Child activity device

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6425842
  • Patent Number
    6,425,842
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, September 5, 2000
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, July 30, 2002
    22 years ago
Abstract
A child activity device for entertaining and promoting activity in a child is disclosed. The child activity device is configurable between a use and storage position and may also include a frame providing bouncing motion for a child. The activity device includes a support frame extending vertically upwards from a lower end proximate to a support surface and terminating at an upper end, a supporting portion, and may further include a seat, coupled to the supporting portion, that is rotatable about a first axis relative to the support frame to allow a child placed in the seat to rotate about the first axis. A coupling assembly is also disclosed. The coupling assembly secures the supporting portion to the support frame upper end and permits rotation of the supporting portion about a second axis for configuring the seat and supporting portion in a storage position. An activity device with foldable support legs is also disclosed. The support legs to base structure connection may further include a mechanism for providing bouncing motion for entertaining the child.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




There are many types of child activity and/or entertainment devices available today. Such devices include, e.g., bouncer seats, exercisers and jumpers, each of which being designed for providing a comfortable and secure environment for the child, as well as a source for entertaining or promoting activity in the child. Bouncer seats are referred to as such because the child has the ability to bounce or jump when sitting in the seat.




U.S. Pat. No. 5,407,246 to Meeker discloses a seat, referred to as a child exerciser/rocker, that includes an upper tray area defining a circular opening for receiving and rotatably supporting a seat. The tray and seat are suspended at each of three locations by a spring extending from a post that is supported at its lower end by a tower extending upwards from a base structure. One notable drawback in Meeker's exerciser/rocker seat, and other child seats of this design, is that the seats are rather bulky. A seat and activity area that provides a child with freedom to move or spin around as well as providing a variety entertainment activities, such as Meeker, brings about an end product that is rather bulky, not easily stored and difficult to transport.




One approach for providing a collapsible seat is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,688,211 to Myers. Myers describes a child exerciser device including a seat, tray and leg assembly detachable from a base member. Myers's child exerciser includes a detachable assembly and a pivot connection between the leg and tray so that the child exerciser may be collapsed for storage and/or transport. The collapsed configuration is achieved by removing the legs from the base member, rotating the legs under the tray and then placing the tray, seat and legs inside the base member. There are several aspects of the Myers exerciser which are undesirable, some of which include the limited activity area provided for the child, the requirement that a user must physically separate the base member from the legs, seat and tray in order to collapse the exerciser, and the approach for collapsing the device does not significantly reduce the space occupied by the exerciser for storage purposes, nor provide for an easily transportable device.




In view of the above and other related drawbacks and limitations identified in the known child activity devices, there is a need for a child's activity device that can be easily collapsed into a stowed configuration without sacrificing entertainment value to the child; providing freedom of movement and a relatively large activity area for entertaining and promoting activity; and yet is easy to convert into a non-use or stowed configuration for storage and/or transport.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The needs identified above are met, and the shortcomings of prior art child activity devices designs overcome by the child activity device of the invention. In one aspect, the invention provides a portable activity center for entertaining a child. The activity center is supported on a support surface and includes a support frame extending vertically upwards from a lower end proximate to the support surface and terminating at an upper end, and a seat supporting portion. A seat is coupled to the seat supporting portion and is able to rotate about a first axis relative to the support frame so as to allow a child placed in the seat to rotate about the first axis. A coupling assembly secures the seat supporting portion to the support frame upper end. The coupling assembly is selectable between a closed position fixing the seat supporting portion relative to the support frame and an open position permitting rotation of the seat supporting portion about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. The portable activity center may further include a support leg extending form the support frame lower end and being selectively rotatable about a third axis, substantially parallel to the second axis for rotation between a use position and a storage position.




In another aspect of the invention, a child's bouncer includes a frame having an upper end and a lower end, and a seat coupled to the frame upper end. A left and right support leg extend outwardly from the frame lower end, each of the left and right support legs including a support surface engaging end and a frame coupling end rotationally displaceable relative to the frame. A biasing member is coupled to each of the left and right support legs and positioned so as to bias each of the left and right support legs support surface engaging ends inwardly by rotational displacement of the left and right support legs frame coupling ends relative to the frame lower end.




