Infant swing and method of using the same
AssigneeMattel, Inc.
InventorsBrian S. Kelly, James P. Meade
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An infant swing that may be parent activated or sound activated and a method of using the same are disclosed.
Claims35
A method of operating an infant swing having a frame and a seat pivotally coupled to the frame, the method comprising the steps of:
- moving the seat relative to the frame for a first time period;
- monitoring for an input during a second time period after a third time period has elapsed;
- and
- controlling a motion of the seat based upon whether a predetermined input is received.
An infant swing comprising:
- a support;
- a seat, said seat pivotally coupled to said support;
- a drive mechanism, said drive mechanism coupled to said seat and adapted to impart motion to said seat for a first time period;
- an audio input detector;
- means for comparing said audio input relative to a predetermined amplitude level;
- and
- means for controlling said drive mechanism based upon whether said audio input exceeds said predetermined amplitude level during a second time period after a third time period has elapsed.
An infant swing comprising:
- a support;
- a hanger arm, said hanger arm being pivotally coupled to said support;
- a seat, said seat being pivotally coupled to said hanger arm and including a back portion, said back portion including a rear surface;
- and
- an adjustment mechanism, said adjustment mechanism including a connector pivotally coupled to said rear surface and a housing coupled to said hanger arm, said housing including a plurality of engagement members, and said connector extending around said hanger arm and being alternatively engageable with said plurality of engagement members of said housing.
An infant swing, comprising:
- a hanger arm;
- a seat, said seat being pivotally coupled to said hanger arm at a pivot point, said seat including a back portion having a rear surface, a center of gravity of said seat shell being forward of said pivot point;
- and
- an adjustment mechanism, said adjustment mechanism being pivotally coupled to said rear surface and disposed rearward of said pivot point, said adjustment mechanism being adapted to adjust the angle between said seat and said hanger arm, said adjustment mechanism being under tension.
A method of reclining an infant swing, the infant swing including a hanger arm, a seat pivotally coupled to the hanger arm at a pivot point, and an adjustment mechanism coupled to the seat shell rearward of the pivot point and engageable with the hanger arm, the adjustment mechanism including a connector and a body defining a plurality of recesses, the method comprising the steps of:
- moving the connector from an engaged position to a released position to disengage the connector from one of the plurality of recesses;
- pivoting the seat about the pivot point;
- and
- moving the connector to the engaged position from the released position to engage the connector with one of the plurality of recesses to fix the seat shell in a reclined position, the connector supporting the seat under tension.
An infant swing comprising:
- a support, said support including a first output generating circuit, said first output generating circuit adapted to generate an audible output during the operation of the swing;
- a seat, said seat pivotally coupled to said support;
- and
- an entertainment device releasably coupleable to said seat, said entertainment device including a second output generating circuit, said second output generating circuit adapted to generate at least one of an audible output and a visual output during the operation of the swing.
A method of generating an output for an infant swing including a support and a seat coupled to the support, the support including a housing, the method comprising the steps of:
- generating a first output from a first output generating circuit, the first output generating circuit being disposed in the housing;
- and
- generating a second output from a second output generating circuit, the second output generating circuit being disposed in an entertainment device that is coupled to the seat.
An infant swing comprising:
- a frame;
- a seat, said seat coupled to said frame;
- a drive mechanism coupled to said seat, said drive mechanism adapted to impart motion to said seat for a first time period;
- a sensor, said sensor adapted to detect an audio input during a second time period after a third time period has elapsed;
- and
- a processor, said processor connected to said drive mechanism and said sensor, said processor adapted to cause said drive mechanism to impart motion to said seat after said first time period in response to the detection of said audio input by said sensor during said second time period.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.