Compact Playpen

Abstract

The present disclosure describes a playpen device that is convertible between a collapsed configuration and a deployed configuration. The playpen device includes a plurality of semi-rigid supports and a shell material. The shell material can be independent from the plurality of semi-rigid supports when the playpen device is in the collapsed configuration. When the playpen device is in the deployed configuration, the plurality of semi-rigid supports provide a frame for a playpen to which the shell material is coupled. Additionally, when in the deployed configuration, the shell material defines a volume having a bottom surface, a top surface that is open to the surrounding environment, and a side wall extending from the bottom surface to the top surface.

Description

BACKGROUND

Playpens, playards, and cribs come in portable varieties. For example, a fold-up playpen generally includes a single-unit collapsible frame that can be collapsed down for storing or transporting and then set up for use as a playard or a crib for a child. These fold-up playpens provide convenience when compared to a traditional crib, but are heavy and large, even when collapsed down. For example, fold-up playpens are too large to be used as a carry-on suitcase on a commercial airplane flight and are often checked as an individual item instead. However, in part because of their size, fold-up playpens are sturdy and easy to set up, particularly because the frame is a single unit.

Thus, fold-up playpens offer a sturdy frame that is easy to set up, but are bulky and heavy to provide these features. While fold-up playpens are useful in some situations, they are inconvenient for others. Therefore, a need exists for a light-weight, portable playpen that can be simply deployed and disassembled into a small package for storing or transporting.

This Background introduces a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below. This Background is not an admission of prior art and should not be considered as such.

SUMMARY

This disclosure claims priority to, and incorporates by reference, U.S. provisional application 62/669,011 entitled “Compact Playpen with an Inflatable Mattress” and having common inventorship as the present application. This disclosure describes a convertible playpen device that can be converted between a collapsed configuration and a deployed configuration. This disclosure also describes techniques for converting a playpen device from a collapsed configuration to a deployed configuration. The described convertible playpen device improves on conventional portable playpens by providing a relatively lightweight playpen that, when in a collapsed configuration, is relatively compact compared to a collapsed conventional portable playpen that is similarly sized when in a deployed configuration.

In some example implementations, a playpen device is convertible between a collapsed configuration and a deployed configuration. The playpen device includes a plurality of semi-rigid supports and a shell material that is independent from the plurality of semi-rigid supports when in the collapsed configuration. For example, the semi-rigid supports may be fully separable from the shell material. When the playpen device is in the deployed configuration, the plurality of semi-rigid supports provide a frame for a playpen to which the shell material is coupled. The shell material then defines a volume having a bottom surface, a top surface that is open to the surrounding environment, and a side wall extending from the bottom surface to the top surface. The side wall may have a cross-section (substantially parallel to the bottom surface) that is substantially in the shape of a rectangle, a rounded rectangle, an oval, a circle, a triangle, a pentagon, a hexagon, an octagon, etc.

In some implementations, when in the deployed configuration, at least two of the plurality of semi-rigid supports intersect at least twice along the side wall of the described playpen device. The intersecting semi-rigid supports may form two sides of a generally triangular shape with an edge of the bottom surface forming the third side of the shape.

In some implementations, the sidewall includes an openable portion positioned between an intersection of at least two of the plurality of semi-rigid supports and an edge of the bottom surface. For example, the openable portion may be positioned within a generally triangular shape formed between the at least two of the plurality of semi-rigid supports and the bottom surface. In some implementations, another openable portion positioned between another intersection of the at least two of the plurality of semi-rigid supports and an edge of the bottom surface. For example, the openable portion may be positioned on a side of the sidewall that is opposite the other openable portion.

In some implementations, when in the deployed configuration, the side wall includes one or more openable portions that are configured to be openable only from the exterior of the volume. For example, the openable portion may attach to the side wall on an exterior surface of the side wall such that the openable portion may be detached at the exterior surface of the side wall. In another example, the openable portions are configured with a zipper to open and close the openable portions and a tab to move the zipper is only located on the exterior of the side wall. Additionally or alternatively, the openable portions are configured to engage with a lock, on one of the side wall and the bottom surface, such that the openable portion can be locked or unlocked from the exterior of the volume.

