Device for suspending infant toys

An infant's amusement device comprises a suspension bar adapted to be supported in a horizontal position during use for suspending a plurality of toys therefrom, a pair of supporting bars disposed in a common plane at the opposite ends of the suspension bar, and a pair of juncture bars joining the supporting bars to the opposite ends of the suspension bar and lying in a common plane with the suspension bar. The latter common plane is at an acute angle of 30.degree.-75.degree. to the common plane of the supporting bars, whereby the supporting bars stably support the suspension bar in a horizontal position on and spaced above a horizontal surface to enable the infant to lie under the suspension bar, parallel to and straddled by the supporting bars, and to touch the toy suspended from the suspension bar. Three embodiments are described, namely a unitary construction, a foldable three-part construction, and a foldable five-part construction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to an infant's amusement device, and 
particularly to the type of device including a suspension bar for 
suspending a plurality of typs which can be touched and moved by the 
infant to attract his attention. 
Infants amusement devices of the foregoing type are known and are commonly 
provided as an attachement to an infant's carriage, e.g. by the use of 
clamps or the like. The suspension bar is attached to the carriage so as 
to overlie the infant and to enable the infant, while lying on his back, 
to see the suspended toys as they are moved by the motion of the carriage 
or by touching by the infant. 
An object of the present invention is to provide an infant's amusement 
device of the foregoing type which can be used to amuse or attract the 
attention of the infant when the infant is not only in a carriage but is 
also on a floor or any other horizontal surface. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
According to a broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided an 
infant's amusement device comprising a suspension bar adapted to be 
supported in a horizontal position during use for suspending a plurality 
of toys therefrom; a pair of supporting bars disposed in a common plane at 
the opposite ends of said suspension bar; and a pair of juncture bars 
joining the supporting bars to the opposite ends of the suspension bar and 
lying in a common plane with the suspension bar, which common plane is at 
an acute angle to that of the supporting bars, whereby the supporting bars 
stably support the suspension bar in a horizontal position on and spaced 
above a horizontal surface to enable an infant to lie on his back under 
the suspension bar, parallel to and straddled by the supporting bars, for 
touching the toys suspended from the suspension bar. 
In the preferred embodiments of the invention described below, the 
supporting bars are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the 
suspension bar; also, the acute angle between the plane of the supporting 
bars and the plane of the suspension bar and juncture bars is 
30.degree.-75.degree., preferably about 45.degree.. 
In one described embodiment, the device is constituted of a unitary tube 
formed with bends at its opposite ends to define the juncture bars, which 
juncture bars are formed with further bends to define the supporting bars. 
In a second described embodiment, the device is constituted of a three-part 
tube construction including a middle part defining the suspension bar and 
a portion of the juncture bars, and two end parts defining the remaining 
portions of the juncture bars and the supporting bars, each of the two end 
parts being pivotable above the longitudinal axis of their respective 
juncture bars for folding the device into a compact form for handling or 
storage. 
A third embodiment is also described wherein the device is of a five-part 
construction including a middle part defining the suspension bar, a first 
pair of further parts each hinged by a first pair of hinges at one end to 
the ends of the suspension bar and defining the juncture bars, and a 
second pair of further parts each hinged by a second pair of hinges, to 
the opposite ends of the juncture bars and defining the supporting bars, 
the second pair of hinges being formed with flat bottom faces to aid in 
stablely supporting the device on a flat horizontal surface in the open 
condition of the device, the five parts being foldable at the hinges to 
provide a compact arrangement for storage or handling. The first pair of 
hinges permit pivotable movement of the respective juncture bars to the 
suspension bar only about axes perpendicular to the suspension bar; and 
the second pair of hinges permit pivotable movement of the juncture brs to 
the supporting bars only about axes parallel to the suspension bar, 
thereby firmly bracing the suspension bar from displacement along its 
longitudinal axis. In addition, each of the second pair of hinges includes 
stop surfaces limiting the pivoted position of the suspension bar to 
overlie an intermediate portion of the supporting bars, thereby stably 
supporting the suspension bar on the horizontal surface. 
Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the 
description below.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The Embodiment of FIG. 1 
With reference to FIG. 1, therein illustrated is an infant's amusement 
device, generally designated 2, of a unitary or one-piece tubular 
construction. The illustrated device 2 is in the form of a bent tube 
having a main section 3 formed at its opposite ends with bends 4 and 5 to 
define two parallel sections 6 and 7. The opposite ends of the latter 
sections are formed with further bends 8 and 9 to define two further 
parallel sections 10 and 11. 
The main section 3 of the bent tube is straight and serves as a suspension 
bar for suspending a plurality of toys 12, 14. The end sections 10 and 11, 
which are parallel to each other and therefore lie in a common plane, 
serve as supporting bars for stably supporting suspension bar 3 on the 
floor or other horizontal surface. The intermediate sections 6 and 7 
define juncture bars between the suspension bar 3 and the supporting bars 
10 and 11. Juncture bars 6 and 7 lie in a common plane with suspension bar 
3, which plane is at an acute angle, defined by the angle of bends 8 and 
9, from the plane of supporting bars 10 and 11. This acute angle of bends 
8 and 9 is preferrably 30.degree.-75.degree.; 
It will thus be seen that device 2 illustrated in FIG. 1 may be placed on 
any horizontal surface, such as the floor, and is stably supported on the 
horizontal surface by supporting bars 10 and 11. 
It will also be seen that be seen that juncture sections 6 and 7 space the 
suspension bar 3 above the supporting horizontal surface, so that when the 
infant is lying on his back straddled by the supporting bars 10, 11, the 
suspension bar is supported vertically over the infant with the suspended 
toys 12, 14 within easy reach of the infant's hands. Great stability to 
the device is provided by the acute angle between the plane of suspension 
bar 3 and the juncture bars 6 and 7 with respect to the plane of the 
supporting bars 10 and 11. As indicated above, this acute angle is 
determined by the angle of bends 8 and 9 which is preferably between 
30.degree.-60.degree., for example about 45.degree.. 
The Embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 2a. 
FIGS. 2 and 2a illustrate an amusement device similar to that of FIG. 1 but 
of a three-part construction in order to permit the device to be collapsed 
into a compact form for handling or storage. Thus, the device 20 
illustrated in FIG. 2 comprises a suspension bar 23 which includes a pair 
of supporting bars 30, 31 joined by juncture bars to the opposite ends of 
the suspension bar . In this case, however, each juncture bar is split 
into two sections, namely sections 26a, 26b joining supporting bar 30 to 
one side of the suspension bar 23 via bends 24, 28, and sections 27a, 27b 
joining supporting bar 31 to the opposite side of the suspension bar via 
bends 25, 29. 
It will thus be seen that the amusement device 20 in FIG. 2 is of a 
three-part construction including a middle part defining suspension bar 23 
and sections 26a, 27a of the junctures, and two end parts defining the 
remaining sections 26b, 27b of the junctures and the two supporting bars 
30, 31. 
The two end parts are pivotable about the longitudinal axis of the 
respective juncture section for folding the device into a compact form for 
purposes of handling or storage. This is more particularly illustrated in 
FIG. 2a, wherein it will be seen that the lower juncture section 27b is 
telescopically received within the end of the upper juncture section 27a 
so as to permit the lower section to be rotated along the longitudinal 
axis of both juncture sections to bring supporting bars 30, 31 into the 
same plane as the suspension bar 23 for handling or storage when the 
device is not in use. 
Any suitable means may be used for retaining the device in its open 
position as illustrated in Fig. 2, or for releasing the device to permit 
the end parts including the legs sections 30, 31 to be pivoted to a folded 
compact condition. FIG. 2a illustrates the releasable retainer means as 
including a button 40 received in an opening in the upper juncture section 
27a and having a stem 41 engageable with the end of the lower juncture 
section 27b. A spring 42 urges button 40 in the direction causing its stem 
41 to engage the inner surface of the lower juncture section 27b, and 
thereby to retain the two juncture sections in position. A recess 43 is 
provided in the inner face of juncture section 27b for receiving the free 
tip of stem 41. When the device is to be folded, button 40 is depressed in 
order to move its stem 41 out of engagement with the lower juncture 
section 27b. This permits the latter section to be pivoted about its 
longitudinal axis so as to move supporting bar 31 into the plane of 
suspension bar 23. 
