Collapsible Infant Support

Abstract

The present invention is directed toward an infant support including a frame and an infant seat. The frame includes a first frame member pivotally coupled to a second frame member. The footers of the frame member are curved to permit the rocking of the frame on its support surface. The seat includes angled wall portions that define an offset lowest point. With this configuration, a child placed within the seat is safely positioned within the seat such that the child experiences a front-to-back rocking motion.

1 . An infant support structure, comprising:
 a frame assembly including:
 a first frame member, and 
 a second frame member pivotally coupled to the first frame member, each of the first frame member and the second frame member including a footer configured to rock on a support surface; and 
   a infant support portion coupled to the frame, the support portion defining a receptacle in which an infant may be placed, the support portion comprising a first end, a second end opposite to the first end, a first side, and a second side opposite to the first side, the first side being coupled to the first frame portion, the second side being coupled to the second frame portion, the support portion having a lowermost point, the lowermost point being located closer to the second end than to the first end.   
     
     
         2 . The infant support structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first end and the second end of the support portion are located at different heights relative to a support surface. 
     
     
         3 . The infant support structure of  claim 1 , wherein the support portion is a fabric member, the fabric member being suspended from the first frame portion and the second frame portion. 
     
     
         4 . The infant support structure of  claim 1 , wherein the support portion includes a first side portion, a second side portion, and a body portion extending from the first end to the second end and being coupled to the first side portion and to the second side portion. 
     
     
         5 . The infant support structure of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 an insert member being configured to be placed proximate to the body portion, the insert member maintaining the first side portion and the second side portion spaced apart when an infant is placed in the receiving area.   
     
     
         6 . The infant support structure of  claim 5 , wherein the insert member has a width and the body portion has a width, the width of the insert member being substantially the same as the width of the body portion. 
     
     
         7 . The infant support structure of  claim 1 , wherein the frame assembly further comprises a first hub and a second hub, the first frame member being coupled to the first hub and the second hub, the second frame member being coupled to the first hub and the second hub, the first and second hubs permitting the rotation of the first frame member with respect to the second frame member; and at least one of the first hub and the second hub includes a locking mechanism configured to selectively release the first frame member to permit the rotation of the frame members toward each other to collapse the frame assembly. 
     
     
         8 . A rocking hammock, comprising:
 a frame assembly including:
 a first rocking portion including a curved lower end configured to rock on a support surface; 
 a second rocking portion being coupled to the first rocking portion, the second rocking portion including a curved lower end configured to rock on a support surface; and 
   an infant seat supported by the frame, the infant seat including:
 a flexible support portion, the support portion being coupled to the first rocking portion and to the second rocking portion, the support portion defining a receiving area in which an infant may be placed, the support portion defining a width; and 
 a resilient insert member, the insert member disposed proximate to the support portion, the insert being configured to maintain the width of the support portion when an infant is placed in the receiving area. 
   
     
     
         9 . The rocking hammock of  claim 8 , wherein the insert member comprises a unitary band that defines a central opening. 
     
     
         10 . The rocking hammock of  claim 8 , wherein the infant seat has a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, the insert member being located closer to the first end than to the second end. 
     
     
         11 . An infant support structure comprising:
 a frame including at least one rocking portion configured to engage a support surface; and   a receiving assembly coupled to the frame, the receiving assembly defining a receptacle in which an infant may be placed, the receiving assembly including a flexible support member having a trunk portion and a foot portion coupled to the back portion, the trunk portion and the foot portion being disposed at an angle relative to each other, the trunk portion including a resilient brace configured to maintain the orientation and position of the infant placed in the receptacle.   
     
     
         12 . The infant support structure of  claim 11 , wherein the resilient brace is fixedly coupled to the support member. 
     
     
         13 . The infant support structure of  claim 12 , wherein the support member includes a first fabric member and a second fabric member, the first fabric member and second fabric member defining a cavity therebetween, the resilient brace being located in the cavity. 
     
     
         14 . The infant support structure of  claim 11 , wherein the trunk portion has a length and the foot portion has a length, and the length of the trunk portion being greater than the length of the foot portion. 
     
     
         15 . The infant support structure of  claim 14 , wherein the trunk portion includes sides and a bottom, and the resilient brace extends substantially along the length, sides, and bottom of the trunk portion. 
     
     
         16 . A rocking infant support comprising:
 a frame assembly including:
 a first frame member comprising:
 a footer bar operable to rock along a supporting surface, and 
 a header bar oriented in spaced relation from the footer bar, and 
 
 a second frame member comprising:
 a footer bar operable to rock along a supporting surface, and 
 a header bar oriented in spaced relation from the footer bar; and 
 
   a flexible seat assembly suspended from the frame assembly, the flexible seat comprising a flexible wall operable to support an infant, wherein the wall includes a trunk portion coupled to a foot portion, the trunk portion being oriented at an acute angle with respect to the foot portion.   
     
     
         17 . The rocking infant support of  claim 16  further comprising:
 a substantially rigid support brace housed within the flexible wall of the seat assembly. 
 
     
     
         18 . The rocking infant support of  claim 16 , wherein the frame assembly further comprises a hub assembly, the hub pivotally couples the first frame member to the second frame member in an intersecting relationship, and the frame assembly pivots between an open configuration to a closed configuration. 
     
     
         19 . The rocking infant support of  claim 18 , wherein the hub assembly comprises:
 a first hub member, and   a second hub member oriented coaxially with the first hub member, the first frame member being longitudinally offset from the second hub member.   
     
     
         20 . The rocking infant support of  claim 16 , wherein the flexible seat assembly further comprises:
 a first longitudinal wall coupled to the header bar of the first frame member, and   a second longitudinal wall coupled to the header bar of the second frame member, the flexible wall is a bottom wall oriented between the first and second longitudinal walls.