Playard having a bassinet assembly to accommodate two children
A bassinet assembly for use with a playard includes a sleep compartment structure including first and second separate sleep compartments that are sized to accommodate first and second children, respectively; and at least one bassinet mount to attach the bassinet assembly to the playard.
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This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/668,072, filed Apr. 5, 2005, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to a bassinet assembly for a playard. More specifically, this invention relates to a bassinet assembly that can be attached to a playard and that provides two side-by-side isolated sleep compartments for children.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONPlayards provide a child containment area in which a child can be placed by a caregiver. Playards often include accessories that can be releasably attached to the playard's top rails and/or corner mounts. Such accessories can include a bassinet, a canopy, a toy bar, and a changing table.
Traditionally, a bassinet with only a single sleeping compartment has been configured to attach to a playard. Parents of twins thus must purchase two playards, each with its own bassinet to provide two sleeping areas for the two children.
Thus, there is a need in the art for a bassinet assembly that can be attached to a playard and that can accommodate two children in isolated sleep compartments.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONOne aspect of the invention relates to a bassinet assembly for use with a playard that includes a sleep compartment structure including first and second separate sleep compartments that are sized to accommodate first and second children, respectively; and at least one bassinet mount to attach the sleep compartment structure to the playard.
Another aspect of the invention relates to a juvenile product that includes a playard including at least one receiving mount and a bassinet assembly. The bassinet assembly includes a sleep compartment structure including first and second separate sleep compartments sized to accommodate first and second children, respectively; and at least one bassinet mount to attach the sleep compartment structure with the least one receiving mount of the playard.
Another aspect of the invention relates to a bassinet assembly for use with a playard that includes a sleep compartment structure including a floor panel, a side panel connected to the floor panel, and a divider that is connected to at least one of the floor panel and the side panel to partition the sleep compartment structure into first and second separate sleep compartments sized to accommodate first and second children, respectively; and at least one bassinet mount to attach the sleep compartment structure to a playard.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
Reference will now be made in detail to presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. An effort has been made to use the same reference numbers throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
The playard 100 of the embodiment of
As shown in
In the four-sided embodiment of
The four-sided embodiment of
The playard 100 may be provided with one or more wheels 120 at the bottom end of one or more corner posts 110. For example, wheels 120 can be mounted to the bottom ends of corner posts 110 on either side of end wall 104. The wheels 120 may be used to facilitate movement of the playard 100.
As previously mentioned, the playard frame also may be provided with one or more supports 124 and/or cross-bracing beams. The supports 124 and the beams may be used to maintain the floor area 109 in a position above a surface on which the playard 100 rests.
The sleep compartment structure 210 includes a floor panel 242 (shown covered by a playard pad in
The divider 230 partitions the sleep compartment structure 210 into the first and second sleep compartments 212, 214. The divider 230 can be connected to the side panel 244 and be spaced apart from the floor panel 242; alternatively, the divider 230 can be connected to both the side panel 244 and the floor panel 242; or, alternatively, the divider 230 can be connected to the floor panel 242 and spaced apart from the side panel 244. The divider 230 of
The first and second sleep compartments 212, 214 are partitioned by the divider 230 to be side-by-side. The first and second sleep compartments 212, 214 may be adjacent each other, for example, where the divider 230 forms a common wall between the compartments 212, 214, or the first and second sleep compartments 212, 214 can be separated by a gap, for example, where the divider 230 includes a pair of spaced parallel walls, one for each compartment 212, 214. The divider 230 can isolate the first and second sleep compartments 212, 214 so that children sleeping in the compartments 212, 214 will not disturb each other.
The divider 230 also can be arranged in the bassinet assembly 200, such as shown in
The bassinet mount is configured to removably attach the sleep compartment structure 210 to the playard 100. The bassinet mount includes first and second end rods 222, 224 and a plurality of clamps 226. In the embodiment shown in
The plurality of clamps 226 are attached to the length panel portions 247, 248 of the sleep compartment structure 210 and clamp over the top rails 112, 116 of the playard 100. The clamps 226 are C-clamps, and the bassinet assembly 200 of
In the four-sided embodiment of
The four-sided embodiment of
The playard 400 may be provided with one or more wheels 420 at the bottom end of one or more corner posts 410. For example, wheels 420 can be mounted to the bottom ends of corner posts 410 on either side of end wall 408. The wheels 420 may be used to facilitate movement of the playard 400.
