Collapsible panel for a collapsible basket bed

Abstract

A flexible baseboard for a foldable basket bed includes a first semi-rigid portion and a second semi-rigid portion joined by a flexible interface. A sleeve spanning the flexible interface is configured to receive a movable reinforcement and allow the movable reinforcement to be positioned across the flexible interface, holding the first and second semi-rigid portions in a generally fixed and coplanar arrangement. Moving the movable reinforcement so that it is not spaced from the flexible interface allows the first and second portions to fold around the interface, thereby allowing for compact storage of the basket bed baseboard when not in use.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure generally relates to foldable furniture for infants, and more specifically to a foldable bottom panel for a foldable baby basket bed. Background Technology

[0002] Portable cribs and basket beds are useful for accommodating infants and providing a safe environment for sleep. These enclosures typically include child enclosures, which consist of side walls and a base made of fabric or similar soft material supported on a foldable frame. The foldable frame and soft material enclosure allow the crib to be easily reconfigured to fit into a smaller space for storage or transport.

[0003] Portability is an increasingly important consideration for consumers when it comes to baby care accessories. While foldable frames are well-known in the field, frames that are easy to reconfigure or fold into compact packages continue to drive innovation among manufacturers. Reconfigurable frames or latching mechanisms, soft items that do not fold with the frame, and frames that require a lot of space when folded do not meet consumer needs. Therefore, there is a growing concern about the need to improve the portability, compactness, and ease of use of retractable frames and the soft items they are attached to.

[0004] Portable cribs and basket beds often consist of child support and containment structures primarily made of soft materials, such as fabric. Safety standards require these structures to have a flat and generally rigid surface at their base or bottom. Providing a rigid surface that integrates well with the surrounding soft materials while still offering the necessary portability presents a challenge for most manufacturers.

[0005] What is needed is a design for a foldable bottom panel in a portable crib or basket bed that can be easily integrated into a soft material that supports the child without interfering with the crib's folding frame mechanism. Other features and advantages will become apparent from this specification. The disclosed teachings extend to those embodiments that fall within the scope of the claims, regardless of whether they fulfill one or more of the foregoing requirements. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In one aspect of the invention, a foldable basket bed includes a foldable frame supporting a child support enclosure. The child support enclosure includes a base plate surrounded by side walls. The side walls are suspended from a peripheral track of the frame, allowing the child support enclosure to hang over the peripheral track. The base plate may be formed of a soft material. Reinforcing members are disposed in the base plate to reinforce the soft material and provide a horizontal support surface capable of supporting a child rider. The reinforcing members include a first main portion and a second main portion, each main portion spanning approximately half of the base plate area and abutting the folding interface. A movable reinforcing member is provided, and the movable reinforcing member can be selectively positioned to extend across the folding interface or repositioned such that the movable reinforcing member is substantially adjacent only to one of the reinforcing members. When spanning the first and second main portions, the movable reinforcing member structurally connects multiple main portions to create a uniform support surface encompassing the entire base plate.

[0007] In another aspect of the invention, a foldable basket bed includes a foldable frame supporting a child support enclosure. The child support enclosure includes a base plate surrounded by sidewalls formed of a soft material (fabric). The sidewalls are suspended from a peripheral track of the frame, allowing the child support enclosure to hang over the peripheral track. Reinforcing members are disposed in the base plate to provide a horizontal support surface for supporting a child rider. The reinforcing members include a first main portion and a second main portion, each main portion spanning approximately half of the base plate area and abutting the folding interface. A movable reinforcing member is provided, and the movable reinforcing member can be selectively positioned to extend across the folding interface or repositioned such that the movable reinforcing member is substantially adjacent only to one of the reinforcing members. One or more pocket-like portions or receiving portions may be disposed in the base plate to receive the first and second reinforcing members and the movable reinforcing member. The sleeve receiving the movable reinforcing member is configured to fit snugly against the member and restrict movement to bidirectional sliding, such that when the movable reinforcing member is positioned across the folding interface and adjacent to the first and second reinforcing members, it structurally engages the first and second reinforcing members, thereby creating a monolithic reinforcement for the entire floor. Repositioning the movable reinforcing member so that it no longer crosses the folding interface allows the floor to flex at the folding interface, enabling the basket bed floor to be folded. A soft material including the folding interface allows for bidirectional folding.