A further aspect of the invention provides a method for configuring a child's activity seat from a deployed position to a folded position. The child's activity seat includes a seat coupled to a tray, a base support having an upper end and a lower end and a support frame supporting the activity seat in the deployed position. When the activity seat is configured in the deployed position, a first connector fixes the tray to a base support and a second connector fixes the support frame to the base support. The method of configuring the activity seat from the deployed to folded positions includes the steps of releasing the first connector so as to permit rotational motion of the seat and tray relative to the base support, and rotating the seat and tray about a first axis so as to position the seat and tray from a generally horizontal, deployed position to a generally vertically, folded position.




Another aspect of the invention provides an activity seat for a child configurable between a use position and a storage position. The activity seat includes a frame extending vertically upwards from a lower end proximate to the support surface and terminating at an upper end. The frame lower end includes a lower surface corresponding to a support surface engaging end for the activity seat when configured in the storage position. The activity seat further includes a seat coupled to the support frame upper end, and a support member having a first end and a second end corresponding to a support surface engaging end for the activity seat when configured in the use position. A coupling assembly is provided for coupling the support member to the frame. The coupling assembly includes a first pivot for configuring the support member between a use and a storage configuration, and a biasing means for biasing the frame upwardly when the activity seat is configured in the use position.




In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a foldable activity center for entertaining a child. The activity center includes a base support and a base frame extending vertically upwards from a lower end proximate to the support surface and terminating at an upper end. The activity center also includes a supporting portion having a child's seat and an upper surface generally defining an activity area for a child placed in the seat, the upper surface defining a first plane. A coupling assembly secures the supporting portion to the base upper end. The coupling assembly is selectable between a closed position fixing the supporting portion relative to the base frame and an open position permitting rotation within a second plane of the supporting portion relative to the base frame, wherein the second plane is substantially perpendicular to the first plane.




It is a further object of the invention to provide a child's activity center that is specially adapted for being configurable between a use and storage configuration wherein the storage configuration also provides for easy transport, and yet does not detract from the desire for providing the child with freedom of movement and a relatively large activity area for entertaining and promoting activity in the child.




It is still a further object of the invention to provide a child activity device that has a novel support structure for providing bouncing activity for the child.




It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation without limiting the scope of the invention as claimed.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:





FIG. 1

is a side perspective view of a child activity device constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention.





FIG. 2

is a side view of the activity device of

FIG. 1

showing a tray and seat configured in a storage position.





FIG. 3

is a side view of the activity device of

FIG. 1

in a storage position.





FIG. 4

is a partial exploded view of a connector assembly for connecting the tray to a support post of the activity device of FIG.


1


.





FIG. 5

is a first view of a portion of the connector assembly of

FIG. 4

showing a first view of the support post and a mating housing.





FIG. 6

is a second view of a portion of the connector assembly of

FIG. 4

showing a second view of the support post and the mating housing.





FIG. 7

is a side view of the support post of the activity device of

FIG. 1

with a base cover removed.





FIG. 8

is a side view of the support post of

FIG. 7

with a post cover removed.





FIG. 9

illustrates a base connector assembly connecting a left and right support tube to a base of the activity device of FIG.


1


.





FIG. 10

is a side view of the connector assembly of

FIG. 9

with the left and right support tubes and left and right flange couplings removed.





FIG. 11A

illustrates a non-use position of the connector assembly of FIG.


9


.





FIGS. 11B-11C

illustrate in-use positions of the connector assembly of FIG.


9


.





FIG. 11D

shows a flange coupling of the connector assembly of FIG.


9


.





FIG. 12

is a first view of a cover plate of the activity device of FIG.


1


.





FIG. 13

is a second view of the cover plate of FIG.


12


.





FIG. 14

is a bottom view of a seat ring of the activity device of FIG.


1


.





FIG. 15

is a side perspective view of the activity device of

FIG. 1

showing the seat removed.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION




Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention. The child activity device of the invention is preferably implemented as a child's entertainer


10


, examples of which are illustrated in

FIGS. 1-15

.




Referring

FIG. 1

, entertainer


10


includes a tray


12


and seat


14


supported on front and rear support posts


20




a


,


20




b


, the lower ends of which being received in a corresponding front and rear base


80




a


,


80




b


(rear base


80




b


is hidden from view in FIG.


