WAVE-MOTION INFANT SEAT

Abstract

A first rotate/translate mechanism, a second rotate/translate mechanism, a drive system, and a control system are operable to generate and impart rotation and translation to an infant-receiving component supported by a frame thereby driving the infant-receiving component through an elliptical wave motion. In an example embodiment, the first rotate/translate mechanism includes a cam that is driven by the drive system and a follower that is driven by the cam to impart the rotation and translation to the infant-receiving component. And the second rotate/translate mechanism includes guided traveler that is guided by a guide track through conforming rotation and translation to permit the wave motion of the infant-receiving component without binding.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/047,711 filed Sep. 9, 2014, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to the field of infant and children products, and more particularly to infant seats.

BACKGROUND

A variety of different child-support devices have been developed for safely holding infants in sleeping and/or sitting positions. These include for example bassinets, rockers, cradles, cribs, sleepers, nappers, and the like. Some child-support devices such as rockers, cradles, and some bassinets, are designed for moving through a predetermined repeating motion while provide a soothing effect to the child carried by the device. While many of these motion child-support devices have proven to be very useful, it remains desirable to provide for enhanced infant soothing and comfort.

Accordingly, it can be seen that needs exist for improvements in motion child-support devices providing for enhanced infant soothing and comfort. It is to the provision of solutions to these and other needs that the present invention is primarily directed.

SUMMARY

In example embodiments, the present invention provides an infant seat that can support a child therein and be selectively controlled to move the child through a wave motion. The wave motion includes rotational and translational components that collectively trace an elliptical path. In this way, the wave-motion infant seat provides for enhanced soothing and comforting effects to the child in the seat.

In one aspect, the wave-motion infant seat includes a first rotate/translate mechanism, a second rotate/translate mechanism, a drive system, and a control system are operable to generate and impart rotation and translation to an infant-receiving component supported by a frame, thereby driving the infant-receiving component through the wave motion. The first rotate/translate mechanism can include a cam that is driven by the drive system and a follower that is driven by the cam to impart the rotation and translation to the infant-receiving component. And the second rotate/translate mechanism can include guided traveler that is guided by a guide track through conforming rotation and translation to permit the wave motion of the infant-receiving component without binding. The drive system is operable to drive at least one of the rotate/translate mechanisms to impart the wave motion to the infant-receiving component, and the control system enables a caretaker/user to control operation of the drive system and thus the wave motion, as desired.

In another aspect of operation of the wave-motion infant seat, with the frame resting on a stable support surface and weighted by the infant-receiving component, as the cam rotates about a rotational axis, the rotation of the cam causes it to revolve around an off-center/eccentric rotational connection to the frame. And containment of the cam by the follower causes the attached-thereto infant-receiving component to travel through a vertical and horizontal wave motion that traces the elliptical path in a vertical plane running front to rear.

These and other aspects, features, and advantages of the invention will be understood with reference to the drawing figures and detailed description herein, and will be realized by means of the various elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following brief description of the drawings and detailed description of example embodiments are representative and explanatory of example embodiments of the invention, and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective side view of a wave-motion infant seat according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the wave-motion infant seat of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the wave-motion infant seat of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a front portion of the wave-motion infant seat of FIG. 1, showing a front rotate/translate mechanism.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the front portion of the wave-motion infant seat of FIG. 4, shown with a portion of the housing of the front rotate/translate mechanism removed to reveal internal components.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the front portion of the wave-motion infant seat of FIG. 4, shown with a portion of the housing of the front rotate/translate mechanism removed to reveal internal components.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a rear portion of the wave-motion infant seat of FIG. 1, showing a rear rotate/translate mechanism.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the rear portion of the wave-motion infant seat of FIG. 7, showing the rotation and the translation motions of the rear rotate/translate mechanism.

FIGS. 9-13 are a series of side views of the wave-motion infant seat of FIG. 1 in operation producing the wave motion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

The present invention may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawing figures, which form a part of this disclosure. It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the specific devices, methods, conditions or parameters described and/or shown herein, and that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting of the claimed invention. Any and all patents and other publications identified in this specification are incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein.

Also, as used in the specification including the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural, and reference to a particular numerical value includes at least that particular value, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” or “approximately” one particular value and/or to “about” or “approximately” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment.

