US3789439A

US3789439A - Foldable and adjustable crib

Info

Publication number: US3789439A
Application number: US00301287A
Authority: US
Inventors: D Berg; H Groth
Original assignee: Cross River Products Inc
Current assignee: Cross River Products Inc
Priority date: 1972-10-27
Filing date: 1972-10-27
Publication date: 1974-02-05
Anticipated expiration: 1991-02-05
Also published as: FR2204964A5; DE2352681A1; JPS4994467A

Abstract

There is disclosed a crib which can be folded into a highly compact form, and which can be converted for use as a playpen or a dressing table with a minimum of effort. The unit includes four legs each of which is pivoted at its upper end to a side of a foldable rim, and each of which has a link which connects another point on the same side of the rim to an intermediate point on the leg. Between those pivot points on the leg connected between the rim and the link there is provided a hinge joint which permits the two sections of each leg to be rotated 180* relative to each other. At a point further below the link pivot on each leg, there is provided another link which connects the leg to the side of a floorboard section. The four lower links permit the floorboard to be switched between two distinct positions with a minimum of effort.

Description

United States Patent [191 Berg et a1.

[ Feb. 5, 1974 1 i FOLDABLE AND ADJUSTABLE CRIB [75] Inventors: Donald P. Berg, Shaker Heights;

Hugh F. Groth, Brecksville, both of Ohio [73] Assignee: Cross-River Products, Inc.,

Croton-on-Hudson, NY.

[22] Filed: Oct. 27, 1972 21 Appl. No; 301,287

[52] US. Cl. 5/99 C, 5/98 R, 5/93 B [51] Int. Cl. A47c 27/08 [58] Field of Search.. 5/11, 93 R, 98 A, 99 R, 99 B, 5/99 C [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,187,352 6/1965 Gottlieb 5/99 R 3,195,152 7/1965 Gottlieb 5/99 R 3,309,718 3/1967 Sarasin 5/98 R 3,309,719 3/1967 Bader et a1 5/93 R Primary Examiner-Casmir A. Nunberg Attorney, Agent, or Firm--Gottlieb, Rackman, Reisman & Kirsch [5 7 ABSTRACT There is disclosed a crib which can be folded into a highly compact form, and which can be convertedfor use as a playpen or a dressing table with a minimum of effort. The unit includes four legs each of which is pivoted at its upper end to a side of a foldable rim, and each of which has a link which connects another point on the same side of the rim to an intermediate point on the leg. Between those pivot points on the leg connected between the rim and the link there is provided a hinge joint which permits the two sections of each leg to be rotated 180 relative to each other. At a point further below the link pivot on each leg, there is provided another link which connects the leg to the side of a floorboard section. The four lower links permit the floorboard to be switched between two distinct positions with a minimum of effort.

25 Claims, 17 Drawing Figures PATENIEBrca 5 m4 SHEET 2 0F 5 PAIENIEHFEB 5x914 SHEU 5 0F 5 FIG. /7

1 FOLDABLE AND ADJUSTABLE CRIB This invention relates to cribs, and more particularly to foldable cribs and cribs which can be converted to playpens and dressing tables.

Many types of foldable and/or adjustable cribs have been designed and marketed in the past. However, such cribs have exhibited little flexibility in use (at least without considerable effort to adjust them) and have been incapable of compact folding. There has long been a need for an easily portable crib which is highly compact in its folded condition. Such a foldable crib would have widespread commercial appeal if it could further function as a playpen and as a dressing table with very little effort being required to convert the single unit from one form of infant structure to another.

It is a general object of our invention to provide a foldable crib which is highly transportable and compact in its folded condition, and which can further be converted with a minimum of effort to a playpen or a dressing table.

It is a further object of our invention to provide a crib which permits easy access to an infant in it, even when the floorboard is in its lowest possible position relative to the upper rim of the unit.

In accordance with the principles of our invention, we provide a pair of conventional U-shaped rim frame members disposed in a horizontal plane at the top of the crib when it is in its open condition. A pair of double-hinged connecting elements couple the two frame members to each other so that when the unit is open a rectangular rim is disposed at the top of it. The connecting elements permit the frame members to be rotated downward until they are both vertical and essentially parallel. As will be described, the other structural elements of the folded crib are contained within the confines of the vertical frame members and thus the overall width of the folded crib is approximately equal to the length of each of the two connecting elements, which in a typical case is no more than a few inches.

Prior art cribs have been provided with telescoping legs in order to adjust the crib levels. Although each telescoping leg can be reduced in length when use of the crib is no longer required, the length of the leg cannot be reduced to a length less than that of the shortest telescoping section. The length of the shortest section is generally greater than the length of a side of the U- shaped rim frame members. Thus, when the crib is folded, the height of the unit is usually considerably greater than the length of one of the rim sides. In the crib of our invention, the outer section of each telescoping leg is provided with a hinge joint capable of approximately 180 degrees of rotation. When the crib is folded and the two U-shaped rim members extend downward, the legs of the unit extend only slightly past the rim ends at the bottom of the unit. This contributes to a much reduced height for the folded unit.

