CONVERTIBLE ENCLOSURE SYSTEM
A convertible enclosure system includes a rigid structure covered by a flexible liner. The rigid structure includes an upper frame with a first side bar, a second side bar, a front bar, and a rear bar, and legs extending downward from the upper frame and terminating at foot ends. The front and rear bars are adjustable in length between a retracted length and an extended length. The flexible liner includes an upper member surrounding upper frame, a bottom member operably connected to foot ends of each of the legs, and a sidewall extending between the upper member and the bottom member. The flexible liner is configured to adjust in size as the length of the front bar and the length of the rear bar is adjusted.
Baby cribs and playpens come in a wide variety of configurations, including some that are designed for storage or transport. An issue with many of these products is the difficulty in preparing the crib or playpen for travel, sometimes requiring additional tools to disassemble. Furthermore, if both a crib and a playpen are needed, a parent must transport two separate items.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is directed to a children's enclosure system that can change in size to provide various methods of use and can fold to allow for easy storage or transport of the enclosure.
An exemplary enclosure has a first configuration of a crib and a second configuration of a playpen in which the sides of the enclosure have been spread apart to increase the overall size of the enclosure. The enclosure includes a flexible liner that is connected to an underlying rigid structure with the flexible liner configured to adjust in size as the size of rigid structure is adjusted.
One exemplary rigid structure includes a substantially rectangular upper frame comprised of: a first, or left, side bar; a second, or right, side bar; a front bar; and a rear bar. Four legs extend downward from each of the corners of the upper frame, with each of the legs rotatable relative to the upper frame by way of a pivot connection. The pivot connection allows each of the legs is rotatable relative to the upper frame and the leg is locked by the pivot connection in either a deployed position or in a folded position.
With respect to the front and rear bars in particular, the front bar includes a first front member connected to a front end of the first side bar and a second front member connected to a front end of the second side bar. Likewise, the rear bar includes a first rear member connected to a rear end of the second side bar and a second rear member connected to a rear end of the first side bar. The second members of the front and rear bars are slidably connected to the first members so that the front bar and the rear bar are adjustable in length between a retracted length and an extended length longer than the retracted length. A locking members is included on each of the front and rear bars to control movement of the second members relative to the first members. In some embodiments, the second members are smaller than the first members and are coaxially arranged with the first members to slide within the first members.
With respect to the first and second side bars in particular, the first side bar includes a rear-side member connected to the second rear member of the rear bar and a front-side member connected to the first front member of the front bar. Likewise, the second side bar includes a rear-side member connected to the first rear member of the rear bar and a front-side member connected to the second front member of the front bar. The rear-side members are rotatably connected to the front-side members by way of a locking member so that the first and second side bars are foldable between an aligned configuration in which the front-side member is substantially in line with the rear-side member and a folded configuration in which the front-side member and the rear-side member are next to each other and substantially parallel.
One exemplary flexible liner includes a padded upper member that is operably connected to the upper frame so as to cover the first side bar, the second side bar, the front bar, and the rear bar. The flexible liner further includes a bottom member that is operably connected to each of the legs, as discussed further below, and a sidewall that extends between the upper member and the bottom member. The upper member, the bottom member, and the sidewall of the flexible liner are configured to adjust in size to accommodate the adjustable length of the front and rear bars of the rigid structure.
With respect to the upper member in particular, a first, or left, portion of the upper member covers one side of the upper frame (i.e., a left side of the front bar, the entirety of the first side bar, and a left side of the rear bar) and a second, or right, portion of the upper member covers the other half of the upper frame (i.e., half of the front bar, the entirety of the second side bar, and half of the rear bar). When the enclosure is configured as a playpen, a first central portion of the upper member of the flexible liner extends between the first portion and the second portion to cover a portion of the front bar of the upper frame and a second central portion of the upper member of the flexible liner extends between the first portion and the second portion to cover a portion of the rear bar of the upper frame. When the enclosure is configured as a crib, the first and second portions of the upper member are directly connected to each other with the first central portion and the second central portion folded, or bunched together below the first and second portions of the upper member. The upper member of the flexible liner can thereby accommodate the adjustable length of the front and rear bars of the rigid structure.
