Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47D—FURNITURE SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CHILDREN
  • A47D15/00—Accessories for children's furniture, e.g. safety belts or baby-bottle holders
  • A47D15/001—Mattresses
  • A47D15/003—Mattresses foldable, e.g. baby mats
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45D—HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
  • A45D42/00—Hand, pocket, or shaving mirrors
  • A45D42/08—Shaving mirrors
  • A45D42/16—Shaving mirrors with other suspending or supporting means
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
  • A63H33/00—Other toys
  • A63H33/006—Infant exercisers, e.g. for attachment to a crib

Definitions

• This invention relates generally to an infant activity center which promotes the development of its occupant, and in particular to a center having intersecting arches which bridge diagonally-opposed corners of a square mat so that an infant lying on the mat can view play pieces dangling from the arches, with a mirror assembly being mounted on one of the arches whereby the infant can observe its own image as it engages in an activity inspired by the play pieces.
• an activity center designed to induce the infant occupying the center to turn around, to raise its head, to move its arm and leg appendages and to engage in other beneficial activities.
• the structure of this center is such as to give its baby occupant a sense of security.
• security A major factor controlling an infant's development is security, for an infant is defenseless and should it for any reason feel insecure, it will cry out to call attention to its condition, and not engage in play activity. Thus if an infant is taken out of its crib and placed on the floor of a nursery to play with toys, because it will feel insecure in this unprotected environment, it will then sob rather than play.
• a known form of an infant activity center which imparts a sense of security to an infant and functions as a playground is a collapsible center having a square floor mat of soft material on which an infant may comfortably lie, the diagonally-opposed corners of the mat being bridged by intersecting arches which extend between respective pairs of corners to create, as it were, an open-sided gazebo which gives the infant therein a sense of being safely enclosed despite the absence of enclosing walls.
• Dangling from the arches of this center are play objects appropriate to the infant's age and state of development.
• the dangling object may simply be objects which differ in size, shape and color to develop the baby's ability to visually distinguish these objects from each other.
• wind chimes may be provided to expose the infant to different tones.
• the arches may be provided with flashing lights, a sound box playing simple rhythmic tunes, and various objects that the infant can reach and manipulate, for the purpose of these play pieces is to induce the infant to kick its feet, to swing its arms, and to otherwise react physically to what it sees and hears.
• this known type of arched activity center can be provided with a mirror mounted on one of the arches, this mirror is not compatible with a collapsible activity center in that when the center is collapsed and the arches are bent to overlie folds of the folded mat to form a pack. The mirror would then protrude from the pack.
• a mirror can make a significant difference in an infant's progress during the first six months of his life, for the mirror in combination with activity-stimulating play pieces create a biofeedback network in which the infant sees in the mirror his physical reaction to the stimuli afforded by the objects dangling from the arches, and the image he sees induces the infant to alter his behavior to improve his performance.
• an object of this invention is to provide a mirror assembly for an activity center in which a pair of intersecting arches bridge and extend between respective pairs of diagonally-opposed corners of a square mat on which the infant lies, the mirror assembly being mounted on one of the arches adjacent a corner of the mat.
• the mirror assembly is installed in an infant activity center having a gazebo-like structure which imparts to the infant a sense of security conducive to activity.
• the mirror assembly When installed in an arched collapsible activity center, the mirror assembly is compatible with the center, for it does not interfere with the ability of the center to be collapsed into a compact pack.
• the mirror assembly When installed in an activity center to be occupied by a baby, the mirror assembly does not introduce any element that may be hazardous to the infant. IV.
• the mirror assembly can be mass-produced at low cost.
• an object of this invention is to provide a mirror assembly in which a mirror is mounted on the front face of a disc, a collapsible easel coupled to an arch being mounted on the rear face of the disc, so that the mirror can be outstretched with respect to the arch or retracted.
• a mirror assembly mountable on an arch of an infant activity center in which the arch extends between and bridges diagonally-opposed corners of a square floor mat, the assembly making it possible for a baby on the mat to see its own image as it engages in an activity appropriate to its stage of development.
• the mat is flexible and the arch is bendable whereby the center can be collapsed to create a pack in which the mat is folded and the bent arch overlies a fold thereof.
• the mirror assembly includes a disc on whose front face is a mirror, the rear face being hinged to one side of a triangular easel web whose other side is hinged to a sleeve fitted on the arch, whereby in an active mode of the assembly, the easel web is then perpendicular to the disc which outstretches the mirror from the arch, whereas in an inactive mode, when the center is collapsed, the web is folded against the rear face of the disc which is now sandwiched between the fold of the compact and the arch overlying the fold.
• Fig. 1 schematically illustrates an arched baby activity center on one of whose arches is mounted a mirror assembly in accordance with the invention
• Fig. 2 is a side view of the mirror assembly
• Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken through an arch of the activity center
• Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the assembly
• Fig. 5 is a rear view of the assembly
• Fig. 6 shows the easel of the mirror assembly in its collapsed state.
• FIGs. 1, 2 and 3 shown therein is an infant activity center in which is installed a mirror assembly in accordance with the invention, thereby making it possible for a baby occupying the center to see an image of himself as he engages in activity that advances his development.
• the center is composed of a square floor mat 10 and a pair of intersecting arches 11 and 12 which are tied together at the point of intersection 13, and are untied when the center is to be collapsed.
• Arch 11 is bowed to extend between and bridge the diagonally-opposed corners CI and C2 of the mat.
• Arch 12 is bowed to extend between and bridge the other pair of diagonally-opposed corners C2 and C3 of the mat.
• Mat 10 is formed of soft and flexible material so that when placed on a floor it provides a cushioned surface for its baby occupant and can later be folded when the center is to be collapsed.
• a suitable structure for mat 10 is one having a flexible foam plastic core such as polyurethane foam of medium density, enveloped in a soft fabric casing.
• mat 10 is then folded into a compact pack in which the arches of the center which are then bent, lie against folds of the pack.
• Arches 11 and 12 must be highly bendable yet sturdy so that when the collapsed center is to be erected, the arches are then released from the folds of the pack and spring out to erect the center.
• Fig. 3 illustrates a preferred form of coaxial arch structure for arch 12, the arch having a solid core rod 14 of polycarbonate or other high strength, bendable plastic material.
• Rod 14 is surrounded by a sheath 15 of flexible foam plastic material covered by a soft fabric casing 16.
• arch 12 though strong and bendable, is cushioned so as not to hurt an infant should it fall against the arch.
• the activity center When the activity center is erected, it must then be outfitted with toys and other play pieces that are appropriate to the age of the infant occupying the center and to its particular stage of development during a period of about six months starting from the month of birth. In this period there are three stages, namely stage I (0 to 2 months), stage II (3 to 4 months), and stage III (5 months and beyond). As the infant graduates from each stage, the center must be outfitted with play objects appropriate to the next stage.
• the activity center shown in Fig. 1 is outfitted for the earliest stage I by dangling from arch 12 a red-colored foam plastic ball 17, and by dangling from arch 12 a green-colored foam plastic rectangular block 18 and a blue-colored foam plastic cylinder 19. Hence an infant lying on his back on mat 10 sees these objects which differ in their geometry and color and are therefore attractive to the infant.
• a fabric sleeve 20 snugly fitted on arch 12 just above mat corner C4, and a disc 21 on whose front face is an unbreakable mirror 22, preferably form a highly reflective metal sheet or a plastic sheet having a reflective coating thereon.
• Hinged to the rear face of disc 21 along a diametrical line that goes through the center of the disc is one side of a triangular web 23 formed by a rigid plastic plate enveloped in a fabric jacket.
• the other side of the web is hinged to sleeve 20 along a longitudinal junction line J. Hinging is effected by sewing one side of the fabric jacket of the web to a fabric jacket 24 covering disc 21 (see Fig. 4) and sewing another side of the web jacket to fabric sleeve 20.
• Fabric jacket 24 covering disc 21 has a circular front opening 25 which expose mirror 22 and defines an annular frame therefor.
• the assembly is anchored in mat 10 by a Velcro fastener strip 30 extending from the lower end of disc 21 and passing through a loop 31 attached to the mat.
• the mirror assembly When the activity center, as shown in Fig. 1, is in an erect state, the mirror assembly is then in its active mode in which wings 26 and 27 coupled to the rim of disc 21 act to maintain web 23 so that it is perpendicular to the disc, thereby outstretching mirror 22 from arch 12. Now an infant lying on the mat and facing the mirror can see himself.
• the mirror assembly When the center is to be collapsed, the mirror assembly is then put in its inactive mode by collapsing the easel. This is done, as shown in Fig. 6, by folding the hinged web 23 so that it lies against the rear face of disc 21. The wings accommodate themselves to this action, for elastic wing band 27B is then stretched while elastic band 26B is then relaxed.
• the easel of the mirror assembly When the easel of the mirror assembly is collapsed and the assembly is in its inactive mode, it is then sandwiched between a fold of the collapsed mat and a bent arch overlying this fold so that the mirror assembly is buried in the pack and does not protrude therefrom. While there has been disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that many changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Pediatric Medicine (AREA)
• Toys (AREA)
• Mirrors, Picture Frames, Photograph Stands, And Related Fastening Devices (AREA)

Priority Applications (5)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=11075637

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Cited By (3)

Families Citing this family (32)

Citations (4)

Family Cites Families (7)

• 2001
  • 2001-07-24 IL IL14452001A patent/IL144520A0/xx unknown
• 2002
  • 2002-07-17 WO PCT/IL2002/000578 patent/WO2003009917A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2002-07-17 EP EP02751582A patent/EP1414537A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2002-07-17 US US10/484,212 patent/US20040266312A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2002-07-17 BR BR0211426-7A patent/BR0211426A/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2002-07-17 JP JP2003515306A patent/JP2005507272A/ja active Pending
  • 2002-07-17 CA CA002455688A patent/CA2455688A1/en not_active Abandoned

Patent Citations (4)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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