Playpen that is Movable and Foldable Easily and Quickly

A playpen includes a frame, four upper folding devices, two lower folding devices, a pull cord, and two lower collapsible devices. Each of the lower folding devices includes a first connecting member, a second connecting member, a mounting bracket, a locking member, an elastic member, and a compression spring. Each of the lower collapsible devices has a second compression spring. Thus, each of the lower folding devices is operated to fold the frame in a first stage, and each of the lower collapsible devices is operated to fold the frame in a second stage, so that the playpen is folded in a two-stage manner. In addition, the user only needs to pull the pull cord to unlock each of the lower folding devices so as to partially fold the frame easily and quickly.

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Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a playpen and, more particularly, to a playpen for placing a baby therein.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional playpen comprises a frame having a plurality of support rods pivotally connected with each other, and an enclosure cloth enclosed around a periphery of the frame to encompass the support rods. However, the conventional playpen cannot be folded easily and quickly, thereby greatly causing inconvenience to a user when folding the conventional playpen.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a playpen, comprising a frame including a plurality of support rods pivotally connected with each other, four upper folding devices mounted on an upper portion of the frame to fold the upper portion of the frame, two lower folding devices mounted on two opposite first sides of a lower portion of the frame to fold the two opposite first sides of the lower portion of the frame, a pull cord mounted between the two lower folding devices to control operation of the two lower folding devices, and two lower collapsible devices mounted on two opposite second sides of the lower portion of the frame to fold the two opposite second sides of the lower portion of the frame.

Each of the two lower folding devices includes a first connecting member mounted on a respective one of the support rods of the frame, a second connecting member mounted on a respective one of the support rods of the frame and pivotally connected with the first connecting member, a mounting bracket mounted on the first connecting member and the second connecting member, and a locking member movably mounted in the mounting bracket and movable between a first position where the locking member locks the first connecting member and the second connecting member so that the first connecting member and the second connecting member are locked onto the mounting bracket and a second position where the locking member unlocks the first connecting member and the second connecting member so that the first connecting member and the second connecting member are pivotable relative to the mounting bracket.

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a playpen that is movable and foldable easily and quickly.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a playpen, wherein each of the two lower folding devices is operated to fold the frame in a first stage, and each of the two lower collapsible devices is operated to fold the frame in a second stage, so that the playpen is folded in a two-stage manner, thereby facilitating a user folding the playpen.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide a playpen, wherein the user only needs to pull the pull cord to unlock each of the two lower folding devices so as to partially fold the frame easily and quickly.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide a playpen, wherein the second compression spring presses each of the two lower collapsible devices to prevent each of the two lower collapsible devices from being unlocked during operation of the two lower folding devices to protect the user's safety.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide a playpen, wherein the frame is movable easily and quickly by provision of the castors.

Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a playpen in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a locally enlarged perspective view of the playpen as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the playpen as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the playpen as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a schematic operational view of the playpen as shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a schematic operational view of the playpen as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a schematic operational view of the playpen as shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a schematic operational view of the playpen as shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a schematic operational view of the playpen as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a schematic operational view of the playpen as shown in FIG. 8.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1-5, a playpen in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a frame 5, four upper folding devices 1 mounted on an upper portion of the frame 5 to fold the upper portion of the frame 5, two lower folding devices 2 mounted on two opposite first sides of a lower portion of the frame 5 to fold the two opposite first sides of the lower portion of the frame 5, a pull cord 3 mounted between the two lower folding devices 2 to control operation of the two lower folding devices 2, and two lower collapsible devices 4 mounted on two opposite second sides of the lower portion of the frame 5 to fold the two opposite second sides of the lower portion of the frame 5.

The frame 5 is a substantially rectangular body and includes a plurality of support rods 50 pivotally connected with each other. The lower portion of the frame 5 has a periphery provided with four castors 51.