With respect to the bottom member in particular, the bottom member includes a first, or left, portion and a second, or right, portion. When the enclosure is configured as a playpen, a central portion of the bottom member extends between the first portion and the second portion. When the enclosure is configured as a crib, the first and second portions of the bottom member are directly connected to each other with the central portion folded, or bunched together below the first and second portions of the bottom member. The bottom member of the flexible liner can thereby accommodate the adjustable length of the front and rear bars of the rigid structure. Straps extend between corners of the bottom member and each of the legs to thereby secure the bottom member to the ends of the legs.
With respect to the sidewall, a first, or left, portion of the sidewall extends between the first portion of the upper member and the first portion of the bottom member, and a second, or right, portion of the sidewall extends between the second portion of the upper member and the second portion of the bottom member. When the enclosure is configured as a playpen, a first central portion of the sidewall of the flexible liner extends between the first central portion of the upper member and the central portion of the bottom member. Likewise, a second central portion of the sidewall of the flexible liner extends between the second central portion of the upper member and the central portion of the bottom member. When the enclosure is configured as a crib, the first and second portions of the sidewall are directly connected to each other with the first central portion and the second central portion of the sidewall folded, or bunched together in front of the first portion and the second portion of the sidewall. The sidewall thereby extends around the entirety of the enclosure while still accommodating the adjustable length of the front and rear bars of the rigid structure.
The exemplary flexible liner further includes a first set of connectors and a second set of connectors that are configured to selectively connect to the first set of connectors. In one preferred embodiment, the connectors are each one half of a zipper. It is contemplated, however, that alternate connectors can be used including, for example, buttons, ties, snaps, or the like, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. One half of the zipper is located along the border between the first portions of the flexible liner and the central portions of the flexible liner, and the second set of connectors is located along the border between the second portions of the flexible liner and the central portions of the flexible liner. When the enclosure is configured as a crib, the zipper is capable of being closed so as to directly connect the first portions of the flexible liner to the second portions of the flexible liner. However, when the enclosure is configured as a playpen, the zipper is open such that the central portions of the flexible liner extend between and connect the first portions of the flexible liner to the second portions of the flexible liner.
When the first side bar is in the aligned configuration, the second side bar is in the aligned configuration, and the legs are in the deployed position, the flexible liner defines an area above the bottom member and surrounded by the sidewall configured to contain a child. To this end, an exemplary enclosure system of the present invention further includes pads that are removably attached to the enclosure. In some embodiments, when the enclosure is configured as a crib, a mattress is provided to be removably connected to the enclosure and substantially cover the bottom member of the flexible liner, and when the enclosure is configured as a playpen, a playmat is provided to be removably connected to the enclosure and substantially cover the bottom member of the flexible liner.
According to some exemplary embodiments, in order to change the enclosure from the crib configuration to the playpen configuration, the mattress is first removed; the zipper is undone to separate the first portions of the flexible liner from the second portions of the flexible liner; the sides of the enclosure are pulled away from one another to thereby increase the length of the front bar and the rear bar of the upper frame of the rigid structure and unfold the central portions of the flexible liner; and the playmat is inserted into the enclosure.
According to some exemplary embodiments, in order to change the enclosure from the playpen configuration to the crib configuration, the playmat is first remove; the front and rear bars are unlocked and the sides of the enclosure are pushed together to thereby decrease the length of the front bar and the rear bar to the retraced position; the central portions of the flexible liner are folded and the zipper is closed to join the first portions of the flexible liner to the second portions of the flexible liner; and the mattress is inserted into the enclosure.
