One-hand control crib and method for operating the same

Abstract

A crib includes two side frames, two joints, a folding unit and two links. The two side frames each have two parallel transverse tubes and two connection tubes connected to two respective first ends of the two transverse tubes. Two parallel upright tubes support the transverse tubes and the connection tubes. The two respective second ends of the two transverse tubes of the two side frames are connected with the two respective joints. The folding unit is connected to one of the side frames and is connected to the two joints by the two links. When pressing the folding unit, the joints are unlocked by the links so as to move the two side frames toward each other.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A crib comprising:
 two side frames each having two parallel transverse tubes, two connection tubes being connected to two respective first ends of the two transverse tubes, two parallel upright tubes supporting the transverse tubes and the connection tubes;   two respective second ends of the two transverse tubes of the two side frames connected with two respective joints and   a folding unit connected to one of the side frames and the folding unit being connected to the two joints by two links.   
     
     
         2 . The crib as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein, the two transverse tubes and the connection tube of each of the two side frames form a U-shaped top portion, the two upright tubes are pivotably and respectively connected to two ends of the connection tube of the top portion. 
     
     
         3 . The crib as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the two transverse tubes and the connection tube of one of the two side frames form a U-shaped top portion, the two upright tubes are pivotably and respectively connected to two ends of the connection tube of the top portion, the two transverse tubes and the connection tube of the other one of the two side frames form a U-shaped side portion, the two transverse tubes are pivotably and respectively connected to two ends of the connection tube of the side portion. 
     
     
         4 . The crib as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of the joints comprises a base having a connection section and two side panels extend from two ends of the connection section, a space is defined between the two side panels, two operation units are located in the space and are respectively and pivotably connected to the two side panels by two first pins, the operation units each have a support section extending from a first direction, the operation units each have a contact section extending from a second direction, the two contact sections are engaged with each other, a pivot is connected to the contact section of one of the operation units, an elongate hole is defined through the contact section of the other one of the operation units, the pivot pivotably extends through the elongate hole, a pressing section extends from a third direction of each of the two operation units, a resilient member is connected between the two support sections of the two operation units, two end members are respectively connected to two respective second ends of the two transverse tubes, each end member has a slot which is engaged with the support section of the operation unit corresponding thereto, a second pin extends through the side panels, the second ends of the transverse tubes and the end member. 
     
     
         5 . The crib as claimed, in  claim 1 , wherein the folding unit comprises an end bar, two plates are pivotably connected to the end bar, the two links are pivotably connected to the two plates, the end bar has a button which is located at lower ends of the two plates. 
     
     
         6 . The crib as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the pressing section of each of the operation units has a hook formed in the first direction. 
     
     
         7 . The crib as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a restriction unit is connected between the transverse tube and the upright tube, the restriction unit has a sleeve and a link, the sleeve is mounted to the transverse tube and two ends of the link are respectively and pivotably connected to the sleeve and the upright tube. 
     
     
         8 . The crib as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of the upright tubes has a wheel or a support leg connected thereto. 
     
     
         9 . The crib as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a bottom frame is connected between the upright tubes and comprises multiple U-shaped tubes, each of the U-shaped tubes has outer ends connected to the upright tubes, each of the U-shaped tubes has an inner end connected to a bottom unit. 
     
     
         10 . A method for folding the crib, comprising the steps of
 (a) pressing a folding unit: a folding unit being connected to one of two side frames is pressed to move two links; and   (b) unlocking two joints: two joints separately connected with two corresponding side frames are co-moved by movement of the two links.   Thereby the two side frames are able to move toward each other for folding the crib.   
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein each of the two side frames has two parallel transverse tubes, two connection tubes being connected to two respective first ends of the two transverse tubes and two parallel upright tubes supporting the transverse tubes and the connection tubes; two respective second ends of the two transverse tubes of the two side frames are connected with the two respective joints; the folding unit is connected to one of the side frames and to the two joints by the two links. 
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the two transverse tubes and the connection tube of each of the two side frames form a U-shaped top portion, the two upright tubes are pivotably and respectively connected to two ends of the connection tube of the top portion. 
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the two transverse tubes and the connection tube of one of the two side frames form a U-shaped top portion, the two upright tubes are pivotably and respectively connected to two ends of the connection tube of the top portion, the two transverse tubes and the connection tube of the other one of the two side frames form a U-shaped side portion, the two transverse tubes are pivotably and respectively connected to two ends of the connection tube of the side portion. 
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein each of the joints comprises a base having a connection section and two side panels extend from two ends of the connection section, a space is defined between the two side panels, two operation units are located in the space and are respectively and pivotably connected to the two side panels by two first pins, the operation units each have a support section extending from a first direction, the operation units each have a contact section extending from a second direction, the two contact sections are engaged with each other, a pivot is connected to the contact section of one of the operation units, an elongate hole is defined through the contact section of the other one of the operation units, the pivot pivotably extends through the elongate hole, a pressing section extends from a third direction of each of the two operation units, a resilient member is connected between the two support sections of the two operation units, two end members are respectively connected to two respective second ends of the two transverse tubes, each end member has a slot which is engaged with the support section of the operation unit corresponding thereto, a second pin extends through the side panels, the second ends of the transverse tubes and the end member. 
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed, in  claim 11 , wherein the folding unit comprises an end bar, two plates are pivotably connected to the end bar, the two links are pivotably connected to the two plates, the end bar has a button which is located at lower ends of the two plates. 
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the pressing section of each of the operation units has a hook formed in the first direction. 
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein a restriction unit is connected between the transverse tube and the upright tube, the restriction unit has a sleeve and a link, the sleeve is mounted to the transverse tube and two ends of the link are respectively and pivotably connected to the sleeve and the upright tube. 
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein each of the upright tubes has a wheel or a support leg connected thereto. 
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein a bottom frame is connected between the upright tubes and comprises multiple U-shaped tubes, each of the U-shaped tubes has outer ends connected to the upright tubes, each of the U-shaped tubes has an inner end connected to a bottom unit.