Each of the two lower folding devices 2 includes a first connecting member 22 mounted on a respective one of the support rods 50 of the frame 5, a second connecting member 28 mounted on a respective one of the support rods 50 of the frame 5 and pivotally connected with the first connecting member 22, a mounting bracket 21 mounted on the first connecting member 22 and the second connecting member 28, a locking member 23 movably mounted in the mounting bracket 21 and movable between a first position where the locking member 23 locks the first connecting member 22 and the second connecting member 28 so that the first connecting member 22 and the second connecting member 28 are locked onto the mounting bracket 21 and a second position where the locking member 23 unlocks the first connecting member 22 and the second connecting member 28 so that the first connecting member 22 and the second connecting member 28 are pivotable relative to the mounting bracket 21, an elastic member 24 mounted in the mounting bracket 21 and biased between the mounting bracket 21 and the locking member 23 to push the locking member 23 to the first position thereof, a compression spring 26 mounted between any two of the support rods 50 of the frame 5 and abutting the mounting bracket 21, and a protective jacket 261 mounted around the compression spring 26.

The first connecting member 22 of each of the two lower folding devices 2 has a first end inserted into the respective one of the support rods 50 of the frame 5 and a second end provided with a bifurcate mounting portion 220 provided with two spaced locking holes 221.

The second connecting member 28 of each of the two lower folding devices 2 has a first end inserted into the respective one of the support rods 50 of the frame 5 and a second end provided with a bifurcate mounting section 280 which is pivotally mounted in the mounting portion 220 of the first connecting member 22 and is provided with two spaced locking bores 281 each juxtaposed to the respective locking hole 221 of the first connecting member 22.

Each of the two lower folding devices 2 further includes a pivot pin 27 extending through the mounting bracket 21, the mounting portion 220 of the first connecting member 22 and the mounting section 280 of the second connecting member 28 to combine the mounting bracket 21, the mounting portion 220 of the first connecting member 22 and the mounting section 280 of the second connecting member 28.

The locking member 23 of each of the two lower folding devices 2 is driven by the pull cord 3 and has a bottom provided with two spaced locking blocks 230 that are movable with the locking member 23 between the first position where each of the two locking blocks 230 of the locking member 23 is inserted into the respective locking hole 221 of the first connecting member 22 and the respective locking bore 281 of the second connecting member 28 as shown in FIG. 4 to lock the first connecting member 22 and the second connecting member 28 and the second position-where each of the two locking blocks 230 of the locking member 23 is detached from the respective locking hole 221 of the first connecting member 22 and the respective locking bore 281 of the second connecting member 28 as shown in FIG. 5 to unlock the first connecting member 22 and the second connecting member 28. The locking member 23 of each of the two lower folding devices 2 has a first end provided with a fixing recess 231 and a second end provided with a receiving chamber 234. The locking member 23 of each of the two lower folding devices 2 has a periphery provided with an elongated entrance slit 232 connected to the fixing recess 231.

The mounting bracket 21 of each of the two lower folding devices 2 has a substantially inverted U-shaped cross-sectional profile and has an inside provided with a mounting chamber 211 for mounting the mounting portion 220 of the first connecting member 22 and the mounting section 280 of the second connecting member 28. The mounting bracket 21 of each of the two lower folding devices 2 has an upper portion provided with a slideway 212 in which the locking member 23 is slidable. The slideway 212 of the mounting bracket 21 of each of the two lower folding devices 2 has a bottom provided with a guide channel 214 connected to the mounting chamber 211 to guide movement of the two locking blocks 230 of the locking member 23. The mounting bracket 21 of each of the two lower folding devices 2 has a first side provided with a through hole 210 and a second side provided with an opening 216 connected to the slideway 212 for mounting a catch plate 25.

The pull cord 3 has two distal ends 30 each extending through the through hole 210 of the mounting bracket 21 and the locking member 23 of the respective lower folding device 2 and each provided with an enlarged head 32 secured in the fixing recess 231 of the locking member 23. Each of the two distal ends 30 of the pull cord 3 extends through the entrance slit 232 into the fixing recess 231 of the locking member 23.

The elastic member 24 of each of the two lower folding devices 2 has a first end abutting the first side of the mounting bracket 21 and a second end received in the receiving chamber 234 of the locking member 23 to push the locking member 23 toward the catch plate 25 which is used to stop movement of the locking member 23.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 9, each of the two lower collapsible devices 4 is mounted between two of the support rods 50 of the frame 5 and pressed by a second compression spring 42 which is mounted between the two of the support rods 50 of the frame 5. The second compression spring 42 is provided with a protective jacket 421.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 10, the playpen further comprises an enclosure cloth 52 enclosed around a periphery of the frame 5 to encompass the upper folding devices 1, the lower folding devices 2 and the lower collapsible devices 4, and a plurality of snap fasteners 521 mounted on the support rods 50 of the frame 5.

