US 11,732,497 B1
Foldable playyard structure with top
Mark A. Flannery, Longboat Key, FL (US); and Brian M. McMahon, Palatine, IL (US)
Assigned to Regalo International, LLC, Longboat Key, FL (US)
Filed by Regalo International, LLC, Longboat Key, FL (US)
Filed on Jul. 17, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/866,549.
Application 17/866,549 is a continuation of application No. 16/921,898, filed on Jul. 6, 2020, granted, now 11,391,056.
Application 16/921,898 is a continuation of application No. 15/948,672, filed on Apr. 9, 2018, granted, now 10,704,290, issued on Jul. 7, 2020.
Application 15/948,672 is a continuation of application No. 15/863,461, filed on Jan. 5, 2018, granted, now 10,557,282, issued on Feb. 11, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/443,705, filed on Jan. 7, 2017.
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. E04H 15/28 (2006.01); E04H 15/02 (2006.01); A47D 13/06 (2006.01); A47C 29/00 (2006.01); A45B 19/10 (2006.01); A45B 25/08 (2006.01); A45B 19/00 (2006.01); A45B 23/00 (2006.01)
CPC E04H 15/28 (2013.01) [A45B 19/10 (2013.01); A45B 25/08 (2013.01); A47C 29/003 (2013.01); A47D 13/06 (2013.01); A47D 13/063 (2013.01); E04H 15/02 (2013.01); A45B 2019/001 (2013.01); A45B 2023/0006 (2013.01)] 1 Claim
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A structure comprising:
a) a foldable playyard comprising six wall sections, a floor, and a sidewall frame, the six wall sections being endless such that the playyard takes a hexagonal shape, the sidewall frame of the foldable playyard having uppermost sidewall frame portions and lowermost sidewall frame portions, the six wall sections of the playyard having uppermost wall portions and lowermost wall portions, the uppermost sidewall frame portions being adjacent to the uppermost wall portions, the lowermost sidewall frame portions being adjacent to the lowermost wall portions, the floor of the playyard being adjacent to the lowermost wall portions and lowermost sidewall frame portions such that the floor of the playyard is adjacent to a surface on which the lowermost sidewall frame portions and foldable playyard rest; and
b) a top for the playyard, the top being engaged to the playyard at six locations adjacent to the uppermost wall portions, the top comprising:
i) a first hub;
ii) a second hub, the second hub drawable to and away from the first hub;
iii) a shaft between the first and second hubs that fixes the first and second hubs in a locked state;
iv) a set of six long ribs radially extending from the first hub;
v) each of the long ribs comprising a proximal end portion comprising a first cap;
vi) each of the long ribs comprising a distal end;
vii) each of the long ribs comprising an intermediate section between the proximal end portion of the long rib and the distal end of the long rib;
viii) each of the proximal end portions of the long ribs pivotally engaged to the first hub, the long ribs having a flexed state when the top is in an open flexed shape and a relaxed state when the top is in a closed relaxed shape;
ix) a set of six short ribs radially extending from the second hub;
x) each of the short ribs comprising a proximal end portion comprising a second cap;
xi) each of the short ribs comprising a distal end portion comprising a third cap;
xii) each of the proximal end portions of the short ribs pivotally engaged to the second hub;
xiii) each of the distal end portions of the short ribs pivotally engaged to the intermediate section of one of the long ribs, the distal end portions of the short ribs pushing against the intermediate sections of the long ribs to place the long ribs into the flexed state when the first hub, second hub, and shaft are in the locked state;
ixv) the first cap being elongate to minimize fractures in the proximal end portion of each of the long ribs;
xv) the second cap being elongate to minimize fractures in the proximal end portion of each of the short ribs;
xvi) the third cap being elongate to minimize fractures in the distal end portion of each of the short ribs;
xvii) a piece being rigidly affixed to the intermediate section of each of the long ribs, said piece having a tube and further having ears, said ears of each of said pieces pivotally engaging the distal end portion of the short rib to engage one respective short rib to one respective long rib, the tube being elongate such that the tube applies pressure from said respective short rib over a length of said respective long rib to minimize fracturing of said respective long rib; and
xviii) a flexible top portion engaged between adjacent long ribs, the flexible top portion having a taut state when the long ribs are in the flexed state and a loose state when the long ribs are in the relaxed state.