EP4306008A1

EP4306008A1 - Twin crib

Info

Publication number: EP4306008A1
Application number: EP23184540.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Matteo Daverio; Erica Gallina; Antonella Festa
Original assignee: Artsana SpA
Current assignee: Artsana SpA
Priority date: 2022-07-12
Filing date: 2023-07-10
Publication date: 2024-01-17
Also published as: IT202200014620A1; CN117378895A

Abstract

A twin crib (1) comprises an upper frame (20), a lower frame (40) connected to the upper frame (20) and configured to support two mats (11). The crib (1) comprises a casing (50) fixable to the upper frame (20), with a bottom (51), an open opposite ceiling (52), a fixed rear wall (53) and an opposite openable front wall (54). The openable front wall (54) comprises a fixed portion (55) and a movable portion (56). The crib (1) comprises a divider (60) arranged between the two mats (11) and has hooking means (64) at a lower edge (61), a rear edge (62) and an opposite front edge (63). Such hooking means (64) are configured to respectively constrain the lower edge (61) to the bottom (51), the rear edge (62) to the fixed rear wall (53) and the front edge (63) to the fixed portion (55) of the openable front wall (54).

Description

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a crib for newborns. More particularly, the present invention relates to a twin crib with a collapsible wall that is flanked by a bed.

Prior art

Twin cribs provided with a collapsible wall in which the newborns sleep inside the same crib are known in the state of the art. In the known twin cribs, the divider is a totally removable wall, arranged parallel to the collapsible wall.
Document US 5787524 A describes a crib adapted to accommodate more children. The crib comprises front panels arranged so as to form an angle of less than 180° and sliding entirely, vertically and independently of each other. The crib comprises a casing made of soft material at the upper portion of the front panels. The crib comprises a first and a second sleeping area, separated by a divider, removably connectable to an upright and a central support panel.

Problems of the prior art

In twin cribs of the known technique, only one of the newborns can be placed near the collapsible wall next to the parents' bed, since the divider is arranged parallel to the collapsible wall and therefore parallel to the bed. This means that parents must periodically switch the position of the twins, so that both babies spend the same time near the parents' bed. In addition, parents are not facilitated in checking on the baby farther from the bed. All this is uncomfortable for newborns, as well as for parents.
The crib of the known technique, since it has an angle of less than 180°, and in particular equal to 90°, can be positioned at an angle of a bed. In this way, one of the babies is placed at the foot of the bed, while another at the side and must be periodically exchanged, so that both spend the same time next to the parents. In addition, the fixed upright between the two panels could be dangerous when the panels are in the lowered position as a parent could bump into it, for example to bring children into the sleeping areas.

Object of the invention

In this context, the technical task underlying the present invention is to provide a twin crib which obviates the drawbacks in the prior art as described above.
In particular, the aim of the present invention is to realize a divider that allows to improve the comfort of newborns and that is more practical to use as well as safe.
The stated technical task and specified objects are substantially achieved by a twin crib comprising the technical features set forth in one or more of the accompanying claims.
The present invention makes it possible to provide a twin crib in which the divider is at least partially fixed along a direction orthogonal to the collapsible wall and the parents' bed.
Advantageously, this twin crib solves the technical problem since it allows to keep both babies in the twin crib always close to the parents' bed.
Still advantageously, the divider is at least partially fixed to the crib itself so as to ensure greater stability of the same during use of the crib.
Always advantageously, the twin crib does not have protrusions, potentially dangerous.

