Patent ID: 12256849

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a portable display device assembly is provided as a stand-alone, portable apparatus suitable for use with a separate apparatus such as a toddler walker, shopping cart, wagon or the like. Thus, shown inFIG.1is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a portable display device assembly1410attached to a handlebar assembly1404of a separate apparatus such as but not limited to a standard toddler walker1402as may exist the prior art.FIG.2is a perspective view of the portable display device assembly1410ofFIG.1attached to the side panels1412of the toddler walker1402. That is, the legs1602may be removably attached to the side panels1412as inFIG.2or the handlebar assembly1404as inFIG.1, as may be desired by the user.

With further reference toFIG.3, which is an exploded view of the portable device assembly ofFIGS.1and2, the portable display device assembly has means for holding a display device, which includes a display device support panel1638and a display device support rail1642slidingly engaged with the display device support panel1638such that the height of the display device support rail1642may be raised or lowered with respect to the display device support panel1638. The display device support panel1638has a pair of vertically aligned slots1640, and the display device support rail1642has a pair of threaded studs1644. The display device support rail1642is slidingly engaged with the display device support panel1638by inserting each threaded stud1644of the display device support rail1642into a mating slot1640on the display device support panel1638and securing the support rail1642at the desired vertical position against the support panel1638with a nut1646threaded onto each of the threaded studs1644of the support rail1642. As can be seen,FIG.3illustrates only one side of this assembly; the same assembly is provided on the opposite side in mirror image form.

Means are provided for attaching the means for holding a display device to a separate device such as the toddler walker, which in this embodiment will have a pair of legs1602, each leg having means for pivotally attaching the leg1602at a first end to the means for holding a display device and means for removably attaching the leg1602at a second end to a toddler walker.

The means for pivotally attaching the leg1602at a first end to the means for holding a display device includes a leg fixture1622that has a first wall1631with a horizontal lock lobe1632, a vertical lock lobe1634, and a rotation aperture1630. The leg fixture also has a second wall1633coupled to the first wall1631by a cross member, with a stud1624mounted on the cross member and protruding away from the leg fixture1622. The display device support panel has a slot1650, and the stud1624of the leg fixture1622is located through the slot1650and urged against the support panel1638with a nut1648threaded onto the stud1624, securing the leg fixture1622to the support panel1638. The leg fixture1622is rotatably mated with the leg1602with a leg bolt1626inserted through the rotation aperture1630of the leg fixture1622and the rotation aperture1606of the leg1602, and then it is secured with a nut1628threaded onto the leg bolt1626.

A leg locking pin1636is selectively inserted through the vertical lock lobe1634of the leg fixture1622and a locking aperture1604on the leg1602in order to orient the means for holding a display device substantially vertically, or through the horizontal lock lobe1632of the leg fixture1622and the locking aperture1604on the leg1602in order to orient the means for holding a display device substantially horizontally, as may be desired by the user.

The means for removably attaching the leg at a second end to a separate device such as a toddler walker includes a compression clevis1608having a first leg fork1612and a second leg fork1613separated by a holding space1615. The second leg fork1613has a tapped insert1610located as shown. When the compression clevis1608is placed on a desired location of a toddler walker such that the holding space1615surrounds a surface of the toddler walker, and a bolt1614is inserted through the tapped insert1610of the second leg fork1613and into the threads1620of a threaded pad1618, the threaded pad1618is urged against the surface of the toddler walker which is in turn urged against a neoprene (or other similar material) pad1616, thus compressing the compression clevis1608around the surface of the toddler walker in the desired location.

FIG.4is an exploded view of a modified portable device assembly ofFIGS.1and2. In this alternative embodiment, the means for removably attaching the leg at a second end to a separate device such as a toddler walker includes a modified compression clevis1700which is separate and apart from the leg1701, and includes a first leg fork and a second leg fork separated by a holding space, the second leg fork including a tapped insert1610, all similar to the embodiment ofFIG.3described above. The first leg fork and the second leg fork each have a pivoting aperture1706, and there is also a pivoting bolt1702and a pivoting nut1704, a bolt1614, a threaded pad1618and a neoprene pad1616. As inFIG.3, when the compression clevis1700is placed on a desired location of a toddler walker such that the holding space surrounds a surface of the toddler walker, and the bolt1614is inserted through the tapped insert1610of the second leg fork and into the threads of the threaded pad1618, the threaded pad1618is urged against the surface of the toddler walker which is in turn urged against the neoprene pad1616, thus compressing the compression clevis1700around the surface of the toddler walker in the desired location. As modified byFIG.4, the pivoting bolt1702is inserted through the pivoting aperture1706of the first leg fork, an aperture in the leg1701, and the pivoting aperture of the second leg fork, and secured in place with the pivoting nut1704. This embodiment allows the leg1701to independently rotate and pivot with respect to the compression clevis, whereas in the embodiment shown inFIG.3such rotation is not provided.

FIG.5is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a portable display device assembly attached to a handlebar assembly of a separate device such as a standard toddler walker, andFIG.6is a perspective view of the portable display device assembly ofFIG.5attached to the side panels of a standard toddler walker in the prior art. In this modified portable display device assembly1802, the means for attaching the means for holding a display device to a separate device such as a toddler walker includes a leg fixture that has a first wall having a horizontal lock lobe, a vertical lock lobe, and a rotation aperture. A second wall is coupled to the first wall, and a stud protrudes away from the leg fixture. The display device support panel has a slot, and the stud of the leg fixture is located through the slot of the support panel and urged against the support panel with a nut threaded onto the stud. A locking mechanism1804is inserted through the rotation aperture of the leg fixture and urged against a desired surface of the toddler walker. A leg locking pin is selectively inserted through the vertical lock lobe of the leg fixture and secured against the toddler walker in order to orient the means for holding a display device substantially vertically, or through the horizontal lock lobe of the leg fixture and secured against the toddler walker in order to orient the means for holding a display device substantially horizontally, as desired.

With respect to all embodiments as described above, the entertainment and attention getting factor provided by the child's favorite video program presentation on the display device including familiar music, characters and learning animation is the key factor in increasing attention and commitment to by the child to working with the device.