Reconfigurable support system for children

Abstract

A reconfigurable support system for children a universal seat and a plurality of base frames such as a toddler seat frame, a high chair frame, an infant seat frame, and a swing frame. The arms of the seat define receptacles that receive a portion of each frame. A locator assembly enables the seat to be coupled to each frame in a predetermined orientation. A lock mechanism removably secures the seat to each frame. The support system further includes support legs that selectively connect to the frames and support the frames over a supporting surface.

1 . An infant support system comprising:
 a seat defining an child receiving area, the seat including a first receptacle and a second receptacle separate from the first receptacle, each receptacle defining a frame engagement region;   a first infant support frame including a first engagement portion receivable in the first receptacle and a second engagement portion receivable in the second receptacle; and   a second infant support frame including a third engagement portion receivable in the first receptacle and a fourth engagement portion receivable in the second receptacle, wherein the seat removably couples to both the first and second infant support frames.   
     
     
         2 . The infant support system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the receptacles of the seat includes at least one opening and each of the engagement portions of the infant support frames includes at least one projection configured to engage an opening on the seat. 
     
     
         3 . The infant support system of  claim 1 , wherein the first infant support frame is a toddler seat frame. 
     
     
         4 . The infant support system of  claim 3 , wherein the toddler seat frame includes a first side portion and a second side portion, the first side portion includes the first engagement portion, and the second side portion includes the second engagement portion. 
     
     
         5 . The infant support system of  claim 1 , wherein the second infant support frame is a swing frame. 
     
     
         6 . The infant support system of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the swing frame includes a leg assembly comprising a plurality of support members, a housing supported by the leg assembly, and at least one support arm movably supported by the housing; and   the third engagement portion of the second infant support frame is coupled to the at least one support arm.   
     
     
         7 . The infant support system of  claim 1 , wherein the first infant support frame is a highchair frame including a base frame and a plurality of support members, and the base frame includes a plurality of receptacles into which the support members are inserted. 
     
     
         8 . The infant support system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the seat includes a locator housing disposed within the seat receptacle; and   the first infant support frame includes a first locator receptacle operable to mate with the locator housing on the seat.   
     
     
         9 . The infant support system of  claim 8 , wherein the second infant support frame includes a second locator receptacle operable to mate with the locator housing on the seat. 
     
     
         10 . The infant support system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the seat further includes a first locator housing disposed within the first receptacle and a second locator housing disposed within the second receptacle, the first locator housing having a different configuration than the second locator housing; and   the first infant support frame includes:
 a first locator receptacle operable to mate with the first locator housing, and 
 a second locator receptacle operable to mate with the second locator housing. 
   
     
     
         11 . A reconfigurable infant support system, comprising:
 a first frame configured to be supported on a support surface, the first frame including a first coupling portion and a second coupling portion, each of the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion including a locking member;   a second frame configured to be supported on the support surface, the second frame including a third coupling portion and a fourth coupling portion, each of the third coupling portion and the fourth coupling portion including a locking member; and   a seat defining an infant receiving area, the seat being removably coupleable to the first frame and to the second frame, the seat including a first receptacle and a second receptacle and a locking member associated with each of the receptacles, wherein when the seat is coupled to the first frame, each of the receptacles of the seat receives one of the coupling portions of the first frame and each of the locking members of the first frame engages one of the locking members of the seat, and when the seat is coupled to the second frame, each of the receptacles of the seat receives one of the coupling portions of the second frame and each of the locking members of the second frame engages one of the locking members of the seat.   
     
     
         12 . The reconfigurable infant support system of  claim 11 , wherein the first frame supports the seat in an inclined orientation relative to a support surface, and the second frame supports the seat in a substantially horizontal orientation relative to the support surface. 
     
     
         13 . The reconfigurable infant support system of  claim 11 , wherein the first frame is a swing frame that includes a base frame, at least one support arm movably coupled to the base frame, and a seat support frame coupled to the at least one support arm, and the seat support frame including the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion. 
     
     
         14 . The reconfigurable infant support system of  claim 11  further comprising:
 a locator assembly operable facilitate coupling of the seat to each of the first frame and the second frame in a predetermined seat orientation. 
 
     
     
         15 . The reconfigurable infant support system of  claim 14 , wherein the locator assembly includes a first component disposed on the seat that is configured to engage a second component disposed on each of the first frame and the second frame. 
     
     
         16 . A seat for an infant support system, the infant support system including a first infant support structure and a second infant support structure different than the first infant support structure, the seat comprising:
 a body including:
 a main portion having a surface on which an infant may be placed; 
 a first side portion coupled to the main portion, the first side portion including a rim defining a receptacle, the rim including a coupling component; and 
 a second side portion coupled to the main portion, the second side portion including a rim defining a receptacle, the rim of the second side portion including a coupling component, wherein each of the receptacles receives part of the first infant support structure and the coupling components engage corresponding coupling components on the first infant support structure when the seat is releaseably coupled to the first infant support structure, and each of the receptacles receives part of the second infant support structure and the coupling components engage corresponding coupling components on the second infant support structure when the seat is releaseably coupled to the second infant support structure. 
   
     
     
         17 . The seat of  claim 16 , wherein the coupling component on the first side portion is an opening formed in the rim of the first side portion. 
     
     
         18 . The seat of  claim 16 , wherein the rims have curved configurations, and each of the first and second infant support structures includes portions with a configuration corresponding to at least a portion of the curved configurations of the rims. 
     
     
         19 . The seat of  claim 16 , wherein the first infant support structure engages a first portion of the rims of the side portions when the seat is coupled to the first infant support structure, and the second infant support structure engages a second portion of the rims of the side portions when the seat is coupled to the second infant support structure, the second portion being greater than the first portion. 
     
     
         20 . The seat of  claim 16 , wherein the first infant support structure is a toddler seat and the second infant support structure is a swing.