Patent Publication Number: US-10327566-B2

Title: Infant carrier and swing device therewith

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/354,971 filed on Jun. 27, 2016, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an infant carrier and a related swing device, and more particularly, to an infant carrier with easy storage and transportation, and a swing device therewith. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     An infant carrier can provide a comfortable and safe place for an infant to rest. With advance of technology, there are many types of infant carriers providing different functions. For example, a bouncer can provide gentle vibration to soothe and relax an infant thereon. The bouncer usually has a seat and a wire frame that provides flexible support for the seat, which allows the seat to move up and down by a caregiver or an infant himself/herself. Furthermore, the bouncer can be mounted onto a swing frame for multi-purpose. However, it is not convenient for a user to store or transport the bouncer due to its bulky size. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, an objective of the present invention is to provide an infant carrier with easy storage and transportation, and a swing device therewith for solving aforementioned problems. 
     In order to achieve the aforementioned objective, the present invention discloses an infant carrier including an upper frame, a seat mount frame, a base frame, and at least one folding mechanism. The seat mount frame is pivoted to the upper frame. The base frame is pivoted to the seat mount frame. The at least one folding mechanism is disposed between the seat mount frame and base frame and for allowing the seat mount frame to pivot relative to the base frame between an unfolded position and a folded position. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the at least one folding mechanism includes a fold bracket, a slot configuration, and a pin. The fold bracket is pivoted on the seat mount frame. The slot configuration is disposed on the fold bracket. The pin is disposed on the base frame and inserts into the slot configuration to restrain the seat mount frame from pivoting relative to the base frame or to allow the seat mount frame to pivot relative to the base frame. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the slot configuration includes a sliding slot, a first engaging slot and a second engaging slot. The first engaging slot and the second engaging slot are communicated with the sliding slot and disposed at two opposite ends of the sliding slot. The seat mount frame is restrained from pivoting relative to the base frame and respectively positioned in the unfolded position and the folded position when the pin is located within the first engaging slot and the second engaging slot, and the seat mount frame is allowed to pivot relative to the base frame when the pin is located within the sliding slot. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the sliding slot is substantially perpendicular to the first engaging slot and the second engaging slot. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the at least one folding mechanism further includes a fold actuator attached onto the fold bracket and for driving the fold bracket to slide the pin in the slot configuration. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the at least one folding mechanism further includes a resilient component for biasing the fold bracket to engage the pin inside the first engaging slot or the second engaging slot. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the base frame includes a first end pivoted to the seat mount frame. The infant carrier further includes a bounce wire connected to the first end of the base frame and extending away from the seat mount frame. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the base frame includes a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. The first end is pivoted to the seat mount frame. The infant carrier further includes a mounting pod disposed on the second end of the base frame. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, amounting slot is formed on the mounting pod, and a shape of the mounting slot matches with a shape of a cross section of a mounting receiver of a device. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the shape of the mounting slot and the shape of the cross section of the mounting receiver are axially symmetric-shaped. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the shape of the mounting slot and the shape of the cross section of the mounting receiver are radial-shaped or regular polygon-shaped. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the infant carrier further includes at least one recline mechanism disposed between the upper frame and the seat mount frame and for allowing the upper frame to pivot relative to the seat mount frame. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the upper frame is pivoted to an upper portion of the seat mount frame, and the base frame is pivoted to a lower portion of the seat mount frame. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the seat mount frame includes a seat mount bracket and a seat mount tube, and a lower portion of the seat mount tube is received in the seat mount bracket. 
     In order to achieve the aforementioned objective, the present invention discloses a swing device includes an infant carrier and a swing assembly. The infant carrier includes an upper frame, a seat mount frame, a base frame, and at least one folding mechanism, and a mounting pod. The seat mount frame is pivoted to the upper frame. The base frame is pivoted to the seat mount frame. The at least one folding mechanism is disposed between the seat mount frame and base frame and for allowing the seat mount frame to pivot relative to the base frame between an unfolded position and a folded position. The mounting pod is disposed on the base frame. The swing assembly is coupled to the mounting pod for swinging the infant carrier. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the swing assembly includes a main frame and a mounting receiver. The mounting receiver is disposed on an upper surface of the main frame and coupled to the mounting pod. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the swing assembly includes a main frame, a swing arm, and a mounting receiver. The swing arm is pendulously disposed on the main frame. The mounting receiver is disposed on the swing arm and coupled to the mounting pod. 
     In summary, the present invention utilizes cooperation of the pin and the slot configuration of the folding mechanism for allowing the seat mount frame to pivot relative to the base frame between an unfolded position and a folded position. Therefore, it provides a convenient way for a user to fold the infant carrier for easy storage and transportation when the infant carrier is not in use. 
