US2873455A - Infant's crib with an adjustable mattress-supporting frame - Google Patents

Description

INFANT'S CRIB WITH AN ADJUSTABLE MATTRESS-SUPPORTING FRAME Filed May 10, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet l I E TIEkl- INVENTOR. Ros EFRT S. DAVIS ATTORNEYS Feb. 17, 1959 IR. 5. DAVIS 2,873,455

INFANTS CRIB WITH AN ADJUSTABLE MATTRESS-SUPPORTING FRAME Filed May 10, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR.

R0 BERT S- DAvJs A T TORNEIYS [D H F Feb. 17, 1959 R. s. DAVIS ,4

INFANT'S CRIB WITH AN ADJUSTABLE MATTRESS-SUPPORTING FRAME Filed May 10, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet E v F TIE-15.3 E M a -|2 as as i l r u c :11]: 10 F/ D ROBERT S. DAVIS BY TIE-.7- :EIELB- MW ATTORNEYS United SratesPatent O INFANTS CRIB WITH AN ADJUSTABLE MATTRESS-SUPPORTING FRAME Robert s. Davis, Ajo, Ariz.

Application May 10, 1956, Serial No. 584,021

'Claims. (Cl. 5-63) The present invention relates to improvements in an infants crib with an adjustable mattress-supporting frame, whereby this frame may be readily elevated and de pressed relative to the crib structure. Thus, when the frame is raised, the stooping of an attendant to reach the infant is entirely eliminated. At the same time, the bed is accessible at a convenient working height.

It is proposed in this invention to provide a device of the type described in which the mattress-supporting frame may be raised or lowered with the minimum of effort on the part of the attendant. Moreover, this frame may be moved to various heights between its fully elevated and depressed positions.

More specifically stated, it is proposed to provide a shaft, which may be turned in either direction by means of a handle. This shaft is interconnected by toggle mechanisms with the mattress-supporting frame. When the shaft is turned in one direction, the toggle mechanisms will elevate this frame, with the parts of the toggles moving into positions for automatically holding the mattress frame in raised position. However, the toggles may be readily folded and the mattress-supporting frame lower'ed, merely by turning the shaft in theopposite direc tion, or by depressing the mattress frame.

A further object is to provide an infants crib with an adjustable mattress-supporting frame, whichis simple 'inconstruction, durable and efficient for the purpose intended, and which maybe manufactured at a relatively low cost. i

Other objects and advantages will appear as the specification continues. The novel features will be particularly pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

' Drawings 2 Fora better understanding of the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which:

Figure l is a transverse sectional view taken through .the crib, parts being shown in elevation, and the mattresssupporting frame being disclosed in depressed position;

Figure2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the inclined plane II-II of Figure l;

Figures 3 and 4 are top plan and front elevational views, respectively, of the operating handle;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the vertical plane V-V of Figure 1; I Figure 6 is a view similar to that shown in Figure 1, but with the mattress-supporting frame moved into elevated position;

Figure 7 is an enlarged view of that portion of the device enclosed within the dot-dash circle VII in Figure 6; Figure 8 is a side elevational view of Figure 7; and

Figure 9 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line IX--IX of Figure 7. l While I have shown only the preferred form of my invention, it will be understood that various changes,

'or modificationamay be made within the scope of the l annexed claims without departing from the spirit thereof.

2 Detailed description Referring to the drawings in detail, I provide a pair of spaced-apart end panels A and B, which are inter connected by sides C and D to coact therewith in providing a crib structure indicated generally at E. Within the confines of this crib structure there is mounted a mattress-supporting frame F, which is guided for vertical movement between depressed position (see Figure 1) and elevated position (see Figure 6).

. For the purpose of guiding the frame F in vertical movement, a pair of channel-shaped slides 10 are secured to opposite ends of this frame (see Figures 1 and 6-9) by screws 11, or other suitable fastening means. The channels 12 of the slides receive vertically-disposed runners 14, which are fastened to the inner faces of the end panels A and B, for instance, by screws 15. While the slides and runners may be made from any suitable material, they are preferably fashioned from hardwood, since thiswill avoid any metallic sound when the mattress frame is moved vertically. Anti-f'riction bearings 10a may be provided between the slides 10 and the runcarried by strips 18 that are secured to the inner faces of the end panels A and B, for instance, by screws 19. As shown in Figures 3 and 5, the end 16a of this shaft projects beyond the panel A and has a handle G secured: thereto. This handle is operable for turning the shaft 16 i in either direction.

As an important structural feature, a pair of togglemechanisms H are provided for interconnecting the shaft: 16 with the mattress-supporting framezF (see Figures- 1, 5 and 6). One of these toggle mechanisms is arranged adjacentto each of the and panels to thereby raise or lower the frame F, without binding action between the slides 10 and the runners 14.

