IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0043702
(2002-01-09)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Tharalson, Douglas
- Tharalson, Diana
- Martin, Bruce
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출원인 / 주소 |
- Arms Reach Concepts, Inc.
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대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
24 인용 특허 :
16 |
초록
▼
A co-sleeper convertibly adapted for use as a changing table, bassinet or play yard is described. The invention includes a first rigid enclosure that has four walls and a floor with the front wall capable of being positioned at an upper level equal to the remaining walls or at a second lower level.
A co-sleeper convertibly adapted for use as a changing table, bassinet or play yard is described. The invention includes a first rigid enclosure that has four walls and a floor with the front wall capable of being positioned at an upper level equal to the remaining walls or at a second lower level. The first enclosure is capable of supporting a second enclosure within it that has four walls, a floor and can support a mattress. The co-sleeper is secured at one side of a parental bed with the co-sleeper mattress positioned a short distance below the level of the mattress of the parental bed. The front wall of the invention is placed in the second, lowered position for use as a co-sleeper or changing table and positioned at the upper level when the invention is used as a play yard or bassinet. The front wall has a fixed lower portion and a raisable upper portion. The upper portion of the front wall is formed as a rigid panel or as a flexible panel and various means are used to maintain the upper portion of the front wall in the upper position. The rigid panel may be hingedly attached to the first enclosure, slide in tracks, pivot or be completely removable. The rigid panel may zip in place or be maintained by a removable cross-rail secured in a passageway at the upper edge of the upper portion of the flexible front wall that attaches to the first enclosure front rails.
대표청구항
▼
1. A multi-purpose convertible play yard convertibly adapted for use as a bassinet, changing table or bedside co-sleeper comprising:a rigid first enclosure having an open top, a floor, a front wall, a back wall, a first side wall and a second side wall; said first enclosure being of a first predeter
1. A multi-purpose convertible play yard convertibly adapted for use as a bassinet, changing table or bedside co-sleeper comprising:a rigid first enclosure having an open top, a floor, a front wall, a back wall, a first side wall and a second side wall; said first enclosure being of a first predetermined height; means for reversibly lowering the height of at least a portion of the front wall, from a first position at the top to a second position below the top, while maintaining structural rigidity of the play yard; a second enclosure, said second enclosure being sized to fit substantially within the first enclosure and having an open top, a back wall, a front wall, first and second side walls and a bottom; means for removably supporting said second enclosure within the first enclosure at at least one predetermined distance from the top of the first enclosure; anda securing strap assembly for securing the play yard to a parental bed; whereby, when the front wall is in the raised first position and the second enclosure is supported by the supporting means, the play yard is usable as a bassinet; and wherein, when the front wall is then lowered to the second position, the play yard is usable as a changing table; and further, when the securing strap assembly is properly positioned and the play yard is secured to the parental bed the play yard may serve as a co-sleeper; the multi-purpose convertible play yard further comprising: a rigid frame, said rigid frame supporting the floor, the front wall, the back wall, the first side wall and the second side wall of said first enclosure; said frame being formed adjacent the top by front and rear upper parallel horizontal rails orthogonally connected to first and second upper side horizontal rails, and being formed adjacent the floor by front and rear lower parallel horizontal rails orthogonally connected to first side and second side lower parallel horizontal rails, said upper and lower horizontal rails being orthogonally connected by a pair of front vertical rails and a pair of rear vertical rails disposed at ends of said horizontal rails; said front vertical rails having an upper end, a lower end and being formed of tubing having a first inner diameter; each said front vertical rails having a vertically oriented slit penetrating said tubing, each of said slits facing inwardly toward the other and extending downwardly from the upper ends of said rails for a first predetermined distance; a pair of adjusting members, each of said adjusting members being formed of a section of tubing, said tubing having an upper end and a lower end and being sized to fit slidably within the first inner diameter of said front vertical rails; each of said adjusting members having a control tab fitted at the upper end of the section of tubing, said control tab being sized and shaped to fit slidably within one of said vertically oriented slits; said front upper horizontal rail having first and second ends and being connected to the control tabs of said adjusting members at said first and second ends such that the control tabs slide upwardly and downwardly within the vertically oriented slits of the front vertical rails between a first upper position and a second lowered position while maintaining the structural rigidity of said frame; means for securing said adjusting members at either of said