Abstract:
The top frame of a crib includes a locking unit pivotably connected between first and second ends of a first side of the top frame. A pivotal unit is pivotably connected between first and second ends of a second side of the top frame. The locking unit securely connects the first and second ends of the first side, while the pivotal unit is only pivotably connected between the first and second ends of the second side and cannot secure the first and second ends of the second side. The top frame is folded by releasing the locking unit only. This is convenient for the user who has one hand holding the baby and uses the other hand to fold the top frame of the crib.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a top frame of a crib and a method for folding the top frame, and more particularly, to a top frame which can be easily folded by releasing a single unit. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    The conventional top frame of a crib is disclosed in Taiwan Published No. M382780 and includes a joint at the mediate portion of each side of the top frame, and the top frame can be folded by operation of the joints. 
         [0005]    Taiwan Published No. M345539 and M382780 discloses similar top frame and each includes a joint at the mediate portion of each side of the top frame, and the top frame can be folded by operation of the joints. 
         [0006]    All of the examples of the prior art have to operate the joints one by one to fold the top frame so that it takes time to fold and is not convenient to the users. 
         [0007]    The present invention intends to provide a top frame of a crib wherein the user can fold the top frame by operation to the only one locking unit by one hand. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention relates to a top frame of a crib and comprises a rectangular top frame having a first side, a second side, a third side and a fourth side. The first side and the second side extend toward the same direction. The first side has a first end and a second end, and the second side has a first end and a second end. A locking unit is pivotably connected between the first and second ends of the first side. A pivotal unit is pivotably connected between the first and second ends of the second side. The locking unit securely connects the first and second ends of the first side. The pivotal unit is pivotably connected between the first and second ends of the second side and is not able to secure the first and second ends of the second side. 
         [0009]    The method for folding the top frame of the crib is simply to unlock the locking unit pivotably connected between the first and second ends of the first side of the top frame. The first and second ends of the second side of the top frame are pivoted because the pivotal unit is only pivotably connected between the first and second ends of the second side and cannot secure the first and second ends of the second side. Two end members are respectively connected to the first end and the second end of the first side. When any of the engaging members is pressed, and the first or second end corresponding to the engaging member is pivoted to its extreme position, and the end member on the first end or the second end is hooked with the engaging member, the other engaging member is driven so that the two engaging members are not contact the first and second ends of the first side, the locking unit is unlocked. The pivotal unit is then folded along with the folding action of the locking unit, the top frame is folded. 
         [0010]    The top frame is folded by releasing the locking unit only. This is convenient for the user who has one hand holding the baby and uses the other hand to fold the top frame of the crib. 
         [0011]    The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  shows the crib with top frame of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view to show the locking unit of the top frame of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view to show the pivotal unit of the top frame of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view to show the locking unit of the top frame of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a front view of the locking unit of the top frame of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  shows that when the engaging member is pressed, the locking unit of the top frame of the present invention is unlocked, and 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is an exploded view to show another pivotal unit of the top frame of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0019]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the top frame of a crib of the present invention comprises a rectangular top frame  1  having a first side  1   a , a second side  1   b , a third side  1   c  and a fourth side  1   d . The first side  1   a  and the second side  1   b  extend toward the same direction, and the third and fourth sides  1   c ,  1   d  extend toward another direction which is perpendicular to the direction of the first and second sides  1   a ,  1   b . The first side  1   a  has a first end  11   a  and a second end  12   a,  and the second side  1   b  has a first end  11   a  and a second end  12   a.  A locking unit  4  is pivotably connected between the first and second ends  11   a,    12   a  of the first side  1   a , and a pivotal unit  5  is pivotably connected between the first and second ends  11   b,    12   b  of the second side  1   b . Four upright members  3  are connected to the four corners of the top frame  1  and a bottom frame  2  is connected to the four upright members  3 . The bottom frame  2  has two U-shaped links  21  which are connected to a base  22 . 
         [0020]    The locking unit  4  has a body  41 , two engaging member  42 , a resilient member  43  and two ends members  44 . The locking unit  4  securely connects the first and second ends  11   a ,  12   a  of the first side  1   a.    
         [0021]    The locking unit  4  comprises a body  41  which has two side panels  412  extending from two sides of the connection section  411 . A space  413  is defined between the two side panels  412 . 
         [0022]    The two engaging members  42  are located in the space  413  and respectively and pivotably connected to the two side panels  412  by two respective first pins  421 . The two engaging members  42  each have a support section  422  extending along a first direction M (toward the top frame  1 ). Each of the support portions  422  has a rib  423  extending from a top thereof. The end face of each of the support portions  422  that extends toward a second direction N (toward each other) has a block  424 . The two engaging members  42  each have a connection part  425  extending along the second direction N. The two respective connection parts  425  are engaged with each other in a protrusion-recess way. The connection part  425  of one of the engaging members  42  has a pivot  426 . The connection part  425  of the other one of the engaging members  42  has an elongate hole  427  in which the pivot  426  is inserted. Each of the two engaging members  42  has a press section  428  extending along a third direction O (away from each other). 
