AU631270B2

AU631270B2 - Child exercise device

Info

Publication number: AU631270B2
Application number: AU67735/90A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Philip John McCormack
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-12-05
Filing date: 1990-12-05
Publication date: 1992-11-19
Anticipated expiration: 2010-12-05
Also published as: AU6773590A

Description

Insert day, month and year form signed Signature of applicant or Australian attorney Datedti day 19.9.. ADDRESS FOR SERVICE x ALTERED ALT/ (Signature) TfO: i ONER OF PATENTS This form must be accompanied by either a provisional specification (Form 9 and true copy) or by a complete specification (Form 10 and true copy).

Printed by R. D. RUBIE, Commonwealth Government Printer, Canberra I r- 'i 1 .63127o Form COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1952-62 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE: Application Number: Lodged: Class Int. Class o o CbrMpLptee Specification Lodged: or on Accepted: 0 Published: Pi-iorjty,: 0F 0 o o o 00a flcfates Art: o* 0a Name of Applicant: 0 0 AddPoss of Applicant: 0 o o o Acidal Inventor: Address for Service: TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT PHILIP JOHN McCORMACK 21 TINDALL CRESCENT SHEIDOW PARK SOUTH AUSTRALIA

AUSTRALIA

PHILIP JOHN McCORMACK R K MADDERN ASSOCIATES, 345 KING WILLIAM STREET, ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA Complete Specification for the invention entitled: "CHILD EXERCISE DEVICE" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me.

i declarant(s).

(Note: No attestation or other signature is required).

To: The Commissioner of Patents, Commonwealth of Australia.

R. K. MADDERN and ASSOCIATES, Citicorp House 345 King William Street, Adelaide, South Australia 5000.

FB 4620-0 500 5/9d The following information relates to a child exercise device, and in particular to a device that is operated by a child's legs and feet while the child is in a reclining position.

To pr-omote healthy growth and development of children, it is desirable to provide them with various forms of exercising devices. Normally, such exercise devices are arranged to provide both exercise and entertainment for the child.

One common form of exercise device is known as a baby bouncer. Baby bouncers bouncinettes) are designed to I provide reclining support for the baby in the form of a 0 0 0 15 cradle, and normally have a metal frame that enables the baby, through body movements and resilience of a frame 0o member, to bounce the cradle.

o 0 ao In order to improve the child's ability to flex the frame of the baby bouncer, it is known, and described in Australian Patent Specifications 492200 and 512409, to .oo" provide a secure footrest against which the baby can push.

ooo. The footrests are secured to the lower frame members of the 00 0 baby bouncer by various clip means.

00 0 However, significant effort is required, given the 0 o inclined attitude of the cradle, which results in only a i 0. small degree of movement both for the baby's legs and for the baby bouncer.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide an exercise device that can be operated by a child's feet, that provides a greater range of 'exercise movement for the child's legs and, in addition to being useful on baby bouncers, may also be useful on fixed cradles.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an 2 k6I ;i.x~ exercise device that has its own means of providing resilient movement against which the child can push.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide an exercise device that gives the child some amusement while it is being operated correctly.

In its broadest form, the invention comprises a first frame member, said first frame member being pivotally securable, either directly or via a second frame member, to the base of a baby bouncer, cradle or like device, and said first frame member comprising footrest means such that, when the child exercise device is secured to the base of the baby oo bouncer, cradle or like device, it can be engaged by the feet :o%0,o of a child reclining in said baby bouncer, cradle or like o device.

The first frame member may further have an elastic 0* tension means connecting it to the second frame member or base of the baby bouncer, cradle or like device. As the child pushes against the first frame member, a resistive force is provided, and upon release of the force the said frame member 4609 0 returns to the rest position.

i o Alternatively, the same result may be accomplished by use of a counterweight.

In a further aspect of this invention, the first frame member has an upper frame portion that is designed for the support of swinging toys or novelty devices. The novelty devices are in clear view of the child while it is in the reclined position, and upon correct use of the exercise device the child can cause the toys and novelty devices to move.

In order to fully understand the invention, the following is a description of a preferred embodiment, that is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It will be 3 r i understood, however, that the invention need not be limited or rpotricted to the following description.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the child exercise device, attached to a conventional baby bouncer; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the child exercise device, attached to a different type of baby bouncer, i.e. a bouncinette; Fig. 3 is a side view of the child exercise device; and 0 o Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the child exercise device.