In operation, referring to FIGS. 6-10 with reference to FIGS. 1-5, the locking member 23 of each of the two lower folding devices 2 is pushed by the elastic member 24 to abut the catch plate 25 so that each of the two locking blocks 230 of the locking member 23 is inserted into the respective locking hole 221 of the first connecting member 22 and the respective locking bore 281 of the second connecting member 28 as shown in FIG. 4 to lock the first connecting member 22 and the second connecting member 28.

When a user wishes to fold the playpen, the locking member 23 of each of the two lower folding devices 2 is pulled by the respective distal end 30 of the pull cord 3 to compress the elastic member 24 so that each of the two locking blocks 230 of the locking member 23 is detached from the respective locking hole 221 of the first connecting member 22 and the respective locking bore 281 of the second connecting member 28 as shown in FIG. 5 to unlock the first connecting member 22 and the second connecting member 28, such that the first connecting member 22 and the second connecting member 28 are pivotable freely relative to the mounting bracket 21 about the pivot pin 27. In such a manner, when the pull cord 3 is pulled upward, each of the two lower folding devices 2 is unlocked, so that the two opposite first sides (containing the two lower folding devices 2) of the lower portion of the frame 5 are folded, and the two opposite second sides (containing the two lower collapsible devices 4) of the lower portion of the frame 5 are movable toward each other as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 until two opposite sides of the frame 5 abut each other as shown in FIG. 8. Thus, the frame 5 is folded in a first stage so as to fold the playpen partially.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, each of the two lower collapsible devices 4 is unlocked so that the two opposite second sides (containing the two lower collapsible devices 4) of the lower portion of the frame 5 are folded so as to fold the frame 5. Thus, the frame 5 is folded in a second stage so as to fold the playpen entirely. Then, the frame 5 is fastened by the snap fasteners 521 so as to fix the playpen.

Accordingly, each of the two lower folding devices 2 is operated to fold the frame 5 in a first stage, and each of the two lower collapsible devices 4 is operated to fold the frame 5 in a second stage, so that the playpen is folded in a two-stage manner, thereby facilitating a user folding the playpen. In addition, the user only needs to pull the pull cord 3 to unlock each of the two lower folding devices 2 so as to partially fold the frame 5 easily and quickly. Further, the second compression spring 42 presses each of the two lower collapsible devices 4 to prevent each of the two lower collapsible devices 4 from being unlocked during operation of the two lower folding devices 2 to protect the user's safety. Further, the frame 5 is movable easily and quickly by provision of the castors 51.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A playpen, comprising:

a frame including a plurality of support rods pivotally connected with each other;
four upper folding devices mounted on an upper portion of the frame to fold the upper portion of the frame;
two lower folding devices mounted on two opposite first sides of a lower portion of the frame to fold the two opposite first sides of the lower portion of the frame;
a pull cord mounted between the two lower folding devices to control operation of the two lower folding devices;
two lower collapsible devices mounted on two opposite second sides of the lower portion of the frame to fold the two opposite second sides of the lower portion of the frame;
each of the two lower folding devices including:
a first connecting member mounted on a respective one of the support rods of the frame;
a second connecting member mounted on a respective one of the support rods of the frame and pivotally connected with the first connecting member;
a mounting bracket mounted on the first connecting member and the second connecting member;
a locking member movably mounted in the mounting bracket and movable between a first position where the locking member locks the first connecting member and the second connecting member so that the first connecting member and the second connecting member are locked onto the mounting bracket and a second position where the locking member unlocks the first connecting member and the second connecting member so that the first connecting member and the second connecting member are pivotable relative to the mounting bracket.