In some implementations, the top surface is non-planar. For example, the top surface is concave along one or both of a length and a width of the top surface. Additionally or alternatively, the top surface is convex along one or both of a length and a width of the top surface. In a particular example the top surface is convex along one of the width and the length and is concave along the other of the width and the length.

In some implementations, when the playpen device is in a deployed configuration, the top surface has a width and a length and the bottom surface has a width and a length. In particular implementations, the width of the top surface is narrower than the width of the bottom surface. In other, or the same, particular implementations, the length of the top surface is narrower than the length of the bottom surface. In some of these implementations, an area of the bottom surface is at least double an area of a scalar projection (i.e., an area measured in a plane parallel to the bottom surface) of the top surface (e.g., an opening in the shell material).

In some implementations, when in the deployed configuration, the plurality of semi-rigid supports extend from the bottom surface to the top surface. In some of these implementations, the semi-rigid supports extend from the bottom surface at or adjacent to a corner of the bottom surface, to the top surface, and back to the bottom surface at or adjacent to a different corner of the bottom surface. Additionally or alternatively, the semi-rigid supports extend from the bottom surface at or adjacent to an edge of the bottom surface, to the top surface, and back to the bottom surface at or adjacent to a different edge of the bottom surface.

In some implementations, when in the deployed configuration, the plurality of semi-rigid supports couple to the shell material by inserting the semi-rigid supports through respective sleeves of the shell material. In some implementations, the semi-rigid supports also couple to the shell material by inserting ends of the semi-rigid supports into end receivers at or adjacent to an edge or corner of the bottom surface.

In some implementations, the semi-rigid supports are collapsible at a plurality of joints. The semi-rigid supports may be broken down into smaller portions having smaller lengths. The smaller portions may be completely separable or may be connected with a string, elastic band, or other non-rigid connector.

In some implementations, the playpen device further includes a mattress that is sized and shaped to fit on top of the bottom surface. The mattress pad may be removable. In such implementations of the mattress pad, the mattress pad may include a first coupling member configured to engage with a second coupling member of an interior of the bottom surface. Additionally or alternatively, the mattress pad may include one or both of an inflatable bladder and a foam material inside of a water resistant exterior material.

In some implementations, the playpen device further includes a shade fabric that, when in the deployed configuration, is suspended above the top surface and is generally parallel with the bottom surface.

In some implementations, the semi-rigid supports substantially consist of aluminum.

This Summary introduces a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. As such, this Summary is not intended to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to narrow the scope of the claimed subject matter. One or more of the described features may be included in an implementation of a playpen device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The use of the same reference numbers in different instances in the description and the figures may indicate similar or identical items. Entities represented in the figures may be indicative of one or more entities and thus reference may be made interchangeably to single or plural forms of the entities in the discussion.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example compact playpen device shown in a deployed configuration.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the example compact playpen device of FIG. 1 showing its width.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the example compact playpen device of FIG. 1 showing its length.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the example compact playpen device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the example compact playpen device of FIG. 1

FIG. 6 is flow chart showing a method of converting a playpen device from a collapsed configuration to a deployed configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Overview

The described implementations of the playpen device provide a playpen device that is light-weight and compact when in a collapsed configuration when compared to conventional playpens of similar size when deployed. This allows a parent to bring the compact playpen device in a small bag rather than lug around a heavy and bulky playpen when traveling.

In a particular implementation of a compact playpen device, the compact playpen device includes two collapsible poles that are collapsible at a plurality of joints. The two collapsible poles serve as semi-rigid supports that frame the compact playpen device when in a deployed configuration. The compact playpen device also includes a shell material that attaches to the two collapsible poles to form a bottom surface and a side wall that extends generally upwardly, and slightly inwardly, from the exterior edge or edges of the bottom surface. Thus, the shell material provides a bounded area for a child to play or sleep. The shell material also defines a volume, but does not fully enclose the volume because it provides an opening at the top of the volume. This way, a parent can set a child into the deployed compact playpen device via the opening at the top of the volume and remove the child in the same way. The compact playpen device may also include a mattress for added comfort, which may be fitted to the bottom surface of the volume to prevent a child from becoming stuck under or next to the mattress, and which may be removable for easier cleaning

Example Implementation

FIGS. 1-5 illustrate an example implementation of a compact playpen device 100 in a deployed configuration. The compact playpen device 100 includes a plurality of semi-rigid supports 102 and a shell material 104 that, when the playpen device 100 is in a deployed configuration, defines a volume 106 interior to the shell material 104. For example, the shell material 104 may include a bottom surface and a sidewall that extends generally upwardly from an exterior edge of the bottom surface.

