Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6665895
-
Patent Number
6,665,895
-
Date Filed
Friday, December 20, 200222 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, December 23, 200321 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 005 981
- 005 991
- 403 102
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A playyard floor support frame includes a lock hub arranged to lie under a playyard floor, first and second floor support rails arranged to be mounted for movement in rail-receiving channels formed in the lock hub, and a base for receiving and elevating the lock hub above ground underlying the base. The frame further includes a lock controller mounted on the lock hub and configured to move the first and second floor support rails (at the option of a user) toward one another to establish a “locked” position of the frame and away from one another to establish an “unlocked” position of the frame.
Description
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY
The present disclosure relates to a juvenile playyard, and particularly, to a collapsible frame for a juvenile playyard. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a collapsible playyard frame including support rails and feet for elevating and supporting a floor mat in a juvenile playyard.
According to the present disclosure, a playyard floor support frame includes a rail mount and at least two floor support rails. Each floor support rail is arranged to be moved relative to the rail mount about a pivot axis between an erected configuration adapted to support a floor mat on the floor support rails and above the rail mount and a collapsed configuration adapted to facilitate storage of the floor support frame.
A first floor support rail includes a first rail pivot post and a first rail lock while a second floor support rail includes a second rail pivot post and a second rail lock. A lock controller is provided to move the first and second floor support rails toward one another to move the first and second rail locks into lock retainer notches formed in the rail mount so that “collapse” of the floor support rails is blocked. The lock controller can also be operated to move the first and second floor support rails away from one another to move the first and second rail locks out of the lock retainer notches formed in the rail mount so that the first and second floor support rails can pivot, respectively, about the first and second rail pivot posts to allow controlled collapse of the floor support rails in preparation for playyard storage.
Additional features of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently perceived.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of a collapsible playyard including a frame in accordance with the present disclosure, a fabric frame cover, and a floor mat for installation in the frame;
FIG. 2
is a top plan view of the playyard of
FIG. 1
, with portions broken away, showing an arrangement of six support rails pivotably coupled to a rail mount and positioned to underlie and support the floor mat now installed in the frame and showing four top rails arranged in a rectangular pattern above and around the support rails, each top rail including left and right rail segments and a releasable segment lock;
FIG. 3
is a side elevation view of the playyard of
FIG. 2
showing a foot appended to the underside of a hub receiver included in the rail mount to support the hub receiver in an elevated position above the ground underlying the floor mat;
FIG. 4
is an end elevation view of the playyard of
FIGS. 2 and 3
;
FIG. 5
is a view similar to
FIG. 4
of the playyard as it is being collapsed and following unlocking of the rail mount from certain of the pivotable support rails and upward movement of the rail mount away from the ground underlying the playyard (and pivoting movement of the support rails relative to the rail mount) and then release of the segment locks in each of four top rails to allow relative movement of left and right rail segments in each of the four top rails toward collapsed positions;
FIG. 6
is a top plan view of the playyard of
FIG. 2
after the floor mat has been removed and the playyard frame has been fully collapsed;
FIG. 7
is a side elevation view of the fully collapsed playyard frame of
FIG. 6
;
FIG. 8
is an end elevation view of the fully collapsed playyard frame of
FIG. 6
;
FIG. 9
is an exploded perspective view of components included in a playyard floor support frame in accordance with the present disclosure and showing a lock hub, portions of first and second floor support rails arranged to be mounted for movement in rail-receiving channels formed in the lock hub, and a base for receiving and elevating the lock hub above ground underlying the base, and also showing a lever, a pair of rail movers, and a spring which cooperate to form a lock controller for moving the first and second floor support rails relative to the lock hub between a locked position shown in FIG.
