Patent Application
20060150921
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to physical support and training devices and, more specifically, to an adjustable harness tether.
2. Description of Related Art
The first few years of a child's life are marked by many milestones, both physical and developmental. A first tooth, the first time that a child rolls over unassisted and the first time a baby takes solid food are but a few of the precious moments which mark the steady development of an infant child. For many parents, the first time that their child crawls is of special significance, as this new mobility is the first “step” many little ones take towards independence. Most babies learn to crawl at between 6 and 10 months of age; after they've developed the strength to sit upright on their own.
A child's first toddling steps can begin immediately after learning to crawl, or alternatively can take the child several months to master. As most parents know, a child's first steps often involve bumps and bruises, as the inexperienced walker can easily lose his or her balance and then fall. Unfortunately, these accidental mishaps can render the child frustrated and sore from the scrapes and bruises that they are subject to from falls on hard unforgiving surfaces.
What is needed, then, is a device that will aide parents in preventing injuries to their toddlers learning to walk.
In light of the aforementioned problems associated with the prior devices and methods, it is an object of the present invention to provide an Adjustable Harness Tether. The tether should provide parents with a safe, reliable device for assisting their small child with walking, standing, bike riding and virtually any other activity requiring the child to balance. The tether should be made from a soft material, yet be durable and long-lasting. The device should be easily donned and doffed from the child to encourage its use. Finally, the tether should have a pair of convenient handles with which the parent can assist, control and manage the child.
The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, of which:
The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the generic principles of the present invention have been defined herein specifically to provide an Adjustable Harness Tether.
The present invention can best be understood by initial consideration of
A first handle 18A and second handle 18B extend from the respective ends 14A and 14B, and are preferably made from flexible webbing for comfort and durability. At a selected point along the elongate pad 12, a cinching means 20 is positioned. The cinching means 20 attaches to the pad 12 via a first loop assembly 22A and a second loop assembly 22B.
Depicted here in hidden lines is an internal reinforcing strap 19; this reinforcing strap may or may not be incorporated into the tether 10, depending upon the intended use for the device. If included, it will be made from a flexible, yet durable material such as woven mesh to provide increased strength to the tether. The specific details regarding the cinching means is more fully disclosed below in connection with
Once the device 10 is properly secured about the child, with the two legs 30A and 30B positioned directly below each of the child's underarms, the parent simply needs to grasp the two handles 18A, 18B; this allows the parent to support and control the child 34 from behind while the child 34 is walking, standing, riding a bike, ice skating, etc.; virtually during any activity requiring the child to use their balance.
While tending to the child, the parent may wish to keep the handles 18A and 18B separated in order to exert two-handed control of the child 34. By offering complete and secure support to the toddler as they attempt to walk, the device effectively prevents the toddler from toppling over and accidentally slipping and falling when taking their first tentative steps. The device 10 is designed to support the weight of the child completely, thus enabling the parent to comfortably follow behind the child, without causing physical strain to themselves.
The device 10 could prove particularly useful to parents of children that suffer from physical or mental limitations which impede the child's ability to walk on his or her own. By enabling a parent to provide loving assistance to their child, the device could also provide both a practical safety device in addition to being an effective therapy tool for use in strengthening muscles and encouraging independence. Similarly, the device 10 could provide very useful to parents suffering from degraded mobility, such as back pain and the like, which may impede the parents' mobility to bend or stoop to protect the toddler. Finally turning to
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiment can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.
