MODULAR CRIB UNIT, CRIB FRAME AND CRIB

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure belongs to the technical field of cribs, and particularly relates to a modular crib unit, a crib frame and a crib.

BACKGROUND

As infants grow and household living scenarios diversify, modular cribs have gradually emerged as the preferred choice for modern households and maternal and infant care facilities due to their flexible size adjustment (such as converting a single bed into a parent-child modular bed to fit different room spaces), and convenience of transportation and storage (reducing the volume when being disassembled for easier movement or portable transportation). As a core component module of the modular crib, adjacent modular units are stably engaged by means of connection structures at two ends thereof to form a complete bed frame. The connection reliability of the module units directly determines the structural safety of the crib (preventing the crib from loosening and displacing that could cause infants to fall or get limbs of the infants entrapped in gaps), while the convenience of assembly affects the use experience of parents. Therefore, a design of the connection structure of the modular unit is crucial for ensuring the safety and practical value of the product.

However, existing modular crib units exhibit significant deficiencies in designs of connection structures thereof, struggling to balance core requirements of “safety and stability” and “flexibility and convenience”. Firstly, most of connection mechanisms in the existing modular units rely on simple snap-fit abutment or cylindrical insertion without locking structures. Particularly, the snap-fit abutment is prone to elastic failure over time due to plastic aging and frequent insertion or removal, leading to connection looseness between adjacent units. The cylindrical insertion without locking structures rely solely on friction forces between connection columns and connection holes for fixation. When the infants roll over or shake the crib, the connection columns may be disengaged easily, causing the misalignment of the crib frame. In this way, the overall rigidity of the crib is compromised, and potentially hazardous gaps—posing risks of limb entrapment or even localized frame collapse—failing to meet stringent stability requirements for the crib may be created.

Secondly, connectors for some of the modular units are removably fitted over ends of frame members instead of fixedly connected to the ends of the frame members. During assembly, these connectors are prone to shifting, causing the misalignment of a connection column of one modular unit to a connection hole of another modular unit adjacent to the one modular unit. The gaps between the connectors and the frame members gradually increase over time due to vibration and collision, further weakening the overall structural strength and compromising the long-term safety of the crib.

SUMMARY

The summary of the present disclosure is intended to briefly introduce concepts, which will be described in detail in the subsequent detailed description. The summary of the present disclosure is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed technical solution, nor is it intended to limit the scope of the claimed technical solution.

The present disclosure provides a modular crib unit, a crib frame and a crib to overcome the problem of insufficient stability in connection structures of cribs in the prior art.

As a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a modular crib unit, including:

• • a frame member including a first frame member and a second frame member;
  • a first connection mechanism disposed on a first end of the frame member;
  • a connector disposed on a second end of the frame member, wherein the connector has a first end fixedly connected to a second end of the frame member and a second end protruding to form a second connection mechanism; and
  • a fastener,
  • wherein the second connection mechanism includes at least two connection columns, at least one of the connection columns is provided with a fastener hole, and the first connection mechanism includes a connection hole arranged correspondingly to the connection column; and
  • when a plurality of the modular units are assembled adjacently, the connection column of one modular unit is inserted into the connection hole of another modular unit adjacent to the one modular unit, and the fastener is installed within the connection hole and the fastener hole in a penetrating manner to connect and lock the first connection mechanism and the second connection mechanism.

Further, the connector includes at least one fixation column at a first end thereof, the frame member is provided with a fixation hole at a second end thereof, and the fixation column is pre-mounted and fixedly connected within the fixation hole. In further embodiments, the connector may be further configured for a detachable connection with the second end of the frame member, and formed as a separate component for user-selectable assembly. In terms of comparative effectiveness, the connector is a relatively small part. Pre-installing and fixing the fixation column at one end of the connector within the fixation hole does not significantly increase the size of the modular unit while substantially enhancing the fixing strength between the connector and the frame member. As such, the structural stability of the modular unit after installation is notably improved.

As a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is also provided a crib frame including at least two modular units, wherein adjacent ones of the modular units are engaged and fixed to each other.

Further, the crib frame is circular or track-shaped.

