The present invention relates generally to play yard enclosures for children, and more particularly to a play yard configured for providing an enclosed space for a child and having a removable liner.
A play yard is a containment device often used for providing a partially enclosed space for a child to play and rest in. Typically, play yards include a structural frame having upper and lower horizontal frame members joined by vertical frame members. A floor panel and sidewalls are usually defined in between the frame members along with an upper opening through which a child may be placed in and moved out of the play yard. The sidewalls and floor panel are often comprised of a fabric material attached onto the frame members. In addition, the frame members may be collapsible or hinged, such that the play yard can be folded or collapsed into a compact configuration to allow for easier portability and storage of the play yard. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,859,957, 7,568,242 and U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 2010/0132115, which are incorporated herein by reference, disclose example forms of play yards.
Typical known children's play yards comprise a frame and a liner permanently secured to the frame. Because the liners are permanently affixed to the frame, they can be difficult to clean when the liner becomes soiled. Thus, there exists a need for an improved play yard that comprises a frame and a removable, washable liner. It is to the provision of an improved children's play yard meeting these and other needs that the present invention is primarily directed.
According to example embodiments, the present invention relates to a play yard including a play yard frame and a removable play yard liner. The play yard frame preferably includes at least one lower and/or upper horizontal frame member and at least one vertical frame member attached to the lower horizontal frame member and extending substantially upward from the lower horizontal frame member, and/or substantially downward from the upper horizontal frame member. Additional embodiments of the play yard frame optionally further include at least one lower horizontal frame member and at least one upper horizontal frame member extending between the vertical frame members; or alternatively a flexible cord, linkage and/or fabric panel extending between vertical frame members with or without the provision of horizontal frame members. The vertical frame member preferably includes at least one primary fastener configured to removably engage the play yard liner. The play yard liner preferably includes at least one sidewall and at least one primary mating fastener configured to engage the at least one primary fastener. The at least one sidewall of the play yard is preferably configured to extend between successive vertical frame members and define a bounded area within the play yard when the fasteners are engaged with the mating fasteners in an assembled orientation. The bottom of the liner optionally includes a floor panel and/or mattress, which may be supported upon lower horizontal frame members if provided, or alternatively may rest on the underlying floor or other support structure or may be self-supporting.
In various example embodiments, the play yard liner is configured to be disengaged from the play yard frame in a disassembled orientation. The play yard liner may be comprised of a flexible, washable material such that a user can hand-wash or machine-wash the play yard liner when it is disengaged from the play yard frame.
In other example embodiments, the play yard frame includes at least one secondary fastener configured to engage a secondary mating fastener on the play yard liner, to provide additional support to the play yard liner.
In still other example embodiments, the play yard frame may be configured to convert between an erect orientation and a collapsed orientation, with or without the liner attached. The at least one vertical frame member may be hingedly coupled to the at least one upper frame member and at least one lower horizontal frame member, such that the frame can be pivoted between an erect orientation, in which the play yard is configured to receive a child, and a collapsed orientation, in which the play yard is folded down to allow for easier storage and/or portability. The frame may further include one or more locking mechanisms configured to releasably secure the frame in the erect orientation.
In another aspect, the present invention relates to a play yard preferably including a play yard frame having at least one frame member and at least one primary fastener mounted to the frame member. The play yard preferably also includes a play yard liner having at least one sidewall and at least one primary liner fastener attached to the at least one sidewall and configured to removably engage the at least one primary mating fastener on said frame member. In this manner, the liner is preferably operable to be selectively removed from the frame.
In another aspect, the invention relates to a play yard preferably including a structural frame and a liner for removable attachment to the frame. The frame preferably includes at least one first coupling element, and the liner preferably includes at least one second coupling element. The first and second coupling elements preferably releasably engage one another to secure the liner on the frame, and disengage one another to remove the liner from the frame.
In still another aspect, the invention relates to a play yard liner for removable attachment to a play yard frame, the frame having at least one first coupling element. The play yard liner preferably includes at least one second coupling element, wherein the first and second coupling elements releasably engage one another to secure the play yard liner on the frame and disengage one another to remove the play yard liner from the frame.
These and other aspects, features and advantages of the invention will be understood with reference to the drawing figures and detailed description herein, and will be realized by means of the various elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following brief description of the drawings and detailed description of the invention are exemplary and explanatory of preferred embodiments of the invention, and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.
Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:
The present invention may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawing figures, which form a part of this disclosure. It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the specific devices, methods, conditions or parameters described and/or shown herein, and that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting of the claimed invention. Any and all patents and other publications identified in this specification are incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein.
Also, as used in the specification including the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural, and reference to a particular numerical value includes at least that particular value, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” or “approximately” one particular value and/or to “about” or “approximately” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment.
With reference now to the drawing figures, wherein like reference numbers represent corresponding parts throughout the several views,
As shown, the frame 100 may include one or more padded members 110 configured to be secured to the upper horizontal frame members. As shown in the illustrated embodiment depicted in
According to certain example embodiments, the frame 100 includes one or more primary fasteners—such as the hooks 114 shown in
As shown in
In certain example embodiments, the fabric materials used to form various components of the liner 116 are constructed from a washable fabric material, such as, for example, nylon, cotton, or natural or synthetic fibers. In particular example embodiments, the liner 116 is configured to be machine-washed without sustaining damage to its various components. As will be appreciated from the description herein, it is contemplated that the various components of the liner 116—including the sidewalls 118, floor panel 120, and loops 126—may be constructed from a variety of materials suitable for hand-washing or machine-washing, including various combinations of fabric and non-fabric materials. Alternatively, the liner may optionally be configured as a disposable and replaceable component, for example comprising low-cost and/or recyclable woven, non-woven or other disposable synthetic or natural material(s) of construction, and the present invention further encompasses replacement liner components configured for removably mounting to the frame.
In addition, the flap panel 128 of the liner 116 is lifted over the upper horizontal frame members and padded cover members 110 and pulled downward adjacent the outer sides of the sidewalls 118. As shown, the flap panel 128 includes flap fasteners 134 disposed at adjacent corner regions 138 along its outer edge 132. The flap fasteners 134 are configured to engage flap mating fasteners 140 positioned on an outer portion of the vertical frame members 104. (The flap mating fasteners 140 are shown in
As shown, the play yard 136 may optionally also include a mattress 142 configured to rest atop the liner's floor panel 120 and to be supported by the lower horizontal frame members 102. The mattress 142 may include mattress fasteners configured to engage mattress mating fasteners on the upper surface of the floor panel 120 to removably secure the mattress 142 to the liner 116.
Various changes and modifications to such a play yard, beyond those explicitly mentioned herein, are contemplated as being within the scope of the present invention. The particular configurations and objectives described herein are merely exemplary and are in no way limiting. For example, the primary fasteners and primary mating fasteners may be any conventional fasteners, such as, for example, buckles, ties, snaps, hook and loop fasteners, clamps, zippers, etc. The secondary fasteners, secondary mating fasteners, flap fasteners, and flap mating fasteners may also be any convention fasteners. Moreover, play yard frame may be configured to collapse for storage and/or portability purposes. Additionally, the liner may be hand-washable or machine-washable, or alternatively, may be disposable and configured to be replaced with a fresh, new liner. Furthermore, the play yard may be configured to be used in combination with additional features, such as a bassinet, changing table, toy bar, or other conventional play yard accessory.
While the invention has been described with reference to preferred and example embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications, additions and deletions are within the scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims.
This application is a continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 13/762,029, filed Feb. 7, 2013, which claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/596,474 filed Feb. 8, 2012, the entireties of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.
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