US2267176A - Crib - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 23, 1941. L; L.TURNER CRIB Filed Aug. 20, 1958 2 She ts-Sheetl m m E V m LAWRENCE LTURNER By My 74. Hwy

A TTORNEY.

Dec. 23, 1941. L, TURNER 2,267,176

INVENTOR. LAWRENCE L. TURNER BY y (,yaruMj A TTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 23, 1941 UlTD STATES PATT OFFICE CRIB Lawrence L. Turner, Oakland, Calif.

Application August 20, 1938, Serial No. 225,957

1 Claim.

The invention relates to a crib having its bottom arranged for its vertica1 adjustment with the space defined by the crib sides.

An object of the invention is to provide for a raising of the crib bottom to permit ready lateral access to the occupant of the crib.

Another object is to provide a particularly simple and easily operated means for raising and lowering the crib bottom while supporting it.

Another object is to provide a crib structure having a compartment for containing articles for use in the care of the occupant and concealing the bottom-adjusting means and mounted on the crib bottom for movement therewith.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth or be apparent in the following description of a typical embodiment thereof, and in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure l is a perspective view showing the crib structure arranged for the adjustment of its bottom element in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the bottom element together with flexible supports therefor shown in operative disposition.

Figure 3 is an upright sectional View taken at 33 in Figure 4. V

Figure 4 is a stepped sectional plan view taken mainly at the line 44 in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a somewhat diagrammatic vertical lateral section taken intermediately through the assembly of Figure 2.

The features of present invention are shown as they are incorporated in the structure of a childs crib 9 wherein a hollow rectangular frame structure 15, consisting of end frames II and [2 connected by upper and lower side rails l3 and M respectively, supports a bottom unit within it for the vertical adjustment of the latter. As shown, the end frames H and I2 comprise corner posts 16 fixedly connected by panels I! and rails I8. The side rails l3 and I4 are fixed to and connect posts is at the different corners of the assembly to provide a suitably rigid crib frame structure, said rails being intermediately connected by upright slats or panels.

The bottom unit I5 comprises a rectangular frame I 9 formed of angle bars 2| and carrying thereacross a suitable floor for supporting bedding thereon; in the present instance, a common type of wire spring structure 22 provides the bottom of the frame for the support of the usual soft mattress and covers not shown). An opentopped rectangular box or receptacle 23 is mounted on and beneath the bottom frame [9, said box having sides 24, ends 25, and a bottom 23. The box 23 is thesame size in plan as is the frame l9, and is supported in place by and between complementary plate members 2'! which are fixed to and depend from the end bars 2i of the frame l9.

In the present instance, the plates 2'! are somewhat H-shaped and are provided with mutually inturned and coplanar flanges 28 at their bottom ends for the resting of the box 23 thereon, the top edges of at least the sides 24 of the box being spaced somewhat from the bottom of the frame l9. One box side 24 is provided with an opening extending from its top edge and arranged to be closed by a drop door 29 which is hingedly secured at its bottom and may be held-in its raised position as part of the box wall thereat by means of a suitable catch 3! in this manner, the box provides a compartment for containing articles such as clothing and toilet accessories for use in the care of a child in the crib.

Elongated rollers 32 have end trunnions 33 thereof journalled in bearing bores provided in the end plates 21, and are disposed to extend in the gaps between the top edges of the box sides 24 and the overlying side members of the bottom frame IS. A third roller 34 has end trunnions 35 thereof journalled in the end plates 21, and extends longitudinally of the frame in its central line and just below the spring 22. V

Strips or bands 36 of flexible and tensionally strong sheet material such as canvas or wire mesh have their inner extremities fixed to the roller 34 and are extended oppositely from the roller beneath the side rollers 32 and upwardly from the latter to the side rails 14 to which their outer extremities are fixed, the arrangement being such that a rotation of the roller to wind the strips 36 thereon is operative to raise the bottom unit l5, while a reverse rotation of the roller is operative to permit a gravity lowering of the unit. It will be noted that the winding of the strips 36 on the common drum roller 34 is operative to maintain the bed bottom level in its various adjusted positions; while individual drums might be provided for receiving the different bands 36, the use of the single drum for the bands of both sides provides a synchronized and particularly simple arrangement for the control of the bands.

