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`U.S. Patent
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`Jan. 28, 2003
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`Sheet 2 of 9
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`US 6,510,570 B2
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`Jan. 28, 2003
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`Sheet 3 of 9
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jan. 28, 2003
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`Sheet 7 of 9
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`US 6,510,570 B2
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jan. 28, 2003
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`Sheet 8 of 9
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`US 6,510,570 B2
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`US 6,510,570 B2
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`1
`PLAYARD HAVING CORNER PANELS
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`This invention relates to a playard. More specifically, this
`invention relates to a playard having corner panels to isolate
`the legs of the playard from the interior space of the playard.
`An exemplary playard is described in U.S. Pat. No.
`4,811,437 to Dillner et al., which is incorporated by refer-
`ence herein in its entirety. Playards provide an enclosed safe
`environment in which a child can be placed to sleep or to
`play. Although a conventional playard can come in many
`shapes, it generally is rectangular in shape and includes an
`upper support assembly, a lower support assembly, and four
`legs that extend between the support assemblies at each
`corner of the rectangle. The playard typically can be folded
`from an erect position to a folded position for transport and
`storage. The present invention provides additional features
`to improve the controlled environment of conventional
`playards.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to a playard. The playard
`can include a leg, a flexible side panel, and a corner panel.
`The flexible side panel hugs against the leg so that the
`flexible side panel forms first and second side panel portions
`extending at an angle relative to each other about the leg to
`form a corner of the playard. The corner panel attaches to the
`inner sides of the angled first and second side panel portions.
`The corner panel is spaced from and covers the leg. The
`corner panel can comprise a flexible sheet stretched between
`the angled first and second side panel portions. In addition,
`the corner panel and portions of the first and side panel
`portions can form a corner pocket that hides the leg therein.
`According to the invention, the corner pocket can have a
`triangular cross-section. The portions of the side panel
`portions meet at a vertex of the triangular corner pocket, and
`the corner panel is positioned opposite the vertex and forms
`a side of the triangular corner pocket.
`Further, a preferred embodiment of the playard includes
`three additional legs. The flexible side panel hugs all four
`legs to form a substantially rectangular area, with four
`corners, each of the three additional legs having an associ-
`ated corner panel.
`In one embodiment,
`the legs of the
`playard can be bowed inwardly; in another embodiment, the
`legs of the playard can be bowed outwardly; and, in yet
`another embodiment, the legs can be straight.
`The playard also can include a flexible bottom panel that
`connects to a lower end of the side panel. A floor board can
`be positioned above the bottom panel.
`In such an
`embodiment, each of the corner panels can terminate above
`the bottom panel with a gap therebetween to accommodate
`a respective corner of the floor board. The gap can be
`substantially equal to or greater than a thickness of the floor
`board at the respective corners.
`In another aspect of the present invention, a four-sided
`playard having four legs and four upper support rails is
`provided. The four upper support rails connect upper por-
`tions of the four legs. The playard also has a lower support
`assembly connected to lower portions of the four legs, a
`bottom panel, and a side panel wrapped around the four legs
`to form four angled corners. The side panel is connected to
`the bottom panel. The playard further has four corner panels.
`Each corner panel is associated with and covers one of the
`four angled corners and hides the respective leg. Each corner
`panel is spaced from the respective leg to isolate the leg.
`
`2
`Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of
`isolating a leg of a playard positioned at a corner portion
`thereof. The method includes positioning a corner panel
`against inner sides of a flexible side panel adjacent a location
`where the side panel hugs the leg and forms first and second
`side panel portions extending at an angle relative to each
`other about the leg to form the corner. The method also
`includes securing the corner panel to the inner sides of the
`angled first and second side panel portions. According to the
`method, the corner panel is spaced from and covers the leg.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the
`present
`invention will become more apparent from the
`following description, appended claims, and accompanying
`exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, which are
`briefly described below.
`FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a playard having a corner
`panel in accordance with the invention.
`FIG. 2 is an end view of a playard frame with the flexible
`material removed.
`
`FIG. 3 is a side view of the playard frame of FIG. 2.
`FIG. 4 is top plan view of the playard of FIG. 1.
`FIG. 5 is a side view in cross section of the playard, taken
`along line 5—5 in FIG. 1.
`FIG. 6 is an enlarged top view in cross-section of a corner
`area of the playard, as taken along line 6—6 in FIG. 5.
`FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a playard having a corner
`panel in accordance with another embodiment of the inven-
`tion.
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`FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a playard having a corner
`strap in accordance with yet another embodiment of the
`invention.
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`FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the playard in FIG. 8.
`FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a playard having a corner
`panel in accordance with still another embodiment of the
`invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a foldable playard 10
`according to the invention. The playard 1 includes a flexible
`side panel 11 that includes four side panel portions 12 (12A,
`12B, 12C, 12D, collectively 12), each side panel portion 12
`forming one of the sides of the four-sided playard. The side
`panel portions 12 can be joined together by vertically
`extending outer corner panels 18. The flexible side panel
`hugs the legs of the playard 1 at the outer panels 18 so that
`adjacent side panel portions 12 extend at an angle relative to
`each other to form a corner 19 of the playard 1. For a square
`or rectangular shaped playard, the corner angle can be about
`90 degrees (i.e., a right angle).
`The side panel portions 12 generally are attached together
`to form the flexible side panel 11. The side panel portions 12
`can include mesh or netting to enhance ventilation and to
`allow the child to see and to be seen. Each of the side panel
`portions 12 also includes a laterally extending tubular sleeve
`17 (17A, 17B, 17C, 17D) to facilitate mounting of the side
`panel 11 to respective upper support rail members of the
`playard frame, as will be described below.
`The playard 1 also includes four inner corner panels 14,
`which are attached to the inner sides of adjacent side panel
`portions 12. For example, FIG. 4 shows a corner panel 14
`attached to the inner sides of side panel portions 12C and
`12D. A corner panel 14 is attached to the inner surfaces of
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`US 6,510,570 B2
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`adjacent side panel portions 12 at each corner area of the
`playard so that the corner panel 14 is spaced from and covers
`or hides the respective leg of the playard 1. The corner panel
`14, which can be made of a flexible sheet material,
`is
`stretched so that it remains taut between the adjacent side
`panel portions 12. The corner panel 14 thus effectively
`isolates the leg from the interior space of the playard 1 so
`that a child playing in the playard cannot accidentally come
`into contact with the playard leg, which forms part of the
`rigid frame of the playard 1.
`Turning to FIGS. 2 and 3, a frame structure 20 of the
`playard 1 will now be described. The frame includes an
`upper support assembly 21, a lower support assembly 24,
`and legs 26. The lower support assembly 24 can include
`rigid corner leg connectors 28 in the form of support feet.
`The upper portion of the playard frame includes rigid corner
`rail connectors or corner brackets 30. The feet 28 and corner
`
`brackets 30 can be molded from a polymeric plastic material
`such as ABS.
`
`The upper support assembly 21 includes four upper
`support rail members. Each upper support rail member can
`include a pair of rigid, tubular metal rails 22A, 22B. The
`metal rails 22A, 22B can be linear, as shown in FIG. 3, to
`create a straight upper rail member, or they can be curved,
`as shown in FIG. 2, to create a curved upper rail member.
`The lengths of the rails 22A, 22B are determined by the
`width of the side of the playard on which the rails are
`located. End portions of the rails 22A, 22B are received in
`and pivotally connected to a respective corner bracket 30,
`for example, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,811,437. The
`opposite end portions of the rails 22A, 22B extend within
`and are pivotably coupled to a medial rail connecting
`member 32, for example, as shown and described in U.S.
`Pat. No. 4,811,437. The medial rail connecting members 32
`are preferably made of a rigid metal material and facilitate
`pivoting of rails 22A, 22B. Each medial rail connecting
`member 32 houses a latch mechanism for automatically
`latching rails 22A, 22B in place when the playard is erect as
`shown in FIG. 1. One exemplary latch mechanism is shown
`and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,811,437, but any known
`latch mechanism can be used.
`
`The lower support assembly 24 of the playard frame
`includes a hub member 34 and a plurality of lower support
`members 25 extending between each foot 28 and the hub
`member 34, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Exemplary
`central hub members are shown and described in U.S. Pat.
`No. 4,811,437 to Dillner et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,111 to
`Dillner et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,819,342 to Williams, all
`three incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The
`lower support members 25 are pivotally coupled to the feet
`28. The lower support assembly can also include hub legs
`(not shown) that extend out from the hub member 34 to
`further stabilize the playard.
