Soothing devices

• US 20080016624A1
• Filed: 04/09/2007
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Naptown Dreams LLC
• Original Assignee: Naptown Dreams LLC
• Inventors: Osborn, Kathy
• Application Number:
  US11/784,683
• Publication Number:
  US 20080016624A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 5/658
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/006 Infant exercisers, e.g. for attachment to a crib
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/22 Optical, colour, or shadow toys puzzles with optical elements A63F9/0613; kaleidoscopes G02B27/08
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 5/00 Musical or noise- producing devices for additional toy effects other than acoustical musical tops A63H1/28; sound-producing dolls A63H3/28; musical toy vehicles A63H17/268; acoustical vehicle-signalling devices A63H17/32; whistling toy locomotive arrangements A63H19/14; music, sound or noise production in general G10

Abstract

A soothing device is disclosed. The soothing device may be used in combination with a person support, such as a baby crib, a bed, and a dentist chair. The soothing device may include a display, a projector, a screen, and a mobile. The soothing device may include one or more covers. The soothing device may be used in combination with a portable, stand alone media device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for mounting to a person support having a support surface for supporting a person, the device comprising:

a soothing device supported by the person support, the soothing device including a first portion adapted to couple to the person support, a second portion positioned over the support surface of the person support within a periphery of the person support, and an arm connecting the first portion and the second portion; and

a cover configured to cover over at least a portion of one of the first portion, the arm, and the second portion, the cover being selectable from a plurality of covers each having a different decorative appearance.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first portion includes at least one speaker and a controller coupled to the speaker, the controller being operably coupled to a media source which provides media to be played by the speaker.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the media source is removably coupled to the soothing device and includes a memory storing at least a plurality of audio files.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the media source is a stand alone media device.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a docking station provided on the soothing device, the media source being receivable by the docking station.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a second cover, the second cover being configured to provide a coordinated decorative appearance to the cover of the soothing device and to cover a portion of the media source.

7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the memory of the media source further includes at least one of a plurality of image files and a plurality of video files.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a display positioned within the periphery of the person support, the display being operably coupled to the controller and configured to display the at least one of the plurality of image files and the plurality of video files stored in the memory of the media source.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the display is supported by the second portion of the soothing device.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the display is an LCD display.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the display is supported by the person support.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the display is positioned outside of a periphery of the support surface.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to utilize the at least one speaker to play at least one of the audio files stored in the memory of the media source in conjunction with at least one file of the plurality of image files and the plurality of video files stored in the memory of the media source being displayed on the display.

14. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein a first portion of the plurality of audio files are referenced in a playlist stored in the memory.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the soothing device is configured to support a removable stand alone media device.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the soothing device includes a rotatable member and a plurality of visual stimulation devices supported by the rotatable member, the visual stimulation devices being removable from the rotatable member.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the plurality of visual stimulation devices are coordinated to the cover.

18. An apparatus for mounting to a person support having a support surface for supporting a person, the device comprising:

a soothing device supported by the person support, the soothing device including a first portion adapted to be coupled to the person support, a second portion positioned over the support surface of the person support within a periphery of the person support, and an arm connecting the first portion and the second portion; and

a stand alone media device configured to be operatively coupled to a media input of the soothing device and to provide media content to a media output device of the soothing device, the media content including a configurable playlist.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first portion includes at least one speaker and a controller coupled to the at least one speaker, the controller being operably coupled to the stand alone media device which provides media content to be played by the speaker.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the soothing device includes a docking station, the stand alone media device being receivable by the docking station.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the soothing device includes a display positioned within the periphery of the person support, the display being operably coupled to the controller and configured to display media content provided by the stand alone media device.

22. A method of customizing a soothing device for a first environment including a person support including a support surface for supporting a person, the method comprising the steps of:

offering a soothing device including a first portion adapted to couple to the person support, a second portion positioned over the support surface within a periphery of the person support, and an arm connecting the first portion and the second portion;

offering a plurality of different covers for at least at least a portion of one of the first portion, the arm, and the second portion, a first cover of the plurality of different covers being coordinated with the first environment; and

selling the soothing device and the first cover.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the person support is a baby crib and the first environment includes at least one of a bedding for the baby crib, a bumper pad for the baby crib, and an accessory related to the baby crib, further comprising the step of offering at least one of the bedding for the baby crib related to the first environment, the bumper pad for the baby crib related to the first environment, and the accessory related to the baby crib related to the first environment.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the soothing device and the first cover are offered at a single price.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the soothing device includes an interface to interact with a removable media source.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising the step of offering a plurality of different covers for the media source, at least a first cover for the media source of the plurality of different covers for the media source coordinating with the first cover of the soothing device.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the first cover of the soothing device and the first cover for the media source are offered at a single price.

28. A soothing device for use with a person support having a support surface for supporting a person and a stand alone media device, the soothing device comprising:

a housing;

a controller positioned within the housing, the controller being adapted to be operably coupled with the stand alone media source;

at least one speaker operatively coupled to the controller, the at least one speaker positioned within the housing and operably coupled to the stand alone media device when the stand alone media device is operably coupled to the controller such that audio media content stored in a memory of the stand alone media device is played through the at least one speaker;

a mobile supported by the housing, the mobile being positioned within a periphery of the person support; and

a visual media output device spaced apart from the housing, the visual media output device being configured to provide visual media within a periphery of the person support, and operably coupled to the stand alone media device when the stand alone media device is operably coupled to the controller, the visual media being stored in the memory of the stand alone media device.

29. The soothing device of claim 28, wherein the visual media output device is a projector.

30. The soothing device of claim 28, wherein the visual media output device is a display supported by the person support.

31. The soothing device of claim 28, wherein the visual media output device is a display supported by the mobile.