Portable rocking napper

Abstract

A foldable frame that may be configured for use as an infant napper or an infant seat. The frame apparatus includes a first pair and a second pair of upstanding legs, each pair being connected to a respective, longitudinally spaced-apart folding joint device and extend generally downwardly therefrom. Distal ends of opposing legs may be connected by arched members to enable the frame apparatus to “rock” when positioned on a level surface. A supporting frame to which soft goods may be attached to support an infant is connected to the frame support members. The folding joint devices each may include a latching mechanism and may be individually repositioned. When both are configured to orient both frame extension members either upwardly or downwardly, the supporting frame is oriented generally level with respect to a surface upon which the foldable frame rests. Positioning the folding joint devices so that the respective frame extension members are oppositely oriented angles the supporting frame in relation to the surface allowing the frame apparatus to function as a chair.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A foldable frame for supporting an infant above a surface comprising:
 a top frame rail having a generally planar periphery;   a first support member;   a second support member;   a first elevating joint connecting the first support member to a first end of the top frame rail; and   a second elevating joint connecting the second support member to a second end of the top frame rail at a position longitudinally opposite of the first end;   each elevating joint having an upper pivoting connector adjacent to the connection to the top frame rail and a lower pivoting connector adjacent to the connection of the support member, the upper and lower pivoting connectors having spaced-apart parallel upper and lower pivot axes, each elevating joint being rotatable about the lower pivot axis from an elevated position to a lowered position by inwardly movement of the upper pivot axis, the movement vertically displacing the respective end of the top frame rail between corresponding elevated and lowered positions, the elevating joints being independently moveable enabling the top frame rail to be generally oriented generally parallel to the surface in either an elevated or lowered position or in an angled orientation in relation to the surface.   
     
     
         2 . The foldable frame of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second elevating joints pivot axes are transversely aligned to the top frame rail. 
     
     
         3 . The foldable frame of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second elevating joints each include a releasable latching mechanism to retain the first and second elevating joints in at least the elevated position. 
     
     
         4 . The foldable frame of  claim 3 , wherein the top frame rail includes a first lateral portion and a second lateral portion each joined to the first and second elevating joints by a foldable joint enabling the top frame to be pivoted about a longitudinal axis between a deployed configuration in which the first and second lateral portions top frame rail lie in the planar periphery and a stowed configuration in which the first and second lateral portions lie in generally parallel planes. 
     
     
         5 . The foldable frame of  claim 1 , wherein the first and the second support members each further comprise a pair of support legs extending from the respective elevating joint toward the surface, each of the support legs coupled to the elevating joint by a moveable connector enabling pivoting movement of the respective support leg laterally inwardly and outwardly relative to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         6 . The foldable frame of  claim 1 , further comprising an elongate longitudinal member connected at opposing ends to respective distal ends of the first and second support legs, each connection between the longitudinal member and the distal ends permitting pivoting movement between support leg and longitudinal member end and including a biasing element to urge the support legs inwardly towards the opposite support leg. 
     
     
         7 . The foldable frame of  claim 6 , wherein the longitudinal member is curved to enable the foldable frame to be rocked on the surface. 
     
     
         8 . A foldable frame for supporting an infant above a surface, the frame moveable between a folded configuration and a plurality of deployed configurations, the frame comprising:
 a top frame rail;   a first support structure connected to a first end of the top frame rail;   a second support structure connected to a second end of the top frame rail longitudinally opposite of the first end;   a first elevating joint connecting the first support structure to the first end of the top frame rail, the first elevating joint having an upper pivoting connector adjacent to the connection to the top frame rail and a lower pivoting connector adjacent to the connection of the support structure, the upper and lower pivoting connectors having parallel pivot axes transverse to the frame and being inwardly moveable about the pivot axes, movement of the first elevating joint between elevated and lowered positions moving the first end of the top frame rail between elevated and lowered positions, respectively; and   a second elevating joint connecting the second support structure to a second end of the top frame rail at a position opposite of the first end, the second elevating joint having an upper pivoting connector adjacent to the connection to the top frame rail and a lower pivoting connector adjacent to the connection of the support structure, the upper and lower pivoting connectors having parallel pivot axes transverse to the top frame rail and being inwardly moveable about the pivot axes, movement of the second elevating joint between elevated and lowered positions moving the second end of the top frame rail between elevated and lowered positions, respectively, the elevating joints being independently moveable enabling the top frame rail to be oriented generally parallel to the surface in either an elevated configuration or a lowered configuration, or in an angled configuration wherein a plane defined by the top frame rail is angled in relation to the surface.   
     
     
         9 . The collapsible frame of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second elevating joints each include a releasable latching mechanism to retain the first and second elevating joints in at least the elevated position. 
     
     
         10 . The collapsible frame of  claim 9 , wherein the top frame rail includes a first lateral portion and a second lateral portion each joined to the first and second elevating joints by a foldable joint enabling the top frame to be pivoted about a longitudinal axis between a deployed configuration in which the first and second lateral portions top frame rail are co-planar and a stowed configuration in which the first and second lateral portions are aligned in generally parallel planes. 
     
     
         11 . The collapsible frame of  claim 8 , wherein the first and the second support structures each further comprise a pair of support legs extending from the respective elevating joint toward the surface, each of the support legs coupled to the elevating joint by a moveable connector enabling pivoting movement of the respective support leg laterally inwardly and outwardly relative to a longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         12 . The collapsible frame of  claim 11 , further comprising an elongate longitudinal member connected at opposing ends to respective distal ends of the first and second support legs, connection between the longitudinal member and the distal ends permitting pivoting movement between respective support legs and longitudinal member ends and including a biasing element to urge the support legs inwardly towards the opposite support legs. 
     
     
         13 . A foldable frame for supporting an infant above a surface comprising:
 a top frame rail supported by first and second support members disposed at respective longitudinally opposing first and second ends of the top frame rail;   a first elevating joint disposed in the first support member and being moveable between elevated and lowered positions, the movement varying the height of the first end above the surface; and   a second elevating joint disposed in the second support member and being moveable between elevated and lowered positions, the movement varying the height of the second end above the surface;   the first and second elevating joints being independently moveable to position the top frame rail generally parallel to the surface in one of an elevated position or a lowered position, or in an angled orientation in relation to the surface.   
     
     
         14 . The foldable joint of  claim 13 , wherein each elevating joint includes an upper pivoting connector and a lower pivoting connector, the upper and lower pivoting connectors having transversely aligned parallel upper and lower pivot axes, each elevating joint being rotatable about the lower pivot axis from the elevated position to the lowered position by inwardly movement of the upper pivot axis. 
     
     
         15 . The foldable frame of  claim 14 , wherein the first and the second support members each further comprise a pair of support legs extending from the respective elevating joint toward the surface, each of the support legs coupled to the elevating joint by a moveable connector enabling pivoting movement of the respective support leg laterally inwardly and outwardly relative to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         16 . The foldable frame of  claim 15 , further comprising an elongate longitudinal member connected at opposing ends to respective distal ends of the first and second support legs, connection between the longitudinal member and the distal ends permitting pivoting movement between respective support leg and longitudinal member end, each connection further including a biasing element to urge the support legs inwardly towards the opposite support leg. 
     
     
         17 . The foldable frame of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second elevating joints each include a releasable latching mechanism to retain the first and second elevating joints in at least the elevated position.