ONE-HAND CONTROL CRIB AND METHOD FOR OPERATING THE SAME

A crib includes two side frames, two joints, a folding unit and two links. The two side frames each have two parallel transverse tubes and two connection tubes connected to two respective first ends of the two transverse tubes. Two parallel upright tubes support the transverse tubes and the connection tubes. The two respective second ends of the two transverse tubes of the two side frames are connected with the two respective joints. The folding unit is connected to one of the side frames and is connected to the two joints by the two links. When pressing the folding unit, the joints are unlocked by the links so as to move the two side frames toward each other.

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Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a crib, and more particularly, to a crib which is foldable and expandable by one hand only.

2. Brief Description of Prior Art

The conventional crib is disclosed in Taiwan Utility Model No. M382780 and comprises a joint connected at the center of each side of the top frame, and the joints allow the crib to be folded.

Another conventional crib is disclosed in Taiwan Utility Model No. M345539 which is similar to the above mentioned crib and comprises a joint connected at the center of each side of the top frame, and the joints allow the crib to be folded.

However, because the cribs are folded by pulling the bottom unit upward to fold the bottom frame, and then the four sides of the top frame are folded and moved toward each other. The pad put on the bottom frame has to be removed before folding the crib. When the crib is expanded again, the pad is put on the bottom frame, and this is inconvenient for the users. Furthermore, the joints have to be unlocked one by one when folding the crib and the folding action cannot be completed by single hand.

The present invention intends to provide a crib which can be folded by using one hand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a crib and comprises two side frames and each side frame has two parallel transverse tubes and two connection tubes are connected to two respective first ends of the two transverse tubes. Two parallel upright tubes support the transverse tubes and the connection tubes. Two respective second ends of the two transverse tubes of the two side frames are connected with two respective joints. A folding unit is connected to one of the side frames and the folding unit is connected to the two joints by two links.

Preferably, the two transverse tubes and the connection tube of each of the two side frames form a U-shaped top portion. The two upright tubes are pivotably and respectively connected to two ends of the connection tube of the top portion.

Preferably, the two transverse tubes and the connection tube of one of the two side frames form a U-shaped top portion. The two upright tubes are pivotably and respectively connected to two ends of the connection tube of the top portion. The two transverse tubes and the connection tube of the other one of the two side frames form a U-shaped side portion. The two transverse tubes are pivotably and respectively connected to two ends of the connection tube of the side portion.

Preferably, each of the joints comprises a base having a connection section, and two side panels extend from two ends of the connection section. A space is defined between the two side panels. Two operation units are located in the space and are respectively and pivotably connected to the two side panels by two first pins. The operation units each have a support section extending from a first direction. The operation units each have a contact section extending from a second direction. The two contact sections are engaged with each other. A pivot is connected to the contact section of one of the operation units. An elongate hole is defined through the contact section of the other one of the operation units. The pivot pivotably extends through the elongate hole. A pressing section extends from a third direction of each of the two operation units. A resilient member is connected between the two support sections of the two operation units. Two end members are respectively connected to two respective second ends of the two transverse tubes. Each end member has a slot which is engaged with the support section of the operation unit corresponding thereto. A second pin extends through the side panels, the second ends of the transverse tubes and the end member.

Preferably, the folding unit comprises an end bar and two plates are pivotably connected to the end bar. The two links are pivotably connected to the two plates. The end bar has a button which is located at lower ends of the two plates. When pressing the folding unit, the joints are unlocked by the links so as to move the two side frames toward each other.

The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view to show the crib of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view to show the folded status of the crib of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view to show the other embodiment of the crib of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view to show the portion “A” of the FIGS. 1 and 3 of the crib of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is the perspective view to show the portion “A” of the FIGS. 1 and 3 of the crib of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is the exploded view to show the portion “B” of the FIG. 3 of the crib of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is the perspective view to show the portion “B” of the FIG. 3 of the crib of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view to show the joint of the crib of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an exploded view to show the folding unit of the crib of the present invention, and

FIG. 10 is the perspective view to show the folding unit of the crib of the present invention.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, the crib of the present invention comprises two side frames 1, two joints 2, a folding unit 3 and two links 4.

Each of the side frames 1 has two parallel transverse tubes 11 and two connection tubes 12 are connected to two respective first ends 111 of the two transverse tubes 11. Two parallel upright tubes 13 support the transverse, tubes 11 and the connection tubes 12. Two respective second ends 112 of the two transverse tubes 11 of the two side frames 1 are connected with the two respective joints 2. The folding unit 3 is connected to one of the side frames 1 and the folding unit 3 is connected to the two joints 2 by two links 4. The crib can be folded, as shown in FIG. 2, by the steps of pressing the folding unit to move the two links and then unlocking the two joints by movement of the two links so as to allow the two side frames to move toward each other.