A pair of legs is associated with each of the U-shaped rim frame members. The upper end of each leg is pivoted to a respective side of the associated frame mem-- ber. A link is associated with each leg. One end of the link is pivoted to the leg at a point below the respective hinge joint and the other end of the link is pivoted to the respective side of the frame member. When any leg is in its open position, it extends downward from the respective frame member and outward from the central rim frame connecting elements.

Further down along each leg, below the connection point to the respective link, there is provided another link, one end of which is pivotally fixed to the leg. The other end is pivotally fixed to a side of one of two floorboard sections. Each floorboard section is thus pivotally connected at its sides to two links which depend from a respective pair of legs, and a hinge is extended along the facing edges of the floorboard sections to secure them to each other. Intermediate the ends of each depending link there is provided an angular flex-lock which can be snap-fitted onto the respective leg at two different positions. In one position, the depending link extends downward from its pivot point on the leg and is fixed to the leg by one end of the flex-lock. In the other position, the link extends upward from its pivot point on the leg and is secured to the leg by the other end of the flex-lock. Thus, in one position the ends of the depending links which are connected to the sides of the floorboards are below the pivot points on the respective legs and in the other condition they are above them. This permits the floorboard to be maintained in one of two different positions below the upper rim. The height of the floorboard below the upper rim can be changed simply by raising or lowering the ends of the floorboard and snap-fitting ends of the flex-locks onto the legs.

The hinge joints are designed such that they can be released in order to fold the legs simply by depressing buttons on them provided for this purpose; the legs can be locked into their open extended positions simply by rotating each leg section around its respective hinge joint until the two sections snap into place automatically. In order to open the crib from its initial collapsed condition, all that is required is to lift the end of each of the rim frame members. As will be described below, by so doing all elements fall into place and the crib can be set up in a matter of only a few seconds.

The height of the unit can be adjusted by appropriately setting the telescoping legs. When the legs are made short and the floorboard is at its lowermost position relative to the upper rim, the unit has the appearance of a playpen. When the legs are extended, the unit has the appearance of a crib. Finally, if the floorboard is then raised relative to the upper rim (which operation can also be accomplished in a matter of a few seconds), the unit can function as a dressing table inasmuch as the height of the floorboard above the floor is comparable to the height of a conventional infant dressing table.

In order to fold the crib structure, what is first required is to release the four hinge joints. Each rim frame member falls down so that it slopes downward from the center of the crib with the two sections of each leg automatically rotating relative to each other around the respective hinge joint so that they are adjacent and parallel to each other. After both rim frame members have been released in this manner, the two facing edges of the floorboard sections are gripped (holes are provided for this purpose) and pulled upward. The unit automatically assumes its folded position in which the two rim frame members extend downward and are parallel to each other, with the other structural elements of the unit being disposed substantially within their confines.

An added advantage of the construction is that if only the two hinge joints on one side of the crib are released, then the respective rim frame member falls down (sloping downward from the center of the crib) without any elements collapsing on an infant in the crib. In such a case, the floorboard remains substantially straight (although a slight incline is exhibited). For all intents and purposes, one end of the crib is collapsed and an infant can be lifted from the unit endwise of it rather than vertically as is the case in conventional structures of this type. This feature is particularly advantageous when the unit is used as a playpen and the floorboard is close to the floor.

In the folded condition, the floorboard sections are substantially vertical and parallel with each other. The overall width of the folded unit is approximately equal to the lengths of the two center connecting elements, and these elements are made just long enough to permit insertion of a folded mattress adjacent to one of the floorboard sections. Thus the mattress can actually be carried within the folded unit and need not be carried separately.

Further objects, features and advantages of our invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the crib of our invention in its open condition and with its leg sections telescoped inward so that the unit functions as a play pen;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view through the line 33 of FIG. 2 and is designed to illustrate the component elements of each of the four legs;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are perspective views of the hinge joint which is included in each leg;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the hinge joint taken through the line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 depicts the operation of the hinge joint when the crib is being folded;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the depending link mechanism which is secured to each leg for controlling the height of the floorboard sections relative to the upper rim of the crib;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view through line 9-9 of FIG. 17 and further depicts the interior of each leg and illustrates one of the two cross-struts which may be provided for stability purposes;

FIGv 10 is a sectional view through the line l0l0 of FIG. 1 and illustrates the construction of the two central connector elements;

FIG. I1 is a sectional view through the line llll of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view through the line 12l2 of FIG. 16 and illustrates a mechanism for locking the crib in its folded condition;

FIG. I3 illustrates the unit with one of its rim frame members collapsed for providing easy access to an infant on the floorboard;

FIG. 14 illustrates the unit with both rim frame members collapsed (achieved by releasing both pairs of hinge joints) preparatory to the final folding step;

