Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2172174
S0671/7061 ?
GLG/JH:tac
2287G
IN-PLACE WALKER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention generally relates to a walker device for
an infant or toddler. More particularly, this invention
provides an in-place walker that enables an infant or toddler
to simulate walking while restricted to a stationary location.
BACKG~OUND OF THE INVENTION
Infant walkers are widely known devices that have
achieved great commercial success. Conventional walkers
typically include a seat that is mounted by means of a frame
to a base, and the base includes wheels that allow a child to
propel itself across a surface. Examples of conventional
walkers are illustrated in U.S. Patents Nos. 4,799,700 and
4,359,242. As illustrated in these patents, numerous
variations exist for conventional walkers including
collapsible and adjustable frames, trays, and frames that are
responsive to bouncing movements of a child.
The use of conventional walkers, however, has been highly
criticized in recent years. While left unattended, infants
and young children are frequently injured using conventional
baby walkers near stairways and other elevated surfaces.
Young children can propel themselves over the edge of a
staircase, porch, patio, or the like and sustain serious
n~ury.
To overcome this problem, walkers have been developed to
utilize various braking mechanisms. An example of such a
mechanism is illustrated in U.S. Patent No. 4,699,392 in
which movement of any of the wheels over an edge of the
underlying surface causes the base to collapse and a high.
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friction pad mounted on the base to engage the underlying
surface. The pad inhibits further movement of the walker
over the edge of the surface. This patented walker also
includes a warning system to alert persons nearby of the
child's precarious situation and prompt them to remove the
child from danger.
Movable walkers with such safeguards, however, still
enable a child to put itself into potentially dangerous
situa~ions. For example, a child may exert sufficient force
to overcome the braking system and drive the walker over the
edge of a stair or similar surface. Additionally, the walker
does not prevent a child from moving about an area into other
potentially dangerous locations such as tables and bookcases
stacked with objects that can be pulled off the surfaces or
areas where electrical and cooking appliances are located.
In an attempt to address these problems, walkers have
been developed that confine a child to a fixed position.
Examples of these walkers include U.S~ Patents Nos. 4,743,008
and 5,211,607. These walkers provide mechanisms that allow a
child to walk while remaining stationary. The '008 device
includes a treadmill that is suspended beneath and rotates
with a seat mounted on an elevated tray. The '607 walker
includes a seat revolvably mounted to the circumference of a
stationary elevated tray that allows a child to walk around
the tray along a circular walkway at the base of the walker.
Although each of these walkers essentially confines an infant
to a stationary position, the mechanisms used in these
devices are complex and cumbersome.
An object of the present invention is to provide an
in-place walker that combines a rotatable, bouncing seat with~
a treadmill that allows an infant to practice walking in a
stationary location.
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Another object of the present invention is to provide an
in-place walker that is compact and lightweight.
A further object of the present invention is to provide
an in-place walker that is relatively easy to manufacture and
assemble and free of cumbersome mechanisms.
-- SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The disadvantages of the prior art enumerated above are
overcome in the preferred embodiment of the infant in-place
walker of this invention. The walker has features that
include a base that supports the walker in a fixed position
on a supporting surface, a pair of frame members connected
one on each side of the base, and a seat assembly connected
to the frame members. The base has a treadmill disposed in
close proximity to the supporting surface. The seat assembly
supports a child so that its feet can contact the treadmill.
The invention contemplates a base having support members
connected on opposite sides of the treadmill for supporting
the base on the supporting surface. The invention also
contemplates each frame member having at least two legs with
lower portions and upper portions that are respectively
attached to one support member and a top rail. The top rail
in turn carries the seat assembly which may include a
rotatable bouncing seat.