The two transverse tubes 11 and the connection tube 12 of each of the two side frames 1 form a U-shaped top portion “A”. The two upright tubes 13 are pivotably and respectively connected to two ends of the connection tube 12 of the top portion “A”. A restriction unit 14 is connected between the transverse tube 11 and the upright tube 13 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The restriction unit 14 has a sleeve 141 and a link 142, wherein the sleeve 141 is mounted to the transverse tube 11 and two ends of the link 142 are respectively and pivotably connected to the sleeve 141 and the upright tube 13.

As shown in FIG. 3 which shows the other side frame 1 wherein the two transverse tubes 11 and the connection tube 12 of one of the two side frames 1 form a U-shaped top portion “A”. The two upright tubes 13 are pivotably and respectively connected to two ends of the connection tube 12 of the top portion “A”. The two transverse tubes 11 and the connection tube 12 of the other one of the two side frames 1 form a U-shaped side portion “B”. The two transverse tubes 11 are pivotably and respectively connected to two ends of the connection tube 12 of the side portion “B”. A restriction unit 14 is connected between the transverse tube 11 and the upright tube 13 as shown in FIGS. 4 to 7. The restriction unit 14 has a sleeve 141 and a link 142, wherein, the sleeve 141 is mounted to the transverse tube 11 and two ends of the link 142 are respectively and pivotably connected to the sleeve 141 and the upright tube 13.

In the embodiment as shown in FIG. 1 or 3, each of the upright tubes 13 has a wheel 15 or a support leg 16 connected thereto.

A bottom frame 5 is connected between the upright tubes 13 and comprises multiple U-shaped tubes 51. Each of the U-shaped tubes 51 has outer ends 511 connected to the upright tubes 13, and each of the U-shaped tubes 51 has an inner end 512 connected to a bottom unit 52.

As shown in FIG. 8, each of the joints 2 comprises a base 21, two operation units 22, a resilient member 21 and two end members 24. The base 21 has a connection section 211 and two side panels 212 extend from two ends of the connection section 211. A space 213 is defined between the two side panels 212.

The two operation units 22 are located in the space 213 and are respectively and pivotably connected to the two side panels 212 by two first pins 221. The operation units 22 each have a support section 222 extending from the first direction “M”. A protrusion 223 extends from the top end of the support section 222. The support section 222 has a boss 224 extending from the top end thereof and the boss 224 extends toward the second direction “N”. The operation units 22 each have a contact section 225 extending from the second direction “N”. The two contact sections 225 are engaged with each other. A pivot 226 is connected to the contact section 225 of one of the operation units 22, and an elongate hole 227 is defined through the contact section 225 of the other one of the operation units 22. The pivot 226 pivotably extends through the elongate hole 227. A pressing section 228 extends from the third direction “O” of each of the two operation units 22. The resilient member 23 is connected between the two support sections 222 of the two operation units 22. The two end members 24 are respectively connected to two respective second ends 112 of the two transverse tubes 11. Each end member 24 has a slot 241 which is engaged with the support section 222 of the operation unit 22 corresponding thereto. Furthermore a groove 242 is concavely formed on the slot 241 to be engaged with the protrusion 223. A second pin 243 extends through the side panels 212, the second ends 112 of the transverse tubes 11 and the end member 24. The base 21 is pivotably connected to the transverse tubes 11 and the end member 24 is secured in the second end 112 of the transverse tube 11.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the folding unit 3 comprises an end bar 31, two plates 32 are pivotably connected to the end bar 31, and a button 33 located at lower ends of the two plates 32. The two plates 32 are pivotably connected to the two links 4 and the button 33 is able to push the lower ends of the two plates 32.

When folding the crib, by pressing the button 33 which pushes the lower ends of the two plates 32 so that the two plates 32 are pivoted toward each other about the end bars 31. The links 4 drive the operation unit 22 located at the joint 2 so that the operation unit 22 is pivoted toward the first direction “M” about the first pin 221 and the other operation unit 22 is driven by the contact section 225 and also pivoted about the first pin 221 and toward the first direction “M”. The two support sections 222 of the operation unit 22 do not support the second ends 112 of the transverse tubes 11 so that the joints 2 are unlocked.

Preferably, the pressing section 228 of each of the operation units 22 has a hook 229 formed in the first direction “M” as shown in FIG. 8. When the folding action of the second end 112 is almost finished, the hook 229 hooks the slot 241, so that the operation unit 22 drives the other operation unit 22 to be disengaged status to prevent one end of the joint 2 is still locked. If the joint 2 has one end locked and the user is not acknowledged, it is easily damaged by folding the crib by force.

While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A crib comprising:

two side frames each having two parallel transverse tubes, two connection tubes being connected to two respective first ends of the two transverse tubes, two parallel upright tubes supporting the transverse tubes and the connection tubes;
two respective second ends of the two transverse tubes of the two side frames connected with two respective joints and
a folding unit connected to one of the side frames and the folding unit being connected to the two joints by two links.

2. The crib as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the two transverse tubes and the connection tube of each of the two side frames form a U-shaped top portion, the two upright tubes are pivotably and respectively connected to two ends of the connection tube of the top portion.

