Claims
- 1. A juvenile crib frame comprising
- a first frame portion,
- a second frame portion, and
- a lock mechanism having a first member mounted for rotation on the first frame portion, a second member mounted for rotation on the second frame portion, and a hinge pin that couples the first member to the second member for pivotable movement of the first member relative to the second member about an axis defined by the hinge pin that is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of at least one lock mechanism member relative to its companion frame portion.
- 2. The frame of claim 1, wherein the first frame portion includes a first panel and a second panel pivotably coupled to the first panel and the first member of the lock mechanism is rotatably mounted on the first panel.
- 3. The frame of claim 2, wherein the second frame portion includes a first panel and a second panel pivotably coupled to the first panel of the second frame portion, the second member of the lock mechanism is rotatably mounted on the first panel of the second frame portion, and the second panel of the second frame portion is coupled to the second panel of the first frame portion.
- 4. The frame of claim 2, wherein the first frame portion further includes a third panel having one end pivotably coupled to the second panel and a second end pivotably coupled to the second frame portion.
- 5. The frame of claim 1, wherein the first and second frame portions each include a horizontal top rail and the lock mechanism is mounted for rotation between the horizontal top rails.
- 6. The frame of claim 5, wherein the first and second frame portions each include a first panel and a second panel pivotably coupled to its companion first panel and the lock mechanism is rotatably mounted between the first panels.
- 7. The frame of claim 5, further comprising a stationary hinge defining a vertical hinging axis wherein the first and second frame portions each further include a horizontal bottom rail in spaced apart relation to the top rail and the stationary hinge is mounted between the horizontal bottom rails.
- 8. The frame of claim 1, wherein the first and second frame portions each include a first panel and a second panel pivotably coupled to its companion first panel, the second panel of the first frame portion being pivotably coupled to the second panel of the second frame portion.
- 9. The frame of claim 8, further comprising a second lock mechanism that pivotably couples the second panel of the first frame portion to the second panel of the second frame portion.
- 10. The frame of claim 8, wherein the first and second frame portions each further include a third panel pivotably coupled to its companion second panel and pivotably coupled to one another.
- 11. The frame of claim 1, wherein the lock mechanism is in a locked position when the hinge pin is horizontal so that the first frame portion cannot pivot relative to the second frame portion and the lock mechanism is in an unlocked position when the hinge pin is vertical so that the first frame portion can pivot relative to the second frame portion.
- 12. The frame of claim 11, wherein the first and second frame portions each include a horizontal top rail and the lock mechanism is mounted for rotation on the horizontal top rails.
- 13. The frame of claim 11, further comprising a stationary hinge mounted between the first and second frame portions in spaced-apart relation to the lock mechanism, the stationary hinge pivotably coupling the first frame portion to the second frame portion and defining a vertical hinging axis.
- 14. The frame of claim 1, wherein the first and second frame portions each includes a first end and an opposite second end, the first member of the lock mechanism being mounted on the first end of the first frame portion and the second member of the lock mechanism being mounted on the first end of the second frame portion.
- 15. The frame of claim 14, wherein a coupling couples the second end of the first frame portion to the second end of the second frame portion such that the second end of the first frame portion can pivot relative to the second end of the second frame portion about an axis defined by the coupling.
- 16. The frame of claim 1, wherein the first and second frame portions are spindle sets and include a horizontal top rail, an opposite horizontal bottom rail, and a plurality of vertical spindles extending vertically between the top and bottom rails.
- 17. The frame of claim 16, wherein the first and second members of the lock mechanism are formed to include a pair of longitudinal slot portions to enable the lock mechanism to be installed onto the top rails of the first and second frame portions without being blocked by the vertical spindles.
- 18. The frame of claim 16, wherein the first and second members of the lock mechanism are formed to include a pair of circumferential slot portions to enable the lock mechanism to rotate about the top rails without interference from the vertical spindles.
- 19. The frame of claim 1, wherein the lock mechanism is mounted for rotation on the first and second frame portions between a locked position wherein the first and second members are prevented from pivoting relative to one another about the axis defined by the hinge pin and an unlocked position wherein the first and second members are free to pivot relative to one another about the axis defined by the hinge pin.
- 20. The frame of claim 19, wherein the lock mechanism includes a lock member that engages the second frame portion when the lock mechanism is in the locked position to inhibit the lock mechanism from inadvertently moving to the unlocked position.
