1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains generally to systems for standing, walking training and imaginative play for infants, new toddlers, and toddlers. More specifically, the invention relates generally to systems for young children's exercise and entertainment while also providing opportunities for standing and walking training for infants and new toddlers.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Frequently, children learn to walk by what has been called “furniture surfing” (e.g., infants who are just starting to stand, holding onto sofas, coffee tables, and other pieces of furniture for support as they navigate their way around a living room). At least in part, this may be due to the lack of an alternative method. Obviously, “furniture surfing” represents a risk to the infant, e.g., in the event the infant or new toddler should fall against a hard or sharp corner or edge of a piece of furniture or other item.
A primary alternative to “furniture surfing” can be referred to as “parent surfing,” that is, the active participation of the adult in holding the infant's hands while the infant attempts to stand or walk. This method is often short-lived due to adult fatigue.
Presently, there are few readily available alternatives which provide the functional combination of standing and walking training, exercise and entertainment for infants, new toddlers, and toddlers. Generally, the currently readily available alternatives fail to provide at least one of the desired functions and often have significant safety limitations, even with parental supervision.
Heretofore, other solutions have tended to be heavy, expensive, complicated, difficult to set up, difficult to manufacture, and costly to manufacture. In addition, safety-related features have been limited.
Therefore, a need exists for a system which is safe, inexpensive and easily manufactured, and provides infant walking training in combination with other functions.
In light of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a Child Activity System that is ideal for entertainment and development for young children. Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a system for promoting infant exercise and entertainment. It is still further an object of the present invention to provide such a system that is adaptable to young children as they learn and grow older. It is yet still further an object of the present invention to provide a Child Activity System that is easily assembled, disassembled, transported and stowed. Still further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a Child Activity System that is lightweight and comparatively cost effective.
The present invention specifically addresses and alleviates the above mentioned deficiencies associated with the prior art. More particularly, in a first aspect the present invention comprises a Child Activity System 200 comprising: an upper polygonal peripheral graspable bar 115; a plurality of lower vertical support tubes 150; a plurality of upper vertical support tubes 140 each configured to telescopically fit inside of corresponding lower vertical support tubes, together the plurality of upper and lower support tubes supporting the upper polygonal peripheral graspable bar; and a plurality of lateral support segments 125 each connected to at least one of the lower vertical support tubes, wherein the upper and lower vertical support tubes together define a height h1, h2, h3 for the system that is suitable for a child to grasp the upper polygonal peripheral graspable bar and assist the child in standing and walking.
The Child Activity System is further characterized in that the upper polygonal peripheral graspable bar comprises: an upper side bar 110; an upper end bar 120; and a three-way elbow 190 connecting the upper side bar, the upper end bar and the upper vertical support tube.
The Child Activity System is yet further characterized wherein the upper side bar is connected to the three-way elbow with a releasable spring-button fastener 111 and wherein the three-way elbow includes a hole 610 to receive the spring button fastener.
The Child Activity System is still further characterized wherein the upper end bar and upper vertical support tube are permanently bonded to the three-way elbow with a permanent adhesive and wherein the upper end bar is connected to the three-way elbow with a releasable spring button fastener 111 and wherein the three-way elbow comprises a plurality of holes to receive the spring button fastener.
The Child Activity System is additionally characterized in that the lateral support segment further comprises: two lower end bars 160; a lower side bar 112; and two 90-degree elbows 180 connecting the lower side bar to each of the two lower end bars, the lower side bar configured with spring-button fasteners at distal and proximal ends, the two 90-degree elbows configured with holes to receive the spring-button fasteners, and the two lower end bars permanently bonded to the two 90-degree elbows using a permanent adhesive.
The Child Activity System is still further characterized wherein the upper vertical support tube comprises a spring-button fastener 141 and wherein the lower vertical support tube comprises a plurality of holes 151 to selectably and releasably receive the spring-button fastener, the plurality of holes corresponding to an adjustable system height, h1, h2, or h3.
The Child Activity System is additionally characterized wherein the plurality of lateral support segments are connected to the at least one of the lower vertical support tubes with a 90-degree elbow. Moreover, the child activity system of the present invention further comprises upper and lower side bars 110, 112; upper and lower end bars 120, 160, wherein the upper and lower side bars are modular and interchangeable components, and where in the upper and lower end bars are the same size. Importantly, the invention is characterized in that the upper polygonal graspable bar is configured with a circumference, the circumference selected to be suitable to be grasped by a hand of a child (infant, new toddler, or toddler).
The invention is further described wherein the upper polygonal graspable bar is connected to and supported by the upper vertical support tube via a three-way elbow 190, the three-way elbow configured to receive the upper vertical support tube by way of a spacer 710.
The invention further includes an embodiment wherein a miniature basketball backboard, hoop and net 911 are connected to the upper polygonal graspable bar. Or optionally, a small soccer (or hockey) goals 931 are connected to the lower vertical support tubes. Or optionally, a plurality of end play/activity tables 961 are attached to the upper polygonal graspable bar. Or optionally, a large play/activity table 971 is attached to the upper polygonal graspable bar. Or alternatively, the invention includes material 951 to cover the system thereby forming a tent or “crawl-through” structure 950.