1


), and a left and right support tube


16




a


,


16




b


connected to each of the front and rear bases


80




a


,


80




b


at front and rear tube proximal ends


18




a


,


18




b


, respectively, and providing a ground engaging support at rearwardly extending tube distal ends


17




a


,


17




b


, respectively, for entertainer


10


when configured in the use position. Tray


12


extends about the periphery of seat


14


and includes entertaining toys for entertaining and promoting activity in a child placed in seat


14


.




A pair of tray connectors


28




a


,


28




b


connects tray


12


and seat


14


to an upper end


21




a


of each of front and rear posts


20




a


,


20




b


. Each of tray connectors


28




a


,


28




b


provide selective coupling of tray


12


and seat


14


to front and rear posts


20




a


,


20




b


, selectable between a fixed tray use position fixing tray


12


and seat


14


in a horizontal position,

FIG. 1

, a tray rotation position allowing tray


12


and seat


14


to be rotated relative to post


20


for configuring tray


12


and seat


14


between a use and storage position, and a fixed tray storage position fixing tray


12


and seat


14


relative to post


20


in a generally vertical orientation, FIG.


2


.




Referring to

FIG. 9

, support tubes


16




a


,


16




b


are connected to front and rear bases


80




a


,


80




b


at each of their respective front and rear proximal ends


18




a


,


18




b


, by a corresponding left base connector


82


and right base connector


84


disposed at each of the front and rear bases


80




a


,


80




b


. Thus, left and right base connectors,


82


,


84


, are located at each of the front and rear bases


80




a


,


80




b


for connecting the left and right proximal ends


18




a


,


18




b


of support tubes


16




a


,


16




b


to bases


80




a


,


80




b


. The connecting structure associated with each of the front and rear pairs of base connectors


82


,


84


permits left and right support tubes


16




a


,


16




b


to be positioned between a use or supporting position, FIGS.


1


and


11


B-C, and a storage position,

FIG. 3

, by selecting between a fixed support tube coupling,

FIG. 11B

, and rotatable support tube coupling, FIG.


11


A. As explained in greater detail, below, front and rear base connectors


82


,


84


preferably couples tubes


16




a


,


16




b


to bases


80




a


,


80




b


, by a rotational biasing-type connector so as to provide bouncing support of entertainer


10


through tubes


16




a


,


16




b


for promoting child activity and adding entertainment value to entertainer


10


. As will be appreciated, the bouncing feature may, or may not be included with the use and storage positioning feature of tubes


16




a


,


16




b


and base connectors


82


,


84


. It is therefore considered within the scope of invention to provide an activity device with a tube or similar connecting assembly that provides a storable support frame which may, or may not also provide a bouncing frame feature.




Tray connector


28


will now be described in detail with reference to

FIGS. 2-8

. Each of the tray connectors


28




a


,


28




b


located at front and rear locations on entertainer are identical in configuration and function in a similar manner. The following discussion will therefore be limited to front tray connector


28




a


, with the understanding that the same description applies to rear tray connector


28




b


, except as noted otherwise. Tray connector


28




a


includes a circular tray housing


70


formed at the front end of tray


12


, a circular mating housing


40


sized to mate with tray housing


70


, a spring biased release button


30


for selecting between storage and use positions, and a circular housing formed at post upper end


21




a


sized to receive mating housing


40


and permitting relative rotational motion between mating housing


40


and post upper end


21




a


when tray connector


28




a


is configured to allow rotational motion. Referring to

FIGS. 4 and 5

, tray housing


70


includes ribs defining four receiving slots


72


disposed at 90 degree angular locations within tray housing


70


that are brought into mating contact with four corresponding angularly disposed teeth


52


in mating housing


40


for providing added structural integrity to the tray


14


to post connection. Preferably, tray housing


70


and mating housing


40


are formed by separate molding processes and then connected together to provide a reliable and durable interface with post upper end


21




a


, a rotatable or fixed coupling with upper end


21




a


, and to allow spring biased release button


30


to be conveniently positioned between mating housing


40


and tray housing


70


. Alternatively, mating housing


40


and tray housing


70


can be integrally formed with tray


12


by providing suitably strengthened structure in the vicinity of tray connector


28




a


, as would be apparent to the skilled artisan. Holes


36


,


38


and


68


are formed in post upper end


21




a


, mating housing


40


and tray housing


70


, respectively, for receiving a connecting bolt


42


for rotatably coupling upper end


21


a to mating housing


40


and tray housing


70


. Connecting bolt


42


includes a threaded end for securing bolt


42


using a threaded nut


44


that is received within a recess


48


of a bearing plate


46


.




