Abstract:
A baby crib includes an upright segment having a lower end portion and an upper end portion, a base connected with the lower end portion of the upright segment, an elongated support structure extending along a horizontal plane above the base and connected with the upper end portion, and a bassinet assembled with the support structure and having an inner space adapted to receive the placement of a baby therein. The bassinet has a sidewall provided with a side opening communicating with the inner space. The support structure is operable to displace the bassinet horizontally to modify a distance between the bassinet and the upright segment.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This patent application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/151,545 filed on Jun. 2, 2011. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention generally relates to baby cribs, and more particularly to baby cribs that may also be conveniently used as bedside cribs. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Baby cribs available on the market include movable baby cribs and fixed baby cribs. Movable baby cribs can be conveniently displaced to any desired positions, and are not limited in positions of use. On the other hand, fixed baby cribs have to be used at fixed positions, usually near a sleeping bed so that the caregiver can conveniently access to the baby crib. The fixed baby crib usually has an enclosure that may be opened to facilitate access to the child placed in the baby crib. Each of the fixed and movable baby crib has specific advantages and limitations inherent to their respective constructions. 
         [0006]    Therefore, there may be a need for an improved baby crib that can have the advantages of the fixed and movable baby cribs, and is versatile in use. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    The present application describes a baby crib that can be used as bedside crib to allow a caregiver to sleep with the child on different beds, and yet provide care in a convenient manner. According to one embodiment, the baby crib comprises an upright segment having a lower end portion and an upper end portion, a base connected with the lower end portion of the upright segment, an elongated support structure extending along a horizontal plane above the base and connected with the upper end portion, and a bassinet assembled with the support structure and having an inner space adapted to receive the placement of a baby therein. The bassinet has a sidewall provided with a side opening communicating with the inner space. The support structure is operable to displace the bassinet horizontally to modify a distance between the bassinet and the upright segment. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a baby crib; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view illustrating a rear portion of the baby crib shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view illustrating the baby crib in a configuration of use; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view illustrating a rear portion of the baby crib according to a variant embodiment; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating another variant embodiment of the baby crib; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view illustrating a second embodiment of the bassinet  104  that differs from the previous ones by the construction of the cover element; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a schematic view illustrating a third embodiment of the bassinet; 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a schematic view illustrating a fourth embodiment of the bassinet; 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a schematic view illustrating a fifth embodiment of the bassinet; 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is a schematic view illustrating a sixth embodiment of the bassinet; 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  is a schematic view illustrating a seventh embodiment of the bassinet; 
           [0019]      FIG. 12  is a schematic view illustrating an eighth embodiment of the bassinet; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 13  is a schematic illustrating a configuration of use of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 12 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a baby crib  100 , and  FIG. 2  is a schematic view illustrating a rear portion of the baby crib  100 . The baby crib  100  can include a support frame  102  and a bassinet  104 . The support frame  102  can be constructed so as to hold the bassinet  104  above the ground. In one embodiment, the support frame  102  can include two parallel support tube assemblies  106 , and a base  108  connected with the support tube assemblies  106 . Each of the support tube assemblies  106  can include an upright segment  106 A, and an arm  106 B connected with the upright segment  106 A. The arms  106 B can bend to a same side from the upper end of the upright segments  106 A, and have respective distal ends securely connected with the bassinet  104 . In one embodiment, each of the arms  106 B can include a telescopic portion  106 C adapted to retract and deploy outward to movably adjust the bassinet  104  in a horizontal plane toward or away from the upright segments  106 A. Each of the upright segments  106 A can also include a latch  110  operable to lock for preventing movements of the telescopic portion  106 C, and unlock for permitting adjustment of the telescopic portion  106 C. 
         [0022]    The base  108  can be connected with the lower ends of the upright segments  106 A, and can be located at a same side as the bassinet  104  relative to the upright segments  106 A to provide stable support. The bassinet  104  is vertically spaced apart from the base  108  via a gap G, i.e., the gap G is delimited upwardly by the bassinet  104  and downwardly by the base  108 . In addition, a side of the gap G is at least partially delimited by the upright segments  106 A, whereas an opposite side thereof is opened without any obstructing elements. 
         [0023]    The base  108  can include a plurality of tubular elements  112  and wheels  114  assembled in a horizontal plane. The tubular elements  112  can be assembled with one another to form a generally rectangular base  108 . The wheels  114  can be respectively provided at the four corners of the base  108 . The lower ends of the two upright segments  106 A can be respectively connected with two corners of the base  108 . 
