Height adjustment for changing table

Abstract

The apparatus is a height adjustment assembly for a child's changing table with support tubes inserted into sockets at the top of a supporting structure such as a play yard. A height adjustment fixture external to the support tubes rests on top of the supporting structure and has a vertical series of recesses such as slots or holes and a ring through which the changing table's support tube slides. The changing table has an attached latching device that locks into the recesses to hold the table at several heights above the supporting structure. Alternate embodiments include a structure in which the height adjustment fixture contains the latching device and the recesses are in the changing table.

Description

[0001] This application is based upon U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 535,083 filed Jan. 8, 2004.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention deals generally with changing tables for infants, and more specifically with a height adjustment apparatus for a changing table installed on top of a structure such as a child's play yard. [0003] Children's playpens, now more often called play yards, are a commonly available accessory for use with infants and small children. It is not at all unusual for parents to take a folding play yard along on a trip or visit in order to provide a space for the child to play and sleep. There is also another accessory for children that is just as vital, but not taken out of the child's home as frequently. That is a changing table or bassinet. [0004] However, there are now available some changing tables that simply attach to a play yard and therefore are not at all difficult to take out of the home along with the play yard. Most of these...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] The present invention provides a simple structure for attaching a height adjustable changing table to the top of a play yard or other structure. To accept the support structure of the changing table, the play yard or other supporting structure requires only that a socket with an open top be attached to an upper edge of the supporting structure. It is probably most convenient and most stable if two sockets are mounted near two upper corners of a play yard. A vertical support for the changing table then fits into each socket, and both the changing table and the entire height adjustment assembly are attached to the changing table without any further modification to or addition of internal structures for either the play yard support or the changing table support.

[0013] The particular benefits of the height adjustment assembly of the invention are simple structure, inexpensive manufacturing, ease of use, and attachment to any supporting structure with nothing more than the addition of one or two tubular sockets at the top of the supporting structure. In particular, there is no requirement to put holes in any of the tubular structure of the supporting structure or install complex locking mechanisms within the supports of either the changing table or the supporting structure to which it is attached.

Problems solved by technology

However, there are now available some changing tables that simply attach to a play yard and therefore are not at all difficult to take out of the home along with the play yard.

The problem with all such arrangements is that they furnish only one height for the changing table, and that one height, which is keyed to the existing height of the play yard walls, is usually too low for an adult to use with comfort, because adults of average height must bend down to the level of the changing table.

Furthermore, any changing table with a single pre-designed height can not possibly suit all adults.

Images