FIG. 15 illustrates the unit in its folded condition, which condition is obtained simply by gripping the center of the floorboard when the unit is in the configuration shown in FIG. 14 and then pulling upward;

FIG. 16 is a side view of the unit in its folded conditiomand FIG. 17 illustrates use of the unit as a changing table after the legs are extended and the floorboard is raised to its upper position.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper rim of the crib consists of two cushioned U-shaped rim frame members 24. Adjacent ends of the two frame members are pivoted to connector elements 25 by pivot pins 80, as seen most clearly in FIG. 10. Each connector element includes two pin stops 81. When the two rim frame members are collapsed inward around pivots 80, the frame members 24 bear against pin stop 81 as shown (FIG. 10). In the folded condition of the unit, as shown by phantom lines 24, the two frame members are vertical and parallel to each other.

FIG. 1 l is an enlarged sectional view through the line 1 l-11 of FIG. 10. As shown, plastic strip 26a is folded over the upper surface 25a of the connector element and the two edges are secured to the webbing 35 by stitching 26b. A pin extends through an end of each of rim frame element 24 and is secured to the two side sections 25b of the connector element to permit rotation of the rim frame member from the horizontal position shown in solid lines in FIG. 10 to the vertical position shown in phantom. The additional pin 81 extended between triangular extensions on the two side sections 25b serves as a stop to limit inward movement of rim frame member 24 in the closed position.

As seen most clearly in FIGS. 1, 2 and 10, the frame members are surrounded by soft rubber 27 to provide a cushioning effect. A strip of plastic 26a is folded over the cushioned frame members and and connector elements. On either side of each of the connector elements 25, the plastic is cut as shown by the numeral 26a in FIG. 10 in order to permit pivoting of the rim frame members relative to the connector elements. The folded over edges of the plastic strip 260 are sewn together as shown by the numeral 26b in FIGS. 2 and 3, with the upper end of webbing 35 being secured between the two folded over edges.

A similar plastic strip 26c is provided at the bottom of the webbing, as seen most clearly in FIG. 3. The numeral 26d shows the stitch line for securing the webbing 35 within the folded over edges of plastic strip 260. The plastic strip is bent as shown in the drawing all around the two floorboard sections 220 and 2212, which floorboard sections support mattress 21. The plastic strip 260 can be secured to the floorboard by any con ventional means such as tacks (not shown).

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the unit includes four legs shown by the numerals 28. Each leg includes a hinge joint 33 with one leg section extending above it and another leg section extending below it when the crib is open. Although the hinge joint will be described in detail below, at this point it should be noted that it serves to permit the two leg sections to be rotated relative to each other by In FIG. 13, the left leg is shown in its open or extended position, while the right leg is shown in its folded position.

The upper end of each leg is pivoted to the side of a respective rim frame member as shown by the numeral 30 in FIG. 2. A link 29 is provided for each leg, the link being pivoted at one end 32 to the leg (at a point along the leg below hinge joint 33) and at the other end 31 to the respective rim frame member. The legs are not pivoted directly to the floorboard sections 22a and 22b. Instead, a link mechanism shown generally by the numeral 64 in FIG. 2 is used to secure a side of each floorboard section to a respective leg. It is this link mechanism which permits the floorboard to be switched between two positions relative to the level of the upper rim.

FIG. 3 depicts the construction of each leg and the manner in which it is connected to a rim frame member and a floorboard section. The upper section of the leg consists of a tubular member 43 with a plastic plug 44 sealing its upper end. A pin 30 extends through tube 43 and the connected rim frame member 24, with a spacer 34 being provided to separate the two elements. The leg can thus pivot around the pin.

In order to maximize the cushioning of the unit, cushioned bumpers are provided for the legs just as they are provided for the rim frame members. A cylindrical section of foam rubber 46 surrounds tubular member 43, the foam rubber being encased in a plastic sleeve 45, as shown.

Hinge joint 33, to be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 4-7, includes two

plastic sections

47 and 50. The two sections are hinged together by pin 51. A circular section of member 47 fits within an end of tubular member 43 and is fixed to it by pin 48. Similarly, a circular section of plastic element 50 is inserted into an end of tubular section 55 and the two elements are fixed together by pin 56. Also shown in FIG. 3 is spring member 49, which is part of the hinge joint and whose function will be described below. For present purposes, all that is required is to note that the two

tubular sections

43 and 55 of the leg 28 can pivot around pin 51 between the open position shown on the left side of FIG. 13 and the closed position shown on the right side.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 9, telescoping leg section 59 moves axially within tubular section 55 of the leg. The lower end of the inner section terminates in a plastic plug 53. Within the inner section there is provided a detent button 60 which is biased outward by spring 61. The button extends through a hole in inner section 59 and is designed to extend through one of the two holes 55 in outer section 55 for locking the inner section in either a closed or extended position. As shown in FIG. 3, the leg is in its closed position. Cushioning rubber 58 surrounds the upper portion of tubular member 55, and it is enclosed by plastic sleeve 57 to provide still more cushioning for the structural elements. The bumper includes the hole shown by the numeral 57 in order that access be had to button 60. In order to move telescoping section 59, the button is pushed inwardly and the telescoping section is then moved from its present position to the other position, with the detent button springing out into one of the holes 55' to lock the leg in its desired position.

