Patent Application
20230225520
The present invention relates to baby cribs, and in particular to the type of cribs having a drop side allowing babies to sleep with their parents by placing the crib on the bed side.
Various examples of bed-side cribs, also known as side-sleeping cribs, are known in the art. Like in all cribs, a baby is placed on a bottom of the crib, possibly equipped with a mattress, surrounded by side walls that prevent the child from coming out or falling outside.
In order to allow side-sleeping, i.e. with the baby safely sleeping next to his/her parents, one of the side walls is designed to be movable. Thus, the movable wall may be kept in the raised position during the day, or in any case when the crib is far from the parents’ bed, and may be dropped down at night, so as to remove any separation between the crib and the bed.
One example of bed-side cribs is disclosed in EP 3354165 by the applicant hereof. In this crib, the bottom and the side walls are defined by a textile enclosure supported by a frame. The movable wall of the enclosure is connected between a movable bar of the frame, placed above the wall, and a lower roller that is able to rewind the fabric of the wall while it slides downwards. Sliders are provided at the ends of the movable bar, sliding in respective guides.
Also, belts are provided under the bottom of the enclosure, which can be unwound from an additional roller, to secure the crib to a structural element of a bed.
The possibility of dropping down one of the walls of the crib poses a safety problem when the crib is far from a bed. This is because if the movable wall is not well secured in the raised position, or a baby is able to unlock the wall, or his/her parents don’t pay attention, the crib may have an accidentally dropped-down wall even when it is far from the bed, and a baby may fall outside.
The object of the present invention is to address the above problem, i.e. preventing the movable wall from remaining in the dropped-down position when the crib is far from a bed.
This and other objects are fulfilled by a baby crib as defined in any of the accompanying claims.
The invention provides a return system configured to return at least one slider of the movable bar along a respective guide toward an upper end portion of the guide, to thereby raise the movable wall. A constraint element adapted to be secured to a bed, e.g. similar to the belts of EP 3354165, is connected to the return system to be also returned toward the guides.
When the constraint element is secured to a bed, the bed itself retains the constraint element, preventing it from being returned toward the guides. Therefore, despite the force exerted by the return system on the constraint element, further movements of the constraint element toward the guide are prevented, and at the same time the action of the return system on the slider of the movable bar is stopped.
Advantageously, when the crib is fixed to a bed via the constraint elements, the movable bar is free to remain in the dropped down or raised position, as desired, without being subjected to the returning action that would automatically return it upwards. Conversely, when the crib is far from the bed, and as long as there is nothing else that retains the constraint element spaced apart from the guide, the return system will always automatically return the movable bar to the raised position, preventing a child from falling outside.
Further features and advantages of the present invention will result more clearly from the illustrative, non-limiting description of a method and a system for detecting objects in an environment, with respect to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring to the accompanying figures, numeral 100 generally designates a baby crib, namely a bed-side or side-sleeping crib. The crib 100 comprises a frame 1 and a textile enclosure 110, which may be manufactured and sold together or separately.
The frame 1 comprises an upper structure 2 and a lower structure 3, spaced apart in a first direction X-X. The frame 1 further comprises uprights 4 that connect and fix the lower structure 2 and the upper structure 3 together. Preferably, the uprights 4 mainly extend in the first direction X-X.
The frame 1 may also comprise a support structure 5 which is configured to rest on a floor and to keep the upper structure 2 and the lower structure 3 raised from the floor. In the illustrated embodiment, the support structure 5 comprises bearing legs 51 connected to the upper structure 2. The bearing legs 51 are pivotally connected to the upper structure to allow the upper structure 2 and the lower structure 3 to rock.
Nevertheless, a skilled person will understand that a variety of types of alternative support structures 5 may be provided for the purposes of the invention, e.g. with one or more legs forming extensions of the uprights 4 and formed of one piece therewith. Therefore, the support structure 5 will not be described in greater detail herein.
In addition, the frame 1 comprises a movable bar 6, which is movable with respect to the upper structure 2 and the lower structure 3, in positions which will be explained in greater detail below. In particular, the movable bar 6 may be at times in an upper position, in which it is substantially level with the upper structure 2.
