BABY PLAYPEN-BASSINET COMBINATION

Abstract: A playpen (11) has a bottom and four sides extending upwardly from the bottom, with one edge portion (15) of the side secured to the bottom, and the opposite edge portions (18) free. A bassinet (26) is releasably mountable on the opposite free edge portions (18) of the playpen (11) for locating the bassinet (26) in a more accessible position, requiring less bending and lifting in handling a baby for naps, diaper changing and dressing.

Description: This invention relates generally to baby accessories, and more particularly to a baby playpen-bassinet combination. Baby accessories, such as playpens and bassinets, are well-known in the art. In the prior art, the playpen and bassinet are separate items completely, and in no way do they cooperate with one another. When a mother returns from the hospital after delivering a baby, a need exists for a bassinet-type accessory that reduces the bending and lifting of the mother in handling the baby, for naps, diaper changing, dressing, or the like. US-A-2553087 discloses a convertible crib-pen for babies which includes an auxiliary pen and a main pen. The auxiliary pen is attachable to the main pen for use as a cradle or can be used independently of the main pen as a carry-cot. The present invention provides a bassinet-type accessory that is mountable on the top of a playpen for locating the bassinet in a more accessible position for handling a baby. According to the invention, there is provided a baby playpen-bassinet combination comprising: a playpen having a bottom and four sides extending upwardly from the bottom, with a bottom edge portion of each side secured to the bottom and an opposite top edge portion free; and a bassinet releasably mountable on the top edge portion of the playpen; characterised in that: the bassinet is formed from a fabric material and has at least one pocket formed therein, the pocket receiving the top edge portion of the playpen. According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bassinet releasably mountable to the top edge portion of a playpen having a bottom and four sides extending upwardly from the bottom, with a bottom edge portion of each side secured to the bottom and an opposite top edge portion free and substantially rigid, comprising: an upper peripheral border; and characterised by an endless pocket formed by the border for receiving rigid top edge portions of the playpen when the bassinet is mounted thereon. In a preferred embodiment, attachment means are provided on the bassinet for releasably attaching the bassinet to the free edge portions of the playpen, the attachment means comprising a rigid hook member on the bassinet. In another embodiment, the playpen is provided with a rigid free edge portion, such as a tubular portion, covered by a playpen fabric, wherein the bassinet comprises a rigid hook member mountable on the rigid free edge portion and covered by a bassinet fabric, and wherein a border portion of the bassinet fabric defines an endless pocket which extends over the rigid hook member, and is secured thereto. Particular embodiments of the invention are set out in dependent claims 2 to 7 and 9 to 11 A preferred embodiment of playpen-bassinet is now described, with reference to the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the baby playpen-bassinet combination of this invention; Fig. 2 is a segmental section view taken substantially along line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a right side elevational view of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a left side elevational view of Fig. 2. Because playpens and bassinets are well-known, the present description will be directed in particular to elements forming part of, or cooperating directly with, a baby playpen-bassinet combination, in accordance with the present invention. It is to be understood that elements not specifically shown or described may take various forms well-known to those skilled in the art. With reference to Figs. 1-4, a preferred embodiment of the baby playpen-bassinet combination 10 of this invention is disclosed. The playpen-bassinet comprises a playpen 11 having a playpen frame, preferably formed from any suitable tubular plastic or metal material. The tubular playpen frame has tubular or preferably molded plastic foot members 12, tubular corner posts 14, sewn bottom edge portions 16 adjacent the bottom of the playpen, and tubular top edge portions 18 forming the upper open end of the playpen. Although the tubular corner posts 14 and top edge portion 18 are not visible in Fig. 1, they are similar to the tubular edge portion 18 disclosed in Figs. 2 and 3. The tubular frame is further covered by any suitable playpen fabric material 20 that preferably surrounds the tubular corner posts 14, and top and bottom edge portions 16, 18, and is also secured by stitching 22 or the lime (Fig. 2) to any suitable mesh material 24 through which a person can visually observe a child within the playpen. The bassinet 26 of the playpen-bassinet combination comprises a flexible box-like enclosure formed from any suitable bassinet fabric material 28. A floor mat, not shown, formed from any suitable rigid panels of hardboard or the like, encased within a bassinet fabric material, is loosely mountable on the bottom fabric material of the bassinet to form a rigid bassinet floor for supporting a baby or child. Any suitable resilient pad 30 can be mounted on top of the floor mat to provide a soft surface. The border portion 32 of the bassinet fabric material is bent back upon itself and preferably sewed to form an endless peripheral pocket 34 for receiving the rigid top edge portions 18 of the playpen 11 when the bassinet 26 is mounted thereon. With reference to Figs. 2-4, the attachment means for releasably attaching the bassinet 26 to the playpen 11 is disclosed. The attachment means in its broadest sense comprises the aforementioned endless pocket 34 along the periphery of the bassinet, which receives the rigid free edge portions 18 of the sides and ends of the playpen, when the bassinet is mounted thereon. To prevent the pocket material 34 of the bassinet from pulling away from the rigid free edge portion 18 of the playpen, particularly when a heavy child is placed in the playpen, a rigid hook-shaped clip 36, preferably formed from any suitable plastic material, is placed inside the bassinet pocket 34 and secured thereto by stitching 38 or the like, as best seen in Fig. 2. Although a single clip 36 on each side of the bassinet 26 has been found to be sufficient, any number of such clips may be utilized along one or more of the sides of the bassinet. It has also been found that by properly selecting the playpen and bassinet fabrics or materials 20, 28 respectively so that a high sliding frictional force exists therebetween, the likelihood of the pockets 34 pulling out from the free edge portions of the playpen is further reduced While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described with particularity, it will be appreciated that various changes and modifications may suggest themselves to one having ordinary skill in the art upon being apprised of the present invention. It is intended to encompass all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

