US-20260123770-A1 - TOPPER ACCESSORIES FOR A PLAYARD

US20260123770A1US 20260123770 A1US20260123770 A1US 20260123770A1US-20260123770-A1

Abstract

A frame for a foldable playard includes multiple leg support assemblies rotatably coupled to multiple X-frame assemblies. Each leg support assembly includes a corner. The corners include a topper mount socket and the X-frame assemblies include one or more topper supports. The topper mount sockets and the topper supports provide multiple locations along the top periphery of the frame to securely couple and support one or more toppers. For example, the frame may support a topper that provides a changing table and an organizer. The changing table or the organizer is rotatable to provide the caregiver more storage space or the ability to deploy and/or store the changing table while the topper remains installed. In another example, the frame may support a freestanding and collapsible bassinet topper via a bassinet accessory. The bassinet topper provides a support platform without any additional structural support from the frame or the bassinet accessory.

Inventors

Jonathan M. Pacella
Nathanael Saint
Lance J. Clemmer
Patrick JG Bowers

Assignees

WONDERLAND SWITZERLAND AG

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20250915

Claims (16)

1 . A frame for a foldable playard, the frame having a folded configuration for storage of the frame and an unfolded configuration to support the foldable playard on a ground surface, the frame comprising: a plurality of leg support assemblies, each leg support assembly of the plurality of leg support assemblies being coupled to another leg support assembly of the plurality of leg support assemblies via a folding mechanism, wherein a first leg support assembly of the plurality of leg support assemblies comprises a first corner; and a latch mechanism, coupled, at least in part, to the first corner of the first leg support assembly to maintain the foldable playard in the unfolded configuration when the latch mechanism is in a locked configuration, wherein the first corner of the first leg support assembly further includes a topper mount socket configured to receive a corner tube of a topper when the topper is installed onto the frame.
2 . The frame of claim 1 , in combination with at least one topper, the at least one topper comprising: a topper frame having a corner tube inserted into the topper mount socket of the first corner of the first leg support assembly to couple the topper to the frame; topper soft goods coupled to the topper frame; and a support platform, coupled to the topper soft goods, to support a child.
3 . The frame of claim 2 , wherein the topper frame further comprises: a latch lever at least partially disposed within a cavity of the corner tube, the latch lever comprising: a latch head, inserted through a latch head opening of the corner tube and a socket opening of the topper mount socket, to securely couple the at least one topper to the frame of the foldable playard; a latch button, coupled to the latch head, to release the latch head from the socket opening when actuated and thereby enable removal of the topper from the frame; and a flexible finger, coupled to the latch head and the latch button, to provide a spring force that maintains the latch head in the socket opening of the topper mount socket when the latch button is not actuated.
4 . The frame of claim 2 , wherein the topper frame further comprises: a hub assembly supporting the corner tube; a first frame portion, coupled to the hub assembly, defining a changing table section and supporting the topper soft goods; and a second frame portion, coupled to the hub assembly, defining an organizer section.
5 . The frame of claim 4 , wherein: the second frame portion is rotatable with respect to the frame of the foldable playard via the hub assembly such that the organizer section is configured to transition between a first configuration and a second configuration; and the topper further comprises: one or more top storage compartments, coupled to the second frame portion, that are accessible from above the topper only in the first configuration; and one or more bottom storage compartments, coupled to at least one of the second frame portion or the one or more top storage compartments, that are accessible from above the topper only in the second configuration.
6 . A foldable playard, comprising: the frame of claim 1 , wherein the frame defines an interior space in the unfolded configuration; a bassinet accessory, coupled to the frame and disposed within the interior space, providing an elevated surface above the ground surface; and a bassinet topper, disposed on the elevated surface of the bassinet accessory without being directly attached to the bassinet accessory or the frame, to support a child above the elevated surface, the bassinet topper being dimensioned to fit at least partially within the interior space of the frame, the bassinet topper also being freestanding when placed on the ground surface so as to support the child above the ground surface, the bassinet topper having a collapsed configuration for storage where the bassinet topper is substantially flat and a deployed configuration to support the child.
