FIELD
The disclosure relates to a bassinet frame, more particularly to foldable bassinet frame.
BACKGROUND
A bassinet is designed to provide a safe sleeping area for a child and is often required to be positioned at different heights in different situations. A conventional bassinet has a height adjusting mechanism which has a complex structure and heavy weight, making height adjustment of the conventional bassinet difficult and the conventional bassinet inconvenient to transport.
SUMMARY
Therefore, the object of the disclosure is to provide a bassinet frame that can alleviate at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art.
According to the disclosure, a bassinet frame includes a support frame, two leg units, and two pivot hubs each connecting a respective one of the leg units to the support frame.
Each of the leg units has a pivot end portion pivotally connected to a respective one of the pivot hubs, and a foot portion opposite to the pivot end portion.
Each of the leg units is pivotable relative to the support frame between a folded position, where the foot portion is proximal to the support frame, and an unfolded position, where the foot portion is distal from the support frame.
Each of the pivot hubs includes a locking pin. When each of the leg units is at the unfolded position, the locking pin of the respective pivot hub is movable between a stopping position, where the locking pin prevents a respective one of the leg units from moving toward the folded position, and a releasing position, where movement of the respective leg unit toward the folded position is permitted.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent in the following detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a bassinet frame according to the disclosure, illustrating leg units of the bassinet frame each at an unfolded position;
FIG. 2 is a side view of the first embodiment illustrating each of the leg units being at a folded position;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of a leg of each leg unit of the first embodiment, illustrating the leg in an collapsed state;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the leg of the first embodiment, illustrating the leg in an extended state;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side view of the first embodiment, illustrating a locking pin of a pivot hub at a stopping position and a corresponding leg unit at the unfolded position;
FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 5 but illustrating the locking pin at a releasing position and the corresponding leg unit at the folded position;
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a locking unit of the pivot hub, the corresponding leg unit, and an support frame of the first embodiment;
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the first embodiment, illustrating the corresponding leg unit at the unfolded position;
FIG. 9 is fragmentary perspective view of the pivot hub and the corresponding leg unit, illustrating the corresponding leg unit at the folded position;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a bassinet frame according to the disclosure, illustrating leg units of the second embodiment each at an unfolded position;
FIG. 11 is a fragmentary side view of the second embodiment, illustrating pivot and positioning rivets of a pivot hub in a secured state;
FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the pivot hub and a corresponding leg unit of the second embodiment;
FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 11, illustrating the pivot and positioning rivets in a movable state;
FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 10, illustrating the leg units each at an intermediate position;
FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a cover of the pivot hub of the second embodiment; and
FIG. 16 is a fragmentary side view of another embodiment of a bassinet frame.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that where considered appropriate, reference numerals or terminal portions of reference numerals have been repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements, which may optionally have similar characteristics.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a first embodiment of a bassinet frame includes a substantially rectangular support frame 1, two leg units 2 disposed at opposite sides of the support frame 1, and four pivot hubs 3 connected respectively to four corners of the support frame 1. Each of the pivot hubs 3 connects a corresponding one of the leg units 2 to the support frame 1. One of the leg units 2 is connected to two of the pivot hubs 3, and the other one of the leg units 2 is connected to the other two of the pivot hubs 3.
Specifically, each of the leg units 2 has a pivot end portion 201 pivotally connected to the corresponding two of the pivot hubs 3, and a foot portion 202 opposite to the pivot end portion 201. Each of the leg units 2 is pivotable relative to the support frame 1 between a folded position (see FIG. 2), where the foot portion 202 is proximal to the support frame 1, and an unfolded position (see FIG. 1), where the foot portion 202 is distal from the support frame 1. The structure of the bassinet frame is symmetrical in left-right and front-rear directions, so that only one leg unit 2 and a corresponding pivot hub 3 will be described hereinafter for the sake of brevity.
In this embodiment, the leg unit 2 includes two legs 21 and a foot bar 22. Further referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, each of the legs 21 includes an inner tube 212 and an outer tube 213 coupled telescopically to each other, and a tube fastener 214. The inner tubes 212 of the legs 21 are connected pivotally to the support frame 1 via corresponding pivot hubs 3 and serve as the pivot end portion 201 of the leg unit 2. The foot bar 22 interconnects the outer tubes 213 of the legs 21 and serves as the foot portion 202 of the leg unit 2.
