US2781523A - Crib cover - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 19, 1957 H. F. SCOTT 2,781,523

CRIB COVER Filed May 22, 1950 INVENTOR. HER/TAN F. 56077 ZZZMM Q Z ATTORNEY United States Patent CRIB COVER Herman F. Scott, Gary, Ind.

Application May 22, 1950, Serial No. 163,515

2 Claims. (Cl. -3)

This invention relates generally to furniture and more particularly is directed to improvements in crib construction.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a crib of conventional design and construction with a screen-like frame which can be utilized as a cover and table. When used as a cover it will prevent an infant from climbing or falling out of the crib and at the same time offers protection from animals, mischievous children, and from thrown toys and objects that might otherwise fall into the crib and perhaps seriously injure the infant. it can also be used tosupport mosquito netting or a coverlet to avoid draughts and thereby prevent same from otherwise falling or being pulled into the crib to smother an infant. When the frame is employed as a table, it will be arranged at a suitable height or level so that an infant can be placed thereon for bathing, changing of diapers, dressing and performance of other related duties.

A significant object of the invention is to provide the frame with unique connecting means whereby the frame can be quickly detachab'ly connected with respect to either of the top rails of the side sections of a conventional crib. This factor is of major importance because it enables one to economically convert a conventional crib into a piece of equipment that will serve several useful purposes, including those mentioned above. The connecting means is preferably pivotally and slida'bly connected to the crib in such a manner that the frame can be manipulated to a substantiallyhorizontal position to serve as a cover and table or adjusted to a substantially vertical position exterior-1y of the crib. The setup is such that when the frame is moved to the vertical position it will "be disposed alongside the rear side wall section of the crib with a portion thereof extending upwardly above such section. With this novel arrangement the frame will serve to prevent an infant from reaching through or above the side wall section to dirty or scratch a wall against which the crib may be placed. That portion of the frame extending upwardly above the side wall section can also be utilized as a rack to support different items.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a frame of the character referred to which is relatively light in Weight, substantial, durable, and which preferably has sufficient flexibility to provide a comfortable yieldable support for an infant.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a frame preferably constructed of wire with a layer of rubber or the equivalent about the wire.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved latch means for detachably locking the frame in place for use as a cover and table.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent after the description hereinafter set forth is considered in conjunction with the drawing annexed hereto.

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In the drawings wherein like components or parts are designated bythe same numerals: I

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a conventional crib showing the frame applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a partial end view with portions in section to illustrate particularly the mode of connecting the frame to the crib;

Figure 3 frame;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the improved latch means;

Figure 5 is a view showing a coating or layer on the wires of the frame; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a portion of a frame exemplifying a modified way of connecting the frame to a crib.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a conventional crib comprised of corresponding end wall panel sections 1 and 2, a fixed rear side wall section 3 and a front side wall section 4 mounted for vertical movement on a pair of rods carried by the end sections. A spring unit or rack, not shown, supports a mattress 5. The rear wall section 3 includes an upper longitudinal rail 6, a lower rail and spindles 7 connecting the rails. The front section 4 is similarly provided with an upper longitudinal rail 8, a lower rail and spindles.

The subject invention is directed to a frame generally designated 9, which as pointed out above, serves as a cover to protect and confine an infant in the crib and also as a support for the infant. The frame 9 is of a width to bridge and find support on the upper rails 6 and 8 of the side wall sections and of a length to span and fit between the upper extremities of the end panel sections.

The frame 9 may be constructed as desired but, as illustrated herein, is preferably made from wire and includes a generally u shaped member having a longitudinal side portion 10 and transverse leg or end portions 11. A plurality of longitudinal stays 12 are arranged in equally spaced apart parallel relation to portion 10 with their ends welded to "the leg portions 11. It will be noted that portion 10 constitutes the front edge or side of the frame and that the rearmost stay constitutes the rear edge or side of the frame. A plurality of cross-stays 13 are arranged in equally spaced apart parallel relation with respect to the leg portions and welded to the portion 10 and stays 12 at the points of intersection. This screen-like assembly is relatively firm, light in Weight, and has sufficient resilience to provide a comfortable support for an infant. Although the stays 12 are shown as being connected'to the upper sides of the legs 11 and the cross-stays 13 to the underside-s of stays 12, it is to is a perspective view of a portion of the be understood that the stays may be arranged otherwise;

For example, they may be disposed diagonally, woven, and may be connected to a U-shaped member by soldering or bending the ends of the stays about the said portions of the member. Also, if found desirable, all of ,the wires may be of the same gauge, but in practice the member is preferably made of a heavier gauge than that of the stays so as to impart stability to the frame.

