This invention relates generally to an article for use by children in a vehicle and more particularly to a playpen device for children for use in a vehicle.
In today's fast paced environment, more and more families are spending a greater amount of time in their vehicles traveling from place to place. This is becoming even more true as the economic situation worsens, leaving families to take “staycations” to local or semi-local destinations that require driving, rather than trips that require air travel. One problem associated with trips that require driving (including non-staycation related driving), involves keeping the children, toddlers and infants busy or entertained during the drive time. Currently, there are a number of devices available to parents that keep toddlers and young children busy during these trips. For example, CD which play music, DVD players which play videos and handheld video games are just some of these devices.
Unfortunately, these devices can be expensive to purchase and purchasing the media for them can be even more expensive. For example, the cost of each movie DVD and music CD is typically in the $15-$20 range and the cost for each video game is typically in the $40 dollar range. Furthermore, while these devices may keep children over the age of 4 or so busy and entertained, they do little for the younger children that are required to sit in a car seat. As such, for these younger children, parents typically have other types of games and toys, such as rattles, dolls, toy cars, etc, to keep the child busy and entertained. Unfortunately however, while some car seats have trays that can drinks and food stuff, such as cookies, these trays do not function well as play spaces. Accordingly, while the child is playing their toys may fall off or roll off of the tray onto the floor or seat. Additionally, this occurs with children who are not in a car seat. For example, they typically only have their lap area as a play space available to them.
This is undesirable for several reasons. Firstly, if the toy falls or rolls off the tray and lands on the floor, it can become dirty so that if the child puts the toy in their mouth that dirt now ends up in the child's mouth. Secondly, if the toy falls or rolls off the tray and lands on the floor, the toy may become lost because the child may not be able to articulate where the toy landed. Thirdly, toys that fall or roll off the tray typically land out of reach of the child and must be retrieved and given back to the child. Thus, if only one adult is in the vehicle or if multiple passengers are in the vehicle and are in the front seat, the driver must pull over to allow the toy to be retrieved. In some cases, this may not possible or may require the driver to pull to the side of the road which can be dangerous.
A playpen device is provided and includes a playpen base portion having a playpen base first side, a playpen base second side and a playpen base rear side, a playpen back portion having a playpen back first side, a playpen back second side and a playpen back bottom side, and two playpen side portions, wherein each of the two playpen side portions includes a playpen side rear side and a playpen side bottom side. The playpen base first side is rotatably connected with the playpen side bottom side of one of the two playpen side portions and the playpen base second side is rotatably connected with the playpen side bottom side of the other of the two playpen side portions. Additionally, the playpen base rear side is rotatably connected with the playpen back bottom side, and the playpen device is configurable between a first configuration and a second configuration.
A playpen device is provided and includes a playpen base portion, a playpen back portion and two playpen side portions, wherein the playpen base portion is rotatably connected with the playpen back portion and the two playpen side portions, such that the playpen device is configurable between a first configuration and a second configuration.
A method for associating a playpen with a car seat is provided, wherein the play pen includes a playpen base portion, a playpen back portion and two playpen side portions. The method includes configuring the playpen back portion and the two playpen side portions to be substantially parallel to the playpen base portion, securing the two playpen side portions to the playpen back portion to form a playpen cavity and associating the car seat playpen to a car seat such that a child positioned within the car seat can access the playpen cavity.
The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like elements are numbered alike:
As disclosed herein with regards to an exemplary embodiment, a playpen device is provided for use with or without a car seat to provide a play space for a child in a car, where the playpen device creates a partially enclosed space defining a playing surface that allows a young child to play with toys within the partially enclosed space without having those toys be susceptible to falling off of the playing surface or their lap. As disclosed herein, the playpen device is easily configurable between a first configuration (i.e. an assembled configuration) and a second configuration (i.e. a disassembled configuration). When in the disassembled configuration, the playpen device folds up and is portable and stowable and when in the assembled configuration the playpen device is usable by a child.
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In accordance with the invention, the playpen base 104 is constructed from a rigid or semi-rigid material to provide a stable platform for holding toys and other articles. Additionally, each of the playpen back 106 and playpen sides 108 include an open portion 138 that is covered with a transparent or semi-transparent material, such as a clear (or tinted) plastic material or a netting material to allow viewing of the playpen cavity 102 from the side or rear of the playpen device 100. If tinted, the plastic material can act as a sun shade.
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It should be appreciated that the connection device 134 may be an adjustable strap that connects (via snap, hook, clip, etc.) to the playpen sides 108. Alternatively, the connection device 134 may include one strap connected to one of the playpen sides 108 and another strap connected to the other of the playpen sides 108, where each of the straps are configured to associate with each other behind the car seat 136, the child or the seat belt. Still yet another alternative may include a connection device 134 constructed of a resilient elastic strap, that upon positioning the playpen device 100, is stretched over the top of the car seat 136 to be around the back of the car seat 136. If no car seat 136 is being used, then the playpen device 100 may be attached to the seat belt, the child, the head rest or some other suitable anchor means. Additionally, although the playpen sides 108 and the playpen back 106 are described as each having a playpen side connection device 130 and a playpen back connection device 132, respectively, it should be appreciated that the playpen back 106 and playpen sides 108 may be securely associated together via any method or device suitable to the desired end purpose, such as a Velcro® connection, a zipper, a snap, a hook, a latch, a clip, etc. . . .
Additionally, it is contemplated that the playpen base 104, playpen sides 108 and/or playpen back 106 may be adjustable for use with various sized car seats and/or for increasing/decreasing the size of the playpen cavity 102. One way this adjustability may be accomplished may involve slidable and/or attachable (via snaps, Velcro®, straps, zippers, etc.) extensions. As briefly discussed above, this would allow the playpen device 100 to be used with or without a car seat. For example, a child who does not use a car seat could use the playpen device 100 as a play space on his/her lap.
While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, omissions and/or additions may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, unless specifically stated any use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another.
This application claims benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/278,350 (Atty. Docket No. 6701.124077) filed Oct. 7, 2009, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein it its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61278350 | Oct 2009 | US |