Abstract:
A child support harness for assisting children with walking, the harness having a belt adapted to circumscribe the child&#39;s midsection, the belt having a front position generally at the child&#39;s chest, a back portion generally at the child&#39;s back, a left side portion generally adjacent to the child&#39;s left hip, and a right side portion generally adjacent to the child&#39;s right hip. The harness also comprises a left support arm extending from the left side portion of the belt and a right support arm extending from the right side portion of the belt. The left and right support arms may be held by a supervisor to assist the child with walking. The support arms may also be utilized to steer the child in a supervisor-dictated direction. The support arms may extend from the belt at an angle other than zero degrees from a plane through the belt.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to devices used in training toddlers to walk. More specifically, the present invention relates to a safety harness within which a toddler may be placed such that an adult supervisor may support the toddler&#39;s weight with handles extending from a belt portion of the harness while the toddler walks. The toddler may therefore walk without being required to support its entire weight. The adult supervisor may also steer the toddler in a supervisor preferred direction by manipulating the handles.  
         [0002]     It is well known that infants learn to walk through a path of development comprising several stages. Initially, the infant may learn to stand while holding on to a supportive object. When the infant&#39;s coordination and strength increase, the infant may begin to walk along the supportive object while still holding on for support and balance. This is often referred to as “cruising.” During this cruising stage, adult supervisors often grasp the toddler&#39;s hands and assist with walking while pulling the toddler&#39;s arms above its head, in an effort to move the child away from the security of the supportive object.  
         [0003]     This technique may inadvertently place stress on the toddler&#39;s limbs, particularly the wrists and shoulders, leading to potential injury. The injury potential is particularly true in the common instance of the child falling forward and being pulled upward into an upright position by the child&#39;s hands and arms.  
         [0004]     Walk assisting devices are known in the art to help alleviate this problem. Many of these devices comprise harnesses in which the infant child may be placed and where the harness may be supported by an adult supervisor. The prior art harnesses are typically elaborate devices which include numerous straps and buckles, and work to varying levels of effectiveness. Although some prior art devices are effective in supporting a child, it has been found that none are effective in steering a child in a preferred direction.  
         [0005]     The prior harnesses known typically comprise either a single support which the adult supervisor may grasp with one or both hands, or two supports that require both hands to operate. In the case of the single support devices, the single support is often flexible. It is therefore self-evident that the adult supervisor may not steer the child in a preferred direction as the flexible support is incapable of imparting a steering force into the harness. Even if the single support is rigid, it is difficult to provide the required steering force with one hand. In the prior art devices that utilize two supports, the supports either extend from a rear section of the harness or a front section of the harness, and not from areas adjacent the hips, such that pulling either support to a greater degree than the other will not influence the child to turn in a particular direction, but will pull the child straight back toward the adult operator.  
         [0006]     The present invention has arisen to solve this problem by providing for a child support harness which permits the adult supervisor to steer the child in a particular direction in addition to at least partially supporting the child while learning to walk.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing, in certain embodiments, a child support harness, where the child support harness includes elements adapted to permit an adult supervisor to steer the toddler so as to direct the toddler&#39;s walking in a particular direction.  
         [0008]     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a child support harness comprising a belt adapted to circumscribe a child&#39;s midsection, when circumscribing the child&#39;s midsection the belt may have a front portion generally at the child&#39;s chest, a back portion generally at the child&#39;s back, a left side portion generally adjacent to the child&#39;s left hip, and a right side portion generally adjacent to the child&#39;s right hip. A left support arm may extend from the left side portion of the belt and a right support arm may extend from the right side portion of the belt. Wherein the left and right support arms may be held by a supervisor to support the child while walking.  
         [0009]     The fist support arm and the second support arm may be adapted for use in steering the child in a supervisor dictated direction.  
         [0010]     The left support arm and the right support arm may extend toward the supervisor when situated behind the child.  
         [0011]     The support arms may extend at an angle of between 30 and 60 degrees with respect to a plane formed by the belt.  
         [0012]     The child support harness may further comprise a left shoulder strap and a right shoulder strap, each of the shoulder straps having a front portion associated with the front portion of the belt and a back portion associated with the back portion of the belt.  
         [0013]     The shoulder straps may be adjustable to fit children of varying sizes.  
         [0014]     The shoulder straps may comprise buckles to facilitate adjustment.  
         [0015]     The belt may be adjustable to fit children of varying sizes.  
