Multi-position children's support system

Abstract

A multi-position support system for supporting a child, the system including a base, a child support assembly supported by the base, and a positional adjustment mechanism allowing a user to selectively position the child support assembly in one of a plurality of activity positions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A multi-position support system for supporting a child, the system comprising a base, a child support assembly supported by the base, and a positional adjustment mechanism allowing a user to selectively position the child support assembly in one of a plurality of activity positions. 
     
     
         2 . The multi-position support system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of activity positions comprise at least one inclined activity position and a generally horizontal activity position. 
     
     
         3 . The multi-position support system of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of activity positions comprise a first inclined activity position wherein at least a portion of the child support assembly is oriented at an angle of inclination of between about 60°-90° relative to horizontal, a second inclined activity position wherein at least a portion of the child support assembly is oriented at an angle of inclination of between about 30°-−60° relative to horizontal, a resting/sleep activity position wherein at least a portion of the child support assembly is oriented at an angle of inclination of between about 0°-30° relative to horizontal, and a tummy time activity position wherein at least a portion of the child support assembly is oriented at an angle of inclination of between about 0°-−25° relative to horizontal. 
     
     
         4 . The multi-position support system of  claim 1 , wherein the child support assembly comprises a support frame having defining an open portion, and a mesh support panel affixed to the support frame and at least partially covering the open portion of the support frame. 
     
     
         5 . The multi-position support system of  claim 4 , wherein the mesh support panel comprises a multi-layer assembly having lower layer defining a network of larger mesh openings and an upper layer defining a network of smaller mesh openings. 
     
     
         6 . The multi-position support system of  claim 5 , wherein the lower layer of the multi-layer mesh support panel comprises a molded polymeric elastomer, and wherein the upper layer of the multi-layer mesh support panel comprises a synthetic mesh fabric. 
     
     
         7 . The multi-position support system of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises an arcuate curved rocker base. 
     
     
         8 . The multi-position support system of  claim 1 , wherein the positional adjustment mechanism comprises at least one pivotal coupling between the base and the child support assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The multi-position support system of  claim 8 , wherein the positional adjustment mechanism further comprises at least one translational coupling between the base and the child support assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The multi-position support system of  claim 1 , wherein the child support assembly comprises a first support panel pivotally coupled to a second support panel. 
     
     
         11 . The multi-position support system of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second support panels are pivotally repositionable between a plurality of relative angular orientations, at least one of the plurality of relative angular orientations defining an obtuse angle between the first and second support panels, and another of the plurality of relative angular orientations defining a reflex angle between the first and second support panels. 
     
     
         12 . The multi-position support system of  claim 1 , further comprising a toy bar, the toy bar being reconfigurable between a first configuration corresponding to a first activity position of the child support assembly and a second configuration corresponding to a second activity position of the child support assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The multi-position support system of  claim 1 , further comprising a headrest portion repositionably coupled relative to the child support assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The multi-position support system of  claim 1 , further comprising a footrest portion repositionably coupled relative to the child support assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The multi-position support system of  claim 1 , further comprising a child restraint harness comprising a trilobed body defining first and second armholes through the trilobed body, and attachment means for securing the child restraint harness around a child with the child's arms extending through the first and second armholes. 
     
     
         16 . The multi-position support system of  claim 1 , wherein the positional adjustment mechanism comprises at least one selectively inflatable support bolster. 
     
     
         17 . A multi-position support system for supporting a child, the system comprising a base, a child support assembly supported by the base and comprising a breathable mesh support panel configured to receive and support a child thereon, and a positional adjustment mechanism allowing a user to selectively position the child support assembly in one of a plurality of activity positions. 
     
     
         18 . The multi-position support system of  claim 17 , wherein the breathable mesh support panel comprises a multi-layer assembly having lower layer defining a network of larger mesh openings having an opening dimension of at least ¼″, and an upper layer defining a network of smaller mesh openings having an opening dimension of less than ¼″. 
     
     
         19 . The multi-position support system of  claim 18 , wherein the lower layer of the multi-layer breathable mesh support panel comprises a molded polymeric elastomer, and wherein the upper layer of the multi-layer mesh support panel comprises a synthetic mesh fabric. 
     
     
         20 . The multi-position support system of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of activity positions comprise at least one inclined activity position and a generally horizontal activity position. 
     
     
         21 . The multi-position support system of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of activity positions comprise a first inclined activity position wherein at least a portion of the child support assembly is oriented at an angle of inclination of between about 60°-90° relative to horizontal, a second inclined activity position wherein at least a portion of the child support assembly is oriented at an angle of inclination of between about 30°-−60° relative to horizontal, a resting/sleep activity position wherein at least a portion of the child support assembly is oriented at an angle of inclination of between about 0°-30° relative to horizontal, and a tummy time activity position wherein at least a portion of the child support assembly is oriented at an angle of inclination of between about 0°-−25° relative to horizontal. 
     