The movable bar 6 has two end portions 61 spaced apart in a second direction Y-Y perpendicular to the first direction X-X.
When the movable bar 6 is in the upper position, the upper structure 2 and the movable bar 6 define together an upper opening. In certain examples, the upper opening may have a plurality of sides, preferably four, and the movable bar 6 is arranged along at least a portion of at least one of these sides. On the other hand, the upper structure 2 occupies the remaining sides and/or portions of a side of the upper opening.
The lower structure 3 is configured to support a mattress 200. The upper structure 2, the lower structure 3 and the uprights 4 are in such arrangement as to surround a compartment of the crib 100 adapted to receive a baby. The compartment is accessible through the upper opening, and may also be accessible from the sides, depending on the position of the movable bar 6, as further explained below.
The enclosure 110 of the crib 100 delimits this compartment and is preferably constrained to the upper structure 2. In particular, the enclosure 110 comprises a bottom 111 arranged substantially level with the lower structure 3. The mattress 200 may be placed on the bottom 111.
Furthermore, the enclosure 110 comprises side walls 112 which connect the bottom 111 to the upper structure 3 of the frame 1. Finally, the enclosure 110 comprises a movable wall 113 which is connected to the movable bar 6 and is movable with the movable bar 6. The movable wall is arranged at least partially between the movable bar 6 and the bottom 111. Therefore, at least when the movable bar 6 is in the upper position, the side walls 112 and the movable wall 113 laterally surround the compartment.
The frame 1 comprises at least one guide 7, preferably two guides 7. Each guide 7 has a top end portion 71 proximate to the upper structure 2 and a bottom end portion 72 proximate to the lower structure 3.
In the preferred embodiment, each guide 7 is shaped like a guide bar that connects the upper structure 2 and the lower structure 3. The guide bar has a groove 73 that extends between the upper end portion 71 and the lower end portion 72 for certain specific components to slide therein, as explained hereinafter. In particular, the movable wall 113 has side edges spaced apart in the second direction Y-Y and sliding each in a respective groove 73. Optionally, the groove 73 provides access to a cavity 74 inside the guide bar, which also extends between the upper end portion 71 and the lower end portion 72, for the sliding movement of additional components having a greater thickness than the movable wall 113.
The movable bar 6 comprises at least one slider 62 that is able to slide along the guide 7, and is namely able to slide between the upper end portion 71 and the lower end portion 72. The slider 62 can at least partially fit in the groove 73, and optionally in the inner cavity 74.
Preferably, the slider 62 is formed on a respective end portion 61 of the movable bar 6. More preferably, each end portion 61 of the movable bar 6 has a respective slider 62, sliding along a respective guide 7. Nevertheless, reference will be made herein to one guide 7 and one slider 62, to describe features that apply to each guide 7 and each slider 62.
When the movable bar 6 is in the upper position, the slider 62 is at the upper end portion 71 of the guide 7. Moreover, the movable bar 6 is movable between the upper position and a lower position, in which the slider 62 is substantially at the lower end portion 72 of the guide 7. When the movable bar 6 is in the lower position, the compartment of the crib 100 is accessible not only from the upper opening, but also from a lateral opening located above the movable bar 6, between the two guides 7.
In one aspect of the invention, the crib 100 comprises a return system 8 configured to return the slider 62 toward the upper end portion 71 of the guide 7, and hence to return the movable bar 6 toward the upper position. More specifically, each guide 7 may have its own return system 8, only one of them being described herein, or a single return system 8 may be provided in spite of the provision of multiple guides 7.
It should be noted that in prior art cribs, like the one of EP 3354165, unlike the crib of the invention, the movable bar 6 is returned toward the lower position, and not toward the upper position.
Preferably, the return system 8 comprises a first roller 81 mounted to the upper structure 2, close to the upper end portion 71 of the guide 7. Furthermore, the return system 8 comprises a generally flexible upper connecting section 82 which can be wound around the first roller 81. The upper connecting section 82 may be provided, for example, in the form of a belt or a rope. The first roller 81 is biased to rewind the upper connecting section 82 with a first force. When rewinding on the first roller 81 is not completed, the upper connecting section 82 extends at least partially along the guide 7, for example in the cavity 74.