         [0016]     The belt may further comprise a first end and a second end, the first end may have female hook-and-loop type fastening on one side of the belt and the second end may have corresponding male hook-and-loop type fastening on a second side of the belt such that the female and the male hook-and-loop type fastening may be connected when the belt is circumscribed about the child, the hook-and-loop type fastening adapted to provide an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the length of the belt to fit children of varying sizes.  
         [0017]     The left support arm may comprise a first end at the belt and a distal second end, the distal second end may in turn comprising a length adjustment feature adapted to adjust the length of the left support arm.  
         [0018]     The length adjustment feature may comprise a series of apertures wherein an extreme portion of the distal second end may be folded back upon remaining portions of the left support arm such that at least two apertures overlap to shorten the length of the left support arm.  
         [0019]     The child support harness may further comprise hook-and-loop type fasteners between at least some of the apertures of the length adjustment feature, the hook-and-loop type fasteners adapted to facilitate connection of the folded portion of the distal second end with the remaining portions of the left support arm.  
         [0020]     In accordance with further aspects of the present invention, a device for assisting toddlers with walking may comprise a belt having a first end and a second end, the belt having an open condition in which the first end is spaced from the second end to form a working area and a closed condition in which the first end is in communication with the second end to enclose the working area. The device may further comprise a first extension arm attached to the belt at a first side of the working area, and a second extension arm attached to the belt at a second side of the working area, the second side of the working area opposite the first side of the working area. Wherein a toddler may be placed in the working area of the belt in the closed position such that the toddler&#39;s hips may be adjacent the first and second sides of the working area so a supervisor may grasp and pull the first and second extension arms to at least partially support the toddler and assist the toddler with walking.  
         [0021]     The first and second extension arms may extend from the belt at an angle other than zero degrees with respect to a plane formed through the belt in the closed condition.  
         [0022]     The extension arms may comprise length adjustment mechanisms. The length adjustment mechanisms may in turn include apertures formed in the extension arms such that the extension arms may be folded to overlap at least two apertures, the apertures adapted to be grasped by the supervisor.  
         [0023]     One support arm may be pulled to a greater extent than the other, the pulled support arm influencing a directional change in the walking toddler toward the direction of the pulled support arm.  
         [0024]     The device may further comprise shoulder straps extending from a front portion of the belt to a rear portion, the shoulder straps adapted to be placed over the toddler&#39;s shoulders.  
         [0025]     In yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of utilizing a child support harness to assist a toddler with walking, where the child support harness comprises a belt and a pair of extension arms extending from the belt, may comprise steps. The steps may include placing a belt portion of a child support harness around the mid-section of a child, grasping the first of a pair of extension arms extending from the child support harness, grasping the second of the pair of extension arms extending from the child support harness, and at least partially supporting the child&#39;s weight with the extension arms. The steps may also include pulling on the first of the pair of extension arms to a greater degree than the second to influence the child to turn in a direction toward the first of the pair of extension arms.  
         [0026]     The extension arms may further comprise length adjustment mechanisms and the method may further comprise the step of adjusting the length of the extension arms by manipulating the length adjustment mechanisms.  
         [0027]     The belt may further comprise a size adjustment mechanism to adjust the belt to fit children of varying sizes and the method may further comprise adjusting the size of the belt by manipulating the size adjustment mechanism. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0028]     The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, however, both as to organization and methods of operation, together with features, objects and advantages thereof may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read with the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0029]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a toddler fitted with an embodiment of the child support harness in accordance with certain aspects of the present invention;  
         [0030]      FIG. 2  is front view of the child support harness of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0031]      FIG. 3  is a rear view of the child support harness of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0032]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the child support harness of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0033]      FIG. 5  is a cut-away top view of a support arm forming a portion of the child support harness of  FIG. 1 , the support arm in a first position;  
         [0034]      FIG. 6  is a cut-away top view of the support arm of  FIG. 5  in a second position; and  
         [0035]      FIG. 7  is a cut-away top view of the support arm of  FIG. 5  in a third position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0036]     In the following are described the preferred embodiments of the child support harness in accordance with the present invention. In describing the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be used for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. Where like elements have been depicted in multiple embodiments, identical reference numerals have been used in the multiple embodiments for ease of understanding.  
         [0037]     Referring to the drawings, and initially to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a perspective view of a toddler T fitted with a child support harness  100  in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the child support harness  100  comprises a belt  102  circumscribing the midsection of a toddler T. The child support harness  100  further comprises a first shoulder strap  104  and a second shoulder strap  106 , the shoulder straps connected to the belt at each of their ends. The child support harness  100  also comprises a first support arm  108  and a second support arm  110  extending from the belt.  
