GB2497673A

GB2497673A - Foldable baby bed frame

Info

Publication number: GB2497673A
Application number: GB1222550.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: guo-hong Zhang; da-liang Zhang
Original assignee: BP Childrens Products HK Co Ltd
Current assignee: BP Childrens Products HK Co Ltd
Priority date: 2011-12-15
Filing date: 2012-12-14
Publication date: 2013-06-19
Anticipated expiration: 2032-12-14
Also published as: CN103156433B; DE102012223171B4; GB201222550D0; DE102012223171A1; GB2497673B; CN103156433A

Abstract

A foldable baby bed frame comprises an armrest frame 10, a plurality of support legs 30, a plurality of sliding members 20, a plurality of engagement members (21, Fig 3) and a connecting rod 41. The armrest frame includes two parallel and spaced apart sliding rods 11 to which each of the sliding members are connected movably at one end. The second end of each sliding member is connected pivotally to one of the support legs, so as to allow the support legs to be rotated and folded relative to the sliding rods. Each engagement member is mounted to one of a corresponding one of the sliding rods and a corresponding one of the sliding members and is engageable with the other of the corresponding one of the sliding rods and the corresponding one of the sliding members so as to prevent sliding movement of the sliding member on the sliding rod when the support leg. The connecting rod is parallel to the sliding rods and has two ends, each connected pivotally to at least one of the support legs.

Description

FOLDABLE BABY BED FRANE

This invention relates to a baby bed frame, and more particularly to a foldable baby bed frame.

Most of conventional baby beds are modular, need to be frequently assembled and disassembled, and are thus inconvenient to use. Furthermore, when disassembled, such a modular baby bed has a relatively large volume, thereby resulting in difficulties in moving and transporting the baby bed. Hence, a foldable baby bed is required.

The object of this invention is to provide a foldable baby bed frame.

According to this invention, a baby bed frame inclildes an armrest frame, a plurality cf support legs, a plurality of sliding members, a plurality of engagement members, and a connecting rod. The armrest frame includes two parallel sliding rods. Each of the sliding members is connected movably to one of the sliding rods, and is connected pivotally to one of the support legs, so as to allow the one of the support legs to be rotated and folded relative to the one of the sliding rods. Each of the engagement members is mounued to one of a corresponding one of the sliding rods anda corresponding one of the sliding members, and is engageable with the other of the corresponding one cf the sliding rods and the corresponding one of the sliding members, so as to prevent sliding movement of the corresponding one of the sliding members on the corresponding one of the sliding rods when the corresponding one of the support legs is unfolded. The connecting rod is parallel to the sliding rods, and has two ends each connected pivotally to at least one of the support legs.

As such, to fold the baby bed frame, it is only necessary to press the engagement members and subsequently move the sliding members on the sliding rods, so that the baby bed frame is convenient to operate.

These and other features and advantages of this invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of this invention, with reference cc the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of a foldable baby bed frame according to this invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the first preferred embodiment, illustrating a connection between a support leg and a sliding rod; Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the support leg and the sliding rod of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the first preferred embodiment, illustrating that a connecting rod and a fixed rod are interconnected by a connecting member; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the connecting rod, the fixed rod, and the connecting member, viewed from another angle; Fig. is a side view of the first preferred embodiment j when it is in an unfolded state; Fig. 7 is a side view of the first preferred embodiment when it is in a semi-folded state; Fig. 8 is a side view of the first preferred embodiment when it is in a fully folded state; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment, illustrating that a plurality of wheel units are removed so that the baby bed frame serves as a cradle; Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of a baby bed frame according to this invention; Fig. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of the second preferred embodiment, illustrating a connection between a sliding member and a sliding rod; Fig. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of the third preferred embodiment, illustrating a connection between a sliding member and a sliding rod; and Fig. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the sliding member and the sliding rod of Fig. 12.

Before the present invention is described in greater detail in connection with the preferred embodiments, it should be noted that similar elements and structures are designated by like reference numerals throughout the entire

disclosure.

