US2254939A - Collapsible structure - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 2, 1941. T. ELIAS COLLAPSIBLE STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 3; 1940' 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

TH/AS 51.1.45

A ORNEYS,

Sept. 2, 1941. T. E LIAS COLLAPSIBLE STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 3, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 .32 Z0 Z5 Z4 37 INVENTOR. TH/As E1. ms

A RNEYS.

Sept. 2, 1941. T. ELIAS COLLAPSIBLE STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 3, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

TH/As ELIAS M P ATTRNEYS Patented Sept. 2, 1941 COLLAPSIBLE STRUCTURE Thias Elias, New York, N. Y.

Application December 3, 1940, Serial No. 368,277

1 Claim.

My present invention relates generally to collapsible furniture and has particular reference to a portable device primarily intended for use as a childs bed or crib.

.A general object of the invention is to provide a device that is simple and inexpensive, easy to set up for use and to disassemble or collapse when its usefulness has ended, and. intended to be not only of general household use, but of particular value to persons who may have occasion to travel with children.

A more particular object of the invention is to provide a device which is so constructed that it may be collapsed into a relatively small amount of space to form a bundle or hundles of compactness and of light weight.

The present device consists essentially of a collapsible supporting structure, and an element in the nature of a hammock intended to be supported. thereby. The supporting structure is of such a character that, when set up, it is adapted todefine a substantially rectangular frame and legs upholding it in a horizontal plane. The hammock may be permanently associated with this supporting structure, or it may be removably applicable to it. Preferably, a mattress is provided, either in permanent or separable association with the hammock.

It is a particular feature of my invention to,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the hammock element by itself;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the supporting structure by itself, with the parts-arbitrarily adjusted to illustrate the manner in which they are jointed;

Figure 4 is a side view of the supporting structure in set up condition;

Figure 5 is a similar view showing the first step in the collapsing process;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, showing a further step in the collapsing process;

Figure 7 is an end View along the direction 1-! of Figure'fi; v

elements of the device shown in completely collapsed condition;

Figure 10 isan enlarged fragmentary perspec tive view of a corner of the supporting structure;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of type of mattress, with a part broken away to re-" veal the interior.

The supporting framework of the present de-' vice consists essentially of. a rectangular main. frame, and end structures for "supporting the frame in an elevated horizontal plan'e'when the device is set up. The main frame consists of side rails and end rails, and in the preferred construction herein illustrated, each end structure -con-' Each of the side rails, the end rails, and the cross braces is 0 formed of hinged sections adapted to sists of two legs and a cross brace.

be :doubled upon themselves. 1 1

In the present drawings I have illustrated a' construction composed essentially of wooden elements, 'but it will "be understood that the parts' may be formed of metalor other adequately strong material, if desired. 'The two sections 20 and 2| of one of the side rails arehinged to each other so as'to converge upwardly when the rail is collapsed. The same is true of the two sections r ends of the hinged sections are brought into abutment, as shown most clearly inFigure 11,

whereby the sections 29 and 2| conjointly define one elongated side rail, while the sections 22 and 23 cooperate in a similar manner to form the other side rail of the supporting frame. To aid in holding these rails in set up condition, each rail may be provided with a hook 25, or similar device, pivoted to one of the sections, as at 26, for separableengagement with a complementary pin 21- carried by-the other section.

One of the end rails is formed of the sections T OFF-ICE the elements 28 and 29. These sections are hinged to each other and to the side rails so as to converge inwardly when the end rail is collapsed. The term inwardly, as used in connection with the end rail, is intended to signify that the convergence of the sections 28 and 29 is toward the opposite end rail when the device is in set up condition.

The sections 30 and 31 of the opposite end rail are hinged to each other and to the side rails in a similar manner.

Hingedly connected to this rectangular main frame are end structures for supporting the frame in an elevated horizontal plane when the device is set up. One of these end structures consists of the legs 32 and 33, and a cross brace composed of the two hinged sections 34 and 35. The sections 34 and 35 are hinged to each other and to the legs so as to swing upwardly when the brace is collapsed. This is indicated most clearly in Figure 3.

The opposite end structure consists of the similar legs 36 and 31, and the similar cross brace formed of the hinged sections 38 and 39.

Each end structure is hinged to the rectangular main frame so as to allow the end structures to be swung outwardly and upwardly intopositions overlying the main frame. This is preferably accomplished in the manner shown most clearly in Figure 10,-in which I have shown, upon an enlarged scale, the relationship of the leg 32 toithe 3 side rail section 20. It will be observed that a hinge 40 is so associated with these parts that, when the device isset up, the upper-squaredend of the leg 32 lies directly beneath the 'end of the side rail section 20, the hinge nevertheless allowing the leg 32 to swing outwardly and upwardly,

as indicated in dot-and-dash lines, until ultimately theleg'32 can be brought into a position lying directly above and parallel to the section 20.

The other legs of the structure are similarly hinged to the respective side rail sections.

It willlbe understood that the structure is not intended at any time to assume the oddly-adjusted position shown in Figure 3. The various parts have been shown in partially collapsed conditions, in this figure, merely to depict the man-' nerin which they are hinged to one another. The procedure that is followed in practice, when the device is collapsed, is shown most clearly in Figures 4-9.

