Patent Publication Number: US-8109478-B2

Title: Method and apparatus for stabilizing a standing infant

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of the filing date of the provisional application titled “Method And Apparatus For Stabilizing A Standing Infant”; inventor Evelyn Tristao; U.S. application Ser. No. 61/277,874; filing date Sep. 30, 2009, the entire contents of which are hereby included by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of infant care equipment and more specifically to the field of apparatus for helping to stabilize an infant while standing. 
     In a variety of situations, once some infants begin to develop an ability to stand, these infants also develop a preference for standing over either sitting or lying down. Despite the inability to stand unaided, or the inability to stand aided for an extended time, these infants will exhibit a behavior wherein continued expression of this preference results in eventually falling to the ground. This behavior is particularly worrisome to caregivers attempting, for example, to bathe such infants in a bathtub or shower, to dress such infants, or simply to prevent such infants from walking or crawling away when caregiver attention is directed elsewhere. 
     Opportunities exist, therefore, to develop an apparatus which: provides a handhold, stably coupled to a grounded surface, to aid in standing; allows the infant to be largely self-supporting to help develop strength and balance; prevents the infant from striking the ground if attempts at standing should fail; and allows access to the infant by caregivers. 
     SUMMARY 
     The opportunities described above are addressed, in one embodiment of the present invention, by an apparatus for stabilizing, with respect to a grounded surface, an infant standing on a horizontal surface, the apparatus comprising: a grounded support structure configured for transmitting a ground force from the grounded surface; an outer support structure, operably coupled to the grounded support structure, configured for receiving the ground force and transmitting an outer support force; a connecting structure, disposed inside and operably coupled to the outer support structure, configured for receiving the outer support force and transmitting a connecting force; and an inner support structure, disposed inside and operably coupled to the connecting structure, configured for being disposed around the torso of the infant and for receiving the connecting force and transmitting a stabilizing force to the infant, there being no obstruction between the inner support structure and the horizontal surface. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is embodied by a method for stabilizing, with respect to a grounded surface, an infant standing on a horizontal surface, the method comprising the acts of: transmitting a ground force from the grounded surface; receiving the ground force and transmitting an outer support force; receiving the outer support force and transmitting a connecting force; and receiving the connecting force and transmitting a stabilizing force to the infant using an inner support structure, there being no obstruction between the inner support structure and the horizontal surface. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective drawing illustrating an apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective drawing illustrating an apparatus in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 1  is a perspective drawing illustrating an apparatus  100  for stabilizing an infant  150 , with respect to a grounded surface  160 , while infant  150  stands on a horizontal surface  170 . As used herein, “stabilizing” refers to the acts either of providing a grounded structure for infant  150  to lean on, or of transmitting a force from the ground to infant  150  to lessen any impact during a fall. 
     Apparatus  100  comprises a grounded support structure  140 , an outer support structure  130 , a connecting structure  120 , and an inner support structure  110 . In operation, infant  150  initially balances by grasping or leaning on outer support structure  130 . If balance is lost, however, then grounded support structure  140  transmits a ground force from grounded surface  160 . Outer support structure  130 , operably (for example, mechanically) coupled to grounded support structure  140 , receives the ground force and in turn transmits an outer support force. The outer support force is received by connecting structure  120 . Disposed inside and operably coupled to outer support structure  130 , connecting structure  120  then transmits a connecting force. Finally, inner support structure  110 , disposed inside and operably coupled to connecting structure  120 , receives the connecting force and transmits a stabilizing force to infant  150 . Inner support structure  110  is disposed around the torso of infant  150 , typically underneath the arms and above the waist, loosely enough to allow infant  150  freedom of motion, but closely enough to catch infant  150  (i.e., to transmit a stabilizing force) before striking horizontal surface  170 . Notably, there is no obstruction (for example, a seat or harness) between inner support structure  110  and horizontal surface  170 . 
     In a more detailed embodiment in accordance with the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , inner support structure  110  has the shape of a circular ring. 
     In another more detailed embodiment in accordance with the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , grounded surface  160  is a vertical wall (for example, a bathtub wall) and grounded support structure  140  comprises a wall clamp  190 . In operation, wall clamp  190  fits over the top of the vertical wall providing a cantilevered coupling to grounded surface  160 . 
     In another embodiment in accordance with the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , apparatus  100  further comprises a padded fender  220  removably coupled to outer support structure  130 . Padded fender  220  is disposed so as to prevent contact of infant  150  with the vertical wall. 
     In another embodiment in accordance with the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , apparatus  100  further comprises a padded armrest  230  removably coupled to padded fender  220 . Padded armrest  230  is disposed so as to prevent contact of a caretaker&#39;s arm with a top surface of the vertical wall. 
     In a more detailed embodiment in accordance with the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , apparatus  100  connecting structure  120  comprises a plurality of elastic straps  200 . In some embodiments, apparatus  100  further comprises a plurality of strap couplers  210 , operably coupled to elastic straps  200  and inner support structure  110 . Strap couplers  210  allow the tension in elastic straps  200  to be adjusted. 
     In another embodiment in accordance with the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , apparatus  100  further comprises a water sprayer holder  250  operably coupled to outer support structure  130 . In operation, water sprayer holder  250  holds a water sprayer (for example, a hand-held shower head). 
     In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 2  is a perspective drawing illustrating apparatus  100  wherein horizontal surface  170  and grounded surface  160  are identical and grounded support structure  140  comprises at least one support leg  180 . 
     In another embodiment in accordance with the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , apparatus  100  further comprises an extended foot  240 . Extended foot  240  is mechanically coupled to support leg  180 , and, in operation, transmits the ground force from grounded surface  160 . In some embodiments, extended foot  240  is fashioned to be adjustable in length. 
     While only certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention.