Abstract:
A child safety device tethers a child to an adult using an attachment mechanism about a torso of the child and an anchor for being carried by the adult which are joined by a tether. A first decorative body disguises the attachment mechanism and a second decorative body disguising the anchor. The anchor is selectively storable within a hollow interior of the second decorative body. The attachment mechanism comprises a harness which carries a reel for winding the tether thereon and which includes shoulder straps for extending over the shoulders of the child for adequately supporting the reel and first decorative body on the back of the child without obstructing the child&#39;s normal movement.

Description:
[0001]     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. parent application Ser. No. 11/445,282, filed Jun. 2, 2006, and claims foreign priority benefits from Canadian Patent Application 2,259,858 filed Dec. 1, 2005. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a child safety device, and more particularly relates to a device for tethering a child to an adult.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     The use of a tether between a parent and child is known to prevent children from wandering too far from a parent and accordingly prevent the child from being lost.  
         [0004]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,638,772 to Kaufmann et al discloses an example of a tether for being coupled between a child and adult. A first belt is secured about the child and supports a reel thereon upon which a tether is wound. A first toy surrounds and disguises the reel. At an opposing end of the tether, a second belt is provided for securement about the waist of the adult. A second toy is coupled to the belt for covering the second end of the tether. This device however is particularly uncomfortable for the child which must carry the large bulky weight of the reel about their waist. Furthermore the attachment to the adult is similarly large and bulky so as to act as an obstruction to normal walking motion. The waist belt is poorly disguised because the toy used for decoration is coupled between the tether and the belt.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a child safety device for tethering a child to an adult, the device comprising:  
         [0006]     an attachment mechanism for securement about a torso of the child;  
         [0007]     a first decorative body secured to the attachment mechanism for disguising the attachment mechanism;  
         [0008]     an anchor for being carried by the adult;  
         [0009]     a tether having a first end coupled to the attachment mechanism and a second end connected to the anchor; and  
         [0010]     a second decorative body attached to the anchor for disguising the anchor;  
         [0011]     the second decorative body being arranged for being selectively supported on the first decorative body; and  
         [0012]     the anchor being selectively storable within a hollow interior of the second decorative body.  
         [0013]     According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a child safety device for tethering a child to an adult, the device comprising:  
         [0014]     a tether extending between first and second ends;  
         [0015]     an attachment mechanism mounted on the first end of the tether;  
         [0016]     the attachment mechanism being arranged for securement about a torso of the child;  
         [0017]     a first decorative body arranged to surround and conceal the attachment mechanism;  
         [0018]     an anchor mounted on the second end of the tether;  
         [0019]     the anchor being arranged for securement by the adult;  
         [0020]     a second decorative body arranged to surround and conceal the anchor;  
         [0021]     the tether being operable between an extended position and a retracted position;  
         [0022]     the anchor and the attachment mechanism being spaced apart from one another in the extended position of the tether;  
         [0023]     the second decorative body being supported on the first decorative body such that the tether is concealed between the first decorative body and the second decorative body in the retracted position of the tether.  
         [0024]     When not in use, the function of the child safety device can readily be disguised by storing the second decorative body on the first decorative body and in turn storing the anchor within the second decorative body.  
         [0025]     According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a child safety device for tethering a child to an adult, the device comprising:  
         [0026]     an attachment mechanism for securement about a torso of the child;  
         [0027]     a first decorative body secured to the attachment mechanism for disguising the attachment mechanism;  
         [0028]     an anchor for being carried by the adult;  
         [0029]     a tether having a first end coupled to the attachment mechanism and a second end coupled to the anchor; and  
         [0030]     a second decorative body attached to the anchor for disguising the anchor;  
         [0031]     the attachment mechanism comprising a harness including shoulder straps for extending over the shoulders of the child.  