LIST OF FIGURES

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following indicative, and hence non-limiting, description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a twin crib as illustrated in the appended drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a perspective view of a twin crib comprising an embodiment of a divider and a pair of mats, according to the present invention,
figure 2 is a perspective view of the twin crib comprising a schematic illustration of a divider, according to the present invention,
figure 3 is a front view of the twin crib of figure 1,
figure 4 is a side view of the twin crib of figure 1,
figure 5 is a perspective view of the twin crib of figure 1 without the mats and casing,
figure 6 is a first embodiment of a casing of the crib in a closed configuration, according to figures 1 to 4,
figure 7 is a second embodiment of a casing of the crib in the closed configuration, according to figures 1 to 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a twin crib 1 configured to be placed adjacent to a bed, facilitating contact between the parents and the two babies.
As shown in figure 1, the twin crib 1 comprises an upper frame 20 and a lower frame 40. The upper frame 20 comprises a first fixed portion 21 and a second portion 22 movable with respect to the first portion 21. The lower frame 40 is connected to the upper frame 20 and is configured to support two mats 11. Each mat 11 is adapted to support a child. In a preferred embodiment, the lower frame 40 is substantially square in shape. Always preferably, the upper frame 20 and the lower frame 40 comprise rod-shaped elements.
The twin crib 1 further comprises a casing 50, made of flexible material, fixable to the upper frame 20. The casing 50 has a bottom 51, an open opposite ceiling 52, at least one fixed rear wall 53 and an opposite openable front wall 54. The openable front wall 54 is configured to be positioned adjacent to the bed. Said openable front wall 54 comprises a fixed portion 55, supported by the lower frame 40, and a movable portion 56, connected to the second portion 22 of the upper frame 20.
It is worth noting that the twin crib 1 comprises a divider 60 arranged between the two mats 11. As shown in figure 2, the divider 60 has hooking means 64 at a lower edge 61, a rear edge 62 and an opposite front edge 63. Note that said hooking means 64 are configured to fixedly or removably constrain respectively the lower edge 61 to the bottom 51, the rear edge 62 to the fixed rear wall 53 and the front edge 63 to the fixed portion 55 of the openable front wall 54. Note that by removable hooking means 64 is meant that the hooking means 64 is configured to repeatedly and reversibly hook and unhook the lower edge 61 to the bottom 51, the rear edge 62 to the fixed rear wall 53 and the front edge 63 to the fixed portion 55.
It should therefore be noted that the divider 60 is positioned orthogonally both with respect to the fixed rear wall 53 and with respect to the openable front wall 54. It is worth noting that, advantageously, both babies, when placed on the respective mat 11, are close to the bed to which the crib 1 is next to. In addition, both the mats 11 on which the children are placed are immediately accessible by the parents from the bed thanks to the side access window provided by the movable portion 56 when it is open. Preferably, the divider 60 is rectangular in shape.
In a first embodiment, the hooking means 64 are fixed. In said embodiment, the lower edge 61, the rear edge 62 and the front edge 63 are fixed, preferably by a seam, respectively to the bottom 51, to the fixed rear wall 53 and to the fixed portion 55.
In a second embodiment, the hooking means 64 are at least partly removable.
Preferably, the hooking means 64 on the lower edge 61, the rear edge 62 and the front edge 63 are removable.
Preferably, the hooking means 64 on the rear edge 62 are fixed and the hooking means 64 on the front edge 63 and on the lower edge 61 are removable.
In a preferred embodiment, the lower edge 61 is fixed to the bottom 51, the rear edge 62 is fixed to the fixed rear wall 53 and the front edge 63 hookable through hooking means 64 to the fixed portion 55 of the openable front wall 54.
Note that the hooking means 64 comprise first hooking elements 65 constrained to the front edge 63 of the divider 60 and second hooking elements 66 constrained to the fixed portion 55 of the openable front wall 54. Further, the first and second hooking elements 65, 66 are hookable together to constrain the divider 60 to the fixed portion 55. Preferably, the hooking means 64 comprise first hooking elements 65 constrained to the lower edge 61 of the divider 60 and second hooking elements 66 constrained to the bottom 51. Preferably, the hooking means 65 comprise first hooking elements 65 constrained to the rear edge 62 of the divider 60 and second hooking elements 66 constrained to the fixed rear wall 53.
