TECHNICAL FIELD
The present disclosure is generally in the field of infant and child carriers and sleep structures, and more particularly related to locking assemblies and collapsible structures for bassinets.
BACKGROUND
Bassinets may be used to comfortably and safely transport an infant or young child. Bassinets may also be used as stationary beds for which the infant or young child may rest.
Playards are traditionally four walled stationary structures that may provide a safe area for an infant or young child to rest, play, and/or sleep. Often childcare takers may have both a playard and a bassinet and may use each for different purposes. For example, the bassinet may be used for transporting a sleeping child and the playard may be used as a safe and contained play area.
Bassinets often include a handle for the caretaker to hold and move the bassinet. The bassinet may be placed on the floor or upon other furniture. However, placing the bassinet on the floor can be hazardous as it may be a tripping hazard and may be accessible to other children and/or pets. Also, placing the bassinet on furniture can also be problematic as the bassinet may fall, injuring the infant or child. Also, bassinets often take up a significant amount of space and may be challenging to store.
A need remains for a locking assembly for securing the bassinet to furniture such as a playard. It may also be desirable to collapse the bassinet for safe keeping or to expand the bassinet for stability.
SUMMARY
The present disclosure describes locking assemblies (e.g., locking components) that can lock a bassinet to a child support structure such as a sleep structure (e.g., playard, pack-n-play, etc.), stroller, or the like.
In embodiments, the present disclosure describes a bassinet assembly for supporting a user that includes a rigid bottom portion, a side wall coupled to the rigid bottom portion, a locking component designed to move between (i) a first position designed to couple the bassinet to the child support structure, and (ii) a second position designed to decouple the bassinet from the child support structure, and a base support coupled to the rigid bottom portion and configured to support the bassinet assembly.
In embodiments, the present disclosure describes a bassinet assembly for supporting an infant or child that includes a rigid bottom portion, a side wall coupled to the rigid bottom portion, and a locking component coupled to the rigid bottom portion and designed to move between (i) a first position designed to couple the bassinet to the sleeping structure, and (ii) a second position designed to decouple the bassinet from the sleeping structure, the sleeping structure including a base, a plurality of walls coupled to the base, and an upper support coupled to the plurality of walls. The locking component may include a spring designed to bias the locking component in the first position.
In embodiments, the present disclosure describes a bassinet system including a bassinet including a rigid bottom portion, a side wall coupled to the rigid bottom portion, a locking portion having a protrusion extending from the rigid bottom portion, and a sleeping structure including a base, a plurality of walls coupled to the base, a locking component coupled to a wall of the plurality of walls and designed to receive the locking portion of the bassinet and to move between (i) a first position designed to couple the locking portion to the sleeping structure, and (ii) a second position designed to decouple the locking portion from the sleeping structure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The detailed description is set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings. The use of the same reference numerals may indicate similar or identical items. Various embodiments may utilize elements and/or components other than those illustrated in the drawings, and some elements and/or components may not be present in various embodiments. Elements and/or components in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. Throughout this disclosure, depending on the context, singular and plural terminology may be used interchangeably.
FIGS. 1A-1C are perspective views of bassinets connected to a sleep structure via a base support.
FIGS. 2A-2C are perspective views of bassinets connected to a sleep structure via a connection assembly with a foot pedal.
FIGS. 2D-2F are perspective views of a bassinet locking assembly for connecting to a sleep structure.
FIGS. 3A-3B are perspective views of a bassinet locking assembly with clasping arms for connecting to a sleep structure.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional views of a bassinet locking assembly with clamping arms for connecting to a sleep structure.
FIGS. 5A-5D are perspective views of clasping arms with a geared connection and a handle for connecting a bassinet to a sleep structure.
FIGS. 6A-6C are perspective views of a connection structure connected to a sleep structure for connecting a bassinet or changing table.
FIGS. 7A-7C are side and perspective views of a bassinet locking assembly with a hook support.
FIGS. 8A-8C are perspective and cross-sectionals of a bassinet locking assembly with a support arm and a sleep structure with a support arm receiving area.
FIGS. 9A-9C are side views of a bassinet locking assembly with a hook and a grasping arm connected to a handle.
FIGS. 10A-10B are side and perspective views of a collapsible bassinet for transitioning between an expanded and collapsed state.
FIGS. 11A-11B are perspective views of a of a collapsible bassinet with a rotatable stroller attachment for transitioning between an expanded and collapsed state.
FIGS. 12A-12B are perspective views of a collapsible bassinet with a rotatable stroller attachment for transitioning between an expanded and collapsed state.
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a bassinet with rotatable arms of a support base for increasing the footprint of the base.
