Foldable bassinet

#The present invention relates to a bassinet, and more specifically, to a foldable bassinet

#A typical bassinet is often large and difficult to store. Consequently, the portability of the bassinet is also inhibited. In practical application, a bassinet further designed to integrate with a playard is usually incapable of remaining usable when removed from the playard.

#Furthermore, the bassinet having dual functionality for use on and off the playard can have a complex mechanical design, causing much inconvenience to a caregiver in operating the bassinet. Additionally, the aforesaid dual functionality design can pose greater risk of a young child accidentally adjusting the configuration of the bassinet, causing a threat to the infant lying in the bassinet.

#FIG. 1 is a diagram of a foldable bassinet according to an embodiment of the present invention.

#FIG. 2 is a diagram of the foldable bassinet in FIG. 1 from another viewing angle.

#FIG. 3 is a partial internal diagram of a leg structure in FIG. 2.

#Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. FIG. 1 is a diagram of a foldable bassinet 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram of the foldable bassinet 10 in FIG. 1 from another viewing angle. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the foldable bassinet 10 includes an upper bassinet frame 12, a pair of leg structures 16, 18 opposite to each other, and a bottom board 20. The upper bassinet frame 12 has a generally oval shape and is attached to a bassinet fabric to create a welcoming area for an infant. Each of the leg structures 16, 18 is preferably made of injection molded plastic material (but not limited thereto) and has an upper tower portion 22 and a lower ledge portion 24. The upper bassinet frame 12 is disposed through the upper tower portions 22 of the leg structures 16, 18 to make the leg structures 16, 18 pivotable relative to the upper bassinet frame 12 between a supporting position for use and a folding position for storage or transport. The bottom board 20 is detachably configured between the two lower ledge portions 24 and defines a containing space 14 cooperatively with the upper bassinet frame 12 and the leg structures 16, 18 for allowing a caregiver to place an infant thereon. To be noted, because the leg structures 16, 18 are foldable inwardly relative to the upper bassinet frame 12, the bottom board 20 can also prevent folding of the foldable bassinet 10 when the bottom board 20 is captured between the two lower ledge portions 24.

#In this embodiment, a locking mechanical design is applied to the leg structure 16 for locking the leg structure 16 at the supporting position or the folding position, but not limited thereto, meaning that the locking mechanical design can be also applied to the leg structure 18 and the related description could be reasoned by analogy according to this embodiment and omitted herein. Please refer to FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. FIG. 3 is a partial internal diagram of the leg structure 16 in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is an exploded diagram of a bushing 26 and a locking hub 28 in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is an enlarged diagram of the locking hub 28 being locked on the bushing 26 in FIG. 3.

#As shown in FIGS. 2-5, the foldable bassinet 10 could further include the bushing 26 and the locking hub 28. The bushing 26 is secured to the upper bassinet frame 12 within the upper tower portion 22 to rotate together with the upper bassinet frame 12, and has at least one protrusion 30 formed thereon (preferably three radially arranged on the bushing 26, but one not shown in FIG. 4 due to the viewing angle). The locking hub 28 is concentrically located and transversely movable (preferably slidable, but not limited thereto) on the bushing 26 to be transversely movable within the upper tower portion 22 and includes an engagement channel 32 formed therein for engaging with the protrusion 30. Accordingly, when the locking hub 28 moves to a locked position as shown in FIG. 5, the protrusion 30 is engaged with the engagement channel 32 for stopping rotation of the leg structure 16 relative to the upper bassinet frame 12, such that the foldable bassinet 10 can be in an expanded state as shown in FIG. 1 steadily for use. On the other hand, when the locking hub 28 moves to an unlocked position as shown in FIG. 3, the protrusion 30 is disengaged from the engagement channel 32 to make the leg structure 16 rotatable relative to the upper bassinet frame 12. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3, the foldable bassinet 10 could further include a spring 34 configured between the locking hub 28 and the upper tower portion 22 for biasing the locking hub 28 to the locked position, so as to make locking between the leg structure 16 and the upper bassinet frame 12 more firm for safety.