The plurality of semi-rigid supports 102 may comprise 2 semi-rigid supports as shown in FIG. 1, or may include 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or more semi-rigid supports. For example, additional supports may be added to the implementation shown in FIG. 1 at ends of the compact playpen device by coupling one end of an additional support to the shell material 104 at or adjacent to a bottom surface and coupling a second end of the additional support to another semi-rigid support, at or adjacent to a top edge of the sidewall.

The semi-rigid supports 102 may comprise, or substantially consist of, a hard plastic or a metal material (not necessarily including joints, which are discussed below), such as aluminum, steel, a metal with a high carbon concentration, to provide a stiff and solid support that is not inflexible. Additionally or alternatively, the semi-rigid supports 102 may be hollow to reduce their weight.

The semi-rigid supports 102 may be collapsible at a plurality of joints 108 (which may be a metal material or another material) to allow the semi-rigid supports 102 to be broken down into a plurality of short sections when the compact playpen device 100 is in the collapsed configuration. For example, the joints 108 may be about 12, 15, 18, 21, or 24 inches apart along a length of the semi-rigid supports 102. Additionally or alternatively, the semi-rigid supports 102 may intersect along a side wall of the shell material 104. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the two semi-rigid supports 102 intersect along two opposite sides of the sidewall of the shell material.

The semi-rigid supports 102 can be coupled to the shell material 104 via one or more of a sleeve 110 that is an integral part of the shell material 104, end receivers 112 at or adjacent to an edge or corner of a bottom surface of the shell material 104, and an intersection coupler 114. The sleeve 110 may include one or more loops or extended loops through which the semi-rigid supports 102 may pass. The end receivers 112 may, for example, include a pin or a narrow loop such that respective ends of the semi-rigid supports 102 attach, but cannot move longitudinally past the end receivers 112. The intersection coupler 114 may include two or more of a loop through which a semi-rigid support 102 can pass or a partial loop into which a semi-rigid support 102 can fit. The intersection coupler 114 may be integrally coupled to the shell material 104 such that it couples the shell material 104 to two or more semi-rigid supports 102.

In some implementations, such as in FIG. 1, at least some of the plurality of semi-rigid supports 102 extend from the bottom surface 118, at or adjacent to an edge or corner, to the top surface of the defined volume. Also, as shown, the semi-rigid supports 102 may return from the top surface to the bottom surface 118 at or adjacent to another edge or corner.

The shell material 104 may also include one or more openable portions 116. The openable portions 116 may be positioned, as shown in FIG. 1, between an intersection of at least two semi-rigid supports and an edge of the bottom surface of the shell material 104. This may provide support to the opening created when the openable portion 116 is opened. The one or more openable portions 116 may include two or more openable portions 116 that are, for example, on opposite sides of the sidewall of the shell material 104. The openable portions 116 may be configured to be openable only from the exterior of the volume defined by the shell material 104. For example, the openable portions may be configured with a zipper to open and close the openable portions with the tab to move the zipper being only located on the exterior of the sidewall. Alternatively, the openable portions may be configured with a hook and loop or hook and hook fastener, a push button, a string, a hook lock, or other type of fastener. Additionally or alternatively, the openable portions may be configured to engage with a lock, on one of the side wall and the bottom surface, such that the openable portion can be locked or unlocked from the exterior of the volume.

