Patent Grant
6895611
The invention pertains to storage systems. More particularly, the invention relates to a fabric device for converting a portable play yard into a storage system for a child's toys.
Various types of storage systems and devices have been developed for organizing and storing children's toys. U.S. Pat. No. 5,360,264 issued to Crane discloses a child's play table having a reversible top providing a smooth surface on one side and a modular building block system on the other. Attached beneath the reversible surface are one or more toy storage compartments or drawers.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,527,688 issued to Jones et al., describes a storage case for toy vehicles, simulating the appearance of an automobile steering wheel. U.S. Pat. No. 4,200,197, issued to Meyer et al. illustrates a toy storage apparatus having a decorative face designed to appear as an animated creature and having a large internal cavity. A foot pedal opens the creature's mouth for the introduction or removal of the child's toys. U.S. Pat. No. 4,103,455 issued to Silvey discloses a toy chest of animal form mounted on casters. The chest includes a mechanism that when operated by the child to open the chest will produce sounds and animated movements of features of the chest. These features are designed to encourage the child to clean up his or her room.
While other variations exist, the above-described designs for toy storage devices are typical of those encountered in the prior art. It is an objective of the present invention to provide for an alternative use for a child's play yard when no longer needed to confine a small child. It is a further objective to provide for storage of both large and small toys and similar objects while making maximum use of the external surfaces of the play yard. It is a still further objective of the invention to provide the above-described capabilities in an inexpensive and durable storage system that can be easily removed from the play yard, washed, and easily reinstalled. It is yet a further objective to provide a means to secure the storage system to the play yard to prevent shifting once toys are stored in the system.
While some of the objectives of the present invention are disclosed in the prior art, none of the inventions found include all of the requirements identified.
The present invention addresses all of the deficiencies of prior art toy storage covers for play yards, cribs or containers and satisfies all of the objectives described above.
A toy storage cover for a portable play yard providing the desired features may be constructed from the following components. A portable play yard that has a rigid frame, four protruding feet, a front wall, a back wall, a first side wall, a second side wall and a floor enclosed by the walls is provided. The toy storage cover includes four outer panels. The outer front panel has an exterior surface, an interior surface, a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge. The outer back panel has an exterior surface, an interior surface, a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge. The outer first side panel has an exterior surface, an interior surface, a top edge, a bottom edge, a front side edge, and a back side edge. The outer second side panel has an exterior surface, an interior surface, a top edge, a bottom edge, a front side edge, and a back side edge.
The outer front panel is joined at its first side edge to the front side edge of the outer first side panel and is joined at its second side edge to the front side edge of the outer second side panel. The outer back panel is joined at its first side edge to the back side edge of the outer first side panel and is joined at its second side edge to the back side edge of the outer second side panel.
An interior pocket is provided. The interior pocket comprises four inner panels and a floor panel. The inner front panel has an exterior surface, an interior surface, a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge. The inner back panel has an exterior surface, an interior surface, a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge. The inner first side panel has an exterior surface, an interior surface, a top edge, a bottom edge, a front side edge, and a back side edge. The inner second side panel has an exterior surface, an interior surface, a top edge, a bottom edge, a front side edge, and a back side edge.
The inner front panel is joined at its first side edge to the front side edge of the inner first side panel and is joined at its second side edge to the front side edge of the inner second side panel. The inner back panel is joined at its first side edge to the back side edge of the inner first side panel and is joined at its second side edge to the back side edge of the inner second side panel. The floor panel has an upper surface, a lower surface, a front edge, a back edge, a first side edge and a second side edge.
The floor panel is attached at its front edge to the bottom edge of the inner front panel, at its back edge to the bottom edge of the inner back panel, at its first side edge to the bottom edge of the inner first side panel and at its second side edge to the bottom edge of the inner second side panel. The inner front panel is attached at its top edge to the top edge of the outer front panel. The inner back panel is attached at its top edge to the top edge of the outer back panel. The inner first side panel is attached at its top edge to the top edge of the outer first side panel. The inner second side panel is attached at its top edge to the top edge of the outer second side panel.
