GB2482011A

GB2482011A - Device suitable for restraining a toy

Info

Publication number: GB2482011A
Application number: GB201011898A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michele Batchelor
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-07-15
Filing date: 2010-07-15
Publication date: 2012-01-18
Also published as: GB201011898D0

Abstract

A restraint device comprises of a clamp and at least one tether 100 attached to the clamp. The clamp is comprised of a top section 101, a side section 102 including a substantially flexible hinge and a bottom section 104. At least one attaching means 109,110 for attaching an object, such as a toy, is mounted on the tether. When a toy is attached to the clamp via the tether the device will restrain the toy preventing the toy from being knocked to the ground during play.

Description

Toy Restraint Device

Background of the Invention

[1] The present invention relates to infants' and young children's toys and more particularly, to a restraint device which prevents toys from being knocked to the ground in play.

[2] In order to maintain a young child or infant's patience so that the child will consume sufficient food there is a need to amuse the child or infant while seated at a high chair.

Difficulty arises when the child-carer attempts to achieve this aim using traditional toys, as they frequently drop from the high-chair during play necessitating the child-carer to pick them up from the floor repetitively. Methods of affixing toys to the high chair are known in the art.

[3] US2007187560 to Prime discloses a clamp securable to a baby carriage, highchair, stroller, car seat, table, or baby carrier. A tether is attached to one end of the clamp. The opposite end of the tether employs a hook-and-loop adhesive strap of a length long enough to allow wrapping around the toy whose falling is to be restrained, or inserted through various openings of the toy to prevent it from falling to the floor or ground. The tether is of a length short enough so that the tether cannot accidently wrap around an infant's or child's head.

[4] US2762161 to Danielson discloses a toy supporting device adapted for use with the tray of a high chair. A cover of flexible material with an elastic or draw-string in a continuous tunnel around the periphery is shaped to correspond with a tray of a high chair. The cover is attached to the highchair and toys are attached to the cover with cords whereby, after being thrown from the tray, a toy may be recovered by an infant in the chair.

[5] US2009130944 to FRIEDMAN et. al. discloses a teething toy comprising a suction cup end suspended from a flexible plastic cord that tethers the toy to a surface such as a high chair tray.

Brief Smunary of the Invention [61 It can be seen from the forgoing that a need has arisen for a device for attaching toys to high chairs.

[7] It would be advantageous if the device allowed the child to play with a variety of toys, not only those specifically designed for affixing to a high chair.

[8] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a restraint device to which the carer may attach toys which may be easily and safely be attached to a surface such as a high chair tray.

[1] To this end, a toy restraint device is disclosed, comprised of a clamp and at least one tether attached to the clamp. The clamp is comprised of a top section, a side section comprising a substantially flexible hinge and a bottom section.

At least one attaching means for attaching an object is mounted on the tether.

[2] An advantage of the present invention is the safety of the device for use with children. The clamping mechanism is such that it is nearly impossible to accidentally close the child or infant's fingers in the clamp mechanism.

Brief Description of the Several Views of the Drawing [31 The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings, in which: [4] Figure 1 shows the first embodiment of the invention.

[5] Figure 2 shows the second embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention

[6] A toy restraint device is disclosed comprised of a clamp and at least one tether attached to the clamp. The clamp is comprised of a top section, a side section comprising a substantially flexible hinge and a bottom section. At least one attaching means for attaching an object is mounted on the tether.

[7] The clamp side section is comprised of a top end and a bottom end. The clamp top section is comprised of a free end and a fixed end, which fixed end is attached to the top end of the clamp side section. The clamp bottom section is comprised of a free end and a fixed end, which fixed end is attached to the bottom of the clamp side section. The clamp top section and the clamp bottom section are substantially parallel to each other and their shape in conjunction with the clamp side section results in an opening between their free ends.

[8] In the first embodiment of the invention, as shown in Figure 1, the entire clamp; top section 101, bottom section 104, side section 102 and hinge, is preferably polypropylene. The clamp top section 101 and clamp bottom section 104 are attached to the side section 102 as they are molded from one, preferably polypropylene, piece. Due to the flexible and elastic nature of polypropylene the junction between the clamp side section and the clamp bottom section itself comprises the substantially flexible hinge.

