Patent Publication Number: US-6702643-B1

Title: Collapsible infant entertainment assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to infant entertainment devices and more particularly to selectively actuated entertainment devices coupled to a reconfigurable support. 
     2. Discussion of the Related Art 
     Infant entertainment devices coupled to supports, such as mats, are known in the art. Conventional infant entertainment devices that are coupled to mats do not provide a high level of entertainment for the infant user. Traditionally, such entertainment devices are limited by the stability of the support (i.e., the ability of the support to carry significant weight) and the desire to make the mat/entertainment device assembly relatively portable. 
     There are mats that have entertainment features suspended above them from flexible supports such that the mat can be folded for easy storage and transportation, but the entertainment features are typically static figures that can only be moved when the infant contacts the figures. Infants who cannot reach the figures, or infants who do not have the motor skills to strike the figure, receive little entertainment value from the figures. 
     There are also entertainment devices that are configured to be positioned above infants that are lying on a support surface. Such entertainment devices do not include a mat, or other support, upon which an infant can lie. Moreover, such devices typically are not portable, and include cumbersome support assemblies to properly position the entertainment features above the infant. 
     Thus, there is a need for a collapsible infant support including an entertainment device and that is easily reconfigured from a stored position to a use position and that can be easily transported. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an apparatus including a mat having a first portion and a second portion, a support coupled to and extending above the mat, and an entertainment device coupled to the support. The entertainment device includes a motion detector. The mat is reconfigurable between an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration, such that in the expanded configuration, the first portion and the second portion define a planar surface spaced apart from the entertainment device and in the collapsed configuration, the first portion and the second portion do not define the planar surface. An output generator is operatively coupled to the entertainment device. The output generator is responsive to actuation of the motion detector. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, a support is coupled to and extends above the mat and the entertainment device is coupled to the support. The entertainment device includes a first actuator configured to move in a first manner, and a second actuator configured to move in a second manner. A first article is suspended from the entertainment device and is operatively coupled to the first actuator such that the first article moves in the first manner. A second article is suspended from the entertainment device and is operatively coupled to the second actuator such that the second article moves in the second manner. More articles may be similarly coupled to the entertainment device. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the mat includes a junction portion defined between the first portion and the second portion. A support is coupled to the mat proximate the junction portion. The support includes a first foot member coupled to a first side of the mat, and a second foot member coupled to the second side of the mat. A first support post is coupled to the first foot member, and a second support post is coupled to the second foot member. The first foot member and the second foot member are reconfigurable between a first orientation and a second orientation such that in the first orientation the first foot member and the second foot member are configured to inhibit folding of the mat from an unfolded position, and in the second orientation, the mat is foldable about the junction portion. 
    
    
     These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following drawings and description. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate similar elements. 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a generic embodiment of an entertainment assembly incorporating the principles of the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of an entertainment assembly embodying the principles of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the entertainment assembly illustrated in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of an embodiment of an entertainment assembly embodying the principles of the invention, shown in a collapsed configuration. 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of the entertainment assembly of FIG. 4 shown in an alternative collapsed configuration. 
     FIG. 6 is an alternative side view of an embodiment of an entertainment assembly embodying the principles of the invention, shown in an expanded configuration. 
     FIG. 7 is an alternative side view of an embodiment of the entertainment assembly of FIG. 6 shown in a collapsed configuration. 
     FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a portion of a support embodying the principles of the present invention in a first configuration. 
     FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the portion of the support of FIG. 8 in a second configuration. 
     FIG. 10 is a cut away view of the housing of the entertainment device embodying the principles of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Several embodiments of an entertainment assembly  10  incorporating the principles of the invention are shown in FIGS. 1-10. A general description of the device is presented first, followed by a description of one implementation of the invention. 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a generic embodiment of an entertainment assembly  10 , which includes an entertainment device  100  that is coupled to a support  300  that in turn is coupled to a mat or base  200 . The support  300  is coupled between the mat or base  200  and the entertainment device  100  to support the entertainment device  100  above and opposite the mat  200 . The mat is reconfigurable between a first, expanded configuration and a second, collapsed configuration and is configured to provide a support surface for an infant user. In the expanded configuration, the mat  200  defines a planar surface and in the collapsed configuration, the mat does not define a planar surface as will be discussed in greater detail below. 