[0008] In another aspect of the invention, a base plate reinforcement device for a child support enclosure in a foldable basket bed includes a pair of reinforcing members in the base plate, each reinforcing member covering approximately half of the base plate area and defining a folding interface. A movable reinforcing member is provided, and this movable reinforcing member can be selectively positioned to extend across the folding interface or repositioned such that the movable reinforcing member is substantially adjacent only to one of the reinforcing members. One or more pocket-like portions or receiving portions may be provided in the base plate to receive the first and second reinforcing members and the movable reinforcing member. This device allows for an easily reconfigurable structure to alternatively provide a generally rigid base plate with minimal moving parts or a double-foldable base plate. The reinforcement device is simple to use, effective, and economical to manufacture.

[0009] Other features and advantages of the invention will become clear from the following more detailed description of preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate the principles of the invention by way of example. Attached Figure Description

[0010] Figure 1 A foldable basket bed incorporating a novel support reinforcement device according to the present disclosure is demonstrated;

[0011] Figure 2 An embodiment of a reinforcing member for use in a foldable basket bed device of the present disclosure is shown, the reinforcing member being arranged for use;

[0012] Figure 3 Demonstrated for Figure 2 An embodiment of a reinforcing member in a foldable basket bed device, the reinforcing member being shown as being arranged for folding a crib or basket bed;

[0013] Figure 4A and Figure 4B A view is provided of the base section of the basket bed when the base reinforcement is positioned so that it can be folded down for use;

[0014] Figure 5A and Figure 5B A view is provided showing the bottom portion of the basket bed when the bottom reinforcement is positioned to allow for folding when folded.

[0015] Figure 6 This demonstrates the folding of the base plate portion of the child-support enclosure, permitted by the reinforcing members; and

[0016] Figure 7 The frame of the child-support enclosure, reinforced by reinforcing members, and the folding of attached soft items are shown.

[0017] Where possible, the same reference numerals will be used to denote the same parts throughout the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0018] Reference Figure 1 A foldable basket bed 1 is shown, having a peripheral frame 5 supported above a surface by a plurality of legs 7. The peripheral frame 5 supports a child support enclosure 10, preferably formed of a soft material to allow the enclosure 10 to be easily compressed or reconfigured to allow for a more compact folding of the basket bed 1. The child support enclosure 10 includes a base plate 12 on which a child can be positioned and surrounded by side walls 14. These side walls extend between the base plate 12 and the peripheral frame 5, allowing the enclosure 10 to hang over and be supported by the frame. In one embodiment, the base plate 12 has a generally rectangular shape with rounded edges that facilitate smooth movement when adjusted by the user.

[0019] The base plate 12 can be formed of a soft material and includes padding for the comfort of the rider. The panel portion of the base plate 12 is configured to provide a useful and adjustable support system for the baby while ensuring stability during use and storage. A main reinforcing member 20, spanning approximately half of each base plate area, serves as a fixing element, maintaining structural integrity by providing a level surface under the weight of the baby rider. These rigid components can be made of lightweight yet durable materials, such as fiberboard or polymer board, to ensure portability while maintaining their functional performance.

[0020] The baseboard may include one or more reinforcing members 20, which provide structural stiffness to maintain the baseboard in a generally planar configuration suitable for supporting infants. The reinforcing members may be designed with a rectangular shape having rounded edges that facilitate smooth movement along the length of the rectangle when adjusted by a user through sliding movements within a corresponding sleeve or pouch. In another embodiment, the first primary reinforcing member may have an irregularly shaped profile to accommodate specific design requirements for optimal structural support and stability. The reinforcing members in the baseboard may be designed with adjustable thickness, allowing them to adapt to varying weight distributions across different areas of the soft baseboard while maintaining an overall level of stiffness suitable for supporting infant safety standards.

[0021] The bag-shaped or receiving sections housing the reinforcing members serve as guides that help maintain their position within specific areas on each base panel section, while allowing them to move freely along a predetermined path during user adjustment. These components may be removable for cleaning and maintenance purposes, but are typically kept fixed during normal use of the foldable basket bed.

[0022] The design considerations behind the baby support system prioritize stability, adjustability, and portability across different areas of the soft baseboard while ensuring compliance with relevant safety standards and minimizing moving parts. The choice of materials for these panel sections is guided by a balance between durability, flexibility, comfort, and weight distribution to ensure overall performance during use.

