Granted Patent B1

US 12,232,634 · App. 18/117,470 · Granted Feb 25, 2025

Inventors: Mark A. Flannery (Longboat Key, FL); Brian M. McMahon (Palatine, IL); Caleb Summers (Minneapolis, MN)

Assignee: Regalo International, LLC

A47D13/063

Abstract

Claims (91)

1. A flexible playyard pen, comprising:

a) a flexible sidewall, a flexible floor, and an open top;

b) the flexible sidewall being endless, the flexible sidewall having an upper endless edge and a lower endless edge;

c) the flexible sidewall comprising a set of six flexible panels;

d) each of the six flexible panels having an upper edge portion, a lower edge portion, a first side edge portion, and a second side edge portion, the first side edge portion of one flexible panel being adjacent to the second side edge portion of an adjacent flexible panel;

e) each of the six flexible panels having mesh extending from the upper edge portion to the lower edge portion, each of the six flexible panels having mesh extending from the first side edge portion to the second side edge portion;

f) a set of six upright strip portions of flexible material, each of the six upright strip portions of flexible material extending from the upper endless edge of the flexible sidewall to the lower endless edge of the flexible sidewall, each of the six upright strip portions of flexible material engaging the first side edge portion of one flexible panel and the second side edge portion of an adjacent flexible panel, each of the six upright strip portions of flexible material having an upper end portion;

g) the lower endless edge of the sidewall comprising a set of six lower horizontal strip portions of flexible material, each of the six lower horizontal strip portions of flexible material engaging one of the six flexible panels and the floor, each of the six flexible panels having one of the six lower horizontal strip portions of flexible material engaging the lower edge portion of said flexible panel from the first side edge portion to the second side edge portion of said flexible panel;

h) the upper endless edge of the sidewall comprising a set of six upper horizontal strip portions of flexible material, each of the six flexible panels having one of the six upper horizontal strip portions of flexible material engaging the upper edge portion of said flexible panel from the first side edge portion to the second side edge portion of said flexible panel;

i) a set of six flexible extensions;

j) each of the six flexible extensions extending from the flexible sidewall at a location adjacent to an upper end portion of one of the six upright strip portions of flexible material;

k) each of the six flexible extensions extending from two upper horizontal strip portions of flexible material that are adjacent to each other; and

l) each of the six flexible extensions engaging a playyard frame, each of the flexible extensions being a puller to pull the flexible sidewall taut to the playyard frame.

2. The flexible playyard pen of claim 1 and the playyard frame having a set of six playyard locations, each of the six playyard locations having an upper face and an outer face, wherein each of the six flexible extensions is adjacent to one of the six playyard locations, wherein each of the six flexible extensions extends about one upper face and further extends about one outer face.

3. The flexible playyard pen of claim 1 and the playyard frame having a set of six playyard locations, each of the six playyard locations having an upper face, an outer face, and a lower face, wherein each of the six flexible extensions is adjacent to one of the six playyard locations, wherein each of the six flexible extensions extends about one upper face, further extends about one outer face, and further extends about one lower face.

4. The flexible playyard pen of claim 1 and the playyard frame having a set of six playyard locations, each of the six playyard locations having an upper face, an outer face, a lower face, and an inside face, wherein each of the six flexible extensions is adjacent to one of the six playyard locations, wherein each of the six flexible extensions extends about one upper face, further extends about one outer face, further extends about one lower face, and further extends about one inside face.

5. A flexible playyard pen, comprising:

a) a flexible sidewall, a flexible floor, and an open top;

b) the flexible sidewall being endless, the flexible sidewall having an upper endless edge and a lower endless edge;

c) the flexible sidewall comprising a set of flexible panels;

d) each of the flexible panels having an upper edge portion, a lower edge portion, a first side edge portion, and a second side edge portion, the first side edge portion of one flexible panel being adjacent to the second side edge portion of an adjacent flexible panel;

e) each of the flexible panels having mesh extending from the upper edge portion to the lower edge portion, each of the flexible panels having mesh extending from the first side edge portion to the second side edge portion;

f) a set of upright strip portions of flexible material, each of the upright strip portions of flexible material extending from the upper endless edge of the flexible sidewall to the lower endless edge of the flexible sidewall, each of the upright strip portions of flexible material engaging the first side edge portion of one flexible panel and the second side edge portion of an adjacent flexible panel, each of the upright strip portions of flexible material having an upper end portion;

g) the lower endless edge of the sidewall comprising a set of lower horizontal strip portions of flexible material, each of the lower horizontal strip portions of flexible material engaging one of the flexible panels and the floor, each of the flexible panels having one of the lower horizontal strip portions of flexible material engaging the lower edge portion of said flexible panel from the first side edge portion to the second side edge portion of said flexible panel;

h) the upper endless edge of the sidewall comprising a set of upper horizontal strip portions of flexible material, each of the flexible panels having one of the upper horizontal strip portions of flexible material engaging the upper edge portion of said flexible panel from the first side edge portion to the second side edge portion of said flexible panel;

i) a set of flexible extensions;

j) each of the flexible extensions extending from the flexible sidewall at a location adjacent to an upper end portion of one of the upright strip portions of flexible material;

k) each of the flexible extensions extending from two upper horizontal strip portions of flexible material that are adjacent to each other; and

l) each of the flexible extensions engaging a playyard frame, each of the flexible extensions being a puller to pull the flexible sidewall taut to the playyard frame.

