Activity saucer for infants with clubfoot

A baby activity saucer with a movable upper tray that allows for inserting a baby with clubfoot cast, braces and bars that does not require the bar to be removed. The sliding upper tray of the clubfoot activity saucer has a latch that when triggered, unlatches the upper tray from the bottom tray allowing it to slide and to be adjusted for a smaller or larger opening. The seat has a back the curves into a horn that extends forward to allow an infant to straddle the horn. A foot plate is used to hold the bar in a fixed position. The device has a set of pegs that allow the foot plate to be moved up or down to a desired height, to allow the baby to exercise his/her legs safely. The device can be made with or without wheels, depending on whether motion is desired or not.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to infant activity saucers and particularly to infant activity saucer for infants with clubfoot.

2. Description of the Prior Art

When clubfoot infants undergo the Ponseti method for repairing their clubfeet, infants wear a cast for about two months. After casting they undergo surgery. After surgery, they must wear braces and a bar to hold the feet on an outside angle, this bar is connected to both feet to hold the braces at the proper angle. The success rate to correct clubfeet depend on the infants wearing their braces for 23 hours a day for 3 months. After that, a doctor recommends how much more time is needed. Eventually, the time is slowly tapered off.

Regular baby exercise saucers or walkers have seats that have two holes for the legs of the baby, this works great for inserting a baby by putting one leg through each of the openings. However, regular baby exercisers make it difficult for infants with clubfeet to enjoy the benefits and comfort of using an exercise saucer because of the braces and bars that hold their feet apart.

Presently there is no solution for using a baby exercise saucer or an activity saucer that does not require the removal of the bar or braces before inserting the baby in such saucer; and then having to reinstall the bar and/or braces. It is difficult for both the parent and the baby to undergo removal of the bar every time the use of the saucer is desired. Continuous removal of the braces and bar also greatly increases the chance of clubfoot relapse.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a solution to this problem by providing a baby activity saucer with a movable upper tray that allows for inserting a baby with clubfoot cast, braces and bars that does not require the bar to be removed. The present invention also introduces a method to adjust the opening of the baby area to accommodate petite or large babies.

The sliding upper tray of the clubfoot activity saucer has a latch that when triggered, unlatches the upper tray from the bottom tray allowing it to slide and to be adjusted for a smaller or larger opening. The seat of the clubfoot activity saucer is a standard type seat that is strong to support a baby. The seat is also sufficiently padded to be comfortable for the baby to sit on. It also has a horn formed on the front. The horn is much like a bicycle seat in that it allows an infant to straddle the seat so that, when able, the infant can stand while being restrained by the tray. The horn also makes putting an infant in the seat easier.

Clubfoot braces are made of a plastic material so they slide easy on any hard surface, a foot plate, that can be positioned at an adjustable height, is designed to provide traction that allows a baby to push himself up exercising his legs. The foot plate also has blocks that hold the bar in a fixed position for additional safety.

Preferably, the clubfoot activity saucer has a latch release underneath the front end of the upper tray allowing for a one hand operation so that when the latch release is activated the upper tray is able to slide to a desired opening, allowing a baby wearing a cast or bar and braces to be placed on the seat. The baby is then held in place with one hand and the other hand is then used to close the upper tray to the desired width, thereby fully enclosing the baby safely on the seat. Also, preferably, the device has a set of pegs that allow the foot plate to be moved up or down to a desired height, to allow the baby to exercise his/her legs safely.

The device can be made with or without wheels, depending on whether motion is desired or not.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings,FIG. 1is a top perspective view of the invention with the upper tray in the closed position. In this view, the device10, has a top tray system11, a seat12, a formed base13, and an adjustable foot plate14. The top tray system11is discussed below. The seat12is attached to the housing. The seat12is designed to accommodate the infant without having to remove the clubfoot brace. The seat12has a horn12aformed on the front (seeFIG. 9). The horn12ais much like a bicycle seat in that it allows an infant to straddle the seat so that, when able, the infant can stand while being restrained by the tray. The horn12aalso makes putting an infant in the seat easier.

Note that a latch release19is shown at the front of the tray system11. The latch19allows a user to operate the tray with one hand for additional convenience.