Referring to the convex outer surface of mating housing


40


,

FIG. 6

, there is provided a notched portion defining first and second positioning surfaces


60




b


,


60




a


that are brought into contact with a corresponding first and second engagement surface


56




a


,


56




b


, respectively, formed on the concave inner surface of upper end


21




a


. When tray


12


and seat


14


are configured in the storage position,

FIG. 2

, first positioning surface


60




b


bears against first engagement surface


56




b


and when tray


12


and seat


14


are configured in the use position,

FIG. 1

, second positioning surface


60




a


bears against second engagement surface


56




a.






Referring to

FIGS. 5 and 6

, release button


30


is positioned between mating housing


40


and tray housing


70


and is biased to extend outwardly from a hole


31


formed in mating housing


40


and one of a corresponding pair of holes


32


and


34


formed in upper end


21




a


when tray


12


is placed in the corresponding use position and storage positions. When release button


30


extends through hole


32


, second positioning surface


60




a


bears against second engagement surface


56




a


and locks tray


12


and seat


14


in the use position, FIG.


1


. When release button


30


extends through hole


34


, first positioning surface


60




b


bears against first engagement surface


56




b


and locks tray


12


and seat


14


in the storage position, FIG.


2


. Release button


30


is biased outwardly by placing a compression spring


50


between button


30


and tray housing


70


. When configuring from the use to the storage position, button


30


is manually depressed so as to clear button from hole


32


. Once clear, tray


12


and seat


14


are then rotated about bolt


42


until button


30


extends through hole


34


. When engaged with hole


34


, tray


12


and seat


14


are locked in a storage configuration until button


30


is again depressed to clear button


30


from hole


34


to permit rotation of tray


12


and seat


14


into the use position where button


30


extends through hole


32


.




Referring to

FIGS. 6-8

, the height of tray


12


and seat


14


are preferably adjustable by selective vertical positioning of post


20


relative to base


80


. Post


20


is fixable at a designated height location by engagement of a spring biased height adjuster button


120


that is mounted in post


20


and extends outwardly through a positioning aperture


122


formed on a base front end


22


corresponding to a pre-designated tray height, as illustrated in

FIG. 7

(ribbed base cover removed). Preferably, three positioning apertures are formed on base front end


22


corresponding to three height locations. Post


20


is slidingly coupled to base


80


and releasably fixed at a selected height when height adjuster button


120


is engaged with a corresponding aperture


122


. To adjust the height setting, height adjuster button


120


is pressed inwardly so as to clear button


122


from base front end


22


. When height adjuster button


120


is depressed, post


20


may freely slide in base


80


until height adjuster button


120


expands into a selected aperture


122


, post


20


contacts bottom of base


80


, or adjustment stops


124


sliding in grooves


126


contact the top of grooves


126


. Height adjuster button


120


is mounted in post


20


by a plate


64


secured to post


20


by fasteners


62


, FIG.


6


.




Support tubes


16




a


,


16




b


, and base connectors


82


,


84


connecting support tubes


16


to bases


80




a


,


80




b


will now be described in detail by reference to

FIGS. 9-13

. Left and right support tubes


16




a


,


16




b


provide stability to entertainer


10


when in use, a supporting structure for permitting bouncing motion and are coupled to bases


80




a


,


80




b


so as to permit repositioning of tubes


16




a


,


16




b


between use and storage positions. Each of left and right support tubes


16




a


,


16




b


are identical. Tube


16




a


is preferably a U-shaped metal tube with front and rear proximal ends


18


a connecting tube


16




a


to front and rear bases


80




a


,


80




b


, respectively, and a rearwardly extending distal end


17




a


including rubber floor grips


24


to reduce undesired slippage of entertainer


10


during use. Tube


16




a


may alternatively be constructed from a plastic or other suitable material. Tube


16




a


may also correspond to a front and rear pair of separate legs or supports extending outwardly from front and rear bases


80




a


,


80




b


since this alternative structure may also provide the same functionality that is considered within the scope of the invention.




