Method of Calming a Child

Abstract

Methods of soothing a child by using a furniture piece including an inflated body with a seat on a first side and a base on an opposing second side. The furniture piece is positioned with the base contacting against the floor and the body having a first shape and the seat facing upward away from the floor and positioned a first distance away from the floor. The child is positioned on the furniture piece and moved in a first vertical direction by applying a force to the body directed towards the floor. The force deforms the body from the first shape to a second shape and moves the seat towards the floor. The child is then moved in an opposing second vertical direction by removing the force from the body and returning the body to the first shape. The process is repeated to move the child in alternating upward/downward motions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of calming a child, the method comprising:
 providing a furniture piece comprising an inflated body with a seat on a first side and a base with a non-spherical shape on an opposing second side;   positioning the furniture piece on a floor with the base contacting against the floor and the body having a first shape, and the seat facing upward away from the floor and being positioned a first distance away from the floor;   positioning the child on the furniture piece;   moving the child in a first vertical direction by applying a force to the body that is directed towards the floor and deforming the body from the first shape to a second shape and moving the seat towards the floor to a second distance that is in closer proximity to the floor than the first distance;   moving the child in an opposing second vertical direction and returning the seat to the first distance away from the floor by removing the force from the body and returning the body to the first shape; and   repeatedly moving the child in the first and second vertical directions by alternating between applying the force to the body and removing the force from the body.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising applying the force to the body and deforming the base simultaneously with deforming the body. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising contacting four legs of the base against the floor and preventing the furniture piece from moving laterally along the floor. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising maintaining the shape of the base when moving in the first and second vertical directions. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising adjusting a position of the seat relative to the body. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein positioning the child on h furniture piece comprises contacting the child directly against the body. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein deforming the body from the first shape to the second shape comprising deforming the body from a spherical shape to a non-spherical shape. 
     
     
         8 . A method of calming a child, the method comprising:
 providing a furniture piece comprising an inflated body with spherical shape, a seat on a first side, and an inflated non-spherical base that extends outward from the body on an opposing second side;   positioning the furniture piece on a floor while the body is in the spherical shape and is spaced above the floor and the base is contacting against the floor and the seat is facing upward away from the floor and is spaced a first distance away from the floor;   positioning the child on the furniture piece and maintaining the base in contact with the floor;   compressing the body and the base and moving the child in a first vertical direction towards the floor while maintaining the base in contact with the floor to prevent the furniture piece from moving laterally along the floor;   decompressing the body and the base and moving the child in an opposing second vertical direction away from the floor while maintaining the base in contact with the floor to prevent the furniture piece from moving laterally along the floor; and   repeatedly compressing and decompressing the body and the base while maintaining the base in contact with the floor and moving the child in an alternating pattern of the first and second directions.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising applying a force to the body that is directed towards the floor and compressing the body. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising removing the force from the body and decompressing the body. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising compressing the body and deforming the legs. 
     
     
         12 . A method of calming a child, the method comprising;
 providing a furniture piece comprising an inflated body with a seat on a first side and a base on an opposing second side, the base also being inflated and comprising legs that each extend outward from the body and terminate at a distal end;   positioning the furniture piece on a floor while the body is in a first shape and with the distal ends of each of the legs contacting against the floor and the seat facing upward away from the floor and being spaced a first distance away from the floor;   sitting on the furniture piece while holding the child and applying a force to the body;   deforming the body with the force and moving the child in a first vertical direction towards the floor while maintaining the distal ends of each of the legs in contact with the floor to prevent the furniture piece from moving laterally along the floor;   removing the force from the body and returning the body towards the first shape and moving the child in an opposing second vertical direction away from the floor while maintaining the distal ends of each of the legs in contact with the floor to prevent the furniture piece from moving laterally along the floor; and   creating a rhythm of bouncing in the first and second vertical directions by repeatedly applying and removing the force.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising applying the force to the body and deforming the legs while deforming the body. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising contacting four legs of the base that are arranged in a rectangular pattern against the floor and preventing the furniture piece from moving laterally along the floor. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising adjusting a position of the seat relative to the body.