A bedside crib

Abstract

A beside crib 10 for babies includes a crib body 12 removably disposable on a stand 14. The frame 14 has a leg assembly 30, which may comprise a pair of scissored legs, and a stand alignment bar 32 with a profiled stand surface 34. The frame placement strut 32 is attachable to the leg assembly to be held above the ground by it, such that the profiled stand surface faces upwards. The crib body comprises a crib alignment bar 54 with a profiled crib surface 56 configured to face, and mate with, the profiled stand surface when the crib body is disposed on the stand. The profiled surfaces 34, 56 are complementary, so that when the crib body 12 is lowered onto the stand 14, it is urged towards a central position on it by cooperation of the complementary surfaces 34, 56.

Description

The present invention relates to a bedside crib for babies. Bedside cribs are typically used next to a bed for babies between the age of 0-6 months. Various features, such as a removable crib body, height adjustability and breathability are highly desirable in such cribs. According to a first aspect, there is provided a beside crib for babies, comprising: a stand; a crib body removably disposable on the stand; wherein the stand comprises a leg assembly and a stand alignment bar, the stand alignment bar comprising a profiled stand surface and configured to be attached to the leg assembly to be held above the ground by the leg assembly such that the profiled stand surface faces away from the ground; wherein the crib body comprises a crib alignment bar having a profiled crib surface which is configured to face, and mate with, the profiled stand surface when the crib body is disposed on the stand, the profiled crib surface being complementary to the profiled stand surface, so that the crib body is urged towards a central position on the stand, when lowered onto the stand, by cooperation of the complementary profiled stand surface and profiled crib surface. The crib body may comprise an internal void within which a mattress may be placed. The crib body may comprise a front panel and a back panel. The front panel and the back panel may, at least in part, define the internal void. When separated from the stand, the crib body may stand on the front panel and the back panel. In other words, the front panel and the back panel may be configured to contact a surface, when the crib body is placed on the surface. The front panel and the back panel may comprise similar, or identical, profiles. A base of the front panel and / or the back panel may comprise a curved outer surface. The curved outer surface may enable a rocking motion of the crib body on a surface. It may be that the stand alignment bar extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the stand. It may be that the crib alignment bar extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the crib body, such that when the crib body is disposed on the stand, its longitudinal axis is parallel with the longitudinal axis of the stand. It may be that the stand comprises two identical leg assemblies each with a corresponding stand alignment bar. It may be that the crib body comprises two crib alignment bars, each configured to cooperate with a respective stand alignment bar. It may be that the two leg assemblies and stand alignment bars are offset from one another on either side of a longitudinal axis of the stand. It may be that the leg assembly comprises a pair of scissored legs. It may be that the scissored legs each comprise adjustment ends which are configured to attach to an adjustment bar to hold the adjustment bar above the ground. It may be that the adjustment bar is the stand alignment bar. It may be that the adjustment bar comprises an adjustment mechanism to enable the adjustment ends of the scissored legs to be moved along the length of the adjustment bar to vary the height of the adjustment bar off the ground. It may be that the adjustment mechanism comprises a plurality of holes distributed along the adjustment bar, wherein each hole is configured to align with a hole at a crib end of at least one of the legs to enable attachment of the crib end of the leg with the adjustment bar at different positions. It may be that the two leg assemblies are held at a predetermined distance from one another offset from the longitudinal axis with a crib bar disposed between a crib end of the leg assemblies, and wherein the crib bar comprises a hole in its end which is configured to align with one of the plurality of holes of the adjustment mechanism. In other words, it may be that the crib bar comprises dual functionality to hold the leg assemblies apart from one another about the longitudinal axis and to attach to the stand alignment bar to adjust the height of the crib. It may be that the profiled stand surface comprises a central valley and opposing plateaus on either side of the valley with an angled surface between each plateau and the valley. In other words, it may be that the stand profiled surface comprises an inverted frustoconical shape in cross-section. It may be that the stand alignment bar comprises the adjustment mechanism below each plateau of