     The entertainment device  100  includes a motion detector  120 , a manual switch  130  and at least one output generator  140 . The output generator can be in the form of an actuator to impart motion to an article  160 . Alternatively, or additionally, the output generator  140  can cause a light or a series of lights to be illuminated and can cause audio output from an audio transducer, such as a speaker. The output generator can be selectively actuated via manual switch  130  or can be actuated when motion detector  120  is triggered. 
     In an embodiment in which there are multiple articles  160  removably suspended from multiple actuators  140 , each of the actuators  140  can be configured to cause a different motion (i.e., move the attached article  160  in a different direction) as indicated, for example, by the arrows in FIG.  1 . 
     One implementation of the entertainment assembly  10  discussed above is now described with reference to FIGS. 2-10. The entertainment assembly  10  includes an entertainment device  100 , a mat  200  having a first portion  210  and a second portion  220 , and a pair of supports  300  coupled to and extending above the mat  200 . 
     The entertainment device  100  includes a housing  105  having a first end  101  and a second end  102 . The housing  105  can be dimensioned such that a width or thickness of the housing  105  is substantially the same as the width or thickness of the supports  300  when the assembly  10  is in a collapsed configuration as will be discussed in greater detail below. Within the housing  105  is a motion detector  120  that is operatively coupled to a series of actuators to drive articles  160  that are suspended from the entertainment device  100 . The motion detector  120  is also configured to actuate a series of lights  165  and to produce audible output via an audio transducer or speaker positioned adjacent grill  189 . 
     The motion detector  120  is configured to detect motion of an infant user of the entertainment assembly  10  and/or motion or displacement of the entertainment device  100 . The motion of the entertainment device may be caused by force imparted directly to the entertainment device  100  or indirectly, for example, via the supports  300  or mat  200 . The motion detector can be a ball/conductive ring magnet assembly as in conventional motion detectors. In such assemblies, movement of the motion detector  120  displaces a metal ball from its rest position centered in a conductive ring by a magnet to a position in which it makes contact with the conductive ring, thereby closing or actuating a switch. Other motion detectors that can detect the movement of the entertainment device  100  may also be used. Alternatively, the motion detector  120  can be configured to detect movement of an infant user positioned on the mat  200  beneath the entertainment device  100  regardless of whether the entertainment device  100  is moved. Such a detector may include an infrared detector. 
     In use, movement of the articles  160  and the actuation of lights and sounds can be initiated by the motion detector  120  as described or can be initiated by a manual switch  130 . Each of the articles  160  can be in any form that is entertaining to a child. In the illustrated embodiment, the articles are shown as different shapes. The articles can also include animals, human figures and the like. The articles are configured to each move in a separate manner such that rotation about, and/or translation along, one or more axes. For example, one of the articles  160  can move side-to-side. A second of the articles  160  can move up and down. A third of the articles can spin around an axis perpendicular to the housing  105 . 
     The mat  200  is positioned beneath the entertainment device  100  and is reconfigurable between an open, expanded configuration (as illustrated in FIGS.  2  and  6 ), and a closed, collapsed configuration (as illustrated in FIGS. 4,  5  and  7 ). The first portion  210  of the mat has a first or upper face  211  and a second or lower face  212 . Likewise, the second portion  220  of the mat has a first or upper face  221  and a second or lower face  222 . The first faces  211 ,  221  are positioned opposite the entertainment device  100  and are configured to receive an infant user thereon when the mat  200  is in the expanded configuration. The second faces  212 ,  222  are configured to engage a support surface when the mat  200  is in the expanded configuration. There is a junction portion  230  that is defined between the first portion  210  and the second portion  220  adjacent the lower end of the support  300 . The first portion  210 , the second portion  220  and the junction portion  230  may be integrally formed or may be separate elements that are permanently or removably coupled. In the illustrated embodiment, the mat  200  is formed of quilted fabric. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the support  300  includes four support posts  305  coupled between the mat  200  and the entertainment device  100 . The posts  305  are coupled to the mat  200  via a first foot member  310  coupled to a first side  251  of the mat  200  and a second foot member  320  coupled to a second side  252  of the mat  200  as in the illustrated embodiment. Each post  305  is a cylinder of foam covered with fabric. The posts  305  are dimensioned to support the entertainment device  100  above the mat  200  at such a distance to allow an infant to be positioned underneath the device  100  when the assembly  10  is in use. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the support posts  305  are removably coupleable to one of the foot members  310 ,  320 . 