Base connectors


82


and


84


, disposed at each of the front and rear bases


80




a


,


80




b


are identical in their design and function. Reference will therefore be limited to base connectors


82


,


84


of front base


80




a


, except as noted below, with the understanding that the same description applies to base connectors


82


,


84


of rear base


80




b


. Referring to

FIG. 9

, there is illustrated the preferred arrangement of base connectors


82


,


84


mounted to base


80


a with proximal ends


18




a


,


18




b


of left and right tubes


16




a


,


16




b


connected to base connectors


82


,


84


, respectively. Each of base connectors


82


,


84


are mirror opposites of each other and provide the same function with regard to the various couplings of respective left and right tubes


16




a


,


16




b


to base


80




a


. Base connectors


82


,


84


each include a flange coupling


83


,


85


for coupling tubes


16




a


,


16




b


to base


80




a


through pivot pins


92


,


93


and left and right compression springs


96


,


97


, respectively.




Reference will now be limited to right base connector


82


with the understanding that the same description applies to left base connector


84


, except as noted otherwise. Referring to

FIG. 11D

, flange coupling


85


includes front and rear side walls


75




a


,


75




b


extending outwardly from a rear wall


74


, a lower lock aperture


91


and an upper lock aperture


89


formed in the front side wall


75




a


for locking tube


16




a


in a use position,

FIG. 11B

, and storage position,

FIG. 9

, respectively, a tube pivot hole


76


bored through the front and rear side walls


75




a


,


75




b


for receiving a rivet


95


passed through the end of tube


16




a


to provide a fixed, rotatable coupling between flange


85


and tube


16




a


, and a pivot hole


77


bored through the front and rear side walls


75




a


,


75




b


for receiving pivot pin


93


coupling flange coupling


85


to base


80




a


. Tube


16




a


includes a hole spaced away from the end. The hole (not shown) receives a spring biased button lock


87


disposed within tube


16




a


that is located so as to extend through each of upper and lower apertures


91


,


89


, when tube


16




a


is positioned in a use position,

FIG. 11B

, and storage position,

FIG. 9

, respectively. Preferably, button lock


87


is a spring biased button sold under the trademark “VALCO”, which includes a rounded end that biases outwardly from the hole formed in tube


16




a.






Referring now to base connectors


82


and


84


with respective proximal ends


18




a


,


18




b


of tubes


16




a


,


16




b


configured in the use position corresponding to button locks


86


,


87


extending through lower lock apertures


90


,


91


,

FIGS. 1

,


2


and


11


B, tubes


16




a


and


16




b


are orientated to extend downwardly from base


80




a


so as to suspend base


80




a


, post


20


, tray


12


and seat


14


above the support surface. In this configuration, entertainer


10


is supported on tube distal ends


17




a


,


17




b


. Referring to

FIGS. 10

,


11


B-C, flange couplings


83


,


85


are coupled to base


80


a by pins


92


,


93


and springs


96


,


97


to provide a bouncing motion of the upper frame portion (i.e., base


80




a


, post


20


, tray


12


and seat


14


). Springs


96


,


97


are positioned to push against respective flange couplings


83


,


85


at end walls


73


,


74


and a flange plate


98


of base


80




a


. Springs


96


,


97


are each offset from pivot pins


93


,


92


so as to impart a counterclockwise and clockwise biasing rotation to flange couplings


85


and


83


and tubes


16




a


,


16




b


, respectively, about base


80


a to produce a vertical bouncing motion, as illustrated by the arrows B in FIG.


11


C. Bumpers


99




a


,


99




b


are attached to the bases


80


to absorb shock when bases


80


touch the floor.




