Abstract:
A combination bassinet, bedside sleeper and changing table apparatus including a supporting frame having a rocking feature convertible through adjustable locking casters for easy rolling. A fabric member comprised of sidewalls and a skirt is draped over the frame. The apparatus may be placed against one side of an adult bed for easy access by a parent. The bedside sleeper is secured to the parents&#39; bed with safety straps. One sidewall may be lowered to facilitate access to an infant by removal of a removably mounted sidewall/skirt supporting rod. The apparatus is adjustable in height to align the bedside sleeper with the parents&#39; bed and when used as a changing table to accommodate for differences in the height of the parent. The bassinet is provided with a removable, adjustable hood for shielding light from the baby&#39;s eyes. The apparatus comprises a skeletal structure covered with a soft, aesthetically pleasuring and yet sturdy cloth which is easily removable and washable and includes two convenient storage areas.

Description:
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/103,580, filed Mar. 21, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,704,949 which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth. 

   BACKGROUND 
   The present invention relates to baby cribs and more particularly to a novel three-in-one crib arrangement capable of functioning as a bassinet, changing table and bedside sleeper. 
   SUMMARY 
   It is not uncommon for families having an infant to provide a separate bassinet, changing table and bedside sleeper. Obviously all of these units occupy space and can make an infant&#39;s room quite confining, especially in instances where the infant&#39;s room is small. Also, the costs of these units can be prohibitive to many potential customers. 
   The present invention is characterized by comprising an apparatus in which all the capabilities of bassinet, changing table and bedside sleeper are integrated into one unitary apparatus which is capable of being changed over quite simply and quite readily. 
   The apparatus of the present invention comprises a light-weight and yet sturdy and stable skeletal structure which is designed to function as a rocking bassinet when the casters provided thereon are drawn in from the rolling position. The housings for the casters extend well beyond the curved rocking members to limit the degree of rocking and thereby provide added stability for the structure. The casters, when lowered, allow the structure to be easily rolled and are also capable of being locked in the “down” position when it is desired to prevent the structure from rolling. 
   Swingably mounted hoops (i.e. gussets) are provided for adjustably supporting a hood to cover the baby&#39;s eyes from light, which swingable hoops are capable of being lowered to gain total access to the surface supporting the infant. 
   A section of the top support of the skeletal structure is removable to gain access to the interior of the bedside sleeper when positioned adjacent to parent&#39;s bed or when used as a changing table. Nevertheless, a safety bar is provided to act as a barrier to prevent the child from easily rolling out of the bedside sleeper. The sleeper is secured to the parents&#39; bed by safety straps which are placed beneath the mattress and preferably between the mattress and the bedspread to assure safe, secure attachment of the bedside sleeper to the parents&#39; bed. 
   The skeletal structure is covered with a lightweight, durable, washable fabric which is designed to provide an aesthetic exterior appearance. The cover includes a side storage bag and larger underside storage area to provide adequate room for diapers, baby clothes and other items such as powders, salves, ointments, creams and the like typically advantageously provided in close proximity to a changing table. 
   The skeletal supporting structure is adjustable preferably to at least four different heights to align the structure to the parents&#39; bed when used as bedside sleeper and also when used as either a changing table or bassinet, to accommodate the height of the person attending to the infant. 
   The entire structure is extremely light in weight and easy to use and yet quite rugged and stable and is easily and quickly assembled and disassembled for compact storage, transportation and use. 
   It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide a novel apparatus capable of functioning as a bassinet, changing table and bedside sleeper requiring very minor adjustment to convert to any one of the above functions. 
   Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel apparatus capable of functioning as a bassinet, changing table and bedside sleeper and which is comprised of a skeletal superstructure which is lightweight and yet strong, rugged and stable and which is covered by a lightweight, sturdy, washable, aesthetically pleasing fabric which, in addition to accommodating the baby, is provided with accessible storage areas respectively located to one side and the underside of the apparatus. 
   The above as well as other objects of the present invention will become apparent when reading the accompanying description and drawings in which: 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S) 
       FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b  are perspective views respectively showing the skeletal structure of the present invention with the casters in the supporting and concealed position. 
       FIGS. 1   c  and  1   d  respectively show side and end views of the structure of  FIG. 1   a.    