Numerous other objects, features and advantages of the
invention should become apparent upon a reading of the
following detailed description in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FI~. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment
of the in-place walker constructed in accordance with this
invention;
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FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the wal~er in FIG. I;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the
walker taken along section line 3-3 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along
section line 4-4 of FIG. 3 illustrating the base of the
walker;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along
section line 5-5 of FIG. 3 illustrating the height adjustment
mechanism of the walker;
FIG. 5A is a side elevational view along line 5A-5A of
FIG. 5 illustrating the overrotation features of the locking
pin;
FIG. 6 is a top frag~entary view of the seat assembly
taken along section line 6-6 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along
section line 7-7 of FIG. 6 illustrating the seat mounting
assembly;
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along
section line 8-8 of FIG. 6 illustrating the bounce mechanism
of the seat mounting assembly; and
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along
section line 9-9 of FIG. 6 illustrating an embodiment of a
mechanism for limiting seat rotation that may be included in
the seat mounting assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The preferred embodiment of the in-place walker of the
present invention is generally indicated as 20 in FIG. 1.
The walker 20 includes a base 22, left and right frame
members 24 and 26, a seat assembly 28 and a tray 30. The
seat assembly 28 is mounted on the top of the frame members
24, 26. The frame members are adjustably mounted on the base
22 so that the height of the seat assembly 28 can be varied
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to accommodate children of different height. The tray 30
extends forwardly from and generally parallel to the seat
assembly 28.
As shown in FIGS. 3-5, the base 22 includes a left
support member 32, a right support member 34 and a treadmill
36 connected between the support members 32, 34. The
treadmill 36 is positioned between the support members 32, 34
to be generally horizontal and in close proximity to the
supporting surface for the walker 20.
The support members 32, 34 are hollow and generally
U-shaped, and have a generally rectangular cross-section.
Each end of the support members 32, 34 is formed with an
upwardly facing socket 38 for receiving the frame mem~ers 24,
26. Each support member 32, 34 also includes a connecting
member 40 extending outwardly from the inner wall 42 of the
support member. Each connecting member 40 also has a
plurality of holes 44 for attaching ~he treadmill 36 to the
support members 32, 34. Preferably, the support members 32,
34 are molded from a rigid plastic material in a manner known
in the art.
The treadmill 36 includes a platform 46, a roller 48 and
an endless belt 50. The roller 48 is positioned between the
support members 32, 34 in front of the platform 46 with the
belt 50 encircling both the platform 46 and the roller 48. A
child's walking motion on the treadmill 36 causes the belt S0
to slide across the platform 46 in either a backward or
forward direction S, which in turn rotates the roller 48 in a
corresponding clockwise or counterclockwise direction C.
Although the main function of the roller 48 is to rotate the
belt 50 more easily around the platform 46, the roller 48 may ,
also include an interactive feature, such as a noise
generator, for encouraging a child to walk on the treadmill
36.
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The platform 46 has a generally rectangular smooth upper
panel 56 over which the belt 50 slides as a child walks on
the treadmill 36. The rear portion of the platform 46
opposite the roller 48 is radially shaped to engage and ease
the belt 50 around the platform 46. The lower portion of the
platform 46 acts as a structural member for supporting and
minimizing the deflection of the upper panel 56 when a child
stands on the platform 46. In the em~odiment shown in Figs.
3-4, the lower portion of the platform 46 is formed with
inverted, generally U-shaped channels 58 extending in a
longitudinal direction from the front to the rear of the
platform 46. To increase the structural integrity of the
platform 46, the upper wall 60 of each channel 58 is joined
to the upper panel 56. Preferably, the platform 46 is molded
from a plastic material and the channels 58 are Joined to the
upper panel 56 during the molding process by a plurality of
discrete connections 62 between the channels 58 and the upper
panel 56. The use of the discrete connections 62 improves
the molding process by increasing the numrer of airflow
passages 63 inside the platform (see FIG. 3).