As previously mentioned, the playard frame also may be provided with one or more supports 424 and/or cross-bracing beams. The supports 424 and the beams may be used to maintain the floor area 409 in a position above a surface on which the playard 400 rests.
The bassinet assembly 300 includes a sleep compartment structure 310 and a bassinet mount to attach the sleep compartment structure 310 to the playard 400. The sleep compartment structure 310 defines first and second separate sleep compartments 312, 314 that are sized to accommodate first and second children, respectively.
The sleep compartment structure 310 also includes a floor panel 342 (see
The divider 330 partitions the sleep compartment structure 310 into the first and second sleep compartments 312, 314. The divider 330 can be connected to the side panel 344 and be spaced apart from the floor panel 342, as shown in
The first and second sleep compartments 312, 314 are partitioned by the divider 330 to be side-by-side. The first and second sleep compartments 312, 314 may be adjacent each other, or the first and second sleep compartments 312, 314 can be separated by a gap. The divider 330 can isolate the first and second sleep compartments 312, 314 so that children sleeping in the compartments 312, 314 will not disturb each other.
The divider 330 also can be arranged in the bassinet assembly 300, such as shown in
The divider 330, as shown in
The divider board 334 can include a plurality of ventilation holes, as shown in
The sleep compartment structure 310 also includes at least one bassinet wall 360, as shown best in
The bassinet mount is configured to removably attach the sleep compartment structure 310 to the playard 400. The bassinet mount includes first and second end rods 322, 324 and a plurality of clamps 326. The first and second end rods 322, 324, which can be bowed to follow the curve of the respective end walls 404, 408, are attached to end panel portions 345, 346, respectively and mount into the corner brackets 411 on the playard 400. The end panel portions 345, 346 each include a pocket 323 for receiving one of the end rods 322, 324, as can be seen in
The plurality of clamps 326 are attached to the length panel portions 347, 348 of the sleep compartment structure 310 and mount to the top rails 412, 416 of the playard 400. Each clamp 326 includes a curved end 326a and a distal end 326b, as shown in
The sleep compartment structure 310, as shown in
The canopy 370 includes a canopy mount 380, as shown in
Assembly of the bassinet assembly 300 to the playard 400 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention now will be described.
The sleep compartments of the above-described embodiments each have a smaller sleeping area than available in a conventional full-sized bassinet assembly mountable to a playard. Accordingly, to compensate for the reduced sleeping area, playards 100, 400 may be sized larger than a conventional playard so that the sleep compartments each can have a sleeping area of similar size to the sleeping area of a stand-alone bassinet. For example, the playards 100, 400 may have a width (measuring from top rail 112, 412 to top rail 116, 416 across the widest span of the playards 100, 400) of 31 inches or greater, such as a width in the range of 31 to 36 inches. Alternatively, the width of the playards 100, 400 may be 33 inches or greater. The length of the playards 100, 400 (measuring from top rail 114, 414 to top rail 118, 418 across the widest span of playards 100, 400) may be 42 inches or greater, such as a length in the range of 42 to 46 inches. Alternatively, the length of the playards 100, 400 may be 46 inches or greater.
It will be recognized that the bassinet assembly of any of the above embodiments may include mesh or ventilation areas in the bassinet wall, canopy, and/or any other suitable location.
Further, any type of mount, such as, for example, snaps, buttons, sewn stitches, or zippers may be used for the bassinet mount in the above embodiments.
In the above-described embodiments, the bassinet mount removably attaches the sleep compartment structure 210, 310 to the playard 100, 400. It will be recognized that, in an alternative embodiment, the bassinet mount can permanently attach the sleep compartment structure to the playard; that is, in such an alternative embodiment, the sleep compartment structure would not be designed to be removable from the playard by a child caregiver.
