초록 ▼

According to the present disclosure, a playyard top rail includes a left rail and a right rail mounted to pivot about a pivot axis relative to the right rail. The playyard top rail further includes a rail lock associated with the left and right rails. The rail lock is configured to lock the right ra

According to the present disclosure, a playyard top rail includes a left rail and a right rail mounted to pivot about a pivot axis relative to the right rail. The playyard top rail further includes a rail lock associated with the left and right rails. The rail lock is configured to lock the right rail to the left rail upon movement of the left and right rails to an in-line erected position and movement of the rail lock in a first direction along the pivot axis to a rail-locking position. Once the rail lock is moved in an opposite second direction along the pivot axis to a rail-releasing position, the left and right rails are free to pivot relative to one another about the pivot axis to assume a side-by-side collapsed position. An extensible cord is coupled at one end to the left rail and at another end to the right rail and supported in the middle on a lock housing containing the rail lock to define a bowed fabric support overlying a portion of the left and right rails.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A top rail of a playyard, the top rail comprising a left rail segment of the playyard, a right rail segment of the playyard, and a lockable rail segment hinge of the playyard arranged to interconnect the left and right rail segments and to support the right rail segment

The invention claimed is: 1. A top rail of a playyard, the top rail comprising a left rail segment of the playyard, a right rail segment of the playyard, and a lockable rail segment hinge of the playyard arranged to interconnect the left and right rail segments and to support the right rail segment for pivotable movement relative to the left rail segment about a pivot axis, the rail segment hinge including a hinge base coupled to the left rail segment, a hinge yoke coupled to the right rail segment and configured to receive and mate with the hinge base and move relative to the hinge base during relative pivoting movement of the left and right rail segments about the pivot axis, and a rail segment lock mounted for movement in a passageway formed in the hinge base between a segment-locking position to engage the hinge base and hinge yoke and block pivotable movement of the right rail segment relative to the left rail segment and a segment-releasing position to disengage the hinge yoke to allow pivotable movement of the right rail segment relative to the left rail segment about the pivot axis. 2. The top rail of claim 1, wherein the hinge base is formed to include a barrel channel and a lug slot having an opening into the barrel channel and cooperating with the barrel channel to define the passageway receiving the rail segment lock therein, the hinge yoke is formed to include a barrel receiver and a lug receiver having an opening into the barrel receiver and being arranged to lie in side-by-side relation to the lug slot upon movement of the left and right rail segments to an in-line erected position, and the rail segment lock includes a barrel positioned for sliding movement in the barrel channel and barrel receiver between the segment-locking and segment-releasing positions and a lug coupled to the barrel, the lug is located to extend into both of the lug slot and the lug receiver to block pivotable movement of the right rail segment relative to the left rail segment upon movement of the left and right rail segments to the in-line erected position and movement of the barrel to the segment-locking position, and the lug is also located to extend into the lug slot and lie outside the lug receiver to allow pivotable movement of the right rail segment relative to the left rail segment about the pivot axis between the in-line erected position and a side-by-side storage position upon movement of the barrel to the segment-releasing position. 3. The top rail of claim 2, further comprising lock mover means for yieldably urging the rail segment lock to assume the segment-locking position upon movement of the left and right rail segments about the pivot axis to assume the in-line erected position. 4. The top rail of claim 3, further comprising a lock housing formed to include an interior region containing the rail segment lock therein and a lock actuator coupled to the barrel and mounted for movement on the lock housing to move the barrel against a biasing force generated by the lock mover means so as to move the rail segment lock to assume the segment-releasing position when the left and right rail segments occupy the in-line erected position. 5. The top rail of claim 3, wherein the lock mover means includes a hub configured to support the rail segment lock as the segment lock moves back and forth along the pivot axis between the segment-locking position and the segment-releasing position and a drive spring engaged at one end to the hub and at an opposite end to the rail segment lock and biased yieldably to urge the rail segment lock toward the segment-locking position. 6. The top rail of claim 3, wherein the barrel is formed to include an interior wall defining a post-receiving chamber and a spring support located in the post-receiving chamber, the lock mover means includes a hub comprising a shell and a guide post coupled to the shell and arranged to extend into the post-receiving chamber and support the barrel as the barrel slides in the barrel channel during movement of the rail segment lock between the segment-locking position and the segment-releasing position, and the lock mover further includes a drive spring located in the post-receiving chamber to engage the spring support in the barrel and the guide post in the hub and biased yieldably to urge the rail segment lock toward the segment-locking position. 