`The legs 26 of the playard frame interconnect the upper
`and lower support assemblies 21, 24 of the playard. In
`particular, an end portion of each leg 26 can be secured to
`an associated support foot 28, and the opposite end portion
`can be secured to an associated corner bracket 30. By
`actuating the hub member 34 and the medial rail connecting
`members 32, the playard can be collapsed from an in use
`position, as shown in FIG. 1, to a folded position for storage.
`A method of collapsing a playard is described in U.S. Pat.
`No. 4,811,437.
`Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, it can be seen that side panel
`11, which comprises side panel portions 12A, 12B, 12C,
`12D, hugs or wraps around each leg 26 of the playard frame
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`20 so that adjacent side panel portions 12A, 12B, 12C, 12D
`extend at an angle relative to each other from the leg 26 to
`form the corners 19 of the playard 1. As mentioned above,
`corner panels 14 are attached to the inner sides of adjacent
`side panel portions 12A-12B, 12B-12C, 12C-12D,
`12D-12A. The corner panel 14 can be stitched to the inner
`sides of the adjacent side panel portions.
`FIG. 6, which is representative of each corner area of the
`playard 1, shows the relationship of side panel portions 12A,
`12B, corner panel 14, and leg 26. This same relationship
`exists at each corner of the playard. The corner panel 14 and
`segments S1, S2 of the side panel portions 12A, 12B,
`respectively, form a corner pocket. The corner pocket 50 is
`generally triangular in cross-section. The portion of the side
`panel 11 hugging or wrapping the leg 26 forms a corner 19
`of the playard, and this portion forms the vertex of the
`triangular corner pocket 50. The corner panel 14 defines a
`side (or the hypotenuse) of the triangular cross-section,
`which is opposite the vertex; segments S1, S2 define the
`remaining two sides of the triangular corner pocket. As
`evident from FIG. 6, if a child inadvertently bumps up
`against an inner corner of the playard, the child will contact
`the flexible corner panel 14 and not the rigid leg 26.
`Each corner panel 14 is spaced by a spacing S away from
`the respective leg 26 of the playard frame. FIG. 6 shows
`spacing S measured from an outer surface of leg 26 to an
`outer surface of corner panel 14, where spacing S is normal
`to the outer surface of the leg 26. In one embodiment of the
`present invention, the spacing S can be equal to or greater
`than one half the inner diameter of the leg 26 to provide
`sufficient open buffer area between the corner panel 14 and
`the leg 26. In embodiments where the spacing S is less than
`one half the inner diameter of the leg 26, the corner panel 14
`should be stretched sufficiently taut between side panel
`portions 12A, 12B (12C, 12D) so that the corner panel 14
`does not flex toward the leg 26 when the child applies force
`to the corner panel 14.
`FIGS. 1-6 show one embodiment of a playard in accor-
`dance with the invention, in which the legs 26 of the playard
`are bowed inwardly. The corner panels 14 can also bow
`inwardly, substantially in parallel with the legs 26. Because
`the legs 26 bow inwardly, the side panel portions 12A, 12B,
`12C, 12D can be seen in the top view of the playard in FIG.
`2, as they curve inwardly relative to the support rails 22
`(shown in FIG. 2 covered by sleeves 17A, 17B, 17C, 17D).
`FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the invention, in
`which the legs 26‘ bow outwardly. As in the embodiment of
`FIGS. 1-6, the corner panels 14‘ of this embodiment isolate
`the legs 26‘ from the interior space of the playard so that a
`child will not inadvertently come into contact with the rigid
`playard legs 26‘. These corner panels 14‘ can also bow
`outwardly, substantially parallel with the playard legs 26‘. It
`will be understood that the present invention also contem-
`plates corner panels 14" for a playard having straight legs
`26“ to isolate the legs from the interior space of the playard,
`as shown in FIG. 10.
`
`Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 5, the playard 1 of the
`present invention also includes flexible bottom panel 60 that
`is attached to the lower edge of the side panels 12. The
`flexible bottom panel 60 can be sewn to the side panels 12.
`The playard also can include a floor board 40 that can be
`positioned above and rest on the bottom panel 60, as shown
`in FIG. 5. When the floor board 40 is in place, the lower
`support members 25 and the hub member 26, along with the
`bottom panel 60, support the floor board 40. The floor board
`40 can comprise a foam cushion 42 enclosed in a layer or
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`US 6,510,570 B2
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`5
`layers of fabric material, such as nylon, that form a pad
`cover 44. The floor board 40 typically is partitioned into four
`sections, each containing one of four rigid stiffening plat-
`forms 46 (46A, 46B, 46C, 46D). Each platform 46 can be
`made from a Masonite material, for example. To position the
`floor board 40 in place on the bottom panel 60, the floor
`board 40 can be bent at the joints between the stiffening
`platforms 46 and then unfolded into place in the playard.
