US2895717A - Foldable play pen - Google Patents

Description

3 Sheets-Sheet 1" A. DE FALCO FQLDABLE PLAY PEN n ,Illllllllll'ld` July 2l, 1959 Filed April 25, 19.55

`INVENTR Anthony De Falco` ATTORNEYS July 21, 1959 A. DE FALCO 2,895,717

FOLDABLE PLAY PEN Filed Apfil 25, 1955 s sheets-sheet 2 1.7.17.Y f'lpgrglpflrr..

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FOLDABLE PLAY PEN Application April 25, 1955, Serial No. 503,595

17 Claims. (Cl. 256-25) This invention relates to play pens for children and more particularly to a foldable or knock-down pen.

Play pens for children `are conventionally made to be collapsed or folded for easy handling or transportation ibut it is also conventional practice to permanently join or couple the side sections of such pens by hinges, as a result of which, 'while the size of the pen is reduced when folded, the weight is not.

The weight of such knock-down conventionally constructed` play pens is also a factor to be reckoned with when it is considered that the. folding and moving theret of mostly falls to the lot of the mothers, since such pens are usually made up of wood bars and metal hinges and other metal parts.

Another undesirable feature of the conventional play pens is that hooks and eyes or other fastening devices yare employed for maintaining the sections in opened-out or unfolded condition and such fastening means are either so placed as to present some hazards for the child because of the possibility of getting fingers caught therein, or the fastening devices may Ibe released by the child so that the pen may collapse either fully or partly.

In the light of the foregoing it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and novel childs play pen made up of a number of Wall sections or side sections with novel means for coupling such sections together at the corners of the pen whereby the angular relation of the adjacent ends of the side walls or sections is rrnly maintained and at the same time the side walls or sections can be easily and quickly fully and completely separated so that each side wall or section can be handled independently of the others.

Another object of the invention is to provide an irnproved play pen structure made lup, of a number of individual side walls or side sections with supporting feet connected to such side walls or' side sections at the corners of the pen and 'which supporting feet also function to securely couple the sections together.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a foldable or knock-down play pen which is constructed in a number of wall sections each made up of panels of tubular material with supporting feet for the pen structure having elements adapted to be slidably engaged in vertical portions of the tubes of the panels whereby to securely couple the panels or side walls of the pen together.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a childs foldable or collapsible play pen having side Walls constructed in two separable panel portions with means for inserting an additional panel or additional panels whereby the size of the pen can be altered as desired.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a play pen of the character stated with novel means for effecting the locking connection of opposing ends of the panels making up the sides of the pen whereby such panels are securely held together and whereby further no parts are exposed upon which a child might injure himself or aient l,

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which the child could manipulate in a manner to acci'- dentally disconnect the panels.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a foldable play pen which is so designed that it can be constructed of light weight material such as aluminum tubing or any other light tubular stock `and wherein the several parts can be easily and quickly separated so that the pen can Ibe moved about or transported with a minimum of effort.

Still another object of this invention is to provide in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a foldable or collapsible play pen structure made up of a number of units with novel means for coupling and supporting the same whereby such units may be set up in arrangements other than a pen to function as a fence or a partial enclosure in conjunction with another structure.

Another object is Ito provide a supporting foot for tubular wall sections with novel means for coupling the wall sections to the feet whereby to not only provide a stable support but to firmly secure adjacent sections together.

Two embodiments of the invention are disclosed whereby the foregoing and possibly other objects may be attained.

In one embodiment, the tubular panel frames making up the sides of the play pen each has a bottom rounded corner which has the wall cut away along the outer or arcuate side so that there is provided an upright rail which is open at its lower end portion. A corner sup porting foot of tubular material is provided for joining or coupling together the cut out rails of two adjacent frames, which foot is provided with two adjacent upright terminal extensions, each of which is inserted into the open lower end of a vertical panel rail and thereby secures such rails of the adjacent panels together to maintain them in a corner forming relation.

