Patent Publication Number: US-5293656-A

Title: Foldable frame assembly for a children&#39;s playpen

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Conventional foldable children&#39;s playpens include a foldable frame assembly. The folding portions of such foldable frame assembly are mostly disposed on the upper ends of peripheral walls and the chassis of the playpen. Foldable upper frame assemblies of children&#39;s playpens are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,357,735; 4,070,716; 4,044,411; 4,573,224; 4,376,318; 4,069,524; 4,811,437; etc. Foldable chassis frame assemblies of children&#39;s playpens are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,703,505; 4,538,309; 4,008,499; 4,688,280; 4,811,437, etc. 
     In the above-mentioned U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,811,437 includes both the foldable upper and lower assemblies. However, two drawbacks exist in this U.S. Pat. No. 4,811,437 as follows: 
     1. The folding mechanism of the upper frame assembly thereof includes multiple components such that the assembling procedure is complicated and the manufacturing cost is high. 
     2. The folding mechanism of the chassis includes six support legs diverging radially outwardly. However, four inner panels of the children&#39;s playpen are connected and two L-shaped connectors of a middle transverse rail of the chassis are located at the central connecting portions between the inner panels. Consequently, no appropriate supporting force can be provided and safety cannot be insured. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a foldable upper frame assembly for a children&#39;s playpen of the foldable type, wherein a guide block is used to control a resilient member for locking and unlocking the foldable frame assembly. When the resilient member unlocks the foldable frame assembly, the same can be folded and collapsed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a foldable, supporting chassis frame assembly for a children&#39;s playpen of the foldable type, wherein four lower rails are pivotally connected with a chassis seat in a radial pattern and two L-shaped supporting members are pivotally connected with two opposite lower rails for supporting the bottom panels of a children&#39;s playpen. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 a perspective view of the foldable frame assembly of the invention in a spread configuration; 
     FIG. 2. an exploded perspective view of the joint of the upper rail; 
     FIG. 3 an assembled sectional view of the joint and the upper rail in a locked state: 
     FIG. 4 is a view according to FIG. 3, showing the joint and the upper rail in an unlocked state; 
     FIG. 5 a view to FIG. 4, showing that the upper rail is pivoted upward; 
     FIGS. 6 and 7 show the chassis seat and the lower rails pivotal connected thereto; 
     FIG. 8 shows the folded children&#39;s playpen; 
     FIG. 9 according to FIG. 8, in which the folded children&#39;s playpen is wrapped by the panels; 
     FIG. 10 shows the panel with the fluff strips; 
     FIG. 11 shows the spread and upstanding children&#39;s playpen; and 
     FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the chassis of the children&#39;s playpen. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Please refer to FIGS. 1 and 2. The present frame assembly 10 of the foldable children&#39;s playpen includes four leg supports 11, four upper rails 12 pivotally connected with the leg supports 11, four lower rails 13 pivotally connected with a chassis seat 14 in a radial pattern, and two L-shaped members 15 pivotally connected with two opposite lower rails 13. 
     Two ends of each upper rail 12 are pivoted to two leg supports 11. One end of each lower rail 13 is pivoted to the lower portion of one leg support 11 while the other end thereof is pivoted to the chassis seat 14. 
     The upper rail 12 is formed by two circular tubes 21 and a foldable joint 20. The foldable joint 20 pivotally connects the inner ends of two circular tubes 21, including a cover 30, a resilient member 40 and a guide block 50. The resilient member 40 is secured in the cover 30, having two biasable plates 41 on its two sides. The biasable plate 41 is formed with a middle projection 42 and a lower projection 43 each of which has a lower slanted face. The guide block 50 has an upper U-shaped section 51 suitable to be hung inside the cover 30 and move up and down therewithin. The guide block 50 further has a lower block 52 formed as a triangular recess 53 having two slanted walls. The upper edges of the recess 53 abut against the slant faces of the projections 43 of the biasable plates 41 of the resilient member 40, while the inner ends of two neighboring circular tubes 21 pivotally connect with two sides of the cover 30. 
     Please now refer to FIG. 3. In a spread configuration, the tubes 21 are restricted from moving by the projections 42 of the biasable plates 41, forming a straight and upstanding pattern. When the guide block 50 is pushed upward, the slanted walls of the triangular recess 53 thereof will force the projections 43 and inward bias the biasable plates 41. At this point, the projections 42 of the biasable plates 41 release the lower edges of the tubes 21 as shown in FIG. 4 so that the cover 30 can be pressed down to downwardly fold the upper rail 12 at the joint 20 as shown in FIG. 5. 
     Please now refer to FIGS. 6 and 7. One end of each lower rail 13 is pivotally connected with the chassis seat 14 in a radial pattern. The other end thereof is pivotally connected under the leg support 11. The chassis seat 14 is formed with four downward facing grooves 60 each of which pivotally connects with and supports one lower rail 13. 
     FIG. 6 shows a spread configuration of the chassis. When the chassis seat 14 is pulled upward, the chassis is folded as shown in FIG. 8. 
     According to the above arrangement, the children&#39;s playpen can be folded into a state as shown in FIG. 9. The folded playpen can be further wrapped and secured by four associated panels 70 into a state as shown in FIG. 10. The panel 70 is disposed with a handle 71, two fluff strips 72 and corresponding hook strips 73, whereby after the children&#39;s playpen is wrapped, the panels 70 can be fixed by means of attaching the hook strips 73 to the fluff strips 72. When the panels 70 are stretched for use, the fluff strips 72 can be attached to hook strips 75 of a pane 74 for enhancing the strength of the panels 70. 
     Please now refer to FIGS. 11 and 12. The children&#39;s playpen of the present invention is fitted with a fabric 80 under which two fasteners 81 are disposed for holding the L-shaped members 15, so that the same can properly support the panels 70 at the front and rear edge thereof. When the children&#39;s playpen is folded, the fabric 80 can be pulled upward and collapse the L-shaped members 15. 
     The above foldable mechanism of the present invention includes less components so that the assembly and operation thereof are easy. Therefore, the manufacturing cost is reduced. In addition, the L-shaped members 15 can enhance the supporting effect to ensure the safety in use.