Children's motion device

Abstract

A children's motion device such as a bouncer or jumper, including a base, a child-supporting portion, and at least one non-metal resilient biasing element operatively engaged between the base and the child-supporting portion to allow motion of the child-supporting portion relative to the base. In example forms, the resilient biasing element is formed from a polymeric polyester elastomer material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A children's bouncer device comprising:
 a base configured to support the device on a support surface;   a child-supporting portion supported above the base and configured to support a child; and   at least one non-metal resilient biasing element operatively engaged between the base and the child-supporting portion to allow a bouncing motion of the child-supporting portion relative to the base, wherein the resilient biasing element comprises a body formed of a polymeric elastomer material, the body comprising a first side attached to the base, a second side attached to the child supporting portion, and at least one interconnecting member extending between the first side and the second side, wherein the at least one interconnecting member elastically and resiliently deforms and imparts a counter-biasing force on the child-supporting portion in response to the bouncing motion.   
     
     
         2 . The children's bouncer device of  claim 1 , wherein the resilient biasing element comprises a panel of the polymeric elastomer material defining a plurality of openings and forming a spaced array of support struts. 
     
     
         3 . The children's bouncer device of  claim 2 , wherein the spaced array of support struts elastically and resiliently deform under compression and provide a progressively increasing stiffness during at least a portion of the bouncing motion. 
     
     
         4 . The children's bouncer device of  claim 2 , wherein the spaced array of support struts comprise struts of progressively increasing height. 
     
     
         5 . The children's bouncer device of  claim 1 , wherein the resilient biasing element comprises an annular body comprising an inner ring, an outer ring, and a plurality of fins extending between the inner and outer rings in a circumferentially spaced array. 
     
     
         6 . The children's bouncer device of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of fins define a length between the inner and outer rings, and have a varying thickness or stiffness along their length. 
     
     
         7 . The children's bouncer device of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric elastomer material of the resilient biasing element comprises a DuPont™ Hytrel® thermoplastic polyester elastomer material. 
     
     
         8 . The children's bouncer device of  claim 1 , wherein the child-supporting portion is repositionable relative to the base for folding or adjustment of an incline angle of the child-supporting portion. 
     
     
         9 . A children's motion device comprising a base, a child-supporting portion, and at least one non-metal resilient biasing element operatively engaged between the base and the child-supporting portion to allow motion of the child-supporting portion relative to the base, wherein the resilient biasing element comprises a thermoplastic polyester elastomer. 
     
     
         10 . The children's motion device of  claim 9 , wherein the thermoplastic polyester elastomer material comprises a DuPont™ Hytrel® material. 
     
     
         11 . The children's motion device of  claim 9 , wherein the resilient biasing element comprises a thermoplastic molding having a first side attached to the base, a second side attached to the child supporting portion, and at least one interconnecting member extending between the first side and the second side, wherein the at least one interconnecting member elastically and resiliently deforms and imparts a counter-biasing force on the child-supporting portion in response to the motion of the child-supporting portion. 
     
     
         12 . The children's motion device of  claim 9 , wherein the resilient biasing element comprises a molded panel of the thermoplastic polyester elastomer material defining a plurality of openings and forming a spaced array of support struts. 
     
     
         13 . The children's motion device of  claim 12 , wherein the spaced array of support struts elastically and resiliently deform under compression and provide a progressively increasing stiffness during at least a portion of the motion of the child-supporting portion. 
     
     
         14 . The children's motion device of  claim 12 , wherein the spaced array of support struts comprise struts of progressively increasing height. 
     
     
         15 . The children's motion device of  claim 9 , wherein the resilient biasing element comprises an annular body comprising an inner ring, an outer ring, and a plurality of fins extending between the inner and outer rings in a circumferentially spaced array. 
     
     
         16 . The children's motion device of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of fins define a length between the inner and outer rings, and have a varying thickness or stiffness along their length. 
     
     
         17 . The children's motion device of  claim 9 , wherein the child-supporting portion is suspended from the base by a plurality of resilient biasing elements configured to elastically and resiliently deform under tension and provide a progressively increasing counter-biasing force during at least a portion of the motion of the child-supporting portion. 
     
     
         18 . A children's jumper device comprising:
 a base frame comprising a plurality of frame segments coupled to form a frame assembly, the frame assembly comprising lower frame legs and upper frame arms;   a child-supporting portion comprising a seat panel having an opening formed therein, and a seat sling having a pair of leg openings formed therein affixed to the seat panel and extending across and beneath the opening; and   a plurality of non-metal resilient biasing elements suspending the child-supporting portion from the upper frame arms of the base frame and allowing a bouncing motion of the child-supporting portion relative to the base frame, the resilient biasing elements comprising a thermoplastic polyester elastomer material and being configured to elastically and resiliently deform under tension and provide a progressively increasing counter-biasing force during at least a portion of the bouncing motion of the child-supporting portion.   
     
     
         19 . The children's jumper device of  claim 18 , wherein the thermoplastic polyester elastomer material comprises a DuPont™ Hytrel® material. 
     
     
         20 . The children's jumper device of  claim 18 , wherein the resilient biasing elements comprise a plurality of arrays spaced about the child-supporting portion, each array comprising multiple resilient biasing cords. 
     
     
         21 . The children's jumper device of  claim 18 , wherein the frame assembly is foldable. 
     
     
         22 . The children's jumper device of  claim 21 , wherein the resilient biasing elements are detachably connected to the upper frame arms by tube clips. 
     
     
         23 . A chair comprising a base, a seat portion, and an attachment bracket operatively engaged between the base and the seat portion to allow a pivotal rocking or bouncing motion of the seat portion relative to the base, wherein the attachment bracket comprises a thermoplastic polyester elastomer material. 
     
     
         24 . The chair of  claim 23 , wherein the thermoplastic polyester elastomer material comprises a DuPont™ Hytrel® material.