US2524483A - Drop side for folding cribs - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 3, 1950 H. M. SHEALEY 2,524,483 DROP SIDE FOR FOLDING cares Filed July 22, "1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v fed/g1 Oct. 3, 1950 H. M. SHEALEY DROP SIDE FOR FOLDING CRIB S 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 INVENTOR. dry-y Mflgay e w A r/'01P: Y5

Filed July 22, 1946 Patented Oct. 3, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DROP SIDE FOR FOLDING CRIBS Harry M. Shealey, Hagerstown, Md. Application July 22, 1946, Serial No. 685,535

3 Claims. I

This invention relates to baby cribs,and more particularly to foldin or collapsible cribs. An object of this invention is to provide an improved foldin or collapsible crib which will in its folded position require a minimum of space whereby the crib may readily be stored in hotel rooms, apartments, and in a vehicle while travelling.

Another object of .this invention is to provide an improved collapsible crib which may be changed from either the folded or extended position very readily with a minmum of effort and requiring the use of no tools for the change and whereby there will be no loose or unattached parts to be scattered or lost.

Another object of this invention is to provide a folding bed of the kind to be more specifically described hereinafter in which the springs and bedding may be folded within the folded crib whereby the crib will be completely self contained with bedding and springs.

Another object of this invention is to provide a collapsible crib having full adjustable side panels which may be folded intermediate their length one end of each being quickly detachable from one of the end panels for folding the crib.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a crib of this kind having an end supported foldin spring suspension, the spring panel being hingedly secured at each end to a solid spring end shelf firmly secured to the end panels for supporting the spring panel against concentrated impact load forces.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a collapsible baby crib which is of a substantial construction to provide ample strength for such a bed yet remaining sufiiciently light in weight to be readily portable and which is of such a simple construction as to be readily manufactured at an economical cost whereby it may be retailed at a reasonable price.

To the foregoing objects, and others which may hereinafter more fully appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but it is to be understood that changes, variations, and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

v Figure 1 is a top perspective view, partly broken away, of a crib constructed according to an embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective detail of an upper rod fitting on the end panel of the crib, the'end panel partly broken away.

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective detail of a lower rod fitting on the end panel, the end panel and rod being broken away.

Figure 4 is a perspective detail view of the side panel fitting, the side panel being broken away.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a modified type of crib, partly broken away.

Figure 6 is a perspective View of an upper rod fitting on the end panel, the rod and panel being broken away.

Figure 7 is a section taken on the line 1-4! of Figure 8.

Figure 8 is a detail perspective view of the removable side panel fitting, the panel being partly broken away.

Figure 9 is a perspective view, partly broken away, and partly in section of the folded crib in a covering.

, Figure 10 is an enlarged perspective detail of a modified form of rod fitting.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the hinge lock member.

Referring to the drawing the numeral 20 designates generally a collapsible crib having a pair of opposite end panels 2| and 22 and a pair of opposite folding side panels 24 and 25. A hinged folding spring panel 36 is hingedly secured at the ends thereof to the end panels 2| and 22.

The end panels 2| and 22 are formed with an outer frame having a pair of vertical side frame members 26 and 21 and a pair of horizontal frame members 28 and 29 fixedly connected between the vertical members 26 and 21 near the upper and lower ends of the vertical members. The lower horizontal frame members 29 are spaced upwardly from the lower end of the vertical members and 2?.

Fixed to the end panels 2! and 22 there is provided a shelf 30 which extends horizontally inwardly of the panels 2| and 22 and the lower horizontal frame members 29. The shelves 30 are fixedly attached to the end panels 2| and 22 by right angular brackets 3| which are fastened to the outer edges of the shelves 30 and the vertical frame members 26 and 21 by bolts 32 or other suitable fastening devices. Across the inner upper edge of the shelf 3|] there is fixed one side 34 of a piano hinge 35 the barrel of which overhangs this inner upper edge. I

The spring panel 36 of the bed 20, which may be of the flat strip spring type as shown in Figure 1 or a coiled type as shown in Figure 6, has

secured to the end frame members 31 thereof the cooperating other side as of the piano hinge 35 for hingedly engagin the shelves 30 in such a manner that the spring panel 36 may be moved upwardly relative to the shelves 30 and lie in a plane parallel to the plane of the end panels 2| and 22 inwardly between the panels 2| and 22. The spring panel is formed of two frames hingedly connected together at their inner ends by a piano hinge 39 as shown in Figure 9.

