Patent Grant
9138068
The present invention relates to convertible bed furniture, and more particularly concerns a crib convertible to a bed, a kit for forming one of a crib and a bed, and a method for converting a crib to a bed.
Known in the art are cribs used as sleeping means for infants, generally from birth until an age of two to three years of age. Conventional cribs typically include a mattress support board adapted to receive and support the crib mattress, as well as a headboard, footboard, and longitudinal side panels forming a boundary enclosing the entire periphery of mattress support board for the purpose of protecting and preventing the infant from rolling off, climbing out or otherwise falling out of the crib into the floor. Moreover, cribs are commonly structured such that the mattress support board may be adjustable in height so as to allow the infant to be placed on the mattress or removed therefrom without undue effort by the parent or the person attending the infant, while ensuring that a sufficiently safe distance is maintained between the mattress and the top portion of the crib.
As an infant grows and matures on through his or her childhood, bedding requirements change, and the appropriate bedding furniture changes from a crib to a different and generally larger bed, such as a youth bed or a twin bed. Twin beds are suitable for persons ranging in size from young children to full-sized adults. In North America, crib mattresses typically are about 27 inches wide and about 52 inches long, while twin bed mattresses typically are about 39 inches wide and about 75 inches long. One drawback associated with the child growing is the cost, time, and effort associated with finding, purchasing, and installing the new bed and to remove, store or discard the crib. One method of addressing these issues consisting in providing and designing convertible bed furniture that may be configured to form either a crib or, as the child grows through childhood, a larger bed.
Numerous attempts have been proposed to provide infant's cribs which are convertible to one or more bed configurations including youth beds, twin beds, and full-sized beds. Examples of such convertible bed systems are disclosed in the following patents and patent applications:
Although existing convertible cribs may be suitable in some applications, there remain various disadvantages associated therewith. One drawback of many of such designs is that they provide convertible cribs that may convert to full-size or double beds, but not to twin beds. However, twin beds are generally more suitable for young children as they occupy less space in what is often a smaller sized bedroom and are more than sufficiently large for use by a child. For example, known in the art are North American standard cribs having an outside length of about 54 inches and an inside length of about 52 inches, which may be convertible into a double or full-sized bed having an outside width of about 54 inches. For such convertible cribs, the two longitudinal side panels, which extend along the lengthwise direction of the crib for connecting the headboard and footboard thereof, are converted into the headboard and footboard of the bed, respectively, the headboard and footboard of the bed each having a width corresponding to the length of the longitudinal side panel. However, child bedrooms are often too small to accommodate a full-sized bed having a 54-inch outside width.
In view of the above, there exists a need for a crib that can be easily and conveniently converted to a bed having a width that is less than a length of the crib, while also alleviating at least some of the drawbacks of the prior art.
An object of the present invention is to satisfy at least one of the above-mentioned needs.
In accordance with an aspect of the invention, there is provided a crib convertible to a bed, the crib having a length greater than a width of the bed. The crib includes:
the crib mattress support board, the pair of longitudinal side panels and the pair of transverse side panels being perpendicularly removably attached one to another so as to define a crib frame of the crib,
wherein the main support member of the crib mattress support board is convertible, upon detachment of each extension support member therefrom, to a headboard of the bed, the headboard of the bed having a width substantially equal to the length of the main support member, and
wherein the main panel member of each of the pair of longitudinal side panels is convertible, upon detachment of each respective extension panel member therefrom, to a corresponding one of a pair of bed mattress support members disposable along a lengthwise direction of the bed, each bed mattress support member having a width substantially equal to the length of the corresponding main panel member.
Preferably, embodiments of the present invention provide a new and improved crib, which is convertible to a twin bed. Advantageously, embodiments of the present invention provide a crib which is conveniently and easily convertible to a bed. Further advantageously, the crib according to embodiments of the invention may be easily and economically fabricated using standard manufacturing techniques.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a kit for forming one of a crib and a bed, the crib having a length greater than a width of the bed. The kit includes:
In a crib configuration, the crib mattress support board, the pair of longitudinal side panels and the pair of transverse side panels are perpendicularly removably attachable one to another so as to define a crib frame of the crib.
