GB2214421A - Nursery stand - Google Patents

Abstract

A folding nursery stand comprises a pair of U-shaped members 12, 20 having horizontal top portions 14, 22 and leg portions 16, 18, 24, 26 projecting obliquely downwardly therefrom, the legs being pivotally interconnected at points 28, 30. Transverse supports 74, 76 extend between the legs at a position between the top and the pivot. Pairs of stays 40, 42 and 60, 62 pivotted at 44, 64, are connected by end pivot joints 32, 34, 36, 38 to the legs at the ends of the transverse supports. The pivots 44, 64 are arranged to prevent movement thereof below a position in which the stays are straight. The pivot axes of the pivots 44, 64 are located above the plane of the end pivot joints 32, 34, 36, 38 when the stay members are straight so that moving the top portions the legs towards one another folds the stays. <IMAGE>

Description

NURSERY STAND This invention relates to a folding nursery stand of the type which can be used either to support a baby's bath or to support a carrycot.

A known stand of this type comprises a pair of inverted U-shaped members, having horizontal top portions and leg portions projecting obliquely downwardly therefrom. Respective leg portions of each U-shaped member are pivotally interconnected approximately half way along each limb for relative angular movement about an axis parallel to their top members. Transverse support members extend between the leg portions of each U-shaped member, parallel to the corresponding top member and at an intermediate position between such top member and the pivot axis. One or more stays are provided to hold the U-shaped members at a first angle to one another suitable for supporting a carrycot on the support members and between the top members, and at a second angle to one another suitable for supporting a baby's bath in a similar manner.

In one known stand, the stay is pivotally connected to one of the U-shaped members and has two hook formations for selective engagement with a complementary formation on the other U-shaped member so as to hold the two members at either of the two required angles relative to one another. In another known stand, a first stay comprising a pair of stay members which are pivotally interconnected by an intermediate pivot joint, each of which is pivotally connected to a respective one of the U-shaped members by an end pivot joint. The stay thus allows the stand to fold up but limits the maximum extent to which the stand can be unfolded. A second detachable stay is used to hold the two U-shaped members at a smaller angle with the first mentioned stay partially folded.

According to the invention, in the stand of the foregoing type in which the stay comprises a pair of stay members which are pivotally interconnected by an intermediate pivot joint, each of which is connected by an end pivot joint to a leg portion of a respective one of the U-shaped members at a location between the pivotal interconnection of the U-shaped members and the top member thereof, the intermediate pivot joint being arranged to prevent movement of the intermediate pivot joint below a position in which the two stay members are aligned with one another, the pivot axis of the intermdeiate pivot joint being located above the plane containiny the pivot axes of the end pivot joints when the stay members are in mutual alignment so that a force tending to move the top portions of each U-shaped member towards one another causes the stay to fold at its intermediate joint.

Preferably each support member is connected fast with a respective stay member inward of the end pivot joints so that a baby. bath or carrycot positioned thereon presses the stay members into their fully aligned position.

Preferably at least one pivot joint is arranged to permit relative translational movement between such stay member and the U-shaped member so as to vary the effective length of the stay. Such means may comprise a generally horizontal slot formed on the stay with upwardly extending end portions together with a pivot pin fast with the U-shaped member and projecting through the slot.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a nursery stand in accordance with the invention supporting a carrycot; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the stand in the position shown in Figure 1 but with the carrycot removed; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the stand shown in Figure 1 but supporting a baby's bath; Figure 4 is a perspective view, similar to Figure 2, but showing the stand in the position to support the bath.

Referring to Figure 1, a carrycot 10 is supported on a stand comprising a first U-shaped member 12 having å top portion 14 and two legs 16 and 18, and a second Ushaped member 20 having a top portion 22 and two legs 24 and 26. The mid-point of the leg 16 is connected to the mid-point of the leg 24 by a pivot joint 28 and the midpoint of the leg 18 is connected to the mid-point of the leg 26 by a pivot joint 30.

Mutually aligned pivot pins 32 and 34 are mounted on the legs 16 and 18 respectively at intermediate locations between the top member 14 and respective pivot joints 28 and 30. Similar pivot pins 36 and 38 are provided at corresponding locations on the legs 24 and 26 respectively.

