US3402409A

US3402409A - Child guard

Info

Publication number: US3402409A
Application number: US597071A
Authority: US
Inventors: Arthur F Kain
Original assignee: Arthur F. Kain
Current assignee: ARTHUR F KAIN
Priority date: 1966-11-25
Filing date: 1966-11-25
Publication date: 1968-09-24
Anticipated expiration: 1985-09-24

Description

Sept. 24, 1968 A, F. KAIN CHILD GUARD Filed Nov. 25, 1966 United States Patent Oifice A 3,402,409 Patented Sept. 24, 1968 3,402,409 CHILD GUARD Arthur F. Kain, 1927 Seminole Trail,

Lakeland, Fla. 3380.3 Filed Nov. 25, 1966, Ser. No. 597,071 1 Claim. (Cl. --331) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A guard formed from a pair of thin, rigid panels. One panel has aligned slots along one edge. This panel is inserted horizontally between the mattress and the box spring member of a bed. The other panel is arranged upright at the side edge of the mattress and has integral prongs extending from its lower edge for insertion into the slots of the horizontal panel.

The present invention relates to guard devices designed to prevent small children frorn falling oif beds or elengated seats While sleeping thereon. The invention is particularly advantageous when used With a bed having a side pushed against a wall when it is desired to use the bed for a young child who objects to sleeping in a crib.

An important object of the invention is to provide a simple, economical and easily constructed guard device designed for instant use With beds or seats of the type having removable mattresses or cushions, or for use in instances, such as traveling by automobile, when a separate mattress or cushion may be placed upon the auto seat.

A further object is to provide an efficient child guard which may readily be produced entirely from plywood, pressed board or plastic panels, without the necessity of including metallic or other types of components which might have projections which could cause injury to persons, or which mght snag fabrics or mar the finish of furniture.

A stili further object of the invention is to provide a guard which may be formed from two completely flat panels, free from projections, thus enabling the panels to be eflectively transported by positioning them flatwise in a very narrow space Within the trunk of a car or in a carrying case.

Additional and more specific objects and advantages of the present invention Will become apparent as the descripton proceeds.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view sh0wing the assernb1ed child guard in place upon a bed;

FIGURE 2 s a perspective view showing the guard panels stored flat beneath 9. bed mattress;

FIGURES 3 and 4 are perspective views showing, respectively, the vertical panel and the horizontal panel, and indicating their positions just prior to assembly.

The guard device, as herein illustrated, comprises a panel member 1, designed to be supported in upright position, and a panel member 2, which supports the member 1 and is intended to be held in horizontal position beneath a rriattress 3, forming part of a bed, indicated as a whole at 4. The bed illustrated comprises a base portion S, such as box springs, having a generally vertical side face 6.

Means are provided for securing the panels together and, for this purpose, panel 1 is preferably provided with one or more prong elements, indicated at 7, 7, which may conveniently be formed as integra] projections on the edge of the panel 1. The panel 2 is formed near one edge with slots S, 8 to receive the

prongs

7, 7.

When it is desired to assemble the guard device With a bed, the panel 2 is inserted between the mattress 3 and the box spring portion 5 of the bed to lie flatwise under such mattress, and so that the slots 8 are Ieft exposed at the edge of the mattress. The prongs 7 of panel 1 are then 1nserted into the slots 8. The panel 2 is then preferably pushed inward slightly to bring the prongs up Snugly against the side face 6 of the box spring portion 5 and to bring the surface of panel 1 which is above the panel 2 snugly against the edge of the mat'tress, thus serving to retain the panel 1 in a relatively firm, upright position. Any outward pressure applied against the panel l, such as would be caused by a child rolling against it and tending to forse the panel to swing outwardly, is resisted by the movement of the prongs 7 against the face 6 of the box spring portion. That is, the prongs 7 tend to swing inwardly against the face 6 when the main part of panel 1 is forced outwardly.

The panel members may be forrned of any suitable material such, for example, as relatively thin, rigid plywood. A11 outside and inside corners are preferably rounded on relatively gentle curves and the edges are also rounded and smoothed t0 eliminate sharp comers or edges which mght result in injury to persons or cause damage to fabrics.

The slots 8 are preferably made somewhat longer than the corresponding dimension of the prongs so that the wide, upper portions of the prongs where they join With the main part of the panel Will completely enter the slots. Thus the straight edge portions of the panel 1 between the prongs will preferably rest upon the surface of panel 2 when the panels are assembled. Accorc'lngly, if the main portion of the prong is four inches Wide, the slot may be made about six inches long, depending upon the radius on which the curves at the base of the prong are made.

It is to be understood that the pane1s heren contemplated are not necessarily of solid, unbroken construction Withn their outer contours. The panels, for example, could be in the form of frames Within which a plurality of spaced bars or rails are formed or secured.

If it is desired to assemble the guard device upon an auto seat not equpped With a displaceable cushion, it is appareut that a small mattress or the like may be used to rest upon the horizontal panel.

By making the connecting means for the panels in the form of prongs and slots it is apparent that the panels, when dsassernbled, may be placed completely flatwise, one against the other and thus Will require only a very narrow storage space when not in use. As shown in FIG- URE 2, the

panels

1 and 2 may be placed one upon the other and temporarily stored between the mattress and box spring portion.

Even though the slots may be made of greater width than the thiekness of the prongs, the panels, when assembled With the mattress and springs of a bed, as shown, can be held in relatively tight fitting relation by forcing the horizontal panel 2 firrnly in between the mattress and springs until the vertical panel snugly contacts the mattress and the prongs contact the side face of the boxsprings.

It is apparent from the foregoing that the guard device of the present invention is well suited for the use intended and, although formed of relatively low cost material, such as plywood, may be quickly and easily fabricated without the use of special tools and Without requiring any great degree of precision in production. Since no metallic or other components are needed, there Will be no projecting sharp or rough edges on the panels and the danger of injury to persons or damage to surfaee finish or fabrics is eliminated.

While the present descripton sets forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, various changes may be made in the device as disclosed without departing from the spirit of the inventicn, and it is therefor desired that the present embodiment be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claim rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the inventon.

I claim:

1. A guard device for use on a bed, or the like, of the type having a removable mattress, such bed including a base portion on which a mattress may be supported, the guard device comprising, in combination, two relatively rigid panels formed of thin, smooth sheet material of uniform thickness, one panel being adapted to slip horizontally between the mattress and base portion of a bed to leave a narrow edge porton projecting outwardly, the other pane] being designed to be disposed uprght along the edge of the mattress, the upright panel having integral prongs arranged to project downward at its lower edge, and the horizontal panel being formed near its outer edge With slots to receive the downwardly projecting prongs on the upright panel, the lower flat face portions of the prongs being adapted to contact flatwise References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,361,010 12/1920 Bruschi 297-439 XR 2,546,812 3 1951 Anderson 297-442 XR 2,556,913 6/1951 Gilbert 5 -330 2,611,909 9/1952 Dillon et al. 5 -331 2,666,217 1/1954 Stuart 5-331 BOBBY R. GAY, Prmary Examner.

RAYMOND D. KRAUS, Assistant Examiner.