Apparatus for mounting a mobile to a crib

Abstract

Apparatus and assembly for aligning a mobile mounted to a crib. A mounting base includes upper and lower sections. When the base is mounted to the crib, the upper section extends above the top of the crib, and an externally threaded segment of the lower section extends through an aperture defined by slats of the crib. An intermediate element having both internal and external threaded sections is moveable along the segment to adjust alignment of the mounting base and alignment of the mobile attached to the mounting base. An internally threaded fastener is threadedly secured to the external threaded section of the intermediate element to secure the mounting base to the crib. Embodiments significantly improve crib safety by providing a securing mounting mechanism and also improve mobile appearance by providing a properly aligned mobile.

1 . An apparatus for hanging an aligned mobile above a crib, the crib having a top, a bottom and a plurality of slats, the slats defining a plurality of apertures and a crib interior and exterior, the apparatus comprising:
 a base having an upper section and a lower section, the lower section having a segment extending through an aperture defined by slats and below the top of the crib;   an intermediate element, wherein the position of the intermediate element along the base can be adjusted to change the alignment of the base and the alignment of the mobile; and   a fastener that is attachable to the end of the segment for securing the mounting base and the intermediate element to the crib.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the segment is threaded. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein an external surface of the segment is threaded. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a flange extending from the upper section of the base extends partially over the top of the crib. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a flange extending from the upper section of the base extends beyond an outer edge of the top of the crib. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate element is threaded. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein an internal surface of the intermediate element is threaded. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein an external surface of the intermediate element is threaded. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein internal and external surfaces of the intermediate element are threaded. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate element is rotatable to move the intermediate element along the segment and adjust alignment of the base and alignment of the mobile. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein an internal surface of the fastener is threaded. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein an external surface of segment is threaded. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein internal and external surfaces of the intermediate element are threaded, wherein an internally threaded surface of the intermediate element threadedly engages the threaded external surface of the segment, and the threaded external surface of the intermediate element threadedly engages the threaded internal surface of the fastener. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the lower section of the base and the fastener are arranged so that slats of the crib are located between the fastener and the lower section of the base from which the segment extends. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the lower section of the base and the fastener are located on opposite sides of slats of the crib. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the lower section of the base is inside of the crib. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener is outside of the crib. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the lower section of the base and the intermediate element are located on the same side relative to slats of the crib. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the lower section of the base and the intermediate element are both inside of the crib. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the fastener is outside of the crib. 
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate element is located between the lower section of the base from which the segment extends and slats of the crib. 
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate element is adjacent to slats of the crib. 
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate element contacts at least two slats of the crib. 
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the lower section of the base is separated from slats of the crib. 
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the degree of separation depends on the position of the intermediate element along the segment. 
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein an external surface of the segment is threaded, internal and external surfaces of the intermediate element are threaded, and an internal surface of the fastener is threaded, the intermediate element is threaded and adjustably secured to the segment, the fastener is threaded secured to the segment, and the intermediate element is rotatable so that the intermediate element moves along the segment to adjust alignment of the base. 
   
   
       27 . An apparatus for hanging an aligned mobile above a crib, the crib having a top, a bottom and a plurality of slats, the slats defining a plurality of apertures and an interior and a crib interior and exterior, the apparatus comprising:
 a base having an upper section and a lower section, the upper section having a flange that extends over the top of the crib, the lower section having an externally threaded segment extending through an aperture defined by slats and below the top of the crib;   an intermediate element having an internally threaded section and an externally threaded section, wherein the intermediate element is rotatable so that the intermediate element moves along the externally threaded segment and adjusts the alignment of the base and alignment of the mobile; and   an internally threaded fastener, wherein the internally threaded fastener is threadedly secured to the externally threaded section of the intermediate element to secure the base and the intermediate element to the crib.   
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the flange extends over at least a portion of the top of the crib. 
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the lower section of the base and the internally threaded fastener are arranged so that slats of the crib are located between the internally threaded fastener and the lower section from which the externally threaded segment extends. 
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the lower section of the base and the internally threaded fastener are located on opposite sides of slats of the crib. 
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the lower section of the base is inside of the crib. 
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the internally threaded fastener is outside of the crib. 
   
