Abstract:
A bassinette having a front wall that may selectively be set at a height substantially equal to the height of other walls of the bassinette, or alternatively released to allow the front wall to have a lower height than remaining walls, wherein the method of attachment of a cross-member supporting the top edge comprises receiver cups, and a retractable tongue to allow the cross-member to be selectively trapped between the receiver cups, in a manner requiring only a single hand for insertion and removal of the cross-member from the structure of the bassinette.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   The instant application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/209,401, filed Aug. 22, 2005, which is a continuation of allowed U.S. application Ser. No. 10/448,538, filed May 28, 2003, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,931,677, which claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/838,041, filed Apr. 20, 2001, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,678,211, which reissued as U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/838,041, now U.S. Reissue Pat. No. 39,136, which is a continuation-in-part of International application No. PCT/US00/14086, filed May 22, 2000, which was published under PCT Article 21(2) in English as International Publication No. WO 01/80692, which claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/552,331, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,148,456, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/244,140, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,112,347, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/903,640, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,349, which claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 60/039,728. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The instant invention relates to the field of convertible bassinettes for use with babies and very young children; in particular to units which may be easily converted from a conventional bassinette to a changing table or child&#39;s bed-side sleeping enclosure, hereinafter referred to for convenience as a “bedside bassinette,” that may be attached to a parental bed. 
   BACKGROUND 
   Bedside bassinettes are bassinets designed to allow the bassinette to be placed alongside a parental bed, to provide a safe location for an infant to sleep, while keeping the infant immediately adjacent to a parent. 
   Bedside bassinettes typically have a sleeping surface, positioned at or below the top surface of a parental bed against which the bedside bassinette has been placed. In order to prevent a sleeping infant from accidentally rolling off of the sleeping surface, the bedside bassinette typically has walls around the edges of the sleeping surface which are not abutted against a parental bed. 
   The inclusion of a wall along the edge of the sleeping surface which abuts the parental bed (hereafter referred to as the front edge in order to simplify the reference) may allow the bedside bassinette to be used as a conventional bassinette, when the wall is positioned to prevent an infant from rolling off the sleeping surface along that edge. Obviously, the inclusion of a fixed front wall can interfere with the ability of the bassinette to be used as a bedside bassinette. Such a fixed front wall could also limit the utility of the device as a changing table when the bedside bassinette is positioned away from a parental bed. 
   In order to allow a wall to be placed along this front edge, therefore, a cross-member is typically implemented, such that with the cross-member included, the wall along the front edge can be attached to the cross-member at an upper end to provide structural stability to the front wall. The upper cross-member, however, may need to be removed for the bassinette to be utilized as a bedside bassinette or changing table. 
   As shown in Applicant&#39;s earlier patents, the front wall may be formed from a flap which extends from the front edge of the sleeping surface, such that with the flap hanging below the sleeping surface, the bedside bassinette may be suitable for use as a changing table, while with the flap attached to the crossbar, the bedside bassinette may be suitable for use as a conventional bassinette. 
   In Applicant&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 6,678,211, the use of a bedside bassinette having a front wall positioned at an intermediate height was disclosed. The use of the intermediate height provides additional safety for an infant laying on the sleeping surface. The front wall may be joined to the surrounding wall, such that it is ensured that a wall surrounds the sleeping surface to prevent an infant from rolling off of the sleeping surface. The use of an intermediate height front wall does not preclude either the use of a front flap style front wall, or the addition of a flap to the top edge of a joined intermediate height wall, such as to allow positioning of the front wall to create a conventional bassinette. 
   Accordingly, there are at least three potential positions at which it could be desired to have a front crossbar to provide support to a front wall, i.e., adjacent the sleeping surface, at the intermediate position, and at a full height position (such that the front wall has the same height as the other wall sections surrounding the sleeping surface. 
