US2809382A

US2809382A - Baby playpen

Info

Publication number: US2809382A
Application number: US503957A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert B Jackson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1955-04-26
Filing date: 1955-04-26
Publication date: 1957-10-15
Anticipated expiration: 1974-10-15

Description

United. States This invention relates to infants playpens, and more particularly to an improved playpen having collapsible walls which may be readily folded to a compact position for transportation and storage and which may be readily set up for use when desired.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved collapsible baby playpen which is simple in construction, which is easy to set up for -use, and which may be readily collapsed to a compact condition for transportation and storage.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved collapsible baby playpen having flexible side Walls, having no dangerous corners, being easy to fold up, requiring less space than a conventional square playpen, having a rigid floor, and being attractive in appearance.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved baby playpen which has relatively open side walls through which a child can see more easily than in a conventional playpen, being arranged so that the playpen pad need not be removed when the playpen is folded, and being further arranged that toys tied to the side walls of the playpen can remain there in the folded position of the playpen, providing a large number of handholds for a child learning to stand and walk in the playpen, being durable in construction, and being readily adaptable to use with modern furniture.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the folloing description and claim, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an improved foldable child's playpen constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the foldable playpen of Figure l.

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross sectional detail view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1. o

Figure 4 is a cross sectional detail view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure l.

Referring to the drawings, the -improved playpen is designated generally at 11 and, as illustrated, is circular in shape, the playpen comprising a rigid floor 12 of plywood or similar rigid material which is reinforced by a plurality of square brace bars 13 fastened to its bottom surface in any suitable manner to definc the configuration shown in dotted view in Figure 1 wherein the brace bars 13 are arranged mutually perpendicular to each other.

Hinged to the margin of the circular floor 12 adjacent the ends of the respective brace bars 13 are respective rigid post members 14, the post members 14 being connected to the marginal portion of the top surface of the circular floor 12 by hinges 15, as shown in Figure 3. Secured to the lower inside portions of the post members 14 are respective support blocks 16 arranged to underlie the marginal portions of the floor when the post members are in their Vertical upstanding positions, as is clearly illustrated in Figure 3 and defining supporting feet beneath said marginal portions.

*atent O 2,809,382 Patented Oct. 15, 1957 Designated at 17 is a rigid circular ring member substantially equal in diameter to the floor 12, said ring member being connected to the margin of the circular floor 12 by fiexible netting 18 which may be interwoven between the ring member 17 and the floor 12 in the manner illustrated in Figure 2. Thus, the netting 18, which may comprise rope or similar fiexible material is formed ith loop portions 19 engaged over the ring 17 and with alternating bottom loop portions 20 engaged through spaced openings formed in the margin of the floor 12 and extending around said margin. The Vertical portions of the flexible members between the

loops

19 and 20 may be secured to horizontal circular loops or bands 21 of rope or similar fiexible material, the securement being made in any desired manner, as by knots or other fastening means, whereby a netting is defined extending continuously around the playpen and fastened thereto so that said netting may be readily collapsed when the playpen is folded and may be drawn to a taut condition when the playpen is set up for use.

The post members 14 are formed at their top ends with grooves 28 arranged to lockingly receive the ring 17 when the playpen is set up for use and to lock said ring in position above and parallel to the floor 12.

It will be understood that the ring 17 is held in the grooves 28 by the tension of the fiexible netting 18, such tension being substantial and being sufificient so that only an adult or relatively strong person can overcome the tension to disengage the ring from the groove, whereby a small child or infant cannot accidentally disengage said ring from the post members 14.

As shown, the post members 14 are foldable inwardly to horizontal positions overlying the floor 12, the ring 17 being thus engageable on the folded post members. Pivoted to said post members at 25 are respective locking arms 26, said locking arms being formed at their free outer ends with grooves 27 which may be engaged with the ring 17 to hold the ring down on the horizontal post members 14 when the device is to be transported in its collapsed position.

As shown in Figure 4, each of 'the brace bars 13 may be provided with a long, relatively shallow notch 30 facing the bottom surface of the floor 12, defining a handhold, enabling the folded playpen to be readily grasped by a person desiring to carry same.

As will be readily apparent, the post members 14 may be folded inwardly to overlie a playpen pad disposed on the floor 12, if the pad is of moderate thickness, whereby it is not necessary to remove the pad when the playpen is to be collapsed for transportation or storage.

It will be further apparent that because of the circular shape, the playpen may be set up in a relatively small space, requiring less space than a conventional square playpen, and will conform in appearance with modern furniture, as now Widely employed in homes, whereby the playpen will blend in With the appearance of a wide range of furniture schemes.

While a specific embodiment of an improved collapsible child,s playpen has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

In a collapsible child's playpen, `a generally circular rigid floor, a circular ring member substantially equal in diameter to said floor, a plurality of spaced rigid post members hinged to the peripheral portion of said fioor and being swingable to erect positions, means on said post members projecting beyond the hinge connections thereof and defining supporting legs below the floor when said post members are in erectpositions, the top ends of said post memberebeing formed with..greove.lczckinglyY in-VM terengageable with said ring member, and a fiexble netting connected between said ring member and the peripheral pprtion of saidw flor; ajnd`;be'ing arranged :tadefinea reltiyely ;tang circular` wallaround g said; fl0 0 r when the. ring menrberfis, interengggi With; sadgrooyes, saidepcst. members being :formedrandzarranged ;to beatrimes swing` ablefio'ppsitiprrs Subtentially verlyirngsrthe. prallelrm the fiOOr, VSaid ring member being al 4suh times. V`engegfeable on. thelpost members, and nothed fasterling membersv pivotally ;seeured On thept members and being rotatfible in'fe. .lqckng .engelgernentewith'theL rirnmemberr,secure.,-

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS' Shearer Ian. 31, 1899 Stotler Apr. 12, 1921 Lawrence Apr. 19, 1921 Stotler Apr. 18, 1922 Nigg Apr. 26, 1932 Scrantorn Nov. 5, 1935 Fischer Feb. 21, 1950 Bqisseher Aug, 14, 1951 Hawley Marzf 25, 1952 151012111;V --r-.k-r=-f.-=-- Se1;',;'= 29, T 1953