GB2124507A

GB2124507A - Crawling Aid

Info

Publication number: GB2124507A
Application number: GB08222563A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Williams Christopher Temp Sims
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-08-05
Filing date: 1982-08-05
Publication date: 1984-02-22
Also published as: GB2124507B

Abstract

The aid comprises a wheeled tubular metal frame 1 and a cradle 2 which may comprise a strip of canvas looped around the tubes of the frame and which can support a child, particularly a child suffering from cerebral palsy or otherwise handicapped, in a crawling posture. The frame may be foldable and may be adjustable to set the cradle at various heights and angles. Some of the adjusted positions being such as to support the child in a partly kneeling posture. Straps 17, 19 may be provided to restrict movement of the child's limbs or to prevent the child falling off and may be such as to correct the child's crawling posture. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Crawling aid This invention relates to a crawling aid, in particular it relates to a device for aiding a handicapped child when crawling, and is especially applicable to children having Cerebral Palsy.

There have been a number of attempts to make crawling aids to enable handicapped children to learn to crawl, but these have usually failed for the very handicapped and especially for the cerebral palsied child, as a child affected in this way tends to go into an extensor spasm of the legs when supported on a crawler. Also, if the child is well supported he cannot get enough pressure on the ground with his knees to be able to move.

It is the object of this invention to overcome these disadvantages.

According to this invention a crawling aid comprises a mobile frame and a cradle so arranged as to support a child in a crawling posture but allowing the child to move along.

Preferably large wheels are used at the front of the frame, and castors are used at the rear.

In one embodiment the frame is constructed so as to enable it to be adjusted to set the cradle to various heights and angles. In some of these adjusted positions of the frame and cradle, the child is supported in a partly kneeling posture.

In another embodiment one or more adjustable straps are provided to restrict the movement of one or more of the child's limbs or to prevent the child from falling off.

Preferably the form of these straps is such as to correct a child's crawling posture and this is achieved in the case of a Cerebral Palsied child, by attaching the straps so as to form curves passing from the centre at the front of the frame to the sides at the rear.

In a further embodiment one or more bars are added across the front of the frame.

Preferably the frame is constructed so as to enable it to be folded.

The cradle is preferably made of a flexible material such as canvas or a synthetic material.

The cradle may be fixed to the frame, attachable to the frame, or attachable in several positions to the frame.

The invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 shows a crawling aid.

In Figure 1 there is shown a tubular metal frame 1 and a cradle 2 made from a strip of canvas sewn into a loop and passed round the tubes of the frame 1. In use, the child lies on this cradle.

The frame is formed of a front frame 3, tubes 4 and 5 which slide into the tubes 6 and 7 of frame 3, and tubes 8 and 9 which slide into the tubes 4 and 5. These last tubes, 8 and 9, are bent down and fitted with castors 1 0.

The front frame 3 comprises a tube 11, near the ends of which are brazed two tubes, 6 and 7.

Into the ends of the tube 11 are fitted stub axles 12 for two wheels 1 3. The wheels are kept on with split pins 14.

A bar 1 5, having a rubbing covering, is fitted between tubes 6 and 7. In use the child may hold this bar. The bar also acts to strengthen frame 3.

In order to adjust the setting of tube 4 in tube 6, in series of evenly spaced holes are made, through which the down-turned end of bar 1 5 may be passed. Similarly with tubes 5 and 7 on the other side. The series of holes are made through both sets of tubes so that the bar 1 5 may also be adjusted in position along tubes 6 and 7.

So as to adjust the setting of tube 8 in tube 4, a peg 1 6 is provided which is placed through a hole in tube 4, into one of a series of evenly spaced holes in tube 8. Similarly with tubes 5 and 9 on the other side.

An arrangement of straps 1 7 is fitted to the frame in order to control the movement of a child's legs. This comprises a D ring 1 8 round the tube 11, through which is passed a strap 19. The strap 1 9 is fitted with a buckle 20, so as to make it adjustable in length. The strap 19 is sewn to two further straps 21, which are made of a canvas or harness material, suitable for controlling a child's legs. In use, the child's knees rest on the floor and the lower legs pass under the straps 21 and out between the castors 10. The strap 19, and the part of straps 21 near it, pass between the child's legs. This arrangement of straps prevents the childs thighs from going back to far, it prevents the child from sliding over the front of the cradle and it prevents a cerebral palsied child from going into an extensor spasm.

Large washers 22,prevent the loops sewn in the ends of the straps 21 from falling onto the castors 1 0.

The frame 1 may be folded by removing the bar 1 5 and allowing the tubes 4 and 5, together with tubes 8 and 9 etc, to fold inwards and cross each other. This is best done when the frame is made small, and additional holes are made in tubes 4 and 5 so that the bar 1 5 may be re-fitted to keep the crawling aid folded.

In a modified form of crawling aid, the cradle material is attached to the tubes 4 and 5 by means of sets of press studs. In another form the rear pegs 1 6 are replaced by internally sprung pins inside the top ends of tubes 8 and 9. Tubes 4 and 5 then have holes drilled to take these pins.

Claims

1. A crawing aid comprising a mobile frame and a cradle so arranged as to support a child in a crawling posture but allowing the child to move along.

2. A crawling aid according to Claim 1 in which one end of the frame is fitted with wheels and the other end with castors.