   Different methods of attaching the front crossbar have been used, such as the slide locks shown in Applicant&#39;s U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,148,456, 6,678,211, and 6,112,347. These methods each implement an attachment at both ends in order to allow the height of the front crossbar to be adjusted. These methods, however, may be cumbersome if one-handed adjustment of the crossbar is attempted, such as when a care-giver is holding an infant while attempting to adjust the height of the front crossbar. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is a bassinette which can be alternately configured as a conventional bassinette, or as a bassinette having a lowered front wall. The bassinette may include an enclosure, with the enclosure surrounding a sleeping platform, and the enclosure further including left and right side walls, a rear wall, and a front wall. The left and right side walls may have a side wall height, and the front wall may have a fixed portion which has a height less than the height of the left and right side walls. The front wall further may have a flap portion extending from the front portion. The flap portion may have a front upper cross-member, where the front upper cross-member has an end fitting adjacent a first end of the front upper cross-member, and a retractable tongue adjacent a second end of the front upper cross-member, where the retractable tongue includes an actuator that allows a user to selectively retract the retractable tongue. The bassinette further may have a frame for supporting the enclosure. The frame may have a left front member and a right front member, and a first receiver cup on the left front member and a second receiver cup on the right front member and a distance between the first receiver cup and the second receiver cup. The upper front cross-member may have a length greater than the distance between the first receiver cup and the second receiver cup. The length of the upper front cross-member may be selected such that when the end fitting is inserted in the first receiver cup and the tongue is retracted, the upper cross-member may be positioned between the first receiver cup and the second receiver cup, such that when the tongue is extended, the upper cross-member is engaged between the first and second receiver cups. When the upper cross-member is engaged between the first and second receiver cups, the front wall flap may then be positioned to extend the front wall to a height substantially equal to the height of the left and right side walls, and when the upper cross-member is disengaged from the first and second receiver cups, the flap portion of the front wall may then be able to hang from an edge of the fixed portion of the front wall. 
   Alternatively, the bassinette may include an enclosure, the enclosure having a platform on which an infant can be placed. The enclosure may further have right, left, front, and rear walls, where the right, left and rear walls have a first height, and the front wall has a lower portion and an upper portion, where the lower portion has a first side edge, a second side edge, a lower portion top edge and a lower portion bottom edge, with the lower portion bottom edge being joined to the platform, the top edge being joined to the upper portion, the lower portion being joined to the right side and left side walls along the first side edge and second side edge and forming a front wall having a height less than the height of the right, left and rear walls, where the upper portion has an upper portion lower edge and a upper portion upper edge. Also a frame may be included to support the enclosure and further have a left front section and a right front section, where the left front section and the right front section each have a receiver cup mounted thereon. The frame further may have a retention member for retaining the bassinette against a parental bed. Further included may be an intermediate cross-member having a first end and a second end, and extending along the lower portion top edge. There also may be a front upper cross-member having a first end and a second end, and extending along the upper portion top edge of the front wall, the front upper cross-member further having an end fitting adapted to be received in a receiver cup disposed at a first end of the front-upper cross-member and a retractable tongue adapted to be received in a receiver cup disposed at a second end of the front upper cross-member, with the retractable tongue being selectively retractable by a user of the front upper cross-member. The intermediate cross-member may be joined at its first end to the right front section and the second end may be joined to the left front section. When the end fitting is disposed in the first receiver cup and the retractable tongue is extended and disposed within the second receiver cup, the front upper cross-member may be trapped between the first and second receiver cups, and the upper portion of the front wall held in a position such that the upper portion top edge is at a height substantially the same as the height of the right and left side walls. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       FIG. 1  illustrates the structural frame of a notional bedside bassinette embodying the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an enclosure of a notional bedside bassinette consistent with the present invention. 
       FIG. 2A  illustrates a notional enclosure consistent with the present invention, shown in a flat plan condition. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a notional enclosure assembled to a notional frame embodying the present invention 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a receiver cup according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a receiver cup into which an end fitting has been inserted. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an embodiment of a retractable tongue in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 6A  illustrates an alternate embodiment of a retractable tongue in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates an embodiment of a retractable tongue in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates an embodiment of a retractable tongue in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a front wall in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates an alternate implementation of the present invention in which retractable tongues are included for both intermediate and upper cross-members in accordance with the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   In order to provide a more full understanding of the present invention, a discussion of embodiments of the present invention is provided as follows, in which like reference numbers within the Figures indicate like elements. 
