Abstract:
The present invention is a physical training device for a person and relates to developmental activity centers with treadmills. The physical training device includes a treadmill base, an activity center, and a control means. The invention has an optional stationary or portable feature and is more effective in permitting safe and controlled walking development. In addition, the physical training device includes a variety of stimulating devices that improves both physical skills and cognitive skills by use of the invention.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/900,373, filed on Feb. 8, 2007, and incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    This invention relates to physical training devices, and more particularly to a training device for teaching walking and providing physical therapy to those with muscular deficiencies. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    There are numerous devices in this field to promote toddler walking and learning development. However, many of them have a limited continuum of safe walking development, or simply do not meet all walking and learning developmental needs, Typical of these is traditional child activity centers (or entertainment devices) that have limited movement capability that provides the child upright walking support. The child activity centers have waist level trays and seats that allow the child to have foot and surface contact with limited capability to promote walking and standing. 
         [0005]    In addition, traditional child activity centers have spring devices. The spring devices allow the child to press downward with their legs, which promotes bouncing but not walking. Also, the activity centers provide weight support for the child but do not provide a safe active environment for a continuous walking development 
         [0006]    Other activity training developmental devices meet specific needs rather than a variety of needs a child may have. Most training developmental and rehabilitative equipment require total hands on assistance and do not have an optional electric, battery activated or sensor movement mechanism to initiate a continuum of stepping reflex development that encourages the child to walk and learn at the same time. 
       DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART 
       [0007]    Activity centers for children are well known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,715,826 B2 to Bellows et al. on Apr. 6, 2004 teaches a child activity center. Such devices are made to provide children developmental stimulation. However, despite the creation of different types of activity centers for children, these devices do not adequately meet the needs of children with physical and cognitive developmental limitations, especially walking and learning developmental needs. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,715,826 B2 to Bellows et al. on Apr. 6, 2004 teaches an activity center that surrounds the child. Toys and stimulating devices are placed on a tray surrounding the child. This arrangement allows a child to easily access and interact with a variety of stimulating devices. However, such an activity center does not adequately stimulate the physical development of a child with muscular limitations. Thus, a device is needed that not only provides mental stimulation to a child but also provides physical stimulation, especially to the lower body. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,688,211 to Myers on Nov. 18, 1997 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,407,246 to Meeker et al. on Apr. 18, 1995 teach child exercise devices. These devices provide entertainment and exercise for a child. Entertainment is provided by adding toys to the device. Exercise is provided by creating devices that allow a child to rock or bounce. Though these exercises are helpful to development, these devices do not teach a device that stimulates the important child development of continuous walking. U.S. Pat. No. 5,934,747 to Garland on Aug. 10, 1999 even teaches away from a walking device as the Garland patent cites a trend in activity centers to restrict the movement of a child seated in the activity center for safety reasons. Therefore, a device is needed that can combine the benefits of both mental stimulation to a child with the physical stimulation of continuous walking development. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,494,815 B1 to Welsh, Jr. on Dec. 17, 2002 discloses a device that teaches a walker that permits walking development. However, the Welsh, Jr. device teaches using a brake to constantly apply friction to inhibit the speed of the walker. Such a device may be appropriate for a child with strong walking capabilities, but the Welsh, Jr. device is not appropriate for children with weak walking ability. Therefore, a device is needed that promotes and stimulates walking development for children with developmental needs. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,287,768 to Myers et al. on Oct. 30, 2007 discloses a combined walker and activity center. The Myers et al. device teaches a device that promotes the benefit of stimulating a child&#39;s continuous walking development. However, the Myers et al. device teaches a device for walking around a room. Having a child walking around a room is not always safe or convenient, especially when the goal is to provide structured walking development for children with developmental needs. Therefore, a device is needed that stimulates walking development yet the device itself can remain stationary for reasons of safety and convenience. In addition to the device remaining stationary, a device is needed that provides the advantages of both self-initiated walking as well as the advantage of a device that initiates walking stimulation to improve walking skills. 
         [0012]    Therefore, there is a need for a child activity center that provides both mental stimulation and physical stimulation, especially to the lower body. The needed device would stimulate continuous walking development, in particular the walking development of children having developmental needs. Further, the needed device would stimulate walking development yet remain stationary for reasons of safety and convenience. In addition, the needed device would provide the option of user-initiated walking as well as the option of device-initiated walking to improve walking skills. Such functionality would be connected with the activity center to provide the benefits of both mental and physical development together. The present invention accomplishes these objectives. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    The present invention is a physical training device for a person and relates to developmental activity centers with treadmills. The physical training device includes a treadmill base, an activity center, and a control means. The invention has an optional stationary or portable feature and is more effective in permitting safe and controlled walking development. In addition, the physical training device includes a variety of stimulating devices that improves both physical skills (such as for persons with cerebral palsy, developmental delay, muscular dystrophy) and cognitive skills (such as for persons with Down syndrome, mental retardation, learning disabilities) by use of the invention. 
