Repositionable Child Support Device

• US 20070205646A1
• Filed: 03/01/2007
• Published: 09/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Schoenfelder, Emily, Bapst, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,722,118 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/261.100
• CPC Class Codes: A47D 9/057 driven by electric motors

Abstract

An infant glider device is disclosed. The glider includes a base, a carriage that moves in an oscillatory motion along a predetermined path with respect to the base, and seat connected to the carriage. The seat is rotationally repositionable about an axis generally perpendicular to the carriage, and is adapted to be reoriented from a first seat facing position to a second seat facing position, and vice versa.

Claims

1. A child support device comprising:

a base to support the device on a supporting surface;

a seat portion mounted onto the base; and

a drive assembly to drive the seat portion along a predetermined path and provide an oscillatory gliding motion of the seat portion with respect to the base,

wherein the seat portion is capable of being rotationally reoriented about an axis generally perpendicular to the base from a first seat facing position to a second seat facing position, and vice versa.

2. The child support device of claim 1, wherein the seat is adapted to rotate 360°

about the axis.

3. The child support device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined path is generally parallel to at least one of the supporting surface and the base.

4. The child support device of claim 1, wherein the seat portion is coupled to a carriage operable to move with respect to the base.

5. The child support device of claim 4, wherein:

the predetermined path is defined by tracks coupled to the base; and

the carriage includes wheels adapted to roll along the tracks.

6. The child support device of claim 4, wherein the reorientation of the seat portion about the axis is provided via a reorientation mechanism mounted between the seat portion and the base.

7. The child support device of claim 6, wherein the reorientation mechanism comprises a boss mounted to the carriage and a collar mounted to the seat portion, wherein the collar is configured to slidingly engage the boss.

8. The child support device of claim 4, wherein the drive assembly comprises a motor operable to rotate a crank connected to a rod fixed to the base, wherein the rotation of the crank drives the carriage along the tracks.

9. The child support device of claim 1, wherein the seat portion comprises a frame including:

a substantially U-shaped upper frame, the upper frame including a medial portion and two substantially parallel, side portions attached thereto, the medial portion being canted toward the base;

a substantially U-shaped lower frame, the lower frame including a medial portion and two substantially parallel, side portions attached thereto, the medial portion being canted toward the base; and

soft goods material disposed on the frame.

10. The child support device of claim 1, wherein the drive assembly comprises a motor operable to rotate a crank connected to a rod fixed to the base, wherein the rotation of the crank drives the seat portion along the predetermined path.

11. The child support device of claim 1 further comprising an electronics unit configured to generate sensory stimulating output.

12. The child support device of claim 1, wherein the rotational reorientation is provided by a reorientation mechanism disposed between the seat portion and the base.

13. The child support device of claim 12, wherein the reorientation mechanism comprises a boss and a collar configured to slidingly engage the collar.

14. The child support device of claim 1, wherein, in the first seat facing position, an infant placed in the seat portion experiences a front-to-back motion and, in the second seat facing position, the infant experiences a side-to-side motion.

15. The child support device of claim 1, wherein the seat portion rotates approximately 90°

from the first seat facing position to the second seat facing position while coupled to the base.

16. A method of repositioning a child in a child support device comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a support device including;

a base to support the child support device on a supporting surface,

a seat portion coupled to the base, and

a drive assembly operable to drive the seat portion along a predetermined path in an oscillatory, gliding motion while coupled to the base;

(b) orienting the seat portion in a first seat facing position with respect to the base; and

(c) rotationally reorienting the seat about an axis generally perpendicular to the base from the first seat facing position to a second seat facing position.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of (d) rotationally reorienting the seat about an axis generally perpendicular to the base from the second seat facing position to a third seat facing positing, wherein the third seat facing position differs from the first seat facing position and the second seat facing position.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

(d) engaging the drive assembly to drive the seat portion along the predetermined path while the seat is in the first seat facing position; and

(e) engaging the drive assembly to drive the seat portion along the predetermined path while the seat is in the second seat facing position.