   In  FIG. 1  there is shown the structural elements of a bedside bassinette  100  according to the present invention. The bedside bassinette  100  may typically have a sleeping surface, not shown in this view, disposed within a frame  102 . The frame may utilize a pair of u-shaped end sections  104 ,  106 . The unshaped end sections  104 ,  106  may each be provided with an upper side cross-member  108 ,  110  and a lower side cross-member  112 ,  114 . The upper and lower side cross-members  108 ,  110 ,  112 ,  114  may extend from a first leg  116  of a u-shaped end section to the second leg  118  of the u-shaped end section. 
   The u-shaped end sections  104 ,  106  may be disposed with the closed end  120  of the “u” pointing upward. Telescoping segments  122  may be provided internal or external to the free ends  124  of the u-shaped end sections  104 ,  106  to allow adjustment of the height of the sleeping surface relative to the height of a top surface of a parental bed. 
   The u-shaped end sections  104 ,  106  may be connected by lower lateral cross-members  126 . The lower lateral cross-members  126  may be positioned such that the ends  128  of the lower lateral cross-members  126  intersect the legs  116 ,  118  of the u-shaped end sections  104 ,  106  adjacent the positions  130  at which lower side cross-members  112 ,  114  intersect the u-shaped end section legs  116 ,  118 , thus forming a generally planar series of cross-members. 
   Casters  132  may be disposed on the ends of the telescoping segments  122 , such that the bedside bassinette  100  may be readily rolled from one location to another. The casters  132  may be provided with locks, such that once the bedside bassinette  100  has been rolled into position, the casters  132  may be locked to prevent undesired rolling of the bedside bassinette  100 , such as could occur if the bedside bassinette  100  were pushed by a child. 
   The u-shaped end sections  104 ,  106  may further be connected by a rear upper cross-member  134 , positioned such that the ends  136  of the upper rear cross-member intersect the legs  116 ,  118  of the u-shaped end sections  104 ,  106  adjacent the positions  138  at which the rear upper cross-member ends  136  intersect the u-shaped end section  104 ,  106  legs  116 ,  118 . 
   Finally, the u-shaped end sections  104 ,  106  may also be connected by a front intermediate cross-member  138 , positioned such that the ends  140  of the front intermediate cross-member  138  intersect the legs  116 ,  118  of the u-shaped end section  104 ,  106  at positions below the positions at which the upper side cross-member ends  140  intersect the unshaped end section legs  116 ,  118 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , the sleeping surface  201  (not shown) may be formed as part of an enclosure  204  which may be attached to the frame. In the illustrated embodiment, the enclosure  204  may be formed by wall sections  206 ,  208 ,  210  bounding a substantially rectangular sleeping surface  202 . The wall sections  206 ,  208 ,  210  may be formed as flaps (as shown in  FIG. 2A  as elements  212 ,  214 ,  216 ) and surrounding the rectangular sleeping surface  204 , with the left  220  and right  222  side edge of the back section  214 ,  218  joined to the rear edges  224 ,  226  of the right  216  and left  212  sections, such that three walls  206 ,  208 ,  210  are thus formed. The front panel  218  may be joined along a portion of the left  228  and right  230  side edges of the front section joined to a portion of the front edges  230 ,  232  of the left  212  and right  216  side wall sections, such that a wall  234  having a lower height (shown in  FIG. 2 ) than the side  206 ,  210  or rear walls  208  is formed, with a flap  236  extending above the level  238  at which the front panel  218  has been joined to the side walls  206 ,  210 . Alternatively, the front panel may be integral with the side walls, such that no joining method need be imposed, or alternatively provide with a selective joining method such as a zipper, snaps, buttons, or hook and loop fasteners. 
   The sleeping surface  202  may be formed by using a fabric floor section extending between the front  234  and rear  208  walls, and the left  206  and right  210  side walls. A mattress or stiffener may be inserted into the pocket formed by the walls as desired. 
   As shown in  FIG. 3 , the enclosure  204  may be attached to the frame  102  by securing the top edges  302 ,  304  of the right and left side walls  206 ,  210  to the left and right upper side cross-members (not visible in view), by securing the top edge  306  of the rear wall  208  to the rear upper cross-member (not visible in illustration), and by securing the front wall  234  to the front intermediate cross-member (not visible in illustration). The connection between the front wall and the front intermediate cross-member may allow for a remaining portion of the front wall to form a flap  308  extending from the lower portion  310  of the front wall  234  which is secured to the front intermediate cross-member. The top edge  312  of the flap may be secured to a front upper cross-member  314 . 
