Child supporting device

Abstract

An access-optimized infant support device comprising a lower support frame and a seat or resting portion supported on the lower support frame, whereby the lower support frame maintains the seat or resting portion at a height allowing a line-of-sight eye-contact interaction between an infant on the seat or resting portion and an adult seated at a standard dining table, and also allows close proximity between the infant on the seat or resting portion and an adult seated on a standard sofa.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A child supporting device comprising:
 a support frame defining a periphery within which the support frame rests on a supporting surface, the support frame periphery having a length L and a width W; and   a child resting portion supported by the support frame at a height H above the supporting surface;   wherein a length-to-width aspect ratio (L/W) of the support frame periphery is between about 0.8 to about 2.2.   
     
     
         2 . The child supporting device of  claim 1 , wherein the height H is between about 21″ to about 36″. 
     
     
         3 . The child supporting device of  claim 2 , wherein the height H is between about 26″ to about 32″. 
     
     
         4 . The child supporting device of  claim 3 , wherein the height H is about 29″. 
     
     
         5 . The child supporting device of  claim 1 , wherein a height-to-width aspect ratio (H/W) is between about 0.9 to about 2.6. 
     
     
         6 . The child supporting device of  claim 5 , wherein a height-to-width aspect ratio (H/W) is between about 1.3 to about 2.0. 
     
     
         7 . The child supporting device of  claim 6  wherein a height-to-width aspect ratio (H/W) is about 1.6. 
     
     
         8 . The child supporting device of  claim 1 , wherein the length-to-width aspect ratio is between about 1.1 to about 1.8. 
     
     
         9 . The child supporting device of  claim 8 , wherein the height H is between about 21″ to about 36″. 
     
     
         10 . The child supporting device of  claim 9 , wherein the height H is between about 26″ to about 32″. 
     
     
         11 . The child supporting device of  claim 10 , wherein the height H is about 29″. 
     
     
         12 . The child supporting device of  claim 8 , wherein a height-to-width aspect ratio (H/W) is between about 0.9 to about 2.6. 
     
     
         13 . The child supporting device of  claim 12 , wherein a height-to-width aspect ratio (H/W) is between about 1.3 to about 2.0. 
     
     
         14 . The child supporting device of  claim 13  wherein a height-to-width aspect ratio (H/W) is about 1.6. 
     
     
         15 . The child supporting device of  claim 1 , wherein the length-to-width aspect ratio is about 1.4. 
     
     
         16 . The child supporting device of  claim 15 , wherein the height H is between about 21″ to about 36″. 
     
     
         17 . The child supporting device of  claim 16 , wherein the height H is between about 26″ to about 32″. 
     
     
         18 . The child supporting device of  claim 17 , wherein the height H is about 29″. 
     
     
         19 . The child supporting device of  claim 15 , wherein a height-to-width aspect ratio (H/W) is between about 0.9 to about 2.6. 
     
     
         20 . The child supporting device of  claim 19 , wherein a height-to-width aspect ratio (H/W) is between about 1.3 to about 2.0. 
     
     
         21 . The child supporting device of  claim 20  wherein a height-to-width aspect ratio (H/W) is about 1.6. 
     
     
         22 . The child supporting device of  claim 1 , wherein the support frame comprises four support legs, and the support frame periphery is generally rectangular. 
     
     
         23 . The child supporting device of  claim 22 , wherein the support frame further comprises at least one cross-member extending between the support legs. 
     
     
         24 . The child supporting device of  claim 1 , wherein the child resting portion comprises a seat. 
     
     
         25 . The child supporting device of  claim 1 , wherein the child resting portion comprises a bassinet. 
     
     
         26 . The child supporting device of  claim 1 , wherein the child resting portion comprises a rocker. 
     
     
         27 . The child supporting device of  claim 1 , wherein the child resting portion comprises a child carrier. 
     
     
         28 . The child supporting device of  claim 1 , wherein the child resting portion comprises a changing table. 
     
     
         29 . The child supporting device of  claim 1 , wherein the child resting portion is detachable and removable from the support frame, and the support frame comprises a docking station having at least one coupling for interchangeable attachment of at least two different child resting portions. 
     
     
         30 . The child supporting device of  claim 29 , wherein the at least two different child resting portions are selected from a seat, a bassinet, a rocker, a carrier, a support, and/or a changing table. 
     
     
         31 . The child supporting device of  claim 1 , further comprising a tray. 
     
     
         32 . The child supporting device of  claim 1 , wherein the child resting portion is supported on the support frame at an angle of inclination of between about 15° to about 40° from horizontal. 
     
     
         33 . The child supporting device of  claim 32 , wherein the angle of inclination of the child resting portion is about 27.5° from horizontal. 
     
     
         34 . The child supporting device of  claim 1 , wherein the child resting portion further comprises an upper member selected from a canopy, a toy bar or a handle. 
     
     
         35 . The child supporting device of  claim 1 , wherein the height of the child resting portion above the supporting surface is adjustable. 
     
     
         36 . The child supporting device of  claim 1 , wherein a child supported therein is within about 12″ to 36″ of an adult seated on a standard sofa when the child supporting device is positioned adjacent the sofa. 
     
     
         37 . The child supporting device of  claim 36 , wherein the child supported therein is positioned about 24″ or less from the adult seated on the adjacent sofa. 
     
     
         38 . The child supporting device of  claim 1 , wherein a line of sight between a child supported therein and an adult seated at a standard dining table about 40″-60″ from the child supporting device is between about 0°-30° relative to horizontal. 
     
