US1429869A - Folding crib - Google Patents

Description

E. E. GOWELL.

FOLDING CRIB.

APPMCATION FILED AUG.25. 1919.

1,429,869., P e ted Sep 19, 1922.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

E. E. GOWELL.

FOLDING CRIB.

APPLICATION FILED Aue.25. 1919'.

Patented Sept, w, 1922,

2 SHEE TS -SHEE-T 2.

' Even Z571 671%? a? Mall Patented Sept. 19, 1922.

ERNEST E. GOWELL, OF SOUTH PORTLAND,

MAINE, ASSIGNOR TO THE E. T. BURROWES COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

FOLDING earn.

Application filed August 25, 1919. Serial No. 319,619. n

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST E. GowELL, a citizen of the United States, and resident of South Portland, county of Cumberland, State of Maine, have invented an Improvement in Folding Cribs, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts in each of the several views.

This invention relates to folding cribs for infants of a type adapted to be converted quickly and easily into a coop at wil by lowering a bottom frame or mattress support thereof from a relatively raised position which it occupies when thede'vice isserving a crib. The invention is herein shown as embodied in a wheeled type of folding crib and coop though this particular form is merely illustrative.- The principal object of the invention is to provide improved and simplified means for adjusting and fixing the bottom frame or mattress support so that it is capable of quick and easy adjustment into either its elevated or its lowered position and being at all times completely under the control of the operator. A further object is to provide improved means for holding the mattress from displacement orfro m dropping on to the floor or wheels of the device when the mattress support is tilted in the folding up of the crib. A further object is to provide improved means for securing and locking in taut condition wire or like netting onto thesurface of the frames which constitute the walls of the device. The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description, and the distinctive features of novelty will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a lengthwise vertical section of-a foldingcrib and coop constructed in accordance with my invention taken on line 1-1 of Fig.2; F 2 is a:- transverse line 2,2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section similar to :Fig. 2 but showing the crib folded;

4 is a plan view showing the cribfolded;