[9] In this first embodiment of the invention, the device is affixed to a high chair tray or other substantially horizontal surface by first pulling the clamp bottom section downwards until the opening between the top and bottom sections is wide enough to place the clamp top section on top of the surface and then the bottom section is allowed to return to its original position, with a narrow gap between the clamp bottom and top sections. The clamp top and bottom sections exert a compressive force on the top and bottom of the surface, fixing the device to the surface.

[10] In this first embodiment of the invention, there is preferably a first aperture 105 and a second aperture 106 in the top section to allow attachment of said at least one tether 100 as described below. Objects/toys may then be attached to the clamp using said at least one tether 100 and attaching means as described below. Alternatively there may be only one aperture or other means for attaching a tether.

[11] In this first embodiment of the invention, the parts of the clamp top and bottom section which contact the surface are textured to improve the grip of the clamp as known in the art.

This texturing combined with the properties of polypropylene means that the clamp grips the surface sufficiently well to hold the device securely in position. An advantage of this embodiment of the invention is the simple and inexpensive nature of the design. A further advantage is that this single component clamp is easy to clean.

[12] In the second embodiment of the invention, as shown in Figure 2, the top section 201 and bottom section 204 are preferably ABS plastic or other substantially non-flexible material and the side section is comprised of a preferably silicon rubber flexible hinge 203 described below. The clamp top section 201 and clamp bottom section 204 are attached to the preferably silicon rubber flexible hinge side section 203 by heat treatment or any other suitable manufacturing process.

Alternatively the clamp top, bottom and side sections may be formed from any other suitable materials and the clamp top and bottom sections could be attached to the side section by screwing, gluing or any other method known in the art. The clamp bottom section is further comprised of a closing mechanism described below.

[13] In this second embodiment of the invention, the device is attached to a high chair or other surface by opening the clamp by bending back the clamp top section from the clamp bottom section by way of the substantially flexible hinge and then placing the clamp top on top of the surface. The device is then fixed securely to the surface by way of the closing mechanism as described below. The advantage of this embodiment of the invention is that the closing mechanism allows the invention to be affixed to a wide range of thicknesses of surface, allowing the invention to be affixed, for example, to a table.

[14] In this second embodiment of the invention the clamp top section 201 is preferably molded from ABS plastic and is decorated in a child-friendly style. Alternatively the top section could be made of another engineering polymer or any other suitable material. Preferably there is a first aperture 205 and a second aperture 206 in the top section to allow attachment of the tether 200 as described below. Alternatively the clamp top section could have one or no apertures and the tether 200 could be attached to the top section by another method as described below. A top grip pad 207 is located on the underside of the clamp top section. The top grip pad is preferably silicon rubber and is surface textured for a good grip as known in the art.

Alternatively the grip pad could be any other suitable material.

This top grip pad, combined with the grip pad of the closing mechanism 208 as described below ensure that the device is securely attached to the surface, an advantage as the child or infant will also play with the device and attempt to move it.

Alternatively there could be no grip pads and the material of the top section and the top of the adjustment rod (described below) could be textured to provide grip. Alternatively any other gripping means or no gripping means could be used.

[15] In this second embodiment of the invention, the clamp bottom section 204 is preferably ABS plastic although it could be made of any other engineering polymer or suitable material, and is preferably shaped as shown in Figure 2, although it could comprise other shapes. The clamp bottom section is further comprised of a closing mechanism described below.

[161 In this second embodiment of the invention, the substantially flexible hinge 203 is preferably silicon rubber.

Alternatively, it could be a regular mechanical hinge, or another plastic or other material having the ability to flex.

[17] The following descriptions of the tether and attachment means apply to both embodiments described herein. The tether 100, 200, is comprised of a fixed end, attached to the clamp and a free end. The tether is preferably nylon fabric. Alternatively it could be a different fabric, rubber or a chain or any other suitable material. It is of a length short enough so that the tether cannot accidently wrap around an infant's or child's head or neck. It is preferably permanently attached to the clamp top section and it is looped through the first and second apertures and sewn in position to itself. Alternatively, the tether could be screwed or nailed to the top section. Alternatively, the tether could be attached to the clamp such that it is detachable: It could be latched by a push button latch as known the art or it could be attached by snap fastenings as known in the art. It could be attached to the clamp bottom or at any other point on the clamp by any other means. An advantage of the tether being permanently fixed to the clamp is increased robustness of the tether attachment at this point. An advantage of attaching the tether in a detachable fashion is that removal for cleaning or replacement is possible.