With reference now to the drawing figures, wherein like reference numbers represent corresponding parts throughout the several views, FIGS. 1-12 show a wave-motion infant seat 100 according to an example embodiment of the present invention. The wave-motion infant seat 100 of this embodiment is a bassinet modified to produce a wave motion to a child held by the infant seat, though the innovative wave-motion components can be adapted for implementation in embodiments based on other types of child-support devices. As such, the term “infant seat” as used herein is intended to be broadly construed to include any type of child-support device for which imparting a motion would be desirable, including rockers, cradles, cribs, sleepers, nappers, and the like, and including devices with a flat support surface for sleeping, devices with a seat-support surface and an angled back-support to provide an upright sitting position, multi-position devices, and others. Also, the terms “infant” and “child” are used synonymously herein.

Referring to FIGS. 1-8, the wave-motion infant seat 100 includes a frame 110, an infant-receiving component 120, a first rotate/translate mechanism 130, a second rotate/translate mechanism 150, a drive system 170, and a control system 180. The frame 110 rests on a support surface such as a floor, and the infant-receiving component 120 is supported by and mounted to the frame by the first and second motion mechanisms 130 and 150. The first and second motion mechanisms 130 and 150 enable the infant-receiving component 120 to be moved through a wave motion, the drive system 170 is operable to drive at least one of the motion mechanisms to impart the wave motion to the infant-receiving component, and the control system 180 enables a caretaker/user to control operation of the drive system (and thus the wave motion) as desired. In typical embodiments, the first and/or second motion mechanisms 130 and 150 are provided by first and second rotate/translate mechanisms that permit rotation and translation of the infant-receiving component 120 (relative to the frame 110) through the wave motion, though in other embodiments they can be provided by other motion-permitting mechanisms known in the art that are configured to permit the wave motion described herein.

The frame 110 can be of a conventional type used for child-support devices, and these are well-known in the field, so for brevity this component is not described in great detail. As an example, the depicted frame 110 includes left and right base members 112 as well as front and rear cross braces 114, with the base members and cross braces made of metal tubes. In other embodiments, the frame includes four legs and four cross braces, X-shaped folding frame members, suspension members for supporting the infant-receiving component from above, or other frame members and configurations known in the art. And in other embodiments, the frame can be formed from wood, polymer, composite, or other suitably rigid materials known in the art.

In addition, the frame 110 can have a curved bottom surface 116 enabling the infant seat 100 to rock upon the support surface. In embodiments with such a curved bottom for rocking, the frame can optionally include one or more displaceable interference members (e.g., feet, stoppers, and/or kick stands) for limiting rocking movement of the infant seat. For example, the depicted embodiment includes four pivot feet 115a-d shown in their interference positions to limit rocking of the frame bottom 116 on the support surface and thereby prevent the infant seat 100 from rocking. In other embodiments, the bottom surface of the frame is substantially flat for stability without enabling a rocking motion.

The infant-receiving component 120 can be similar to that of a seat, bassinet, cradle, napper, or other device adapted to receive and support a child therein. As such, the infant-receiving component 120 can be of a conventional type used for child-support devices, and these are well-known in the field, so for brevity this component is not described in great detail. As an example, the depicted the infant-receiving component 120 includes a fabric (or other soft material) liner 122 coupled to and supported by a rigid frame 124, with the liner including a mesh ventilation panel 126 and optionally including a padding layer 125. In other embodiments, the infant-receiving component 120 can be provided by a basket, shell, or other known structure that receives and supports an infant, and it can be made of a substantially rigid material such as a polymer, wood, composite, or other suitably rigid material known in the art.

In addition, the infant seat 100 can optionally have one or more accessories such as a canopy 128 or toy bar (not shown) coupled thereto. Optionally, the infant seat 100 can further include a restraint harness (not shown) attached to the infant receiving component 120 and operable for securing the infant therein.

