EP3874993A1

EP3874993A1 - Baby crib convertible to a bed

Info

Publication number: EP3874993A1
Application number: EP21156937.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Erica Gallina
Original assignee: Artsana SpA
Current assignee: Artsana SpA
Priority date: 2020-03-02
Filing date: 2021-02-12
Publication date: 2021-09-08
Also published as: TW202139895A; IT202000004333A1; CN113331634A

Abstract

A child's crib (1) comprises a frame (2); a plurality of perimeter walls (7) made of flexible material and secured to the frame (2); a base (8) fixed to the frame (2); a pair of support elements (6) connected to the frame (2) and configured to rest on a support surface, the support elements (6) are adapted to be disconnected/reconnected from/to the frame (2), the base (8) is configured to rest directly on the support surface, the frame (2) is configured to stably support its own weight when the base (8) rests on the support surface.

Description

The present invention relates to a child's crib. Namely, the crib of the present invention is designed to be placed adjacent to an adult bed, particularly the bed of the mother or the person who cares for the child at night. Such adjacent position particularly requires the possibility of adapting the height of the crib to the height of the bed, thereby creating a seamless, step-free surface.
Baby cribs of the same type as the inventive crib are known in the art. In particular, a crib is known from EP 3 354 165 , corresponding to the Italian patent IT 10 2017 000 008 138 . This crib comprises a supporting frame, preferably formed of tubular rod elements. The crib also comprises a plurality of perimeter walls, which are formed from flexible material and are attached to the frame. A bottom wall is fixed to the frame, and supports a mattress adapted to receive a child.
One of the aforementioned perimeter walls is configured to be able to be opened. This perimeter wall defines a frame side that is designed to be adjacent to the bed. Particularly, this wall can be detached from the adjacent walls and overturned on the wall itself, to form an opening through which the person who cares for the child may access the child without rising from his/her bed.
The above described crib of the prior art is designed for use with infants and, as a result, its usefulness decreases with time as the child grows up. Thus, inconveniently, the crib must be replaced with a small bed after the first year of life.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In this context, the technical purpose of the present invention is to provide a child's crib that can obviate the aforementioned prior art drawbacks.
Also, the object of the present invention is to provide a child's crib that can be used for a longer period of the life of a child.
The aforementioned technical purpose and objects are substantially fulfilled by a child's crib that comprises the technical features as disclosed in one or more of the accompanying claims.
In particular, a child's crib of the present invention comprises a frame. The crib also comprises a plurality of perimeter walls which are formed from flexible material and are secured to the frame. A base is fixed to the frame.
A pair of support elements is connected to the frame. These support elements are arranged to rest on a support surface, for example a floor. Moreover, the support elements are adapted to be disconnected from and/or reconnected to the frame.
According to the invention, the base is configured to rest directly on the support surface. The frame is configured to stably support its own weight when the base rests on the support surface.
The crib solves the technical problem in that, as the support elements are disconnected, the bottom may rest directly on the floor. The frame is designed to support its own weight, thus preventing the crib from collapsing when used in this way.
Advantageously, a bed of this type can be used in an environment designed according to Montessori principles. Thus, when the bottom rests directly on the floor, the bed can be very low, for access by a child without adult assistance.