FIGS. 14A-14B are perspective views of a bassinet with a base support within rotatable walls for increasing the footprint of the base.
FIGS. 15A-15B are perspective views of a collapsible bassinet with an internal support structure including hinged and telescoping supports.
FIGS. 16A-16C are perspective views of a collapsible bassinet with an internal support structure including a removable base connector and a cap for connecting the bassinet to a child support structure.
The present disclosure provides a more detailed and specific description with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings and specific descriptions of the drawings, as well as any specific or other embodiments discussed, are intended to be read in conjunction with the entirety of this disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Example embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments are shown. The concepts disclosed herein may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the example embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the concepts to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like, but not necessarily the same or identical elements throughout.
Referring now to FIGS. 1A-1C, a bassinet system is illustrated with a bassinet attached to a sleep structure. As shown in FIG. 1A, bassinet system 100 may include bassinet 102 and sleep structure 104. Bassinet 102 may be a bassinet for safely transporting a baby or young child and/or for supporting a baby or young child as the baby or young child sleeps or rests. Bassinet 102 may include bottom portion 110, which may be a rigid bottom portion for supporting a baby or child and a side wall 108 which may be connected to the perimeter of the bottom portion. While a bassinet is illustrated throughout as connected to a child support structure, alternatively a child seat, changing table, or the any other suitable child support devices may be connected to the child support structure in the same or similar manner.
Bassinet 102 may be part of a bassinet assembly which may include locking portion 120 and base support 115. As shown in FIG. 1A, locking portion 120 may include a button receiver which may include a hole for receiving button protrusion 122 of sleep structure 102. It is understood that locking portion 120 may alternately include a button protrusion and a sleep structure 104 may include the button receiver.
Bottom portion 110 of bassinet 102 may be connected to base support 115 and may rest on base support 115. Base support 115 may include legs 112 which may support bassinet 102 and may optionally be telescoping such that the length of the legs may be extended. Bassinet 102 may be removably connected (e.g., connected and disconnected) from sleep structure 104 via locking portion 120. In one example, four different locking portions 120 may be attached to base support 115 to secure bassinet 102 to sleep structure 104.
Locking portion 120 may transition (e.g., deform) to move from a first portion, secured to button protrusion 122 to a second position, decoupled from button protrusion 122. For example, locking portion and/or button protrusion 122 may be any suitable button structure. Sleep structure 104 may include base 113, walls 114 (e.g., four walls) and upper support 116. Sleep structure 104 may be a playard, pack-n-play, crib, or the like. Button protrusion 122 may be coupled to mattress 118 which may rest on base 113 of sleep structure 104 or may be positioned at height 128, which may be positioned above base 113.
Referring now to FIG. 1B, a bassinet is illustrated for connecting to the sleep structure via a sleeve with interlocking teeth (e.g., a zipper). As shown in FIG. 1B, bassinet 108 may be connected to base support 115 which may be connected to a sleep structure. Sleeve 130 may be positioned over legs of base support 115 and may be secured to sleep structure (e.g., to the base or mattress portion) via interlocking teeth 132 and/or 134 at either end of sleeve 130. The base and/or mattress pad may include counterpart interlocking teeth forming a zipper with interlocking teeth 132 and/or 134.
Referring now to FIG. 1C, a bassinet is illustrated for connecting to the sleep structure via a tongue and groove assembly. For example, bassinet 108 may be connected to base support 115 and the legs of base support 115 may be connected to tongue and groove portion 138 and/or tongue and groove portion 136 which may be the groove portion or the tongue portion of the tongue and groove assembly. The sleep structure may include (e.g., on the mattress or the base) the counterpart of the tongue and groove assembly which may interface with tongue and groove portions 138 and/or 136 to secure bassinet 102 to base support 115.
Referring now to FIGS. 2A-2C, a bassinet system is illustrated for connecting to a sleep structure via a locking assembly with a foot pedal. For example, bassinet system 200 may include bassinet 202, which may be the same as or similar to bassinet 102 of FIG. 1, sleep structure 204, which may be the same as or similar to sleep structure 104 of FIG. 1, locking portion 206 and locking component 208.
Locking portion 206 may be connected to or otherwise integrated with the bottom portion of bassinet 200 and may include a static protrusion or protrusion receiving area for securing bassinet to sleep structure 204. Locking component 208 may include a protrusion designed to be biased (e.g., via a resilient component such as a spring) into locking portion 206 to mate with locking portion 206. Locking component 208 may be connected to foot pedal 212 which may be a foot actuator for selectively connecting locking component 208 to locking portion 206. For example, foot pedal 212 may cause connector 210 to transition locking component 208 from a locked position to an unlocked position and vice versa. It will be understood by one skilled in the art that the spring may alternatively be velcro, snaps, or other suitable alternatives.