In a bed configuration:
Advantageously, embodiments of the present invention provide a kit of components which, when assembled in the crib and bed configuration, yield a crib and a bed, respectively, which are sufficiently rigid, sturdy, and secure.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a kit for forming a crib convertible into a bed, the crib having a length greater than a width of the bed. The kit includes:
In a crib configuration, the crib mattress support board, the pair of longitudinal side panels and the pair of transverse side panels are perpendicularly removably attachable one to another so as to define a crib frame of the crib.
In a bed configuration, and with an addition of bed components including a pair of elongated members removably attachable to the pair of leg members for forming four sides of a bed frame of the bed:
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a kit for forming a bed from a crib, the crib having a length greater the crib having a length greater than a width of the bed. The crib includes:
The kit includes a pair of elongated members removably attachable to the pair of leg members for forming four sides of a bed frame of the bed.
In a bed configuration:
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of converting a crib as described above to a bed. The method includes the steps of:
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood upon reading of preferred embodiments thereof, provided merely by way of non-limitative examples, and upon referring to the appended drawings.
While the invention will be described in conjunction with example embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to such embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents, as may be included in the present description.
In the following description, similar features in the drawings have been given similar reference numerals and, in order to weigh down the figures, some elements are not referred to on some figures if they were already identified in preceding figures.
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a crib convertible to a bed, the crib having a length greater than a width of the bed.
As used herein, the term “crib” is meant to refer to a sleeping apparatus primarily intended for used by infants and very young children. Cribs are generally provided with walls, bars or other protecting and restrictive means to prevent an infant from falling out of the crib. The term “bed” is meant to refer herein to any article of furniture for sleeping or resting purposes which includes at least one open edge via which a person can enter and exit.
As used herein, the term “convertible” is intended to mean that the crib is configured to be readily changed to a bed by rearranging and/or eliminating components making up the crib so as to form the bed. In some embodiments, extra parts or elements may have to be used, in addition to the crib components, in order to form the bed.
The terms “length” and “width” as used throughout the present description with reference the crib, the bed or components thereof, refer to dimensions which are measured along a plane of the sleeping surface of the crib or bed. More specifically, the term “length” is intended to designate a dimension measured along a direction extending between the headboard and footboard of a crib or bed, while the term “width” is intended to designate a dimension taken at right angle to the length.
Referring to
Still referring to
As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily understand, the crib mattress support board 24, the pair of longitudinal side panels 26 and the pair of transverse side panels illustrated in
The terms “removably attached” and “removably connected”, and variants thereof, as used throughout the present description with reference to two or more elements, is intended to mean that the elements are secured, joined or otherwise connected to one another in a manner that permits the elements to be separated without damaging or permanently deforming the elements or any fasteners or attachments devices used to secure, join or connect the elements to one another.
It will also be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that, regardless of the removable character of the connections established when the crib mattress support board, the longitudinal side panels and the transversely side panels are attached one to another, the connections are preferably sufficiently strong and reliable for providing an adequate mechanical stability to the crib. The term “removably attached” is further intended to mean that attachment and detachment of the crib mattress support board, the longitudinal side panels and the transversely side panels is preferably achieved relatively easily and quickly by hand or by using common hand tools such as a screwdriver, a wrench or another driving tool.
One of ordinary skill in the art will also understand that the exact nature of the fasteners, attachment devices or connecting hardware used to connect the various panels, boards, elements, components and members found in the embodiments of present invention is not absolutely vital. The same may likewise be said regarding the attachment locations, that is, the locations where the various panels, boards, elements, components and members may connect. Hence, the particular type of fastener used for joining two or more elements at a given attachment location may vary, although the fastener should preferably provide secure attachment, while providing a convenient way to detach the elements from each other. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in
Moreover, for aesthetic purposes, the crib according to embodiments of the invention may preferably use internal attachment locations that may not be readily noticeable, either when the crib components are assembled in a crib configuration (see, e.g.,
As better shown in
The crib mattress support board 24 is preferably embodied by a flat, generally rectangular solid panel. As mentioned above, the crib support mattress board may be removably attached to the crib frame 30 according to various configurations and fasteners. For example, the crib 20 may preferably include at least one connecting member extending widthwise between the two longitudinal side panels 26 or lengthwise between the two transverse side panels 28, each connecting member being adapted for receiving and supporting the crib mattress support board 24. More specifically, the embodiment illustrated in
Preferably also, the crib mattress support board 24 is adapted to receive and support a crib mattress (not shown) upon which an infant may be placed and sleep. For example, in one embodiment, the crib mattress support board 24 may have a length of about 53½ inches and a width of about 29½ inches, which is sized and shaped so as to snugly receive and support a conventional crib mattress of about 52 inches in length and 27 inches in width. In the embodiment illustrated in
Referring back to the embodiment illustrated in
As discussed above, as an infant grows and matures on through his or her child, bedding requirements change and the appropriate bedding furniture changes from a crib to a different and generally larger bed. In this regard, the crib according to embodiments of the present invention is convertible to a bed by disassembling, removing, rearranging and reassembling at least some of the crib components to provide a bed, wherein the bed has a width which is less than the length of the crib.