In the other embodiment, similar panel frames of tubular material are provided which have upright side rails or posts and each of these is open at its lower end and has inserted and secured therein an end of a lock peg. Cooperating with the lock pegs of two adjoining upright rails or posts is a foot member which has a 'top face or surface which is provided with sockets, `each of which is adapted to receive the lower end of a lock peg to support the frames and maintain the same in upright cooperative relation either to form a corner or to form an intermediate connection between two frames forming one side of the pen.

The manner in which the foregoing and possibly other objects may be attained will become vapparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings lforming a part of the specification, with the understanding that changes and modifications may be made therein so long as such changes or modifications are within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a view in perspective of a play pen constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of onev side wall of the pen in which has been inserted an extension panel;

Fig. 3 is a view on an enlarged scale and in side elevation of the center portion of a side wall showing the connection between opposed ends of two panels making up the wall, portions of the structure being shown broken away and in section;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through adjacent ends of coupled rails of two panels showing on an enlarged scale the connecting or coupling pin therebetween, in side elevation;

aaa-shred July 2,1, 1959 Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6ofFig.4; l

Fig. 7 is a separated or exploded view illustrating the manner in which a corner supporting foot functions to couple together adjacent ends of two side walls;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantially on the line 8 8 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a detailed section corresponding to Fig. 4 showing the bottom rail connecting means; and

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken transversely of two corner posts showing a tie element therebetween;

Fig. l1 is a view in perspective of a foldable play pen constructed in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantially on the line 12-12 of Fig. 11 showing a securing or coupling clip between two vertical rails or posts;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantially on line 13-13 of Fig. 1l;

Fig. 14 is a detail view on an enlarged scale partly in section and partly in side elevation of a supporting foot and lock peg fastening means between the same and an upright post or rail;

Fig. 15 illustrates another embodiment of supporting foot wherein the lock pegs are cast or molded as an integral part of the foot body.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the play pen of the present invention in one embodiment thereof is shown in Figs. 1 to 10 and has been illustrated in Fig. 1 as of square outline and comprising four side walls each of which is generally designated W and each of which, as shown, is of elongate rectangular form. Each of the side walls of the pen, as illustrated in Fig. 1, comprises two panels 10 each of which comprises top and bottom rails 12 and 14 and an end rail 16 all preferably formed integrally of tubular material of a light character such as aluminum or any of the light aluminum alloys or of any other suitable material. These top, bottom and end rails form a substantially U-shaped structure in which, in the set-up pen, the top and bottom rails are horizontally disposed and the end rails 16 are vertically disposed and form one corner post of the wall.

Y The top rail 12 and the end rail 16 are formed where they are joined together to provide a rounded corner 18 while the portion joining the lower end of the end rail 16 and the outer end of the `bottom rail 14 is likewise rounded but the outer or convex portion of the rounded corner is cut away as indicated at 20 so that the adjacent portions of the rails 14 and 16 are open to receive parts of a supporting foot hereinafter described. The edge of the material remaining after cutting away the convex outer side of the bend between the bottom and end rails 14 and 16 is directed outwardly and downwardly and is contoured as illustrated in Fig. 7 so that the edge or edges of the opening are bowed in slightly at the upper and lower portions of the opening as indicated at 21 or, in other words, present what may be defined as a double ogee curvature. This novel curvature forms the edge to coact with the hereinafter described tubular portions of the foot by which the two end rails 16 are connected together.

The free ends of the tubular top and bottom rails 12 and 14 are connected together by a transverse post 22 which post is in spaced parallel relation with the end rail 16 so that the panel is thus made in rectangular form. The connection between the ends of a post 22 and inner end portions of the rails 12 and 16 between which it extends is eiected by providing each end of the post 22 with a reduced axial extension forming a pinv23 which is inserted in an opening 24 formed in the rail 12 or 14 to which the end of the post is attached. As shown in Fig. 1, two of the panels may be joined directly together by bringing the inner ends of the tubular top and bottom rails 412 and 14 into opposed relation by employment of the coupling bolt 25. Such bolt, as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, comprises a short length of cylindrical material having a diameter to iit snugly into the opposing ends of the rails which it connects together.