For connecting the side panels to the end panels there are provided rods 40 fixed to the vertical frame members 26 at each of the four corners of the bed 26. The rods 40 extend vertically along the length of the members 26"and are spaced inwardly therefrom. The rods 40 are secured to the frame members 26"at the'upper and lower end of the rods 40 by brackets 4|. The brackets 4| are substantially L-shaped having the arm 42 thereof secured .to the member 26" by bolts 44 or other suitable fastening means and the ex- --tending i-arm' '45' is of a shorter width than the arm 42 and is formed near its outere'nd with an annu'la'r openin 46 having a pair of opposed slots M1 :extending radially therefrom. The ends of the rods 40 are counterbored and'threaded for receivinga screw'48 anda pair of oppositely extending radial ears 49 are fixed on the ends of :the rod dfl for aligningthe'rod W in the'brackets 4|. The screw 48'engages through the opening 546 andinto: therod '40, the head of the screw bearing' against the'o'uterside of the bracket 4| for securing the rod 40 thereto. The'uppe'r and lower brackets 4| 'are'offsimilar construction being merely overturned to suit the particular location. 7

A' pair f of opposite foldingside panels '56 are slidably supported on the end panels-2i an d 22. 'Theside panelsSfl are formed of a rectangular frame having vertical end me'mbers' fi I- and horizontal upper and lower members 52. The'horizontalfmembers 52 are divided midway their length and hingedlyconnected together by a hinge id on the outer 'surface of the members 52 whereby the side panels 50 may be folded inwardly. Oneach of the members 52 inwardly of the panels lfinthere is zprovided'a latch 55 for 'locking'the 'members 52 in'extende'd position. "Ihe latch 55 isformed ofa pair of hinge sections 6 562' secured onto adjacent sections of the horizontal side panel frame members 52 each having a :spliti'barrel' orfa flange 5'5 on the cooperating ends thereof. 9A. resilientsti'ip of metal 58 is secured 'at--one"end to='one hinge section 56 and is pro- :vided with ailange or keeper fifi engageable between the flanges 5'! for holding the side panels 50..againstf folding. A-fhan'clle 60 is attachedto the free end of' thekeeper '58 for releasing the flangei 59f from between: the flanges 51 for folding the side panels.

At oneendof eachof the side panels fiil near the upperend. of the vertical membersbl there is fixed a tubular guidemem'ber 6| engageable about the rod 40. forslida'bly mountingthe side panels. 56 'tothe end panels 22: and-23Q The tubular.'.guide members 6| extend'verticall .along a short; distance ofthe length-f the members 5| and extend outwardly: from the outerendsthereof; AttaChing p1ates-62 are secured to-the 'guide tubes: 6| by weldin 01' other suitable fastening means-and extend inwardly to be. secured to the inner side of the verticalfmembersfil 'by'screws 'ori'bolts. :A resilient spring plate 64 is-secured to' the guide tube- 62 on'one side thereof at: one =endl-of the' plate or member- 66 and a lug 65' fixed on the -free end of the spring 64 is=-adaptedto be opposite erid panels- 2 or 22'.

urged through an opening 66 in the tube 6| and into one hole 61 of the rod for latching the side panels 5|] in selected vertical position relative to the end panels 22 and 23, the rods 4|! being provided with a series of vertically spaced apart opening 61. A handle 68 is loosely attached to the free end of the spring 64 for disengaging the lug from the tube 6| and rod 40.

