Infant evacuation crib

Abstract

An infant evacuation crib is provided including a crib frame, a mattress support, and a visual identifier generating a locating signal visible to humans for locating the crib in a diminished light environment. The mattress support connects with the crib frame and is adapted to support an associated mattress relative to the crib frame. Wheels are selectively provided as desired for adapting the frame for rolling along an associated support surface. The crib may be of a wood or steel construction or of a fabric and mesh construction. The visual identifier is formed of a photoluminescent material or a highly reflective material applied to a first portion of the crib frame. The photoluminescent material glows in the dark to enable rescuers to quickly locate the crib in an emergency situation. The reflective material reflects light directed onto the crib from rescue searchlights or the like. In one aspect, the visual identifier includes printed indicia including instructions and other useful information.

Description

BACKGROUND [0001] The present invention relates to furniture for locating and evacuating people from a dangerous condition such as a fire and, more particularly, to portable infant cribs and portable evacuation cribs with a visual identifier for easily locating the cribs in low light conditions for evacuating one or more juveniles from a dangerous environment. [0002] Traditionally, cribs have been designed to contain and provide a safe sleeping environment for children. In addition, other features have been added in both full-size and non-full-size cribs including the addition of sliding drop sides, hinged drop sides, and adjustable height mattress supports. Further, some cribs have been designed for easy conversion into a youth bed for extended use. Traditionally, cribs are made of wood slat construction, steel tubular construction, or mesh and fabric supported by a frame structure construction. [0003] Although most cribs are sold for use in the home or in a residential environment...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] In accordance with the present application, portable infant cribs and portable evacuation cribs are provided having a visual identifier means for enabling searchers or rescuers to locate the cribs in low light conditions. The evacuation crib includes a crib frame and a mattress support connected with the crib frame. The mattress support is adapted to support an associated mattress relative to the crib frame. Wheels may be provided on the crib frame as desired for adapting the frame to be rolled along an associate support surface. The portable mesh and fabric cribs such as those used for commercial applications including hotel use provide a frame and structure to provide a safe sleeping environment and may include wheels as desired. Those cribs may also be formed of a fabric and mesh construction supported by a set of substantially rigid plastic or steel outer frame members. A visual identifier is disposed on a one of the crib frame and the mattress support, but preferably on an outside surface of the crib frame inaccessible to children within the crib, but visible to rescuers. The visual identifier is adapted to generate a locating signal visible to humans for locating the crib in a diminished light environment. Accordingly, the present application provides a portable infant crib and a portable evacuation crib with a visual identifier for enabling safety personnel to quickly locate the crib in the dark such as during fires or other catastrophes. The visual identifier may also be fashioned to communicate information, such as evacuation instructions, to the recess.

[0012] In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, the reflective material applied onto the portable cribs is highly reflective for providing a visual identifier of the crib. Because of the high reflectivity of the material, the reflected light is highly visible and is easily generated when light is directed at the crib from a light source such as a flashlight, searchlight, or the like. In many commercial applications such as in hotel use, the searchers are not favored with information regarding the location of the infants or cribs and thus must search for them in typically low light conditions. Accordingly, the reflective material provides a means for locating the cribs in low light conditions for emergency evacuation of the children from the crib or of the children contained within the crib together, as desired.

Problems solved by technology

However, they are typically at a disadvantage because it is difficult for hotels to maintain an accurate list of crib usage at any given time.

The bunk beds, however, are not practical for purposes of evacuation since they are not portable.

Therefore, the bunk beds taught there have no practical application in the case of an emergency evacuation.

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