Infant support with entertainment device

Abstract

The present invention provides support assembly having a resilient support frame having a ground engaging portion and an upper portion. The upper portion is moveable with respect to the ground engaging portion. A suspension assembly is coupled to the upper portion of the support frame such that motion of the upper portion imparts motion to the suspension assembly. In another aspect of the invention, the invention includes a seat supported on a resilient support frame having a ground engaging portion and an upper portion moveable with respect to the ground engaging portion. A mobile is coupled to the upper portion such that motion of the upper portion imparts a corresponding motion to the mobile.

1. A support assembly for an infant, comprising:
 a resilient support frame having a ground engaging portion and an upper portion, said upper portion including a u-shaped member having two opposing sides and being moveable with respect to the ground engaging portion; and  
 a suspension assembly being coupled to only one of the opposing sides and having a mount coupled to said upper portion of said support frame; and  
 a support arm pivotally coupled to said mount, such that motion of said upper portion imparts motion to said suspension assembly; and  
   an entertainment device suspended from said support arm, the entertainment device comprising a collar,    
   wherein the support arm comprises a post that mates with the collar of the entertainment device and the entertainment device is configured to rotate about the post when the upper portion of the support frame is moved with respect ground engaging portion .  
 
     
     
       2. The support assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said mount includes a first portion and a second portion, together defining a channel configured to receive said upper portion of said support frame. 
     
     
       3. The support assembly of  claim 2 , said mount further including a socket defined by said first portion and said second portion and configured to receive said support arm. 
     
     
       4. The support assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising an entertainment device suspended from said support arm. 
     
     
       5. The support assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising an entertainment device coupled to said suspension assembly, said suspension assembly moveable between a first position disposed above said support frame and a second position disposed away from said support frame;
 said entertainment device being positioned over said support frame when said suspension assembly is in said first position.  
 
     
     
       6. A seat and mobile combination, comprising:
 a seat supported on a resilient support frame, said frame having a ground engaging portion and an upper portion, said upper portion including a u-shaped member having two opposing sides and being moveable with respect to the ground engaging portion; and  
 a mobile coupled to only one of the opposing sides of the upper portion by a pivotable connector such that motion of said upper portion imparts a corresponding motion to said mobile, the pivotable connector having a mounting bracket configured to be rigidly coupled to said upper portion of said support frame; and  
 a support arm pivotally coupled to said mounting bracket,  
   wherein the mounting bracket further includes a socket, the support arm further includes a post that mates with the socket, and the post is configured to rotate within the socket along an arc defined by stop surfaces disposed on at least one of the socket and the post .  
 
     
     
       7. The seat and mobile combination of  claim 6 , wherein said mounting bracket includes a first portion and a second portion, together defining a channel configured to receive said upper portion of said support frame. 
     
     
       8. The seat and mobile combination of  claim 7 , said mounting bracket further including a socket defined by said first portion and said second portion and configured to receive said support arm. 
     
     
       9. The seat and mobile combination of  claim 6 , further comprising an entertainment device suspended from said support arm. 
     
     
       10. The seat and mobile combination of  claim 6 , wherein said mobile is moveable between a first position disposed above said support frame and a second position disposed away from said support frame. 
     
     
       11. A support assembly for an infant, comprising:
 a support frame;  
 a seat supported on the support frame and having an upper seating surface upon which an infant can be positioned and a lower foot portion adjacent the upper seating surface; and  
 a mobile pivotally coupled to the support frame via a mounting bracket including a socket with stop surfaces, said mobile being coupled between the upper seating surface and the lower foot portion, said mobile being pivotable about a vertical axis between a first position disposed above the upper seating surface and a second position disposed away from, and coupled to, the upper seating surface,  
   wherein the mobile includes a post that mates with the socket, and wherein the stop surfaces define a rotational arc between the first mobile position and the second mobile position .  
 
