Convertible infant activity center
A convertible infant activity center is configurable as a play mat, a seat-type device, and as a table-type device. Improper configuration of the device is prevented by an interlock which mechanically inhibits installation of the seat component when the device is not properly assembled in a seat-type device configuration. In its table configuration, the device can be arranged in a generally S-shaped form.
1. Field of the invention
The present invention relates generally to a child's activity center and, particularly, to a child's activity center which is convertible between a plurality of configurations. More particularly, the present invention relates to a child's activity center that is convertible between a play mat configuration, a seat configuration, and two play table configurations that includes an interlock to prevent assembly of the device in an improper configuration.
2. Description of the related art
A wide variety of infant and child exercise and entertainment devices are available in the marketplace. Some of these devices are limited in their utility because they are only appropriate for use by children within a narrow range of ages. For example, one presently available play mat device is appropriate for use by children from birth to four months of age and some presently available seat-type devices are only appropriate for use by children from four to twelve months of age.
Some prior art devices are convertible between two configurations. For example, some devices are convertible between a seat configuration and a table configuration. Other devices are convertible between a play mat configuration and a seat configuration. Although some of these devices are improvements over the non-configurable devices, they are still limited in their utility because the remain appropriate for use by children within only a narrow range of ages.
In addition, some prior art devices allow a child seated in the device to propel the device using his or her legs. This is not a preferred situation
In sum, the prior art devices do not provide the important advantages of allowing multiple configurations and being appropriate for a wide range of ages while preventing an improper configuration of the device which may resulting in a potentially dangerous situation. Additionally, prior art devices do not provide the advantage of permitting configuration in an S-shaped table arrangement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a child's activity center and components thereof. The activity center can be reconfigured into age-appropriate devices as a child develops from a newborn infant to an independently mobile toddler.
It is an aspect of the present invention to provide a child activity center including: (a) a tray; (b) a pylon connected to the tray; (c) a seat connected to the tray; (d) a pylon lock connected to the tray and movable among a plurality of positions including an engaged position in which the pylon lock restrains movement of the pylon; and (e) a seat interlock connected to the tray, the seat interlock preventing installation of the seat in the tray if the pylon lock is engaged and preventing the pylon lock from being engaged if the seat is installed in the tray.
More specifically, the pylon lock and the seat interlock may be incorporated into a combined assembly. Also, the activity center may further include a base connecting to the pylon. Additionally, the pylon lock may releasably couple with a portion of the pylon when engaged, thereby preventing articulation of the pylon relative to the tray. The activity center may also include a toy connected to the tray.
In an embodiment, the tray may include a plurality of tray portions. The tray portions may be connectable in plurality of configurations, including an annular arrangement and an S-shaped arrangement.
It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a child activity center including: (a) a plurality of pylons; and (b) a tray connected to the pylons, the tray including a plurality of tray portions; wherein the tray portions are connectable in a plurality of configurations including a generally S-shaped configuration.
More specifically, the activity center may include a seat connected to the tray. The activity center may further include an end cap connected to an end of at least one tray portion. The activity center may further include a toy connected to the tray.
In an embodiment, the activity center may further include a pylon lock connected to the tray, the pylon lock being movable among a plurality of positions including an engaged position in which the pylon lock restricts movement of at least one pylon. The activity center may further include a seat interlock connected to the tray, the seat interlock preventing installation of the seat in the tray if the pylon lock is engaged and preventing the pylon lock from being engaged if the seat is installed in the tray. More specifically, the pylon lock and the seat interlock may be incorporated into a combined assembly.
The foregoing and other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention, as well as the invention itself, will be more fully understood from the following description of preferred embodiments, when read together with the accompanying drawings, in which:
As shown best in
The seat configuration allows the child to rotate the seat assembly 80 within the tray assembly 60. Additionally, the child can move the seat assembly 80 and tray assembly 60 vertically relative to the base 20 by applying and removing a downward force on the seat assembly 80 and/or tray assembly 60 as described in more detail below.
As shown in
Pylon 30 includes an upper pivot 32, an upper segment 38, a lower segment 40, and a lower pivot 36. The upper pivot 32 and lower pivot 36 are articulable relative to the upper segment 38 and lower segment 40.