3. A crawling aid according to Claims 1 or 2 in which the frame may be adjusted so as to set the cradle to various heights and angles.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Crawling aid This invention relates to a crawling aid, in particular it relates to a device for aiding a handicapped child when crawling, and is especially applicable to children having Cerebral Palsy. There have been a number of attempts to make crawling aids to enable handicapped children to learn to crawl, but these have usually failed for the very handicapped and especially for the cerebral palsied child, as a child affected in this way tends to go into an extensor spasm of the legs when supported on a crawler. Also, if the child is well supported he cannot get enough pressure on the ground with his knees to be able to move. It is the object of this invention to overcome these disadvantages. According to this invention a crawling aid comprises a mobile frame and a cradle so arranged as to support a child in a crawling posture but allowing the child to move along. Preferably large wheels are used at the front of the frame, and castors are used at the rear. In one embodiment the frame is constructed so as to enable it to be adjusted to set the cradle to various heights and angles. In some of these adjusted positions of the frame and cradle, the child is supported in a partly kneeling posture. In another embodiment one or more adjustable straps are provided to restrict the movement of one or more of the child's limbs or to prevent the child from falling off. Preferably the form of these straps is such as to correct a child's crawling posture and this is achieved in the case of a Cerebral Palsied child, by attaching the straps so as to form curves passing from the centre at the front of the frame to the sides at the rear. In a further embodiment one or more bars are added across the front of the frame. Preferably the frame is constructed so as to enable it to be folded. The cradle is preferably made of a flexible material such as canvas or a synthetic material. The cradle may be fixed to the frame, attachable to the frame, or attachable in several positions to the frame. The invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 shows a crawling aid. In Figure 1 there is shown a tubular metal frame 1 and a cradle 2 made from a strip of canvas sewn into a loop and passed round the tubes of the frame 1. In use, the child lies on this cradle. The frame is formed of a front frame 3, tubes 4 and 5 which slide into the tubes 6 and 7 of frame 3, and tubes 8 and 9 which slide into the tubes 4 and 5. These last tubes, 8 and 9, are bent down and fitted with castors 1 0. The front frame 3 comprises a tube 11, near the ends of which are brazed two tubes, 6 and 7. Into the ends of the tube 11 are fitted stub axles 12 for two wheels 1 3. The wheels are kept on with split pins 14. A bar 1 5, having a rubbing covering, is fitted between tubes 6 and 7. In use the child may hold this bar. The bar also acts to strengthen frame 3. In order to adjust the setting of tube 4 in tube 6, in series of evenly spaced holes are made, through which the down-turned end of bar 1 5 may be passed. Similarly with tubes 5 and 7 on the other side. The series of holes are made through both sets of tubes so that the bar 1 5 may also be adjusted in position along tubes 6 and 7. So as to adjust the setting of tube 8 in tube 4, a peg 1 6 is provided which is placed through a hole in tube 4, into one of a series of evenly spaced holes in tube 8. Similarly with tubes 5 and 9 on the other side. An arrangement of straps 1 7 is fitted to the frame in order to control the movement of a child's legs. This comprises a D ring 1 8 round the tube 11, through which is passed a strap 19. The strap 1 9 is fitted with a buckle 20, so as to make it adjustable in length. The strap 19 is sewn to two further straps 21, which are made of a canvas or harness material, suitable for controlling a child's legs. In use, the child's knees rest on the floor and the lower legs pass under the straps 21 and out between the castors 10. The strap 19, and the part of straps 21 near it, pass between the child's legs. This arrangement of straps prevents the childs thighs from going back to far, it prevents the child from sliding over the front of the cradle and it prevents a cerebral palsied child from going into an extensor spasm. Large washers 22,prevent the loops sewn in the ends of the straps 21 from falling onto the castors 1 0. The frame 1 may be folded by removing the bar 1 5 and allowing the tubes 4 and 5, together with tubes 8 and 9 etc, to fold inwards and cross each other. This is best done when the frame is made small, and additional holes are made in tubes 4 and 5 so that the bar 1 5 may be re-fitted to keep the crawling aid folded. In a modified form of crawling aid, the cradle material is attached to the tubes 4 and 5 by means of sets of press studs. In another form the rear pegs 1 6 are replaced by internally sprung pins inside the top ends of tubes 8 and 9. Tubes 4 and 5 then have holes drilled to take these pins. Claims

4. A crawling aid according to Claim 3 in which the frame may be adjusted so that, when using it, a child is supported in a partly kneeling posture.

5. A crawling aid according to any of Claims 1 to 4 in which one or more straps are provided to restrict the movement of one or more of the child's limbs, or to prevent the child from falling off the cradle.

6. A crawling aid according to Claim 5 in which the straps correct a child's crawling posture; this being achieved in the case of a child with cerebral palsy, by attaching the straps so as to form curves passing from the centre at the front of the frame, to the sides at the rear.

7. A crawling aid according to any of Claims 1 to 6 in which one or more additional bars are fitted across the front of the frame.

8. A crawling aid according to any of Claims 1 to 7 which is constructed so that it may be folded.

9. A crawling aid according to any of Claims 1 to 8 in which the cradle is attachable to the frame in several positions.

1 0. A crawling aid constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.