .

Alternatively, it could be provided that during deployment, for each buttress bar, the lower end of the bar is guided by the user or by a sleeve-type guide means in a receiving member with a recess of internal diameter. slightly larger than the outer diameter of the bar. This introduction triggers a movement of a locking element of the receiving element, this movement leading to block the bar. This locking element may be located at the passage of the bar and may for example comprise a spring and a recessed piece capable of being pushed by the spring. The recess of the recessed piece has substantially the same diameter as that of the receiving element. In the locked position, the recessed piece applies due to the spring force of the transverse forces against the corresponding buttress bar portion, these forces being sufficient to prevent or make more difficult removal of the bar. During folding, the user presses an open end of the recessed piece and which is in a way a button. The bearing force being in the opposite direction to that of the spring biasing force, the recessed piece is moved. When the recess of the recessed piece is substantially aligned with the recess of the receiving member, and the recessed piece is applied against the bar a sufficiently low force, the bar can be removed more easily by the user or the fact training related to the folding of the structure.

In the present application, the terms "high", "low", "upper", "lower", "horizontal", "vertical" are to be understood in the common sense of the term, the soil being assumed to be horizontal or substantially horizontal, as well as than low and lower compared to the deployed device placed on the ground.

Claims (10)

1. Self-deployable device (1) for a child, comprising

   - an arcuate structure (110, 120) capable of supporting in the deployed state at least one wall (20) of flexible material defining a space for receiving a child,

   - at least one stiffener bar (200, 201) to withstand bearing against the arcuate structure (110, 120),

   wherein a single one (210, 211) of the two ends of the stiffener bar (200, 201) is secured to the arcuate structure (110, 120) by a fixed connection, such that said stiffener bar (200, 201) is able to remain connected to the arcuate structure (110, 120) when said arcuate structure (110, 120) passes from the folded-up state to the deployed state and/or vice versa.
2. Device (1) according to claim 1, further comprising guide means (410) for guiding the other (220, 221) of the ends of the bar when the device passes from the deployed state to the folded-up state and/or vice versa.
3. Device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the guide means comprises a sleeve (410) sewn into a wall of flexible material and configured so as to be able to receive the stiffener bar (200).
4. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, arranged so as to define at least one housing to receive the other (220, 221) of the ends of the bar in the deployed position.
5. Device (1) according to claim 4, wherein the housing is defined by an eyelet (270) fixed to a wall of flexible material.
6. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, further including a means (300, 310) for reinforcing the wall to withstand bearing against a wall of flexible material (20).
7. Device (1) according to claim 6, wherein the reinforcement means includes a substantially horizontal reinforcement bar (300) when the device is deployed, arranged in the vicinity of an upper edge (700) of the wall, and a substantially vertical reinforcement bar (210), arranged so as to come into abutment, on the one hand, with the substantially horizontal bar and, on the other hand, with a floor element, in the case of bearing against the substantially horizontal bar.
8. Device (1) according to claim 7, wherein at least one reinforcement bar (300, 310) has a length which is less than or equal to the maximum dimension of the device in the folded-up state.
9. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the arcuate structure includes at least a first arch forming a bottom loop (110) capable of resting on the floor and at least a second, upright arch (120), in the deployed position, of which the front view is substantially U-shaped, the second arch being capable of supporting at least the wall made of flexible material (20).
10. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said device is a cot.

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