Cradling bassinet

Abstract

A cradling bassinet to impart a rocking, swaying or gliding motion to soothe a child occupant includes a frame and an infant receiving receptacle. In example forms, the frame is movable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. The infant receiving receptacle is pivotally mounted to the frame such that the infant receiving receptacle is capable of gliding or swaying relative to the frame. In some example forms, the infant receiving receptacle is removed from engagement with the frame and capable of rocking on a support surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bassinet comprising:
 a frame comprising a base portion for supporting the bassinet on a support surface, the frame having first and second ends with a first pivot coupling at the first end and a second pivot coupling at the second end;   an infant receiving receptacle mounted between the first and second ends of the frame, the infant receiving receptacle comprising first and second end frame members, at least one lower support frame member extending between the first and second end frame members, and at least one upper frame member extending between the first and second end frame members; and   a first pair of swing arms coupled between the first pivot coupling of the frame and the first end frame member of the infant receiving receptacle, and a second pair of swing arms coupled between the second pivot coupling of the frame and the second end frame member of the infant receiving receptacle, the swing arms being pivotally coupled at first ends to the pivot couplings and pivotally coupled at second ends to the end frame members.   
     
     
         2 . The bassinet of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second pairs of swing arms comprise a first swing arm and a second swing arm, the first and second swing arms being spaced a distance apart from one another, whereby the infant receiving receptacle glides relative to the frame in a substantially horizontal side-to-side motion. 
     
     
         3 . The bassinet of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second swing arms of each of the first and second pairs of swing arms are generally parallel to one another, and spaced a substantially similar distance from one another at their first and second ends. 
     
     
         4 . The bassinet of  claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises first and second generally U-shaped frame members, each of the first and second generally U-shaped frame members comprising a base member and a pair of upright leg members. 
     
     
         5 . The bassinet of  claim 4 , wherein the upright leg members of the first and second generally U-shaped frame members are attached to one another by the first and second pivot couplings. 
     
     
         6 . The bassinet of  claim 5 , wherein the upright leg members of the first and second generally U-shaped frame members are pivotally coupled to one another by the first and second pivot couplings, whereby the frame is collapsible between an unfolded configuration for use and a folded configuration for transport or storage. 
     
     
         7 . The bassinet of  claim 6 , further comprising at least one cross-brace between the first and second generally U-shaped frame members to limit the extent of pivotal motion between the first and second generally U-shaped frame members. 
     
     
         8 . The bassinet of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one upper frame member comprises a first upper frame member having a first end coupled to the first end frame member and a second end coupled to the second end frame member, and further comprises a second upper frame member having a first end coupled to the first end frame member and a second end coupled to the second end frame member, the first and second upper frame members combining to frame an upper opening for access into infant receiving receptacle. 
     
     
         9 . The bassinet of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second upper frame members are pivotally coupled to the first and second end frame members, and movable between an expanded configuration for use and a compacted configuration for transport or storage. 
     
     
         10 . The bassinet of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second end frame members are generally L-shaped, having a lower generally horizontally extending portion for coupling with the second ends of the swing arms, and an upper generally vertically extending portion for coupling with the at least one upper frame member of the infant receiving receptacle. 
     
     
         11 . The bassinet of  claim 1 , further comprising an electronic drive system for moving the infant receiving receptacle in a substantially horizontal side-to-side gliding motion relative to the frame. 
     
     
         12 . A bassinet comprising:
 a frame for supporting the bassinet on a support surface;   an infant receiving receptacle comprising an infant receiving receptacle frame and a soft-goods liner attached to the infant receiving receptacle frame; and   a first pair of swing arms pivotally coupled between the frame and the infant receiving receptacle at a first side of the bassinet, and a second pair of swing arms pivotally coupled between the frame and the infant receiving receptacle at a second side of the bassinet, each of the first and second pairs of swing arms being spaced a distance apart and generally parallel to one another, whereby swinging of the first and second pairs of swing arms relative to the frame imparts a generally horizontal gliding motion to the infant receiving receptacle.   
     