As a third aspect of the present application, there is also provided a crib including a bed panel and a crib frame as described above, wherein the bed panel is installed at a middle or nearby position of a first frame member.

The present disclosure has the following beneficial effects.

At least two connection columns protrude from the connector at the second end of the modular unit, and at least one connection column is provided with the fastener hole. When adjacent units are assembled, the connection column is inserted into the corresponding connection hole of the first connection mechanism, and then installed within the connection hole and the fastener hole through the fastener for being locked. Compared with an existing snap-fit structure and a non-locking cylindrical insertion structure, such a dual-fixation method of “insertion and locking” creates a rigid connection, which may resist the risks of looseness and disengagement even when infants roll over and shake the crib or upon external impacts, thereby avoiding the formation of safety gaps caused by the misalignment of the crib frame, fundamentally eliminating hidden dangers infant limb entrapment or localized bed collapse, and meeting stringent requirements for structural stability in the crib.

The first end of the connector of the modular unit is directly fixedly connected to the second end of the frame member, rather than detachably sleeved on the second end of the frame member in the prior art. On the one hand, the problem of misalignment between the connection column and the connection hole due to the displacement of the connector during assembly is avoided, and the engagement accuracy is ensured. On the other hand, no gaps are formed between the connector and the frame member over time due to vibration or collision, maintaining the overall rigidity of the crib, prolonging the service life of the crib, and providing infants with a consistently safe resting environment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Accompanying drawings forming a part of the present disclosure are intended to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure, making further features, objectives and advantages of the present disclosure more apparent. Schematic accompanying drawings and their illustrations of embodiments of the present disclosure are used to explain the present disclosure and do not constitute undue limitations on the present disclosure.

In addition, throughout the accompanying drawings, the same or similar reference numerals indicate the same or similar elements. It should be understood that accompanying drawings are illustrative and not necessarily drawn to scale.

In the figures:

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural view of a modular unit A of a crib in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a schematic structural exploded view with a lower structure omitted.

FIG. 3 is a schematic connection view of a second frame member of a modular unit A.

FIG. 4 is a schematic structural view of a connector of a modular unit A.

FIG. 5 is a schematic structural view of a second frame member of a modular unit A.

FIG. 6 is a schematic structural view of a modular unit B of a crib in another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a crib frame in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a crib frame in another embodiment of the present disclosure.

Reference numerals in the drawings are as follows: 10, frame member; 111, first connection mechanism; 112, second connection mechanism; 113, connection column; 114, connection hole; 100, second frame member; 101, nut member; 102, through hole; 103, first hole; 104, fastener; 105, fixation hole; 106, clearance hole; 107, connection slot; 200, first frame member; 300, connector; 301, connection main body; 302, fixation column; 303, first connection column; 304, guide slot; 305, second connection column; 306, fastener hole; and 307, sheet-like board.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in more detail below with reference to accompanying drawings. Although certain embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated in accompanying drawings, it should be understood that the present disclosure may be embodied in various forms and should not be construed as being limited to embodiments described herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided for a more thorough and complete understanding of the present disclosure. It should be understood that accompanying drawings and embodiments of the present disclosure are merely for the illustrative purpose and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

The present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings and in conjunction with embodiments.

As shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 6, modular crib units with two different shapes are disclosed, respectively, that is, an undulating modular unit A as shown in FIG. 1 and a straight modular unit B as shown in FIG. 6. Both the modular unit A and the modular unit B include a frame member 10, a first connection mechanism 111, a connector 300 and a fastener 104, as shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3. The modular unit A differs from the modular unit B in that they are respectively configured to form a curved portion and a straight portion of a crib frame. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, a number of modular units A are engaged together to form a substantially circular crib frame. For another example, as shown in FIG. 8, a number of modular units A and B are engaged together to form a track-shaped crib frame.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, in this embodiment, the frame member 10 includes a first frame member 200 and a second frame member 100. The first connection mechanism 111 is disposed at a first end of the frame member 10, and the connector 300 is disposed at a second end of the frame member 10. A first end of the connector 300 is fixedly connected to the second end of the frame member 10, and a second end of the connector 300 protrudes outwards to form a second connection mechanism 112.