   The bedside bassinette  100  may also be provided with a retention strap  316  for retaining the bedside bassinette  100  against a parental bed (not shown), as well as a changing strap  318  to prevent an infant from rolling when placed on the sleeping surface  202  for changing. 
   Also shown in  FIG. 3  are a pair of front upper cross-member receiver cups  318  positioned at a height substantially equal to the height of the left and right upper cross-members (not visible). These receiver cups  318  allow the front upper cross-member  314  to be selectively joined to the frame  102  to allow the bedside bassinette to function as a conventional bassinette  100 , with a full height surrounding wall to prevent an infant from accidentally falling from the sleeping surface  202 . 
     FIG. 4  illustrates a receiver cup  318  attached to a leg (i.e.,  116  or  118 ) of a u-shaped end-section. The receiver cup  318  may comprise a cup portion  402  forming an interior cavity  402  joined  406  to the leg  116  such that the position of the receiver cup  318  is fixed. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the receiver cup  318  may be affixed to the leg via a simple self threading screw  408  which secures the receiver cup  318  to the leg  116 . The use of a wall  410  completely surrounding an interior cavity  404  limits the ability of a cross-member end fitting  502  to move relative to the receiver cup  318  unless the cross-member end fitting  502  is withdrawn from the cup by motion along an axis parallel to the center axis of the cross-member  504 . 
     FIG. 6  illustrates the opposite end of a generic cross-member  504 , showing one embodiment of a retractable tongue  602  which may be utilized to allow the length of the cross-member  504  to be retracted (shown in  FIG. 6A ) by an amount sufficient to allow the cross-member  504  to be inserted into a receiving cup  318 . The end of the cross-member  604  may be provided with a sleeve  606  which is inserted into an open end of the cross-member  504 . The sleeve  606  may have a block  608  at its inner end, to prevent a spring  610  or other elastic member from traversing past the end of the sleeve  606 . The tongue  612  itself may be formed by a slidable block  614  which fits within the sleeve  606 . An actuator  616  may be attached to the slidable block  614 , such as by a self-threading screw  618 . The screw  618  may pass through the outer wall of the cross-member  504  through a slot  620  in the outer wall. The slot  620  may be configured such that at a distal end  622  of the slot, the screw  618  bears against the end  622  of the slot  620 , preventing the slidable block  614  from sliding out of the sleeve  606 . The sleeve  606  may be retained within the cross-member  504  by an interference fit between the sleeve  606  and the interior surface  624  of the cross-member  504 , by the inclusion of a mechanical fastener (not shown) securing the sleeve to the cross-member, such as a threaded fastener or rivet, though the use of a bonding or adhesive agent (not shown) between the sleeve and the inner surface of the cross-member, or through the creation of a mechanical interference between the outer wall of the cross-member and the sleeve, such as by forming an indented dimple (not shown) in the outer wall of the cross-member. 
   As shown in  FIG. 7 , the retractable tongue  602  does not need to be elastically loaded into an extended position (although it is preferable from a safety standpoint), nor is it required that a sleeve be utilized within the end of the cross-member. As shown, a slidable block  702  may be inserted directly into the cross-member  504 , with an actuator  616  fastened through a slot  704  to the slidable block  702 . A detent  706  may be provided for the actuator  616 , such that the actuator  616  is disposed to hold the slidable block in an extended position, rather than allow the slidable block to slide freely between extended and retracked positions. A second detent may be provided to bias the actuator to remain in a retracted position. 
   As shown in  FIG. 8 , two actuators  616  may be disposed on opposite sides of the slidable block  614  such that an operator can retract the slidable block  614  from either side of the cross-member  504 , or by applying force to both sides concurrently. The actuators  616  may be attached to the slidable block  614  by a bolt  802  which extends through the actuators  616  and the slidable block  614 , and which may be retained by a nut  804 . 
