IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0619481
(2009-11-16)
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등록번호 |
US-8460053
(2013-06-11)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Fair, Paul
- Tidwell, Kristin A.
- McNeil, Catherine P.
- Bonzer, Clarice
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
15 인용 특허 :
48 |
초록
▼
Systems and methods enable attaching toys or other items to child care equipment such as a play gyms, swings, bouncers, changing pads, and the like. Attachment is accomplished by passing a compressible portion of the item to be attached through an opening in the child care equipment. The opening may
Systems and methods enable attaching toys or other items to child care equipment such as a play gyms, swings, bouncers, changing pads, and the like. Attachment is accomplished by passing a compressible portion of the item to be attached through an opening in the child care equipment. The opening may be provided by a hole in the equipment, or by a hole in a clip engaged with a rod embedded in or attached to the equipment. The clip may slide along the rod to adjust the position of the item. In one application, rods embedded in a play gym provide a structural support for a canopy of the play gym, and also may receive clips for attaching toys or other items to the play gym.
대표청구항
▼
1. A child care equipment system, comprising: a piece of child care equipment comprising a canopy formed by a surface sheet and a plurality of semi-rigid rods coupled to the surface sheet;an opening in the piece of child care equipment, wherein the opening comprises at least one of:(i) a canopy open
1. A child care equipment system, comprising: a piece of child care equipment comprising a canopy formed by a surface sheet and a plurality of semi-rigid rods coupled to the surface sheet;an opening in the piece of child care equipment, wherein the opening comprises at least one of:(i) a canopy opening extending through the surface sheet of the canopy for receiving a portion of an item; and(ii) a clip opening in a clip slidingly engaged with one of the plurality of semi-rigid rods, the clip opening for receiving a portion of an item;an item to be attached to the piece of child care equipment via the opening, the item including a main body larger than the opening, and the item also including a compressible member connected to the main body with a tether, wherein the compressible member is larger than the opening when the compressible member is in an uncompressed state, and the compressible member is configured to be compressible to a size smaller than the opening so that the compressible member can be passed through the opening so that the compressible member and the main body are visible on opposite sides of the opening and the tether extends at least partially through the opening; anda pad coupled to the canopy so that the canopy arches over the pad, wherein the pad includes a track comprising a rod-like member and a clip defining an opening that is slidingly engaged with the track. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the semi-rigid rods is embedded in the surface sheet. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the piece of child care equipment is selected from the group consisting of a play gym, a play yard, a playpen, a swing, a baby bouncer, a stroller, a changing pad, and a changing pad cover. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the compressible member has a shape selected from the group of shapes consisting of a ball shape, a block shape, a pyramid shape, a button shape, a shape reminiscent of leaves, a shape reminiscent of a flower, an animal shape, and a shape reminiscent of wings. 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the item to be attached comprises an item selected from the group consisting of a toy, a doll, a ball, a mirror, a block, a pyramid, a teething ring, a toy shaped like an animal or insect, a toy shaped like a plant or flower, an item that generates sound, an item that generates vibration, and an item that generates light. 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the item to be attached is a first item to be attached and wherein the first item to be attached comprises an item opening configured for attachment of a second item having a compressible member to the first item by passage, through the item opening, of the compressible member of the second item, thereby forming a chain of toys. 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the item to be attached is a first item, the system further comprising a second item, the first and second items both being attached to the piece of child care equipment via the same opening. 8. A piece of child care equipment, comprising: a canopy formed by a surface sheet and a plurality of semi-rigid rods coupled to the surface sheet; anda substantially rigid clip having a passage that is slidingly engaged with one of the plurality of rods, the clip comprising an opening for attaching an item to the piece of child care equipment; anda base pad positioned under and coupled to the canopy, wherein the base pad comprises a fabric, a padding material enclosed by the fabric, and a plurality of compressible members spaced apart and affixed to an edge portion of the base pad via a tether, wherein the compressible members comprise a fabric and a foam or filler material enclosed by the fabric, wherein the canopy further comprises a plurality of attachment loops that each define an opening, and wherein each attachment loop is configured to receive one of the plurality of compressible members laterally through the loop to couple the canopy to the base pad such that the compressible members remain exposed on the piece of child care equipment, and wherein each compressible member is larger than the respective opening when the compressible member is in an uncompressed state, and the compressible member is configured to be compressible to a size smaller than the opening so that the compressible member can be passed through the opening so that the compressible member and the main body are visible on opposite sides of the opening and the tether extends at least partially through the opening. 