         [0032]     By providing a harness having shoulder straps for securement over shoulders of the child, the associated decorative body and any reel associated therewith can be comfortably carried on the back of the child without obstructing the child&#39;s normal movement.  
         [0033]     The anchor may comprise a loop having a prescribed diameter which is suitably sized for being supported about a wrist of the adult. The loop may be formed of flexible material.  
         [0034]     There may be provided an opening in the second decorative body for receiving the anchor selectively therethrough and wherein there is provided a closure member on the second decorative body for selectively enclosing the opening.  
         [0035]     The attachment mechanism preferably comprises a harness including shoulder straps for extending over the shoulders of the child. The attachment mechanism preferably includes a reel for winding the tether thereon in which the reel is disguised by the first decorative body and in which the reel is carried by the harness for positioning adjacent a back of the child.  
         [0036]     When the reel is biased in a winding direction for winding the tether onto the reel, preferably there is provided a lock mechanism which selectively restricts rotation of the reel in the winding direction.  
         [0037]     A release button for selectively releasing the lock mechanism is preferably located adjacent a rear side of the first decorative body, opposite the harness.  
         [0038]     Preferably, the first decorative body is plural times larger than the second decorative body for disguising the reel.  
         [0039]     According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a child safety device for tethering a child to an adult, the device comprising:  
         [0040]     a tether extending between first and second ends;  
         [0041]     an attachment mechanism mounted on the first end of the tether;  
         [0042]     the attachment mechanism being arranged for securement about a torso of the child;  
         [0043]     a first decorative body arranged to surround and conceal the attachment mechanism;  
         [0044]     an anchor mounted on the second end of the tether;  
         [0045]     the anchor being arranged for securement by the adult;  
         [0046]     a second decorative body arranged to surround and conceal the anchor;  
         [0047]     the tether being operable between an extended position and a retracted position;  
         [0048]     the anchor and the attachment mechanism being spaced apart from one another in the extended position of the tether; and  
         [0049]     a fastening mechanism arranged to support the second decorative body on the first decorative body in the retracted position of the tether.  
         [0050]     The fastening mechanism may comprise mating loop and hook fasteners supported on the first and second decorative bodies respectively.  
         [0051]     The fastening mechanism may also comprise fasteners on the second decorative body arranged to be secured to the first decorative body at a plurality of locations.  
         [0052]     In some embodiments, the second decorative body comprises a hollow interior within which the anchor is secured and an opening arranged to receive the anchor in the extended position, the anchor being arranged to be enclosed within the hollow interior by a closure member arranged to close the opening in the second decorative body in the retracted position.  
         [0053]     In further embodiments, there may be provided:  
         [0054]     a storage compartment in the first decorative body accessible through a first opening in the first decorative body;  
         [0055]     a first closure member arranged to close the first opening;  
         [0056]     a hollow interior in the second decorative body arranged to receive the anchor therein; and  
         [0057]     a second closure member arranged to close the second opening independent of the first closure member.  
         [0058]     Some embodiments of the invention will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0059]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of the components of the child safety device.  
         [0060]      FIGS. 2 and 3  illustrate a first embodiment of the decorative bodies on the child safety device in the retracted and extended positions of the tether respectively.  
         [0061]      FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate a second embodiment of the decorative bodies on the child safety device in the retracted and extended positions of the tether respectively.  
         [0062]      FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate a third embodiment of the decorative bodies on the child safety device in the retracted and extended positions of the tether respectively.  
         [0063]      FIGS. 8 and 9  illustrate a fourth embodiment of the decorative bodies on the child safety device in the retracted and extended positions of the tether respectively.  
         [0064]      FIGS. 10 and 11  illustrate a fifth embodiment of the decorative bodies on the child safety device in the retracted and extended positions of the tether respectively.  
         [0065]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the child safety device in which the storage compartment of the device is closed and the tether is retracted.  
         [0066]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the device according to  FIG. 12  in which the storage compartment is open and the tether is in the extended position. 
