Infant Support Structure with Integrated Electronic System

Abstract

An infant support structure assembly includes a frame having an infant receiving portion configured to receive an infant therein and an electronic device. The infant receiving portion includes a support component extending along part of the infant receiving portion. The support component includes an electrical connector coupled thereto. The electrical connector is connected to a power source. The electronic device includes a mounting portion removably mountable to the support component of the frame. Power is supplied from the power source to the electronic device when the electronic device is mounted to the frame and engages the electrical connector of the support component.

1 . A system, comprising:
 an infant support structure including:
 a frame having an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion being configured to engage a support surface, the upper portion being coupled to the lower portion and defining an infant receiving area in which an infant may be placed; and 
 an electronic system coupled to the frame, the electronic system including an electrical contact and a power source connected to the electrical contact; and 
   an electronic infant device including an activity component and a mounting component, the mounting component being removably coupleable to the frame, the electronic infant device including an electrical contact, the electrical contact of the electronic infant device being connected to the electrical contact of the frame when the electronic infant device is coupled to the frame so that power can be supplied to the activity component of the electronic infant device.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion includes a first side portion, a second side portion, a first end portion, and a second end portion, the side portions and the end portions collectively defining the infant receiving area therebetween, and the electrical contact of the frame is disposed on one of the end portions. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein one of the first end portion and the second end portion includes a rail portion, and the electrical contact of the frame is disposed on the rail portion. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion of the frame includes a mounting portion, the mounting portion being configured to be coupled to the mounting component of the electronic infant device, and the electrical contact of the frame is placed on the mounting portion. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic infant device is one of a monitor or a light source. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the infant support structure is selected from the group consisting of a crib, a bassinet, a playard, and a changing table. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic infant device is a first electronic infant device, further comprising a second electronic infant device including an activity component and a mounting component, the activity component of the second electronic infant device being different than the activity component of the first electronic infant device, and the mounting component of the second electronic infant device being removably coupleable to the frame and including an electrical contact, the electrical contact of the second electronic infant device being connected to the electrical contact of the frame when the electronic infant device is coupled to the frame so that power can be supplied to the activity component of the second electronic infant device. 
     
     
         8 . An infant support structure assembly comprising:
 a frame including an infant receiving portion configured to receive an infant therein, the infant receiving portion including a support component extending along part of the infant receiving portion, the support component including an electrical connector coupled thereto, the electrical connector being connected to a power source; and   an electronic device removably coupleable to the frame, the electronic device including a mounting portion being mountable to the support component of the frame, and power being supplied from the power source to the electronic device when the electronic device is mounted to the frame and engages the electrical connector of the support component.   
     
     
         9 . The infant support structure assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the frame is a crib frame and the infant receiving portion includes side walls and end walls, and the support component is a rail and is located along one of a side wall and an end wall. 
     
     
         10 . The infant support structure assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the electronic device includes an electrical connector that engages the electrical connector of the support component when the electronic device is mounted to the frame. 
     
     
         11 . The infant support structure assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the mounting portion of the electronic device is configured to receive a portion of the support component of the frame, and the electrical connector of the electronic device is coupled to the mounting portion of the electronic device. 
     
     
         12 . The infant support structure assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the electronic device is selected from the group consisting of a monitor, a light source, an audio device, and a mobile. 
     
     
         13 . The infant support structure assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the electronic device is a first electronic device, further comprising a second electronic device removably coupleable to the frame and different than the first electronic device, the second electronic device including a mounting portion being mountable to the support component of the frame, and power being supplied from the power source to the second electronic device when the second electronic device is mounted to the frame and engages the electrical connector of the support component. 
     
     
         14 . The infant support structure assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the support component is a first support component, the infant receiving portion including a second support component including an electrical connector coupled thereto and coupled to the power source, the mounting portion of the electronic device being mountable to a selected one of the first support component or the second support component, and power being supplied from the power source to the electronic device when the electronic device is mounted to the frame and engages the electrical connector of the selected one of the first support component or the second support component. 
     
     
         15 . An infant support structure comprising:
 a lower frame portion configured to engage a support surface, the lower frame portion including a support member on which an infant can be placed; and   an upper frame portion, the upper frame portion including a wall portion extending along at least part of the lower frame portion, the wall portion including a rail portion configured to receive an electronic device thereon, the rail portion having an electrical connector disposed therein, the electrical connector being exposed relative to the rail portion, the electrical connector being electrically connected to a power source so that power is supplied to the electrical connector.   
     
     
         16 . The infant support structure of  claim 15 , further comprising an electronic device, the electronic device including a mounting portion having an electrical connector, the mounting portion being configured to be coupled to the rail portion of the upper frame portion so that the electrical connector of the electronic device can be coupled to the electrical connector of the upper frame portion to supply power from the power source to the electronic device. 
     
     
         17 . The infant support structure of  claim 16 , wherein the electronic device is selected from the group consisting of a monitor, a light source, an audio device, and a mobile. 
     
     
         18 . The infant support structure of  claim 15 , wherein the infant support structure is selected from the group consisting of a crib, a bassinet, a playard, and a changing table. 
     
     
         19 . The infant support structure of  claim 15 , further comprising a plurality of electronic devices, each of the electronic devices including a mounting portion having an electrical connector, the mounting portion being configured to be coupled to the rail portion of the upper frame portion so that the electrical connector of the electronic device can be coupled to the electrical connector of the upper frame portion to supply power from the power source to a corresponding one of the electronic devices. 
     
     
         20 . The infant support structure of  claim 15 , wherein the wall portion is a first wall portion, the upper frame including a second wall portion including a rail portion configured to receive the electronic device thereon and having an electrical connector disposed therein, the electrical connector of the second wall portion being electrically connected to the power source so that power is supplied thereto.