Crib convertible to a bed

Abstract

A cot (1) for children includes: a frame (2); a plurality of peripheral walls (7) made of a flexible material and fixed to the frame (2); a base (8) fixed to the frame (2); a pair of support elements (6) connected to the frame (2) and configured to rest on a support surface, the support elements (6) being adapted to be disconnected / reconnected from the frame (2), the base (8) being configured to rest directly on the support surface, and the frame (2) being configured to stably support its own weight when the base (8) rests on the support surface.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a crib for children. That is, the crib of the present invention is designed to be placed adjacent to an adult's bed, particularly adjacent to the bed of the mother or the person who takes care of the child at night. This adjacent position particularly requires the possibility of adapting the height of the crib to the height of the bed, thus creating a seamless, step-free surface. Background Art

[0002] Cribs of the same type as the crib of the present invention are known in the art. In particular, a crib is known from EP 3 354165 (corresponding to Italian patent IT 10 2017 000 008 138). The crib includes a support frame preferably formed by tubular rod elements. The crib also includes a plurality of peripheral walls formed of a flexible material and mounted to the frame. The bottom wall is fixed to the frame and supports a mattress adapted to receive a child.

[0003] One of the above-mentioned peripheral walls is configured to be able to open. This peripheral wall defines the side of the frame designed to be adjacent to the bed. In particular, this wall can be separated from the adjacent wall and the wall itself can be overturned, thus forming an opening through which the person taking care of the child can access the child without having to get up from his / her bed.

[0004] The above-mentioned prior art crib is designed for infants. As a result, as the child grows, its practicality decreases over time. Therefore, it is inconvenient that the crib has to be replaced with a small bed after the first year of the baby's birth. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In this context, the technical object of the present invention is to provide a crib for children that can eliminate the above-mentioned defects of the prior art.

[0006] In addition, the object of the present invention is to provide a crib for children that can be used for a relatively long time during childhood.

[0007] The above-mentioned technical object and goal are basically achieved by a crib for children including the technical features disclosed in one or more of the appended aspects.

[0008] In particular, the crib for children of the present invention includes a frame. The crib also includes a plurality of peripheral walls formed of a flexible material and fixed to the frame. The base is fixed to the frame.

[0009] A pair of support elements are connected to the frame. These support elements are configured to rest on a support surface such as the floor. In addition, the support elements are adapted to be disconnected from and / or reconnected to the frame.

[0010] According to the present invention, the base is configured to rest directly on a support surface. The frame is configured to stably support the self-weight of the frame when the base is resting on the support surface.

[0011] The crib solves the technical problem in that: when the support element is disconnected, the bottom can rest directly on the floor. The frame is designed to support its self-weight, thereby preventing the crib from collapsing when used in this way.

[0012] Advantageously, this type of bed can be used in an environment designed according to the Montessori principle. Thus, when the bottom rests directly on the floor, the bed can be very low for children to access without adult assistance. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following illustrative, non-limiting description of a preferred, non-exclusive embodiment of a crib for children shown in the drawings, in which:

[0014] - Figure 1 is a perspective view of a crib for children according to the present invention, with certain parts omitted to

[0015] better show other parts;

[0016] - Figure 2 is Figure 1 the bottom view of the crib;

[0017] - Figure 3 is Figure 1 and Figure 2 a magnified perspective view of a first detail of the crib, with certain

[0018] parts omitted to better show other parts;

[0019] - Figure 4 is Figure 1 and Figure 2 a cross-sectional front view of a second detail of the crib;

[0020] - Figure 5 is Figure 1 and Figure 2 a magnified perspective view of a third detail of the crib;

[0021] - Figure 6 is Figure 5 a perspective view of a detail, with certain parts omitted to better show other parts

[0022] ; and

[0023] - Figure 7 is Figure 1 andFigure 2 Stereogram of a crib for children. Detailed implementation

[0024] Referring to the accompanying drawings, reference numeral 1 denotes the crib for children of the present invention.

[0025] The crib 1 has a front side 1a. As used herein, the term "front side" is intended to mean the side of the crib 1 that is designed to be placed adjacent to the bed. That is, the front side 1a can be opened in various ways, which can be selected from those known to those skilled in the art or those disclosed by the applicant in other patent applications.

[0026] The crib 1 includes a frame 2. Referring to Figure 1 , it should be understood that the frame 2 is defined by a plurality of rod-shaped elements, preferably of tubular type. The frame 2 generally has a parallelepiped shape and is supported by a pair of support elements 6 resting on a support surface (usually the floor). More details about the support elements 6 will be provided below.

