Abstract:
An Adjustable Harness Tether is disclosed. The tether provides parents with a safe, reliable device for assisting their small child with waling, standing, bike riding and virtually any other activity requiring the child to balance. The tether is made from a soft material, yet is also durable and long-lasting. The device further is easily donned and doffed from the child and has a pair of convenient handles with which the parent can assist, control and manage the child.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     This invention relates generally to physical support and training devices and, more specifically, to an adjustable harness tether.  
         [0003]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0004]     The first few years of a child&#39;s life are marked by many milestones, both physical and developmental. A first tooth, the first time that a child rolls over unassisted and the first time a baby takes solid food are but a few of the precious moments which mark the steady development of an infant child. For many parents, the first time that their child crawls is of special significance, as this new mobility is the first “step” many little ones take towards independence. Most babies learn to crawl at between 6 and 10 months of age; after they&#39;ve developed the strength to sit upright on their own.  
         [0005]     A child&#39;s first toddling steps can begin immediately after learning to crawl, or alternatively can take the child several months to master. As most parents know, a child&#39;s first steps often involve bumps and bruises, as the inexperienced walker can easily lose his or her balance and then fall. Unfortunately, these accidental mishaps can render the child frustrated and sore from the scrapes and bruises that they are subject to from falls on hard unforgiving surfaces.  
         [0006]     What is needed, then, is a device that will aide parents in preventing injuries to their toddlers learning to walk.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     In light of the aforementioned problems associated with the prior devices and methods, it is an object of the present invention to provide an Adjustable Harness Tether. The tether should provide parents with a safe, reliable device for assisting their small child with walking, standing, bike riding and virtually any other activity requiring the child to balance. The tether should be made from a soft material, yet be durable and long-lasting. The device should be easily donned and doffed from the child to encourage its use. Finally, the tether should have a pair of convenient handles with which the parent can assist, control and manage the child.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, of which:  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the adjustable harness tether of the present invention;  
         [0010]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  are perspective views of two versions of cinching means of the device of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is another perspective view of the device of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the device of  FIGS. 1 and 3  in use with a toddler; and  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a cutaway view of the elongate pad of the device of  FIGS. 1, 3  and  4 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0014]     The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the generic principles of the present invention have been defined herein specifically to provide an Adjustable Harness Tether.  
         [0015]     The present invention can best be understood by initial consideration of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the adjustable harness tether of the present invention. The device  10  is a specially designed assistance apparatus comprised of a lightweight and comfortable harness to be worn around a child&#39;s chest. The device  10  comprises an elongate pad  12  defined by a first end  14 A and a second end  14 B, each being equidistant from the midpoint  16  of the pad  12 . In the depicted version, the elongate pad  12  is approximately forty-four inches in length, and approximately seven inches in circumference.  
         [0016]     A first handle  18 A and second handle  18 B extend from the respective ends  14 A and  14 B, and are preferably made from flexible webbing for comfort and durability. At a selected point along the elongate pad  12 , a cinching means  20  is positioned. The cinching means  20  attaches to the pad  12  via a first loop assembly  22 A and a second loop assembly  22 B.  
         [0017]     Depicted here in hidden lines is an internal reinforcing strap  19 ; this reinforcing strap may or may not be incorporated into the tether  10 , depending upon the intended use for the device. If included, it will be made from a flexible, yet durable material such as woven mesh to provide increased strength to the tether. The specific details regarding the cinching means is more fully disclosed below in connection with  FIGS. 2A and 2B .  
         [0018]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of the cinching means of the device of  FIG. 1 . Like the handles (see  FIG. 1 ), the loop assemblies  22 A and  22 B are predominantly made from webbing material. The first loop assembly  22 A comprises a first loop  24 A, which passes through a slot formed in a first buckle half  28 A. Similarly, the second loop assembly  22 B comprises a second loop  24 B and a second buckle half  28 B. Since the buckle-halves are only attached to their respective loops via the loop passing through a slot formed in the halves, the buckle-halves can easily slide around the loops in order to assist in the interconnection of the halves when cinching the harness tether to a child.  
