Carrycot

Abstract

A carrycot (1) comprising a shell (2) which forms a lateral containment surface (3) and a bottom (4) having, in succession along a longitudinal axis of extension (100), at least one first backrest portion (4a) for supporting the trunk (10a) of an infant (10) and at least one second portion (4b) for supporting the pelvis (10b) and at least part of the legs (10c) of an infant (10), the carrycot (1) comprising means (20) for moving the at least one first backrest portion (4a) between a substantially flat first position, in which the at least one first backrest portion (4a) and the at least one second portion (4b) are arranged so as to be mutually coplanar on a substantially horizontal plane, and at least one second reclined position, in which the at least one first backrest portion (4a) is arranged on a plane that is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane, locking means being furthermore provided which are adapted to keep the at least one first backrest portion (4a) locked in the second position; the movement means (20) are adapted to cause, during the transition of the at least one first backrest portion (4a) between the first position and the second position, a displacement of the at least one first backrest portion (4a) along a direction of movement that has at least one translational component (102) which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of extension (100).

Description

[0001] CARRYCOT

[0002] The present invention relates to a carrycot or bassinet for accommodating and / or transporting infants.

[0003] Carrycots or bassinets for infants, possibly to be associated with a wheeled frame, for the accommodation of infants, are known.

[0004] Bassinets or carrycots are provided internally with a bottom that constitutes the supporting surface for the infant in a lying position.

[0005] The supporting surface is in many cases divided into two portions, a fixed one intended for pelvis and leg support and one that can be raised and acts as a backrest.

[0006] Tilt adjustment of the backrest is achieved by using various types of mechanisms, such as for example locking stops, straps, worm screw couplings, etc.

[0007] Moreover, the raising and lowering of the backrest can be done from either the inside or the outside of the carrycot or bassinet.

[0008] Moreover, in some known solutions the portion of the bottom designed to support the pelvis and legs also can be raised on command with an angle of inclination that is opposite to that of the backrest.

[0009] In this case, means can be provided for kinematic connection between the bottom portion, intended for pelvis and leg support, and the backrest, so that lifting the backrest also causes the bottom portion, intended for pelvis and leg support, to rise.

[0010] In this way, one attempts to prevent the child from possibly sliding downward when the backrest is raised.

[0011] Known solutions, while widely used, are however not without drawbacks.

[0012] In particular, raising the backrest shifts the child's center of gravity toward the portion of the carrycot that accommodates the feet, and this causes, in some cases, an improper balancing of the structure, both during static use and during transport in a stroller or vehicle. Moreover, in known solutions, as a result of the lifting of the backrest there is also an upward displacement of the center of gravity, since the axis of rotation of the backrest is directly supported by the shell of the carrycot or bassinet.

[0013] This evidently causes not only a further shift of the center of gravity but also an excessive lifting of the child's head and trunk, which may rise too high, compromising the lateral containment function of the carrycot or bassinet.

[0014] The aim of the present invention is to provide a carrycot that is capable of improving the background art in one or more of the above cited aspects.

[0015] Within the scope of this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a carrycot that allows to increase the comfort of the infant, in particular limiting the bending of the head toward the chest and thus ensuring good airway distension.

[0016] Another object of the invention is to allow the infant to occupy the available space in all angular positions of the backrest in the best way.

[0017] A further object of the invention is to devise a carrycot that allows, even after lifting the backrest, to limit the displacement of the center of gravity so as to make any transportation easy and safe.

[0018] Not least object of the invention is to provide a carrycot that is highly reliable, relatively easy to provide and at competitive costs.

[0019] This aim, as well as these and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a carrycot according to claim 1, optionally provided with one or more of the characteristics of the dependent claims.

[0020] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of some preferred but not exclusive embodiments of the carrycot according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a sectional view of a carrycot according to the invention with the bottom in the substantially flat first horizontal position;

[0021] Figure 2 is a sectional view, similar to Figure 1, with the bottom in the raised position;

[0022] Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, with an infant, shown in dashed lines, accommodated within the carrycot;

[0023] Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2, with an infant, shown in dashed lines, accommodated within the carrycot;

[0024] Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3, in which a larger infant is accommodated within the carrycot;

[0025] Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4 in which a larger infant is accommodated within the carrycot.

[0026] With reference to the figures, the carrycot according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, comprises a shell 2 which forms a lateral containment surface 3 and a bottom 4 which has, in succession along a longitudinal axis of extension 100, at least one first backrest portion 4a for supporting the trunk 10a of an infant 10, and at least one second portion 4b for supporting the pelvis 10b and at least part of the legs 10c of an infant 10.

