US2523422A - Collapsible play pen - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 26, 1950 H, E, DUNN COLLAPSIBLE PLAY PEN 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 1, 1948 o EU.. @l

Sept. 26, 1950 COLLAPSIBL PLAY PEN Filed Nov. 1, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 children. v

Patented Sept. 26, 1950` 2,523,422 COLLAPSIBLE PLAY'PEN Harold E. Dunn, Santa Barbara, Calif., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Pearl E. Dunn, Santa Barbara, Calif.

, Application November 1, 1948, Serial No. 57,660

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to acollapsihle play pen.Y YPlay pens have become quite popular with families which include infants and very small placed in the play pen and permitted to remain Vthere in `comparative safety without the necessity of close attention. The mother or nurse is thus able to perform other tasks without fear that harm will befall the child. These play pens are usually capable of being collapsed or folded to permit more convenient storage or transportation.I The collapsible play pens with which I have heretofore been familiar have had defects which appear to be more or less inherent in the f. designs which have been used. The play pens which have been capable of being collapsed or folded suiciently to permit their being easily stored or transported in limited space have beenunstable when in use and have lacked the rigidity and strength which are desirable when the pen is used to conne an active child. The play pens which `heretofore possessed the desired stability and strength have not been capable of being folded or collapsed into a package small enough for convenient carrying or other transportation.

, VIt is a primary object of the present invention to provide a collapsible play pen which has adequate strength when in use and which can be collapsed to facilitate storage or transportation in limited space.

A further object of the invention is to provide a collapsible play pen which can be manufactured yand distributed at low cost.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be referred to in the following detailed description which has reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of an exemplary play pen constructed in accordance with the present invention and illustrating the pen in condition for use;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view of the play pen; Y

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the play pen with the oor removed and shows portions of the device in section;

Figure 4 isa top plan view showing the pla pen in collapsed condition;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view showing portions of the play pen in intermediate positions which they occupy during collapsing or opening of the play pen; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 5 but illustrating the portions of the play The infant or small child may 'be pen in the positions which they occupy while the penis collapsed.

I provide a central core member or ring 1 which has a diametrically extending handle 8 secured thereto by any suitable means such as screws 9. A plurality of hinge clips which are designated generally by reference numeral IIJ are disposed circumferentially about the outer surface of the core member` l andare-secured thereto 'by spot welding or by any other suitable means. The

hinge clips Ii) are best illustrated by Figures 4, 5 and 6, and include a base plate I I, a pair of outwardly extending ears I2 at theupper end of the base plate and a pair of outwardly extending ears I3 at the lower end of the base plate. kThe ears l2 are somewhat longer than the ears I3 for a purpose which will tion proceeds. s

' An upper arm I4 `is hinged to the ears I2 by means of a pin I5, and a, lower arm i6 is hinged be lapparent as the descripto the ear I3 by means of a pin il. A hinge clip vis designated generally `by the reference numeral I8 and may be identical to the hinge clip 'IIJ except for the fact that the hinge clip I3 is in inverted position. The hinge clip I-B includes a base plate I9 provided witha pair of upper ears 2l] to Iwhich the outer end of the upper arm. I4 is hinged by means of a pin 2| and `a pair'of lower ears 22 to which the outer end of the lower arm I6 is hinged by means of a pin 23. The base .I plate I9 of the hinge clip l-B is securedto the lower end of an upright bar 24 by any suitable means such as screws 25.

It will be understood that there are a plurality of `assemblies of the hinge clips It and I8, of the pairs of upper and lower arms I4 and !6 and of the upright bars 24. Each such assembly is identical in all essential respects, and it is suiiicient to specifically describe only one of the assemblies. It will be seen that the hinge clips I D and I8 cooperate with the upper and lower arms I4 and I6 to vform a four-bar linkage which serves to maintain the upright bar 24 always parallel to the wall of the ring 1. 1

A heavy textile webbing 2E is secured to the outer surface of the lower end of each oi theV upright bars 24. The webbing 2E may be secured to the bars 24 by any suitable means such as upholstery nails 21. -A heavy textile ywebbing 23 is folded in the manner best illustrated in Figures l and 2, and the upper ends of the upright bars 24 are received within the foldof the webbing 28. This webbing is secured to the upper ends of the bars 24 by any suitable means such as upholstery nails 29. The webbing 28 covers the upper ends A circular oor 32 is provided which rests onf The floor 32 isA divided in..

the upper arms I4. two parts along the line 33 and the two parts are hinged by means of hinge members34 to: permit the floor to be folded.

When the play pen is in open condition as shown in Figures 1 and 2, it-.may belcollapsed by removing the Hoor 32 and grasping the handle 8 and lifting upwardly. core member 1 and the inner ends of the arms I'IIJa-nd I6 to rise. The bars 24 will be drawnin- This causes the. central.`

lcore member, a plurality of pairs of upper and lower arms hinged at their inner ends to said core member for swinging in vertical planes radiating from said core member, upright bars hinged to the outer ends of each pair of arms and a ring of flexible material connecting said upright members.

2; Avcollapsible playY pen-comprising a central core member having a plurality of pairs of upper and lower arms radiating therefrom and hinged thereto for vertical swinging movement, vupright Y membershinged to the outer ends of each pair wardly toward the center of 'the pen .andu they Y will. b'e maintained in parallel relationship because of the four lbar linkages mentioned above. The :bars 30 willa1so be drawn inwardly by the webbings 26 and 28. When totally collapsed the play penwillbe in the condition illustrated'in Figure 4V and each'of the linkageassemblies will bezirr the condition illustrated in Figure. 6. It

will be' seen from this ligure that the respective lengthsof the ears I2', I3, 20 and 22 permitsthe arms Il! and I6 toY assumev the positions shown without, interfering` with each other.

The play pen maybe opened from the collapsed condition shown in Figure 4 by grasping the handle 82 and turning the wristslghtly to cause vlimited rotationalY movementof the pen. The

slight centrifugal force thus imparted-to the upright bars 24` and 30 will cause the linkages to assume. the position shown in Figuref 5. TheY handle 8" then can'be pushed Vdownwardly untilV thefplay'pen` assumes the-position shown in Figures'l andi2. i

The Yplay pen which I vhave illustratedand specicallydescribed is to'be considered as-eXemplary only and itV will be understood that various of arms, flexible means joining said upright members, and a oor,` for resting on said upper radiating arms.

3. A' collapsible play pen comprising a horizontally disposedring, a plurality of pairs of arms radiating from saidring and hinged thereto for verticalswinging movement, one arm of each pair being hinged to said ring at a position vertically spaced 'from the-position atwhich the other/arm of such pair is hinged, the outer ends of each :pair of'arms being hinged-at vertically spaced positions onan uprightbar, a rst flexible lwebbing secured to the upper ends'of said bars, asecond flexible webbing-secured to the lower endsof .said bars, said webbings being taut when saidarms are extended horizontallyv from said ring, ,addi- Y tional upright members positioned' intermediate modications may be resorted yto without departing'from the broader concept of the invention as dened'iby the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, Iclaim: v l. A collapsible vplay pen comprising a' central said bars and 'secured'only to said rst and second flexiblewebbingsand a floor removably positioned von the upperV radiating arms.

HAROLDEI DUNN;

REFERENCES CETED The-'following references are of` record inthe ville offths patent:

Number Name Y Datev 469,131 Freid Feb. 16, 1892 1,779,060 Choate Oct. 2l, 1930 2,097,506 Auty Nov.32', 1937 Number l VCountry g D'ate V15,1931 Great Britain 1908y

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