The outer front, back, first side and second side panels are sized and shaped to fit slidably over the play yard walls when attached together. The inner front, back, first side, second side and floor panels are sized and shaped to fit slidably within the play yard walls when attached together. When the play yard is located between the inner and outer panels the interior pocket will be supported by the play yard.
In a variant of the invention, a retaining means is provided. The retaining means is formed of rigid material and is sized and shaped to fit frictionally between the inner front, back, first side and second side panels and over the floor panel, thereby securing the interior pocket downwardly within the play yard.
In another variant, the retaining means is a mattress pad that has a rigid backing.
In still another variant, means are provided for securing the toy storage cover to the play yard.
In yet another variant of the invention, the means for securing the toy storage cover to the play yard comprises means for fastening at least one of the outer panels to one of the inner panels through openings in the play yard walls.
In a further variant, the means for securing the toy storage cover to the play yard comprises straps extending from the bottom edges of the outer panels that can be tied around the protruding feet of the play yard.
In still a further variant of the invention, first, second, third and fourth foot retaining pockets are provided. The foot retaining pockets are sized, shaped and located to fit slidably over one of the feet.
The first foot retaining pocket is located at an intersection of the first side edge of the outer front panel and the front side edge of the outer first side panel on the interior surfaces of the panels adjacent their bottom edges. The second foot retaining pocket is located at an intersection of the second side edge of the outer front panel and the front side edge of the outer second side panel on the interior surfaces of the panels adjacent their bottom edges. The third foot retaining pocket is located at an intersection of the first side edge of the outer back panel and the back side edge of the outer first side panel on the interior surfaces of the panels adjacent their bottom edges. The fourth foot retaining pocket is located at an intersection of the second side edge of the outer back panel and the back side edge of the outer second side panel on the interior surfaces of the panels adjacent their bottom edges.
When the feet of the play yard are positioned within the foot retaining pockets, the outer panels will be held down despite shifting loads placed in the interior pocket.
In another variant, the toy storage cover for a portable play yard includes a series of exterior pockets attached to the outer panels.
In still another variant, the outer and inner panels are formed of material through which a user can see.
In a further variant of the invention, at least one of the exterior pockets attached to the outer panels further comprises at least one smaller interior pocket or smaller exterior pocket.
In yet a further variant, a toy storage cover for a portable play yard, includes a portable play yard. The play yard has a rigid frame with three protruding feet, a first side wall, a second side wall, a third side wall and a floor enclosed by the walls. The toy storage cover has three outer panels. Each of the outer first side, second side and third side panels has an exterior surface, an interior surface, a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge.
The outer first side panel is joined at its first side edge to the second side edge of the outer third side panel and is joined at its second side edge to the first side edge of the outer second side panel. The outer second side panel is joined at its second side edge to the first side edge of the outer third side panel.
An interior pocket including three inner panels is provided. Each of the inner first side, second side and third side panels has an exterior surface, an interior surface, a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge. The inner first side panel is joined at its first side edge to the second side edge of the inner third side panel and is joined at its second side edge to the first side edge of the inner second side panel. The inner second side panel is joined at its second side edge to the first side edge of the inner third side panel.
A floor panel is provided. The floor panel has an upper surface, a lower surface, a first edge, a second edge, and a third edge. The floor panel is attached at its first edge to the bottom edge of the inner first side panel, at its second edge to the bottom edge of the inner second side panel, at its third edge to the bottom edge of the inner third side panel. The inner first side panel is attached at its top edge to the top edge of the outer first side panel. The inner second side panel is attached at its top edge to the top edge of the outer second side panel. The inner third side panel is attached at its top edge to the top edge of the outer third side panel.
