Patent Publication Number: US-6669605-B2

Title: Variable path infant walker

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates to walkers for infants and more particularly to a novel walker having a child selectable variable path which enhances interest and use thereof. 
     SUMMARY 
     Infant walkers presently available in the marketplace assume a variety of configurations. One typical device is a wheeled device which provides some, but not total, support for an infant learning to walk. In addition, since the device is wheeled, there is a significant danger that the infant may accidently direct the walker over a ledge, step or other dangerous region. In addition, the wheeled walkers lack stability and the child can easily fall over, even during what may be considered a normal use. 
     Another type of walker is one which the device is supported from overhead being fixed to a stationary support such as a cross-piece of a door frame. These devices, although preventing the child from tipping over and falling out, have no capability of any significant linear movement along a supporting surface and are used more for bouncing then walking. 
     Still other devices presently in the marketplace have a capability of providing a support which is movable along an overhead rail along a fixed linear path. While giving the infant latitude of movement along a supporting surface, the path does not vary and the device quickly leads to boredom. 
     The present invention is characterized by comprising apparatus for encouraging a child to walk and explore by providing a supporting seat suspended by an overhead structure which enables the infant to personally and independently select a variable path along which the infant may walk thus greatly increasing the interest of the infant in the use of the apparatus. 
     The infant is supported in a seat which, in turn, is suspended by a cable or other like member having a roller structure at its upper end which rides within a group of interconnected tunnels, enabling the child to move from one transverse path to another. As an alternative design, the tunnels may be shaped to cause the infant to move from one transverse path to another. 
     It is therefore one objective of the present invention is to provide a novel infant walker enabling the user to vary the path of movement. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel tunnel structure for use in infant walkers and the like which enable the infant to vary the path along which the infant moves. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above as well as other objects of the present invention will become apparent when reading the accompanying description and drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the infant walker of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the walker&#39;s seat structure, incorporated in the infant walker of FIG.  1 . 
     FIGS. 3 a  and  3   b  show plan views of the top and bottom members of the tunnel structure employed in the present invention as shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 c  is a sectional view of the tunnel assembly looking in the direction of arrows  3 C— 3 C in FIG. 3 b.    
     FIG. 3 d  is an exploded perspective view of the ball structure of FIG. 3 c.    
     FIG. 3 e  is a partially sectionalized exploded view of a portion of the ball structure of FIGS. 3 c  and  3   d.    
     FIG. 3 f  is a plan view of the locking c-clip employed in the assembly of FIG. 3 e.    
     FIG. 4 shows the top support member for supporting the tunnel structures of FIGS. 3 a  and  3   b.   
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS THEREOF 
     FIG. 1 shows an infant walker  10  embodying the principles of the present invention and comprising a support frame  12  for supporting a tunnel assembly  14 . Support frame  12  is supported above the ground or any other suitable support surface by support posts  16   a ,  16   b ,  16   c  and  16   d.    
     The tunnel assembly  14  is shown in detail in FIGS. 3 a ,  3   b  and  3   c  and  3   d . FIG. 3 a  shows the top half  14   a  of tunnel assembly  14  while FIG. 3 b  shows the bottom half of the tunnel structure  14   b . FIG. 3 c  shows a sectional view looking in the direction of arrows  3   c — 3   c  in FIGS. 3 a  and  3   b . The top and bottom members  14   a    14   b  may be formed of a suitable metallic material. The tunnel structure is defined by providing the top member  14   a  with a substantially semi-circular-shaped portion  14   a - 1 . A similar semi-circular-shaped portion  14   b - 1  is formed in bottom member  14   b , however, the bottom member  14   b  is provided with a cutaway opening. When the top and bottom members  14   a  and  14   b  are brought together, they form a substantially circular-shaped “tunnel” for receiving the ball assembly  24  provided at the upper end of a cable member  22 , the lower end of which is joined to the upper end of an infant seat  21 , all of the aforesaid components forming the infant seat assembly  18 . FIGS. 3 c ,  3   d  and  3   e  show the ball assembly  24  as comprised of a central portion  24   a  having an opening for receiving a rod  25 , fixedly secured to central number  24   a  and extending outwardly in both the leftward and rightward directions and being provided with an annular groove  25   a  and  25   b  at opposite ends of rod  25 . The upper end of cable  18  extends through an opening in ball member  24   a  and is secured to rod  25  in any suitable fashion. 
     Members  24   b  and  24   c , forming part of the ball assembly are each provided with central openings  24   b - 1 ,  24   c - 1  for receiving opposing ends of rod  25 . FIG. 3 a  shows the detailed manner in which rotatable and members  24   b  and  24   c  are fixed to rod  25 . The opening  24   c - 1  in member  24   c  is of increased diameter at the curved end thereof thereby forming a ledge  24   c - 2 . A resilient C-clip  26 , shown in FIGS. 3 e  and  3   f , is snap-fitted into groove  25   b  of rod  25 , holding member  24   c  on rod  25  while enabling member  24   c  to be freewheeingly rotated about rod  25 . Member  24   b  is fastened to the left-hand end of rod  25  in a similar manner and a similar resilient C-clip (not shown) is snap-fittingly received within annular groove  25   a  and rests against a shoulder in member  24   b , not shown but similar to the shoulder  24   c - 2  and number  24   c . The members  24   b  and  24   c  are thus able to rotate along one of the paths in the tunnel structure as the infant moves along the surface (or ground) supporting the infant walker. 