     
         39 . The child supporting device of  claim 38 , wherein the line of sight between the child supported therein and the adult is about 15° or less, relative to horizontal. 
     
     
         40 . The child supporting device of  claim 1 , wherein the support frame comprises caster wheels for mobility on the supporting surface. 
     
     
         41 . The child supporting device of  claim 1 , wherein the support frame is collapsible and/or foldable between an expanded configuration and a compact configuration. 
     
     
         42 . A child supporting device comprising:
 a support frame defining a periphery within which the support frame rests on a supporting surface, the support frame periphery having a length of between about 19″ to about 31″ and a width of between about 14″ and 23″; and   a child resting portion supported by the support frame at a height of about 21″ to about 36″ above the supporting surface.   
     
     
         43 . The child supporting device of  claim 42 , wherein the length is between about 22″ to about 28″. 
     
     
         44 . The child supporting device of  claim 43 , wherein the length is about 25″. 
     
     
         45 . The child supporting device of  claim 42 , wherein the width is between about 16″ to about 20″. 
     
     
         46 . The child supporting device of  claim 45 , wherein the width is about 18″. 
     
     
         47 . The child supporting device of  claim 42 , wherein the height is between about 26″ to about 32″. 
     
     
         48 . The child supporting device of  claim 47 , wherein the width is about 29″. 
     
     
         49 . The child supporting device of  claim 42 , wherein a length-to-width aspect ratio of the support frame periphery is between about 0.8 to about 2.2. 
     
     
         50 . The child supporting device of  claim 49 , wherein the length-to-width aspect ratio of the support frame periphery is between about 1.1 to about 1.8. 
     
     
         51 . The child supporting device of  claim 50 , wherein the length-to-width aspect ratio of the support frame periphery is about 1.3. 
     
     
         52 . The child supporting device of  claim 42 , wherein a height-to-width aspect ratio is between about 0.9 to about 2.6. 
     
     
         53 . The child supporting device of  claim 52 , wherein the height-to-width aspect ratio is between about 1.3 to about 2.0. 
     
     
         54 . The child supporting device of  claim 53 , wherein the height-to-width aspect ratio is about 1.6. 
     
     
         55 . The child supporting device of  claim 42 , wherein the support frame comprises four support legs, and the support frame periphery is rectangular. 
     
     
         56 . The child supporting device of  claim 55 , wherein the support frame further comprises at least one cross-member extending between the support legs. 
     
     
         57 . The child supporting device of  claim 42 , wherein the child resting portion comprises a seat. 
     
     
         58 . The child supporting device of  claim 42 , wherein the child resting portion comprises a bassinet. 
     
     
         59 . The child supporting device of  claim 42 , wherein the child resting portion comprises a rocker. 
     
     
         60 . The child supporting device of  claim 42 , wherein the child resting portion comprises a child carrier. 
     
     
         61 . The child supporting device of  claim 42 , wherein the child resting portion comprises a changing table. 
     
     
         62 . The child supporting device of  claim 42 , wherein the child resting portion is detachable and removable from the support frame, and the support frame comprises a docking station having at least one coupling for interchangeable attachment of at least two different child resting portions. 
     
     
         63 . The child supporting device of  claim 62 , wherein the at least two different child resting portions are selected from a seat, a bassinet, a rocker, a carrier, a support, and/or a changing table. 
     
     
         64 . The child supporting device of  claim 42 , further comprising a tray. 
     
     
         65 . The child supporting device of  claim 42 , wherein the child resting portion is supported on the support frame at an angle of inclination of between about 15° to about 40° from horizontal. 
     
     
         66 . The child supporting device of  claim 65 , wherein the angle of inclination of the child resting portion is about 27.5° from horizontal. 
     
     
         67 . The child supporting device of  claim 42 , wherein the child resting portion further comprises an upper member selected from a canopy, a toy bar or a handle. 
     
     
         68 . The child supporting device of  claim 42 , wherein the height of the child resting portion above the supporting surface is adjustable. 
     
     
         69 . The child supporting device of  claim 42 , wherein a child supported therein is within about 12″ to 36″ of an adult seated on a standard sofa when the child supporting device is positioned adjacent the sofa. 
     
     
         70 . The child supporting device of  claim 69 , wherein the child supported therein is positioned about 24″ or less from the adult seated on the adjacent sofa. 
     
     
         71 . The child supporting device of  claim 42 , wherein a line of sight between a child supported therein and an adult seated at a standard dining table about 40″-60″ from the child supporting device is between about 0°-30° relative to horizontal. 
     
     
         72 . The child supporting device of  claim 71 , wherein the line of sight between the child supported therein and the adult is about 15° or less, relative to horizontal. 
     
     
         73 . The child supporting device of  claim 42 , wherein the support frame comprises caster wheels for mobility on the supporting surface. 
     
     
         74 . The child supporting device of  claim 42 , wherein the support frame is collapsible and/or foldable between an expanded configuration and a compact configuration. 
     
     
         75 . A child supporting device comprising:
 a support frame defining a periphery within which the support frame rests on a supporting surface; and   a child resting portion supported by the support frame at a height above the supporting surface, wherein a child supported on the child resting portion is within about 12″ to 36″ of an adult seated on a standard sofa when the child supporting device is positioned adjacent the sofa, and wherein a line of sight between a child supported therein and an adult seated at a standard dining table about 40″-60″ from the child supporting device is between about 0°-30° relative to horizontal.