Referring now to FIGS. 2D-2F, a locking component is illustrated secured to the locking portion of the bassinet. Locking component may include rotating unit 264 which is connected and rotated via connector 210 which is connected to the foot pedal. Rotating unit 264 may interface with protrusion 268 which may be moved between a closed position illustrated in FIG. 2E. In the closed position, protrusion 268 may enter void 254 of locking portion 206 of bassinet 202. As connector moves upward, rotation unit 264 rotates moving protrusion 268 out of void 254.
Protrusion 268 may be connected to spring 266 such that protrusion 268 is biased to transition to the unlocked position illustrated in FIG. 2E. Spring 266 may be any resilient component. Locking portion 206 may further include void 252 for receiving a static protrusion of locking component 208. As shown in FIG. 2F, once protrusion 268 exits void 254, locking portion 206 of bassinet 202 may be released from locking component 208 of sleep structure 204.
Referring now to FIGS. 3A-3B, bassinet is illustrated secured to sleeping structure using a handle with clasps. Bassinet 302 may be similar to bassinet 102 of FIG. 1, but may include handle 310, claspers 312, and recessed area 314 for securing bassinet to sleep structure 304, which may be the same as or similar to sleep structure 104 of FIG. 1. Handle 310 may be mechanically connected to claspers 310 such that rotation of handle 310 causes claspers, which may include curved arms that open and close to grasp upper support 316 of sleep structure 304, to open and/or close.
Recessed area 314 may be shaped to receive and/or conform to a portion of upper support 316. Claspers 312 may be positioned onto an opposing portion of upper support 316 and handle 310 may be actuated to move from an open position to a closed position over upper support 316 to clamp down upon or grasp upper support 316. As shown in FIG. 3B, handle 310 is in the closed position causing claspers to close over upper support 316, securing bassinet 302 to sleep structure 304.
Referring now to FIG. 4, an exemplary clasper assembly corresponding to the claspers in FIGS. 3A-3B is illustrated. For example, the clasper assembly 400 may include arm 402, arm 404, spring 408, gears 406, and upper support 410, which may be the same as upper support 316 of FIG. 3. Arms 402 and 404 may include gear portions at one end and may be pinned to the locking portion at the same end. The ends of arms 402 and 404 with the gear portions may together form gears 406, which may cause arms 402 and 404 to rotate simultaneously, thus opening and closing clasper assembly 400.
Each arm may be connected to spring 408 which may be elastically deformable and may bias arms 402 and 404 to assume a closed position. Spring 408 may be any resilient component. The handle of the locking portion of the bassinet may cause spring 408 to deform to permit arms 402 and 404 to open to receive a portion of upper support 410. It is understood that any other suitable clasper assembly may be used together with the handle, which may have different mechanical operation and/or components.
Referring now to FIGS. 5A-5D, an alternative clasper assembly is illustrated. The grasper assembly may include handle 502, which may be connected to arms 504 and 506 which may have gear portions at one end to form a geared connection. Handle 512 may include ramp 512 which may interface with obstruction 510 which may be connected to a spring and may move with respect to ramp 512. When obstruction 510 is not interfacing with ramp 512, arms 504 and 506 are free to open, as shown in FIG. 5B. Arms 504 and 506 may then be positioned over and around upper support 512 of the child sleep structure, which then may push obstruction upwards into contact with ramp 512. As obstruction 510 is caused to move into contact with ramp 512, obstruction 510 prevents movement of protrusion 514 which extends from arm 504, preventing arm 504 from rotating and thus maintaining clasper assembly in a locked position. To permit arms 504 and 506 to rotate to release upper support 512, handle 502 may be rotated to move ramp 512 and thereby release obstruction 510 from obstructing protrusion 514.
Referring now to FIGS. 6A-6C, a connection structure may be secured to a sleep structure for connecting various devices to the sleep structure. As shown in FIG. 6A, bassinet 604, which may be the same as or similar to bassinet 104 of FIG. 1, may connect to connector 610, which may include a snap fit over the upper support of sleep structure 604. Connector may include one or more receiving areas for securing other components or devices such as bassinet 602 and/or changing table 614. For example, bassinet 602 may include protrusion 608 at a bottom portion and changing table 614 may include protrusion 612 for being selectively secured to connector 610.