`FIG. 5 shows stiffening platforms 46A and 46B in a bent
`position prior to being unfolded onto the bottom panel 60;
`FIG. 5 shows stiffening platforms 46C and 46D unfolded to
`rest on the bottom panel 60. The floor board 40 can serve the
`dual purpose of providing a smooth playing surface for the
`child when inserted in the playard 1, as shown in FIG. 2, for
`example, or the floor board 40 can be removed from the
`playard 1 and folded into a carrying case for the playard 1,
`as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,811,437.
`The construction of the playard 1 of the present invention
`keeps the floor board 40 secure in place while a child is in
`the playard. In this regard, as shown in FIG. 5, each corner
`panel 14 can terminate above the bottom panel 60 to leave
`a gap 62 between the bottom of the corner panel 14 and the
`bottom panel 60. The gap 62 can be dimensioned to accom-
`modate a respective corner of the floor board 40. In one
`embodiment, the gap 62 can be substantially equal to the
`thickness of the floor board 40. When the corner of the floor
`
`board 40 is placed underneath the lower end of the respec-
`tive corner panel 14, the corner panel 14 can serve to keep
`any coverings on the floor board 40, such as sheets, tight
`against the floor board 40 and tightly tucked into the corner
`of the playard 1. The gap 62 also can sized slightly smaller
`than the floor board thickness so that, when the floor board
`40 is positioned underneath the corner panel 14, the lower
`end of the corner panel 14 pushes downward on the flexible
`cushion 42 of floor board 40 to hold the floor board 40 and
`
`floor board coverings even more tightly in place.
`FIGS. 8 and 9 show another playard 100, which does not
`include the corner panels of the embodiment shown in FIGS.
`1-7. The playard 100 includes straps 110 fixed to each
`corner of the bottom panel 120 to secure a floor board (not
`shown) in place. The corners of the floor board can be
`slipped under the straps 110. The straps 110 ensure that any
`coverings on the floor board, such as sheets, stay tight
`against the floor board. The straps 110 can be made of a
`fabric or plastic material or both, and the straps 110 can be
`elastic to allow a parent to pull the straps 110 upward toward
`the top of the playard to provide enough clearance between
`the strap 110 and the bottom panel 120 for the floor board to
`be slipped underneath the straps and secured in place. The
`ends of the straps 110 can be sewn to the bottom panel 120
`or sewn to the lower edges of adjacent side panel portions to
`attach the straps 110 to the playard 100. In addition, although
`FIGS. 8 and 9 show the straps 100 in a playard with inwardly
`bowed legs, the straps 110 can be used with any conven-
`tional playard.
`Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of
`isolating a leg of a playard positioned at a corner portion
`thereof. The method includes positioning a corner panel
`against inner sides of a flexible side panel adjacent a location
`where the side panel hugs the leg and forms first and second
`side panel portions extending at an angle relative to each
`other about the leg to form the corner. The method also
`includes securing the corner panel to the inner sides of the
`angled first and second side panel portions. According to the
`method, the corner panel is spaced from and covers the leg.
`Given the disclosure of the present invention, one versed
`in the art would appreciate that there may be other embodi-
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`ments and modifications within the scope and spirit of the
`present invention. Accordingly, all modifications attainable
`by one versed in the art from the present disclosure within
`the scope and spirit of the present
`invention are to be
`included as further embodiments of the present invention.
`The scope of the present invention accordingly is to be
`defined as set forth in the appended claims.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A playard comprising:
`a leg;
`a flexible side panel hugging against the leg so that the
`flexible side panel forms first and second side panel
`portions extending at an angle relative to each other
`about the leg and forming a corner;
`a corner panel attached to inner sides of the angled first
`and second side panel portions;
`a flexible bottom panel that connects to a lower end of the
`side panel, and
`a cushioned floor board positioned above the bottom
`panel,
`wherein the corner panel is spaced from and covers the
`leg, and the corner panel terminates above the bottom
`panel with a gap therebetween to accommodate a
`corner of the floor board.