the profiled stand surface. It may be that a corner between each angled surface and plateau is chamfered. It may be that a corner between each angled surface and valley is chamfered. The skilled person will appreciate that except where mutually exclusive, a feature or parameter described in relation to any one of the above aspects may be applied to any other aspect. Furthermore, except where mutually exclusive, any feature or parameter described herein may be applied to any aspect and / or combined with any other feature or parameter described herein. According to a second aspect, which may comprise any of the features of the first aspect, there is provided a beside crib for babies, comprising a stand and a crib body. The crib body may be removably disposable on the stand. The stand may comprise a leg assembly and may comprise a stand alignment bar. The stand alignment bar may comprise a profiled stand surface and may be configured to be attached to the leg assembly to be held above the ground by the leg assembly such that the profiled stand surface faces away from the ground. The crib body may comprise a crib alignment bar having a profiled crib surface which is configured to face, and mate with, the profiled stand surface when the crib body is disposed on the stand. The profiled crib surface may be complementary to the profiled stand surface, so that the crib body is urged towards a central position on the stand, when lowered onto the stand, by cooperation of the complementary profiled stand surface and profiled crib surface. Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying Figures, in which: Figure 1 schematically shows an isometric view of an example bedside crib for babies; Figures 2a and 2b schematically show an example stand adjusted to two different configurations; Figure 3 schematically shows a close-up view of an example adjustment mechanism of the bedside crib; and Figure 4 schematically shows an isometric exploded view of the bedside crib from below. Figure 1 shows a bedside crib 10 for babies comprising an example crib body 12 and an example stand 14 on which the crib body 12 is disposed, so that the crib body 12 is held above the ground by the stand 14. The bedside crib 10 extends along a longitudinal axis 50. In this example, the crib body 12 is removably disposed on the stand 14 so that it can be lifted from the stand 14 and placed on any suitable surface independently of the stand 14. The crib body 12 comprises an internal void 16 with a base 18 on which a mattress may be disposed. In this example, the internal void 16 is cuboid and the base 18 is rectangular. In other examples, the internal void and base may comprise any suitable shape. In this example, the crib body 12 comprises a front panel 20 and a back panel 22 which define the internal void 16 between them as well as between two side panels 23 (only one is visible in Figure 1). In this example, the crib body 12 is configured to stand on the front panel 20 and the back panel 22 when separated from the stand 14. In other words, in this example, the front panel 20 and the back panel 22 are configured to contact a surface on which the crib body 12 may be placed. In this example, the front panel 20 and the back panel 22 comprise a similar shape having a u-shaped profile, with a slightly curved outer profile 24 at their base, so that, when placed on any surface, the outer profile 24 allows a (limited) rocking motion of the crib body 12 on the surface. The curve of the base comprises a change in angle of approximately X degrees across a longitudinal length of X metres. The maximum angle change from a tangent on one side of the base to a tangent on the other side of the base may be 10 degrees to allow a maximum rocking of 10 degrees. Figures 2a and 2b show the stand 14 in a lower configuration and an upper configuration respectively. In this example, the stand 14 comprises a pair of leg assemblies 30 and a corresponding pair of stand alignment bars 32. In this example, the pair of leg assemblies 30 are identical, and the pair of stand alignment bars 32 are identical, but are disposed in mirror images with the same components. Only one leg assembly 30 and stand alignment bar 32 will be described in detail below. In other examples, the pair of leg assemblies may be different, and the pair of stand alignment bars may be different, such as being handed. In this example, each leg assembly 30 extends parallel to the longitudinal axis 50, and offset from the longitudinal axis 50 on either side of a vertical plane containing the longitudinal axis 50. In other examples, the leg assemblies 30 may not be parallel to the longitudinal axis 50, for example, the leg assemblies may cross one another and / or the longitudinal axis. Each leg assembly 30 is connected to the other leg assembly 30 by bars 28 to retain them a predetermined distance apart from the longitudinal axis 50. In this example, each leg assembly 30 is connected to the other leg assembly 30 at a base end by a base bar 28a and at a crib end by a crib bar 28b. Each stand alignment bar 32 extends parallel to the longitudinal axis 50, and offset from the longitudinal axis 50 (e.g., a