Tent – canopy – umbrella – or cane – Portable shelter – Combined
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-22
2001-01-30
Friedman, Carl D. (Department: 3635)
Tent, canopy, umbrella, or cane
Portable shelter
Combined
C135S147000, C135S152000, C472S118000, C472S119000, C446S227000, C297S276000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06178978
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a children's toy and more particularly to a play enclosure containing a movable seat for a small child which allows the child to move between a plurality of activity stations within the enclosure.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There already exist a various play enclosures for small children. These run the gamut from a tent-like enclosure containing a multiplicity of balls to enclosed children's sandboxes and wading pools. These enclosures invariably have one or more openings to provide access to the enclosure. Thus, a child can enjoy the security of the enclosure without feeling isolated from other people in the vicinity of the enclosure. However, the same openings allow the child to leave the enclosure.
Children's walkers are also commonplace. A child sitting in one of these devices can propel him/herself along the floor in any direction. Therefore, a child using such a walker must be supervised at all times.
Another conventional child's activity toy is a swing, some of which are motorized so that a child can swing back and forth without any outside assistance. While the child on the swing requires minimal supervision, the child may become bored with this repetitive motion, particularly when there are no goals to be reached at the limits of that motion.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to be able to provide a single children's toy which has the advantages of a play enclosure, walker and swing without the aforesaid disadvantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a child's activity and entertainment enclosure which constrains a small child to some extent, yet allows the child to move in three dimensions between a plurality of different activity stations within the enclosure.
Another object of the invention is to provide a children's activity enclosure which allows the child to walk to different activity stations and play with toys there while still maintaining some control over the child's movements.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a children's activity and entertainment enclosure which can be adjusted to accommodate children of different height.
A further object of the invention is to provide an enclosure such as this which can be stored and shipped in a knock-down condition.
A further object of the invention is to provide an enclosure of this type which can be assembled easily by the purchaser.
A further object of the invention is to provide a children's activity enclosure which is safe to use.
An additional object of the invention is to provide a children's activity and entertainment enclosure which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture in quantity.
Other objects will, in part, be obvious and will, in part, appear hereinafter.
The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the following detailed description, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.
Briefly, the children's activity and entertainment enclosure comprises a relatively large housing which is supported at an elevated position above the floor or ground by a plurality of long legs whose upper ends are rotatably secured to the housing at spaced apart locations around the housing. When the enclosure is in use, the legs extend out from the housing and down to the ground more or less like the legs of a spider. However, the legs can be swung together so that the unit has a relatively small foot print for ease of storage.
Rotatably mounted within the housing is a rotor having a shaft which extends down through an opening in the bottom wall of the housing. That bottom wall and the rotor define a circular track for an array of ball bearings positioned between the rotor and the housing bottom wall so that the rotor can rotate freely relative to the housing about a generally vertical axis. The rotor shaft supports the upper end of an L-shaped rotor arm whose lower end is offset laterally from the rotary axis of the rotor.
Resiliently suspended by way of a spring from the lower end of the rotor arm is an elongated hanger which supports a bag-type seat for containing a small child. As we shall see, the connection between the hanger and the seat allows for vertical as well as angular adjustment of the seat to accommodate different size children. That is, the seat may be adjusted so that a child sitting in a seat can touch the floor with his/her feet so that the child can bounce up and down and walk along the floor. Since the seat is supported by the rotor which is free to revolve within the housing, the child sitting in the seat can follow a more or less circular path within the legs of the enclosure.
Preferably, different toys are attached to the legs of the enclosure. These toys constitute activity stations or destinations to which the child can move by properly manipulating the seat. These stations thus constitute goals for the child which hold his/her interest, encourage mobility and improve the child's limb/eye coordination.
Preferably, the housing and the upper ends of the legs are covered by a canopy which tends to make the space within the legs more cozy without visually isolating the child sitting in the seat. Also, when the toy is placed outside, the canopy protects the child from the sun and sudden rain.
The various parts of the toy are simple metal and molded plastic parts which can be manufactured in quantity at a relatively low cost. Also, the parts are designed so that the entire enclosure can be sold in a knock-down condition so that the product can be shipped and stored in a minimum amount of space. Yet, when it comes time to assemble the enclosure, that can be accomplished relatively easily using only a screwdriver and a small wrench.
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Cesari and McKenna
Friedman Carl D.
Hedstrom Corporation
Yip Winnie
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