Combination Bassinet and Toddler Chair

Abstract

A combination bassinet and toddler chair is disclosed. One dual-purpose frame is provided which is capable of supporting both the bassinet and the toddler chair with minimal reconfiguration effort by the parent or caretaker. In one configuration, a bassinet is held horizontally onto one or more frame members by coupling members mounted to the frame members and mounting mechanisms mounted on either side of the bottom panel of the bassinet. Easy-to-use lever mechanisms are provided on the sidewall of the bassinet that release the latches and allow for removal of the bassinet. With the bassinet removed, a toddler chair, with fabric loops on either side of the seating area, slides over the frame members and is frictionally held in place and suspended between the frame members.

1 . A combination toddler chair and bassinet assembly, comprising:
 a bassinet;   a toddler chair comprising a middle seating surface disposed between two opposing loops;   a support frame comprising a horizontal base connected to two spaced-apart frame members extending upward from the base and terminating at two spaced-apart distal ends;   one or more coupling members connected to each frame member proximal the distal end of each frame member, the distal end of each frame member being detachably connected to a head rail with the head rail extending between and connecting the distal ends of the frame members;   the coupling members being detachably connected to the bassinet when the frame members, coupling members and head rail support the bassinet on top of the frame members;   upon removal of the head rail from the frame members, the frame members receiving the opposing loops of the toddler chair and supporting the toddler chair between the frame members.   
   
   
       2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the bassinet comprises a bottom panel, the bottom panel being connected to two spaced-apart latches disposed on either side of the bottom panel, the latches being detachably coupled to the coupling members when the bassinet is detachably connected to the coupling members and supported above the frame members by the coupling members, frame members and head rail. 
   
   
       3 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein each latch is connected to a release cable, each release cable being connected to a lever, movement of each lever causing each latch to move from a locked to an unlocked position with respect to its respective coupling member. 
   
   
       4 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein each lever is disposed within a handle assembly mounted on either side of the bassinet above the latches. 
   
   
       5 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein each latch is accommodated in a housing connected to opposing sides of the bottom panel of the bassinet, each latch housing accommodating a spring, the springs biasing the latches towards a locked position. 
   
   
       6 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein each coupling member comprises a traverse rod received by one of the latches when the latches are in a locked position and the bassinet is detachably connected to the coupling members. 
   
   
       7 . The assembly of  claim 6 , wherein each latch comprises one or more spaced-apart fingers including a lower finger and upper finger, the traverse rod of each coupling member being disposed between the fingers when the latch is in a locked position and the bassinet is detachably connected to the coupling members. 
   
   
       8 . The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein each latch is pivotally connected to its respective housing by a pin, and wherein upward tension on each release cable causing the upper finger of each latch to pivot downward past the traverse rod of its respective coupling member to unlock the latches and detach the bassinet from the coupling members. 
   
   
       9 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising an accessory shelf removably mounted to the base when the bassinet is detachably connected to the frame members. 
   
   
       10 . The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the accessory shelf comprises one or more spaced-apart downwardly extending posts and the horizontal base comprises one or more spaced-apart holes for receiving the posts of the accessory shelf. 
   
   
       11 . The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the horizontal base comprises lower horizontal portions of the frame members that are connected by a rear cross rail and a front cross rail, the spaced-apart holes for receiving the posts of the accessory shelf being disposed along the front cross rail. 
   
   
       12 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling members are detachably connected to each frame element and the coupling members are removed prior to the frame members receiving the opposing loops of the toddler chair. 
   
   
       13 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling members are secured to the frame members by at least one removable fastener. 
   
   
       14 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein
 the frame members are separated by a greater distance at their distal ends than at the horizontal base.   
   
   
       15 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the toddler chair is frictionally held in place on the frame members as lower portions of the frame members that are spaced apart by a greater distance than distal ends of the frame members apply tension to the opposing loops of the toddler chair as the toddler chair is slid downward over the frame members. 
   
   
       16 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the opposing loops of the toddler chair are tubular with lower openings that each receive one of the distal ends of the frame members and upper openings through which the distal ends of the frame members extend when the toddler chair is disposed on the frame members and ready for use. 
   
   
       17 . The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the loops of the toddler chair and the coupling members are sized so removal of the coupling members prior to installment of the toddler chair on the frame members is not required. 
   
   
       18 . The assembly of  claim 16  further comprising a second head rail for attachment to the distal ends of the frame members when the toddler chair is installed over the frame members, the second head rail and padding disposed on an upper end of the toddler chair serving as a head rest. 
   
   
       19 . A combination toddler chair and mounting frame for the toddler chair, comprising:
 a base connected to one or more spaced-apart frame members that extend upward from the base, the frame members each comprising a distal end and bottom end connected to the base;   the toddler chair comprising left and right loops with a seat area disposed there between, each loop being tubular with a bottom opening for receiving a distal end of one of the frame members so the seat area is suspended between the frame members when the frame members are inserted through the loops of the toddler chair, the bottom ends of the frame members being spaced apart by a greater distance than the distal ends of the frame members and by a greater distance than the loops of the toddler chair thereby enabling the toddler chair to be frictionally held in space on the frame members when the toddler chair is slid downward over the frame members.   
   
   
       20 . A combination toddler chair and bassinet assembly, comprising:
 a bassinet comprising a bottom panel connected to a continuous sidewall extending upward from the bottom panel, the bottom panel being connected to two downwardly extending latch mechanisms disposed on either side of the bottom panel, the sidewall being connected to two handles disposed on either side of the sidewall and above the latch mechanisms, the handles each comprising a lever, each lever being connected to a cable, each cable being connected to one of the latch mechanisms for releasing the latch mechanisms from a locked position;   a toddler chair comprising a middle seating surface disposed between two opposing loops, each loop comprising a bottom opening;   a support frame comprising a horizontal base connected to two spaced-apart frame members curving upward from the base and terminating at two spaced apart distal ends, the frame members being spaced apart by a first distance at the base and a second distance at the distal ends of the frame members, the first distance being greater than the second distance, the bottom openings of the toddler chair being separated by a third distance that is at least as great as the second distance and less than the first distance;   one or more coupling members connected to each frame member proximal the distal end of each frame member, the distal end of each frame member being detachably connected to a head rail with the head rail extending between and connecting the distal ends of the frame members;   the coupling members been detachably connected to the bassinet when the frame members, coupling members and head rail support the bassinet on top of the frame members;   upon removal of the head rail from the frame members, the frame members receiving the opposing loops of the toddler chair and frictionally supporting the toddler chair between the frame members as the bottom openings of the loops of the toddler chair are slid downward towards the base.