As pointed out above, one of the important objects of the invention is directed to unique means whereby the frame '9 is operatively connected to the crib. The means employed for this purpose is preferably made by providing the leg portions 11 of the U-shaped member with corresponding integral continuations or guide arms 14 which are arranged below and in spaced apart parallel relationship with respect to the legs. The continuations 14 extend forwardly and their ends are upturned at 15 and preferably spot welded to the legs as indicated at 16. The continuations in combination with the legs provide straight guideways receiving the upper rail 6.

The bend or junction 17 between each continuation and leg portion is of a length substantially corresponding to the length of each upturned end 15 so as to permanently maintain each leg and continuation parallel with sufficient space therebetweento slidably receive the upper rail 6 of the rear side wall section 3 of the crib as shown in Figure 2. The bends 17 also serve as stops engageable with the rail 6 to predetermine or locate the front longitudinal edge portion 10 of frame 9' with respect to the upper rail 8 and with respect to a pair of latch means 18 carried by rail 8. The upturned ends of the continuations serve as stop-s engageable with the rail 6 to limit downward movement of the frame and support it in a depending or suspended position and so that a portion thereof will be disposed above rail 6 as illustrated in Figure 2.

Itis to be understood that it is not essential that the upturned ends 15 of the continuations 14 be welded or otherwise permanently secured to the leg portions. If, for example, the continuations are sufficiently strong they can be bent to satisfactorily detachably secure the frame to a rail or other supporting means therefor on the crib.

As exemplified in Figure 6, each extremity of the frame is provided with a resilient continuation 1% having a hook 20 at its free end for receiving a leg portion to place the continuation under sufficient tension to prevent an infant from operating the continuations. With this and the arrangement referred to above, a frame can be readily detachably connected to a conventional crib.

The wires comprising a frame are preferably covered by rubber 21 or the equivalent for protection and elimination of noise. Such a covering also tends to prevent a coverlet from sliding off the frame.

Any suitable means may be utilized to secure the frame in a horizontal position, but the latch means designated 18 will serve the purpose. Each of the latch means includes a mounting plate provided with apertures 22 through which screws may be extended for attaching the latch means to the upper rail 8 of the front crib section. A pair of corresponding jaws are supported on a pintle 23 for simultaneously pivotal movement. Each jaw includes a hook portion 24 and a finger portion 25. The hook portions are arranged in overlappingrelationship and generally constitute a sister hook assembly and the finger portions 25 are arranged substantially parallel. Each jaw is further provided with a curled portion 26 forming a socket which receives the end of a helical spring 27. This spring functions to urge each of the finger portions 25- in engagement with an abutment 28 to maintain the hook portions 24 in the positions illustrated. The outer margins of the hooks are preferably curved to provide converging cam surfaces 29 which, when forcibly brought intoengagement with a cross-stay 13, will cause the jaws to automatically pivot and permit the stay to snap into the opening formed by the hook portions 24. ,The mounting plate is. also provided with a centrally disposed abutment 30 which may be engaged by the edge portions 31 of the jaws to indicate that the jaws are open. To release the stays it is, of course, merely necessary to manually press the fingerportions 25 toward one another. It will be noted that the latch means are preferably located in a position so they are not readily accessible to an infant. The latch means are also preferably so designed and constructed that they cannot be manually operated by an infant or other occupant of a crib.

The frame 9 can be easily manipulated from the vertical dotted line position in- Figure 2 to the full line horizontal position by merely lifting and pulling it forwardly until the leg portions 11 rest upon the rails 6 and 8. As the frame approaches the horizontal position two of the cross-stays 13 will be automatically caught in the latch means 18'. The frame can be readily returned to the vertical position by merely. actuating the latch means to release the cross-stays, whereupon the frame is lifted and moved rearwardly a predetermined distance so that it may be allowed to descend by its weight until the ends 18 of the continuations rest upon the rail 6.

in view of the foregoing it will be manifest that l have provided means whereby a conventional crib can be economically and readily converted into a piece of equipment which can be utilized for dilfcrent purposes to ease the many duties that go with the carc and needs of an infant.

While the foregoing description has been given in dctail, it is not the intention to thereby restrict the scope of the invention beyond that defined by the appended claims since the inventive principles thereof are capable of assuming other physical embodiments than those hereinbefore described.

I claim:

1. A crib cover having a pair of elongated members flexibly connected at one end thereto and arranged in spaced relationship with respect to the cover to provide guid'eways for embracing supporting means on a crib, and means integral with the other ends of the members for detachably embracing under tension portions of the cover.

2. In combination: a crib having a pair of upper spaced horizontal rails, 21- cover comprising a fran having end members having co'ntinuations folded back in generally parallel relation to the end members and forming therewith a pair of guide-ways embracing one of the rails to afford a pivotal and slidable connection therewith to permit movement of the cover to a horizontal position on the crib or to a vertical position at one side thereof, said continuations being movable relative to the end members and having free ends, and means provided on the free ends of said continuations embracing portions of the cover and affording detachable connections therewith so that the cover may be readily removed from the crib.

References. Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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