[0027] The carrycot 1 comprises means 20 for moving the at least one first backrest portion 4a between a substantially flat first position (shown in Figures 1, 3 and 5), in which the at least one first backrest portion 4a and the at least one second portion 4b are arranged so as to be mutually coplanar on a substantially horizontal plane, and at least one second reclined position, in which the at least one first backrest portion 4a is arranged on a plane which is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane.

[0028] Moreover, the carrycot 1 is provided with locking means adapted to keep the at least one first backrest portion 4a locked in the second position.

[0029] The locking means may be of a known type, such as pins, screw-and- nut couplings, straps associated with locking clamps, etc. According to the present invention, the movement means 20 are adapted to cause, during the transition of the at least one first backrest portion 4a between the first position and the second position, a displacement of the at least one first backrest portion 4a along a movement direction which has at least one translational component, indicated by the arrow 102, which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of extension 100.

[0030] In practice, according to the invention, the first backrest portion 4a, in addition to rotating, also moves in space by translating.

[0031] In practice, the movement means 20 are adapted to cause, during the transition of the at least one first backrest portion 4a between the first position and the second position, an angular rotation of the at least one first backrest portion 4a around an axis of rotation 101 which is arranged transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of extension 100, and a translation of the at least one first backrest portion 4a toward the front region of the shell 2 designed to accommodate the head of the infant 10.

[0032] Advantageously, the carrycot 1 comprises means for kinematic connection between the at least one first backrest portion 4a and the at least one second portion 4b, which are adapted to cause, as a result of the transition of the first backrest portion 4a from the first position to the at least one second position and vice versa, in a respective displacement of the second portion 4b.

[0033] According to the inventive concept, it is not necessary, however, to provide a kinematic connection between the first backrest portion 4a and the second portion 4b, since it is possible to also provide that the second portion 4b is fixed with respect to the shell 2, or even that it is independently movable with respect to the first backrest portion 4a.

[0034] According to a preferred practical embodiment, the axis of rotation 101 is arranged at the longitudinal end of the first backrest portion 4a directed toward said second portion 4b.

[0035] In practice, during the transition from the first (horizontal) position to the second (reclined) position, the first backrest portion 4a rotates, with reference to what is shown in the figures, clockwise about the axis of rotation 101, which translates, at least with one of its components, toward the left, and thus toward the region of the carrycot occupied by the infant's head.

[0036] Advantageously, the second portion 4b is rotatable about the axis of rotation 101, following the transition of the first backrest portion 4a from the first position to the at least one second position and vice versa along a direction of rotation which is opposite with respect to the direction of rotation of the at least one first backrest portion 4a.

[0037] The movement means 20 are adapted to cause, during the transition of the at least one first backrest element 4a from the first position to the at least one second position, a displacement of the longitudinal end of the first backrest portion 4a from a first height, shown in Figures 1 and 2 with the dashed line 300, to a second height which is lower than the first height and is shown in Figure 2 with the dashed line 301.

[0038] Conveniently, the movement means 20 comprise interconnection bodies 21 connected to opposite sides of the at least one first backrest portion 4a and mounted so as to oscillate with respect to the body 2 around an axis of oscillation 200 that extends parallel to the axis of rotation 101.

[0039] In this case, the axis of oscillation 200 is fixed with respect to the shell 2.

[0040] The axis of oscillation 200, also, can be movable with respect to the body 2.

[0041] The movement means 200 comprise an actuation element 20a provided with a control portion which is accessible from the outside of said carrycot 1.

[0042] In any case, the actuation element 20a can be provided in various known ways, for example by means of a tape, a rotatable knob connected to a worm screw which meshes with a female thread in turn connected to the first backrest portion 4a or the second portion 4b, or by actuation elements connected to pins which can engage in abutment seats provided directly on the shell 2.

[0043] The carrycot 1 may comprise, between the shell 2, the lateral containment surface 3, and the bottom 4, mutual sliding means, for example constituted by sliding rollers 22a, 23 which can slide along guides 22 and configured to control the rotations and translations of the first backrest portion 4a and of the second portion 4b.

[0044] According to a preferred embodiment, the first backrest portion 4a can be associated with two lateral containment walls 22 configured to laterally delimit the first backrest portion 4a so as to provide support for the infant.

[0045] The use of the carrycot 1 according to the invention is as follows.