Upper pivot 32 is connected to upper segment 38 by a pivot mount 49. The pivot mount 49 allows articulation of the upper pivot 32 relative to the upper segment 38. Upper pivot 32 includes cutouts 35 that permit and prevent motion of the tray assembly 60 relative to the pylons 30 as described below with regard to
The upper segment 38 and lower segment 40 are slidingly connected such that the upper segment 38 slides within the lower segment 40. By sliding the upper segment 38 within the lower segment 40, the overall height of the pylon 30 is reduced. Similarly, as the upper segment 38 is withdrawn from the lower segment 40, the overall height of the pylon 30 is increased. A latch 42 is provided on lower segment 40 and two segmented slots 34 are provided on upper segment 38 to lock the upper segment 38 in relation to the lower segment 40 at a plurality of positions. The height adjustment capability of the pylons 30 can be utilized to optimize the height of the seat assembly 80 above the base 20 in the seat configuration, shown in
Lower pivot 36 is adapted to be releasably connected to lower segment 40. As shown in
Lower pivot 36 is also adapted to be connected to base 20 using a plurality of tabs 44 which are integrally molded extensions of the lower pivot 36. Each tab is wedge-shaped such that it can easily be inserted into its corresponding slot 22 on base 20 (see
Each tray portion 62/63 includes two pylon mounting points 70 where the upper pivots 32 of the pylons 30 are connected. Additionally, end caps 86/88 may be provided. End cap 86 is adapted to releasably couple with first type connector 64 and end cap 88 is adapted to releasably couple with second type connector 66. End caps 86/88 may be releasably attached to the tray portions 62/63 for storage as shown in
Tray portions 62/63 optionally include a plurality of toys, entertainment devices, or educational devices (hereafter “toys”) designed to be manipulated by the child using the activity center 10. In the exemplary embodiment, the toys are releasably attached to the tray portions 62/63 at various points. It is within the scope of the invention to include a variety of age-appropriate toys that can be substituted for use by children of different ages. Additionally, it is within the scope of the invention to permanently affix some or all of the toys to the tray portions 62/63 in lieu of or in addition to utilizing releasably-mounted toys. It is also within the scope of the invention to include other releasably-attached objects (such as, but not limited to, trays, cups, bowls, or electronic devices) within, upon, attached to, or suspended from the tray portions 62/63.
Although the exemplary embodiment described herein includes a tray assembly 60 comprising two tray portions 62/63, it is within the scope of the invention to use a tray assembly 60 comprising one or more tray portions. The tray portions may be substantially equal in size and/or shape or may be different sizes and/or shapes.
As shown in
Also shown in
The pylon can be rotated ninety degrees to engage and disengage the lock bolt 76. When viewing the lower surface of the tray assembly 60, the pylon 30 is locked when it is rotated to its most counter-clockwise position as shown in
The interactions of the lock bolt 76 with the pylon 30, tray assembly 60, and seat assembly 80 provide several advantages. First, installation of the seat assembly 80 is inhibited when the lock bolt 76 is engaged. Because the pylons 30 must be locked when the activity center 10 is used in either of the table configurations, the lock bolt 76 prevents installation of the seat assembly 80 when the activity center 10 is used in a table configuration. This prevents the potentially unsafe situation in which a child is sitting in the seat assembly 80 without the base 20 installed. This condition is potentially unsafe because the child's feet may touch the receiving surface and the child may be able to propel the activity center 10 towards a hazard, such as stairs, a dangerous appliance, a swimming pool, etc. Similarly, the pylons 30 cannot be rotated into the locked position while the seat 80 is installed, thus preventing the same potentially unsafe condition.
Second, locking the pylons 30 prevents articulation of the upper pivots 32 relative to the upper segments 38 of the pylons 30. As such, the pylons 30 are held in an orientation generally orthogonal to the tray portions 62/63. This allows the activity center 10 to be configured in the table configurations wherein the base is not used. Without the lock feature, the pylons could pivot, causing the table to collapse.
As shown in
To convert the activity center 10 from the seat configuration (shown in
To continue the conversion to the table configurations, the user removes the seat assembly 80 from the tray assembly 60. The user then separates the base 20 and lower pivots 36 from the lower segments 40. This is accomplished by removing the hinge pins 56 from the hinge knuckles 54.
