Infant rocker bed

Abstract

A rocker bed assembly for infants includes upper and lower hollow frame members that join with a mid-section frame via respective hinge members. The hinge members, which include push button release mechanisms, are positioned on each side of the rocker bed along the upper portion and lower frame portions and function to position the respective frame members relative to the mid-section frame. The release mechanisms enable pivoting of the frame members, and therefore, the rocker bed, between an opened, fully extended position and closed, folded position. The mid-section frame forms a slightly curved base for engaging a support surface. A flexible fabric covering is stretched tautly about the frame assembly to provide a support surface for the infant lying thereon. The taut covering, combined with the curved base, allow the bed to be rocked by the motion of the infant or by a caregiver.

1 . An infant rocker bed assembly, comprising;
 a unitary main frame having upper and lower frame members pivotally attached to mid-section frame members with means for positioning said upper and lower frame members;   said mid-section frame members defined by curvilinear, ground-engaging bases, said upper and lower frame members converging away from said mid-section frame members to curve upwardly and terminate in opposite closed ends; and   a flexible covering secured to said upper and lower frame members and said mid-section frame members.   
   
   
       2 . The infant rocker bed assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said upper and lower frame members include end stabilization members. 
   
   
       3 . The infant rocker bed assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said positioning means include a push button release mechanism. 
   
   
       4 . The infant rocker bed assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said upper and lower frame members are configured to be pivoted inwardly toward said mid-section frame members to position said unitary main frame into a closed position. 
   
   
       5 . The infant rocker bed assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said upper and lower frame members are configured to be pivoted outwardly away from said mid-section frame members to position said unitary main frame in an opened, fully extended position, 
   
   
       6 . An infant rocker device, comprising:
 an upper frame member and a lower frame member, said upper frame member including a back portion for supporting an upper body portion of an infant placed in said device and said lower frame member including a leg portion for supporting a lower body portion of the infant;   a mid-section frame portion joined to each of said upper and lower frame members via respective positioning members, each of said positioning members having means for releasing and pivoting said upper and lower frame members when said means are actuated, wherein said upper and lower frame members are configured to be pivoted inwardly toward said mid-section frame portion to position said rocker device into a closed position and to be pivoted outwardly away from said mid-section frame portion to position said rocker device in an opened, fully extended position, wherein said mid-section frame portion forms a curved based that engages a support surface, wherein the back portion and leg portion curve upwardly from said mid-section frame portion;   a flexible covering tautly and releasably secured about said upper and lower frame members and surrounding said mid-section frame portion to provide a firm, top surface for supporting the infant in a substantially horizontal, lying-down position relative to the support surface, said covering including an infant restraint device for securing the infant to the top surface of the covering, wherein the covering and mid-section frame portion are together configured to permit manual rocking of the device.   
   
   
       7 . The infant rocker device according to  claim 6 , further comprising stabilizing feet secured to said upper and lower frame members at opposite ends of the device, wherein said feet are configured to stabilize and to limit rocking motion of the rocker device. 
   
   
       8 . The infant rocker device according to  claim 6 , wherein the covering includes closure means for releasably securing the covering about said upper and lower frame members and said mid-section portion. 
   
   
       9 . The infant rocker device according to  claim 6 , wherein the upper and lower frame members comprise hollow aluminum tube members. 
   
   
       10 . The infant rocker device according to  claim 6 , wherein said means for releasing and pivoting the upper and lower frame members comprise push button release mechanisms. 
   
   
       11 . The infant rocker device according to  claim 1 , wherein said positioning members are disposed on opposite sides of each of the upper frame members and lower frame members, respectively. 
   
   
       12 . The infant rocker device according to  claim 7 , wherein said covering includes openings for allowing access to said means for releasing and pivoting the upper and lower frame members and for accommodating said stabilizing feet. 
   
   
       13 . The infant rocker device according to  claim 6 , wherein said covering includes an infant restraint device for securing the infant to the top surface of the covering. 
   
   
       14 . The infant rocker device according to  claim 6 , wherein said covering comprises a soft, thick fabric and includes padded head and foot portions. 
   
   
       15 . A portable bed for rocking an infant, comprising:
 a unitary main frame assembly including upper and lower spaced frame members interconnected by a mid-section frame portion joined to facing ends of said upper and lower frame members, said mid-section frame portion including means for positioning said upper and lower frame members relative to said mid-section frame portion so that said bed is convertible between a closed position and an open, fully extended position upon actuation of said means, wherein said mid-section frame portion forms a curved base that rests upon a support surface and said upper and lower spaced frame members define a back portion and leg portion converging away from said mid-section frame portion to curve upwardly, and terminate in opposite closed ends, thereby providing a substantially flat surface upon which an infant can lie substantially horizontally relative to the support surface; and   a flexible covering secured about said upper and lower frame members and surrounding said midsection frame portion to provide a firm, top surface for supporting the infant when said bed is in the extended position, said covering including an infant restraint device for securing the infant to the top surface of the covering, wherein the covering and midsection frame portion are together configured to permit manual rocking of the device.   
   
   
       16 . The portable bed according to  claim 15 , wherein said back portion supports an upper body portion of the infant positioned on said portable bed and said leg portion supports a lower body portion of the infant. 
   
   
       17 . The portable bed according to  claim 15 , wherein said upper and lower frame members are configured to be pivoted inwardly toward said mid-section frame portion to position said portable bed into the closed position and to be pivoted outwardly away from said mid-section frame portion to position said portable bed into an open, fully extended position. 
   
   
       18 . A collapsible device for rocking an infant, comprising:
 an open, unitary main frame assembly having upper, lower, and mid-section frame portions, said frame assembly including means for releasing and pivoting said upper and lower frame portions relative to said mid-section frame portion, such that said frame member is convertible between a closed position and an open, fully extended position, wherein said mid-section frame portion forms a curved base for partially contacting a support surface;   a flexible covering stretched tautly about said frame member to form a firm supporting surface for supporting said infant in a substantially horizontal, lying-down position relative to a support surface on which the device is disposed when said frame member is in the open, fully extended position, wherein said covering and said curved mid-section frame portions are configured so that when the covering is positioned around said frame, the device is manually rockable.   
   
   
       19 . The device according to  claim 18 , further comprising stabilizing feet secured to opposite ends of the frame member, wherein said feet are configured to stabilize and to limit rocking motion of the rocker device. 
   
   
       20 . The device according to  claim 18 , wherein the covering includes closure means for releasably securing the covering about the frame member. 
   
   
       21 . The device according to  claim 18 , wherein the frame members comprise hollow aluminum tube members. 
   
   
       22 . The device according to  claim 18 , wherein the means for releasing and pivoting the upper and lower frame members comprise positioning members having push button release mechanisms.