         [0014]    The treadmill base has a floor support means, an enclosure, and a top surface. A treadmill mechanism is housed within the enclosure and includes an electric motor and a power means. The treadmill mechanism further includes at least two rollers having substantially parallel longitudinal axes with at least one roller being mechanically and rotationally coupled to the electric motor. A treadmill belt is engaged with each roller such that the electric motor may cause the treadmill belt to rotate around the rollers with at least a portion of the treadmill belt traversing the top surface of the treadmill base. 
         [0015]    The activity center includes an activity center supporting means adapted to support an activity tray above the treadmill base. A seat means has a seat adapted for suspending the person over the treadmill belt through a central aperture in the activity tray. The supporting means includes a height adjustment means for adjusting the height of the seat over the treadmill belt. The activity tray further includes at least one activity mount adapted for selective removable attachment of one of a plurality of activity toys. In one more embodiment, the activity tray includes a walking support rail, fixed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of each of the plurality of rollers. 
         [0016]    The control means is electrically connected to the power means and the electric motor. The control means is fixed to a control tray connected to the activity center supporting means. The control means has a power switch means and a speed control means. The speed control means is adapted to control the speed of the electric motor when the power switch means is in an “on” position. In another embodiment, the power switch means further includes an “off” position and a manual position. 
         [0017]    In use, the person is placed into the seat of the activity center. The height adjustment means is adjusted so that the person&#39;s legs are positioned in contact with the treadmill belt and closely aligned in a forward walking position. When the invention is activated in either the “on” position or the manual position, the invention provides stepping reflex development and encourages learning, walking and development of longer stride lengths. 
         [0018]    The present invention is a child activity center that provides both mental stimulation and physical stimulation, especially to the lower body. The present device stimulates continuous walking development, in particular the walking development of children having developmental needs. Further, the present device stimulates walking development while remaining stationary for reasons of safety and convenience. In addition, the invention provides the option of user-initiated walking as well as the option of device-initiated walking to improve walking skills. The present invention provides all such functionality in one device to provide the benefits of both mental and physical development together. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of the invention, illustrating a floor support means; 
           [0020]      FIG. 1B  is cross-sectional view of the treadmill base, taken generally along lines  1 B- 1 B of  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the invention, illustrating a power means; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the invention, illustrating a control means; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the invention, illustrating activity toys and a pair of arm supports. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0024]    With respect to the drawings,  FIG. 1A  illustrates a physical training device  10  for a person  15 . The physical training device  10  includes a treadmill base  20 , an activity center  110 , and a control means  170 . Preferably, the physical training device  10  is made primarily from a durable rigid material such as a rigid plastic material, but can also be formed from any suitable rigid material, such as wood or metal, if desired. 
         [0025]    The treadmill base  20  has a floor support means  30 , an enclosure  40 , and a top surface  50 . In  FIG. 1B , a treadmill mechanism  60  is housed within the enclosure  40  and includes an electric motor  70  and a power means  80 . The treadmill mechanism  60  further includes at least two rollers  90  having substantially parallel longitudinal axes with at least one roller  90  being mechanically and rotationally coupled to the electric motor  70 , illustrated in  FIG. 1B . A treadmill belt  100  is engaged with each roller  90  such that the electric motor  70  may cause the treadmill belt  100  to rotate around the rollers  90  with at least a portion of the treadmill belt  100  traversing the top surface of the treadmill base  20 . 
         [0026]      FIGS. 1A and 2  illustrate the activity center  110  including an activity center supporting means  120  adapted to support an activity tray  130  above the treadmill base  20 .  FIG. 2  illustrates a seat means  140  having a seat  150  adapted for suspending the person  15  over the treadmill belt  100  through a central aperture  135  in the activity tray  130 . Preferably, the seat  150  is made from a fabric material such as a strong cotton material or nylon material, if so desired. In another embodiment, the seat  150  is rotationally captured within the aperture  135  of the activity tray  130 , allowing the person  15  to rotate in different directions. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the seat  150  is optionally rotating. The supporting means  120  includes a height adjustment means  160  ( FIG. 2 ) for adjusting the height of the seat  150  over the treadmill belt  100 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  illustrates the control means  170  which is electrically connected to the power means  80  and the electric motor  70 . The control means  170  has a power switch means  180  and a speed control means  190  ( FIG. 3 ). The speed control means  190  is adapted to control the speed of the electric motor  70  when the power switch means  180  is in a “manual control” position  186  ( FIG. 3 ). In another embodiment, the power switch means  180  further includes an “off” position  182  ( FIG. 3 ), whereby the treadmill belt cannot be rotated. In a preferred embodiment, the power switch means  180  further includes a “sensor” position  184  ( FIG. 3 ), explained further below. 