The outer first side, second side and third side panels are sized and shaped to fit slidably over the play yard walls when attached together. The inner first side, second side and third side panels and floor panel are sized and shaped to fit slidably within the play yard walls when attached together. When the play yard is located between the inner and outer panels the interior pocket will be supported by the play yard.
In still a further variant of the invention, the toy storage cover for a portable play yard further comprises a retaining means. The retaining means is formed of rigid material and is sized and shaped to fit frictionally between the inner first side, second side and third side panels and over the floor panel, thereby securing the interior pocket downwardly within the play yard.
In another variant, the retaining means is a mattress pad that has a rigid backing.
In a further variant of the invention, a toy storage cover for a portable play yard includes a portable play yard. The play yard includes a rigid frame that has protruding feet, a surrounding side wall and a floor enclosed by the wall.
The toy storage cover includes an outer surrounding side panel and an interior pocket. The outer surrounding side panel has an exterior surface, an interior surface, a top edge and a bottom edge. The interior pocket includes an inner surrounding side panel and a floor panel. The inner surrounding side panel has an exterior surface, an interior surface, a top edge and a bottom edge. The floor panel has an upper surface, a lower surface and a surrounding edge. The floor panel is attached at its surrounding edge to the bottom edge of the inner surrounding side panel.
The inner surrounding side panel is attached at its top edge to the top edge of the outer surrounding side panel. The outer surrounding side panel is sized and shaped to fit slidably over the surrounding side wall of the play yard. The inner surrounding side panel and floor panel are sized and shaped to fit slidably within the play yard walls. When the play yard is located between the inner and outer surrounding side panels the interior pocket will be supported by the play yard.
In still a further variant, the toy storage cover for a portable play yard further comprises a retaining means. The retaining means is formed of rigid material and is sized and shaped to fit frictionally within the inner surrounding side panel and over the floor panel, thereby securing the interior pocket downwardly within the play yard.
In yet a further variant, the retaining means is a mattress pad that has a rigid backing.
In another variant of the invention, a toy storage cover for an open topped container includes a container comprising a floor, a rigid surrounding side wall extending upwardly from the floor. The toy storage cover includes an outer surrounding side panel and an interior pocket. The outer surrounding side panel has an exterior surface, an interior surface, a top edge and a bottom edge.
The interior pocket includes an inner surrounding side panel and a floor panel. The inner surrounding side panel has an exterior surface, an interior surface, a top edge and a bottom edge. The floor panel has an upper surface, a lower surface and a surrounding edge. The floor panel is attached at its surrounding edge to the bottom edge of the inner surrounding side panel. The inner surrounding side panel is attached at its top edge to the top edge of the outer surrounding side panel.
The outer surrounding side panel is sized and shaped to fit slidably over the rigid surrounding side wall of the container. The inner surrounding side panel and floor panel are sized and shaped to fit slidably within the container. When the container is located between the inner and outer surrounding side panels the interior pocket will be supported by the container.
In still another variant, the toy storage cover for an open topped container further comprises a retaining means. The retaining means is formed of rigid material and is sized and shaped to fit frictionally within the inner surrounding side panel and over the floor panel, thereby securing the interior pocket downwardly within the container.
In a further variant of the invention, the retaining means is a mattress pad that has a rigid backing.
In yet another variant, a toy storage cover for a crib includes a crib. The crib includes a rigid frame and has four protruding feet, a front wall, a back wall, a first side wall, a second side wall and a floor enclosed by the walls. The toy storage cover includes four outer panels, an outer front panel, an outer back panel, an outer first side panel and an outer second side panel. The outer panels are attached to each other at their side edges.