     
         22 . The multi-position support system of  claim 17 , wherein the base comprises an arcuate curved rocker base. 
     
     
         23 . The multi-position support system of  claim 17 , wherein the positional adjustment mechanism comprises at least one pivotal coupling between the base and the child support assembly. 
     
     
         24 . The multi-position support system of  claim 23 , wherein the positional adjustment mechanism further comprises at least one translational coupling between the base and the child support assembly. 
     
     
         25 . The multi-position support system of  claim 17 , further comprising a toy bar, the toy bar being reconfigurable between a first configuration corresponding to a first activity position of the child support assembly and a second configuration corresponding to a second activity position of the child support assembly. 
     
     
         26 . The multi-position support system of  claim 17 , further comprising a headrest portion repositionably coupled relative to the child support assembly. 
     
     
         27 . The multi-position support system of  claim 17 , further comprising a footrest portion repositionably coupled relative to the child support assembly. 
     
     
         28 . The multi-position support system of  claim 17 , further comprising a child restraint harness comprising a trilobed body defining first and second armholes through the trilobed body, and attachment means for securing the child restraint harness around a child with the child's arms extending through the first and second armholes. 
     
     
         29 . The multi-position support system of  claim 17 , wherein the positional adjustment mechanism comprises at least one selectively inflatable support bolster. 
     
     
         30 . A multi-position support system for supporting a child, the system comprising a base, a child support assembly supported by the base, and a positional adjustment mechanism allowing a user to selectively position the child support assembly in one of a plurality of activity positions, wherein the plurality of activity positions comprise a first inclined activity position wherein at least a portion of the child support assembly is oriented at an angle of inclination of between about 60°-90° relative to horizontal, a second inclined activity position wherein at least a portion of the child support assembly is oriented at an angle of inclination of between about 30°-60° relative to horizontal, a resting/sleep activity position wherein at least a portion of the child support assembly is oriented at an angle of inclination of between about 0°-30° relative to horizontal, and a tummy time activity position wherein at least a portion of the child support assembly is oriented at an angle of inclination of between about 0°-25° relative to horizontal. 
     
     
         31 . The multi-position support system of  claim 30 , wherein the child support assembly comprises a support frame having defining an open portion, and a mesh support panel affixed to the support frame and at least partially covering the open portion of the support frame. 
     
     
         32 . The multi-position support system of  claim 31 , wherein the mesh support panel comprises a multi-layer assembly having lower layer defining a network of larger mesh openings and an upper layer defining a network of smaller mesh openings. 
     
     
         33 . The multi-position support system of  claim 32 , wherein the lower layer of the multi-layer mesh support panel comprises a molded polymeric elastomer, and wherein the upper layer of the multi-layer mesh support panel comprises a synthetic mesh fabric. 
     
     
         34 . The multi-position support system of  claim 30 , wherein the base comprises an arcuate curved rocker base. 
     
     
         35 . The multi-position support system of  claim 30 , wherein the positional adjustment mechanism comprises at least one pivotal coupling between the base and the child support assembly. 
     
     
         36 . The multi-position support system of  claim 35 , wherein the positional adjustment mechanism further comprises at least one translational coupling between the base and the child support assembly. 
     
     
         37 . The multi-position support system of  claim 30 , wherein the child support assembly comprises a first support panel pivotally coupled to a second support panel. 
     
     
         38 . The multi-position support system of  claim 37 , wherein the first and second support panels are pivotally repositionable between a plurality of relative angular orientations, at least one of the plurality of relative angular orientations defining an obtuse angle between the first and second support panels, and another of the plurality of relative angular orientations defining a reflex angle between the first and second support panels. 
     
     
         39 . The multi-position support system of  claim 30 , further comprising a toy bar, the toy bar being reconfigurable between a first configuration corresponding to a first activity position of the child support assembly and a second configuration corresponding to a second activity position of the child support assembly. 
     
     
         40 . The multi-position support system of  claim 30 , further comprising a headrest portion repositionably coupled relative to the child support assembly. 
     
     
         41 . The multi-position support system of  claim 30 , further comprising a footrest portion repositionably coupled relative to the child support assembly. 
     
     
         42 . The multi-position support system of  claim 30 , further comprising a child restraint harness comprising a trilobed body defining first and second armholes through the trilobed body, and attachment means for securing the child restraint harness around a child with the child's arms extending through the first and second armholes. 
     
     
         43 . The multi-position support system of  claim 30 , wherein the positional adjustment mechanism comprises at least one selectively inflatable support bolster.