In embodiments that are not shown in the figures, the upper connecting section 82 may be connected to the slider 62. Conversely, in the preferred embodiment the return system 8 comprises a stop member 83 sliding along the guide 7, and particularly in the cavity 74, or alternatively in the groove 73. However, substantially parallel separate grooves or cavities may be provided in the guide bar for various components to slide therein, such as the slider 62 and the stop member 83.
If the stop member 83 is provided, the upper connecting section 82 connects the first roller 81 and the stop member 83. Therefore, the first roller 81 and the upper connecting section 82 constitute return members, which are configured to return the stop member 83 toward the upper end portion 71 of the guide 7. These return members 81, 82 act only indirectly on the slider 62, via the stop member 83, as described below.
In particular, the sliding movement of the slider 62 along the guide 7 is limited below by the stop member 83 and is also obviously limited above by the upper end portion 71 of the guide 7. For example, the stop member 83 may be placed below the slider 62, i.e. between the slider 62 and the lower end portion 72 of the guide 7.
The stop member 83 has a bearing portion 84 which is adapted to contact the slider 62 and press the slider 62 toward the top end portion 71 of the guide 7 when the return members 81, 82 return the stop member 83 toward the top end portion 71 of the guide 7. In any case, the slider 62 can be separated from the bearing portion 84 of the stop member 83, as shown in
Therefore, when the slider 62 and the stop member 83 contact each other at the bearing portion 84, the stop member 83, which moves toward the upper end portion 71 of the guide 7 under the action of the return members 81, 82, pulls the slider 62 along. That is, the slider 62 is movable jointly with the stop member 83 substantially along the entire guide 7, i.e. between the upper end portion 71 and the lower end portion 72.
Conversely, when the slider 62 is separated from the stop member 83, it is only movable between the upper end portion 71 of the guide 7 and the stop member 83, without being subjected to the action of the return members 81, 82. Therefore, when the slider 62 is separated from the stop member 83, it is not allowed to be between the lower end portion 72 of the guide 7 and the stop member 83.
The frame 1 comprises at least one constraint element 9 (for example one for each return system 8 or for each guide 7), which is configured to be secured to a structural element of a bed (not shown) in the vicinity of the crib 100. The constraint element 9 may have different shapes depending on the desired bed fixation arrangements. In the preferred embodiment, the constraint element 9 comprises one or more belts that can be fixed around a bar or beam of the bed.
According to one aspect of the invention, the constraint element 9 is constrained to the guide 7 and is connected to the return system 8, namely to the stop member 83. That is, the return system 8 comprises a lower connecting section 85 which connects the constraint element 9 and the stop member 83. The lower connecting section 85 may be provided, for example, in the form of a belt or a rope, optionally as an extension of the upper connecting section 82. Nevertheless, in the illustrated embodiment, the upper 82 and lower 85 connecting sections comprise distinct belts, whose thicknesses are oriented in mutually perpendicular directions.
It should be noted that the connection between the constraint element 9 and the lower connecting section 85 may be either permanent or releasable, for example by means of a clip. Namely, in the illustrated embodiment, a first clip 86 removably connects a first end of the constraint element 9 to the lower connecting section 85, and a second clip 87 removably connects a second end of the constraint element 9 to a portion of the lower structure 3 that is distal from the guide 7.
On the other hand, in the permanent connection case, the constraint element 9 and the lower connection section 85 may be simply defined as distinct portions of the same belt or rope, or the constraint element 9 may be directly connected to the stop member 83.
The lower connecting section 85 (and/or a portion of the constraint element 9) is adapted to be at least partially inserted into and removed from the guide 7, namely the cavity 74, as the stop member 83 slides along the guide 7. For this purpose, the guide 7 has a first lower channel 75 for access to the cavity 74, at the lower end portion 72 of the guide 7. The lower connecting section 85 extends through the first lower channel 75.