first upper position and said second lowered position; said front wall being formed of flexible material and having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge and a second side edge; said front wall being attached at its top edge to said front upper horizontal rail, at its bottom edge to said front lower horizontal rail, and at its first and second side edges to said front vertical rails; said front wall having a pair of vertical openings adjacent the first and second side edges and extending downwardly from said top edge along the vertically oriented slits of said front vertical rails for the first predetermined distance; and means for reversibly closing said vertical openings in said front wall. 2. The multi-purpose convertible play yard adapted for use as a bassinet, changing table or bedside co-sleeper as described in claim 1, wherein the means for securing the adjusting members at either of the first upper position and the second lowered position further comprises:a pair of securing holes, said securing holes extending through the front vertical rails adjacent their upper ends; a pair of through holes, said through holes extending through the sections of tubing of the adjusting members; said securing holes and said through holes being of a second diameter and being aligned with one another when the front horizontal rail is in the first upper position; a pair of spring-loaded buttons, said buttons being mounted within the sections of tubing of the adjusting members with the buttons extending outwardly through the through holes; said spring loaded buttons also extending outwardly through the securing holes when the front horizontal rail is in the first upper position; and whereby, when the spring-loaded buttons are depressed, the buttons will pass through the securing holes and the adjusting members will slide downwardly within the front vertical rails until the control tabs rest on a bottom edge of the vertically oriented slits in said rails, allowing the front horizontal rail to reach the second lowered position. 3. A multi-purpose convertible play yard adapted for use as a bassinet, changing table or bedside co-sleeper as described in claim 1, wherein the means for reversibly closing the vertical openings in the front wall are selected from the group comprising:zippers, snaps, buttons, and hooking and looping members. 4. A multi-purpose convertible play yard convertibly adapted for use as a bassinet, changing table or bedside co-sleeper comprising:a rigid first enclosure having an open top, a floor, a front wall, a back wall, a first side wall and a second side wall; said first enclosure being of a first predetermined height; means for reversibly lowering the height of at least a portion of the front wall, from a first position at the top to a second position below the top, while maintaining structural rigidity of the play yard; a second enclosure, said second enclosure being sized to fit substantially within the first enclosure and having an open top, a back wall, a front wall, first and second side walls and a bottom; means for removably supporting said second enclosure within the first enclosure at at least one predetermined distance from the top of the first enclosure; anda securing strap assembly for securing the play yard to a parental bed; whereby, when the front wall is in the raised first position and the second enclosure is supported by the supporting means, the play yard is usable as a bassinet; and wherein, when the front wall is then lowered to the second position, the play yard is usable as a changing table; and further, when the securing strap assembly is properly positioned and the play yard is secured to the parental bed the play yard may serve as a co-sleeper; the multi-purpose convertible play yard further comprising a rigid frame, said rigid frame supporting the floor, the front wall, the back wall, the first side wall and the second side wall of said first enclosure; said frame being formed adjacent the top by a rear upper horizontal rail orthogonally connected to first and second upper side horizontal rails, and being formed adjacent the floor by front and rear lower parallel horizontal rails orthogonally connected to first side and second side lower parallel horizontal rails, said upper and lower horizontal rails being orthogonally connected by first and second front vertical rails and a pair of rear vertical rails disposed at ends of said horizontal rails; said front vertical rails having an upper end and a lower end; an intermediate front horizontal rail, said intermediate rail being orthogonally connected to said front vertical rails and being spaced downwardly from the upper ends of said vertical rails by a third predetermined distance; a flexible panel, said flexible panel having upper and lower edges, first and second side edges and extending from said first front vertical rail to said second front vertical rail and extending downwardly from the upper ends of said front vertical rails for a second predetermined distance; said flexible panel being hingedly attached to said intermediate front horizontal rail at its lower edge; means for removably securing the upper edge of the flexible panel to either of the upper ends of said vertical rails and said first and second side walls; means for reversibly attaching said first and second side edges of the flexible panel to said first and second side walls so as to eliminate any openings between said flexible panel and said side walls; whereby, when said flexible panel is secured to either of the upper ends of said vertical rails and said first and second side walls all of the walls of the play yard will be of similar height and be suitable for use as a play yard or bassinet and when said flexible panel is detached therefrom, the play yard will have a lowered front wall and be suitable for use as either of a changing table and a co-sleeper. 