         [0038]     The structure and function of each of these elements will be discussed more fully below. However, it will be appreciated that the child support harness  100  may be fitted to a toddler T such that the belt  102  circumscribes the midsection of the toddler. As will be discussed, the size of this “working area,” the area circumscribed by the belt, may be adjusted to accommodate toddlers T of ranging sizes. The belt  102  is preferably configured to be worn at positions between the toddler&#39;s waist and upper chest, referred to as the toddler&#39;s midsection. The shoulder straps  104 ,  106  may be fitted over the toddler&#39;s arms such that the shoulder straps support the belt  102  in the conventional manner. The overall length of the shoulder straps  104 ,  106  may be adjusted to accommodate toddlers T of varying sizes, as well as belt  102  positions relative to the waist and upper chest of the toddler.  
         [0039]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the first support arm  108  and second support arm  110  may be grasped by a supervisor S to at least partially support the toddler T as the toddler walks without the need for additional support. In addition, and as will be discussed further below, because of the structural features of the first support arm  108 , second support arm  110 , and their connection to the belt  103 , the support arms may be utilized to steer the child in a supervisor S preferred direction.  
         [0040]      FIG. 2  depicts a front view of the child support harness  100  shown in  FIG. 1 , without the toddler T. The components of the child support harness, including the belt  102 , shoulder straps  104 ,  106 , and support arms  108 ,  110 , may be formed from a number of materials. In one embodiment, they may each be stitched from cloth with batting, or filler material, in between. Soft materials, such as cloth and batting, are preferred to ensure the comfort of the toddler. Still, other materials may be utilized such as flexible plastics or rubber materials.  
         [0041]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the cloth belt  102  may include a main portion  112  with stitched upper and lower edges  114 ,  116 . The shoulder straps  104 ,  106 , may also include a main section  118 ,  120  bound by stitched edges  122 ,  124 ,  126 ,  128 , stitched edges  122 ,  124  being associated with shoulder strap  118  and stitched edges  126 ,  128  being associated with the shoulder strap  120 . The shoulder straps  104 ,  106  may be sewn to the belt  102  in the main portion  112  thereof at sewn sections  130 ,  132 . In non-cloth embodiments, the shoulder straps  104 ,  106  may be secured to the belt  102  by other means, including chemical adhesion or heat fusion.  
         [0042]     Referring briefly to  FIG. 4  in conjunction with  FIG. 2 , it will be appreciated that the support arms  108 ,  110  may also include main portions  134 ,  136  bound by sewn edges  138 ,  140 ,  142 ,  144 , sewn edges  138 ,  140  associated with support arm  108  and sewn edges  142 ,  144  associated with support arm  110 . Although the support arms  108 ,  110  are not typically in continuous contact with a toddler T while in use, it is preferred that the support arms be relatively soft, even if not as soft as the belt  102  and shoulder straps  104 ,  106 . Accordingly, even though the belt  102  and shoulder straps  104 ,  106  may be formed from cloth and batting, the support arms  108 ,  110  may be formed from materials more appropriate for repetitive tensile forces. In any event, it is preferred that the support arms  108 ,  110  remain flexible.  
         [0043]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the support arms  108 ,  110  comprise apertures (identified distinctly in  FIG. 5 ) and may be folded to adjust the length of the support arms. It will be appreciated that this length adjustment allows the child support harness  100  to be more comfortably utilized for toddlers T and supervisor S of varying heights.  
         [0044]      FIG. 3  depicts a rear view of the child support harness  100  of  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the belt  102  may comprise a first end  146  and a second end  148 , the second end being positioned underneath the first end in use. The first end may include female hook-and-loop type fasteners  150  with the second end including the male counterpart hook-and-loop type fastener  152 . The two ends  146 ,  148  may overlap in an adjustment area roughly corresponding to the size of the hook-and-loop type fasteners  150 ,  152 . This arrangement permits adjustment of the size of the belt  102  to fit various sized toddlers T by overlapping the hook-and-loop type fasteners  150 ,  152  to varying amounts. Other size adjustment mechanisms such as buttons or use of elastic may also be utilized.  
         [0045]     The shoulder straps  104 ,  106  may also comprise adjustment mechanisms  154 ,  156 . The adjustment mechanisms  154 ,  156  may comprise first straps  158 ,  160 , and second straps  162 ,  164  connected by buckles  166 ,  168 , respectively. In use, the second straps  162 ,  164  may be tightened or loosened depending on the size of the toddler T and the buckles  166 ,  168  buckled. Typically, the first straps  158 ,  160 , will be of a fixed length and will be connected to the remaining portions of the corresponding shoulder straps  104 ,  106 . The second straps  162 ,  164  may be sewn to the belt  102  at sewn sections  170 ,  172 , which are opposite of sewn sections  130 ,  132  of the shoulder straps  104 ,  106  at the front of the belt. Other shoulder strap adjustment mechanisms may also be utilized, such as buttons.  