10
and an unlocked position shown in
FIG. 11
;
FIG. 10
is a sectional view taken along line
10
—
10
of
FIG. 1
showing retention of a first rail lock on a first floor support rail in a first lock retainer notch formed on a left side of the lock hub to lock the first floor support rail to the lock hub and also showing retention of a second rail lock on a second floor support rail in a second lock retainer notch formed on a right side of the lock hub;
FIG. 11
is a sectional view similar to
FIG. 10
showing clockwise pivoting movement of a lever mounted for pivotable movement on the lock hub against a biasing force provided by a spring coupled to the lever and to the lock hub to cause the two floor support rail members carrying the rail locks to move away from one another to move the rail locks out of the lock retainer notches formed in the lock hub so that the playyard floor support frame is “unlocked”; and
FIG. 12
is a sectional view similar to
FIGS. 10 and 11
showing pivoting movement of the two floor support rails shown in
FIG. 11
relative to the lock hub to a collapsed position (as shown in
FIGS. 6-8
) following movement of the rail locks on the floor support rails out of the lock retainer notches formed in the lock hub.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Playyard
10
includes a collapsible frame
12
, fabric frame cover
14
, and removable floor mat
16
. Frame cover
14
is made of sturdy fabric and netting material and is foldable to enable frame
12
to be moved easily from an erected configuration shown in
FIGS. 1-4
to a collapsed configuration shown in
FIGS. 6-8
. Floor mat
16
is removed from frame
12
(as shown in
FIG. 1
) prior to collapsing frame
12
. Once frame
12
is collapsed, the four-segment floor mat
16
can be folded, “wrapped” around collapsed frame
12
, and secured using straps (not shown) to provide a “case” for storing and/or carrying collapsed frame
12
.
Collapsible frame
12
includes four corner legs
18
, a corner piece
20
at the top end of each corner leg
18
, and a corner foot
22
at the bottom end of each corner leg
18
. Frame
12
also includes a foldable top rail
24
,
26
,
28
, or
30
interconnecting each pair of adjacent corner pieces
20
. Frame
12
further includes a rail mount
32
and a floor support rail
36
,
38
,
40
, or
42
interconnecting rail mount
32
and each of the corner feet
22
. Rail mount
32
includes a hub receiver
33
and a foot
34
for elevating hub receiver
33
above the ground
54
underlying rail mount
32
. Frame
12
also includes two auxiliary support rails
44
,
46
coupled to rail mount
32
.
Floor mat
16
includes four sections
47
,
48
,
49
, and
50
arranged in series as shown in FIG.
1
. Section
47
is coupled to section
8
at fold line
51
, section
48
is coupled to section
49
at fold line
52
, and section
49
is coupled to section
50
at fold line
53
. Floor mat
16
can be “unrolled” to assume the flat configuration shown in FIG.
1
and then dropped in place to provide a sturdy playyard floor supported in an elevated position above the ground
54
underlying playyard
10
by rail mount
32
and support rails
36
,
38
,
40
,
42
,
44
, and
46
.
Each of support rails
36
,
38
,
40
, and
42
has an outer end pivotably coupled to one of the corner feet
22
and an inner end arranged for pivotable movement relative to rail mount
32
so as to facilitate collapsing movement of frame
12
from its erected configuration shown in
FIGS. 1-4
to its collapsed configuration shown in
FIGS. 6-8
. Each of auxiliary support rails
44
and
46
has an inner end pivotably coupled to rail mount
32
and an outer end formed to define a rail support foot
56
as shown, for example, in
FIGS. 1 and 4
. Once assembled, support rails
36
,
38
,
40
, and
42
are arranged to lie in an X-shaped pattern, auxiliary support rail
44
is arranged to bisect the included angle defined by support rails
36
and
38
, and auxiliary support rail
46
is arranged to bisect the included angle defined by support rails
40
and
42
.
Front top rail
24
includes a left rail segment
58
pivotably coupled to one of the corner pieces
20
, a right rail segment
60
coupled for pivotable movement relative to left rail segment
58
(in, for example, the manner described below) and to an adjacent corner piece
20
, and a releasable segment lock
62
configured and mounted to “lock” the left and right rail segments
58
,
60
together in an in-line relation one to another as shown, for example, in
FIGS. 1-3
upon movement of frame
12
to its erected configuration.
Releasable segment lock
62
is mounted in a two-piece lock housing
63
having a left portion
64
rigidly coupled to left rail segment
58
and a right portion
65
rigidly coupled to right rail segment
60
and pivotably coupled to left portion
64
. It is within the scope of this disclosure to form left rail segment
58
and left portion
64
as a single piece and to form right rail segment and right portion
65
as a single piece.
Each of right-side top rail
26
, rear top rail
28
, and left-side top rail is similar in structure to front top rail
24
in that each includes a two-piece lock housing
63
containing a releasable segment lock
62
. Right-side top rail
26
includes a left rail segment
66
pivotably coupled tone of the corner pieces
20
and rigidly coupled to a left portion
64
of a second lock housing
63
and a right rail segment
68
pivotably coupled to an adjacent corner piece
20
and rigidly coupled to a right portion
65
of the second lock housing
63
. Rear top rail
28
includes a left rail segment
70
pivotably coupled to one of the corner pieces
20
and rigidly coupled to a left portion
64
of a third lock housing
63
and a right rail segment
72
pivotably coupled to an adjacent corner piece
20
and rigidly coupled to a right portion
65
of the third lock housing
63
. Left-side top rail
30
includes a left rail segment
74
pivotably coupled to one of the corner pieces
20
and rigidly coupled to a left portion
64
of a fourth lock housing
63
and a right rail segment
76
pivotably coupled to an adjacent corner piece
20
and rigidly coupled to a right portion
65
of the fourth lock housing
63
.
