초록 ▼

A juvenile product includes a frame with a rail, the rail including first and second rail sections, a latch assembly coupling the first and second rail sections and configured to reside in a latched state for an in-use orientation of the rail, and an elastic bias element coupled to the first rail se

A juvenile product includes a frame with a rail, the rail including first and second rail sections, a latch assembly coupling the first and second rail sections and configured to reside in a latched state for an in-use orientation of the rail, and an elastic bias element coupled to the first rail section or the second rail section and configured to be under tension in or near the in-use orientation such that the elastic bias element drives the rail away from the in-use orientation when the rail is near the in-use orientation with the latch assembly not in the latched state.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A juvenile product comprising: a frame including a rail, the rail including first and second rail sections;a latch assembly coupling the first and second rail sections and configured to reside in a latched state for an in-use orientation of the rail; anda pair of torsion springs disposed between

1. A juvenile product comprising: a frame including a rail, the rail including first and second rail sections;a latch assembly coupling the first and second rail sections and configured to reside in a latched state for an in-use orientation of the rail; anda pair of torsion springs disposed between the latch assembly and a respective one of the first rail section and the second rail section and configured to be under increasing tension as the latch assembly nears the latched state such that a bias force applied by the pair of torsion springs increasingly drives the rail away from the in-use orientation when the rail is near the in-use orientation with the latch assembly not in the latched state;wherein each torsion spring includes a pair of windings disposed along opposing sides of the first or second rail section, and further includes a bail extending from the pair of windings in which the first or section rail section is captured. 2. The juvenile product of claim 1, wherein each torsion spring has a fixed section attached to the latch assembly and a bias section that includes the bail and applies the bias force to a respective one of the first and second rail sections. 3. The juvenile product of claim 1, wherein the latch assembly includes a pair of opposing pawls, each pawl having a latch seat configured to capture a respective one of the first and second rail sections in the in-use orientation. 4. A juvenile product comprising: a frame including a rail, the rail including first and second rail sections;a latch assembly coupling the first and second rail sections and configured to reside in a latched state for an in-use orientation of the rail; andan elastic bias element coupled to one or both of the first rail section and the second rail section and configured to be under increasing tension as the latch assembly nears the latched state such that a bias force applied by the elastic bias element increasingly drives the rail away from the in-use orientation when the rail is near the in-use orientation with the latch assembly not in the latched state;wherein the latch assembly includes a pair of crosslinks, each crosslink coupling the first and second rail sections, and wherein the elastic bias element applies the bias force to the crosslinks in or near the in-use orientation. 5. The juvenile product of claim 4, wherein each crosslink includes an elongate strip with a contoured edge that defines a channel in which a latch pin of the latch assembly is captured in the latched state. 6. A juvenile product comprising: a frame including a rail, the rail including first and second rail sections;a latch assembly configured to reside in a latched state for an in-use orientation of the rail, the latch assembly including a housing and a pair of latch crosslinks disposed within the housing, each latch crosslink coupling the first and second rail sections; anda bias spring disposed within the housing, coupled to the first and second rail sections, and configured to be under tension near the in-use orientation such that the elastic bias element drives the rail away from the in-use orientation when the rail is near the in-use orientation with the latch assembly not in the latched state. 7. The juvenile product of claim 6, wherein the bias spring applies a bias force to the first and second latch crosslinks. 8. The juvenile product of claim 6, wherein the bias spring includes first and second torsion springs, each having a fixed section attached to the latch assembly and a bias section that applies a bias force to one of the first and second rail sections. 9. The juvenile product of claim 6, wherein each crosslink includes an elongate strip, and wherein the elongate strips are oriented in parallel planes. 10. The juvenile product of claim 6, wherein each crosslink includes an elongate strip with a contoured edge that defines a channel in which a latch pin of the latch assembly is captured in the latched state. 11. A juvenile product comprising: a frame including a rail, the rail including first and second rail sections;a latch assembly coupling the first and second rail sections and configured to reside in a latched state for an in-use orientation of the rail; andfirst and second torsion springs coupled to the first and second rail sections, respectively, and configured to be under tension in or near the in-use orientation such that the first and second torsion springs drive the rail away from the in-use orientation when the rail is near the in-use orientation with the latch assembly not in the latched state. 12. The juvenile product of claim 11, wherein the latch assembly includes a housing, and wherein each of the first and second torsion springs includes a pair of hooks attached to the housing. 13. The juvenile product of claim 11, wherein the latch assembly includes a housing, the housing including a pair of spaced apart faceplates, each faceplate having a pair of ear tabs to guide windings of the first and second torsion springs and receive pivot pins about which the first and second rail sections pivot. 14. The juvenile product of claim 11, wherein the latch assembly includes a housing and a pair of pawls disposed within the housing, each pawl including a latch seat configured to capture a respective one of the first and second rail sections in the in-use orientation. 15. The juvenile product of claim 11, wherein each of the first and second torsion springs includes a bail that engages and applies force to a respective one of the first and second rail sections. 16. The juvenile product of claim 11, wherein the latch assembly includes a housing, the housing including a pair of spaced apart faceplates, and wherein each of the first and second torsion springs runs along an exterior surface of each faceplate of the housing. 17. The juvenile product of claim 1, wherein the latch assembly includes a pair of pawls configured to capture the first and second rail sections and further includes a pushbutton that contacts the pair of pawls via a ramped surface to disengage the latch assembly from the latched state. 18. The juvenile product of claim 17, wherein each pawl is configured as an L-shaped lever, the L-shaped lever including a first finger configured as a latch seat to capture respective ends of the first and second rail sections, and further including a second finger on which the pushbutton acts to disengage the latch assembly from the latched state. 19. The juvenile product of claim 18, wherein the second finger includes the ramped surface. 20. The juvenile product of claim 18, wherein the pushbutton includes a ramped end and the second finger includes the ramped surface, the ramped surface being configured to cooperate with the ramped end of the pushbutton.