Multi-purpose convertible play yard

Abstract

A co-sleeper convertibly adapted for use as a changing table, bassinet or play yard is described. The invention includes a first rigid enclosure that has four walls and a floor with the front wall capable of being positioned at an upper level equal to the remaining walls or at a second lower level. The first enclosure is capable of supporting a second enclosure within it that has four walls, a floor and can support a mattress. The co-sleeper is secured at one side of a parental bed with the co-sleeper mattress positioned a short distance below the level of the mattress of the parental bed. The front wall of the invention is placed in the second, lowered position for use as a co-sleeper or changing table and positioned at the upper level when the invention is used as a play yard or bassinet. The front wall has a fixed lower portion and a raisable upper portion. The upper portion of the front wall is formed as a rigid panel or as a flexible panel and various means are used to maintain the upper portion of the front wall in the upper position. The rigid panel may be hingedly attached to the first enclosure, slide in tracks, pivot or be completely removable. The rigid panel may zip in place or be maintained by a removable cross-rail secured in a passageway at the upper edge of the upper portion of the flexible front wall that attaches to the first enclosure front rails.

1 . A multi-purpose convertible play yard convertibly adapted for use as a bassinet, changing table or bedside co-sleeper comprising: 
 a rigid first enclosure having an open top, a floor, a front wall, a back wall, a first side wall and a second side wall, said first side wall having a top edge; said first enclosure having a first height, said first height established by the top edge of said first side wall;    a second enclosure, said second enclosure being sized to fit substantially within the first enclosure and having an open top, a back wall, a front wall, first and second side walls and a bottom;    means for removably supporting said second enclosure within the first enclosure;    a rigid frame, said rigid frame supporting the floor, the front wall, the back wall, the first side wall and the second side wall of said first enclosure, said frame being formed adjacent the top by a rear upper horizontal rail orthogonally connected to first and second upper side horizontal rails, and being formed adjacent the floor by front and rear lower parallel horizontal rails orthogonally connected to first side and second side lower parallel horizontal rails, said upper and lower horizontal rails being orthogonally connected by first and second front vertical rails and a pair of rear vertical rails disposed at ends of said horizontal rails, said front vertical rails having an upper end and a lower end;    a rigid panel, said rigid panel having upper and lower edges, first and second side edges and extending from said first front vertical rail to said second front vertical rail and extending downwardly from the upper end of said front vertical rails for a second predetermined distance; said rigid panel being hingedly attached at its lower edge to said first and second front vertical rails;    means for removably securing the first and second side edges of said rigid panel in a closed position, wherein said closed position, said first and second side edges of said rigid panel substantially parallel to said first and second front vertical rails;    a securing strap assembly for securing the play yard to a parental bed;    wherein said front wall is formed of flexible material and extends from a point below the lower edge of said rigid panel to said front lower horizontal rail and from said first front vertical rail to said second front vertical rail;    whereby, when the rigid panel is in the closed position and the second enclosure is supported by the supporting means, the play yard is usable as a bassinet; and wherein, when the rigid panel is not in the closed position, the play yard is usable as a changing table; and further, when the securing strap assembly is properly positioned and the play yard is secured to the parental bed the play yard may serve as a co-sleeper.    
   
   
       2 . A multi-purpose convertible play yard adapted for use as a bassinet, changing table or bedside co-sleeper as described in  claim 1 , wherein the means for removably securing the first and second side edges of said rigid panel adjacent the upper ends of said front vertical rails further comprises: first and second threaded orifices, said threaded orifices being disposed adjacent the upper ends of the first and second front vertical rails and facing toward said rigid panel; first and second threaded fasteners, said threaded fasteners being sized and shaped to threadedly engage said threaded orifices and being rotatably mounted to holes adjacent the upper edge and first and second side edges of said rigid panel, said holes disposed to allow said threaded fasteners to removably engage said threaded orifices; and whereby, when said threaded fasteners are rotated to engage said threaded orifices, said rigid panel will be secured to said front vertical rails thereby forming a rigid enclosure with walls of equal height and when said threaded fasteners are rotated to disengage from said threaded orifices, said rigid panel will be lowered to provide a rigid enclosure having one lowered wall.  
   
   
       3 . A multi-purpose convertible play yard adapted for use as a bassinet, changing table or bedside co-sleeper as described in  claim 1 , wherein the means for removably securing the rigid panel to the front vertical rails further comprises: at least two threaded orifices, said threaded orifices being disposed upon the first and second front vertical rails and facing toward said rigid panel; at least two threaded fasteners, said threaded fasteners being sized and shaped to threadedly engage said threaded orifices and being rotatably mounted to holes adjacent the first and second side edges of said rigid panel, said holes disposed to allow said threaded fasteners to removably engage said threaded orifices; and whereby, when said threaded fasteners are rotated to engage said threaded orifices, said rigid panel will be secured to said front vertical rails thereby forming a rigid enclosure with walls of equal height and when said threaded fasteners are rotated to disengage from said threaded orifices, said rigid panel will be removed to provide a first enclosure having one lowered wall.  
   