A releasable rail lock apparatus
78
is provided in rail mount
32
and configured to lock rail locks included in certain of the support rails
36
,
38
,
40
,
42
to rail mount
32
when frame
12
is in its erected configuration as shown in FIG.
1
. In the illustrated embodiment, rail lock apparatus
78
is configured to engage rail locks included in each of support rails
36
,
40
to lock support rails
36
,
40
to rail mount
32
when frame
12
is in its erected configuration as shown in
FIG. 1
so as to prevent collapsing movement of frame
12
to its collapsed configuration. Rail lock apparatus
78
is configured to be releasable so that a user, after first removing floor mat
16
to expose rail mount
32
, can manually actuate rail lock apparatus
78
to disengage a locked connection established between rail mount
32
and support rails
36
,
40
, thereby allowing pivoting movement of the now unlocked support rails
36
,
40
relative to rail mount
32
as shown, for example, in
FIGS. 5 and 12
during controlled collapse of frame
12
.
Referring now to
FIGS. 1 and 5
, playyard
10
can be collapsed by removing floor mat
16
, manually actuating releasable rail lock apparatus
78
and then raising rail mount
32
away from ground
54
to collapse support rails
36
,
38
,
40
,
42
,
44
,
46
partially, and then manually actuating each of the four releasable segment locks
62
to collapse top rails
24
,
26
,
28
,
30
partially. Then frame
12
can be collapsed further to assume a fully collapsed configuration shown, for example, in
FIGS. 6-8
. Finally, if desired, floor mat
16
can be wrapped around collapsed frame
12
and secured using suitable means to provide a storage case or carrying case for collapsed frame
12
.
One embodiment of rail mount
32
, floor support rails
36
,
40
, and releasable rail lock apparatus
78
is illustrated in
FIGS. 9-12
. As shown in
FIG. 9
, rail mount
32
includes a base
80
having a hub receiver
33
and a foot
34
. Rail mount
32
also includes a lock hub
81
sized to fit in a chamber
35
formed in hub receiver
33
, a cover plate
82
and six plate fasteners
84
for mating with fastener means
85
in hub receiver
33
to retain cover plate
82
in a fixed position on hub receiver
33
to cover the lock hub
81
mounted in chamber
35
of hub receiver
33
as suggested in
FIGS. 9-11
. Hub receiver
33
is formed to include a first port
86
for receiving a portion of lock hub
81
and first floor support rail
36
therein as suggested in
FIGS. 9 and 10
and to include a second port
88
(opposite to first port
86
) for receiving a portion of lock hub
81
and second floor support rail
40
therein as suggested in
FIGS. 9 and 10
.
Lock hub
81
includes a first lock retainer
90
associated with first floor support rail
36
, a second lock retainer
92
associated with second floor support rail
40
, and a lock controller mount
94
located between first and second lock retainers
90
,
92
as shown, for example, in
FIGS. 9-12
. A lock controller
96
is mounted for movement on lock controller mount
94
. Lock controller
96
is coupled to first and second floor support rails
36
,
40
so that it can be operated manually to cause first and second floor support rails
36
,
40
to move toward one another to mate with first and second lock retainers
90
,
92
to lock support rails
36
,
40
to lock hub
81
as suggested in FIG.
10
and to cause first and second floor support rails
36
,
40
to move away from one another to separate from first and second lock retainers
90
,
92
to unlock support rails
36
,
40
from lock hub
81
as suggested in FIG.
11
. In this unlocked condition, first floor support rail
36
can be pivoted relative to lock hub
81
about a first pivot axis
101
and second floor support rail
40
can be pivoted relative to lock hub
81
about a second pivot axis
102
to allow all floor support rails
36
,
38
,
40
,
42
to move (in the manner suggested in
FIG. 12
) from the erected configuration shown in
FIGS. 1-4
and
10
to the collapsed configuration shown in
FIGS. 6-8
and
12
.