For the purposes of converting the crib 20 to a bed 22, the main support member 34 of the crib mattress support board 24 is convertible, upon detachment of each extension support member 36a, 36b therefrom and as illustrated in
Referring now to
As described above with reference to the crib mattress support board 24, in one exemplary embodiment, each longitudinal side panel 26 may have a length of 53½ inches, which may correspond substantially to the length of the crib 20, while the main panel member 44 may have a length of about 40½ inches. Alternatively, other dimensions may be considered without departing from the scope of the invention. Preferably also, but not necessarily, the length of the main panel member 44 of each longitudinal side panels 26 is substantially equal to the length of the main support member 34 of the crib mattress support board 24.
In the illustrated embodiment, the main panel member 44 of each of the pair of longitudinal side panels 26 includes a horizontal top portion 48, an opposite horizontal bottom portion 50, and a plurality of vertical rungs 52 extending vertically between the top and bottom portions 48 and 50. Moreover, in the illustrated embodiments, each of the pair of transverse side panels 28 is embodied by a solid panel that does not feature rungs or spindles. However, other embodiments may include longitudinal and transverse side panels 26 and 28 provided with rungs of various shapes, sizes, orientation and spacing without departing from the scope of the invention. It will be understood that the shape, size, orientation and spacing of the rungs preferably comply with appropriate safety regulations.
The at least one extension panel member 46a, 46b of each longitudinal side panel 26 preferably includes a first and a second extension panel member 46a, 46b removably attached to opposite sides of the main panel member 44 such that each longitudinal side panel 26 extends along a lengthwise direction of the crib 20 in the order of the first extension panel member 46a, the main panel member 44, and the second extension panel member 46b. It will be understood that, in other embodiments, the first and second extension panel members 46a, 46b may have different size or shape without departing from the scope of the invention. Likewise, they may, but need not, have the same length as the extension support members 36a, 36b of the crib mattress support board 24. It will also be readily understood that, in other embodiments, one or more than two extension panel members may be provided without departing from the scope of the invention, as long as the length of the main panel member remains less than the length of the crib.
As described above with reference to the main support member 34 of the crib mattress support board 24, for the purposes of converting the crib 20 to a bed 22, the main panel member 44 of each of the pair of longitudinal side panels 26 is convertible, upon detachment of each respective extension panel member 46a, 46b therefrom, to a corresponding one of a pair of bed mattress support members 54 disposable along a lengthwise direction of the bed 22, as illustrated in
Still referring to
Preferably also, each crib leg members 56 is convertible, upon detachment from the crib frame 30, to a corresponding pair of bed leg members 58a, 58b adapted for serving as headboard and footboard sides of a bed frame 60 of the bed 22, as illustrated in
One of ordinary skill in the art will readily understand that the convertible crib described above with reference preferred embodiments thereof may be sold and packaged as a kit that includes all components necessary to construct the crib. For such embodiments, other items that may be required to construct the bed may be packaged or sold separately. Alternatively, in other embodiments, a kit may be packaged and sold so as to include all components necessary to construct both the crib and the bed to which the crib may be converted.
Hence, according to another aspect of the invention, there is also provided a kit for forming one of a crib and a bed, the crib having a length greater than a width of the bed. Referring now to
As will be understood from the following description, several components of the kit 62 of
Referring back to
One of ordinary skill in the art will readily understand that, in other embodiments, the common components 64 may include various other structural, ornamental or connecting components without departing from the present invention. In particular, it will be understood that the kit 62 according to embodiments of the invention aims at maximizing the number of commonly used components 64, in particular fastening devices such as screws 32, and at minimizing the number of components used for only one of the crib and bed.