The toy storage cover includes an interior pocket that includes four inner panels, an inner front panel, an inner back panel, an inner first side panel and an inner second side panel and a floor panel. The four inner panels are attached to each other at their side edges and to the floor panel at their bottom edges. The inner panels are attached at their top edges to the top edges of the outer panels. The outer front, back, first side and second side panels are sized and shaped to fit slidably over the crib walls when attached together. The inner front, back, first side, second side and floor panels are sized and shaped to fit slidably within the crib walls when attached together. When the crib is located between the inner and outer panels the interior pocket will be supported by the crib.
In still another variant of the invention, the toy storage cover for a crib further comprises a retaining means. The retaining means is formed of rigid material and is sized and shaped to fit frictionally between the inner front, back, first side and second side panels and over the floor panel, thereby securing the interior pocket downwardly within the crib.
In a further variant, the retaining means is a mattress pad has a rigid backing.
In another variant of the invention, a toy storage cover for a collapsible open topped container includes a container. The container includes a front wall, a back wall, a first side wall, a second side wall and a floor enclosed by the walls. Each of the walls has a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge, a second side edge, an inner surface and an outer surface. The floor has a front edge, a back edge, a first side edge, a second side edge, a top surface and a bottom surface.
The front wall is hingedly attached at its bottom edge to the front edge of the floor and the back wall is hingedly attached at its bottom edge to the back edge of the floor. The first side wall is hingedly attached at its bottom edge to the first side edge of the floor and the second side wall is hingedly attached at its bottom edge to the second side edge of the floor.
Means are provided for removabaly attaching the front wall at its first side edge to the first side wall at its second side edge. Means are provided for removabaly attaching the front wall at its second side edge to the second side wall at its first side edge. Means are provided for removabaly attaching the back wall at its second side edge to the first side wall at its first side edge. Means are provided for removabaly attaching the back wall at its first side edge to the second side wall at its second side edge.
The toy storage cover includes four outer panels. The outer front panel has an exterior surface, an interior surface, a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge. The outer back panel has an exterior surface, an interior surface, a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge. The outer first side panel has an exterior surface, an interior surface, a top edge, a bottom edge, a front side edge, and a back side edge. The outer second side panel has an exterior surface, an interior surface, a top edge, a bottom edge, a front side edge, and a back side edge.
The outer front panel is joined at its first side edge to the front side edge of the outer first side panel and is joined at its second side edge to the front side edge of the outer second side panel. The outer back panel is joined at its first side edge to the back side edge of the outer first side panel and is joined at its second side edge to the back side edge of the outer second side panel.
An interior pocket is provided. The interior pocket includes four inner panels and a floor panel. The inner front panel has an exterior surface, an interior surface, a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge. The inner back panel has an exterior surface, an interior surface, a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge. The inner first side panel has an exterior surface, an interior surface, a top edge, a bottom edge, a front side edge, and a back side edge. The inner second side panel has an exterior surface, an interior surface, a top edge, a bottom edge, a front side edge, and a back side edge.
The inner front panel is joined at its first side edge to the front side edge of the inner first side panel and is joined at its second side edge to the front side edge of the inner second side panel. The inner back panel is joined at its first side edge to the back side edge of the inner first side panel and is joined at its second side edge to the back side edge of the inner second side panel.
The floor panel has an upper surface, a lower surface, a front edge, a back edge, a first side edge and a second side edge. The floor panel is attached at its front edge to the bottom edge of the inner front panel, at its back edge to the bottom edge of the inner back panel, at its first side edge to the bottom edge of the inner first side panel and at its second side edge to the bottom edge of the inner second side panel. The inner front panel is attached at its top edge to the top edge of the outer front panel. The inner back panel is attached at its top edge to the top edge of the outer back panel. The inner first side panel is attached at its top edge to the top edge of the outer first side panel. The inner second side panel is attached at its top edge to the top edge of the outer second side panel.
The outer front, back, first side and second side panels are sized and shaped to fit slidably over the container walls when attached together. The inner front, back, first side, second side and floor panels are sized and shaped to fit slidably within the container walls when attached together. When the container is located between the inner and outer panels the interior pocket will be supported by the container.
