Folding play yard

Abstract

A folding play yard which includes a generally horizontal upper frame comprised of members including end sections pivotally connected to latches for maintaining the end sections in horizontal alignment when the play yard is deployed. A lower frame is comprised of a vertically moveable central release mechanism and diagonal braces extending from said release mechanism to lower ends of vertical members. Lower side members each having end sections connected to a central hinge may also be provided Vertical members join the upper and lower frames. Latch release means such as cables are connected to the latches and extend to anchors in the vertical members, whereby upward movement of the release mechanism and ends of the diagonal braces tightens the latch release means and releases the latches for folding.

1 . A folding play yard comprising: 
 a generally horizontal upper frame comprised of upper side members, upper end members and upper corner connectors to which said side members and said end members are pivotally connected, each of said members including end sections pivotally connected to a latch for maintaining said end sections in horizontal alignment;    a. generally horizontal lower frame comprised of lower side members, said side members each having end sections connected to a central hinge, a vertically moveable central release mechanism and diagonal braces extending from said lower side members to said central release mechanism;    vertically extending members joining ends of said lower side members to said upper corner connectors;    latch release means connected to said latches, said latch release means extending from said latches to moveable anchors carried by said vertically extending members, whereby upward movement of said central release mechanism pivots ends of said lower side members to move said anchors to tension said latch release means and release said latches.    
   
   
       2 . The play yard of  claim 1 , wherein said latches each comprise: a support which includes a pair of spaced sides and a top, said sections each being connected to a support for movement about spaced horizontal axes, said top engaging ends of said sections to prevent substantial upward movement of said latch when said latch is locked; said latch having levers mounted between said sides for movement about spaced horizontal axes, first ends of said levers being biased into engagement with said ends of said end sections and a second end of one of said levers being connected to said latch release means for pivoting at least one of said levers out of engagement with said end sections to release said latch.  
   
   
       3 . The play yard of  claim 2 , wherein said latch release means extend along said end sections of said upper members, along said upper corner connectors, and along said vertically extending members to said anchors.  
   
   
       4 . The play yard of  claim 2 , wherein said levers are engageable with each other by a pin and slot connection such that pivotal movement of one of said levers about its pivot axis in a first direction caused by tensioning said latch release means causes the other one of said levers to pivot in a second direction about its pivot axis to release said latch.  
   
   
       5 . The play yard of  claim 4 , further comprising at least one spring biasing said first ends of said levers apart from each other.  
   
   
       6 . The play yard of  claim 5 , wherein said spring is a compression spring between said first ends of said levers.  
   
   
       7 . The play yard of  claim 1 , wherein said vertically extending members include feet to which said lower side members are pivotally connected.  
   
   
       8 . The play yard of  claim 7 , wherein said anchors comprise bosses slidably mounted for vertical movement along guide tracks in said feet, said end sections of said lower side members being pivotally connected to said feet and engaging said bosses during pivotal movement of said lower side members relative to said feet to tension said latch release means to release said latches.  
   
   
       9 . The play yard of  claim 8 , wherein said upper members and said vertically extending members are tubular and said latch release means extend from said latches through said end sections of said upper members, through said upper corner connectors, and through said vertically extending members to said bosses.  
   
   
       10 . The play yard of  claim 1 , wherein said central hinges hold said end sections of said lower side members in horizontal alignment, said hinges being moveable upwardly during folding to permit sections of lower side members on opposite sides of said hinges to fold toward each other.  
   
   
       11 . The play yard of  claim 10 , wherein said upper corner connectors include springs affixing said end members and said side members to said vertically extending members to bias said end members and said side members downwardly for positioning alongside said vertically extending members during folding.  
   
   
       12 . The play yard of  claim 1 , wherein said upper frame is rectangular.  
   
   
       13 . The play yard of  claim 1 , wherein said release mechanism comprises: attached diagonal connectors, said diagonal braces being pivotally connected at inner ends to said diagonal connectors for rotation relative to said release mechanism about spaced axes in a generally horizontal plane, and a handle attached to said diagonal connectors, said handle being upwardly moveable from said generally horizontal plane to allow said diagonal braces to move out of said horizontal plane for folding.  
   
   
       14 . The play yard of  claim 13 , further comprising a vertically extending shaft connected to and extending below said release mechanism to provide a support leg.  
   
   
       15 . A folding play yard comprising: 
 a generally horizontal upper frame comprised of upper side members, upper end members and upper corner connectors to which said side members and said end members are pivotally connected, each of said members including end sections pivotally connected to a latch for maintaining said end sections in horizontal alignment;    a generally horizontal lower frame comprised of: a vertically moveable central release mechanism and diagonal braces extending from said release mechanism to lower ends of vertically extending members;    vertically extending members joining ends of said diagonal braces to said upper corner connectors;    latch release means connected to said latches, said latch release means extending from said latches to anchors, whereby upward movement of said release mechanism and ends of said diagonal braces attached to said release mechanism moves lower ends of said vertically extending members toward said release mechanism for folding; and wherein said anchors comprise bosses slidably mounted for vertical movement along guide tracks in said vertically extending members.    
   
   
       16 . The play yard of  claim 15 , wherein said lower frame further includes lower side members, said side members each having end sections connected to a central hinge, said end sections of said lower side members also being pivotally connected to said vertically extending members and engaging said bosses during pivotal movement of said lower side members relative to said vertically extending members to move said bosses to tension said latch release means and release said latches.  
   
   
       17 . The play yard of  claim 16 , wherein said latches each comprise: a support which includes a pair of spaced sides and a top, said sections each being connected to a support for movement about spaced horizontal axes, said top engaging ends of said sections to prevent substantial upward movement of said latch when said latch is locked; said latch having levers mounted between said sides for movement about spaced horizontal axes, first ends of said levers being biased into engagement with said ends of said end sections and a second end of one of said levers being connected to said latch release means for pivoting at least one of said levers out of engagement with said end sections to release said latch.  
   
   
       18 . The play yard of  claim 17 , wherein said latch release means extend along said end sections of said upper members, along said upper corner connectors, and along said vertically extending members to said anchors.  
   
   
       19 . The play yard of  claim 17 , wherein said levers are engageable with each other by a pin and slot connection such that pivotal movement of one of said levers about its pivot axis in a first direction caused by tensioning said latch release means causes the other one of said levers to pivot in a second direction about its pivot axis to release said latch.  
   
   
       20 . The play yard of  claim 19 , further comprising at least one spring biasing said first ends of said levers apart from each other.  
   
   
       21 . The play yard of  claim 20 , wherein said spring is a compression spring between said first ends of said levers.