Patent Application
20230404283
Aspects and embodiments of the disclosure are directed generally to a canopy for a foldable child enclosure, for example, a play pen, play yard, or crib, collectively referred to herein as a play yard.
In accordance with one aspect, there is provided a canopy for a child play yard. The canopy may comprise a first support rod for supporting a canopy material. The canopy material may be dimensioned to cover at least a portion of the child play yard. The canopy material may comprise at least one breakaway point.
In some embodiments, the canopy material may further comprise a skirt dimensioned to overhang the child play yard.
In some embodiments, the at least one breakaway point may be positioned on the skirt.
In some embodiments, the canopy material may be dimensioned to cover at least one corner of the child play yard. The canopy material may attach to a corner material dimensioned to be supported by the corner of the child play yard.
In some embodiments, the first support rod extends the canopy material from a first corner of the child play yard to a second corner of the child play yard.
In some embodiments, the canopy comprises a second support rod. The second support rod may extend the canopy material from a third corner of the child play yard to a fourth corner of the child play yard.
In some embodiments, the first support rod supports a front panel of the canopy material and the second support rod supports a back panel of the canopy material.
In some embodiments, the front panel is supported at a substantially right angle, and the back panel is supported at an angle smaller than a right angle.
In some embodiments, the canopy material comprises at least two breakaway points.
In some embodiments, the canopy material comprises at least one pleat.
In some embodiments, two portions of the breakaway point separate when a force of about 0.6-2.4 lbf (2.67-10.68 N) is applied to a target portion of the canopy material.
In some embodiments, the at least one breakaway point is fastened by at least one hook and loop, snap, or magnet.
In some embodiments, the canopy material comprises a pocket for the at least one support rod.
In accordance with another aspect, there is provided a canopy for a child play yard comprising a canopy material extending across a perimeter of the child play yard and at least one support rod for supporting the canopy material. The canopy material may comprise a skirt overhanging the child play yard.
In some embodiments, the skirt may be dimensioned to cover at least 40% of at least one side wall of the child play yard.
In some embodiments, the skirt may be dimensioned to cover at least 90% of at least one side wall of the child play yard.
In some embodiments, the canopy material comprises at least one breakaway point.
In some embodiments, the at least one breakaway point is positioned on the skirt.
In accordance with another aspect, there is provided a canopy for a child play yard comprising a canopy material extending across a perimeter of the child play yard and at least one support rod for supporting the canopy material. The canopy material may attach to a corner material dimensioned to be supported by a corner of the child play yard.
In some embodiments, the canopy material comprises more than one corner material, each corner material corresponding with a respective corner of the child play yard.
In some embodiments, a first support rod extends the canopy material from a first corner of the child play yard to a second corner of the child play yard, and a second support rod extends the canopy material from a third corner of the child play yard to a fourth corner of the child play yard.
In some embodiments, the canopy material comprises at least one breakaway point.
The accompanying drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale. In the drawings, each identical or nearly identical component that is illustrated in various figures is represented by a like numeral. For purposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in every drawing. In the drawings:
Parents or caregivers of young children may place the children in an enclosure, such as a play pen, play yard, or crib, referred to herein collectively as a play yard, that provides for the children to play with toys or rest while preventing the children from wandering and potentially injuring themselves. Exemplary play yards may include a frame that supports a lower floor, for example, a mattress or other soft surface, and upright legs and cross rails that support an enclosing material, for example, a fabric or mesh. In various implementations the frame may lock in an open position during use. One example of a play yard is illustrated generally at 10 in
Disclosed herein is a canopy for the play yard. The canopy may form a covered or semi-covered enclosure over the play yard, providing shade and protection from the elements. The canopy may include a canopy material and at least one support rod. The canopy material may be dimensioned to cover at least a portion of the child play yard. In some embodiments, the canopy material may be dimensioned to extend across a perimeter of the child play yard. One example of a canopy is shown generally at 100 in
A front view of an exemplary canopy 100 is shown in
The canopy 100 may comprise at least one support rod 120 for supporting the canopy material. The support rod 120 may support the canopy material in a tented position, allowing a child within the play yard to have headspace above the perimeter of the play yard. The exemplary support rod 120 of
In some embodiments, the support rod may be flexible and conformable into a spiral for storage, the support rod may be telescoping, or the support rod may be formed of multiple segments, optionally comprising a cord stringing the segments together. The support rod may be formed of a plastic or metal material. Exemplary plastic materials include nylon, acrylic, polypropylene, and polyethylene (such as cross-linked polyethylene (PEX)). Exemplary metal materials include aluminum and stainless steel. Other flexible supportive materials may be used.
