Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to juvenile products, such as multiple infant activity centers for use by children and their caregivers, and more particularly to height adjustment mechanisms for use in connection with such products. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Juvenile products are widely used by caregivers. Many of those products, such as multiple infant activity centers, have seating portions for a child, or other aspects, that occasionally need adjustment to accommodate children of different sizes. It is generally desired that such adjustment quick and easy for the caregiver, but result in a secure adjustment. 
         [0005]    While various devices have been used in the past to accomplish such adjustment, most of those prior art devices have been lacking in ease of adjustments, security, or both. 
         [0006]    In sum, the prior art devices do not provide the important advantages of allowing easy adjustment of the juvenile products, such as seat position in multiple infant activity centers. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    It is an aspect of the present invention to provide a height adjustment mechanism for a juvenile product that is easy for use by a caregiver and that provides a secure adjustment. Preferably, the height adjustment mechanism of the present invention allows for at least two separate adjustment heights and is designed in a manner that it may be assembled easily and quickly by a consumer. 
         [0008]    More specifically, the height adjustment mechanism of the present invention preferably consists of a rotatable knob that fits in a channel on the juvenile product being adjusted. The knob preferably includes a handle on a top portion thereof to allow a user to rotate the knob between an adjustment position and a fixed position. Preferably, the knob also includes a shank having a rectangular, narrow cross section at its middle portion and includes a securing end-cap at its end. 
         [0009]    Also in a preferred embodiment, the height adjustment mechanism of the present invention preferably includes a channel shaped to receive the rotatable knob slidingly therethrough and which preferably includes at least 2 adjustment lobes for receiving the head of the rotatable knob. The knob preferably includes a transverse handle shaped for easy manipulation by a caregiver. 
         [0010]    Preferably, in operation, the height adjustment mechanism of the present invention is operated by the caregiver rotating the adjustable knob so that the handle is parallel to the direction of travel of the adjustment slider thus allowing the rectangular shank of the rotatable knob to slide within the channel Then when the desired adjustment position is reached, i.e. the desired lobe of the channel, the caregiver rotates the handle to a position transverse to the channel, thereby securely locking the slider, and anything attached thereto, securely in place. 
         [0011]    These and other aspects and objects, along with advantages and features of the invention disclosed herein, will be made more apparent from the description, drawings, and claims that follow. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The foregoing and other aspects, objects, features, and advantages of the present invention, as well as the invention itself; will be more fully understood from the following description of preferred embodiments, when read together with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a multiple infant activity center utilizing a height adjustment mechanism in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a cutaway side elevation view of the height adjustment mechanism of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view of an adjustment channel for use in connection with the height adjustment mechanism of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the height adjustment mechanism of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0017]      FIGS. 5A ,  5 B, and  5 C, are top plan, side elevation, and bottom plan views of an adjustment slider for use in connection with the height adjustment mechanism of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of a height adjustment mechanism in accordance with the present invention preferably consists of a height adjustment cover plate  10  incorporated into a portion of a juvenile product, such as a tower  12  on a multiple infant activity center  14 . The plate  10  preferably includes a channel  16  shaped to receive a rotatable knob  18  slidingly therethrough and which preferably includes at least 2 adjustment lobes  20  that are attached by narrow channels  21 . The knob  18  preferably includes a transverse handle  22  shaped for easy manipulation by a caregiver. 
         [0019]    As shown best in  FIG. 4 , the rotatable knob  18  preferably includes a shank portion  24  and an end cap portion  26 . The shank portion  24  is preferably rectangular in cross section and narrow, the long portions thereof being in parallel alignment with the transverse handle  22 . The end cap portion  26  is preferably round in shape. Preferably, the height adjustment mechanism of the present invention includes an adjustment slider  28 . The adjustment slider  28  preferably includes an engagement portion  30  having downwardly and inwardly extending tabs  32  that is shaped to receive a portion of the rotatable knob  18 . Preferably, the tabs  32  are shaped and sized so that when the end cap portion  26  of the rotatable knob  18  is pushed therethrough during assembly, the tabs  32  capture the rotatable knob  18  in a secure, rotatable manner. Preferably the adjustment slider  28  is shaped to be held within a channel  34  created in the juvenile product to provide for easier sliding of the slider  28 , and attached rotatable knob  18 . Preferably the slider  28  includes a smooth upper portion  38  to facilitate sliding thereof and an attachment portion  40  for attaching the slider to a tether  42  or other portion of a juvenile product needing adjustment. 
         [0020]    In operation, a caregiver may rotate the adjustable knob  18  transverse handle  22  so that the handle is parallel to the narrow channels  21  thus allowing the rectangular shank  24  of the rotatable knob  18  to slide within channel  16 . Then when the desired adjustment position is reached, i.e. the desired lobe  20  of the channel  16 , the caregiver rotates the transverse handle  22  to a position transverse to the channel  16 , thereby securely locking the slider  28 , and anything attached thereto by attachment portion  40 , securely in place. 
         [0021]    Following from the above description and invention summaries it should be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that, while the systems and processes herein described constitute exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it is understood that the invention is not limited to these precise systems and processes and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. Additionally, it is to be understood that the invention is defined by the claims and it is not intended that any limitations or elements describing the exemplary embodiments set forth herein are to be incorporated into the meanings of the claims unless such limitations or elements are explicitly listed in the claims. Likewise, it is to be understood that it is not necessary to meet any or all of the identified advantages or objects of the invention disclosed herein in order to fall within the scope of any claim, as the invention is defined by the claims and because inherent and/or unforeseen advantages of the present invention may exist even though they may not have been explicitly discussed herein.

Technology Category: 1