As a result, the constraint element 9 is movable relative to the guide 7 between a position close to the guide 7, when most of the lower connecting section 85 is inserted in the guide 7, and a position spaced apart from the guide 7, when most of the lower connecting portion 85 is outside the guide 7.
By securing the constraint element 9 to a structural element of a bed, the bed may be easily arranged to retain the constraint element 9 in the position spaced apart from the guide 7. When the constraint element 9 is retained in the spaced-apart position (whether or not this occurs by securing the constraint element to a bed), the stop member 83 is still pulled by the return members 81, 82 toward the upper end portion 71 of the guide 7.
Nevertheless, in such situation the stop member 83 can no longer slide toward the upper end portion 71 of the guide 7 and cannot press the slider 62 toward the upper end portion 71 of the guide 7.
Thus, a skilled person will understand that the connection as described hereintofore between the constraint element 9 and the various components of the return system 8 is such that the return system 8 will prevent the slider 62 from being returned, when the constraint element 9 is retained in the spaced-apart position. However, the movable bar 6 may still be raised, by detaching the slider 62 from the stop member 83, as desired by a user.
According to the intended purposes, when the crib 100 is moved away from the bed with the constraint element 9 not being retained in the spaced-apart position, the return system 8 will prevent the movable bar 6 from stably remaining in the lower position, and the slider 62 will be returned toward the upper end portion 71 of the guide 7 whenever the movable bar 6 is at least partially lowered.
Furthermore, when the constraint element 9 is secured to a structural element of the bed while being retained in the spaced-apart position, the user may freely choose whether to keep the movable bar 6 in the upper position (slider 62 detached from the stop member 83 and placed at the upper end portion 71 of the guide 7), or in a lower position (slider 62 resting on the stop member 83 at the lower end portion 72 of the guide 7).
Preferably, the movable bar 6 comprises at least one locking member 63 (preferably two), located at one of the end portions 61 of the movable bar 6. Therefore, the locking member 63 may be placed proximate to the slider 62 and may be optionally mounted to the slider 62.
Accordingly, the upper structure 2 comprises a locking seat 21, preferably formed in the vicinity of the upper end portion 71 of the guide 7.
The locking member 63 is adapted to be engaged, preferably by snap-fit engagement, in a locking seat 21 to prevent the slider 62 from sliding along the guide 7 when the slider 62 is located at the top end portion 71 of the guide 7. This will afford stable positioning of the movable bar 6 in the upper position even when the constraint element 9 is retained in the spaced-apart position.
Also, the movable bar 6 has a release mechanism 64 operable to disengage the locking member 63 from the locking seat 21, to thereby allow the slider 62 to slide again along the guide 7. Only one release actuator of the release mechanism 64, associated with the movable bar 6, is shown.
It shall be noted that the crib 100 preferably does not have any locking mechanism for retaining the movable bar 6 in the lower position, so that the movable bar 6 may be spontaneously returned to the upper position, by means of the return system 8, when the constraint element 9 is released, and may be returned to the close position.
In the preferred embodiment, the crib 100 comprises a second roller 10 for handling the fabric that forms the movable wall 113 of the enclosure 110. More in detail, the second roller 10 is mounted to the lower structure 3, below the bottom 111 of the enclosure 110. The movable wall 113 connects the movable bar 6 to the second roller 10, and the second roller 10 is biased to rewind the movable wall 113 with a second force.
For this purpose, the guide 7 has a second lower channel 76 for access to the groove 73, at the lower end portion 72 of the guide 7. The side edges of the movable wall 113 are adapted to slide between the groove 73 and the second roller 10 via the second lower channel 76.
It should be noted that the action of the second roller 10 on the movable bar 6 is directed opposite to the action of the first roller 81. In order to achieve the above discussed functions, the action of the first roller 81 shall prevail, i.e. the first force shall be greater than the second force. This will not hinder proper rewinding of the movable wall 113 when the movable bar moves to the lowered position.
A skilled person may obviously envisage a number of equivalent changes to the above discussed variants, without departure from the scope defined by the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102019000007896 | Jun 2019 | IT | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2020/055130 | 5/29/2020 | WO |