         [0024]    In one embodiment, the bassinet  104  can include a bottom board  116  on which a child can be laid down, a surrounding enclosure  118 , a cover element  120 , and a hand rest rail  122 . The hand rest rail  122  can be provided along the top of the enclosure  118 . A lower end of the enclosure  118  can be connected with a peripheral region of the bottom board  116  so as to define at least partially an inner space of the bassinet  104 . The bassinet  104  is upwardly opened, such that a caregiver can place a baby in the bassinet  104  from the upper side. A sidewall of the enclosure  118  can also include a side opening  124 . In one embodiment, the side opening  124  can be formed at a side of the enclosure  118  that is opposite to the side of the support tube assemblies  106  (i.e., corresponding to a front of the bassinet  104 ). In one embodiment, the cover element  120  can be exemplary formed as a door  120 A made from a rigid material that is pivotally connected with the bottom board  116 . The door  120 A can be operable to move relative to the enclosure  118  to cover and uncover the side opening  124 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view illustrating the baby crib  100  in a configuration of use. The baby crib  100  can be used as a convenient bedside crib. The support frame  102  can be pushed to displace via the wheels  114  to lie adjacent to a side of an adult sleeping bed B, such that the base  108  is located below the bed B and the peripheral edge portion of the bed B is placed in the gap G between the bassinet  104  and the base  108 . By operating the latches  110  on the upright segments  106 A, the extension of the bassinet  104  over the sleeping bed B can also be adjusted to a desired height. While the cover element  120  is opened, the caregiver&#39;s hands can be passed through the side opening  124  into the inner space of the bassinet  104 . Accordingly, while being on the sleeping bed B, the caregiver can provide care and conveniently place the baby into the bassinet  104  via the side opening  124  without efforts or excessive movements that may disturb the child. Moreover, while the caregiver is laid down on the sleeping bed B, the cover element  120  can also be opened so that the baby lying in the bassinet  104  can be visible through the side opening  124 . When the baby is sleeping, the cover element  120  can be operable to close the side opening  124  to reduce disturbance to the baby. Accordingly, the baby crib  100  can be used as a bedside crib to allow a caregiver to sleep with the child on different beds, and yet provide care in a convenient manner. 
         [0026]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view illustrating a rear portion of the baby crib  100  according to a variant embodiment. Like previously described, the support frame  102  can include a base  108  (such as shown in  FIG. 1 ). In this embodiment, two parallel upright segments  128  and parallel guide rails  130  are provided. The upright segments  128  can have lower ends connected with the base  108 , and top ends respectively connected with the guide rails  130 . The guide rails  130  and the base  108  can extend sideways to a same side of the upright segments  128  to provide stable support. The bassinet  104  can have a bottom that is movably connected with the guide rails  130 . A latch  110  can also be provided at one end of each guide rail  130 . The latches  110  can be operable to lock the bassinet  104  so that it cannot be adjustably moved relative to the guide rails  130 . When the latches  110  are unlocked, the bassinet  104  can slide relative to the guide rails  130  to adjust a horizontal distance between the bassinet  104  and the caregiver. 
         [0027]    Many variations can be available for the construction of the support frame (as shown in  FIG. 5 ) and the bassinet (as shown in  FIGS. 6-13 ). 
         [0028]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating another variant embodiment of the baby crib  100 . The support frame  102  can include two parallel upright segments  128 , two upper fixture elements  132 , and two fixed bases  134 . The upright segments  128  can have upper ends respectively secured with the upper fixture elements  132 , and lower ends affixed with the bases  134 . The bassinet  104  can be fixedly assembled with the upper fixture elements  132 . A difference between the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4  and that of  FIG. 1  is that no wheels are provided in the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , and the baby crib  100  is used at a fixed position. 
         [0029]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view illustrating a second embodiment of the bassinet  104  that differs from the previous ones by the construction of the cover element  120 . In this embodiment, the cover element  120  can be constructed as a curtain  120 B made of a flexible or soft material (such as fabric) that may be rolled up and unrolled as desired. The curtain  120 B can be assembled at the location of the side opening  124 , and have an upper end connected with the hand rest rail  122 . The curtain  120 B can be rolled up toward the hand rest rail  122 , and then held in the rolled state via a fastener element  136  (for example a tie cord) to uncover the side opening  124 . The curtain  120 B can be unrolled to extend downward for covering and closing the side opening  124 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 7  is a schematic view illustrating a third embodiment of the bassinet  104 . The cover element  120  can be constructed as a movable door  120 C that have upper and lower edges respectively connected with guide rails  138 . A grip handle  140  may also be provided to facilitate operation of the movable door  120 C. The movable door  120 C can slide along the guide rails  138  in a direction D 1  to uncover the side opening  124 , or in a direction D 2  to close and cover the side opening  124 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 8  is a schematic view illustrating a fourth embodiment of the bassinet  104 . The cover element  120  can be constructed as a collapsible door  120 D that is made of a flexible and deformable material that can be deployed and collapsed as the door  120 D is moved in either direction. The grip handle  140  can be likewise provided to facilitate operation of the door  120 D. The collapsible door  120 D can slide along the guide rails  138  in the direction D 1  to fold and collapse the flexible material for uncovering the side opening  124 , or in the direction D 2  to unfold and deploy the flexible material to close and cover the side opening  124 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 9  is a schematic view illustrating a fifth embodiment of the bassinet  104 . The cover element  120  can be constructed as a rotary flap  120 E that may be pivotally connected with the hand rest rail  122 . The rotary flap  120 E can turn upward to uncover the side opening  124 , or turn downward to close and cover the side opening  124 . In addition, two opposite side edges of the bottom board  116  can also be movably assembled with guide rails  142 , such that the bottom board  116  may slide along the guide rails  142  to extend outward through the side opening  124  after the cover element  120  is opened. 
