Patent Publication Number: US-2022218121-A1

Title: Crib frame

Description:
FIELD 
     The application relates to a crib frame and, more particularly, to a crib frame with convenient operation and simple structure. 
     BACKGROUND 
     For a caregiver, a crib is a practical tool for taking care of infants or children. The crib provides rest or entertainment space for infants or children. In general, a conventional crib frame includes four pillars and four handrails, wherein each handrail is connected between two pillars to form a closed space within the crib frame. To reduce space occupied by the crib for purposes of shipment and storage, most of the crib frames are foldable so far, such that the size of the crib frame can be reduced after being folded. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a crib frame according to an embodiment of the application. 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged view illustrating the first handrail joint and the second handrail joint shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view illustrating the first handrail joint and the second handrail joint shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating the second handrail joint and the second reinforcing member shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged view illustrating the socket shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view illustrating the socket shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a crib frame  1  according to an embodiment of the application. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the crib frame  1  of the application includes a first handrail member  10 , a first handrail joint  12 , a second handrail member  14  and a second handrail joint  16 . In this embodiment, the crib frame  1  may include two first handrail members  10 , two first handrail joints  12 , two second handrail members  14  and two second handrail joints  16 , which are respectively disposed at opposite sides of the crib frame  1 . The first handrail joint  12  is connected to the first handrail member  10 , the second handrail joint  16  is connected to the second handrail member  14 , and the first handrail joint  12  is pivotally connected to the second handrail joint  16 . Accordingly, the first handrail member  10  and the second handrail member  14  can be unfolded or folded with respect to each other through the pivoting of the first handrail joint  12  and the second handrail joint  16 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the crib frame  1  of the application further includes a third handrail member  18 , a socket  20  and a support member  22 . The third handrail member  18  may be connected to one of the first handrail member  10  and the second handrail member  14  by the socket  20 . In this embodiment, the crib frame  1  may include two third handrail members  18 , four sockets  20  and four support members  22 . The two third handrail members  18  are connected to the two first handrail members  10  and the two second handrail members  14  by the four sockets  20 , so as to form a closed space. Each of the support members  22  is pivotally connected to the corresponding socket  20 , such that the support member  22  can be unfolded or folded with respect to the socket  20 . The crib frame  1  can stand on a plane by the unfolded support members  22 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 to 4 ,  FIG. 2  is an enlarged view illustrating the first handrail joint  12  and the second handrail joint  16  shown in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 3  is a sectional view illustrating the first handrail joint  12  and the second handrail joint  16  shown in  FIG. 2 , and  FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating the second handrail joint  16  and the second reinforcing member  30  shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the crib frame  1  of the application further includes an engaging member  24  and an unlock member  26 . The engaging member  24  is movably disposed in the first handrail joint  12 . An engaging end  240  of the engaging member  24  engages with the first handrail joint  12  and the second handrail joint  16 , such that the first handrail member  10  and the second handrail member  14  are locked at a handrail unfolding position (as shown in  FIG. 1 ). In this embodiment, the first handrail joint  12  has a first through hole  120  and the second handrail joint  16  has a second through hole  160 , wherein the first through hole  120  is aligned with the second through hole  160 . The engaging end  240  of the engaging member  24  extends into the first through hole  120  and the second through hole  160  to engage with the first handrail joint  12  and the second handrail joint  16 . In this embodiment, the crib frame  1  further includes a first reinforcing member  28  and a second reinforcing member  30 . The first reinforcing member  28  is disposed in the first handrail joint  12  and the first through hole  120  is formed on the first reinforcing member  28 . The second reinforcing member  30  is disposed in the second handrail joint  16  and the second through hole  160  is formed on the second reinforcing member  30 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the second handrail joint  16  may have two screw holes  162  and the second reinforcing member  30  may have two through holes  300 , wherein the two screw holes  162  are aligned with the two through holes  300 . The application may fasten two screws (not shown) to the two screw holes through the two through holes, so as to fasten the second reinforcing member  30  to the second handrail joint  16 . It should be noted that the first reinforcing member  28  may also be fastened to the first handrail joint  12  by the aforesaid manner and the repeated explanation will not be depicted herein again. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the unlock member  26  is movably disposed in the second handrail joint  16 . A press end  260  of the unlock member  26  is exposed out of the second handrail joint  16  and a push end  262  of the unlock member  26  abuts against the engaging end  240  of the engaging member  24 . In this embodiment, the crib frame  1  further includes a first elastic member  32  and a second elastic member  34 . The first elastic member  32  is disposed in the first handrail joint  12 , wherein opposite ends of the first elastic member  32  abut against the engaging member  24  and the first handrail joint  12  respectively. The second elastic member  34  is disposed in the second handrail joint  16 , wherein opposite ends of the second elastic member  34  abut against the unlock member  26  and the second reinforcing member  30  respectively. The first elastic member  32  and the second elastic member  34  may be, but not limited to, springs. 
