Infant mobile

Abstract

Provided is an infant mobile comprising a base housing, an axially rotatable main drive shaft, a bug body, a bug head and four wings. The main drive shaft extends outwardly from the base housing. The bug body is mounted on an end of the drive shaft. A set of four wing shafts extend laterally outwardly from the bug body. The bug head is connected to the bug body with the bug head and bug body each having a generally bulbous shape. Each one of the wing shafts has one of the wings mounted on a free end thereof. The wings are generally disc-shaped and may include a ribbon mounted on an outer perimeter. The wing shafts are mechanically coupled to the main drive shaft in a manner wherein rotational motion of the main drive shaft is imparted in equal proportion to the wing shafts such that the wings rotate in unison.

1 . An infant mobile, comprising: 
 a bug body mounted on an end of the drive shaft and having at least one axially rotatable wing shaft extending laterally outwardly therefrom, the wing shaft being axially rotatable in response to axial rotation of the drive shaft;    a bug head connected to the bug body; and    a wing fixedly mounted on the wing shaft and being rotatable therewith.    
   
   
       2 . The infant mobile of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a base housing; and    an axially rotatable main drive shaft extending outwardly from the base housing; wherein:    the bug body is mounted on an end of the main drive shaft;    the wing shaft being axially rotatable in response to axial rotation of the main drive shaft.    
   
   
       3 . The infant mobile of  claim 2  wherein the base housing includes a drive unit housed therewithin, the drive unit comprising: 
 a motor;    a gear set operatively coupled to the motor and being rotatable in response to rotation of the motor;    a pulley system operatively coupled to the gear set and being mechanically coupled to the main drive shaft;    a battery electrically connected to the motor; and    an on/off switch electrically connected to the battery and being operative to activate the motor for effectuating axial rotation of the main drive shaft such that the wing shaft is rotated.    
   
   
       4 . The infant mobile of  claim 2  wherein the bug body has four of the wing shafts extending outwardly therefrom.  
   
   
       5 . The infant mobile of  claim 4  wherein the wing shafts are oriented at an angular spacing of about ninety degrees relative to one another.  
   
   
       6 . The infant mobile of  claim 5  wherein the wing shafts are mechanically coupled to the main drive shaft in a manner wherein rotational motion of the main drive shaft is imparted in equal proportion to the wing shafts such that the wings rotate in unison.  
   
   
       7 . The infant mobile of  claim 2  wherein the bug body includes a bug body gear assembly housed therewithin and including: 
 a crown gear; and    a plurality of pinion gears directly engaged to the crown gear and being disposed on an end of the main drive shaft and on an end of the wing shaft;    wherein the crown gear is configured to mechanically couple the main drive shaft to the wing shaft in a manner wherein rotational motion of the main drive shaft is imparted to the wing shaft.    
   
   
       8 . The infant mobile of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a drive unit housed within the bug body, the drive unit comprising a wind-up spring assembly configured to impart rotational motion to the wing shaft.    
   
   
       9 . The infant mobile of  claim 8  wherein the wind-up spring assembly includes: 
 a windable spring member housed within the bug body and being mechanically coupled to the wing shaft; and    an exteriorly accessible winding key mounted on the bug body and being operatively coupled to the wind-up spring member for manual winding thereof.    
   
   
       10 . The infant mobile of  claim 1  wherein the wing is generally disc-shaped.  
   
   
       11 . The infant mobile of  claim 1  further comprising at least one ribbon affixed to the wing.  
   
   
       12 . The infant mobile of  claim 1  wherein the bug head includes a pair of antennae extending outwardly therefrom and having a pair of bulbous tips formed on ends of respective ones of the antennae.  
   
   
       13 . The infant mobile of  claim 1  wherein the bug head and bug body each have a bulbous shape.  
   
   
       14 . The infant mobile of  claim 1  wherein the bug head includes an eye/nose appliqué disposed on a front side thereof.  
   
   
       15 . The infant mobile of  claim 2  further comprising a mounting bracket affixed to the base housing and being configured to allow for removable attachment of the infant mobile to a wall.  
   
   
       16 . The infant mobile of  claim 15  further including: 
 a wall mount plate mounted on a wall;    wherein the mounting bracket includes a slot sized and configured to removably engage the wall mount plate.    
   
   
       17 . The infant mobile of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a body extension extending outwardly from the bug body;    a mounting bracket affixed to the body extension and being configured to allow for clamping of the infant mobile to a support structure.    
   
   
       18 . The infant mobile of  claim 17  wherein the mounting bracket includes: 
 a spaced pair of outwardly extending prongs defining a gap therebetween for insertion of the railing thereinto; and    a clamp mechanism having a threaded shaft extending through one of the prongs and terminating in a clamp pad configured to clamp the support structure between the prong and the clamp pad.    
   
   
       19 . The infant mobile of  claim 17  wherein: 
 the mounting bracket includes a socket formed therewithin;    the body extension having a pin sized complementary to the socket and being insertable therewithin to allow for removal of the infant mobile from the mounting bracket.    
   
   
       20 . The infant mobile of  claim 1  wherein the infant mobile is configured to simulate the appearance of a dragonfly.