Folding elevated sleeper

Abstract

A child support device including a collapsible frame and removable seat. The collapsible frame includes a lower frame for rocking atop a support surface and an upper frame for supporting the removable seat. Lower and upper frame ends are connected to a folding mechanism such that manipulation of one of the lower or upper frames causes a generally synchronized movement of the other of the lower or upper frames. In example embodiments, movement of the lower frame from the expanded configuration to the collapsed configuration similarly causes the upper frame to move from the expanded configuration to the collapsed configuration.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A folding elevated sleeper comprising:
 a child receiving receptacle; and   a collapsible frame assembly attached to and supporting the child receiving receptacle, the collapsible frame assembly comprising a lower frame portion movable between an extended configuration and a collapsed configuration, the collapsible frame assembly further comprising an upper frame portion movable between an extended configuration and a collapsed configuration,   wherein the lower and upper frame portions are linked together to provide synchronous movement of the lower and upper portions between the extended and collapsed configurations such that expansion of one of the frame portions from the collapsed configuration to the extended configuration causes a substantially synchronized movement of the other of the frame portions from the collapsed configuration to the extended configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The folding elevated sleeper of  claim 1 , wherein collapsing of one of the frame portions from the extended configuration to the collapsed configuration causes a substantially synchronized movement of the other of the frame portions from the extended configuration to the collapsed configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The folding elevated sleeper of  claim 1 , wherein the lower frame comprises a first lower frame support portion and a second lower frame support portion, the first and second frame support portions each comprising base portions and upright leg members, each of the upright leg members comprising a connection end. 
     
     
         4 . The folding elevated sleeper of  claim 1 , wherein the upper frame portion comprises first and second upper frame support portions, wherein each of the first and second upper frame support portions comprise an intermediate member and arm extensions, each of the arm extensions comprising connection ends. 
     
     
         5 . The folding elevated sleeper of  claim 1 , further comprising a connection hub for linking each end of the lower and upper frame portions together. 
     
     
         6 . The folding elevated sleeper of  claim 5 , wherein the arm extensions couple with end couplings of the connection hub, each end coupling comprising a connection portion for coupling to the connection end and having a pivot conduit generally formed transverse to the connection portion for receiving a fastener to pivot thereabout. 
     
     
         7 . The folding elevated sleeper of  claim 6 , wherein each end coupling further comprises a driving receiver offset from the pivot conduit. 
     
     
         8 . The folding elevated sleeper of  claim 7 , further comprising a hub member comprising a first conduit extending along a first axis, the first conduit provided for receiving a fastener to provide pivotally coupling a pair of the end couplings thereto, wherein the pivot conduits of each end coupling axially align and pivot about the first conduit. 
     
     
         9 . The folding elevated sleeper of  claim 8 , wherein the hub member comprises a pair of curved slots formed therethrough and generally symmetrically spaced a distance from the first conduit, wherein the curved slots align respectively with the guidance conduit of each end coupling. 
     
     
         10 . The folding elevated sleeper of  claim 9 , further comprising a guidance pin extending through each respective driving receiver and curved slot such that the first and second upper frame support portions are constrained to pivot within a boundary defined by each of the curved slots. 
     
     
         11 . The folding elevated sleeper of  claim 10 , wherein the boundary is such that each of the end couplings can pivot about 45 degrees. 
     
     
         12 . The folding elevated sleeper of  claim 10 , wherein the hub member further comprises a second and third pivot axis extending generally parallel and laterally offset from the first pivot axis, the second and third pivot axes aligned with conduits and projections for pivotal mounting of the connection ends of the first and second lower frame support portions thereto. 
     
     
         13 . The folding elevated sleeper of  claim 12 , further comprising a first arm assembly engaged with the connection ends of the first lower frame support portion and a second arm assembly engaged with the connection ends of the second lower frame support portion, the first and second arm each comprising an opening for pivotal engagement with respective projections of the hub member. 
     
     
         14 . The folding elevated sleeper of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second arm assembly each comprise a guide arm and a drive arm, the guide and drive arm configured for engagement together and for engagement to the connection ends, wherein the first and second arm assemblies extend from their respective connection ends. 
     
     
         15 . The folding elevated sleeper of  claim 14 , wherein the first and second arm assemblies each comprise an opening for pivotally mounting with respective projections of the hub member, a central conduit for pivotally coupling the arm assemblies together, an intermediate driving conduit defining a cam surface, and an elongate guidance slot. 
     
