Collapsible play yard

Abstract

The play yard has a hub movable between a raised position and a lowered position, with at least two lower rods pivotally joined to the hub, wherein when the hub is lifted toward the raised position, the outer ends of the lower rods move together so as to be substantially parallel, and when the hub is pushed toward the lowered position from the raised position, the outer ends of the lower rods are pushed away from each other until the rods lie substantially in a common plane. The play yard also has an upper frame with upper frame rods substantially parallel to the lower rods when the hub is in the lowered position. Finally, the play yard has at least one of the upper frame rods pivotable between a raised and lowered position, the pivoting axis being substantially perpendicular to an axis of the vertical rails.

1 . A foldable enclosure, comprising: 
 a) a hub movable between a raised position and a lowered position, comprising: 
 i) a pair of structures, each rotatably mounted upon pivots extending through a common bracket wherein sector gears of each structure engage each other causing the structures to rotate in unison about their respective axes; and  
 ii) a means for locking mounted upon the common bracket that moves between a locked position that prevents rotation of said structures about their respective axes and a released position that allows rotation of said structures their respective axes;  
 iii) at least two rods each pivotally joined to an associated one of said structures;  
   b) an upper frame having an open position wherein the upper frame forms a rigid perimeter around a first area and a collapsed position wherein the upper frame forms a perimeter around a second area;    c) vertical rails joining the upper frame and the rods, said vertical rails having a telescoping rail that extends therefrom to increase the distance between the upper frame and the rods; and    d) a flexible enclosure joined to the upper frame and vertical rails;    e) wherein when the lock button is moved to an upper unlocked position, and the hub is lifted toward the raised position, the rods are moved together to be substantially parallel, and when the hub is pushed into the lowered position from the raised position, the toothed structures rotate about their axes and the rods are pushed away from each other until the rods are substantially in planar alignment;    f) wherein when the rods are in planar alignment, the locking button can be moved to its locked position which prevents accidental movement of the hub from the lowered position to the raised position; and    g) wherein when the hub is in the lowered position and the upper frame is in the open position, the flexible enclosure forms a flexible wall and floor that encloses and defines a volume with an open top.    
   
   
       2 . The foldable enclosure of  claim 1  wherein each telescoping rail engages the complementary vertical rail using a push-button that extends from the telescoping rail through a hole in the vertical rail.  
   
   
       3 . The foldable enclosure of  claim 1  wherein the vertical rail has multiple holes that can engage the push-button and thereby adjust the distance between the upper frame and the rods.  
   
   
       4 . A foldable play yard comprising: 
 a) a hub movable between a raised position and a lowered position, comprising at least two lower rods pivotally joined to the hub, wherein when the hub is lifted toward the raised position, the outer ends of the lower rods move together so as to be substantially parallel, and when the hub is pushed toward the lowered position from the raised position, the outer ends of the lower rods are pushed away from each other until the rods lie substantially in a common plane;    b) an upper frame comprising a plurality of upper frame rods substantially parallel to the lower rods when the hub is in the lowered position; and    c) at least one of the upper frame rods being pivotable between a raised and lowered position, the pivoting axis being substantially perpendicular to an axis of the vertical rails.    
   
   
       5 . The foldable play yard of  claim 4  wherein the at least one pivotable rod has at least one locking piece attached to an end thereof that matingly engages a corner piece attached to an upper frame rod and a vertical rail, the mating engagement of the locking piece and the corner piece preventing the at least one pivotable rod from pivoting between from the raised to the lowered position.  
   
   
       6 . The foldable play yard of  claim 5  wherein the locking piece comprises a pin that extends therefrom, the pin movable between extended and retracted positions, the pin engaging a corresponding hole in the corner piece when in the extended position to provide the mating engagement.  
   
   
       7 . The play yard of  claim 6  wherein the pin is movable between the extended and retracted positions in cooperation with the sliding portion of the locking piece.  
   
   
       8 . The play yard of  claim 6  wherein, when the at least one pivotable rod is in the lowered position, the pin, in the extended position, is engageable to a second hole.  
   
   
       9 . The play yard of  claim 8 , wherein the second hole is located on a portion of the corner piece that extends over the vertical rail.  
   
   
       10 . The play yard of  claim 4  wherein said vertical rails have within them a telescoping rail that extends therefrom to increase the distance between the upper frame and the rods.  
   
   
       11 . The play yard of  claim 4 , further comprising a flexible enclosure having sidewalls and a bottom that define an area in which a child can play or sleep.  
   
   
       12 . The play yard of  claim 11  wherein the flexible enclosure further comprises sleeves that contain at least in part, the vertical rails, and wherein the sidewalls extend between the vertical rails.  
   
   
       13 . The play yard of  claim 12  wherein the sleeves partially contain the upper frame rods.  
   
   
       14 . The play yard of  claim 5  further comprising a flexible enclosure comprising: 
 sidewalls and a bottom that define an area in which a child can play or sleep, wherein a first sidewall has a first flap and a second sidewall has a second flap, the flaps forming a corner of the enclosure at the mating engagement between the locking piece and the corner piece; and    sleeves that contain at least in part, the vertical rails, and wherein the sidewalls extend between the vertical rails.    
   
   
       15 . The play yard of  claim 14  wherein the flaps extend above a top of at least one sleeve.  
   
   
       16 . The play yard of  claim 14  wherein the flaps matingly engage to form a seam therebetween.  
   
   
       17 . The play yard of  claim 14  wherein the flaps matingly engage using a Velcro® connection.  
   
   
       18 . The play yard of  claim 14  further comprising 
 a slot attached to a rail,    a first Velcro® tab attached to the first flap that passes through the slot and matingly engages a complementary Velcro® tab on the first flap.    
   
   
       19 . The play yard of  claim 18  wherein the first flap further comprises a second Velcro tab that matingly engages a complementary Velcro® tab on the second flap.  
   
   
       20 . The play yard of  claim 18  wherein the first flap further comprises a second Velcro® tab that passes through the slot and matingly engages a complementary Velcro® tab on the second flap.  
   
   
       21 . The play yard of  claim 14  further comprising a bassinet addition supported by the upper frame and comprises four sides and a bottom contained substantially within the enclosure, the bassinet bottom being substantially parallel with the enclosure bottom.  
   
   
       22 . The play yard of  claim 21  wherein the bassinet addition comprises snaps that engage corresponding snaps on the upper frame.  
   
   
       23 . The play yard of  claim 21  wherein the bassinet addition comprises clips that engage the upper frame.  
   
   
       24 . The play yard of  claim 21  wherein the bassinet addition engages the enclosure in a Velcro® connection outside the enclosure.  
   
   
       25 . The play yard of  claim 21  wherein the bassinet addition comprises exterior sides that extend outside the enclosure.  
   
   
       26 . The play yard of  claim 25  wherein at least one of the four sides is configured to be folded down.  
   
   
       27 . The play yard of  claim 26  wherein the at least one side engages two of the remaining sides in a Velcro® connection.  
   
   
       28 . The play yard of  claim 26  wherein clips on the at least one side engage the at least one pivotable arm in the lowered position.