Referring now to FIG. 7A-7C, a bassinet may be secured to a sleep structure using a hook connector. Bassinet 702 may be similar to bassinet 702 of FIG. 1, but may include handle 710 for releasable connection to a sleep structure at recessed portions 708 and may include hook 706 for grasping an opposite end of the sleep structure and supporting bassinet 702. Hook may be curved in a circular shape. Handle may be spring loaded to transition recessed portions 708 from a locked position to an open position. For example, handle be part of any suitable locking assembly including any locking assembly described herein.
Referring now to FIGS. 8A-8C, a bassinet may be secured to a sleep structure using support arms and the sleep structure may receive the support arms. Bassinet 802 may be similar to bassinet 102 of FIG. 1, but may include support arms 806 that end from the bottom portion of bassinet 802 and may be designed to support bassinet 802. Support arms 806 may have a u-shape that may be received by the upper support of sleep structure 810. For example, the upper support may include receiving area 810 which may be sized to receive support arm 806.
Support arm 806 may include spring lock 812 which may be connected to spring 814 and may be biased to extend beyond a surface of support arm 806. Receiving area 810 may include a void for receiving spring lock 812. To release support arm from receiving area 810, spring lock may need to be depressed below surface 816 of receiving area 810. Once spring lock 812 is depressed, support arm 806 may move outside of receiving area 810. Spring 814 may be resilient component.
Referring now to FIGS. 9A-9C, a bassinet may be secured to a sleep structure using handles at either end of the bassinet. Bassinet 902 may include handles 906 which may be positioned at a front end and a read end of bassinet 902 and may include clasping arms that each may be caused by the handle to transition from a closed position to an open position. Handle 906 may include handle 908 which may be attached to a spring or other resilient component which may be attached to a hinged arm. Arm 910 may be a static arm and handle 908 may cause arm 912 to open and close around arm 910 to secure bassinet 902 to sleep structure 904.
Referring now to FIGS. 10A-10B, a bassinet may be secured to a stroller using a locking component that attached to the stroller. Bassinet 1002 may be the same as or similar to bassinet 102 of FIG. 1 and the stroller may be any suitable stroller with wheels and a locking portion for mating with locking component 1015 of bassinet 1002. Locking component 1015 may transition between an unlocked and a locked position to mate with a locking portion of stroller 1004.
Bassinet may include bottom portion 1010 which may be rigid and may be connected to side wall 1008 which may be made from a collapsible structure such as a fabric. Bottom portion 1010 may also be connected to base support 1012 below bottom portion 1010 for making contact with the ground or other structure. When not connected to stroller 1004, bassinet 1002 may collapse upon itself.
Referring now to FIGS. 11A-11B, bassinet 1102 is illustrated which may be similar to bassinet 1002 of FIGS. 10A-10B, but may include locking component 1115. Locking component may be connected to any suitable stroller and may be designed to rotate with respect to bassinet 1102. In one example, locking component may be biased to rotate to collapse bassinet 1102 but may click into or otherwise mate with the bottom portion of bassinet 1102 to expand bassinet 1102.
Referring now to FIG. 12A, bassinet 1202 is illustrated which may be similar to bassinet 1002 of FIGS. 10A-10B, but may include base support 1204, which may include legs 1204. For example, bassinet 1202, may include four legs. Base support 1204 have a first position, shown in FIG. 12A, in which legs extend generally downward form the bottom portion of the bassinet and a second position, shown in FIG. 12B, which the legs extend outward from the side of bassinet 1200 to increase the footprint of the bassinet. Alternatively, or additionally, the legs may rotate inward such that the legs are positioned beneath the bottom portion of the bassinet.
Referring now to FIG. 13, bassinet 1302 is illustrated which may be similar to basinet 102 of FIG. 1, but with a base support below the bottom portion of the bassinet, including one or more storage compartment. It is understood that multiple distinct compartments may be positioned within the base support.
Referring now to FIGS. 14A-14B, bassinet 1302 is illustrated which may be similar to bassinet 102 of FIG. 1, but with a base support below the bottom portion of the bassinet, including walls 1404. Walls 1404 may be connected along a perimeter of the bottom portion of the bassinet and may be designed to fold outward as shown in FIG. 14A to increase the footprint of the bassinet and to fold upward as shown in FIG. 14B. Each wall of walls 1404 may include a locking component for connecting the bassinet to the stroller in when walls 1404 are in a position folded upward, as shown in FIG. 14B.
Referring now to FIGS. 15A-15B, a bassinet internal structure is illustrated for a bassinet that is the same as or similar to the bassinet in FIGS. 10A-10B. The internal structure may include bottom portion 1504, which may be rigid, side arms 1505, which may be hinged or telescoping, main supports 1506 which may be telescoping and upper support 1502. Locking component 1508 may be attached to upper support 1508 for connecting the bassinet to a stroller.