[0027] The crib 1 includes a plurality of peripheral walls 7 formed of a flexible material and fixed to the frame 2. It should be understood that at least one peripheral wall 7 has a variable height or other equivalent mechanism for opening the front side 1a of the crib 1.

[0028] A base 8 is also connected to the frame 2. The base 8 has a generally rectangular shape, that is, it is defined by a pair of long sides 8a and a pair of short sides 8b. That is, the front side 1a of the crib 1 is defined at one long side 8a of the base 8. In particular, referring to Figure 2 , it should be noted that the base 8 has a base surface 8c adapted to face the floor. The base surface 8c has a plurality of anti-slip supports 25 configured to directly rest on the floor. It should be noted that the frame 2 is advantageously configured to stably support the self-weight of the frame 2 when the base 8 rests on the floor.

[0029] In operation, a mattress 9 is placed above the base 8. The mattress 9 is known in the art and will not be further described here.

[0030] Referring to the above-mentioned frame 2, it should be noted that it includes an upper part 4. The upper part 4 is connected to the base 8 via a plurality of vertical columns 5a, 5b. That is, the frame 2 includes a pair of front columns 5a located at the front side 1a of the crib 1. The frame 2 also includes two pairs of side columns 5b each connected to the corresponding short sides 8b of the base 8.

[0031] More specifically, the upper part 4 has a pair of opposite first sides 4a. Second sides 4b connect the two ends of the first sides 4a and are perpendicular to the first sides 4a. The first sides 4a and the second sides 4b are in a C shape. It should be noted that the side columns 5b connect the first sides 4a of the upper part 4 to the base 8.

[0032] The upper part 4 further includes a moving edge 4c which is arranged horizontally and in particular perpendicular to the first edge 4a. Thus, the moving edge 4c is arranged parallel to the second edge 4b of the upper part 4. More particularly, the moving edge 4c of the upper part 4 is arranged on the front side 1a of the cot 1 and defines the openable part of the frame 2. The mechanism for opening / closing and locking / unlocking the moving edge 4c can be of any type known to those skilled in the art or can be a novel type disclosed in other patent applications of the applicant.

[0033] It should be noted that in the cot 1 as described herein, the moving edge 4c slides along a pair of the above-mentioned uprights 5a, 5b, in particular along the front upright 5a. A peripheral wall 7 is defined by a flexible element 10 connected to the moving edge 4c. The flexible element 10 is wound around a winding unit (not shown) which is placed below the mattress 9.

[0034] Advantageously, the cot 1 of the present invention is designed to be convertible into a crib for a child, i.e., a Montessori crib. For this purpose, the support elements 6 are designed to be connected to or disconnected from the frame 2. The support elements 6 are designed to slide along the frame 2, i.e., in the vertical direction, i.e., substantially parallel to the uprights 5a, 5b. In a preferred embodiment, the support elements 6 are slidably assembled in the base 8.

[0035] In order to facilitate a child's entry when the cot 1 is configured as a bed, it is possible to completely release the above-mentioned moving edge 4c from the front upright 5a, so as to make it easier for the child to enter independently without the risk of tripping. In particular, as shown, for example Figure 5 and Figure 6 the front side edge 4c is released by means of a pair of spring buttons 35 formed on the upper part of the front upright 5a.

[0036] Returning to the support elements 6, each of them includes a pair of parallel vertical rods 26. The base 27 connects the rods 26 and is equipped with wheels 28 for facilitating the displacement of the cot 1. The base 27 is designed to be foldable and in particular includes a pair of hinges 29 arranged outside the rods 26. The axes of the hinges 29 extend parallel to the rods 26. These hinges 29 allow the wheels 28 to be folded downwards so that the cot 1 can be moved closer to the bed and the support elements 6 can be more easily stored. Advantageously, the hinges 29 have elastic means (not shown) which are intended to move the wheels 28 back to the starting position parallel to the edge 8b once the cot 1 is moved away from the bed. These elastic means are of a conventional type, for example including springs, and thus will not be further described.

[0037] Particularly with reference to Figure 1 , it will be understood that the cot 1 further includes at least a pair of connecting elements 12. Each connecting element 12 is arranged between the corresponding side upright 5b and the corresponding support element 6.

[0038] In the illustrated embodiment, two connecting elements 12 are provided at each short side 8b of the base 8. In particular, each connecting element 12 connects a respective rod 26 of the support element 6 to a respective side upright post 5b. Each of the connecting elements 12 has a respective seat 14 for stably holding a rod 26, thereby providing a sliding movement of the frame 2 for height adjustment of the cot 1 or for removal of the above-mentioned support element 6.

