초록 ▼

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a play yard configured for providing an enclosed space for a child. According to various embodiments, the play yard comprises a rigid support frame and removable, washable liner. The frame includes one or more channels configured to receiv

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a play yard configured for providing an enclosed space for a child. According to various embodiments, the play yard comprises a rigid support frame and removable, washable liner. The frame includes one or more channels configured to receive engagement members positioned on the liner in order to form a bounded play yard space. By permitting the liner to be secured to the frame via the retention members, a user is able to easily secure the liner to the frame for use and remove the liner from the frame for washing.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A children's play yard comprising: a play yard frame comprising: one or more lower horizontal frame members;one or more vertical frame members attached to said lower horizontal frame members, wherein at least a portion of said vertical frame members extends upwardly from said lower horizontal fra

1. A children's play yard comprising: a play yard frame comprising: one or more lower horizontal frame members;one or more vertical frame members attached to said lower horizontal frame members, wherein at least a portion of said vertical frame members extends upwardly from said lower horizontal frame members, andone or more upper horizontal frame members extending between upper portions of the one or more vertical frame members and defining an upper perimeter of said play yard frame; anda removable play yard liner comprising one or more sidewalls;wherein one or more vertical frame members define one or more vertical channels having upper openings positioned at a height proximate to the one or more upper horizontal frame members, and wherein said play yard liner defines one or more engagement members configured to be inserted within said vertical channels;wherein said sidewalls of said play yard liner extend between said vertical frame members of said play yard frame and define a bounded area within said play yard when said engagement members are engaged with said vertical channels;wherein said vertical channels and said engagement members are configured such that said engagement members and said vertical channels can be disengaged and said removable play yard liner can be removed from said play yard frame without disassembling said play yard frame;wherein said play yard liner is constructed from machine-washable materials and is configured for being machine-washed when removed from said play yard frame; andwherein the play yard frame further comprises an upper connecting member positioned between adjacent upper horizontal frame members of the one or more upper horizontal frame members, wherein the upper connecting member pivotally connects the adjacent upper horizontal frame members to a vertical frame member of the one or more vertical frame members, and the upper connecting member defines an upper opening that is aligned with the upper opening of the vertical channel of the vertical frame member. 2. The children's play yard of claim 1, wherein said one or more engagement members are disposed on said sidewalls of said play yard liner. 3. The children's play yard of claim 2, wherein said one or more engagement members comprise one or more rods disposed vertically along one or more of said sidewalls and dimensioned to slide within one of said vertical channels. 4. The children's play yard of claim 3, wherein said one or more rods are each segmented into a plurality of rod segments, said rod segments being vertically aligned, collectively spanning the height of a portion of side one or more sidewalls, and permitting said sidewalls to remain substantially flexible. 5. The children's play yard of claim 3, wherein: said one or more rods each include at least one flange affixed to a portion of said one or more sidewalls;said vertical frame members each comprise at least one channel wall defining one of said vertical channels; said channel wall defining a longitudinal gap that extends along a respective one of said vertical channels; andsaid one or more rods and vertical channels are dimensioned such that, when a respective one of said one or more rods is positioned within one of said vertical channels, said respective rod's flange extends outwardly from said vertical channel through said gap. 6. The children's play yard of claim 5, wherein said flange is affixed to said sidewalls such that, when each of said rods are engaged with a respective one of said vertical channels, said sidewalls do not contact said channel wall. 7. The children's play yard of claim 5, wherein said flange is affixed to said portion of said sidewalls by stitching, said stitching being positioned on said flange such that, when a respective one of said one or more rods is slid within one of said vertical channels, said stitching is positioned substantially within said channel's gap and is substantially concealed from view. 8. The children's play yard of claim 1, wherein said vertical channels and said engagement members have an at least partially elliptical cross-section. 9. The children's play yard of claim 1, wherein said engagement members are constructed from a flexible, resilient material. 10. The children's play yard of claim 1, wherein said play yard frame is collapsible. 11. The children's play yard of claim 1, wherein said play yard liner further comprises one or more lower liner fasteners and wherein said play yard frame further comprises one or more lower frame fasteners, said lower liner fasteners and said lower frame fasteners being configured to engage one another when said engagement members are fully inserted within said vertical channels. 12. The children' play yard of claim 1, further comprising one or more end caps configured for being inserted into upper ends of said vertical channels when said engagement members are engaged with said vertical channels. 