Patent Publication Number: US-6704950-B1

Title: Convertible crib and bed system

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable to this application. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable to this application. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to crib devices and more specifically it relates to a convertible crib and bed system for converting a bed into a crib. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Beds have been in use for years. Typically, a bed is comprised of a support frame with a mattress positioned upon the support frame at a desired elevation above the floor. Conventional beds are not suitable for infants since they do not have any structure for retaining the infant upon the mattress. 
     Conventional cribs have also been in use for years. A conventional crib is comprised of a support frame similar to a conventional bed except at a higher elevation. A conventional crib also has four side walls for retaining the baby upon the small mattress positioned within the crib. The main problem with conventional cribs is that they are relatively expensive and have no practical use once the infant has outgrown the crib. Hence, the caregivers are forced to purchase a new bed frame and bed mattress for the child which is also expensive. 
     Examples of patented devices (or attempted to be patented) which may be related to the present invention include U.S. Pat. No. 5,790,994 to Leonard; U.S. Pat. No. 4,361,919 to Hull; U.S. Pat. No. 4,525,883 to Necowitz; U.S. Pat. No. 5,038,427 to Golden; U.S. Pat. No. 5,502,849 to Mitchell; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 2002/0,049,842 filed by Fenty et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,754,993 to Russell; U.S. Pat. No. D391,414 to Proano et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,173,974 to Proano et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,077,846 to Wheeler, III et al.; U.S. Pat. No. D370,364 to Proano et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,163,190 to Hwang; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,715,551 to Proano et al. 
     While these devices may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they are not as suitable for converting a bed into a crib. Conventional cribs do not allow for the conversion to a conventional bed after the baby has outgrown the crib. 
     In these respects, the convertible crib and bed system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of converting a bed into a crib. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of beds and cribs now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new convertible crib and bed system construction wherein the same can be utilized for converting a bed into a crib. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new convertible crib and bed system that has many of the advantages of the beds and cribs mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new convertible crib and bed system which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art beds and cribs, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a first partition that is attachable to a first wall, a first leg member attached to the first partition, a second leg member attached to a second wall, a pair of receiver channels within the leg members, and a second partition that is slidably received within the receiver channels. The first partition includes a support member that is secured to the wall via fasteners. The second leg member is secured to the wall also with fasteners. An adjustment structure at the base of the leg members allows for adjustment of the vertical height of the leg members. The bed is positioned beneath the first partition against the walls thereby forming a crib structure. Removing the partitions returns the bed to normal usage. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     A primary object of the present invention is to provide a convertible crib and bed system that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art devices. 
     A second object is to provide a convertible crib and bed system for converting a bed into a crib. 
     Another object is to provide a convertible crib and bed system that allows for efficient and economical usage of a bed-crib structure. 
     An additional object is to provide a convertible crib and bed system that allows for easy conversion from a crib structure to a bed structure when the baby outgrows the crib. 
     A further object is to provide a convertible crib and bed system that retains the same mattress for a child transitioning from a crib to a bed thereby reducing the amount of adjustment required. 
     Another object is to provide a convertible crib and bed system that may be utilized with respect to various sizes of beds including but not limited to twin size, queen size, full size and king size. 
     A further object is to provide a convertible crib and bed system that can be adjusted for beds of various heights. 
     Another object is to provide a convertible crib and bed system that is easy to install. 
     An additional object is to provide a convertible crib and bed system that reduces the need to purchase additional beds. 
     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious to the reader and it is intended that these objects and advantages are within the scope of the present invention. 
     To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of the present invention attached to the walls of a room about a bed. 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the present invention attached to the walls of a room about a bed. 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the present invention attached to the walls of a room about a bed with the second partition partially lowered. 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the present invention attached to the walls of a room about a bed with the second partition fully lowered. 
     FIG. 5 is a top view of the present invention attached to the walls of a room about a bed. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, FIGS. 1 through 5 illustrate a convertible crib and bed system  10 , which comprises a first partition  30  that is attachable to a first wall  12 , a first leg member attached to the first partition  30 , a second leg member attached to a second wall  12 , a pair of receiver channels  42  within the leg members  40 , and a second partition  50  that is slidably received within the receiver channels  42 . The first partition  30  includes a support member  32  that is secured to the wall  12  via fasteners. The second leg member is secured to the wall  12  also with fasteners. An adjustment structure at the base of the leg members  40  allows for adjustment of the vertical height of the leg members  40 . The bed  16  is positioned beneath the first partition  30  against the walls  12  thereby forming a crib structure. Removing the partitions returns the bed  16  to normal usage. 