Referring to Fig. 1, the first preferred embodiment of a foldable baby bed frame 100 according to this invention includes an armrest frame 10, two pairs of support legs 30, a pair of fixed rods 42, a connecting rod 41, a pair of curved rocker rods 61, and four wheel units 62. The armrest frame 10 includes a pair of sliding rods 11 parallel to and spaced apart from each other, a pair of long armrest rods 12 respectively adjacent to and parallel to the sliding rods 11, and a pair of short armrest rods 13 connected between the sliding rods 11 and between the long armrest rods 12 to from a rectangular frame. Each pair of support legs 30 are connected movably to a respective one of the sliding rods 11.

With further reference to Figs. 2 and 3, each support leg 30 includes a sliding member 20, an engagement member 21, an upper rod portion 31, a lower rod portion 32, and a fixed plug 33. Each sliding member 20 is inverted IJ-shaped, is sleeved movably on the corresponding sliding rod 11, and has a pair of downwardly extending plates 201.

In this embodiment, each engagement member 21 is a spring plate, has an engagement block 211 projecting outwardly therefrom, and is disposed in the corresponding sliding rod 11. In this embodiment, each sliding rod 11 is hollow, and has two engagement holes 111 formed respectively in two end portions thereof and engaging respectively the engagement blocks 211 of two corresponding engagement members 21. Each sliding member 20 has an engagement hole 22 engaging the engagement block 211 of the corresponding engagement member 21. Due to engagement of the engagement blocks 211 with the engagement holes 111, 22 of the sliding rods 11 and the sliding members 20, movement of the sliding members 20 relative to the sliding rods 11 is prevented, that is, relative position between each sliding member 20 and the corresponding sliding rod 11 is fixed. When the baby bed frame 100 is fully unfolded, the engaging holes 22 of the sliding members 20 are aligned respectively with the engaging holes ill of the sliding rods 11, so as to allow the each engagement block 211 to engage the corresponding engagement holes 111, 22, in such a manner that a portion of each engagement block 211 projects outwardly from the engaging hole 22 of the sliding member 20, thereby allowing for manual operation. In this embodiment, when the baby bed frame 100 is flllly unfolded, each support leg 11 forms an angle of slightly greater than 90 degrees with respect to the corresponding sliding rod 11.

Each upper rod portion 31 is hollow. Each lower rod portion 32 extends telescopically into the corresponding upper rod portion 31. As such, the length of each of the support leg 30 is adjustable in a known manner to change the height of the baby bed frame 100. For example, each upper rod portion 31 can be looked on the corresponding lower rod portion 32 by a locking member, such as a lock bolt or a positioning pin. The structure of the locking member can be found in Chinese Utility Model Patent No. CN201390171Y, filed on February 10, 2009, Chinese Utility Model Patent No. CN201516815U, filedonSeptenrber30, 2009, Chinese Invention Patent No. CN102582479A, filedon January 6, 2011, and European Patent Nos. EP1180448B1 and EP1884400B1.

Each fixed plug 33 has a lower portion 331 connected fixedly to an upper end of the corresponding upper rod portion 31, and an upper portion 332 extending into a space between the two fixed plates 201 of the corresponding sliding member 20 and connected rotatably to the two fixed plates 201 by a pivot pin 333. specifically, each of the fixed plates 201 and the upper portions 332 of the fixed plugs 33 has a hole 202, 334 formed therethrough, and each pivot pin 333 extends through the holes 202, 334 of the corresponding sliding member 20 and the corresponding fixed plug 33, so as to allow for rotation of each fixed plug 33 relative to the corresponding sliding member 20. Each of the lower portions 331 of the fixed plugs 33 and the upper ends of the upper rod portions 31 also has a hole 335, 311, so that each fixed plug 33 is connected fixedly to the corresponding upper rod portion 31 by a lock bolt unit (not shown) extending through the corresponding holes 335, 311. As such, each support leg 30 is rotatable relative to the corresponding sliding rod 11.