       FIG. 1   e  draws a more detailed view of one of the wheel assemblies of  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b.    
       FIG. 1   f  is a detailed view of one of the brackets of  FIG. 1   a.    
       FIG. 1   g  is an exploded, detailed view of the removable rod of  FIG. 1   a  and the cooperating brackets. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the skeletal structure of  FIG. 1  covered to form the 3-in-1 structure of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  shows a sectional view of the cover structure for covering the skeletal structure of  FIG. 1   a.    
       FIG. 3   a  is a perspective view of a portion of the cover structure showing the manner in which the cover structure converts from a bassinet to a co-sleeper. 
       FIG. 3   b  is an elevational view showing the manner in which the co-sleeper is held against a parent&#39;s bed. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the storage basket shown in  FIGS. 1   c  and  1   d.   
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIGS. 1   a - 1   d  and  3   d  show the skeletal structure  10  embodying the principles of the present invention and comprising a pair of inverted, substantially U-shaped, hollow, tubular members  12  and  14  respectively having depending legs  12   a - 12   b ,  14   a - 14   b  extending downwardly, and a yoke portion  12   c ,  14   c.    
   A pair of hollow curved tubular members  16 ,  18  are each joined to retractable wheel assemblies  20 - 22  and  24 - 26  respectively mounted at opposite ends thereof. 
   The retractable wheel assemblies, as shown in  FIG. 1   d  are each provided with a recess for receiving an end  16   b ,  16   c  of a curved member  16 . The tubular member  18  is secured to the wheel assemblies  24 ,  26  in like fashion to that shown in  FIG. 1   d.    
     FIG. 1   e  is a detailed view of one wheel assembly  24  showing the recess  24   b  for receiving an end of tubular member  18 . The retractable wheels shown in  FIG. 1   a  are in the “down” position where the skeletal structure is capable of being easily rolled along a surface. The wheels are moved upwardly to a retracted position by operating a toggle button  24   c  and an operating lever  24   d  surrounding toggle switch  24   c . Toggle button  24   c  pivots about a vertical axis A and is normally urged into a locked position. Pushing button  24   c  at the right-hand end unlocks the castor assembly  24   a , allowing lever  24   d  to be rotated in order to rotate caster  24   a  clockwise about the disc-shaped portion  24   i  at the upper end of the arm  24   j  holding caster  24   a , disc-shaped portion being swingably mounted within an opening  24   b  in housing  24   l . Lowering the caster  24   a  is performed by operating the toggle button in a similar manner, however, the lever  24   d  is rotated counter-clockwise to lower the caster  24   a . When pressure on the right-hand end of toggle button  24   c  is released, the toggle button returns to the locked condition. Moving the casters  20   a ,  22   a    24   a ,  26   a  into their recesses enables the skeletal structure to be rocked by the curved convex central portions  16   a ,  18   a  of tubular members  16 ,  18 . Even though the wheels  20   a ,  22   a ,  24   a  and  26   a  are retracted, the underside of their housings such as  16   b ,  16   c , can engage the surface supporting the skeletal structure, preventing the structure, when it is rocked, from toppling over (see  FIG. 1   d ). The wheel assemblies are provided with conventional locking members, such as the slide switch  24   f  (not shown in detail for purposes of simplicity), which, when moved in one direction, lock the wheels  22   a - 26   a  from rolling when they are in the “down” position. Sliding the switch  24   f  in the opposite direction unlocks the wheels allowing them to roll freely. The outwardly projecting housings for the wheels provide a wider “footprint” to greatly enhance the stability of the skeletal structure. 
   Wheel assemblies  20 - 26  are further provided with integral, upwardly directed, hollow tubular projections  20   g - 26   g  (see  FIG. 1   e ) each adapted to receive the lower end of one of the elongated, hollow, tubular, upright members  28 - 30  and  32 - 34 , which extend into the hollow projections  20   g - 26   g  of assemblies  20 - 26 . The upper ends of tubular members  28 - 34  each telescope into a lower end of one of the legs  12   b - 14   b ,  12   a - 14   a . The legs  12   b - 14   b ,  12   a - 14   a  are provided with an array of spaced openings, such as, for example, the openings O shown provided on legs  14   a ,  14   b , for purposes of receiving a conventional spring loaded button B provided on an upper end of each tubular member which locks into one of the openings provided on each leg, enabling the tubular members  12  and  14  to be raised (or lowered) to a desired height. The legs of each tubular member  28 - 34  can be adjusted simply by pressing the buttons B inwardly so that they are cleared of the openings O and moving the members  12  and  14  relative to the members  28 - 30  and  32 - 34 . As soon as the spring loaded button B aligns with an opening, the spring loaded button B will snap into the opening and lock the associated leg at a desired height. All of the buttons B for each of the remaining three legs operate in a similar manner. 