In Figure 4, the supporting structure is shown in set up condition. The first step in the process of collapsing the device is to swing the end struc- 1 tures outwardly and upwardly in the direction of the arrows 4l'. This brings the parts into the relationship shown in Figure 5. The'hooks 25, if any, are then'released', and the side rails are then doubled upon themselves by adjusting the parts in-the direction of the arrows 42. the parts into the relationship shown in Figures 6 and '7. The final step is to collapse the end rails' along the directions indicated by the arrows 43, and to collapse the cross braces along the directions indicated by the arrows 44. During this procedure, the parts are passed through the relationship shown in Figure 8 and finally brought This brings of substantially rectangular contour and of such a size that it may be accommodiated, as shown in Figure 1, within the confines of the rectangular main frame of the supporting structure. I have chosen to designate this element as a hammock, in lieu of a better descriptive term. It may be composed of any suitable non-rigid material, such as fabric, netting, or the like, and it comprises a bottom wall 46, side walls 41, and end walls 48.-

This element is shown by itself in Figure 2 and is intended to be suspended from the side rails of the supporting structure. I have illustratively shown rigid transverse bars 49 and 59 carried by the upper edges of the end walls 48 of the hammock. Each of these bars is adapted to extend transversely across the supporting frame, with its ends on the side rails of the frame. To facilitate this association of parts, the upper surfaces of the side rails are preferably provided with notches 51' (see Figures 3 and 10), and the ends of the bars 48 and are preferably provided with enlargements 52. The bars are intended to find support Within the notches 5!, and the enlarged end portions 52'prev'ent the bars from slipping off the side rails, after they have been properly positioned.

As an auxiliary means for supporting the hammock,'I have. shown the possibility of providing rigid hooks 53 along the upper longitudinal edges of the hammock. These hooks are adapted to engage over the side rails, as shown most clearly in Figure v1; and may be of any convenient nature or shape, the ones shown being merely illustrative of a large variety of auxiliary supports that could be used for the purpose;

One of the features of the present construction lies in the provision of releasable stabilizing elementsextending between the hammock and the end structures of the supporting frame. In the embodiment herein illustrated, these stabilizing elements take the form of tie elements 54 carried by the hammock 45 at its lower corners. When theparts are assembled, as shown in Figure 1, these tie elements are caused to engage with the adjacent legs of the supporting structure. This may be accomplished by providing suitable pins on the legs, and making the elements 54 in the form of loops to engage over these pins, although it will be understood that this is merely illustrative 'ofvarious ways in which the desired result could be accomplished.

The stabilizing elements 54 serve not only to anchor the lower corners of the hammock, but also hold the legs against inadvertent outward movement. Since itis this outward movement that is relied upon for the collapsing procedure, the elements 54 thusserve to prevent inadvertent collapse of the device.

The hammock is preferably provided with a rectangular mattress 55 that is of such a size that it fits snugly over the bottom wall 46 of the hammock. This mattress may be of any suitable kind or construction, and may be permanently associated with the hammock, or may be an entirely separate element.

I prefer, to construct the mattress separately, and I have found it of particular advantage to use a mattress in which there are a series of spaced transverse rigid elements or slats 56, as shown most clearly in Figure 14. A mattress that is constructed in this way is transversely rigidified, and thereby serves to lend additional support and rigidity to the hammock and to the device as a'whble'. The mattress may nevertheless be rolled up into a compact bundle, as shown in Figures 9 and 13.

In Figures l-9, I have shown the hammock formed as a separate element. When the device is disassembled and collapsed, this separate element is adapted to be rolled into a compact bundle, as shown in Figure 9.

In Figures 12 and 13 I have shown a modified construction in which the hammock element is permanently associated with the supporting structure. The hammock is in this case composed of relatively thin material, preferably open- Work netting or the like. It has side walls 51, end walls 58, and a bottom wall which does not show in Figure 12 because I have illustratively shown the device provided with a mattress. Since this mattress is a separate element, it may be the same mattress as that which is shown in the other figures of the present device. The use of a mattress is of particular advantage in this construction, especially where the mattress is of rigidified character, as shown in Figure 14, because it lends strength and relative rigidity to the hammock element.

The hammock of Figure 12 is permanently as- V sociated with the supporting structure by having the upper portions of the walls 51 and 58 formed as tubes within which the side rail sections and the end rail sections are accommodated. These tubular portions of the hammock are interrupted, however, at the hinge regions 59, so that the collapse of the supporting structure, as hereinbefore described in connection with Figures 4-9, will not be interfered with.

Releasable stabilizing elements, such as the ties 60, are provided on the hammock of Figure 12, to function in the same manner as the elements 54 hereinbefore described.

The utility of the present device will be obvious from the foregoing description. It is believed to be of particular utility to persons traveling with a child. Accommodations for a child, at low expense, are not always available. This difficulty can be obviated by means of the present device. In its collapsed condition, as indicated in Figures 9 and 13, the device can be feasibly transported, either as a separate bundle, or packed into a trunk or suitcase along with clothing and other traveling accessories. l/Vhenever the child is to be put to bed, it is a relatively simple matter to adjust and assemble the various parts into set up condition as shown in Figures 1 and 12, and a safe, comfortable, and convenient bed or crib is immediately available for the child.

It is contemplated that the device will also be useful to those who may receive a child visitor from time to time, and wish to haveavailable a sleeping accommodation that can be collapsed andconveniently set aside during idle periods.

In general, it will be understood that those skilled in the art may make changes in the details herein described and illustrated without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claim. It is, therefore, intended that these details be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated'its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a collapsible device of the character described, a rectangular main frame and end structures for supporting said frame in an elevated horizontal plane when the device is set up; said main frame comprising side rails and end rails, each side rail being formed in two sections hinged to each other so as to converge upwardly when the rail is collapsed, each end rail being formed in two sections hinged to each other and to said side rails so as to converge inwardly when the end rail is collapsed; each end structure comprising two legs and a cross brace, said brace being formed in two sections hinged to each other and to said legs so as to swing upwardly when the brace is collapsed, each leg being hinged to the end of one of said side rails so as to swing outwardly and upwardly into a position overlying said side rail; whereby said legs and sections may be collapsed into a bundle of substantially parallel elements.

THIAS ELIAS.

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