GB2339684A - Swinging cradle - Google Patents

Description

2339684 CRADLE This invention relates to a cradle.

An object of the invention is to provide a cradle which is cheap to construct, attractive in appearance and can be suspended within a cot, to rock therein.

In a preferred form the invention provides a cradle comprising a substantially rigid box shaped support having a base and upright side members, a removable, flexible, washable cover adapted to fit on the support so that it covers the base, the inside surface of the upright side members and at least part of the outside surface of the upright side members, and flexible suspension members adapted to disconnectably suspend the support within a child's cot or in or from another frame so that it can rock within the cot or frame. Preferably the support is made from folded sheet material. Alternatively, the support is formed as a single piece from plastics material.

The invention extends to a cot and cradle, as above, suspended therein.

Embodiments of cradles, in accordance with the invention, will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a box-shaped support structure forming part of a first embodiment of a cradle in accordance with 2 the invention; Figures 2 and 3 show the two pieces of sheet material from which the structure of Figure 1 is formed, Figure 4 shows diagrammatically a section through the cradle including the cover and flexible members, Figure 5 shows diagrammatically the cradle suspended in a cot; Figure 6 is a side view of an alternative cradle in accordance with the invention; and Figures 7 and 8 are respectively end and plan views of the cradle illustrated in Figure 6.

Figure 1 shows an open-topped, parallelepiped box-shaped support 12 having a base 13, upright side walls 14 and upright end walls 15. Each of the side and end walls is formed adjacent its top with an aperture 16 capable of receiving the four fingers of a hand so that it forms a carrying handle. Each of the side walls is formed adjacent its upper corner with a smaller aperture 17 capable of disconnectably receiving a flexible suspension strap 18, as seen in Figures 4 and 5.

The box structure is formed by folding sheet material, for example cardboard, plastics or other material, having sufficient strength to form a substantially rigid structure for supporting a baby when the structure is suspended by flexible members such as 18. A first sheet 20 of material as seen in Figure 2 has a base portion 21 and similar end portions 22 and 23 which form the side walls 14. The second sheet material piece 24 as seen in Figure 3 has a base portion 25, end portions 26 and 27 and side flaps 28 extending sidewardly from each end portion 26.

3 To form the box structure 12 ends 23 are folded along fold-lines 30 through 1800 to lie flat against end portions 22. End portions 22 are folded upwardly through 900 about fold-lines 31 and flaps 32 on the outer extremities of portions 23 are tucked into the slots 33 on the fold-lines 31.

The base portion 25 is then laid on top of the base portion 21 and glued thereto. End portions 27 are folded through 1800 about fold-lines 35 so that they lie flat against end portions 26. End portions 26 are folded upwardly through 900 about fold-lines 36 and form the end walls 15 of the box structure. The flaps 28 are tucked between the portions 22 and 23 at each corner. The structure is finally fastened together by staples or other fastening means through the portions including the flaps 28 adjacent the upright corner edges.

In order to form a cradle of attractive appearance and comfort for a baby, a mattress 40 is located in the structure 12 resting on the base 13 and a cover 41 is located under or over the mattress, extending up the inside of the side and end walls and down at least a substantial portion of the outside of these walls, preferably covering the outside. This arrangement is seen diagrammatically in Figure 4. The cover 41 may have apertures corresponding with the apertures 16 in the box structure 12 may incorporate at these positions means for securing the cover in fixed position on the box structure. The cover also has apertures 42 corresponding to the apertures 17 in the structure for accommodating the flexible suspension members 18. The cradle may be detachably supported by members 18 in a child's cot 43 as indicated diagrammatically in Figure 5. In this position the cradle can rock within the cot but the cradle and baby within is protected from interference, for example by dogs or the like. No other special stand is required, but the cradle may be suspended from another framework or support.

Figures 6 to 8 show an alternative box-shaped support in accordance 4 with the invention. In this embodiment, the cradle 50 is moulded in a single piece from plastics material so that it has a substantially rigid annulus 51 at the top, a substantially rigid base 52 connected to the annulus by a plurality of upright spaced bars 53. The base is formed with stiffening bars 53 and a plurality of holes 54.

Claims (11)

1 A cradle comprising a substantially rigid box shaped support having a base and upright side members, a removable, flexible, washable cover adapted to fit on the support so that it covers the base, the inside surface of the upright side members and at least part of the outside surface of the upright side members, and flexible suspension members adapted to disconnectably suspend the support within a child's cot or in or from another frame so that it can rock within the cot or frame.

2. A cradle according to claim 1 in which the box shaped support has substantially solid side and end walls which together with the base are formed from folded sheet material.

3. A cradle according to claim 2 in which the box shaped support is formed from two pieces of folded sheet material comprising a first piece of substantially rectangular shape with a central first base portion connected by first fold lines on opposite sides to two outer side wall portions, each outer side wall portion being connected by a second fold line on its opposite edge to an inner side wall portion, and a second piece having a central second base portion of substantially the same size as the first base portion and connected by third fold lines at opposite ends thereof to outer end wall portions, each of the outer end wall portions being connected by a fourth fold line at its opposite edge to an inner end wall portion, the outer end wall portions being provided on their edges normal to the third and fourth fold lines with flaps.

4. A cradle according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the first and second base portions are adhered or otherwise fixed together, one on top of the other.

6

5. A cradle according to claim 3 or claim 4 in which the flaps on the outer end wall portions extend between and are secured to the inner and outer side wall portions.

6. A cradle according to any of claims 3 to 5 in which the inner side wall portions include second flaps engaging in slots in the first fold lines.

7. A cradle according to any of claims 1 to 6 in which the cover is a single piece of flexible material adapted to extend over the base, up the inner surfaces of the end and side walls of the support and down the outside surfaces of the side and end walls.

8. A cradle according to any of claims 1 to 7 in which the support and cover include apertures for receiving the straps.

9. A cradle according to any of claims 1 to 8 in which the support and cover have apertures acting as carrying handles.

10. A cradle substantially as described herein with reference to or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

11. In combination a cot and a cradle suspended therein by the suspension straps.