     
         16 . The folding elevated sleeper of  claim 15 , wherein the guidance pin of each of the end couplings extend through their respective driving receiver and curved slot, through their respective intermediate driving conduit, and through the elongate guidance slot corresponding to the opposite arm assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The folding elevated sleeper of  claim 16 , further comprising a locking mechanism for selective locking of the lower and upper frame portions in the extended configuration. 
     
     
         18 . The folding elevated sleeper of  claim 17 , further comprising a lock pin pivotally coupling the first and second arm assemblies together, the lock pin extending through the central conduit of each of the assemblies to provide for pivotal coupling therebetween. 
     
     
         19 . The folding elevated sleeper of  claim 18 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a pair of spaced apart channels for movably mounting to the projections of the hub member, the locking mechanism further comprising a slot formed therein for providing engagement with the lock pin. 
     
     
         20 . The folding elevated sleeper of  claim 19 , further comprising an actuating member provided on the connection hub and linked with the locking mechanism for providing selective unlocking of the locking mechanism. 
     
     
         21 . The folding elevated sleeper of  claim 20 , wherein depressing the actuating member moves the locking mechanism from a locked position to an unlocked position such that the lock pin is permitted to move along the slot of the locking mechanism to permit the lower and upper frame supports to pivot from the expanded configuration to the collapsed configuration. 
     
     
         22 . The folding elevated sleeper of  claim 21 , wherein in the unlocked position, the locking mechanism permits the lock pin to move along the slot such that the first and second lower frame members can pivot about the second and third pivot axes, and wherein with the arm assemblies connected together by the lock pin and linked through the guidance pins extending through the guidance slots and driving conduits of the arm assemblies, curved slots of the hub and driving receivers of the end couplings, the upper and lower frames are configured to provide synchronous movement between the collapsed and expanded configurations. 
     
     
         23 . The folding elevated sleeper of  claim 19 , wherein in the locked position, the locking mechanism is biased by a biasing member to prevent upward movement of the lock pin within the slot thereof and thereby preventing pivotal movement of the first and second lower frame support portions, wherein by extension of the guidance pins through the guidance slots and driving conduits of the arm assemblies and curved slots of the hub, pivotal movement of the first and second upper frame support portions is prevented. 
     
     
         24 . The folding elevated sleeper of  claim 1 , further comprising a partially removable cross bar for supporting the lower frame portions in the extended configuration. 
     
     
         25 . The folding elevated sleeper of  claim 1 , further comprising a partially removable cross bar for supporting a drive system for rocking the collapsible frame assembly. 
     
     
         26 . A child support device comprising:
 a child receiving receptacle; and   a frame assembly attached to and supporting the child receiving receptacle, the frame assembly comprising a lower frame portion and an upper frame portion, the lower frame portion comprising a first lower frame support portion and a second lower frame support portion, the first and second lower frame support portions each comprising base portions and upright leg members, the upper frame portion comprising a first upper frame support portion and a second upper frame support portion, the first and second upper frame support portions each comprising an intermediate member and arm extensions,   
       wherein the frame assembly is linked together to provide synchronous movement of the lower and upper frame portions between the expanded and collapsed configurations such that collapsing of one of the frame portions from the expanded configuration to the collapsed configuration causes a substantially synchronized movement of the other of the frame portions from the expanded configuration to the collapsed configuration. 
     
     
         27 . A method of using a folding elevated sleeper comprising:
 providing a lower frame support comprising a first lower frame support portion and a second lower frame support portion, the first and second lower frame support portions each comprising base portions and upright leg members, each of the upright leg members comprising a connection end;   providing an upper frame support comprising first and second upper frame support portions, wherein each of the first and second upper frame support portions comprise an intermediate member and arm extensions, each of the arm extensions comprising connection ends;   providing a pair of coupling hubs;   coupling connection ends of the upright leg members and arm extensions to the coupling hubs such that both the lower and upper frame supports are in an expanded configuration; and   folding either of the lower or upper frame supports together from the expanded configuration to the collapsed configuration, wherein a synchronous linkage assembly of the coupling hubs cause a similar synchronous fold of the other of the lower and upper frame supports between from the expanded configuration to the collapsed configuration.