   
       33 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the lower section of the base and the internally threaded intermediate element are located on the same side relative to the slats of the crib. 
   
   
       34 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the lower section of the base and the internally threaded intermediate element are both inside of the crib. 
   
   
       35 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the internally threaded fastener is outside of the crib. 
   
   
       36 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the internally threaded intermediate element is between the slats of the crib and the lower section of the base from which the externally threaded segment extends. 
   
   
       37 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the lower section of the base is separated from slats of the crib. 
   
   
       38 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the degree of separation depends on the position of the internally threaded intermediate element along the externally threaded segment extending from the lower section. 
   
   
       39 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein a diameter of the externally threaded segment of the base is less than a diameter of the externally threaded segment of the intermediate element. 
   
   
       40 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein an inner aperture defined by the internally threaded section of the intermediate element is less than a diameter of the aperture defined by the internally threaded segment of the fastener. 
   
   
       41 . An apparatus for hanging a mobile above a crib, the crib having a top, a bottom and a plurality of slats, the slats defining a plurality of apertures and crib interior and exterior, the apparatus comprising:
 a base having a single threaded segment that extends through an aperture defined by slats of the crib;   a rotatable intermediate element having two threaded segments, wherein the intermediate element is moveable along the single threaded segment of the base when rotated to adjust alignment of the single threaded base and alignment of the mobile; and   a fastener having a single threaded segment, wherein the fastener is threadedly attachable to one of the threaded segments of the rotatable intermediate element for securing the base and the intermediate element to the crib.   
   
   
       42 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the segment of the mounting base is externally threaded, the intermediate element is both internally threaded and externally threaded, and the fastener is internally threaded. 
   
   
       43 . The apparatus of  claim 42 , wherein a diameter of the externally threaded segment of the base is less than a diameter of the externally threaded segment of the intermediate element. 
   
   
       44 . The apparatus of  claim 42 , wherein an inner aperture defined by the internally threaded section of the intermediate element is less than a diameter of the aperture defined by the internally threaded fastener. 
   
   
       45 . An assembly for attachment to a crib, the crib having a top, a bottom and a plurality of slats, the slats defining a plurality of apertures and crib interior and exterior, the assembly comprising:
 a mobile;   a base having an upper section and a lower section, the upper section having a flange that extends over the top of the crib, the lower section having an externally threaded segment extending through an aperture defined by slats and below the top of the crib;   a rotatable intermediate element having an internally threaded section and an externally threaded section, wherein the intermediate element is rotatable so that the intermediate element moves along the externally threaded segment to adjust alignment of the base and alignment of the mobile attached directly or indirectly to the base; and   an internally threaded fastener that is threadedly attachable to the externally threaded section of the intermediate element to secure the base and the intermediate element to the crib.   
   
   
       46 . An assembly for a crib, the crib having a top, a bottom and a plurality of slats, the slats defining a plurality of apertures and crib interior and exterior, the assembly comprising:
 a mobile;   a base having a single threaded segment that extends through an aperture defined by slats of the crib;   a rotatable intermediate element having two threaded segments, wherein the intermediate element is moveable along the single threaded segment when rotated to adjust alignment of the base and alignment of the mobile attached directly or indirectly to the base; and   a fastener having a single threaded segment, wherein the fastener is threadedly attachable to one of the threaded segments of the rotatable intermediate element to secure the base and the intermediate element to the crib.   
   
   
       47 . The assembly of  claim 46 , wherein the segment of the base is externally threaded, the intermediate element is both internally threaded and externally threaded, and the fastener is internally threaded. 
   
   
       48 . The assembly of  claim 47 , wherein a diameter of the externally threaded segment is less than a diameter of the externally threaded segment of the intermediate element. 
   
   
       49 . The assembly of  claim 47 , wherein a diameter of an inner aperture defined by the internally threaded section of the intermediate element is less than a diameter of the aperture defined by the internally threaded fastener.