Patent Publication Number: US-8528130-B2

Title: Play yard assembly

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority of Chinese Application No. 20101010109368.3, filed on Feb. 12, 2010. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a play yard, and more particularly to a play yard having a bassinet. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A conventional play yard (e.g., disclosed in Chinese Utility Model No. CN2549839Y) includes a frame defining a baby-receiving space, and a bassinet connected removably to the frame and disposed within an upper portion of the baby-receiving space. When the bassinet is removed from the frame, a baby can play or stand within the baby-receiving space. When the bassinet is connected to the frame, since the baby is at a high level, it can be taken out of and put into the play yard conveniently. 
     Further, to make such a play yard more convenient, the bassinet can be designed to be adjustable in height in the play yard. A conventional play yard having such design, however, allows a baby to be within the bassinet in only a horizontal state. To provide an enhanced comfort to the baby, it is desirable that a bed of the bassinet of the play yard is adjustable to raise the head of the baby when the baby is in the bassinet. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One object of this invention is to provide a play yard assembly that includes a bassinet, which is adjustable to raise the head of a baby when the baby lies on the bassinet. 
     Accordingly, a play yard assembly of this invention comprises a frame and a bassinet. The frame includes a frame head, a frame tail, and left and right side portions connected between the frame head and the frame tail to define an accommodating space thereamong. The bassinet has a head end, a tail end, a bed bottom connected between the head end and the tail end. The head end is positionable relative to the frame at a first height position and a second height position higher than the first height position. The bed bottom has a first end portion connected to the tail end, and a second end portion connected to the head end. The second end portion of the bed bottom is higher than that of the first end portion of the bed bottom when the head end is disposed at the second height position. 
     As such, when the head end is moved from the first height position to the second height position, the head of a baby lying on the bassinet is raised to a position above the feet of the baby. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features and advantages of this invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of this invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a fragmentary perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of a play yard assembly according to this invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a fragmentary, exploded perspective view of the first preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the first preferred embodiment when a head end of a bassinet is disposed at a first height position; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the first preferred embodiment when the head end of the bassinet is disposed at a second height position; 
         FIG. 5  is a fragmentary perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of a play yard assembly according to this invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the second preferred embodiment when a head end of a bassinet is disposed at a first height position; and 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the second preferred embodiment when the head end of the bassinet is disposed at a second height position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the first preferred embodiment of a play yard assembly  100  according to this invention includes a frame  1  and a bassinet  2  connected with the frame  1 . 
     The frame  1  includes a frame head  11 , a frame tail  12 , and left and right side portions  13 ,  14  connected between the frame head  11  and the frame tail  12  to define an accommodating space  10  thereamong. In this embodiment, the frame head  11  includes a sidewall  111  and two connecting seats  112  disposed respectively on two opposite sides of a top end of the sidewall  111  and connected respectively to the left and right side portions  13 ,  14 . Each of the connecting seats  112  is formed with a groove  113 . The grooves  113  in the connecting seats  112  are open toward each other. 
     The bassinet  2  includes a head end  21 , a tail end  22 , a bed bottom  23  connected between the head end  21  and the tail end  22 , and a mattress  24  disposed on the bed bottom  23 . 
     The head end  21  includes an upright bassinet head sidewall  211 , a plurality of hanging units  212  disposed at the bassinet head sidewall  211  at different heights, and a hanging rod  215 . In this embodiment, the hanging units  212  are configured respectively as a horizontal first rod hole  213  disposed at a top end portion of the bassinet head sidewall  211 , and a horizontal second rod hole  214  disposed under the first rod hole  213 . In this embodiment, each of the first and second rod holes  213 ,  214  is defined by a tubular cloth material attached to the bassinet head sidewall  211 , but is not limited thereto. 
     The hanging rod  215  extends through a selected one of the first and second rod holes  213 ,  214 , and has two ends exposed outwardly of the selected one of the first and second rod holes  213 ,  214 . When the hanging rod  215  extends through the first rod hole  213  and straddles between the connecting seats  112  in such a manner that the ends of the hanging rod  215  are received respectively within the grooves  113  in the connecting seats  112 , the head end  21  of the bassinet  2  is disposed at a first height position shown in  FIG. 3 , and the second rod hole  214  is disposed below the connecting seats  112 . In this position, the head end  21  and the tail end  22  of the bassinet  2  are at the same level so that the bed bottom  23  is horizontal. Hence, the mattress  24  is generally horizontal so that, when a baby lies on the mattress  24  of the bassinet  2 , the head thereof is at the same level as the feet thereof. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , to allow the baby to lie on the bassinet  2  in such a manner to raise slightly the head of the baby, the hanging rod  215  is extended through the second rod hole  214 , and the ends of the hanging rod  215  are hung respectively on the connecting seats  112 . As such, the head end  21  is disposed at a second height position shown in  FIG. 4  that is above the first height position. When the head end  21  is moved from the first height position to the second height position, since the bed bottom  23  is connected between the head end  21  and the tail end  22 , and since the tail end  22  remains in situ, a first end portion  231  of the bed bottom  23  connected to the tail end  22  is blew an inclined second end portion  232  of the bed bottom  23  connected to the head end  21 . Consequently, one end portion of the mattress  24  supporting the head of the baby is higher than the other end portion of the mattress  24  supporting the feet of the baby. That is, the head of the baby is raised. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the second preferred embodiment of a play yard assembly  300  according to this invention includes a frame  3  and a bassinet  4 . 