5. The multi-purpose convertible play yard adapted for use as a bassinet, changing table or bedside co-sleeper as described in claim 4, wherein the means for removably securing the upper edge of the flexible panel to either of the upper ends of the vertical rails and the first and second side walls is selected from the group comprising:straps with hooking and looping means, straps with adjusting buckles and straps with snaps. 6. The multi-purpose convertible play yard adapted for use as a bassinet, changing table or bedside co-sleeper as described in claim 4, wherein the means for reversibly attaching the first and second side edges of the flexible panel to the first and second side walls is selected from the group comprising: hooking and looping means, zippers and snaps.7. A multi-purpose convertible play yard convertibly adapted for use as a bassinet, changing table or bedside co-sleeper comprising:a rigid first enclosure having an open top, a floor, a front wall, a back wall, a first side wall and a second side wall; said first enclosure being of a first predetermined height; means for reversibly lowering the height of at least a portion of the front wall, from a first position at the top to a second position below the top, while maintaining structural rigidity of the play yard; a second enclosure, said second enclosure being sized to fit substantially within the first enclosure and having an open top, a back wall, a front wall, first and second side walls and a bottom; means for removably supporting said second enclosure within the first enclosure at at least one predetermined distance from the top of the first enclosure; anda securing strap assembly for securing the play yard to a parental bed; whereby, when the front wall is in the raised first position and the second enclosure is supported by the supporting means, the play yard is usable as a bassinet; and wherein, when the front wall is then lowered to the second position, the play yard is usable as a changing table; and further, when the securing strap assembly is properly positioned and the play yard is secured to the parental bed the play yard may serve as a co-sleeper, the multi-purpose convertible play yard further comprising a rigid frame, said rigid frame supporting the floor, the front wall, the back wall, the first side wall and the second side wall of said first enclosure; said frame being formed adjacent the top by front and rear upper parallel horizontal rail orthogonally connected to first and second upper side horizontal rails, and being formed adjacent the floor by front and rear lower parallel horizontal rails orthogonally connected to first side and second side lower parallel horizontal rails, said upper and lower horizontal rails being orthogonally connected by first and second front vertical rails and a pair of rear vertical rails disposed at ends of said horizontal rails; said front vertical rails having an upper end and a lower end; said front upper horizontal rail being removably attached to either of said upper ends of said front vertical rails and intermediate points on said front vertical rails; said intermediate points being spaced downwardly from said upper ends of said front vertical rails by a second predetermined distance; a flexible panel, said flexible panel having upper and lower edges, first and second side edges and extending from said first front vertical rail to said second front vertical rail and extending downwardly from the upper end of said front vertical rails for said second predetermined distance; said flexible panel being attached at its upper edge to said front upper horizontal rail and attached at its lower edge to an upper edge of said front wall; means for reversibly attaching said first and second side edges of the flexible panel to said first and second side walls so as to eliminate any openings between said flexible panel and said side walls; whereby, when said front upper horizontal rail and attached flexible panel are secured to the upper ends of said vertical rails all of the walls of the play yard will be of similar height and be suitable for use as a play yard or bassinet and when said front upper horizontal rail and attached flexible panel are attached to said intermediate points, the play yard will have a lowered front wall and be suitable for use as either of a changing table and a co-sleeper.8. Amended) The multi-purpose convertible play yard adapted for use as a bassinet, changing table or bedside co-sleeper as described in claim 7, wherein said front upper horizontal rail further comprises:first and second tubular members, said tubular members being sealed at their outer ends, being sized and shaped to fit slidably within one another and having a combined length greater than said front upper horizontal rail; a compression spring, said spring being disposed within said tubular members and urging said outer ends apart from one another; first and second upper sockets, said upper sockets being disposed at the upper ends of said front vertical rails and being sized and shaped to slidably receive the outer ends of said first and second tubular members; first and second intermediate sockets, said intermediate sockets being disposed at the intermediate points of said front vertical rails and being sized and shaped to slidably receive the outer ends of said first and second tubular members; and whereby, when said first and second tubular members are urged toward one another, compressing said spring, the outer ends of said members will be withdrawn from either of said upper and intermediate sockets and said front upper horizontal rail will be movable to either of a raised and a lowered position, and when said first and second tubular members are released, said spring will seat the outer ends of said members in either of said upper and intermediate sockets, thereby adjusting a height of the front wall of the play yard. 9. The multi-purpose convertible play yard adapted for use as a bassinet, changing table or bedside co-sleeper as described in claim 8, wherein the means for reversibly attaching the first and second side edges of the flexible panel to the first and second side walls is selected from the group comprising:hooking and looping means, zippers and snaps. 