WO1996008186B1

WO1996008186B1 - Child and infant enclosure structure

Info

Publication number: WO1996008186B1
Application number: PCT/US1995/011636
Authority: WO
Filing date: 1995-09-05
Publication date: 1996-04-04

Abstract

Playpen and crib construction which utilizes a high modulus fiber-reinforced plastic matrix tubing (10) in the frame, said tubing (10) being made of lightweight, high modulus fiber-reinforced plastic matrix composite tubing (10) having a weight of 0.25 pounds or less per lineal foot and wherein said plastic matrix is a thermoplastic resin or thermoset plastic resin with a minimum modulus of 250,000 psi; a minimum tensil strength of 6,000 psi; and a glass transition temperature of at least 50 °C and wherein said high modulus fiber reinforcement is selected from the group consisting of carbon fibers, aramid fibers, glass fibers, polyolefin fibers, boron fibers and mixtures thereof.

Claims

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AMENDED CLAIMS

[received by the International Bureau on 11 March 1996 (11.03.96); original claims 2, 5, 11-18, 20, 23 and 33 cancelled; original claims 1, 3, 4, 19, 21, 22, 32 and 35 amended; remaining claims unchanged (5 pages)]

1. A child enclosure structure characterized by a base and a multiside enclosing frame wherein said frame comprises tubing sections made of lightweight, high modulus fiber-reinforced plastic matrix composite tubing having a weight of 0.25 pounds or less per lineal foot and wherein said plastic matrix is a thermoplastic resin or thermoset plastic resin with a minimum modulus of 250,000 psi; a minimum tensile strength of 6,000 psi; and a glass transition temperature of at least 50°C and wherein said high modulus fiber reinforcement is selected from the group consisting of carbon fibers, aramid fibers, glass fibers, polyolefin fibers, boron fibers, and mixtures thereof.

3. The structure of claim 1 characterized in that said plastic matrix is an epoxy thermoset plastic.

4. The structure of claim 4 characterized in that said plastic matrix is a nylon thermoplastic resin with a minimum modulus of 325,000 psi and a minimum tensile strength of 10,000 and a thermoplastic resin T_g of at least 75°C.

6. The structure of claim 1 characterized in that ratio of high modulus fibers to plastic matrix is from 70:30 to 30:70 by volume. -40-

7. The structure of claim 1 characterized in that said composite tubing is constructed by filament winding.

8. The structure of claim 1 characterized in that said composite tube is constructed by a pultrusion process.

9. The structure of claim 1 characterized in that the high modulus fibers are carbon fibers.

10. A playpen made of the composite tubings of claim 1 and connective fittings, supports, and folding mechanisms consisting of molded plastics containing lightening fillers, whose density is no more than 0.9 grams per cubic centimeter.

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19. A child enclosure structure characterized by a base and a multiside enclosing frame wherein said frame comprises tubing sections made of lightweight, high modulus fiber-reinforced plastic matrix composite tubing having a weight of 0.25 pounds or less per lineal foot, a tubing diameter of 0.2 to 1.2 inches, a tubing thickness of 0.03 to 0.10 inches, a single fiber angle of 20° to 50°, and fabricated from a single tow or at least one sheet of fibers and wherein said plastic matrix is a thermoplastic resin or thermoset plastic resin with a minimum modulus of 250,000 psi; a minimum tensile strength of 6,000 psi; and a glass transition temperature of at least 50°C and wherein said high modulus fiber reinforcement is selected from the group consisting of carbon fibers, aramid fibers, glass fibers, polyolefin fibers, boron fibers, and mixtures thereof.

21. The structure of claim 19 characterized in that said plastic matrix is an epoxy thermoset plastic.

22. The structure of claim 21 characterized in that said plastic matrix is a nylon thermoplastic resin with a minimum modulus of 325,000 psi and a minimum tensile strength of 10,000 and a thermoplastic resin T_g of at least 75°C.

PCMJS95/11636

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(c) a plurality of vertical corner legs; each corner leg having an upper end and a lower end;

(d) a plurality of upper corner connections (36) for interconnecting adjacent upper rails and said upper end of said corner legs together; and

(e) a plurality of lower corner connections (46) for interconnecting said lower ends of corner legs and lower frame assembly together and wherein said tubing sections are a lightweight, high modulus fiber-reinforced plastic matrix composite tubing having a weight of 0.25 pounds or less per lineal foot and wherein said plastic matrix is a thermoplastic resin or thermoset plastic resin with a minimum modulus of 250,000 psi; a minimum tensile strength of 6,000 psi; and a glass transition temperature of at least 50°C and wherein said high modulus fiber reinforcement is selected from the group consisting of carbon fibers, aramid fibers, glass fibers, polyolefin fibers, boron fibers, and mixtures thereof.

34. The frame of claim 32 characterized in that said tubing sections are a lightweight, high modulus fiber-reinforced plastic matrix composite tubing having a weight of 0.25 pounds or less per lineal foot, a tubing diameter of 0.2 to 1.2 inches, a tubing thickness of 0.03 to 0.10 inches, a single fiber angle of 20° to 50°, and fabricated from a single tow or at least one sheet of fibers. -43-

35. A foldable child and infant enclosure frame characterized by:

(a) a plurality of collapsible upper rails (10) comprised of tubing sections;

(b) a plurality of vertical corner legs, each corner leg having an upper end and a lower end;

(c) a plurality of upper corner connections (36) for interconnecting adjacent upper rails (10) and said upper ends of corner legs together;

(d) a plurality of lower rails having inner ends and outer ends;

(e) a plurality of lower corner connections (46) for interconnecting the lower ends of said corner legs to the outer ends of said lower rails; said lower rails capable of pivoting upwardly at said lower corner connections; and

(f) a central hub assembly (106) comprising (i) a central hub foot (108) having a plurality of openings (120) for said plurality of lower rails; (ii) a central hub top (112) ; and (iii) a ring (110) positioned between said central hub foot (108) and said central hub top (112) ; said inner ends of said lower rails interconnected to said ring (110) and capable of being pivoted downwardly in said openings (120) when said central hub assembly (106) is raised.

36. The frame of claim 35 characterized in that said tubing sections are a lightweight, high modulus fiber-reinforced plastic matrix composite tubing having a weight of 0.25 pounds or less per lineal foot. -44-

STATEMENT UNDER ARTICLE19

In response to the International Search Report (Form PCT/ISA/220) mailed 24 January 1996 having a two (2) month period for response set to expire on 24 March 1996, Applicant encloses herewith replacement pages 28, 29, 31, 34 and 35 to replace pages 28, 29, 30, 31, 34 and 35 of the originally filed application. As a result of this amendment, claims 6- 10, 24-31, 34, 36-43 are unchanged. Claims 2, 5, 11-18, 20, 23 and 33 are canceled. Claims 1, 3, 4, 19, 21, 22, 32 and 35 are amended. No new claims have been added.

Applicant's inventive child and infant disclosure involves several novel features including the use of certain high modulus fiber-reinforced plastic matrix composite tubing, a certain foldable enclosure frame structure and a certain central hub assembly as well as combinations of these features.

The amendments to these PCT Applications claims are being made to make them commensurate in scope to the allowed claims in the corresponding U.S. Patent Applications.

Entry of this amendment and consideration of the amended claims during the International Preliminary Examination is respectfully requested.