6. The flexible playyard pen of claim 5 and the playyard frame having a set of playyard locations, each of the playyard locations having an upper face and an outer face, wherein each of the flexible extensions is adjacent to one of the playyard locations, wherein each of the flexible extensions extends about one upper face and further extends about one outer face.

7. The flexible playyard pen of claim 5 and the playyard frame having a set of playyard locations, each of the playyard locations having an upper face, an outer face, and a lower face, wherein each of the flexible extensions is adjacent to one of the playyard locations, wherein each of the flexible extensions extends about one upper face, further extends about one outer face, and further extends about one lower face.

8. The flexible playyard pen of claim 5 and the playyard frame having a set of playyard locations, each of the playyard locations having an upper face, an outer face, a lower face, and an inside face, wherein each of the flexible extensions is adjacent to one of the playyard locations, wherein each of the flexible extensions extends about one upper face, further extends about one outer face, further extends about one lower face, and further extends about one inside face.

9. A flexible playyard pen, comprising:

a) a flexible sidewall, a flexible floor, and an open top;

b) the flexible sidewall being endless, the flexible sidewall having an upper endless edge and a lower endless edge;

c) the flexible sidewall comprising a set of flexible panels;

d) each of the flexible panels having an upper edge portion, a lower edge portion, a first side edge portion, and a second side edge portion, the first side edge portion of one flexible panel being adjacent to the second side edge portion of an adjacent flexible panel;

e) a set of upright strip portions of flexible material, each of the upright strip portions of flexible material extending from the upper endless edge of the flexible sidewall to the lower endless edge of the flexible sidewall, each of the upright strip portions of flexible material engaging the first side edge portion of one flexible panel and the second side edge portion of an adjacent flexible panel, each of the upright strip portions of flexible material having an upper end portion;

f) the lower endless edge of the sidewall comprising a set of lower horizontal strip portions of flexible material, each of the lower horizontal strip portions of flexible material engaging one of the flexible panels and the floor, each the flexible panels having one of the lower horizontal strip portions of flexible material engaging the lower edge portion of said flexible panel from the first side edge portion to the second side edge portion of said flexible panel;

g) the upper endless edge of the sidewall comprising a set of upper horizontal strip portions of flexible material, each the flexible panels having one of the upper horizontal strip portions of flexible material engaging the upper edge portion of said flexible panel from the first side edge portion to the second side edge portion of said flexible panel;

h) a set of flexible extensions;

i) each of the flexible extensions extending from the flexible sidewall at a location adjacent to an upper end portion of one of the upright strip portions of flexible material;

j) each of the flexible extensions extending from two upper horizontal strip portions of flexible material that are adjacent to each other; and

k) each of the flexible extensions engaging a playyard frame, each of the flexible extensions being a puller to pull the flexible sidewall taut to the playyard frame.

10. The flexible playyard pen of claim 9 and the playyard frame having a set of playyard locations, each of the playyard locations having an upper face and an outer face, wherein each of the flexible extensions is adjacent to one of the playyard locations, wherein each of the flexible extensions extends about one upper face and further extends about one outer face.

11. The flexible playyard pen of claim 9 and the playyard frame having a set of playyard locations, each of the playyard locations having an upper face, an outer face, and a lower face, wherein each of the flexible extensions is adjacent to one of the playyard locations, wherein each of the flexible extensions extends about one upper face, further extends about one outer face, and further extends about one lower face.

12. The flexible playyard pen of claim 9 and the playyard frame having a set of playyard locations, each of the playyard locations having an upper face, an outer face, a lower face, and an inside face, wherein each of the flexible extensions is adjacent to one of the playyard locations, wherein each of the flexible extensions extends about one upper face, further extends about one outer face, further extends about one lower face, and further extends about one inside face.

13. A playyard comprising:

a) a frame, the frame being endless, the frame having upper junctions, intermediate junctions, and lower junctions, the frame being a scissoring frame;

b) a flexible pen, the flexible pen engaged to the frame, the flexible pen disposed inwardly of the frame, the flexible pen including a sidewall, a floor and an open top;

c) the frame and flexible pen being foldable up from an open configuration into a closed configuration for storage with the flexible pen disposed inwardly of the frame;

d) the frame and flexible pen being foldable out from said closed configuration to said open configuration with the flexible pen disposed inwardly of the frame; and

e) a set of flexible straps, each of the flexible straps having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and an intermediate portion disposed between the proximal end portion and distal end portion, the proximal end portion being engaged to the flexible pen, the distal end portion being engaged to the floor, each of the intermediate portions of the flexible straps engaging the frame adjacent to a respective lower junction when the frame and flexible pen are in the open configuration.

