Crib and bassinet assembly

Abstract

A crib and bassinet assembly is provided for accommodating newborns as well as older babies and children. The assembly includes a crib having opposing sides, each having a top rail. A bassinet is removably coupled to the top rails such that its foot end adjoins one side of the crib and its head end adjoins the opposite side. A method for providing a bedding arrangement for an infant is also provided which includes suspending the bassinet between the top rails of the crib.

1 . A crib and bassinet assembly comprising: 
 a crib including a pair of opposing end boards, a dropside movably coupled to said end boards, and a second side opposing said dropside and coupled to said end boards, said dropside including top and bottom rails and a plurality of slats extending between said top and bottom rails, said second side including top and bottom rails and a plurality of slats extending between said top and bottom rails;    a bassinet having a head end and foot end, the distance between the head and foot ends approximating the distance between the dropside and the second side of the crib,    a first attachment mechanism for coupling the bassinet to the top rail of the crib dropside,    a second attachment mechanism for coupling the bassinet to the top rail of the second side of the crib, and    an adjusting mechanism operatively associated with at least one of the first and second attachment mechanisms.    
   
   
       2 . An assembly as described in  claim 1  wherein at least one of the first and second attachment mechanisms includes a strap and the adjusting mechanism includes a buckle secured to the strap.  
   
   
       3 . An assembly as described in  claim 1  wherein at least one of the first and second attachment mechanisms includes a portion designed to extend around one of the top rails and between adjoining slats.  
   
   
       4 . An assembly as described in  claim 1  including a changing table having a length approximating the distance between the dropside and second side of the crib and attachment members for coupling the changing table to the top rails of the dropside and second side, respectively.  
   
   
       5 . An assembly as described in claims  4  wherein the changing table includes a bottom wall, a displaceable floor above the bottom wall, and a storage compartment between the floor and bottom wall.  
   
   
       6 . An assembly as described in  claim 4  including a tray having a length approximately the distance between the dropside and second side of the crib, the combined widths of the bassinet, changing table and tray approximating the distance between the crib end boards.  
   
   
       7 . A crib and bassinet assembly comprising: 
 a crib including a pair of opposing end boards, a dropside movably coupled to said end boards, and a second side opposing said dropside and coupled to said end boards, said dropside including top and bottom rails and a plurality of slats extending between said top and bottom rails, said second side including top and bottom rails and a plurality of slats extending between said top and bottom rails;    a bassinet having a head end and foot end, the distance between the head and foot ends approximating the distance between the dropside and the second side of the crib,    a first attachment mechanism removably suspending the bassinet from the top rail of the crib dropside, and    a second attachment mechanism removably suspending the bassinet from the top rail of the second side of the crib,    wherein the head end of the bassinet adjoins one of the dropside and second side and the foot end of the bassinet adjoins the other of the dropside and second side.    
   
   
       8 . An assembly as described in  claim 7  wherein at least one of the first and second attachment mechanisms includes a strap and an adjusting mechanism for adjusting the length of the strap.  
   
   
       9 . An assembly as described in  claim 8  wherein the adjustment mechanism is a buckle having interlocking elements connecting a first portion of the strap with a second portion of the strap.  
   
   
       10 . An assembly as described in  claim 7  including a changing table having a length approximating the distance between the dropside and second side of the crib and attachment members suspending the changing table from the top rails of the dropside and second side, respectively.  
   
   
       11 . An assembly as described in  claim 7  wherein the changing table includes a displaceable floor and a storage compartment beneath the floor.  
   
   
       12 . An assembly as described in  claim 7  including an adjustment mechanism associated with at least one of the first and second attachment mechanisms for adjusting the level of the bassinet with respect to at least one of the top rails of the crib.  
   
   
       13 . An assembly as described in  claim 7  wherein the foot end of the bassinet is positioned entirely beneath an adjoining top rail of the crib.  
   
   
       14 . An assembly as described in  claim 7  wherein the bassinet adjoins an end board of the crib.  
   
   
       15 . A method for providing a convenient bedding arrangement for an infant comprising: 
 providing a bassinet having a head end and a foot end, the distance between the head end and foot end being about 680 millimeters; and    removably securing the bassinet to a crib including a pair of opposing end boards, a dropside movably coupled to the end boards, and a second side opposing the dropside and coupled to the end boards, the dropside including top and bottom rails and a plurality of slats extending between the top and bottom rails, the second side including top and bottom rails and a plurality of slats extending between the top and bottom rails, wherein the bassinet is removably secured to the crib by suspending it between the top rails of the top rails of the dropside and second side such that the foot end of the bassinet adjoins one of the dropside and second side and the head end of the bassinet adjoins the other of the dropside and second side.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  including adjusting the level of at least one end of the bassinet with respect to one of the top rails of the crib and securing the bassinet at a selected level.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15  including suspending the bassinet in adjoining relation to one of the crib end boards by connecting a strap between the bassinet and at least one of the top rails and adjusting the strap until it is substantially taut.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  including removably suspending a changing table from the top rails of the crib.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16  including positioning the foot end of the bassinet entirely beneath an adjoining top rail of the crib.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16  including adjusting the elevation of the dropside so that the top rail of the dropside is substantially level with the top rail of the second side of the crib.