   Returning to  FIG. 5 , an end fitting  502  is shown on a cross-member  504  for insertion into a receiver cup  318 . In order for the cross-member  504  to be installable into the receiver cup  318 , the cross-member  504  must be free to rotate to a limited extent due to physical interference created by the opposite receiver cup (not shown) and the length of the cross-member. The freedom to rotate may be created simply by loose tolerances between the end fitting  502  and the receiver cup  318 , or may be created through the shapes chosen for the interior cavity  404  of the receiver cup  318  and the profile of the end fitting  502 . If the end fitting  502  were configured with a cylindrical shape, and the interior cavity of the receiver cup  318  likewise formed with a cylindrical shape, the cross-member  504  would be significantly restrained, such that rotation of the cross-member  504  to allow the retractable tongue  602  end of the cross-member  504  to clear the receiver cup  318  adjacent to the retractable tongue  602  end could require bending of the cross-member  504  itself. The use of cylindrical shapes would also increase the difficulty of inserting the end fitting  502  into the receiver cup  318 , which could be a disadvantage where a user was attempting to set the cross-member single-handedly. 
   As shown, the receiver cup  318  may be provided with a cylindrical or conical shape  506  to allow a conically shaped  508  end fitting to be more easily started into the interior cavity  404 . The end fitting  502  may be provided with a rounded end to further ease the ability to mate the end fitting  502  with the receiver cup  318 . The end fitting  502  may be formed as a plug which can be inserted into an open end of the cross-member  504 , and retained within the cross-member  504  by an interference fit between the outer surface  510  of the plug and the inner surface  512  of the cross-member. Alternately, such a plug could be bonded or adhered to the cross-member  504 , or retained with a mechanical fastener, such as a screw or other threaded fastener, or retained to the cross-member via a mechanical interference, such as the forming of a dimple into the outer surface of the cross-member after the plug has been inserted within the cross-member. 
   From the above, it is evident that a user of the bedside bassinette  100  as shown in  FIG. 3 , could convert the device into a conventional bassinette by trapping the front upper cross-member  314  between the receiver cups  318  to hold the front wall  308  in a full height position. As shown in  FIG. 9 , the front upper cross-member  902  may be fixed to the end of the flap portion  308 , such as by inserting the cross-member  902  through a pocket  904  formed adjacent the top edge  906  of the flap portion  308 . The user could then grasp the end of the cross-member  902  adjacent the actuator, and position the end fitting end of the cross-member within one receiver cup. Next, by retracting the retractable tongue through use of the actuator  616 , the upper cross-member  902  could be aligned with the second receiver cup (not shown), such that allowing the retractable tongue to extend would cause the cross-member to be trapped between the receiver cups, and thus retained in position. 
   As shown in  FIG. 9 , allowing the actuator  616  to be accessible to a user may require accommodation of the actuator  616  in the design of the front wall portion  308  attached to the cross-member  902  adjacent to the actuator  616 . The front wall portion  308  illustrated in  FIG. 9  embodies a pocket  904  created by folding over a portion of the front wall  308 , and stitching  908  or otherwise joining the folded over portion to the flap portion. 
   While the description provided above has addressed implementing a removable upper front bar, both the upper front bar and intermediate bars may be formed to allow for their removal, such that one bedside bassinet could be configured as a changing table with no front wall, as a bedside bassinette or changing table with a partial height front wall, or as a conventional bassinette, with a full height front wall. 
   In order to accomplish this full range, as shown in  FIG. 10 , receiver cups  1002  may be provided for an intermediate cross-member  1004 , as well as for a front upper cross-member  1006 . The receiver cups for the different levels may selected such that the front upper cross-member  1006  cannot be inserted between the intermediate level receiver cups  1008 , such as by using a larger diameter end fitting  1010  and tongue  1012  on the front upper cross-member  1006  than can be accepted by the intermediate level receiver cups  1008 . Preventing the front upper cross-member  1006  from being installed at the intermediate level may prevent gaps from forming between the side edges of the front wall and the front edges of the side walls (not shown), preventing an infant from being able to fall through the gaps which would other wise be formed. 
   The previous description of the preferred embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the present invention. The various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without the use of the inventive faculty. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.