US2586251A - Play pen convertible to a bed - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 19, 1952 c. A. PEEBLES PLAY PEN CONVERTIBLE TO A BED 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 24, 1946 \NvaN'roR A PEELBLES $1 CHAD M ATTbRNEYs Ul Q 1952 c. A. PEEBLES 2,586,251

PLAY PEN CONVERTIBLE TO A BED Filed April 24, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 \NVENTOR CHAD A.Pe.as1.as

ATTORNEYS Feb. 19, 1952 c. PEEBLES 2,586,251

PLAY PEN CONVERTIBLE TO A BED Filed April 24, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 M5 wa Feb. 19, 1952 g, s 2,586,251

PLAY PEN CONVERTIBLE TO A BED Filed April 24, 1946 '5 Sheets-Sheet 4 wkfi W F 10 W [I (V -w /6 j B 13-? 0a J a r 1 T ,90 L T 2 f PEEBLES TTORNEYS Feb. 19, 1952 c; PEEBLES 2,586,251

PLAY PEN CONVERTIBLE TO A BED Filed April 24, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 w 7 I l Tue. \Z.

29 I "fi H614 \NVENTOR Mi ATTO RNEYS Patented Feb. 19, 1952 "UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PLAY PEN CONVERTIBLE TO A BED Chad A. Peebles, Newaygo, Mich.

Application April24, 1946, Serial No. 664,622

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a combination play penand crib or bed, being directed to a very novel, practical and efiective structure which may be readily set up as a play pen for a child, converted into a bed or crib and with support for the mattress and bed covers at different heights as desired, and which when not in use or when it is to be carried or transported, may be collapsed into a relatively small size.

It is an object and purpose of the present invention to provide a structure of the type indicated which is readily made and assembled and can be'produced economically, which is sturdy and dependable in service, and in which all of the parts are securely connected together, there being no separate parts in the structure which might make them liable to loss or mislaying.

An understanding of the invention may be .had from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the structure as a play pen.

Fig. 2 is a similar perspective view illustrating the structure converted into a bed or crib.

Fig. 3 shows it in its completely collapsed form.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective showing the manner in which the floor of the play pen is supported.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary omewhat enlarged plan, at one side and at an end of the play pen structure.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan at a side of the structure when converted into a bed or crib.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of the structure in its collapsed position, showing one end portion thereof.

Fig. 8 is a transverse vertical section through the structure in its collapsed position.

Fig. 9 is a vertical section from side to side of the structure converted to a crib or bed, the

'mattress supporting portion being located at a lower position than in Fig. 2.

Fig. 10 is a similar view with the mattress support located at its lower-most position, or in the same position as the floor when used as a play pen, and,

Figs. 11, 12, 13, and 14 are fragmentary enlarged sections or details of structure showing the end supports of the members which make up the floor of the play pen or the mattress support in the bed or crib conversion.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures of the drawings.

In the preferred construction embodying my invention, one side of the play pen structure, as shown in Fig. 1, has an upper horizontal'bar I, a lower parallel horizontal bar 2 with intermediate vertical spaced bars or slats 3 permanently secured to and connecting the upperand lower bars in spacedrelation.

At each end of said side'of the play pen thus produced, sections to'provide substantially one- 2 half of sides lying at right angles thereto are made, each'comprising an upper bar 4 .and a lower bar 5, a plurality of spaced, vertical, bars 6 between them and corner bars I disposed .at an angle to the vertical bars 6.

The bars i and 5 attheir ends adjacent the ends of the bars I and 2 are hingedly connected by hinges 6 disposed diagonally across the corners as shown in Fig. 1 so that when the play pen is set up, as inFig. l, the ends of the bars I and 2 are covered by the adjacent end portions' of bars -l and 5. At what may be termed the inner ends of the bars 4, latches 9 are pivotally mounted of the 'form shown, the functions of which will later be described.