In a preferred embodiment, the hooking means 64 comprises a zipper, as shown in figure 2. In detail, in the preferred embodiment, the first and second hooking elements 65, 66 are respectively a first and a second row of teeth of a zipper. Preferably, the first and second rows of teeth are fixed with a seam respectively on the front edge 63 and/or on the rear edge 62 and/or on the lower edge 61 and on the fixed portion 55 and/or on the fixed rear wall 53 and/or on the bottom 51.
In further embodiments, not shown in the figures, the hooking means 64 comprise, for example, at least one button and a respective buttonhole, at least one snap button, magnetic elements or a pair of Velcro strips.
Note that the divider 60 comprises a textile insert 79. Preferably, the textile insert 79 is made of flexible material. Even more preferably, the textile insert 79 is made of the same flexible material as the casing 50.
In greater detail, the textile insert 79 comprises the lower and rear edges 61, 62 and is fixed by seams respectively to the bottom 51 and to the fixed rear wall 53, at said lower and rear edges 61, 62. Furthermore, the textile insert 79 comprises the front edge 63 hookable via the hooking means 64 to the fixed portion 55. It is worth noting that the textile insert 79 comprises a free edge 80, opposite the lower edge 63 and facing the ceiling 52.
Note that, in a preferred embodiment, the divider 60 comprises a frame 78 on which the textile insert 79 is mounted. Preferably, the frame 78 comprises rod-like elements.
In greater detail, the textile insert 79 projects from the bottom 51 and comprises a base portion 67 interposed between the two mats 11 and an overlying separation portion 68 projecting with respect to the mats 11, as shown for example in figure 3. The separation portion 68 extends continuously from the base portion 67 and is configured to keep the newborns separated.
The fixed portion 55 has an extension from the bottom 51 up to the movable portion 56. In addition, the mats 11 have a thickness 81 extending from the bottom 51 towards the ceiling 52. In greater detail, in one embodiment, the thickness 81 of each mat 11 is comprised between 4 and 7 centimetres, preferably equal to 5 centimetres. Always preferably, the extension of the fixed portion 55 is comprised between 8 and 14 centimetres, even more preferably the extension of the fixed portion 55 is equal to 12 centimetres.
In a preferred embodiment, the base portion 67 extends from the bottom 51 towards the ceiling 52 with a height equal to the thickness 81 of the mats 11, as can be seen in figure 3. The base portion 67 comprises the lower edge 61 and is fixed to the bottom 51 by stitching at the same lower edge 61.
In a first embodiment, shown in figure 2, the divider 60 extends from the bottom 51 towards the ceiling 52 with a height equal to the extension of the fixed portion 55. In said first embodiment, the divider 60 can be fixed with the hooking means 64 to the fixed portion 55 along the entire front edge 63.
In one embodiment, shown in figure 1, the divider 60 extends from the bottom 51 towards the ceiling 52 with a height greater than the extension of the fixed portion 55. In said embodiment, the divider 60 can be fixed by means of hooking means 64 only for a portion of the front edge 63 equal at most to the extension of the fixed portion 55. In addition, a remaining portion of the front edge 62 is free and not hookable to the openable front wall 54. As for the rear edge 63, it is preferably sewn along its entire vertical extension from the bottom 51 toward the ceiling 52.
In a further embodiment, not shown in the figure, the divider 60 extends from the bottom 51 towards the ceiling 52 with a height less than the extension of the fixed portion 55. In said embodiment, the divider 60 can be fixed with the hooking means 64 to said fixed portion 55 along the entire front edge 63.
Note that the separation portion 68 comprises a mesh 69. Preferably, the mesh 69 is rectangular in shape. Preferably, the mesh 69 has connecting perimeter sides 89, fixed to the flexible material of the separation portion 68 surrounding the mesh 69.
The crib 1 also comprises two opposite fixed side walls 57, 58 which define, together with the fixed rear wall 53 and the openable front wall 54, an internal compartment 59. The divider 60 divides the internal compartment 59 into two zones 70, 71 within the internal compartment 59 surrounded by the walls 53, 54, 57, 58. Preferably, the zones 70, 71 have the same volume.
Note that the mesh 69 is configured to separate the two zones 70, 71 within the internal compartment 59, yet permitting mutual vision and communication between the newborns. Advantageously, the mesh 69 promotes contact between the twins, each positioned on a respective mat 11 in a respective zone 70, 71.