     The frame  3  includes a frame head  31 , a frame tail  32 , and left and right side portions  33 ,  34  connected between the frame head  31  and the frame tail  32  to define an accommodating space  30 . Each of the frame head  31 , the frame tail  32 , and the left and right side portions  33 ,  34  includes an upright sidewall  311 ,  321 ,  331 ,  341 . The sidewalls  311 ,  321 ,  331 ,  341  are interconnected to define an accommodating space  30 . 
     The bassinet  4  includes a head end  41 , a tail end  42 , a bed bottom  43  connected between the head end  41  and the tail end  42 , and a mattress  44  disposed on the bed bottom  43 . 
     In this embodiment, the bed bottom  43  includes a first pad  431  connected between the head end  41  and the tail end  42 , and a second pad  432  connected to a top surface of the first pad  431  by a plurality of first connecting members  451  disposed on the top surface of the first pad  431 , and a plurality of second connecting members  452  disposed on a bottom surface of the second pad  432  and aligned respectively with the first connecting members  451 . The first pad  431  has two ends connected respectively to the head end  41  and the tail end  42 . The second pad  432  has a first end portion  433  and a second end portion  434 . The first end portion  433  is sewn to an intermediate portion of the top surface of the first pad  43 . The second end portion  434  is adjacent to the head end  41 . In other words, the second pad  432  is connected to the first pad  431  at the first end portion  433 , and is movable away from the first pad  431  at the second end portion  434 . 
     Due to the presence of the first and second connecting members  451 ,  452 , when the second pad  432  is laid flat on the first pad  431 , it can be positioned on the same. In this embodiment, the first and second connecting members  451 ,  452  are interconnected hook-and-loop fasteners. Alternatively, the first and second connecting members  451 ,  452  may be of other structures that are interconnected removably. 
     The head end  41  of the bassinet  4  includes a bassinet head sidewall  411 , a first coupling unit  412  disposed at an inner wall surface of the bassinet head sidewall  411 , and a second coupling unit  413  disposed at the second end portion  434  of the second pad  432  and connectable with the first coupling unit  412 . In this embodiment, the first coupling unit  412  includes two hanging grooves  4120  spaced apart from each other in a left-to-right direction and disposed at the inner wall surface of the bassinet head sidewall  411 , and a hook-and-loop fastener  4122  disposed on the inner wall surface of the bassinet head sidewall  411  and disposed between the hanging grooves  4120 . The hanging grooves  4120  are defined respectively by two cloth strips  4121 , which are disposed on the bassinet head sidewall  411  at the same level and each of which has two ends sewn to the bassinet head sidewall  411 . In particular, each of the hanging grooves  4120  is defined between the corresponding cloth strip  4121  and the bassinet head sidewall  411 . The cloth strips  4121  are disposed above a juncture between the first pad  431  and the bassinet head sidewall  411 . 
     In this embodiment, the second coupling unit  413  includes two hanging members  4130  spaced apart from each other in the left-to-right direction and connected fixedly to the second end portion  434  of the second pad  432 , and a hook-and-loop fastener  4131  fastened to the second end portion  434  of the second pad  432  and disposed between the hanging members  4130 . The hanging members  4130  are plates, and may be configured as hooks in another embodiment. Alternatively, the first and second coupling units  412 ,  413  may be interconnected adhesive materials, retainers, or hanging members, respectively. 
     When the hanging members  4130  are not inserted into the hanging grooves  4120 , the second pad  432  is laid flat on the top surface of the first pad  431 . In this state, due to the presence of the first and second connecting members  451 ,  452 , the second pad  432  is positioned on the top surface of the first pad  431 . Also in this state, the head end  41  is disposed at a first height position shown in  FIG. 6 , such that the bed bottom  43  and the mattress  44  disposed on the bed bottom  43  are horizontal. As such, when a baby lies on the mattress  44 , the head and the feet thereof are at the same level. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 7 , when it is desired to raise the head of the baby relative to the feet, the first and second connecting members  451 ,  452  are first removed from each other. Next, the second end portion  434  of the second pad  432  is pulled upwardly to engage the hanging members  4130  with the hanging grooves  4120 , respectively, and to engage the hook-and-loop fastener  4131  of the second end portion  434  of the second pad  432  with the hook-and-loop fastener  4122  on the inner wall surface of the bassinet head sidewall  411 . Hence, the head end  41  of the bassinet  4  can be maintained at a second height position shown in  FIG. 7  relative to the frame head  11 . In this position, the second end portion  434  of the second pad  432  is inclined, and one end portion of the mattress  44  adjacent to the head end  41  is raised relative to the other end portion thereof. As such, when the baby lies on the bassinet  4 , the head of the baby is higher than the feet thereof. 
     Alternatively, the first and second coupling units  412 ,  413  may be replaced with interconnected snap buttons, retainers, hooks, or other removable structures. 
     In addition, the hanging grooves  4120  of the bassinet  4  and the hanging members  4130  of the second pad  432  may be applied to the first preferred embodiment. 
     In view of the above, the head end  21 ,  41  of the bassinet  2 ,  4  of the play yard assembly  100 ,  300  of this invention can be raised relative to the frame head  11 ,  31  to a higher position, so that the bassinet  2 ,  4  is inclined, such that the head end  21 ,  41  is above the tail end  22 ,  42 , thereby allowing the baby to lie on the bassinet  2 ,  4  in such a manner that the head thereof is above the feet thereof. 
     With this invention thus explained, it is apparent that numerous modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention. It is therefore intended that this invention be limited only as indicated by the appended claims.