Bassinet

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11116330-B2
Application number	US-202016809734-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 5, 2020
Priority date	Sep 14, 2017
Publication date	Sep 14, 2021
Grant date	Sep 14, 2021

Abstract

A bassinet includes a base, a column assembly rotatably connected to the base at a first end of the column assembly, an arm rotatably connected to a second end of the column assembly, a tub frame pivotably connected to the arm, an infant tub retained within the tub frame, the infant tub including a front wall, a back wall, and two side walls and having areas of reduced height along the front wall and at least one of the side walls to provide enhanced access to the infants located within the infant tub, and an insert configured to reversibly fit within an interior of the infant tub.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bassinet comprising:
a base;
a column assembly rotatably connected to the base at a first end of the column assembly;
an arm rotatably connected to a second end of the column assembly;
a tub frame pivotably connected to the arm;
an infant tub retained within the tub frame, the infant tub comprising a front wall, a back wall, and two side walls and having areas of reduced height along the front wall and at least one of the side walls to provide enhanced access to an infant located within the infant tub; and
an insert configured to be removably positioned within an interior of the infant tub such that:
in a first position, the insert blocks the areas of reduced height so that an upper edge of the infant tub and the insert is substantially continuous at least around corners of the infant tub, and
in a second position, the insert does not block the areas of reduced height and is positioned adjacent to the back wall and at least portions of the two side walls of the infant tub.

2. The bassinet according to claim 1 , wherein:
the infant tub has a length, a width, and a height; and
the side walls of the infant tub have a full height portion that is at least half of the width of the infant tub.

3. The bassinet according to claim 1 , wherein the infant tub comprises a recessed portion that engages within the tub frame, the recessed portion having a reduced width and/or length from the width and/or length of the infant tub.

4. The bassinet according to claim 1 , wherein the infant tub comprises a visual indicator within an area defined by the recessed portion of the infant tub, the visual indicator being positioned and configured to provide a visual indication to a user when the infant tub is not fully seated within the tub frame.

5. The bassinet according to claim 1 , wherein, in the areas of reduced height, an upper edge of the infant tub is rolled to provide distributed points of contact when contacted by a caregiver of the infant.

6. The bassinet according to claim 1 , wherein the column assembly has a length that is adjustable and adjusting the length of the column assembly changes a height of the tub frame and infant tub relative to the base.

7. The bassinet according to claim 6 , wherein the length of the column assembly is adjustable by changing a length of a height adjuster located within the column assembly.

8. The bassinet according to claim 7 , wherein the tub frame comprises height handles that that are connected to the height adjuster by one or more cables routed through the tub frame and, when actuated, the height handles are configured to actuate the height adjuster to allow a user to change a length of the column assembly.

9. The bassinet according to claim 7 , wherein the height adjuster comprises a pneumatic strut.

10. The bassinet according to claim 1 , wherein the column assembly comprises a support post, which has a square cross-sectional profile and is fixedly connected to the arm, a lower support member, which has a cross-sectional profile of a hollow cylinder and is fixedly connected to the base, and a linear bearing configured to prevent relative rotational movements between the support post and the lower support member.

11. The bassinet according to claim 10 , wherein:
the lower support member is fixedly connected to a rotary gear adjacent to the base;
the rotary gear is rotatable along with the column assembly relative to the base;
a rotary lock is slidingly attached to the base in a position adjacent to the rotary gear; and
wherein the rotary lock and the rotary gear have interlocking teeth that, when the lock is engaged against the rotary gear, the column is held rotatably stationary relative to the base.

12. The bassinet according to claim 1 , comprising a rotary hub connecting the tub frame to the arm, the rotary hub comprising a pivot gear and a pivot lock that interlock to prevent a pivoting movement of the tub frame relative to the arm.

13. The bassinet according to claim 12 , wherein the tub frame comprises at least one pivot/rotation handle, which is connected by a pivot/rotation cable to the rotary lock and the pivot lock so that an actuating movement of the pivot/rotation handle by a user causes an actuation of the pivot/rotation cable, which substantially simultaneously disengages the pivot lock from the pivot gear and the rotary lock from the rotary gear, so that the tub frame is released to pivot about the arm and the column assembly is released to rotate about the base substantially simultaneously.

14. The bassinet according to claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a plurality of pivotable wheels, at least two of the pivotable wheels comprising an automatic lock feature that prevents a respective one of the pivotable wheels from rolling unless deactivated.

15. The bassinet according to claim 14 , wherein the tub frame comprises wheel handles configured to be actuated by a user to deactivate the automatic lock to allow the pivotable wheels to roll.

16. The bassinet according to claim 15 , wherein the at least two pivotable wheels are held rotatably fixed unless one or more of the wheel handles are actuated by a user.

17. The bassinet according to claim 15 , wherein each of the wheel handles are connected to a cable, wherein each cable is connected to a wheel cable reducer, which is configured to transmit an actuating movement from any of the cables to an outlet cable which is connected to the at least two pivotable wheels.

18. The bassinet according to claim 1 , wherein the column assembly has a variable length, wherein cables passing through the column assembly are coiled in a helical arrangement within a lower support member, and wherein a pitch of the helical arrangement varies as the length of the column assembly varies.

19. The bassinet according to claim 1 , comprising an anti-tip safety arm rotatably connected to the column assembly, the anti-tip safety arm being located underneath the base, wherein the anti-tip safety arm is rotatable in a same plane as the arm as the column assembly is rotatable relative to the base, and wherein the safety arm is configured to contact ground and is a mechanism to minimize the potential risk of the bassinet tipping over.

20. The bassinet according to claim 19 , wherein the anti-tip safety arm is in a retracted position with a distal end of the anti-tip safety arm spaced vertically apart from the ground when the anti-tip safety arm is substantially aligned with a length direction of the base and in a deployed position with the distal end of the anti-tip safety arm adjacent the ground when the anti-tip safety arm is not substantially aligned with the length direction of the base.

21. The bassinet according to claim 1 , wherein the insert comprises first and second sections, the first and second sections being contoured to fit within a respective one of the corners of the infant tub.

22. The bassinet according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second sections are movable between the respective corners of the infant tub independently of each other and are secured in place within the infant tub in one of the respective corners of the infant tub.

23. The bassinet according to claim 1 , wherein, in the second position, the insert is substantially flush with the back wall and at least portions of the two side walls of the infant tub.

24. The bassinet according to claim 1 , comprising a lighting device attached to the bassinet.

Assignees

• Univ North Carolina Chapel Hill

Inventors

• Tully Kristin Patricia
• Sullivan Catherine
• Seashore Carl John
• Stuebe Alison Mann
• Hagler Ty
• Murphy Patrick
• Joshi Prasad
• Kirk Charity Grace

Classifications

• A47D9/016

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

• A47D9/012

  with adjustable parts · CPC title

• A61G11/002

  height-adjustable patient support · CPC title

• B60B33/00 Primary

  Castors in general {; Anti-clogging castors} (castors for large containers B65D90/18) · CPC title

• F21V33/004

  Sanitary equipment, e.g. mirrors, showers, toilet seats or paper dispensers · CPC title