         [0019]      FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the cinching means. The first loop assembly  22 A comprises a first loop  24 A, from which a first strap  26 A extends and terminates in a first buckle-half  28 A. Similarly, the second loop assembly  22 B comprises a second loop  24 B, from which a second strap  26 B and second buckle-half  28 B extends. As with the version of  FIG. 2A , the loops  24 A and  24 B are sized slightly smaller than the elongate pad (see  FIG. 1 ), so that will stay in place after they are slipped over the elongate pad and slid into a desired position. The two buckle halves  28 A and  28 B can be buckled together (as depicted in  FIG. 1 ) once the device has been properly attached to the child. Turning to  FIG. 3 , we can see how the cinching means attaches to the device.  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is another perspective view of the device of  FIG. 1 . A first leg  30 A and second leg  30 B are defined as those portions of the elongate pad  12  between the midpoint  16  and the two ends  14 A and  14 B. In this drawing figure, the first loop  24 A has been slipped over the first leg  30 A; the second loop  24 B has been slipped over the second leg  30 B. Once slipped into the proper location, the loops  24 A and  24 B can be slid in adjustment direction  32  until they are the proper distance from the midpoint  16  to be correctly sized for the child&#39;s chest. Once adjusted, the device  10  can be attached to the child for use, as depicted in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the device of  FIGS. 1 and 3  in use with a toddler  34 . As shown here, the cinching means  20  has been buckled around the child&#39;s chest/torso  36 . The use of the tether  10  is fairly simple and straightforward. First, the parent (or other guardian of the subject to be tethered) positions the midpoint  16  of the device  10  so that it rests comfortably against the child&#39;s chest  36  and/or stomach. Next, the parent secures the device  10  in place via the cinching means  20 ; securing the buckle-halves together so that the cinching means  20  resides near the child&#39;s back, directly below the shoulder blades. For the typically-sized toddler, the cinching means  20  is best positioned approximately fifteen to twenty inches from the ends  14 A and  14 B. Adjustments to the cinching means  20  can continue to be made after the tether  10  is attached to the child  34 .  
         [0022]     Once the device  10  is properly secured about the child, with the two legs  30 A and  30 B positioned directly below each of the child&#39;s underarms, the parent simply needs to grasp the two handles  18 A,  18 B; this allows the parent to support and control the child  34  from behind while the child  34  is walking, standing, riding a bike, ice skating, etc.; virtually during any activity requiring the child to use their balance.  
         [0023]     While tending to the child, the parent may wish to keep the handles  18 A and  18 B separated in order to exert two-handed control of the child  34 . By offering complete and secure support to the toddler as they attempt to walk, the device effectively prevents the toddler from toppling over and accidentally slipping and falling when taking their first tentative steps. The device  10  is designed to support the weight of the child completely, thus enabling the parent to comfortably follow behind the child, without causing physical strain to themselves.  
         [0024]     The device  10  could prove particularly useful to parents of children that suffer from physical or mental limitations which impede the child&#39;s ability to walk on his or her own. By enabling a parent to provide loving assistance to their child, the device could also provide both a practical safety device in addition to being an effective therapy tool for use in strengthening muscles and encouraging independence. Similarly, the device  10  could provide very useful to parents suffering from degraded mobility, such as back pain and the like, which may impede the parents&#39; mobility to bend or stoop to protect the toddler. Finally turning to  FIG. 5 , we can take a look at the composition of the invention.  
         [0025]      FIG. 5  is a cutaway view of the elongate pad of the device of  FIGS. 1, 3  and  4 . The device is manufactured with a center filling  38  primarily made of quilt batting, padded foam material, or pillow stuffing, encased in a soft, machine-washable fabric covering  40 . In other versions, the cover may be made from waterproof material such that the device can be used to tend a child attempting to swim. The elongate pad could be manufactured in a variety of attractive colors and/or printed designs.  
         [0026]     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiment can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.