Pediatric crib with alarm mechanism for indicating that a gate is not in a locked position

Abstract

A pediatric crib ( 10 ) includes a frame ( 11 ), a gate ( 18,19,20,21 ) mounted on the frame for movement relative thereto between raised and lowered positions, a locking mechanism ( 27 ) for selectively holding the gate in a particular position relative to the frame, and a warning device ( 30 ) operatively interposed between the gate and frame for indicating when the gate is not in its raised position after passage of a period of time.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A bed, comprising: 
 a frame;    a gate mounted on said frame for movement relative thereto between first and second positions;    a locking mechanism operatively arranged between said gate and frame for selectively holding said gate in a particular position relative to said frame; and    a warning device operatively interposed between said gate and frame for indicating when said gate is not in said first position.    
     
     
         2 . A bed as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said warning device is arranged to audibly indicate that said gate is not in said first position.  
     
     
         3 . A bed as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said warning device includes a proximity switch operatively interposed between said gate and frame.  
     
     
         4 . A bed as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said frame has two corner posts, wherein said gate has adjacent portions proximate each of said corner posts, and wherein said warning device has a switch operatively arranged between each of said corner posts and the adjacent portions of said gate to indicate that any of said adjacent gate portions is not in said raised position.  
     
     
         5 . A bed as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said warning device has an electrical circuit powered by a battery.  
     
     
         6 . A bed as set forth in  claim 5  and further comprising an indicator light for visually indicating that said warning device is operating.  
     
     
         7 . A bed as set forth in  claim 1  and further comprising a signaling device for indicating that said gate is not in said first position to a location remote from the location of said bed.  
     
     
         8 . A bed as set forth in  claim 7  wherein said signaling device includes a transmitter mounted on said crib and a receiver arranged at such remote location.  
     
     
         9 . A bed as set forth in  claim 1  and further comprising an indicator for indicating the operational status of said warning device.  
     
     
         10 . A bed as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said indicator includes a light.  
     
     
         11 . A bed as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said frame has four corner posts, wherein there are a plurality of said gates, each gate being arranged between a pair of adjacent corner posts, and wherein said warning device includes switches to operatively arranged to indicate when any of said gates is not in said first position.  
     
     
         12 . A bed as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said bed is a pediatric crib.