In still another variant, the toy storage cover includes at least one attachment strap. The attachment strap has a first end and a second end and is fixedly attached at its first end to the lower surface of the floor panel of the interior pocket. The strap extends outwardly past one of the inner panels. The second end of the attachment strap includes means for removably attaching the second end to either the exterior surface or the interior surface of one of the outer panels.
The container includes at least one slot. The slot is sized, shaped and located adjacent the bottom edge of one of the walls of the collapsible container so as to permit the second end of the attachment strap to pass through it. When the second end of the attachment strap is passed through the slot and removably attached to either the exterior surface or the interior surface of at least one of the outer panels, the interior pocket of the toy storage cover will be removably secured to the collapsible container.
In yet another variant, the means for removably attaching the front and back walls of the container to the first and second side walls of the container includes hooking and loop elements secured to either the inner surface or the outer surface of the walls adjacent their side edges.
In a further variant of the invention, the means for removably attaching the second end of the attachment strap to either the exterior surface or the interior surface of one of the outer panels includes hooking and loop elements secured to the second end and either the exterior surface or the interior surface of at least one of the outer panels.
In still a further variant, a retaining means is provided. The retaining means is formed of rigid material and is sized and shaped to fit frictionally between the inner front, back, first side and second side panels and over the floor panel, thereby securing the interior pocket downwardly within the container;
In yet a further variant, the retaining means is a mattress pad that has a rigid backing.
In another variant of the invention, the toy storage cover for a collapsible open topped container includes means for securing the toy storage cover to the container.
In a final variant, the means for securing the toy storage cover to the container comprises means for fastening at least one of the outer panels to one of the inner panels through openings in the container walls.
An appreciation of the other aims and objectives of the present invention and an understanding of it may be achieved by referring to the accompanying drawings and the detailed description of a preferred embodiment.
a is a plan view layout of the outer, inner and floor panels of the
a is a partial cut-away perspective view of an attachment strap affixed to the lower surface of the floor panel of the
The outer front panel 46 is joined at its first side edge 78 to the front side edge 126 of the outer first side panel 54 and is joined at its second side edge 82 to the front side edge 150 of the outer second side panel 58. The outer back panel 50 is joined at its first side edge 102 to the back side edge 130 of the outer first side panel 54 and is joined at its second side edge 106 to the back side edge 154 of the outer second side panel 58.
An interior pocket 158 is provided. The interior pocket 158 comprises four inner panels 162, 166, 170, 174 and a floor panel 178. The inner front panel 162 has an exterior surface 182, an interior surface 186, a top edge 190, a bottom edge 194, a first side edge 198, and a second side edge 202. The inner back panel 166 has an exterior surface 206, an interior surface 210, a top edge 214, a bottom edge 218, a first side edge 222, and a second side edge 226. The inner first side panel 170 has an exterior surface 230, an interior surface 234, a top edge 238, a bottom edge 242, a front side edge 246, and a back side edge 250. The inner second side panel 174 has an exterior surface 254, an interior surface 258, a top edge 262, a bottom edge 266, a front side edge 270, and a back side edge 274.
The inner front panel 162 is joined at its first side edge 198 to the front side edge 246 of the inner first side panel 170 and is joined at its second side edge 202 to the front side edge 270 of the inner second side panel 174. The inner back panel 166 is joined at its first side edge 222 to the back side edge 250 of the inner first side panel 170 and is joined at its second side edge 226 to the back side edge 274 of the inner second side panel 174. The floor panel 178 has an upper surface 278, a lower surface 282, a front edge 286, a back edge 290, a first side edge 294 and a second side edge 298.
