Shaded infant lounge device and method therefor

Abstract

A shaded infant lounge device includes a frame, a support panel, a canopy, and connection assemblies. The frame is selectively positionable between an expanded position and a collapsed position. The support panel is attached to the frame to support an infant lying thereon when the frame is in the expanded position. The canopy is removably mounted to the frame and is vertically spaced above the support panel when the frame is in the expanded position. The canopy is designed to create a shaded space over the support panel to shade the infant from light, such as sunlight. The connection assemblies detachably connect the canopy to the frame, which allows for the canopy to be removed and the frame collapsed for ease of transport.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A shaded infant lounge device comprising:
 a frame being selectively positionable between an expanded position and a collapsed position;   a support panel attached to said frame to support an infant lying thereon when the frame is in the expanded position;   a canopy being removably mounted to said frame and being vertically spaced above said support panel when said frame is in said expanded position, said canopy being configured to create a shaded space over said support panel; and   a plurality of connection assemblies detachably connecting said canopy to said frame.   
     
     
         2 . The shaded infant lounge device of  claim 1 , wherein each of said connection assemblies comprises a first mating member disposed on said frame and a second mating member disposed on an edge portion of said canopy. 
     
     
         3 . The shaded infant lounge device of  claim 2 , wherein:
 said frame comprises upper support structures;   said support panel comprises corner portions, each attached to a corresponding one of said support structures to support said support panel in a suspended manner on said frame; and   each of said first mating members is disposed on a corresponding one of said support structures such that said canopy covers said support panel when said canopy is connected to said frame.   
     
     
         4 . The shaded infant lounge device of  claim 2 , wherein said first mating member and said second mating member are detachably connected by magnetic force. 
     
     
         5 . The shaded infant lounge device of  claim 2 , wherein pairs of said second mating members are detachably connectable to one another to permit a user to roll up said canopy and connect edge portions of said canopy to form a tubular shape to store said support panel and said frame therein in said collapsed position. 
     
     
         6 . The shaded infant lounge device of  claim 2 , wherein:
 said canopy is substantially rectangular in shape; and   each of said second mating members is attached to a corresponding corner of said canopy.   
     
     
         7 . The shaded infant lounge device of  claim 1 , wherein said canopy is resiliently flexible such that said canopy has an open-ended arch shape when connected to said frame. 
     
     
         8 . The shaded infant lounge device of  claim 1 , wherein said canopy comprises plastic or fabric material that is UV-resistant and weather-resistant. 
     
     
         9 . The shaded infant lounge device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said support panel comprises a first end portion to support an upper body portion of an infant and a second end portion to support a lower body portion of an infant; and   said frame supports said first end portion higher than said second end portion to support a head of an infant lying on said support panel vertically higher than feet of the infant.   
     
     
         10 . The shaded infant lounge device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said support panel comprises a flexible material; and   said support panel is folded up when said frame is in said collapsed position and unfolded into a smooth support surface when said frame is in said expanded position.   
     
     
         11 . The shaded infant lounge device of  claim 1 , wherein said frame comprises leg portions to support said support panel a distance off of a ground or floor surface. 
     
     
         12 . The shaded infant lounge device of  claim 11 , wherein said leg portions comprise foot structures to provide stability and minimize tipping of said frame. 
     
     
         13 . The shaded infant lounge device of  claim 12 , wherein said frame comprises a locking structure to releasably lock said frame in said expanded position. 
     
     
         14 . The shaded infant lounge device of  claim 1 , wherein the shaded infant lounge device further comprises a securing device being configured to prevent an infant from rolling and falling off of said support panel. 
     
     
         15 . The shaded infant lounge device of  claim 14 , wherein said securing device comprises a harness configured to fit around a body of an infant, wherein said harness comprises a waist strap configured to be placed over a waist area of an infant and a center strap configured to be placed between legs of an infant. 
     
     
         16 . The shaded infant lounge device of  claim 14 , wherein said securing device is connected to said support panel. 
     
     
         17 . A method of using the shaded infant lounge device of  claim 1 , said method comprising the steps of:
 expanding said frame into said expanded position;   placing an infant on said support panel; and   removably mounting said canopy to said frame using said plurality of connection assemblies and creating a shaded space over said support panel to protect the infant from exposure to light.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , said method further comprising:
 removing said canopy from said frame;   removing the infant from said support panel; and   collapsing said frame into said collapsed position.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein each of said connection assemblies comprises a first mating member disposed on said frame and a second mating member disposed on an edge portion of said canopy, and said method further comprises:
 rolling up said canopy into a tubular shape;   connecting pairs of said second mating members and corresponding edge portions of said canopy; and   storing said support panel and said frame in said collapsed position in said rolled-up canopy.   
     
     
         20 . A shaded infant lounge device comprising:
 a frame being selectively positionable between an expanded position and a collapsed position, said frame supports said first end portion higher than said second end portion to support a head of an infant lying on said support panel vertically higher than feet of the infant, said frame comprises upper support structures, said frame comprises a locking structure to releasably lock said frame in said expanded position, said frame comprises leg portions disposed below said upper support structures to support said support panel a distance off of a ground or floor surface, said leg portions comprise foot structures to provide stability and minimize tipping of said frame;   a support panel attached to said frame to support an infant lying thereon when the frame is in the expanded position, said support panel comprises a first end portion to support an upper body portion of an infant and a second end portion to support a lower body portion of an infant, said support panel comprises corner portions, each attached to a corresponding one of said support structures to support said support panel in a suspended manner on said frame, said support panel is elongated to support a body of an infant lengthwise, said support panel comprises a flexible material, said support panel is folded up when said frame is in said collapsed position and unfolded into a smooth support surface when said frame is in said expanded position, said support panel is in the form of a sling suspended from said support structures;   a canopy being removably mounted to said frame and being vertically spaced above said support panel when said frame is in said expanded position, said canopy being configured to create a shaded space over said support panel, said canopy is resiliently flexible such that said canopy has an open-ended arch shape when connected to said frame, said canopy is substantially rectangular in shape, said canopy comprises plastic or fabric material that is UV-resistant and weather-resistant;   a plurality of connection assemblies detachably connecting said canopy to said frame, each of said connection assemblies comprises a first mating member disposed on said frame and a second mating member disposed on an edge portion of said canopy, each of said first mating members is disposed on a corresponding one of said support structures such that said canopy covers said support panel when said canopy is connected to said frame, said first mating member and said second mating member are detachably connected by magnetic force, pairs of said second mating members are detachably connectable to one another to permit a user to roll up said canopy and connect edge portions of said canopy to form a tubular shape to store said support panel and said frame therein in said collapsed position, each of said second mating members is attached to a corresponding corner of said canopy; and   a securing device being configured to prevent an infant from rolling and falling off of said support panel, said securing device comprises a harness configured to fit around a body of an infant, said harness comprises a waist strap configured to be placed over a waist area of an infant and a center strap configured to be placed between legs of an infant, said securing device is connected to said support panel.