10. A multi-purpose convertible play yard convertibly adapted for use as a bassinet, changing table or bedside co-sleeper comprising:a rigid first enclosure having an open top, a floor, a front wall, a back wall, a first side wall and a second side wall; said first enclosure being of a first predetermined height; means for reversibly lowering the height of at least a portion of the front wall, from a first position at the top to a second position below the top, while maintaining structural rigidity of the play yard; a second enclosure, said second enclosure being sized to fit substantially within the first enclosure and having an open top, a back wall, a front wall, first and second side walls and a bottom; means for removably supporting said second enclosure within the first enclosure at at least one predetermined distance from the top of the first enclosure; anda securing strap assembly for securing the play yard to a parental bed; whereby, when the front wall is in the raised first position and the second enclosure is supported by the supporting means, the play yard is usable as a bassinet; and wherein, when the front wall is then lowered to the second position, the play yard is usable as a changing table; and further, when the securing strap assembly is properly positioned and the play yard is secured to the parental bed the play yard may serve as a co-sleeper, the multi-purpose convertible play yard further comprising: a bottom frame, said bottom frame comprising front and rear lower horizontal rails orthogonally connected to first and second side lower horizontal rails; a top frame, said top frame comprising a rear upper horizontal rail orthogonally connected to first and second side upper horizontal rails; each of said upper horizontal rails having at least one securing protrusion on a downward facing surface thereof; a first tensioning member, said first tensioning member having a first end and a second end and being pivotally mounted at said first end to said first side lower horizontal rail; a second tensioning member, said second tensioning member having a first end and a second end and being pivotally mounted at said first end to said second side lower horizontal rail; a third tensioning member, said third tensioning member having a first end and a second end and being pivotally mounted at said first end to said rear lower horizontal rail; a fourth tensioning member, said fourth tensioning member having a first end and a second end and being pivotally mounted at said first end to said rear lower horizontal rail; a position retaining device, said position retaining device having a first end, a second end and a concave upper surface, said upper surface having a ridge; said position retaining device being attached at its first end to each of the second ends of said tensioning members; a first side wall, said first side wall being formed of flexible material, having front and rear edges and extending from said first side lower horizontal rail to said first side upper horizontal rail for a first predetermined height; a second side wall, said second side wall being formed of flexible material, having front and rear edges and extending from said second side lower horizontal rail to said second side upper horizontal rail for the first predetermined height; a back wall, said back wall being formed of flexible material, having first and second side edges and extending from said rear lower horizontal rail to said rear upper horizontal rail for the first predetermined height; a front wall, said front wall being formed of flexible material, having a top edge, first and second side edges and extending from said front lower horizontal rail upwardly to a level of said first and second side upper horizontal rails for the first predetermined height; said front wall being attached at it's first edge to the front edge of said first side wall and attached at it's second edge to the front edge of said second side wall; said front wall including first and second lowering means, said lowering means being spaced inwardly from said first and second side edges and extending downwardly from said top edge for a first predetermined distance; said lowering means comprising a reclosable linear opening and permitting said front wall to have the first predetermined height when closed and a second, lower predetermined height when opened; and said first, second, third and fourth tensioning members having a first predetermined length, said first predetermined length being sufficient to stretch the first and second side walls, and back and front walls to the first predetermined height when the tensioning members are pivoted upwardly from said rear lower horizontal rail and first and second side lower horizontal rails such that the ridge on the concave upper surface of said position retaining device at the second end of each tensioning member is forced past said securing protrusion on the downward facing surface of the each of said upper horizontal rails. 