In order for the telescoping section to remain aligned within tubular section 55 so that the detent button can spring out into one of holes 55', the telescoping section is indented all along its outer surface as shown by the numeral 59a in FIG. 9. A screw 68 secures a cross-strut 67 to the leg and extends past the inner diameter of tubular section 55. Thus the screw not only secures the cross-strut member in place, but also functions as a guide to maintain the telescoping section 59 aligned properly. A cross-strut 67 is used to provide greater stability by linking the two tubular members 55 on each side of the crib. The cross-strut is tubular but is bent at each end as shown by the numeral 67a at the bottom of FIG. 3, so as to form a collapsed end 67b which fits around tubular section 55 and is secured to it by screw 68.

Link 29 is pivoted to a rim frame member as shown by the numeral 31 in FIG. 2, and is pivoted to leg section 55 by pin 32. The link is separated from the leg section by spacer 36. The inner end of the pin further guides telescoping section 59 of the leg just as does the inner end of screw 68.

Link element 41 serves to couple one side of base section 22a to the leg. The link element is shown most clearly in FIG. 8. A bracket 39 supports the floorboard section and is secured to it by means of a screw 40, the folded over plastic strip 260 being secured between the lower face of the floorboard section and the bracket. The bottom end of link 41 is secured to the base section by extending screw 42 through a hole in the link and the bracket to the floorboard section. The screw serves as a pivot so that the link can rotate relative to the floorboard when the latter is switched from one position to the other. The other end of the link is secured by a pin 62 to tubular section 55, as shown most clearly in FIGS. 3 and 8, the two elements being separated from each other by spacer 63. The inner end of pin 62 also serves to keep the telescoping section 59 properly aligned within outer section 55.

It is apparent from an inspection of FIG. 8 that link 41 can rotate around pin 62 between the position shown in solid lines and the position shown in phantom. These two positions correspond to the lower position of the floorboard shown in FIG. 2 and the elevated'position shown in FIG. 17. Although, as will be described below, once the four links 41 are rotated to raise or lower the floorboard it remains in the new position by reason of the design of the linkages, it is still desirable to provide a locking mechanism to secure the floorboard in the selected position (the locking mechanism being required more for the upper position of the floorboard than for the lower position). For this purpose an angular flex-lock element 64 is provided. The locking member is made of plastic material and is secured to link 41 by two screws 65 and two nuts 66 (FIG. 3). Each end of the flex-lock element has two fingers 64a and a curved inner surface 64b. The fingers at either end tightly grip tubular element 55 with the curved surface 64b bearing against it. The solid lines in FIG. 8 show one end of the locking element secured to tubular member 55, and the phantom lines show the other end secured to the leg. By rotating each link 41 upward as shown by arrow 77a in FIG. 8, the floorboard is elevated in the direction of arrow 77b.

When the floorboard is in the elevated position of FIG. 17, each of screws 42 is higher than it is when the floorboard is in the lower position of FIG. 2. However, because of the symmetry of each of flex-locks 64, the two positions of each screw 42 are along the same vertical line. This insures that the two floorboard sections are coplaner in both positions. The two facing edges of the floorboard sections are hinged by hinge 23 (FIG. 1), the hinge being disposed at the bottom of the floorboard sections and permitting the two sections to be folded together. The two floorboard sections cannot be pulled apart (horizontally in the drawing). But since each of screws 42 moves in an arc around a respective pin 62 as the floorboard is moved from one position to another, it would appear that the two floorboard sections would have to be pulled apart in order to raise both sections simultaneously or even one section first and then the other.

The simple raising or lowering of the floorboard can be effected due to the provision of connector elements 25. If the floorboard of the crib shown in FIG. 2 has both of its ends raised simultaneously, all four legs 28 rotate slightly inward. This, in turn, causes both of the rim frame members to slope down slightly from the crib center; this motion can be effected since both rim frame members are pivoted to the two connector elements. Consequently, while the floorboard is being raised (or lowered), the two pairs of legs rotate slightly and both rim frame members slope slightly. This causes pins 62 to move inward; as the floorboard is moved and each screw 42 moves outward and then inward. relative to its respective pin 62, the pin similarly moves inward and then outward. The movements counteract each other so that each screw 42 can move vertically. As the floorboard nears its new terminal position, the structural elements restore to their fully open positions and the flex-locks can be snapped onto the respective legs. Even when the floorboard is in the raised position of FIG. 17, the weight of an infant on the floorboard tends to keep the two pairs of legs spread apart. This, in turn, prevents the floorboard from dropping because for it to do so the bottom tips of the legs must all move slightly inward. For maximum safety, however, the flex-lock elements are provided as described.