13. A children's play yard comprising: a play yard frame comprising: one or more lower horizontal frame members; andone or more vertical frame members attached to said lower horizontal frame members, wherein at least a portion of said vertical frame members extends upwardly from said lower horizontal frame members and wherein said one or more vertical frame members define one or more vertical channels; anda removable play yard liner comprising one or more sidewalls and one or more engagement members disposed vertically on said sidewalls;wherein said sidewalls of said play yard liner extend between said vertical frame members of said play yard frame and define a bounded area within said play yard when said engagement members are inserted within said vertical channels;wherein said one or more vertical channels define an upper opening having a cross-sectional width that is substantially larger than said cross-sectional width of said engagement members and wherein the cross-sectional width of said vertical channels tapers downward such that the cross-sectional width of a medial portion of said vertical channels is less than said cross-sectional width of said upper opening of said vertical channels; andwherein the play yard frame further comprises:adjacent upper horizontal frame members pivotally connected to a vertical frame member of the one or more vertical frame members; andan upper connecting member positioned between the adjacent upper horizontal frame members, wherein the upper connecting member pivotally connects the adjacent upper horizontal frame members to the vertical frame member of the one or more vertical frame members, and the upper connecting member defines an upper opening that is aligned with the upper opening of the vertical channel of the vertical frame member. 14. The children's play yard of claim 13, wherein said vertical frame members each comprise at least one channel wall defining one of said vertical channels; said channel wall defining a longitudinal gap that extends along a respective one of said vertical channels. 15. The children's play yard of claim 14, wherein the width of said longitudinal gap tapers downward such that the width of a medial portion of said longitudinal gap is less than the width of an upper portion of said longitudinal gap. 16. A children's play yard comprising: a play yard frame comprising: one or more lower horizontal frame members; andone or more upper horizontal frame members defining an upper perimeter of said play yard frame; andone or more vertical frame members attached to said lower horizontal frame members, wherein at least a portion of said vertical frame members extends upwardly from said lower horizontal frame members and wherein said vertical frame members are configured to support said upper horizontal frame members in a spaced apart relationship with said lower horizontal frame members; anda removable play yard liner configured for being removably secured to said play yard frame, said play yard liner comprising: one or more sidewalls defining an upper perimeter of said play yard liner;one or more flap panels operatively connected to said play yard liner and including one or more flap fasteners configured to selectively secure said flap panels over said upper horizontal frame members; andone or more upper liner fasteners disposed proximate said upper perimeter of said play yard liner, said upper liner fasteners being configured to secure said upper perimeter of said play yard liner to said upper horizontal frame members;wherein said sidewalls of said play yard liner extend between said vertical frame members of said play yard frame and define a bounded area within said play yard when said play yard liner is secured to said play yard frame, and wherein said one or more flap panels are configured for substantially covering said upper horizontal frame members, and wherein said one or more flap panels substantially cover said one or more upper liner fasteners when the play yard liner is installed to the play yard frame; andwherein the one or more vertical frame members each define one or more vertical channels, and wherein the play yard frame further comprises an upper connecting member positioned between adjacent upper horizontal frame members of the one or more upper horizontal frame members, wherein the upper connecting member pivotally connects the adjacent upper horizontal frame members to a vertical frame member of the one or more vertical frame members, and the upper connecting member defines an upper opening that is aligned with the vertical channel of the vertical frame member. 17. The play yard of claim 16, wherein said play yard frame is configured for being collapsed. 18. The play yard of claim 17, wherein said one or more upper horizontal frame members comprise a plurality of upper horizontal frame members pivotably coupled to one another by upper joint members; and wherein said one or more flap panels are configured for covering said upper joint members when said play yard frame is in an erected position. 19. The children's play yard of claim 16, wherein: said vertical frame members define one or more vertical channels;said play yard liner further comprises one or more engagement members configured to be inserted within said vertical channels in order to secure said play yard liner to said play yard frame. 20. The children's play yard of claim 19, wherein said play yard liner further comprises one or more lower liner fasteners and wherein said play yard frame further comprises one or more lower frame fasteners, said lower liner fasteners and said lower frame fasteners being configured to engage one another when said engagement members are fully inserted within said vertical channels. 21. A method for securing a removable play yard liner to a play yard frame, said method comprising: setting up a play yard frame to have one or more vertical frame members each defining vertical channels and one or more upper horizontal frame members;orienting a play yard liner having one or more sidewalls, one or more flap panels, one or more upper liner fasteners, and one or more engagement members such that said engagement members are generally adjacent said vertical frame members;sliding said one or more engagement members into said vertical channels such that the full length of said engagement members is within said vertical channels;after sliding said one or more engagement members into said vertical channels, engaging the one or more upper liner fasteners disposed on said play yard liner to removably secure an upper perimeter of said play yard liner to said upper horizontal frame members;subsequent to engaging the one or more upper liner fasteners, positioning said one or more flap panels over upper portions and around outer side portions of said one or more upper horizontal frame members;securing said one or more flap panels over said one or more upper horizontal frame members, such that the one or more flap panels substantially cover the one or more upper liner fasteners; andfurther comprising sliding the one or more engagement members through an upper opening of an upper connecting member positioned between adjacent upper horizontal frame members of the one or more upper horizontal frame members, wherein the upper opening of the upper connecting member is aligned with the vertical channel of a vertical frame member of the one or more vertical frame members. 22. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of engaging one or more lower liner fasteners disposed on said play yard liner with one or more lower play frame fasteners disposed on said play yard frame to removably secure a lower perimeter of said play yard liner to said play yard frame. 23. The method of claim 21, further comprising inserting end caps into upper ends of said vertical channels.