Abstract:
A foldable infant playard with a reconfigurable entertainment device capable of attachment at two separate points. The first position is suspended from a support arm originated from an upper corner of the infant playard. The entertainment device can also be mounted in a second position on a side wall of the infant playard. The side walls of the foldable infant playard of the present invention are formed from an improved printed mesh material.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/551,049, entitled “Playard With a Reconfigurable Entertainment Device” and filed Mar. 9, 2004. The disclosure of the above-mentioned provisional application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a foldable infant playard with a reconfigurable entertainment device. The reconfigurable entertainment device is capable of attachment to the foldable infant playard at two or more separate locations. At one location, the entertainment device is suspended from a support arm attached proximate an upper corner of the infant playard. The entertainment device can also be mounted on a fabric side wall of the infant playard. The side walls of the foldable infant playard of the present invention are formed from a printed mesh material. For maximum convenience, the foldable playard of the present invention is readily collapsible to a storage position without the removal of any parts. In the storage position, the playard of the present invention is easily transportable from one location to another.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     Known prior infant playards include upper and lower frame assemblies. The lower frame assembly may include a unitary central hub member, corner leg connecting members that include support feet, and hub legs connecting the hub member to the corner leg connecting members such that the hub legs are collapsible from a substantially horizontal, coplanar, spread configuration wherein the hub legs diverge radially outwardly from the hub member, to a compact, non-coplanar configuration wherein the hub legs are substantially parallel. The upper frame assembly may include corner rail connecting members and side rails, where each of the side rails includes a pair of intermediate rails and a medial rail connecting member disposed therebetween. Each of the intermediate rails is coupled at one end to one of the corner rail connecting members and coupled at an opposite end to the medial rail connecting member such that the pair of intermediate rails is collapsible from a substantially in-line configuration to a generally V-shaped configuration. Corner legs may be coupled at one (lower) end to one of the corner leg connecting members (including a support foot) and at an opposite (upper) end to one of the corner rail connecting members such that the corner legs are collapsible radially inwardly towards the hub member from a substantially parallel configuration wherein the corner legs are spread apart by the hub legs and side rails to a substantially parallel compact configuration wherein the corner legs are drawn together by the hub legs and side rails. An example of such a similar foldable playard is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,811,437, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.  
         [0004]     Known prior infant playards include an infant entertainment device mounted to the upper frame of the playard, e.g., the Baby Trend Tahoe Nursery Care Center &amp; Playard LX1 (Model no. 8188sfw). The removable bassinet of the Baby Trend product includes a canopy featuring hanging toys to entertain the infant received therein. The bassinet is selectively removed from the upper frame to permit access to the entire volume of the playard. In another example, the Evenflo BabyGo Portable Playard with Bassinet, Changer, and Mobile includes a mobile removably mounted to one of the corner rail connecting members of the upper frame. The Kolcraft Travelin&#39; Tot 4-in-1 with Activity Gym is an infant playard with a removable bassinet. The removable bassinet of the Travelin&#39; Tot 4-in-1 product includes two overhead toy bars that connect in the vicinity of the four corners making up the upper frame of the playard. The toy bars have connecting points for attachment of removable hanging toys and a mirror. The bassinet may be removed from the playard and used as a floor gym as the infant grows.  