7. The top rail of claim 6, wherein the hub further includes an anti-rotation lug movable in an axially extending slot formed in the barrel to block rotation of the hub about the pivot axis without blocking sliding movement of the barrel along the pivot axis as the rail segment lock moves between the segment-locking and segment-releasing positions. 8. The top rail of claim 1, further comprising lock mover means for yieldably urging the rail segment lock to assume the segment-locking position only upon movement of the left and right rail segments to an in-line erected position. 9. A top rail of a playyard, the top rail comprising a left rail segment of the playyard, a right rail segment of the playyard, a lockable rail segment hinge of the playyard arranged to interconnect the left and right rail segments and to support the right rail segment for pivotable movement relative to the left rail segment about a pivot axis, the rail segment hinge including a hinge base coupled to the left rail segment, a hinge yoke coupled to the right rail segment and configured to receive and mate with the hinge base and move relative to the hinge base during relative pivoting movement of the left and right rail segments about the pivot axis, and a rail segment lock mounted for movement in a passageway formed in the hinge base between a segment-locking position to engage the hinge base and hinge yoke and block pivotable movement of the right rail segment relative to the left rail segment and a segment-releasing position to disengage the hinge yoke to allow pivotable movement of the right rail segment relative to the left rail segment about the pivot axis, and a hub configured to support the rail segment lock as the rail segment lock moves back and forth along the pivot axis between the segment-locking and segment-releasing positions and a drive spring engaged at one end to the hub and at an opposite end to the rail segment lock and biased yieldably to urge the rail segment lock toward the segment-locking position. 10. A top rail of a playyard, the top rail comprising a left rail segment of the playyard, a right rail segment of the playyard, a lockable rail segment hinge of the playyard arranged to interconnect the left and right rail segments and to support the right rail segment for pivotable movement relative to the left rail segment about a pivot axis, the rail segment hinge including a hinge base coupled to the left rail segment, a hinge yoke coupled to the right rail segment and configured to receive and mate with the hinge base and move relative to the hinge base during relative pivoting movement of the left and right rail segments about the pivot axis, and a rail segment lock mounted for movement in a passageway formed in the hinge base between a segment-locking position to encage the hinge base and hinge yoke and block pivotable movement of the right rail segment relative to the left rail segment and a segment-releasing position to disengage the hinge yoke to allow pivotable movement of the right rail segment relative to the left rail segment about the pivot axis, and wherein the rail segment lock is formed to include an interior wall defining a post-receiving chamber and a spring support located in the post-receiving chamber and the lock mover includes a hub and a drive spring located in the post-receiving chamber to engage the spring support and the hub and biased yieldably to urge the rail segment lock toward the segment-locking position. 11. The top rail of claim 10, wherein the hub comprises a shell and a guide post coupled to the shell and arranged to extend into the post-receiving chamber and support the rail segment lock as the rail segment lock moves in the passageway formed in the hinge base between the segment-locking position and the segment-releasing position and the drive spring is engaged at one end to the spring support and at an opposite end to the guide post. 12. The top rail of claim 10, further comprising an anti-rotation lug coupled to the hub and arranged to move in an axially extending slot formed in the rail segment lock to block rotation of the hub about the pivot axis as the rail segment lock moves between the segment-locking position and the segment-releasing position. 13. The top rail of claim 1, further comprising a lock housing formed to include an interior region containing the rail segment lock therein and an anti-rotation lug coupled to the lock housing and arranged to move in a slot formed in the rail segment lock to block rotation of the lock housing about the pivot axis without blocking movement of the rail segment lock along the pivot axis as the rail segment lock moves between the segment-locking position and the segment-releasing position. 14. The top rail of claim 13, further comprising a drive spring engaged at one end to the lock housing and at an opposite end to the rail segment lock and biased yieldably to urge the rail segment lock toward the segment-locking position. 15. The top rail of claim 14, further comprising a lock actuator coupled to the rail segment lock and mounted for movement on the lock housing to move the rail segment lock against a biasing force generated by the drive spring so as to move the rail segment lock to assume the segment-releasing position when the left and right rail segments occupy the in-line erected position. 