Preferably, a pair of horizontally extending compression springs


96


,


97


are offset from pivots


92


,


93


to provide bouncing motion. However, other biasing mechanisms may be employed without departing from the scope of invention. Bouncing motion may alternatively be provided by a variety of spring biasing means, provided anywhere between the flange couplings and base, such as torsion springs, extension springs, elastomeric springs, and other spring types which will be familiar to those skilled in the art. Examples include coupling a torsional spring between each of flange couplings


83


,


85


and base


80




a


, or a flexible housing such as a rubber member or bendable plastic may be formed in or secured to base


80




a


for coupling flange couplings


83


,


85


and tubes


16




a


,


16




b


to base


80




a


. As will be readily understood by the skilled artisan, each of these alternative embodiments are capable of providing a rotational bias between tubes


16




a


,


16




b


and base


80




a


for bouncing motion.




Referring to

FIGS. 12 and 13

, a base cover


102


is used to hold base connectors


82


,


84


in base


80




a


. Base cover


102


is secured to base


80




a


by fasteners


110


, through holes


108


. Base cover


102


includes pivot holders


106


,


107


for maintaining pivot pins


92


,


93


in proper alignment in base


80




a


. Depressible button releases


112


,


113


are mounted on base cover


102


to allow a user to re-position tubes


16




a


,


16




b


from a use position to a storage position. Button releases


112


,


113


are attached to contact pads


104


,


105


with fasteners


114


,


115


and positioned adjacent to lower lock apertures


90


,


91


to allow a user to push button locks


86


,


87


inwardly so as to clear button locks


86


,


87


from lower lock apertures


90


,


91


. Once clear of lower lock apertures


90


,


91


, tubes


16




a


,


16




b


may be rotated in relation to their respective flange couplings,


85


,


83


. Tubes


16




a


,


16




b


are rotatable about pivots


94


,


95


when released from lower button lock apertures


90


,


91


. Upper lock apertures


88


,


89


are slightly undersized to cause button locks


86


,


87


to only partially extend through lock apertures


88


,


89


, thereby creating a partial locking condition for tubes


16




a


,


16




b


in the storage position which may be overcome by the user without providing corresponding upper button releases.




Referring to a non-use position of tubes


16




a


,


16




b


,

FIG. 11A

, a left and right safety spring


101


,


100


is preferably positioned against tube proximal ends


18




a


,


18




b


to deter a user from placing a child in entertainer


10


without properly engaging button locks


86


,


87


in lower button lock apertures


90


,


91


. Safety springs


100


,


101


are preferably torsional springs disposed between base


80




a


and tube proximal ends


18




b


,


18




a


. Thus, safety springs


100


,


101


bias tubes


16




b


,


16




a


away from a use position until a user manually overcomes the spring force to position tubes


16




a


,


16




b


in the downwardly extending, use position (as indicated by arrows A in FIG.


11


A), thereby allowing button locks


86


,


87


to properly extend through lock apertures


90


,


91


to lock tubes


16




a


,


16




b


in the use position.




Referring to

FIGS. 1

,


14


-


15


, seat


14


includes a seat ring


130


attached to a tray race


140


to allow seat


14


to rotate. Seat ring


130


includes wheels


132


attached to axle supports


134


located around the circumference of seat ring


130


. A fabric covering


131


is attached to seat ring


130


using hooks


138


located around the outer periphery of the seat ring


130


. Seat ring


130


is attached to tray race


140


by placing seat ring


130


over tray race


140


and pushing down on seat ring


130


until locking tabs


136


engage in tray


12


. Seat


14


rotates freely around tray race


140


, but may be locked in a stationary position using a locking mechanism (not shown).




Entertainer


10


is configurable between a use and storage position as follows. Tray


12


and seat


14


is configured from a use portion,

FIG. 1

, to a storage position,

FIG. 2

, by depressing release button


30


located at each of the front and rear tray connectors


28




a


,


28




b


and rotating tray


12


and seat


14


through an angle of approximately 90 degrees from the use position to the storage position, which corresponds to tray


12


and seat


14


extending in a generally vertical orientation. When positioned in the vertical orientation, button


30


will automatically release into hole


34


, thereby locking tray


12


and seat


14


in the generally vertical position. Tubes


16




a


,


16




b


may then be configured in their storage position by depressing button lock releases


104


,


105


located on each of the front and rear bases


80




a


,


80




b


so as to allow tubes


16




a


,


16




b


to rotate. Tubes


16




a


,


16




b


are then rotated upwards through an angle of approximately 90 degrees until tubes


16




a


,


16




b


partially lock in upper lock apertures. When positioned in the storage configuration, entertainer


10


can then be supported on base


80


and is furthermore self standing, FIG.