The infant-receiving component 120 is supported on the frame 110 and mounted thereto by the first and second rotate/translate mechanisms 130 and 150. In the depicted embodiment, the first (e.g., front) rotate/translate mechanism 130 couples together the fronts of the frame 110 and the infant-receiving component 120 to permit rotation and translation of the infant-receiving component 120 relative to the frame 110. And the second (e.g., rear) rotate/translate mechanism 150 couples together the rears of the frame 110 and the infant-receiving component 120 to permit conforming rotation and translation of the infant-receiving component 120 relative to the frame 110 (as dictated by the first rotate/translate mechanism 130). In other embodiments, the rotate/translate mechanisms are positioned at the sides of the frame and the infant-receiving component and/or more than two of the rotate/translate mechanisms are provided. The major components of the first and second rotate/translate mechanisms 130 and 150 can be made of primarily of polymeric materials using conventional molding techniques and equipment, or they can be made of other conventional materials known in the art.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 4-6, the first rotate/translate mechanism 130 includes a rotary cam element 132 and a follower element 134 that is driven by the cam as it rotates and that is fixed to (including integrally formed as a part of) the infant-receiving component 120. In a typical embodiment, the cam 132 includes at least one cylindrical barrel 136 that defines a rotational axis 138 (e.g., generally horizontally and laterally extending) and to which the frame 100 (e.g., end portions 116a of base members 116) is rotationally coupled at an eccentric location 140 (e.g., at its lateral spaced-apart endwalls) that is radially off-center from the rotational axis. And the follower element 134 includes at least one circular rim 142 defining a circular opening 144 (centered on the rotational axis 138) in a housing 146 fixedly attached to the infant-receiving component 120, with the circular rim surrounding/containing the rotary cam barrel 136 but permitting rotation of the rotary cam barrel therein about its rotational axis. As depicted, one cylindrical cam barrel 136 is surrounded/contained by two circular follower rims 140 in spaced-apart sidewalls of one housing 146 extending from the front end of the infant-receiving component 120.

In this way, with the frame 110 resting on a stable support surface and weighted by the infant-receiving component 120, as the cam barrel 136 rotates about its rotational axis 140, the rotation of the cam barrel 136 causes it to revolve around its off-center/eccentric rotational connection 140 to the frame 110. So the containment of the cam barrel 136 within the follower rims 142 of the housing 146 causes the housing and thus the attached-thereto infant-receiving component 120 to travel through a vertical and horizontal wave motion that traces an elliptical path in a vertical plane running front to rear.

In other embodiments, instead of a cylindrical barrel, the rotary cam includes two (or another number of) laterally spaced-apart circular cam plates, arms, or other members, a cylindrical framework of for example rods, tubes, bars, slats, or other frame members, or another cam structure defining a circular peripheral cam/guide surface. And in other embodiments, instead of two circular opening-defining rims in a housing, the follower element includes a single continuous tubular bore extending through a housing, a series of follower members for example pins or bosses that are arranged in a circle on a housing or other structure extending from the infant-receiving component, one or more circular opening-defining rims in an arm, plate, or other extension member, or another follower structure defining a circular peripheral follower/guided surface surrounding and containing a circular cam structure.

In addition, while the depicted embodiment includes a cylindrical (i.e., circular) cam structure surrounded and contained by a circular (i.e., cylindrical) follower structure, other types of cam-and-follower arrangements can be used to generate the described wave motion. For example, in other embodiments the cam is elliptical (symmetrical about one or two axes), has another non-circular shape (e.g., undulating, wedge-shaped, or another regular or irregular shape), and the follower is driven by but does not surround or contain the cam and can thus be provided by a pin, tab, elongated surface, or other element formed by the housing, the infant-receiving component, an extension member, or another part of the infant seat.

In yet other embodiments the cam and follower are formed by a linkage assembly, for example a cam wheel and a follower linkage of the type used in elliptical exercise machines, a crank-wheel cam and a rocker-arm linkage, or a U-shaped cam member (with a central offset member that is offset from and parallel with the frame member) between the end portions of the frame members and a connecting-rod follower extending between the offset member and the infant-receiving component). And while the cam-and-follower arrangement of the depicted embodiment couples/retains the infant-receiving component to the frame (while permitting relative rotation and translation), in other embodiments the components that couple them together are different from the components that permit their relative rotation and/or translation (though such separate coupling embodiments can still be considered to be part of the rotate/translate mechanism).

Referring particularly to FIGS. 7-8, the second rotate/translate mechanism 150 includes at least one guide track element 152 and at least one guided traveler element 154 that rotates and translates relative to the guide track but is retained by the guide track. In a typical embodiment, the guide track 152 includes two spaced-apart and facing guide slots 156 formed in a frame-attached body 158 and extending lengthwise in a front-to-back orientation. And the guided traveler element 154 includes two generally cylindrical pins 160 extending outwardly and laterally from opposite sides of a seat-attached body 162 (e.g., collectively forming a T-shaped member). The traveler pins 160 are received in their respective guide slots 156 with the seat-attached body 162 positioned therebetween, with the pins dimensioned to be long and wide enough and with the slots dimensioned to be deep and wide enough to be retained in the slots. The traveler pins 160 have a diameter/width that is much less than the length of the guide slots 156, so the pins can translate along (e.g., slide within) the length of the guide slots (as indicated by the linear directional arrow). The length of the guide slots 156 is selected to be as least as great as (a) twice the off-set radius between the rotational axis 138 and the eccentric connection point 140 of the rotary cam barrel 136, plus (b) twice the radius of the traveler pin 160, to allow the full range of translating motion (as dictated by the first rotate/translate mechanism 130) without binding or mechanical-stop limitation. And the traveler pins 160 are generally cylindrical (i.e., circular) so they can rotate about their axes within the guide slots 156 (as indicated by the angular directional arrow), whether they are translating at the time or not.

