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. An attachment member, such as a canopy or a mobile arm, may be attached to the frame.

We claim: 
     
         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; 
   a movable attachment member coupled to the frame assembly; 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 movable attachment member is a canopy. 
     
     
         4 . The infant support structure of  claim 3 , wherein the canopy further comprises:
 a first pivotable arcuate member, and   a second pivotable arcuate member, the first and second arcuate members are configured to rotate independently about the same axis.   
     
     
         5 . The infant support structure of  claim 4 , wherein the canopy further comprises:
 a fabric portion coupled to the first pivotable arcuate member and the second pivotable arcuate member.   
     
     
         6 . The infant support structure of  claim 1 , wherein the movable attachment member is a support arm with a first end and a second end, the second end being attached to the frame assembly and configured to rotate about a substantially vertical axis. 
     
     
         7 . The infant support structure of  claim 6 , wherein a mobile is coupled to the first end of the support arm. 
     
     
         8 . 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. 
     
     
         9 . The infant support structure of  claim 7 , 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.   
     
     
         10 . An infant support structure comprising:
 a frame including at least one rocking portion configured to engage a support surface;   a movable attachment member coupled to the frame; 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.   
     
     
         11 . The infant support structure of  claim 10 , wherein the movable attachment member is a canopy. 
     
     
         12 . The infant support structure of  claim 11 , wherein the canopy further comprises:
 a pivotable arcuate member; and   a fabric portion with a first end and a second end, the first end being coupled to the pivotable arcuate member and the second end being fixedly attached to the receiving assembly.   
     
     
         13 . The infant support structure of  claim 10 , wherein the movable attachment member is a suspension assembly configured to suspend a mobile over the receiving assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The infant support structure of  claim 13 , wherein the suspension assembly further comprises:
 a mounting bracket that couples to the frame, and   a support arm with a first and a second end, the second end being rotatably coupled to the mounting bracket and configured to rotate about a substantially vertical axis.   
     
     
         15 . The infant support structure of  claim 13 , wherein the suspension assembly includes a support arm and a mobile is coupled to the first end of the support arm. 
     
     
         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; 
 
   a movable attachment member coupled to the frame assembly; 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 movable attachment member is a canopy. 
     
     
         19 . The rocking infant support of  claim 18 , wherein the canopy further comprises:
 a first pivotable arcuate member,   a second pivotable arcuate member, the first and second arcuate members are configured to rotate independently about the same axis, and   a fabric portion coupled to the first pivotable arcuate member and the second pivotable arcuate member.   
     
     
         20 . The rocking infant support of  claim 16 , wherein the movable attachment member is a suspension assembly that comprises:
 a mounting bracket that couples to the frame, and   a support arm with a first and a second end, the second end being rotatably coupled to the mounting bracket and configured to rotate about a substantially vertical axis.