0 o0 The baby bouncer 10, to which the child exercise device 11 is attached, is provided with a pair of parallel spaced o ground-engaging supports 12. The second frame member of the exercise device 11 comprises a pair of bars 13 each having a pair of clip means 14 fcr fastening the bars 13 to the ground supports 12 of the baby bouncer. As can be seen from a comparison of Figs. 1 and 2, such factors as the type of baby o bouncer, size of the baby etc will influence the relative positioning of the ground supports 12 of the baby bouncer and S' the bars 13 of the child exercise device. The first frame member comprises a pair of bars 15 each of which is pivotally connected to a respective second frame member bar 13, and interconnected by a horizontal bar 16. The length of bars is adjustable.

At an intermediate position, a footrest 17, having an upwarxdly extending ledge forming a push pad 18, is located between the first frame member bars 15. The footrest 17 is provided with means whereby its position along the first frame member can be adjusted, and is preferably upholstered with a cushioned and protective cover.

4 I A tension member comprising a spring 19 is provided between each of the first and second frame members. The first frame member leans slightly forward so as to be held in the upright position by the springs. The position of the springs along the first frame member is adjustable so as to vary the force required to move the first frame member.

The horizontal bar 16 is positioned such that it will be within the child's view. Toys or novelty devices 20 may be suspended from the horizontal bar, and upon action by the child with the exercise device the toys or novelty devices will be caused to move. This thereby provides a form of e oeo 0 0 o 0 9 0 (00 0 0 o a 0 008 0 00 0 0 9 o a a 0 0 0 4 25 0 A 4 4 *o a 0 0 a 4 6 *4 0« amusement for the child, which results in the child being encouraged to operate the exercise device properly.

In addition to causing the child to exercise leg muscles, the exercise device described above also results in the child being able to make more effective use of the baby bouncer. If the exercise device is attached to a 'cradle, instead of a baby bouncer, the child is still able to obtain some form of exercise.

While the present invention has been described in terms of a preferred embodiment in order to facilitate better understanding of the invention, it should be appreciated that various modifications can be made without departing from the principle of the invention. Therefore, the invention should be understood to include all such modifications within its scope.

For instance, in a further preferred embodiment, the first frame member is provided with pivotal attachment means, so that it may be attached directly to the base of the baby bouncer, cradle or like device; the second frame member is absent.

5

Claims

1. A child exercise device which comprises a first frame member, said first frame member being pivotally securable to the base of a baby bouncer, cradle or like device, and said first frame member comprising footrest means such that, when the child exercise device is secured to the base of the baby bouncer, cradle or like device, it is engageable by the feet of a child reclining in said baby bouncer, cradle or like device. o 00 o 0 o 0 o co o co 00 4 0000 .0

2. A child exercise device according to claim 1, wherein a resistive force against pivotal movement of the first frame member is provided either by means of elastic tension means or by means of a counterweight.

3. A child exercise device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said first frame member comprises a pair of substantially parallel, upwardly extending bars.

4. A child exercise device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first frame member has an upper frame portion from which toys or other novelty devices may be suspended.

A child exercise device according to claims 3 and 4, wherein said upper frame portion comprises a horizontal bar interconnecting said upwardly extending bars of the first frame member.

6. A child exercise device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said footrest means is an upwardly extending ledge attached to said first frame member. 6

7. A child exercise device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the position of said footrest means on said first frame member is adjustable.

8. A child exercise device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first frame member is directly securable to the base of the baby bouncer, cradle or like device.

9. A child exercise device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a second frame member, and wherein said first frame member is pivotally securable, via said second frame member, to the base of the baby bouncer, o° cradle or like device. o S.o

10. A child exercise device according to claim 9, wherein said second frame member comprises a pair of m substantially parallel, horizontal bars. 4

11. A child exercise device according to claim wherein said second frame member further comprises clip means which are attachable to ground-engaging supports of a baby bouncer, cradle or like device.

12. A child exercise device according to any one of the preceding claims, attached to a baby bouncer, cradle or like device.

13. A child exercise device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 5th day of December, 1990. PHILIP JOHN McCORMACK By his Patent Attorneys R K MADDERN ASSOCIATES -7-