It will be appreciated that a similar spring-release button 43 is provided 
at the opposite juncture sections 26a, 26b for folding the opposite 
supporting bar 30 in the same manner into the plane of suspension bar 23. 
The Embodiment of FIGS. 3, 3a, 3b 
FIGS. 3, 3a, 3b illustrate a five-part construction permitting even more 
compact folding of the device for handling or storage. This five-part 
construction, generally designated 50, includes a middle part 53 defining 
the suspension bar; a pair of hinges 54, 55 at the opposite ends and 
hingedly joined to a first pair of further parts 56, 57 defining the 
juncture bars; and a second pair of hinges 58, 59 hingedly joining to the 
opposite ends of bars 56, 57 to the supporting bars 60, 61. 
As shown in FIG. 3a, hinge 54 permits bar 56 to be pivoted only about the 
axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the suspension bar 53, and 
thereby to be folded to a position parallel to bar 53 in the folded 
condition of the device, but limits the hinged movements between the two 
bars to an angle of 90.degree. in the open condition of the device. For 
this purpose, the hinge is of generally triangular configuration including 
a socket 56' for receiving bar 56 at one apex of the triangle, a member 
53' for pivotably mounting bar 53 at a second apex of the triangle, and a 
slot 54' extending 270.degree. to permit bars 53 and 56 to pivot 
perpendicularly to each other in the open condition of the device, as 
shown in FIG. 3, or against each other in the folded condition of the 
device. Hinge 55 at the opposite end is of the same construction and 
permits the same pivotable movement between juncture bar 57 and suspension 
bar 53. 
FIG. 3b illustrates the construction of hinge 58 between bars 56 and 60 
(and similarly that of hinge 59 between bars 57 and 61). Hinge 58 permits 
bar 60 to be pivoted only about the axis parallel to the longitudinal axis 
of the suspension bar 53, and thereby to be folded parallel to bar 56 in 
the folded condition of the assembly, but limits the hinged opening 
movement of the bar to define the acute angle between the plane of 
supporting bars 60, 61 and the plane of the juncture bars 56, 57 and 
suspension bar 53. As indicated earlier, this angle is preferably within 
the range of 30.degree.-75.degree., an angle of about 45.degree. being 
preferred. Hinge 59 at the opposite end is of the same construction and 
permits the same pivotable movement between supporting bar 61 and juncture 
bar 57. 
Thus, hinge 58 (and also hinge 59 at the opposite end) is of generally 
triangular construction and includes: a socket 56" for receiving bar 56 at 
one apex; a member 60' pivotably mounted at a second apex for receiving 
bar 60; and a slot 58' extending 315.degree. to permit bars 56, 60 to 
pivot to a 45.degree. angle in the open condition of the device or against 
each other in the closed condition of the device. The bottom faces of 
hinges 58 and 59 are flat to aid in the stable supporting of the device on 
a flat horizontal surface in the open condition of the device, while the 
above described constructions of the two pairs of hinges 54, 55 and 58, 
59, firmly support the suspension bar 53 in a horizontal position and 
brace it against displacement parallel to its longitudinal axis. 
In all the other respects, the device illustrated in FIGS. 3, 3a and 3b is 
substantially the same in structure and in manner of use as described 
above with respect to the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2. 
Preferably, the unitary device illustrated in FIG. 1, the three-part device 
illustrated in FIG. 2, and the five-part construction illustrated in FIG. 
3 are all of a metal tube construction, such as chromium-plated tubing. 
Plastic tubing, however, may also be used for this purpose. 
While the invention has been described with respect to three perferred 
embodiments, it will be appreciated that many other variations, 
modifications and applications of the invention may be made.