According to some exemplary embodiments, in order to fold the enclosure for storage or transportation, the enclosure is first put in the crib configuration without the mattress in place. The legs of enclosure are then folded, and then the first side bar and the second side bar of the upper frame of the rigid structure are folded into a folded configuration. In order to unfold the enclosure, the above process is essentially reversed. That is to say, the first side bar and the second side bar are unfolded and locked in an aligned configuration, and the legs are unfolded and locked in a deployed position.
The present invention is directed to a children's enclosure system that can change in size to provide various methods of use and can fold to allow for easy storage or transport of the enclosure.
Referring first to
Referring now specifically to
With respect to the front and rear bars 240, 250 in particular, and referring still to
With respect to the first and second side bars 220, 230 in particular, and referring still to
In this exemplary embodiment, the first member 242 of the front bar 240 and the front-side member 224 of the first side bar 220 are unitarily formed as a single unit. Likewise, the second member 244 of the front bar 240 and the front-side member 234 of the second side bar 230; the first member 252 of the rear bar 250 and the rear-side member 232 of the second side bar 230; and the second rear member 254 of the rear bar 250 and the rear-side member 222 of the first side bar 220 are each unitarily formed as single units. In other words, the upper frame 210 is comprised of four L-shaped members connected to form a rectangle. However, it is contemplated that the upper frame 210 may be comprised of any number of individual units connected by any means readily known in the art.
Referring once again to
With respect to the upper member 350 in particular, and referring still to
As shown in
With respect to the bottom member 380 in particular, and referring now specifically to
In the exemplary embodiment, the bottom member 380 is comprised of a durable flexible membrane, such as a heavy-duty non-woven fabric. Of course, the bottom member 380 can be formed of a variety of other materials without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, so long as the central portion 386 is sufficiently flexible to fold, or bunch together when the first and second portions 382, 384 of the bottom member 380 are directly connected to each other.
Referring once again to
Additional features of the bottom member 380, including hook-and-loop fasteners 388, triangular pockets 390, and slits 392, will be discussed further below.
With respect to the sidewall 370 in particular, and referring still to
In the exemplary embodiment, the sidewall 370 is comprised of a flexible mesh fabric, such as a non-woven fabric. Of course, the sidewall 370 can be formed of a variety of other materials without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, so long as the central portions 376a, 376b are sufficiently flexible to fold, or bunch together when the first and second portions 372, 374 of the sidewall 370 are directly connected to each other.
Referring once again to
As shown in
Referring now specifically to
Referring now to
Referring still to
Although not expressly shown, the first member 252, second member 254, and the locking member 256 of the rear bar 250 are configured and operate in a similar manner as the first member 242, second member 244, and locking member 246 of the front bar 240 described above with another indicia on the upper member 350 of the flexible liner 300 showing where the locking member 256 is located beneath the flexible liner 300.
Referring now to
Referring now to
As shown in
Although not expressly shown, the front-side member 234, the rear-side member 232, and the locking member 236 of the second side bar 230 are configured and operate in a similar manner as the front-side member 224, the rear-side member 222, and the locking member 226 of the first side bar 220 described above. When the first side bar 220 and the second side bar 230 are each in the folded configuration, the front bar 240 is adjacent to the rear bar 250.
Referring now to
Referring now specifically to
Referring now specifically to
Referring once again to
Referring now to
Next, the first set of connectors 312 are unconnected from the second set of connectors 314 (i.e., the zipper is undone) to separate the first portions 352, 372, 382 of the flexible liner 300 from the second portions 354, 374, 384 of the flexible liner 300. In particular, the zipper pull 316 is used to separate the first set of connectors 312 from the second set of connectors 314 by drawing the zipper pull 316 around the upper member 350 of the flexible liner adjacent to the front bar 240 of the upper frame 210, down the sidewall 370 of the flexible liner 300 at the front of the enclosure 100, across the bottom member 380, up the sidewall 370 of the flexible liner 300 at the rear of the enclosure 100, and around the upper member 350 adjacent to the rear bar 250 of the upper frame 210.