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section similar to Fig. 2 ,but .showing the mattress supvertical section on port in elevated position for use as a crib; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective illustrating the method of securing the wire netting to the frame. v The device comprises side members 10, 11 preferably and as shown composed of wood frames with wire netting or screening 12 held taut over the interior thereof and composing the major portion of the re spective sides. One important feature of the invention has to do with improved means for fastening and holding the netting in a taut condition to these frames securely and reliably without the use of tacks to engage the netting. For this purpose the wood frames are rebated along the inner edges of the outer sides thereof as indicated at 18 and the bottom of this re bate formation is grooved intermediate the width and throughout the length thereof as indicated at 14:. A rod or strip 15 preferably of wood is pressed into this groove with. the edge portion of the netting wrappingtherearound and being clamped thereby into said groove by said strip. The strip 15 is held. in place to clamp the netting and the netting itself is also further clamped by a molding strip 16 which is applied in the rebate 13 preferably so as to be substantially flush with the surface of the frame. This manner of fastening the edge of the netting is particularly advantageous for the present use. since there is no possibility of the molding splintering or pulling ofii to expose the ends of the wires and render the same liable to injure the infant occupant of the crib. Further there are no nails or tacks exposed or liable to .be worked out by the tension of the netting to create a potential danger to the child. The side members 10 11 are preferably equipped with wheel bases 17, 18 at front and rear so that the device may be readily moved about as is usual in this type of device. Hinged at theends of the side members 10, 11 as indicated at 19 are pairs of end members 20, 21 which are also hinged together as indicated at 22 at their inner edges whereby they are adapted to be folded inward together as indicated in Fig. 4. These end members are also preferably composed of wood frames with interior net- ;ting portions as indicated at 23. The slde members 10, 11 are equipped at their endswith inwardly extending vertical strips, such strips or cheek pieces at the ends of one side member 10 being relatively wlde as indicated at 24: and the strips of the other side member 11 being relatively narrow as indicated at 25, the hinges 19 of the end members being at the inner edges ofthese respective strips. Secured to the inner sides of the strips 24 are rods 26; These rods have one end secured to the strip approxlmately midway of the height thereof as indicated at 26*. Thence the rod extends out away from the strip far enough to clear the same by a small distance, thence 1t extends toward the outer side of thestrip as indicated at 26", thence vertically clownward as indicated at 26 to near the bottom of the strip,thence diagonally back toward the inner side of the strip as seen at 26 and thence its end is secured to the strip adjacent the bottom thereof an seen at 26 The purpose of these rods is to serve as guiding and locking means for the mattress support or bottom frame 27 This frame may have a usual spring. wire fabric covering to support a suitable mattress 28. The frame 27 is equipped at one side of its ends with eyes 29 which are slidably engaged on the rod 26. The other side of the frame 27 may be equipped on the top thereof with a suitable handle 30. The narrow strips 25 on the other side member 11 are equipped with pins 31 adjacent the bottoms thereof and with other pins 32 midway of the height thereof, these pins serving as rests or abutments to support one side of the bottom frame 27 as will now be understood.v In use the mattress support or bottom' frame 27 may be adjusted so that it is supported at one side by its eyes 29 engaging the lower obliquely extending portions of the rods 26 while the other side is supported by the pins 31, this being the lowered position of the mattress support and wherein the device is adapted for use as a coop. When the device is to be used as a crib the frame 27 is tilted upward by lifting on the handle 30 and then drawn up, the eyes 29 sliding along the rods 26 until they engage the upper inclined portions 26 thereof. Thereupon the frame is pressed inward and downward until the eyes 29 are engaged with the upper end portions of the rods 26 and the other side of the frame 27 being supported on the pins 32, the engagement of the side edges of the frame I 27 with the side members 10, 11 preventing any transverse movement or displacement thereof When the crib is to be folded the frame 27 is swung upward on the eyes 29 and then slid downward until. the eyes 29 again engage the lower inclined portions 26 of the rods 26 whereupon the-mattress and its supporting frame 27 may be swung inward so as to lie within the strips or check pieces 24 and thus the end members may be folded in thereagainst and the entire crib collapsed into a relatively compact space as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4. t In this folding up of the crib it will be noted the mattress 28 being moved to a vertical edgewise position would'be liable to slide downward of its support frame 27 atnd come against the wheels or even dropping down to the floor and this would also be true of any delicate clothing, covers or other articles that might be on the mattress. The invention therefore includes means for preventing the dropping down of the mattress or anything resting thereon below the lower edge of the side member 10. For this purpose I provide a plate strip 33 secured'to the bottomof the side frame 10 and extending inwardly far enough to constitute a rest or support for the mattress edge and to serve as a retainer for any clothing or articles that might be on the mattress as the crib is folded up. The provision of the guide and support rods 26 with the eyes 29 of the mattress frame slidably engaging .the same affords a particularly convenient and reliable means for shifting also provides a particularly reliable means for locking and securing the mattress frame in either of the suggested positions, there being no possibility of casual displacement of the mattress frame after it is once located in either operative position. I am aware that'the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and I thereforedesire the present embodiment to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A combined crib and coop, comprising end members and side members hinged together for folding, one of said side members equipped at its ends with guides consisting in vertically extending portions and 2. A combined crib and coop, comprising end members and side members hinged together for folding, one of said side members equipped at its ends with guides consisting in vertically extending portions and diagonally extending portions at the top and bottom of said vertical portions, and a mattress frame mounted to slide and swing on said guides and adapted to be supported at one side, at either of two elevations thereby, the other side member having means to hold the other side of said mattress at either of two elevations, and the other of said side members serving as a lateral abutment for the mattress frame when horizontal and preventing casual displacement thereof in the upper one of its two elevations.

3. A. combined crib and coop, comprising side members and end members hinged together for folding, one of said side members having cheek portions at the ends there of, guide rods secured to the inner sides of said cheek portions with vertical intermediate portions and diagonal end portions, and a bottom'frame or mattress support mounted to swing and slide on said guide rods and adapted to be held at either of two elevations thereby, the other side member of the crib having rests to support the other side of said bottom frame at either of two elevations, and the other of said side members serving as a lateral abutment for the mattress support when horizontal and preventing casual displacement thereof in the upper one of its two elevations.

4. A combined crib and coop, comprising side members and end members hinged together for folding, a bottom frame or mattress support mounted to swing andslide on one of said side members and for folding thereagainst, and a lateral ledge support secured to the bottom of said side member for holding a mattress or the like against downward displacement.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

ERNEST E. GOWELL.

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