   Integral hollow projections  29 - 33  provided on assemblies  22 ,  20  receive a rod  37  which provides additional structural support. A similar rod  39  extends between similar integral, hollow projections  31 - 35  to provide similar structural support. Rods  39  and  37  are snap-filled into the projections and extend through sleeves B 3 , B 4  in storage basket  70 , shown in  FIGS. 1   c ,  1   d  and  4 . The basket  70  is formed of a light-weight, open weave, mesh fabric which enables the contents of the basket to be easily observed through the side panels  76 ,  78  and end panels  80 ,  82  The vertically aligned corners C 1 -C 4  are each comprised of strips formed of a suitable, rugged, tight-weave, durable fabric to support the basket. Bottom end strips B 1  and B 2  are similar to strips C 1 -C 4 . Likewise top side strips T 1 , T 2  and top end strips T 3 , T 4  each serve to rigidify the basket to assist in retaining its rectangular, box-like shape. The elongated strips T 1 -T 4 , C 1 -C 4  and B 1 -B 4  are preferably formed of more rugged, tightly-woven, rugged, strips of material which are sewn to the mesh material to form a basket. 
   The basket  70  makes excellent use of the open region beneath board  56  supported by tubular members  36 ,  38 . The basket  70  is suspended from the skeletal structure by means of four (4) elongated straps S 1 -S 4  arranged in each of the four corners of the basket  70 . The straps are each provided with a plurality of spaced, female snap members  84 . One of the snaps  84  is snap-fitted with a cooperating male snap member  86  each male snap member being provided at opposite ends of yokes  12   c ,  14   c  (see  FIG. 1   c ). The female snap member  84  which is snap-fitted to member  86  is chosen so as to keep the basket  70  upright and suitably taut. 
   Pairs of tie members  80 ,  90 ,  92  and  94  are provided at the upper corners of basket  70  and are tied about the upper portions of legs  12   a - 12   b ,  14   a - 14   b  to hold the basket taut in the horizontal direction. 
   The pair of upright, substantially U-shaped tubular members  36 ,  38  have yoke portions  36   a ,  38   a  resting upon the yoke portions  12   c ,  14   c  and preferably joined thereto, for example, by suitable fasteners, which also secure the board  56  thereto. Standoffs  56   a  maintain board  56  parallel to yokes  12   c  and  14   c , see  FIGS. 1   c  and  1   d . Members  36  and  38  are arranged substantially at right angles to yokes  12   c  and  14   c . Member  36  has upwardly directed arms  36   b ,  36   c  and member  38  has upwardly directed arms  38   b ,  38   c . Brackets  40  and  42  join the free ends of  44   a ,  44   b  of the curved tubular member  44  and first ends  46   a ,  48   a  of straight tubular members  46  and  48  to the upright arms  36   a  and  36   b . Similar brackets  50 ,  52  join the opposite ends  46   b ,  48   b  of tubular members  46  and  48  and the free ends  54   a ,  54   b  of curved tubular member  54  to the upright arms  38   b ,  38   c . The tubular members  44  and  36   b  are pivotally mounted to bracket  42  to allow these members to fold into a compact arrangement when disassembled and stored. The brackets  40 ,  50  and  52  are similar in design and function. 
   Rigid board  56  is secured to the yoke portions  36   a ,  38   a  of tubular members  36  and  38  by the aforementioned suitable fasteners (not shown) and serves as the base of the bassinet/changing table/bedside sleeper and as a support for a mattress  120  (FIG.  3 ). 