While the locking or coupling bolt of Figs. 4 to 6 may be used to connect the opposing top rails 12 or to connect the opposing bottom rails 14 of two panels, it is preferred that it be used only for the top rails, a slightly different type of coupling bolt being used to connect the opposing ends of the bottom rails, as hereinafter described.

One end of the bolt 25 is xed in the open end of one top rail 12 by providing such end of the bolt with a transverse or radial bore 26 which is aligned with the opening 24 when the end of the bolt is inserted into the rail as shown in Fig. 5 and the terminal pin 23 of theadjacent post 22 is then inserted into and extends through the bore 26.

In order to permit slight rotational movement of the bolt after having the pin of a post engaged in the bore 26 to effect the locking connection of the other end of the bolt in the opposing rail 12, the bore 26 at each end and on opposite sides is provided with a short circumferentially directed recess 27.

One of the panels may thus be permanently equipped with a locking bolt in the end of the top rail 12 thereof in preparation for connecting the panel with an adjacent panel to form the complete side wall of the pen, the major portion of the bolt being extended from the rail 12 in which is xed the bolt end having the bore 26 therethrough.

The opposite end of the bolt 25 is provided with an axially extending slot 28 which is of a width to receive the terminal pin 23 of a post 22, that is, the post of the other panel which is to be joined to the panel to which the rst described end of the bolt is attached. At its inner end the slot 28 is provided with the circumferentially extending substantially semi-circular recesses 29 which are approximately apart and which align obliquely of the inner end of the recess to form a substantially semi-circular passage adapted to receive the post pin 23. When the two ends of rails 12 are to be coupled together the slotted end of the bolt is inserted into the open end of one rail until the inner end of the slot comes into alignment with the opening 24, whereupon the pin 23 at the upper end of the post 22 is inserted through the opening 24 in the top rail 12 and into the slot as shown in Fig. 6. The bolt 25 may then be rotated slightly so as to bring the recess 29 into position to receive the pin 23, thus placing the pin across the slot and securely holding the bolt from extraction or removal from the end of the rail as well be readily apparent.

As hereinbefore stated, the opposing ends of the bottom rails 14 of two panels may likewise be coupled by a bolt 25 or use may be made of a straight coupling pin 30 having a radial bore 31 therethrough to receive the pin 23 at the lower end of a post 22 as shown in Fig. 9, while the opposite end of the pin 30 may be provided only with a straight slot 32 to slidably receive the' pin 23 at the lower end of the other or adjacent post 22. In other words, the pin 36 connecting the lower rails 14 would have a radial bore and an axially extending slot without the oifset recesses 27 and 29 described in connection with the bolt 25.

Adapted for supporting each corner of the play pen is a foot member which is generally designated 33 and which also preferably is fashioned from suitable tubular material. Such foot member 33 comprises an open or split ring 34 having the ends joined to elongate extensions 3S which are arranged in spaced parallel relation as shown in Fig. 7 and are perpendicular to the plane of the ring 34. Each of these extensions 3S is of an outg Side` diameter tov be inserted into the open lower end of an end rail 16 through the space provided by cutting away the corner of the bend between this rail and the bottom rail 14. These foot portions 35 are in closely spaced relation as shown in Fig. 7 and it will be seen upon reference to this ligure that when each foot portion 35 is extended into the lower end of an end rail 16v such end rails will be held close together or in juxtaposedV relation to form the. corner of the pen and the ring portion 34 of the foot will extend outwardly in the plane of the bottom rails 14. This positioning of the feet is elfected by reason` of the contoured edge portions 21 whereby the rounded surface of the tubular extensions in the bend 36 between their lower ends and the ends of the ring t in the curved portion 21 to make a close fitting joint.

While the two vertical extensions 35 of each foot may be each engaged in an end rail 16 to be inserted thereinto or freely removed therefrom, it is preferred that a securing element be extended through one of the rails 16 as indicated at 37 in Fig. 7 to engage and hold one extension 35 in position. Thus when the sides of the pen are to be separated one from the other, one side or one of the panels of the side will carry a foot with it.