The floor panel 178 is attached at its front edge 286 to the bottom edge 194 of the inner front panel 162, at its back edge 290 to the bottom edge 218 of the inner back panel 166, at its first side edge 294 to the bottom edge 242 of the inner first side panel 170 and at its second side edge 298 to the bottom edge 266 of the inner second side panel 174. The inner front panel 162 is attached at its top edge 190 to the top edge 70 of the outer front panel 46. The inner back panel 166 is attached at its top edge 214 to the top edge 94 of the outer back panel 50. The inner first side panel 170 is attached at its top edge 238 to the top edge 118 of the outer first side panel 54. The inner second side panel 174 is attached at its top edge 262 to the top edge 142 of the outer second side panel 58.
The outer front 46, back 50, first side 54 and second side 58 panels are sized and shaped to fit slidably over the play yard walls 26, 30, 34, 38 when attached together. The inner front 162, back 166, first side 170, second side 174 and floor panels 178 are sized and shaped to fit slidably within the play yard walls 26, 30, 34, 38 when attached together. When the play yard 10 is located between the inner 162, 166, 170, 174 and outer 46, 50, 54, 58 panels the interior pocket 158 will be supported by the play yard 14.
In a variant of the invention, as illustrated in
In another variant, the retaining means 302 is a mattress pad 306 that has a rigid backing 310.
In still another variant, as illustrated in
In yet another variant of the invention, as illustrated in
In a further variant, as illustrated in
In still a further variant of the invention, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
When the feet 22 of the play yard 14 are positioned within the foot retaining pockets 330, 334, 338, 342, the outer panels 46, 50, 54, 58 will be held down despite shifting loads placed in the interior pocket 158.
In another variant, as illustrated in
In still another variant, as illustrated in
In a further variant of the invention, as illustrated in
In yet a further variant, as illustrated in
The outer first side panel 414 is joined at its first side edge 440 to the second side edge 444 of the outer third side panel 422 and is joined at its second side edge 444 to the first side edge 440 of the outer second side panel 418. The outer second side panel 418 is joined at its second side edge 444 to the first side edge 440 of the outer third side panel 422.
An interior pocket 448 including three inner panels 452, 456, 460 is provided. Each of the inner first side, second side and third side panels 452, 456, 460 has an exterior surface 464, an interior surface 468, a top edge 472, a bottom edge 476, a first side edge 480, and a second side edge 484. The inner first side panel 452 is joined at its first side edge 480 to the second side edge 484 of the inner third side panel 460 and is joined at its second side edge 484 to the first side edge 480 of the inner second side panel 456. The inner second side panel 456 is joined at its second side edge 484 to the first side edge 480 of the inner third side panel 460.
A floor panel 488 is provided. The floor panel 488 has an upper surface 492, a lower surface 496, a first edge 500, a second edge 504, and a third edge 508. The floor panel 488 is attached at its first edge 500 to the bottom edge 476 of the inner first side panel 452, at its second edge 504 to the bottom edge 476 of the inner second side panel 456, at its third edge 508 to the bottom edge 476 of the inner third side panel 460. The inner first side panel 452 is attached at its top edge 472 to the top edge 432 of the outer first side panel 414. The inner second side panel 456 is attached at its top edge 472 to the top edge 432 of the outer second side panel 418. The inner third side panel 460 is attached at its top edge 472 to the top edge 432 of the outer third side panel 422.
The outer first side 414, second side 418 and third side 422 panels are sized and shaped to fit slidably over the play yard walls 398, 402, 406 when attached together. The inner first side 452, second side 456 and third side 460 panels and floor panel 488 are sized and shaped to fit slidably within the play yard walls 398, 402, 406 when attached together. When the play yard 386 is located between the inner 452, 456, 460 and outer 414, 418, 422 panels the interior pocket 448 will be supported by the play yard 386.
In still a further variant of the invention, as illustrated in
In another variant, the retaining means 512 is a mattress pad 520 that has a rigid backing 524.
