Infant mobile having multiple activation modes, including a kick-bar activation mode and a remote activation mode

Abstract

An infant mobile includes three units: a kicking unit containing a first infrared transmitter and a receiver, a mobile unit, and a remote control unit including a second transmitter, enabling remote activation by a parent or activation by the infant.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A mobile for infants, comprising: 
 a mobile unit including a motor, a rotating member from which are suspended a plurality of objects, and an receiver, wherein said motor is arranged to rotate said rotating member upon receipt of a wireless command signal by said receiver;    a kicking unit including a kick-bar arranged to be moved when kicked by an infant, said kick-bar activating a switch which causes a wireless transmitter to send said wireless command signal to said mobile unit, whereby said kicking unit serves as a first remote control unit for activating said mobile.    
     
     
         2 . A mobile as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said kicking unit further includes a speaker and lights.  
     
     
         3 . A mobile unit as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising a second remote control unit including a first switch and a wireless transmitter for turning on said mobile unit and kicking unit when said button is activated.  
     
     
         4 . A mobile unit as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising a second remote control unit for deactivating said kicking unit.  
     
     
         5 . A mobile unit as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said remote control unit further includes a second switch, and wherein said first switch causes said mobile unit to play continuously and said mobile unit to turn continuously, and wherein said second switch causes said mobile unit and kicking unit to enter a standby state in which said mobile unit is activated by said kick-bar.  
     
     
         6 . A mobile unit as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a second remote control unit including a first switch and a wireless transmitter for turning on said mobile unit and kicking unit when said button is activated.  
     
     
         7 . A mobile unit as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said wireless transmitter is an infrared transmitter.  
     
     
         8 . An infant-activated wireless remote control, comprising: 
 a housing;    a kick-bar mounted in said housing;    a switch arranged to be activated by said kick-bar; and    a wireless transmitter arranged to be activated by said switch.    
     
     
         9 . An infant-activated wireless remote control as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said wireless transmitter is arranged to activate a remotely situated mobile.  
     
     
         10 . An infant-activated wireless remote control as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising a speaker and lights mounted in said housing.  
     
     
         11 . An infant-activated wireless remote control as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising a receiver situated in said housing for receiving wireless signals from a second remote control in order to deactivate said first wireless transmitter.  
     
     
         12 . An infant-activated wireless remote control as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising a speaker and lights mounted in s aid housing, and wherein said second remote control is arranged to s electively activate a mode in which said speaker and lights are activated by said kick-bar, and a mode in which said speaker, said lights, and said transmitter are all activated by said kick-bar.  
     
     
         13 . An infant-activated wireless remote control as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said transmitter is an infrared transmitter.  
     
     
         14 . An infant mobile, comprising: 
 a kicking unit containing a kick-bar, a first transmitter, and a first receiver,    a mobile unit including a second receiver, and    a remote control unit including a second transmitter,    wherein the first transmitter communicates with the second transmitter to activate said mobile unit, and wherein the second transmitter communicates with said first receiver to activate said kicking unit.    
     
     
         15 . An infant mobile as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said first and second transmitters are infrared transmitters.  
     
     
         16 . An infant mobile as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said second transmitter activates and deactivates said first transmitter.  
     
     
         17 . An infant mobile as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising a speaker and lights mounted in said kicking unit, and wherein said second remote control is arranged to selectively activate a mode in which said speaker and lights are activated by said kick-bar, and a mode in which said speaker, said lights, and said first transmitter are all activated by said kick-bar.