Next, the user removes the end caps 86/88 from their storage locations on the lower surface of the tray assembly 60 and separates the tray portions 62/63. The user then reconnects the tray portions 62/63 in an S-shaped configuration and attaches the end caps 86/88 to the free end of the tray portions 62/63. Finally, the pylons 30 are locked by rotating them counterclockwise and the activity center 10 is placed in its upright position. At this point, the activity center is in the S-shaped table configuration depicted in
Alternately, the tray portions 62/63 can remain connected in the generally annular arrangement if the round play table configuration is desired. The end caps 86/88 remain in their storage locations, pylons 30 are locked by rotating them counterclockwise, and the activity center 10 is placed in its upright position. The activity center is then in the round table configuration illustrated in
The ages of suitability for the various configurations of the exemplary embodiment described above are merely recommendations based on assumptions regarding child development. It is assumed, generally, that children develop adequate head control to sit upright independently by four months of age and begin walking without substantial assistance by twelve months of age. The play mat configuration of the present invention is most suitable for use by children who have yet to develop sufficient muscular strength and control to maintain themselves in a seated position. The seat configuration is most suitable for children who can sit upright without assistance but who are not yet independently ambulatory. The table configurations are most suitable for children who are capable of walking unaided.
Following from the above description and invention summaries it should be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that, while the systems and processes herein described constitute exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it is understood that the invention is not limited to these precise systems and processes and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. Additionally, it is to be understood that the invention is defined by the claims and it is not intended that any limitations or elements describing the exemplary embodiments set forth herein are to be incorporated into the meanings of the claims unless such limitations or elements are explicitly listed in the claims. Likewise, it is to be understood that it is not necessary to meet any or all of the identified advantages or objects of the invention disclosed herein in order to fall within the scope of any claim, as the invention is defined by the claims and because inherent and/or unforeseen advantages of the present invention may exist even though they may not have been explicitly discussed herein.
Claims
1. A child activity center comprising:
- a tray;
- a pylon removably connected to the tray;
- a seat removably connected to the tray;
- a pylon lock connected to the tray and movable among a plurality of positions including an engaged position in which the pylon lock restrains movement of the pylon and a disengaged position in which the pylon may be pivoted; and
- a seat interlock connected to the tray, the seat interlock preventing installation of the seat in the tray if the pylon lock is engaged and preventing the pylon lock from being engaged if the seat is installed in the tray.
2. The activity center of claim 1, wherein the pylon lock and the seat interlock are incorporated into a combined assembly.
3. The activity center of claim 1, further comprising a base removably connected to the pylon.
4. The activity center of claim 1, wherein the pylon lock releasably couples with a portion of the pylon when engaged, thereby preventing articulation of the pylon relative to the tray.
5. The activity center of claim 1, further comprising a toy connected to the tray.
6. The activity center of claim 1, wherein the tray comprises a plurality of tray portions.
7. The activity center of claim 6, wherein the tray portions are connectable in a plurality of configurations.
8. The activity center of claim 6, wherein the tray portions are connectable in a generally annular arrangement.
9. The activity center of claim 6, wherein the tray portions are connectable in a generally S-shaped arrangement.
10. A child activity center comprising:
- at least two pylons; and
- a tray removably connected to the pylons, the tray comprising at least two tray portions;
- wherein the tray portions are connectable in either an annular configuration and a generally S-shaped configuration.
11. The activity center of claim 10, further comprising a seat removably connectable to the tray when the tray is in the annular configuration.
12. The activity center of claim 10, further comprising an end cap connected to an end of at least one tray portion.
13. The activity center of claim 10, further comprising a toy connected to the tray.
14. The activity center of claim 10, further comprising a pylon lock connected to the tray, the pylon lock being movable between an engaged position in which the pylon lock restricts movement of at least one pylon and a disengaged position in which the pylon may be pivoted.
15. The activity center of claim 14, further comprising a seat interlock connected to the tray, the seat interlock preventing installation of the seat in the tray if the pylon lock is engaged and preventing the pylon lock from being engaged if the seat is installed in the tray.
16. The activity center of claim 15, wherein the pylon lock and the seat interlock are incorporated into a combined assembly.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 13, 2006
Publication Date: May 15, 2008
Inventors: Peter Jazenski (Huber Heights, OH), Todd Ventrola (Liberty Township, OH)
Application Number: 11/598,561
International Classification: A47B 83/02 (20060101); A63H 33/00 (20060101);