It will be recognized that the sleep compartment structure may be formed by two separate structures that are positioned adjacent each other.
The preferred embodiments have been set forth herein for the purpose of illustration. This description, however, should not be deemed to be a limitation on the scope of the invention. Various modifications, adaptations, and alternatives may occur to one skilled in the art without departing from the claimed inventive concept. The true scope and spirit of the invention are indicated by the following claims.
Claims
1. A bassinet assembly for use with a playard comprising:
- a sleep compartment structure including first and second separate sleep compartments that are sized to accommodate first and second children, respectively; and
- at least one bassinet mount to attach the sleep compartment structure to the playard.
2. The bassinet assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sleep compartment structure includes a divider to partition the sleep compartment structure into the first and second sleep compartments.
3. The bassinet assembly according to claim 2, wherein the sleep compartment structure includes a floor panel and a side panel connected to the floor panel, and wherein the divider connects to at least one of the floor panel and the side panel to partition the sleep compartment structure into the first and second sleep compartments.
4. The bassinet assembly according to claim 3, wherein the divider connects to the side panel, and the bassinet assembly further comprises a pad configured to be placed under the divider and on top of the floor panel of the sleep compartment structure.
5. The bassinet assembly according to claim 2, wherein the divider includes a window.
6. The bassinet assembly according to claim 2, wherein the divider includes at least one ventilation opening.
7. The bassinet assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first and second sleep compartments are substantially equal in size.
8. The bassinet assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sleep compartment structure includes a bassinet wall mounted to at least one of the floor panel and the side panel in one of the first and second sleep compartments.
9. The bassinet assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sleep compartment structure includes a canopy mounted to at least one of the first and second sleep compartments.
10. A juvenile product comprising:
- a playard including at least one receiving mount; and
- a bassinet assembly, the bassinet assembly including: a sleep compartment structure including first and second separate sleep compartments sized to accommodate first and second children, respectively; and at least one bassinet mount to attach the sleep compartment structure to the least one receiving mount of the playard.
11. The juvenile product according to claim 10, wherein the sleep compartment structure includes a divider to partition the sleep compartment structure into the first and second sleep compartments.
12. The juvenile product according to claim 11, wherein the sleep compartment structure includes a pad configured to be placed under the divider and on top of a floor panel of the sleep compartment structure.
13. The juvenile product according to claim 10, wherein the first and second sleep compartments are substantially equal in size.
14. A bassinet assembly for use with a playard comprising:
- a sleep compartment structure including a floor panel, a side panel connected to the floor panel, and a divider that is connected to at least one of the floor panel and the side panel to partition the sleep compartment structure into first and second separate sleep compartments sized to accommodate first and second children, respectively; and
- at least one bassinet mount to attach the sleep compartment structure to a playard.
15. The bassinet assembly according to claim 14, wherein the divider is positioned perpendicular to a long side of the bassinet assembly.
16. The bassinet assembly according to claim 14, wherein the divider includes a window.
17. The bassinet assembly according to claim 14, wherein the divider is connected to the side panel, and wherein the bassinet assembly further comprises a pad configured to be placed under the divider and on top of the floor panel.
18. The bassinet assembly according to claim 14, wherein the first and second sleep compartments are substantially equal in size.
19. The bassinet assembly according to claim 14, wherein the sleep compartment structure includes a bassinet wall mounted to at least one of the floor panel and the side panel in one of the first and second sleep compartments.
20. The bassinet assembly according to claim 14, wherein the sleep compartment structure includes a canopy mounted to at least one of the first and second sleep compartments.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 4, 2006
Publication Date: Oct 5, 2006
Applicant:
Inventors: Jason Carpenter (Denver, PA), Jonathan Pacella (Coatesville, PA), Cindy Berkey (Honey Brook, PA), Charles Crane (Coatesville, PA), Art Gehr (East Earl, PA)
Application Number: 11/324,778
International Classification: A47D 7/00 (20060101);