Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6386563
-
Patent Number
6,386,563
-
Date Filed
Friday, January 5, 200123 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, May 14, 200222 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Johnson; Brian L.
- Avery; Bridget
Agents
- Birch, Stewart, Kolasch & Birch, LLP
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 280 8705
- 280 87051
- 280 8703
- 280 200
- 280 202
- 280 290
- 280 647
- 280 650
- 280 657
- 280 658
- 297 5
- 482 66
- 482 68
- 440 22
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A locking mechanism for a swivel seat of a baby walker is provided. The locking mechanism has a lock member which may be configured in a retained, free, or locked state with respect to the seat. When an infant rotates the seat to one of predetermined positions, the baby walker is locked so as to facilitate the feeding or playing of the infant.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to baby walkers and more particularly to a mechanism for locking swivel seat of baby walker in one of predetermined positions for facilitating the feeding by parent or the playing of infant.
2. Related Art
It is well known that baby walker is an exerciser for training an infant to walk. It is also understood that infant seated on baby walker may arbitrarily move to front, rear, left, or right. That is, the movement of baby walker is random and unpredictable. This may increase danger of the seated infant. A conventional baby walker comprises a seat for supporting the weight of infant, a circular frame (integrally formed with a tray), a stationary base, a plurality of legs intercoupled the base and the frame and support the seat, and a plurality of (e.g., four or six) wheels rotatably mounted under the base. Conventionally, wheels are caster wheels. Further, there is no locking mechanism provided in the baby walker. This is not safe in view of above. Hence, it is often recommended by manufacturers that parent or guardian should take great attention to the infant seated on baby walker. In fact, it is not unusual that accident may happen despite the attention being taken.
Of course, there is some baby walkers aimed at eliminating above drawback. And an improved baby walker to enable an infant seated on the walker to turn freely is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/583,995 entitled “Baby Walker” wherein an annular flange is provided on tray with a rotatable disk member mounted thereon. The rotatable disk member comprises an outer wall, a top surface, and an inner wall. An annular groove is formed on the rotatable disk member. The bottom of outer wall is in contact with the top of the tray. A plurality of flexible tabs is provided on the bottom of the inner wall of the rotatable disk member for snapping into a plurality of corresponding slots on the inner wall of the tray and secured thereto. A plurality of holes are provided on the top surface of the rotatable disk member for receiving a plurality of corresponding pegs of seat. This forms a swivel seat. This can prevent an infant from feeling monotonous after several times of using the baby walker. However, infant may easily rotate the seat to turn its back on a parent of guardian who prepares to feed the infant. This really bothers the parent or guardian.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a mechanism for locking a swivel seat of baby walker in one of predetermined positions for facilitating the feeding by parent/guardian or the playing of infant.
The advantages of the present invention are realized by providing a baby walker comprising a stationary tray, a swivel mechanism, a seat, a circular base, a plurality of legs, a lock member, and a plurality of wheels rotatably mounted under the base. Tray is capable of supporting seat, seated infant, and the swivel mechanism. Legs are intercoupled the base and the tray for supporting the tray at a predetermined height above the ground. Swivel mechanism is rotatbly mounted on tray and comprises a plurality of dents wherein the lock member is capable of engaging with one of the dents for fastening the seat to the swivel mechanism.
Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will become fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:
FIG. 1
is an exploded view of a first preferred embodiment of a baby walker incorporating a mechanism locking swivel seat according to the invention;
FIG. 2
is a perspective view of the
FIG. 1
baby walker;
FIG. 3
is a side view schematically showing the seat, the lock member, and associated components shown in
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 4
is a view similar to
FIG. 3
schematically showing the seat, the lock member, and associated components according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention;
FIGS. 5A
,
5
B, and
5
C are schematic cross-sectional views illustrating the locking operation of seat according to the first preferred embodiment of the invention;
FIGS. 6A
,
6
B, and
6
C views similar to
FIGS. 5A
,
5
B, and
5
C respectively for illustrating the locking operation of seat according to a first modification of the first preferred embodiment of the invention;
FIGS. 7A
,
7
B, and
7
C are schematic cross-sectional views illustrating the locking operation of seat according to the second preferred embodiment of the invention; and
FIGS. 8A
,
8
B, and
8
C views similar to
FIGS. 7A
,
7
B, and
7
C respectively for illustrating the locking operation of seat according to a first modification of the second preferred embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to
FIGS. 1
to
3
, there is shown a baby walker constructed in accordance with the invention comprising a stationary tray
10
, a swivel mechanism
20
, a seat
30
, a circular base
40
, a plurality of legs
51
,
52
, and
53
, and a lock member
60
. Each of above components will now be described below. Tray
10
is capable of supporting seat
30
and comprises a central circular opening
101
, an annular groove
102
around opening
101
with a plurality of steel balls
70
slidingly and rotatably disposed therein, a plurality of recesses
105
,
106
, and
107
on the underside of tray
10
, a toy area
103
, and a flat area
104
for retaining food, a beveage, or the like. Swivel mechanism
20
is a ring like member and consists of an upper member
21
and a lower member
22
. Upper member
21
is sized to conform to circular opening
101
. An annular ridge (not shown) is provided on upper member
21
inserted into annular groove
102
of tray
10
such that upper member
21
may turn freely about balls
70
on tray
10
. A plurality of slots
211
are provided on the inner periphery of upper member
21
. A plurality of threaded holes
212
are provided on the top surface of upper member
21
. A plurality of dents
213
are provided on the outer surface of upper member
21
(FIG.