First floor support rail
36
includes a first rail member
110
extending into a first rail-receiving channel
112
formed in lock hub
81
and a first rail lock
114
coupled to first rail member
110
and configured to mate with first lock retainer
90
in lock hub
81
as suggested in
FIGS. 9 and 10
. In the illustrated embodiment, first rail lock
114
is defined by a pin that extends through two apertures formed in first rail member
110
as suggested in FIG.
9
. First rail lock
114
is arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to an inner end
116
of first rail member
110
. First floor support rail
36
also includes a first rail pivot post
118
coupled to first rail member
110
and arranged to lie in a position between first rail lock
114
and inner end
116
of first rail member
110
. First pivot axis
101
is established by first rail pivot post
118
as suggested in
FIGS. 11 and 12
. In the illustrated embodiment, first rail pivot post
118
is defined by a pin that extends through two apertures formed in first rail member
110
as suggested in FIG.
9
.
Second floor support rail
40
includes a second rail member
120
extending into a second rail-receiving channel
122
formed in lock hub
81
and a second rail lock
124
coupled to second rail member
120
and configured to mate with second lock retainer
92
in lock hub
81
as suggested in
FIGS. 9 and 10
. In the illustrated embodiment, second rail lock
124
is defined by a pin that extends through two apertures formed in second rail member
120
as suggested in FIG.
9
. Second rail lock
124
is arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to an inner end
126
of second rail member
120
. Second floor support rail
40
also includes a second rail pivot post
128
coupled to second rail member
120
and arranged to lie in a position between second rail lock
124
and inner end
126
of second rail member
120
. Second pivot axis
102
is established by second rail pivot post
128
as suggested in
FIGS. 11 and 12
. In the illustrated embodiment, second rail pivot post
128
is defined by a pin that extends through two apertures formed in second rail member
120
as suggested in FIG.
9
.
Lock hub
81
includes a pair of spaced-apart parallel side walls
130
,
132
, a mounting flange
134
appended to each of side walls
130
,
132
, a left top wall
136
, and a right top wall
138
as shown, for example, in FIG.
9
. Each side wall
130
,
132
includes a first side wall portion
140
configured to define first lock retainer
90
, a second side wall portion
142
configured to define second lock retainer
92
, and a third side wall portion
144
arranged to interconnect first and second side wall portions
140
,
142
and formed to define lock controller mount
94
. Left top wall
136
and first side wall portions
140
of side walls
130
,
132
cooperate to define first rail-receiving channel
112
. Right top wall
138
and second side wall potions
142
of side walls
130
,
132
cooperate to define second rail-receiving channel
122
.
In the illustrated embodiment, first side wall portion
140
of each of side walls
130
,
132
includes an edge
141
as shown in
FIGS. 9 and 10
. First lock retainer notches
146
are formed in first side wall portions
140
to have a rail lock-receiving opening formed in edge
141
to define first lock retainer
90
. Likewise, second side wall portion
140
of each of side walls
130
,
132
includes an edge
143
as shown in
FIGS. 9 and 10
. Second lock retainer notches
148
are formed in second side wall portions
142
to have a rail lock-receiving opening formed in edge
143
to define second lock retainer
92
.
As suggested in
FIGS. 10 and 11
, first pivot post
118
is configured to move in a first post retainer
152
formed in lock hub
81
of rail mount
32
. In the illustrated embodiment, each first side wall portion
140
of side walls
130
,
132
is formed to include an oblong pivot post slot
154
defining first post retainer
152
. Likewise, second pivot post
128
is configured to move in a second post retainer
156
formed in lock hub
81
of rail mount
32
. In the illustrated embodiment, each second side wall portion
142
of side walls
130
,
132
is formed to include an oblong pivot post slot
158
defining second post retainer
156
.
Lock controller
96
is coupled to first floor support rail
36
and mounted on rail mount
32
for movement in a generally clockwise first direction
160
to move first rail pivot post
118
to an inner position in first pivot post slot
154
and to move second rail pivot post
128
to an inner position in second pivot post slot
158
as shown in FIG.
10
. At the same time, first rail lock
114
is moved to engage first lock retainer
90
(by entering first lock retainer notch
146
) and second rail lock
124
is moved to engage second lock retainer
92
(by entering second lock retainer notch
148
). This happens upon movement of first and second floor support rails
36
,
40
to the erected configuration to block pivoting movement of first floor support rail
36
about first rail pivot axis
101
and to block pivoting movement of second floor support rail
40
about second rail pivot axis
102
.
