Graco Children's Products, Inc.

Artsana Usa, Inc.

Other

Simplicity Inc.

James Michael Dillner

Michael L Longenecker

Jerome J Drobinski

Kenneth C Waldman

Matthew J Ransil

Dennis R Stauffer

Daniel R Mitchell

Nathaniel Saint

A folding lock assembly for use in a frame for a portable child enclosure that includes a body housing first and second hinges for connecting a pair of equal-length side frame members. The respective hinges are limited in the degree of pivotal movement permitted each between a locked position in which the frame members are linearly aligned and a folded position in which the frame members are substantially parallel. The first hinge permits angular rotation less than 90 degrees while the second hinge permits angular rotation greater than 90 degrees. The differences in the range of hinge rotation offset the distal ends of the frame when the connected members are folded to eliminate a pinch point between frame end members. A latching mechanism is provided to maintain the hinges in a locked configuration wherein one hinge is locked by the position of the second hinge. Releasing the second hinge allows the first hinge to pivot as well.

Pinch free folding lock

A folding lock assembly for use in a frame for a portable child enclosure that includes a body housing first and second hinges for connecting a pair of equal-length side frame members. The hinges are limited in the degree of pivotal movement permitted between a locked position in which the frame members are linearly aligned and a folded position in which the frame members are substantially parallel. The first hinge permits angular rotation less than 90 degrees while the second hinge permits angular rotation greater than 90 degrees. The differences in the range of hinge rotation offset the distal ends of the frame when the connected members are folded to eliminate a pinch point between frame end members.

An adjustable travel stop mechanism for a leg support on a foldable stroller frame. The leg support is moveable between opposing first and second positions wherein folding of the stroller frame moves the leg support to the second position. The user-positionable travel stop interacts with the leg support which is biased toward the first position to limit the extent to which the leg support can move toward the first position when the stroller is unfolded.

Locking calf support mechanism for a folding travel stroller

A buckle for a child safety seat comprising a body having an opening for receiving and selectively retaining in position a tang portion of a first belt portion connector, a loop element for connecting a second belt portion, the loop element engaging the tang portion to connect the first and second belt portions, the loop element comprising a base with a pair of legs extending therefrom and abutting at distal ends at a split surface. Each leg includes an anti-spread tab extending generally perpendicularly from the leg configured to engage the opening when the buckle is operably assembled to prevent separation of the split surface and retain the loop element engaged on the tang portion. The anti-separation tabs allow separation of the split surface as the tang is partially withdrawn from the opening so that the lop portion may be disengaged from the tang by movement generally transverse to the tang.

Break-away buckle for a child restraint

A buckle for use with infant seats and the like having a release button slideably mounted within a hollow buckle housing for simultaneously releasing a pair of male buckle members latched in the housing. A bottom bar is slideably mounted into the housing and provided with locking hooks received within openings provided in the housing for permanently locking the bottom bar to the housing. The bottom bar and male projection members are provided with openings for webbing belts. The housing has integral guide ribs for guiding the male members and bottom bar when inserted into the housing to ensure proper insertion and alignment in the housing. All of the members of the buckle assembly are preferably molded of a suitable plastic material.

Safety buckle for child seat and the like

An infant swing comprising a seat, at least one upwardly extending arm secured to the seat, and a pivot housing having an axle for rotating the at least one upwardly extending arm. A support frame supports the pivot housing and enables the seat to rotate freely about the pivot housing. A drive assembly housed within the pivot housing includes the axle which is rotatably mounted in the pivot housing and coupled to the upwardly extending arm, an abutting member fixedly secured to the axle, at least one drive member pivotally mounted on the axle, and a motor driving a circular gear. A rod eccentrically mounted on the gear drives a first portion of the drive member, which in turn causes a second portion of the drive member to drive the abutting member to rotate the axle and upwardly extending arm.

Infant swing

An infant swing comprises a seat with a padded seating area for an infant and a seat frame that supports said padded seating area, the seat frame comprising at least two upwardly extending arms. The swing also comprises two pivot housings rotatably connected to the at least two upwardly extending arms; a support frame that extends upwardly from a substantially planar surface, the support frame engaging the pivot housings and allowing the seat to rotate freely about the pivot housings; and at least two feet in contact with the substantially planar surface, engaging the frame, and extending outside an outer perimeter of the frame.

A swing drive mechanism for a swing having a swing seat, at least one hanger arm supporting the swing seat, and a pivot shaft providing reciprocal motion to the swing seat via the at least one hanger arm is described. The drive mechanism may include a gear, an eccentric element coupled to the gear and a motor mechanism configured to drive the gear. The drive mechanism may also include a substantially elongated drive link having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end coupled to the gear via the eccentric element, and a spring coupled to, and configured to being driven by, the distal end of the drive link. The spring being configured to directly drive the pivot shaft in a reciprocal fashion. A swing drive assembly including a blade and pivot shaft is also described.

Swing drive mechanism

A swing drive mechanism is provided for use with infant's and child's swings. The swing drive mechanism provides an input mechanism, an output mechanism, and a torsion spring member disposed between the input mechanism and the output mechanism. The torsion spring member includes a first portion and a second portion that interact together to produce a desirable spring gradient while also reducing the overall length of the torsion spring member. The torsion spring member is secured into attachment with the input mechanism by a novel securement mechanism. The output mechanism includes an axle and a drive flange. Preferably, the features of the input mechanism, the output mechanism, and each portion of the torsion spring member are integrally formed.

Swing drive mechanism for child's swing

A foldable playyard that can stay in an erected state at all times regardless how the playyard is positioned comprises a hub which has a locking member. The playyard comprises a lower frame assembly, an upper frame assembly and corner legs. The lower frame assembly comprises a hub and a plurality of hub legs. One end portion of each of the hub legs is pivotally coupled to the hub. The upper frame assembly comprises a plurality of side rail units, each comprising a pair of rails and a medial rail connecting member pivotally connecting one end portions of the pair of rails. The medial rail connecting member enables the pair of rails to be collapsed from a substantially in-line configuration to a substantially V-shaped configuration. The corner legs interconnect the upper and lower frame assemblies. The hub according to the present invention is provided with a locking member which is positionable opposite the hub legs recesses which accommodates the end portions thereof to prevent the hub legs from pivoting relative to the hub. The hub further has a rotation prevention mechanism for preventing rotation of the locking member. The locking member is rotated by rotating a handle which first releases the rotation prevention mechanism.

Growing community of inventors

Leola, PA, United States of America

James Michael Dillner