3
). As such, lock member
60
on tray
10
may be engaged with one of the dents
213
so as to secure seat
30
to tray
10
. Lower member
22
is also shaped to conform to circular opening
101
and comprises an annular flange
221
having an outer diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the circular opening
101
. A plurality of tabs
222
are provided around the top surface of flange
221
of lower member
221
. Lower member
22
is inserted from below and into the circular opening
101
with tabs
222
snapped into slots
211
for securing lower member
22
and upper member
21
together. As a result, swivel mechanism
20
may turn freely about the circular opening
101
of tray
10
.
Seat
30
is adapted to receive an infant and comprises an annular frame
301
and a fabric portion
302
. A plurality of holes
3011
are provided around the top surface of frame
301
such that a plurality of screws
90
may drive through holes
3011
and threaded holes
212
to secure seat
30
to upper member
21
. Hence, frame
301
together with swivel mechanism
20
may freely turn. An infant may sit on the fabric portion
302
on the bottom of seat
30
. Fabric portion
302
is stitched to the periphery of frame
301
. Two leg openings
3021
are formed on the fabric portion
302
of seat
30
such that infant may extend its legs therethrough. Base
40
comprises a plurality of upward sockets
41
,
42
, and
43
. Further, legs
51
,
52
, and
53
are intercoupled the sockets
41
,
42
, and
43
and the recesses
105
,
106
, and
107
respectively. As such, tray
10
is supported at a predetermined height above the base
40
(or the ground). Referring to
FIGS. 5A
to
5
C, the mechanism for fastening swivel mechanism
20
to swivel seat
30
by means of lock member
60
is detailed below. Lock member
60
is provided on the top surface of tray
10
. Lock member
60
is substantially an elongate bar and comprises two opposite indentation
61
on the shank and an elastic member
80
′ anchored on a portion of the recessed part on the shank. Two opposite holes
108
are provided in tray
10
each for receiving an elastic member
80
and a steel ball
70
′ (i.e., depressible spring detent). With this, lock member
60
may be configured in a retained, free, or locked state. When lock member
60
is pulled to cause balls
70
to move into indentations
61
by the expansion of elastic members
80
, elastic member
80
′ is compressed in the recessed part of lock member
60
within tray
10
(FIG.
5
A). At this position, lock member
60
is in the retained state. Further, when lock member
60
is pushed to engage with upper member
21
for causing indentations
61
to disengage from balls
70
, elastic members
80
are compressed and elastic member
80
′ is expanded (FIG.
5
B). At this position, lock member
60
is in the free state. Furthermore, when swivel mechanism
20
is rotated until one of dents
213
is aligned with the inner end of lock member
60
, elastic member
80
′ is further expanded to bias the inner end of lock member
60
to move into engagement with the dent
213
(FIG.
5
C). At this position, lock member
60
is in the locked state.
Referring to
FIGS. 6A
to
6
C, the configuration and the locking operation of seat according to a first modification of the first preferred embodiment of the invention are illustrated. The first modification of the first preferred embodiment is configured substantially the same as that of the first preferred embodiment except that the location of elastic member
80
′ is inverse to that shown in
FIGS. 5A
to
5
C.
Referring to
FIGS. 4
,
7
A,
7
B, and
7
C, the configuration and the locking operation of seat according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention are detailed below. Lock member
60
is provided on the top surface of upper member
21
while dents
213
are provided in tray
10
. Lock member
60
is substantially a T-shaped member and comprises two opposite indentations
61
on the shank and an elastic member
80
′ anchored on a portion of the recessed part on the shank. Two opposite holes
108
are provided in tray
10
each for receiving an elastic member
80
and a steel ball
70
′ (i.e., depressible spring detent). With this, lock member
60
may be configured in a retained, free, or locked state. When lock member
60
is pulled to cause balls
70
to move into indentations
61
by the expansion of elastic members
80
, elastic member
80
′ is compressed in the recessed part of lock member
60
within tray
10
(FIG.
7
A). At this position, lock member
60
is in the retained state. Further, when lock member
60
is pushed to engage with upper member
21
for causing indentations
61
to disengage from balls
70
, elastic members
80
are compressed and elastic member
80
′ is expanded (FIG.
7
B). At this position, lock member
60
is in the free state. Furthermore, when swivel mechanism
20
is rotated until one of dents
213
is aligned with the inner end of lock member
60
, elastic member
80
′ is further expanded to bias the inner end of lock member
60
to move into engagement with the dent
213
(FIG.
7
C). At this position, lock member
60
is in the locked state.
Referring to
FIGS. 8A
to
8
C, the configuration and the locking operation of seat according to a first modification of the second preferred embodiment of the invention are illustrated. The first modification of the second preferred embodiment is configured substantially the same as that of the second preferred embodiment except that the location of elastic member
80
′ is inverse to that shown in
FIGS. 7A
to
7
C.
The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
- 1. A baby walker, comprising:a moveable base for moving on the ground; a plurality of legs with lower ends engaging the base; and a stationary tray above and supported by the legs, comprising: a seat for supporting a seated infant; a swivel mechanism being rotatably mounted on the tray for swiveling the seat, having at least one dent and at least one hole; a steel ball received by said hole; and a lock member being capable of engaging with the dent for fastening the seat to the swivel mechanism and having an indentation, a first elastic member for the lock member being against the swivel mechanism and a second elastic member of the steel ball being against the lock member; wherein the lock member is pulled to cause the steel ball to move into the indentation by the expansion of the first elastic member, the second elastic member is compressed to bias the lock member in a retained state, when the lock member is pushed to engage with the swivel mechanism for causing the indentation to disengage from the steel ball, the first elastic member is compressed and the second elastic member is expanded to bias the lock member in a free state, and when the swivel mechanism is rotated until the dent is aligned with the lock member, the second elastic member is expanded to bias the lock member to move into engagement with the dent to bias the lock member in a locked state.
US Referenced Citations (7)