2. The playpen in accordance with claim 1, wherein

the first connecting member of each of the two lower folding devices has a first end inserted into the respective one of the support rods of the frame and a second end provided with a bifurcate mounting portion provided with two spaced locking holes;
the second connecting member of each of the two lower folding devices has a first end inserted into the respective one of the support rods of the frame and a second end provided with a bifurcate mounting section which is pivotally mounted in the mounting portion of the first connecting member and is provided with two spaced locking bores each juxtaposed to the respective locking hole of the first connecting member;
the locking member of each of the two lower folding devices is driven by the pull cord and has a bottom provided with two spaced locking blocks that are movable with the locking member between the first position where each of the two locking blocks of the locking member is inserted into the respective locking hole of the first connecting member and the respective locking bore of the second connecting member to lock the first connecting member and the second connecting member and the second position where each of the two locking blocks of the locking member is detached from the respective locking hole of the first connecting member and the respective locking bore of the second connecting member to unlock the first connecting member and the second connecting member.

3. The playpen in accordance with claim 2, wherein each of the two lower folding devices further includes:

an elastic member mounted in the mounting bracket and biased between the mounting bracket and the locking member to push the locking member to the first position thereof.

4. The playpen in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of the two lower folding devices further includes:

a compression spring mounted between any two of the support rods of the frame and abutting the mounting bracket;
a protective jacket mounted around the compression spring.

5. The playpen in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of the two lower collapsible devices is mounted between two of the support rods of the frame and pressed by a second compression spring which is mounted between the two of the support rods of the frame.

6. The playpen in accordance with claim 5, wherein the second compression spring is provided with a protective jacket.

7. The playpen in accordance with claim 3, wherein the mounting bracket of each of the two lower folding devices has an inside provided with a mounting chamber for mounting the mounting portion of the first connecting member and the mounting section of the second connecting member.

8. The playpen in accordance with claim 7, wherein the mounting bracket of each of the two lower folding devices has an upper portion provided with a slideway in which the locking member is slidable.

9. The playpen in accordance with claim 8, wherein the slideway of the mounting bracket of each of the two lower folding devices has a bottom provided with a guide channel connected to the mounting chamber to guide movement of the two locking blocks of the locking member.

10. The playpen in accordance with claim 8, wherein

the locking member of each of the two lower folding devices has a first end provided with a fixing recess and a second end provided with a receiving chamber;
the mounting bracket of each of the two lower folding devices has a first side provided with a through hole and a second side provided with an opening connected to the slideway for mounting a catch plate;
the pull cord has two distal ends each extending through the through hole of the mounting bracket and the locking member of the respective lower folding device and each provided with an enlarged head secured in the fixing recess of the locking member;
the elastic member of each of the two lower folding devices has a first end abutting the first side of the mounting bracket and a second end received in the receiving chamber of the locking member to push the locking member toward the catch plate which is used to stop movement of the locking member.

11. The playpen in accordance with claim 10, wherein

the locking member of each of the two lower folding devices has a periphery provided with an elongated entrance slit connected to the fixing recess;
each of the two distal ends of the pull cord extends through the entrance slit into the fixing recess of the locking member.

12. The playpen in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

an enclosure cloth enclosed around a periphery of the frame to encompass the upper folding devices, the lower folding devices and the lower collapsible devices;
a plurality of snap fasteners mounted on the support rods of the frame.

13. The playpen in accordance with claim 1, wherein the lower portion of the frame has a periphery provided with four castors.

14. The playpen in accordance with claim 2, wherein each of the two lower folding devices further includes a pivot pin extending through the mounting bracket, the mounting portion of the first connecting member and the mounting section of the second connecting member to combine the mounting bracket, the mounting portion of the first connecting member and the mounting section of the second connecting member.

15. The playpen in accordance with claim 1, wherein the mounting bracket of each of the two lower folding devices has a substantially inverted U-shaped cross-sectional profile.

16. The playpen in accordance with claim 10, wherein the locking member of each of the two lower folding devices is pushed by the elastic member to abut the catch plate so that each of the two locking blocks of the locking member is inserted into the respective locking hole of the first connecting member and the respective locking bore of the second connecting member.

17. The playpen in accordance with claim 16, wherein the locking member of each of the two lower folding devices is pulled by the respective distal end of the pull cord to compress the elastic member so that each of the two locking blocks of the locking member is detached from the respective locking hole of the first connecting member and the respective locking bore of the second connecting member.

Patent History
Publication number: 20090172879
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 8, 2008
Publication Date: Jul 9, 2009
Inventor: Chuan-Kai Hsu (Tainan City)
Application Number: 11/970,814
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Folding (5/99.1)
International Classification: A47D 13/06 (20060101);