Convertible Crib Device

Abstract

A convertible crib device providing a crib, playpen and changing table in combination includes a frame having a plurality of panels. Each of the panels has a lower section telescopically coupled to an upper section. The frame has a plurality of corner posts. Each of the panels extends between an associated adjacently positioned pair of the corner posts to form an enclosure. A mattress support is coupled to the frame within the enclosure forming a crib configuration. The mattress support is removable from the frame and the lower section of each of the panels is extendable downwardly such that the frame forms a playpen configuration.

Claims

1. A convertible crib device comprising: a frame having a plurality of panels, each of said panels having an upper section and a lower section, said lower section being telescopically coupled to said upper section wherein said lower section is downwardly extendable from said upper section, said frame having a plurality of corner posts, each of said panels extending between an associated adjacently positioned pair of said corner posts to form an enclosure; and a mattress support, said mattress support being coupled to said corner posts such that said mattress support is positioned within said enclosure wherein said frame forms a crib configuration, wherein said mattress support is removable from being coupled to said corner posts and said lower section of each of said panels is extendable downwardly such that said frame forms a playpen configuration.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein each of said panels comprises: a top beam; a bottom beam; and a plurality of slats extending between said top beam and said bottom beam.

3. The device of claim 2, further comprising each of said top beams being positioned a fixed distance from a top of said associated pair of corner posts, each of said slats having a top end fixedly coupled to said top beam and a bottom end fixedly coupled to said bottom beam, each of said slats having a top portion telescopically coupled to a bottom portion, said top portion of each of said slats and said top beam of each said panel defining said top section of said panel, said bottom portions of said slats and said bottom beam of each said panel defining said bottom section of said panel.

4. The device of claim 3, further comprising said plurality of slats of each said panel including a pair of locking slats, each of said locking slats further comprising a holes in said top and bottom portions, said holes being alignable, each said locking slat including a pin extendable through said holes when said holes are aligned wherein said bottom portion is inhibited from being moved relative to said top portion.

5. The device of claim 4, further comprising each said locking slat including a biasing member coupled to said pin, said biasing member being positioned within said locking slat and biasing said pin outwardly through said holes when said holes are aligned.

6. The device of claim 2, further comprising said panels including a pair of side panels and a pair of end panels, each of said top beams and said bottom beams of said end panels having a respective central pivot wherein said frame is collapsible to draw said side panels together.

7. The device of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of wheels, each of said wheels being coupled to a bottom of an associated one of said corner posts.

8. The device of claim 7, further comprising each of said wheels having an outer perimeter edge positionable such that said wheel is clear from interfering with lowering of said lower portion of adjacently positioned said panels.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising a changing support, said changing support having a first end and a second end, said changing support having an upper surface, said upper surface being arcuate extending across said changing support wherein said upper surface is configured for supporting an infant and inhibiting the infant from rolling over lateral sides of the changing support.

10. The device of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of flanges, each of said flanges extending from an associated one of said first end and said second end of said changing support, each of said flanges being positioned closer to an associated one of said lateral sides of said changing support than to a central longitudinal axis of said changing support.

11. The device of claim 10, further comprising each of said flanges having a proximal section coupled to and extending from said changing support and a distal section extending from said proximal section, said distal section being perpendicular to said proximal section.

12. The device of claim 11, further comprising each of said flanges extending from said first end of said changing support having a tooth extending from said distal section wherein said flanges extending from said first end of said changing support form hooks to facilitate hanging said changing support from said top beam of a selectable one of said panels.