Next, the sides of the enclosure 100 are pulled away from one another to thereby increase the length of the front bar 240 and the rear bar 250 of the upper frame 210 of the rigid structure 200 and unfold the central portions 356a, 356b, 376a, 376b, 386 of the flexible liner 300. According to some embodiments, the front and rear bars 240, 250 must first be unlocked. With respect to the front bar 240, the button 248 of the locking member 246 is first depressed to remove the tooth 247 of the locking member 246 from a hole 245 defined in the second member 244 of the front bar 240, allowing the second member 244 to sliding within the first member 242 until the tooth 247 of the locking member 246 enters another hole 245 defined in the second member 244 and the front bar 240 is locked in an extended length.
In some other embodiments, however, there is no need to first depress the button 248 of the locking member. As previously mentioned, in some embodiments of the present invention, the second member 244 of the front bar 240 defines only one hole 245 positioned so that the locking member 246 locks the second member 244 in position relative to the first member 242 when the front bar 240 is in an extended length. It is contemplated that the flexible liner 300 is configured such that, when the first set of connectors 312 are connected to the second set of connectors 314 (i.e., the zipper is closed), the flexible liner 300 is sized so as to prevent the second members 244, 254 of the front and rear bars 240, 250 from sliding relative to the first member 242, 252. In other words, the second members 244, 254 is effectively locked in position relative to the first members 242, 252 so that the front bar 240 and the rear bar 250 are maintained in a retracted length when the enclosure 100 is configured as a crib without requiring additional holes in the front bar 240.
In either event, the rear bar 250 is likewise brought to the extended length and locked in place (
Next, the playmat 500 is inserted into the enclosure 100 (
In order to change the enclosure 100 from the playpen configuration (
Referring now to
Next, the first side bar 220 and the second side bar 230 of the upper frame 210 of the rigid structure 200 are folded (
In order to unfold the enclosure 100, the above process is essentially reversed. That is to say, the first side bar 220 and the second side bar 230 are unfolded and locked in an aligned configuration in which the front-side members 224, 234 are substantially in line with the rear-side members 222, 232 and the legs 260 are unfolded and locked in a deployed position.
Referring now to
For further details of the presently-disclosed subject matter, attached hereto as Appendix A is a series of Figures of an exemplary convertible enclosure configured as a crib and as a playpen in accordance with the present invention.
One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that additional embodiments and implementations are also possible without departing from the teachings of the present invention. This detailed description, and particularly the specific details of the exemplary embodiments and implementations disclosed therein, is given primarily for clarity of understanding, and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom, for modifications will become obvious to those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure and may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A convertible enclosure system, comprising:
- an upper frame including a first side bar, a second side bar substantially parallel to the first side bar, a front bar with a first front member connected to the first side bar and a second front member connected to the second side bar, the second front member slideably connected to the first front member such that the front bar is adjustable in length, and a rear bar with a first rear member connected to the first side bar and a second rear member connected to the second side bar, the second rear member slideably connected to the first rear member such that the rear bar is adjustable in length;
- legs extending downward from the upper frame and terminating at foot ends; and
- a liner including an upper member operably connected to the upper frame, and a sidewall extending downward from the upper member;
- wherein, the liner is configured to adjust in size as the length of the front bar and the length of the rear bar is adjusted.
2. The convertible enclosure system of claim 1, wherein the second front member is coaxially arranged with the first front member.
3. The convertible enclosure system of claim 1, wherein the second rear member is coaxially arranged with the first rear member.
4. The convertible enclosure system of claim 1, wherein, the front bar further includes a locking member to selective maintain the front bar at an extended length and the rear bar further includes a locking member to selective maintain the rear bar at an extended length; and
- wherein the upper member of the liner includes indicia at the locations of the locking members when the front bar is at the extended length and the rear bar is at the extended length.