In this way, the guided traveler 154 (and thus the infant-receiving component 120 to which it is attached) can both rotate and translate relative to the guide track 152 (and thus the frame component 116 to which it is attached) to cooperate with the first rotate/translate mechanism 130 to enable the infant-receiving component to travel through the wave motion in a reciprocating fashion according to the wave motion imparted by the first rotate/translate mechanism.

In the depicted embodiment, the frame-attached body 158 is fixedly attached to (or integrally formed as part of) the frame 110 (e.g., at end portions 116b of the base members 116), and the seat-attached body 162 is fixedly attached to (or integrally formed as part of) the infant-receiving component 120. In other embodiments, one or both of these attached bodies is rotationally coupled to its respective attached component (to provide the needed range of rotation) and thus the traveler pins need not provide for the rotational motion (e.g., they can be rectangular or another non-cylindrical shape). And while the guide track and guide pin of the depicted embodiment couple/retain the infant-receiving component to the frame (while permitting relative rotation and translation), in other embodiments the components that couple them together are different from the components that permit their relative rotation and/or translation (though such separate coupling embodiments can still be considered to be part of the rotate/translate mechanism).

In yet other embodiments, the guide track and guided traveler are reversed, with the guide track part of the seat-attached body and the guided traveler part of the frame-attached body. In still other embodiments, another number and/or arrangement of guide slots and guided pins can be provided. In some embodiments the guide slot is generally horizontal, and in other embodiments the guide slot is angled from horizontal and/or non-linear (e.g., gently curved upward, downward, or sinusoidally) to contribute another aspect to the wave motion. In yet other embodiments, the first and second rotate/translate mechanisms are reversed, with the first rotate/translate mechanism at the front of the infant seat and the second rotate/translate mechanism at its rear. And in yet still other embodiments, another type of conventional mechanism is provided that enables a combination of rotational and translational motion between two components. It should be noted that the guide track and guided traveler of the depicted embodiment provide for a limited range of rotation sufficient to conform with and enable the rotational component of the wave motion dictated by the first rotate/translate mechanism, and as such the rotate/translate mechanism need only provide for a pivoting motion by the guided traveler, though embodiments providing for a complete 360-degree rotation can be used instead.

Referring back to FIGS. 5-6, the drive system 170 is operable to drive at least one of the rotate/translate mechanisms 130 and 150 to impart the wave motion to the infant-receiving component 120. The drive system 170 can include conventional components to drive the rotation of the cam 136 of the first rotate/translate mechanism 130, with the selection and configuration of such drive components known in the art and thus not described in great detail. In an example embodiment, the drive system 170 includes a gear train driven by an actuator and driving the cam barrel 136, with the gear train including at least two gears that interengage/mesh to transfer rotation from one to the other. As depicted, the drive system 170 includes a rotary drive actuator 172, a rotary drive gear 174 that is driven by the actuator, and a rotary driven gear 176 that is driven by the drive gear to rotate the cam barrel 136, with the drive and driven gears in a spur gear arrangement. The drive actuator 172 can be provided by a conventional electric motor and an electric power supply (e.g., batteries, a solar panel, or a conductor that can be plugged into a 110v household receptacle) or by another conventional rotary actuator. The drive gear 174 can be rotationally mounted to the housing 146 or to another component of the infant seat 100 such as the infant-receiving component 120. And the driven gear 176 can be attached or formed onto the periphery of the cam barrel 136 (and thus centered on the rotational axis 138). In this way, rotation of the drive gear 172 imparts an opposite-direction rotation to the driven gear 174 and thus also to the cam barrel 136 to drive the first rotate/translate mechanism 130.