     These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a swing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  are diagrams of an infant carrier at different views according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram of a folding assembly, a seat mount frame, and an upper frame at different views according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6  are lateral diagrams of the infant carrier at different states according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a partial exploded diagram of a swing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8A  to  FIG. 8F  are diagrams of a cross section of a mounting receiver according to different embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. In this regard, directional terminology, such as “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “back,” etc., is used with reference to the orientation of the Figure (s) being described. The components of the present invention can be positioned in a number of different orientations. As such, the directional terminology is used for purposes of illustration and is in no way limiting. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions will be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a swing device  1  according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the swing device  1  includes an infant carrier  10  and a swing assembly  11 . The swing assembly  11  is coupled to the infant carrier  10  for swinging the infant carrier  10 . In this embodiment, the infant carrier  10  can be a bouncer. However, it is not limited thereto. The swing assembly  11  is used for swinging the infant carrier  10  and includes a main frame  110 , a swing arm  111 , and a mounting receiver  112 . The swing arm  111  is pendulously disposed on the main frame  110 . The mounting receiver  112  is disposed on a lower end of the swing arm  111  and coupled to the infant carrier  10 . However, it is not required to mount the infant carrier  10  onto the swing assembly  11  at all times. The infant carrier  10  of the present invention also can be used independently or be mounted onto a supporting assembly other than the swing assembly  11 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  are diagrams of the infant carrier  10  at different views according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the infant carrier  10  includes an upper frame  100 , a seat mount frame  101 , a base frame  102 , two recline mechanisms  103 , two folding mechanisms  104 , a mounting pod  105 , and a bounce wire  106 . The seat mount frame  101  includes a seat mount bracket  1010  and a seat mount tube  1011 . A lower portion of the seat mount tube  1011  is received in the seat mount bracket  1010 . The seat mount tube  1011  is pivoted to the upper frame  100 , i.e., the upper frame  100  is pivoted to an upper portion of the seat mount frame  101 . The two recline mechanisms  103  are disposed between the upper frame  100  and the seat mount frame  101  and located at two opposite sides of the seat mount frame  101  for allowing the upper frame  100  to pivot relative to the seat mount frame  101 , so as to adjust an recline angle of the upper frame  100  relative to the seat mount frame  101 . However, the number and the configuration of the recline mechanism  103  are not limited to those illustrated in the figures of this embodiment. For example, in another embodiment, the infant carrier  10  also can only include one recline mechanism  103  located at one side of the seat mount frame  101 . 
     Furthermore, the seat mount bracket  1010  is pivoted to the base frame  102 , i.e., the base frame  102  is pivoted to a lower portion of the seat mount frame  101 . The two folding mechanisms  104  are disposed between the seat mount frame  101  and base frame  102  and located at two opposite sides of the seat mount frame  101  for allowing the seat mount frame  101  to pivot relative to the base frame  102  between an unfolded position and a folded position. However, the number and the configuration of the folding mechanism  104  are not limited to those illustrated in the figures of this embodiment. For example, in another embodiment, the infant carrier  10  also can only include one folding mechanism  104  located at one side of the seat mount frame  101 . 
     Besides, the base frame  102  includes two base supports  1020 . Each of the two base supports  1020  includes a first end  1021  and a second end  1022 . The first end  1021  is pivoted to the seat mount bracket  1010  of the seat mount frame  101 . The bounce wire  106  includes a first segment  1060 , a second segment  1061 , and a third segment  1062 . Ends of the first segment  1060  and the third segment  1062  of the bounce wire  106  are connected to the first ends  1021  of the two base supports  1020  of the base frame  102  respectively and the other ends of the first segment  1060  and the third segment of the bounce wire  106  extends away from the seat mount frame  101  and connected to the second segment  1061 . In such a way, the bounce wire  106  can provide a flexible support. As shown in  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 , the mounting pod  105  is disposed on the second ends  1022  of the two base supports  1020  of the base frame  102  for coupling to the mounting receiver  112  of the swing assembly  11 , so as to install the infant carrier  10  on the swing assembly  11 . In this embodiment, a mounting slot  1050  is formed on the mounting pod  105 . A shape of the mounting slot  1050  and a shape of a cross section of the mounting receiver  112  match with each other and are cross-shaped. However, the shapes of the mounting slot  1050  and the cross section of the mounting receiver  112  of the present invention are not limited to this embodiment. Shapes which allow the infant carrier  10  to be mounted onto the swing assembly  11  in different orientations are in the scope of the present invention. That is, the shapes of the mounting slot  1050  and the cross section of the mounting receiver  112  of the present invention can preferably be axially symmetric-shaped, such as radial-shaped or regular polygon-shaped. For example, please refer to  FIG. 8A  to  FIG. 8F .  