13. A convertible crib device comprising: a frame having a plurality of panels, each of said panels having an upper section and a lower section, said lower section being telescopically coupled to said upper section wherein said lower section is downwardly extendable from said upper section, said frame having a plurality of corner posts, each of said panels extending between an associated adjacently positioned pair of said corner posts to form an enclosure; a mattress support, said mattress support being coupled to said corner posts such that said mattress support is positioned within said enclosure wherein said frame forms a crib configuration, wherein said mattress support is removable from being coupled to said corner posts and said lower section of each of said panels is extendable downwardly such that said frame forms a playpen configuration; each of said panels comprising a top beam, each of said top beams being positioned a fixed distance from a top of said associated pair of corner posts, a bottom beam, and a plurality of slats extending between said top beam and said bottom beam, each of said slats having a top end fixedly coupled to said top beam and a bottom end fixedly coupled to said bottom beam, each of said slats having a top portion telescopically coupled to a bottom portion, said top portion of each of said slats and said top beam of each said panel defining said top section of said panel, said bottom portions of said slats and said bottom beam of each said panel defining said bottom section of said panel, said plurality of slats of each said panel including a pair of locking slats, each of said locking slats further comprising a holes in said top and bottom portions, said holes being alignable, each said locking slat including a pin extendable through said holes when said holes are aligned wherein said bottom portion is inhibited from being moved relative to said top portion, each said locking slat including a biasing member coupled to said pin, said biasing member being positioned within said locking slat and biasing said pin outwardly through said holes when said holes are aligned, said panels including a pair of side panels and a pair of end panels, each of said top beams and said bottom beams of said end panels having a respective central pivot wherein said frame is collapsible to draw said side panels together; a plurality of wheels, each of said wheels being coupled to a bottom of an associated one of said corner posts, each of said wheels having an outer perimeter edge positionable such that said wheel is clear from interfering with lowering of said lower portion of adjacently positioned said panels; a changing support, said changing support having a first end and a second end, said changing support having an upper surface, said upper surface being arcuate extending across said changing support wherein said upper surface is configured for supporting an infant and inhibiting the infant from rolling over lateral sides of the changing support; and a plurality of flanges, each of said flanges extending from an associated one of said first end and said second end of said changing support, each of said flanges being positioned closer to an associated one of said lateral sides of said changing support than to a central longitudinal axis of said changing support, each of said flanges having a proximal section coupled to and extending from said changing support and a distal section extending from said proximal section, said distal section being perpendicular to said proximal section, each of said flanges extending from said first end of said changing support having a tooth extending from said distal section wherein said flanges extending from said first end of said changing support form hooks to facilitate hanging said changing support from said top beam of a selectable one of said panels.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0011] The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

[0012] FIG. 1 is a top front side perspective view of a convertible crib device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a top front side perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure in a partially collapsed position.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure in a playpen configuration.

[0015] FIG. 4 is a detailed partial cut-away view of an embodiment of the disclosure according to the area designated in FIG. 3.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a partial top rear side perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0017] FIG. 6 is a partial top rear side perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 6 thereof, a new crib device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

[0019] As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, the convertible crib device 10 generally comprises a frame 12 having a plurality of panels 14. Each of the panels 14 has an upper section 16 and a lower section 18. The lower section 18 is telescopically coupled to the upper section 16 wherein the lower section 18 is downwardly extendable from the upper section 16. The frame 12 has a plurality of corner posts 20. Each of the panels 14 extends between an associated adjacently positioned pair of the corner posts 20 to form an enclosure 22. The enclosure 22 is rectangular. A mattress support 24 is coupled to the frame 12, and may be particularly coupled to the corner posts 20, such that the mattress support 24 is positioned within the enclosure 22 wherein the frame 12 forms a crib configuration 26. The mattress support 24 is removable from being coupled to the frame 12 at the corner posts 20 and the lower section 18 of each of the panels 14 is extendable downwardly such that the frame 12 forms a playpen configuration 28. The mattress support 24 may be attached to the frame 12 at a selectable distance from the ground in a conventional manner to provide for variable depth within the crib configuration 26. The mattress support 24 may be attached by insertion of pins extending from the mattress support 24 into slots within the corner posts 20. There may be vertically aligned sets of the slots with each set being coplanar such that the mattress support 24 is supported parallel to the ground at the desired height. Additionally, the mattress support 24 may be used separate from the frame 12 or with removal one of the panels 14 to form a toddler style bed.

