Convertible entertainment device

• US 20030064818A1
• Filed: 10/02/2001
• Published: 04/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mattel Europa BV (Mattel Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Mattel Europa BV (Mattel Incorporated)
• Inventors: Frankel, Seth, Jourdian, Robert W., Maggiore, Albert, Drosendahl, Christine Ann
• Granted Patent: US 7,172,486 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 472/118
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/006 Infant exercisers, e.g. for attachment to a crib

Abstract

An apparatus having a support arm, a base coupled to the support arm to maintain the support arm in upright orientation and moveable between a first orientation in which the base is coupleable to a vertical surface, and a second orientation in which the base can rest on a horizontal surface. A light source is coupled to the support arm and a mobile coupled to said support arm, whereby when the base is in the first orientation, the apparatus can be coupled to a crib rail to function as a crib mobile, and when the base is in the second orientation, the apparatus can rest on a horizontal surface to function as a lamp.

Claims

11. An apparatus, comprising:

an entertainment unit having a projection unit and a soothing unit, said soothing unit disposed substantially beneath said projection unit; and

a support arm moveable between a first configuration in which said support arm is coupleable to a substantially upright support and a second configuration in which the apparatus is freestanding.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further including a remote actuator for initiating operation of said entertainment unit.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, said projection unit comprising:

a light source receptacle; and

a cover disposed above said light source receptacle and having a pattern thereon, such that when a light source disposed in said receptacle is illuminated, an image corresponding to said pattern is projected on a surface.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said cover is rotatable about said light source receptacle.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, said soothing unit comprising:

a suspension element; and

an article suspended from said suspension element.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, said entertainment unit further comprising an audio output device.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, said soothing unit comprising:

a light source receptacle; and

a cover disposed beneath said light source receptacle.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, said soothing unit further comprising:

a suspension element; and

an article suspended from said suspension element.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said suspension element is removably coupled to said entertainment unit.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, said support arm comprising:

a support element coupled to said entertainment unit; and

a base coupled to said support element.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein in said first configuration, said support element and said base are substantially linearly arranged and in said second configuration, said support element is substantially perpendicular to said base and said base engages a support surface.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein in said first configuration said base of said support arm is coupleable to a crib and said entertainment unit is configured to be disposed above an infant in the crib and in said second configuration said entertainment unit is disposed substantially above said base.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising:

a mounting device coupleable to said base and said substantially upright support.

24. An apparatus, comprising:

an entertainment unit; and

a support arm having a first portion coupled to said entertainment unit and a second portion pivotally coupled to said first portion and being selectively engageable with a vertical or horizontal support surface.

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a support arm;

to said support arm to maintain said support arm in an upright orientation and moveable between a first orientation in which said base is coupleable to a vertical surface, and a second orientation in which said base can rest on a horizontal surface;

a light source coupled to said support arm; and

a mobile coupled to said support arm, whereby when said base is in said first orientation, said apparatus can be coupled to a crib rail to function as a crib mobile, and when said base is in said second orientation, said apparatus can rest on a horizontal surface to function as a lamp.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said mobile is removably coupled to said support arm.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a projection unit.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, said light source being a first light source and wherein said projection unit includes:

a second light source; and

a cover disposed above said second light source and having a pattern thereon, such that when said second light source is illuminated, an image corresponding to said pattern is projected on a surface spaced from said projection unit.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an audio output device coupled to said support arm.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a remote actuator for initiation of said mobile and said light source.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a drive assembly for causing rotation of said mobile.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, said mobile comprising:

a plurality of suspension arms; and

a toy suspended from each of said suspension arms.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said base is pivotally coupled to said support arm.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein in said first orientation said support arm is coaxial with said base and in said second orientation said support arm is perpendicular to said base.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said entertainment unit includes a projection unit.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, said projection unit comprising:

a light source receptacle; and

a cover disposed above said light source receptacle and having a pattern thereon, such that when a light source is illuminated, an image corresponding to said pattern is projected on a distant surface.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said cover is rotatable about said light source receptacle.

28. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said entertainment unit includes a soothing unit.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said soothing unit includes:

a light source receptacle; and

a cover disposed beneath said light source receptacle.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, said soothing unit further comprising:

a suspension element; and

an article suspended from said suspension element.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein said suspension element is removably coupled to said entertainment unit.

32. The apparatus of claim 28, said soothing unit comprising:

a suspension element; and

an article suspended from said suspension element.

33. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said support arm is moveable between a first orientation in which said first support element and said second support element are substantially linearly arranged and a second orientation in which said first support element in substantially perpendicular to said second support element and said second support element engage s a support surface.

34. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said support arm is moveable between a first orientation in which said second portion of said support arm is coupleable to a crib and said entertainment unit is configured to be disposed above an infant in the crib and a second orientation in which said entertainment unit is disposed substantially above said second portion of said support arm.

32-1. The apparatus of claim 24, said entertainment unit further comprising an audio output device.

35. A crib mobile and lamp, comprising:

a base;

a support arm pivotally coupled at a fist end thereof to said base for movement between a first orientation and a second orientation;

a mount coupled to said base to selectively couple said base to the side rail of a crib when said support arm is in said first orientation;

a housing coupled to a second end of said support arm;

a light source mounted on said housing and oriented to illuminate a surface on which said base is disposed when said support arm is in said second orientation;

a mobile mounted to said housing, said mobile including a plurality of detachable article supports;

a drive mounted in said housing and coupled to said mobile to rotate said mobile with respect to said housing.

36. The crib mobile and lamp of claim 35, said light source being a first light source and further including:

a second light source; and

a cover disposed above said second light source and having a pattern thereon, such that when said second light source is illuminated, an image corresponding to said pattern is projected on a surface spaced from said second light source.

37. The crib mobile and lamp of claim 35, further comprising an audio output device coupled to said support arm.

38. The crib mobile and lamp of claim 35, further including a remote actuator for initiation of said mobile and said light source.