   Brackets  58  and  60  are releasably, mounted to locking projections arranged on the underside of rods  46 ,  48 , For example,  FIG. 1   f  shows rod  48 , having cooperating projection  48   c  secured to rod  48  by pin  49 . Bracket  60  has a cooperating slot  60   a  which is slidably mounted upon projection  48   c . The free ends of curved gusset members  62 ,  64  and  66  are pivotally mounted upon the brackets  58 ,  60  by pin  67 . Gusset members  62 ,  64  and  66  serve as the means for supporting a hood H (see  FIG. 2 ) to shield the infants&#39; eyes from overhead light, as will be more fully described. The brackets  58 ,  60  which slidably mount to the rods  46 ,  48  as set forth above, may be removed by sliding the brackets  60  away from the projections, such as projection  48   c , enabling the canopy H to be easily removed/replaced. The gussets  62 - 66  are swingably mounted to brackets  58 - 60  to enable hood H to be easily raised and lowered. 
   The tubular members  35 ,  44 ,  46  &amp;  48  are preferably enclosed in elongated, resilient, foam-type, plastic sleeves, such as sleeve S, shown in  FIG. 1   f , to cushion these rods and reduce injury to an infant or other person engaging these rods. 
     FIG. 2  shows the skeletal structure  10  covered with a fabric member  100 . Making reference to  FIG. 3  as well as  FIG. 2 , the fabric member  100  is comprised of interior sidewalls,  FIG. 2  showing two (2) straight sidewalls  102 ,  106  and two (2) curved sidewalls  104 ,  108 . The straight sidewalls  102 ,  106 , shown in the sectional view of  FIG. 3 , as well as curved sidewall  104 , have their lower ends joined, preferably by being sewn, to a bottom sheet  110 . The sewn portions joining sidewalls  102  and  106  to the bottom sheet are shown at  112  and  114 . The two curved sidewalls  104  and  108  are joined in a like manner, being sewn to the outer perimeter of bottom sheet  110 . 
   Bottom sheet  110  rests upon the upper surface of board  56 . A mattress  120  (shown in dotted fashion), is placed upon bottom sheet  110 . 
   The upper ends of straight sidewalls  102  and  106  respectively rest on rods  46  and  48  and a portion of their free ends are each sewn to an integral skirt portions  118 ,  116  which skirt portions hang downwardly preferably to a point below the board  56 . The short sidewalls are likewise joined to skirt portions  117 ,  119  in a like manner, as by sewing. 
   The surfaces  102   a  and  106   a  of the sidewalls  102  and  106  are provided with male-type snap buttons  103   a ,  103   b . The surfaces  118   a ,  116   a  are each provided with male-type snap buttons  105   a ,  105   b . The buttons  105   a ,  105   b  are arranged to be snap-fitted with buttons  103   a ,  103   b . It should be understood that a plurality of pairs of cooperating snap-buttons  103   a ,  103   b  and  105   a ,  105   b  are arranged at spaced intervals along the straight sidewalls  102 ,  106  (as well as curved sidewalls  104  and  108 ), all of which pairs are snap-fitted together to retain the cover member in place draped over the skeletal frame. If desired, cooperating loop-type and hook-type strips may be substituted for the buttons without any change in effectiveness. 
   The placement of the mattress  120  upon the bottom sheet  110  cooperates with the button pairs to retain the cover member  100  in place. 
   The sidewall  106  of cover member  110  is capable of being pulled away from the adjacent curved sidewalls  104 ,  108 . As shown in  FIG. 3   a , which shows lower portions of the skirt removed to assist in an understanding of  FIG. 3   a , ends of the straight sidewall  106  are each provided with elongated hook-type strips  107   a ,  107   b  which are aligned to be joined with elongated loop-type strips  109   a ,  109   b , shown in dotted fashion, along adjacent ends of the curved sidewalls  104 ,  108 . 
   In order to convert the bassinet to a beside co-sleeper, the gussets  62 - 66  are removed by removing the brackets  58  and  60 , brackets  58  and  60  being slidably joined to projections on the rods  46  and  48 . The fabric member  100  is provided with elongated slits aligned with the projections on rods  46  and  48  for receiving the brackets  58 ,  60  and to enable the brackets  58  and  60  to be easily assembled or disassembled from the aforesaid cooperating projection. 