vertical plane containing the longitudinal axis 50) on either side. In other examples, the stand alignment bars 32 may not be parallel to the longitudinal axis 50. The leg assembly 30 is configured to be attached to the stand alignment bar 32, and is configured to hold the stand alignment bar 32 above the ground. In this example, the stand alignment bar 32 is attached to the leg assembly 30 at the crib end so that it is suspended above the ground. The stand alignment bars 32 are configured to support the crib body 12 above the ground. In the lower configuration (shown in Figure 2a), the stand alignment bar 32 is held lower to the ground than in the upper configuration (shown in Figure 2b). In other words, the leg assembly 30 can be modified to hold the stand alignment bar 32 at different heights above the ground, and thereby to support the crib body 12 at different heights above the ground. Although only two configurations are shown in the figures, in this example, the stand alignment bar 32 can be moved to multiple different heights above the ground as is explained in more detail with reference to Figure 3. In this example, the leg assembly 30 comprises a pair of scissored legs 36. The configuration of scissored legs 36 means that the height of the stand alignment bar 32 can be altered by altering the angle between the scissored legs 36, and can be fixed at different heights by holding the scissored legs 36 at different angles and / or by holding ends of the scissored legs 36 at different distances from one another. In other examples, the leg assembly may comprise any suitable configuration of legs. In this example, the scissored legs 36 comprise adjustment ends 38 at the crib end of the leg assembly 30. In this example, the adjustment ends 38 are the same as the crib ends. The adjustment ends 38 are attached to an adjustment bar to hold the adjustment bar above the ground and to hold the adjustment ends 38 apart at a predetermined distance, corresponding to holding the adjustment bar a predetermined height above the ground. In this example, the stand alignment bar 32 is the adjustment bar, although in other examples, the adjustment bar may be a separate bar which is attached to, or otherwise supports the stand alignment bar. In an example where the adjustment bar is separate to the stand alignment bar, the stand alignment bar may not be fixed to the leg assemblies, but may instead be attached to the adjustment bar or may simply be supported by the adjustment bar. The stand alignment bar 32 comprises a profiled stand surface 34 which is attached to the leg assembly 30 so that the profiled stand surface 34 faces away from the ground, and therefore faces the crib body 12 when the crib body 12 is placed on the stand 14. The profiled stand surface 34 comprises a central valley 44 and opposing plateaus 46 on either side of the valley 44 with an angled surface 48 between each plateau 46 and the valley 44. In other words, the profiled stand surface 34 comprises an inverted frustoconical shape in cross-section. In this example, the corner between each angled surface 48 and each plateau 46 is chamfered and the corner between each angled surface 48 and the valley 44 is chamfered. Figure 3 shows a close-up view of an adjustment end 38 of one of the legs 36 attached to the adjustment bar (i.e., the stand alignment bar 32). The adjustment bar, which in this example is the stand alignment bar 32, comprises an adjustment mechanism 40. The adjustment mechanism 40 is configured to enable the adjustment ends 38 of the scissored legs 36 to be moved along the length of the adjustment bar (e.g., the stand alignment bar 32) and fixed at varying positions along the adjustment bar, parallel to the longitudinal axis 50 to vary the height of the adjustment bar above the ground. In this example, the adjustment mechanism 40 is disposed on the stand alignment bar 32 below each plateau 46 of the profiled stand surface 34. In other examples, the adjustment mechanism may be disposed below only one of the plateaus 46 of the profiled stand surface, or in any suitable location on the adjustment bar. In this example, the adjustment mechanism 40 comprises a plurality of holes 42 spaced along the adjustment bar. In this example, the holes 42 are distributed below the plateau 46 of the profiled stand surface 34 within a recess 49. In this example, the plurality of holes 42 are each configured to individually align with a hole (not shown) through a central axis in the crib bar 28b to receive a screw through one of the respective holes 42 in the adjustment bar and through the hole in the crib bar 28b to fix the leg assembly 30 to the stand alignment bar 32. The recess 49 in which the holes 42 of the stand alignment bar 32 are disposed provides an upper surface against which the crib bar 28b abuts. This ensures that not all of the weight of the crib body 12 is held by the screws between the crib bars 28b and the stand alignment bar 32, thus reducing the risk of shearing the screws. The crib bar 28b therefore has dual functionality in holding the leg assemblies 30 a predetermined distance apart from one another offset from the longitudinal axis 