|
(11) | EP 1 219 212 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||
| (54) | Wobble device for a collapsible playpen |
| (57) A wobble device for a collapsible playpen is provided. The wobble device includes
a collapsible playpen, four wobble members (21) respectively connected to lower corners
of the playpen each having a vertical cavity (215)) in the top for securing a post
(22) of the playpen, a transverse upper portion (212) including a pair horizontal
grooves (213,214) perpendicular to each other for pivoting a pair of transverse lower
rods (23) of the playpen, a foot (211) projecting downward, a lug (30) extending downward
from an underside of the transverse upper portion (212), and an aligned through hole
(31) in the lug (30) for rotatably securing a swinging plate (33) which has a sector-shaped
body, a plurality of arc ribs (331) connected with a plurality of radial ribs (332),
a flexible arcuate bottom, a pair of check members (333,333') engageable with the
projections (35) under the lug (30), a protrusion (335) above the bottom engageable
into a short extension on upper portion of the lug (30) and an oblong through hole
(337) engaged with the aligned through hole and secured by a rivet (32) and a spring
(339) biased on a vertical rod (338) into a top of the oblong hole (337). The swinging
plate (33) can be received into the lug (30) when not in use. |
[0001] The present invention relates to a playpen and more particularly to a wobble device for a collapsible playpen which enables the playpen to rock back and forth.
[0002] Typical collapsible playpens 10 (as shown in Fig. 1) generally comprise four foot members 11 which pivotally connect a pair of transverse rods 12 which are pivotally connected at their middle to an adapter 13. Accordingly, this playpen may be collapsed when it is not in use. The bottom 111 of the foot members stands on the ground stabilizing the playpen. This type of playpen is convenient to the user because it is collapsible so as to save space for storage or transportation. However, it could not wobble as a cradle to soothe or placate the baby.
[0003] Object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible playpen which is not only collapsible but also able to swing or rock.
[0004] The problem is solved by a collapsible playpen according to claim 1. The collapsible playpen comprises a wobble device on the foot of the collapsible playpen said wobble device having a limited rotation angle so as to ensure a safety swinging motion for the playpen.
[0005] Further, said wobble device has a swing plate able to be fixed onto the foot so that the playpen can remain in a stationary position.
[0006] The present invention will become more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the attached drawings.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a collapsible playpen according to a prior art,
Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a wobble device on the foot of a collapsible playpen according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention,
Figures 3 to 6 are perspective views and partially sectional views showing the assembly of the wobble device of Fig. 2,
Figures 7 to 9 and 12 to 13 are perspective views and partially sectional views showing the operation of the wobble device of the present invention,
Figures 10, 11 and 14 are perspective views showing that the swinging plate of the wobble device is fixed upward so that the bottom of the corner member is standing on the ground,
Figure 15 is a perspective view showing an alternative embodiment of the present invention,
Figure 16 is an exploded perspective view of Fig. 15,
Figures 17 to 20 show the assembly of the wobble device of Fig. 16,
Figures 21 to 26 show the operation of the wobble device of Fig. 16.
[0007] With reference to Figs. 2 to 6 of the drawings, the first embodiment of the wobble device of the collapsible playpen of the present invention comprises generally four wobble members 21 of inverse L-shaped section, each having a transverse upper portion 212 composed of a pair of horizontal grooves 213 and 214 perpendicular to each other for respectively pivoting the free ends of a pair of collapsible lower transverse rods 23 of the playpen, a vertical cavity 215 in a top for securing a post 22 of the playpen all connected by rivets 221 and 231, so that the lower transverse rods 23 are rotatable on the rivet 231 and a foot 211 perpendicularly extending downward from the transverse portion 212. The foot can be placed on the ground to support the weight of the playpen. Under the transverse portion 212 there is a lug 30 extending downward and being composed of a pair of rectangular plates 31 each having a pair of vertical ribs 34, a pair of projections 35, and an aligned through hole 31 for pivoting a swinging plate 33. The swinging plate 33 has a sector-shaped body including a plurality of arc ribs 331 perpendicular to a plurality of radial ribs 332, a pair of check members 333 and 333' on opposite sides enabling to engage with and being stopped by the projections 35 of the lug 30, a flexible arcuate frame 334 on the bottom of the swinging plate 33, a protrusion 335 projected outward from a plane surface of the plate 33 above the arcuate frame 334 and an oblong hole 337 including a vertical rod 338 in the top thereof for pivoting the swinging plate 33 into the lug 30 by a rivet 32 and biased by a spring 339 so that the swinging plate 33 can be moved up and down on the rivet 32. The protrusion 335 is stopped by an extension 37 of the lug 30 to fix the swinging plate 33 and receive it therein (as shown in Fig. 10). The swinging plate 33 is normally received into the lug 30 from the right side of the lug 30. It can also be received from the left side of the lug 30. When the swinging plates 33 are all beneath the lugs 30 and stand on the ground, they are positioned in the same direction (as shown in Figs. 6 and 12). The rivet 32 is placed at the lower end of the oblong hole 337. Therefore, the swinging plates 33 are in an upward position. This time, the user can swing about the playpen left and right to please the baby (as shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 13). The check members 333 and 333' are respectively stopped by the projections 35 of the lug 30 to control the swinging plate 33 from further rotation, so it is safe.
[0008] Referring to Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 14, when the swinging plates 33 are not in use, the swinging plates 33 may be pulled down and rotated rightward. In this state, the check members 333 and 333' are not in engagement with the projections 35 and the swinging plates 33 are permitted for further rotation and may be received by the lugs 30 and fixed by the protrusion 335 inside the short rib 37. The bottom of the feet stand on the ground to support the weight of the playpen. The swinging plates 33 are readily to be push down if it is used again.
