Height adjustment for changing table

Abstract

The apparatus is a height adjustment assembly for a child's changing table with support tubes inserted into sockets at the top of a supporting structure such as a play yard. A height adjustment fixture external to the support tubes rests on top of the supporting structure and has a vertical series of recesses such as slots or holes and a ring through which the changing table's support tube slides. The changing table has an attached latching device that locks into the recesses to hold the table at several heights above the supporting structure. Alternate embodiments include a structure in which the height adjustment fixture contains the latching device and the recesses are in the changing table.

1 . A height adjustment assembly for a changing: table comprising: 
 a changing table support ( 30 ) attached to a changing table and moveable vertically relative to a holding fixture ( 36 ) attached to a supporting structure ( 14 ) upon which the changing table support ( 30 ) is supported;    a coupling coupled to the changing table support ( 30 ) and permitting the changing table support ( 30 ) to move relative to the coupling;    a support structure ( 20 ) attached to the coupling and extending from the coupling and oriented toward the changing table and in the direction of movement of the changing table support ( 30 ) so that the changing table support ( 30 ) moves relative to the support structure ( 20 );    at least two recesses in the support structure ( 20 ), with the recesses aligned in the direction of movement of the changing table support ( 30 ); and    a latching mechanism attached to the changing table and oriented to mate with the recesses on the support structure ( 20 ) as the changing table moves to place each recess adjacent to the latching mechanism, with the latching mechanism being releasable.    
     
     
         2 . The height adjustment assembly of  claim 1  wherein the coupling is a ring within which the changing table support ( 30 ) slides.  
     
     
         3 . The height adjustment assembly of  claim 1  wherein the recesses are slots separated by lands.  
     
     
         4 . The height adjustment assembly of  claim 1  wherein the latching mechanism is a pivoting lever with a release handle at one end and a latch at the other end with a spring forcing the latch into the recesses in the support structure ( 20 ).  
     
     
         5 . The height adjustment assembly of  claim 1  wherein the recesses are equally spaced between a series of lands and the latching mechanism is a gear with teeth that mate with the recesses.  
     
     
         6 . The height adjustment assembly of  claim 1  wherein the recesses are equally spaced between a series of lands, the latching mechanism is a gear with teeth that mate with the recesses, the gear is interconnected with a knob by which the gear is rotated, and the knob is interconnected with a releasable latch that prevents the gear from turning.  
     
     
         7 . The height adjustment assembly of  claim 1  wherein the support structure ( 20 ) includes a spring acting to separate the changing table from the support structure ( 20 ) in the direction of movement of the changing table support ( 30 ).  
     
     
         8 . A height adjustment assembly for a changing table comprising: 
 a changing table support ( 88 ) attached to a changing table ( 86 ) and moveable vertically relative to a holding fixture ( 36 ) attached to a supporting structure ( 14 ) upon which the changing table support ( 88 ) is supported, with the changing table ( 86 ) including a socket ( 96 ) within the body of the changing table ( 86 );    a coupling ( 92 ) coupled to the changing table support ( 88 ) and permitting the changing table support ( 88 ) to move vertically relative to the coupling ( 92 );    a latch assembly ( 94 ) attached to the coupling ( 92 ) and extending from the coupling ( 92 ), inserted into socket ( 96 ) within the body of the changing table ( 86 ), and oriented in the vertical direction of movement of the changing table support ( 88 );    at least two recesses ( 98 ) in the body of the changing table ( 86 ), with the recesses ( 98 ) aligned in the vertical direction of movement of the changing table support ( 88 ) and to fit into the socket ( 96 ) within the body of the changing table ( 86 ) and;    a latch ( 90 ) built into the latch assembly ( 94 ) and oriented to mate with the recesses ( 98 ) in the changing table ( 86 ) as the changing table moves vertically to place each recess adjacent to the latch, with the latch ( 90 ) being located so that the latch ( 90 ) is releasable by a user while the user is simultaneously holding and vertically moving the changing table ( 86 ).    
     
     
         9 . The height adjustment assembly of  claim 8  wherein the latch ( 90 ) is attached to a spring integrated into the latch assembly ( 94 ).