Play Yard

Abstract

A play yard has a pair of members that are spaced apart and arranged in a longitudinal direction and has a central coupling member located in a central portion in the longitudinal direction and pivotally coupled to the pair of members. One lock mechanism operates so that one of the members is not allowed to pivot with respect to the central coupling member. Another lock mechanism operates so that the other member is not allowed to pivot with respect to the central coupling member. A lock operation mechanism simultaneously unlocks both lock mechanisms to maintain them in the unlocked state.

1 . A play yard, comprising:
 a collapsible frame structure which includes a plurality of pillar members and a plurality of horizontal members coupling said pillar members together, and which is formed so as to surround a space accommodating an infant or a small child, wherein   at least one of said horizontal members is capable of being folded and deformed at its intermediate position, and includes a member located on one side in a longitudinal direction, a member located on the other side in the longitudinal direction, a central coupling member located in a central portion in the longitudinal direction, and pivotally coupled to said member located on the one side in the longitudinal direction and said member located on the other side in the longitudinal direction, one lock mechanism that operates so that said member located on the one side in the longitudinal direction is not allowed to pivot with respect to said central coupling member, the other lock mechanism that operates so that said member located on the other side in the longitudinal direction is not allowed to pivot with respect to said central coupling member, and a lock operation mechanism that simultaneously releases or unlocks both of said lock mechanisms to maintain said lock mechanisms in the released or unlocked state.   
     
     
         2 . The play yard according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said one lock mechanism includes one lock member which is supported by said central coupling member, and which is selectively shifted to a lock position where said member located on the one side in the longitudinal direction is not allowed to pivot, and a free position where said member located on the one side in the longitudinal direction is allowed to pivot,   said other lock mechanism includes the other lock member which is supported by said central coupling member, and which is selectively shifted to a lock position where said member located on the other side in the longitudinal direction is not allowed to pivot, and a free position where said member located on the other side in the longitudinal direction is allowed to pivot, and   said lock operation mechanism includes a common operation element that simultaneously shifts said one lock member and said other lock member from said lock position to said free position.   
     
     
         3 . The play yard according to  claim 2 , wherein
 said operation element is operated from an original position to an operation position to shift said one lock member and said other lock member from said lock position to said free position, and   said lock operation mechanism further includes a return spring that returns said operation element to said original position.   
     
     
         4 . The play yard according to  claim 2 , wherein
 a through hole is formed in each of said one lock member and said other lock member, and a single common coupling pin extends through said through holes,   a central guide portion that engage with both ends of said coupling pin is formed in said central coupling member, and   said coupling pin moves along said central guide portion.   
     
     
         5 . The play yard according to  claim 4 , wherein
 said one lock member is placed on one side of said central coupling member, said other lock member is placed on the other side of said central coupling member, and said one lock member and said other lock member are shaped and positioned symmetrically with respect to an imaginary central plane extending through a center of said central coupling member, and said coupling pin moves along said central plane in a direction at a right angle to a direction in which said coupling pin extends.   
     
     
         6 . The play yard according to  claim 5 , wherein
 said one lock member is provided with one support pin extending parallel to said coupling pin, and a tilted surface tilted with respect to a direction in which said one support pin extends,   said other lock member is provided with the other support pin extending parallel to said coupling pin, and a tilted surface tilted with respect to a direction in which said other support pin extends,   one guide portion and the other guide portion, which are symmetrically positioned on one side and the other side with respect to said central plane, and which are shaped symmetrically with respect to said central plane, are formed in said central coupling member,   said one guide portion engages with both ends of said one support pin, and guides said one support pin in a direction at a right angle to a direction in which said one support pin extends,   said other guide portion engages with both ends of said other support pin, and guides said other support pin in a direction at a right angle to a direction in which said other support pin extends, and   said operation element has a pair of legs that respectively abut on said tilted surfaces, and when said operation element is operated, said legs advance in said direction in which said support pins extend, thereby simultaneously pressing said tilted surfaces, and thus moving said one lock member and said other lock member.   
     
     
         7 . The play yard according to  claim 6 , wherein
 said one lock member and said other lock member are respectively provided with surfaces which respectively adjoin said tilted surfaces, and which are parallel to said coupling pin, and   said legs that have pressed said tilted surfaces further advance to extend parallel to and in contact with said parallel surfaces, respectively.   
     
     
         8 . The play yard according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said space accommodating the infant or the small child has a quadrilateral shape as viewed in plan,   said pillar members are respectively placed at corners of said quadrilateral space, and   those horizontal members which are capable of being folded and deformed at their intermediate positions are arranged so as to form a pair of parallel sides of said quadrilateral space.