For each of the legs 21, the inner tube 212 has an inner fastening hole 212a, the outer tube 213 has an outer fastening hole 213a and an outer fastening groove 213b, and the tube fastener 214 extends into the inner fastening hole 212a and is operable to extend retractably through the outer fastening hole 213a or into the outer fastening groove 213b for positioning the inner tube 212 relative to the outer tube 213. In this embodiment, for each of the legs 21, the inner fastening hole 212a is positioned distal from the support frame 1, and the outer fastening hole and groove 213a, 213b are respectively distal from and proximal to the foot bar 22. Each of the legs 21 is secured in an extended state (see FIG. 4) when the fastener 214 extends through the inner and outer fastening holes 212a, 213a, and is secured in a collapsed state (see FIG. 3) when the fastener 214 extends through the inner fastening hole 212a into the outer fastening groove 213b. To change each of the legs 21 from the collapsed state, the outer tube 213 is pulled downward with enough force so that the tube fastener 211 is disengaged from the outer fastening groove 213b. To change each of the legs 21 from the extended state, the tube fastener 214 needs to be operated through the outer fastening hole 213a to be disengaged from the outer fastening hole 213a. In this embodiment, the fastener 214 is a Valco snap button.
Referring to FIGS. 1, 5 and 6, the pivot hub 3 includes a locking unit 31, a hub housing 32 mounted to the support frame 1, and a pivot rivet 33 pivotally connected to the pivot end portion 201 of the leg unit 2. The locking unit 31 has a locking pin 311, an operating member 312 connected to the locking pin 311, and a locking resilient member 313 disposed between the support frame 1 and the operating member 312.
When the leg unit 2 is at the unfolded position, the locking pin 311 is movable between a stopping position (see FIG. 5), where the locking pin 311 abuts against the leg unit 2 to prevent the leg unit 2 from moving toward the folded position, and a releasing position (see FIG. 6), where movement of the respective leg unit 2 toward the folded position is permitted without being interfered by the locking pin 311. The operating member 312 is operable to move the locking pin 311 against a resilient force of the locking resilient member 313 from the stopping position to the releasing position.
Referring to FIG. 7, in this embodiment, the locking pin 311 extends in a first direction (D1) which is parallel to a pivot axis of the leg unit 2, and is movable in a second direction (D2) which is transverse to the first direction (D1) from the stopping position to the releasing position. The locking pin 311 abuts against the pivot end portion 201 of the respective leg unit 2 when the locking pin 311 is at the stopping position while the respective leg unit 2 is at the unfolded position.
Referring to FIGS. 6 to 9, the hub housing 32 is made of a flexible material and has a pin slot 321 extending in the second direction (D2), and a slot-defining surface defining a leg slot 322. In this embodiment, the locking pin 311 extends movably through the pin slot 321, and the locking resilient member 313 is connected between the operating member 312 and the hub housing 32 and extends along the second direction (D2).
The slot-defining surface has opposite upper and lower ends 322a, 322b serving respectively as upper and lower borders of the leg slot 322. The leg slot 322 has a large end portion and a small end portion that are respectively proximate to the upper and lower ends 322a, 322b of the leg slot 322. The small end portion is narrower than the large end portion and slightly narrower than the pivot end portion 201 of the leg unit 2. The pivot end portion 201 of the leg unit 2 extends through the leg slot 322 of the hub housing 32, abuts against the lower end 322b of the slot-defining surface of the hub housing 32 when the leg unit 2 is at the unfolded position (see FIG. 8), and is retained in the large end portion of the leg slot 322 of the hub housing 32 when the leg unit 2 is at the folded position (see FIG. 9). To move the leg unit 2 from the folded position to the unfolded position, a downward force is applied to the leg unit 2 which is large enough to allow the pivot end portion 201 of the leg unit 2 to push into the small end portion of the leg slot 322 of the pivot hub 3.
Referring to FIGS. 10 and 12, a second embodiment of the bassinet frame differs from the first embodiment in the structure of the leg units 2 and the pivot hubs 3. Similarly, only one leg unit 2 and one pivot hub 3 will be described hereinafter.
In this embodiment, the legs 21 of the leg unit 2 are formed in one piece with the foot bar 22 such that the inner and outer tubes 212, 213 are omitted and the leg unit 2 is substantially U-shaped. Ends of the legs 21 that are connected to corresponding pivot hubs 3 serve as the pivot end portion 201 of the leg unit 2. In this embodiment, the pivot end portion 201 is formed with a pin hole 201a.