In this embodiment, the second connection mechanism 112 includes at least two connection columns 113, at least one of the connection columns 113 is provided with a fastener hole 306, and the first connection mechanism 111 includes a connection hole 114 arranged correspondingly to the connection column 113. In further embodiments, the frame member 10 may be in further forms which may be engaged to each other to form a crib frame.

when a plurality of modular units are assembled adjacently, the connection column 113 is inserted into the connection hole 114, and the fastener 104 is installed within the connection hole 306 in a penetrating manner to connect and lock the first connection mechanism 111 and the second connection mechanism 112.

A dual-fixation structure may significantly enhance the connection strength between two adjacent modular units, effectively avoiding loose connections caused by movements of infants within the crib. The connection column 113 is arranged correspondingly to the connection hole 114 to ensure the positioning accuracy during engagement, avoiding the assembly deviation. A locking function of the fastener 104 further securely combines adjacent modular units into an integrated unit, greatly enhancing the overall stability and the load bearing capacity of the crib frame, and providing a safer and more reliable environment for infants.

As shown in FIG. 4, the connector 300 includes a number of fixation columns 302 at the first end thereof (alternatively, in further embodiments, at least two column-like members may be replaced by one sheet-like member, not shown in the figure), the frame member 10 is provided with a fixation hole 105 at the second end thereof, and the fixation column 302 is fixedly connected and installed within the fixation hole 105.

Preferably, the fixation column 302 and the fixation hole 105 are provided in quantity of 3, respectively. The fixation column 302 is of a cylindrical structure, and each fixation column 302 is provided with a plurality of sheet-like plates 307. A cross-sectional area of each of the sheet-like plates 307 is slightly larger than that of each of the fixation holes 105, such that the fixation column 302 may be interference-fit into the fixation hole 105. The sheet-like plate 307 may be made of an elastic material, preferably, a plastic material, such that the sheet-like plate 307 may deform when being inserted into the fixation hole 105 with the fixation column 302, so as to expand under its own elastic force to press against an inner wall of the fixation hole 105 when the fixation column 302 is inserted into the fixation hole 105, thereby achieving a secure connection between the fixation column 302 and the fixation hole 105.

Preferably, the connector 300 is configured to be pre-installed and fixedly connected within the fixation hole 105. For example, in a factory, a hydraulic press is used to press the fixation column 302 of the connector 300 into the fixation hole 105. Compared to directly manufacturing the connector 300 as a removable structure, performing hydraulic pre-installation and fixed connection in the factory may significantly enhance the connection strength between the connector 300 and the second frame member 100. Moreover, since the connector 300 is relatively small in size, such pre-installation will not significantly increase the size of the modular unit, making it highly effective in practical applications.

More preferably, a number of stepped structures are disposed on the surface of the sheet-like plate 307, and a side wall of one side of the sheet-like plate 307 facing the fixation hole 105 is inclined, making it easier for the sheet-like plate 307 to deform when being inserted into the fixation hole 105, and facilitating the installation of the fixation column 302.

For easy of assembly, the fixation column 302 may be fixedly connected within the fixation hole 105 by means of manners such as snap-fit connection and adhesive bonding. When the snap-fit connection manner is adopted, an annular protrusion may be disposed on an outer wall of the fixation column 302, while a corresponding annular groove is provided in the inner wall of the fixation hole 105. The protrusion and the groove are engaged to each other to achieve axial retention. When the adhesive bonding manner is adopted, a high-strength structural adhesive may be selected and applied into a fitting gap between the fixation column 302 and the fixation hole 105 and forms an irreversible rigid connection after being cured, effectively avoiding the problem of gap looseness caused by vibration during long-term use.