LIST OF DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the present invention will result more clearly from the illustrative, non-limiting description of a preferred, non-exclusive embodiment of a child's crib as shown in the annexed drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a child's crib according to the present invention, with certain parts omitted to better show other parts;
Figure 2 is a bottom view of the crib of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a magnified perspective view of a first detail of the crib of Figures 1 and 2, with certain parts omitted to better show other parts;
Figure 4 is a sectional front view of a second detail of the crib of Figures 1 and 2;
Figure 5 is a magnified perspective view of a third detail of the crib of Figures 1 and 2;
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the detail of Figure 5, with certain parts omitted to better show other parts; and
Figure 7 is a perspective view of the child's crib of Figures 1 and 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the annexed figures, numeral 1 designates a child's crib of the present invention.
The crib 1 has a front side 1a. As used herein, the term "front side" is intended to designate the side of the crib 1 that is designed to be placed adjacent to a bed. Namely, the front side 1a may be opened in various manners, which may be selected from those known to the skilled person or from those disclosed in other patent applications by the applicant hereof.
The crib 1 comprises a frame 2. Referring to Figure 1, it will be appreciated that the crib 2 is defined by a plurality of rod-like elements, preferably of tubular type. The frame 2 substantially has the shape of a parallelepiped, and is supported by a pair of support elements 6 that rest upon a support surface, typically a floor. Further details about the support elements 6 will be provided hereinbelow.
The crib 1 comprises a plurality of perimeter walls 7, which are formed from flexible material and are secured to the frame 2. It will be appreciated that at least one of the perimeter walls 7 has a variable height or another equivalent mechanism to open the front side 1a of the crib 1.
A base 8 is also connected to the frame 2. This base 8 has a substantially rectangular shape, and is namely defined by a pair of long sides 8a and a pair of short sides 8b. The front side 1a of the crib 1 is namely defined at one of the long sides 8a of the base 8. Particularly referring to Figure 2, it should be noted that the base 8 has a base surface 8c adapted to face the floor. This base surface 8c has a plurality of non-slip supports 25 configured to rest directly on the floor. It should be noted that the frame 2 is advantageously configured to stably support its own weight when the base 8 rests on the floor.
In operation, a mattress 9 is placed above the base 8. This mattress 9 is known in the art and will not be further described herein.
Referring to the aforementioned frame 2, it should be noted that it comprises an upper portion 4. The upper portion 4 is connected to the base 8 via a plurality of vertical uprights 5a, 5b. Namely, the frame 2 comprises a pair of front uprights 5a, located at the front side 1a of the crib 1. The frame 2 further comprises two pairs of lateral uprights 5b, each connected to a respective short side 8b of the base 8.
More in detail, the upper portion 4 has a pair of first opposite sides 4a. A second side 4b connects the two ends of the first sides 4a, and is perpendicular thereto. The first sides 4a and the second side 4b have a C shape. It should be noted that the lateral uprights 5b connect the first sides 4a of the upper portion 4 to the base 8.
The upper portion 4 further comprises a moving side 4c, disposed transverse, and particularly perpendicular to the first sides 4a. Therefore, the moving side 4c is disposed parallel to the second side 4b of the upper portion 4. More particularly, the moving side 4c of the upper portion 4 is disposed at the front side 1a of the crib 1 and defines the openable part of the frame 2. The mechanism for opening/closing and locking/unlocking the moving side 4c may be of any of the types known by the skilled persons, or may be of novel type, as disclosed in a different patent application by the applicant hereof.
It should be noted that in the crib 1 as described herein the moving side 4c slides along a pair of the aforementioned uprights 5a, 5b, in particular along the front uprights 5a. One of the perimeter walls 7 is defined by a flexible element 10 which is connected to the moving side 4c. The flexible element 10 is wound around a wind-up unit (not shown), which is placed below the mattress 9.
Advantageously, the crib 1 of the present invention is designed to be converted into a small bed for children, namely a Montessori bed. For this purpose, the supporting elements 6 are designed to be connected to and disconnected from the frame 2. The support elements 6 are designed to slide along the frame 2, namely in a vertical direction, i.e. substantially parallel to the uprights 5a, 5b. In the preferred embodiment, the support elements 6 slidably fit into in the base 8.
In order to facilitate access by the child when the crib 1 is configured as a bed, the aforementioned moving side 4c can be completely released from the front uprights 5a, for easier independent access by the child with no risk of stumbling. In particular, the front side 4c is released by means of a pair of spring buttons 35 formed on the upper portion of the front uprights 5a, as shown for example in Figures 5 and 6.
Back to the support elements 6, each of them comprises a pair of parallel vertical rods 26. A base portion 27 connects the rods 26, and is equipped with wheels 28 for easy displacement of the crib 1. The base portion 27 is designed to be folded, and particularly comprises a pair of hinges 29 arranged external to the rods 26. The axes of the hinges 29 extend parallel to the rods 26. These hinges 29 allow the wheels 28 to be folded down, so that the crib 1 may be moved close to the bed and the support elements 6 may be more easily stored. Advantageously, the hinges 29 have elastic means (not shown), which have the purpose of moving the wheels 28 back to the starting position, parallel to the sides 8b, once the crib 1 has been moved away from the bed. These elastic means are of conventional type, e.g. comprising springs, and will not be further described.
Particularly referring to Figure 1, it will be appreciated that the crib 1 further comprises at least one a pair of connecting elements 12. Each connecting element 12 is arranged between a respective lateral upright 5b and a respective supporting element 6.
In the illustrated embodiment, two connecting elements 12 are provided at each short side 8b of the base 8. In particular, each connecting element 12 connects one of the respective rods 26 of the supporting element 6 to a respective lateral upright 5b. Each of the connecting elements 12 has a respective seat 14 for stably holding one of the rods 26 thereby affording a sliding movement of the frame 2, for height adjustment of the crib 1 or for removal of the aforementioned supporting elements 6.
In order to adjust a distance between the base 8 and the floor, the crib 1 has at least one selector 15 associated with the frame 2 and with the supporting elements 6. Preferably, the crib 1 comprises at least one selector 15 for each supporting element 6. More preferably, each selector 15 is at least partially housed inside a respective connecting element 12, in particular one of the first connecting elements 12. In order to interact with the selector 15, each support element 6 has a plurality of windows 16 which are adapted to face the selector 15. In particular, the windows 16 are formed on at least one of the rods 26 of the support element 6. Each window 16 corresponds to a respective distance between the base 8 and the floor. The selector 15 is adapted to at least partially fit into the windows 16, to permit and/or lock the sliding movement of the support element 6.
More in detail, the selector 15 comprises a pin 18 fixed to the connecting element 12. A detent 17 is able to rotate with respect to the pin 18 and, in operation, fits into one of the above described windows 16. Such detent 17 is held in position by an elastic element (not shown). A lever 30, connected to the selector 15 via a transmission cable (not shown) arranged inside the frame 2, allows the user to retract the detent 17 from the window 16 in which it fits, thereby allowing the support element 6 to slide relative to the frame 2, in particular, by sliding the rods 26 inside the seats 14 of the connecting elements 12.
According to the present invention, the crib further comprises at least one locking member 31 connected to the supporting element 6. The locking member 31 is particularly operable on the base 8, to prevent disconnection of the supporting element 6 from the base 8, said locking member 31 being in particularly intended to be engaged/disengaged by a user. Furthermore, the locking member 31 is at least partially housed inside the support element 6, and adapted to fit into the base 8 to lock the sliding movement of the support element 6 relative to the base 8. In the preferred embodiment, the crib 1 comprises one locking member 31 for each supporting element 6.
More in detail, each locking member 31 comprises a pin 32 emerging from the supporting element 6, in particular from one of the rods 26. Elastic means (not shown), e.g. embodied by a spring, hold the pin 32 in position. It should be noted that the portion of the pin 32 that emerges from the rod 26, in operation, fits into a vertically-extending guide 33 formed inside the base 8. Advantageously, this allows the support element 6 to vertically move to adjust its height as described above, but to a limited extent. In order to slidingly remove the support element 6, the user acts on the pin 32 via transmission means (not shown) against the action exerted by the elastic means, to return the pin 32 into the rod 26. Thus, the guide 33 will no longer be an obstacle, and the support element 6 can be disconnected from the base 8.