FIG. 2 shows an end of the compact playpen device showing its width. The sidewall of the shell material 104 includes the illustrated end surface extending from a bottom surface 118 of the shell material 104. The end surface has a width 120 along the bottom edge adjacent to the bottom surface 118 of the shell material 104. A top edge 122 has a width 124 defining an edge of the top surface of the volume defined by the shell material 104 from an end perspective. The width 124 may be narrower than the width 120. Additionally or alternatively, the top edge 122 may define the top surface of the volume as convex along its width. Further, the top edge of the illustrated end (the “width end”) may be defined by one or more of the plurality of semi-rigid supports.

The end surface of the shell material 104 may also include one or more portions that are transparent. For example the transparent portions may be made of a mesh material that does not allow the child to pass through, but through which a parent can view inside of the defined volume.

FIG. 3 shows the compact playpen device 100 showing its length. The sidewall of the shell material 104 includes the illustrated side surface extending from a bottom surface 118 of the shell material 104. The side surface has a length 126 along the bottom edge adjacent to the bottom surface 118 of the shell material 104. A top edge 128 has a length 130 defining an edge of the top surface of the volume defined by the shell material 104 from a side perspective. The length 130 may be narrower than the length 126. Additionally or alternatively, the top edge 128 may define the top surface of the volume as concave along its length. Further, the top edge of the illustrated end (the “length end”) may include a portion that is defined by the shell material 104 without direct support of one or more of the plurality of semi-rigid supports.

In some implementations, one or both of the width 120 and the length 126 are wider or longer than the width 124 or the length 130, respectively. In some of these implementations, the bottom surface has an area (e.g., approximately width 120×length 126) that is at least 1.5×, 2×, or 2.5× an area of a scalar projection of the top surface onto the bottom surface (e.g., approximately width 124×length 130).

Also shown in FIG. 3, the compact playpen device 100 may include a shade fabric 132 such that, when the playpen device 100 is in the deployed configuration, the shade fabric 132 is suspended above the top surface of the volume defined by the shell material 104. For example, the shade fabric 132 may be suspended via a rigid post coupled to one or more of the semi-rigid supports 102 or the intersection coupler 114. The shade fabric 132 may also be waterproof or water resistant.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the compact playpen device 100 that shows the volume defined by the shell material 104. FIG. 4 also shows a mattress 134 that may be included with the compact playpen device 100. The mattress 134 may be sized and shaped to fit on top of the bottom surface 118 of the shell material 104. Additionally or alternatively, the mattress 134 may be removable to allow for easy cleaning In such implementations of the mattress 134, the mattress 134 may include a first coupling member configured to engage with a second coupling member of an interior of the bottom surface. For example, the coupling members may include one or more of push buttons, hook and loop fasteners, and hook and hook fasteners. Additionally or alternatively, the mattress 134 may include one or both of an inflatable bladder and a foam material inside of a water resistant exterior material. In implementations with an inflatable bladder, the inflatable bladder may be self-inflating, which may be helpful to avoid filling the bladder externally to the volume and inserting it into position when the mattress 134 has a larger width or length than the top surface of the volume.

Although FIGS. 1-5 describe an example implementation 100 of a compact playpen device 100, other implementations of compact playpen devices are contemplated. For example, any one or more elements or features described above may be combined or omitted from an implementation of a compact playpen device. Thus, the scope of this disclosure includes implementations having any number of the elements or features described above and is not limited to an implementation having each of the elements and features discussed above or shown in the figures.

Example Method

FIG. 6 illustrates a method of converting a playpen device from a collapsed configuration to a deployed configuration. For illustrative purposes, but not by limitation, the steps of this method may be described relative to the implementation illustrated in FIGS. 1-5.

At operation 602, a plurality of semi-rigid supports are assembled into respective extended configurations from a collapsed configuration. For example, a person assembles the semi-rigid supports 102 by connecting short sections of the semi-rigid supports 102 at one or more joints 108. In some implementations, the semi-rigid supports include short sections that are shaped in one of at least two shapes. For example, some may be straight and others may be curved.

At operation 604, the plurality of semi-rigid supports are inserted though one or more respective sleeves of a shell material. For example, the semi rigid supports 102 are inserted into one or more of the sleeves 110 of the shell material 104. The semi rigid supports 102 may also be coupled to one or more end receivers 112 of the shell material 104 and/or one or more intersection couplers 114.

