Land vehicles – Wheeled – Coasters
Patent
1997-03-27
1998-08-04
Hoge, Gary C.
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Coasters
280 87041, 280 87051, 280 4738, 446 71, A47D 1304, A61H 3300
Patent
active
057882533
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an apparatus for use by babies and young children as either a baby walker or a baby gym.
2. History of Related Art
A baby walker is known which comprises a wheeled frame on which a child may support itself in an upright position during the early walking phase. An example of such a baby walker disclosed in British patent specification No. 2211429A comprises a support structure including a pair of spaced-apart side frames and a transversely extending cross-piece, support wheels being mounted on the side frames. The cross-piece serves to brace the side frames. A handle bar supported by stiles projecting vertically upwards from the side frames extends parallel to the cross-piece. The cross-piece is necessarily located at a low level to ensure that no play can take place between the side frames and the handle bar and render the baby walker unstable. A baby gym is also known which includes a horizontal bar from which various playthings may be suspended. To use a baby gym, a baby is laid on its back beneath the bar. GB 2211429A discloses the possibility of mounting an activity centre on the cross-piece of a baby walker for the amusement of a child capable of sitting in front of the baby walker. However, the cross-piece is located at too low a level for there to be any possibility of the activity centre being used by a baby lying on the floor.
A baby gym may be used from soon after birth but begins to lose its value when the baby starts to crawl or walk. At this stage a baby walker is found useful. Both products must be of rugged construction for safety reasons and are relatively expensive. A saving in cost to the consumer may therefore be achieved by an apparatus which combines both functions. A problem, however, is that the need to provide a cross-piece to brace the side frames at a relatively low level makes it impracticable for a baby walker to be used without modification as a baby gym. Another problem is that a baby gym is normally required to be wider than a baby walker. A further problem is that a baby gym needs to be immobilised when in use to prevent it moving away from the baby using it.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has for its object the provision of an apparatus capable of being used to support a child learning to walk and, alternatively, to suspend playthings for the amusement of a baby who has not yet started to walk and is incapable of sitting. Apparatus to be described herein in greater detail, and in accordance with the invention, comprises a support structure including a pair of spaced-apart side frames and a transversely extending cross-piece. Support wheels are mounted on the side frames to enable the apparatus to be moved across the floor when the apparatus is in use as a baby walker. When the apparatus is to be used as a baby gym, the wheels are immobilized and the cross-piece positioned in an upper position to allow a baby to lie on the floor beneath the cross-piece. Playthings may be supported on or suspended from the cross-piece to amuse the baby. Although the wheels may be removed or immobilized by brakes, it is preferred to lift the wheels from floor-engaging contact when the apparatus is in use as a baby gym. To this end, the side frames may be caused to tilt when the cross-piece is in its upper position in order to bring feet on the side frames into contact with the ground. When the apparatus is to be used as a baby walker, the cross-piece may be repositioned at a lower level to brace the side frames and increase the overall sturdiness of the apparatus. In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, the cross-piece is telescopically extensible to allow the apparatus to be made narrower when used as a baby walker and wider when used as a baby gym. When extended, the cross-piece causes the frames to tilt as mentioned above.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Examples of apparatus in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawi
REFERENCES:
patent: 5454745 (1995-10-01), Spielberger
Pape John A.
Raffo David M.
Thomson Harry S.
Woodward Shaun
Hamilton Clovia
Hoge Gary C.
Tomy UK Limited
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