     
     
       12. The support assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said mobile is pivotally coupled to the support frame by a connector having
 a mounting bracket; and  
 a support arm pivotally coupled to said mounting bracket.  
 
     
     
       13. An apparatus, comprising:
 a connector configured to receive a portion of a frame of a support assembly for an infant;  
 a support arm pivotally coupleable to said connector to extend upwardly from said connector, said support arm being pivotable with respect to said connector about an axis disposed at an acute angle with respect to the portion of the frame received by the connector; and  
 a mobile coupled to said support arm to be suspended from said support arm,  
   wherein the connector further includes a socket, the support arm further includes a post that mates with the socket, and the post is configured to rotate within the socket along an arc defined by stop surfaces disposed on at least one of the socket and the post .  
 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said support arm is moveable between a first orientation disposed opposite the frame and a second orientation disposed away from the frame, said mobile being positioned opposite the frame when the support arm is in said first position. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said support arm is pivotable about a vertical axis with respect to said connector. 
     
     
       16. The support assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said support arm is pivotable about a vertical axis with respect to said mount. 
     
     
       17. The seat and mobile combination of  claim 6 , wherein said support arm is pivotable about a vertical axis with respect to said mounting bracket. 
     
     
       18. An infant swing comprising:
   an infant support assembly including a support frame; and        a suspension assembly including:      a support arm coupled to only one side of the support frame, and        an entertainment device coupled to the support arm, wherein the entertainment device comprises a mobile,          wherein motion of the suspension assembly imparts motion to the entertainment device such that the mobile moves relative to the infant support, and wherein the entertainment device is configured such that translational motion of the suspension assembly imparts rotational motion to the mobile.     
     
     
       19. The infant swing of  claim 18  further comprising a seat secured to the support frame. 
     
     
       20. The infant swing of  claim 18 , wherein the motion of the infant support assembly imparts the motion to the suspension assembly. 
     
     
       21. The infant swing of  claim 18 , wherein the mobile includes articles suspended therefrom. 
     
     
       22. The infant swing of  claim 18 , wherein the support arm further includes a post coupled to the mobile such that the motion of the infant support assembly rotates the mobile about the post. 
     
     
       23. The infant swing of  claim 18 , wherein the support arm is pivotally coupled to the support frame. 
     
     
       24. The infant swing of  claim 19 , wherein the support arm is pivotable from a first position, in which the entertainment device is positioned over the seat, to a second position, in which the entertainment device is positioned away from the seat. 
     
     
       25. A suspension assembly for an entertainment device comprising:
   a support arm including a first end and a second end;        a mount connected to the first end of the support arm, the mount operable to couple the support arm to a frame portion of an infant support; and        an entertainment device coupled to the second end of the support arm, wherein the suspension assembly is configured such that motion imparted to the suspension assembly imparts a rotating motion to the entertainment device,        wherein the support arm is capable of moving about an axis disposed at an acute angle with respect to the frame portion of the infant support, and wherein the entertainment device comprises a collar, the second end of the support arm comprises a post that mates with the collar, and the entertainment device rotates about the post.     
     
     
       26. The suspension assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the infant support comprises a swing. 
     
     
       27. The suspension assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the entertainment device is rotatably coupled to the support arm. 
     
     
       28. The suspension assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the configuration of the suspension assembly allows translating motion of the suspension assembly to result in the rotating motion of the entertainment device. 
     
     
       29. The suspension assembly of  claim 25 , wherein:
   the mount includes a socket; and        the support arm is pivotally coupled to the socket.     
     
     
       30. The suspension assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the infant support includes a seat and the support arm is operable to pivot from a first position, in which the entertainment device is positioned over the seat, to a second position, in which the entertainment device is positioned away from the seat. 
     
     
       31. An infant support comprising:
   a frame having opposing sides, the frame including:      a base member, and        a movable portion configured to support a seat, wherein the movable portion is configured to move in a translating motion;          a suspension assembly including a support arm coupled to only one of the opposing sides of the frame infant support; and        an entertainment device coupled to the suspension assembly,        wherein the translating motion of the movable portion with respect to the base results in a rotational motion of the entertainment device.     
     