As shown in FIG. 4, the connector 300 includes a connection main body 301, wherein the connection column 113 and the fixation column 302 are respectively disposed on two sides of the connection main body 301. The connection column 113 includes a first connection column 303 and a second connection column 305. The first connection column 303 is provided in quantity of two and disposed on two sides of the second connection column 305, respectively. The first connection columns 303 disposed on two sides of the second connection column 305 are symmetrically arranged. The fastener hole 306 is provided in the second connection column 305. A three-point positioning structure is formed by symmetrically disposing the first connection columns 303 on two sides of the second connection column 305, which allows for rapid alignment of the connection holes 114 of adjacent units during engagement while distributing external forces through the support provided by the first connection columns 303 on two sides, avoiding the deformation due to excessive stress on a single connection column 113. The fastener 104 may be located at the center of an engagement surface when being locked by providing the fastener hole 306 in the second connection column 305 in the middle, improving the connection balance, ensuring that the assembled modular unit forms a stable mechanical structure, and effectively resisting various stresses during the use of the crib.

As shown in FIG. 2, a clearance hole 106 is provided in the second end of the second frame member 100, and configured to accommodate the connection main body 301 of the connector 300. Even after the connector 300 is installed at the second end of the second frame member 100, only a number of connection columns 113 serving as the second connection mechanism 112 remain exposed. At this point, the fixation hole 105 is provided in an inner wall of the clearance hole 106.

The connection hole 114 is correspondingly provided in quantity of three for the insertion of two first connection columns 303 and one second connection column 305, and a nut member 101 is installed within the connection hole 114 corresponding to the second connection column 305. Particularly, a first hole 103 is provided in the second frame member 100 for the installation of the nut member 101. A through hole 102 is further provided in the nut member 101. The fastener 104 is installed within the nut member 101 in a threaded connection manner. The fastener hole 306 may be a through hole or a threaded hole, and the fastener 104 is a screw. The nut member 101 is installed within the first hole 103, preferably assembled by means of manners such as interference fit, snap fit or adhesive bonding. Both the first connection column 303 and the second connection column 305 are of a cylindrical structure while corresponding connection holes 114 are of a cylindrical structure. The axis of the through hole 102 is aligned with that of the first connection column 303, ensuring that after the first connection column 303 is installed within the through hole 102 in a penetrating manner, the fastener 104 may be installed within the fastener hole 306 in a penetrating manner, such that a load on the fastener 104 may be distributed by the nut member 101, ensuring a stable connection that is resistant to damage. Such a design not only achieves a rigid connection on the mechanical structure, but also effectively prevents connection looseness due to external factors such as vibration and impact through self-locking characteristics of a threaded pair, significantly improving the overall structural stability and safety of the crib frame.

Preferably, the first connection column 303 is of a cross-shaped column-like structure, and the cross-sectional area of the first connection column 303 is greater than that of the fixation hole 105. When the first connection column 303 is inserted into the fixation hole 105, a side wall of the first connection column 303 is pressed against the inner wall of the fixation hole 105 to form a connection. Due to a cross-shaped design of the first connection column 303, the contact area between the side wall of the first connection column 303 and the inner wall of the fixation hole 105 may be reduced, thereby increasing the pressure exerted by the side wall of the first connection column 303 on the inner wall of the fixation hole 105 and improving the connection effect between the first connection column 303 and the fixation hole 105. The cross-shaped structure may also play a guiding role in an insertion process of the connection column 113, allowing the first connection column 303 to be inserted into the fixation hole 105 more smoothly, reducing the installation resistance and improving the assembly efficiency. In addition, the cross-shaped column-like structure has superior torsional resistance compared to the cylindrical structure. When the crib frame is subjected to a torsional force, the first connection column 303 may better resist the deformation, ensuring the stability and reliability of the connection between the modular units. Such a structural design ensures the connection strength while taking into account the installation convenience and the use safety, providing a robust guarantee for the overall quality of the crib frame.

The first connection column 303 may also be of a column-like structure such as a straight structure or a splined structure. The first connection column 303 and the second connection column 305 are respectively provided with a guide slot 304 at one end thereof, respectively. The guide slot 304 is inclined to facilitate easier installation of the first connection column 303 and the second connection column 305 into the corresponding connection holes 114. An inclination angle of the guide slot 304 ranges from 30 degrees to 60 degrees, and a depth of the slot ranges from ⅕ to ⅓ of the diameter of the connection column 113. The surface of the guide slot 304 is smoothed to reduce the frictional resistance during insertion.