     The first partition  30  is comprised of a broad structure as best shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings. The first partition  30  is sufficient in size to be positioned upon the upper surface of the bed  16  and provide adequate height to prevent an infant from accidentally climbing over the upper edge of the first partition  30 . 
     The first partition  30  is transversely attached to a first wall  12  with conventional fasteners as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 of the drawings. The first partition  30  is preferably attached directly to a stud  14  within the first wall  12 , however the first partition  30  may be attached to other locations within the wall  12  with the appropriate fasteners. The first partition  30  preferably has a support member  32  that extends vertically along an edge of the first partition  30  for securing to the first wall  12 . Alternatively, a broad bracket structure may be attached to the first partition  30  which provides a greater width to secure to the studs  14  in a situation where the first partition  30  is not aligned with a stud  14  in the first wall  12 . 
     The first partition  30  preferably includes a lower support  36  that is positioned adjacent to the upper surface of the bed  16 . The lower support  36  is preferably comprised of a solid structure as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, however the lower support  36  may have various other structures. A plurality of first bars  34  extend upwardly from the lower support  36  to an upper rail of the first partition  30  as further shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings. 
     The first partition  30  preferably includes a first leg member for supporting the first partition  30  above the upper surface of the bed  16  as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings. The first partition  30  is attached to the side of the first partition  30  opposite of the first wall  12  as further shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings. The first leg member extends substantially vertically and preferably includes a receiver channel  42  facing transverse with respect to the first partition  30 . 
     A second leg member is transversely attached to a second wall  12  with conventional fasteners as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 of the drawings. The second leg member is positioned on the outside of the bed  16 , wherein the bed  16  is positioned within a corner of a room adjacent the first wall  12  and the second wall  12 . The second wall  12  is preferably substantially orthogonal with respect to the first wall  12  as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, however the present invention may be utilized within rooms without an right-angle corner structure as shown in FIG.  1 . 
     The second leg member preferably includes a receiver channel  42  in opposition to the receiver channel  42  within the first leg member as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings. A second partition  50  is slidably received within the receiver channel  42  of the leg members  40 . The first partition  30  and the second partition  50  are preferably substantially orthogonal with respect to one another as best illustrated in FIG. 5 of the drawings. The first partition  30 , the second partition  50 , the first wall  12  and the second wall  12  define a rectangular crib area as best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5 of the drawings. 
     The second partition  50  preferably includes a plurality of second bars  54  extending vertically between an upper member and a lower member of the second partition  50  as best illustrated in FIGS. 2,  3  and  4  of the drawings. As further shown in FIGS. 2,  3  and  4  of the drawings, a lower structure  52  is preferably attached between the first leg member and the second leg member wherein the lower structure  52  is comprised of a solid structure adjacent to the outer edge of the bed  16  to prevent the infant from falling between the second partition  50  and the bed  16 . 
     A latch unit  60  is attached to the second partition  50  for selectively retaining the second partition  50  at a desired height. A plurality of receiver members  49  attached to the leg members  40  that selectively receive latch members  62  from the latch unit  60  as best shown in FIGS. 2,  3  and  4  of the drawings. Various other latching structures may be utilized to adjustable secure the second partition  50  within the leg members  40 . 
     An adjustment structure is attached to a lower end of each of the leg members  40  that allows for adjustment of a vertical height of the leg members  40  to accommodate beds  16  of various heights. The adjustment structure is preferably comprised of a support base  44  that receives the leg members  40  as best shown in FIGS. 2,  3  and  4  of the drawings. A plurality of support apertures  45  extend within the support base  44  and receive a locking member  46 . The locking member  46  selectively extends through one of the selected plurality of support apertures  45  to engage the leg members  40  at a desired height, thereby assisting in supporting the first partition  30  and the second partition  50  at a desired height. 
     A protective member  70  is preferably positioned around an outer lower perimeter of the crib area adjacent to the upper surface of the bed  16  to prevent the infant from being injured as best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5 of the drawings. The protective member  70  is preferably comprised of a resilient foam rubber material, however various other materials and structures may be utilized to construct the protective member  70 . 
     It can be appreciated that the bed  16  and bed frame may be purchased separate of the present invention. In addition, the bed  16  and bed frame may have various heights and sizes such as but not limited to twin size, queen size, full size and king size. 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed to be within the expertise of those skilled in the art, and all equivalent structural variations and relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.