         [0023]    The resilient member  43  has two ends respectively mounted to the two blocks  424  of the support portions  422  of the two engaging members  42 . 
         [0024]    Two end members  44  are respectively connected to the first end  11   a  and the second end  12   a  of the first side  1   a . Each of the two end members  44  has a notch  441  with which the support portion  422  corresponding thereto is engaged. Each of the support portions  422  has a rib  423  extending from the top thereof and each of the end members  44  has a groove  442  defined in the inner periphery the notch  441 , the rib  423  is engaged with the groove  442 . 
         [0025]    One of two second pins  443  extends through the side panel  412 , the first end  11   a  and one end member  44 . The other second pin  443  extends through the other side panel  412 , the second end  12   a  and the other end members  44 . The first and second ends  11   a ,  12   a  are pivotably connected to each other, and the end members  44  are securely connected to the first and second ends  11   a ,  12   a.    
         [0026]    The pivotal unit  5  is pivotably connected between the first and second ends  11   b,    12   b  of the second side  1   b  and is not able to secure the first and second ends  11   b ,  12   b  of the second side  1   b . The pivotal unit  5  comprises a body  51  which has two side panels  512  extending from two sides of the connection section  511 . A space  513  is defined between the two side panels  512 . One of two third pins  52  extends through the side panel  512  and the first end  11   b  of the second side  1   b . The other third pin  52  extends through the other side panel  512  and the second end  12   b  of the second side  1   b . The body  51  is pivotably connected to the first and second ends  11   b ,  12   b.    
         [0027]    When expanding the crib, the four sides,  1   a ,  1   b ,  1   c ,  1   d  are located on a horizontal plane, the notches  441  of the end members  44  on the first and second ends  11   a ,  12   a  of the first side  1   a  are engaged with the support portions  422  of the engaging members  42 . The two engaging members  42  are biased by the resilient member  43  located therebetween, and the two respective connection parts  425  are in contact with each other so that the two engaging members  42  maintained a support status. The top frame  1  is well expanded by the engaging members  42  and other support parts. 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , when folding the top frame  1 , the press section  428  of any of the engaging members  42  is pressed, and the first or second end  11   a  or  12   a  corresponding to the engaging member  42  is not supported by the engaging member  42 . The first end  11   b  or the second end  12   b  of the side  1   b  is simply pivotably connected to the pivotal unit  5 , so that when the locking unit  4  is unlocked, the top frame is folded. 
         [0029]    When the press section  428  of one of the engaging members  42  is pressed, the engaging member  42  is pivoted about the first pin  421  in the first direction M. Because the two engaging members  42  are in contact by the two connection parts  425 , the other engaging member  42  is pivoted about the first pin  421  in the first direction M. The support portions  422  are not support the end members  44  in the first and second ends  11   a ,  12   a,  so that the engaging members  42  do not support the first and second ends  11   a ,  12   a,  and the locking unit  4  is unlocked. 
         [0030]    Each of the engaging members  42  has a hook portion  429  extending toward the first direction M from the distal end of the press section  428 . If the press section  428  of one of the engaging members  42  is pressed, while the support portion  422  of the other engaging member  42  is not disengaged from the end member  44  as expected, when the second end  12   a  is pivoted close to its extreme position, the hook portion  429  of one of the engaging members  42  hooks the notch  441  of the end member  44  to force the engaging member  42  to drive the other engaging member  42 . Therefore, the support portion  422  of said the other engaging member  42  is disengaged from the notch  441  of the end member  44  on the second end  12   a . Accordingly, when one side of the locking unit  4  is unlocked, the other side of the locking unit  4  is also unlocked automatically. This can avoid the locking unit  4  from being damaged. 
         [0031]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the body  41  has a case  414  mounted thereto and the case  414  has a button  415  extending from the inner end thereof. The button  415  has two hooks  4151  on two sides thereof. The two hooks  4151  contact the protrusions  4141  on two sides of the inner end of the case  414 . The button  415  has two push portions  4152  which are located corresponding to the press sections  428  of the engaging members  42 . When the button  415  is pressed, the push portion  4152  pushes the press section  428  to fold the locking unit  4 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 7  shows another embodiment of the pivotal unit  6  which comprises two pivotal members  61 ,  62  which are connected to each other by two respective corresponding ends. A fourth pin  63  extends through the two respective corresponding ends to pivotably connect the two pivotal members  61 ,  62 . The other end of each of the two pivotal members  61 ,  62  is pivotably connected to the first end  11   b /second end  12   b  of the second side  1   b . Two fifth pins  64  respectively extend through the first end  11   b  of the first pivotal member  61  and the second end  12   b  of the other pivotal member  62 , so that the first and second ends  11   b ,  12   b  of the second side  1   b  are pivotably connected to the pivotal unit  6 . 
         [0033]    While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.