Abstract:
The present invention provides support assembly having a resilient support frame having a ground engaging portion and an upper portion. The upper portion is moveable with respect to the ground engaging portion. A suspension assembly is coupled to the upper portion of the support frame such that motion of the upper portion imparts motion to the suspension assembly. In another aspect of the invention, the invention includes a seat supported on a resilient support frame having a ground engaging portion and an upper portion moveable with respect to the ground engaging portion. A mobile is coupled to the upper portion such that motion of the upper portion imparts a corresponding motion to the mobile.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates generally to infant support seats, and more particularly to an infant support seat with an attached mobile.  
           [0003]    2. Discussion of the Related Art  
           [0004]    Conventional infant support seats provide support for infants who are unable to support themselves in an upright position. Typically, the support seats provide some sort of stimulation for the infant in the form of vibration or music. Many infant support seats are also supported by resilient frames that flex under an infant&#39;s weight and provide soothing bouncing or rocking motion with the infant in the seat.  
           [0005]    Additionally, there are infant seats that incorporate a bar or similar structure that arches over the seat and is configured to suspend toys to stimulate the infant in the seat. Such toy bars are typically removably coupled to opposite sides of the support seat frame. With the toy bar in place, it is difficult to place an infant in the seat, and likewise, difficult to remove the infant from the seat. Removal and replacement of the toy bar can be burdensome, especially when holding an infant.  
           [0006]    Thus, there is a need for an infant seat that includes an entertainment device, such as a mobile, that is selectively positioned above the infant seat so that an infant may be easily placed in and removed from the seat without detaching the entertainment device.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The present invention solves the problems with, and overcomes the disadvantages of, conventional infant seats. In particular, the present invention relates to an infant seat that has an attached entertainment device that is selectively positionable above the seat.  
           [0008]    The invention includes a resilient support frame having a ground engaging portion and an upper portion. The upper portion is moveable with respect to the ground engaging portion. A suspension assembly is coupled to the upper portion of the support frame such that motion of the upper portion imparts motion to the suspension assembly.  
           [0009]    In another aspect of the invention, the invention includes a seat supported on a resilient support frame having a ground engaging portion and an upper portion moveable with respect to the ground engaging portion. A mobile is coupled to the upper portion such that motion of the upper portion imparts a corresponding motion to the mobile.  
           [0010]    These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following drawings and description. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    The present invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a support assembly with an attached entertainment device embodying the principles of the present invention.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the support assembly illustrated in FIG. 1 with the entertainment device positioned away from the support assembly.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is an exploded view of detail A in FIG. 1.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a socket of the mounting bracket of the suspension assembly embodying the principles of the present invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of an end post of the support arm of suspension assembly embodying the principles of the present invention.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 6 is an exploded view of detail B in FIG. 1. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0018]    FIGS.  1 - 6  illustrate one embodiment of an infant support assembly  100 . The infant support assembly  100  includes a support frame  110 , a seat  240 , a suspension assembly  300 , and an entertainment device  500 .  
         [0019]    The support frame  110  is a generally peripheral frame and includes a ground-engaging base member  112  that is configured to elevate the seat  240  above a supporting surface. An upper portion  114  is coupled to the base member  112  and is configured to support the seat  240  in an inclined position relative to the supporting surface. The upper portion  114  includes a leg support  116  that is coupled above the base member  112  and is configured to support a portion of the seat  240  in a forwardly extended position. The upper portion  114  of the frame  110 , including leg support  116 , is movable with respect to the ground engaging portion or base  112  to provide a bouncing or rocking motion to soothe the infant positioned in the seat  240 .  
         [0020]    A stimulation device  119  may be attached to the leg support  116  to provide stimulation for an infant in the seat. The stimulation device  119  may include a vibrator or music producing apparatus or any combination thereof as would be known to the skilled artisan.  
         [0021]    The support frame  110  can include feet  111  located on the base member  112  to engage the supporting surface to inhibit the support assembly  100  from sliding.  
         [0022]    The seat  240  is substantially elliptical or oval in plan view and includes an upper seating surface  242  upon which an infant can be positioned and a lower foot portion  244  adjacent the upper seating surface  242 . The foot portion  244  and the seating surface  242  may be integrally formed or removably coupled. The seat  240  is coupled to the frame  110  according to conventional methods known to the skilled artisan.  
         [0023]    To maintain the infant securely in seat  240 , a belt  270  is coupled to the seat  240 . The belt  270  is provided with separable buckles for easy operation. Any infant restraint device known to the skilled artisan may be utilized with the seat  240  without departing from the scope of the invention.  
         [0024]    A suspension assembly  300  is coupled to the upper portion  114  of the frame  110  such that motion of the upper portion  114  imparts a motion to the suspension assembly  300 . As will be apparent, the configuration of the support assembly  300  (described in detail below) allows the translating motion of the support assembly  300  to result in a rotating motion of the entertainment device  500 .  