As shown in FIG. 4, the platform 46 also includes posts
64 extending outwardly from opposite sides 66 of the platform
46 that attach to the holes 44 (see FIG. 3) in the connecting
mem~ers 40 of the support mem~ers 32, 34. The posts 64
include a cylindrical body 68 with a locking tip 70 disposed
on the free end of the body 68 opposite the platform side
66. The locking tips 70 have a hemispherical shape with a
larger diameter than that of the body 68 so that a shoulder
72 is formed for engaging locking fingers 74 on the connecting
member 40. The locking fingers 74 are cantilevered inwardly ,
at an angle from the face 76 of the connecting mem~er in a
circular pattern so that the tips 78 of the locking fingers
74 effectively form the connecting holes 44 that receive the
posts 64.. The diameter of the holes 44 is smaller than the
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diameter of the locking tips 70 so that insertion of the
posts 64 into the holes 44 spreads the fingertips 78 which
subsequently close behind the tip 70 to engage the shoulder
72 thereby locking the treadmill 36 to the support members
32, 34.
The roller 48 is an elongated cylindrical member having
stub shafts 80 coaxially disposed on each end (see FIG. 5).
The shafts 80 are mounted in roller bearings 82 in each
connecting member 40 to rotatably support the roller 48. The
roller bearing 82 is formed with a circular bearing wall 84
that extends axially into the connecting member 40 from its
face 76.
The base 22 also includes a shroud 86 that attaches to
each support member 32, 34 and partially extends over the
treadmill 36 to conceal the connection between the treadmill
36 and the support members 32, 34, as shown in FIGS. 3-5. A
series of barbs 88 (see FIG. 5) are disposed along the inner
edge 90 of the shroud to engage corresponding holes or slots
on the inner walls 42 of the supporting members 32, 34. The .
shroud 86 should conform to the general shape of the
treadmill 36. Preferably, each shroud 86 extends a
sufficient distance from the support members 32, 34 to
conceal the edge of the belt 50.
The frame members 24, 26 are configured as inverted,
generally U-shaped members. Each frame member 24, 26
includes lower legs 92, upper legs 94 and a top rail 96. The
lower legs 92 are generally vertical and configured to
slidably engage the sockets 38 in the support members 32,
34. The upper legs 94 extend upwardly from the lower legs 92
and are angled to converge towards each other away from the
support members 32, 34. Each end of the top rail 96 connects
to an upper leg 94 forming the unitized frame members 24, 26
with the top rail 96 being disposed above and generally
parallel to the support members 32, 34. Preferably, the
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frame members 24, 26 are each molded as a one-piece unit from
a plastic material in a manner generally known in the art.
Each lower leg 92 includes a plurality of vertically
spaced holes 98 for selectively adjusting the height of the
seat assembly 28 above the treadmill 36. The height Oc the
seat assembly 28 is selected by sliding the lower legs 92 in
a vertical direction H within each socket 38 to coaxially
align one of the holes 98 with corresponding support holes
102 on the inner wall 42 and the outer wall 104 of each
socket. Each support hole 102 is formed with a flange 106
that extends from the inner and outer walls 42, 104 into the
socket 38. The frame members 24, 26 are secured at the
selected height with locking pins 108 that axially extend
through the support holes 102 and the appropriate holes 98.
The interconnection between each lower leg 92, socket 38 and
locking pin 108 acts as an adjustable connector.
The configuration of the locking pin 108 is similar to a
thumb screw without threads. The locking pin 108 includes a
circular head 110, a shaft 112 extending from one face of the
head 110 and a handle 114 extending from the opposite face of
the head. The handle 114 is generally rectangular and of
sufficient size for an individual to grasp and rotate the
pin. The shaft 112 is preferably a circular member sized to
withstand the stresses imparted to it during use of the
walker 20. The free end 116 of the shaft 112 can be
chamferred so that the locking pin 108 can more easily be
inserted through the series of holes. The shaft 112 also has
L-shaped lock grooves 118 disposed on diametrically opposed
sides of the shaft surface for engaging lock tabs 120 on the
inner surfaces of the flanges 106 at the support holes 102.
