Bi-axially collapsible frame for a child care support article

Abstract

A foldable frame comprising at least an elongate first frame member foldable about an intermediately disposed first folding axis and a pair of second frame members, each foldably connected to portions of the first frame member on opposing ends of the first folding axis. The second frame members are each foldable about respective end axes, but only when the respective end axes are aligned on a second folding axis. Alignment of the end axes on the second folding axis occurs only when the frame is folded to approximately a discrete position about the first folding axis; folding of the second frame members is not enable when the frame is mis-positioned from the discrete position.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A foldable frame comprising:
 a first frame member;   a second frame member pivotally connected to the first frame member for movement about a first folding axis between folded and unfolded orientations;   a second folding joint disposed in the first frame member, the second folding joint having a second folding axis; and   a third folding joint disposed in the second frame member, the third folding joint having a third folding axis,   folding movement of the second and third folding joints being enabled by movement of the second frame member to the folded position which generally aligns the second and third folding axes, movement of the second and third folding joints being prevented by movement of the second frame member away from the folded position which mis-aligns the second and third folding axes.   
     
     
         2 . The foldable frame of  claim 1 , wherein the second and third folding axes are transversely arranged in relation to the first folding axis. 
     
     
         3 . The foldable frame of  claim 2 , wherein the first frame member defines a perimeter having a width dimension and the second folding joint is configured to permit orientation of the first frame member which substantially reduces the width dimension. 
     
     
         4 . The foldable frame of  claim 3 , wherein the length dimension is reduced by approximately half when the first frame member is folded about the second folding joint. 
     
     
         5 . The foldable frame of  claim 1 , wherein the second frame member comprises at least one leg for supporting the foldable frame above a surface. 
     
     
         6 . A foldable frame comprising:
 a first frame member;   a second frame member pivotally connected to the first frame member for movement about a first folding axis between folded and unfolded orientations;   a second folding joint disposed in the first frame member, the second folding joint having a second folding axis transverse to the first folding axis; and   a third folding joint disposed in the second frame member, the third folding joint having a third folding axis transverse to the first folding axis, folding movement of the second and third folding joints being prevented by positioning the second frame member in the unfolded orientation in which the second and third folding axes are mis-aligned to inhibit rotational movement about either the second or the third folding axis.   
     
     
         7 . The foldable frame of  claim 6 , wherein the first frame member defines a length dimension and a width dimension and the second folding joint is configured to permit orientation of the first frame member which substantially reduces the length or width dimension. 
     
     
         8 . The foldable frame of  claim 7 , wherein the second frame member comprises at least one leg for supporting the foldable frame above a surface. 
     
     
         9 . The foldable frame of  claim 6 , wherein the second folding joint comprises one or more movable pivots each arranged for pivoting movement about pivot axes aligned parallel to the second folding axis. 
     
     
         10 . The foldable frame of  claim 6 , wherein the third folding joint comprises one or more movable pivots each arranged for pivoting movement about pivot axes aligned parallel to the third folding axis.