9. The piece of child care equipment of claim 8, wherein at least one of the plurality of semi-rigid rods is embedded in the surface sheet, and wherein the rigid clip slides over the surface sheet. 10. The piece of child care equipment of claim 8, wherein at least a portion of at least one of the semi-rigid rods remains exposed on the canopy. 11. The piece of child care equipment of claim 8, wherein the piece of child care equipment is selected from the group consisting of a play gym, a play yard, a playpen, a swing, a baby bouncer, a shopping cart liner, a stroller, a car seat, a booster seat, a play pad, a high chair, a changing pad, and a changing pad cover. 12. The piece of child care equipment of claim 8, in combination with an item to be attached to the piece of child care equipment, the item comprising a main body larger than the opening in the clip, and the item including a compressible member connected to the main body, wherein the compressible member is larger than the opening when the compressible member is in an uncompressed state, and the compressible member is configured to be compressible to a size smaller than the opening so that the compressible member can be passed through the opening so that the compressible member and the main body are visible on opposite sides of the opening. 13. A play gym for a child, the play gym comprising: a base pad, the base pad including at least three compressible members spaced apart and affixed to an edge portion of the base pad via tethers, wherein the base pad comprises a fabric and a padding material; anda canopy having at least three legs and configured to arch over the base pad, the canopy comprising a surface sheet and at least first and second semi-rigid rods embedded in the surface sheet, each semi-rigid rod having a respective first end and a respective second end, the first ends of the first and second rods following a first of the at least three legs, the second end of the first rod following a second of the at least three legs, and the second end of the second rod following a third of the at least three legs, the canopy further comprising a respective canopy attachment loop at an end of each leg, each canopy attachment loop configured to receive one of the at least three compressible members laterally through the loop by squeezing the compressible member to reduce its outer dimensions to attach the canopy to the base pad such that the at least three compressible members remain exposed on the play gymwherein each compressible member is larger than the respective opening when the compressible member is in an uncompressed state, and the compressible member is configured to be compressible to a size smaller than the opening so that the compressible member can be passed through the opening so that the compressible member is visible on opposite sides of the opening and the tether extends at least partially through the opening. 14. The play gym of claim 13, wherein each canopy attachment loop is stretchable. 15. The play gym of claim 14, wherein each canopy attachment loop is smaller than its corresponding compressible member when the loop is in an unstretched state and the compressible member is in an uncompressed state. 16. The play gym of claim 13, further comprising an opening configured to accept a portion of an item to be attached to the play gym. 17. The play gym of claim 16, wherein the opening is formed by a mechanism selected from the group consisting of a hole in the surface sheet, an item attachment loop of fabric sewn into either the surface sheet or the base pad, and a hole through a substantially rigid clip, the clip slidingly engaged with one of the semi-rigid rods in the canopy. 18. The play gym of claim 13, wherein the base pad further includes a track comprising a rod-like member and a clip slidingly engaged with the track and comprising an opening for attaching an item to the base pad. 19. The play gym of claim 18, further comprising an item attached to the play gym, wherein the attached item comprises an item selected from the group consisting of a toy, a doll, a ball, a mirror, a block, a pyramid, a teething ring, a toy shaped like an animal or insect, a toy shaped like a plant or flower, an item that generates sound, an item that generates light, and an item that generates vibrations. 20. The system of claim 1, wherein the opening comprises the clip opening in a clip slidingly engaged with one of the plurality of semi-rigid rods. 21. The system of claim 20, wherein the clip comprises a generally toroidal body that extends in a plane, a passage that extends at least partially through the clip body and that is configured to receive the semi-rigid rod and a slot in communication with the passage, wherein the slot extends into the body generally perpendicular to the plane. 