Patent Application
20140124294
The present invention relates to an apparatus for climbing to an elevated location and, more particularly, to apparatus for aiding children with climbing to a shopping cart child seat.
Shopping carts often have seats located near one end of the shopping basket. In order for a child to get into the seat, the child has to be lifted by a caregiver and placed in the seat or the child must climb up the side of the shopping cart. When a child is young and not walking or climbing yet, it is relatively easy to lift the child to the seat. When a child is older or heavier, however, it can be difficult or impossible for the caregiver to lift the child. When a child is accomplished at walking and climbing, the child often wants to climb up the side of the shopping cart and get into the seat on their own, which can be dangerous.
For the above reasons, it would be desirable to provide an apparatus that allows a supervised child to climb to the shopping cart seat with little assistance. It would be further desirable to provide an apparatus that can adjust to accommodate shopping carts of various heights. Finally, it would be desirable to provide an apparatus that is sufficiently attractive to children such that they are discouraged from trying to climb the side of the shopping cart.
The climbing apparatus comprises a plurality of steps secured between parallel end walls. The steps ascend relative to the floor or ground from a lower position to a higher position at which they are secured to an end wall. The end wall is perpendicular to the side walls and secured to the side walls with corner members. The corner members are at least partially hollow to accommodate vertically reciprocating adjustable handles. Adjustable handles have a curved end to secure to and accommodate the sides of a shopping cart. Each adjustable handle can be locked at one or more vertical positions. The end wall, corner members, side walls, and steps can be separate components fixedly attached with adhesive or fasteners or they can be integral with one another. They can be formed of molded plastic, wood, metals, or wood-plastic composites. The steps can further include a non-slip coating or non-slip features. One or more optional non-skid feet can be placed on the underside of the side walls or end wall as well. A safety gate can be secured at one end of the apparatus to prevent children from climbing without adult supervision.
Climbing apparatus 10 of the present invention is configured to cooperate with shopping cart 20 such that a toddler or preschool-age child can climb climbing apparatus 10 with assistance from an adult and therefore gain access to the seat 25 while limiting the amount of lifting required by the adult.
As shown in the Figures, climbing apparatus 10 comprises two side walls 11, a plurality of steps 12, an end wall 13, two corner members 14, two adjustable handles 15, and optional feet 17. The plurality of steps 12 are positioned between substantially parallel side walls 11 and next to end wall 13. End wall 13 is substantially perpendicular to side walls 11 and positioned between corner members 14. Corner members 14 connect side walls 11 to end wall 13 and form a housing for receiving adjustable handles 15. Adjustable handles 15 reciprocate vertically in end wall 13 and preferably can be locked in one or more positions with a locking mechanism.
Side walls 11 are preferably substantially parallel as shown in the Figures. Alternatively, side walls 11 can be angled such that some steps are wider than other steps. Side walls 11 also are preferably substantially triangularly shaped to accommodate the plurality of steps 12 positioned between the walls 11.
End wall 13 is preferably extends the height of climbing apparatus 10 at its higher end as is shown in the Figures. Like side walls 11, end wall 13 is preferably comprised of non-toxic and eco-friendly injection molded plastic as is typically used for manufacturing children's climbing toys. Alternatively, end wall 13 can be constructed with any metal, wood, or a wood-plastic composite. End wall 13 can be hollow, solid, or any combination thereof. End wall 13 can be an independent component or it can be integrated with another component such as corner members 14, side walls 11, or steps 12.
End wall 13 is perpendicular to side walls 11 and positioned between side walls 11 as is shown in the Figures. Each side wall 11 is joined to end wall 13 with a corner member 14. Corner members 14 are preferably partially or substantially hollow to accommodate vertically reciprocating adjustable handles 15. Corner members 14 can have a square cross-section, a circular cross-section, or any other shape cross-section as long as it accommodates adjustable handles 15. Corner member 14 can be an independent component that is fixable attached to end walls 13 and side walls 11 with an adhesive or with fasteners as is known in the art. Alternatively, corner member 14 can be integral with side walls 11 and end wall 13. Like side walls 11 and end wall 13, corner members 14 are preferably comprised of non-toxic and eco-friendly injection molded plastic as is typically used for manufacturing children's climbing toys. Alternatively, corner members 14 can be constructed with any metal, wood, or a wood-plastic composite.
Plurality of steps 12 comprise two or more ascending steps comprising a vertical surface 12b and horizontal surface 12a as is shown in the Figures. Steps 12 ascend relative to the floor or ground upward from a lower location away from end wall 13 to a higher location adjacent end wall 13. Steps 12 are secured between the substantially parallel side walls 12 and fixedly or integrally connect with end wall 13. The number of steps can vary depending on the desired size and footprint of the overall climbing apparatus 10. Preferably, there are three steps 12 each comprising a vertical surface 12b and horizontal surface 12a. Like side walls 11, steps 12 are preferably comprised of non-toxic and eco-friendly injection molded plastic as is typically used for manufacturing children's climbing toys. Alternatively, steps 12 can be constructed with any metal, wood, or a wood-plastic composite. Steps 12 can be solid, hollow, or any combination thereof. Additionally, a slip-resistant coating or slip-resistant features 40 can be optionally included on each steps horizontal surface 12a, as is shown in
Adjustable handles 15 are shown in detail in
Handles 15 are slidably positioned within corner members 14 such that each handle 15 vertically reciprocates with respect to the ground or floor. Handles 15 can be made of non-toxic and eco-friendly molded plastic, wood, metals, wood-plastic composites, or rubber.
Handles 15 further each comprise a handle locking mechanism such that each handle can be locked at one or more vertical positions. Preferably, handles 15 reciprocate and can be locked independent of each other such that they can be adjusted to different heights to accommodate a sloped side 21 of a cart. Preferably, as shown in
Additional optional components can further enhance the safety of climbing apparatus 10. For example, non-skid feet 17 can be secured to the underside of side walls 11 or end wall 13 to prevent climbing apparatus 10 from shifting when a child is climbing the steps. Also, a gate or barrier can be located at the lower end of steps 12 to prevent a child from ascending the steps without adult supervision. Further, a child safety lock can be include with the gate or barrier.
To use the climbing apparatus, an adult caregiver aligns shopping cart 20 with climbing apparatus 10 such that steps 12 of climbing apparatus 10 lead to the seat 24 of shopping cart 20. Alternatively, steps 12 can be aligned with the basket 22 if a child wants to ride in the basket. After aligning shopping cart 20 with climbing apparatus 10, the adult caregiver adjust handles 15 so that they extend up and over the side of shopping cart 20 to prevent the cart from shifting. Both handles 15 may be placed at the sides of the cart 20 between the cart handlebar 26 and the seat back 24. Alternatively, one of handles 15 may be placed behind seat back 24 as shown in
Next, the adult caregiver assists the child as the child climbs steps 12. When the child reaches the highest step 12, the caregiver further assists the child as he steps over the side of cart 20 and into seat 25. After the child is properly seated in cart 20, the caregiver releases handles 15 so that they do not impede cart 20. The caregiver can then push cart 20 away from climbing apparatus 10 with the child safely in the cart. When the child is ready to leave the cart, the caregiver can again use climbing apparatus to assist the child as he climbs down from the cart.
While there has been illustrated and described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the true scope of the invention disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims.
