Reconfigurable infant play yard

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10064499-B2
Application number	US-201514842904-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 2, 2015
Priority date	Sep 5, 2014
Publication date	Sep 4, 2018
Grant date	Sep 4, 2018

Abstract

The present invention relates to an infant play yard with multiple reconfigurations. The infant play yard includes a frame structure that is reconfigurable between a deployed configuration and a storage configuration. Rotatably coupled to the frame structure is a set of legs that are reconfigurable between a deployed configuration and a storage configuration. The infant play yard includes an infant play yard cover that is coupled to the frame structure, the play yard cover having an exterior and an interior. Moreover, the infant play yard further includes a sleeper insert that is removably coupleable to the frame structure. The sleeper insert, when used in conjunction with the frame structure, is disposed between the sidewalls of the play yard cover. The sleeper insert is configured with locking covers that are removably coupleable to the legs of the play yard frame. The locking covers are connected by a resilient tether so that the locking covers easily snap into the proper locking location on the legs of the play yard frame.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An infant support apparatus comprising:
a first support structure comprising:
a frame defining an opening,
a plurality of corner connectors coupled to the frame, the plurality of corner connectors having an inner surface that faces a first direction toward an interior of the infant support apparatus and an outer surface that faces a second direction outwardly from the infant support apparatus and opposite of the first direction, wherein the outer surface of the plurality of corner connectors have a first shape that includes a cavity that faces the second direction, and
a support member coupled to and extending from each of the plurality of corner connectors, the plurality of support members supporting the frame over a support surface; and

a second support structure removably coupled to the first support structure, the second support structure covering the opening defined by the frame when coupled to the first support structure, the second support structure comprising:
an infant receiving portion,
a plurality of rigid corner covers coupled to the infant receiving portion and configured to engage the outer surface of the plurality of corner connectors to removably couple the second support structure to the first support structure, wherein the plurality of rigid corner covers have a second shape substantially identical to the first shape of the outer surface of the plurality of corner connectors and include a projection substantially equal in shape and size to the cavity in the outer surface of each of the plurality of corner connectors, and
a strap at least partially disposed circumferentially around the infant receiving portion and coupled to the plurality of rigid corner covers.

2. The infant support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of corner connectors are rotatably coupled to the frame and configured to rotate between a storage position and a deployed position.

3. The infant support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the strap is resilient.

4. The infant support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the strap includes at least one resilient member.

5. An infant support structure comprising:
a frame defining an opening;
a plurality of support members coupled to the frame, each of the plurality of support members comprising:
a corner connector coupled to the frame, the corner connector including an inner surface facing toward an interior of the infant support structure and an opposite outer surface facing outward from the infant support structure, wherein the outer surface includes a cavity, and
a leg coupled to and extending from the corner connector; and

an infant receiving insert removably coupled to the corner connectors of the plurality of support members, the insert being at least partially disposed within the opening when coupled to the corner connectors, the insert comprising:
a plurality of rigid corner covers that engage the outer surface of the corner connectors of the plurality of supports and include a projection substantially equal in shape and size to the cavity in the outer surface of each of the plurality of corner connectors, and
a strap element at least partially disposed circumferentially around the insert and coupled to each of the plurality of rigid corner covers.

6. The infant support structure of claim 5 , wherein the projection in the corner cover is disposed against the cavity in the outer surface of the corner connectors when the plurality of rigid corner covers are engaged with the corner connectors.

7. The infant support structure of claim 5 , wherein the strap element includes at least one resilient portion.

8. An infant support comprising:
a frame defining an opening, the frame comprising;
a plurality of corner connectors disposed around the frame, the corner connector including an inner surface facing toward an interior of the infant support and an opposite outer surface facing outward from the infant support, wherein the outer surface includes a cavity;
a plurality of support members coupled to and extending from the plurality of corner connectors;

an insert removably coupled to the frame, the insert at least partially disposed within the opening when removably coupled to the frame; and
a strap at least partially disposed circumferentially around the insert, the strap coupled to a plurality of rigid corner covers that engage the outer surface of the plurality of corner connectors when the insert is removably coupled to the frame, wherein the rigid corner covers include a projection substantially equal in shape and size to the cavity in the outer surface of each of the plurality of corner connectors.

9. The infant support of claim 8 , wherein the outer surface of each of the plurality of corner connectors includes a hook.

10. The infant support of claim 9 , wherein the strap is configured to engage with the hooks of the plurality of corner connectors to removably couple the insert to the plurality of corner connectors.

11. The infant support of claim 8 , wherein the strap includes at least one resilient portion.

Assignees

• Mattel Inc

Inventors

• Szymanski Matthew Alan
• Smith Charles
• Hopcia Lawrence M
• Canna John S
• Welch Juliette Marlene

Classifications

• A47D9/016

  capable of being suspended from, or attached to, other articles or structures, e.g. adult's bed · CPC title

• A47D13/063 Primary

  with soft walls · CPC title

• A47D13/066

  dismountable · CPC title

• A47D13/061

  foldable · CPC title

• A47D13/06

  Children's {play-} pens · CPC title