Playyard canopy

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12129679-B1
Application number	US-202217584328-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jan 25, 2022
Priority date	Jan 29, 2021
Publication date	Oct 29, 2024
Grant date	Oct 29, 2024

Abstract

A canopy for a playyard. The canopy is elongate and includes sheeting with a resilient element defining the perimeter. A first form of the canopy is generally flat. A second form of the canopy is generally U-shaped. A third form of the canopy is compact with three generally circular shapes. The canopy includes a first flap with a first edge and a second flap with a second edge, wherein the first and second edges run cross-wise to each other when the canopy is in the generally flat form and generally parallel and adjacent to each other when the canopy is in the generally U-shaped form.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A canopy comprising:
a) a sheeting;
b) the sheeting having first and second ends;
c) the sheeting having first and second sides;
d) the sheeting extending from the first end to the second end and from the first side to the second side;
e) the sheeting having an elongate shape;
f) the sheeting having a resilient element engaged thereto, the resilient element extending about a perimeter of the sheeting, the resilient element being generally endless;
g) the sheeting having a first form that is generally a flat form, the first and second ends being spaced apart in the first form;
h) the sheeting having a second form that defines the shape of a U, the first and second ends being spaced apart from each other in the second form, the first and second ends being closer to each other in the second form than in the first form;
i) the sheeting having a third form where the resilient element defines three generally circular shapes adjacent to each other;
j) first, second, third, and fourth flaps, the first and third flaps engaged to the first side of the sheeting, the second and fourth flaps engaged to the second side of the sheeting, the first flap opposing the second flap in the second form, the third flap opposing the fourth flap in the second form, the first and third flaps engagable to each other in the second form, and the second and fourth flaps engagable to each other in the second form;
k) the first and third flaps having respective vertical edge portions that are disposed adjacent to each other in the second form, the second and fourth flaps having respective vertical edge portions that are disposed adjacent to each other in the second form, each of the vertical edge portions having an uppermost end engaged to the sheeting;
l) The first and third flaps having respective horizontal edge portions that are disposed generally in line with each other in the second form, the second and fourth flaps having respective horizontal edge portions that are disposed generally in line with each other in the second form;
m) the first flap having a curved edge portion engaged to the sheeting and extending from the vertical edge portion of the first flap to the horizontal edge portion of the first flap in the second form, the second flap having a curved edge portion engaged to the sheeting and extending from the vertical edge portion of the second flap to the horizontal edge portion of the second flap in the second form, the third flap having a curved edge portion engaged to the sheeting and extending from the vertical edge portion of the third flap to the horizontal edge portion of the third flap in the second form, the fourth flap having a curved edge portion engaged to the sheeting and extending from the vertical edge portion of the fourth flap to the horizontal edge portion of the fourth flap in the second form;
n) the vertical edge portion of the first flap overlapping the vertical edge portion of the third flap in the second form, the vertical edge portion of the second flap overlapping the vertical edge portion of the fourth flap in the second form;
o) the horizontal edge portion of the first flap intersecting the sheeting at a first location, the first location being adjacent to and spaced from the first end of the sheeting in the second form, the horizontal edge portion of the third flap intersecting the sheeting at a second location, the second location being adjacent to and spaced from the second end of the sheeting in the second form, the horizontal edge portion of the second flap intersecting the sheeting at a third location, the third location being adjacent to and spaced from the first end of the sheeting in the second form, the horizontal edge portion of the fourth flap intersecting the sheeting at a fourth location, the fourth location being adjacent to and spaced from the second end of the sheeting in the second form such that a first opening is formed below the horizontal edge portions of the first and third flaps and such that a second opening is formed below the horizontal edge portions of the second and fourth flaps, with the first opening being defined by the sheeting and first and third flaps and with the second opening being defined by the sheeting and second and fourth flaps, the first and second openings having dimensions that are the same;
p) each of the first, second, third, and fourth flaps being vertical in the second form; and
q) in the second form each of the horizontal edge portions being straight from the sheeting to a location where said horizontal edge portion terminates.

2. The canopy of claim 1 , wherein the vertical edge portion of the first flap engages the vertical edge portion of the third flap at a single location, and wherein the vertical edge portion of the second flap engages the vertical edge portion of the fourth flap at a single location.

3. The canopy of claim 1 , wherein the vertical edge portion of the first flap engages the vertical edge portion of the third flap at no more than a single location, and wherein the vertical edge portion of the second flap engages the vertical edge portion of the fourth flap at no more than a single location.

4. The canopy of claim 1 , wherein the vertical edge portion of the first flap is free of the vertical edge portion of the third flap except at a single location where the first flap engages the third flap, and wherein the vertical edge portion of the second flap is free of the vertical edge portion of the fourth flap except at a single location where the second flap engages the fourth flap.

5. The canopy of claim 1 , wherein in the flat form the first side of the sheeting includes first and second straight portions and the second side of the sheeting includes third and fourth straight portions, wherein in the flat form the first end of the sheeting includes first and second curved portions and the second end of the sheeting includes third and fourth curved portions, wherein in the flat form the first straight portion leads into the first curved portion at a first transition, wherein in the flat form the second straight portion leads into the second curved portion at a second transition, wherein in the flat form the third straight portion leads into the third curved portion at a third transition, and wherein in the flat form the fourth straight portion leads into the fourth curved portion at a fourth transition, wherein the first transition is adjacent to the first location, wherein the second transition is adjacent to the second location, wherein the third transition is adjacent to the third location, and wherein the fourth transition is adjacent to the fourth location.

6. A canopy comprising:
a) a sheeting;
b) the sheeting having first and second ends;
c) the sheeting having first and second sides;
d) the sheeting extending from the first end to the second end and from the first side to the second side;
e) the sheeting having an elongate shape;
f) the sheeting having a resilient element engaged thereto, the resilient element extending about a perimeter of the sheeting, the resilient element being generally endless;
g) the sheeting having a first form that is generally a flat form, the first and second ends being spaced apart in the first form;
h) the sheeting having a second form that defines the shape of a U, the first and second ends being spaced apart from each other in the second form, the first and second ends being closer to each other in the second form than in the first form;
i) the sheeting having a third form where the resilient element defines three generally circular shapes adjacent to each other;
j) first, second, third, and fourth flaps, the first and third flaps engaged to the first side of the sheeting, the second and fourth flaps engaged to the second side of the sheetin

Assignees

• Regalo Int Llc

Inventors

• Flannery Mark A
• Leighton Heidi C
• Pipo Kasey L
• Bickel Shannon R

Classifications

• A47D13/063

  with soft walls · CPC title

• E04H15/58

  Closures; Awnings; Sunshades · CPC title

• E04H15/40

  flexible · CPC title

• E04H15/405 Primary

  flexible and foldable · CPC title

• E04H15/02 Primary

  Tents combined or specially associated with other devices · CPC title