FIG. 2is a top perspective view of the invention with the upper tray in the open position. Here, the top tray system11is shown. When the tray11ais closed (as it is inFIG. 1), it has an opening11bthat is large enough to hold the infant securely but comfortably within the device without enabling the infant to egress the device. InFIG. 2, the tray11ais opened. As shown, the opening11bis wider, allowing the infant to be easily placed on the seat12while wearing the bar. Note the seat12is secured to the formed base13. Note that the latch release19operates to open a pair of latches (not shown) that release the tray and allow it to move. The tray11rides in groove20as shown inFIGS. 2 and 4.

FIG. 3is a side view of the invention with the upper tray in the closed position. In this view, the formed base13is shown. Note that the formed base13has a generally square lower portion13aand two vertical sides13band13cthat extend upwards to form the connection to the tray11. Note also the seat12and its position. The tray11also has a lower horn11c. This horn is used to help hold the infant in the seat12when the tray is closed. With the tray11aclosed, the horn11cprevents the infant from sliding forward off the seat12. Note that inFIGS. 3-7the foot plate14is not shown.

FIG. 4is a side view of the invention with the upper tray in the open position. As before, the formed base13is shown. Note the seat12and its position. The lower horn11cof the tray11is shown pulled forward from the seat. In this position and infant can be placed in the seat12without difficulty. As noted above, this horn is used to help hold the infant in the seat12when the tray is closed. Note the groove20in which the tray11rides.

FIG. 5is a side cut-away view of the invention with the upper tray in the closed position also showing optional wheels.FIG. 6is a side cut-away view of the invention with the upper tray11in the open position also showing optional wheels16. Note that the figure shows two wheels16that are attached on the left side of the formed base. Two additional wheels16are attached to the right side of the lower portion13aof the formed base13to form a set of wheels. The wheels are used in an optional model that allows for mobility of the device. In the preferred embodiment, the wheels16are not used to provide additional safety for the child. Note that this figure also shows a view of the seat horn12athis feature is also shown inFIGS. 6, 9 and 10.

FIGS. 5 and 6show that seat12, which is positioned as shown. Note that these figures do not show the adjustable foot plate14. Note too that inFIG. 6, the lower horn11cof the tray is advanced forward and the space11bis larger to accommodate the infant being placed in the seat. Note too, thatFIGS. 5 and 6also show left vertical side13c.

FIG. 7is a bottom perspective view of the removable foot plate14. The bottom of the foot plate is flat, as shown. Eight notches14aare shown. There are four notches14acut in the bottom of the foot plate14and four notches14acut into the top. These notches are used to place the foot plate onto pegs on the inside of the formed base13. SeeFIG. 9.

FIG. 8is a top perspective view of the removable foot plate, showing the groove14cto hold the bar or braces. Note the four notches14aon the top of the foot plate14. On the top of the foot plate are two wedges14b. These wedges are placed to form a space14cinto which, the bar is placed. This ensures that the bar cannot be readily moved then the child is in the device. When the bar is removed, the child can use the device with the foot plate flipped over so the flat bottom is used.

FIG. 9is a detail view of the foot plate and possible installation locations of the foot plate14in the device. Note that, in the preferred embodiment, there are nine pegs17installed in the formed base13. These pegs are used to hold the foot plate14as shown. In this way, the foot plate can be placed in three different positions as needed. Moreover, because notches14aare present on both sides of the foot plate, the tray can be installed right side up or upside down, as desired. Note the foot plate14shown in dashed lines is shown flipped.

Note too, that this figure shows the foot plate14angled for insertion into the formed base. As shown inFIG. 1, the formed base13has an opening in the bottom to allow for the insertion of the foot plate14. By angling the foot plate14it is possible to insert it at any of the three levels within the formed base13.

FIG. 10is a front perspective view of the seat12, showing the horn12a. In this view, the seat12is shown with a back12bthat curves at the base as shown. from this, the seat horn12aextends a shown. As noted above, the seat horn12aallows an infant to straddle the seat, which allows the infant to stand, when able.

The present disclosure should not be construed in any limited sense other than that limited by the scope of the claims having regard to the teachings herein and the prior art being apparent with the preferred form of the invention disclosed herein and which reveals details of structure of a preferred form necessary for a better understanding of the invention and may be subject to change by skilled persons within the scope of the invention without departing from the concept thereof.