22. The system of claim 2, wherein the canopy defines at least three arched legs, where the surface sheet of each canopy leg comprises two edges, and wherein a semi-rigid rod extends along each edge. 23. The piece of child care equipment of claim 8, wherein the clip comprises a generally toroidal body that extends in a plane and a slot within the body, wherein the slot extends into the body generally perpendicular to the plane. 24. A piece of child care equipment comprising: a base pad comprising a track and a clip slidingly engaged with the track and defining an opening for attaching an item to the piece of child care equipment; anda canopy that arches over and is coupled to the base pad, wherein the canopy comprises a plurality of semi-rigid rods that extend upwardly from the base pad;wherein the base pad further comprises a plurality of compressible members that are spaced apart and affixed to an edge portion of the base pad via a tether, wherein the canopy further comprises a respective canopy attachment loop at an end of at least some of the plurality of semi-rigid rods, wherein each canopy attachment loop defines an opening that is configured to receive one of the plurality of compressible members laterally through the loop to couple the canopy to the base pad such that the plurality of compressible members remain exposed on the piece of child care equipment, and wherein each compressible member is larger than the respective opening when the compressible member is in an uncompressed state, and the compressible member is configured to be compressible to a size smaller than the opening so that the compressible member can be passed through the opening so that the compressible member is visible on opposite sides of the opening and the tether extends at least partially through the opening. 25. A piece of child care equipment, comprising: a canopy comprising at least one track, wherein the at least one track comprises a semi-rigid rod-like member; anda substantially rigid clip associated with the at least one track and configured to slide relative to the at least one track, the clip comprising an opening for attaching an item to the piece of child care equipmenta base pad positioned under and coupled to the canopy, wherein the base pad comprises a plurality of compressible members spaced apart and affixed to an edge portion of the base pad, wherein the canopy further comprises a plurality of attachment loops that each define an opening, wherein each attachment loop is configured to receive one of the plurality of compressible members laterally through the loop to couple the canopy to the base pad such that the compressible members remain exposed on the piece of child care equipment, wherein each compressible member is larger than the respective opening when the compressible member is in an uncompressed state, and the compressible member is configured to be compressible to a size smaller than the opening so that the compressible member can be passed through the opening so that the compressible member is visible on opposite sides of the opening. 26. The system of claim 25, wherein the clip comprises a generally toroidal body that extends in a plane, a passage that extends at least partially through the clip body and that is configured to receive the semi-rigid rod and a slot in communication with the passage, wherein the slot extends into the body generally perpendicular to the plane. 27. The piece of child care equipment of claim 25, in combination with an item to be attached to the piece of child care equipment, the item comprising a main body larger than the opening in the clip, and the item including a compressible member connected to the main body, wherein the compressible member is larger than the opening when the compressible member is in an uncompressed state, and the compressible member is configured to be compressible to a size smaller than the opening so that the compressible member can be passed through the opening so that the compressible member and the main body are visible on opposite sides of the opening. 28. The play gym of claim 25, wherein the base pad includes a track and a clip slidingly engaged with the track and comprising an opening for attaching an item to the base pad. 29. A play gym for a child, the play gym comprising: a base pad, the base pad including at least three compressible members spaced apart and affixed to an edge portion of the base pad; anda canopy having at least three legs and configured to arch over the base pad, the canopy comprising a surface sheet and at least first and second semi-rigid rods embedded in the surface sheet, each semi-rigid rod having a respective first end and a respective second end, the first ends of the first and second rods following a first of the at least three legs, the second end of the first rod following a second of the at least three legs, and the second end of the second rod following a third of the at least three legs, the canopy further comprising a respective canopy attachment loop at an end of each leg, each canopy attachment loop configured to receive one of the at least three compressible members laterally through the loop to attach the canopy to the base pad such that the at least three compressible members remain exposed on the play gymwherein the base pad further includes a track comprising a rod-like member and a clip slidingly engaged with the track and comprising an opening for attaching an item to the base pad.
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