Lock controller
96
is also mounted on rail mount
32
for movement in a generally counterclockwise direction
161
to move first rail pivot post
118
to an outer position in first pivot post slot
154
and to move second rail pivot post
128
to an outer position in second pivot post slot
158
as shown in FIG.
11
. At the same time, first rail lock
114
is moved to disengage first lock retainer
90
(by exiting first lock retainer notch
146
) and second rail lock
124
is moved to disengage second lock retainer
92
(by exiting second lock retainer notch
148
). Now, as shown in
FIG. 12
, first floor support rail
36
can be pivoted about first rail pivot axis
101
and second floor support rail
40
can be pivoted about second rail pivot axis
102
to allow movement of all support rails
36
,
38
,
40
,
42
relative to rail mount
32
to assume the collapsed configuration.
As shown in
FIGS. 9 and 10
, lock controller
96
includes a lever pivot rod
162
coupled to lock controller mount
94
of lock hub
81
and a lever
164
mounted on lever pivot rod
162
for pivotable movement relative to lock hub
81
about a pivot axis
166
established by lever pivot rod
162
. Lock controller
96
also includes mover means for moving first rail pivot post
118
in first pivot post slot
154
and second rail pivot post
128
in second pivot post slot
158
in response to movement of lever
164
(in direction
160
and
161
) about pivot axis
166
to cause first and second floor support rails
36
,
40
to move relative to lock hub
81
. The mover means includes first and second rail movers
168
,
170
and a driver spring
172
as shown, for example, in
FIGS. 9 and 10
.
As shown best in
FIG. 9
, first rail mover
168
includes a pair of legs
174
arranged to lie in spaced-apart parallel relation to one another and a bridge
176
interconnecting the legs
174
. Each leg
174
includes an outer end formed to include an aperture
178
receiving a portion of first rail pivot post
118
therein and an inner end formed to include an aperture
180
receiving a portion of a first guide pin
182
therein. First guide pin
182
is arranged to move back and forth in a first arcuate guide pin slot
184
formed in lock controller mount
94
as suggested in
FIGS. 10 and 11
.
Second rail mover
170
includes a pair of legs
186
arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to one another and a bridge
188
interconnecting the legs
186
as shown in FIG.
9
. Each leg
186
includes an outer end formed to include an aperture
190
receiving a portion of second rail pivot post
128
therein and an inner end formed to include an aperture
192
receiving a portion of a second guide pin
194
therein. Second guide pin
194
is arranged to move back and forth in a second arcuate guide pin slot
196
formed in lock controller mount
94
as suggested in
FIGS. 10 and 11
.
Lever
164
includes a mover driver
210
formed to include a pivot post receiver
212
to receive lever pivot rod
162
therein. Lever
164
also includes a lever handle
214
coupled to mover driver
210
as shown in
FIGS. 9 and 10
. Lever
164
extends through a lever handle aperture
165
formed in cover plate
82
. First guide pin
182
also extends through first apertures
216
formed in mover driver
210
and second guide pin
194
also extends through second apertures
218
formed in mover driver
210
. Pivot post receiver
212
is positioned to lie between first and second apertures
216
,
218
as suggested in FIG.
9
.
A coiled compression driver spring
172
has one end
171
coupled to spring mount receiver
220
formed in mover driver
210
and another end
173
coupled to a spring mount
222
extending through spring mount receivers
224
formed in side walls
130
,
132
of lock hub
81
as suggested in
FIGS. 9 and 10
. Driver spring
172
is coupled to lock hub
81
and to lever
164
to apply a biasing force to lever
164
to move lever
164
relative to lock hub
81
to cause first rail mover
168
to move first rail pivot post
118
normally to the inner position in first pivot post slot
154
and to cause second rail mover
170
to move second rail pivot post
128
normally to the inner position in second pivot post slot
158
as shown in FIG.
10
. Thus, lock controller
96
includes retainer means for yieldably urging first and second rail pivot posts
118
,
128
to their inner positions in slots
154
,
158
so that first rail lock
114
is moved into first lock retainer notch
146
and second rail lock
124
is moved into second lock retainer notch
148
upon movement of floor support rails
36
,
38
,
40
,
42
to the erected configuration shown in FIG.
1
.