Claims: A baby playpen-bassinet combination (10) comprising: a playpen (11) having a bottom and four sides extending upwardly from the bottom, with a bottom edge portion (16) of each side secured to the bottom and an opposite top edge portion (18) free; and a bassinet (26) releasably mountable on the top edge portion (18) of the playpen; characterised in that: the bassinet is formed from a fabric material (28) and has at least one pocket (34) formed therein, the pocket receiving the top edge portion of the playpen. A baby playpen-bassinet combination according to claim 1 wherein top edge portions of the playpen are substantially rigid, and the pocket releasably attaches the bassinet to the rigid top edge portions (18). A baby playpen-bassinet combination according to claim 2 wherein the bassinet has an upper peripheral border (32), and wherein the pocket comprises an endless pocket formed by the border for receiving the rigid top edge portions of the playpen when the bassinet is mounted thereon. A baby playpen-bassinet combination according to claim 2, further including a rigid hook-shaped clip (36) on the bassinet, releasably engageable with a rigid top edge portion of the playpen. A baby playpen-bassinet combination according to claim 4, wherein a border portion of the bassinet fabric material extends over the rigid clip and is secured thereto. A baby playpen-bassinet combination according to claim 5, wherein the playpen comprises a tubular frame covered by a playpen fabric material (20), and the rigid top edge portions comprise a tubular portion of the frame covered by the playpen fabric material. A baby playpen-bassinet combination according to claim 6, wherein the playpen fabric material (20) and the bassinet fabric material (28) are selected of different materials having a high sliding surface frictional force relative to one another. A bassinet (26) releasably mountable to the top edge portion (18) of a playpen (11) having a bottom and four sides extending upwardly from the bottom, with a bottom edge portion (16) of each side secured to the bottom and an opposite top edge portion (18) free and substantially rigid, comprising: an upper peripheral border (32); and characterised by an endless pocket (34) formed by the border for receiving rigid top edge portions of the playpen when the bassinet is mounted thereon. A bassinet according to claim 8, further comprising a rigid hook-shaped clip (36) on the bassinet, releasably engageable with a rigid top edge portion of the playpen. A bassinet according to claim 9, wherein the bassinet is formed from a bassinet fabric material (28), and the border portion of the bassinet fabric material extends over the rigid clip and is secured thereto. A bassinet according to claim 10, wherein the bassinet fabric material is selected to have a high sliding surface frictional force relative to the playpen.

Inventors: KUJAWSKI, STANLEY M., SLOWE, JAMES E.
Applicants: FISHER-PRICE, INC.
Application year: 1990
Main classification: A47D13
IPC codes: A47D7, A47D5