11. The multi-purpose convertible play yard adapted for use as a bassinet, changing table or bedside co-sleeper as described in claim 10, wherein the reclosable linear opening of the lowering means is closed by means selected from the group comprising:zippers, snaps, hooks, buttons and hooking and looping means. 12. The multi-purpose convertible play yard adapted for use as a bassinet, changing table or bedside co-sleeper as described in claim 10, further comprising:foot extension members, said foot extension members being attached to undersides of either of said front and rear lower horizontal rails and said first and second side lower horizontal rails; and said foot extension members serving to elevate said play yard above a ground surface. 13. The multi-purpose convertible play yard adapted for use as a bassinet, changing table or bedside co-sleeper as described in claim 10, further comprising means for attaching said back wall to said first and second side walls at rear edges thereof.14. The multi-purpose convertible play yard adapted for use as a bassinet, changing table or bedside co-sleeper as described in claim 10, further comprising:a front upper horizontal rail, said front upper horizontal rail comprising: first and second tubular members, said tubular members being sealed at their outer ends, being sized and shaped to fit slidably within one another and having a combined length greater than said front upper horizontal rail; a compression spring, said spring being disposed within said tubular members and urging said outer ends apart from one another; a passageway, said passageway being disposed at said top edge of said front wall and being sized and shaped to fit slidably over said front upper horizontal rail; said front upper horizontal rail being disposed within said passageway; first and second upper sockets, said upper sockets being disposed at outer ends of said first and second side upper horizontal rails and being sized and shaped to slidably receive the outer ends of said first and second tubular members; first and second intermediate sockets, said intermediate sockets being disposed at intermediate points of said first and second tensioning members and being sized and shaped to slidably receive the outer ends of said first and second tubular members; and whereby, when said lowering means are opened and said first and second tubular members are urged toward one another, compressing said spring, the outer ends of said members will be withdrawn from either of said upper and intermediate sockets and said front upper horizontal rail will be movable to either of a raised and a lowered position, and when said first and second tubular members are released, said spring will seat the outer ends of said members in either of said upper and intermediate sockets, said lowering means being closed for said raised position, thereby adjusting a height of the front wall of the play yard.15. A multi-purpose convertible play yard convertibly adapted for use as a bassinet, changing table or bedside co-sleeper comprising:a rigid first enclosure having an open top, a floor, a front wall, a back wall, a first side wall and a second side wall; said first enclosure being of a first predetermined height; means for reversibly lowering the height of at least a portion of the front wall, from a first position at the top to a second position below the top, while maintaining structural rigidity of the play yard; a second enclosure, said second enclosure being sized to fit substantially within the first enclosure and having an open top, a back wall, a front wall, first and second side walls and a bottom; means for removably supporting said second enclosure within the first enclosure at at least one predetermined distance from the top of the first enclosure; anda securing strap assembly for securing the play yard to a parental bed; whereby, when the front wall is in the raised first position and the second enclosure is supported by the supporting means, the play yard is usable as a bassinet; and wherein, when the front wall is then lowered to the second position, the play yard is usable as a changing table; and further, when the securing strap assembly is properly positioned and the play yard is secured to the parental bed the play yard may serve as a co-sleeper, the multi-purpose convertible play yard further comprising: a bottom frame, said bottom frame comprising front and rear lower horizontal rails orthogonally connected to first and second side lower horizontal rails; a top frame, said top frame comprising a rear upper horizontal rail orthogonally connected to first and second side upper horizontal rails; first, second, third and fourth support members, each of said support members having an upper portion and an equal length lower portion, each of said upper and lower portions having a first end and a second end; said upper and lower portions being joined at their second ends at a hinge, said hinge permitting said upper and lower portions to rotate between zero and slightly more that 180 degrees with respect to each other; means for controlling the rotation of said upper and lower portions about said hinge; said upper and lower portions of said first support member being pivotally mounted at their first ends to said first side upper and lower horizontal rails; said upper and lower portions of said second support member being pivotally mounted at their first ends to said second side upper and lower horizontal rails; said upper and lower portions of said third support member being pivotally mounted at their first ends to said rear upper and lower horizontal rails; said upper and lower portions of said fourth support member being pivotally mounted at their first ends to said rear upper and lower horizontal rails; a first side