The canopy material may comprise at least one breakaway point. One exemplary breakaway point is denoted as 116a in
In some embodiments, the two portions 115a, 115b of the breakaway point 116a separate when a force of 0.6-2.4 lbf (2.67-10.68 N) is applied to a target portion of the canopy material. For breakaway point 116a, the target portion of the canopy material may be front panel 130, for example, a substantially centrally located target portion of front panel 130. The breakaway point 116a may be designed to separate as a result of the force typically applied by a child, for example, an infant, toddler, preschooler, or school-age child, when standing or pushing against the target portion of the canopy material. In certain exemplary embodiments, the breakaway point 116a may be designed to be unfastenable or separable by a child of at least 15 lbs. (6.8 kg). In certain embodiments, the two portions of the breakaway point may be separable by a child of at least 15 lbs. (6.8 kg), at least 20 lbs. (9.1 kg), at least 25 lbs. (11.3 kg), or at least lbs. (13.6 kg).
The at least one breakaway point may be fastened by bringing together fasteners 118a positioned on first portion 115a and corresponding fasteners 118b positioned on second portion 115b. The number and dimensions of the fasteners may be selected to be unfastenable by the force applied to the target portion of the canopy material. Each portion 115a, 115b may comprise one, two, three, four, five, or more fasteners. In some embodiments, the fasteners may comprise at least one hook and loop, snap, or magnet.
The force for separating the two portions of a breakaway point may correspond generally to the peel strength of a hook and loop fastener (e.g., 1.2 PIW) having a width of 0.5-2.0 inches. The force for separating the two portions of the breakaway point may be 0.6-1.2 lbf (2.67-5.34 N), 1.2 lbf—1.8 lbf (5.34-8.01 N), 1.8 lbf—2.4 lbf (8.01-10.68 N), about 0.6 lbf (2.67 N), about 1.2 lbf (5.34 N), about 1.8 lbf (8.01 N), or about 2.4 lbf (10.68 N). The canopy material may comprise a skirt 112 dimensioned to overhang the child play yard 10. The skirt 112 may be dimensioned to cover at least a portion of a side wall of the play yard 10. In some embodiments, skirt 112 may be dimensioned to cover at least 10%, at least 20%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, or at least 90% of the side wall of the play yard. In some embodiments, skirt 112 may be dimensioned to cover substantially all of the side wall of the play yard.
At least one breakaway point 116a may be positioned on the skirt 112, as shown in
The front panel 130 may comprise a viewing window 132 as shown in
The canopy 100 may comprise one or more branding elements 136, as shown generally in
The edges of the canopy 100 may comprise border elements 124, as shown in the blown-up portion of
The first support rod 120 may generally extend the canopy material from a first corner of the child play yard 10 to a second corner of the child play yard 10 in support of front panel 130. The canopy may comprise a back panel supported by the support rod or supported by a second support rod. Exemplary back panel 140 is shown in
The front panel 130 and back panel 140 may be supported at substantially the same angle or at different angles. In some embodiments, the front panel 130 may be supported at a substantially right angle. The back panel 140 may be supported at a substantially right angle. The back panel may be supported at an angle smaller than a right angle, for example, about 90°-60°, about 60°-45°, about 45°-30°, or less than about 30°. Exemplary canopy 100 shown in
The front panel 130 may comprise a skirt 112a as shown in
In some embodiments, the canopy material comprises at least two breakaway points. Two exemplary breakaway points 116a, 116b are shown in
The two portions of breakaway point 116b formed by foldable portion 144 and skirt 112b may separate when a force of 0.6-2.4 lbf (2.67-10.68 N) is applied to a target portion of the canopy material. For breakaway point 116b, the target portion of the canopy material may be back panel 140 or upper panel 150, for example, a substantially centrally located target portion of back panel 140 or upper panel 150. The substantially centrally located target portion of back panel 140 may be positioned on or around foldable portion 144.