- 21. A juvenile crib frame comprising
- a first frame portion having a first end and a second end,
- a second frame portion having a first end and a second end,
- a first lock mechanism having a first member mounted for rotation on the first end of the first frame portion, a second member mounted for rotation on the first end of the second frame portion, and a coupling that couples the first member to the second member for pivotable movement of the first lock mechanism about an axis that is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of at least one member of the first lock mechanism relative to its companion frame portion, and
- a second lock mechanism having a first member mounted for rotation on the second end of the first frame portion, a second member mounted for rotation on the second end of the second frame portion, and a coupling that couples the first member of the second lock mechanism to the second member of the second lock mechanism for pivotable movement of the second lock mechanism about an axis that is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of at least one member of the second lock mechanism relative to its companion frame portion.
- 22. The frame of claim 21, wherein the first frame portion includes a first panel and a second panel pivotably coupled to the first panel and the first member of the first lock mechanism is rotatably mounted on the first panel.
- 23. The frame of claim 22, wherein the second frame portion includes a first panel and a second panel pivotably coupled to the first panel of the second frame portion, the second member of the lock mechanism is rotatably mounted on the first panel of the second frame portion, and the second panel of the second frame portion is coupled to the second panel of the first frame portion.
- 24. The frame of claim 22, wherein the first frame portion further includes a third panel having one end pivotably coupled to the second panel and a second end pivotably coupled to the second frame portion.
- 25. The frame of claim 21, wherein the first and second frame portions each include a horizontal top rail and the first lock mechanism is mounted for rotation between the horizontal top rails.
- 26. The frame of claim 25, wherein the first and second frame portions each include a first panel and a second panel pivotably coupled to its companion first panel and the first lock mechanism is rotatably mounted between the first panels.
- 27. The frame of claim 25, further comprising a stationary hinge defining a vertical hinging axis wherein the first and second frame portions each further include a horizontal bottom rail in spaced-apart relation to the top rail and the stationary hinge is mounted between the horizontal bottom rails.
- 28. A juvenile crib frame comprising
- a first frame portion having a first end and an opposite second end,
- a second frame portion having a first end and an opposite second end,
- a first lock mechanism having a first member mounted for rotation on the first end of the first frame portion, a second member mounted for rotation on the first end of the second frame portion, and a coupling that couples the first member to the second member for pivotable movement of the first lock mechanism about an axis that is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of at least one member of the first lock mechanism relative to its companion frame portion,
- a second lock mechanism having a first member mounted for rotation on the second end of the first frame portion, a second member mounted for rotation on the second end of the second frame portion, and a coupling that couples the first member of the second lock mechanism to the second member of the second lock mechanism for pivotable movement of the second lock mechanism about an axis that is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of at least one member of the second lock mechanism relative to its companion frame portion,
- a first hinge coupled to the first ends of the first and second frame portions and in spaced-apart relation to the first lock mechanism to define a vertical pivot axis, and
- a second hinge coupled to the second ends of the first and second frame portions and in spaced-apart relation to the second lock mechanism to define a vertical pivot axis.
- 29. The frame of claim 28, wherein the first ends of the first and second frame portions can pivot relative to one another only when the first lock mechanism is rotated to define a vertical pivot axis.
- 30. The frame of claim 29, wherein the second ends of the first and second frame portions can pivot relative to one another only when the second lock mechanism is rotated to define a vertical pivot axis.
- 31. The frame of claim 29, wherein the first lock mechanism is formed to include slot portions that restrict rotation of the first lock mechanism to ninety degrees between a horizontal and vertical position.
- 32. The frame of claim 28, wherein the first and second frame portions are spindle sets including a top rail, an opposite bottom rail, and a plurality of vertical spindles interconnecting the top and bottom spindles.
- 33. The frame of claim 32, wherein the first and second lock mechanisms are mounted to the top rails of first and second frame portions.
- 34. The frame of claim 32, wherein the first and second hinges are mounted to the bottom rails of the first and second frame portions.
- 35. The frame of claim 32, wherein the first and second lock mechanisms are formed to include at least one slot portion configured to receive at least one vertical spindle to restrict rotation of the first lock mechanism relative to the spindle sets.
Parent Case Info
This appln claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Ser. No. 60/066,218 filed Nov. 20, 1997.
US Referenced Citations (5)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
310769 |
Jan 1956 |
CHX |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
Gerry Sales Brochure, pp. 32-33 showing Model Nos. 8252, 8352, and 8582. |