BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to the field of child care. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a wheel chair accessible crib with a dual latching mechanism which requires an adult to operate.
The present invention constitutes an improvement of Applicant's earlier U.S. Pat. No. 6,938,286 which is hereby incorporated by reference. Since the issuance of Applicant's earlier patent, drop-side cribs have been legally banned due to the injuries and deaths which have occurred with their use. Applicant's '286 patent remedies the deficiencies of the then existing cribs by providing a pair of bi-fold doors which provide access to the crib and eliminate the potential of injury to the infant. In addition, the height of the crib adjusts to permit the base of a wheel chair and the occupant's lower extremities to slide under the bed placing the baby within the reach of the wheel-chair-bound care giver. The features which have been enhanced in this revised crib include the locking/latching mechanisms. The latch now comprises two spring-biased latches which operate in a vertical plane from above and below each of the bi-fold doors. Two actuator arms must be simultaneously activated to disengage the latches. This adds additional security ensuring that even a toddler will not be capable of opening the doors, thereby putting themselves or an infant sibling at risk. In addition, at least one, preferably two, spring-biased safety bars can be positioned across the doors to prevent them from being opened during low-traffic times such as during sleeping during the night and during extended naps. The spring-biased safety bars can be easily secured and removed by adult care-givers while providing significant impediments to infants, toddlers and young children.
Various other features, advantages, and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent after a reading of the following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The preferred embodiments) of the present invention is/are described in conjunction with the associated drawings in which like features are indicated with like reference numerals and in which
FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of the wheel chair accessible crib of first embodiment of the present invention with the vertical slats of the rearward panel omitted for clarity;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of the latching mechanism of the present invention; and,
FIG. 3 is a schematic depiction of the wheel chair accessible crib with safety bars in place.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
A first embodiment of the wheel chair accessible crib of the present invention is depicted in FIG. 1 generally at 20. First end support 22 is spaced from second end support 24 by a distance that exceeds the normal width of a wheel chair (not shown) and the height of central bed 25 and upper and lower transverse support rails 26, 28 can be adjusted using pins which fit in any of a plurality of holes 29, 29′ in first and second end supports 22, 24, respectively, to accommodate the seat of the chair and the lap/legs of the wheel-chair-bound care giver. Crib 20 includes a side frame panel 30 and a second forward side frame panel 30′. Bi-fold doors 32, 32′ of the forward panel 30′ are each comprised of a first door 32a hingedly attached to second door 32b and operate in the same manner as those of the '286 patent with pintles (not shown) on the upper and lower corners 23a, 23b and 25a, 25b, respectively, riding in channels formed in upper transverse support rail 26 and lower transverse support rail 28.
Among the unique features of this improved crib 20 lies in upper and lower safety latches 40, 42 which secure the doors 32, 32′ in a closed position. The latch, as best seen in FIG. 2, comprises a first upper T-shaped latch actuator 44 with a spring 45 for spring-biasing the actuator 44 into keeper 46 mounted on upper transverse support rail 26 and a second lower T-shaped latch actuator 44′ with a spring 45′ for spring-biasing the actuator 44′ into keeper 46′ mounted on lower transverse support rail 28. To open the bi-fold door 32, 32′, horizontally extending fingers 47, 47′ must be simultaneously grasped and pulled downwardly and upwardly (and outwardly to ward the care giver), respectively against the bias of springs 45, 45′ to disengage the upper leg 48 and lower leg 49′ from keepers 46 and 46′, respectively. These actuators 44, 44′ must be grasped/moved simultaneously to permit the doors to be opened in order to prevent the crib occupant or an unauthorized older brother or sister from opening the crib since the distance between T-shaped actuators 44, 44′ exceeds the reach of most children. This will prevent the occupant from being injured due to exiting of the crib 20 without adult supervision. Most preferably, the latches are at least partially embedded in the wood of the doors with only the fingers 47, 47′ protruding. This further ensures that infants and toddlers will be unable to open the actuators 44, 44′.
An additional safety feature is depicted in FIG. 3. Two safety bars 50 and 52 can be inserted into recesses provided in the end supports 22, 24. The recess in end support 24 is deeper allowing safety bars 50, 52 to be laterally moved against the bias of springs 54, 56, respectively, and easily removed when not in use. By securing the safety bars across the crib doors 32, 32′, even should the occupant or an roving abettor succeed in “jimmying the locks”, the safety bars 50, 52 will prevent the bifold doors 32, 32′ from opening.
Various changes, alternatives, and modifications will become apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art after a reading of the foregoing specification. It is intended that all such changes, alternatives, and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims be considered part of the present invention.
Patent Grant
8397321
