US1827687A - Combination crib, bathtub and dressing table - Google Patents

Description

H. E. MG

Oct. 13, 1931.

CANDLTESS AND DRESSING. TABLE COMBINATION CRIB BATHTUB,

1927 7 sheets-Sheet "g Filed Dec.

als ATTORNEY Oct. 13, 1931. H. E. McANDLEss COMBINATION CRIB, BATH-TUB,V AND DRESSING TABLE vFiled Dec. 22, 1927 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 2%5 ATTORNEY Oct. 13, 193.1. H; E. MGCANDLESS 1,827,687

'COMBINATION CRIB, BATHTUB, AND DRESSING TABLE Filed Dec. 22, 1927 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Oct. 13, 1931. H. E. MocANDLEss 1,827,687

COMBINATION CRIB, BATHTUB, AND DRESSING TABLE Fled- Dec. 22, 1927 7 Sheets-Sheet- 4 myENT R Ag, fm

l %sATToRNEY H. E.A MccANDLr-iss 1,827,687

Oct. 13, 1931.

COMBINATION CRIB, BATHTUB, ANDDRESSINGI'ABLE 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Dec. 22, 1921 jlfarr A B7? /z'SATToRNEY Oct. 13, 1931. H l E. MccANDLEss 1,827,687

COMBINATION CRIB, BATHTUB, AND'DREssING TABLEv 4Filed Deo. 22, 1927 7 sheets-sheet 7 'Zgg? 5 Patented Oct. 13, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HARRY E. MCCANDLSS, OF ROCHESTER, NEW 'YORK COMBINATION CRIB, BATHTUB AND DRESSING TABLE `.Application filed December 22, 1927. Serial No. 241,865.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved mechanism formounting a. dressing table upon a` frame, 10 frame of a crib, so that the dressing table may be moved easily and quickly from an effective to an ineffective position and vice versa.

A further object of the invention is to provide supportin means for a dressing table 15 so that it may e supported in a number of substantially horizontal effective positions, leither entirely superimposed on the frame, or projected therefrom so that only one edge r of the dressing table rests upon the frame, or a partially' projecting and partially superimposed on the frame.

An additional object is to so design a combined infants bath tub and dressing table that the dressing table may have an effective J position in which it will not interfere with the use of the bath tub, so that an infant who has been bathed may be placed easily upon the dressing table without the necessity of 9 moving the dressing table after the child has "o been lifted out of the bath tub, as must be done in certain known constructions.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible bath tub to be' placed within a crib when in use and which may be put in a receptacle under the crib when not in use, so that it will not interfere with the normal use of the crib.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide an improved crib in which an infant may sleep, in combination with a bath 4 tub in which he may be bathed, and a dressing table on which he may be dressed, and a cupboard for containing medicines or various toilet articles to be used by or on the infant.

With these and other ends in view, the invention comprises the structure and combination of parts which will appear more clearly from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying such as the drawings, the novel features being pointed out in the claims following the description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a construction showing one possible embodiment of the invention, illustrating the bath tub in positlon to be used and the dressing table hangmgsubstantially vertically in its ineffective posltion;

Figure 2 is a plan of the parts shown in Figure l; Figure 3 is a side elevation similar to Figure l showing the dressing table moved to one of its efective positions in which it overlies the crib and bath tub; 5

Figure 4 is a plan of the parts shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a side elevation similar to Figures l and 3, showing the dressing table in another of its effective positions in which it is projected from one side of the crib so that it does not overlie thebath tub and does not interfere with the use thereof;

Figure 6 is a longitudinal vertical section taken approximately centrally through the device with the parts in their position illustrated in Figures 3 and 4;

Figure 7 is a transverse vertical section taken approximately centrally through the device;

Figure 8 isa sectional View illustrating the details of the connection between the dressing table and the frame;

Figure 9 is a sectional view illustrating other details of the connection between the dressing table and the frame, and showing how the dressing table may be attachedto or separated from 'the frame;

Figures 10 and 11 are perspective views showing details of the dressing table;