The description thus far given has been directed partioularly to a play pen wherein the two panels 10, which may be defined as end panels for making up a side of the pen, are directly coupled together. However, where it may be desired to enlarge the pen beyond the size or dimensions permitted by connecting two end panels to gether, use may be made of an intermediate panel such as that shown in Fig. 2 and generally designated 38. Such intermediate or extension panel may comprise top and bottom tubular rails 12a and 14a connected together adjacent to their ends by the vertical posts 22@L andit will be readily apparent that when using the intermediate or extension panel one of the tubular top rails 12a may receive a slotted end of a bolt 25 while the opposite end of such top rail may carry or have secured therein the end of a bolt 25 which has the transverse bore 26 therethrough with the opposite or slotted end of such bolt extending into the open end of a top rail 12 for locking connection therewith.

The bottoom rail 14a of the extension panel would likewise be connected to adjacent inner ends of the bottom rails 14 of the end panels between which the extension panel is arranged.

The walls of the pen illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 have been shown as being completed by having the top, bottom and end rails and posts 22 of the panels connected by interwoven strips 39 of suitable webbing material which may be of plastic or any other type of fabric, and when such interwoven strips are employed the ends may be joined to the rails and vertical posts in any desired manner as, for example, by wrapping the ends around the rails or posts and securing them by a threaded fastener 40 of the type commonly employed for attaching fabric material to metal bars and which type of fastener has a head portion 41 over which is frictionally engaged a button 42.

In Fig. 8 a fastener of the type referred to has been illustrated extending through the end of the fabric strip 39 which is wrapped around the tubular rail 14 and the button 42 is here shown as being carried by an edge portion of a floor canvas 43 which may be of proper dimensions to cover the entire interior area of the setup pen. Thus the pen is provided with a readily removable floor covering which is essential in an article of this type not only for the protection of iloors or rugs upon which the pen may be set up but also for preventing the child from getting dirty as would be the case if the pen were set up on the open ground.

The fabric strips employed for completing the walls of the pen may be made in variegated colors so as to add attractiveness to the structure.

While the walls have been shown as including the here- 6 inbefore described interwoveny fabric strips, it is to be understood that the invention` is not limited to the use of this material but the panels may be lilled in by they use of solid woven fabric such as canvas or the like, if desired, or by the use of a rigid or semi-rigid material such as light metal or light wood panels or screening material of plastic or the like.

In addition to the securing together of adjacent vertical end rails 16 by means. of the foot extensions 35 inserted into the lower ends of such rails, the upper ends of the rails may be further secured together, if desired, by the use of a suitable band or strap 44 which may be placed around the two adjacent corner rails 16 and have its ends secured together by means of snap fasteners such as are shown at 45 or by any other suitable means.

In order to facilitate, the rotation of the locking bolt 25 the bolt may have secured thereto substantially midway between its ends a suitable button or knob 25EL or any other suitableV means may be employed to facilitate grasping the turning of the bolt to effect the desired locking; or unlocking action.

Figs.` 11; to 14 illustrate a second embodiment of the invention and this second embodiment is shown in perspective in Fig. ll wherein the pen has the four sidev walls, each generally designated W2 made up of two joined together panels each of which panels is designated, 10a.

Each of the panels comprises a tubular frame of inverted substantially U-shaped form and having the top horizontal rail 50 and the side vertical or upright rails or posts 51. The top rail 50 and the side rails 51 are continuous or formed from one piece of material, preferably aluminum tubing or some other suitable light weight tubular material and are connected at the corners by the rounded or arched portions 52.

The lower ends of the vertical rails are open and, in` this second embodiment, are not connected together as in the first embodiment, by frame material but are merely connected by the panel inserts 53 which may be of any suitable material such. as plastic or the like.

Each of these panel inserts comprises the side sleeves 54 through each of which a vertical side rail 51 is. extended and across the. top of the panel, there is an attaching or securing flap 55 which is adapted to be folded or turned down over the top rail 51 and secured by snap fasteners 56 or other suitable means, thereby forming a top sleeve which can be opened as will be readily seen to facilitate the removal of the panel if and when desired.