7 . A foldable playard having a folded configuration for storage and an unfolded configuration to support the foldable playard on a ground surface, the foldable playard comprising: a frame defining an interior space in the unfolded configuration, the frame comprising a plurality of leg support assemblies, each leg support assembly of the plurality of leg support assemblies being coupled to another leg support assembly of the plurality of leg support assemblies via a folding mechanism; and a topper comprising: a hub assembly coupled to at least one leg support assembly of the plurality of leg support assemblies; a first frame portion coupled to the hub assembly, defining a changing table section and supporting soft goods and partially covering the interior space of the frame; a second frame portion rotatably coupled to the hub assembly, defining an organizer section that is able to transition between a first configuration and a second configuration via rotation of the second frame portion with respect to the frame, the second frame portion extending from the hub assembly away from the interior space of the frame in the first configuration, the second frame portion partially covering the first frame portion in the second configuration; wherein the second frame portion is only rotatable when an external torque having a magnitude greater than or equal to a threshold torque is applied to the second frame portion, the second frame portion remaining stationary with respect to the frame when the external torque applied to the second frame portion has a magnitude less than the threshold torque.
8 . The foldable playard of claim 7 , wherein: the second frame portion rotates with respect to the frame about a rotation axis defined by the hub assembly; and the threshold torque is equivalent to a tangential force having a magnitude of 30 pound-force (lbf) applied to an end portion of the second frame portion located farthest from the rotation axis.
9 . The foldable playard of claim 7 , wherein the hub assembly comprises: a first changer mount rigidly coupled to the first frame portion and a corner tube, having a pair of detents; and a second organizer mount rotatably coupled to the first changer mount and rigidly coupled to the second frame portion, having a hub spring, the hub spring having an end disposed between and retained by the pair of detents; wherein when the external torque applied to the second frame portion has a magnitude greater than or equal to the threshold torque, the hub spring is sufficiently deformed such that the end is removed from the pair of detents thereby allowing the second frame portion to rotate with respect to the frame.
10 . The foldable playard of claim 7 , wherein: the frame defines a top horizontal plane at a height above the ground surface in the unfolded configuration; and the folding mechanism comprises: a plurality of X-frame assemblies coupled to the plurality of leg support assemblies, the plurality of X-frame assemblies comprising a first X-frame assembly, the first X-frame assembly comprising: at least one X-frame tube rotatably coupled to one leg support assembly of the plurality of leg support assemblies, the at least one X-frame tube being positioned between the top horizontal plane and the ground surface in the unfolded configuration; and a topper support having a bottom portion supported by the at least one X-frame tube and having a topper support portion disposed substantially along the top horizontal plane in the unfolded configuration, the topper support portion supporting the first frame portion of the topper.
11 . The foldable playard of claim 7 , further comprising: a bassinet accessory coupled to the frame and disposed within the interior space, providing an elevated surface above the ground surface; and a bassinet topper disposed on the elevated surface of the bassinet accessory adjacent to the first frame portion of the topper without being directly attached to the bassinet accessory or the frame, the bassinet topper being dimensioned to fit at least partially within the interior space of the frame, the bassinet topper also being freestanding when placed on the ground surface so as to support a child above the ground surface, the bassinet topper having a collapsed configuration for storage where the bassinet topper is substantially flat and a deployed configuration to support the child.
12 . A foldable playard having a folded configuration for storage and an unfolded configuration to support the foldable playard on a ground surface, the foldable playard comprising: a frame defining an interior space in the unfolded configuration, the frame comprising a plurality of leg support assemblies, each leg support assembly of the plurality of leg support assemblies being coupled to another leg support assembly of the plurality of leg support assemblies via a folding mechanism; a bassinet accessory, coupled to the frame and disposed within the interior space, providing an elevated surface above the ground surface; and a bassinet topper disposed on the elevated surface of the bassinet accessory without being directly attached to the bassinet accessory or the frame, the bassinet topper comprising: a support platform to support a child; and a bassinet topper frame, coupled to the support platform, to support the bassinet topper on the elevated surface of the bassinet accessory such that the support platform is disposed above the elevated surface, wherein: the bassinet topper frame is dimensioned to fit at least partially within the interior space of the frame; the bassinet topper frame is collapsible such that the bassinet topper has a collapsed configuration for storage where the bassinet topper is substantially flat and a deployed configuration to support the child; and the bassinet topper frame is freestanding when placed on the ground surface so as to support the child above the ground surface.
13 . The foldable playard of claim 12 , wherein the bassinet topper frame comprises: at least one leg; a housing coupled to the at least one leg and having a socket connector; and a top rail having a connector end inserted into the socket connector, the connector end being oriented substantially perpendicular with respect to a remaining portion of the top rail.
14 . The foldable playard of claim 12 , wherein the bassinet topper frame comprises: a top rail; a housing rigidly coupled to the top rail, having a through hole opening; a leg inserted through the through hole of the housing, the leg being rotatable with respect to the housing so as to change between the collapsed configuration and the deployed configuration; and a rotational stop rigidly coupled to the leg and disposed within the through hole, that mechanically interferes with the housing in the deployed configuration such that a preload is generated and applied to the leg.