It is, of course, possible to first raise or lower only one side of the floorboard and then to repeat the operation for the other side. In such a case, one side of the floorboard can be locked into position, followed by the other. It is in fact usually easier to follow this precedure when adjusting the height of the floorboard relative to the upper rim.

FIGS. 4-6 show a hinge joint 52 in its locked position in which case the two connected

tubular elements

43 and 55 are co-axial. The hinge joint includes a first plastic element 47 (FIG. 6), the upper end of which is cylindrical and is secured within tubular element 43 by pin 48. The tubular section bears against shoulder 47b of the plastic element. The next lowest section 47c has a U-shaped bracket 52 fitted around it, on top of pivot section 47d.

Plastic element 50 includes a cylindrical section 500 which fits into an end of tubular leg section 55 and is secured by a pin 56. A ridge 50b is provided for placement therein of an end of rectangular retainer spring 49. The bottom of the spring is held fixed in the ridge by means of a button extension 50d provided on the plastic element. Above the neck 50e of the plastic element there are two fingers 50a. Pivot section 47d of the upper plastic element fits within the two fingers 50a of the lower plastic element, and the three elements are pivotally secured together by screw 51. Retainer spring 49 bears against the flat rear faces of the two fingers 50a, and surrounds the rear tip of pivot section 47d of the upper element.

In order to release the hinge joint it is necessary to push the top of retainer spring 49 to the right in FIG. 6. Toward this end, the U-shaped bracket 52 is provided around neck 470 of the upper element, resting on top of the two fingers 50a of the lower element. At the open end of the U-shaped element 52, there is provided a plastic insert 72 which closes off the open end and has a portion fitted within the two legs of the element. A screw 73 is used to secure plastic insert 72 to the U- shaped bracket 52. When the U-shaped bracket is pushed manually to the right in FIG. 6, the top of re-* tainer spring 49 moves outward. As long as the retainer spring is .in place, the upper and lower leg sections cannot be rotated relative to each other; for this to be accomplished it would be necessary for pivot section 47d to move the retainer spring upward and this cannot happen because the lower end is secure within plastic element 50. However, once the top of the retainer spring is pushed to the right in FIG. 6, the upper right corner of section 47d can move upward and counterclockwise relative to the lower leg section.v This motion is shown in FIG. 7.

If the U-shaped bracket 52 is pushed inward in the direction of arrow 760 so as to free pivot section 474' from retainer spring 49, then the lower leg section 55 can be rotated in the direction of arrow 76c while the upper end of the retainer spring 49 simply bears and slides against the rear surface of section 47d as it moves in the direction of arrow 76b. Once the hinge joint is released, the two leg sections can be rotated all the way around relative to each other until they are approximately parallel as shown in FIGS. 13-16. On the other hand, when a leg is opened, its two

sections

43 and 55 are rotated around the pivot 51 until they are co-axial with each other. As soon as the upper end of retainer spring 49 clears the upper edge of pivot section 47d (FIG. 6), the retainer spring snaps inward to lock the two elements in place.

FIG. 17 shows the crib as it would be used as a dressing table all legs are extended and the floorboard is in its uppermost position. In order to close the crib, the legs should first be telescoped inward and the floorboard should be lowered, i.e., the unit should be placed in its playpen condition as shown in FIG. 2. Thereafter, the first step in folding up the playpen is to fold the mattress and to place it on top of one of the floorboard sections. In the second step, the two hinge joints on one side of the unit are released. The natural weight of the rim frame member on that side causes that side of the unit to collapse as shown in FIG. 13 (although it is sometimes necessary to apply a slight downward force on the upper frame member after first bending the two legs slightly so as to keep the hinge joint in the released position). In the next step, the two hinge joints on the other side of the unit are released so that the other side of the unit collapses. The resulting collapsed unit is shown in FIG. 14. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 16, it will be noted that a hole is provided along each of the two facing edges of the floorboard sections. This permits an adult to grip the center of the floorboard and to pull upward. If this is done to the collapsed unit of FIG. 14, the lower ends of the collapsed legs move inward toward each other and the unit assumes its final collapsed position of FIGS. 15 and 16. To insure that the unit does not open inadvertently, a locking clip 37 is secured to the center of one of cross struts 67. This clip is shown in FIGS. 13-16, and in the greatest detail in FIG. 12. The clip is designed to hold the cross-struts adjacent to each other so that the sides of the collapsed unit cannot be moved apart without the application of some degree of force for causing one end of the clip to be released from its respective cross-strut.

