Play yards and methods of operating the same

• US 9,027,180 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2013
• Issued: 05/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kolcraft Enterprises Incorporated (Hasbro Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kolcraft Enterprises Incorporated (Hasbro Inc.)
• Inventors: Troutman, Damon Oliver Casati
• Primary Examiner(s): Trettel, Michael
• Application Number:
  US13/947,864
• Publication Number:
  US 20130298326A1
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 5 9/81, 5 9/91, 5 9/31, 5 9/32, 5 9/7, 540/6, 540/7, 540/2, 540/3, 297/440.11, 297/452.63, 297/452.13, 297/452.12
• US Class Current: 5/99.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47D 13/061 foldable
• CPC Class Codes: A47D 13/063 with soft walls
• CPC Class Codes: A47D 13/066 dismountable

Abstract

Play yards and methods of operating the same are disclosed. A disclosed example includes a collapsible upper frame, a collapsible lower frame, and posts to support the upper frame above the lower frame. The posts include respective tracks. The example also includes a foldable, frameless enclosure operatively coupled to the upper frame, the lower frame and the posts. The enclosure has a plurality of sides and a bottom to define an enclosure volume. The enclosure also has a plurality of corner beads dimensioned for receipt in a respective one of the tracks to secure the enclosure to the posts.

Claims

1. A play yard comprising:

a collapsible upper frame;

a collapsible lower frame;

posts to support the upper frame above the lower frame, the posts including respective channels; and

a foldable, frameless enclosure operatively coupled to the upper frame, the lower frame and the posts, the enclosure having a plurality of sides and a bottom to define an enclosure volume, the enclosure having a plurality of corner beads dimensioned for receipt in a respective one of the channels to secure the enclosure to the posts.

2. A play yard as defined in claim 1, wherein each of the posts includes a substantially exposed, outward facing surface.

3. A play yard as defined in claim 1, wherein the enclosure includes first sleeves dimensioned to receive the upper frame and second sleeves dimensioned to receive the lower frame.

4. A play yard as defined in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of each of the posts is curved.

5. A play yard as defined in claim 4, wherein the channels follow curvatures of the posts.

6. A play yard as defined in claim 1, wherein a first one of the sides and a second one of the sides extend from one of the channels in one of the posts, the first one of the sides extending in a first direction and the second one of the sides extending in a second direction different than the first direction.

7. A play yard comprising:

a frame movable between an erected position and a collapsed position, the frame including an upper frame and a lower frame;

a post positioned between the upper frame and the lower frame, the post having an inner portion including a channel; and

a flexible enclosure having a first side, a second side and a bottom side, a corner bead threaded into the channel to couple the enclosure to the post.

8. A play yard as defined in claim 7, wherein the enclosure extends along the post between the upper frame and the lower frame.

9. A play yard as defined in claim 7, the post comprising a wall that defines an interior cavity and the channel separate from the interior cavity.

10. A play yard as defined in claim 7, wherein the first side and the second side extend from the channel, the first side extending in a first direction and the second side extending in a second direction different than the first direction.

11. A play yard comprising:

a collapsible upper frame;

a collapsible lower frame;

posts to support the upper frame above the lower frame, the posts defining respective channels; and

a foldable, frameless enclosure operatively coupled to the upper frame, the lower frame and the posts, the enclosure having a plurality of sides and a bottom to define an enclosure volume, the enclosure having a plurality of corner beads dimensioned for receipt in a respective one of the channels to secure the enclosure to the posts.

12. A play yard as defined in claim 11, wherein the channels are integrally formed within respective ones of the posts.

13. A play yard as defined in claim 11, wherein a first one of the sides and a second one of the sides extend from one of the channels, the first one of the sides extending in a first direction and the second one of the sides extending in a second direction different than the first direction.

14. A play yard as defined in claim 11, wherein at least a portion of each of the posts is curved.

15. A play yard as defined in claim 14, wherein the channels follow respective curvatures of the posts.

16. A play yard as defined in claim 11, wherein each of the posts includes a substantially exposed, outward facing surface.

17. A play yard as defined in claim 11, each of the posts comprising a wall that defines an interior cavity and one of the channels separate from the interior cavity.

18. A play yard as defined in claim 11, wherein the enclosure includes first sleeves dimensioned to receive the upper frame and second sleeves dimensioned to receive the lower frame.