Child Receiving Device with Child Entertainment System

Abstract

An activity center is disclosed, wherein the activity center includes a child receiving device and an activity bar attached thereto. The activity bar may be removably connected to the child receiving device. The activity center includes a number of components including at least one actuator, at least one entertainment component, an electronic control unit and a power supply that all communicate together. Furthermore, the activity bar includes motion members extending upward from and connected to the activity bar by resilient members such that motion of a child seated in the child receiving device is transferred to the motion member through the resilient members to cause the motion members to reciprocate back and forth to entertain the child.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the infant activity center of the present invention integrated with a child receiving device.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the functional characteristics of an infant activity center of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a diagram schematically illustrating a control system in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a rear perspective view of the underlying components of the infant activity center of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5A shows a front isolated view of the activity bar of the infant activity center of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5B shows a rear close-up view of the activity bar of FIG. 5A.

FIG. 6A shows a top view of the leg support portion of a child receiving device of FIG. 4.

FIGS. 6B and 6C show a top view and an underside internal view of the activity bar retainer members of the leg support portion of the child receiving device of FIG. 6A.

FIG. 7A shows the activity bar of the present invention being received into one of the retainer members of FIGS. 6B and 6C.

FIG. 7B shows the activity bar of the present invention as it is completely received in one of the retainer members of FIGS. 6B and 6C.

FIGS. 8A and 8B show fragmentary cross-sectional views of the ends of the activity bar in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates a schematic of the electronic components of an infant activity center in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 10 shows a close-up view of a motion member of the activity bar in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 11 shows an enlarged side view of the motion member of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 shows an exploded view of portions of the activity bar of FIG. 5A.

FIG. 13 shows an enlarged exploded view that illustrates the resilient mechanical connection of the motion member of FIG. 10 to the is connected to an infant activity center in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 14 shows a perspective view of the activity bar excluding the motion member to reveal the internals of the connection between the motion member and the activity bar housing in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 15 shows an enlarged side view of a motion member in accordance with the present invention illustrating the movement of the motion member as the resilient mechanical connection is flexed.

FIG. 16 shows a perspective view of the child receiving device and activity center in accordance with the present invention with a child received therein and illustrating the movement of the motion members from a first position to a second dotted line position as the child motion of the child's body imparts motion to the child receiving device.

Claims

1. An activity bar supported by a child receiving device, the child receiving device being configured to allow a child received in the child receiving device to impart motion to the child receiving device by movement of the child, the activity bar being positioned above a child received in the child receiving device and comprising: a housing;an arm for connecting the housing to the child receiving device such that motion of the child receiving device imparts motion to the arm and the arm imparts motion to the housing;a first entertainment component extending upward from the housing, the first entertainment component including a motion member connected to the housing by a resilient member such that motion of the housing transfers motion to the motion member through the resilient member,wherein movement of a child received in the child receiving device imparts reciprocal movement to the motion member to entertain the child.

2. The activity bar of claim 1, wherein the resilient member is flexible.

3. The activity bar of claim 2, wherein the resilient member is a spring.

4. The activity bar of claim 1, wherein at least one of the housing and the child receiving device includes a second entertainment component.

5. The activity bar of claim 4, wherein the second entertainment component includes at least one of light and sound generation.

6. The activity bar of claim 5, further including an actuator to activate the second entertainment component.

7. The activity bar of claim 6, wherein the actuator includes at least one of a mechanical switch, a sound detector, and a motion detector.

8. A child receiving device comprising: a child receiving portion configured to allow a child received therein to impart motion to the child receiving device by movement of the child; an activity bar being positioned above a child received in the child receiving device, the activity bar including a housing;an arm connecting the housing to the child receiving device such that motion of the child receiving device imparts motion to the housing;a first entertainment component extending upward from the housing and including a motion member connected to the housing by a resilient member such that motion of the housing transfers motion to the motion member through the resilient member,wherein movement of a child received in the child receiving portion imparts reciprocal movement to motion member to entertain the child.

9. The child receiving device of claim 8 wherein, the resilient member is flexible.

10. The child receiving device of claim 9 wherein, the resilient member is a spring.

11. The child receiving device of claim 8 wherein at least one of the housing or the child receiving portion includes a second entertainment component.

12. The child receiving device of claim 11, wherein the second entertainment component includes at least one of light and sound generation.

13. The child receiving device of claim 12 further including an actuator to activate the second entertainment component.

14. The child receiving device of claim 13, wherein the actuator includes at least one of a mechanical switch, a sound detector, and a motion detector.

15. A method of entertaining a child including the steps of: providing child activity center including a child receiving device configured to allow a child received in the child receiving device to impart motion to the child receiving device by movement of the child; andproviding a activity bar;positioning the child activity bar on the child receiving device above a child received in the child receiving device, the child activity bar comprising: a housing;an arm for connecting the housing to the child receiving device such that motion of the child receiving device imparts motion to the housing;a first entertainment component extending upward from the housing and including a motion member connected to the housing by a resilient member such that motion of the housing transfers motion to the motion member through the resilient member,wherein movement of the child received in the child receiving device imparts movement to the child receiving device, which imparts movement to the arm, which imparts movement to the housing, which imparts movement to the resilient member ,which finally imparts movement to the motion member to entertain the child.

16. The method of entertaining a child of claim 15, wherein the resilient member is flexible.

17. The method of entertaining a child of claim 16, wherein the resilient member is a spring.

18. The method of entertaining a child of claim 15, wherein at least one of the housing and the child receiving device includes a second entertainment component.

19. The method of entertaining a child of claim 18, wherein the second entertainment component includes at least one of light and sound generation.

20. The method of entertaining a child of claim 16, further including an actuator to activate the second entertainment component, wherein the actuator includes at least one of a mechanical switch, a sound detector, and a motion detector.