Folding play gym

Abstract

A foldable play gym comprising a support surface for receiving a child and an entertainment component. Generally, the play gym includes a play mat and a toy bar. The play gym is convertible between a use configuration and a folded, storage configuration. The play gym can fold down to a minimal size for storage and/or travel. Generally, the mat is configured to fold and the toy bar is foldable or collapsible. In example embodiments, the toy bar is releasably attachable to the mat and is convertible between an arched, use configuration and a folded, storage configuration. In other embodiments, the toy bar can be permanently attached to the mat.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A folding play gym comprising:
 a foldable mat having a first side and a second side; and   at least one bar having a first end, a second end, and at least a first panel and a second panel;   wherein the bar is movable between a use position and a storage position;   wherein in the use position, the first end of the bar is attached to the first side of the foldable mat and the second end of the bar is attached to the second side of the mat; and   wherein in the storage position, the bar is folded such that the panels are positioned on top of each other.   
     
     
         2 . The folding play gym of  claim 1 , wherein the foldable mat comprises a fill material surrounded by a shell. 
     
     
         3 . The folding play gym of  claim 2 , wherein the shell is formed from a taffeta material. 
     
     
         4 . The folding play gym of  claim 2 , wherein the fill material is formed from a batting material. 
     
     
         5 . The folding play gym of  claim 1 , wherein the foldable mat comprises one or more seams positioned perpendicular to the first and second side of the mat. 
     
     
         6 . The folding play gym of  claim 1 , wherein the bar comprises at least one toy configured to hang from the bar. 
     
     
         7 . The folding play gym of  claim 1 , wherein in the storage position, the bar has a rectangular shape. 
     
     
         8 . The folding play gym of  claim 1 , wherein the foldable mat is foldable between a use configuration and a storage configuration and wherein in the storage configuration the foldable mat has a width of no more than 6 inches. 
     
     
         9 . A folding bar for a child support structure, the bar comprising:
 at least a first panel and a second panel, each panel having a first end, a second end, a top surface and a bottom surface;   wherein the first end of the first panel is releasably coupled to the child support structure and the second end of the first panel is pivotally coupled to the top surface of the second panel at a point between the first end of the second panel and the second end of the second panel;   wherein a portion of the second panel is positioned beneath the first panel.   
     
     
         10 . The folding bar of  claim 9 , wherein there is a distance between the first end of the second panel and second end of the first panel and wherein this distance is between 1 inches and 2 inches. 
     
     
         11 . The folding bar of  claim 9 , wherein each panel has a rectangular shape. 
     
     
         12 . The folding bar of  claim 9 , wherein each panel comprises an insert surrounded by a fabric shell. 
     
     
         13 . The folding bar of  claim 12 , wherein the insert of each panel is formed from a plastic material. 
     
     
         14 . The folding bar of  claim 12 , wherein the insert of each panel has a thickness of between 1 mm and 10 mm. 
     
     
         15 . The folding bar of  claim 12 , wherein the fabric shell of the first panel is attached to the fabric shell of the second panel to form a fabric hinge. 
     
     
         16 . A method of moving a collapsible play gym from a use position to a collapsed, storage position, the play gym comprising a collapsible mat and a bar releasably coupled to the collapsible mat, the bar comprising at least a first panel and a second panel, the method comprising:
 collapsing the bar such that the panels are positioned on top of each other;   positioning the bar on the collapsible mat; and   collapsing the collapsible mat to a smaller configuration.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the method further comprises detaching the first panel of the bar from the collapsible mat. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the collapsible play gym comprises a primary fastener comprising a first fastening component on the bar that is configured to releasably engage a second fastening component on the collapsible mat, wherein the method further comprises disengaging the first fastening component from the second fastening component. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the bar further comprises secondary fasteners configured to engage the collapsible mat, wherein the method further comprises disengaging the secondary fasteners of the bar from the collapsible mat. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising wrapping the collapsible mat around the bar. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the collapsible mat further comprises at least one strap, wherein the method comprises wrapping the at least one strap around the collapsed mat and bar.