Driver spring
172
is extensible as shown in
FIG. 11
so that it does not operate to block withdrawal of rail locks
114
,
124
from lock retainer notches
146
,
148
during movement of floor support rails
36
,
38
,
40
,
42
from the erected configuration shown in
FIG. 1
to the collapsed configuration shown in
FIGS. 6-8
and
12
. Driver spring
72
operates to yieldably pivot lever
164
relative to rail mount
132
about pivot axis
166
to cause movement of each rail mover
168
,
170
relative to rail mount
32
so that each rail lock
114
,
124
is drawn into and retained in its companion lock retainer notch
146
,
148
in response to movement of floor support rails
36
,
38
,
40
,
42
from the collapsed configuration toward the erected configuration to place each rail lock
168
,
170
in confronting relation to a mouth formed in rail mount
32
to provide an opening into the companion lock retainer notch
146
,
148
.
In operation, as suggested in
FIGS. 10-12
, lever
164
can be pivoted in counterclockwise direction
161
to move first and second rail members
110
,
120
toward one another in first and second rail-receiving channels
112
,
122
formed in lock hub
81
to cause first and second pivot posts
118
,
128
to move toward one another in first and second pivot post slots
154
,
158
and move first and second rail locks
114
,
124
into companion rail lock retainer notches
146
,
148
. Lever
164
can also be pivoted in clockwise direction
160
to move first and second rail members
110
,
120
away from one another in first and second rail-receiving channels
112
,
122
to cause first and second rail pivot posts
118
,
128
to move away from one another in first and second pivot post slots
154
,
158
. This also causes first rail lock
114
to move a distance
214
(see
FIG. 11
) to disengage first rail lock retainer notch
146
allowing pivotable movement of first rail member
110
(as shown in
FIG. 12
) about first rail pivot post
118
(and pivot axis
101
) and causes second rail lock
124
to move a distance
224
(see
FIG. 11
) to disengage second rail lock retainer notch
148
allowing pivotable movement of second rail member
120
(as shown in
FIG. 12
) about second rail pivot post
128
(and pivot axis
102
).
Pivoting movement of first and second rail members
110
,
120
from a horizontal position to a vertical position is shown in
FIGS. 11 and 12
. During such movement, first ail lock
114
included in first floor support rail
36
moves through a 90° angle along an arc defined by a lower portion
241
of edge
141
to reach a stop wall
341
to block further counterclockwise pivoting movement of first rail member
110
. At the same time, second rail lock
114
included in second floor support rail
40
moves through a 90° angle along an arc defined by a lower portion
243
of edge
241
to reach a stop wall
343
to block further clockwise pivoting movement of second rail member
120
. This position corresponds to the collapsed configuration of playyard
10
shown in
FIGS. 6-8
.
Claims
- 1. A playyard floor support frame comprisinga rail mount formed to include a post retainer and a lock retainer, a first floor support rail including a rail pivot post arranged to extend into the post retainer formed in the rail mount to support the first floor support rail for pivotable movement about a rail pivot axis established by the rail pivot post between an erected configuration adapted to support a floor mat on the first floor support rail and above the rail mount and a collapsed configuration adapted to facilitate storage of the playyard floor support frame, the first floor support rail also including a rail lock arranged to engage the lock retainer formed in the rail mount upon movement of the first floor support rail to the erected configuration and to disengage the lock retainer upon movement of the first floor support rail to the collapsed configuration, and a lock controller coupled to the first floor support rail and mounted on the rail mount for movement in a first direction to move the rail pivot post to an inner position in the post retainer and to move the rail lock to engage the lock retainer upon movement of the first floor support rail to the erected configuration to block pivoting movement of the first floor support rail about the rail pivot axis and in a second direction to move the rail pivot post to an outer position in the post retainer and to move the rail lock to disengage the lock retainer to allow pivoting movement of the first floor support rail about the rail pivot axis to allow movement of the first floor support rail relative to the rail mount to assume the collapsed configuration.
- 2. The frame of claim 1, wherein the rail mount includes a lock hub formed to include a pivot post slot defining the post retainer and the rail pivot post is arranged to move back and forth in the pivot post slot in response to movement of the first floor support rail between the erected and collapsed configurations.
- 3. The frame of claim 2, wherein the lock controller includes a lever pivot rod coupled to the lock hub, a lever mounted on the lever pivot rod for pivotable movement relative to the lock hub about a pivot axis established by the lever pivot rod, and mover means for moving the rail pivot post in the pivot post slot in response to movement of the lever about the pivot axis to cause the first floor support rail to move relative to the lock hub.