     
    
       [0067]     In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0068]     Referring to the accompanying figures there is illustrated a child safety device generally indicated by reference numeral  10 . The device  10  is particularly suited for tethering a child to an adult, for example a parent or guardian.  
         [0069]     The device  10  includes an attachment mechanism  12  in the form of harness for securement about a torso of the child. The harness includes two shoulder straps  14  which are adjustable in length for being snugly secured about the shoulders of the child similarly to a conventional backpack and a chest strap  15  for joining the shoulder straps across a chest of the child. A waist strap  13  is also provided for securement about the waist of the child. The harness carries a storage chamber  16  on the back of the child to which the shoulder straps  14  are attached.  
         [0070]     A reel  18  is supported within the chamber  16  and supports a tether  20  thereon. The tether is anchored at its first end on the reel of the attachment mechanism so that the tether may be wound onto the reel from an extended position in which a second end  22  of the tether is spaced apart from the reel and the tether is at least partly unwound from the reel as shown in  FIG. 3 , and a retracted position in which the second end of the tether is adjacent the reel and the tether is substantially fully wound on the reel as shown in  FIG. 2 . The reel is configured to be biased in a winding direction for winding the tether onto the reel into the retracted position. An automatic lock mechanism  21  selectively restricts rotation of the reel in the winding direction to retract the tether until a release button  23  is depressed for selectively releasing the automatic lock.  
         [0071]     The second end  22  of the tether  18  is coupled to an anchor  24 . The anchor  24  comprises a loop of flexible material, for example elastic, but which has a fixed prescribed diameter in an unstretched position thereof. The loop is suitably sized for being supported about a wrist of the adult in use and accordingly has a preferred internal diameter of 3 to 4 inches.  
         [0072]     A first decorative body  26  (or first decorative item) is supported on the harness of the attachment mechanism for disguising both the harness and more particularly for disguising the reel supported within the storage chamber  16  thereof. The first decorative body  26  generally comprises a plush toy which is suitable stuffed with resilient material to provided a soft and aesthetically pleasing toy for the child to play with when the harness is removed from a child.  
         [0073]     A second decorative body  28  (or second decorative item) is supported on the second end  22  of the tether  18  and serves to couple the anchor  24  to the tether. The first decorative body  26  is plural times larger then the second decorative body which is intended to be blended into the first decorative body when supported thereon. The second decorative body  28  includes an internal storage area  27  defined by a hollow interior of the body and which is accessible through an opening having a closure member  29  for selectively closing the opening. The anchor  24  is connected to the tether internally within the internal storage area  27  so that the anchor  24  can be stored in the area and enclosed therein by the closure member  29  as desired.  
         [0074]     The first and second decorative bodies have a matching theme but differ in particular design. The second body  28  in particular is much smaller but remains compatible with the design of the first body. As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the second decorative body comprises a dog bone which is received within the mouth of a dog forming the first decorative body so that second decorative body is blended into and disguised on the surface of the first decorative body in the retracted position of the tether. In the example of  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the first body comprises a bumble bee for being disguised in a perching position on a flower forming the first decorative body.  
         [0075]     As shown in further examples, in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the second decorative body comprises a fly which is retracted into the mouth of a frog comprising the first decorative body. In this instance, the tether may also be disguised as a frog&#39;s tongue. As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the second decorative body may comprise a smaller version of the first decorative body to resemble a similar parent and child combination, but representative of animals or insects instead. As shown in a further example in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the first and second decorative bodies may instead comprise two types of animals which are known to be in a similar children&#39;s tale, for example the turtle and the hare.  
