Attachment System for Entertainment Device

Abstract

The present invention relates to an attachment system or mounting structure that can be used with a device to mount or couple the device to a support, such as an infant support structure. In different embodiments, the device can be an entertainment device, such as a mobile or toy aquarium, or another type of device, such as a monitor. In different embodiments, the infant support structure can be a crib or bassinet or other type of structure.

1 . An entertainment device being configured for use with a support structure, the support structure including a support portion, the entertainment device comprising:
 a housing, the housing including an outer surface;   a mounting structure, the mounting structure being coupled to the outer surface of the housing, the mounting structure including a contact surface, the contact surface being configured to engage the support portion of the support structure; and   a coupling mechanism, the coupling mechanism including:
 a first portion, the first portion including a first end and a second end, the first end being coupled to one of the housing and the mounting structure, and the second end including a first coupler attached thereto; and 
 a second portion, the second portion including its own first end and its own second end, the first end of the second portion being coupled to the housing and the second end of the second portion including a second coupler attached thereto, the first portion and the second portion being configured so that the support portion of the support structure can be located between the coupling mechanism and the housing, and the first coupler and the second coupler can be coupled to each other to secure the housing to the support structure. 
   
     
     
         2 . The entertainment device of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the coupling mechanism is a strap assembly and the first coupler is a buckle portion that is coupled to the strap assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The entertainment device of  claim 2 , wherein the strap assembly includes a first strap portion and a second strap portion, each of the first strap portion and the second strap portion has a first end and a second end, the first end of each of the strap portions is coupled to the mounting structure and the second end of each of the strap portions is coupled to each other. 
     
     
         4 . The entertainment device of  claim 1 , wherein the support structure is an infant support structure and the support portion is a frame member, the frame member being configured to be engaged by the contact surface of the mounting structure and disposed between the coupling mechanism and the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The entertainment device of  claim 4 , wherein the infant support structure is a crib, the frame member is a rail of the crib, and the second portion of the coupling mechanism is configured to pass through an opening in a wall of the crib. 
     
     
         6 . The entertainment device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an arm, the arm having a first end and a second end, the second end of the arm being coupled to the housing, and the first end of the arm having at least one object supported therefrom.   
     
     
         7 . The entertainment device of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the first portion of the coupling mechanism is coupled to the housing. 
     
     
         8 . A mounting mechanism configured to be coupled to an entertainment device, the entertainment device including a housing with an outer surface, the mounting mechanism comprising:
 a body portion, the body portion being configured to be coupled to the outer surface of the housing, the body portion including a contact surface, the contact surface being configured to be placed on a frame portion of a support structure;   a first strap component, the first strap component being coupled to the body portion and including a first coupler; and   a second strap component, the second strap component being coupled to the housing and including a second coupler, the first and second strap components being configured to extend around the frame portion of the support structure engaged by the contact surface, and the first coupler is configured to be secured to the second coupler to mount the body portion and the housing to the frame portion of the support structure.   
     
     
         9 . The mounting mechanism of  claim 8 , wherein the first strap component has a V-shape and the first coupler is attached proximate to the apex of the first strap component. 
     
     
         10 . The mounting mechanism of  claim 8 , wherein the body portion is removably coupleable to the outer surface of the housing. 
     
     
         11 . The mounting mechanism of  claim 8 , wherein the first strap component is releasably coupleable to the body portion. 
     
     
         12 . The mounting mechanism of  claim 8 , wherein the first strap component includes a first end and a second end, each of the first end and the second end of the first strap component being coupled to the body portion. 
     
     
         13 . The mounting mechanism of  claim 12 , wherein the first coupler is disposed along the first strap component between the first end of the first strap component and the second end of the first strap component. 
     
     
         14 . The mounting mechanism of  claim 8 , wherein the body portion includes a edge and at least one notch disposed along the edge, the notch being configured to receive part of the first strap component. 
     
     
         15 . The mounting mechanism of  claim 8 , wherein the support structure is a crib having a wall with at least one opening therein, and one of the first strap component and the second strap component is configured to extend through the opening in the wall while the contact surface of the body portion engages the frame portion of the support structure. 
     
     
         16 . A method of mounting an entertainment device to a support structure, the entertainment device including a housing with an outer surface, the housing including a mounting component extending from the outer surface, the method comprising:
 placing the mounting component into engagement with a portion of the support structure;   placing a first strap component around the portion of the support structure, the first strap component being coupled to the mounting component; and   coupling the first strap component to a second strap component, the second strap component being coupled to the housing.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the mounting component includes a substantially planar engagement surface, and the placing the mounting component includes moving the engagement surface into contact with the portion of the support structure. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first strap component has a first end and a second end and is coupled at its first end to the mounting component and includes a buckle portion attached to its second end. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the second strap component has a first end and a second end and is coupled at its first end to the housing and includes a buckle portion attached to its second end, the buckle portion of the second strap component being configured to be coupled to the buckle portion of the first strap component. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the mounting component is separate from the housing, and the method further comprises the step of:
 coupling the mounting component to the outer surface of the housing.