         [0046]     Moving again to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a side view of the child support harness  100  of  FIG. 1 . In this view, it will be appreciated that the support arms  108 ,  110  (support arm  110  being hidden in this view behind support arm  108 ), may be sewn to the belt  102 , or otherwise connected, at an angle A. Preferably, angle A is an angle other than 0° or 90° from a plane  174  formed by the belt  102 . Typically, angle A is between 10° and 80°, but may be anywhere from 1° to 89°. In the most preferred embodiments, the angle is 45°.  
         [0047]     Connecting the support arms  108 ,  110  to the belt  102  of the child support harness  100  at these angles, particularly those between approximately 30° and 60°, permits the support arms to extend back toward the supervisor S at a projection both rearward and upward. This relationship aids with the comfort level of the supervisor S in that it permits the supervisor to grasp the support arms  108 ,  100  without bending over. In addition, the angled connection permits a pulling force to be transferred from the support arms  108 ,  110  into the belt  102  to at least partially support the toddler T in a vertical direction. As the connection points between the support arms  108 ,  110  and the belt are at the toddler&#39;s T hips, pulling force on the support arms may be utilized to rotate the toddler&#39;s hips to steer the toddler in a supervisor&#39;s preferred direction. This is particularly useful in situations where a toddler T may be heading toward an undesirable location, such as stairs or unsuitable surfaces.  
         [0048]     As shown with respect to support arm  108  in  FIG. 4 , each of the support arms  108 ,  110  may include a scalloped area  176  along the upper edge  138 . This scalloped area  176  may vary in dimension based on the width of the support arm  108  and the angle and location of the connection point with the belt  102 . However, it is preferred that the scalloped area  176  cuts away a sufficient portion of the support arm  108  such that a toddler&#39;s T arm will be free to operate without being interfered with by the support arm. Additionally, it will be appreciated that the support arm  108  may therefore be free to operate without interference with the toddler&#39;s T arm, so as not to injure the toddler or affect the toddler&#39;s comfort.  
         [0049]     As discussed previously, the support arms may be length adjustable.  FIG. 5  depicts support arm  108  in the fully extended position, such that its length is maximized. The support arm  108  may include a series of apertures  180 ,  182 ,  184 ,  186  in spaced relation. At a distal end  190  of the support arm  108 , a first patch of female hook-and-loop type fasteners  192  may be sewn or otherwise affixed to the support arm. Similarly, a second patch of female hook-and-loop type fasteners  194  may be sewn or otherwise attached to the support arm  108  between apertures  184  and  186 . Three patches of male hook-and-loop type fasteners may also be sewn or otherwise attached to the support arm  108  with a first patch  196  between apertures  182  and  184 , a second patch  198  between apertures  180  and  182 , and a third patch  200  on the side of aperture  180  opposite patch  198 .  
         [0050]     In this extended position, a supervisor may grasp aperture  186  to manipulate the child support harness  100 . This position is best suited for shorter children and/or taller supervisors, as it is the lengthiest support arm position.  
         [0051]     In a first level adjustment, shown in  FIG. 6 , the distal end  190  of the support arm  108  may be folded over such that apertures  186  and  184  align. Female hook-and-loop type fasteners  194  may similarly be folded over. Female hook-and-loop type fasteners  192  may be mated with male hook-and-loop type fasteners  196  to secure the support arm  108  in the position shown in  FIG. 6 . Once in this position, a user may grasp the support arm  108  through apertures  184  and  186 , now aligned, to utilize the child support harness  100 . This position represents a position for use by individuals of average size and is anticipated to be the most common position for the support arm  108 . This position is also shown in use in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0052]     In the shortest position, the support arm  108  may be folded as shown in  FIG. 7 . As shown, the support arm  108  may be folded such that two sets of apertures, apertures  186  and  180  and then apertures  182  and  184 , align. In so doing, female hook-and-loop type fasteners  192 ,  194  will mate with male hook-and-loop type fasteners  200 ,  198 , respectively. Male hook-and-loop type fastener  196  may be folded over at what is now the extreme distal end of support arm  108 . This position represents the shortest position of the support arm, and may be utilized by shorter supervisors S or taller toddlers T, or combinations thereof. This position is also shown in  FIGS. 2-4 .  
         [0053]     Although the invention herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.