Infant training walker

• US 5,728,030 A
• Filed: 07/29/1996
• Issued: 03/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Charles Ping-Chao Hsieh
• Original Assignee: Charles Ping-Chao Hsieh
• Inventors: Hsieh, Charles Ping-Chao
• Primary Examiner(s): Aoley, R. J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LaMarca, William
• Application Number:
  US08/681,853
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 482/66, 482/51, 482/57, 482/69, 482/72, 482/54, 472/15, 472/14
• US Class Current: 482/66
• CPC Class Codes: A47D 13/043 Baby walkers with a seat

Abstract

An infant training walker has a base platform, a disk-shaped tread member rotatably supported approximately flush therewith, and a belt-shaped restraint spaced above the platform in eccentric relation to the tread member for laterally restraining an occupant of the walker. Preferably, a seat element having leg openings depends from the restraint, and the restraint is rotatable within a tray having an array of toy elements. Thus the occupant is encouraged to exercise in a variety of angular orientations relative to the tread member. The occupant can walk with both feet on the tread member, and can also keep one foot on the platform while moving the other foot on the tread member. The tray is adjustable in height, being supported from the platform on telescoping legs. A vertically extending seat back attachment can augment a back-supporting portion of the restraint when the walker is used by larger toddlers. The walker can also be adapted for use as a play room table, either by adding a tray cover after removing the restraint therefrom, or by inverting the walker with the tray removed and adding a platform cover.

Claims

1. An infant training walker, comprising:

(a) a base having a horizontally disposed stage surface;

(b) a tread member movably supported relative to the base for rotation about a first axis normal to said stage surface, the tread member having a tread surface for engagement by an infant'"'"'s foot, at least a portion of the tread surface being movable approximately coplanar with the stage surface; and

(c.) a restraint member rotatably supported relative to the base about a second axis parallel with said first axis and in elevated relation to the tread member, said restrain member including means for laterally restraining an infant occupant'"'"'s torso portion, the restrain member being laterally displaced from said tread member axis of rotation and being effective for at least partially supporting the infant.

2. The walker of claim 1, wherein the restraint member includes a horizontally disposed belt portion, the belt portion defining a clearance opening for receiving the torso portion, the restraint member defining a restraint axis extending vertically within the clearance opening and parallel to the tread member axis of rotation.

3. The walker of claim 2, wherein the restraint axis is horizontally displaced from said tread axis.

4. The walker of claim 3, wherein the tread member has an outside diameter D, and the restraint axis intersects the tread member at a distance E from the tread axis, the distance E being between 15 percent and 30 percent of the diameter D.

5. The walker of claim 4, wherein the distance E is approximately 25 percent of the diameter D.

6. The walker of claim 4, wherein the diameter D is approximately 18 inches and the distance E is approximately 4.5 inches.

7. The walker of claim 3, wherein the tread member comprises a disk member, the tread surface forming a substantially planar upper surface of the disk member.

8. The walker of claim 7, wherein the tread member has an outside diameter D, and one of the base and the tread member has a projecting ring portion, the other of the tread member and the base making sliding contact with the ring portion for movably supporting the tread portion, the sliding contact being within an annulus of major diameter D1 being not greater than approximately 85 percent of the outside diameter D.

9. The walker of claim 8, wherein the ring portion is a first ring portion, including a second ring portion having sliding contact within the annulus, the annulus having a minor diameter D2 being not less than approximately 40 percent of the outside diameter D.

10. The walker of claim 9, wherein the outside diameter D is approximately 18 inches, the diameter D1 is approximately 14.2 inches and the diameter D2 is approximately 9.8 inches.

11. The walker of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of accessory units spaced about the restraint axis outwardly from the belt portion of restraint member in fixed locations relative to the base, each of the accessory units having a handle element associated therewith for assisting the infant to turn relative to the base about the restraint axis.

12. The walker of claim 2, wherein the restraint member is rotatably supported relative to the base about the restraint axis.

13. The walker of claim 12, further comprising a seat element connected to the restraint member for vertically supporting the infant.

14. The walker of claim 13, wherein the seat element includes a cloth member suspended between opposite sides of the belt portion of the restraint member, the seat element having leg openings formed therein for receiving legs of the occupant, the leg openings coupling rotation of the occupant with rotation of the restraint member.

15. The walker of claim 13, wherein the restraint member further comprises a back portion extending upwardly and outwardly from the belt portion for supporting a posterior abdomen portion of the occupant.

16. The walker of claim 15, wherein the restraint member is formed with a registration surface proximate the back portion, the walker further comprising a back-support extension member removably connectable to the restraint member in engagement with the registration surface, the back-support extension member extending upwardly from the back portion when connected to the restraint member for augmenting support of the posterior abdomen portion of the occupant.

17. The walker of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a platform member defining the stage surface, a tray member supporting the restraint member, and a plurality of legs rigidly supporting the tray member in spaced relation to the platform member.

18. The walker of claim 17, wherein the legs are telescopically supported relative to the platform member, the walker further comprising latches for selectively extending each of the legs, thereby adjustably spacing the tray member from the stage surface.

19. The walker of claim 17, wherein the legs are removably connected to the tray member, upper extremities of the legs being adapted for supporting the platform member in an inverted orientation of the legs and platform member, and the walker further comprises a panel connectable to the platform member, the table panel providing an upward-facing table surface in the inverted orientation of the legs and platform member when the panel is connected to the platform member.

20. The walker of claim 17, wherein the restraint member is removably connected to the tray member, the walker further comprising a tray cover removably connectable to the tray member in place of the restraint member, the tray cover providing an upwardly facing table surface extending proximate outer extremities of the tray member when the tray cover is connected to the tray member.

21. An infant training walker, comprising:

a tread member for engagement by an infant'"'"'s foot and rotatable about a first substantially vertical axis of rotation, and

a seat member rotatable about a second substantially vertical axis of rotation for supporting an infant,

said seat member being elevated relative to said tread member, and

said axes of rotation of said tread member and said seat being laterally offset.

22. The infant training walker of claim 21, and further including a tray member, adjustable leg members for supporting said tray member above said tread member, and a cover member,

said tray member including an opening within which said seat member is disposed, and said cover member being configured to lie atop and cover said opening when an infant is not disposed in said seat member.

23. The infant training walker of claim 22, wherein one side of said cover member includes a surface which, when said cover member covers said opening, cooperates with said tray member to define a substantially continuous table surface.