Collapsible child exerciser device

• US 5,688,211 A
• Filed: 11/13/1995
• Issued: 11/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kolcraft Enterprises Incorporated (Hasbro Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kolcraft Enterprises Incorporated (Hasbro Inc.)
• Inventors: Myers, Peter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): DONNELLY, JEROME W
• Application Number:
  US08/556,309
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 482/66, 482/77, 482/78, 297/5, 297/344.26, 297/344.21, 280/87.03, 280/87.051
• US Class Current: 482/66
• CPC Class Codes: A47D 13/101 Foldable rocking chairs
• CPC Class Codes: A47D 13/107 resiliently suspended or supported, e.g. baby bouncers

Abstract

A child exerciser device in which an integral seat and tray are adapted to bounce relative to a bouncer ring. The bouncer ring rotates relative to a cross piece member by means of a lazy susan mechanism. The cross piece includes pivotable legs which are adapted to be adjustably engaged in tubular members extending upward from a base member which allows the device to rock in only one back and forth direction. The top portion of the device is removable from the base member and can be disposed within the base member whereby the collapsed unit can be manually transported and stored.

Claims

1. A child exerciser device comprising:

a seat support having a front and back and an opening therein;

a tray integrally joined to the front of said seat support;

a plurality of spaced post means depending from said seat support;

biasing means disposed on said post means;

a bouncer ring disposed below said seat support, said bouncer ring including an opening therein, a circular shelf having a plurality of spaced openings and an upper race;

each of said posts extending through one of said shelf openings;

means for connecting said seat support to said post at the location of said posts whereby said seat support is biased away from said bouncer rings;

a cross piece member disposed below and connected to said bouncer ring, said cross support member including a lower race;

ball bearings disposed within said lower and upper races whereby said bouncer ring is adapted to rotate relative to said cross piece member;

spaced leg members each pivotally connected to and manually depending from said cross piece member, said leg members including means for pivoting said leg members beneath said cross piece member;

a base support member disposed below and spaced from said cross piece member;

spaced tubular member extending upwardly from said base member; and

,

each of said hinged leg members being releasably received within one of said tubular members.

2. A child exerciser device in accordance with claim 1 and further including a ball bearing retaining ring disposed between said bouncer ring and said cross piece member, said retaining ring having notches therein for receiving a ball bearing located in said races.

3. A child exerciser device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said biasing means include compression springs mounted on said posts.

4. A child exerciser device in accordance with claim 1 and further including a biased button means for releasably connecting one of said tubular members to one of said cross piece leg members.

5. A child exerciser device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said cross piece includes an opening therein and a flexible seat is disposed over said seat support and extends through openings in said seat support bouncer ring and cross piece member.

12. A child exerciser device in accordance with claims 1 or 6 and further including detent means disposed in said base support member for contacting said removed portion of said device following its removal from said base support member and placement in said base support member.

16. A child exerciser device in accordance with claims 1, 6, or 13 wherein said base member has a curved surface for contact with the ground wherein said curve is shaped to permit rocking of said device in only one back and forth direction.

6. A child exerciser device comprising:

a seat support having an opening therein;

a tray member permanently fixed to the front of said seat support;

a bouncer ring having an opening therein, said ring being adjacent said seat support;

means for resiliently connecting said bouncer ring to said seat support;

a cross piece member disposed below said bouncer ring;

said bouncer ring and cross piece member each including a race for receipt of bearing means whereby said bouncer ring rotates relative to said cross piece member; and

,

a base member releasably hinged to said cross piece member whereby said cross piece member, bouncer ring and seat support are adapted to be disconnected from and stored in said base member.

7. A child exerciser device in accordance with claim 6 wherein said seat support means includes a plurality of spaced posts depending from said support;

and,

said resilient means including spring means disposed on said posts, said seat support and said bouncer ring being connected together at the location of said posts.

8. A child exerciser device in accordance with claim 7 wherein said posts are located contiguous to said seat support opening.

9. A child exerciser device in accordance with claim 7 and further including a bearing retaining ring disposed between said bouncer ring race and said cross piece member.

10. A child exerciser device in accordance with claim 9 in which said bearing retaining ring includes a plurality of notches therein for receipt of ball bearings.

11. A child exerciser device in accordance with claim 6 wherein said cross piece member includes a plurality of spaced leg members hinged to and normally depending from said cross piece member;

and,

said base support member includes a plurality of spaced tubular members, each of said tubular members receiving one of said leg members; and

,

means for releasably connecting said leg member to the tubular members whereby upon release of said leg members from said tubular members, said leg members may be pivoted to a position below said cross piece member.

13. A child exerciser seat device comprising:

a seat support member having a front and back and an opening therein;

a tray permanently fixed to the front of said seat support member;

a plurality of spaced post means depending from said seat support and positioned contiguous to said seat support opening;

biasing means associated with said post means;

a bouncer ring having an opening therein positioned adjacent said seat support member;

means connecting said biased post means to said bouncer ring for permitting resilient movement between said bouncer ring and seat support member;

a cross piece member having an opening therein joined to said bouncer ring;

bearing means disposed between said bouncer ring and said cross piece member for permitting rotation of said bouncer ring relative to said cross piece member; and

,

a base member spaced from and connected to said cross piece member.

14. A child exerciser device in accordance with claim 13 wherein said cross piece member includes a plurality of spaced legs having two ends, one of said leg ends being pivotally connected to said cross piece member whereby said legs can be collapsed under said cross piece member;

said base support member including a plurality of spaced tubular members;

each of said remaining leg ends being releasably disposed in one of said tubular members.

15. A child exerciser device in accordance with claim 14 and further including means for adjusting the position of said cross piece legs with respect to said tubular members.