The fixed rods 42 are respectively disposed under and parallel to the short armrest rods 13. Each fixed rod 42 has two ends that are connected respectively and fixedly to bottom ends of two adjacent upper rod portions 31, i.e., the middle portions of two adjacent support legs 30 located at the same side of the sliding rods 11, so as to interconnect the two adjacent support legs 30 fixedly, thereby allowing for synchronous rotation of the two adjacent support legs 30 relative to the sliding rods 11.

The baby bed frame 100 further includes two connecting members 50 each connecting a respective end of the connecting rod 41 to the corresponding fixed rod 42, such that the connecting rod 41 is parallel to the sliding rods 11. With further reference to Figs. 4 end 5, each connecting member 50 includes a fixed end 51 sleeved fixedly on the corresponding fixed rod 42, a rotatable end 52 opposite to the fixed end 51, a top wall 521, and a bottom wall 521'. Each top wall 521 is formed with a notch 501.

Each bottom wall 521' is formed with an opening 522. When the baby bed frame 100 is folded, an end portion of each connecting rod 41 extends into the corresponding notch 501 and the corresponding opening 522.

With further reference to Figs. 6, 7, and 8, when it is desired to fold the baby bed frame 100, the engaging blocks 211 are first pressed and thus removed from the engaging holes 111, 22 to unlock the sliding members 20.

Next, as shown in Fig. 7, each sliding member 20 is pushed inwardly to move on the corresponding sliding rod 11 50 that the corresponding support leg 30 is rotated relative to the corresponding sliding rod 11 and so that the

S

corresponding connecting member 50 is rotated relative to the connecting rod 41 to thereby move toward the armrest frame 10. At the same time, each lower rod portion 32 can be moved into the corresponding rod portion 31. In this manner, the baby bed frame 100 can be converted into a fully unfolded state shown in Fig. 8. In this state, the two sliding members 20 sleeved on the same sliding rod 11 are adjacent to each other. When unfolding of the baby bed frame 100 is desired, it is only necessary to perform the above-mentioned operation in reverse order.

With particular reference to Fig. 1, the curved rocker rods 61 are disposed respectively under the short armrest rods 13. Each curved rocker rod 61 has two ends connected respectively to the bottom ends of the two support legs 30 adjacent to the corresponding short armrest rod 13. The wheel units 62 are connected respectively and removably connected to the bottom ends of the support legs 30. With particular reference to Fig. 9, when the wheel units 62 are removed, the baby bed frame 100 may serve as a cradle.

Figs. 10 and 11 show the second preferred embodiment of a foldable baby bed frame 100, which is similar to the first preferred embodiment. Unlike the first preferred embodiment, the armrest frame 10 includes a pair of sliding rods 11 parallel to and aligned with each other, and a pair of short armrests 13 connected between the sliding rods 11 to form a rectangular frame. Each sliding rod 11 is of an inverted U-shaped cross-section, and has two side walls 110, each of which is formed with an engaging hole 111.

Two retaining sheets 112 extend respectively from bottom ends of the two side walls 110 toward each other, and are spaced apart from each other. Each sliding member 20 has a hollow upper end portion 20' disposed movably in the correspond sliding rod 11 between the side walls 110 and above the retaining sheets 112. Each engagement member 21 is disposed in the hollow upper end portion 20' of the corresponding sliding member 20. When the baby bed frame 100 is unfolded, each engagement member 21 extends through the engagement hole 22 of the corresponding sliding member to engage the engaging hole 111 of the corresponding sliding rod 11 for preventing sliding movement of the support legs 30 relative to the sliding rods 11.