wall, said first side wall being formed of flexible material, having front and rear side edges and extending from said first side lower horizontal rail to said first side upper horizontal rail for a first predetermined height; a second side wall, said second side wall being formed of flexible material, having front and rear side edges and extending from said second side lower horizontal rail to said second side upper horizontal rail for the first predetermined height; a back wall, said back wall being formed of flexible material, having first and second side edges and extending from said rear lower horizontal rail to said rear upper horizontal rail for the first predetermined height; a front wall, said front wall being formed of flexible material, having a top edge, first and second side edges and extending from said front lower horizontal rail upwardly to a level of said first and second side upper horizontal rails for the first predetermined height; said front wall being attached at its first side edge to the front edge of said first side wall and attached at its second side edge to the front edge of said second side wall; said front wall including first and second lowering means, said lowering means being spaced inwardly from said first and second side edges and extending downwardly from said top edge for a first predetermined distance; said lowering means comprising a reclosable linear opening and permitting said front wall to have the first predetermined height when closed and a second, lower predetermined height when opened; and said first, second, third and fourth support members having a first predetermined length, said first predetermined length being sufficient to stretch the first and second side walls, and back and front walls to the first predetermined height when the upper and lower portions of the support members are rotated at least 180 degrees from each other. 16. The multi-purpose convertible play yard adapted for use as a bassinet, changing table or bedside co-sleeper as described in claim 15, wherein the means for controlling the rotation of said upper and lower portions about said hinge further comprises:a sleeve, said sleeve being sized and shaped to fit slidably over said hinge; a ledge, said ledge being attached to said lower portion of said support member at a height sufficient to position said sleeve to enclose said hinge; and whereby, when the sleeve is positioned on the ledge, the upper portion of the support member can not rotate with respect to the lower portion of the support member and when the sleeve is raised above the hinge, the upper portion of the support member can rotate with respect to the lower portion of the support member, permitting the play yard to be collapsed for transport and storage. 17. The multi-purpose convertible play yard adapted for use as a bassinet, changing table or bedside co-sleeper as described in claim 15, wherein the reclosable linear opening of the lowering means is closed by means selected from the group comprising:zippers, snaps, hooks, buttons and hooking and looping means. 18. The multi-purpose convertible play yard adapted for use as a bassinet, changing table or bedside co-sleeper as described in claim 15, further comprising:foot extension members, said foot extension members being attached to undersides of either of said front and rear lower horizontal rails and said first and second side lower horizontal rails; and said foot extension members serving to elevate said play yard above a ground surface. 19. The multi-purpose convertible play yard adapted for use as a bassinet, changing table or bedside co-sleeper as described in claim 15, further comprising means for attaching said back wall to said first and second side walls at rear edges thereof.20. The multi-purpose convertible play yard adapted for use as a bassinet, changing table or bedside co-sleeper as described in claim 15, further comprising:a front upper horizontal rail, said front upper horizontal rail comprising: first and second tubular members, said tubular members being sealed at their outer ends, being sized and shaped to fit slidably within one another and having a combined length greater than said front upper horizontal rail; a compression spring, said spring being disposed within said tubular members and urging said outer ends apart from one another; a passageway, said passageway being disposed at said top edge of said front wall and being sized and shaped to fit slidably over said front upper horizontal rail; said front upper horizontal rail being disposed within said passageway; first and second upper sockets, said upper sockets being disposed at outer ends of said first and second side upper horizontal rails and being sized and shaped to slidably receive the outer ends of said first and second tubular members; first and second intermediate sockets, said intermediate sockets being disposed at intermediate points of said first and second support members and being sized and shaped to slidably receive the outer ends of said first and second tubular members; and whereby, when said lowering means are opened and said first and second tubular members are urged toward one another, compressing said spring, the outer ends of said members will be withdrawn from either of said upper and intermediate sockets and said front upper horizontal rail will be movable to either of a raised and a lowered position, and when said first and second tubular members are released, said spring will seat the outer ends of said members in either of said upper and intermediate sockets, said lowering means being closed for said raised position, thereby adjusting a height of the front wall of the play yard.
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