     Each of the foot members  310 ,  320  is reconfigurable between a first orientation and a second orientation. In the first orientation, the first foot member  310  and the second foot member  320  are configured to inhibit folding of the mat  200  from an unfolded position. The mat  200  is inhibited from folding by virtue of the position of the foot members  310 ,  320  along the edge of the mat  200  as illustrated in FIG.  2 . The foot members  310 ,  320  can be moved out of position to a second orientation, off the edge of the mat  200 , to allow the mat  200  to be folded as illustrated in FIG.  4 . In the second orientation, the mat  200  is foldable about the junction portion  230  as will be described below. The mat  200  can be removably coupled to the foot members  310 ,  320  by straps  270 , which can be attached to the mat  200  and the foot members  310 ,  320  via known attachment devices such as snaps, buttons, adhesive, and hook-and-loop type fasteners. This permits the mat  200  to be removed from the entertainment assembly  10  for cleaning. 
     Each foot member  310 ,  320  has a first end  311 ,  321  respectively, and a second end  312 ,  322  respectively. In the illustrated embodiment, and as best seen in FIGS. 2,  8  and  9 , the foot members  310 ,  320  each include a first leg  350  and a second leg  370 . Legs  350  and  370  are pivotally coupled together at pivot  330  (such as by a rivet or pin, or by an integrally formed post and socket). This permits the legs  350  and  370  to be moved between the first, deployed configuration shown in FIG. 8, and the second, stowed or collapsed configuration shown in FIG.  9 . 
     Each leg  350 ,  370  includes a collar  380  that is configured to receive a lower end of a support post  305 . The support post  305  is removably coupled to the collar  380  by a friction fit between the outside of the end of the post and the inside of a collar  380 . Preferably, the force required to displace the post  305  from the collar  380  is high enough that the weight of mat  200  can be carried by post  305 , but not high enough to carry an infant user on the mat. Other suitable removable connections between the posts  305  and the foot members  310 ,  320  ca include hook-and-loop fasteners, buttons, adhesives, and the like. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the support  300  is also reconfigurable between an open, expanded configuration (as illustrated in FIGS.  2  and  6 ), and a closed, collapsed configuration (as illustrated in FIGS. 4,  5  and  7 ). The support  300  can be reconfigured by moving the foot members  310 ,  320  between the first configuration or orientation and the second configuration or orientation. In the expanded orientation, illustrated in FIG. 8, the first leg  350  and the second leg  370  are substantially collinear such that the foot members  310 ,  320  inhibit folding of the mat  200 . In the collapsed orientation, illustrated in FIG. 9, the first leg  350  and second leg  370  are parallel and not collinear. By virtue of their connection to the foot members  310 ,  320 , when the legs  350 ,  370  are reconfigured, the support posts  305  will likewise be reconfigured. When the support posts  305  are in the expanded configuration they are spaced apart as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 6 to maintain a stable configuration of the entertainment assembly  10 . In the collapsed configuration, the support posts  305  are positioned adjacent one another to allow the mat  200  to be easily folded as illustrated in FIGS. 4,  5  and  7 . 
     In use, a user can move the entertainment assembly  10  between the expanded configuration and the collapsed configuration. From the expanded configuration, the assembly  10  can be moved to the collapsed configuration by first reorienting the foot members  310 ,  320  of the support  300  as described above, thereby allowing the mat  200  to be folded. When the foot members are reoriented, the support posts  305  are positioned adjacent one another. When the support  300  is in the collapsed configuration, the mat  200  can then be folded. In the illustrated embodiment, as best seen in FIGS. 4 and 7, the first portion  210  and the second portion  220  are folded such that the first face  211  of the first portion  210  and the first face  221  of the second portion are opposite one another. In the collapsed configuration, the first portion  210  and second portion  220  can be coupled together by mating fasteners attached to the respective portions. In the alternative embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the mat  200  is folded such that the second face  212  of the first portion  210  is positioned opposite the second face  222  of the second portion  220 . In either of the illustrated collapsed configurations, the assembly is more compact and easily transported than in the expanded configuration. 