         [0076]     In use, the harness of the attachment mechanism  12  is secured about the torso of the child by extending the shoulder straps  14  over the shoulders of the child and tightening the straps in a manner similar to a conventional backpack. The first decorative body and the reel received therein are supported on the back of the child with the tether initially wound onto the reel in a retracted position. In the retracted position, a portion of the second decorative body is received within a mating recess  30  of the first decorative body so that the tether is fully covered by the first decorative body in the retracted position. The second decorative is thus disguised within the first decorative body by blending onto the surface thereof due to the compatible nature of the disguises of the first and second decorative bodies. Storing the anchor  24  within the internal storage area of the second decorative body further disguises the device when not in use.  
         [0077]     When it is desired to tether the child to the adult, the adult simply pulls the second decorative body away from the first decorative body and the anchor  24  is removed from the internal storage area of the second decorative body. The adult grasps the second end of the tether or the second decorative body to remain tethered to the child. If desired the adult may position their wrist through the loop forming the anchor for added securement to the child. The release button  23  is located adjacent a rear side of the first decorative body, opposite the harness so as to be out the reach of the child.  
         [0078]     Turning now to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , a further embodiment of the child safety device  10  is illustrated. In this embodiment, the device is arranged similar to previous embodiments in that there is provided a tether  20  extending between first and second ends in which an attachment mechanism  12  is mounted on the first end of the tether and an anchor  24  is mounted on a second end of the tether. The attachment mechanism is again arranged for securement about a torso of the child while the anchor comprises a loop arranged for securement by the adult, about the wrist for example. Also similar to the previous embodiments, a first decorative body  26  is provided for surrounding and concealing the attachment mechanism  12  while a second decorative body  28  is provided which is arranged to surround and conceal the anchor  24 . The attachment mechanism  12  again comprises a storage compartment  16  housing a reel  18  therein upon which the tether is wound in a retracted position. The tether communicates through a tether opening  40  in the second body similar to previous embodiments for communication between the reel  18  within the storage chamber  16  and the anchor which is separate from the first decorative body  26 .  
         [0079]     The storage chamber  16  houses the reel in a lower portion thereof, while an upper portion of the chamber  16  is provided for storage of various accessories and the like. A first opening  42  is provided in the first decorative body  26  to provide access to the interior of the storage chamber  16  for storage of items therein. The first opening  42  is fully independent of the tether opening receiving the tether therethrough. A first closure member  44  in the form of mating hook and loop fasteners for example is provided on the first decorative body for selectively enclosing the first opening  42 .  
         [0080]     Similar to the first embodiment, the second decorative body  28  includes a hollow interior  46  within which the anchor  24  is secured to the second end of the tether. A second opening  48  is provided on the second decorative body for access to the hollow interior for accessing the anchor  24  which is arranged to be received through the second opening in use. When storing the anchor in the retracted position of the tether, the anchor is arranged to be fully received within the hollow interior of the second decorative body and a second closure  50  is provided on the second opening  48  in the second decorative body which is arranged to close the second opening and fully enclose the anchor within the hollow interior of the second decorative body. The second closure on the second opening is fully independent of the first closure on the first opening of the first decorative body.  
         [0081]     Similar to the previous embodiments, the reel is operable between an extended position of the tether in the first and second decorative bodies are spaced apart from one another with the tether extending therebetween, and a retracted position in which the tether is retracted onto the reel through the tether opening in the first decorative body such that the first and second decorative bodies are brought adjacent one another to fully conceal the tether therebetween. When the anchor is stored within the second decorative body in the retracted position of the tether, the entire tether and all fastening means including the anchor are fully concealed and disguised by the first and second decorative bodies in a manner which is unseen in the prior art.  
         [0082]     As shown in  FIG. 13 , a fastening mechanism is provided in the form of mating hook and loop fasteners  52  on the second decorative body which are arranged to support the second decorative body at any one of a plurality of locations on the first decorative body in the retracted position of the tether. In particular hook fasteners can be provided on the second decorative body which are arranged to be secured to loop material covering the first decorative body to permit anchoring of the second decorative body at any location on the first decorative body as shown in  FIG. 12 .  
         [0083]     Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without department from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.