The lock grooves 118 extend longitudinally from the free end
116 of each shaft 112 toward the head 110, where the lock
grooves 118 turn 90 along the circumference of the shaft 112
adjacent the head 110. The locking pins 110 are secured to
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the support members 32, 34 by fully inserting their shafts
112 through the support and adjustment holes 102, 98 and
rotating the pin 90 countercloc~wise so that the lock tabs
120 engage the circumferential portion of the grooves 118
adjacent the head 110. The locking pins 108, thereafter,
cannot be removed from the support members without first
rotating the pins 90 clockwise to align the longitudinal
portion of each groove with the corresponding lock tab. As
shown in FIG. 5A, the head 110 includes diametrically opposed
locking teeth 194 disposed on the head perimeter that engage
locking posts 196 extending from the face of the support
members 32, 34 to limit rotation of the locking pin 108 to
90 so that the lock tabs 120 are not da~aged from
overrotation of the locking pin 108.
In FIGS. 1-3, the seat assembly 28 is shown attached to
the top rails 96 of the frame members 24, 26 above the
treadmill 36. The tray 30 is attached to the front edge of
the seat assembly 28 so that it extends forwardly in a
generally horizontal orientation. In the illustrative
embodiment of the invention, the tray 30 is attached to the
seat assembly 28 using fasteners (not shown), such as
screws. The tray 30, however, could be attached to the seat
assembly 28 so that it may pivot or be removable from the
seat assembly.
The seat assembly 28 includes a seat subassembly 122 that
is rotatably mounted to a seat platform 124. The seat
subassembly 122 preferably rotates 360 to allow a child to
interact with its entire surroundings. The seat subassembly
122, however, can be mounted in the platform 124 so that the
seat rotation R is restricted to less than 360.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6-9, the seat subassembly 122
includes a seat 130 attached to a seat ring 132, an upper
race 134 to which the seat ring attaches, and a lower-race
136 to which the upper race 134 is rotatably attached and
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which in turn attaches to the seat platform 124. The lower
race 136 is supported in the platform 124 on a plurality of
compression springs 138 so that the seat subassembly can
reciprocate vertically V in response to a child's bouncing
movement.
The seat ring 132 is an annular member having an
inverted, generally U-shaped cross-section. A plurality of
seat tabs 142 are disposed on the outer perimeter of the seat
ring for engaging seat clips 144 attached to the seat 130. A
plurality of connecting posts 146 are spaced along the seat
ring 32 and extend downwardly between the seat ring walls 147
from its upper wall 145. The height of the seat ring
increases from the front to the rear of the seat subassembly
122 to provide additional support for a child's back.
The upper race 134 is also an annular member having an
inverted, generally h-shaped cross-section. The upwardly
extending outer and inner walls 148, 150 abut and support the
downwardly extending walls 147 of the seat ring 132. The
inner wall 150 extends downwardly below the lower race 136
and into the seat platform 124 (see FIGS. 3 and 7). A
plurality of support posts 152 extend upwardly from the
bottom wall 154 of the upper race to abut and support the
connecting posts 146 of the seat ring 132 (see FIGS. 7 and
8). The support posts 152 are connected to the connecting
posts 146 by fasteners, such as screws 153.
The upper race 134 carries locating walls 156 that
transversely extend between and above the outer and inner
walls 148, 150 to properly align and connect the seat ring
132 to the upper race 134. The illustrative embodiment of
the invention includes four locating walls 156 (see FIG. 6
which shows three of the walls) spaced 90 from each other
around the upper race 134. Antifriction ribs 158 extend
downwardly from the bottom wall 154 of the upper race 134 and
engage the lower race 136, thereby maintaining a space
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between the upper race 134 and the lower race 136 for
reducing the friction between the races so as to allow easier
rotation of the seat subassembly 122. In the illustrative
embodiment of the invention, eight antifriction ribs 158 are
spaced 4S from each other around the upper race 134 (see
FIG. 6 which shows four of the ribs).
The lower portion of the inner wall 150 carries radial
protrusions 159 extending outwardly therefrom to rotatably
attach the upper race 134 to the lower race 136. The
protrusions 159 are located below the antifriction ribs 158 a
distance approximately equal to the height of the lower race
136 to capture the lower race 136 between the protrusions 159
and the ribs 158.