For connecting together the vertical rails or posts 51 of two adjoining panels, there are provided the supporting feet 57. Each of these supporting feet is preferably in the form of a cast body of suitable material, such as aluminum or the like, and is adapted to have secured to it in the manner about be described, the lower ends of two adjacent rails 51.

Each foot 57 comprises the base part 58 which is of substantial width and length as shown and has a flat bottom surface 59 which rests upon the oor or ground. One end of the base 58 is continued or extended upward as a rectangular block 60 which has a at top surface 61 in which are formed the two sockets 62. These sockets are spaced apart in the direction of the width of the base as shown.

The thickness of the base 58 is greatest adjacent to the inner side of the block portion 60 and decreases gradually toward the end of the base remote from the block, thus forming the sloping longitudinally extending top surface 63. Between the block 60 and the remote end of the base 58 is a screw hole 64 formed vertically through the base to receive a screw for securing the foot to a supporting Hoor or other underlying surface as indicated at 64 in Fig. l.

For the connection of the lower ends of the vertical rails or posts 51 with the feet, each vertical rail 51 has insertedinto the open lower end thereof a lock peg 65 which adjacent to its upper end has an encircling groove or channel 66 formed therein. When the lock peg is inserted into the open :lower end of a vertical rail 51 to the desired extent so that a portion of the lower end of the peg is left protruding from the rail, the wall of the rail or post is pressed in or` dimpled as indicated at 67 in the plane of the groove 66 in the peg so that an inward projection of the metal of the tube is formed which engages in the groove 66 and thus holds the peg against escape. The extending lower end portion of the peg, as shown in Fig. 14, is of the proper length to substantially lill a socket 62 into which it is adapted to be inserted.

It will be readily apparent with reference to Fig. 11 that in setting up the play pen constructed in accordance with the second embodiment, each foot has connected to it the lower ends of two adjacent frame rails 51 by the insertion of the pegs of such rails into the sockets 62 of the foot. These rails may be corner rails or at the sides of two panels a arranged in right angular relation to form a corner of the pen or they may be opposing rails at the central part of a side wall of the pen where the two panels 10a of such side wall are joined together.

While no construction is illustrated in connection with this second embodiment to show more than two side wall panels connected together, it will be readily apparent from the foregoing description that three or more panels can be readily connected together in line to form a side wall for a pen of any desired size. Accordingly, it will be seen .that each two adjacent vertical rails 51 -between joining panels will be coupled together by a foot 57 in an obvious manner.

In order to maintain the upper end portions of adjacent vertical rails or posts 51 together so that the rails will be in parallel relation an easily applicable and removable spring clip 68 is provided. As shown in Fig. l2, this clip comprises a pair of split rings lor collars 69 of suitable resilient or springy material. The two end portions of such split rings or collars are preferably slightly spaced apart as shown and turned or curved outwardly as indicated at 70 to facilitate the engagement of the clip around a rail. The sides of the clips remote from the ends 70 are joined together by a resilient ibridge 71 which may be in the form of a band of spring steel, the ends of which may be welded or secured in anyother suitable manner to the split rings 69 as shown. As will be readily apparent, when the rings 69 are each engaged about the upper end portion of a vertical post or rail 51, the resilient bridge or connector member 71 between them will hold the rails or posts iirmly in desired parallel relation. Obviously, the opening between the ends 70 of the split rings or collars is materially smaller than the diameter of the post or rail about which the collar is engaged so that some force is required to place the rings or collars on the rails and, therefore, it will be seen that it will be substantially impossible for a child playing in the pen to eifect the disconnection of the rails by removing the connectors therefrom.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there is provided by the present invention in each of the described embodiments, a play pen of relatively simple construction which may be made light in weight and which can be easily and quickly knocked down into several separate parts so that it can be handled without difliculty and can be readily stored in a closet or in the luggage compartment of arr automobile for transportation.

