Patent Publication Number: US-7594285-B2

Title: Bottom frame assembly for a baby crib

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to a baby crib, more particularly to a bottom frame assembly for a baby crib. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , a conventional bottom frame assembly.  5  for a baby crib is shown to include a cross-shaped coupler  51  and four bottom frame rods  52 . Each of the bottom frame rods  52  has one end fixed to the coupler  51 , and an opposite end connected to a corresponding upright support rod (not shown) of the baby crib. 
   In the aforementioned bottom frame assembly  5 , the coupler  51  is an integrally formed component that does not permit adjustments in the angles formed between adjacent ones of the bottom frame rods  52 . Thus, when it is desired to manufacture baby cribs having different length-to-width ratios, manufacturers must prepare different specifications of the couplers  51  to suit the different length-to-width ratios. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a bottom frame assembly that is suitable for application to baby cribs having different length-to-width ratios. 
   According to the present invention, a bottom frame assembly for a baby crib comprises a pair of first bottom frame rods, a pair of second bottom frame rods, and a hub unit. The hub unit includes a stationary seat connected to the first bottom frame rods at diametrically opposite positions of the stationary seat, and a rotary seat mounted rotatably on the stationary seat and connected to the second bottom frame rods at diametrically opposite positions of the rotary seat. 
   Preferably, the bottom frame assembly further includes a positioning mechanism for locking releasably the rotary seat at a desired angular orientation relative to the stationary seat. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: 
       FIG. 1  is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of a conventional bottom frame assembly for a baby crib; 
       FIG. 2  is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a bottom frame assembly for a baby crib according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a baby crib that incorporates the preferred embodiment of this invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a fragmentary schematic sectional view of the preferred embodiment; 
       FIG. 5  is a fragmentary schematic bottom view to illustrate an initial position relationship among bottom frame rods of the preferred embodiment; and 
       FIG. 6  is a view similar to  FIG. 5 , but illustrating an adjusted position relationship among the bottom frame rods of the preferred embodiment. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to  FIGS. 2 to 4 , the preferred embodiment of a bottom frame assembly  1  according to the present invention is shown to be adapted for application to a baby crib that includes two pairs of upright support rods  2 . The bottom frame assembly  1  includes a hub unit  10  and pairs of first and second bottom frame rods  13 ,  14 . 
   The hub unit  10  includes a hollow stationary seat  11 , a hollow rotary seat  12  that is mounted rotatably on the stationary seat  11 , and a positioning mechanism  19  for locking releasably the rotary seat  12  at a desired angular orientation relative to the stationary seat  11  so as to suit a specified length-to-width ratio of the baby crib. 
   The stationary seat  11  includes a cylindrical seat body  111  that opens upwardly, a coupling flange  112  that extends in radial outward directions from a top end of the seat body  111 , and a pair of first pivot arms  113  that are provided on an outer wall surface of the seat body  111  at diametrically opposite positions, respectively. The first pivot arms  113  are reverse U-shaped. Each of the first bottom frame rods  13  has one end connected pivotally to a respective one of the first pivot arms  113 , and can pivot downwardly relative to the respective first pivot arm  113 . 
   The rotary seat  12  includes a mounting portion  121  that is disposed rotatably in the stationary seat  11 . Preferably, the mounting portion  121  has a pair of curved sides that are rotatable within the seat body  111 . The rotary seat  12  further includes a rod connecting portion  122  that is disposed above the mounting portion  121 , that has a horizontal cross-section larger than that of the mounting portion  121 , and that is seated on the coupling flange  112  of the stationary seat  11 . The rod connecting portion  122  is formed with a pair of second pivot arms  123  that project radially, outwardly and respectively from diametrically opposite positions of the rod connecting portion  122 . Each of the second pivot arms  123  has a stop edge  1231  and opens downwardly. Each of the second bottom frame rods  14  has one end connected pivotally to a respective one of the second pivot arms  123 , and can pivot downwardly relative to the respective second pivot arm  123 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 3 , each of the first and second bottom frame rods  13 ,  14  has a distal end remote from the hub unit  10  and connected to a respective one of the upright support rods  2 . 
   The positioning mechanism  19  includes a pair of arc-shaped fastener slots  191  and a pair of fasteners  192 . In this embodiment, the fastener slots  191  are formed respectively in diametrically opposite positions of the coupling flange  112  and extend along the coupling flange  112 . When it is desired to lock the rotary seat  12  at a desired angular orientation relative to the stationary seat  11 , the fasteners  192  are extended respectively through the fastener slots  191  to engage respectively a pair of fastener holes  124  (see  FIG. 4 ) formed in an underside of the second pivot arms  123 . 
   The range of angular adjustment for the rotary seat  12  can be controlled via the length of the fastener slots  191 . That is, when the fastener slots  191  are longer, the range of angular adjustment for the rotary seat  12  becomes wider. In other embodiments of this invention, the fastener slots  191  can be formed instead in the rod connecting portion  122  of the rotary seat  12 . The fasteners  192  are then extended through the fastener slots  191  to engage corresponding fastener holes (not shown) in the coupling flange  112  of the stationary seat  11 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , when assembling the bottom frame assembly  1 , it is necessary to adjust the angular orientation of the rotary seat  12  relative to the stationary seat  11  according to the specified length-to-width ratio of the baby crib.  FIGS. 5 and 6  respectively illustrate initial and adjusted positions of the rotary seat  12  relative to the stationary seat  11 . It is evident that, by varying the angular orientation of the rotary seat  12  relative to the stationary seat  11 , the angles formed between adjacent ones of the first and second bottom frame rods  13 ,  14  can be varied as well so that the bottom frame assembly  1  can suit the specified length-to-width ratio of the baby crib. 
   In this embodiment, the bottom frame assembly  1  further includes a folding control mechanism for the second bottom frame rods  14 . Referring once again to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the folding control mechanism is of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,725,475, and includes a stop component  15  and a hollow movable component  16  that receives the stop component  15  therein. The stop component  15  is fixed in the rotary seat  12 , and includes a parallel pair of first side walls  151 , each of which is formed with a pair of horizontal slots  152 . The movable component  16  includes a parallel pair of second side walls  161 , each of which is formed with a pair of inclined slots  162 . The second side walls  161  are disposed on outer sides of the first side walls  151 , respectively. Each of a pair of rivets  17  extends through an aligned pair of the horizontal slots  152  in the first side walls  151  and an aligned pair of the inclined slots  162  in the second side walls  161 . A biasing member  18 , such as a compression spring, is provided between the stop component  15  and the movable component  16  to bias the movable component  16  away from the stop component  15  such that the rivets  17  are normally disposed in top portions of the inclined slots  162 . When the rivets  17  are disposed in the top portions of the inclined slots  162 , they are disposed farther apart from each other and extend respectively above distal ends of the second bottom frame rods  14  to arrest downward pivoting movement of the same relative to the rotary seat  12 . A pull pin  163  extends between the second side walls  161  of the movable component  16  for connection to a pull strap (see  FIG. 3 ). When it is desired to fold the second bottom frame rods  14 , a pulling force is exerted on the pull strap, thereby moving the movable component  16  upward relative to the stop component  15  against the biasing action of the biasing member  18 . At this time, the rivets  17  are moved into bottom portions of the inclined slots  162 , and are moved closer to each other. When moved into the bottom portions of the inclined slots  162 , the rivets  17  cease to abut against the distal ends of the second bottom frame rods  14 , thereby permitting downward pivoting movement of the second bottom frame rods  14  relative to the rotary seat  12 . 
   While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.