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.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Application 62 / 831,643 filed Apr. 9, 2019.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates generally to the field of seats and enclosures for infants, and, more particularly to a portable infant napper that is easily reconfigurable to support an infant in a more upright, seated position.[0003]Nappers allows infants to sleep in way that generally keeps them face up and inhibits significant rolling by the infant. Infant seats offer similar restraint of the infant while providing a more upright, seated position. Parents and caregivers require products that are adaptable to fulfill multiple purposes. A single infant supporting device that may be configured to serve as both a napper and a seat fulfills this need.[0004]Portability of infant care accessories is also important consideration among consumers. While collapsible frames are well-known in the art, frames that ar...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005]Accordingly, the present invention, in any of the embodiments described herein, may provide one or more of the following advantages:

[0008]It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a foldable and reconfigurable frame apparatus for use as an infant napper or an infant seat capable of compacting into a substantially smaller space when folded than is occupied in the unfolded configuration. The soft goods supporting frame connections to the frame extension members allow the soft goods support frame to be folded about a longitudinal axis. Positioning the folding joint devices so that both extension members are downwardly oriented positions the soft goods supporting frame in space between the support legs for compactness.

[0010]It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a foldable and reconfigurable frame apparatus for use as an infant napper or an infant seat that may also include provision allowing the napper to be rocked as an infant is sleeping. The distal ends of the support legs may be connected by longitudinally aligned rockers. The connections to the legs are hinged to permit sufficient flexibility as the folding joint devices are reoriented. These hinge connections may include biasing elements to assist in reconfiguration of the frame apparatus between useful configurations and to enhance stability when in the fully deployed configuration. The rockers may be arched to allow the frame apparatus to rock when positioned on a level surface or they may be generally straight in which case they merely strengthen the frame apparatus.

[0011]It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a foldable and reconfigurable frame apparatus for use as an infant napper or an infant seat that is durable in construction, inexpensive of manufacture, carefree of maintenance, easily assembled, and simple and effective to use.

Problems solved by technology

Awkwardly reconfigurable frames or latching mechanism and frames requiring significant space when folded do not meet consumer demands.

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