     When the first handrail member  10  and the second handrail member  14  need to be folded, a user may press the press end  260  of the unlock member  26  toward a direction of an arrow A 1 . When the press end  260  of the unlock member  26  is pressed, the push end  262  of the unlock member  26  pushes the engaging end  240  of the engaging member  24  toward the direction of the arrow A 1 , such that the engaging end  240  of the engaging member  24  disengages from the second handrail joint  16 . At this time, the engaging member  24  compresses the first elastic member  32  toward the direction of the arrow A 1  and the unlock member  26  compresses the second elastic member  34  toward the direction of the arrow A 1 . When the engaging end  240  of the engaging member  24  disengages from the second handrail joint  16 , the first handrail member  10  and the second handrail member  14  are able to rotate with respect to each other from the handrail unfolding position shown in  FIG. 1  to a handrail folding position (not shown), so as to fold the first handrail member  10  and the second handrail member  14 . When the user releases the unlock member  26 , an elastic force provided by the second elastic member  34  returns the unlock member  26  toward a direction of an arrow A 2 . Furthermore, when the first handrail member  10  and the second handrail member  14  rotate with respect to each other from the handrail unfolding position to the handrail folding position, the first through hole  120  is aligned with the second through hole  160 . At this time, an elastic force provided by the first elastic member  32  returns the engaging member  24  toward the direction of the arrow A 2 , such that the engaging end  240  of the engaging member  24  extends into the first through hole  120  and the second through hole  160  to engage with the first handrail joint  12  and the second handrail joint  16 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 ,  FIG. 5  is an enlarged view illustrating the socket  20  shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 6  is a sectional view illustrating the socket  20  shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the crib frame  1  further includes an operating member  36 . In this embodiment, the socket  20  has a sliding groove  200  and a positioning groove  202 , wherein the sliding groove  200  communicates with the positioning groove  202 . In this embodiment, the sliding groove  200  is arc-shaped. The operating member  36  is movably disposed on the support member  22 . An end of the operating member  36  is exposed out of the support member  22 . The operating member  36  has a positioning portion  360 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , when the positioning portion  360  of the operating member  36  is located in the positioning groove  202  of the socket  20 , the support member  22  is locked at a support member unfolding position. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the crib frame  1  further includes a third elastic member  38  disposed in the support member  22 , wherein opposite ends of the third elastic member  38  abut against the operating member  36  and the support member  22  respectively. The third elastic member  38  may be, but not limited to, a spring. When the support member  22  needs to be folded, the user may press the operating member  36  toward the direction of the arrow A 1 . When the operating member  36  is pressed, the positioning portion  360  of the operating member  36  moves from the positioning groove  202  of the socket  20  to the sliding groove  200 , such that the support member  22  is able to rotate along the sliding groove  200  from the support member unfolding position shown in  FIG. 5  to a support member folding position (not shown), so as to fold the support member  22 . When the operating member  36  is pressed, the operating member  36  compresses the third elastic member  38  toward the direction of the arrow A 1 . When the support member  22  rotates along the sliding groove  200 , the positioning portion  360  of the operating member  36  abuts against an edge of the sliding groove  200 , such that the third elastic member  38  is kept in a compressed state. When the support member  22  rotates along the sliding groove  200  from the support member folding position to the support member unfolding position, an elastic force provided by the third elastic member  38  returns the operating member  36  toward the direction of the arrow A 2 , such that the positioning portion  360  of the operating member  36  is engaged into the positioning groove  202 , so as to position the support member  22  at the support member unfolding position. 
     The folding structure of a conventional crib frame is complicated and the operation is inconvenient. It is undoubtedly a trouble for the caregiver. The crib frame of the application utilizes the engaging end of the engaging member to engage with the first handrail joint and the second handrail joint, such that the first handrail member and the second handrail member are locked at the handrail unfolding position. When the first handrail member and the second handrail member need to be folded, a user may press the press end of the unlock member. When the press end of the unlock member is pressed, the push end of the unlock member pushes the engaging end of the engaging member, such that the engaging end of the engaging member disengages from the second handrail joint. At this time, the first handrail member and the second handrail member are able to rotate with respect to each other from the handrail unfolding position to the handrail folding position, so as to fold the first handrail member and the second handrail member. Furthermore, when the positioning portion of the operating member is located in the positioning groove of the socket, the support member is locked at the support member unfolding position. When the support member needs to be folded, the user may press the operating member. When the operating member is pressed, the positioning portion of the operating member moves from the positioning groove of the socket to the sliding groove, such that the support member is able to rotate from the support member unfolding position to the support member folding position, so as to fold the support member. Accordingly, the user can easily fold the crib frame of the application. The crib frame of the application is not only convenient to operate, but also simple in structure. 
     Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the application. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.