Figure 12 is a plan of a part of the frame of the crib illustrating a part of the mechanism for connecting the dressing table to the frame; 95

Figure 13 is a perspective view of one corner of the frame illustrating a detail of the mounting of the connecting mechanism;

Figure 14 is a fragmentary sectional view through a part of the dressing table showing in elevation the motion-limiting the pivoted supporting member;

Figure 15 is la plan of the dressing table looking upwardly from the bottom thereof means ofC and illustrating the pivoted supporting mem- 4nection with the drawings. Referring vespecially to Figures 1 and 2, there may be provided a frame consisting of side walls and 31, end walls 32 and 33, and vertical supporting members or legs 34 at one end of the frame and 35 at the other end, the latter being provided with wheels 36 to assist in moving the device over the door. A bed spring 37` (Figure 19) may be provided with lugs 38 adapted to rest on the lower rails of the side walls 30 and 31 of thedevice so that this bed spring, together with the side walls and end walls, forms an infants crib.

In modern homes and apartments, the rooms are often not large, and the conservation of space becomes important. It is therefore desirable to design infants furniture in such a way that a minimum of floor space is required. Heretofore, it has been customary to provide a crib in which the child may sleep, and as a separate article, a small bath tub in which the baby may be bathed.. Thus two separate articles are required, each taking up considerable space, and in small rooms their use causes undue crowding. It is an object of this invention to combine several articles of furniture.'Y into one so that great economy in space results.

For example, a collapsible, flexible bath tubv40 may be attached toa frame 41, and

suitable shoulders on this frame may be adapted to rest upon corresponding shoulders formed in the upper rails of the side walls 30 and 31 Vof the crib, as shown in Figure 7. Thus, when in use, the bath tub is supported within the walls of the crib and takes up no additional space whatever beyond that which is normally required for the crib. When not 'in use, the flexible portion 40'of the tub may be collapsed into approximately the same planeas its frame 41 and may be stored in a suitable receptacle such as Vthe drawer 42 slidably mounted beneath the crib, as shown in Figures 1, 6 and 7. :Thus no additional floor space is required by theI tub when it is not in use, and at no time is the tub in the. way as it would be if it consisted of a separate article mounted upon a separate supporting frame.

For draining or emptying the tub, a valve 45 may be provided at the bottom thereof and to this valve may be attached a exible conduit such'as the hose 46 (Figure 16) having a suitable cup-shaped fixture 47 at the open end thereof which may be slipped ov r the end of an ordinary Water faucet. Thu

the tub may be filled, as well'as emptied, through this hose 46. Preferably, a. supporting member such as the hook 48 is attached to the frame of the tub and may be used to hold the -open end .of the hose above Vthe water lineof the tub, las shown in Figure 16. Thus any fluid which may leak past the valve 45 is unable to escape from thereonduit and will be retained therein.

It is desirable when dressing an infant to lay the child upon a so-called dressing table which may consist of a piece of fabric stretched over an approximately horizontal frame. Such a dressing4 table is shown in the drawings and comprises the rectangular frame 50 and the canvasor other suitable material 51 stretched thereon. It is desirable to arrange the dressing table, like the bath tub, in such a Way that additional floor space is not required, and this feature has been obtained by the use of a novel mounting, so that the dressing table may be attached to the frame of the crib and may be moved easily and quickly from an effective to an ineffective position and vice versa. a

Ordinarily, when not in use, the dressing table hangs approximately vertically at one end of the crib, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. When it is desired to use the table for `dressing an infant after he has been bathed, the dressing table may be moved to an effective position shown in Figures 3 and 4, in which it overlies the frame of the crib and takes up substantially no additional floor space beyond that normally required for the crib. When this device is used in a room where suiicient space is available, however, the dressing table may be projected outwardly from one side of the crib so that only one edgeof the table is supported by the crib, as shown in Figure 5. This position is slightly more convenient than the Figure 3 position, since the table may be adjusted to this position before the infant is removed from the bath tub and the child may then be picked up from the tub and placed on the dressingtable immediately.