Flat metal strips or bars Ii] are formed with outwardly pressed loops lfia near their ends and each terminates in inwardly extending fingers [2 at their ends, one of such bars It being connected to each of the upper and lower bars 4 and 5 described by means of pivot pins passing through brackets ll permanently secured at the outer sides and at the inner ends of said bars '4 and 5. Said metallic bars IQ are adapted, as

a side of the play pen structure parallel to and opposite the first described side consisting of the upperand lower bars I and 2 and the vertical spaced bars 3 between them. The pivot pins on the brackets II extend through the spaces be tween the bars I!) and I6 and I? and form slidable pivotal connections'for the ends of the bars 4 and 5.

At each end of-the described bars I3 and I 4 other bars "I6 and I! respectivelywith vertical spaced fiat bars l8 and corner angle bars H! between them are located and hingedly connected by hinges 2G. 'The'irame'of'the play penis made up of the opposed sides having upper bars l and I3 'respectivelyand lower barsv 2 and I l and other sides at'rightangles thereto, eachof two sections, one having the upper 'bars '4 and lower barsdhinged adjacent'the ends of bars land 2; and the other sections consisting'of upper and'lower bars I6 and I! hinged'at adjacent ends to the opposite side of'upper and lower'bars I3 and It.

The floor for the playpen '(Figs. 1 and 4) is made of a plurality of flat boards. As best shown in Fig. 4, an intermeiate board 2| has lying outside of it two boards 22'and 23 of the same width. and each halfof the width of the board 2!. The combined widths of the boards 2!, 22 and 23 equal substantially the length of the bars 5. At each end of each of the floor boards 2!, 22 and 23, angle brackets 24 are permanently secured having outwardly extending legs --or flanges which, as shown inFigpll, are

adapted to extend over and rest upon the upper sides of the lower bars 5. Each of said floor boards 2|, 22 and 23 have brace members, shown as two spaced short bars 25 permanently secured adjacent its inner edge and extending beyond said edges so as to overlap and rest upon the adjacent boards. For example, as shown in Figs. 1 and i, the members 25 connected to the outer floor board 23 extend partly over the next adjacent inner board 22 and, similarly, said members 25 connected to the floor boards 2| and 22 extend in the same direction.

The floor is completed by additional floor boards 26, four being shown, each of the same width as the boards 22 and 23; and the combined widths of boards 26 substantialy equals the combined widths of the boards 2|, 22 and 23. Such boards 26 have like bars 25 secured at their upper sides so as to extend over the next succeeding boards. Each floor board 26 at each end and at its under side, has an angle bracket 27 permanently secured each with a downwardly extending leg or flange as shown.

The several boards at their adjacent edges are hinged at their under sides by hinges 28 (Figs. 8 and 9). It is of course to be understood that the double width of the floor board 2| is not an essential to the present invention, as it may be replaced by two boards having a combined width equal to the board 2i, as shown in Fig. 8. At

the inner sides of the lower bars I! longitudinal angle bar supports 29 (Fig. 4) are permanently secured upon which the downwardly extending legs of the bracket supports 2? may rest as shown in Fig. 12.

The outermost board 23, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, is hinged at its outer edge at 28a to the bar 2. Thus the floor at one edge is securely connected with the lower bar 2 of the side of the play pen, as shown in Fig. l, and may be unfolded to lie horizontal with the various bars or fingers 25 on the several floor boards extending over and resting upon the upper sides of the next adjacent floor boards and with the outermost board 26, which reaches substantially to the bar Hi, having its projecting finger members 25 resting upon the upper side of said bar i l. The flanges of the end supports 24 on the floor boards 2|, 22 and '23 reach to and rest upon the upper sides of the bars 5, and the downwardly extending flanges or legs of the end brackets 21 on the floor boards 26 bear upon and are carried by the angle bars 29.