At the other end of each of the side panels 50 a guide tube 6| is removably attached for removably and slidably attaching the panels 50 at one end to the end panels 2| or 22. The tube 6| is constructed the same at each end of the panel 50 with theiexception of the plates 62. On the removable guide tubes 6| the plates 69 secured to each end of'the tube 6| are formed with an inwardlyextendingglug m which is adapted to engage in an opening in the member 5| and with a threaded opening above the lug 10. A plate 12 is secured to the opposite side of the member havinga knurled head 76 engages through the plate- 12; frame member 5| and threadably'engages in the' opening "H of plate '69 for securing the. plate 69 on to'the frame member 5 In l igure ll there-is shown a modified form of rod and fittingi'for attaching the rod Ml-to the end panels 2| and 22. This rod 46a is flattened on theend and reverted into a U-shaped bracket flla A modified form or end panel is'shown in Figure 5 --wherein a solid end wall 80' is fixed. in the frames 2 and 22 to exclude drafts from the crib 20 and beneath the wall BO-there is: provided a utility cabinet 8| for storing often use'd'babyapparel, the cabinet-80' having a"downwardlyhinged door or closure 8'2;

one-erid-"bf theside panels 56, the'screws 15hr opposite panelsbeing-at opposite ends thereof, whereby one-'guide fi'l of each side panel 50*will be removed therefrompremaining on its respective end 46, leaving each side panel 50 secured to The-side panels Stare now movedto their uppermost position on the rods'Mr-and fol'ded'inwardl against their respective end-panels 2| and 22 by releasingthe keepers 59 from the latches 55. The spring panel 36 may then-be folded upwardly from the inwardly e'xt'eridingshelves 3Q, with or without the mattress in position. The crib 261s now inits fully-foltled pos'ition and may be stored in a fabric"covering'90 'having a zipper closure orinothersuitable=storing containers or may simply be stored' as" folded.

do not'mean to confine myself to the exact 'detailsof construction herein disclosed but claim all-variations falling within the purview of the appended' cla'im's.

Having thus described my invention, what -'I claim is:

1. A collapsible crib -of-the kind described comprisirigapainof opposite end frames, an inwardly extending shelf 'on'sa'id frames, a spring panel 'hingedly-securd to -said' shelves, a hinge on said spring panel midway the length thereof whereby said spring panel may be folded upwardly, side panels on said crib, a hinge on said side panels whereby said side panels may be folded inwardly, vertical rods on said end frame spaced inwardly therefrom, tubes on the ends of said side panels slidable on said rods for slidably mounting said side panels on said end frames, correlated means carried by said tubes and rods for holding said side panels in selected position, a plate fixed to each of said tubes engageable with one side of a side panel, a second plate fixed on the opposite side of said side panel, a lug on said first plate engageable in said panel, and a screw slidable through said second plate and said panel threadably engaging said first plate, 1

2. A collapsible crib of the kind described comprising end panels, a folding bottom panel and folding side panels between said end panels, rods fixed on said end panels, tubular members on said side panels slidable on each of said rods, a spring-pressed pin on each of said tubular members engageable in an opening in the associated rod for positioning said side panels on each of said rods, 3. lug on said tubular members engageable in its associated side panel for positioning said tubular members thereon, screws projecting through apertures in said side members, and threaded means on said tubular members cooperating with said screws for removably securing said tubular members thereon.

3. A collapsible crib of the kind described I comprising end panels, a folding bottom panel and folding side panels between said end panels, rods fixed on said end panels, tubular members on said side panels slidable on each of said rods, a spring-pressed pin on each of said tubular members engageable in an opening in its associated rod for positioning said side panels on said rods, a lug on each of said tubular members engageable in its associated side panel for positioning said tubular members thereon and screws engaging through said tubular members and said side panels removably securing said tubular members thereon.

HARRY M. SHIEALEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 646,347 Betty Mar. 2'7, 1900 1,142,948 Esterbrook June 15, 1915 1,475,537 Bradle Nov. 27, 1923 1,846,673 Brown Feb. 23, 1932 1,989,149 Pennock Jan. 29, 1935 2,031,284 Smith Feb. 18, 1936 2,043,072 Schmitt June 2, 1936 2,203,921 Padjen June 11, 1940 2,266,370 Kratky Dec. 16, 1941 FQREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date

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