In the course of describing the folding of the unit, reference was made to FIG. 13. It should be noted that if the intent is not to fold the unit but rather to lift an infant out of the playpen, it is sometimes advantageous to collapse only one side of the playpen. This allows an infant to be moved into and out of the playpen endwise of the unit without having to lift the infant vertically. In the playpen position of FIG. 13, the floorboard is tilted slightly because of the unequal slopes of the two pairs of legs; however, the tilt is so slight that it causes no discomfort to the infant even if the infant is left in the playpen with one side collapsed.

To open the crib, the two pairs of legs are first separated, simply by pulling apart the two cross-struts 67 and allowing the floorboard sections to drop, the unit assuming the position shown in FIG. 14. Thereafter, the end of one rim frame member can be raised, the two associated hinge joints automatically locking the respective leg sections in place toward the end of the movement. Then the other rim frame member can be lifted and locked in place in the same way. The folded mattress, which prior to this time has been held within the folded unit of FIG. 15 adjacent to one of the floorboard sections, is then opened and placed on top of both floorboard sections. The unit now has the configuration of a playpen. To change it to a crib, the four legs are extended, and to convert it to a dressing table the floorboard is raised as described above.

There is thus provided a triple-function mechanism which can be converted from one configuration to another with a minimum of effort, which can be opened and closed with similar ease, and which is highly compact in its folded condition. It should be noted that the lower end of each link 29 (FIG. 2) is pivoted to the respective leg below its hinge joint 33. The length of the link and the position of the respective hinge joint along the leg are such that in the open position of the crib the two rim frame members are coplanar, and in the folded position of the crib the two rim frame members extend downward and are substantially parallel to each other. In the folded condition (FIG. 15) the four hinge joints 33 are above the four links 29, it being the link-hinge joint combination that controls the 90-degree rotation of each of the rim frame members between the open and closed positions. The reduced height of the collapsed unit (FIG. is due to the fact that each leg folds at a point along its length which in the open condition is disposed between the upper rim and the mechanism for coupling the leg to the floorboard. The hinge joints are provided with spring-type locks so that upon opening the unit they need not be manually manipulated at all, whereas to collapse a side of the unit, all that is required in most cases is to release the two hinge joints on that side of the crib.

With reference to FIG. it will be noted that the upper section a on each connector element extends outward so that it bears against an end of a rim frame member. This prevents the two rim frame members from rotating further upward. This is important because in the open condition the weight of the unit would otherwise force the center of the crib to move downward, with the bottom tips of the legs spreading outward. Because the connector elements 25 cannot move downward to a level below that of the ends of the rim frame members when they are in their open positions, there results a stable bridge-type configuration which can stand without any tie pieces other than the links 29.

In all collapsible structures which are used for infants, there is concern for unwanted releases of movable members; there should never be a possibility of the overall unit collapsing with an infant in it. The crib of our invention is perfectly safe in this regard. Even if all hinge joints release accidentally all that happens is that the upper frame members collapse but the infant would then remain secure on the mattress within the structure having a configuration as shown in FIG. 14. And if the flex-locks release from the legs, even when the floorboard is in the raised position, it cannot drop down. In order for the floorboard to move downward, both legs must move inward slightly. This is prevented by the weight of the infant itself on top of the floorboard. The only way that the unit can be totally collapsed is by lifting the center of the floorboard and this, of course, is not possible by accident.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment, it is to be understood that this embodiment is merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. For example, a non-folding crib can be made if the hinge joints are omitted, and yet the floorboard could still be simply switched between two positions if the links 41 are provided. Thus it is to be understood that numerous modifications may be made in the illustrative embodiment of the invention and other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What we claim is:

l. A foldable crib comprising a pair of U-shaped rim frame members; a pair of connecting means each pivoted at the two ends thereof to ends of different ones of said frame members; a pair of base members each having a shape conforming to the area enclosed by a respective one of said frame members; a pair of legs associated with each of said frame members; means for pivoting the upper end of each of said legs to a respective side of the associated frame member; link means associated with each of said legs; first means for pivoting one end of each link means to the associated leg and second means for pivoting the other end of each link means to the respective side of the associated frame member; means for coupling each of said base members to a pair of respective legs at points below the respective first pivoting means along said legs; flexible fabric means for providing end and side walls for the crib between said frame members and said base members; and hinge joint means positioned along each of said legs between the upper end thereof and the respective first pivoting means for allowing said legs to be selectively set in extended and folded positions; the lengths of said link means and the positions of said hinge joint means being such that (1) when said legs are in their extended positions each of said legs extends downwardly from said frame members and outwardly from said connecting means, each of said link means extends upwardly and outwardly from the associated leg, and said frame members are substantially coplanar, and (2) when said legs are in their folded positions said frame members extend downwardly from said connecting means and are substantially parallel, and each of said link means is disposed below the respective hinge joint means and extends downwardly and outwardly from the respective leg to the respective side of the associated frame member.

2. A foldable crib in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said hinge joint means is operative to allow the two parts of the respective leg on either side thereof to be rotated relative to each other through an angle of approximately degrees.

