US2569937A - Folding crib - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 2, 1951 T. H. LINDGREN FOLDING CRIB Filed Nov. 21, 1947 2 sheetsheet 1 f5 /6 #/Q. d v

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NNNNNN OR TMs-'000mg H gems/v ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 2, 16951 fUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i FOLDING cans 'TheodoreHjalmar Lindgren, Closter, N. i AbplicationvNdvember 21, 1947, serian No. 787,301

This inventionrelates to cribs, and more particularly to folding cribs.

Cribs for infants have been made to `fold in the past, but so far as applicant is aware, all prior commercial structures fold primarily for shipping and storage, `rather than for transportation as luggage. 'I'hose cribs which fold into 'a package which could Abe conveniently stowed in a modern automobile or carried on a train in the coaches thereof all suffer from the disadvantage that the mattress and bedding must be removed for folding, which makes fortwo packages to be handle and disposed of. There are cribs `which fold Without necessitating the removal of the mattress, but they result in extremely awkward packages, as long as the unfolded crib, and inconveniently thicky and high. This is satisfactory for storagethe-rhome, but such cribs are impossible to insert in the luggage compartment of any automobile.

With the above deciencies of the prior art inmind, it is a primary object'of the present invention to provide a ,crib which canbe folded into a package whichcan be conveniently transported as luggage.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a crib which 'canbe foldedfwith the mattress and bedding in place', and still obtain apackage of reasonable dimensions.

Referring now to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a crib embodying one form of the present invention, the crib being in an unfolded or set-up position;

Figure 2 is a plan View of the crib shown in Fig. l;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the crib of the previous figures, in partly folded condition;

Figure 4 is a plan of the crib in folded condition; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view, on an enlarged scale, of a typical hinge or pivot for the sides of the crib.

In connection with the drawings, attention is invited to the fact that the parts are drawn to scale, as it would require considerable trial and error experimentation to produce a structure in which the parts clear each other on folding, although there can also be departure from the -proportions shown Without interference between the moving parts.

The crib consists of two end members l0, which can be identical. In the form shown, a U-shaped tubular member Il is provided with a sheet metal panel I2, which extends between the legs of the U-shaped tube I I, and along the sides Claims. (Cl. 5-99) 2 y L ofthe crib. For the purpose of strengthening the structure, and to eliminate edges which might catch on clothing, theupper andlower margins of the sheet metal `are rolled.

It will` be noted that the panel I2 hasside lextensions I3 and I 4 of unequal lengths,` but as both end structures are identical, the long extension I3 of one end lies along the same side of the crib as the short extension I4 of the other end.

Each of the extensions'has pivoted to it a rectangular structure consisting of an upper and lower rail, and vertical barsbetween the rails. The k extensions I3yhave shortenframes `I5 attached to them, whilethe extensions I4`have longer-frames I6 attached to them.`

The frames I5 anda IE are pivoted to panels I 'I,-all thus forming, with the end extensions I3 and I4, the sides of the crib. These panels are formed with rolled top and bottomedges as are the ends, and for the same reasons. The verticaledges of the panels are preferably rolled 'around tubes I8, and secured thereto by welding or other means, and form part of the hinge structure. Similar tubes are rolled into 'the edges of the side extensions of the crib ends, for a like purpose. Q

The horizontal rails of the rectangular frames I5 and I6 are` bent to the vertical, and butt. against the tubes I8. A short rod or shaft20 is inserted within the tubes and the interior of the vertical portion of the rail at each point of abutment, and is secured in any suitable fashion. Spot welding is satisfactory and, once accomplished, holds the complete frame together.

The crib bottom is made in three sections hinged together, and pivoted at its ends to the bed ends. A metal sheet is suitable for such purpose, and can be readily furnished with hinges by bending the edges around a mandrel to form loops to receive pintles. Thus, the bottom end sections 2| and the bottom center section 22 have hinges formed on their abutting edges. The sections 2| have a rolled edge adjacent to the crib ends, which receives a pin passing through the legs of the crib.

'Ihe crib bottom is shown as having slots 24 cut in the bottom. These slots are optional, and are for ventilation of the mattress and also to lend a. certain amount of resiliency to the bottom.

The bottom is supported in horizontal position by a series of hooks 25, four being shown, and sufficient for the purpose. They are simply secured to the bottom sections 2l, and hook over the bottom rails of sections I5 and I6. By rais- 3 ing the bottom slightly, the catches will be free, and slight spreading of the sides will permit them lto pass the rails, after which the bottom can be lowered to fold the crib.

In use, the crib may be set up and the mattress and bedding installed. To fold the crib, it is merely necessary to release the catch and push the ends toward each other. The mattress then folds down between the legs of the crib, and the side rail'sfold 'together-as shown in.Figures 3.l and 4. The'rcribcanthen'be enclosed'- in a case for carrying, if desired.

It is to be understood that the above descrip-'-Kr tion is intended to cover a particular embodiment of the invention, and that many modifications can be made without departingsfromnthe'spiritof the invention as set forth in .theappended claims,

I claim:

1. A crib adapted for folding with the mattressY in place including a pair of end members, a pair of.. sidejmembers, anda bottom member., .said-bot.- tom. member including a: plurality. of sections hinged together, said bottom member being hingedV to. the end members for downward. fold.-

4ing movement upon approach of the endmem- 'bers toward each other, each side member.. being hinged.. to saidend members, said side member :including three sections hinged together along .verticalf lines@ for inward. movement upon approach of the end members toward each other..

2f. .Alcrib-adaptedftobe foldedwith the mattress inplace includingapair ofend members, a ,painofsidemembera anda bottom member, said bottomgmernben being. hinged to said end mernbers a-nd including. a. plurality of Ysections hinged together forvdownward. folding movement upon approach oftheendmembers to eachother, each Y upon approach of the end members to each other, said end members each having a pair of flanges extending in the plane of the side members when the crib is in unfolded condition, the flanges on each end member being of unequal length in the direction of the length of the crib, the shorter flange of one end member being opposite the longer flange of theV other, said side members each including three sections hinged to each other landrto "theflanges' forjinward rfolding movement onapproach of theendmembers to each other.

4. A crib adapted to be folded with the mattress in place including a pair of end members, a.

pair of side members, and a bottom member, said bottomlmembergbeing hinged to said end members and including a. plurality'l of sections hinged togetherl fordownward folding movement upon .approach of the end members to each other, said end members each having a pair of flanges eX- tendingin the plane of the side members. when the crib is in unfolded condition,.the flangescn eachendmember being of unequal lengthinthe direction'I of `the.. length of the crib, the shorter iiangaon one end member. being opposite, the longer .flange ofthe other, saidside members. each including three sections hinged together.. and..to the. flanges. for. inwardfolding movement .on ap,.- proach of the end members, toA eachother, said sections being of unequal length, withthe shortf estthereof 'intermediateto theend sections, the

Y longer. ofy the. end sections being securedjtothe shorter anges. g K

VTHEODORE HJALMAR LINDGREN.;

REFERENCES CITED The'following references are of record in the le ofthisl patent: i

UNITEDSTATES` PATENTS Number Name Date $057,334' Hannum Oct. 13, 1936 `2;224310 Merrett Dec. 10, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number.' Country Date` 11,309.I Great Britain May-'18; 1898 164,886 GreatBritain June 23; 1921 34,733 Sweden Apr. 30,11913

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