15 . The foldable playard of claim 12 , wherein each leg support assembly of the plurality of leg support assemblies comprises: a corner having a topper mount socket.
16 . The foldable playard of claim 15 , further comprising: a topper at least partially covering the interior space of the frame and disposed alongside the bassinet topper, the topper comprising: a topper frame having a corner tube inserted into the topper mount socket of the corner of one leg support assembly of the plurality of leg support assemblies to couple the topper to the frame; topper soft goods coupled to the topper frame; and a support platform, coupled to the topper soft goods, to support the child.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/922,875 filed on Nov. 2, 2022, which application is a National Stage 371 Entry of International Patent Application No. PCT/US2021/031634, filed on May 10, 2021, which claims a priority benefit to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/021,966, filed on May 8, 2020, entitled, “FREE STANDING PORTABLE BASSINET,” U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/022,009, filed on May 8, 2020, entitled, “PLAY YARD TOPPER RELEASE AND STORAGE,” and U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/021,950, filed on May 8, 2020, entitled, “X-FRAME PLAYARD WITH TOPPERS.” Each of the aforementioned applications are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. BACKGROUND A playard (also referred to herein as a “playpen” or a “game bed”) is a framed enclosure that provides a safe and comfortable space for a young child (e.g., an infant, a toddler) to sleep and play without significant supervision from a caregiver. The playard typically includes a support structure (e.g., a frame) that outlines an interior space of the playard; the playard also includes soft padding (also referred to herein as “soft goods”) placed within the interior space to provide a partially enclosed cushioned space to contain the child. Playards are generally foldable and/or collapsible to improve portability. For example, the caregiver may fold the playard for storage and/or transport and unfold the playard for use. Various types of playards have been manufactured and commercialized over the years with designs that have evolved, in part, depending on whether the playard is used primarily in outdoor settings or indoor settings. FIG. 1A shows one example of a conventional outdoor playard 10a in an unfolded configuration. As shown, the playard 10a includes a frame 46 with multiple X-frame assemblies 20a that outline an interior space 11. Each X-frame assembly 20a includes X-frame tubes 22a and 22b that form a crossing pattern. In this example, the X-frame assemblies 20a are pivot-only X-frame assemblies where the X-frame tubes 22a and 22b are only rotatably coupled to each other and to other X-frame tubes to such that the frame 46 is foldable. As shown in the exploded-view inset in FIG. 1A, the playard 10a is provided with a latch 16 that attaches to the X-frame tubes 22a and 22b to lock the X-frame assemblies 20a in place when unfolded. Soft goods 12 are attached to the X-frame assemblies 20a and disposed along the sides and the floor of the interior space 11 for providing a partially enclosed space 13 for the child that is shaped and/or dimensioned to be similar to or smaller than the interior space 11 of the frame 46. As shown, the soft goods 12 includes webbing 14 along a top edge of the partially enclosed space 13 that functions as a top rail to increase the mechanical rigidity and stability of the playard 10a when the playard 10a is deployed. FIG. 1A also shows the playard 10a includes a canopy cover 40 disposed above the partially enclosed space 13 and mounted to the X-frame assemblies 20a to provide shade for a child. FIG. 1B shows another example of a conventional outdoor playard 10b. As shown, the playard 10b includes a frame 46 with multiple pivot and slidable X-frame assemblies 20b coupled to adjoining leg support assemblies 24. Each leg support assembly 24 includes a leg tube 25, a corner (hidden beneath the soft goods 12) at the top of the leg tube 25, and a slider 26a or 26b that slides along the leg tube 25. The X-frame tubes 22a and 22b of each X-frame assembly 20a are coupled to respective sliders 26a and/or 26b and corners of the leg support assemblies 24. Thus, when the playard 10b is being folded or unfolded, the X-frame tubes 22a and 22b undergo both rotation and displacement along the leg tubes 25 via the sliders 26a and/or 26b. Compared to the pivot-only X-frame assemblies 20a of the playard 10a, the pivot and slidable X-frame assemblies 20b of the playard 10b enable the playard 10b to be folded more compactly thus occupying less space in a folded configuration; additionally, the pivot and slidable X-frame assemblies 20b allow the frame 46 to provide a larger interior space 11 and, hence, a larger partially enclosed space 13 for a child when the playard 10b is in an unfolded configuration. As before, the soft goods 12 may be attached to the leg support assemblies 24 and/or the X-frame assemblies 20b. The playard 10b also includes a pair of latches 16a and 16b respectively mounted to sliders 26b on leg support assemblies 24 disposed on opposing sides of the playard 10b. As shown in the inset of FIG. 1B, the sliders 26b are different from the sliders 26a due to including features to lock the latches 16a and 16b. The playard 10b also includes a canopy cover 40 disposed above the partially enclosed space 13 and mounted to the corners of the leg support assemblies 24. FIG. 1C shows an example of a conventional indoor playard 10c. As shown, the