Infant Head Cradle

Abstract

A head-restraint system includes a rotatable base portion; a stationary platform positioned underneath the base portion, wherein the platform supports the base portion; a rotatable head cradle positioned within an open region of the base portion; a first pivoting mechanism that allows the head cradle to rotate with respect to the base portion; and a second pivoting mechanism that allows the base portion to rotate with respect to the platform.

1 . An assembly comprising:
 a platform;   a base positioned on said platform, wherein said base comprises a groove comprising a generally curved track;   a rotatable arcuately-shaped head cradle positioned within an open region of said base, wherein said head cradle comprises a protruding belt portion dimensioned and configured to slide within said groove of said base; and   at least one ball bearing positioned between said belt portion of said head cradle and said base, wherein said at least one ball bearing slides in said curved track of said base.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said platform comprises:
 an upper surface comprising a pair of guides and a receptacle;   a front wall;   a back wall positioned opposite to said front wall; and   a pair of side walls positioned between said front wall and said back wall.   
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said front wall is dimensioned and configured to be approximately one-half in length compared to said back wall. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said base further comprises:
 a top region comprising:
 a recessed saddle-shaped central surface; and 
 a pair of raised side surfaces positioned on lateral sides of said central surface, wherein each side surface comprises a hole disposed therein; and 
   a front region comprising at least one slot configured in a front wall of said base, wherein said front wall of said base is positioned transverse to said central surface and said pair of raised side surfaces,   wherein said groove and said track extend from a first side surface through said central surface and to said second side surface of said top region.   
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said base further comprises a bottom region comprising:
 a pair of generally cylindrical legs having concave ends that are dimensioned and configured to accept a ball bearing, wherein said legs rest in said pair of guides of said platform; and   a boss feature dimensioned and configured to rotationally connect to said receptacle of said platform.   
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 5 , wherein said boss feature comprises:
 a neck portion; and   an enlarged lip that snaps into said receptacle of said platform.   
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said head cradle comprises:
 an anterior surface comprising an inner area of said belt portion that is generally centrally positioned on said U-shaped anterior surface, wherein said inner area of said belt portion comprises at least one semi-spherical bump outwardly extending from said belt portion; and   a posterior surface comprising a concave socket positioned on an opposite side of said at least one semi-spherical bump, wherein said concave socket is dimensioned and configured to accept said at least one ball bearing.   
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 4 , further comprising a neck roll operatively connected to said base, wherein said neck roll comprises a tube member having a substantially curved front, top, and bottom end and a substantially flat back end, wherein said back end comprises at least one attachment mechanism, wherein said attachment mechanism engages said at least one slot of said base. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a blanket system comprising:
 a fastening mechanism that attaches said blanket system to any of said platform, said base, and said head cradle;   a first blanket operatively connected to said fastening mechanism; and   a second blanket operatively connected to said first blanket.   
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said second blanket comprises:
 a pair of holes aligned with one another; and   an attachment mechanism to attach opposite ends of said second blanket to one another.   
     
     
         11 . A head-restraint system comprising:
 a base portion;   a platform positioned underneath said base portion, wherein said platform supports said base portion;   a head cradle positioned within an open region of said base portion;   means for pivoting said head cradle with respect to said base portion; and   means for pivoting said base portion with respect to said platform.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said means for pivoting said head cradle with respect to said base portion comprises:
 a groove comprising a generally curved track dimensioned and configured on said base portion;   a protruding belt portion dimensioned and configured on said head cradle to slide within said groove of said base portion; and   at least one ball bearing positioned between said belt portion of said head cradle and said base portion, wherein said at least one ball bearing slides in said curved track of said base portion.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said means for pivoting said base portion with respect to said platform comprises:
 a pair of guides and a receptacle dimensioned and configured on an upper surface of said platform;   a pair of legs dimensioned and configured on a lower surface of said base portion, wherein said legs comprise concave ends that are dimensioned and configured to accept a ball bearing, wherein said legs rest in said pair of guides of said platform; and   a boss feature dimensioned and configured on said lower surface of said base portion, wherein said boss feature rotationally engages said receptacle of said platform.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said means for pivoting said head cradle with respect to said base portion comprises:
 a pivot mechanism rotationally connecting said base portion to said head cradle; and   a friction reducing mechanism positioned between said base portion and said head cradle.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said means for pivoting said base portion with respect to said platform comprises:
 a pivot mechanism rotationally connecting said base portion to said platform; and   at least one ball bearing positioned between said base portion and said platform.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a cushioning mechanism positioned on said base portion. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising an audio signal mechanism that generates audio signals and outputs said audio signals, wherein said audio signal mechanism is positioned adjacent to any of said platform, said base portion, and said head cradle. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein said audio signal mechanism comprises:
 a programmable sound card;   a speaker; and   a power supply unit.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a dual component blanket system connected to any of said platform, said base portion, and said head cradle, wherein said dual component blanket system comprises an outer blanket portion and an inner blanket portion. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus comprising:
 a stationary platform;   a base rotationally connected to said platform;   a head cradle rotationally connected to said base;   a first pivot mechanism rotationally connecting said base to said head cradle; and   a second pivot mechanism rotationally connecting said base to said platform.