In other embodiments, the gear train includes other types of gear arrangements such as rack-and-pinion, worm, bevel, or planetary, and/or more than two gears are included in the gear train. In yet other embodiments, the drive system includes other types of drive components such as linkages or other conventional structures that are operable to transfer rotational motion. In still other embodiments, the actuator is positioned at the rear end of the infant receiving component to drive the second rotate/translate mechanism (e.g., to drive the guided traveler) or to drive an alternative second rotate/translate mechanism (e.g., including a cam and follower arrangement similar to that of the first rotate/translate mechanism). And in yet still other embodiments, the drive actuator is a conventional linear actuator and the drive system includes gears, linkages, or other conventional drive components to convert linear motion to rotational motion.

The control system 180 is operable to enable a caretaker/user to control operation of the drive system 170, and thus the wave motion of the infant-receiving component 120, as desired. The control system 180 can include conventional control components to provide this functionality, with the selection and configuration of such control components known in the art and thus not described in great detail. Thus, the control system 180 can include conventional components to turn the actuator 172 on and off, to automatically turn off the actuator after a pre-set time period (i.e., a timer function), to indicate low battery power, to set different wave-motion modes (e.g., to vary the speed of the actuator, to reverse the angular direction of the drive actuator to reverse the wave-motion direction, and/or to selectively engage of one of plural different drive gears to vary the amplitude of the wave motion), and/or to provide other conventional control functions. In an example embodiment, the control system 180 includes a controller 182, an electrical connection 184 from it to the actuator 172, and a user interface 186 for the controller. As depicted, the controller 182 is provided by a processor and memory with control programming, the electrical connection 184 is provided by electric wiring, and the user interface 186 is provided by at least one control input such as a button, knob, slide, or the like. In other embodiments, other conventional controls can be used whose selection and configuration would be known by persons of ordinary skill in the art.

Referring now to FIGS. 9-13, the operation of the infant seat 100 will now be briefly described. FIG. 9 shows the infant seat 100 in a random rest position that for purposes of this description will be referred to as the start position. In this position, the cam 132 is in a rotational position with its rotational axis 138 to the right and beside its eccentric connection 140 to the frame 110, and the guide traveler 154 is in its rearmost position relative to the guide track 152.

As shown in FIG. 10, upon operation of the control system to active the drive system, the cam 132 is rotationally driven (as indicated by the adjacent angular direction arrow) to revolve about its eccentric frame connection 140 until its rotational axis 138 is below its eccentric frame connection. In turn, the containment of the cam barrel 136 within the follower rims 142 of the housing 146 causes the housing and thus the attached-thereto infant-receiving component 120 to be driven through a curved motion including a forward translation component and downward rotation component (as indicated by the adjacent angular and linear directional arrows). And the guide traveler 154 facilitates this by moving (relative to the guide track 152) through a conforming curved motion including a forward translation component and a downward rotational component (as indicated by the adjacent angular and linear directional arrows).

The process continues with the cam 132 further rotationally driven (as indicated by the adjacent angular direction arrows) to revolve about its eccentric frame connection 140 until its rotational axis 138 is to the left and beside its eccentric frame connection (FIG. 11), then above its eccentric frame connection (FIG. 12), then back to the left and beside its eccentric frame connection (FIG. 13) once again in the start position. This causes the infant-receiving component 120 to be further driven through a curved motion including translation and rotation components, and the guide traveler 154 facilitates this by moving (relative to the guide track 152) through a conforming curved motion including translation and rotation components (as indicated by the corresponding adjacent angular and linear directional arrow sets), as shown in respective FIGS. 11-13. The cumulative result is that the revolving cam 132 causes the infant-receiving component 120 to travel through a wave motion that traces an elliptical path in a vertical plane running front to rear.

While the invention has been described with reference to preferred and example embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications, additions and deletions are within the scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. An infant seat for use on a support surface, the infant seat comprising:

a frame that is supportable by the support surface;

an infant-receiving component that is supported by the frame;

a first motion mechanism coupled between the infant-receiving component and the frame, the first motion mechanism including a follower and a cam that drives the follower to impart motion to the infant-receiving component to trace an elliptical path defining a wave motion;

a second motion mechanism coupled between the infant-receiving component and the frame, the second motion mechanism including a guide track and a guided traveler that moves relative to the guide track to facilitate the motion of the infant-receiving component; and

a drive system that is selectively operable to drive the first motion mechanism to produce the wave motion of the infant-receiving component.

2. The infant seat of claim 1, wherein the first motion mechanism, the second motion mechanism, or both, are provided by at least one rotate/translate mechanism that permits rotation and translation of the infant-receiving component relative to the frame.