[0023] To allow the child support enclosure 10 to be folded, the base plate 12 includes a first portion 12A and a second portion 12B, which are abutted and flexibly joined at a folding interface 30 in a soft material, allowing the user to fold the base plate in both directions (e.g., it can fold upwards or downwards). The first portion 12A and the second portion 12B each occupy approximately half of the total base plate area, and each portion includes its own reinforcing member portions 20A, 20B, which are separated from each other and arranged opposite each other around the folding interface 30. This allows the base plate 12 to be folded approximately in half along the folding interface 30. The reinforcing members 20A, 20B are provided to strengthen the base plate 12 and prevent it from sagging when the basket bed is used.

[0024] The reinforcing members 20A and 20B are preferably formed of a semi-rigid material, such as fiberboard, polymer board, polyurethane foam core board, or similar materials selected to maintain substantial rigidity under the weight of the infant rider, and are preferably enclosed within a soft article including the base plate 12. The reinforcing member material should be sufficiently rigid compared to the flexible material of the soft article to support a child resting on the base plate 12 without excessive bending or sagging. The reinforcing member material should be lightweight to improve the portability of the basket bed when not in use or during setup or storage.

[0025] The base plate 12 may include pockets or other structures formed in and by the soft article and configured to enclose and properly position the reinforcing members 20A, 20B within the base plate 12. The pockets may be designed to allow removal of the reinforcing members for cleaning of the soft article without disintegrating the reinforcing material.

[0026] A movable reinforcing member 24 is provided. The movable reinforcing member 24 is designed to be flexible and adjustable within its continuous sleeve 18, thereby allowing it to occupy a position adjacent to either portion (first or second portion) of the soft article base plate. The movable reinforcing member 24 can be enclosed within the sleeve 18 formed in the soft article base plate 12, which allows the movable reinforcing member 24 to occupy a generally opposite first position (…). Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 4A , Figure 4B ) and the second position ( Figure 3 , Figure 5A , Figure 5B The support can move between different areas across the panel as needed, providing optimal stability during use while maintaining a comfortable sleeping environment.

[0027] When in the first position, the movable reinforcing member spans the folding interface 30 to limit folding movement at the folding interface and reinforce the entire base plate 12 to allow the base plate to function as a continuous, generally rigid support for a child. When moved to the second position, the movable reinforcing member is positioned generally only adjacent to one of the base plate reinforcing members 20, and in particular not adjacent to the folding interface 30, so that soft materials of the base plate 12 can flex and fold at the folding interface 30.

[0028] The movable reinforcing member 24 slides between multiple positions within its corresponding sleeve 18 by sliding along a predetermined path within the sleeve. The sleeve 18 for the movable reinforcing member 24 can be formed in a soft article and is tightly configured to receive the movable reinforcing member 24 and constrain it generally to move bidirectionally along an axis generally perpendicular to the folding interface 30. The sleeve enclosing the movable reinforcing member 24 can be opened at one end, thereby allowing a user to grasp and move the member 24.

[0029] Access to the movable member can be provided by an opening in the soft material, defined by orifices for user access to the movable member. Due to the soft material used to construct the sleeve, movement is smooth and controlled, allowing the user to adjust or reposition the movable reinforcement as needed. The sleeve enclosing the movable member 24 may include an upward-facing, grooved opening in the soft material, providing the user with access to the movable member 24 within the sleeve while preventing separation of the movable member from the crib. One or more orifices may be provided in the movable member 24 to provide the user with a means of interacting with the movable member, allowing it to slide within the sleeve enclosure. The sleeve 18 may include an openable closure to allow insertion of the movable member and prevent accidental separation of the installed movable member from the base plate. The movable member may be provided with tethers or the like to prevent accidental separation from the base plate.

[0030] The movable reinforcement member is configured to slide smoothly along its length through a continuous sleeve, allowing the user to easily adjust its position and orientation. The movable reinforcement member 24 is preferably formed of a semi-rigid material similar to that of reinforcement members 20A and 20B. The movable reinforcement member can be designed to have an adjustable thickness, allowing it to adapt to varying weight distributions across different areas of the soft baseboard while maintaining an overall stiffness level suitable for supporting infant safety standards.

[0031] While the exemplary embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings and described herein are currently preferred, it should be understood that these embodiments are provided by way of example only. Therefore, this application is not limited to the specific embodiments, but extends to various modifications that still fall within the scope of the appended claims. According to alternative embodiments, the order or sequence of any process or method steps may be changed or reordered.