         [0005]     In the prior infant playards, there is a need for an infant entertainment device that may be reconfigurably mounted in multiple positions within the playard for enhanced sensory stimulation for the infant received in the playard.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     Generally, the embodiments of the present invention provide a foldable infant playard with a reconfigurable entertainment device and, more particularly, an infant playard with an entertainment device that may be mounted in multiple positions within the playard for enhanced sensory stimulation of the infant received therein. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of the playard according to the present invention, shown in an open position.  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  illustrates an enlarged perspective view of the infant playard of  FIG. 1 , showing an entertainment device mounted on a support arm and attached proximate an upper corner of the infant playard according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  illustrates a rear, enlarged, perspective view of the entertainment device mounted on a support arm as depicted in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  illustrates a close-up view of the base of the support arm of the entertainment device according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  illustrates a close-up view of the base of the support arm of the entertainment device connected to the mounting plate in an upper corner of the infant playard according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 6  illustrates a close-up view of one of the connecting members on an end of the support arm of the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 7  illustrates a close-up view of the rear of the infant entertainment device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 8  illustrates an enlarged close-up view of rear of the housing of the entertainment device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 9  illustrates a close-up view of one of the connecting members of the support arm as the infant entertainment device is mounted to the support arm in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 10  illustrates a view of the inner surface of one of the side walls of the infant playard according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 11  illustrates an enlarged close-up view of the side wall connecting member on the inner surface of one of the side walls of the infant playard according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 12  illustrates a view of an entertainment device mounted to the side wall connecting member on one of the side walls of the infant playard in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 13  illustrates a view of the indicia printed on the outer surface of one of the side walls of the infant playard according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
       [0020]     Like reference numerals have been used to identify like elements throughout this disclosure.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0021]     In accordance with the present invention, a foldable infant playard includes a reconfigurable entertainment device and, more particularly, an entertainment device that may be reconfigurably mounted in multiple positions within the playard for enhanced sensory stimulation of an infant received therein. In one embodiment, the entertainment device is removably mounted on a curved support arm which is connected to one of the corner rail connecting members on the upper frame of the infant playard. In another embodiment, the entertainment device is removably mounted on one of the side walls of the infant playard.  
         [0022]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , in the illustrated embodiment, playard  100  includes an upper frame  110 . The upper frame  110  includes corner rail connecting members  120  and side rails, where each of the side rails includes a pair of intermediate rails  140  and a medial rail connecting member  145  disposed therebetween. Each of the intermediate rails  140  is coupled at one end to one of the corner rail connecting members  120  and coupled at an opposite end to the medial rail connecting member  145  such that the pair of intermediate rails is collapsible from a substantially in-line configuration (shown) to a generally V-shaped configuration (also called “the storage position”—not shown). Corner legs  130  extend downward from each corner rail connecting members  120 . The corner legs  130  are coupled at one (lower) end to a corner leg connecting member  135  and include a support foot  137 , and at an opposite (upper) end to one of the corner rail connecting members  120  such that the corner legs  130  are collapsible radially inward towards a hub member (located proximate the center of the playard  100 —not shown) from a substantially parallel configuration (as shown) wherein the corner legs  130  are spread apart by the hub legs and side rails to a substantially parallel, compact configuration (the storage position) wherein the corner legs  130  are drawn together by the hub legs and side rails.  
         [0023]     The playard  100  of the present invention includes sidewalls formed from a breathable, semi-transparent mesh material  210 . The infant entertainment device  220  of the present invention may be reconfigurably mounted in multiple positions within the playard  100  for enhanced sensory stimulation for the infant received therein.  
         [0024]      FIG. 2  illustrates an enlarged perspective view of the infant playard  100  with an entertainment device  220  mounted on a curved support arm  230  attached proximate an upper corner of the infant playard  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention. More specifically, the support arm  230  is attached to a mounting plate  250  (which is integrally formed on the inner surface of one or more of the corner rail connecting members  120 ).  
         [0025]     In addition to being adapted for repositioning among the mounting plates  250 , the entertainment device  220  may be removed from the curved support arm  230  and coupled to a side wall connecting member  240  (the side wall connecting member  240  is visible on the mesh material  210  of the sidewall of the playard  100 ). Consequently, entertainment device  220  may also be selectively mounted to side wall connecting member  240 .  
