US2108566A - Staff-controlled baby walker - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 15, 1938. c. B. SANDERS 2,398,566

STAFF CONTROLLED BABY WALKER Filed April 15, 1937 Patented Feb. 15, 1938 UNITED STATES ATENT 9 Claims.

This invention relates to a baby walker and-it aims to provide such an article as overcomes the direct grasping of the harness or any part of the body of the baby by the nurse or other attendant incidental to its use, and suoha construction as is controlled by the attendant without bending over.

It 'is further aimed to provide a baby walker means of this improved character with a controlling staff, through the use and movement of which the baby will be balanced in an erect and comfortable position with his arms'free for play; to provide such a device with thearea of support between the shoulder blades to prevent the baby pitching over face forward or otherwise falling and so that slight pushing, pulling or turning may at all times serve to correct his posture; and further to provide such an article as through its use there will be no sidewise pull on the child such as occurs when he clasps the hand of another in learning to walk; and additionally to provide a construction wherein the attendant may hold and operate the staff'without bending over and thus with maximum comfort. 3 r

Another object is to provide such a structure with harness which is adjustable to accommodate children of different sizes andto compensate for growth, and a construction wherein the area of control between the harness and staif is increased through the use of a rigid bracket which also functions as the attaching means for the staff.

Variousadditional objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with accompanying drawing illustrating one embodiment, by way of example.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a view of the improved baby walker in perspective;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary rear elevation, to detail the bracket; I

Figure 3 is a detail section taken on the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a detail, vertical cross-section showing the connection of the shoulder straps and bands;

Figure 5 is a detail front elevation showing the connection of the shoulder straps and bands, and

Figure 6 is a detail section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5, and

Figures 7, 8 and 9, respectively, are fragmentary views in side elevation, front elevation and longitudinal section through a modified form of the invention.

Referring specifically to the drawing wherein like reference characters designate like or similar parts, a suitable harness is employed at II]. For example, this harness may consist of any desired number of straps or bands II adapted to encircle the upper part of the body of the child beneath the arms, and the straps or bands may be of leather, textile fabric or other equivalent flexible material. These straps or bandsII are discontinuous and their free ends are. adapted it tions thereof as shown to provide loops 54 through.

which the strap-s I I pass and whereby the straps I I and I3 are engaged for relative sliding movement or adjustment. In additiomeachshoulder strap I3 is preferably in a plurality of sections separably and detachably connected together as.

by means of conventional buckles at I5, for adjustment to children of different sizes and to compensate for growth.

A bracket is used at I6 which is of preferably rigid metal or equivalent material, having an upwardly and rearwardly inclined portion I'I terminating in a suitable socket. I8 in which a staff I9, of any desired length, and preferably of wood, whereby it is relatively rigid or stiff, is secured in any preferred manner. Portion I9 is bifurcated in downward direction and terminates in upright arms 20 crossing the straps II which are secured thereto in any desired manner as by means of rivets 2 I.

Said staff I9 extends upwardly and rearwardly and is of such length as to be grasped at its upper end by an attendant without bending over. At such end, the staif may be equipped with a leather or other flexible loop 22 through which the hand may be passed as an aid in obtaining a secure hold or grasp on the staff.

It will be realized that the harness may be applied -to-the body of the baby at the upper part beneath the arms and may be readily adjusted to conform to the body and to compensate for the growth of the baby. The harness will be comfortable since it is suspended from the shoulders and is flexible and does not interfere with the freedom of movement of his arms. At the same time, the stalf I9 is held by the nurse or other attendant without bending over or other discomfort. The staff and bracket provide an extended area or relatively rigid engagement and control of the harnessed baby from the rear and midway between the shoulder blades and hence the child may be supported and held in an erect balanced position or posture, with any deviation therefrom readily corrected with slight effort through pushing, pulling or turning of the staff.

Various changes may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention. For instance, I may employ the form illustrated in Figures 7, 8 and 9 wherein the staff is removable and the bracket is foldable for compactness when carried as in a handbag or otherwise packed or stored. In such form, the bracket is designated Hi, the socket l8 and the staff IS. The staff is removably secured in the socket as by means of a detachable bolt 23. The upright arms 20' are connected to the inclined portion H by means of hinges 24 operable on horizontal axes and which hinges enable the arms 20' to be folded into contact with said portion l1. Said arms 20', however, in operative position are fixed with respect to said portion [1 to which end strong spring latches 25 are fastened at 26 to said portion and they have lugs 21 which engage in the upper portions of arms 20' at sockets 28. The tension of the spring latches 25 is to urge the lugs 21 toward said arms. The hinges in connection with the latches form snap hinges which automatically break joint or hold the parts in rigid relation, through the proper pressure thereon,

I claim as my invention:

1. A baby walker comprising harness attachable to the body of the child, and a relatively rigid staff extending from said harness so as to be manually held and moved by an attendant to control the balance of the child.

2. A baby walker comprising harness attachable to the body of the child, a bracket attached to the harness of a material more rigid than the harness, and a relatively rigid staff extending from the bracket.

3. A baby walker comprising harness attachable to the body of the child, and a relatively rigid staff connected to the rear of the harness substantially midway of the sides, said staff being engageable and movable by an attendant to control the balance of the child.

4. A baby walker comprising harness attachable to the body of the child, and a relatively stiff staff connected to the rear of the harness substantially midway of the sides, said staff extending upwardly and rearwardly for engagement and movement by an attendant to control the balance of the child.

5. A baby Walker comprising harness attachable to the body of the child, a relatively rigid bracket attached to the rear of the harness and of less flexibilty than the harness, a relatively rigid staff extending upwardly and rearwardly from the bracket for engagement and movement by an attendant to control the balance of the child, said bracket increasing the area of engagement and control of the staff with the harness.

6. A baby walker comprising harness attachable to the body of the child, said harness consisting of flexible straps to surround the body adjustably, shoulder straps crossing the first mentioned straps, said shoulder straps being adjustable, certain of the straps at the junctions having loops through which the other straps are slidably adjustable, a bracket having spaced apart arms attached to the first mentioned straps, an upwardly and rearwardly inclined part on the bracket from which the arms depend, a

socket on said part, and an upwardly and rearwardly extending stafi secured in said socket, said staff being engageable and movable by an attendant to control the balance of the child.

'7. A baby Walker according to claim 2 wherein the bracket consists of foldably connected sections.

8. A baby walker according to claim 2 wherein the staff is removable, and said bracket has arms hinged thereto to enable folding thereof, and means to hold the arms rigid in operative position.

9. A baby walker according to claim wherein the staff is removable, and said bracket has arms hinged thereto to enable folding thereof, and latch means operative to hold said arms rigid with respect to the bracket in operative position.

CARY BROOIiE SANDERS.

Images