     As shown in FIGS. 3 a  and  3   b , three substantially elongated walking paths  14   b - 2 ,  14   b - 3  and  14   b - 4  are provided. 
     End path  14   b - 5  is joined to paths  14   b - 2  and  14   b - 4  by smoothly curved portions  14   b - 7  and  14   b - 8 ; end path  14   b - 6  is joined to paths  14   b - 2  and  14   b - 4  by curved sections  14   b - 9  and  14   b - 10 . Shorter intermediate paths  14   b - 11  and  14   b - 12  intersect with paths  14   b - 2 ,  14   b - 3  and  14   b - 4 , as shown. The paths of each of the intersections are provided with smoothly curved corners, such as, for example,  14   b - 13  and  14   b - 14 ,  14   b - 15  and  14   b - 16 . All of the other intersections are likewise provided with smoothly rounded curved portions, as shown. It should be understood that the top half of the tunnel structure has cooperating paths  14   c - 2  through  14   c - 12  of a similar design, the only difference between the top and bottom halves of the tunnel structure being that the bottom half is provided with an elongated opening in the rounded portions  14   b - 1 , while the rounded portions  14   a - 1  in the top member are fully enclosed. 
     In order to assemble this structure, the tunnel member  14   b  is provided with openings, at least in the four corners of the “frame” section  5  and the internal sections S-S 6  and top section  14   a  is provided with cooperating openings, for receiving suitable fastening members to secure the bottom sections S-S 6  to the top section  14   a . Each of the top and bottom halves are provided with a flexible springlike member  28  provided in the top half member  14   a  and  30  provided in bottom half member  14   b . The springlike members each have one end  28   a ,  30   a  fixedly secured to their associated tunnel member and having a leaf-like member  28   b ,  30   b  which is normally biased in the direction shown by arrows A 1 , A 2 . The ball assembly  24  is pressed into the fittings provided in cooperating tunnel members  14   a ,  14   b . Once the ball has passed the self-locking members  28 ,  30 , these members snap back into the position, each resting within an associated recess R 1 , R 2  provided in each of the tunnel members so as to position the self-locking members in such a manner so that they do not interfere with the movement of the ball in either direction past the self-locking members. 
     When sections S-S 6  comprising the bottom half of the tunnel assembly are joined to the top half  14   a  by suitable fastening means, the tunnel assembly is placed upon a ledge  12   a  on which the tunnel assembly rests. Support  12  is provided with openings O 1  through O 4  for receiving the upper ends of support members  16   a  through  16   b  respectively. The openings, O 1  through O 4  are slightly reduced in size relative to the cross-section of the major portion of the legs  16   a  through  16   b , the upper ends thereof being of reduced size to fit within the openings O 1  through O 4  and the meeting point between the portions of reduced size supporting the support member  12  upon the legs  16   a  through  16   d . Two additional supports  17   a ,  17   b  are provided intermediate the length of the long sides of support  12  and are inserted through openings O 5  and O 6  to provide additional support. The members  17   a  and  17   b  are of reduced size at their ends in order to be received within the openings O 5  and O 6  and to provide ledges L 1  for supporting the support frame  12 . 
     The present invention may be sold in a “knocked-down” fashion and be easily and quickly assembled at a point of use. 
     If, for any reason, it is necessary to remove the ball assembly, members  28 ,  30  may be pushed inwardly by an amount sufficient to move the ball assembly  24  behind the flexing portions  28   b  and  30   b.    
     The infant seat  20  has a portion  20   a  through which the child&#39;s legs extend and is preferably provided with a safety belt  20 B for placement around the child&#39;s waist and a pair of harness belts  20   c ,  20   d  for placement around the child&#39;s shoulders. Cable  22  is coupled to the upper end of the seat assembly  20  by a swivel assembly  23 , enabling the child to face in any direction. The cable  22  is made adjustable in length to accommodate infants of different heights to be assured that the infant can walk along the supporting surface. 
     The tunnel paths are preferably rounded and are smooth, enabling smooth, free movement of the ball assembly  24  therein. If desired, a suitable lubricant such as either a natural or synthetic oil or grease may be placed along the paths to facilitate free, easy movement of the ball assembly. 
     As an alternative arrangement, the intersections of the paths making up the tunnel network may be modified to provide indentations such as the indentations I, for example, in FIG. 3 a  so that, the roller moving, for example, in the direction of arrow V is caused to move in the direction shown by arrow C due to the presence of the indentation I, thereby providing a means which causes the ball structure to enter into a transverse path.