     
       32. The infant support of  claim 31 , wherein:
   the movable portion defines the opposing sides; and        the suspension assembly is coupled to the movable portion.     
     
     
       33. The infant support of  claim 32 , wherein the motion of the movable portion imparts the motion to the suspension assembly. 
     
     
       34. The infant support of  claim 31 , wherein the entertainment device comprises a mobile including articles suspended therefrom. 
     
     
       35. The infant support of  claim 31 , wherein the support arm is pivotally coupled to the infant support. 
     
     
       36. The infant support of  claim 35 , wherein the moveable portion supports a seat, and the support arm is pivotable from a first position, in which the entertainment device is positioned over the seat, to a second position, in which the entertainment device is positioned away from the seat. 
     
     
       37. The infant swing of  claim 18 , wherein:
   the support arm is coupled to the support frame via a mount, and        the support arm is movably coupled to the mount.     
     
     
       38. The infant swing of  claim 37 , wherein the support arm is pivotably coupled to the mount. 
     
     
       39. The infant swing of  claim 38 , wherein the support arm is pivotable about a vertical axis. 
     
     
       40. The suspension assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the support arm moves about a vertical axis. 
     
     
       41. The infant support of  claim 32 , wherein the support arm is movable with respect to the movable portion. 
     
     
       42. The infant support of  claim 41 , wherein the support arm is:
   coupled to the movable portion via a mount; and        capable of pivoting with respect to the mount.     
     
     
       43. The infant support of  claim 42 , wherein:
   the mount receives a section of the movable portion; and        the support arm pivots about an axis disposed at an acute angle with respect to the section of the movable portion received by the mount.     
     
     
       44. A support assembly for an infant comprising:
   an infant swing comprising opposing sides; and        a suspension assembly including:      a support arm coupled to only one of the opposing sides of the swing, and        an entertainment device coupled to the support arm, the entertainment device comprising a collar,          wherein motion of the suspension assembly imparts rotary motion to the entertainment device, and wherein the support arm comprises a post that mates with the collar of the entertainment device and the motion of the suspension assembly rotates the collar about the post.     
     
     
       45. The support assembly of  claim 44 , wherein:
   the support arm is coupled to the swing via a mount; and        the support arm is movably coupled to the mount.     
     
     
       46. The support assembly of  claim 45 , wherein the support arm pivots with respect to the mount. 
     
     
       47. The support assembly of  claim 46 , wherein the support arm pivots about a vertical axis. 
     
     
       48. The support assembly of  claim 44 , wherein the support assembly is configured such that motion of the swing imparts the rotary motion to the suspension assembly. 
     
     
       49. The support assembly of  44 , wherein:
   the infant swing comprises a support frame defining the opposing sides; and        the suspension assembly is coupled to only one side of the opposing sides of the support frame.     
     
     
       50. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein:
   the support arm comprises a second post; and        the mobile is configured to rotate about the second post.     
     
     
       51. The infant support of  claim 31 , wherein:
   the entertainment device comprises a collar;        the support arm comprises a post that mates with the collar; and        the entertainment device rotates about the post as the movable portion moves in the translating motion.     
     
     
       52. A suspension assembly for an entertainment device comprising:
   a support arm including a first end and a second end;        a mount connected to the first end of the support arm, the mount operable to couple the support arm to a frame portion of an infant support; and        an entertainment device coupled to the second end of the support arm,        wherein the suspension assembly is configured such that motion imparted to the suspension assembly imparts a rotating motion to the entertainment device, and wherein the configuration of the suspension assembly allows translating motion of the suspension assembly to result in the rotating motion of the entertainment device,        wherein the support arm is capable of moving about an axis disposed at an acute angle with respect to the frame portion of the infant support.