   
       4 . A multi-purpose convertible play yard adapted for use as a bassinet, changing table or bedside co-sleeper as described in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 first and second receiving tracks, said receiving tracks being disposed upon said first and second front vertical rails and facing inwardly toward each other; said receiving tracks extending downwardly from the upper ends of said front vertical rails;    wherein said rigid panel is sized and shaped to fit slidably between said first and second receiving tracks.    
   
   
       5 . A multi-purpose convertible play yard adapted for use as a bassinet, changing table or bedside co-sleeper as described in  claim 4 , wherein the means for maintaining said rigid panel at the first upper position, with the upper edge of said panel adjacent the upper ends of said front vertical rails further comprises: a pair of retaining holes, said retaining holes penetrating said first and second side edges of said rigid panel; 
 a pair of clearance holes, said clearance holes penetrating said receiving tracks so as to align with said retaining holes in said rigid panel when said panel is disposed in a first upper position with its upper edge adjacent the upper ends of said front vertical rails;    a pair of spring-loaded pins, said pins disposed upon said first and second receiving tracks so that said pins will engage said retaining holes when the rigid panel is in the first upper position; and    whereby, when the spring-loaded pins are retracted, the rigid panel will fall in said receiving tracks to a second, lowered position.    
   
   
       6 . A multi-purpose convertible play yard adapted for use as a bassinet, changing table or bedside co-sleeper as described in  claim 1 , further comprising means for removably securing the rigid panel to the first enclosure.  
   
   
       7 . A multi-purpose convertible play yard adapted for use as a bassinet, changing table or bedside co-sleeper as described in  claim 6 , wherein the means for removably securing the rigid panel to the first enclosure further comprises: 
 at least two threaded orifices, said threaded orifices being disposed upon the first and second front vertical rails and facing toward said rigid panel;    at least two threaded fasteners, said threaded fasteners being sized and shaped to threadedly engage said threaded orifices and being rotatably mounted to holes adjacent the first and second side edges of said rigid panel, said holes disposed to allow said threaded fasteners to removably engage said threaded orifices; and    whereby, when said threaded fasteners are rotated to engage said threaded orifices, said rigid panel will be secured to said front vertical rails thereby forming a rigid first enclosure with walls of equal height and when said threaded fasteners are rotated to disengage from said threaded orifices, said rigid panel will be removed to provide a first enclosure having one lowered wall.    
   
   
       8 . A multi-purpose convertible play yard adapted for use as a bassinet, changing table or bedside co-sleeper as described in  claim 1 , further comprising first and second positioning arms, said positioning arms having first and second ends, being pivotally mounted at their first ends to said first and second upper side horizontal rails and being pivotally mounted at their second ends to said first and second side edges of said rigid panel; said rigid panel being movable from a first, lowered position wherein the upper edge of the rigid panel is disposed adjacent the upper ends of said front vertical rails, to a second, raised position wherein the upper edge of the rigid panel is disposed adjacent the rear upper horizontal rail; 
 means for securing said rigid panel in either of said first and second positions;    whereby, when said rigid panel is secured in said closed position, all of the walls of the play yard will be of similar height and when said rigid panel is secured in said second, raised position, the play yard will have a lowered front wall and be suitable for use as either of a changing table and a co-sleeper.    
   
   
       9 . A multi-purpose convertible play yard adapted for use as a bassinet, changing table or bedside co-sleeper as described in  claim 8 , wherein the means for securing the rigid panel in either of the first and second positions further comprises: first and second threaded orifices, said first and second threaded orifices being disposed upon the first and second front vertical rails and facing toward said rigid panel when said rigid panel is disposed in said first, lowered position; 
 third and fourth threaded orifices, said third and fourth threaded orifices being disposed upon the first and second rear vertical rails and facing toward said rigid panel when said rigid panel is disposed in said second, raised position; at least two threaded fasteners, said threaded fasteners being sized and shaped to threadedly engage said threaded orifices and being rotatably mounted to holes adjacent the first and second side edges of said rigid panel, said holes disposed to allow said threaded fasteners to removably engage said threaded orifices; and    whereby, when said threaded fasteners are rotated to engage said first and second threaded orifices, said rigid panel will be secured to said front vertical rails in the closed position and when said threaded fasteners are rotated to engage said third and fourth threaded orifices, said rigid panel may be secured to the rear vertical rails.    
   
