Infant mobile with illuminated and rotating elements

Abstract

An infant mobile includes an arm and an axle or hub extending downward from the arm which is rotatable 360° in its axis. At least one translucent element extends outward from the axle or hub. At least one light emitting device is operatively associated with the translucent element to provide illumination to the translucent element. A motor is operatively associated with the hub or axle so that during use of the mobile, the motor causes the hub or axle to rotate 360° causing the translucent element to rotate relative to the arm of the mobile.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An infant mobile, comprising:
 an arm;   an axle extending downward from the arm and rotatable 360° in its axis;   at least one translucent element extending radially outward from the axle;   at least one light emitting device operatively associated with at least one of the at least one translucent elements, wherein during operational use of the infant mobile, the at least one light emitting device illuminates at least one of the at least one translucent elements; and   a motor operatively associated with the axle, wherein during operation use of the infant mobile, the motor causes the axle with the at least one translucent element to rotate about the axle axis.   
     
     
         2 . The infant mobile of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one translucent element comprises at least three elements. 
     
     
         3 . The infant mobile of  claim 2 , wherein the translucent elements are in the shape of a leaf. 
     
     
         4 . The infant mobile of  claim 2 , wherein the axle comprises a hub to which each translucent element radially extends therefrom. 
     
     
         5 . The infant mobile of  claim 2 , wherein a number of the at least one light emitting device is the same as a number of translucent elements and wherein each of the light emitting devices is associated with a respective one of the translucent elements. 
     
     
         6 . The infant mobile of  claim 1 , further comprising a light projector for protecting images upward from the arm. 
     
     
         7 . The infant mobile of  claim 6 , wherein the light projector comprises a projector light source and an image filter through which the projector light source projects light upward from the infant mobile. 
     
     
         8 . The infant mobile of  claim 7 , wherein, during use, the light source projects light upward from the infant mobile in a direction opposite a direction of the axis of the axle. 
     
     
         9 . The infant mobile of  claim 7 , wherein the image filter comprises a plurality of differently shaped apertures selected from the group consisting of moon shapes and stars. 
     
     
         10 . The infant mobile of  claim 9 , wherein the moon shapes and stars have different sizes. 
     
     
         11 . The infant mobile of  claim 1 , further comprising a sound generating device. 
     
     
         12 . The infant mobile of  claim 11 , wherein the sound generating device comprises generating music. 
     
     
         13 . The infant mobile of  claim 11 , wherein the sound generating device is removeably attached to the arm. 
     
     
         14 . The infant mobile of  claim 1 , further comprising a remote control wirelessly associated with at least one of the motor and the at least one light emitting device to selectively operate functions of the motor or the light emitting device. 
     
     
         15 . The infant mobile of  claim 1 , wherein the light emitting device provides a constant illumination glow to the at least one translucent element. 
     
     
         16 . The infant mobile of  claim 15 , wherein, during operation, the light emitting device varies the illumination level to the at least one translucent element to thereby result in the illumination of the translucent element to fade in and out. 
     
     
         17 . The infant mobile of  claim 16 , wherein the light emitting device comprises a light emitting diode and the at least one translucent element comprises a hollow shaft leading from the light emitting diode forming a light path from light emitting diode and to a remaining portion of the at least one translucent element. 
     
     
         18 . An infant mobile comprising,
 an arm;   a hub extending downward from the arm and rotatably mounted therefrom for 360° rotation about its center axis;   at least three translucent elements extending radially from the hub;   at least one light emitting device operatively associated with at least one translucent elements, wherein during operational use of the infant mobile, the at least one light emitting device illuminates at least one of the at least one translucent elements; and   a motor operatively associated with the hub, wherein during operation use of the infant mobile, the motor causes the hub with the at least three translucent elements to rotate about the hub center axis.   
     
     
         19 . The infant mobile of  claim 18 , wherein at least one light emitting device comprises at least three light emitting devices, one of the light emitting devices associated with a respective one of the at least three translucent elements. 
     
     
         20 . The infant mobile of  claim 18 , further comprising a light projector for protecting images outward from the arm.