3. The crib as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two transverse tubes and the connection tube of one of the two side frames form a U-shaped top portion, the two upright tubes are pivotably and respectively connected to two ends of the connection tube of the top portion, the two transverse tubes and the connection tube of the other one of the two side frames form a U-shaped side portion, the two transverse tubes are pivotably and respectively connected to two ends of the connection tube of the side portion.

4. The crib as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the joints comprises a base having a connection section and two side panels extend from two ends of the connection section, a space is defined between the two side panels, two operation units are located in the space and are respectively and pivotably connected to the two side panels by two first pins, the operation units each have a support section extending from a first direction, the operation units each have a contact section extending from a second direction, the two contact sections are engaged with each other, a pivot is connected to the contact section of one of the operation units, an elongate hole is defined through the contact section of the other one of the operation units, the pivot pivotably extends through the elongate hole, a pressing section extends from a third direction of each of the two operation units, a resilient member is connected between the two support sections of the two operation units, two end members are respectively connected to two respective second ends of the two transverse tubes, each end member has a slot which is engaged with the support section of the operation unit corresponding thereto, a second pin extends through the side panels, the second ends of the transverse tubes and the end member.

5. The crib as claimed, in claim 1, wherein the folding unit comprises an end bar, two plates are pivotably connected to the end bar, the two links are pivotably connected to the two plates, the end bar has a button which is located at lower ends of the two plates.

6. The crib as claimed in claim 5, wherein the pressing section of each of the operation units has a hook formed in the first direction.

7. The crib as claimed in claim 1, wherein a restriction unit is connected between the transverse tube and the upright tube, the restriction unit has a sleeve and a link, the sleeve is mounted to the transverse tube and two ends of the link are respectively and pivotably connected to the sleeve and the upright tube.

8. The crib as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the upright tubes has a wheel or a support leg connected thereto.

9. The crib as claimed in claim 1, wherein a bottom frame is connected between the upright tubes and comprises multiple U-shaped tubes, each of the U-shaped tubes has outer ends connected to the upright tubes, each of the U-shaped tubes has an inner end connected to a bottom unit.

10. A method for folding the crib, comprising the steps of

(a) pressing a folding unit: a folding unit being connected to one of two side frames is pressed to move two links; and
(b) unlocking two joints: two joints separately connected with two corresponding side frames are co-moved by movement of the two links.
Thereby the two side frames are able to move toward each other for folding the crib.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein each of the two side frames has two parallel transverse tubes, two connection tubes being connected to two respective first ends of the two transverse tubes and two parallel upright tubes supporting the transverse tubes and the connection tubes; two respective second ends of the two transverse tubes of the two side frames are connected with the two respective joints; the folding unit is connected to one of the side frames and to the two joints by the two links.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the two transverse tubes and the connection tube of each of the two side frames form a U-shaped top portion, the two upright tubes are pivotably and respectively connected to two ends of the connection tube of the top portion.

13. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the two transverse tubes and the connection tube of one of the two side frames form a U-shaped top portion, the two upright tubes are pivotably and respectively connected to two ends of the connection tube of the top portion, the two transverse tubes and the connection tube of the other one of the two side frames form a U-shaped side portion, the two transverse tubes are pivotably and respectively connected to two ends of the connection tube of the side portion.

14. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein each of the joints comprises a base having a connection section and two side panels extend from two ends of the connection section, a space is defined between the two side panels, two operation units are located in the space and are respectively and pivotably connected to the two side panels by two first pins, the operation units each have a support section extending from a first direction, the operation units each have a contact section extending from a second direction, the two contact sections are engaged with each other, a pivot is connected to the contact section of one of the operation units, an elongate hole is defined through the contact section of the other one of the operation units, the pivot pivotably extends through the elongate hole, a pressing section extends from a third direction of each of the two operation units, a resilient member is connected between the two support sections of the two operation units, two end members are respectively connected to two respective second ends of the two transverse tubes, each end member has a slot which is engaged with the support section of the operation unit corresponding thereto, a second pin extends through the side panels, the second ends of the transverse tubes and the end member.

15. The method as claimed, in claim 11, wherein the folding unit comprises an end bar, two plates are pivotably connected to the end bar, the two links are pivotably connected to the two plates, the end bar has a button which is located at lower ends of the two plates.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the pressing section of each of the operation units has a hook formed in the first direction.

17. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein a restriction unit is connected between the transverse tube and the upright tube, the restriction unit has a sleeve and a link, the sleeve is mounted to the transverse tube and two ends of the link are respectively and pivotably connected to the sleeve and the upright tube.

18. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein each of the upright tubes has a wheel or a support leg connected thereto.

19. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein a bottom frame is connected between the upright tubes and comprises multiple U-shaped tubes, each of the U-shaped tubes has outer ends connected to the upright tubes, each of the U-shaped tubes has an inner end connected to a bottom unit.

Patent History
Publication number: 20140047639
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 20, 2012
Publication Date: Feb 20, 2014
Inventor: Pao-Hsien CHENG (Tainan)
Application Number: 13/589,392
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Folding (5/99.1)
International Classification: A47D 7/00 (20060101);