     
         13 . The bassinet of  claim 12 , wherein the frame comprises first and second frame portions coupled to one another at the first and second sides of the bassinet. 
     
     
         14 . The bassinet of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second frame portions are pivotally coupled to one another by first and second pivot couplings allowing the first and second frame portions to fold and unfold between a folded configuration for transport or storage and an unfolded configuration for use. 
     
     
         15 . The bassinet of  claim 14 , further comprising at least one cross-brace between the first and second frame portions to limit the extent of pivotal motion therebetween. 
     
     
         16 . The bassinet of  claim 12 , wherein the infant receiving receptacle frame comprises first and second end frame members, at least one lower support frame member extending between the first and second end frame members, and at least one upper frame member extending between the first and second end frame members. 
     
     
         17 . The bassinet of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one upper frame member comprises a first upper frame member having a first end coupled to the first end frame member and a second end coupled to the second end frame member, and further comprises a second upper frame member having a first end coupled to the first end frame member and a second end coupled to the second end frame member, the first and second upper frame members combining to frame an upper opening for access into infant receiving receptacle. 
     
     
         18 . The bassinet of  claim 17 , wherein the first and second upper frame members are pivotally coupled to the first and second end frame members, and movable between an expanded configuration for use and a compacted configuration for transport or storage. 
     
     
         19 . The bassinet of  claim 16 , wherein each of the first and second end frame members are generally L-shaped, having a lower horizontal portion for coupling with the swing arms, and an upper vertical portion for coupling with the at least one upper frame member of the infant receiving receptacle. 
     
     
         20 . The bassinet of  claim 12 , further comprising an electronic drive system for moving the infant receiving receptacle in a substantially side-to-side gliding motion relative to the frame. 
     
     
         21 . A bassinet comprising:
 a frame for supporting the bassinet on a support surface, the frame comprising first and second generally U-shaped frame members, each of the first and second generally U-shaped frame members comprising a base member and a pair of upright leg members, wherein the upright leg members of the first and second generally U-shaped frame members are pivotally coupled to one another by the first and second pivot couplings, whereby the frame is collapsible between an unfolded configuration for use and a folded configuration for transport or storage;   an infant receiving receptacle mounted between the first and second ends of the frame, the infant receiving receptacle comprising first and second end frame members, at least one lower support frame member extending between the first and second end frame members, a first upper frame member having a first end coupled to the first end frame member and a second end coupled to the second end frame member, and a second upper frame member having a first end coupled to the first end frame member and a second end coupled to the second end frame member, the first and second upper frame members combining to frame an upper opening for access into infant receiving receptacle, wherein the first and second upper frame members are pivotally coupled to the first and second end frame members, and movable between an expanded configuration for use and a compacted configuration for transport or storage; and   a first pair of swing arms coupled between the first pivot coupling of the frame and the first end frame member of the infant receiving receptacle, and a second pair of swing arms coupled between the second pivot coupling of the frame and the second end frame member of the infant receiving receptacle, the swing arms being pivotally coupled at first ends to the pivot couplings and pivotally coupled at second ends to the end frame members, wherein each of the first and second pairs of swing arms comprise a first swing arm and a second swing arm, the first and second swing arms being spaced a distance apart and generally parallel to one another, whereby swinging of the first and second pairs of swing arms relative to the frame imparts a generally horizontal gliding motion to the infant receiving receptacle.   
     
     
         22 . The bassinet of  claim 21 , further comprising at least one cross-brace between the first and second generally U-shaped frame members to limit the extent of pivotal motion between the first and second generally U-shaped frame members. 
     
     
         23 . The bassinet of  claim 21 , wherein each of the first and second end frame members are generally L-shaped, having a lower generally horizontally extending portion for coupling with the second ends of the swing arms, and an upper generally vertically extending portion for coupling with the first and second upper frame members of the infant receiving receptacle. 
     
     
         24 . The bassinet of  claim 21 , further comprising an electronic drive system for moving the infant receiving receptacle in a substantially side-to-side gliding motion relative to the frame.