AU2008200496A1

AU2008200496A1 - Playpen with a shock-absorbing function

Info

Publication number: AU2008200496A1
Application number: AU2008200496A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Shun-Min Chen; Jun-Xu Jin
Original assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Co Ltd Hong Kong
Current assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Co Ltd Taiwan
Priority date: 2007-05-30
Filing date: 2008-02-01
Publication date: 2008-12-18
Anticipated expiration: 2028-02-01
Also published as: AU2008200496B2; GB0802198D0; GB2449727B8; GB2449727B; FR2916614A1; FR2916614B1; GB2449727A; CN201036439Y; DE102008025924B4; DE102008025924A1

Description

P001 Section 29 Regulation 3.2(2)

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Application Number: Lodged: Invention Title: Playpen with a shock-absorbing function The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: P111ABAU1 207 00 PLAYPEN WITH A SHOCK-ABSORBING FUNCTION ,.i a Background of the Invention Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a playpen, and more particularly, to a playpen with a shock-absorbing function.

2. Description of the Prior Art SPlease refer to Fig.l. Fig.1 is a schematic drawing of a playpen 10 in the 00 prior art. The playpen 10 includes a bedstead 12, and a chassis 14 connected to 00 the bedstead 12. The bedstead 12 can be a foldable bedstead so as to bring the Splaypen 10 to a smallest size when being in the folded position. The bedstead 12 includes a plurality of foldable rods 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d, and a plurality of fixed rods 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d connected to the plurality of foldable rods 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d respectively. Joints A, B, C, D between the plurality of foldable rods 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d and the plurality of fixed rods 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d can be rigid. A plurality of hinges 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d is disposed in the middle of the plurality of foldable rods 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d respectively so that the plurality of foldable rods 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d can be bent downward for preservation and bringing the playpen to the smallest size. The chassis 14 includes a plurality of pipes 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, 22e, 22f connected to the plurality of fixed rods 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d respectively for supporting the bedstead 12. The chassis 14 further includes a base 24 connected to the plurality of pipes 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d. The user can pull the base 24 for bending the plurality of foldable rods 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d so as to put away the playpen 10. In addition, the cloth (not shown in figures) can be disposed above the chassis 14, and a soft cushion (not shown in figures) can be disposed on the cloth. Children can play on the soft cushion.

Children often jump in the playpen 10. If the playpen 10 can not provide good shock-absorbing and buffer effects, children feels uncomfortable and the bedstead 12 and the chassis 14 might damage. Even the original structure of the playpen 10 might slant causing safety problem. There is a need to design a playpen with good shock-absorbing effect.

00 O Summary of the Invention 0 It is therefore a primary objective of the claimed invention to provide a playpen with a shock-absorbing function for solving the above-mentioned problem.

According to the claimed invention, a playpen includes a bedstead, a chassis connected to the bedstead, and a shock-absorbing component installed on the chassis.

00 According to the claimed invention, a playpen includes a plurality of foldable rods, a plurality of fixed rods connected to the plurality of foldable rods respectively, and a chassis connected to the plurality of fixed rods. The chassis includes a base, and a plurality of pipes. One end of each pipe is connected to each fixed rod and the other end of each pipe is connected to the base. The playpen further includes a shock-absorbing component installed on the chassis.

These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings Fig.1 is a schematic drawing of a playpen in the prior art.

Fig.2 is a schematic drawing of a playpen according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig.3 is an exploded diagram of a chassis and a second shock-absorbing component according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig.4 is a combination diagram of the chassis and the second shockabsorbing component according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

00 O Detailed Description ,.i a Please refer to Fig.2. Fig.2 is a schematic drawing of a playpen according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The playpen 50 includes 0 5 a bedstead 52, and a chassis 54 connected to the bedstead 52. The bedstead 52 can be a foldable bedstead so as to bring the playpen 50 to a smallest size when being in the folded position. The bedstead 52 includes a plurality of foldable rods S56a, 56b, 56c, 56d, and a plurality of fixed rods 58a, 58b, 58c, 58d connected to the plurality of foldable rods 56a, 56b, 56c, 56d respectively. Joints D' 00 between the plurality of foldable rods 56a, 56b, 56c, 56d and the plurality of fixed Srods 58a, 58b, 58c, 58d can be rigid. The plurality of foldable rods 56a, 56b, 56c, 56d can be pivoted to one another. A plurality of hinges 60a, 60b, 60c, 60d is disposed in the middle of the plurality of foldable rods 56a, 56b, 56c, 56d respectively so that the plurality of foldable rods 56a, 56b, 56c, 56d can be bent downward for preservation and bringing the playpen 50 to the smallest size. The chassis 54 includes a plurality of pipes 62a, 62b, 62c, 62d, 62e, 62f. The pipes 62a, 62b, 62c, 62d are connected to the plurality of fixed rods 58a, 58b, 58c, 58d respectively for supporting the bedstead 52. The chassis 54 further includes a base 64 connected to the plurality of pipes 62a, 62b, 62c, 62d, 62e, 62f. The user can pull the base 64 for bending the plurality of foldable rods 56a, 56b, 56c, 56d so as to put away the playpen 50. In addition, the cloth (not shown in figures) can be disposed above the chassis 54, and a soft cushion (not shown in figures) can be disposed on the cloth. Children can play on the soft cushion.