50, and in a part of the adjustment mechanism 40 to fix the height of the stand alignment bar 32, and therefore the crib body 12 above the ground. In other examples, the adjustment end 38 of the legs 36 may comprise a hole to fix the leg 36 itself to the stand alignment bar 32, rather than the crib bar 28b. In other examples, when the holes of the crib bar and the adjustment bar are aligned, a bar, a dowel or a screw, for example, may be placed in the holes to retain or fix the parts in position. In other examples, the adjustment mechanism may be any suitable mechanism to enable the adjustment bar to be moved to a different height above the ground. For example, the adjustment mechanism may comprise a ratchet mechanism to enable movement of the adjustment ends along the adjustment bar, or a pneumatic or hydraulic assembly, or in some examples, a sliding assembly with friction collars or the like. In other examples, the legs may comprise the adjustment mechanism, for example in the form of telescopic ends to enable changing the length of the legs. Returning to Figures 2a and 2b, it will be appreciated that respective crib bars 28b are fixed to the outermost holes 42 on the stand alignment bar 32 in the lower configuration, resulting in a minimum height of the stand alignment bar 32 (and therefore of the crib body 12 when supported by the stand alignment bar 32) above the ground. It will further be appreciated that the respective crib bars 28b are fixed to the innermost holes 42 on the stand alignment bar 32 in the upper configuration resulting in a maximum height of the stand alignment bar 32 above the ground. Therefore, fixing the crib bar 28b to any intermediate holes 42 between the outermost hole 42 and the innermost hole 42 will result in configurations of the crib body 12 being at different heights between the maximum height and the minimum height. Figure 4 shows a bottom exploded view of the crib 10, with the crib body 12 shown above the stand 14. The base 18 comprises a plurality of through holes 52 to enable air flow through it when a mattress is placed on it. In this example, the crib body 12 comprises a pair of crib alignment bars 54 which are disposed on an inside face of the front panel 20 and the back panel 22 respectively, under the base 18. The crib alignment bars 54 extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 50 of the crib body 12, such that when the crib body 12 is disposed on the stand 14, its longitudinal axis 50 is parallel with the longitudinal axis 50 of the stand. Each crib alignment bar 54 comprises a profiled crib surface 56 which is configured to face, and mate with, the profiled stand surface 34 when the crib body 12 is disposed on, and supported by, the stand 14. The profiled crib surface 56 is complementary to the profiled stand surface 34 so that the crib body is urged toward a central position on the stand 14 when it is lowered onto the stand, by cooperation of the complementary profiled stand surface and profiled crib surface. This ensures safe positioning of the crib body 12 on the stand 14, as it reduces the risk of partially locating the crib body 12 on the stand 14. It further aids the user in feeling the correct positioning of the crib body 12 on the stand 14. In this example, it is the inverted and chamfered frustoconical profile of the profiled stand surface 34 which urges the crib alignment bar towards the valley 44 by gravity, and the complementary profile of the profiled crib surface 56 which ensures that, once in the valley 44 and flanked by the plateaus 46, the crib alignment bar 54 cannot be moved along the longitudinal axis 50 without a significant force to drive the crib alignment bar 54 up the angled surface 48 or without lifting the crib body 12 off the stand 14. In other examples, there may be only a single crib alignment bar which is configured to mate with only a single profile stand surface. In examples where the pair of stand alignment bars are different, such as being handed, the crib alignment bars may still be complementary to the respective stand alignment bars so that the crib body can only be supported on the stand in one orientation. Although the stand 14 has been described with two leg assemblies and two stand alignment bars, in other examples, the stand may comprise only a single leg assembly and stand alignment bar, or more than two leg assemblies and stand alignment bars. Although the stand 14 has been described as being adjustable so that the stand alignment bar is moveable to multiple different heights above the ground, in other examples, the stand may not be adjustable. Although it has been described that the stand alignment bar comprises an adjustment mechanism on either side, it may comprise it at only a single end. It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments above-described and various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the concepts described herein. Except where mutually exclusive, any of the features may be employed separately or in combination with any other features and the disclosure extends to and includes all combinations and sub-combinations of one or more features described herein.