         [0025]    The suspension assembly  300  is coupled to one of a pair of opposing sides of the unshaped upper portion  114  of frame  110 . The suspension assembly  300  includes a mount or mounting bracket  400  that is coupleable to the upper portion  114  of the support frame  110  and a support arm  310  pivotably coupled to the mount  400 . As best seen in FIG. 3, mount  400  includes a first side  401  and a second side  402 , which together form a channel  420  for receiving the upper portion  114  of the frame  110 . The first and second sides of mounting bracket  400  include openings  422  that receive nuts and bolts  440  to maintain the position of the mount  400  on the support frame  110 . Similarly, upper portion  114  and lower portion  112  of the frame  110  include openings  108 ,  118  respectively that are in registry with openings  422  when the infant support assembly  100  is in the assembled configuration. As can be appreciated, the nuts and bolts  440  can be utilized to secure the upper and lower portion of the frame  110  regardless of whether the mounting bracket  400  is attached. Any other suitable fastener may be used to couple the upper and lower portion of frame  110  and/or to couple mounting bracket  400  to upper portion  114 .  
         [0026]    The suspension assembly  300  is movable with respect to the mounting bracket between a first position in which the entertainment device  500  is disposed above an infant positioned on the upper seating surface  242 , (as illustrated in FIG. 1) and a second position in which the entertainment device  500  is disposed away from the infant (as illustrated in FIG. 2).  
         [0027]    The mounting bracket  400  includes a body  408  that extends from the frame  110  and terminates in a socket  410  that receives support arm  310 . As best seen in FIG. 4, socket  410  includes a post  420  to guide the support arm  310  into position. The mounting bracket  400  includes a face  430  that is adjacent a face  315  of the support arm  310  when in the assembled configuration. As best seen in FIG. 5, support arm  310  includes a post  370  that mates with socket  410  to maintain the support arm in an upright configuration. The post  370  is able to rotate within socket  410  along an arc defined by stop surfaces  470  in the socket  410  and stop surfaces  390  on the post  370 .  
         [0028]    In the illustrated embodiment, the mounting bracket  400  is positioned on the upper portion  114  of the frame  110  adjacent the seat  240 , between the upper seating surface  242  and the lower foot portion  244 . It will be appreciated that the mounting bracket can be positioned at any point along the upper portion  114  of the frame  110  provided that motion of the upper portion  114  imparts a motion to the support arm  310  of the suspension assembly  300 . Alternatively, mounting bracket  400  could be coupled to leg support  116 .  
         [0029]    Further, in the illustrated embodiment, the support arm  310  is pivotably connected with respect to the mounting bracket  400  about an axis disposed at an acute angle with respect to the upper portion of the frame engaged by the connector  400 . Accordingly, the support arm  310  extends upwardly in a direction perpendicular to the supporting surface, in a position best viewed by the infant positioned in the seat  240 .  
         [0030]    The support arm  310  is able to suspend an entertainment device  500  above an infant positioned on the seat  240 . As best illustrated in FIG. 6, the support arm  310  terminates at its uppermost end in a post  330  that mates with an opening  525  of a collar on the entertainment device  500 . In the illustrated embodiment, the entertainment device  500  is configured as a mobile that rotates about post  330  when the upper portion  114  of the frame  110  is moved with respect to the ground engaging portion  112  of the frame  110 . The mobile  500  includes fasteners  530  which support articles  535  that are pleasing and/or soothing to an infant positioned in the seat.  
         [0031]    In the illustrated embodiment, support arm  310  extends upwardly from connector or mounting bracket  400  and terminates in a downward direction facing the seat  240 . This configuration, along with the flexibility of the support arm  310 , allows the desired movement of the entertainment device  500 .  
         [0032]    As described above, articles  535  are suspended from fasteners  530 . The articles may be fixedly coupled to fasteners  530  or may be removably attached by hook and loop type fasteners, mating rings, loops, snaps, buckles, etc.  
         [0033]    In use, when an adult user desires to position an infant in the seat  240  or remove an infant from the seat  240 , the support arm  310  may be pivoted to its second position as illustrated in FIG. 2. When an infant is positioned in the seat  240 , the adult user can pivot the support arm  310  such that entertainment device  500  is positioned above the infant positioned in the seat.  
         [0034]    While particular, illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described, numerous variations and modifications exist that would not depart from the scope of the invention. For example, mount  400 , as described above, can be attached to the frame by screws as illustrated. However, any connector that enables the support arm  310  to be pivotally coupled to the frame  110  would be appropriate.  
         [0035]    The attachment of the entertainment device  500  is described above as being rotatably coupled to the support arm. Alternatively, the entertainment device  500  may be fixedly coupled or coupled to a swivel connector. Additionally, entertainment device  500  need not be configured as a mobile. Entertainment device  500  may take many configurations known to those skilled in the art that are soothing and/or entertaining to children. For example, entertainment device may be a static figure that produces lights and/or sounds.  
         [0036]    The various features of the invention have been described in relation to an infant bouncer seat. However it will be appreciated that many of the features, such as the connector and the entertainment device may also be implemented on various infant support devices including car seats, swings, high chairs, etc. Moreover, variations and modifications exist that would not depart from the scope of the invention. A number of these variations have been set forth above.  
       Conclusion  
       [0037]    While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.  
         [0038]    The previous description of the preferred embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.