[0039] To adjust the distance between the base 8 and the floor, the cot 1 has at least one selector 15 associated with the frame 2 and the support element 6. Preferably, the cot 1 includes at least one selector 15 for each support element 6. More preferably, each selector 15 is at least partially received within a respective connecting element 12, particularly within one of the first connecting elements 12. To interact with the selector 15, each support element 6 has a plurality of windows 16 adapted to face the selector 15. In particular, the windows 16 are formed in at least one of the rods 26 of the support element 6. Each window 16 corresponds to a respective distance between the base 8 and the floor. The selector 15 is adapted to at least partially fit into the window 16 to allow and / or lock the sliding movement of the support element 6.

[0040] More specifically, the selector 15 includes a pin 18 fixed to the connecting element 12. The pawl 17 is rotatable relative to the pin 18 and is fitted into one of the above-mentioned windows 16 in operation. Such a pawl 17 is held in place by an elastic element (not shown). A lever 30 connected to the selector 15 via a transmission cable (not shown) disposed within the frame 2 particularly allows the user to retract the pawl 17 from the window 16 in which it is fitted by sliding the rod 26 within the seat 14 of the connecting element 12, thereby allowing the support element 6 to slide relative to the frame 2.

[0041] According to the present invention, the cot further includes at least one locking member 31 connected to the support element 6. The locking member 31 is particularly operable on the base 8 to prevent the support element 6 from disconnecting from the base 8, and the locking member 31 is particularly intended to be engaged / disengaged by the user. In addition, the locking member 31 is at least partially received within the support element 6 and is adapted to fit into the base 8 to lock the sliding movement of the support element 6 relative to the base 8. In a preferred embodiment, the cot 1 includes one locking member 31 for each support element 6.

[0042] More specifically, each locking member 31 includes a pin 32 that projects from the support element 6, in particular from a rod 26. An elastic means (not shown), for example implemented by a spring, holds the pin 32 in place. It should be noted that in operation, the portion of the pin 32 that projects from the rod 26 engages into a vertically extending guide 33 formed inside the base 8. Advantageously, this allows the support element 6 to move vertically to adjust the height of the support element 6 as described above, but within a certain range. In order to removably slide the support element 6, the user applies a force to the pin 32 via a transmission means (not shown) against the action exerted by the elastic means, so that the pin 32 returns into the rod 26. Thus, the guide 33 will no longer be an obstacle, and the support element 6 can be disconnected from the base 8.

Claims

1. A cot (1) for children, comprising: - A frame (2) including an upper part (4) having a pair of opposite first sides (4a) and second sides (4b) connecting the two ends of the first sides (4a) and perpendicular to the first sides (4a); - A plurality of peripheral walls (7) made of a flexible material and fixed to the frame (2); - A base (8) fixed to the frame (2); - A pair of support elements (6) connected to the frame (2) and configured to rest on a support surface, the support elements (6) being capable of being disconnected / reattached to the frame (2), wherein the base (8) is configured to be able to directly rest on the support surface, and the frame (2) is configured to stably support the self-weight of the frame (2) when the base (8) rests on the support surface, wherein, - The base (8) has a pair of short sides (8b) and a pair of long sides (8a), - The frame (2) includes at least a pair of side uprights (5b) located at the respective short sides (8b) of the base (8) and extending away from the base (8) in a substantially vertical direction. The cot (1) further includes a pair of connecting elements (12) each located between a respective side upright (5b) and a respective support element (6), and - The upper part (4) includes a movable side (4c) transverse to the first sides (4a) and parallel to the second sides (4b). The movable side (4c) is arranged at the front side of the cot (1) and defines an openable part of the frame (2).

2. The cot (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The base (8) has a base surface (8c) having a plurality of anti-slip supports (25) configured to directly rest on the support surface.

3. The cot (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The support element (6) is slidably connected to the frame (2).

4. The crib (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The support element (6) is slidably connected to the base (8).

5. The cot (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cot (1) includes a selector (15) associated with the frame (2) and the support element (6) to adjust the distance between the base (8) and the support surface.

6. The cot (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that, The selector (15) is at least partially received in the connecting element (12).

7. The cot (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that, The support element (6) has a plurality of windows (16) configured to face the selector (15). The selector (15) is at least capable of being partially inserted into the windows (16), and each window (16) corresponds to a respective distance between the base (8) and the support surface.

8. The crib (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cot (1) includes a locking member (31) connected to the support element (6) and capable of operating on the base (8) to prevent the support element (6) from being disconnected from the base (8). The locking member (31) can be engaged / disengaged by a user.

9. The cot (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that, The locking member (31) is at least partially received within the support element (6).

10. The crib (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The frame (2) includes a pair of front uprights (5a). The movable side (4c) can slide along the front uprights (5a) and can be released from the front uprights (5a) for a child to enter independently.

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