The invention further includes an embodiment wherein the system is placed on its side 910 and the same miniature basketball backboard, hoop and net 911 is connected thereto. Also, the invention includes an embodiment wherein an infant harness 964 is flexibly attached to the upper polygonal peripheral graspable bar (should additional support be required for an infant learning to use the present invention); and a series of suspended toy accessories 962 that are attached to the upper polygonal peripheral graspable bar.
In a second aspect, the invention is characterized as a Child Activity System 200 able to be easily converted to more than one useful play arrangement comprising: two upper horizontal bars 110; two end support segments 300 connected by the two upper horizontal bars therebetween; small soccer (or hockey) goal(s) 931 connected to one of the end support segments, or alternatively, a miniature basketball backboard, hoop and net 911 connected to one of the end support segments, the system thereby providing ability to be converted to more than one useful play arrangement.
In this aspect, the invention is further characterized wherein the alternatives of the small soccer (or hockey) goal and the miniature basketball backboard, hoop and net further include the alternatives of an end activity/play table 961 connected to an end support segment, or alternatively a full activity/play table 971 connected to both of the upper horizontal bars, or an infant harness 964 connected to both of the upper horizontal bars. Moreover, as to the alternative of the miniature basketball backboard, hoop and net play arrangement, the invention optionally includes the additional choice of the basketball hoop facing outwardly, or inwardly 920, or optionally arranging the system to stand upright on its end 910.
In a third aspect, the invention is a Child Activity System 200 comprising: two upper horizontal bars 110 having a circumference graspable by a child (infant, new toddler, or toddler); and two end support segments 300 connected by the two upper horizontal bars there between, the end support segments adjustable in height h1, h2 h3 to thereby adjust the height of the system. Further, each of the end support segments comprises: an upper end bar 120; two upper vertical support tubes 140 connected at opposing ends of the upper end bar; two lower vertical support tubes 150 configured to adjustably receive corresponding upper vertical support tubes; and two lower end bars 160 connected to corresponding lower support tubes in the same plane as the upper end bar. Further this invention in this aspect comprises an infant harness 964 flexibly attached to both of the upper horizontal bars.
While the apparatus and method has or will be described for the sake of grammatical fluidity with functional explanations, it is to be expressly understood that the claims, unless expressly formulated under 35 USC 112, are not to be construed as necessarily limited in any way by the construction of “means” or “steps” limitations, but are to be accorded the full scope of the meaning and equivalents of the definition provided by the claims under the judicial doctrine of equivalents, and in the case where the claims are expressly formulated under 35 USC 112 are to be accorded full statutory equivalents under 35 USC 112.
The invention can be better visualized by turning now to the following drawings wherein like elements are expressed using like reference characters.
The novel features of this invention, as well as the invention itself, both as to its structure and its operation, will be best understood from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description, in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts, and in which:
Initially referring to
Strength of system 200 is provided by advanced materials of plastic pipes and couplings that are extruded or molded from ABS or other child-safe plastic. As an example, pipe diameters could be in the range of ½″ to 1″ or more, if appropriate, and formed in a way comparable to Schedule 40 PVC. The diameter chosen will yield a bar circumference that is able to be grasped by the hand of a small child. System 200 stability is provided by its base that is comprised of two lateral support segments 125. The segments 125 form a base that is three (3) times as wide as the upper end bars 120. Further, segments 125 are more specifically comprised of two lower end bars 160 and a lower horizontal bar 112 connected via 90-degree elbow couplings 180.
The graspable area for infant/new toddler (child) 102 support and walking training is initially defined by an upper polygonal peripheral graspable bar 115, that, in a preferred embodiment, is rectangular in shape and is made up of two upper end bars 120 and two upper horizontal bars 110. The upper bars 110 are joined by several 3-way bar couplings 190, which may also be made from ABS or similar material. Graspable bar 115 provides child 102 with standing support, either by riding at the underarms or simply via child 102 grasping of the bar 115. The bar 115 also provides a sitting or crawling child with an upper bar to grasp while pulling himself/herself up to a standing position. As explained further herein, bar 115 is also important for the attachment of certain play and entertainment accessories.
In a preferred embodiment as shown in
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As stated herein,
b begin to illustrate the versatility of system 200 to be configured with play equipment to further enhance functionality of the present invention as a learning and entertainment apparatus for young children. Embodiment 910 includes a miniature basketball backboard, hoop and net 911 attached to the structure 200 (
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Now turning to
While the particular Child Activity System herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of obtaining the objects and providing the advantages herein before stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as described in the appended claims.
This patent application contains subject matter claiming benefit of the priority date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/891,693, filed on Feb. 26, 2007, accordingly, the entire contents of this provisional patent application is hereby expressly incorporated by reference. Additionally, this patent application contains subject matter related to co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 11/278,657, entitled INFANT ACTIVITY SYSTEMS, the entire contents of which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60891693 | Feb 2007 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 11278657 | Apr 2006 | US |
Child | 12037821 | US |