Patent Publication Number: US-7591031-B2

Title: Control device of lower frame assembly for a playpen

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a control device for a playpen and in particular, to a control device with a string for actuating the folding of the playpen. 
   DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
   A playpen provides a roomy accommodation for comforting a baby placed inside the playpen. Nevertheless, the roomy accommodations takes up much space for storage. In order to overcome this problem, the current design uses a foldable frame for a playpen. 
   The configuration of a collapsible base frame for a playpen basically consists of four panels and a base. As the playpen is collapsed, rails of the panels are folded by a joint and closed up to posts of the playpen. This well developed technology is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,811,437 and 5,697,111. Also, in order to fold the entire frame of the playpen, a lower frame assembly is provided with a foldable structure, whereby the entire frame is foldably controlled by the lower frame assembly which is in either a locked or released condition. 
   For example, U.S. Publication No. 2003/0061657A1 includes a base which is connected to lower supporting rods; the lower supporting rods 20 being relatively confined by a pair of locking members to be fixed in an erected state. The pair of locking members are linked respectively to a piece of cord, and the locking members can be pulled by a band all at the same time, thereby releasing the supporting rods so that they can be folded. 
   However, in the structure mentioned above, the pair of locking members are moved by pulling a band which is linked to a cord. The supporting rod is released by pulling the pair of locking members via the cord. The pair of locking members should be pulled at the same time through a band in a straight upward direction, or only one locking member can be released since the user pulls the band at a slanted angle. The supporting rods are not released completely if only one locking member is moved and this leads to the disadvantage of failing to fold properly. 
   The present invention is directed to a collapsible frame for a playpen that substantially obviates the problems of the related art due to the inconvenience of using a band or a handle to simultaneously pull a pair of detached locking members, or the disadvantage of incomplete folding by releasing only one locking member since the user pulls the band at a slanting angle. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides an improved control device for a lower frame assembly which can be folded accordingly, wherein the lower frame assembly has a control device disposed between first and second lower frame assemblies; the control device includes a joint controllable by pulling a string to rotate a driving element and pressing a push-button, whereby to manipulate the first and second lower frame assemblies to selectively be in a deployed or folded state in order to achieve the goal of being unfolded and collapsed completely. 
   It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed. 
   Further scope of the applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a collapsible frame of a playpen according to one embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic view showing the playpen of  FIG. 1  being converted to a collapsed state. 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded view of an embodiment of the control device according to one embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view showing the embodiment of the control device in a deployed or an erected state. 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view showing the embodiment of the control device in an actuating position for folding a lower frame of a playpen. 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view showing an alternative embodiment of the control device in a deployed or an erected state. 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view showing the embodiment of the embodiment of the control device in an actuating position for folding a lower frame of a playpen. 
       FIG. 8  is a schematic view showing a playpen with a control device according to the invention beginning to convert into a folded state. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , a collapsible frame  2  for a playpen according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the playpen includes an upper frame assembly  3  and a lower frame assembly  4 . 
   The upper frame assembly  3  consists of four upper corner housings  31  and a pair of upper rail assemblies  32 , wherein the upper corner housings  31  are respectively arranged at four corners of the playpen (for a triangular playpen there would be three corners) and are pivoted to the upper rail assemblies  32 , respectively. The upper rail assemblies consists of a pair of rails  321  and a lock assembly  322 , whereby the lock assembly  322  aligns the rails  321  when the collapsible frame  2  is in an unfolded state (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) and causes the pair of rails  321  to form a V-shape when the collapsible frame  2  is in a folded state. 
   The lower frame assembly  4  includes a first lower frame assembly  41  and a second lower frame assembly  42 , wherein the first and second lower frame assemblies  41  and  42  are provided with a pair of lower corner bases  43  which are below a respective pair of said upper corner housings  31 . An upright post  5  is connected between each upper corner housing  31  and its aligned lower corner base  43 . 
   The first lower frame assembly  41  is connected to a lower end of the upright post  5  on one side of the playpen. In accordance with the present invention, the first lower frame assembly  41  includes a pair of connecting rods  411  and a connecting base  412 , wherein one end of each of the pair of first connecting rods  411  are pivotally coupled to a respective said lower corner base  43 , and the other ends of the pair of connecting rods  411  are pivotally coupled together at the connecting base  412 , so that the lower frame assembly  41  has a generally V-shaped configuration. As shown in this invention, a first supporting rod  413  is additionally pivotally coupled to said other end of the  10  connecting rod  411  and supports the playpen over the ground. 