As shown in figure 6, in a first embodiment, the casing 50 comprises at least one window 90 at the fixed rear wall 53, configured to make the internal compartment 59 visible. Preferably, the window 90 is made of mesh fabric. In a second embodiment, the casing comprises at least two further windows 91, shown in figure 6. Each further window 91 is positioned respectively at one of the opposite fixed perimeter walls 57, 58. Preferably, each further window 91 is made of mesh fabric. Each further window 91 is configured to make the internal compartment 59 visible.
The movable portion 56 is configured to switch between a closing configuration in which the internal compartment is accessible only from the ceiling 52 and an opening configuration in which the movable portion 56 is open and makes the internal compartment 59 accessible also laterally through the openable front wall 54.
Note that the first portion 21 of the upper frame 20 comprises a first and a second fixed end 23, 24 and the second portion 22 of the upper frame 20 comprises a first and a second movable end 25, 26.
As shown in figure 6, in a preferred embodiment, the crib comprises a pair of vertical rails 27, 28, positioned at the first portion 21 of the upper frame 20, respectively at the first and second fixed ends 23, 24. The pair of rails 27, 28 extends between the upper frame 20 and the lower frame 40. Each rail 27, 28 comprises a closing end 31a, at the upper frame 20, and an opening end 31b, at the lower frame 40.
The crib 1 further comprises a pair of sliders 29, 30, positioned respectively at the second portion 22 of the upper frame 20, respectively at the first and second movable ends 25, 26. Each slider 29, 30 is associated with a respective rail 27, 28. The pair of sliders 29, 30 extends at the movable portion 56. Each slider 29, 30 comprises a first end 33, at the upper frame 20, and a second end 34, at the fixed portion 55, when the movable portion 56 is in the closing configuration.
Each slider 29, 30 is configured to slide along the respective rail 27, 28. In detail, when the movable portion 56 is in the closing configuration, the first end 33 of each slider 29, 30 is positioned at the closing end 31a of the respective rail 27, 28. When the movable portion 56 is in the opening configuration, the second end 34 of each slider 29, 30 is positioned at the opening end 31b of the respective rail 27, 28.
In the preferred embodiment in which the crib 1 comprises the pair of rails 27, 28 and the relative sliders 29, 30, the divider 60 comprises hooking means 64 removable at least at the front edge 63.
In an alternative embodiment, known in the state of the art, the openable front wall 54 is an overturning collapsible wall, not shown in the figures. Preferably, the lower frame 40 comprises a rod-like support element, more preferably tubular, extending inside the fixed portion 55 of the openable front wall 54 so as to form a support structure for the textile insert 79. In detail, the rod-like support element has two vertical rod-like support elements, and a rod-like connecting element between the two rod-like support elements, preferably horizontal and therefore parallel to the bottom 51.
In said alternative embodiment of the crib 1, in a first embodiment, the divider 60 comprises hooking means 64 fixed at the front edge 63.
In said alternative embodiment of the crib 1, in a second embodiment, the divider 60 comprises hooking means 64 removable at least at the front edge 63.
In the preferred embodiment, the casing 50 comprises a first textile element 72 removable and fittable on the first portion 21 of the upper frame 20 and on the lower frame 40, and a second textile element 73 fixed at the openable front wall 54. Note that the divider 60 is secured along the lower and rear edges 61, 62 by seams to the first textile member 72.
Advantageously, once the mats 11 are removed, the hooking means 64, hooked to the fixed portion 55 during use of the crib 1, are released and the first textile element 72 is removed together with the textile insert 79.
Preferably, as shown in figures 6 and 7, the second textile element 73 comprises at least one window 92. Preferably, the window 92 is made of mesh. Advantageously, the window 92 on the openable front wall 54 allows to see inside the volume 59 even when the movable portion 56 is in the closing configuration.
The crib 1 comprises side uprights 74 adjustable in height, preferably telescopic, and connected to the lower frame 40 by means of connection joints 75, as shown in figure 5. Advantageously, the crib 1 can be adjusted in height so as to be able to be flanked by beds with different heights, and in particular to bring the mats 11 at the same height as the parents' bed.
In the first embodiment, shown in figure 3, the upper frame 20 and the lower frame 40 are mechanically connected by the side uprights 74 and by the pair of rails 27, 28. In the alternative embodiment, known in the state of the art, in which the openable front wall 54 is an overturning collapsible wall, the upper frame 20 and the lower frame 40 are mechanically connected via the side uprights 74.

