US3777321A

US3777321A - Portable collapsible playpen

Info

Publication number: US3777321A
Application number: US00227840A
Authority: US
Inventors: L Hargett
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-02-22
Filing date: 1972-02-22
Publication date: 1973-12-11
Anticipated expiration: 1990-12-11

Abstract

A playpen which in a preferred embodiment is inclusive of a bottom cushion as a part of each of upwardly foldable floor segments pivotable from adjacent fence elements attached in series to other consecutive similar sections with the last section being joinable with the first section of the series and with the upwardly foldable floor segments when downwardly mounted being joinable with adjacent other floor sections preventable of upward movement of any one or more of the floor sections when in a closed-fence state, the playpen being collapsibly foldable in an accordion-like fashion resulting from intermediate hinge elements between alternate ones of the several sections of the series.

Description

[ Dec. 11, 1973 Hargett PORTABLE COLLAPSIBLE PLAYPEN Primary Examiner-James C. Mitchell [76] Inventor: Lawrence W. Hargett, 17 Oak Ave., Atmmey wmlam Bough et Tenafly, NJ. 07670 [22] Filed: Feb. 22, 1972 ABSTRACT [21] App]. No.: 227,840 A playpen which in a preferred embodiment is inclusive of a bottom cushion as a part of each of upwardly foldable floor segments pivotable from adjacent fence [2%] 559990?) elements attach6d in Series to other consecutive Simi i 99 lar sections with the last section being joinable with l 1 care the first section of the series and with the upwardly foldable floor segments when downwardly mounted being joinable with adjacent other floor sections pre- [56] References Clted ventable of upward movement of any one or more of UNITED STATES PATENTS the floor sections when in a closed-fence state, the 2,629,110 2/1953 Fournier 5/99 C playpen being collapsibly foldable in an accordion-like 2,766,464 /1956 fl R fashion resulting from intermediate hinge elements be- 2,s25,071 3/1958 Landry et al 5/99 R tween alternate ones f the Several Sections f the ries.

9 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures I200 9 0 IO d I IOc i l2 0 0 0 IOb lOf 8 Q I T |3b 4 e- J f j 9 9b v 9f I20 a e g 1 i q A |2c I a l2b 9 PATENTED DEC 1 I I975 SHEET 2 [IF 2 FIG.7B

, 1 PORTABLE COLLAPSIBLE PLAYPEN This invention relates to a portable collapsible table playpens of a collapsible type typically such as illustrated and disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,490,296, and U.S. Pat. No. 2,629,110, and U.S. Pat. No. 2,489,188, for example, all of which require a separate pad, and which are all plagued with various problems such as the separate one or more pads being easily lifted or rumpled by the child playing thereon, and/or of one or more of the sections being separately liftable and/or erroneously depressible because of the weight of the child, and/or insufficient securing connections between adjacent floor sections as to avoid unstable, shaky pen structure and/or requiring a plurality of separate transportable parts such as the pen being transportable separate from the cushion( s) and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to obtain a portable collapsible playpen which overcomes one or more of the problems and/or difficulties discussed above.

Another object is to obtain a portable collapsible playpen unitary in the assembled combination such that it readily provides a single collapsible unit of compact collapsed-nature.

Another object is to obtain a portable collapsible v playpen of a normal structure.

Other objects become apparent from the preceding and following disclosure.

One or more of the preceding objects are obtained by the invention as described and typically illustrated by the following disclosure.