Claims

A child's crib (1), comprising:
- a frame (2);

- a plurality of peripheral walls (7) made of a flexible material and secured to said frame (2);

- a base (8) fixed to said frame (2);

- a pair of support elements (6) connected to said frame (2) and configured to rest on a support surface, said support elements (6) being disconnectable/reconnectable from/to said frame (2),
characterized in that said base (8) is configured to rest directly on said support surface, said frame (2) being configured to stably support its own weight when said base (8) rests on said support surface.
A crib (1) as claimed in the preceding claim, characterized in that said base (8) has a base surface (8c) having multiple non-slip supports (25) configured to rest directly on said support surface.
A crib (1) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said support elements (6) are slidably connected to the frame (8).
A crib (1) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said support elements (6) are slidably connected to the base (2).
A crib (1) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said base (8) has a pair of short sides (8b), said frame (2) comprising at least a pair of lateral uprights (5b) each located at a respective short side (8b) of the base (8) and extending in a substantially vertical direction away from said base (8), said crib (1) also comprising a pair of connecting elements (12) each located between a respective lateral upright (5b) and a respective support element (6).
A crib (1) as claimed in the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises a selector (15) associated with the frame (2) and the support element (6) to adjust the distance between said base (8) and said support surface.
A crib (1) as claimed in the preceding claim, characterized in that said selector (15) is at least partially housed in said connecting element (12).
A crib (1) as claimed in claim 6 or 7, characterized in that said support element (6) has a plurality of windows (16) configured to face said selector (15), said adjustment selector (15) being at least partially insertable into said windows (16), each window (16) corresponding to a respective distance between said base (8) and said support surface.
A crib (1) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a locking member (31) connected to the support element (6) and operable on said base (8) to prevent disconnection of said support element (6) from said base (8), said locking member (31) being engageable/disengageable by a user.
A crib (1) as claimed in the preceding claim, characterized in that said locking member (31) is at least partially housed within said support element (6).
A crib (1) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said frame (2) comprises a pair of front uprights (5a) and a moving side (4c) slidable along said front uprights (5a), said moving side (4c) being releasable from said front uprights (5a), for independent access by a child.