16. The top rail of claim 1, further comprising an extensible cord coupled at one end to the left rail segment and at another end to the right rail segment and arranged to engage the rail segment hinge during pivotable movement of the right rail segment relative to the left rail segment about the pivot axis. 17. The top rail of claim 16, further comprising a left cord-shield wing coupled to the left rail segment at a left pivot post for pivotable movement about a left pivot axis and arranged normally to cover a first portion of the extensible cord and a right cord-shield wing coupled to the right rail segment at a right pivot post for pivotable movement relative to the right rail segment about a right pivot axis and arranged normally to cover a second portion of the extensible cord. 18. The top rail of claim 17, wherein the extensible cord further includes a central portion located between the first and second portions and arranged to engage the rail segment hinge during pivotable movement of the right rail segment relative to the left rail segment about the pivot axis. 19. The top rail of claim 17, wherein the left rail segment is formed to include a left rail passageway therein and a left cord exit aperture opening into the left rail passageway, the left pivot post extends through the left rail passageway, said one end of the extensible cord is coupled to the left pivot post in the left rail passageway, the extensible cord passes through the left cord exit aperture and then through a cord-receiving passageway formed in the left cord-shield wing, the right rail segment is formed to include a right rail passageway therein and a right cord exit aperture opening into the right rail passageway, the right pivot post extends through the right rail passageway, said another end of the extensible cord is coupled to the right pivot post in the right rail passageway, and the extensible cord passes through the right cord exit aperture and then through a cord-receiving passageway formed in the right cord-shield wing. 20. A playyard top rail comprising a left rail segment, a right rail segment, a hinge base coupled to the left rail segment and formed to include a barrel channel and a lug slot having an opening into the barrel channel, a rail segment lock including a barrel located to move in the barrel channel and inner and outer lugs coupled to the barrel for movement therewith and located to move in the lug slot, and a hinge yoke coupled to the right rail segment, the hinge yoke being mounted on the rail segment lock for movement relative to the hinge base and rotation on the rail segment lock about a pivot axis to move the right rail segment relative to the left rail segment, the hinge yoke including an inner segment support plate and an outer segment support plate positioned to lie in spaced-apart relation to the inner segment support plate to locate the hinge base in a space provided therebetween, wherein each of the inner and outer segment support plates is formed to include a barrel receiver and a lug receiver having an opening into the barrel receiver and arranged to lie in side-by-side relation to the lug slot formed in the hinge base upon movement of the right rail segment to an in-line erected position relative to the left rail segment, wherein the inner lug is located on the barrel to extend into both of the lug slot formed in the hinge base and the lug receiver formed in the inner segment support plate and the outer lug is located on the barrel to extend into both of the lug slot formed in the hinge base and the lug receiver formed in the outer segment support plate cooperatively to block further movement of the right rail segment relative to the left rail segment about the pivot axis upon movement of the right rail segment about the pivot axis to the in-line erected position and movement of the barrel in the barrel channel formed in the hinge base to a segment-locking position, and wherein each of the inner and outer lugs is located on the barrel to lie outside of the lug receivers formed in the inner and outer segment support plates to allow rotation of the right rail segment on the rail segment lock relative to the left rail segment about the pivot axis upon movement of the barrel in the barrel channel formed in the hinge base to a segment-releasing position. 21. The top rail of claim 20, wherein the inner lug is arranged to lie outside of the lug slot formed in the hinge base and the outer lug is arranged to lie inside the lug slot formed in the hinge base upon movement of the barrel to the segment-releasing position. 22. The top rail of claim 20, further comprising a lock housing being formed to include an interior region containing the hinge base, the inner and outer segment support plates, and the rail segment lock, and a lock actuator coupled to the rail segment lock and mounted on the lock housing to move the rail segment lock in the interior region of the lock housing to the segment-releasing position. 23. The top rail of claim 22, wherein the lock actuator includes a button located outside the lock housing and an actuator finger coupled to the button and arranged to extend through an aperture formed in the lock housing into an aperture formed in the barrel. 24. The top rail of claim 22, further comprising a drive spring located in the interior region of the lock housing to engage the barrel at one end and the lock housing at another end and biased to yieldably urge the barrel to the segment-locking position and the button to an unactuated position. 25. The top rail of claim 20, further comprising an anti-rotation lug coupled to the lock housing and arranged to move in a slot formed in the barrel to block rotation of the lock housing about the pivot axis as the barrel moves between the segment-locking position and the segment-releasing position. 