The first embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the playpen 50 further includes a plurality of first shock-absorbing component 66 sleeved on the plurality of pipes 62a, 62b, 62c, 62d, 62e, 62f. The first shockabsorbing component is made of elastic material, such as rubber foam material.

The first shock-absorbing components 66 sleeves around the pipes 62a, 62b, 62c, 62d, 62e, 62f deform for providing elastic restoring forces so as to absorb the shock in X direction when children stand (steady force) or jump (impact force) in the playpen 50. The chassis 54 can afford the steady force or impact force due to the first shock-absorbing components 66 so as to increase shock-absorbing 00 O and buffer effects of the playpen 50. It is comfortable for children when standing or jumping in the playpen 50 and also prevents the chassis 54 from damage.

Please refer to Fig.3 and Fig.4. Fig.3 is an exploded diagram of the chassis 54 and a second shock-absorbing component 68 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Fig.4 is a combination diagram of the chassis 54 and the second shock-absorbing component 68 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment of the 00 present invention is characterized in that the base 64 of the chassis 54 includes a hollow pillar 70 disposed below the base 64. A hollow space 72 is formed inside the hollow pillar 70. A slot 74 is disposed on the sidewall of the hollow pillar The base 64 further includes a sleeve 76 received inside the hollow space 72 of the hollow pillar 70. A sliding component 78 is disposed on the outer surface of the tube wall of the sleeve 76 and disposed within the slot 74 in a slidable manner when the sleeve 76 is received inside the hollow pillar 70 so that the sleeve 76 is slidably mounted to the base 64. In order to prevent the sleeve 76 from separating from the hollow pillar 70 when the sliding component 78 slides to the lower end of the slot 74, the sliding component 78 has a hook-like structure to clutch the hollow pillar 70. When the playpen 50 is unfolded, an end of the sleeve 76 is received within the hollow pillar 70 and the other end of the sleeve 76 contacts with a surface which the playpen stands on. The surface can be a floor or a carpet. The end of the sleeve 76 which contacts with a floor has a close end in the shape of round, which has the same diameter with the sleeve, and the close end has a rough face to contact with said surface by attaching some materials on. The playpen 50 further includes a second shock-absorbing component 68 disposed inside the hollow space 72 of the hollow pillar 70 and the sleeve 76. The second shock-absorbing component 68 can be an elastic component, such as a spring, a pneumatic shock absorber, a hydraulic shock absorber, and so on. Similarly, the second shock-absorbing components 68 connected to the base 64 is capable of providing an elastic restoring force so as to eliminate the shock in X direction when children stand (steady force) or jump (impact force) in the playpen 50. The chassis 54 can afford added steady forces or impact forces due to the second shock-absorbing components 68 and 00 O increases shock-absorbing and buffer effects of the playpen 50. It is comfortable Sfor children when standing or jumping in the playpen 50 and also prevents the a chassis 54 from damage.

The first shock-absorbing component 66 in the first embodiment and the second shock-absorbing component 68 in the second embodiment can be applied to the playpen 50 together. The feature is essentially the same, thus a further description is hereby omitted.

00 In contrast to the prior art, the playpen of the present invention applies elastic shock-absorbing components on the chassis. It can increase shockabsorbing and buffer effects of the playpen. Furthermore, it is not only comfortable for children when standing or jumping in the playpen and but also prevents the playpen from damage.

Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A playpen comprising:; a bedstead; a chassis connected to the bedstead; and a shock-absorbing component installed on the chassis.

2. The playpen of claim 1, wherein the chassis comprises at least one pipe, c an end of the pipe is connected to the bedstead, and the shock-absorbing 00 O Scomponent sleeves on the pipe.

3. The playpen of claim 2, wherein the shock-absorbing component is made of elastic material.

4. The playpen of claim 2, wherein the shock-absorbing component is made of rubber foam material.

The playpen of claim 2, wherein the chassis further comprises a base connected to the pipe.

6. The playpen of claim 1, wherein the chassis comprises: a base; a sleeve mounted below the base wherein the shock-absorbing component is disposed between the base and the sleeve; and a plurality of pipes, one end of each pipe being connected to the bedstead and the other end of each pipe being connected to the base.

7. The playpen of claim 6, wherein the base comprises a hollow pillar for receiving the sleeve.

8. The playpen of claim 6, wherein that a slot is disposed on the base and the sleeve comprises a sliding component disposed within the slot so that the sleeve is slidably mounted to the base. 00 O

9. The playpen of claim 8, wherein the sliding component is a hook structure.

The playpen of claim 6, 7, or 9, wherein the shock-absorbing component is an elastic component.

11. The playpen of claim 10, wherein the shock-absorbing component is a spring.

012. A playpen comprising: (N 00 a plurality of foldable rods; 0 a plurality of fixed rods connected to the plurality of foldable rods respectively; and a chassis connected to the plurality of fixed rods, the chassis comprising: a base; a plurality of pipes, one end of each pipe being connected to each fixed rod and the other end of each pipe being connected to the base; and a shock-absorbing component installed on the chassis.

13. The playpen of claim 12, wherein the shock-absorbing component is made of elastic material and the shock-absorbing component sleeves around the pipe.

14. The playpen of claim 12, wherein the shock-absorbing component is an elastic component. The playpen of claim 12, wherein the base comprises a pillar and a sleeve slidable mounted on the pillar for sustain the playpen above a surface when the playpen is unfolded and the shock-absorbing component is disposed between the pillar and the sleeve.