Broadly the invention includes a unit in which the pad is an integral part of the assembled combination such that a separate pad is not required to prevent a child's foot from accidentally'becoming wedged or the hand or fingers pinched between adjacent foldable sections of the floor area. The structure and support is provided between the several downwardly folding pieshaped triangular sections such that in a preferred embodiment each of the sections interlocks with adjacent sections in the downwardly folded positions as the series of consecutive separate floor sections are brought together and the ends of the end sections of the series are attached to unify the playpen into a playpen-shape. By virtue of the pad structure being included as an intimate part of the folding sections of the playpen, in the folding of the playpen in an accordion like manner, additional space between the spacing structure or element need be located only at every other hinge position between consecutive sections of the series. In a preferred embodiment of the invention a rigid floor member on which the cushion of each respective section is mounted or mountable, is with the cushion on top thereof enclosed within an envelope-like casing which may be either permanently fixedly attached to each section enclosing the rigid member and the cushion or may be movably tied such as with strings onto each section and removable for cleaning, repair, or the like. In the embodiments including the enclosing envelope, it is not essential although it is preferred that the cushion be fixedly mounted such as by gluing or other suitable means on the upper surface of the typically triangular shaped pie section which is upwardly foldable. In embodiments not including the additional enclosing envelope casing, the plastic may have a surface finish such as to eliminate the need of a separate cover andthe plastic may be itself independently secured to the rigid floor member. Any suitable and/or conventional plastic or other fabric may be utilized as the encasing'envelope. Similarly, the cushion member may be of any suitable elastic-like member which may or may not include springs, but in a preferred embodiment is an elastomer material such as preferably urethane foam of some type as might be conventional and/or desired. The rigid floor member which is preferably by hinges each attached for pivotable upward swinging movement is of any rigid composition normally in a flat sheet-like shape such as for example cellulosic fiber-board or of any suitable plastic as may be desired and/or conventional. The upright fence elements of each of the sections of the series may be either constructed in a conventional playpen-fence arrangement or may be solid plastic preferably of a transparent nature and also preferably including tinting so as to provide some degree of the shade when sitting in the out of doors. The plastic member in sheet form may or may not be perforated to provide some ventilation as might be desired. It is equally a part of the present invention to include optionally overhead flap members which will fold upwardly in order to provide a degree of shade and may be transparent and preferably when attached to one another are substantially a watershed.

The series of consecutive sections may be a single series or may be a plurality of separate series interconnectable and preferably include an easy attaching means which provides secure attachment of the matching opposite end of the series of consecutive separate sections.

THE FIGURES FIG. 1 illustrates typically a perspective side overhead view of a playpen embodiment of the present invention in the assembled state.

FIG. 1A illustrates the area circumscribed by line A of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 illustrates a typical playpen such as that of FIG. 1 in a partially dissassembled or unfolded state, shown in overhead perspective view.

FIG. 3 illustrates an in-part side perspective view of a single section, illustrating the arrangement of the hinges with the floor rigid member, together with illustrating a solid side-fence panel.

FIG. 4 illustrates an elevation plan in-part view of a floor section of a playpen of the present invention in an gasembled state.

- FIG. 5 illustrates an in-part view as taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 4 of the floor section.

FIG. 6 illustrates an elevation plan view of a typical embodiment of the present invention such as that of FIG. 1 in a collpased portable state.

FIG. 7A through FIG. 7E illustrates in elevation plan view diagrammatically different alternative embodiments of the invention having different shapes but embodying the inventive structure and combination of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1 illustrates a playpen 8. The playpen 8 is divided into a series of

consecutive units

9a, 9b, 9c, 9d,

9e, and 9f with 9a section and 9f section at their respective ends of the series being joined together by

latching means

9g and 9g. Disclosed in this figure for each unit is typically the fencing element 10d and the V-shaped floor cushion 11d. Fencing element 10a is in this particular embodiment connected to an intermediate fence element 12a by

hinge

12b and 12b while the fencing element 10b is attached by

hinges

12c and 12c. At the next junction, i.e. the junction of the

fence element

10b and 100 there is not required an intermediate section but is merely located a hinge 13a and 13b (not viewable). In every other hinge site, i.e. occurring alternately, is an intermediate element such as element l2aa and element l2aaa.

FIG. 1A illustrates the area circumscribed by line A of FIG. 1. Illustrated in greater detail is a hinge female member 15 having a base 16 mounted on the fence 10f and secured by the male pivoted element 17 inserted and wedgingly secured on the member 15 through the aperture 18 thereof. The male suitable member 17 is mounted on the fence 100.

FIG. 2 illustrates typically a view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in a partially opened condition with the corresponding portions numbered as in FIG. 1. Additionally illustrated are the lateral extending male inserts such as overlapping member 1% and 19d and 19e. Also illustrated are the receptacles 20a, and 200. The lateral flange of the unit 9a is not viewable because it is in the inserted insert recess also not viewable of the unit 9b. Similarly, the lateral flange of 9c is not viewable as inserted in the recess of the unit 9d. The cushion lle is viewable from an underside as presently turned upwardly which is the position in which all the V-shaped cushions are turned immediately prior to the collapsing in shape of the playpen in an accordion-like manner.

