US3049728A

US3049728A - Collapsible crib

Info

Publication number: US3049728A
Application number: US819995A
Authority: US
Inventors: William E Lund
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1959-06-12
Filing date: 1959-06-12
Publication date: 1962-08-21
Anticipated expiration: 1979-08-21

Description

Aug. 21, 1962 w. E. LUND COLLAPSIBLE CRIB Filed June 12, 1959 Unite 9t 3,949,728 Patented Aug. 21, 1962 3,049,728 COLLAPSIBLE C William E. Lund, 1512 Dixon St, Apt. D, Glendale, Calif. 1 Filed June 12, 1959, Ser. No. 819,995 6 Claims. ((31. -99) This invention relates to a collapsible crib for children, and particularly to a means whereby the inclosure portion of the crib is inflatable to thus become a semi-rigid structure which will maintain its shape and contour to a considerable degree.

An object of my invention is to provide a novel collapsible crib in which the inclosure portion is formed of an inflatable structure, the inclosure being supported by a rigid frame which encircles the crib and supports the upper edge thereof.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel frame for a collapsible crib of the character stated, in which the parts are separable, permitting removal of the frame from the inclosure portion of the crib for purposes of storage and the like.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a novel collapsible crib in which both the frame and the inclosure portion of the crib can be folded into a compact form to permit storage in a relatively small space.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel collapsible crib, the inclosure portion of which is formed of compartmental sections which are inflated with air or other gas, and when so inflated these sections are compar atively rigid and will maintain their required shape and position.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawing, the subjoined detailed description and the appended claims.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective of the inclosure portion of the crib prior to erection to a position of use.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the frame in assembled position.

FIGURE 3 is a side view of one of the frame ends.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the separable bars.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the end frame members and a side bar attached thereto.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the inclosure portion 1 of the crib includes a rectangular floor section .2, which is formed into a plurality of compartments 3 formed by stitching or otherwise fastening the material of the floor section together to form the required air or gas compartments. The floor section 2 is inflated from a single valve 4 and air is thus admitted to all of the compartments 3 to complete the floor section 2 in its extended position in which it is used. A pair of end sections 5 and 6 are attached to each end respectively of the floor 2, and can be moved to a position at right-angles with the floor, as shown in FIG. 1. The ends 5 and 6 are also formed with air compartments 7 and 8, respectively, and each end section is inflated from a single valve 9 and 10, respectively. Thus the ends, when inflated, are also a somewhat rigid structure and will maintain their required shaped and position with the aid of a frame, as will be subsequently described. A pair of side sections 11 and 12 are attached to the sides of the floor 2, and these side sections can be swung upwardly at right-angles to the floor, as shown in FIG. 1. Separable fasteners 13 connect the side sections 1112 with the end sections 5 and 6 at each of the four corners, thus holding the sides of the crib in an erect position, but are separable so that the sides and ends can be placed in a horizontal plane when the crib is deflated and stored. The end section 5 is formed with a tubular sleeve 14 at its upper edge and the end section 6 is formed with a similar tube 15. The side section 11 is formed with a tubular sleeve 16 at its upper edge and the side 12 is formed with a similar sleeve 17. The purpose of these sleeves is to receive the supporting rods of the frame, as will be subsequently described.

A metallic or plastic frame 18 consists of end members 19 and 2%, each of which includes a pair of

vertical legs

21 and 22. These legs are positioned on the outside of the inclosure 1 and parallel to the separable fasteners 13 to provide a rigid support at each corner of the crib. The leg 21 is provided with a bar 23 adjacent its upper end and this bar is pivoted to the leg 21 by the pivot pin 24 extending through the plate 25 which is attached to the bar. A similar bar 26 is attached to the leg 22 in the same manner. The bars 2326 are releasably coupled by means of a latch pin 27 in one of the bars which eX- tends into a bayonet slot 28 in the other bar. The end frame structure for the opposite end of the crib is identically constructed to the end member just described. The bars 23 and 26 are inserted into the sleeve structure 14 or 15 and are latched together when the bars are so inserted, thus providing a rigid frame structure at each end of the crib and which adequately supports the end sections 5 and 6 at the upper edges of these end sections. Each of the

legs

21 and 22 are formed with a short socket 27 adjacent the upper end of the leg and extending in a direction parallel to the upper edges of the

sides

16 or 17. A side rail 28 is releasably secured to the socket 27' by means of the pin 29 which enters the bayonet slot 39 in the end of the rail 28. The rail 28 extends through the

