Playard assembly including playard and topper assembly with corner connector interface

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a playard assembly and is also directed to a topper assembly. The topper assembly includes connectors in corner regions of the topper assembly that are configured to engage with connectors defined in corner regions of the playard. Actuators for controlling the engagement between the respective connectors are provided along lateral portions of frame members of the topper assembly. Mating magnetic elements can also be provided in the connectors of the topper assembly and playard assembly.

1 . A playard assembly comprising:
 a playard having at least one playard connector at least partially defined at a playard corner region;   a topper assembly having at least one topper connector at least partially defined at a topper corner region; and   at least one actuator configured to selectively control engagement between the at least one topper connector and the at least one playard connector.   
     
     
         2 . The playard assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the topper assembly comprises:
 a first rim;   a second rim; and   at least one frame connector configured to connect the first rim and the second rim.   
     
     
         3 . The playard assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the first rim consists of two first frame halves, and the second rim consists of two second frame halves. 
     
     
         4 . The playard assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the first rim and the second rim each have a quadrilateral profile including two lateral rim portions and two longitudinal rim portions, and at least one actuator is arranged on at least one of the two lateral rim portions. 
     
     
         5 . The playard assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one actuator includes at least one driven actuator member attached to at least one actuator arm, wherein the at least one actuator arm is configured to engage with the at least one playard connector of the playard. 
     
     
         6 . The playard assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein the at least one actuator arm is configured to move into and out of engagement with a retention element on the at least one playard connector. 
     
     
         7 . The playard assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the retention element comprises a spring-loaded tab. 
     
     
         8 . The playard assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein the at least one actuator arm is housed within a rim of the topper assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The playard assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one actuator includes at least one driven actuator member attached to at least one actuator wire. 
     
     
         10 . The playard assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least one driven actuator member is attached to one end of the at least one actuator wire, and the at least one driven actuator member is configured to engage with a biasing element such that the at least one driven actuator member is driven into engagement with the at least one playard connector of the playard. 
     
     
         11 . The playard assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein engagement of the at least one actuator is configured to pull the at least one actuator wire such that the at least one driven actuator member is driven inward against the biasing element and the at least one driven actuator member disengages from the at least one playard connector of the playard. 
     
     
         12 . The playard assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one actuator is configured to selectively disengage two driven actuator members from two respective playard connectors of the playard. 
     
     
         13 . The playard assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one playard connector includes at least one first magnetic element, and the at least one topper connector includes at least one second magnetic element, and the at least one first magnetic element and the at least one second magnetic element are configured to be attracted to each other. 
     
     
         14 . The playard assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the playard comprises at least one corner post, and the at least one playard connector is positioned at an end of the at least one corner post. 
     
     
         15 . The playard assembly according to  claim 14 , further comprising at least one slider slidably connected to the at least one corner post. 
     
     
         16 . The playard assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein the at least one slider includes a bushing, wherein the bushing comprises polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). 
     
     
         17 . The playard assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one actuator is supported at least partially by the frame connector. 
     
     
         18 . The playard assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein the at least one actuator is supported at least partially in a recess of the frame connector. 
     
     
         19 . The playard assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein the at least one actuator is movable in a vertical direction within the recess to disengage the at least one topper connector and the at least one playard connector. 
     
     
         20 . The playard assembly according to  claim 19 , wherein the at least one actuator is movable downwardly to disengage the at least one topper connector and the at least one playard connector. 
     
     
         21 . The playard assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one actuator is configured to selectively control engagement between at least two topper connectors and at least two playard connectors. 
     
     
         22 . The playard assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein the at least one actuator includes two actuators. 
     
     
         23 . The playard assembly according to  claim 22 , wherein the topper assembly includes a first frame and a second frame, and wherein the two actuators are defined along lateral sides of the first and second frames. 
     
     
         24 . The playard assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein the at least two playard connectors each include a first magnetic element, and the at least two topper connectors each include a second magnetic element, wherein the first and second magnetic elements are configured to align the at least two playard connectors and the at least two topper connectors. 
     