The breakaway point 116b may be designed to separate as a result of the force typically applied by a child, for example, an infant, toddler, preschooler, or school-age child, when standing or pushing against the target portion of the canopy material. In certain exemplary embodiments, the breakaway point 116b may be designed to be unfastenable or separable by a child of at least 15 lbs. (6.8 kg). In certain embodiments, the two portions of the breakaway point may be separable by a child of at least 15 lbs. (6.8 kg), at least 20 lbs. (9.1 kg), at least 25 lbs. (11.3 kg), or at least 30 lbs. (13.6 kg). The number and dimensions of the fasteners may be selected to be unfastenable by the force applied to the target portion of the canopy material, as previously described.
The back panel 140 may comprise a viewing window 148 as shown in
In some embodiments, the canopy material comprises at least one pleat. Exemplary pleat 142 is shown in
The canopy material may be dimensioned to cover at least one corner of the child play yard. The canopy material may attach to a corner material dimensioned to be supported by the corner of the child play yard, for example, resting on top of the corner of the play yard. An exemplary corner material 114 is shown in the blown-up portion of
The canopy 100 may comprise one, two, three, or four corner materials 114. For example, the canopy material may comprise more than one corner material, each corner material corresponding with a respective corner of the child play yard. Two front corner materials 114a, 114b are shown in
The child play yard may be foldable into a storage conformation, as shown generally in
In accordance with another aspect, there is provided a child play system comprising a play yard 10 and a canopy 100 mountable on the play yard 10. The canopy 100 may be dimensioned to correspond with the play yard 10. For instance, the canopy 100 may comprise one or more corners, optionally comprising a corner material 114a, 114b, positioned to correspond with one or more respective corners of the play yard 10. In use, the canopy 100 may be mounted on the play yard 10. The canopy 100 may generally remain mounted on the play yard 10 even after separation of the portions of the breakaway points 116a, 116b. Thus, the breakaway points 116a, 116b are not generally associated with dismounting of the canopy 100 from the play yard 10.
An exemplary child play system is shown in the drawings of
The function and advantages of these and other embodiments can be better understood from the following example. The example is intended to be illustrative in nature and not considered to be limiting the scope of the disclosure.
The play yard canopy is designed to reduce or avoid entanglement of a child who is attempting to climb over the play yard wall. A test was performed to determine whether a child having about 6 months of age of below average size could become entangled in the canopy when attempting to climb over a side wall of the play yard. The tested canopy included a front panel breakaway point and a back panel breakaway point fastened by hook and loop fasteners.
A 15 lb. 8 in. diameter ball was used as a test weight to simulate the child. A child growth and development chart shows the fifth percentile of children having 6 months of age weigh about 15 lbs. and have a height of about 25.5 in. With the canopy assembled onto the play yard, the test weight was gently pushed or rolled over a center point of a top rail of each side wall of the play yard. The test weight was allowed to fall to the ground.
The simulated event showed the test weight was able to fall to the ground on all four sides of the play yard. While testing the front and lateral sides of the canopy, the test weight caused the tensioning hook and loop fastener to tear away. While testing the back side of the canopy, the test weight fell freely through the canopy material breakaway point, without release of the tensioning hook and loop fastener.
Thus, it is believed a child of at least 15 lb. will not become entangled in the canopy while trying to climb over the play yard wall.
The disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The disclosure is capable of other examples and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional terms.
Having thus described several aspects of at least one embodiment of this disclosure, it is to be appreciated that various alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part of this disclosure and are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings are by way of example only.
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/366,511 titled “CANOPY FOR CHILD PLAY YARD” filed Jun. 16, 2022, the entire disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63366511 | Jun 2022 | US |