   
       10 . A multi-purpose convertible play yard convertibly adapted for use as a bassinet, changing table or bedside co-sleeper comprising: 
 a first enclosure having an open top, a floor, a front wall, and a first side wall and a second side wall, said first side wall and said second side wall each having a front edge and a top edge, said front edge connecting said first side wall and said second side wall to said front wall;    a rigid frame, said rigid frame supporting the first enclosure and having a lower front rail, a first vertical rail and a second vertical rail, said first and second vertical rails each having an upper end and a lower end, said first vertical rail being positioned adjacent said front edge of said first side wall and said second vertical rail being positioned adjacent to said front edges of said second side wall, a rigid panel, said rigid panel said rigid panel being selectively positionable between said first and said second vertical rails to form a closed position, said rigid panel having an upper and a lower edge and first and second side edges, said rigid panel extending from said first front vertical rail to said second front vertical rail and extending downwardly from the upper ends of said front vertical rails for a first distance when in said closed position;    rigid panel retainers for selectively securing said rigid panel to said frame in said closed position;    a second enclosure, said second enclosure being sized to fit substantially within the first enclosure and having an open top and a bottom;    an inner support, said inner support supporting the bottom of the second enclosure at a height above the height of the floor of the first enclosure; and    a securing strap assembly for securing the play yard to a parental bed;    wherein said front wall extends upward from said front lower rail to at least a point adjacent the lower edge of said rigid panel when said rigid panel is in said closed position, and further extending from said first front vertical rail to said second front vertical rail;    whereby, when the second enclosure is supported by the inner support and the rigid panel is in a closed position and the second enclosure is supported by the inner support, the play yard is usable as a bassinet; and    wherein, when the rigid panel is moved from the closed position, the play yard is usable as a changing table; and further, when the securing strap assembly is properly positioned and the play yard is secured to the parental bed the play yard may serve as a co-sleeper.    
   
   
       11 . A multi-purpose convertible play yard convertibly adapted for use as a bassinet, changing table or bedside co-sleeper according to  claim 10 , wherein said rigid panel is hingedly attached to said rigid frame, said hinged attachment allowing said rigid panel to rotate about an axis parallel and adjacent to said lower edge of said rigid panel; said first enclosure further comprising rigid panel attachments selectively securing said first and second side edges of said rigid panel adjacent the first and second vertical rails to retain said rigid panel in said closed position.  
   
   
       12 . A multi-purpose convertible play yard adapted for use as a bassinet, changing table or bedside co-sleeper as described in  claim 11 , wherein the rigid panel attachments comprises: 
 first and second threaded orifices, said threaded orifices being disposed adjacent the upper ends of the first and second front vertical rails and facing toward said rigid panel;    first and second threaded fasteners, said threaded fasteners being sized and shaped to threadedly engage said threaded orifices and being rotatably mounted to holes adjacent the upper edge and first and second side edges of said rigid panel, said holes disposed to allow said threaded fasteners to removably engage said threaded orifices; and    whereby, when said threaded fasteners are rotated to engage said threaded orifices, said rigid panel will be secured to said front vertical rails in a closed position.    
   
   
       13 . A multi-purpose convertible play yard adapted for use as a bassinet, changing table or bedside co-sleeper as described in  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 first and second receiving tracks, said receiving tracks being disposed upon said first and second vertical rails and facing inwardly toward each other;    said receiving tracks extending from the upper ends of said front vertical rails downwardly;    wherein said rigid panel is sized and shaped to fit slidably between said first and second receiving tracks; and    wherein when said rigid panel is disposed between said first and second receiving tracks, said rigid panel may be positioned at an upper extent of said receiving tracks to be disposed in said closed position.    
   
   
       14 . A multi-purpose convertible play yard adapted for use as a bassinet, changing table or bedside co-sleeper as described in  claim 13 , wherein the rigid panel retainers for maintaining said rigid panel at said closed position comprise: 
 a pair of retaining holes, said retaining holes penetrating said first and second side edges of said rigid panel;    a pair of clearance holes, said clearance holes penetrating said receiving tracks so as to align with said retaining holes in said rigid panel when said panel is in said closed position;    a pair of spring-loaded pins, said pins disposed upon said first and second receiving tracks so that said pins will engage said retaining holes when the rigid panel is in said closed position; and    whereby, when the spring-loaded pins are retracted, the rigid panel may be translated within said receiving tracks to an open position.    
   
   
       15 . A multi-purpose convertible play yard adapted for use as a bassinet, changing table or bedside co-sleeper as described in  claim 12 , further comprising a rigid panel attachment, said rigid panel attachment comprising: 
 at least two threaded orifices, said threaded orifices being disposed upon the first and second front vertical rails and facing toward said rigid panel;    at least two threaded fasteners, said threaded fasteners being sized and shaped to threadedly engage said threaded orifices and being rotatably mounted to holes adjacent the first and second side edges of said rigid panel, said holes disposed to allow said threaded fasteners to removably engage said threaded orifices; and    whereby, when said threaded fasteners are rotated to engage said threaded orifices, said rigid panel will be secured to said front vertical rails thereby forming a rigid first enclosure with walls of equal height and when said threaded fasteners are rotated to disengage from said threaded orifices, said rigid panel may be removed to provide a rigid first enclosure having one lowered wall.    
   
   
       16 . A multi-purpose convertible play yard adapted for use as a bassinet, changing table or bedside co-sleeper as described in  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 first and second positioning arms, said positioning arms having first and second ends, being pivotally mounted at their first ends to said first and second upper side horizontal rails and being pivotally mounted at their second ends to said first and second side edges of said rigid panel;    wherein said rigid panel being is movable from a closed position, to an open position wherein the upper edge of the rigid panel is disposed adjacent the rear upper horizontal rail;    whereby, when said rigid panel is in said closed position, all of the walls of the play yard will be of similar height.