Means are provided for rotating the drum 34 to adjust the height of the bed bottom unit [5 in the frame I!) and also for securing the unit in set position. As shown, brackets 31 extend transversely from an end plate 21 into the box space and rotatably carry a worm shaft 38 which extends beneath the roller 34 transversely thereof, the worm screw 39 of the shaft 38 being constantly engaged with a gear wheel 4| on the roller 34,

At the end thereof nearest the door 29 of the box 23, the shaft 38 carries a crank 42 for the disposal of its handle through and beyond the opening for the door. Preferably, and as shown, the crank 42 is hinged to the extremity of the shaft 38 whereby it may be swung down and concealed entirely within the box space when it is not in use, the connection between the crank and shaft comprising a usual one for the purpose. The worm and gear arrangement which is to be actuated by the crank is understood tobe such that the weight of the bottom unit and supported child may not operate through the gear and worm to change the adjustment of the bottom, whereby the need for a special means to secure the unit in adjusted position is avoided.

Preferably, and as shown, the corner posts l6 are rectangularly grooved, or rabbeted, from their inner corners to provide guideways to receive the vertical corners of the bottom unit l5. Also, and as is brought out in Figure 4, the trunnions of the rollers 32 may mount anti-friction rollers 43 for guiding engagement with the opposed sides of the post grooves. The bands 36, which operate to suspend the bottom unit I from the rails 14 may extend in one piece for substantially the full length of the crib, as shown; relatively airtight bands will protect a child resting on the lowered crib bottom from side drafts. The bands 36 might be provided in laterally spaced strip sections which are cooperative as a single band as far as their supporting function is concerned. As is particularly evident in Figures 4 and 5, the location of the rollers 32 is such that the strip portions above them just clear the outer side edges of the frame IS.

The present arrangement wherein the bed bottom carries the height adjusting means for movement with it is particularly valuablesince'it increases the foot space beneath the unit l5 as the same is raised, while disposing the compartment provided by the box 23 within constant ready reach of the person who is attending to a child on the raised crib bottom. While such is not specifically shown, it will be understood that when the upper limit of adjustment of the crib bottom is reached, the top of the usual softmattress on the crib bottom would preferably be not far from the top plane of the crib sides. Also,

the upright end portions of the bottom-supporting bands 36 are operative laterally of the bedding on the crib bottom to hold the same in place in lieu of the usual side panels of a crib.

It will be understood that a child on the crib bottom may be lowered as far as may be needed to prevent its escape over the crib sides, the structure being usable both as a sleeping bed and play pen. Also, the present adjustment features may be applied in beds for adult invalids, particularly when the patient has a delirious desire to get out of bed when such is not desired. In any event, the raised bed bottom disposes an occupant for ready accessibility to an attendant when attention is required, and the occupant of the bed may be lowered or raised at will and by a single operation and without requiring the application of undue physical effort by the atendant.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the construction and use of the device will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains. While I have now described the features and the principle of operation of a structure which I now consider to be a preferred embodiment of my invention,'I desire to have it understood that the disclosure is primarily illustrative, and that such changes may be made, when desired, as fall within the scope of the following claim.

I claim:

In a crib structure, a hollow supporting frame having pairs of vertically spaced fixedly mounted side rails, the upper rails defining the frame top, a bed bottom vertically adjustable within said frame below said lower rails, a drum revolubly mounted on and beneath said bed bottom longitudinally thereof and intermediate of its sides, rollers carried on the bed bottom at and beneath its side edges, and flexible bands of widths substantially equal to the rail lengths having corresponding end portions thereof similarly Wound upon the drum and passin laterally from the drum beneath the side edges of the bottom and thence upwardly around said rollers to an anchorage on the lower side rails, said lower side rails positioned relative to the lowered bed bottom to dispose said flexible bands anchored thereto in position stretched a substantial distance above said bed bottom but below said frame top to provide sides for a portion only of the crib space, and means operative to releasably secure the drum against rotation by reason of the tension of the bands occasioned by the weight of the bottom.

LAWRENCE L. TURNER.

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