14. A playyard comprising:

a) a frame, the frame being endless, the frame having upper junctions, intermediate junctions, and lower junctions, the frame being a scissoring frame;

b) a flexible pen, the flexible pen engaged to the frame, the flexible pen disposed inwardly of the frame, the flexible pen including a sidewall, a floor and an open top;

c) the frame and flexible pen being foldable up from an open configuration into a closed configuration for storage with the flexible pen disposed inwardly of the frame;

d) the frame and flexible pen being foldable out from said closed configuration to said open configuration with the flexible pen disposed inwardly of the frame;

e) the sidewall of the flexible pen having a set of extensions, each of said extensions being paired with and engaged to one of the upper junctions, said extension extending about an upper face, an outer face, an under face, and an inner face of a respective upper junction; and

f) a flexible strap, the flexible strap having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the distal end portion engaged to the floor, and the proximal end portion engaged to the sidewall, and an intermediate portion disposed between the proximal and distal end portions, the intermediate portion engaging the frame adjacent to a respective lower junction when the frame and flexible pen are in the open configuration.

15. A playyard comprising:

a) a frame, the frame being endless, the frame having upper junctions, intermediate junctions, and lower junctions, the frame being a scissoring frame;

b) a flexible pen, the flexible pen engaged to the frame, the flexible pen disposed inwardly of the frame, the flexible pen including a sidewall, a floor and an open top;

c) the frame and flexible pen being foldable up from an open configuration into a closed configuration for storage with the flexible pen disposed inwardly of the frame;

d) the frame and flexible pen being foldable out from said closed configuration to said open configuration with the flexible pen disposed inwardly of the frame;

e) the frame including a set of support member pairs, each support member pair including two support members scissoring relative to each other, each support member pair scissoring out to an expanded X form in the open configuration, each support member pair scissoring in to a retracted X form in the closed configuration;

f) each of said upper junctions engaging one support member from one support member pair and another support member from another support member pair;

g) each of said intermediate junctions formed where the support members of one pair pivotally engage each other;

h) each of said lower junctions engaging one support member from one support member pair and another support member from another support member pair;

i) the flexible pen including an upper edge portion, the upper edge portion of the flexible pen being engaged to the frame at the upper junctions;

j) the flexible pen including a sidewall-floor junction between the sidewall and the floor;

k) a set of floor pulling straps, each of said straps having a proximal end portion engaged to the flexible pen, a floor end portion engaged to the floor of the flexible pen, and an intermediate strap portion between the proximal end portion and floor end portion; and

l) the frame engaging the intermediate strap portion at each of the lower junctions, the intermediate strap portion engaging the frame when the frame and flexible pen are in the open configuration.

16. A playyard comprising:

a) a frame, the frame being endless, the frame having upper junctions, intermediate junctions, and lower junctions, the frame being a scissoring frame;

b) a flexible pen, the flexible pen engaged to the frame, the flexible pen disposed inwardly of the frame, the flexible pen including a sidewall, a floor and an open top;

c) the sidewall of the flexible pen having a set of extensions, each of said extensions being paired with and engaged to one of the upper junctions;

d) the frame and flexible pen being foldable up from an open configuration into a closed configuration for storage with the flexible pen disposed inwardly of the frame;

e) the frame and flexible pen being foldable out from said closed configuration to said open configuration with the flexible pen disposed inwardly of the frame;

f) a set of flexible straps, each of the flexible straps having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and an intermediate portion disposed between the proximal end portion and distal end portion, the proximal end portion being engaged to the flexible pen, the distal end portion being engaged to the floor, each of the intermediate portions of the flexible straps engaging the frame adjacent to a respective lower junction when the frame and flexible pen are in the open configuration;

g) wherein said extension extends about an upper face of said upper junction, further extends about an outer face of the upper junction, still further extends about a lower face of the upper junction, and yet further extends about an inside face of the upper junction; and

h) wherein each of said flexible straps includes a buckle such that each of said flexible straps is adjustable in length.

17. A playyard comprising:

a) a frame, the frame being endless, the frame having upper junctions, intermediate junctions, and lower junctions, the frame being a scissoring frame;

b) a flexible pen, the flexible pen engaged to the frame, the flexible pen disposed inwardly of the frame, the flexible pen including a sidewall, a floor and an open top;

c) the frame and flexible pen being foldable up from an open configuration into a closed configuration for storage with the flexible pen disposed inwardly of the frame;

d) the frame and flexible pen being foldable out from said closed configuration to said open configuration with the flexible pen disposed inwardly of the frame;

e) a set of flexible straps, each of the flexible straps having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and an intermediate portion disposed between the proximal end portion and distal end portion, the proximal end portion being engaged to the flexible pen, the distal end portion being engaged to the floor;

f) the intermediate portion engaging one of the frame or a piece engaged to said frame at or adjacent to one of the lower junctions;

g) the intermediate portion engaging said frame or said piece when the frame and flexible pen are in the open configuration; and

h) one of the junctions having a front face and an inside face and further having flexible material extending from the sidewall about said front face and inner face.

Continuity (7)

References Cited (62)