Juvenile furniture electronic amusement device

Abstract

An interactive amusement system for use with a variety of juvenile furniture. In one example, an amusement bar is connected to a control unit arranged at one corner of a collapsible play yard. A motion sensor controls the type of sound generated and flashing rate of an array of light on the amusement bar. The amusement system has a play and a nap mode which cooperates with the sensor to change the sound generated and the flashing rate as well as the intensity of illumination. The motion sensor may be a combination infrared (IR) transmitter and receiver. The play yard is usable as either a bassinet or play yard and the sensor is usable with either configuration. The control unit and amusement bar are removable to enable the juvenile furniture to be collapsed to a compact unit.

1 . An electronic amusement device having at least one selectively activated electronic amusement that is adapted for attachment to an article of juvenile furniture and selectively activated by an occupant of the juvenile furniture.  
   
   
       2 . The electronic amusement device of  claim 1  wherein the electronic amusement is activated by a motion detector.  
   
   
       3 . The combination of an article of juvenile furniture and an electronic amusement device having at least one selectively activated electronic function that is attached to the article of juvenile furniture and the electronic function is selectable in response to an activity of an occupant of the juvenile furniture article.  
   
   
       4 . The combination of  claim 3  wherein activation of the electronic function is controlled by a motion detector.  
   
   
       5 . An electronic amusement device for attachment to an article of juvenile furniture, the device comprising: 
 a controller;    at least one selectively activated electronic amusement; and    an activity sensor associated with the controller and operatively connected to the at least one electronic amusement for selectively activating the electronic amusement in response to detecting presence of an occupant.    
   
   
       6 . The electronic amusement device of  claim 5  wherein the sensor is a motion detector  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 5 , said controller further comprising: 
 a housing for the controller having a pair of adjacent sides provided with recesses for releaseably securing said housing to a corner of the juvenile furniture comprised of a collapsible play yard.    
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 7  wherein said play yard has at least two adjacent upper side rails and forming one corner of the play yard and hingedly connected to a vertical corner post, said housing recesses being configured to releaseably grip portions of said adjacent side rails and a top of said vertical post.  
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 7  wherein said sensor is mounted on said housing and is configured to have a given angular range of detection for enabling detection of motion of an infant placed in said play yard.  
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 5  wherein said play yard has a first flexible enclosure mounted upon a collapsible play yard frame.  
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 10  further comprising: 
 a floor mat configured to be positioned on a floor of the first flexible enclosure and comprised of a plurality of hingedly connected substantially rigid panels covered with a suitable fabric.    
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 11 , further comprising a vibration unit mounted on an underside of said floor mat for imparting vibration to said floor mat.  
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 11  further comprising stiffening tubes mounted within sleeves provided on said floor mat.  
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 10  further comprising: 
 a second flexible enclosure for mounting upon said collapsible frame and said first enclosure and having a floor arranged a spaced distance above the floor of said first enclosure, said floor mat being configured to be placed upon the floor of the second enclosure.    
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 14  further comprising a motion sensor mounted along said housing and configured to detect motion of an infant placed upon the floor mat which is placed upon the floor of one of the first and the second flexible enclosures.  
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 7  further comprising an amusement arm selectively, mechanically and electrically coupled to said control unit and comprised of a rotatable mobile and an array of lights arranged at spaced intervals along said arm.  
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 16  wherein said control unit is provided with a mode switch, said controller operating at least one of said array of lights and said rotatable mobile in one of a first and a second manner when said mode switch is respectively in one of a first and a second position.  
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 17  wherein said controller is activated by said motion sensor to control one of said rotatable mobile and light array to respond to the position of said mode switch.  
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 a sound generating system and a memory for storing at least two types of sound, said controller controlling the type of sound provided to said sound generating system according to the position of the mode switch.    
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 19  further comprising switches for respectively controlling an on/off and volume condition of the sound generating system.  
   
   
       21 . The device of  claim 7  wherein said control unit further comprises: 
 a night light and a switch for controlling an on/off condition of the night light.    
   
   
       22 . The device of  claim 16  wherein said amusement arm is provided with switches for selectively turning said lights and said rotatable mobile on and off.  
   
   
       23 . The device of  claim 19  wherein said control unit controller is configured to operate said sound generating system independently of said amusement arm.  
   
   
       24 . The device of  claim 7  further comprising: 
 a curved amusement bar having a first end releaseably electrically and mechanically coupled to said control unit and having a plurality of lights arranged at spaced intervals along said bar.    
   
   
       25 . The device of  claim 24  wherein an opposite end of said bar is provided with a resilient clip for being snap-fitted upon a play yard rail opposite and parallel to a side rail supporting said control unit.  
   
   
       26 . The device of  claim 25  further comprising: 
 a second curved amusement bar, said first and second amusement bars having ends thereof coupled to diagonally opposite corners of a substantially rectangular-shaped play yard frame;    said control unit being provided at an intersection of said amusement bars.    
   
   
       27 . The device of  claim 26  further comprising a rotatable mobile suspended from the intersection of said amusement bars.  
   
   
       28 . A stand-alone play unit comprising: 
 a floor unit;    a pair of curved amusement bars having ends coupled to said floor unit so that intermediate portions and arranged so that said first and second bars intersect one another;    a control unit arranged at said intersection and having a motion sensor;    said bars each having a plurality of lights arranged at spaced intervals;    said control unit for controlling pulsing of said lights responsive to detection of motion by said motion sensor.    
   
   
       29 . The stand-alone play unit further comprising: 
 a rotatable mobile coupled to said control unit, said bars being configured to support said mobile unit a given distance above said floor unit, said control unit controlling rotation of said rotatable mobile.    
   
   
       30 . The device of  claim 14  further comprising a wireless detector coupled to said control unit; 
 a wireless transmitter coupled to said floor mat;    said controller controlling one of said lights and said rotatable mobile responsive to detection of motion caused by an infant placed in one of said first and second enclosures and interrupting a wireless signal produced by said transmitter from reaching said wireless receiver.    
   
   
       31 . The device of  claim 30  wherein said wireless transmitter and receiver are configured to operate in an infra-red (IR) range.