As one example of mechanism for connecting the dressing table to the.frame of the crib so as to allow thetable to be moved to the various positions above mentioned, there is-Vshown a guidingmember (Figure 12) including a transverse portion 55 at the ends of which are side portions 56 substantiallyparallel to and just outside of the side members-of the frame ofthe crib. The transverse portion 55`of this guiding member is pivoted to an edge of the crib, such for example as the top rail of the wall 32 forming one of the four sides of the crib. This top rail may be provided with a recess 57 at the outer corner thereof, as shown in Figures 9 and 13, and the portion 55 of the guiding member may lie in this recess and be retained therein by straps 58. Thus the guiding member is rotatably mounted Vfon the frame of thecrib and may be turned so that the parallel side portions 56 thereof assume various angular positions, such as those shown by full lines and dotted lines in Figure 8. The ends of the side portions 56 may terminateein inwardly bent portions 59 (Figure 12) which overlie the frame of the crib and thus support the side portions 56 approximately horizontally, asshown in Figures 9 and 12, and prevent downward movement of these side portions, although they do not interfere with upward movement thereof.

The frame 50 of the dressing table may have parallel grooves 60 formed on the inside surfaces of the two side members o f this dressing table, these grooves 60 being adapted to receive the side portions 56 of the guiding member rotatably mounted on the frame of the crib. In order to allow the dressing table to be attached to or removed from the. crib at will, the side walls of the grooves 60 may be cut away at one point so as to form wide transverse grooves 61 intersecting the grooves 60, these transverse grooves 61 being slightly wider than the length of the side porthen tions 56 of the guiding member, as clearly shown in Figure 9. Figure 10 is a frag,

mentary perspective view of one of the side members of the dressing table frame 50, turned bottom side up, and illustrates the relationship lof the groove 60 and the wide transverse groove 61.

The method of attaching the dressing table frame to the crib is shown in Figure 9, from which it is seen that the dressing table is placed so that the grooves or cutaway portions 61 overlie the side portions 56 of the guiding member and the dressing table may be moved downwardly until these side portions of the' guiding member are seated within the transverse grooves 61 and in alinement with the groove 60. Y The dressing table may then be moved back'and forth in the direction of its length as much as desired, the guiding member sliding easily along the groove 60. Also the dressing table may be turned to any angular position about the edge of the crib frame as an axis, since the transverse portion of *the guiding member is free to rotate in the groove 57 Y at the edge of the crib frame. g 1

To prevent accidental disconnection of thel dressing table from the crib by excessive longitudinal movement, a stop member such as 62 (Figures 8 and 11) may be placed on the other end of the dressing table frame opposite to that at which the transverse grooves 61 are located, and this stop member 62 will come into contact with the frame of the crib, in the manner shown in Figure 8, and prevent the dressing table from beingv slid along so far that the guiding member comes out of the end of the groove 60., Thus tlie only way to place the dressing table on or remove it from its guiding member is by a transverse movement in which the guidlng member passes through the grooves 61 in order to get into the grooves 60. Separation of the guiding member from the grooves in a longitudmal direction is prevented by the stop member 62 at one end of the dressin table coming in contact with the frame o the crib, (Figure 8), and by the frame member at the other end of the dressin table coming in contact with the frame of t e crib l (Figure 6).

Due to the novel mounting above described, the dressing table may be slid back and forth freely horizontally from a osition in which it is superimposed on the rame of the crib (Figure 3) to a position in which it is projected from one side of the crib (Figure 5), or it may be rotated readily about the edge of the crib so as to hang downward substantially vertically (Figure 1). For use in this latter position, the frame of the dressing table may be provided with stop members 65 adapted to rest upon stop members 66 fixed to the legs of the crib so that the weight of the dressing table is carried by these stop members and the end of the dressing table there-- fore need not rest u on the fioor.