         [0026]     The infant entertainment device  220  includes a housing  260 , a front display/indicia bearing portion  270 , and hanging toys  275  and  280 . The infant entertainment device  220  of the present invention may further include lights, visual features (water and floating objects, for example), sound/music output, and/or vibration as included in conventional infant entertainment devices. The hanging toys  275  and  280  may include movement or pull sensors which activate the lights, sound/music output, and/or vibration features of the infant entertainment device  220  (as such elements are known to be included in conventional infant entertainment devices (such as infant gyms)). The housing  260  of the infant entertainment device  220  includes a mating portion on its rear surface to allow the removable attachment to the connecting member (discussed in greater detail below) on the curved support arm  230  or the side wall connecting member  240 .  
         [0027]      FIGS. 3-5  illustrate the connection of the entertainment device  220  to the curved support arm  230  and, more specifically, the connection of the curved support arm  230  to the mounting plate  250 . As referenced above, mounting plates  250  are integrally formed on the inner surface of several of the corner rail connecting members  120 . In an alternative embodiment, the mounting plates  250  may comprise separate elements coupled to corner rail connecting members  120 . This would allow attachment of the entertainment device  220 , curved support arm  230 , and mounting plates  250  to any conventional playard arrangement.  
         [0028]      FIG. 3  illustrates a rear, enlarged, perspective view of entertainment device  220  mounted on curved support arm  230 . Curved support arm  230  is ergonomically formed with rounded edges  235 . The top portion of curved support arm  230  includes a connecting member that is similar in shape to the side wall connecting member  240  (described in more detail herein) for removably receiving the entertainment device  220 . As discussed above, the curved support arm  230  is removably attachable to mounting plates  250 .  
         [0029]      FIG. 4  illustrates a close-up view of the base of the curved support arm  230 . Curved support arm  230  includes a base portion  400  having an annular lip  410  that flares outward. Extending from base portion  400  in the longitudinal direction (i.e., perpendicular from lip  410 ) is an extension or neck portion  420 . The cross-sectional geometry of neck portion  420  has a generally circular perimeter  430  with slightly smaller rectangular extension  440  (extending radially from neck portion  420 ).  
         [0030]     As best seen in  FIG. 4 , a locking tab  450  extends from the outer periphery of annular lip  410  in the longitudinal direction. Locking tab  450  is resiliently biased inward to interact with a detent  510  on mounting plate  250  and secure curved support arm  230  within mounting plate  250 . Specifically, the locking tab  450  includes a window portion configured to receive the detent  510 . Mounting plate  250  includes a recess  310  oriented in a generally vertical direction (with respect to the supporting surface). Recess  310  has an inner profile that accommodates the geometry of neck portion  420  on curved support arm  230 . Neck portion  420  is aligned such that when inserted downward along direction D into recess  310 , the curved support arm  230  is positioned above and over the interior of playard  100 .  
         [0031]      FIG. 5  illustrates locking tab  450  in connection with detent  510  when neck portion  420  is received within recess  310 . This locking tab and detent feature prevents curved support arm  230  from dislodging unintentionally from recess  310  within mounting plate  250 . In order to remove curved support arm  230  from recess  310  within mounting plate  250 , force is applied along direction X to the bottom edge of locking tab  450 . Once locking tab  450  has cleared detent  510  (e.g., by bending locking tab  450  radially outward), curved support arm  230  may be removed (by pulling the curved support arm  230  upward in direction U) from the recess  310  within mounting plate  250 .  FIG. 5  also illustrates annular lip  410  in a supported position on a top surface of mounting plate  250 .  
         [0032]      FIGS. 6-9  illustrate connection between entertainment device  220  and curved support arm  230 .  FIG. 6  illustrates a close-up view of the upper end (opposite the end that includes base portion  400 ) of the curved support arm  230 . Entertainment device  220  slidably engages connecting member  600  (shown in  FIG. 6 ). Connecting member  600  includes a terminal face  610  and a pair of lateral slots  620 . The lateral slots  620  run generally parallel to terminal face  610  and create a pair of parallel tongue portions  630  located between lateral slots  620  and terminal face  610 .  