It will also be seen that this play pen can be readily made up of standard tubular or rod stock Without the use of hinges or other more or less expensive equipment for effecting the joining together of the wall parts. Where the use of screws is made, when a metal such as aluminum or the like is employed, openings for the screws do not have to be threaded as would be the case with the use of a. heavier or tougher material since the conventional metal cutting or self-threading screws can sbe readily employed.

The novelly designed supporting feet for the pen in each embodiment serve the double purpose of holding the ywalls in upright position and of securely joining the end rails of the walls together to form the pen corners'while at the same time permitting easy and quick disassembly of the wall parts.

In Fig. l5 another form or embodiment of the foot shown in Fig. 14 is disclosed. In this embodiment the `foot body is generally designated 57a and like `theiioot shown in Fig. 14 and designated 57, it comprises an elongate lower or base part 58El having the upstanding rectangular block portion 60a at one end thereof.

The numeral 65a designates two lock pegs which are cast or molded as an integral part of the upstanding block portion 609- and are disposed in the same spaced parallel relation as the lock pegs 65 and adjacent to theirupper ends each is provided with the encircling groove 66 to receive the indented portion of a frame tube engaged thereover. With this type of foot and integral lock peg construction a permanent pen structure can be set up by placing the lower ends of the tubes 51 over the pegs and then indenting the tubes in the manner illust-rated. If the improved foot structure is to be used in setting up a. knock-down pen, the ends of the tubes may merely be placed over the pegs without indenting the tubes so that the latter can be removed from the pegs if and when required.

In addition to the setting up of an enclosed play pen structure by the use of the frame units disclosed, it is also contemplated to use such units and other arrangements` as, for example, to form a fence structure by connecting a multiplicity of the frames in either a straight line or4 some other arrangement than rectangular, or a number of the frames can be connected to form three or four sides of an enclosure or any other number of sides in association with a wall or similar structure.

I claim:

l. A play pen having a plurality of side walls, each of said side walls comprising a horizontal top rail and upright end rails, said walls being arranged wlth the end rails of each wall in juxtaposed relation with an end rail of an adjoining wall forming a corner of the pen, a foot member adjacent to each of said corners embodying a floor engaging part having its major portion extending and lying outwardly innermost part directly below the corner and at least two elongate elements carried in upright position by said innermost part, means disposed between the elongate elements and connecting the same to each other and to the lower ends of two juxtaposed end rails, said upright elements being spaced apart in a line extending transversely across the floor engaging portion whereby said major portion will at all times lie outside of the pen enclosed area.

2. The invention according to claim l, wherein each of said walls comprises at least two panels having opposed horizontal rail ends, and means disposed adjacent the rail ends and operatively and releasably connecting the same together. j

3. A play pen comprising a plurality of side walls arranged to define an enclosure of polygonal form, each said side wall comprising a panel frame having a top rail and vertical side rails, a vertical side rail of one frame being in juxtaposed relation with the vertical side rail of another frame to form a corner of the enclosure, a supporting foot at and below each corner embodying a oor engaging part having its major portion extending and lying outwardly from said corner and with its innermost part rising above the said major portion and positioned directly below said corner and at least two elongate elements carried in upright position by said innermost part, means disposed between the elongate elements and connecting the same to each other and to the lower ends of two juxtaposed end rails, said upright elefrom said corner with its` asumir ments being spaced apart in a line extending transversely across the floor engaging portion whereby said major portion will at all times lie outside of the pen enclosed area.

4. The invention according to claim 3, wherein said coupling means embodies elements in telescopic association with said side rails.

5. The invention according7 to claim 3, wherein said side rails are tubular at the lower ends thereof and said coupling means embodies elongate tubular continuations of the feet and each having an end inserted into the tubular lower end of a side rail.

6. A play pen comprising a plurality of side walls arranged to define an enclosure of polygonal form, each said side wall comprising a panel frame having a top rail and vertical side rails, each side rail being tubular and open at its lower end, said enclosure having corners each defined by two side rails in juxtaposed relation, a foot member at each of said corners, and coupling means between each foot and the lower ends of two juxtaposed side rails comprising pins each connected at one end with the foot and having its other end extended into the open end of a side rail.