To support the ressing table when it is v be employed such as the legs 70 pivoted at 71 to the frame 50 of the dressing table and adapted to be folded up normally underneath the table and parallel to the plane thereof, as shown in Figures 6 and 15. It is obvious from an inspection of the drawings that the supporting legs will be normally retained in their ineffective or Figure 6 position by contacting with the top edges of the frame of the crib. Tf the dressing table be projected partially from the side of the crib, the legs will still remain'in their ineffective position, but the moment the dressing table is projected fully to the limit of its motion, as shown in Figure 5, the free ends of the supporting legs 70 will move past the edge of the frame of the crib and the legs will then be free to drop automatically by gravity into their effective position. To limit the motion of the legs and hold them in proper/ position substantially perpendicular to the fioor, a bar 75 (Figure 14) may be pivoted to theA legs and may be provided with a slot 76 engaging a pin 77 mounted on the frame of the ressing table.

, Vof the dressing table, so as to swing or rotate moved fully to their effective position, and thus the legs are retained in this position and tion until the member 7 5 is raised slightly. This member will serve -to hold the legs perpendicular to the floor if itis desired to slide the dressing table horizontally over the crib 10 frame without folding up the legs. The dressing table may be moved easily from its Figure 5 position to approximately the posi tion shown in Figure 3, or to any intermediate position, while the pivoted legs 7:0 reF main in' their vertical or eii'ective position shown in Figure 5.

At one end of thjecrib there is preferably provided a cupboard 80 fitted with suitable shelves 81 and having a door 82 pivoted about its lower edge 83 and provided with a link E34-holding the door substantially horizontally when it is open, so that it forms a shelf, as seenin Figure 18. This cupboard is .a convenient place in which to `keep soap,

sary toilet articles used in the care ofthe baby. By providing space for these articles, in connection with the combined crib, bath tub and dressing table, the presence of these articles at the desired place is always assured, and it is not necessary when bathing or dressing' the infant to procure the supplies from a more or less remote point.

The use of the device asa whole will now be briefly described. Let it be assumed that the dressing table is hanging in its normal or vertical osition shown in Figure 1, and that the co lapsible ybath tube is within the drawer 42. The. first procedure is to remove the infant Vfrom the crib. The bath tub is then taken from the drawer 42 and placed upon the frame of the crib so that it hangs within the walls thereof, as shown for exam-f ple-in Figures 1 and 6. The tub may then be lled with water by opening the valve 45,` placing the fixture 47 on the end of the hose 46 over a water faucet, and turning on the faucet. Ifv the device is not already conven- A iently near a faucet, it may be moved to the up the desired Vposition readily by liftin left hand end of the device slig tlyand shoving it along, the 'right hand end rolling easily on the wheels 36.

If now the device is in 'a small bath roo or 'other cramped quarters, the dressing table is left for the time being 1n its ineffective or Figure 1 position, while the infant is being bathed, but if' sufficient space is available, -the vdressing` table is moved to its Figure 5 position before the bath commences. This is accomplished bylifting up the dressing table slightly sov as to free the stop member 65 from the stop member 66 and by then pull- YYing outwardly and upwardly on the lower end cannot be folded up to their ineffective posi.

talcum powder, medicines and other neces-y it about the edge of the crib frame yas an axis. i

When it has been swung up so as to be approximately horizontal, the dressing table may then be pulled outwardly away from the crib to the limit of its motion, and the support-ing legs 70 will automatically drop into effective position. When the infants bath is over, he may then be taken out of the tub and placed directly on the'dressing table which dressing table is still in its Figure 1 position,

and the dressing table is then moved substantially vertically until the lower edge of the dressing table approaches the corner of the crib frame at which the guiding member 55,

56 is pivoted, and the upper end of the dressing table may then be swung downwardly and rightwardly so that it lies ,horizontally over the top of the crib, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The dressing table is now ready for the infant to be placed thereon.