The lower race 136, similarly, is an annular member
having an inverted, U-shaped cross-section. The upper
surface 160 acts as the bearing surface for the rotatable
upper race 134. The downwardly depending outer and inner
walls 162, 164 form a downwardly facing channel that retains
the upper ends of the springs 138. The protrusions 159 on
the upper race 134 engage the lower edge of the inner wall
164 to secure the upper and lower races together. The lower
race 136 also includes retention tabs 166 that extend
radially outwardly from the outer wall 162 for attaching the
lower race to the seat platform 124 (see FIGS. 6 and 8). The
illustrative embodiment of the invention includes four
retention tabs 166 spaced 90 apart along the circumference
of the outer wall 162. The springs 138 are retained within
the lower race 136 by downwardly depending bosses 168 that
extend into the springs 138.
The seat platform 124 has an annular seat mount 170 with ,
a generally L-shaped cross-section depending downwardly from
the platform upper surface 172. The seat mount 170 has a
central hole through which the seat 130 extends. The bottom
wall 174 of the seat mount 170 carries bosses 176 that
21~2174
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support the lower ends of the compression springs 138,
thereby resiliently supporting the seat subassembly 122 in
the platform 124. The sidewall 180 of the seat mount 170 has
retention slots 178 (see FIG. 8) for slidably engaging the
retention tabs 166 on the lower race 136. The retention
slots 178 extend vertically from the lower wall 174 toward
the upper surface 172 of the platform 124, and allow the
lower race 136 to reciprocate vertically in response to a
child's bouncing movement. The downwardly dependlng portion
of the upper race inner wall 150 extends adjacent the seat
mount lower wall 174 effectively forming an enclosure to
retain the springs 138 between the seat mount 170 and the
lower race 136. The upper race inner wall 150 also acts as a
barrier to prevent the seat 130 from becoming snagged by the
lower race 136 and/or the springs 138.
In the illustrative embodiment of the walker 20, the
total vertical travel of the seat 130 is approximately 3/4
inches. Eight compression springs 138 are equally spaced
around the seat subassembly 122 (see FIG. 6). Each spring
138 is rated for a 6 lb. load at a 3/4 inch deflection
resulting in a total capacity of 48 lbs. at a 3/4 inch
deflection.
As previously discussed, the seat subassembly 122
preferably can rotate 360 allowing a child a full view of
it's surroundings. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, however, a
mechanism can be included on the seat assembly to limit the
seat rotation to something less than 360. The mechanism
illustrated includes a vertical post 182 extending upwardly
from the upper wall 160 of the lower race, that engages a
radial slot 184 in the upper race bottom wall 154. Rotation ,
of the seat subassembly 122 is limited to the arcuate extent
of the slot 184.
The seat 130 is generally bucket-shaped with an upper lip
186 that attaches the seat 130 to the seat ring 132. As
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described above and shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the seat 130
attaches to the seat ring 132 by means of seat clips 144
pravided on the upper lip 186 and that engage the seat tabs
142 on the seat ring 132. The bottom front portion of the
seat 130 has holes 188 ~see FIGS. 3 and 6) through which a
child's legs extend downwardly toward the treadmill 36. The
holes 188 are spaced apart to form a web 189 that a child
straddles for support. The seat is preferably made from a
fabric or vinyl covered padded material.
The tray 30, as shown in FIG. 3, preferably has a well
190 with an upwardly extending peripheral wall 191 for
retaining food, spilled liquids, child's toys, etc. Further,
the walker 20 may include an activity toy 192 that removably
nests in the tray well 190 within easy reach of a child in
the seat 130. The activity toy 192 may include a variety of
interactive devices such as a mirror, spinning cylinders and
sound making devices.
Having described an illustrative embodiment of the
invention in detail, those skilled in the art will appreciate
that numerous modifications may be made to this embodiment
without departing from the spirit of the invention.
Therefore, it is not intended that the breadth of this
invention be limited to the specific embodiment illustrated
and described. Rather, the breadth of the invention is to be
determined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