The structure shown in Fig. 1, that is, in its play pen form, may be converted into a bed or crib as in Fig. 2. The inner loops lila on the bars |6 receive the pins of the brackets when the structure is in the play pen form as in Fig. 1. With the latches 9 each turned to the position shown therein and releasably connected with pins at the inner sides of the bars IS, the play pen structure is held securely in place. When the structure is to be converted into the bed or crib form as in Fig. 2, the floor boards may be swung upwardly about the hinges 28a, and may be folded to occupy the position illustrated in Fig. 8. The latches 9 are then turned to disengage from their pins whereupon the inner ends of the bars I6 and ll may be moved toward each other with the pins carried by the brackets H transversing the spaces between bars I6 and I and H and it, until the upper bars l6 and lower bars |l' have their inner ends brought together substantially midway between the ends of the crib structure as shown in Fig. 2. Simultaneously, the side construction consisting of the upper and lower bars 13 and I4 and the vertical bars associated therewith moves to lie parallel to and overlap said bars l6 and I1, the loops Illa. at the outer ends of the bars l6 and 11 receiving the pins carried by the brackets II. The latches 9 are turned to abut adjacent bars 16 and provide stops which prevent disengagement of the pins from the loops Illa, thus insuring a. fixed structure when connected to a crib. When reduced in size by such operation the floor boards may be located in various positions. For example in Fig. 10 the boards 2|, 22 and 23 lie in the same plane as before, with the floor boards 26 located underneath and parallel thereto; and having been turned over they are supported at their ends by resting upon the angle bars 29 as in Fig. 13. Such crib floor as thus provided may have a mattress placed thereon and other bedding supplied in the usual manner.

In Fig. 9 the floor is located at a higher level by locating the hinged floor board 23 substantially vertical with the two boards 2| and 22 and the board 26 hinged to the board 2| extending horizontally across between their upper edges. The next adjacent floor board 26 is positioned vertically with the bars 25 thereto inserted between the metal bars l0 and the adjacent bars ll with the remaining floor boards 26 located horizontally and supported by the angle bars 29 at their ends.

Again, as in Fig. 2, the floor board 23 hinged to the bar 2 and board 22 may be located vertically, the board 2| and two of the boards 26 extended horizontally, and the remaining floor boards 26 positioned vertically thereby locating the horizontal mattress supporting portion of the crib at a still higher level.

In Fig. 14 the edges of the floor boards are shown in abutting engagement providing a. better support for the floor. The spacing of the floor boards at their edges, as in Fig. 10, for example, is not required, in fact the boards at their edges, preferably will be in contact engagement.

When the structure is to be collapsed for moving or transporting the floor boards are moved into a vertical position and folded as shown in ig. 8, whereupon the sections consisting of the upper bars Li, lower bars 5 and the vertical bar 6 between them may be moved inwardly toward each other through the hinges 8, the pins of the brackets moving in the guides supplied by the bars l6 and I1 and. connected metal bars If),

r the structure collapsing to the relatively small space shown in Fig. 3, and making it easy to carry or to crate or pack for shipment.

The novel structure described is very practical, may be economically produced, is made of parts securely connected together so that no separation with mislaying or loss occurs, is quickly collapsed to small space occupying condition for carrying or transport, and can be very easily converted to any of the uses which it is designed to serve.

The claims appended hereto define the invention, which is to be considered comprehensive of forms of structure coming within their scope.

I claim:

1. In a structure as described, a vertical unitary side, two partial side sections hingedly connected one at each end of said vertical side and adapted to be extended at right angles thereto, two additional partial side sections, horizontal guide means extending substantially the entire tioned side hingedly connected at its ends to said 1 second partial side sections, and movable therewith, whereby an enclosure having four vertical sides may be provided having the first and last mentioned vertical unitary sides spaced from each other a distance equal substantially to the combined lengths of a first and second mentioned partial side sections, or said enclosure reduced in size so that said first and last mentioned unitary sides thereof are spaced a distance equal substantially to the lengthof the first of said partial side sections, plus the thickness of said second mentioned partial side sections.

2. A construction as defined in claim 1, and a horizontal fioor for said enclosures comprising a plurality of floor boards located side by side and hingedly connected at their longitudinal edges, and means for supporting said floor boards at their ends and at the side edges of the outermost of said boards by the sides of said enclosure.

