Convertible activity center

Abstract

A child's activity center that may alternately be assembled as a stationary activity center with a seat for very young children and as a floor play set for older children. As a stationary activity center the assembly has a base that rests on the floor with upwardly extending legs that support a tray above the base. The tray may be removed from the base and placed on the floor next to it and a connector unites the tray and base together. Toys are provided on the tray and base that have a common theme to allow the activity center to grow as the young child grows so as to hold the child's interest for a long period of time.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A combination child's stationary activity center and floor play set comprising a support frame and a child's seat detachably connected to the frame, 
 a base for resting on a floor or other surface and for carrying the support frame above the floor,    and at least one activity toy having a first part carried on the support frame and a second part carried by the base, said first and second parts joining one another to form a single play set when the support frame is detached from the base and placed on the floor or other surface beside the base and in a selected registration with the base.    
     
     
         2 . A combination child's stationary activity center and floor play set as described in  claim 1  wherein the support frame carries a plurality of toys for use by a child seated in the seat.  
     
     
         3 . A combination child's stationary activity center and floor play set as described in  claim 1  wherein at least one leg releasably joins the support frame with the base.  
     
     
         4 . A combination child's activity center and floor play set comprising 
 a pair of platforms detachably connected to one another and usable in one orientation as an activity center wherein one platform is spaced above the other and in a second orientation as a floor play set wherein the two are disposed in substantially the same plane in close proximity to one another.    
     
     
         5 . A combination child's activity center and floor play set as described in  claim 4  wherein the two platforms are or approximately the same size in plan view.  
     
     
         6 . A combination child's activity center and floor play set as described in  claim 4  wherein at least one leg carries said one platform on the other when they are oriented as an activity center, said leg being detachably connected to the said one platform.  
     
     
         7 . A combination child's activity center and floor play set as described in  claim 4  wherein at least one toy is carried by said one platform.  
     
     
         8 . A combination child's activity center and floor play set as described in  claim 4  wherein a track is provided on each of the platforms which tracks form an interconnected track when the platforms are oriented as a floor play set.  
     
     
         9 . A combination child's activity center and floor play set as described in  claim 4  wherein the two platforms have peripheral portions that mate with one another to establish a particular interrelated orientation for the platforms when in the floor play set configuration.  
     
     
         10 . A combination child's activity center and floor play set as described in  claim 8  wherein when the platforms are oriented as the floor play set the tracks of the two platforms form a continuous track.  
     
     
         11 . A combination child's activity center and floor play set as described in  claim 9  wherein the two platforms are approximately the same size in top plan view.  
     
     
         12 . A combination child's activity center and floor play set as described in  claim 9  wherein legs carry one platform on the other when they are oriented as an activity center, said legs being detachably connected to the said one platform.  
     
     
         13 . A combination child's activity center and floor play set as described in  claim 4  wherein a seat is attached to the upper of the platforms when in the activity center orientation.  
     
     
         14 . A combination child's activity center and floor play set as described in  claim 13  wherein the seat is in the approximate center of the upper of the platforms and is surrounded by the platform.  
     
     
         15 . A combination child's activity center and floor play set as described in  claim 14  wherein the seat is rotatable in the platform.  
     
     
         16 . A combination child's activity center and floor play set as described in  claim 6  wherein the legs are stored in the other platform and detached from said one platform when the platforms are oriented as a floor play set.  
     
     
         17 . A combination child's activity center and floor play set as described in  claim 16  wherein a track is provided on each of the platforms which tracks cooperate to form an interconnected track when the platforms are oriented as a floor play set.  
     
     
         18 . A combination child's activity center and floor play set as described in  claim 4  wherein a toy vehicle is detachably carried by one of the platforms and rides in the track when the combination is in the floor play set configuration.  
     
     
         19 . A combination child's activity center and floor play set as described in  claim 18  wherein the vehicle is detachably connected to the one platform when the combination is in the activity center configuration.  
     
     
         20 . A combination child's activity center and floor play set as described in  claim 4  wherein a connector section is provided in each of the platforms for joining them together when in the floor play set configuration.  
     