FIG. 8A  to  FIG. 8F  are diagrams of the cross section of the mounting receiver  112  according to different embodiments of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 8A  to  FIG. 8F , the shape of the cross section of the mounting receiver  112  can be asterisk-shaped, square-shaped, regular pentagon-shaped, regular hexagon-shaped, regular heptagon-shaped, and regular octagon-shaped, respectively. The shape of the mounting slot  1050 , which is not shown in  FIG. 8A  to  FIG. 8F , can be configured to match with the shape of the cross section of the mounting receiver  112 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 4  to  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 4  is a diagram of the folding mechanism  104 , the seat mount frame  101 , and the upper frame  100  at different views according to the first embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6  are lateral diagrams of the infant carrier  10  at different states according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 4  to  FIG. 6 , each of the two folding mechanisms  104  includes a fold bracket  1040 , a slot configuration  1041 , a pin  1042 , a fold actuator  1043 , and a resilient component  1044 . The fold bracket  1040  is pivoted on the seat mount bracket  1010  of the seat mount frame  101 . The slot configuration  1041  is disposed on the fold bracket  1040  and moves with the fold bracket  1040 . The pin  1042  is disposed on the base frame  102  and inserted into the slot configuration  1041  to restrain the seat mount frame  101  from pivoting relative to the base frame  102  or to allow the seat mount frame  101  to pivot relative to the base frame  102  between the unfolded position as shown in  FIG. 5  and the folded position as shown in  FIG. 6 . The fold actuator  1043  is attached onto the fold bracket  1040  for driving the fold bracket  1040  to slide the pin  1042  in the slot configuration  1041 . Specifically, in this embodiment, the slot configuration  1041  includes a sliding slot  1045 , a first engaging slot  1046 , and a second engaging slot  1047 . The first engaging slot  1046  and the second engaging slot  1047  are communicated with the sliding slot  1045  and disposed at two opposite ends of the sliding slot  1045 . The resilient component  1044  biases the fold bracket  1040  to engage the pin  1042  inside the first engaging slot  1046  or the second engaging slot  1047 . In this embodiment, the resilient component  1044  can be a torsional spring sheathed on a pivoting shaft of the folding bracket. However, it is not limited thereto. 
     Operational principle of the infant carrier  10  of the present invention is described as follows. When it is desired to unfold the seat mount frame  101  relative to the base frame  102  from the folded position as shown in  FIG. 6  to the unfolded position as shown in  FIG. 5 , the fold bracket  1040  can be driven to move by lifting the fold actuator  1043 , so that the pin  1042  moves from the second engaging slot  1047  into the sliding slot  1045 , which allows the seat mount frame  101  to pivotally unfold relative to the base frame  102  along a first pivoting direction R 1 . During a process that the seat mount frame  101  pivotally unfolds relative to the base frame  102  along the first pivoting direction R 1 , the pin  1042  slides along the sliding slot  1045 . When the seat mount frame  101  pivots relative to the base frame  102  to the unfolded position as shown in  FIG. 5 , the resilient component  1044  can bias the fold bracket  1040  to engage the pin  1042  inside the first engaging slot  1046  as long as the fold actuator  1043  has been released. Therefore, at this moment, the seat mount frame  101  is restrained from pivoting relative to the base frame  102  so as to be positioned in the unfolded position. 
     On the other hand, when it is desired to fold the seat mount frame  101  relative to the base frame  102  from the unfolded position as shown in  FIG. 5  to the folded position as shown in  FIG. 6 , the fold bracket  1040  can be driven to move upwardly by lifting the fold actuator  1043  again, so that the pin  1042  moves from the first engaging slot  1046  into the sliding slot  1045 , which allows the seat mount frame  101  to pivotally fold relative to the base frame  102  along a second pivoting direction R 2  opposite to the first pivoting direction R 1 . During a process that the seat mount frame  101  pivotally folds relative to the base frame  102  along the second pivoting direction R 2 , the pin  1042  slides along the sliding slot  1045 . When the seat mount frame  101  pivots relative to the base frame  102  to the folded position as shown in  FIG. 6 , the resilient component  1044  can bias the fold bracket  1040  to engage the pin  1042  inside the second engaging slot  1047  as long as the fold actuator  1043  has been released. Therefore, at this moment, the seat mount frame  101  is restrained from pivoting relative to the base frame  102  so as to be positioned in the folded position for easy storage and transportation. 
     However, the structure of the swing assembly  11  of the present invention is not limited to those illustrated in the figures of the first embodiment. Please refer to  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 7  is a partial exploded diagram of a swing device  1 ′ according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Different from the swing assembly  11  of the first embodiment, a swing assembly  11 ′ of the second embodiment includes a main frame  110 ′ and a mounting receiver  112 ′ but does not include any swing arm. The mounting receiver  112 ′ is directly disposed on an upper surface of the main frame  110 ′. In this embodiment, the mounting slot  1050  and the cross section of the mounting receiver  112 ′ can be cross-shaped. The infant carrier  10  can be mounted on the swing assembly  11 ′ by cooperation of the mounting pod  105  and the mounting receiver  112 ′ easily. 
     In contrast to the prior art, the present invention utilizes cooperation of the pin and the slot configuration of the folding mechanism for allowing the seat mount frame to pivot relative to the base frame between an unfolded position and a folded position. Therefore, it provides a convenient way for a user to fold the infant carrier for easy storage and transportation when the infant carrier is not in use. 
     Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.