26. The top rail of claim 16, wherein the hinge base includes an inner wall and a pair of arcuate segments arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to one another and to cooperate with the inner wall to define the barrel channel and lug slot therebetween and the rail segment lock further includes a middle lug coupled to the barrel and arranged to lie between the inner and outer lugs to engage the arcuate segments to block rotation of the barrel relative to the hinge base about the pivot axis upon movement of the rail segment lock to the segment-locking position. 27. The top rail of claim 26, wherein the outer lug is arranged to engage the arcuate segments to block rotation of the barrel relative to the hinge base about the pivot axis upon movement of the rail segment lock to the segment-releasing position. 28. The top rail of claim 26, wherein the middle lug is arranged to engage the arcuate segments to block rotation of the barrel relative to the hinge base about the pivot axis upon movement of the rail segment lock to the segment-releasing position. 29. The top rail of claim 26, wherein the outer lug is arranged to engage the arcuate segments to block rotation of the barrel relative to the hinge base about the pivot axis upon movement of the rail segment lock to the segment-releasing position. 30. A top rail of a playyard, the top rail comprising a left rail of the playyard formed to include a passageway, a rail lock mounted for movement and being in the passageway, and a right rail of the playyard mounted for rotation around an outer circumferential surface of the rail lock about a pivot axis relative to the left rail, wherein the rail lock is constrained to move in the passageway along the pivot axis between a rail-locking position blocking rotation of the right rail about the pivot axis relative to the left rail and a rail-releasing position allowing rotation of the right rail about the pivot axis relative to the left rail. 31. The top rail of claim 30, further comprising an extensible cord coupled at one end to the left rail and at another end to the right rail, a left cord-shield wing coupled to the left rail at a left pivot post for pivotable movement relative to the left rail about a left pivot axis and arranged normally to cover a first portion of the extensible cord, and a right cord-shield wing coupled to the right rail at a right pivot post for pivotable movement relative to the right rail about a right pivot axis and arranged normally to cover a second portion of the extensible cord. 32. The top rail of claim 31, wherein the left rail is formed to include a left rail passageway therein and a left cord exit aperture opening into the left rail passageway, the left pivot post extends through the left rail passageway, said one end of the extensible cord is coupled to the left pivot post in the left rail passageway, and the extensible cord passes through the left cord exit aperture and then through a cord-receiving passageway formed in the left cord-shield wing. 33. The top rail of claim 32, wherein the right rail is formed to include a right rail passageway therein and a right cord exit aperture opening into the right rail passageway, the right pivot post extends through the right rail passageway, said another end of the extensible cord is coupled to the right pivot post in the right rail passageway, and the extensible cord passes through the right cord exit aperture and then through a cord-receiving passageway formed in the right cord-shield wing. 34. The top rail of claim 31, wherein the left and right rails cooperate to form a lock compartment containing the rail lock and including an exterior surface and a central portion of the extensible cord engages the exterior surface of the lock compartment to tension the extensible cord. 35. The top rail of claim 34, wherein the left cord-shield wing terminates at a left cord outlet positioned to lie in spaced-apart relation to the left pivot post, the right cord-shield wing terminates at a right cord outlet positioned to lie in spaced-apart relation to the right pivot post, and the lock compartment is arranged to lie in a space located between the left and right cord outlets upon pivotable movement of the left and right cord-shield wings to engage the extensible cord. 36. A playyard top rail comprising a left rail, a right rail coupled to the left rail for pivotable movement relative to the left rail about a pivot axis, a rail lock mounted for movement relative to the left and right rails between a rail-locking position blocking rotation of the right rail about the pivot axis relative to the left rail and a rail-releasing position allowing rotation of the right rail about the pivot axis relative to the left rail, and an extensible cord coupled at one end to the left rail and at another end to the right rail and supported on at least one of the left and right rails to define a bowed fabric support overlying a portion of the left and right rails. 