Claims

1. A beside crib for babies, comprising:a stand;a crib body removably disposable on the stand;wherein the stand comprises a leg assembly and a stand alignment bar, the stand alignment bar comprising a profiled stand surface and configured to be attached to the leg assembly to be held above the ground by the leg assembly such that the profiled stand surface faces away from the ground;wherein the crib body comprises a crib alignment bar having a profiled crib surface which is configured to face, and mate with, the profiled stand surface when the crib body is disposed on the stand, the profiled crib surface being complementary to the profiled stand surface, so that the crib body is urged towards a central position on the stand, when lowered onto the stand, by cooperation of the complementary profiled stand surface and profiled crib surface.

2. A bedside crib according to claim 1, wherein the stand alignment bar extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the stand, and wherein the crib alignment bar extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the crib body, such that when the crib body is disposed on the stand, its longitudinal axis is parallel with the longitudinal axis of the stand.

3. A bedside crib according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the stand comprises two identical leg assemblies each with a corresponding stand alignment bar, and wherein the crib body comprises two crib alignment bars, each configured to cooperate with a respective stand alignment bar.

4. A bedside crib according to claim 3, wherein the two leg assemblies and stand alignment bars are offset from one another on either side of a longitudinal axis of the stand.

5. A bedside crib according to any preceding claim, wherein the leg assembly comprises a pair of scissored legs.

6. A bedside crib according to claim 5, wherein the scissored legs each comprise adjustment ends which are configured to attach to an adjustment bar to hold the adjustment bar above the ground.

7. A bedside crib according to claim 6, wherein the adjustment bar is the stand alignment bar.

8. A bedside crib according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the adjustment bar comprises an adjustment mechanism to enable the adjustment ends of the scissored legs to be moved along the length of the adjustment bar to vary the height of the adjustment bar off the ground.

9. A bedside crib according to claim 8, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a plurality of holes distributed along the adjustment bar, wherein each hole is configured to align with a hole at a crib end of at least one of the legs to enable attachment of the crib end of the leg with the adjustment bar at different positions.

10. A bedside crib according to claim 3 and 9, wherein the two leg assemblies are held at a predetermined distance from one another offset from the longitudinal axis with a crib bar disposed between a crib end of the leg assemblies, and wherein the crib bar comprises a hole in its end which is configured to align with one of the plurality of holes of the adjustment mechanism.

11. A bedside crib according to any preceding claim, wherein the profiled stand surface comprises a central valley and opposing plateaus on either side of the valley with an angled surface between each plateau and the valley.

12. A bedside crib according to claims 8 and 11, wherein the stand alignment bar comprises the adjustment mechanism below each plateau of the profiled stand surface.

13. A bedside crib according to claim 11 or 12, wherein a corner between each angled surface and plateau is chamfered.

14. A bedside crib according to any of claims 11-13, wherein a corner between each angled surface and valley is chamfered.11

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