A stay is formed from two stay members 40 and 42 interconnected by a pivot joint 44 which is constructed so as to allow the stay portions 40 and 42 to fold upwardly but to prevent them from folding downwardly below the position illustrated in which they are in alignment with one another. On its free end, the stay 40 has a downwardly extending guide plate 46 with a slot 48 cut therein. The slot 48 is generally horizontal but has upwardly extending portions at each end. The pivot pin 36 extends through the slot 48 and is illustrated in Figure 2 as being located at the outer end thereof. A similar plate 50 is formed on the end of the stay member 42 and has a slot 52 therein which engages with the pivot pin 32.

A similar stay, consisting of stay portions 60 and 62, interconnected by a central joint 64 has a plate 66 with a slot 68 on the free end of the portion 60 and a plate 70 with a slot 72 on the free end of the portion 62. The pin 34 engages in the slot 66 and the pin 38 on the leg 26 in the slot 72.

A first transverse support member 74 extends between the stay portion 42 and the stay portion 60 between the plates 46 and 66 and the central pivot joints 44 and 64. A second support member 76 extends between the stay portions 42 and 62 at similar locations.

When the carrycot 10 is on the stand, as illustrated in Figure 1, it exerts a downward force on the support members 74 and 76. Since these are located inboard of the pivot pins 32, 34 and 36, 38, the result is to press the stays down as far as the pivot joints 44 and 64 will allowthem to go. On the other hand, if the carrycot 10 is removed and the top members 14 and 22 pressed towards one another, then, since the pivot joints 44 and 64 are above the plane of the pivot pins 32, 34, 36 and 38, the result. is to fold the stays at the pivot joints 44 and 64, allowing the entire stand to fold flat.

When the stand is to be used with a baby's bath 80, as shown in Figure 3, it is necessary for the top portions 14 and 22 to be closer together because the bath is of a shorter length than the carrycot 10. This has the additional advantage that the bath 80 is positioned higher from the ground. To effect this adjustment, the plates 46, 50, 66 and 70 are raised, displacing the corresponding pivot pins 32, 34, 36, 38 into the horizontal portions of the respective slots 48, 68, 50, 72. The pins can now slide along their respective slots and then be displaced into the inboard end portions thereof, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. The stand can be folded flat from the position illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 in the same manner as from the position illustated in Figures 1 and 2; it is not necessary to adjust the effective length of the stays before folding.

Claims (5)

1. A folding nursery stand comprising a pair of inverted U-shaped members, having horizontal top portions and leg portions projecting obliquely downwardly therefrom, respective leg portions of each U-shaped member being pivotally interconnected at intermediate points thereon for relative angular movement about an axis parallel to their top members, a respective transverse support member extending between the leg portions of each U-shaped member parallel to the corresponding top member and at an intermediate position between such top member and the pivot axis, and a pair of stay members pivotally interconnected by an intermediate pivot joint, each stay member being connected by an end pivot joint to a leg portion of a respective one of the U-shaped members at a location between the pivotal interconnection of the U-shaped members and the top member thereof, the intermediate pivot joint being arranged to prevent movement of the intermediate pivot joint below a position in which the two stay members are aligned with one another, the pivot axis of the intermdeiate pivot joint being located above the plane containing the pivot axes of the end pivot joints when the stay members are in mutual alignment so that a force tending to move the top portions of each U-shaped member towards one another causes ther stay to fold at its intermediate joint.

2. A stand acccording to claim 1, wherein each support member is connected fast with a respective stay member inward of the end pivot joints so that an article positioned thereon presses the stay members into their fully aligned position.

3. A stand acccording to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one end pivot joint is arranged to permit relative translational movement between its stay member and its U shaped member so as to vary the effective length of the stay.

4. A stand acccording to claim 3, wherein said one end pivot joint comprises a generally horizontal slot formed on the stay with upwardly extending end portions1 and a pivot pin fast with the U-shaped member and projecting through the slot.

5. A folding nursery stand, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.