3. A foldable crib in accordance with claim 1 further including means for hinging said base members together along facing edges thereof to permit said base members to be folded inwardly to face each other with said hinging means being raised when said legs are in their folded positions.

4. A foldable crib in accordance with claim 1 further including two cross-strut means each extended between the lower portions of the legs in a respective one of said pairs, and means for locking said cross-strut means adjacent to and parallel to each other when said legs are in their folded positions.

5. A foldable crib in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said legs includes a pair of telescoping leg sections and means for locking said leg sections in at least two discrete telescoping positions.

6. A foldable crib in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of the coupling means for one of said base members includes a pair of links each pivoted at one end thereof to a respective side of said base member and pivoted at the other end thereof to one of the respective legs, and means fixed to each of said links at a point intermediate the ends thereof for gripping the respective leg at two separate positions therealong for two ex treme rotated positions of said link relative to said leg whereby said base members may be maintained coplanar in two separate positions below said frame members when said legs are in their open positions.

7. A foldable crib in accordance with claim 1 wherein the coupling means for said base members include means for positioning said base membersicoplanar in two separate switchable positions below said frame members when said legs are in their open positions.

8. A foldable crib in accordance with claim 7 further including means for hinging said base members together along facing edges thereof to permit said base members to be folded inwardly to face each other with said hinging means being raised when said legs are in their folded positions.

9. A foldable crib in accordance with claim 7 wherein each of said hinge joint means is operative to allow the two parts of the respective leg on either side thereof to be rotated relative to each other through an angle of approximately 180 degrees.

10. A foldable crib in accordance with claim 7 wherein each of said legs includes a pair of telescoping leg sections and means for lockingsaid leg sections in at least two discrete telescoping positions.

11. A foldable crib comprising a pair of rim frame members; means for joining said frame members in the configuration of a rim for the crib; a pair of base members each having a shape conforming to the area enclosed by a respective one of said frame members; a pair of legs associated with each of said frame members; means for pivoting the upper end of each of said legs to a respective side of the associated frame member; a pair of means for coupling each of said base members to a pair of respective legs; flexible fabric means for providing end and side walls for the crib between said frame members and said base members; hinge joint means positioned along each of said legs between the upper end thereof and the respective coupling means for allowing said legs to be selectively set in extended and folded conditions; and means for maintaining said legs when they are in their extended conditions in positions which extend downwardly from said frame members and outwardly therefrom such that said frame members are substantially coplanar; said hinge joint means being operative when said legs are in their folded conditions to allow both of said frame members to extend downwardly with said base members being maintained vertically therebetween.

12. A foldable crib in accordance with claim 11 wherein each of said hinge joint means is operative to allow the two parts of the respective leg on either side thereof to be rotated relative to each other through an angle of approximately 180 degrees. I

13. A foldable crib in accordance with claim 11 further including meansfor hinging said base members together along facing edges thereof to permit said base members to be folded inwardly to face each other with said hinging means being raised when said legs are in their folded conditions.

14. A foldable crib in accordance with claim 11 further including two cross-strut means each extended between the lower portions of the legs in a respective one of said parts, and means for locking said cross-strut means adjacent to and parallel to each other when said legs are in their folded conditions.

15. A foldable crib in accordance with claim 11 wherein each of said legs includes a pair of telescoping leg sections and means for locking said leg sections in at least two discrete telescoping positions.

16. A foldable crib in accordance with claim 11 wherein each of said coupling means for one of said base members includes a pair of links each pivoted at one end thereof to a respective side of said base member and pivoted at the other end thereof to one of the respective legs, and means fixed to each of said links at a point intermediate the ends thereof for gripping the respective leg at two separate positions therealong for two extreme rotated positions of said link relative to said leg whereby said base members may be maintained coplanar in two separate positions below said frame members when said legs are in their open conditions.

17. A foldable crib in accordance with claim 1 1 wherein the coupling means for said base members include means for positioning said base members coplanar in two separate switchable positions below said frame members when said legs are in their open conditions.

18. A foldable crib in accordance with claim 17 further including means for hinging said base members together along facing edges thereof to permit said base members to be folded inwardly to face each other with said hinging means being raised when said legs are in their folded conditions.

19. A foldable crib in accordance with claim 17 wherein each of said hinge joint means is operative to allow the two parts of the respective leg on either side thereof to be rotated relative to each other through an angle of approximately 20. A foldable crib in accordance with claim 17 wherein each of said legs includes a pair of telescoping leg sections and means for locking said leg sections in at least two discrete telescoping positions.

21. An adjustable crib comprising a pair of U-shaped rim frame members; means for connecting respective ends of different ones of said frame members; a pair of base members each having a shape conforming to the area enclosed by a respective one of said frame members; a pair of legs associated with each of said frame members; means for connecting each of said legs to a respective side of the associated frame member; means for maintaining each of said legs in a position extending downward from the associated frame member and outward from said connecting means; flexible fabric means for providing end and side walls for the crib between said frame members and said base members; and means for coupling each of said base members to a pair of respective legs; each of said coupling means including a pair of links each pivoted at one end thereof to a respective side of said base member and pivoted at the other end thereof to one of the respective legs, and means fixed to each of said links at a point intermediate the ends thereof for engaging the respective leg at two separate positions therealong for two extreme rotated positions of said link relative to said leg whereby said base members may be maintained coplanar in two separate positions below said frame members.