FIG. 4 illustrates in elevation plan view an in-part view diagrammatically of a playpen such as that of the embodiment of FIG. 1. In particular there is illustrated in phantom the respective positions of the lateral inserts of the particular'cushion sections relative to the adjacent sections insert-receivable recess whereby the cushion sections become interlocked with one another offering support to each other and also preventing the raising of any one or more ofthe sections prior to the opening of the playpen in a manner such as illustrated in FIG. 2. Each of FIGS. 3 and 4 typically illustrate the position of the cushion hinges such as hinges 21a and 21b, and the hinges 2laa and 21bb respectively.

Taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 4 is a view illustrated as an in-part view in cross section in FIG. 5 disclosing a preferred embodiment in which an upper cushion of a section such as cushion 11d and a cushion 12d are respectively mounted on a rigid

triangular sheet

22d and 23d, respectively attached to one another by an

intermediate glue layer

24d and 25d. The rigid member 22d and the cushion 11d are encased within a plastic envelope having upper face 26d and lower face 26d, while the adjacent rigid element 23d and cushion 12d are encased within a plastic enclosure having upper face 27d and lower face 27d, with the transverse member 19d extending through an aperture in the edge 26dd of the plastic envelope 26 through an aperture in the side 27dd of the plastic envelope 27 into the recess of the section 9d composed of the cushion 12d and the rigid member 23d and the plastic envelope 27.

FIG. 6 illustrates in elevation plan view a collapsed view in the portable state of the embodiment of FIG. 1, suitably labeled.

FIGS. 7A through 7E illustrate diagrammatically elevation plan views of differently shaped playpens of the present invention. In particular, FIG. 7A illustrates a triangular configuration, FIG. 7B illustrates a square configuration, FIG. 7C illustrates a five-sided embodiment, FIG. 7D illustrates a six-sided embodiment such as that of FIG. 1, and FIG. 7B illustrates a round embodiment having eight triangular pad sections pivotably mounted for upward pivotable movement. On each of the illustrated embodiments of FIGS. 7A through 7E, typical locations of the intermediate hinges and/or the intermediate hinge comer section are illustrated.

It should be understood that wherever the hinged corner element is illustrated, in a variation thereof there may be no hinged corner element and merely a regular comer hinge, the full requirement being that at least every other joining of the units of the series include an intermediate section providing a spacing sufficient for the upturned cushions when the playpen is collapsed into the accordion arrangement. Although not illustrated, there may be any suitable type of belt or latch for securing the two or more sections respectively to one another in the collapsed state, thereby facilitating the portable nature thereof.

It is apparent from the preceding disclosure that the playpen of the present invention is especially suitable for picnics and the like, being especially portable in automobiles, airplanes, or even on backpacks for example.

It is within the scope of the present invention and within the spirit thereof to use obvious alternative elements and substances and equivalents thereof as would be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in this particular field of endeavor.

I claim:

1. A portable collapsable play-pen comprising in combination: a series of a plurality of at least three separate serially-interconnected play-pen means each including a substantially upright fence element having a base and having a top of predetermined height sufficient to serve as a restraining barrier to a child, each playpen means further including a substantially triangularly-shaped pad means having a base side and two intersecting other sides and having a substantially flat upper surface, and at least one hinge element mounted pivotably connecting each base side with one of said playpen means base such that said pad means is pivotable upwardly to a position in a plane substantially parallel with said upright fence element, said pad means including a substantially rigid support member of substantially triangular shape and a cushion element fixedly mounted on said upper supporting face, attaching means for detachably joining each of a first and a last play-pen means and hinge means laterally pivotably interconnecting adjacent ones of said series such that fences of said series are foldable on one another in an accordion-like state, said hinge means including a spacing structure mounted alternately between every otheroccurring ones of said upright fence elements including a hinge element on each of opposite lateral edges connected pivotably to the respective opposing consecutive sides.

