Control device of lower frame assembly for a playpen

Abstract

A control device is pivotally connected with a lower frame assembly of a playpen. The control device has a pair of sleeves, a positioner, a resilient element, a push-button, a driving element, a string. Each of the pair of sleeves has a locking groove with a space for movably receiving the positioner and the resilient element. The positioner can be engaged with the locking groove to inhibit rotation between the pair of sleeves. The resilient element is positioned at one side of the positioner to bias the positioner, thereby keeping the playpen in an unfolded position. A push-button may be pushed to force the positioner to move against the biasing of the resilient element and enter one side of the pair of sleeves. The driving element is pivoted to one of the pair of sleeves to push the push-button. A user can rotate the driving element to push the push-button by pulling a string which is connected to one end of the driving element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a collapsible frame of a playpen according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the playpen of FIG. 1 in a collapsed state.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the control device according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the embodiment of the control device in an unfolded state.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the embodiment of the control device in an actuating position for folding a lower frame of a playpen.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an alternative embodiment of the control device in an unfolded state.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the embodiment of the embodiment of the control device in an actuating position for folding a lower frame of a playpen.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing a playpen with a control device according to the invention beginning to convert into a folded state.

Claims

1. A control device of lower frame assembly for a playpen, comprising: a pair of sleeves; connected to the lower frame of the playpen, each of the pair of sleeves having a locking groove;a positioner, movably received between the pair of sleeves and engaged with the locking groove;a resilient element, positioned at one side of the positioner for biasing on said positioner to keep the playpen in an unfolded position;a push-button, for forcing the positioner to move against the biasing of the resilient element and enter one side of the pair of sleeves;a driving element operatively abutting the push-button; anda string connected with the driving element, for driving the driving element to push the push-button.

2. The control device of claim 1, wherein the positioner is a tooth block slidably engaged with the locking groove.

3. The control device of claim 1, wherein one of the pair of sleeves has a pivoted portion for pivotally connecting with the driving element.

4. The control device of claim 1, wherein the driving element has a pulling end for connecting with the string, and is rotatable by pulling the string.

5. The control device of claim 1, wherein the driving element has a pushing end for abutting and pressing on a center portion of the push-button.

6. The control device of claim 5, wherein the pushing end is formed with a protruded portion for contacting a center portion of the push-button.

7. The control device of claim 5, wherein the pushing end is formed with an extended end for operatively contacting with a center portion of the push-button.

8. The control device of claim 1, wherein the playpen has a collapsible frame, and the positioner is kept in a position between the pair of sleeves and biased by the resilient element to inhibit the sleeves from rotating relative to each other when the collapsible frame is in the unfolded position, thereby keeping the collapsible frame, including the lower frame assembly, in the unfolded position.

9. The control device of claim 1, wherein the playpen has a collapsible frame, the push-button is positioned on a side of the positioner opposite the resilient element, and the positioner is arranged to be pushed by the push-button to enter one of the locking grooves, enabling the pair of sleeves to be rotatable relative to each other, thereby allowing conversion of the collapsible frame, including the lower frame assembly, to a folded configuration.

10. The control device of claim 1, wherein the resilient element is a compression spring.

11. The control device of claim 1, wherein the string is formed with a woven fabric.

12. The control device of claim 1, wherein the lower frame assembly includes: a first lower frame assembly pivotally coupled to a lower end of the playpen;a second lower frame assembly pivotally coupled to a lower end of said playpen; anda pair of connecting rods for connecting the first lower frame assembly and the second lower frame assembly to the control device.