3. A construction as defined in claim 1 and a floor for said enclosures including, a plurality of elongated floor boards hingedly connected at adjacent edges and adapted to be located horizontally in the same plane, one of the outermost of said floor boards having a hinged connection at its outer edge to the lower portion of a unitary side of said enclosure, and means carried by the other of said outermost floor boards to rest upon and be carried by the lower portion of opposite unitary side when said floor boards are located in the same horizontal plane.

4. A construction as defined in claim 1, and a plurality of floor boards of a length to extend between opposed sides of the enclosure and of a combined width to extend between the remaining sides of the enclosure with longitudinal edges closely adjacent, hinges at the under sides of the floor boards for hingedly connecting adjacent floor boards together, a plurality of spaced bar members secured at the upper side of the outermost floor board to extend over the next adjacent fioor board, and like bar members connected to all of the floor boards extending in the same direction over the upper sides of the next adjacent floor boards, except the other outermost fioor board, which has said bars extending over a lower portion of the side of the enclosure opposite that to which the first mentioned outermost floor board is hingedly connected.

5. A convertible play pen structure comprising, four vertical sides located at right angles to each other, two of said sides opposed to each other being unitary and each being equal in length substantially to the full width of the play pen between the other sides thereof, each of said vertical sides of the play pen at each corner thereof having hinged connections to the adjacent sides of the pen, each of said remaining sides of the pen comprising two sections adapted to be moved into longitudinal alinement to complete the play pen, a horizontal guide secured at the outer side of each of the upper and lower portions of the side sections which are hingedly connected to one of the unitary sides, pivotal connecting means connected to the adjacent ends of the other of said side sections and each mounted in a respective horizontal guide, and releasable latching means for holding the upper and lower bars of said side sections in longi tudinal alinement when they have been brought to such position.

6. A convertible play pen comprising four vertical sides located at right angles to each other, two of said sides being unitary and in length equal substantially to the full width of the play pen between the other sides thereof, each of said vertical sides of the play pen, at each corner thereof, having hinged connections to the adjacent sides of the pen, two of said sides of the pen comprising two sections each adapted to be moved into longitudinal alinement to complete the play pen, a horizontal guide member secured at the outer faces and adjacent the upper and lower edges of two of the four sections which are hingedly connected to the unitary sides, and secured in parallelism and in spaced relation thereto, pivotal connecting means attached to adjacent ends of the other of said sections and traversably mounted in said horizontal guide members, and releasable latching means for holding said side sections in longitudinal alinement when they are brought to said positions.

7. A convertible play pen comprising four vertical sides located at right angles to each other, each of the adjacent sides at the respective four corners of the pen being hinged together, two of the opposite sides being full unitary sides, and the other two sides each comprising two sections hinged together, each hinge having two members, one of the members of each hinge being fixed to one of said sections adjacent a vertical edge thereof, and the other member of each hinge being mounted on the other of said sections. for movement to positions adjacent either vertical edge of said other section.

8. The elements of claim 7 combined with a floor shaped to fit within said vertical sides and means for supporting said floor midway between the lower and upper edges thereof.

9. The elements of claim 8 combined with supporting means near thelower edges of said sides, said floor comprising a central portion with parts hinged to opposite edges thereof, said hinged parts extending downwardly and engaging said supporting means and acting as said means for supporting the fioor in said midway position.

CHAD A. PEEBLES.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 955,076 Janes Apr. 12, 1910 1,071,283 Weaver Aug. 26, 1913 2,059,058 Swanson Oct. 27, 1936 2,135,517 Isbell Nov. 8, 1938 2,224,310 Merrett Dec. 10, 1940 2,477,231 Bourdon July 26, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 564,019 France Oct. 10, 1923 778,830 France Jan. 2, 1935 591,902 Germany Jan. 29, 1934 209,958 Switzerland Aug. 16, 1940

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