In a further variant of the invention, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
The inner surrounding side panel 572 is attached at its top edge 584 to the top edge 564 of the outer surrounding side panel 548. The outer surrounding side panel 548 is sized and shaped to fit slidably over the surrounding side wall 544 of the play yard 532. The inner surrounding side panel 572 and floor panel 576 are sized and shaped to fit slidably within the play yard walls 544. When the play yard 532 is located between the inner 572 and outer 548 surrounding side panels the interior pocket 552 will be supported by the play yard 532.
In still a further variant, as illustrated in
In yet a further variant, the retaining means 608 is a mattress pad 616 that has a rigid backing 620.
In another variant of the invention, as illustrated in
The interior pocket 646 includes an inner surrounding side panel 666 and a floor panel 670. The inner surrounding side panel 666 has an exterior surface 674, an interior surface 678, a top edge 682 and a bottom edge 686. The floor panel 670 has an upper surface 690, a lower surface 694 and a surrounding edge 698. The floor panel 670 is attached at its surrounding edge 698 to the bottom edge 686 of the inner surrounding side panel 666. The inner surrounding side panel 666 is attached at its top edge 682 to the top edge 658 of the outer surrounding side panel 642.
The outer surrounding side panel 642 is sized and shaped to fit slidably over the rigid surrounding side wall 638 of the container 630. The inner surrounding side panel 666 and floor panel 670 are sized and shaped to fit slidably within the container 630. When the container 630 is located between the inner 666 and outer 642 surrounding side panels the interior pocket 646 will be supported by the container 630.
In still another variant, as illustrated in
In a further variant of the invention, as illustrated in
In yet another variant, as illustrated in
The toy storage cover 718 includes an interior pocket 774 that includes four inner panels 778, 782, 786, 790, an inner front panel 778, an inner back panel 782, an inner first side panel 786, and an inner second side panel 790 and a floor panel 794. The four inner panels 778, 782, 786, 790 are attached to each other at their side edges 772 and to the floor panel 794 at their bottom edges 798. The inner panels 778, 782, 786, 790 are attached at their top edges 802 to the top edges 806 of the outer panels 754, 758, 762, 766. The outer front 754, back 758, first side 762 and second side 766 panels are sized and shaped to fit slidably over the crib walls 734, 738, 742, 746 when attached together. The inner front 778, back 782, first side 786, second side 790 and floor 794 panels are sized and shaped to fit slidably within the crib walls 734, 738, 742, 746 when attached together. When the crib 718 is located between the inner 778, 782, 786, 790 and outer 754, 758, 762, 766 panels the interior pocket 774 will be supported by the crib 718.
In still another variant of the invention, as illustrated in
In a further variant, the retaining means 810 is a mattress pad 818 has a rigid backing 822.
In another variant of the invention, as illustrated in
The front wall 834 is hingedly attached at its bottom edge 858 to the front edge 878 of the floor 850 and the back wall 838 is hingedly attached at its bottom edge 858 to the back edge of the floor 850. The first side wall 842 is hingedly attached at its bottom edge 858 to the first side edge of the floor 850 and the second side wall 846 is hingedly attached at its bottom edge 858 to the second side edge 890 of the floor 850.
Means 902 are provided for removably attaching the front wall 834 at its first side edge 862 to the first side wall 842 at its second side edge 866. Means 902 are provided for removably attaching the front wall 834 at its second side edge 866 to the second side wall 846 at its first side edge 862. Means 902 are provided for removabaly attaching the back wall 838 at its second side edge 866 to the first side wall 842 at its first side edge 862. Means 902 are provided for removabaly attaching the back wall 838 at its first side edge 862 to the second side wall 846 at its second side edge 866.
The toy storage cover 826, as illustrated in
The outer front panel 906 is joined at its first side edge 938 to the front side edge 986 of the outer first side panel 914 and is joined at its second side edge 942 to the front side edge 1010 of the outer second side panel 918. The outer back panel 910 is joined at its first side edge 962 to the back side edge 990 of the outer first side panel 914 and is joined at its second side edge 966 to the back side edge 1014 of the outer second side panel 918.
