Child Motion Device

• US 20070120404A1
• Filed: 11/03/2006
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Graco Children's Products, Inc. (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Graco Children's Products, Inc. (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Stauffer, Dennis, Bellows, William
• Granted Patent: US 7,717,798 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/256.160
• CPC Class Codes: A47D 1/10 capable of being suspended from, or attached to, tables or other articles
• CPC Class Codes: A47D 13/10 Rocking-chairs; Indoor Swings ; Baby bouncers
• CPC Class Codes: A47D 9/02 with rocking mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A47D 9/053 with curved rocking member
• CPC Class Codes: A47D 9/057 driven by electric motors

Abstract

A child motion device has a frame assembly configured to rest on a support surface. The frame assembly includes at least one track configured to slidably receive a child seat assembly. The track can extend in any desired direction and include a geometric profile so that as the seat assembly travels along the track, a desired motion profile is imparted onto the seat assembly and to the child seated therein.

Claims

1. A child motion device supported by a support surface, the child motion device comprising:

at least one track defining a travel path;

a seat assembly movably supported on the track; and

a drive assembly propelling the seat assembly along the travel path in a reciprocating manner.

2. The child motion device as recited in claim 1, wherein the track defines a rail having a contact surface configured to engage at least one wheel for rotation thereon.

3. The child motion device as recited in claim 2, wherein the drive assembly comprises at least one wheel supporting the seat assembly on the rail.

4. The child motion device as recited in claim 3, wherein the drive assembly comprises a drive that actuates the wheel to roll along the rail to move the seat assembly along the travel path

5. The child motion device as recited in claim 1, wherein the drive assembly further comprises an actuator configured to drive the seat assembly along the travel path.

6. The child motion device as recited in claim 5, further comprising a position sensor and a controller sending control signals to the actuator based on an output from the position sensor.

7. The child motion device as recited in claim 1, wherein the travel path is tilted at an angle of greater than 0 degrees relative to a generally horizontal reference plane such that the child seat reciprocates through an arc.

8. The child motion device as recited in claim 1, wherein the travel path further comprises at least one bump to impart a bouncing motion onto the seat assembly.

9. The child motion device as recited in claim 1, wherein the travel path is substantially flat

10. The child motion device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a pair of the tracks extending substantially parallel to each other, wherein the tracks provide the travel path.

11. The child motion device as recited in claim 1, wherein the seat assembly comprises a removable seat.

12. The child motion device as recited in claim 1, wherein the seat assembly her comprises a seat holder configured to receive and support a child seat in more than one optionally selectable seat facing orientations.

13. The child motion device as recited in claim 12, wherein the child seat can rest on the seat holder in orientations offset substantially 90°

from each other.

14. The child motion device as recited in claim 1, wherein the seat assembly comprises a removable seat configured to be readily secured for use in another device selected from a group consisting of a stroller, a pendulum swing, a bouncer, and a car seat.

15. The child motion device as recited in claim 1, wherein the frame assembly comprises a base section supporting the at least one track on the support surface.

16. The child motion device as recited in claim 1, wherein the base section is pivotally coupled to the frame and can be folded to a collapsed configuration.

17. The child motion device as recited in claim 1, wherein the seat assembly comprises a seat that can be adjustably reclined.

18. The child motion device as recited in claim 1, wherein the travel path from one end of the track to the other has a length no more than approximately 6 feet.

19. The child motion device as recited in claim 1, wherein the seat assembly travels along the travel path at a frequency of no more than two minutes per cycle.

20. A child motion device comprising:

a base assembly supported by a support surface;

at least one track supported by the base assembly, the track providing a surface that defines a travel path;

a seat assembly supported by the track; and

a drive assembly actuating the seat assembly to drive the seat assembly along the track, wherein the seat assembly travels in a reciprocating manner along the travel path.

21. The child motion device as recited in claim 20, wherein the travel path imparts at least one of a rocking motion, a bouncing motion, and a side-to-side gliding motion onto the seat assembly.

22. The child motion device as recited in claim 20, further comprising a pair of the tracks, wherein the drive assembly further comprises at least one wheel supporting the seat assembly on the pair of tracks, the wheel being rotatable on the track to drive the seat assembly along the track in a reciprocating manner.