3


. The position of tube distal ends


17




a


,


17




b


adjacent to tray


12


also provides a convenient hand hold for transporting entertainer


10


.




It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the child activity chair of the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.



Claims
  • 1. A portable activity center for entertaining a child, said activity center being supportable on a support surface, comprising:a support frame extending vertically upwards from a lower end proximate to the support surface and terminating at an upper end; a seat supporting portion; a seat coupled to said seat supporting portion and being able to rotate about a first axis relative to said support frame so as to allow a child placed in said seat to rotate about said first axis; a coupling assembly securing said seat supporting portion to said support frame upper end, said coupling assembly being selectable between a closed position fixing said seat supporting portion relative to said support frame and an open position permitting rotation of said seat supporting portion about a second axis substantially perpendicular to said first axis; and a first support leg extending from said support frame lower end and being selectively rotatable about a third axis substantially parallel to said second axis between an extended position and a stowed position, said first support leg including a support surface engaging end and a frame coupling end, a biasing member in contact with said support frame at one end and said frame coupling end at the other end, wherein said biasing member urges said seat upwards by rotation of said first support leg about a fifth axis; wherein said biasing member is a spring disposed between said support frame and said frame coupling end.
  • 2. The portable activity center of claim 1, wherein said spring is a compression spring extending generally parallel to the support surface.
  • 3. A child's bouncer receivable on a support surface comprising:a frame having an upper end and a lower end; a seat coupled to the frame upper end; a left and right support leg extending outwardly from said frame lower end, each of said left and right support legs including a support surface engaging end and a frame coupling end rotationally displaceable relative to said frame; and a biasing member coupled to each of said left and right support legs and positioned so as to bias each of said left and right support legs upwardly by rotational displacement of said left and right support legs frame coupling ends relative to said frame lower end.
  • 4. The child's bouncer of claim 3, wherein each of said left and right support legs frame coupling ends include an upper end, a lower end offset from said upper end, and said lower end includes a pin for rotationally coupling said frame coupling end to said frame lower end, wherein said biasing member includes a left and right end, the left end being positioned proximate said left support leg coupling end upper end and said right end being positioned proximate said right support leg coupling end upper end.
  • 5. The child's bouncer of claim 4, wherein said biasing member includes a left and right compression spring extending substantially parallel to the support surface, said left spring being positioned between said frame lower end and said upper end of said left support leg frame coupling end and said right spring being positioned between said frame lower end and said upper end of said right support leg frame coupling end.
  • 6. The child's bouncer of claim 3, wherein each of said left and right support legs further comprising an elongate bar having a proximal end and a distal end corresponding to said support surface engaging ends, wherein each of said respective frame coupling ends include a housing connected to said frame lower end by a pivot and said elongate bar proximal ends are connected to said housing at a position offset from said pivot.
  • 7. The child's bouncer of claim 6, wherein said biasing member is positioned on said housing at a position offset from said pivot and said elongate bar connection to said housing.
  • 8. The child's bouncer of claim 3, wherein each of said left and right support legs are U-shaped bars having first and second ends terminating at said respective frame coupling ends and a mid portion extending between said first and second ends and corresponding to said support surface engaging end.
  • 9. A method for configuring a child's activity seat from a deployed position to a folded position, the child's activity seat including a seat coupled to a tray, a base support having an upper end and a lower end and a support frame supporting the activity seat in the deployed position, wherein when the activity seat is configured in the deployed position, a first connector fixes the tray to a base support and a second connector fixes the support frame to the base support, said method of configuring the activity seat from the deployed to folded positions comprising the steps of:releasing the first connector so as to permit rotational motion of the seat and tray relative to the base support; and rotating the seat and tray about a first axis so as to position the seat and tray from a generally horizontal, deployed position to a generally vertically, folded position. releasing the second connector so as to permit rotational motion of the support frame relative to the base support; and rotating the support flame about a second axis, substantially parallel to the first axis, so as to position the support frame from a generally horizontal, ground engaging position to a folded, vertical position wherein the support frame is positioned adjacent to the seat and tray.
