US3462773A - Diaper changing table - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 29, 1969 v v. L. TRIPLETT 3,462,773

DIAPER CHANG TABLE Filed oct. 31, 1967 l v 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR Ve s to L. Trip/eff ATTORNEY Aug- 29, 1969 v. L. TRIPLETT DIAPER CHANGING TABLE '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 31, 1967 FIG. 6.

FIG. 8.

INVENTOR Vesta L. Trip/ett ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,462,773 DIAPER CHANGING TABLE 'Vesta L. Triplett, Bonanza, Oreg. (Rte. 2, Box 2710, Jibbel, Vacaville, Calif. 95688) Filed Oct. 31, 1967, Ser. No. 679,301 Int. Cl. A47d 5 00 U.S. Cl. 5-111 1 Claim ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A exible, generally horizontal, baby-supporting top is secured at its longitudinal edges to parallel supporting bars formed of hinged sections to facilitate folding and normally opened so that the sections are in alignment with each other, such sections being supported at their ends by legs so connected to each other and to the setcion referred to as to facilitate the complete folding of the table for storage in a tote bag or the like. The folded device takes up a minimum of space and the device is intended for use particularly While travelling.

Background of the invention The device is intended to supply the need for travelling mothers to provide a comfortable support for a baby while the diaper changing operation is performed. To facilitate the carrying of the device, it is necessary that it take up minimum space when travelling.

Summary of the invention The invention comprises a canvas or similar flexible table top having longitudinal edges wrapped around and secured to sectional side bars each of which normally has its parts formed of aligned pivotally connected sections. Each side bar has a central short section connected to the main sections to form a double hinge so that these sections may be folded back on each other. The remote ends of the sectional bars are supported on legs formed of telescoping sections to minimize the length thereof when the table is to be folded. Pivoted corner braces are connected between each side bar section and the upper outer telescoping member of each leg so that these legs may not only be telescoped to shorten them in length, but may be folded up in positions adjacent their associated side bar sections. One or more end brace may be connected between the legs at each end of the table to assist in supporting such legs in vertical position. These braces are each formed of hinged sections to be foldable and each brace is provided at one end with a hook adapted to be detachably connected to a leg of the table. The opposite end of each brace is swiveled to provide for the swinging of the `braces to positions parallel to the sections of the side bars when the table is folded.

Brief description of the drawing FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the table with the parts in operative positions;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of one end portion of the table and one of the legs;

lFIGURE 3 is a fragmentary end elevation of the same;

FIGURE 4 is a detailed elevation of portions of two of the legs at one end of the table showing a brace connected therebetween, parts being broken away;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the center portion of one of the side bars and a portion of the table OP;

FIGURE 6 is a side elevation of the same, parts being shown in section;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the table with the parts partially folded; and

FIGURE 8 is a similar View showing the table substantially folded.

Referring to FIGURE l, the numeral 10 designates a table top formed of canvas or other suitable soft fabric Orsheetmg to support a baby thereon while its diapers are being changed. The table top is rectangular and has longitudinal edge portions extending around normally parallel side bar or frame members, each of which is indicated by the numeral 12, the material of the table top after extending around the side bars being stitched to the body of the table top as at 14. Each side bar 12 is formed of a pair of main sections 16 and 18 connected together by a double hinge member 20. Such member is provided with ends 22 lying in slots 24 formed in the adjacent ends of the bar sections 16 and 18 and connected, respectively, thereto fby hinge pins 26. Opposite ends of the member 20 have shoulders 28 engageable against the end walls of the slots 24 to limit downward movement of the member 20 to a position in alignment with the sections 16 and 18, as shown in FIGURE 6. The material of the table top 10 is cut away as at 30 adjacent the hinge connection of the sidebar sections to each other.

Each side bar section is provided with depending plates 32 (FIGURES 2 and 3) attached thereto as at 34 and receiving therebetween the upper end of a leg 36 pivoted to the plate 32 as at 38. Each leg 36 is formed of oupper and lower telescoping sections 40 and 42, the section 40 being of larger diameter than the section 42 and slideably receiving the latter.

A spring clip 44 is welded to each leg section 40 as at 46 and carries a pin 48 projecting through an opening 5) in the associated leg section 40 and having its inner end selectively receivable in openings 52 in the associated leg section 42. Springing the lower end of the clip 44 outwardly releases the pin 48 from one of the openings S2 when a complete telescoping of the leg sections is desired or for the adjustment of the height of the table by engagement of the pin 48 in a selected opening 52.