37. The top rail of claim 36, further comprising a left cord-shield wing coupled to the left rail at a left pivot post for pivotable movement about a left pivot axis and arranged normally to cover a first portion of the extensible cord and a right cord-shield wing coupled to the right rail at a right pivot post for pivotable movement relative to the right rail about a right pivot axis and arranged normally to cover a second portion of the extensible cord. 38. The top rail of claim 37, wherein the left rail is formed to include a left rail passageway therein and a left cord exit aperture opening into the left rail passageway, the left pivot post extends through the left rail passageway, said one end of the extensible cord is coupled to the left pivot post in the left rail passageway, and the extensible cord passes through the left cord exit aperture and then through a cord-receiving passageway formed in the left cord-shield wing. 39. The top rail of claim 38, wherein the right rail is formed to include a right rail passageway therein and a right cord exit aperture opening into the right rail passageway, the right pivot post extends through the right rail passageway, said another end of the extensible cord is coupled to the right pivot post in the right rail passageway, and the extensible cord passes through the right cord exit aperture and then through a cord-receiving passageway formed in the right cord-shield wing. 40. The top rail of claim 36, wherein the left and right rails cooperate to form a lock compartment containing the rail lock and including an exterior surface and a central portion of the extensible cord engages the exterior surface of the lock compartment to tension the extensible cord. 41. The top rail of claim 40, wherein the left cord-shield wing terminates at a left cord outlet positioned to lie in spaced-apart relation to the left pivot post, the right cord-shield wing terminates at a right cord outlet positioned to lie in spaced-apart relation to the right pivot post, and the lock compartment is arranged to lie in a space located between the left and right cord outlets upon pivotable movement of the left and right cord-shield wings to engage the extensible cord. 42. A top rail for a playyard, the top rail comprising a pair of rail segments of the playyard, each rail segment being connected at a first end to the playyard, a lockable rail segment hinge interconnecting second ends of the rail segments, a fabric cover of the playyard arranged to overlie and at least partially cover the pair of rail segments, and a pair of support wings of the playyard, each support wing having a first end associated with and pivotably connected to one of the rail segments at a spaced-apart distance from the lockable rail segment hinge and a second end located proximate to the lockable rail segment hinge and overlying the associated rail segment, and each support wing being positioned to underlie and provide support for the fabric cover when the playyard is moved to an erected position. 43. The top rail of claim 42, wherein each support wing second end is free to move relative to the lockable rail segment hinge. 44. The top rail of claim 42, wherein each support wing includes an elongated shell formed to include a passageway to accommodate a portion of its associated rail segment. 45. The top rail of claim 42, wherein each support wing includes a pair of spaced-apart parallel post arms extending from a rear end of the elongated shell and configured to receive a portion of its associated rail segment. 46. The top rail of claim 45, wherein each post arm is formed to include an aperture sized to receive a portion of a pivot post therein to support each support wing for pivotable movement about a pivot axis relative to its associated rail segment. 47. A top rail of a playyard, the top rail comprising a pair of rail segments of the playyard, a lockable rail segment hinge of the playyard arranged to interconnect the pair of rail segments and to support one of the rail segments for pivotable movement relative to the other rail segment, a fabric cover of the playyard arranged to overlie and cover the pair of rail segments, and a support wing associated with and coupled to each of the rail segments for pivotable movement relative to its associated rail segment about a pivot axis, each support wing being positioned to lie between the fabric cover and the associated rail segment and positioned to extend from the pivot axis toward the lockable rail segment hinge. 48. The top rail of claim 47, wherein when the support wing includes a distal end pivotably coupled to its associated rail segment and a proximal end covering at least a portion of a cavity formed between the lockable rail segment hinge and the associated rail segment. 49. A top rail of a playyard, the top rail comprising a left rail segment and a right rail segment of the playyard, each rail segment having first and second ends, a fabric cover of the playyard arranged to overlie and cover the left and right rail segments, a lockable rail segment hinge of the playyard arranged to interconnect the second ends of the left and right rail segments at a location displaced from a top of the lockable rail segment hinge thereby creating a space defined between a straight line extension of the first end of each rail segment ending at the top of the lockable rail segment hinge and the second end connected at the lockable rail segment hinge, and a support wing associated with and coupled to each of the left and right rail segments for movement of each support wing relative to its associated rail segment, each support wing positioned to cover the space and to lie between the fabric cover and the associated rail segment. 50. A top rail of a playyard, the top rail comprising a left rail segment and a right rail segment of the playyard, a lockable rail segment hinge of the playyard arranged to interconnect the left and right rail segments and to support the right rail segment for pivotable movement relative to the left rail segment about a first pivot axis, a fabric cover of the playyard overlying the left and right rail segments, a support wing associated with and pivotably coupled to each of the left and right rail segments, each support wing configured to include an elongated shell to provide a foundation for at least a portion of the fabric cover overlying the left and right rail segments when the playyard is in to an erected position.