3. The infant seat of claim 1, wherein the first and second motion mechanisms are provided by respective first and second rotate/translate mechanisms that permit rotation and translation of the infant-receiving component relative to the frame.

4. The infant seat of claim 3, wherein the cam includes a rotary cam that is rotationally driven by the drive system about a rotational axis.

5. The infant seat of claim 4, wherein the rotary cam includes a cylindrical barrel and the rotational axis is generally horizontally and laterally extending.

6. The infant seat of claim 4, wherein the follower includes at least one peripheral rim defining an opening that receives the rotary cam with the rotary cam surrounded and contained by the peripheral rim.

7. The infant seat of claim 6, wherein the follower rim is circular and the rotary cam is circular.

8. The infant seat of claim 7, wherein the follower is fixedly attached to the infant-receiving component and the cam is rotationally coupled to the frame at a connection point on the cam that is eccentric relative to the rotation axis.

9. The infant seat of claim 8, wherein rotation of the rotary cam about the rotational axis causes the rotary cam to revolve around the eccentric rotational connection to the frame, and the containment of the revolving cam by the follower rim causes the infant-receiving component to move through the wave motion.

10. The infant seat of claim 4, wherein the follower is fixedly attached to the infant-receiving component and the cam is rotationally coupled to the frame at a connection point on the cam that is eccentric relative to the rotational axis.

11. The infant seat of claim 3, wherein the guided traveler rotates and translates relative to the guide track in response to the rotation and translation of the infant-receiving component imparted by the first rotate/translate mechanism.

12. The infant seat of claim 3, wherein the guide track is fixedly attached to the infant-receiving component and the guided traveler is fixedly attached to the frame.

13. The infant seat of claim 3, wherein the guide track includes at least one guide slot and the guided traveler includes at least one guided pin that is received and retained by the guide slot.

14. The infant seat of claim 13, wherein the guide track has a length selected to permit translation of the guided pin in response to the translation of the infant-receiving component imparted by the first rotate/translate mechanism.

15. The infant seat of claim 13, wherein the guided pin is cylindrical to permit rotation of the guided pin in response to the rotation of the infant-receiving component imparted by the first rotate/translate mechanism.

16. An infant seat for use on a support surface, the infant seat comprising:

a frame that is supportable by the support surface;

an infant-receiving component that is supported by the frame;

a first rotate/translate mechanism coupled between the infant-receiving component and the frame, the first rotate/translate mechanism including a follower and a rotary cam, wherein the rotary cam rotates about a rotational axis to drive the follower, the cam is rotationally coupled to the frame at a connection point on the cam that is eccentric relative to the rotation axis, the follower includes at least one peripheral rim defining an opening that receives the rotary cam with the rotary cam surrounded and contained by the peripheral rim, and the follower is fixedly attached to the infant-receiving component, and wherein rotation of the rotary cam about the rotational axis causes the rotary cam to revolve around the eccentric rotational connection to the frame, and the containment of the revolving cam by the follower rim drives the follower to impart rotation and translation to the infant-receiving component to trace an elliptical path defining a wave motion;

a second rotate/translate mechanism coupled between the infant-receiving component and the frame, the second rotate/translate mechanism including a guide track and a guided traveler that moves relative to the guide track to facilitate the rotation and translation of the infant-receiving component; and

a drive system that is selectively operable to drive the first rotate/translate mechanism to produce the wave motion of the infant-receiving component.

17. The infant seat of claim 16, wherein the rotary cam includes a cylindrical barrel and the rotational axis is generally horizontally and laterally extending, and wherein the follower rim is circular and the rotary cam is circular.

18. The infant seat of claim 16, wherein the guided traveler rotates and translates relative to the guide track in response to the rotation and translation of the infant-receiving component imparted by the first rotate/translate mechanism.

19. The infant seat of claim 16, wherein the guide track is fixedly attached to the infant-receiving component and the guided traveler is fixedly attached to the frame.

20. The infant seat of claim 16, wherein the guide track includes at least one guide slot and the guided traveler includes at least one guided pin that is received and retained by the guide slot, and wherein the guide slot has a length selected to permit translation of the guided pin in response to the translation of the infant-receiving component imparted by the first rotate/translate mechanism, and the guided pin is cylindrical to permit rotation of the guided pin in response to the rotation of the infant-receiving component imparted by the first rotate/translate mechanism.