         [0033]      FIG. 10  is a schematic view illustrating a sixth embodiment of the bassinet  104 . The cover element  120  can be constructed as rotary flap  120 F pivotally connected with the bottom board  116 . Two opposite side edges of the bottom board  116  can be movably assembled with guide rails  144 , such that the bottom board  116  and the rotary flap  120 F may slide in unison along the guide rails  142  to extend outward or retract inward. A grip handle  140  may also be provided on an outer side of the rotary flap  120 F to facilitate operation of the bottom board  116  and the rotary flap  120 F. When the bottom board  116  is retracted inside the bassinet  104 , the rotary flap  120 F can be turned to a position erected upward from the bottom board  116  so as to close and cover the side opening  124 . The rotary flap  120 F can be turned downward relative to the bottom board  116  to uncover the side opening  124 . If needed, the caregiver can also pull out the bottom board  116  and rotary flap  120 F, and then turn downward the rotary flap  120 F such that the bottom board  116  and the rotary flap  120 F lie substantially on a same approximately horizontal plane. 
         [0034]      FIG. 11  is a schematic view illustrating a seventh embodiment of the bassinet  104 . The cover element  120  can be constructed as a shutter door  120 G that is pivotally connected with an outer side of the enclosure  118 . The shutter door  120 G can be provided with the grip handle  140  to facilitate its operation. Two opposite side edges of the bottom board  116  can be movably assembled with guide rails  146 . The shutter door  120 G can rotate upward relative to the enclosure to uncover the side opening  124 , or rotate downward to close and cover the side opening  124 . When the side opening  124  is uncovered, the bottom board  116  can also slide along the guide rails  146  to extend outward through the side opening  124 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 12  is a schematic view illustrating an eighth embodiment of the bassinet  104 , whereas  FIG. 13  is a schematic illustrating a configuration of use of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 12 . In this embodiment, the cover element  120  can be constructed as a collapsible door  120 H that is operable to fold and unfold similar to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 . The enclosure  118  can be formed from a plurality of sidewalls, such as a first sidewall  118 A, two second sidewalls  118 B, and two third sidewalls  118 C. The collapsible door  120 H can be connected with one of the third sidewalls  118 C. The first sidewall  118 A can have a lower end affixed with a rear edge portion of the bottom board  116 . The second sidewalls  118 B can have first side edges respectively connected with two opposite side edges of the first sidewall  118 A via hinges  148 , and opposite second side edges respectively connected with the third sidewalls  118 C via other hinges  148 . As shown in  FIG. 12 , the enclosure  118  can be configured to substantially surround the bottom board  116  to substantially define the inner space of the bassinet  104 . In this configuration, the side opening  124  can be defined as the gap formed between two opposing side edges of the third sidewalls  118 C. The door  120 H can slide in the direction D 1  to unfold and deploy its flexible material for closing and covering the side opening  124 , or in the direction D 2  to fold and collapse its flexible material for uncovering the side opening  124 . 
         [0036]    As shown in  FIG. 13 , the second sidewalls  118 B and third sidewalls  118 C can also be rotated about their respective hinges  148  to open the enclosure  118  such that multiple sides of the bottom board  116  can be exposed outward. 
         [0037]    At least one advantage of the structures described herein is the ability to provide a baby crib that has a side opening through which the caregiver can have access to the inner space of the bassinet. The side opening can be desirably closed or opened via a cover element. Accordingly, the baby crib can also be used as a bedside baby crib that allows the caregiver to sleep with the baby in a safe manner and provide care conveniently. 
         [0038]    Realizations in accordance with the present invention therefore have been described only in the context of particular embodiments. These embodiments are meant to be illustrative and not limiting. Many variations, modifications, additions, and improvements are possible. Accordingly, plural instances may be provided for components described herein as a single instance. Structures and functionality presented as discrete components in the exemplary configurations may be implemented as a combined structure or component. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements may fall within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims that follow.