Frame of a crib and method for expanding and folding the crib

Abstract

A crib includes a top frame, four upright tubes, a bottom frame, four restriction members and two joints. The top frame includes two top end tubes and two sides connected between the two top end tubes. Each of the two sides has two side tubes between which the joint is connected. The bottom frame has two bottom tubes and each bottom tube has a straight connection section. The two respective connection sections are pivotably connected to each other and a support is connected to the bottom frame. The support has a locking unit located thereon. The four upright tubes are respectively and pivotably connected between the two top end tubes and the two bottom tubes. Four restriction members are respectively connected between the side tubes of and the upright tubes. The bottom tubes and the two sides can be folded when the locking units and joints are unlocked.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A crib comprising:
 a top frame having two top end tubes and two sides connected between the two top end tubes, each of the two sides having two side tubes, each top end tube having a straight section and each straight section having two ends extending therefrom, the two ends of each top end tube respectively connected to two respective ends of the two side tubes on different sides;   four upright tubes respectively and pivotably connected between the two top end tubes and four legs, the four legs pivotably connected to two bottom tubes;   a bottom frame having the two bottom tubes and each bottom tubes being substantially a U-shaped tube and having a straight connection section, at least one support pivotably connected between the two connection sections, the at least one support having a locking unit located thereon;   four restriction members respectively connected between the side tubes of the top frame and the upright tubes, and   two joints respectively pivotably connected between the side tubes of the two sides of the top frame.   
     
     
         2 . The crib as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of the restriction members has a sleeve, a link and a fixing member, the sleeve is mounted to the side tube and the fixing member is connected to the side tube, the fixing member is located adjacent to the sleeve and protrudes from a top of the top end tube, the link is pivotably between the sleeve and the upright tube. 
     
     
         3 . The crib as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the at least one support has two reception tubes through which two connection sections of the two bottom tubes extend, each of the two reception tubes has a slot and a positioning member extends through slot and is fixed to the connection section, the two bottom tubes are pivotably connected to each other by the at least one support, the bottom tubes are pivotable within the slots of the at least one support. 
     
     
         4 . The crib as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the locking unit is a plate located above the two reception tubes and a connection bridge between the reception tubes, the plate has two holes and an inner diameter of each of the holes is larger than a top head of the positioning member, a pin extends through an elongate slot through the plate and the connection bridge between the reception tubes, a resilient member is mounted to the pin and biased between the connection bridge and a lower head of the pin. 
     
     
         5 . A method for expanding and folding the crib as claimed in  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 unlocking the joints and locking units before folding the crib, pulling the connection sections of the bottom tubes of the bottom frame upward and the bottom tubes being pivoted about reception tubes, the two bottom tubes being pulled upward and toward each other, the two side tubes of each side of the crib being pivoted relative to the joint and the two top end tubes being moved toward each other, when expanding the crib, the connection sections of the bottom tubes being pivoted downward to move the top end tubes away from each other, the locking units being automatically locked when the two side tubes of each of the two sides of the crib are positioned horizontally.   
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein each of the restriction members has a sleeve, a link and a fixing member, the sleeve is mounted to the side tube and the fixing member is connected to the side tube, the fixing member is located adjacent to the sleeve and protrudes from a top of the top end tube, the link is pivotably between the sleeve and the upright tube. 
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the at least one support has two reception tubes through which two connection sections of the two bottom tubes extend, each of the two reception tubes has a slot and a positioning member extends through slot and is fixed to the connection section, the two bottom tubes are pivotably connected to each other by the at least one support, the bottom tubes are pivotable within the slots of the at least one support. 
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the locking unit is a plate located above the two reception tubes and a connection bridge between the reception tubes, the plate has two holes and an inner diameter of each of the holes is larger than a top head of the positioning member, a pin extends through an elongate slot through the plate and the connection bridge between the reception tubes, a resilient member is mounted to the pin and biased between the connection bridge and a lower head of the pin.