7. The invention according to claim 6, wherein each foot comprises an elongate bottom part and an upstanding part having upwardly opening sockets, each of said sockets having said one end of a pin therein, and means securing the other end of each pin to the rail into which it extends.

8. A play pen comprising a plurality of side walls arranged to define an enclosure of polygonal form, each side wall comprising an inverted U-shaped panel frame comprising a horizontal top rail and upright side rails, said enclosure having corners dened each by two side rails in juxtaposed relation, a panel in each frame comprising a sheet of material having opposite side edge sleeves through each of which a side rail extends, means coupling a top part of the panel with the adjacent top rail, a supporting foot at each corner, and means securing the free lower end of each two juxtaposed side rails to a supporting foot.

9. A play pen having a plurality of sides, each of said sides comprising horizontal top and bottom rails and a vertical end rail formed of tubular material, the pen having corners each formed by the juxtaposed relation of two vertical end rails, the lower end of each end rail and the adjacent end of a bottom rail being continuous and connected by an arcuate portion of the tubular material, the outer convex side of said arcuate portion cut away through a part of the diameter of the tube whereby the lower end portion of the vertical rail is open, a foot member at each corner, and a pair of elongate elements carried by each foot member and extended into the open lower ends of two juxtaposed end rails and holding the latter together in assembled relation.

10. The invention according to claim 9, wherein each of said sides comprises at least two panels having top and bottom rail ends, the rail ends of one panel being in opposed relation with those of the adjacent panel, and means releasably coupling said opposing ends to join the panels in a complete side.

11. The invention according to claim 9, wherein each foot member and the said elongate elements are comprised in a continuous length of material, the foot member being in the form of a split annulus and the elongate elements each forming a continuation of an end of the split annulus and being arranged in relatively close parallel relation and substantially perpendicular to the plane of the annulus.

l2. The invention according to claim 9, with wall forming material mounted in the area defined by the top, bottom and end rails.

13. The invention according to claim l0, wherein the releasable coupling means comprises an elongate memd ber having one end fixed in one tubular rail end and extending therefrom for insertion into the opposing rail end, the extending portion of said .member being slotted, and said opposing rail end having a pin transversely therein for engagement in the said slotted portion.

lli. The invention according to claim 13, wherein said fixed end is fixed only against axial movement of the elongate member but permits limited rotational movement and the slot of said slotted portion having radially spaced lateral recesses at its inner end in which slots the pin is engaged upon said rotation of the member.

15. The invention according to claim 9, wherein each of said sides comprises two end panels and an intermediate panel, the end panels each comprising top and bottom rails and a connecting end rail, the intermediate panel comprising top and bottom rails and vertical posts connecting the latter, the ends of the top and bottom rails of the intermediate panel being opposed to ends of top and bottom rails of the end panels, and means releasably coupling the opposing rail ends together.

16. A barrier structure comprising a frame having a top rail and upright side rails, wherein the side rails are of tubular material having an open lower end portion, supporting feet for the frame, and means forming a telescopic coupling between the open lower end portion of each side rail and one side of a supporting foot whereby the supporting foot is located entirely outwardly of one side of the frame, said supporting feet being formed of tubular material formed as a split ring and said means includes closely positioned upright terminal extensions of the ends of the split ring each inserted into the said open lower end portion of a side rail.

17. A barrier structure comprising a frame having a top rail and upright side rails, wherein the side rails are of tubular material having an open lower end portion, supporting feet for the frame, and means forming a telescopic coupling between the open lower end portion of each side rail and one side of a supporting foot whereby the supporting foot is located entirely outwardly of one side of the frame, each of said feet comprising a body having a portion provided with an upwardly directed opening and said means comprises a peg having one end in said opening and having its other end extended into the said open lower end portion of a side rail.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,447,273 Patrick Aug. 17, 1948 2,517,386 Cooper Aug. 1, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 974.783 France Feb. 26, 1951

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