- 4. The frame of claim 3, wherein the lock hub further includes a lock retainer notch defining the lock retainer, the rail lock is arranged to lie in the lock retainer notch upon movement of the first floor support rail to the erected configuration and to lie outside the lock retainer notch upon movement of the first floor support rail to the collapsed configuration, and the rail pivot post is arranged to lie in a position between the lever pivot rod and the rail lock upon movement of the first floor support rail to the erected configuration.
- 5. The frame of claim 3, wherein the lock hub is formed to include a guide pin slot and the mover means includes a guide pin arranged to move back and forth in the guide pin slot and a rail mover having an outer end coupled to the rail pivot post and an inner end coupled to the guide pin.
- 6. The frame of claim 2, wherein the lock controller includes retainer means for yieldably urging the rail pivot post to the inner position in the post retainer so that the rail lock is moved to engage the lock retainer upon movement of the first floor support rail to the erected configuration.
- 7. The frame of claim 6, wherein the retainer means includes a lever mounted for movement on the lock hub, a rail mover coupled to the lever and to the rail pivot post, and a spring coupled to the lock hub and to the lever to apply a biasing force to the lever to move the lever relative to the lock hub to cause the rail mover to move the rail pivot post normally to the inner position in the post retainer.
- 8. The frame of claim 1, wherein the rail mount further includes a lock retainer notch defining the lock retainer, the rail lock is arranged to lie in the lock retainer notch upon movement of the first floor support rail to the erected configuration and to lie outside the lock retainer notch upon movement of the first floor support rail to the collapsed configuration, and the lock controller includes retainer means for yieldably retaining the rail lock in the lock retainer notch upon movement of the first floor support rail to the erected configuration without blocking withdrawal of the rail lock from the lock retainer notch formed in the rail mount during movement of the first floor support rail from the erected configuration to the collapsed configuration.
- 9. The frame of claim 8, wherein the retainer means includes a lever mounted for pivotable movement on the rail mount about a pivot axis, a rail mover coupled to the lever and to the rail pivot post, and spring means for yieldably pivoting the lever relative to the rail mount about the pivot axis to cause movement of the rail mover relative to the rail mount so that the rail lock is drawn into and retained in the lock retainer notch in response to movement of the first floor support rail from the collapsed configuration toward the erected configuration to place the rail lock in confronting relation to a mouth formed in the rail mount to provide an opening into the lock retainer notch.
- 10. The frame of claim 9, wherein the rail mount includes a lock hub formed to include the post retainer and the lock retainer notch and a base, the base includes a hub receiver formed to include a chamber receiving the lock hub therein and a foot coupled to the hub receiver to elevate the hub receiver above ground underlying the hub receiver, and further comprising additional floor support rails mounted for pivotable movement on the hub receiver between an erected configuration adapted to support a floor mat supported on the first floor support rail and a collapsed configuration adapted to facilitate storage of the playyard floor support frame.
- 11. The frame of claim 1, wherein the first floor support rail includes a rail member, the rail lock is coupled to the rail member to lie in spaced-apart relation to an inner end of the rail member, and the rail pivot post is coupled to the rail member and arranged to lie in a position between the rail lock and the inner end of the rail member.
- 12. The frame of claim 11, wherein the rail mount is formed to include a rail-receiving channel and the inner end of the first floor support rail is positioned to remain in the rail-receiving channel upon movement of the first floor support rail between the erected position and the collapsed configuration.
- 13. The frame of claim 12, wherein the rail mount includes a side wall arranged to define a boundary of the rail-receiving channel, the side wall is formed to include an oblong pivot post slot defining the post retainer and receiving the rail pivot post for back-and-forth movement therein and a lock retainer notch having a rail lock-receiving opening formed in an edge of the side wall and receiving the rail lock upon movement of the first floor support rail to the erected configuration.
- 14. A playyard floor support frame comprisinga rail mount including a lock hub formed to include first and second rail-receiving channels and a lock controller mount located between the first and second rail-receiving channels, a first floor support rail including a first rail member extending into the first rail-receiving channel, a first rail lock coupled to the first rail member and arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to an inner end of the first rail member, and a first rail pivot post coupled to the first rail member and arranged to lie in a position between the first rail lock and the inner end of the first rail member, the first rail pivot post extending into a first pivot post slot formed in the lock hub for back-and-forth movement therein, a second floor support rail including a second rail member extending into the second rail-receiving channel, a second rail lock coupled to the second rail member and arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to an inner end of the second rail member, and a second rail pivot post coupled to the second rail member and arranged to lie in a position between the second rail lock and the inner end of the second rail member, the second rail pivot post extending into a second pivot post slot formed in the lock hub for back-and-forth movement therein, and a lock controller coupled to the first and second floor support rails and mounted on the lock controller mount for movement in a first direction to move the first and second rail members toward one another in the first and second rail-receiving channels to cause the first and second rail pivot posts to move toward one another in the first and second pivot post slots and for movement in an opposite second direction to move the first and second rail members away from one another in the first and second rail-receiving channels to cause the first and second rail pivot posts to move away from one another in the first and second pivot post slots and to cause the first rail lock to disengage a first lock retainer formed in the rail mount allowing pivotable movement of the first rail member about the first rail pivot post and relative to the rail mount and to cause the second rail lock to disengage a second lock retainer formed in the rail mount allowing pivotable movement of the second rail member about the second rail pivot post relative to the rail mount.