Claims

Twin crib (1) comprising:
- an upper frame (20) comprising a first fixed portion (21) and a second portion (22) movable with respect to the first portion (21),

- a lower frame (40) connected to the upper frame (20) and configured to support two mats (11), wherein each mat (11) is adapted to support a child,

- a casing (50) made of flexible material and fixable to the upper frame (20), the casing (50) having a bottom (51) and an open opposite ceiling (52) and at least one fixed rear wall (53) and an opposite openable front wall (54), the openable front wall (54) comprising a fixed portion (55) supported by the lower frame (40) and a movable portion (56) connected to the second portion (22),
characterized in that it comprises

- a divider (60) arranged between the two mats (11), the divider (60) having hooking means (64) at a lower edge (61), a rear edge (62) and an opposite front edge (63), said hooking means (64) being configured to respectively constrain the lower edge (61) to the bottom (51), the rear edge (62) to the fixed rear wall (53) and the front edge (63) to the fixed portion (55) of the openable front wall (54).
Crib (1) according to claim 1, wherein the hooking means (64) are fixed.
Crib (1) according to claim 1, wherein the hooking means (64) are at least partially removable.
Crib (1) according to claim 3, wherein the hooking means (64) comprise first hooking elements (65) constrained to the front edge (63) of the divider (60) and second hooking elements (66) constrained to the fixed portion (55) of the openable front wall (54), the first and second hooking elements (65, 66) being hookable together to constrain the divider (60) to the fixed portion (55).
Crib (1) according to any one of claims 1, 3 or 4, wherein the hooking means (64) comprise a zipper.
Crib (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the divider (60) comprises a textile insert (79).
Crib (1) according to claim 7, wherein the divider (60) comprises a frame (78) on which the textile insert (79) is mounted.
Crib (1) according to any one of claims 6 or 7, wherein the textile insert (79) projects from the bottom (51) and comprises a base portion (67) interposed between the mats (11) and an overlying separation portion (68) projecting with respect to the mats (11).
Crib (1) according to claim 8, wherein the separation portion (68) comprises a mesh (69).
Crib (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, also comprising two opposite fixed side walls (57, 58) defining, together with the fixed rear wall (53) and the openable front wall (54), an internal compartment (59), in which the divider (60) divides the internal compartment (59) into two zones (70, 71).
Crib (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the movable portion (56) is configured to switch between a closing configuration in which the internal compartment is accessible only from the ceiling (52) and an opening configuration in which the movable portion (56) makes the internal compartment (59) accessible also laterally from the openable front wall (54).
Crib (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the casing (50) comprises a first removable textile element (72) and fittable on the first portion (21) of the upper frame (20) and on the lower frame (40), and a second textile element (73) fixed at the openable front wall (54).
Crib (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, comprising side uprights (74) adjustable in height and connected to the lower frame (40) by connection joints (75).