     
         21 . A combination child's activity center and floor play set as described in  claim 20  wherein the connector sections enable one of the platforms to overlap the other and a latch releasably locks the platforms in the overlapped relationship.  
     
     
         22 . A combination child's activity center and floor play set as described in  claim 18  wherein a connector section is provided in each of the platforms for joining them together when in the floor play set configuration.  
     
     
         23 . A combination child's activity center and floor play set as described in  claim 22  wherein the connector sections enable one of the platforms to overlap the other and a latch releasably locks the platforms in the overlapped relationship.  
     
     
         24 . A combination child's activity center and floor play set as described in  claim 4  wherein a plurality of legs are attachable to both of the platforms for supporting said one platform above the other, and adjustable connectors joining the legs to one of the platforms for varying the height of the said one platform above the other.  
     
     
         25 . A combination child's activity center and floor play set as described in  claim 24  wherein a seat is detachably mounted on the said one platform for supporting a young child.  
     
     
         26 . A combination child's activity center and floor play set as described in  claim 25  wherein the seat is rotatable in the platform.  
     
     
         27 . A combination child's activity center and floor play set as described in  claim 24  wherein the legs are flexible so as to permit the upper platform to bounce and sway a limited amount relative to the lower platform.  
     
     
         28 . A combination child's activity center and floor play set as described in  claim 27  wherein the legs include a bellows and spring for enabling the upper platform to bounce and sway.  
     
     
         29 . A combination child's activity center and floor play set as described in  claim 7  wherein a track is provided on one of the platforms and the toy is sized and shaped to ride on the track.  
     
     
         30 . A combination child's activity center and floor play set as described in  claim 29  wherein a plurality of toys including simulated vehicles are mounted on one or the other of the platforms and ride on the track.  
     
     
         31 . A combination child's activity station and floor play set comprising a base, at least one leg connected to the base and extending upwardly therefrom, 
 a tray detachably mounted on the legs and disposed above the base when the combination functions as a play station,    a coupling provided in the base and tray enabling the two to be connected together to form a floor play set when the tray is detached from the legs,    said legs being storable in the base when the combination is in the floor play set configuration.    
     
     
         32 . A combination child's activity station and floor play set as described in  claim 31  wherein the legs are stored in the base in an inverted position with respect to their position when they support the tray above the base.  
     
     
         33 . A combination child's activity station and floor play set as described in  claim 31  wherein a plurality of legs support the tray above the base, said legs being flexible enabling the tray to bounce relative to the base.  
     
     
         34 . A combination child's activity station and floor play set as described in  claim 31  wherein a seat is mounted on the tray for supporting a young child in a seated position at the tray.  
     
     
         35 . A combination child's activity station and floor play set as described in  claim 34  wherein a plurality of flexile legs support the tray above the base when they are assembled as a play station enabling it to function as a stationary walker.  
     
     
         36 . A combination child's activity station and floor play set as described in  claim 34  wherein a plurality of toys are carried by the tray within reach of a child placed in the seat.  
     
     
         37 . A combination child's activity station and floor play set as described in  claim 36  wherein at least one toy is provided in the base for use with at least one toy carried on the tray when the combination is assembled as a floor play set.  
     
     
         38 . A combination child's activity center and floor play set as described in  claim 36  wherein all of the toys on the tray and base have a common theme.  
     
     
         39 . A combination child's activity center and floor play set as described in  claim 38  wherein all of the toys are farm related.  
     
     
         40 . A combination child's activity center and floor play set as described in  claim 36  wherein a track is provided in at least one of the base and tray and at least some of the toys fit in and ride on the tracks.  
     
     
         41 . A combination child's activity center and floor play set as described in  claim 39  wherein the toys include simulated farm vehicles and farm structures.  
     
     
         42 . A child's toy comprising 
 a simulated wagon detachably carrying a simulated stack of hay,    and a manually movable member disposed in the simulated stack of hay and extendable out of the stack and retractable into the stack.    
     