     The articles can be moved by a drive assembly  700  illustrated in FIG.  10 . The drive assembly  700  includes a motor  710 , a drive shaft  720  supported by shaft supports  722 , a first drive  730  coupled to the drive shaft  720 , a second drive  740  coupled to the drive shaft, and a third drive  750  coupled to the drive shaft  720 . A series of drive gears or pulleys  715  are configured to couple the motor  710  to the drive shaft  720 . Thus, the rotational output of the motor  710  is imparted to the drive shaft  720  to drive the articles  160  (not illustrated in FIG.  10 ). 
     The drive shaft can be operatively coupled to each of the articles  160  in such a manner that a different motion is imparted to different articles. For example, the first drive  730  is coupled to the drive shaft  720  in via linkages  732  to cause the first article holder  167  to move side to side, or in a reciprocal, translational movement along a vertical axis or in a reciprocal, translational movement along a horizontal axis. An article  160  suspended from the first article holder  167  would thus swing from side to side. The second drive  740  can be coupled to the drive shaft  720  via a series of bevel gears  742  to cause the article to rotate about a vertical axis A. An article coupled to article holder  168  would thus rotate with respect to axis A as illustrated in FIG.  10 . The third drive  750  is coupled to the drive shaft  720  through a series of gears  752  to cause an article coupled to the third article holder  169  to move up and down. 
     The articles  160  can be moved in a variety of directions depending upon the manner in which the article holder is coupled to the drive shaft  720 . While three examples of possible connections are illustrated, any connection that causes the article to move when switch  130  and/or motion detector  140  are actuated is contemplated by the present invention. 
     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, as described above, the articles  160  are described as being removably coupled to the entertainment device  100 . Alternatively, the articles  160  can be fixedly coupled. In a further alternative embodiment, some of the articles  160  can be removably coupled and some fixedly coupled. 
     As described above, each of the articles  160  suspended from the entertainment device  100  is moved in some fashion. Alternatively, one or more articles  160  can be rigidly coupled to the entertainment device  100  such that they cannot be moved by the user. 
     Also as described above, the housing  105  can be dimensioned such that a width of the housing  105  is substantially the same as the width of the supports  300  when the assembly  10  is in the collapsed configuration. Alternatively, the housing can be any shape or width provided it is easily stored and transported. 
     As described above, the support  300  can include multiple support posts  305 . Alternatively, the support  300  can include a single support post  305  on each side of the entertainment device  100 . In a further alternative configuration, the assembly  10  can include a single support post  305  on only one side of the entertainment device, provided the post  305  is able to support the entertainment device  100  above the mat  200  as described. In such a configuration, it may not be necessary to collapse the support  300  to allow the mat  200  to be folded, depending upon the configuration of the foot member included to support to the single post  305 . 
     As described above, the posts  305  are fabric covered foam cylinders. The posts can be flexible or rigid provided they are able to support the entertainment device  100 . In an alternative embodiment, the posts  305  may also have a telescoping configuration to move between the expanded and collapsed configuration. 
     In one embodiment, the foot members  310 ,  320  can be pivotally coupled to the mat  200  at either end such that the foot member  310 ,  320  can be repositioned to allow the mat  200  to be folded. Alternatively, the foot members  310 ,  320  may be pivotally coupled to the mat  200  about a pivot  330 . 
     As described above, when the entertainment assembly  10  is to be moved from the expanded configuration to the collapsed configuration, the foot members  310 ,  320  are pivoted about pivot  330  to allow the mat  200  to be folded. Alternatively, the foot members  310 ,  320  can be pivoted about one of their ends  311 ,  312 ,  321 ,  322  to allow the mat  200  to be folded. In a further alternative configuration, the foot members  310 ,  320  can be completely removed from the mat  200  to allow the mat  200  to be folded. 
     In yet another alternative embodiment, the supports  300  can be fixed. In such an embodiment, the mat  200  can be collapsed by rolling the portions  210 ,  220  of the mat  200  or folding them up around the expanded support posts  305 . Moreover, the mat  200  can be rolled in any configuration of the supports  300  instead of maintaining its shape as described above. The mat  200  is described above as being made of flexible quilted fabric. Alternatively, the mat  200  could be rigid or resilient. 
     Conclusion 
     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. 
     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.