         [0033]      FIG. 7  illustrates a close-up view of the rear of entertainment device  220 . Housing  260  of entertainment device  220  includes a rear face  810 . Rear face  810  includes an access cover  820  for a battery compartment to power entertainment device  220 . Rear face  810  also includes a power switch  830  and a volume switch  840 . Power switch  830  may also permit selection of several available modes of operation (e.g., a learning mode, a musical mode, or a combination thereof). Additionally, rear face  810  includes an attachment portion  850  which projects perpendicularly from rear face  810 .  
         [0034]      FIG. 8  illustrates an enlarged close-up view of attachment portion  850  on the rear face  810  of entertainment device  220 . Attachment portion  850  further includes a pair of channels  900  and extensions  910 . Extensions  910  extend perpendicularly with respect to channels  900 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , channels  900  are terminated at a closed end by end wall  920 .  
         [0035]     When mounting entertainment device  220  to curved support arm  230 , extensions  910  of attachment portion  850  are aligned with lateral slots  620  on the connecting member  600  of curved support arm  230 . Entertainment device  220  is then slid into place on the end of curved support arm  230 . The tolerances between lateral slots  620  and extensions  910  provide sufficient frictional force to prevent entertainment device  220  from disengaging from curved support arm  230  without the application of sufficient additional force to overcome the frictional engagement. Thus, it would be extremely difficult for a young child to dislodge the entertainment device  220  from curved support arm  230 .  
         [0036]     By way of further explanation,  FIG. 9  illustrates a close-up view of the interaction between connecting member  600  of curved support arm  230  and attachment portion  850  on rear face  810  of entertainment device  220 .  FIG. 9  shows entertainment device  220  as it is being mounted onto connecting member  600  of curved support arm  230 . The attachment portion  850  on the rear face  810  of entertainment device  220  is generally U-shaped with channels  900  and extensions  910  forming a mating recess to allow its removable attachment to connecting member  600  on curved support arm  230  or side wall connecting member  240  (as described in greater detail below). Thus, the U-shaped mating recess of the attachment portion  850  on the rear face  810  of entertainment device  220  allows entertainment device  220  to be selectively received on the side wall connecting member  240  as well as by similar connecting member  600  on curved support arm  230 .  
         [0037]     As entertainment device  220  is slid downward in direction D, tongue portions  630  on connecting member  600  are received in channels  900  of attachment portion  850 . Additionally, extensions  910  of attachment portion  850  are received in lateral slots  620  on connecting member  600 . This procedure securely mounts entertainment device  220  on the end of curved support arm  230 . To remove the entertainment device  220  from the end of curved support arm  230 , the reverse of this procedure is followed. That is, entertainment device  220  is slid upward in direction D to disengage it from connecting member  600  of curved support arm  230 .  
         [0038]      FIG. 10  illustrates the inner surface of one of the side walls  210  of the infant playard  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, side wall connecting member  240  is attached to at least one of the side walls  210 . Side walls  210  may include a mesh portion  1010  framed by a solid fabric portion  1020 . The mesh portion  1010  of side wall  210  includes a side wall connecting member  240  mounted thereto. Side wall connecting member  240  is designed to selectively and removably receive entertainment device  220 . Side wall connecting member  240  may be mounted to the mesh portion  1010  of side wall  210  by any known method (including adhesive, sewing, or the use of mounting fasteners). In the embodiment illustrated, side wall connecting member  240  is sewn to a pair of fabric panels  1030  (one on the outside of side wall  210  and one on the inside of side wall  210 —thus the pair of fabric panels  1030  capture mesh portion  1010  therebetween and allow side wall connecting member  240  to be mounted to mesh portion  1010  of side wall  210 ).  