Both toggle mechanisms H are identical with one another, and each includes a swingable lever I, which is fixed intermediate of its ends to the shaft 16, as forexample, by welding 20 (see Figure 5). These levers define long and short arms 21 and 22, respectively. Moreover, a pair of links K are utilized, each having its lower end pivotally attached by a clevis pin 23 to a long arm 21 of one of the levers. The upper ends of these links are swingably attached by a ball and socket connection L to the mattress-supporting frame F.

In order to substantially counterbalance the weight of the frame F, the mattress M and the infant, coil springs 24have been provided. Each of these springs has one of its ends connected to a short arm 22 of a lever J by a loop-shaped link 25, the latter engaging over a hook 26 fashioned on the short arm of the lever (see Figures 1 and 6). The other end of each spring is anchored to a fixed bracket 27 by an adjustable eyelet bolt 28 and a wing nut 29 (see Figure 2). These brackets may be formed as part of the lower portion of the strips 18. Obviously, when the nuts 29 are turned in one direction or the other, the tension of the springs 24 may be varied.

When the handle G is swung into the dot-dash line position shown in Figure 6, thereby elevating the mattresscarrying frame F, each lever J and the link K attached thereto are moved into substantial alignment with one another. This arrangement will hold the frame F in elevated position. At this time, the outer end 30 of each lever will abut the clevis 31 on the link K associated therewith, thereby automatically holding the mattress frame in raised position. However, the toggles H may be folded by raising the handle G or by depressing the mattress frame. The lever end 30 precludes the toggle from actually locking when the frame F is elevated.

Referring now to Figure 1, it will be noted that the short arm 22 of the .lever J. isprovided with a pin 22a, which is disposed to serve as a stopto hold the loopshaped link 25 vertical when the mattress-supporting frame F occupies its lowest position. This arrangement will give more or increased leverage, i. e., with. the frame F fully depressed and to some distance upward; by increasingthe distance of the spring hook-upon the shortarm from the shaft '16. This pin is only neces* sary, if the infant is leftin bed and raised regularly after it has attained considerable more weight than normal; The increased leverage provided byv utilizing the pin: acts as-a'booster to assist in lifting additional weight. As illustrated in. Figure 1, when the mattress frame F is fully depressed, the upper portion of the handle G abuts a. fixed stop 32. The latter is carried by a bracket 33 which is secured to the end panel A. At

this time, apin 34 on the handle enters an opening 35 provided' in this bracket (see Figure 33), thereby' holding'thehandleG against the stops With particular reference to Figures 1, 3 and 4, it will be seen that the handle G is secured to the shaft 16 by an adjustable clamp 36, whereby the handle may be shifted into various angular positions around this shaft. As disclosed in the drawings, a bolt 37 has been provided for securing theclamp in adjusted position on the shaft.

In Figure 6, the mattress M- is shown at its highest position, and will support the infant at a level where the attendant: can take care of the infant without bending over. Assuming that a person desires the mattress to occupy the dot-dash line position M as suggested in Figure 1, when the frame F reaches its lowest position, instead of the fully-depressed position illustrated by full lines in this view, the change maybe readily accomplished by shifting the shaft 16 relative to the handle G.

InFigure 1, the mattress is shown in the position M and this theoretically is about four inches down from the'top position shown in Figure 6. The mattress will be in the position M when the infant is in the bassinet stage. The handle G may be unclamped from the shaft 16 and the mattress depressed from the position M in Figure 6- into the position M in Figure 1. With the handle G arranged against the stop 32, the handle may be reclamped to the shaft. Thereafter, when the attendant wishes to raise the mattress from the position -M into the position M, it is merely necessary to swing the-handle G from the full-line position shown i'n'Figure 1 into the dot-dash line position G shown in this view.

As the infant grows older, and it is desired to lower the-mattress toja greater-extent than the M position, it

is merely necessary to again loosen the handle G from the shaft 16 and depress the mattress to the desired position, after which the handle may be reclarnpedi to the shaft. When the attendant raises themattress to the position M in Figure 6, it will only be necessary to swing the handle 6' to a greater extent from its-locked position shown in Figure 1.

terconnected by transversely extending angle iron S9 to which the coils 4th: of the springs are attached. (see Figure 5). A second pair of endangle irons 40 have been added in order to reinforce the frame and thus preclude the slides from becoming disengaged from 1 4 the runners 14, when weight is applied to the mattress M.