[0009] Referring to Figs. 15 and 16 of the drawings, an alternative or second embodiment of the wobble device for a collapsible playpen of the present invention is provided. This embodiment is structurally and functionally most similar to the first embodiment described in Figs. 2-14, and the above discussions are applicable in most instances.
[0010] The difference is that instead of the four wobble members 50, there is a central seat at a lower center of the collapsible playpen 40. Four lower transverse rods 43 respectively are pivotally connected to the central seat 42. Four V-shaped adapters 44 respectively are connected to the four transverse rods 43, a pair of collapsible rods 45 and four bent rods 54 which have their other ends being pivotally connected to the wobble members 50.
[0011] The wobble member 50 has a vertical lug 51 on the bottom which can be stood on the ground as a foot of the playpen 40, a vertical cavity 52 for securing a post 41 of the playpen 40 by a rivet, a transverse groove 53 for pivoting the bent rod 54 and a swinging plate 55 of sector-section pivotally connected to the lug 51 by rivet 551. The swinging plate 55 has an axial through hole 552 in a center, an arcuate slot 553 communicating to a positioning slot 554 and a damping wall 555 formed beside the arcuate slot 553.
[0012] The lug 51 further has a hollow interior rectangular projection communicating to the inside of the lug 51. The rectangular projection has a rectangular hole 521 and a circular hole 522 in an upper portion. A catch 56 is inserted into the rectangular hole 521 and secured by pin 561, has a protrusion 562 at its front engageable with the damping wall 555 of the swinging plate 55, and an elastic clip 563 on the rear. A positioning pin 57 is inserted into the circular hole 552 and has a large diameter front end engageable with the arcuate slot 553 and the positioning slot 554 of the swinging plate 55. On the positioning pin 57 a shoulder 571 is defined to bias a spring 572 thereon. A push plate 573 is connected to the rear end of the pin 57 by a rivet. A wheel 581 is rotatably secured to a branch lug 58 by a rivet 582. The catch 56 can be leverly operated and the protrusion 562 can raise upward because of the elastic clip 563. The spring 572 provides resilience to the pin 57 which is engageable into the arcuate slot 553 and/or the positioning slot 554. When the push plate 573 is pushed, the elastic clip 563 of the catch 56 is pressed to force the protrusion 562 moving downward (as shown in Figs. 17, 18, 19, 20 and 23).
[0013] Referring to Figs. 21 and 22, in operation, when the swinging plate 55 rotates leftward, it will be stopped by the protrusion 562 at the upper end of the damping wall 555 and, when the swinging plate 55 rotates rightward, it will be stopped by the lug 50 at its right edge. Thus the rotation of the swinging plates 55 is safely limited.
[0014] When the swinging plate 55 is received into the lug 50 not in use, the push plate 573 is pulled backward forcing the pin 57 to detach from the arcuate slot 553 and the push plate 572 will be temporarily stopped against the catch 56, then the swinging plate 55 rotates leftward, the protrusion 562 will move downward to engage into the damping wall 555. The push plate 573 will also leave the elastic dip 563 to permit the pin 57 being engaged into the positioning slot 554 such that the swinging plate is fixed without moving (as shown in Fig. 24).
[0015] If the swinging plate 55 shall be used again, the push plate 573 is pulled backward again to disengage the pin 57 with the positioning slot 554 and stop the push plate 573 against the outer end of the elastic clip 563 so that the protrusion 562 is forced to raise up to leave the damping wall 555 that the swinging plate 55 begins to rotate again and the pin 57 will be automatically engaged into the arcuate slot 553.
four wobble members (21) respectively engaged with four corners of the bottom of the playpen, each of the wobble members (21) having an inverse L-shaped section, a transverse upper portion (212) composed of a pair of horizontal grooves (213, 214) perpendicular to each other for respectively pivoting the free ends of a pair of collapsible lower transverse rods (23) of the playpen, a vertical cavity (215) in the top for securing a post (22) of the playpen by rivets (221, 231), a foot (211) perpendicularly extending downward from the transverse upper portion (212), a lug (30) extending downward from an underside of the transverse upper portion (212) including a pair of rectangular plates (31) each having a pair of vertical ribs (34), a pair of projections (35) under the ribs and an aligned through hole (31) for pivoting a swinging plate (33) by means of a rivet (32) and a short extension (37) on an upper portion thereof.
a collapsible playpen having a central seat (40) on a lower central portion respectively pivoted to four lower transverse rods (43), four V-shaped adapters (44) respectively pivoted to the four lower transverse rods (43), a pair of collapsible rods (45) and four bent rods (54) ; four wobble members (50) each having a vertical lug (51) standable on the ground, with an aligned through hole (522) for rotatably securing a swinging plate (55) into the lug (51) by means of a rivet (551), a branch lug (58) on a sight side for rotatably securing a wheel (581) therein, a vertical cavity (52) in a top for securing a post (41) of the playpen (40), a horizontal groove (53) in a top opposite to the cavity for pivoting the free end of the bent rod (54), a hollow interior rectangular projection on a left side opposite to the branch lug (58) including a rectangular hole (521) and a circular hole in upper portion, a catch (56) inserting into the rectangular leverly secured by means of a rivet (582), said catch (56) having a protrusion (562) on the front end and an elastic clip (563) at the rear end, a positioning pin (57) inserting into the circular hole (552) having a large diameter front end to define a shoulder (571) thereon for biasing a spring means (572) and a push plate (573) perpendicularly to the rear end of the positioning pin (57).