         [0028]    In one embodiment, the floor support means  30  is a plurality of lockable casters  35 , illustrated in  FIG. 1A . Alternately, as illustrated in  FIG. 1B , the floor support means  30  may further include a pair of base support legs  31 . In one embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the treadmill base  20  further includes a handle  290  on one side thereof  43 , whereby the one side  43  may be lifted by the handle  290  and the invention rolled on at least two of the casters  35 . In a preferred embodiment, the handle  290  is slidably contained within the treadmill base  20  and can slide out from the treadmill base  20  to facilitate transporting the invention. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the power means  80  is a retractable electric cord  85  illustrated in  FIG. 1B . In another embodiment, the power means  80  is a battery (not shown), preferably a rechargeable battery. 
         [0029]    In another embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1A and 2 , the activity center supporting means  120  is a plurality of rigid support legs  125 . Preferably, each support leg  125  has a telescoping height adjustment pin  126  and apertures  127  therein for telescopically adjusting the height of each support leg  125 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . In a preferred embodiment, at least two of the support legs  125  can be adjusted at the same time, the height adjustment pins  126  of the at least two support legs  125  mechanically connected to move simultaneously (not shown) to avoid having to adjust the height individually of each support leg  125 . 
         [0030]    In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the activity center  110  further includes a seat spring support  200  disposed between the activity tray  130  and the seat means  140 , the seat spring support  200  biasing the seat means  140  to a preferred relative position with respect to the activity tray  130 . In one embodiment, the seat spring support allows the person  15  to bounce within the central aperture  135 . 
         [0031]    In another embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the control means  170  further includes at least one movement sensor  210  fixed above the treadmill belt  100  and adapted to detect motion of the person&#39;s legs  18  when seated in the seat means  140 . In a preferred embodiment, the physical training device  10  includes two movement sensors  210  in either wired or radio communication with the control means  170 . The control means  170  activates the electric motor  70  in response to detecting motion of the person&#39;s legs  18 . Preferably, the “sensor” position  184  of the control means  170  is a low-speed motion-activated mode. 
         [0032]    In one embodiment, the activity tray  130  further includes a pair of arm supports  220  ( FIG. 4 ). In one more embodiment, the activity tray  130  further includes a walking support rail  230  ( FIG. 3 ), fixed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of each of the plurality of rollers  90 . In  FIG. 4 , the activity tray  130  further includes at least one activity mount  240  adapted for selective removable attachment of one of a plurality of activity toys  245 . 
         [0033]    In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the control means  170  is fixed to a control tray  250  that is itself fixed to the activity center supporting means  120  with an adjustable support  171 . As such, the control tray  250  may be selectively moved forward or backward to suit the height of a user (not shown) of the control means  170 , or to stow the control tray  250  in a fully forward position (not shown) when the device  10  is not in use. The adjustable support  171  is preferably a clamp (not shown) that either slides by friction along the activity center support means  120  or rolls therealong with rollers (not shown), and is capable of being locked in place with a locking pin  126 , for example. Alternately, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the control tray  250  is fixed to the activity center support means  120 . 
         [0034]    Preferably, the control tray  250  further includes a cup holder  260 , illustrated in  FIG. 3 . In another embodiment in  FIG. 3 , the control means  170  further includes a sound recording and playback device  270 , whereby the person  15  may be encouraged by playback of an audible encouraging sound. In one more embodiment in  FIG. 3 , the control means  170  further includes a safety switch  280  connected to a safety key  285 , whereby if the safety key  285  is removed from the safety switch  280  power is disconnected from the electric motor  70 . Preferably the safety key  285  uses a magnet to trigger the safety switch  280 . 
         [0035]    In use, the person  15  is placed into the seat  150  of the activity center  110 . The height adjustment means  160  is adjusted so that the person&#39;s legs  18  are positioned in contact with the treadmill belt  100  and closely aligned in a forward walking position. In one use, the person&#39;s hands  19  ( FIG. 4 ) are placed onto the support rail  230  for additional support. When the invention is activated in either the “on” position  184  or the manual position  186 , the invention provides stepping reflex development and encourages learning, walking and developing of longer stride lengths. 
         [0036]    While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the support rail  230  can be made adjustable to increase or decrease the height of the support rail  230  for persons  15  of different heights. Likewise, the control tray  250  can be adjustably attached to the activity center  110  to adjust the height of the control tray  250 . Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the appended claims.