`
`2. A playard according to claim 1, wherein the corner
`panel comprises a flexible sheet stretched between the
`angled first and second side panel portions.
`3. A playard according to claim 2, wherein the corner
`panel is stitched to the angled first and second side portions.
`4. A playard according to claim 2, wherein the corner
`panel and portions of the first and side panel portions form
`a corner pocket that hides the leg therein.
`5. A playard according to claim 4, wherein the corner
`pocket has a triangular cross-section, wherein the portions of
`the side panel portions meet at a vertex of the triangular
`corner pocket, and the corner panel is positioned opposite
`the vertex and forms a side of the triangular corner pocket.
`6. Aplayard according to claim 5, further including three
`additional legs, the flexible side panel hugging against all
`four legs to form a substantially rectangular area, with four
`corners, each of the three additional legs having an associ-
`ated corner panel.
`7. A playard according to claim 6, wherein each of the
`four legs is bowed inwardly.
`8. A playard according to claim 6, wherein each of the
`four legs is bowed outwardly.
`9. A playard according to claim 7, wherein each of the
`four corner panels is bowed inwardly, substantially parallel
`with the bowed leg.
`10. A playard according to claim 8, wherein each of the
`four corner panels is bowed outwardly, substantially parallel
`with the bowed leg.
`11. A playard according to claim 1, wherein the floor
`board includes at least one stiffening platform, a cushion,
`and a floor board cover.
`
`12. A playard according to claim 1, wherein the gap is
`substantially equal to or greater than a thickness of the floor
`board at the corner.
`
`13. A playard according to claim 1, further including a
`lower support assembly connecting the four legs.
`14. A playard according to claim 1, wherein the gap is
`smaller than a thickness of the floor board at the respective
`corners.
`
`15. A playard comprising:
`four legs;
`a flexible side panel hugging against the legs to form a
`substantially rectangular area with four corners, the
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`flexible side panel forming a pair of side panel portions
`extending at an angle relative to each other about each
`of the legs to form the respective four corners; and
`corner panels attached to the inner sides of each pair of
`angled side panel portions, wherein the corner panels
`are spaced from and cover the respective legs,
`wherein the corner panels and portions of the respective
`pair of angled side panel portions form corner pockets
`that hide the respective legs therein,
`wherein the corner pockets have triangular cross-sections,
`the portions of the respective pairs of angled side panel
`portions meet at a vertex of the respective triangular
`corner pockets, and the corner panels are positioned
`opposite the vertex and form a side of the respective
`triangular corner pockets, and
`wherein each of the four legs is straight.
`16. A multi-sided playard having legs and upper support
`rails connecting upper portions of the legs and a lower
`support assembly connected to lower portions of the legs, a
`bottom panel, and a side panel looped around the legs to
`form angled corners, the side panel being connected to the
`bottom panel, comprising:
`corner panels each covering the respective corner and
`hiding the respective leg, wherein each of the corner
`panels is spaced from the respective leg to isolate the
`same; and
`a cushioned floor board positioned above the bottom
`panel, each of the corner panels terminating above the
`bottom panel with a gap therebetween to accommodate
`a respective corner of the floor board.
`17. Aplayard according to claim 16, wherein each of the
`corner panels comprises a flexible sheet stretched across the
`side panel at the respective corner.
`18. Aplayard according to claim 17, wherein each of the
`corner panels is stitched to the side panel.
`19. A playard according to claim 16, wherein the corner
`panels each form a corner pocket with the side panel to hide
`the respective leg therein.
`20. Aplayard according to claim 19, wherein the playard
`has a triangular cross-section, wherein portions of the side
`panel meet at the vertex of the triangular corner pocket, and
`the corner panel is positioned opposite the vertex and form
`a side of the triangular corner pocket.
`21. A playard according to claim 16, wherein the floor
`board comprises at least one stiffening platform, a cushion,
`and a floor board cover.
`
`22. A playard according to claim 16, wherein the gap is
`substantially equal to or greater than a thickness of the floor
`board at the respective corners.
`23. A playard comprising:
`an upper support assembly;
`a lower support assembly;
`legs extending between the upper and lower support
`assemblies;
`
`8
`a side panel that wraps around the legs to form side panel
`portions of the playard;
`corner panels each attached to the inner sides of adjacent
`side panel portions opposite a respective leg and each
`covering and spaced from the respective leg;
`a bottom panel connected to a lower end of the side panel