IMPROVEMENTS IN BABY-JUMPERS FOR NURSERY USE
Year: 1884

page_text: I, CHARLES TOWNSEND GARDNER, of Napanee, in the Province of Ontario, in
the Dominion of Canada, Picture Dealer, do hereby declare the nature of my
Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN BABY-JUMPERS FOR NURSERY USE, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:--
My Invention relates to that class of baby-jumpers which sustain the occupant
in a partially suspended position; and the object is to provide an article of the
kind named which is substantial and safe in structure, and at the same time simple
and cheap.
My improvements therefore consist in the novel arrangement and combination of
parts, as will be hereinafter fully described.
I have illustrated the mechanical construction and combination of the parts in
the annexed Drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of the whole
device;
and Figure 2 is a view of the cleat, with slot to hold the canvas seat.
A, represents the means of suspension, fixed in any desirable place, such as the
ceiling or top of a door-frame; and it may consist of a hook or an eye to receive
a hook.
B, represents a cord or rope having hooks or eyes at each end, the upper one to
be attached to the point of suspension, and the lower one to be attached to the
spring C. This spring C, consists of wooden blanks or staves having their ends
suitably secured together, substantially as shown.
The line of suspension is in the middle of the spring, as seen, and the spring is
limited in its expansive movement by means of a safety-cord, c', which is secured
to the upper plate of the spring, and then, being passed downward through
perforations in the intermediate plates, is secured to the lowest plate by any
suitable means. The purpose of this safety-cord is, as stated, to limit the expansion
of the spring, and also to prevent the occupant from being thrown down in
case of accident or fracture of the spring.
D, represents a knotted cord, the upper end of which is properly and detachably
fastened to the spring, and the other end is provided with a hook, which hooks
about the cord above one of the knots, and thus sustains the frame in a suspended
position.
E, represents the frame which consists of a wooden plank bent in an oval form,
as shown, the ends being secured by any of the usual means. At the upper central

page_text: point is fixed a clip, a¹, provided with an eye through which the cord or rope D, is
passed, and by which the height of the seat from the floor is adjusted and
regulated. At a suitable distance above the seat is secured a hoop or band F, the
ends of which do not entirely meet, and have fastened to them straps, one of which
has a buckle, so that the two may be joined and the circle completed.
G, represents cleats let on the frame by mortises cut in them or through them,
and secured transversely to the frame by bolts or clips c. These cleats have slots
extending their length, and in these slots the ends of the canvas H, are inserted
and therein wedged or otherwise secured.
The use and operation of the device are as follows:-The parts being united and
the device suspended, the strap about the frame is unbuckled and the child placed
on the seat, after which the strap is buckled again in front of the occupant, and
then the rope is adjusted so that the child can just reach the floor with its feet.
The child is then able to spring up, turn about, or swing, and is in perfect safety
from tumbles or thumps. When not in use, the device may be removed, and when
in use it can be easily adjusted to suit the occasion.
It will be observed that the upper suspension-cord may be dispensed with and
the eye or hook in the springs be elongated and attached to the eye or hook in the
ceiling; but the upper cord is preferable, because the spring is better suspended
some distance from the point above, to avoid striking the bar or ceiling. Should
the weight in the frame be too much for the springs, the cord which passes through
the springs is brought into requisition and prevents the springs from being further
drawn apart.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is,
1. A baby-jumper consisting of an oval seat-frame formed of a single blank,
slotted cleats, and a confining hoop or band secured to the frame, a yielding sent
the ends of which are fastened in the slots of the cleats, and means for suspending
said frame and its attachments, substantially as shown and described.
2. In a baby-jumper, a zig-zag spring formed by uniting the ends of a series of
suitable blanks or staves, substantially as shown, in combination with a safety-cord
passed through perforations in the intermediate staves, and its ends secured to the
upper and lower plates of the springs, and detachably connected to suspension-cords,
as and for the purpose specified.
3. In combination, the zig-zag spring C, having means to suspend it from a
support, and provided with an independent safety-cord, C₁, adjusting-cord D, a
seat-frame E, having a confining hoop or band F, and slotted clents G, secured
thereto; and a seat H, the ends of which are fastened in the slots of the cleats,
substantially as shown and described.