5. The convertible enclosure system of claim 1, wherein the liner is a flexible liner that further includes:
- a bottom member operably connected to the foot ends of each of the legs with the sidewall extending between the upper member and the bottom member,
- a first line of connectors running from the upper member of the flexible liner adjacent to the front bar of the upper frame, down a front of the sidewall of the flexible liner, across the bottom member of the flexible liner, up a rear of the sidewall of the flexible liner, and to the upper member of the flexible liner adjacent to the rear bar of the upper frame, and
- a second line of connectors running parallel to the first line of connectors from the upper member of the flexible liner adjacent to the front bar of the upper frame, down the front of the sidewall of the flexible liner, across the bottom member of the flexible liner, up the rear of the sidewall of the flexible liner, and to the upper member of the flexible liner adjacent to the rear bar of the upper frame, the second line of connectors configured to selectively connect to the first line of connectors;
- wherein, when the first line of connectors are connected to the second line of connectors, the front bar has a retracted length and the rear bar has a retracted length; and
- wherein, when the first line of connectors are unconnected to the second line of connectors, the second front member is able to slide relative to the first front member until the front bar has an extended length and the second rear member is able to slide relative to the first rear member until the rear bar has an extended length.
6. The convertible enclosure system of claim 5, wherein, when the first line of connectors are connected to the second line of connectors, the flexible liner prevents the second front member from sliding relative to the first front member, thus maintaining the front bar at the retracted length and the flexible liner prevents the second rear member from sliding relative to the first rear member, thus maintaining the rear bar at the retracted length.
7. The convertible enclosure system of claim 5, wherein the first line of connectors comprise the teeth of one half of a zipper and the second line of connectors comprise the corresponding teeth of the other half of the zipper.
8. The convertible enclosure system of claim 5, wherein the upper member of the flexible liner includes a first portion operably connected to the first side bar and a second portion operably connected to the second side bar;
- wherein, when the first line of connectors are connected to the second line of connectors, the first line of connectors and the second line of connectors directly connect the first portion of the upper member to the second portion of the upper member; and
- wherein, when the first line of connectors are unconnected to the second line of connectors a central portion of the upper member extends between the first portion of the upper member and the second portion of the upper member.
9. The convertible enclosure system of claim 5, wherein the bottom member of the flexible liner comprises a first portion operably connected to two of the legs and a second portion operably connected to two other legs;
- wherein, when the first line of connectors are connected to the second line of connectors, the first line of connectors and the second line of connectors directly connect the first portion of the bottom member to the second portion of the bottom member; and
- wherein, when the first line of connectors are unconnected to the second line of connectors a central portion of the bottom member extends between the first portion of the bottom member and the second portion of the bottom member.
10. The convertible enclosure system of claim 9, wherein the sidewall of the flexible liner comprises a first portion extending between the upper member and the first portion of the bottom member and a second portion extending between the upper member and the second portion of the bottom member;
- wherein, when the first line of connectors are connected to the second line of connectors, the first line of connectors and the second line of connectors directly connect the first portion of the sidewall to the second portion of the sidewall; and
- wherein, when the first line of connectors are unconnected to the second line of connectors a central portion of the sidewall extends between the first portion of the sidewall and the second portion of the sidewall.
11. The convertible enclosure system of claim 5, further comprising:
- a mattress that substantially covers the bottom member of the flexible liner when the front bar has a retracted length and the rear bar has a retracted length; and
- a playmat that substantially covers the bottom member of the flexible liner when the front bar has an extended length and the rear bar has an extended length.
12. The convertible enclosure system of claim 1, wherein the first side bar includes a front-side member connected to the front bar and a rear-side member connected to the rear bar, the rear-side member pivotally connected to the front-side member such that the first side bar is foldable between an aligned configuration and a folded configuration; and
- wherein, the second side bar includes a front-side member connected to the front bar and a rear-side member connected to the rear bar, the rear-side member pivotally connected to the front-side member such that the second side bar is foldable between an aligned configuration and a folded configuration.
13. The convertible enclosure system of claim 1, wherein the legs are pivotally connected to the upper frame and foldable between a deployed position and a folded configuration.