[0020] Each of the panels 14 more specifically includes a top beam 30. Each top beam 30 is positioned a fixed distance from a top 32 of the adjacently positioned pair of corner posts 20 associated with the panel 14. Each panel 14 further includes a bottom beam 34 and a plurality of slats 36 extending between the top beam 30 and the bottom beam 34. The slats 36 are vertically oriented and evenly spaced across the panel 14. Each of the slats 36 has a top end 38 fixedly coupled to the top beam 30 and a bottom end 40 fixedly coupled to the bottom beam 34. Each of the slats 36 has a top portion 42 telescopically coupled to a bottom portion 44. The top portion 42 of each of the slats 36 and the top beam 30 of each panel 14 defines the top section 16 of the panel 14. Likewise, the bottom portion 44 of each of the slats 36 and the bottom beam 34 define the bottom section 18 of each panel 14. The plurality of slats 36 of each panel 14 includes at least a pair of locking slats 36A. Each of the locking slats 36A further includes holes 46,48 in the top portion 42 and bottom portion 44. The holes 46,48 are alignable by movement of the bottom portion 44 relative to the top portion 42. Each locking slat 36A includes a pin 50 extendable through the holes 46,48 when the holes 46,48 are aligned wherein the bottom portion 44 is inhibited from being moved relative to the top portion 42. Each locking slat 36A includes a biasing member 52 coupled to the pin 50. The biasing member 52 is positioned within the locking slat 36A and biases the pin 50 outwardly through the holes 46,48 when the holes 46,48 are aligned. Each locking slat 36A has a plurality of holes 46 such that the hole 48 is alignable with a selectable one of the holes 46 to adjust the position of the bottom portion 44 relative to the top portion 42.

[0021] The panels 14 include a pair of side panels 14A and a pair of end panels 14B. Each of the top beams 30 and the bottom beams 34 of the end panels 14B have a respective central pivot 56 wherein the frame 12 is collapsible to draw the side panels 14A together.

[0022] Each of a plurality of wheels 58 is coupled to a bottom 60 of an associated one of the corner posts 20. Each of the wheels 58 has an outer perimeter edge 62 positionable such that the wheel 58 is clear from interfering with lowering of the lower portion 44 of adjacently positioned panels 14 to allow the panels 14 to be adjusted to extend fully down to at or near abutment with the ground.

[0023] A changing support 64 has a first end 66 and a second end 68. The changing support 64 has an upper surface 70. The upper surface 70 is arcuate extending across the changing support 64 wherein the upper surface 70 is configured for supporting an infant and inhibiting the infant from rolling over lateral sides 72 of the changing support 64. Each of a plurality of flanges 74 extends from an associated one of the first end 66 and the second end 68 of the changing support 64. Each of the flanges 74 is positioned closer to an associated one of the lateral sides 72 of the changing support 64 than to a central longitudinal axis of the changing support 64. Each of the flanges 74 has a proximal section 78 coupled to and extending from the changing support 64 and a distal section 80 extending from the proximal section 78. The distal section 80 is perpendicular to the proximal section 78. Each of the flanges 74 extending from the first end 66 of the changing support 64 has a tooth 82 extending from the distal section 80 wherein the flanges 74 extending from the first end 66 of the changing support 64 form hooks 84 to facilitate hanging the changing support 64 from the top beam 30 of a selectable one of the panels 14.

[0024] In use, the frame 12 is adjustable to provide the crib configuration 26 or the playpen configuration 28. The crib configuration 26 is used with the mattress support 24. When needed while in either the crib configuration 26 or the playpen configuration 28, the changing support 64 may be removed from hanging on one of the panels 14 and placed to extend across the frame 12 between the side panels 14A. The changing support 64 is supported in a stable position on the frame 12 to allow placement of an infant on the changing support 64 to facilitate diaper changing, clothes changing, or the like.

[0025] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0026] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.