[18] Preferably, the attaching means of said at least one tether 100, 200, is a snap fastener as known in the art. A male half of a snap fastener 109, 209, is preferably located at the free end of each tether and at least one female half of a snap fastener 110, 210, is located on the length of the tether between the fixed and the free end of the tether. Alternatively a female half of a snap fastener is located at the free end of each tether and at least one male half of a snap fastener is located on the length of the tether between the fixed and the free end of the tether. To attach an object/toy, the tether is wrapped around a part of the object/toy to be attached and secured in place by closure of the snap fasteners. Preferably there are several female snap fastener halves spaced at different positions along the length of the tether between the clamp and the tether free end so that objects/toys of different dimensions may be attached.

Alternatively the attaching means could be a Velcro fastening as known in the art, a flexible plastic ring sewn to the tether with a small opening, as known in the art, or any other attaching means may be used. Preferably there are three such tethers attached to the clamp, allowing several different objects/toys to be attached to the clamp. Preferably all three tethers employ the same attaching means. Alternatively, different tethers may have different attaching means, as mentioned above, the advantage of which is the possibility of attachment to the device of different types of objects/toys. Furthermore there may be one, two, or more than three tethers for attaching a multiplicity of toys.

Alternatively, there may be no attaching means and the free end of each tether is comprised of a permanently fixed toy.

[19] Returning now to components specific to the second embodiment, preferably the closing mechanism of the clamp bottom section is comprised of a hole in the clamp bottom section and an adjustment rod. The adjustment rod is comprised of a closing mechanism grip pad, a connecting part 211 and a handle 212. The hole in the clamp bottom has a screw thread. The closing mechanism grip pad 208 is preferably silicon rubber and is larger in diameter than the clamp bottom section hole so that the adjustment rod may not be totally removed from the clamp. The closing mechanism grip pad is surface textured for a good grip as known in the art. Alternatively the closing mechanism grip pad could be any other suitable material. The connecting part of the adjustment rod is preferably ABS plastic and has a screw thread compatible with the screw thread in the clamp bottom hole. The handle is preferably ABS and textured externally for good grip facilitating easy operation of the closing mechanism.

Alternatively the adjustment rod and handle could be any other suitable engineering polymer or material. Once the clamp top section is in position on the surface the device is secured to the surface by the closing mechanism, the closing mechanism handle screws the adjustment rod into the clamp bottom section until the grip pad meets the surface and until the device is secured to the surface.

[20] The clamp bottom closing mechanism of the second embodiment of the device affords compatibility of the toy restraint device with surfaces of a variety of different thicknesses and certainly with the majority of high chair trays.

The closing mechanism allows the user to customize the restraint device to a particular high chair or surface once, and then quickly and easily attach and detach it thereafter by way of the flexible hinge.

[21] Alternatively the closing mechanism may be any other suitable closing mechanism known in the art for moving part of a bottom section towards a top section and thus securing such a clamp.

[22] As described above, in both embodiments of the invention, the device is affixed to the surface by first placing the top section of the clamp on top of the surface and then securing the clamp to the surface. This method of attaching the device is advantageous from a safety aspect as it would be nearly impossible to trap the fingers of the child or infant seated at the high chair or near to the surface, in the device. Even in the event that the child's or infant's fingers were trapped in the clamp whilst it was being attached to the surface, the nature of the clamps mean that no injury would result: In the first embodiment, as described above, the closing of the clamp may be rapid, however the soft, flexible nature of polypropylene means that if he child's fingers were accidently placed underneath the clamp at the moment of clamping no harm to the child would result. In the second embodiment of the invention, as described above, the clamp is clamped gradually by the closing mechanism, such that the child could alert the carer before serious injury

Claims

Claims 1. A restraint device comprising: a clamp comprising: a top section; a side section comprising a substantially flexible hinge; a bottom section; at least one tether attached to said clamp; and at least one attaching means mounted on said tether for attaching an object.
2. The restraint device of claim 1 wherein said bottom section comprises a closing mechanism.
3. The restraint device of claim 1 wherein the entire clamp is formed of substantially flexible material.