In response to the insertion at operation 604, the shell material defines a volume having a bottom surface, a top surface that is open to the surrounding environment, and a side wall extending between the bottom surface and the top surface. In some implementations, at least two of the plurality of semi-rigid supports intersect at least twice along the side wall. Further, the plurality of semi-rigid supports may extend from the bottom surface to the top surface. The shell material and semi rigid supports may also include any of the elements or features described in relation to any of the implementations of compact playpen devices discussed herein.

Conclusion

Although the invention has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claimed invention.

Claims

1. A playpen device that is convertible between a collapsed configuration and a deployed configuration, the playpen device comprising:

a plurality of semi-rigid supports; and

a shell material, the shell material independent from the plurality of semi-rigid supports when in the collapsed configuration;

wherein, when the playpen device is in the deployed configuration: the plurality of semi-rigid supports provide a frame for a playpen to which the shell material is coupled, and the shell material defines a volume having a bottom surface, a top surface that is open to the surrounding environment, and a side wall extending from the bottom surface to the top surface.

2. The playpen device of claim 1, wherein, when in the deployed configuration, at least two of the plurality of semi-rigid supports intersect at least twice along the side wall.

3. The playpen device of claim 2, wherein the sidewall includes an openable portion positioned between an intersection of the at least two of the plurality of semi-rigid supports and an edge of the bottom surface.

4. The playpen device of claim 2, wherein the sidewall includes two or more openable portions positioned between respective intersections of the at least two of the plurality of semi-rigid supports and an edge of the bottom surface.

5. The playpen device of claim 1, wherein, when in the deployed configuration, the side wall includes one or more openable portions that are configured to be openable only from the exterior of the volume.

6. The playpen device of claim 5, wherein the openable portions are configured with a zipper to open and close the openable portions and a tab to move the zipper is only located on the exterior of the side wall.

7. The playpen device of claim 5, wherein the openable portions are configured to engage with a lock, on one of the side wall and the bottom surface, such that the openable portion can be locked or unlocked from the exterior of the volume.

8. The playpen device of claim 1, wherein the top surface is concave along its length.

9. The playpen device of claim 1, wherein, when in the deployed configuration,

the top surface has a first width and a first length;

the bottom surface has a second width and a second length; and

at least one of: the first width is narrower than the second width, and the first length is shorter than the second length.

10. The playpen device of claim 9, wherein the bottom surface has an area that is at least double an area of a scalar projection of the top surface onto the bottom surface.

11. The playpen device of claim 1, wherein, when in the deployed configuration, the plurality of semi-rigid supports extend from the bottom surface to the top surface.

12. The playpen device of claim 1, wherein, when in the deployed configuration, the plurality of semi-rigid supports couple to the shell material by inserting the semi-rigid supports through respective sleeves of the shell material.

13. The playpen device of claim 1, wherein the semi-rigid supports are collapsible at a plurality of joints

14. The playpen device of claim 1, further comprising a removable mattress pad that is sized and shaped to fit on top of the bottom surface.

15. The playpen device of claim 14, wherein the removable mattress pad includes an inflatable bladder.

16. The playpen device of claim 14, wherein the removable mattress pad includes a foam material inside of a water resistant exterior material

17. The playpen device of claim 14, wherein the removable mattress pad includes a first coupling member configured to engage with a second coupling member of an interior of the bottom surface.

18. The playpen device of claim 1, further comprising a shade fabric such that, when in the deployed configuration, the shade fabric is suspended above the top surface.

19. The playpen device of claim 1, wherein the semi-rigid supports substantially consist of aluminum.

20. A method of converting a playpen device from a collapsed configuration to a deployed configuration, the method comprising:

assembling a plurality a;

inserting the plurality of semi-rigid supports through respective sleeves of a shell material;

wherein, in response to the insertion: the shell material defines a volume having a bottom surface, a top surface that is open to the surrounding environment, and a side wall extending between the bottom surface and the top surface; at least two of the plurality of semi-rigid supports intersect at least twice along the side wall; and the plurality of semi-rigid supports extend from the bottom surface to the top surface.