An interior pocket 1018 is provided. The interior pocket 1018 includes four inner panels 1022, 1026, 1030, 1034 and a floor panel 1038. The inner front panel 1022 has an exterior surface 1042, an interior surface 1046, a top edge 1050, a bottom edge 1054, a first side edge 1058, and a second side edge 1062. The inner back panel 1026 has an exterior surface 1066, an interior surface 1070, a top edge 1074, a bottom edge 1078, a first side edge 1082, and a second side edge 1086. The inner first side panel 1030 has an exterior surface 1090, an interior surface 1094, a top edge 1098, a bottom edge 1102, a front side edge 1106, and a back side edge 1110. The inner second side panel 1034 has an exterior surface 1114, an interior surface 1118, a top edge 1122, a bottom edge 1126, a front side edge 1130, and a back side edge 1134.
The inner front panel 1022 is joined at its first side edge 1058 to the front side edge 1106 of the inner first side panel 1030 and is joined at its second side edge 1062 to the front side edge 1130 of the inner second side panel 1034. The inner back panel 1026 is joined at its first side edge 1082 to the back side edge 1110 of the inner first side panel 1030 and is joined at its second side edge 1086 to the back side edge 1134 of the inner second side panel 1034.
The floor panel 1038 has an upper surface 1138, a lower surface 1142, a front edge 1146, a back edge 1150, a first side edge 1154 and a second side edge 1158. The floor panel 1038 is attached at its front edge 1146 to the bottom edge 1054 of the inner front panel 1022, at its back edge 1150 to the bottom edge 1078 of the inner back panel 1026, at its first side edge 1154 to the bottom edge 1102 of the inner first side panel 1030 and at its second side edge 1158 to the bottom edge 1126 of the inner second side panel 1034. The inner front panel 1022 is attached at its top edge 1050 to the top edge 930 of the outer front panel 906. The inner back panel 1026 is attached at its top edge 1074 to the top edge 954 of the outer back panel 910. The inner first side panel 1030 is attached at its top edge 1098 to the top edge 978 of the outer first side panel 914. The inner second side panel 1034 is attached at its top edge 1122 to the top edge 1002 of the outer second side panel 918.
The outer front 906, back 910, first side 914 and second side 918 panels are sized and shaped to fit slidably over the container walls 834, 838, 842, 846 when attached together. The inner front 1022, back 1026, first side 1030, second side 1034 and floor 1038 panels are sized and shaped to fit slidably within the container walls 834, 838, 842, 846 when attached together. When the container 830 is located between the inner 1022, 1026, 1030, 1034 and outer 906, 910, 914, 918 panels the interior pocket 1018 will be supported by the container 830.
In still another variant, as illustrated in
The container 830, as illustrated in
In yet another variant, as illustrated in
In a further variant of the invention, as illustrated in
In still a further variant, as illustrated in
In yet a further variant, the retaining means 1186 is a mattress pad 1194 that has a rigid backing 1198.
In another variant of the invention, as illustrated in
In a final variant, as illustrated in
The toy storage covers for portable play yards 10, 382, 528, cribs 718 and containers 624, 826 have been described with reference to particular embodiments. Other modifications and enhancements can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims that follow.
The instant application is a Divisional Application of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/695,694, filed Oct. 25, 2000 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,687,927.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2566790 | Bloomfield | Sep 1951 | A |
| 2590315 | Hawley, Jr. | Mar 1952 | A |
| 3103669 | Mundis | Sep 1963 | A |
| 4993551 | Lindsay | Feb 1991 | A |
| 5174447 | Fleming | Dec 1992 | A |
| 5813064 | Hartenstine | Sep 1998 | A |
| 6687927 | Tharalson et al. | Feb 2004 | B1 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20040074000 A1 | Apr 2004 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 09695694 | Oct 2000 | US |
| Child | 10686206 | US |