Referring now to FIGS. 16A-16C, a collapsible bassinet with an internal support structure including a removable base connector and a cap for connecting the bassinet to a child support structure is depicted. Bassinet 1602 may be similar to bassinet 102 of FIG. 1, but may include removable base connector 1604, which may be removed to permit bassinet 1602 to collapse. Cap 1604 may be connected to a top portion of removable base connector 1606, may receive a portion of removable base connector 1604 within cap 1604, and may be selectively secured to removable base connector (e.g., via snap-fit, buckle, spring-loaded lock, pin, and the like). Cap 1604 may be connected to upper support 1610 which may support side wall 1612, which may be collapsible.
Removable base connector 1606 may connect to and/or may include lower support 1614, which may curve below bottom portion 1610 and may support bottom portion 1608. Bottom portion 1608 may be a rigid material and may be connectable with lower support (e.g., via snap fits, buttons, and/or any other suitable connection feature). Alternatively, or additionally, bottom portion 1608 may have a receiving area (e.g., void or tunnel) for receiving lower support 1614. When connected, cap 1604 and removable base connector 1606 may provide structural integrity for bassinet 1602 and otherwise prevent bassinet 1602 from collapsing. Removable base structure 1606 and lower support 1614 may be disconnected from cap 1604 and bottom portion 1608 to permit bassinet 1602 to collapse such that upper support 1610 moves toward bottom portion 1608.
Referring now to FIG. 16C, an exploded view of cap 1604, base structure 1606, and bottom portion 1608 is illustrated. As shown in FIG. 16C, base structure 1606 may include interior housing 1616, internal structure 1618, and exterior housing 1620. Internal structure 1618 may be positioned between and contained by interior housing 1616 and exterior housing 1620. Internal structure 1618, interior housing 1616, and/or exterior housing 1620 may be selectively connect the bassinet to a child support structure (e.g., stroller, jogger, etc.). Cap 1604 may connect to base structure 1606 to selectively engage base structure 1606 with the bassinet. It is understood that removable base structure 1606 may be connected to the child support structure and may not be removable from the child support structure while connected to cap 1604. It is further understood that cap 1604 may only be connected to removable support structure 1606 while removable support structure 1606 is connected to the child support structure.
Though the disclosed examples include particular arrangements of a number of parts, components, features, and aspects, the disclosure is not limited to only those examples or arrangements shown. Any one or more of the parts, components, features, and aspects of the disclosure may be employed alone or in other arrangements of any two or more of the same.
Although certain product features, functions, components, and parts have been described herein in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all embodiments of the teachings of the disclosure that fairly fall within the scope of permissible equivalents.
Unless otherwise noted, the terms used herein are to be understood according to conventional usage by those of ordinary skill in the relevant art. In addition to the definitions of terms provided below, it is to be understood that as used in the specification and in the claims, “a” or “an” may mean one or more, depending upon the context in which it is used.
Throughout this application, the term “include,” “include(s)” or “including” means “including but not limited to.” Note that certain embodiments may be described relating to a single glass, but the corresponding description should be read to include embodiments of two or more glasses. Different features, variations, and multiple different embodiments are shown and described herein with various details. What has been described in this application at times in terms of specific embodiments is done for illustrative purposes only and without the intent to limit or suggest that what has been conceived is only one particular embodiment or specific embodiments. It is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to any single specific embodiments or enumerated variations. Many modifications, variations and other embodiments will come to mind of those skilled in the art, and which are intended to be and are in fact covered by this disclosure. It is indeed intended that the scope of this disclosure should be determined by a proper legal interpretation and construction of the disclosure, including equivalents, as understood by those of skill in the art relying upon the complete disclosure present at the time of filing.
Conditional language, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain implementations could include, while other implementations do not include, certain features, elements, and/or operations. Thus, such conditional language generally is not intended to imply that features, elements, and/or operations are in any way required for one or more implementations or that one or more implementations necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without user input or prompting, whether these features, elements, and/or operations are included or are to be performed in any particular implementation.
What has been described herein in the present specification and drawings includes examples of systems, apparatuses, methods, devices, and/or techniques. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components and/or methods for purposes of describing the various elements of the disclosure, but it may be recognized that many further combinations and permutations of the disclosed elements are possible. Accordingly, it may be apparent that various modifications may be made to the disclosure without departing from the scope thereof. In addition, or as an alternative, other embodiments of the disclosure may be apparent from consideration of the specification and annexed drawings, and practice of the disclosure as presented herein. It is intended that the examples put forth in the specification and annexed drawings be considered. in all respects, as illustrative and not limiting. Although specific terms are employed herein. they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
Patent Application
20250127311