[0046] The user, should he / she wish to lift the first backrest portion 4a, acts on the actuation element 20a to move the first backrest portion 4a from the first (flat) position to the second (raised) position.

[0047] The movement means cause, in addition to the rotation of the second backrest portion 4a about a transverse axis, also a displacement toward the region occupied by the head of the infant 10 of the entire first backrest portion 4a.

[0048] This evidently allows to keep the center of gravity more central and to occupy optimally the space within the shell 2.

[0049] Indeed, if there were no displacement of the first backrest portion 4a, the infant 10 would, in the second position, be enclosed in an extremely smaller space, probably with its legs compressed and bent against the end wall.

[0050] Moreover, the possible displacement even downward of the first backrest portion 4a as a result of the transition into the second position allows to further optimize the space available, in terms of height as well.

[0051] In practice, it has been found that the invention achieves the intended aim and objects, providing a carrycot capable of optimizing the space available to the infant.

[0052] The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which fall within the scope of the appended claims; all the details may furthermore be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

[0053] For example, the second portion 4b can be associated with or articulated to a third portion 4c, which also optionally can rotate about a transverse hinge axis arranged at the connection with the second portion 4b.

[0054] In practice, the materials used, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to the requirements and the state of the art.

[0055] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. 102023000009306 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

[0056] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A carrycot (1), comprising a shell (2) which forms a lateral containment surface (3) and a bottom (4) having, in succession along a longitudinal axis of extension (100), at least one first backrest portion (4a) for supporting the trunk (10a) of an infant (10) and at least one second portion (4b) for supporting the pelvis (10b) and at least part of the legs (10c) of an infant (10), said carrycot (1) comprising movement means (20) for moving said at least one first backrest portion (4a) between a substantially flat first position, in which said at least one first backrest portion (4a) and said at least one second portion (4b) are arranged so as to be mutually coplanar on a substantially horizontal plane, and at least one second reclined position, in which said at least one first backrest portion (4a) is arranged on a plane that is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane, locking means being further provided which are adapted to keep said at least one first backrest portion (4a) locked in said second position, characterized in that said movement means (20) are adapted to cause, during the transition of said at least one first backrest portion (4a) between said first position and said second position, a displacement of said at least one first backrest portion (4a) along a direction of movement that has at least one translational component (102) which is substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of extension (100).

2. The carrycot (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said movement means (20) are adapted to produce, during the transition of said at least one first backrest portion (4a) between said first position and said second position, an angular rotation of said at least one first backrest portion (4a) about an axis of rotation (101) which is arranged transversely with respect to said longitudinal axis of extension (100), and a translation of said at least one first backrest portion (4a) toward the front region of said shell designed to accommodate the head of said infant (10).

3. The carrycot (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims,characterized in that it comprises means for kinematic connection between said at least one first backrest portion (4a) and said at least one second portion (4b) which are adapted to cause, as a result of the transition of said first backrest portion (4a) from said first position to said at least one second position and vice versa, a respective displacement of said second portion (4b).

4. The carrycot (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that said axis of rotation (101) is arranged at the longitudinal end of said first backrest portion (4a) that is directed toward said second portion (4b).

5. The carrycot (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second portion (4b) is rotatable about said axis of rotation (101) as a result of the transition of said first backrest portion (4a) from said first position to said at least one second position and vice versa along a direction of rotation that is opposite with respect to the direction of rotation of said at least one first backrest portion (4a).

6. The carrycot (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said movement means are adapted to cause, during the transition of said at least one first backrest element (4a) from said first position to said second position, a displacement of the longitudinal end of said first backrest portion (4a) that is directed toward said second portion (4b) from a first height to a second height which is lower than said first height.

7. The carrycot (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said movement means (20) comprise interconnection bodies (21) which are connected to opposite sides of said at least one first backrest portion (4a) and are mounted so that they oscillate with respect to said shell (2) about an axis of oscillation (200) that extends parallel to said axis of rotation (101).

8. The carrycot (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said movement means (20) comprise an actuationelement (20a) having an actuation portion that is accessible from the outside of said carrycot (1).

9. The carrycot (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises, between said shell (2), said lateral containment surface (3) and said bottom (4), mutual sliding means configured to control the rotations and translations of said first backrest portion (4a) and of said second backrest portion (4b).

10. The carrycot (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first backrest portion (4a) is associated with two lateral containment walls (22) configured to laterally delimit said first backrest portion (4a) so as to offer support to said infant (10).

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