Reconfigurable infant support structure

Abstract

An infant support structure may include a frame, a first portion, and a second portion. The first portion may contain a seat configured to receive an infant. The first portion may be movably coupled to the frame via a resilient member. The resilient member may suspend the first portion above a support surface and facilitate movement of the first portion with respect to the frame. The second portion may be removably coupled to the first portion. When coupled to the first portion, the second portion may also be suspended above a support surface, and the infant support structure may provide a first play pattern to the infant. When uncoupled from the first portion, the second portion may be disposed on the support surface while the first portion remains suspended above the support surface, and the second portion may provide a second play pattern.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An infant support structure comprising:
 a frame;   a first portion containing an engagement member and a seat configured to receive an infant;   at least one resilient member coupling the first portion to the frame; and   a second portion removably couplable to the first portion and containing an opening, the second portion being removably coupled to the first portion when the engagement member is received by the opening.   
     
     
         2 . The infant support structure of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is disposed on a top surface of the second portion. 
     
     
         3 . The infant support structure of  claim 2 , wherein the engagement member descends from a bottom surface of the first portion. 
     
     
         4 . The infant support structure of  claim 3 , wherein, when the second portion is removably coupled to the first portion, the second portion is disposed underneath the first portion. 
     
     
         5 . The infant support structure of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion further contains a latch mechanism operatively disposed proximate to the opening and configured to engage the engagement member when the opening receives the engagement member in order to removably couple the second portion to the first portion. 
     
     
         6 . The infant support structure of  claim 5 , wherein the latch mechanism requires a dual actuation to facilitate uncoupling the second portion from the first portion. 
     
     
         7 . The infant support structure of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion is suspended above a support surface when removably coupled to the first portion and is disposed on the support surface when uncoupled from the first portion. 
     
     
         8 . An infant support structure comprising:
 a frame;   a seat support configured to receive an infant and including an engagement member extending from the seat support, the seat support being suspended from the frame above a support surface; and   an interactive assembly removably coupled to the seat support when the engagement member is received by the interactive assembly.   
     
     
         9 . The infant support structure of  claim 8 , wherein the seat support is suspended from the frame via a resilient member that is configured to facilitate movement of the seat support with respect to the frame. 
     
     
         10 . The infant support structure of  claim 9 , wherein, when the interactive assembly is coupled to the seat support, the resilient member is further configured to facilitate movement of the interactive assembly with respect to the frame. 
     
     
         11 . The infant support structure of  claim 8 , wherein the engagement member descends from a bottom surface of the seat support. 
     
     
         12 . The infant support structure of  claim 11 , wherein a top surface of the interactive assembly includes an opening configured to receive the engagement member of the seat support. 
     
     
         13 . The infant support structure of  claim 12 , wherein the interactive assembly includes a latch mechanism operatively disposed proximate to the opening and configured to engage the engagement member of the seat support to removably couple the interactive assembly to the seat support. 
     
     
         14 . The infant support structure of  claim 13 , wherein the latch mechanism requires a dual actuation to facilitate uncoupling the interactive assembly from the seat support. 
     
     
         15 . An infant support structure comprising:
 a frame;   a seat support configured to receive an infant, the seat support including a top surface and a bottom surface, the seat support being suspended from the frame such that the seat support is suspended above a support surface; and   an interactive assembly removably coupled to the bottom surface of the seat support, the infant support structure being reconfigurable between a first configuration, where the interactive assembly is coupled to the bottom surface of the seat support and suspended above the support surface, and a second configuration, where the seat support remains suspended above the support surface and the interactive assembly is uncoupled from the seat support and disposed on the support surface.   
     
     
         16 . The infant support structure of  claim 15 , wherein the seat support is suspended from the frame via a resilient member that is configured to facilitate movement of the seat support with respect to the frame. 
     
     
         17 . The infant support structure of  claim 16 , wherein, when the infant support structure is in the first configuration, the resilient member is further configured to facilitate movement of the interactive assembly with respect to the frame. 
     
     
         18 . The infant support structure of  claim 15 , wherein, when the interactive assembly is removably coupled to the seat support, a top surface of the interactive assembly is disposed adjacent to the bottom surface of the seat support. 
     
     
         19 . The infant support structure of  claim 15 , wherein the interactive assembly further includes a latch mechanism that engages an engagement member of the seat support to removably couple the interactive assembly to the seat support. 
     
     
         20 . The infant support structure of  claim 19 , wherein the latch mechanism requires a dual actuation to facilitate uncoupling the interactive assembly from the seat support.