22. An adjustable crib in accordance with claim 21 further including means for hinging said base members together along facing edges thereof.

23. An adjustable crib in accordance with claim 21 wherein each of said legs includes a pair of telescoping leg sections and means for locking said leg sections in at least two discrete telescoping positions.

24. An adjustable crib comprising a frame rim; floorboard means having a shape conforming to the area enclosed by said frame rim; a pair of legs associated with each end of said frame rim; means for connecting each of said legs to a respective side of the associated frame rim; means for maintaining each of said legs in a position extending downward from said frame rim and outward from the center thereof; flexible fabric means for providing end and side walls for the crib between said frame rim and said floorboard means; means for coupling each end of said floorboard means to a pair of respective legs; each of said coupling means including a pair of links each pivoted at a first end thereof to a respective side of said floorboard means at one end thereof and pivoted at a second end thereof to one of the respective legs, and means fixed to each of said links at a point intermediate the ends thereof for engaging the respective leg at two separate positions therealong for two extreme rotated positions of said link relative to said leg whereby said floorboard means may be set in two separate positions below said frame members; and means for permitting said floorboard means to be moved manually between said two positions but to be maintained fixed in each of said positions after being set therein.

25. An adjustable crib in accordance with claim 24 wherein each of said legs includes a pair of telescoping leg sections and means for locking said leg sections in at least two discrete telescoping positions.

Claims

1. A foldable crib comprising a pair of U-shaped rim frame members; a pair of connecting means each pivoted at the two ends thereof to ends of different ones of said frame members; a pair of base members each having a shape conforming to the area enclosed by a respective one of said frame members; a pair of legs associated with each of said frame members; means for pivoting the upper end of each of said legs to a respective side of the associated frame member; link means associated with each of said legs; first means for pivoting one end of each link means to the associated leg and second means for pivoting the other end of each link means to the respective side of the associated frame member; means for coupling each of said base members to a pair of respective legs at points below the respective first pivoting means along said legs; flexible fabric means for providing end and side walls for the crib between said frame members and said base members; and hinge joint means positioned along each of said legs between the upper end thereof and the respective first pivoting means for allowing said legs to be selectively set in extended and folded positions; the lengths of said link means and the positions of said hinge joint means being such that (1) when said legs are in their extended positions each of said legs extends downwardly from said frame membeRs and outwardly from said connecting means, each of said link means extends upwardly and outwardly from the associated leg, and said frame members are substantially coplanar, and (2) when said legs are in their folded positions said frame members extend downwardly from said connecting means and are substantially parallel, and each of said link means is disposed below the respective hinge joint means and extends downwardly and outwardly from the respective leg to the respective side of the associated frame member.

2. A foldable crib in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said hinge joint means is operative to allow the two parts of the respective leg on either side thereof to be rotated relative to each other through an angle of approximately 180 degrees.

6. A foldable crib in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of the coupling means for one of said base members includes a pair of links each pivoted at one end thereof to a respective side of said base member and pivoted at the other end thereof to one of the respective legs, and means fixed to each of said links at a point intermediate the ends thereof for gripping the respective leg at two separate positions therealong for two extreme rotated positions of said link relative to said leg whereby said base members may be maintained coplanar in two separate positions below said frame members when said legs are in their open positions.

7. A foldable crib in accordance with claim 1 wherein the coupling means for said base members include means for positioning said base members coplanar in two separate switchable positions below said frame members when said legs are in their open positions.

10. A foldable crib in accordance with claim 7 wherein each of said legs includes a pair of telescoping leg sections and means for locking said leg sections in at least two discrete telescoping positions.

12. A foldable crib in accordance with claim 11 wherein each of said hinge joint means is operative to allow the two parts of the respective leg on either side thereof to be rotated relative to each other through an angle of approximately 180 degrees.

13. A foldable crib in accordance with claim 11 further including means for hinging said base members together along facing edges thereof to permit said base members to be folded inwardly to face each other with said hinging means being raised when said legs are in their folded conditions.

17. A foldable crib in accordance with claim 11 wherein the coupling means for said base members include means for positioning said base members coplanar in two separate switchable positions below said frame members when said legs are in their open conditions.

19. A foldable crib in accordance with claim 17 wherein each of said hinge joint means is operative to allow the two parts of the respective leg on either side thereof to be rotated relative to each other through an angle of approximately 180*.

20. A foldable crib in accordance with claim 17 wherein each of said legs includes a pair of telescoping leg sections and means for locking said leg sections in at least two discrete telescoping positions.