sleeve

16 or 17, after which it is attached to the appropriate leg of the end frame, and thus the side sections are supported in a vertical position and a rigid support is provided at the upper edge of the side sections to prevent collapse of the sides of the crib when weight is applied thereto. it will thus be evident that the crib is held in its erected or in use position by means of a rigid frame which is assembled around the inclosure portion of the crib, and furthermore, the inclosure tends to remain in an erect or assembled position due to the rigidity imparted to the bottom and ends of the crib by the inflated tubes formed in these sections. If desired the side sections 11 and 12 may also be tubular in structure and may be inflated if it is found necessary.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A collapsible crib comprising an inclosure portion including a floor section, said floor section having air receiving compartments therein, a pair of end sections, one of the edges of the end sections being attached to each end of the floor section, a pair of side sections, one edge of each side section being attached to one side of the floor section, separable fasteners coupling the adjacent edges of said end and side sections, and a rigid frame means attached to each of said end sections, said rigid frame means comprising a pair of vertical legs, a bar on each leg, and means releasably connecting the bars toxgether.

2. A collapsible crib comprising an inclosure portion including a floor section, said floor section having air receiving compartments therein, a pair of end sections, one of the edges of the end sections being attached to each end of said floor section, each of the end sections having air receiving compartments therein, a pair of side sections, one edge of each side section being attached to one side of the floor section, separable fasteners coupling the adjacent edges of said end and side sections, and a rigid frame means removably attached to each of said end sections, said rigid frame means comprising a pair of vertical legs, a bar on each leg, and means releasably connecting the bars together.

3. A collapsible crib comprising an inclosure portion including a 'tioor section, said floor section having air receiving compartments therein, a pair of end sections, one of the edges of the end sections being attached to each end of the floor section, a pair of side sections, one edge of each side section being attached to one side of the floor section, separable fasteners coupling the adjacent edges of said end and side sections, and a rigid frame means attached to each of said end sections, said rigid frame means comprising a pair of vertical legs, a bar on each leg, and means releasably connecting the bars together, a horizontal rail, means securing said rail to the upper edge of each of said side sections, and means detachably securing said rails to both of said rigid frame means.

4. A collapsible crib comprising an inclosure portion inciiuding a floor section, said floor section having air receiving compartments therein, a pair of end sections, one of the edges of the end sections being attached to each end of said floor section, each of the end sections having air receiving compartments therein, a pair of side sections, one edge of each side section being attached to one side of the floor section, separable fasteners coupling the adjacent edges of said end and side sections, and a rigid frame means removably attached to each of said end sections, said rigid frame means comprising a pair of vertical legs, a bar on each leg, and means releasably connecting the bars together, a horizontal rail, means securing said rail to the upper edge of each of said side sections, and means detachably securing said rails to both of said rigid frame means.

5. A collapsible crib comprising an inclosure portion including a floor section, said floor section having air receiving compartments therein, a pair of end sections, one of the edges of the end sections being attached to each end of the floor section, a pair of side sections, one edge of each side section being attached to one side of the floor section, separable fasteners coupling the adjacent edges of said end and side sections, and a rigid frame means attached to each of said end sections, said rigid frame means comprising a pair of vertical legs, a bar on each leg, and means releasably connecting the bars to gether, a tubular sleeve formed at the upper ends of each of said end sections, said bars extending through the tubular sleeves to support said end sections.

6. A collapsible crib comprising an inclosure portion including a dioor section, said floor section having air receiving compartments therein, a pair of end sections, one of the edges of the end sections being attached to each end of the floor section, a pair of side sections, one edge of each side section being attached to one side of the floor section, separable fasteners coupling the adjacent edges of said end and side sections, and a rigid frame means attached to each of said end sections, said rigid frame means comprising a pair of vertical legs, a bar on each leg, and means releasably connecting the bars together, a horizontal rail, means securing said rail to the upper edges of each of said side sections, and means detachably securing said rails to both of said rigid frame means, a tubular sleeve formed at the upper ends of each of said end sections, said bars extending through the tubular sleeves to support said end sections, and a tubular sleeve on the upper edge of each of the side sections, said rails extending through the last named tubular sleeves to support the side sections.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,412,177 Glaum Apr. 11, 1922 2,119,387 Harvey May 31, 1938 2,128,978 Akin Sept. 6, 1938 2,429,350 Farrand Oct. 21, 1947 2,505,845 Alvarez May 2, 1950 2,601,111 Foster June 17, 1952 2,617,999 Mitchell Nov. 18, 1452 2,784,420 Moltane Mar. 12, 1957 2,908,020 Barton Oct. 13, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 933,292 Germany Sept. 22, 1955 OTHER REFERENCES Science and Mechanics (magazine), p. 52, August 1955. Item: Inflatable Baby Crib, lower right corner of page.