- 15. The frame of claim 14, wherein the rail mount further includes a base including a hub receiver formed to include a chamber receiving the lock hub therein and a foot coupled to the hub receiver to elevate the hub receiver above ground underlying the hub receiver.
- 16. The frame of claim 15, wherein the foot is positioned to lie underneath the lever mount of the lock hub.
- 17. The frame of claim 15, further comprising additional floor support rails mounted for pivotable movement on the hub receiver between an erected configuration adapted to support a floor mat supported on the first and second floor support rails above the rail mount upon movement of the first rail locks to engage the first lock retainer and the second rail lock to engage the second lock retainer.
- 18. The frame of claim 14, wherein the lock hub includes a first side wall portion arranged to define a boundary of the first rail-receiving channel and formed to include a first lock retainer notch having a rail lock-receiving opening formed in an edge of the first side wall and defining the first lock retainer and the lock hub further includes a second side wall portion arranged to define a boundary of the second rail-receiving channel and formed to include a second lock retainer notch having a rail lock-receiving opening formed in an edge of the second side wall and defining the second lock retainer.
- 19. The frame of claim 18, wherein the lock hub further includes a third side wall portion arranged to interconnect the first and second side wall portions and formed to define the lock controller mount.
- 20. The frame of claim 18, wherein the first and second pivot post slots are located between the first and second lock retainer notches.
- 21. The frame of claim 14, wherein the lock controller includes a lever pivot rod coupled to the lock controller mount, a lever mounted on the lever pivot rod for pivotable movement relative to the lock hub about a pivot axis established by the lever pivot rod in the first and second directions, a first rail mover coupled to the lever and to the first floor support rail and arranged to move the first floor support rail away from the second support rail in response to pivotable movement of the lever in the second direction, and a second rail mover coupled to the lever and to the second floor support rail and arranged to move the second floor support rail away from the first support rail in response to pivotable movement of the lever in the second direction.
- 22. The frame of claim 21, wherein the lock controller further includes spring means for yieldably urging the lever to pivot in the first direction to cause the first and second rail movers to move the first and second support rails toward one another.
- 23. A playyard floor support frame comprisingfour corner feet, a rail mount, four floor support rails, each floor support rail including an outer end pivotably coupled to one of the corner feet and an inner end associated with the rail mount to enable collapsing movement of the floor support rails between an erected configuration wherein the floor support rails are arranged to lie in an X-shaped pattern and adapted to support a floor mat thereon and above the rail mount and a collapsed configuration wherein the floor support rails are arranged to lie in mutually parallel relation to facilitate storage of the floor support frame, a first of the floor support rails including a first rail member and a first rail lock coupled to the first rail member and arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to an inner end of the first rail member, the first rail lock being configured to mate with the rail mount to block movement of the first of the floor support rails from the erected configuration to the collapsed configuration and separate from the rail mount to allow movement of the first of the floor support rails from the erected configuration to the collapsed configuration, and a lock controller coupled to the first of the floor support rails and mounted on the rail mount for movement in a first direction to move the first rail lock to mate with the rail mount and for movement in an opposite second direction to move the first rail lock to separate from the rail mount.
- 24. A playyard floor support frame comprisinga lock hub arranged to lie under a playyard floor, first and second floor support rails mounted for movement in rail-receiving channels formed in the lock hub, a base configured to receive and elevate the lock hub above ground underlying the base, and a lock controller mounted on the lock hub and coupled to the first and second floor support rails for movement in a first direction to move the first and second floor support rails in the rail-receiving channels toward one another to lock the first and second floor support rails to the lock hub and for movement in a second direction to move the first and second floor support rails in the rail-receiving channels away from one another to unlock the first and second floor support rails from the lock hub.
US Referenced Citations (22)