Brackets 54 and 56 are fixed, respectively, to each of the side bar sections at a point spaced from the end thereof and to the associated upper leg section 4l). The brackets 54 and 56 are pivotally connected as at 58 and 60 to the remote ends of pivoted link elements 62, these elements being pivotally connected to each other as at 64. A detent 66 is pressed in one of the link elements and is engageable with a recess in the other link element to normally hold the link elements in alignment with each other when the table is in use. This means of holding the link sections in alignment with each other forms no part of the present invention and maybe of any desired type.

The legs at each end of the table may be connected to each other by one or more braces 68. Each brace 68 is formed of a pair of sections 70 and 72, and the right-hand end of the latter, as shown in FIGURE 4, has swivel connection as at 74 a bracket 76 carried by the associated leg section 40. The remote end of the brace section 70 is provided with a hook 78 engageable with an eye 80 carried by the adjacent leg section 40. These brace sections are connected by a double hinge element 82 (FIGURE 4) similar to the member 2l) previously described.

The parts normally occupy the positions shown in FIG- URE 1 when the table is to be used. When it is desired to fold the table, for example when traveling, the brace hooks 78 will be disconnected and the braces folded so that one section lies adjacent the other section whereupon the braces are bodily swung to positions parallel to the side bars 12. The brace links 62 are then buckled as in FIGURE 7, and with the leg sections 40 and 42 telescoped, such leg sections are swung upwardly to partially folded positions as shown in FIGURE 7. The side bar sections are then buckled downwardly, that is, the double hinge member 20 is moved upwardly as in FIGURE 7.

With the legs swung to positions parallel to the side bar members, the latter may be swung toward each other to parallel positions as shown in FIGURE 8. The table top being flexible and the folded side bars disconnected from each other except for the table top, the side bars may be moved toward each other as suggested in FIG- URE 8 for the compact folding of the table. Obviously, the side bars may be moved closer together than shown in FIGURE 8, whereupon the table will be reduced to minimum size. The metal parts may be formed of aluminum size. The metal parts may be formed of aluminum to minimize weight, and when folded, the table occupies a space approximately 3 x 3" x 12 to facilitate its being placed in a diaper bag or other carrier. Thus the device occupies so little space that it may be conveniently carried while travelling, and yby reversing the folding procedures described above, the table may be opened up for use in a matter of seconds.

It will be noted that the table top is not supported transversely thereof by any cross members in the horizontal plane of the side bars. The legs are ixed at the proper distance apart by the braces 68, arranged below the plane of the side bars. When a baby is laid on the table top therefore, this member curves from side to side but not from end to end, thus making it more comfortable for the baby and eliminating any chance that the babys head, for example, may strike an end bar when the baby is being placed on the table. Also, the solely transverse curving of the table top makes the device practicable when travelling for use as a crib.

I claim:

1. A table comprising a flexible top, spaced parallel side bars to which longitudinal edges of said top are connected, each side bar being formed of a pair of normally aligned sections and a double hinge member connected therebetween for the folding of such sections, a leg at each corner of the table, said legs being pivotally connected to the remote ends of the side bars to be folded upwardly and inwardly to positions adjacent and parallel to said side bar sections when the latter are folded with respect to each other, each leg being formed of telescoping sections the upper of which is of larger diameter than the lower sections, means comprising a spring clip welded at one end to each upper leg section and provided with an inwardly extending pin spaced from said end of said clip, each upper leg section having an opening through which said pin extends and each inner leg section being provided with a plurality of vertically spaced openings to selectively receive said pin for securing the telescoping sections of each leg in adjusted positions with respect to each other whereby said leg sections are adjustable to adjust the height of said table top and may be completely telescoped with the table folded, link members pivotally connected to each other and pivotally connected at their remote ends to each upper leg section and to the associated side bar section at a point spaced from the extremity thereof, a pair of braces connected between the legs at each end of said table, each brace comprising pivotally connected sections swivelly connected at one end to the upper telescoping leg section at each end of the table, and hook and eye means for detachably connecting the other end of each brace to the upper telescoping leg section at the same end of the table, said braces being spaced below the horizontal plane of said side bars, the hinges between said side bar sections and between said brace sections being provided with shoulders engaging such sections to limit downward movement of the adjacent ends of such sections into horizontal alignment with each other.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,309,049 7/1919 Syrett S-lll 2,924,414 2/1960 Tesdal 24S-188.5 X 3,044,080 7/ 1962 Hartwig 5-111 3,045,257 7/1962 Knapp 5-111 3,093,837 6/1963 Clayton 5-111 JAMES T. MCCALL, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

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