US 11,589,686 B2Granted

Unfolding play yard

OwnerHenry F. Thorneinventor

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Abstract

The present invention is an easy to open, close and transport child's play yard. The opening and closing of the play yard is controlled and driven by a central hub that is connected to at least three cam actuator assemblies, all of which are structured to control the joint angles between the central hub and the corner posts and between the corner posts and the upper rails.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A play yard apparatus comprising:

at least three corner posts, each corner post with an upper end and a lower end;
at least three foldable upper rail assemblies, each upper rail assembly having two opposing outer ends, positioned between and pivotably connected at the outer ends of the rail assemblies to the upper ends of adjacent corner posts;
a central hub;
and
cam actuator assemblies connected to each corner post and to the central hub,
wherein each cam actuator assembly comprises:
a base strut with an inner end pivotably connected to the central hub and an outer end pivotably connected to the lower end of a corresponding corner post;
a strut cam rod slidably attached by a first cam wheel to a cam slot in the inner end of the base strut and a second cam slot in the central hub and also slidably attached by a second cam wheel to a cam slot in the outer end of the base strut and a second cam slot in the lower end of the corner post;
an actuator rod with a lower end and an upper end, the lower end of the actuator rod slidably attached by the second cam wheel to the cam slot in the outer end of the base strut and to the second cam slot in the lower end of the corner post;
and
a transfer link with an upper end and lower end, the lower end of the transfer link pivotably attached to the upper end of the actuator rod, and the upper end of the transfer link pivotably attached to the corresponding outer end of an upper rail assembly;
whereby, as the central hub is pushed downward, the actuator rods and the transfer link are pulled downward, thereby pulling the upper rail assemblies into an approximately horizontal position, and the base struts and the strut cam rods are pushed to the lower ends of the corner posts into approximately horizontal positions;
and
whereby the cam actuator assemblies enable an up and down motion of the central hub to control the motion and position of the corner posts and the upper rail assemblies and to move the play yard apparatus between an open state and a closed state.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

A play yard apparatus comprising:

at least three corner posts, each corner post with an upper end and a lower end;
at least three foldable upper rail assemblies, each upper rail assembly having two opposing outer ends, positioned between and pivotably connected at the outer ends of the rail assemblies to the upper ends of adjacent corner posts;
a central hub;
and
cam actuator assemblies connected to each corner post and to the central hub,
wherein each cam actuator assembly comprises:
a base strut with an inner end pivotably connected to the central hub and an outer end pivotably connected to the lower end of a corresponding corner post;
a strut cam rod slidably attached by a first cam wheel to a cam slot in the inner end of the base strut and a second cam slot in the central hub and also slidably attached by a second cam wheel to a cam slot in the outer end of the base strut and a second cam slot in the lower end of the corner post;
an actuator rod with a lower end and an upper end, the lower end of the actuator rod slidably attached by the second cam wheel to the cam slot in the outer end of the base strut and to the second cam slot in the lower end of the corner post;
and
a transfer link with an upper end and lower end, the lower end of the transfer link pivotably attached to the upper end of the actuator rod, and the upper end of the transfer link pivotably attached to the corresponding outer end of an upper rail assembly;
whereby, as the central hub is pushed downward, the actuator rods and the transfer link are pulled downward, thereby pulling the upper rail assemblies into an approximately horizontal position, and the base struts and the strut cam rods are pushed to the lower ends of the corner posts into approximately horizontal positions;
and
whereby the cam actuator assemblies enable an up and down motion of the central hub to control the motion and position of the corner posts and the upper rail assemblies and to move the play yard apparatus between an open state and a closed state.

11 more elements