[0032] It is important to note that the construction and arrangement of the different exemplary embodiments are illustrative only. While only a few embodiments are described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art upon reviewing this disclosure will readily understand that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in the size, dimensions, structure, shape, and proportions of different elements, parameter values, mounting arrangements, use of materials, color, orientation, etc.) without departing substantially from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter referenced in the claims. For example, an element shown as integrally formed may be composed of multiple parts or elements, the positions of elements may be reversed or otherwise altered, and the nature or number of discrete elements or positions may be changed or varied. Therefore, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this application. The order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or reordered according to alternative embodiments. In the claims, any device plus function clause is intended to cover structures described herein as performing the stated functions, and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures. Other substitutions, modifications, alterations, and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of this application.

Claims

1. A foldable base panel for use in a foldable basket bed, comprising: First panel section; The second panel portion is flexibly joined to the first panel portion; A sleeve spanning the first portion and the second portion, the sleeve being configured to slidably receive a movable reinforcement in a manner that allows the reinforcement to move between a first position and a second position, in the first position being adjacent to either the first portion or the second portion, and in the second position being adjacent to both the first portion and the second portion simultaneously; When the reinforcement is in the second position, it keeps the first part and the second part in a coplanar arrangement.

2. The foldable base panel according to claim 1, wherein, The movable reinforcement comprises a semi-rigid material.

3. The foldable base panel according to claim 1, wherein, The first panel portion and the second panel portion are flexibly joined along the fold joint.

4. The foldable base panel according to claim 1, wherein, The first panel portion and the second panel portion comprise a flexible fabric material, and each panel portion has a pouch-like portion.

5. The foldable base panel according to claim 4 further includes a first reinforcing member panel disposed in the first panel portion and a second reinforcing member panel disposed in the second panel portion.

6. The foldable base panel according to claim 5, wherein, The first and second reinforcing members comprise generally rigid materials.

7. The foldable base panel according to claim 1, wherein, The sleeve includes an opening configured to allow a user to move the movable reinforcement.

8. A reinforcing device for a flexible base plate of a foldable basket bed, comprising: The first portion of the flexible base plate includes a first reinforcing member; The second portion of the flexible base plate includes a second reinforcing member; A flexible interface that joins the first portion and the second portion; A sleeve formed in the first portion and the second portion, the sleeve spanning the flexible interface; A movable reinforcing member is disposed in the sleeve and configured to be selectively positioned adjacent to a first part of the main body or a second part of the main body, or simultaneously adjacent to both the first part and the second part; The movable reinforcement, which is adjacent to both the first and second portions, is positioned to hold the first and second portions in a generally planar configuration.

9. The reinforcing member device according to claim 8, wherein, The movable reinforcement comprises a semi-rigid material.

10. The reinforcing member device according to claim 8, wherein, The sleeve is configured to allow the user to access and move the movable reinforcement.

11. A foldable child support enclosure for a foldable basket bed, comprising: The frame supports the side walls; A base plate, which is connected to and supported by the side wall, and the base plate further includes a first portion and a second portion, which are flexibly joined at a folding interface; A sleeve spanning the first portion and the second portion, the sleeve being configured to slidably receive a movable reinforcement in a manner that allows the reinforcement to move between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the movable reinforcement spans the folded interface, and in the second position the movable reinforcement is adjacent only to one of the first portion or the second portion; The movable reinforcement, when in the first position, keeps the first part and the second part in a coplanar arrangement.

12. The foldable child support enclosure according to claim 11, wherein, The movable reinforcement comprises a semi-rigid material.

13. The foldable child support enclosure according to claim 11, wherein, The movable reinforcement can be selectively removed from the sleeve.

14. The foldable child support enclosure according to claim 11, wherein, The first panel portion and the second panel portion comprise a flexible fabric material, and each panel portion has a pouch-like portion.

15. The foldable child support enclosure according to claim 14, further comprising a first reinforcing panel disposed in the first panel pocket portion and a second reinforcing panel disposed in the second panel pocket portion.

16. The foldable child support enclosure according to claim 15, wherein, The first reinforcing panel and the second reinforcing panel can be selectively removed from the bag-shaped portion.

17. The foldable child support enclosure according to claim 11, wherein, The sleeve is configured to allow the user to access and move the movable reinforcement.

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