2. The portable playpen of claim 1, in which each spacing-structure defines a flange extending angularly from juxtaposed fence elements and includes a separate hinge element on each laterally spaced-apart ends of the flange with one flange hinge element connected to one end of one of the juxtaposed fence elements and with 'the other flange-mounted hinge element connected to one end of the other juxtaposed fence element, each of the respectively flange-mounted hinge elements being mounted pivotably closable inwardly foldable of the juxtaposed fence elements inwardly toward oneanother, and remaining hinge means including an additional hinge element, one additional hinge element being between a remaining end of one of the juxtaposed fence elements and a next-occurring fence element of said series of play-pen means, the combination of flange and hinge element mounted thereon alternating with the additional hinge element in said series, and said each additional hinge element of said remaining hinge means being mounted pivotably openable outwardly foldable of serieally-connected fence elements connected thereby, such that alternate fence elements of said series fold inwardly and remaining alternate fence elements of said series fold outwardly, and such that for the spaced-apart fence elements spaced-apart by the flange there is provided space into which each of the pads of the respectively spaced-apart fence elements are compactly foldable upwardly between the inwardly folded spaced-apart fence elements before folding inwardly the space-apart fence elements.

3. The playpen of claim 2, in which said pad means further includes at least one lateral extension from one of said other intersecting sides and the remaining one of said other intersecting sides having a recessed structure receivable of one of said lateral extensions from another one of said pad means.

4. The playpen of claim 3, including a plurality of substantially flexible casings, each casing substantially enclosing one of said pad means.

5. The portable playpen of claim 4, in which said intermediate elements includes a substantially upright fence element.

6. The portable playpen of claim 1, including a plurality of substantially flexible casings, each casing substantially enclosing one of said pad means.

7. The portable playpen of claim 1, in which said intermediate elements includes a substantially upright fence element.

8. The portable playpen of claim 6, in which said flexible casing is a plastic slip cover.

9. The portable playpen of claim 1, in which said cushion element comprises a urethane foam and in which said rigid support member comprises a cellulosic fiber-board member.

Claims

1. A portable collapsable play-pen comprising in combination: a series of a plurality of at least three separate seriallyinterconnected play-pen means each including a substantially upright fence element having a base and having a top of predetermined height sufficient to serve as a restraining barrier to a child, each playpen means further including a substantially triangularly-shaped pad means having a base side and two intersecting other sides and having a substantially flat upper surface, and at least one hinge element mounted pivotably connecting each base side with one of said playpen means base such that said pad means is pivotable upwardly to a position in a plane substantially parallel with said upright fence element, said pad means including a substantially rigid support member of substantially triangular shape and a cushion element fixedly mounted on said upper supporting face, attaching means for detachably joining each of a first and a last play-pen means and hinge means laterally pivotably interconnecting adjacent ones of said series such that fences of said series are foldable on one another in an accordion-like state, said hinge means including a spacing structure mounted alternately between every otheroccurring ones of said upright fence elements including a hinge element on each of opposite lateral edges connected pivotably to the respective opposing consecutive sides.

2. The portable playpen of claim 1, in which each spacing-structure defines a flange extending angularly from juxtaposed fence elements and includes a separate hinge element on each laterally spaced-apart ends of the flange with one flange hinge element connected to one end of one of the juxtaposed fence elements and with the other flange-mounted hinge element connected to one end of the other juxtaposed fence element, each of the respectively flange-mounted hinge elements being mounted pivotably closable inwardly foldable of the juxtaposed fence elements inwardly toward oneanother, and remaining hinge means including an additional hinge element, one additional hinge element being between a remaining end of one of the juxtaposed fence elements and a next-occurring fence element of said series of play-pen means, the combination of flange and hinge element mounted thereon alternating with the additional hinge element in said series, and said each additional hinge element of said remaining hinge means being mounted pivotably openable outwardly foldable of serieally-connected fence elements connected thereby, such that alternate fence elements of said series fold inwardly And remaining alternate fence elements of said series fold outwardly, and such that for the spaced-apart fence elements spaced-apart by the flange there is provided space into which each of the pads of the respectively spaced-apart fence elements are compactly foldable upwardly between the inwardly folded spaced-apart fence elements before folding inwardly the space-apart fence elements.