     
         25 . A topper assembly configured to be selectively attached to a playard, the topper assembly comprising:
 a first frame and a second frame;   a first frame connector and a second frame connector each connecting the first frame and the second frame;   a plurality of topper connectors each configured to be selectively engaged with the playard; and   a first actuator and a second actuator each arranged on the second frame, wherein the first and second actuators are each configured to control engagement of the plurality of topper connectors with the playard.   
     
     
         26 . The topper assembly according to  claim 25 , wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are each at a respective one of the first frame connector and the second frame connector. 
     
     
         27 . The topper assembly according to  claim 25 , wherein the first frame and the second frame each include two lateral sides and two longitudinal sides that are longer than the two lateral sides, wherein the first and second actuators are each arranged on a respective one of the two lateral sides. 
     
     
         28 . The topper assembly according to  claim 25 , wherein the plurality of topper connectors each include at least one magnetic element configured to engage with a corresponding magnetic element on the playard. 
     
     
         29 . A topper assembly configured to be selectively attached to a playard, the topper assembly comprising:
 a first frame and a second frame;   a first frame connector and a second frame connector each connecting the first frame and the second frame;   a plurality of topper connectors each configured to be selectively engaged with the playard; and   a first actuator and a second actuator each arranged on the second frame, wherein the first and second actuators are each configured to control engagement of the plurality of topper connectors with the playard;   wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are configured to be pressed in a downward direction to disengage the plurality of topper connectors from the playard.   
     
     
         30 . The topper assembly according to  claim 29 , wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are each at a respective one of the first frame connector and the second frame connector. 
     
     
         31 . The topper assembly according to  claim 29 , wherein the first frame and the second frame each include two lateral sides and two longitudinal sides that are longer than the two lateral sides, wherein the first and second actuators are each arranged on a respective one of the two lateral sides. 
     
     
         32 . A playard assembly configured to be selectively attached to a topper assembly, the playard assembly comprising:
 a plurality of corner posts;   a plurality of playard connectors each arranged on a respective one of the plurality of corner posts;   a plurality of sliding supports each arranged on a respective one of the plurality of corner posts and configured to slide up and down relative to the respective one of the plurality of corner posts; and   a plurality of X-frame assemblies each extending between a respective pair of the plurality of corner posts and coupled to one of the plurality of playard connectors and one of the plurality of sliding supports on each corner post;   whereby movement of the plurality of sliding supports towards the plurality of playard connectors along the corner posts expands the playard assembly, and movement of the plurality of sliding supports away from the plurality of playard connectors along the corner posts collapses the playard assembly.   
     
     
         33 . The playard assembly according to  claim 32 , wherein at least one of the playard connectors and at least one of the sliding supports are releasably couplable to each other to maintain the playard assembly in an expanded state. 
     
     
         34 . The playard assembly according to  claim 33 , wherein the at least one of the playard connectors and at least one of the sliding supports that are releasably couplable to each other include cooperating coupling components. 
     
     
         35 . The playard assembly according to  claim 34 , wherein the cooperating coupling components include a latch associated with the playard connector and a catch associated with the sliding support, the latch and catch configured to engage each other to restrict the sliding support from moving away from the playard connector. 
     
     
         36 . The playard assembly according to  claim 35 , wherein the latch includes an actuator for disengaging the latch from the catch. 
     
     
         37 . The playard assembly according to  claim 36 , wherein the latch is biased to an engaged position. 
     
     
         38 . A topper assembly configured to be selectively attached to a playard, the topper assembly comprising:
 a frame;   a topper base supported by the frame, the topper base including a first surface and an opposing second surface; and   at least one topper connector configured to be selectively engaged with the playard;   wherein the frame is connectable to the playard via the at least one topper connector in a first configuration, in which the first surface faces in an upward direction, and a second configuration, in which the second surface faces in the upward direction.   
     
     
         39 . The topper assembly of  claim 38 , further comprising:
 an actuator arranged on the frame, the actuator being configured to be pressed in a downward direction to disengage the at least one topper connector from the playard.   
     
     
         40 . The topper assembly of  claim 38 , wherein the at least one topper connector comprises a plurality of topper connectors each at least partially defined at a respective topper corner region, each of the plurality of topper connectors being positioned to engage with a respective playard connector defined at a playard corner region.