When the second connection mechanism 112 is inserted into the connection hole 114, the guide slot 304 may guide the connection column 113 accurately into the hole, avoiding installation difficulties or damages to the connection column 113 due to misalignment. For the first connection column 303 with the straight structure, the guide slot 304 may be disposed on two sides of an end portion of the first connection column 303. The connection column 113 with the splined structure may be provided with the guide slot 304 at an end portion of each lobe-like protrusion to enhance the guide effect. Such a design of the guide slot 304 not only simplifies the assembly operation and reduces skill requirements for operators, but also protects mating surfaces of the connection column 113 and the connection hole 114 during repeated assembly and disassembly over extended periods, reducing the wear and prolonging the service life.

Particularly, the frame member 10 includes two second frame members 100 installed at two ends of the first frame member 200, respectively. The second frame member 100 is provided with a connection slot 107. The first frame member 200 is fixedly connected into the connection slot 107 by means of manners such as interference fit, snap fit or adhesive bonding, forming a connection between the second frame member 100 and the first frame member 200. The second frame member 100 may be a straight member, a curved member or an undulating member. The first frame member 200 may be a column-like member, a sheet-like member or a plate-like member and is provided in quantity of one or more. In this embodiment, the first frame members 200 is preferably provided in quantity of three. The first connection mechanism 111 and the connector 300 are respectively disposed at two ends of the two second frame members 100 of the same modular unit. Particularly, when the second frame member 100 of one modular unit is provided with the first connection mechanism 111 at one end thereof, the second frame member 100 at the other end (i.e., the second end) thereof is correspondingly provided with the connector 300. By means of such a symmetrically-distributed connection design, multiple modular units may form a regular geometric structure when being assembled into a crib frame. A rectangular, polygonal or irregular frame may be modularly constructed from standardized modular units, significantly improving the assembly flexibility and adaptability of the crib frame, and meeting design requirements for cribs of varying sizes and shapes while facilitating standardized production and quality control of a production line.

Among them, when each modular unit shown in this embodiment has a length of 1/10 of a circle, the second frame member 100 may form a flower-shaped crib frame as shown in FIG. 7 when being an undulating member, a circular crib frame (not shown in the figure) when being a curved member, and a regular decagonal crib frame (not shown in the figure) when being a straight member.

Preferably, a left-right length of the modular unit (i.e., a length between a first end and a second end of the modular unit) ranges from 10 cm to 30 cm or the modular unit spans an angle ranging from 36 radians to 50 radians. The modular unit with the length ranging from 10 cm to 30 cm may meet flexible construction requirements for the crib frame, and is suitable for space-constrained scenarios. When the modular units are assembled into a crib, a specification with the radian ranging from 36 radians to 50 radians dictates an exact number of the modular units, which preferably ranges from 8 to 10, facilitating the factory packaging of the modular units. The modular units of different left-right lengths may be combined according to actual usage needs, thereby constructing crib frames of various sizes and shapes, and enhancing the versatility and practicality of the product. The left-right length refers to a linear distance between the first end and the second end of the modular unit.

As shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, as another aspect of the present disclosure, a crib frame is also disclosed, including a number of modular units as described above, wherein adjacent modular units are engaged and fixed to each other to form an enclosed structure.

Furthermore, in further embodiments, a bed panel may be installed in the bed frame as shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, for example, the bed panel is fixed near the middle of the first frame member 200 by a fixation member, so as to form a crib.

Preferably, the crib frame is circular or track-shaped, and is designed to accommodate infants of different age groups. A circular crib is formed by connecting a number of frame members 10 fitted with second curved frame members 100 or second undulating frame members 100. A track-shaped crib is formed by connecting a number of frame members 10 fitted with second curved frame members 100 or second undulating frame members 100 and fitted with second straight frame members.

Such a design of the circular or track-shaped frame not only provides infants with a gentler play area to minimizing the collision risk from sharp edges, but also effectively distributes external forces applied to the crib to enhance the stability and safety of the frame, thereby creating a secure and comfortable resting environment for the infants.