         [0039]      FIG. 11  illustrates a close-up view of side wall connecting member  240  according to an embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, side wall connecting member  240  is mounted to mesh portion  1010  of side wall  210  via sewing to fabric panels  1030 . Side wall connecting member  240  includes a raised boss  1100 . Raised boss  1100  projects outwardly from the mesh portion  1010  of side wall  210  (toward the interior of playard  100 ). Raised boss  1100  includes a shaft portion  1120  and a terminating cap  1130 . The perimeter of terminating cap  1130  is larger than shaft  1120 , creating channels  1140 . The geometry of raised boss  1100  is substantially similar to the geometry of connecting member  600  of curved support arm  230 .  
         [0040]     Entertainment device  220  may be selectively mounted onto the side wall connecting member  240  by sliding attachment portion  850  on rear face  810  of entertainment device  220  downward onto raised boss  1100  of side wall connecting member  240 . The U-shaped attachment portion  850  on rear face  810  of the housing  260  of entertainment device  220  mates with shaft portion  1120  and terminating cap  1130  on side wall connecting member  240  to prevent the entertainment device  220  from being easily removed by a child from mesh portion  1010  of side wall  210 .  
         [0041]     As entertainment device  220  is slid downward in direction D (see  FIG. 11 ), terminating cap  1130  on the raised boss  1100  of side wall connecting member  240  is received in channels  900  of the attachment portion  850  on rear face  810  of housing  260  of entertainment device  220 . Additionally, extensions  910  on attachment portion  850  of housing  260  of entertainment device  220  are received into channels  1140  on raised boss  1100 . This procedure securely mounts entertainment device  220  on raised boss  1100  of side wall connecting member  240 . To remove entertainment device  220  from raised boss  1100  of side wall connecting member  240 , the reverse of this procedure is followed. That is, entertainment device  220  is slid upward in direction U to disengage it from raised boss  1100  of side wall connecting member  240 .  
         [0042]     The tolerances between channels  1140  and extensions  910  provide sufficient frictional force to prevent entertainment device  220  from disengaging from side wall connecting member  240  without the application of sufficient additional force to overcome the frictional engagement. Thus, it would be extremely difficult for a young child to dislodge the entertainment device  220  from the side wall connecting member  240 .  
         [0043]      FIG. 12  illustrates a view of an entertainment device  220  mounted to side wall connecting member  240  on one of the side walls  210  of infant playard  100  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As explained above, if an alternate configuration is desired, infant entertainment device  220  may be selectively removed from the side wall connecting member  240  and mounted to the curved support arm  230  of playard  100  as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 ,  3 . Once attached to curved support arm  230 , entertainment device  220  may be positioned in any corner of the playard  100  that includes a mounting plate  250 . It is also understood that infant entertainment device  220  can be removably connected to curved support arm  230  or the side wall  210  by any known method without departing from the scope of the present invention.  
         [0044]      FIG. 13  illustrates a view of indicia printed on the outer surface of one of the side walls  210  of the infant playard  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention. The playard  100  of the present invention includes four side walls  210  as shown in  FIG. 1  (although any number of side walls may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention). As mentioned above, each of the side walls  210  may be formed from a breathable, semi-transparent mesh material  1010  bounded by solid fabric portion  1020 . At least one of the side walls  210  may include visual indicia  1300  printed/painted thereon. In the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIG. 13 , the visual indicia  1300  is a fish printed or painted on the mesh material  1010  of side wall  210 . The visual indicia  1300  may be thematically related to the front display/indicia bearing portion  270  of the infant entertainment device  220 . In the illustrated embodiments of the present invention, the theme of the visual indicia  1300  and the front display/indicia bearing portion  270  of the infant entertainment device  220  is an aquatic theme.  
         [0045]     While the invention has been described in detail and with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. For example, it is to be understood that terms such as “top”, “bottom”, “front”, “rear”, “side”, “height”, “length”, “width”, “upper”, “lower”, “interior”, “exterior”, “inner”, “outer”, and the like as may be used herein, merely describe points of reference and do not limit the present invention to any particular orientation or configuration. Additionally, the mounting method of the infant entertainment device described herein could also be applied to other infant receiving devices (cribs, bassinets, etc.). Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.