In its structural details, each ball and socket connection L includes a ball 41, which is fashioned on the upper ends of the links K (see Figures 7 and 8). These balls are held in inverted cup-shaped bearings 42, which are formed intheend angle bars 40, by means of bifurcated clips 43. The latter are removably attached to the bars 40 by screws 44, which are inserted from above the bars 40 as shown in Figures 7 and 9 of the drawings.

Drawers 45 have been provided in the lower portion of the crib structure E, wherein beddingtand'other supplies may be conveniently stored, and thus are readily accessible.

As shown in Figures 1 and 6, the side C may be removed from the crib structure in order to allow the infant to get into or out of the crib as. it grows older. For this purpose, the side C may have dowel pins 46 at its bottom, which. are arranged to be inserted into bores formed in a side rail .47 of the crib structure. Bolts 48' have been shown in Figure 1 for removably anchoring the upper portion of the side C to the end panels.

Figure 5 shows the bracket 33 as being curved so the handle G or pin 3'4 will not. strike. the end of the bracket, but the pin willstrike thev curved portion of the bracket and be guided toward the opening '35 and reach it when the handle strikes the stop 32. 'The handle G has sufficient resiliency that it will flex slightly as the pin 34 on the upper end of the handle moves over the curved portion of the bracket 33 before reaching the-opening 35. When the pin 34' does reach the opening 35, the resiliency of the handle will causethe pin to enter the opening and secure the handle in place. The anti-friction bearings 10a in'Figure 9'permit the slides 10 to move along the runners .14 without any tendency of binding.

Lclaim: 1. In an infants crib with a height adiustablemattresssupporting frame: a pair of spaced-apart end panels arranged parallel with one another; sides interconnecting these panels and coacting therewith to provide a .crib structure; a vertically-extending runner secured to the inner surface of each end panel, substantially midway between the sides of the crib structure; a mattresssupporting frame disposed in the crib structure andfhaving slides secured thereto; the slides engaging with therunners for guiding the mattress-supporting frame between depressed and elevated positions; a shaft extending lengthwise of the crib structure, and being supported by the end panels for turning movement;a pair ofswingable levers fixed intermediate thei'rends to the shaft so :as .to swing in' unison; these levers being. swingablein planes extending transversely of the crib structure; each lever defining long and short arms; a pair of links, each-having a lower end pivotally attached to the long armof one of theswingable levers; each of these links having an upper end swingably attached to the mattress-supporting frame adjacent to onetof' the slides; a pair of fixed brackets secured to theend panels; and apair of counterbalaneing springs, each having one of its ends connected to ashort arm of one of the swingable levers and its other-end anchored to one of the fixed brackets; each lever and its link beingmovable into substantialal'ignment with one another, when the mattress-supporting frame is fully ,elevated, to thereby holdsaid frame in elevated position;-

2. 'lihe infantscrib with. aheight adju table mattressppcrti'ng fr me, s defined in cla m- 1'; a din whichh shaft is disposed between the runners and onesideof the crib structure; and said links are arranged substantially vertically when the mattressrsupporting frame occupies its lowered and elevated positions. 1 '3. flheinfants crib with a height adjustable-mattresssupportingfframe, .as defined in claim 1; andinwhiehthe {lower end of each link is pivotally attached by a clevis to the long ami of one of the swingable levers; the long arm of each swingable lever having an outer end which is arranged to abut the clevis associated therewith and prevent the long arm from moving into full alignment with its link, when the mattress-supporting frame is fully elevated, whereby this frame may be manually depressed.

4; The infants crib with a height adjustable mattresssupporting frame, as defined in claim 1; and in which each of the short arms of the swingable levers is fashioned with a hook; each of the counterbalancing springs having one of its ends connected by a loop-shaped link to tone of the hooks; each hook being provided with a pin which is disposed to serve as a stop to hold the loopshaped link substantially vertical, when the mattresssupporting frame occupies its lowermost position, so as to increase the distance of the spring hook-up on the short arm from said shaft.

5. The infants crib with a height adjustable mattresssupporting frame, as defined in claim 1; and in which the mattress-supporting frame includes longitudinal members at its sides, which are interconnected inwardly from their ends by a first pair of transverse end members to which coils of mattress-sustaining springs are attached; and a second pair of transverse end members secured to the ends of the longitudinal members outwardly beyond the first pair of said transverse end members; the slides being mounted on the second pair of said transverse end members, whereby the slides will not become disengaged from the runners, when Weight is applied to said mattress'sustaining springs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 836,397 McGough Nov. 20, 1906 1,437,623 Thomson Dec. 5, 1922 1,712,146 Hultgren May 7, 1929 1,890,177 Derry Dec. 6, 1932 1,992,733 Bayer Feb. 26, 1935 2,599,296 Toomey et al June 3, 1952 2,765,477 Royce Oct. 9, 1956

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