14. A convertible enclosure system, comprising:
- an upper frame including a front bar, a rear bar substantially parallel to the front bar, a first side bar with a front-side member connected to the front bar and a rear-side member connected to the rear bar, the rear-side member pivotally connected to the front-side member such that the first side bar is foldable between an aligned configuration and a folded configuration, and a second side bar with a front-side member connected to the front bar and a rear-side member connected to the rear bar, the rear-side member pivotally connected to the front-side member such that the second side bar is foldable between an aligned configuration and a folded configuration;
- legs pivotally connected to the upper frame and terminating at foot ends, the legs foldable between a deployed position and a folded position; and
- a flexible liner including an upper member operably connected to the upper frame; a bottom member operably connected to foot ends of each of the legs; and a sidewall extending between the upper member and the bottom member;
- wherein, when the first side bar is in the aligned configuration, the second side bar is in the aligned configuration, and the legs are in the deployed position, the flexible liner defines an area above the bottom member and surrounded by the sidewall configured to contain a child.
15. The convertible enclosure system of claim 14, wherein, when the first side bar is in the folded configuration and the second side bar is in the folded configuration, the front bar of the upper frame is adjacent to the rear bar of the upper frame.
16. The convertible enclosure system of claim 14, wherein, when and the legs are in the folded position, the legs are substantially contained within the upper frame.
17. The convertible enclosure system of claim 14, wherein the first side bar further includes a locking member that rotatably connects the rear-side member of the first side bar to the front-side member of the first side bar, and the second side bar further includes a locking member that rotatably connects the rear-side member of the second side bar to the front-side member of the second side bar; and
- wherein, the upper member of the flexible liner includes indicia at the locations of the locking members of the first side bar and the second side bar.
18. The convertible enclosure system of claim 14, wherein the front bar includes a first front member connected to the first side bar and a second front member connected to the second side bar, the second front member slideably connected to the first front member such that the front bar is adjustable in length; and
- wherein, the rear bar includes a first rear member connected to the first side bar and a second rear member connected to the second side bar, the second rear member slideably connected to the first rear member such that the rear bar is adjustable in length.
19. A convertible enclosure system, comprising:
- a rigid structure including a first side bar foldable between an aligned configuration and a folded configuration, a second side bar foldable between an aligned configuration and a folded configuration, a front bar extended between and connecting the first side bar and the second side bar, the front bar adjustable in length between a retracted length and an extended length, a rear bar extended substantially parallel to the front bar between and connecting the first side bar and the second side bar, the rear bar adjustable in length between a retracted length and an extended length, and legs terminating at foot ends, the legs foldable between a deployed position and a folded position;
- a flexible liner including an upper member surrounding the first side bar, the second side bar, the front bar, and the rear bar, a bottom member operably connected to foot ends of each of the legs, the bottom member configured to adjust in size as the length of the front bar and the length of the rear bar is adjusted, and a sidewall extending between the upper member and the bottom member;
- a mattress that substantially covers the bottom member of the flexible liner when the front bar is the retracted length and the rear bar is the retracted length; and
- a playmat that substantially covers the bottom member of the flexible liner when the front bar is the retracted length and the rear bar is the retracted length.
20. The convertible enclosure system of claim 19, wherein, the mattress including two equally sized sections that can fold next to one another, and the playmat including four equally sized sections that are substantially the same size as the two sections of the mattress and that can fold next to one another; and
- wherein, when the front bar is the retracted length, the rear bar is the retracted length, the first side bar is in the folded configuration, the second side bar is in the folded configuration, and the legs are in the folded position, the rigid structure is substantially the same size as the folded mattress and the folded playmat.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 7, 2019
Publication Date: May 13, 2021
Inventors: Janet VILLANO (Jersey City, NJ), Maurits HOMAN (Muiderberg), Erin KNOWLTON (Brooklyn, NY), Alex GEORG (New York, NY), Chelsea CARTER (Jersey City, NJ)
Application Number: 16/676,661