Still referring to
One of ordinary skill in the art will understand that, in the crib configuration, the crib mattress support board 24, the pair of longitudinal side panels 26 and the pair of transverse side panels 28 which may be constructed from the common and crib components 64 and 66 of the kit 62, are perpendicularly removably attachable one to another so as to define a crib frame 30 of the crib 20, as described above with reference to the embodiment of
One of ordinary skill in the art will also readily understand that, in other embodiments, the crib components 66 may include various other structural, ornamental or connecting components without departing from the present invention. For example, as mentioned above and illustrated in
The kit 62 also includes bed components 68, that is, components which are used only when the kit 62 is used in the bed configuration. In the illustrated embodiment, the bed components 68 include a pair of elongated members 70 removably attachable to the pair of leg members 56 for forming four sides of a substantially rectangular bed frame 60 of the bed 22 such as shown in
One of ordinary skill in the art will understand that, in the bed configuration, the pair of elongated members 70 are adapted for serving as a pair of lengthwise sides of the bed frame 60, such that the length of the elongated members 70 corresponds substantially to the length of the bed 22. On the other hand, the pair of leg members 56 are adapted for serving as headboard and footboard sides 58a, 58b of the bed frame 60, each of the headboard and footboard sides 58a, 58b having a width substantially equal to the length of each leg member 56, the length of the headboard and footboard sides 58a, 58b thus corresponding substantially to the width of the bed 22.
Furthermore, it will be understood that the main support member 34 is attachable to the headboard side 58a of the bed frame for forming a headboard 42 of the bed 22 having a width substantially equal to the length of the main support member 34. In addition, each of the main panel members 44 is attachable at opposite sides thereof to the pair of elongated members 70 for forming a corresponding one of a pair of bed mattress support members 54. Each bed mattress support member 54 thus formed therefore has a width substantially equal to the length of the corresponding main panel member 44.
One of ordinary skill in the art will readily understand that, in other embodiments, the crib components 66 may include various other structural, ornamental or connecting components without departing from the present invention. For example, in one embodiment, the bed components 68 may further included at least one bed mattress extension member 72a, 72b, wherein, in the bed configuration, each bed mattress extension member 72a, 72b is removably attachable at opposite sides thereof to the pair of elongated members 70 for forming, along with the pair of bed mattress support members 54, a bed mattress support board 74. It will be understood that the bed mattress support board 74 of the bed 22 may be used to receive and support a bed mattress (not shown) upon which a person may rest or sleep. For example, in one embodiment, the bed mattress support board 74 may have a length of about 76½ inches and a width of about 40½ inches, which is sized and shaped so as to snugly receive and support a conventional twin bed mattress of about 75 inches in length and about 39 inches in width.
In this regard, it will be appreciated, as illustrated in
It will be understand that in some embodiments, the kit 62 including the common components 64, the crib components 66 and the bed components 68 may be packaged, sold and purchased together as a single kit. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the common components 64, the crib components 66 and the bed components 68 may be packaged, sold and purchased as two or three separate kits.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of converting a crib to a bed, the crib having a length greater than a width of the bed. The method according to embodiments of the invention may be carried out with a crib 20 such as those described above with reference to the embodiments illustrated in
With continuing reference to
In one embodiment, the step of separating may include the substeps of
The method then includes a step of providing a step a bed frame 60 of the bed 22. In some embodiments, the bed frame 60 may be provided as a component made of parts which are not utilized to construct the crib 20. Alternatively, in other embodiments, some of the components forming the bed frame 60 may be crib components 66 which have to be disassembled, reconfigured, and reassembled with bed components 68 for forming the bed frame 60. For example, in the crib and bed embodiments 20 and 22 shown in
Referring back to
Finally, the method includes a step of connecting each previously removed main panel member 44 of the longitudinal side panels 26 to the bed frame 60 as a bed mattress support member 54 of a bed mattress support board 74 of the bed 22, preferably also by using common fasteners such as screws, as shown in
It will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that when one desire to reconvert the bed 22 to the crib 20, the steps described above may be reversed.
While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims. In particular, dimensions are not intended to be limiting and may be altered as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.
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