When it is desired to .wheel this device from one room to another, it is found vconvenient to project the dressing table slightly' fromthe crib frame, that is, to move it slightly to the left of its Figure 3 position. The

projected end of the dressing'table may then l grasped easily and used as a handle for llftlng the left hand end of the device off of the oor and moving it to the position desired. The pivotal connection of the guiding member 55, 56 with the crib frame and the sliding connection of this member with the dressing table frame prevents the dressing table from becoming separated from the up- .per left hand corner of the crib frame, and

thus the left hand end of the crib may be lifted by raising the left hand end of the dresslng table when it is slightly projected from the side of the crib.`

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, itis to be understood that the 1nvent1ve idea may be carriedout in a number of ways.- Th'rsapplication is therefore not to be limited to-the precise details shown, but is intended to cover all modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the inventionor the scope of the appended claims.

1. 'The combination with. a frame, of a elongated member attached to said frame so as to be rotatable with respect thereto and extending substantially parallel with an edge thereofhalid a dressing table slidablysecuredto said rotatable member,

2. The combination with 'a frame, of a dressing table, and means for attaching said dressing table to said frame, said attaching means including a memberhaving two side portions extending lengthwise of and slidable along two sides of said dressing table, and a transverse portion connecting said two side portions, said transverse portion being rotatably journalled on said trame.

3. The combination with a frame, of a dressing Vtable having two parallel members, a groove in each of said parallel members, and a generally U-shaped member including two parallel .side portions engageable with and slidable along said grooves and a transverse portion connecting said side portions, said transverse portion being rotatably journalled on said frame.

4;. The combination with a frame, of a dressing table having two parallel grooves therein, and a guiding member engageable with and slidable along said grooves, said guiding member being attached to said frame, and the side walls of said grooves being cut away at one point so that said dressing table may be detached from said guiding member by a movement substantially perpendicular to the length of said grooves when said guiding member is positioned in said grooves at a point opposite said cutaway portions.

5. The combination with a frame, of a dressing table having two parallel grooves therein,V a guiding member attached to said frame and enga geable with and slid'able along said grooves, motion-limiting means to prevent said guiding member frombecoming detached from said grooves by longitudinal movement in the direction thereof. and trans-e guiding member relative to said frame, andy a supporting member pivoted to said dressing table, said supporting member when not in use'being adapted to lie in a plane substantially parallel to the surface of the dressing table and between-said surface and said guiding member, said supporting member being l releasedfor movement to etl'ectiveposition when said dressing. table moves relative to said guiding member substantially to the' limit of `its motion in one direction.

7 The combination with a frame including two side members and a cross member, of a guiding member including a transverse portion pivoted to said cross member and two side portions fixed to said transverse portion, said side portions extending substantially parallel to and outside of said side members members of the frame so as to prevent downward movement of said side portions, and a dressing table removably secured to said guiding member and slidable along the side portions thereof.

8. The combination with a frame, of a guiding member extending across said frame and rotatably mounted thereon, and a dressing table slidably mounted on the ends of said guiding member.

9. The combination with a frame, of a guiding member extending across said frame and rotatably mounted thereon, and a dressing table having parallel side members provided with longitudinally extending grooves adapted to engage said guiding member.

l0. The combination with a frame, of a guiding member extending across said frame and rotatably mounted thereon, a dressing table having parallel side members provided with longitudinally extending grooves adapted to engage said guiding member, and inter` engaging stops on said side members and frame for limiting the movement of the table on the frame.

11. The combination with a, substantially rectangular frame having side and end members, of a guiding member rotatably mounted on one of said end members, a dressing table comprising grooved side members adapted to engage the ends of said guiding member, the construction bein slide on the guiding member in a direction parallel with the sides of the lframe and turn with the guiding member to a positionfsub stantially perpendicular to the sides of the frame, and means for limiting said sliding movement.

12. The combination with a frame, of a member arranged along one of its edges and. extending transversely thereof, a dressing table, means on the dressing table for attaching it to said member so that the table may rotate about said member as an axis and be moved in a directionl substantially perpendicular to said axis inthe plane thereof, and a stop on said dressing table separate from the attaching means :tor limiting the the dressing table suspended in a substantially vertical position.

`In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

HARRY E. MCCANDLESS.

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