Referring to FIGS. 11 to 13, the pivot hub 3 further includes a positioning unit 36 and, in replacement of the hub housing 32, a hub plate 34 and a cover 35. The hub plate 34 has a locking hole 342 and a positioning groove 341 having an arc-shaped main segment 341a and two rivet slots 341b that extend from the main segment 341a toward the pivot rivet 33.
In this embodiment, the locking pin 311 of the locking unit 31 of the pivot hub 3 is mounted in the pin hole 201a of the pivot end portion 201 of the leg unit 2 and extends in the first direction (D1) into the locking hole 342 of the hub plate 34 at the stopping position while the leg unit 2 is at the unfolded position. The locking resilient member 313 is disposed in the pin hole 201a of the pivot end portion 201 of the leg unit 2 and connected between the locking pin 311 and the pivot end portion 201. The operating member 312 is aligned with the locking hole 342 of the hub plate 34 and is operable to move the locking pin 311 against a resilient force of the locking resilient member 313 out of the locking hole 342 of the hub plate 34 to the releasing position.
The positioning unit 36 includes a positioning rivet 361 and a positioning resilient member 362. The positioning rivet 361 is mounted to the pivot end portion 201 of the leg unit 2 and movably extends into the positioning groove 341. The positioning resilient member 362 interconnects the pivot rivet 33 and the positioning rivet 361. The pivot rivet 33 and the positioning rivet 361 are movable relative to each other against a resilient force of the positioning resilient member 362 from a secured state (see FIG. 11) where the positioning rivet 361 is disposed in one of the rivet slots 341b of the positioning groove 341, to a movable state (see FIG. 13), where the positioning rivet 361 is disposed in and movable along the main segment 341a of the positioning groove 341. When the pivot and positioning rivets 33, 361 are in the secured state, rotational movement of the pivot end portion 201 of the leg unit 2 is not permitted. In this embodiment, the pivot rivet 33 is movable relative to the leg unit 2 such that the leg unit 2 can be pulled away from the pivot hub 3 to change the pivot and positioning rivets 33, 361 of the pivot hub 3 from the secured state to the movable state.
In this embodiment, the rivet slots 341b has an end slot that is disposed at an upper end of the main segment 341a and an intermediate slot disposed between the upper end and a lower end of the main segment 341a. The leg unit 2 is positioned at the folded position when the positioning rivet 361 is disposed in the end slot, and the leg unit 2 is positioned at an intermediate position (see FIG. 14) which is between the folded position and the unfolded position when the positioning rivet 361 is disposed in the intermediate slot. In this embodiment, the positioning unit 36 and the hub plate 34 are operable to adjust an angle between the support frame 1 and the leg unit 2 such that a height of the support frame 1 can be set. Referring to FIG. 16, in certain embodiments, the rivet slots 341b may have an end slot and a plurality of intermediate slots so that the leg unit 2 may be set at different angles to the support frame 1 and the height of the support frame 1 may be set to a number of intermediate heights between a maximum height and a minimum height. In other embodiments, different mechanisms such as a spring-loaded gear mechanism actuated with a button or a one-hand actuator located on the support frame may be used to achieve the same effect.
Referring to FIGS. 11 and 15, the cover 35 has a deformable portion 351 and a rib 352 extending from the deformable portion 351 into the positioning groove 341 of the hub plate 34. The rib 352 has a thickness that decreases from an upper end to a lower end of the main segment 341a of the positioning groove 341, and the positioning rivet 361 pushes the rib 352 out of the positioning groove 341 and moves the deformable portion 351 of the cover 35 away from the hub plate 34 as the positioning rivet 361 is moved from the lower end toward the upper end of the main segment 341a of the positioning groove 341. In other words, the rib 352 fills the positioning groove 341 of the hub plate 34 when the respective leg unit 2 is at the unfolded position, and the rib 352 is deflected out of the positioning groove 341 via deformation of the deformable portion 351 when the leg unit 2 is moved away from the unfolded position.
It should be noted that, in other embodiments, the bassinet frame may be equipped with only two pivot hubs 3, and each pivot hub 3 interconnects the support frame 1 and one leg 21 of a respective one of the leg units 2.
In the description above, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details have been set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that one or more other embodiments may be practiced without some of these specific details. It should also be appreciated that reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” an embodiment with an indication of an ordinal number and so forth means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic may be included in the practice of the disclosure. It should be further appreciated that in the description, various features are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of various inventive aspects, and that one or more features or specific details from one embodiment may be practiced together with one or more features or specific details from another embodiment, where appropriate, in the practice of the disclosure.
While the disclosure has been described in connection with what are considered the exemplary embodiments, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.
Patent Application
20200352351
