Patent ID: 8745781

Claim:
A crib comprising: at least one wall that bounds an interior space operative to support a mattress therein, wherein the at least one wall includes: a stationary portion; a drop gate, wherein the drop gate includes opposed side ends; at least one hinge, wherein the at least one hinge includes a first hinge portion mounted to an end of the stationary portion, wherein the at least one hinge includes a second hinge portion mounted to an end of the drop gate, wherein the first and second hinge portions of the at least one hinge are in operative pivoting connection with each other to enable the drop gate to pivot relative to the stationary portion between an upper closed position and a lower open position; at least two vertical members respectively positioned adjacent opposed side ends of the drop gate when the drop gate is in the closed position; at least one latch device in operative connection with one of the side ends of the drop gate; at least one striker plate in operative connection with one of the at least two vertical members; wherein the at least one latch device is operative to engage with the at least one striker plate to maintain the drop gate in the closed position; wherein the at least one latch device is operative to disengage from the at least one striker plate and enable the drop gate to pivot to the open position; wherein the at least one striker plate includes a cavity therein; wherein the at least one striker plate includes a projection within the cavity in the at least one striker plate, wherein the projection includes an end having a beveled surface, wherein the at least one latch device includes a stop surface that is operative to contact the end of the projection, which contact corresponds to the drop gate being in the closed position and prevents pivoting of the drop gate into the interior space of the crib, wherein the cavity in the at least one striker plate includes sufficiently large spaces above and below the projection to receive a finger of a child therein without the finger being pinched by the stop surface when the drop gate is in the closed position, wherein when the stop surface approaches the end of the projection, the beveled surface of the projection and the stop surface are operatively configured to cooperatively guide the finger so as to move away from the end of the projection into one of the spaces above or below the projection and thereby prevent the finger from being pinched between the end of the projection and the stop surface.