   End  48   a  of rod  48  has a reduced diameter and is removably insertable into opening  42   a  in bracket  42 , as shown in  FIG. 1   g . Opposite end  48   b  also has a reduced diameter and is longer than end  48   a . End  48   b  is snap-fittingly received in the substantially U-shaped projection  52   a  at the end of bracket  52 . In order to remove rod  48 , after removal of bracket  60  and lifting of the skirt portion  108  (see  FIG. 3   a ), end  48   b is lifted upward in the direction of arrow B and out of the projection  52   a . When end  48   b  is released from the reduced diameter portion  52   b  of projection  52   a , rod  48  is moved in the direction of arrow A to remove end  48   a  from opening  42   a.    
   Rod  48  is replaced by inserting end  48   a  into opening  42   a  and then lowering end  48   b  into projection  52   a  until end  48   b  moves below the reduced diameter portion  52   b , causing end  48   b  to be snap-fitted into the projection  52   a.    
   Rod  48  is removed by lifting end  48   b  upwardly and out of a locking recess in bracket  52 , similar to the locking recess  24   h  on wheel assembly  24  (see  FIG. 1   e ), and sliding rod  48  to the right out of the interior of bracket  42  until its left-hand end clears a receiving opening bracket  52 , at which time the rod  48  may be removed. As a safety feature, rod  35  has both of its ends secured to arms  36   b ,  38   a . The distance between rod  35  and board  56  is sufficiently small to prevent an infant&#39;s head from becoming wedged between rod  35  and board  56 , while providing a barrier to prevent an infant from rolling out of the bassinet, even though rod  48  is removed. 
   Prior to removal of rod  48 , the skirt portion  116  joined to straight sidewall  106  is lifted to gain access to rod  48 . 
   After the brackets  58 ,  60  and rod  48  are removed, the ends of straight sidewall  106  are pulled away from adjacent curved sidewalls  104 ,  108  causing the cooperating button pairs to be moved apart to allow the straight sidewall  106  to be lowered and draped over rod  35 , providing easier access to the interior of the sleeper while still providing a barrier (rod  35 ) to prevent an infant from rolling out ,of the beside co-sleeper. The thick, quilted sidewall  106 , together with the resilient sleeves (see sleeve S in  FIG. 1   f ), acts as a cushion to protect the infant from injury. 
   When the skirt portion  106  is pulled over the lower rod  35 , the upper flounce portion  106   a  of skirt portion  106  is preferably aligned with the lower flounce position of the adjacent skirt portions, to enhance the aesthetic appearance even when the rod  48  is removed. 
     FIG. 3   b  shows the manner in which the co-sleeper may be retained against one side of an adult bed B. An elongated pair of straps  130 ,  131  each have loops  130   a ,  131   a , provided at their free ends. The legs  12   a - 12   b  are preferably respectively passed through loops  130   a ,  131   a  when the skeletal structure is initially assembled. The straps  130 ,  131  are joined to a strap,  133 , which is preferably passed between the mattress  134  and box spring  135  (or between the mattress  135  and bed frame  137 ). A flat, rectangular-shaped anchoring member  136  having slot through which the strap  133  is threaded  134 , when aligned vertically, bridges across the region between and presses against the mattress and box spring  135  and rests against portions of the mattress and box spring. An adjustable, slidable locking member  136   a  allows the strap  133  to be tightened, holding the beside sleeper in place against the left-handed side of the bed and holds the anchoring member in place against the right-hand side of the bed. It should be understood that the casters should be in the down position with the casters locked to prevent rolling. 
   The loops  130   a ,  131   a  of straps  130 ,  131  shown in  FIG. 3   b  may be released from the strap by conventional clip assemblies  138 ,  140 , to allow the unit to be moved away from the adult bed without disturbing the straps  130 ,  131  and  133  and the anchoring member  136 . 
   The sidewall  106  may be placed either over rod  35  or rod  48  when employed as a changing table. The height of the changing table may be raised or lowered to assure a comfortable height for use as a changing table. 
   The gussets  62 - 66  are covered with hood H, which is formed of an aesthetically pleasing fabric, to shade the infant&#39;s eyes from bright light and having elongated passageways (not shown) for receiving and concealing the gussets. 
   The convertible apparatus may be easily and quickly assembled and disassembled. When disassembled, the apparatus fits into a compact space and is easily transported due to the light-weight and yet rugged materials which are preferably either aluminum or rugged plastic or a combination thereof.