     
         43 . A child's toy as described in  claim 42  wherein a second movable member is disposed in and extendable out of the simulated stack, 
 and an actuator connected to the two members causing them to move in opposite directions with respect to the stack.  
 
     
     
         44 . A child's activity center that may be alternately assembled as a play center and a floor play set comprising 
 a base and a tray removably mounted above the base,    a seat attached to the tray for supporting a child when the activity center is assembled as a play center,    a coupling device provided in the tray and base for connecting them together when the activity center is assembled as a floor play set,    a track provided in at least one of the base and tray,    and a plurality of simulated vehicles detachably mounted on the tray for moving about on the track.    
     
     
         45 . A child's activity center as described in  claim 44  wherein one of the vehicles is a tractor.  
     
     
         46 . A child's activity center as described in  claim 44  wherein the vehicles include a simulated tractor and wagon.  
     
     
         47 . A child's activity center as described in  claim 45  wherein the vehicles include a simulated combine and a hay wagon.  
     
     
         48 . A child's activity center as described in  claim 44  wherein the toys include a silo and a barn.  
     
     
         49 . A child's activity center as described in  claim 44  wherein the seat is rotatable in the tray.  
     
     
         50 . A child's activity center as described in  claim 44  wherein the tray has an opening therein and the seat is removably mounted in the opening.  
     
     
         51 . A child's activity center as described in  claim 50  wherein the seat includes a ring that fits in the opening and a fabric seat attached to the ring.  
     
     
         52 . A child's activity center as described in  claim 51  wherein the fabric seat is detachably connected to the ring.  
     
     
         53 . A child's activity center as described in  claim 52  wherein the ring has a plurality of openings and connectors and the fabric seat has a plurality of loops that extend through the openings and engage the connectors to attach the fabric seat to the ring.  
     
     
         54 . A child's activity center as described in  claim 51  wherein the ring has a cylindrical wall and a skirt connected to the wall and disposed outside the wall, said wall having a shoulder that engages the periphery of the opening to support the ring on the tray.  
     
     
         55 . A child's activity center as described in  claim 54  wherein the cylindrical wall has a plurality of openings therethrough above the shoulder and connectors below the shoulder, and the fabric seat has a plurality of loops that extend from the outer side of the wall through the openings to the inner side of the wall and downwardly to engage the connectors.  
     
     
         56 . A child's seat assembly for use in a stationary activity center, walker or the like that includes a support platform with an opening therein for receiving the seat assembly comprising, 
 a ring having a generally cylindrical wall with a shoulder on its outer surface for engaging the margin of the opening in the platform,    a flexible fabric seat detachably connected to the wall above and below the shoulder,    and connectors in the wall of the ring on the outer surface thereof for releasably engaging the margin of the opening on the bottom side of the platform.    
     
     
         57 . A child's seat assembly as defined in  claim 56  wherein the wall of the ring includes a plurality of openings above the shoulder and connectors below the shoulder, and the fabric seat includes a plurality of loops that extend through the openings in the wall and engage the connectors at the bottom of the ring.  
     
     
         58 . A child's seat assembly as defined in  claim 57  wherein the connectors are fingers in the bottom of the ring and the loops extend about the fingers.  
     
     
         59 . A child's seat assembly as defined in  claim 56  wherein the fabric seat is a sling-like seat having a crotch strap and leg openings.  
     
     
         60 . A child's seat assembly as defined in  claim 58  wherein the fabric seat is a sling-like seat having a crotch strap and leg openings.  
     
     
         61 . A child's seat assembly as defined in claim  60  wherein an elasticized member is attached to the upper end of the fabric seat and extends about the outside of cylindrical wall above the shoulder and the seat extends downwardly through the cylindrical wall of the ring.  
     
     
         62 . A child's seat assembly as defined in claim  61  wherein the ring has a skirt about the upper portion of the wall and extends downwardly so that the bottom of the skirt is disposed closely adjacent the upper surface of the platform.  
     
     
         63 . A child's seat assembly as defined in claim  61  wherein the loops are attached to the fabric seat at the elasticized edge thereof.