  • 10. The method of claim 9, further including the step of supporting the folded activity seat in a generally upright orientation on the support surface by placing the base support lower end on the support surface.
  • 11. The method of claim 9, further including the step of forming a bar extending outwardly and having a proximal end rotational coupled to the base support and a distal end outboard from the proximal end, the distal end including a blocking member preventing rotation of the bar relative to the base support, wherein the releasing the second connector step corresponds to the step of clearing the blocking member from the bar so as to permit the bar to rotate about its proximal end relative to the base support.
  • 12. The method of claim 9, wherein said rotating of the support frame includes the step of rotating at least one support leg from a generally horizontal, ground engaging position to a generally vertical position.
  • 13. A foldable activity center for entertaining a child, the activity center being placed on a support surface, comprising:a base frame extending vertically upwards from a lower end proximate to the support surface and terminating at an upper end; a supporting portion including a child's seat and an upper surface generally defining an activity area for a child placed in said seat, said upper surface defining a first plane; a coupling assembly securing said supporting portion to said base upper end, said coupling assembly being selectable between a closed position fixing said supporting portion relative to said base frame and an open position permitting rotation of said supporting portion relative to said base frame, wherein said rotation is within a second plane that is perpendicular to the first plane; wherein said coupling assembly includes a first and second engagement surface formed on said supporting portion and said frame upper end including a first and second mating surface for engaging said engagement surfaces, wherein said closed position corresponds to one of said first and second engagement surfaces being in mating contact with the corresponding one of said first and second mating surfaces and said open position corresponds to both of said first and second engagement surfaces being clear of said first and second mating surfaces.
  • 14. The foldable activity center of claim 13, wherein when said foldable activity center is disposed in a folded position, said first plane is approximately perpendicular to the support surface.
  • 15. The foldable activity center of claim 13, wherein said base frame comprises at least one post.
  • 16. The foldable activity center of claim 15, wherein said supporting portion is disposed above the support surface by said at least one post.
  • 17. The foldable activity center of claim 13, wherein said first plane is defined by a tray.
  • 18. The foldable activity center of claim 13, wherein said seat is disposed between said first and second engagement surfaces.
  • 19. The foldable activity center of claim 13, wherein said first engagement surface is formed on a circular housing.
  • 20. The foldable activity center of claim 13, wherein said first engagement surface is spaced 180 degrees from said second engagement surface.
  • 21. A foldable activity center for entertaining a child, the activity center being placed on a support surface, comprising:a base frame extending vertically upwards from a lower end proximate to the support surface and terminating at an upper end; a supporting portion including a child's seat and an upper surface generally defining an activity area for a child placed in said seat, said upper surface defining a first plane; a coupling assembly securing said supporting portion to said base upper end, said coupling assembly being selectable between a closed position fixing said supporting portion relative to said base frame and an open position permitting rotation of said supporting portion relative to said base frame, wherein said rotation is within a second plane that is perpendicular to the first plane; wherein said coupling assembly is configured in an open position, said supporting portion is rotatable between a generally horizontal position appropriate for placing a child in said seat and a stowed position corresponding to said supporting portion disposed in a generally vertical position.
  • 22. The foldable activity center of claim 21, wherein said base frame includes a post.
  • 23. The foldable activity center of claim 21, wherein said supporting portion first plane is defined by a tray.
  • 24. The foldable activity center of claim 23, wherein said coupling assembly couples said tray to said base frame.
  • 25. The foldable activity center of claim 21, wherein said supporting portion being configured from the generally horizontal position to the generally vertical position corresponds to said activity area being rotated approximately 90 degrees.
Parent Case Info

This application claims priority to the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/653,008 filed on Aug. 31, 2000, pending, which is hereby incorporated by reference. The invention relates broadly to a child supporting activity device and more specifically, the invention relates to a child supporting activity device for entertaining and promoting activity in a young child.

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Continuation in Parts (1)
Number Date Country
Parent 09/653008 Aug 2000 US
Child 09/654917 US