   The second lower frame assembly  42  is connected to a lower end of the upright post  5  on the other side of the playpen. According to this invention, the second lower frame assembly  42  has the same configuration of the first lower frame assembly, and includes a pair of connecting rods  421  and a connecting base  422 , wherein one end of each of the pair of connecting rod  421  are pivotally coupled to a respective said lower corner base  43 , and the other ends of the pair of connecting rods  421  are pivotally coupled together at the connecting base  422  so that the second lower frame assembly has a generally V-shaped configuration. As shown in this invention, a first supporting rod  423  is additionally connected to said other end of the connecting rod  421 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  8 , a control device  6  is pivotally connected between the first and second lower frame assembly  41 , 42 . The collapsible frame  2  includes a pair of connecting rods  61 , a joint  62  and a pair of second supporting rods  63 . One connecting rod  61  is coupled to, and between, the first lower frame assembly  41  and the joint  62 , and the other connecting rod  61  is coupled to, and between, the second lower frame assembly  42  and the joint  62 . 
   As showing in  FIG. 3  to  FIG. 5 , an embodiment of the control device  6  according to the present invention, includes a pair of sleeves  621 , a positioner  622 , a button  623 , resilient element  624 , a driving element  64  and a string  643 . The pair of sleeves  621  are pivotally connected to one another and formed as a joint  62 . Each of the pair of sleeves  621  is connected with the connecting rod  61  and has a locking groove  625  for accommodating the positioner  622 , and the positioner  622  is movable inside the locking grooves  625 . 
   According to the preferred embodiment of this invention, the positioner  622  is a tooth block. As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the resilient element  624  is arranged on one side of the positioner  622 . In the normal, the resilient element  624  maintains the positioner  622  between the locking grooves  625  of the pair of sleeves  621 , and prevents the sleeves  621  from being folded by rotation. 
   The driving element  64  is pivotablly connected to one of the sleeves  621  at a pivotal portion  626  formed thereon and having a pushing end  641  and a pulling end  642 . The pushing end  641  of the driving element  64  is arranged for operatively abutting on the button  623  for moving the positioner  622  against the biasing of the resilient element  624 . 
   The pulling end  642  of the driving element  64  is operatively connected with the string  643 . The user is able to pull the string  643  to rotate the driving element  64  so as to press the push-button  623  and forces the positioner  622  to move into the locking groove  625  of the other sleeve  621 , so that the sleeves are able to rotate as shown in  FIG. 8  so that the frame to enters a collapsible state. 
   The resilient element  624  in this embodiment can be a compression spring and the string  643  can be formed with a woven fabric. Preferably, the pushing end  641  of the driving element  64  may be formed with extruded portion  6410  for operatively contacting with the center portion of the push-button  623 , so as to keep the push-button  623  moving axially without causing unbalance. There is an alternative embodiment shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , wherein the pushing end  641  of the driving element  64  is alternatively formed with a length of extension end  6411  for operatively contacting with the center portion of the push-button  623 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  4  and  6 , when the collapsible or foldable frame  2  is fully extended, the positioner  622  of the joint  62  on the lower frame assembly  4  is located inside the locking grooves  625  of the pair of sleeves  621 . As the entire collapsible base frame  6  is in a fixed state, the foldable frame  2  is also fixedly deployed. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 5 ,  7  and  8 , when the user requires the foldable frame  2  to be folded, the string  643  is pulled. The push-button  623  is pushed by the pushing end  641  of the driving element  64  thereby to push the positioner  622  into the locking groove  625  of the other sleeve  621 . As the joint  62  is being folded by rotation, the first and second lower frame assemblies  41 , 42  are rotated as they are interlinked so that the lower frame assembly  4  is able to fold upwardly as shown as  FIG. 8 . 
   A floor member and a flexible cover may be combined with the collapsible frame  2  to form a complete playpen. 
   While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements and procedures, and the scope of the appended claims therefore should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements and procedures.