Figs. 12 and 13 show the third preferred embodiment of a baby bed frame 100 according to this invention, which is similar to the first preferred embodiment. In this embodiment, each end of each sliding rod 11 is formed with a mounting hole 21. Each engagement member 21 is configured as a spring plate, is disposed in the corresponding sliding rod 11, and projects from the mounting hole 24. Each sliding member 20 is sleeved movably on the corresponding sliding rod 11, and is formed with an engagement hole 25. When the baby bed frame 100 is unfolded, each engagement member 21 is engaged within the engagement hole 25 of the corresponding sliding member 20, and has a portion projecting outwardly from the engagement hole 25 of the corresponding sliding member 20, thereby allowing for manual operation.

Claims

<claim-text>CLAIMS: 1. A baby bed frame comprising an armrest frame, a plurality of support legs, a plurality of sliding members, a plurality of engagement members, and a connecting rod, the armrest frame including two sliding rods parallel to and spaced apart from each other, each of the sliding members being connected movably to a corresponding one of the sliding rods at an end thereof, and being connected pivotally to a corresponding one of the support legs at an opposite end thereof, so as to allow the corresponding one of the support legs to be rotated and folded relative to the corresponding one of the sliding rods, each of the engagement members being mounted to one of a corresponding one of the sliding rods and a corresponding one of the sliding members and being engageable with the other of the corresponding one of the sliding rods and the corresponding one of the sliding members, so as to prevent sliding movement of the corresponding one of the sliding members on the corresponding one of the sliding rods when the corresponding one of the support legs is unfolded, the connecting rod being parallel to the sliding rods and having two ends each connected pivotally to at least one of the support legs.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. The baby bed frame as claimed in Claim 1, wherein each end of each of the sliding rods is formed with a mounting hole, each of the engagement members being configured as a spring plate that Is disposed in a corresponding one of the sliding rods and that projects from the mounting hole, each of the sliding members being sleeved movably on the corresponding one of the sliding rods and being formed with an engagement hole such that, when the baby bed frame is unfolded, a corresponding one of the engagement members is engaged within the engagement hole and has a portion projecting outwardly from the engagement hote, thereby allowing for manual operation.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. The baby bed frame as claimed in Claim 1, wherein each of the sliding members and the sliding rods is formed with an engagement hole, each of the engagement members being engaged within the engagement holes in the corresponding one of the sliding members and the corresponding one of the sliding rods and allowing for manual operation when the baby bed frame is in an unfolded state.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. The baby bed frame as claimed in Claim 3, wherein each of the sliding members is sleeved movably on the corresponding one of the sliding rods, each of the engagement members being mounted within the corresponding one of the sliding rods and being engageable wirh the engagement hole of the corresponding one of the sliding members.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. The baby bed frame as claimed in Claim 3, wherein each of the sliding rods has an inverted U-shaped cross-section, each of the engagement members being disposed in the corresponding one of the sliding members, extending through the engagement hole of the corresponding one of the sliding members to engage the engagement hole of the corresponding one of the sliding rods.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. The baby bed frame as claimed in Claim 1, further comprising two fixed rods and two connecting members, each of the fixed rods being connected respectively and fixediy to middle portions of at least two corresponding ones of the support ILegs at the same side of the sliding rods, each of the connecting members having a fixed end connected fixedly to a corresponding one of the fixed rods, and a rotatable end connected pivotally to the connecting rod for oonnecting the oonnecting rod to the two corresponding ones of the support legs.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. The baby bed frame as claimed in Claim 6, wherein eaoh of the connecting members is hollow, and has a top wall formed with a notch in the rotatable end, and a bottom wall formed with an opening such that, when the baby bed frame is folded, an end portion of the connecting rod extends into the notch and the opening.</claim-text> <claim-text>8. The baby bed frame as claimed in Claim 1, further comprising a plurality of wheel units disposed respectively and removably on bottom ends of the support legs, and at least two curved rocker rods each having two ends, the ends of the curved rocker rods being conneoted respectively to the bottom ends of the support legs.</claim-text> <claim-text>9. The baby bad frame as claimed in Claim 1, wherein each of the support legs includes an upper rod portion and a lower rod portion that are interconnected telescopically.</claim-text> <claim-text>10. A baby bed frame substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.</claim-text>