US1297800A - Baby-walker. - Google Patents

Description

H. L. CRANFORD.

BABY WALKER.

APPUCATIQN FILED FEB. 23-A 191s.

1,297,800. Patented Mar. 18,1919.-

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BABY-WALKER.

Specicaton ofLetters Patent.

Patented Mar. 18, 1919.

Application filed February 23,1918., Serial No. 218,789.

T0 all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, HENRY L. CRANFORD, a citizen-of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Baby-Walkers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in that class of devices known as baby walkers and aims to provide means for supporting a child in a manner to relieve the legs of the weight of the` body and at the same time permit free movement of the former, the supporting means imparting the required confidence, so that ability to walk is quickly acquired. To this end the invention conteniplates the provision vofy a receptacle or seat adapted to receive the child in a manner to permit of its feet contacting with' the floor or other surface, the seat 'being resiliently suspended from a supporting arm,which is rotatably mounted upon a standard, the connection between the seat and arm permitting of a radial as well as a rotatable movement about the standard.

The invention also resides in the following novel details of construction and arrangement of parts, to be later fully described and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a baby walker embodying the invention and illusi trating the preferred form.

Fig. V2 is a side elevation of the upper portion of the standard illustrating a modilied form of the supporting arm.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of'Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View of a further modified form of the supporting arm.

Fig. 5 is a similar view of a still further modified form of supporting arm.

Referring to the drawings in' detail, the numeral 10 indicates a standard which is formed of a lower section 11 and an upper section 12, the latter telescoping the former and being secured in adjusted position by means of a set screw 13. The opposite ends of each of the sections 11 and 12 have secured thereto plates 14 and 15 respectively, by means of which they may be secured to the floor and ceiling or to any other convenient location.

. Mounted upon the support 1() for rotation 20 at the proper height and at the same time permitting of the free rotation of the arm 16.

Located beneath the arm 16 and in alinement therewith is a rod 23 of substantially U-shape, the arms 24 serving to connect the rod to the arm 16 and to space the same therefrom. Mounted upon the rod 23 is `a grooved' roller 25, which is journaled in a U- shaped member 26, provided with a depending eye 27. This eye receives a flexible ele-V ment, preferably in the form of a strap 28, which serves to connect the roller with a coiled spring 29, one end of the spring being secured within the loop formed by the' strap and its opposite end carrying a ring 30 through which is threaded straps or other flexible elements 31. These straps serve to support a seat herein shown in the form of a basket 32, which is provided with openings 33 in the bottom thereof for the passage of the legs of the child. The openings 33 are spaced apart and form a saddle 34, so that the child may be supported to prevent the entire weight o-f its body resting upon its legs. If desired the basket may be provided with a cushion 35 to pro-vide a rest for the back of the child.

In the modification shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the arm 16a is formed of two sections 36 and 37, the latter telescopingr within the former to permit of a radiali adjustment of the arm. The section 36 is provided on its upper surface withv a longitudinal slot 38 from which extends spaced flanges 39, the latter forming a track for a grooved roller 40. The outer end of this track is inclined as shown at 41, so that the roller 40 may be passed from the section 36 to the section 37 and back again when desired. The section 37 is provided with a stop 42 which is adapted to abut the outer end of the section 36, the height of this stop being substantially the same as the lower edge of the inclined portion 47 of the track 39. The extremity of thesection 37 has also secured thereto astop 43 to prevent the roller 40 from leavingv the arm. f v

In order to provide for a free movement of the section 37 Within the section 36, the outer end of the latter is provided with spacedears 44 and journaled between these ears is a roller 45 which receives the weight of the section 37. Other rollers 46 are journaled between the flanges 39 and bear upon they upper surface of the section 37, so that friction between the sections 36 and 37 is practically eliminated. The roller 40 is mounted in a yoke 47, which carries an eye 48 for the reception of the telescope element or strap 28 as previously described.

f In Fig. 4 there is illustrated a further modification of the invention. In this form of the invention the section 49V telescopes within the section 50, the latter having spaced rollers 51 mounted therein `which bear upon the upper and" lower surfaces of the section 49 to permit of a free movement of the latter. A roller 52, similar to the rollers 25 and 40 is mounted for movement along the section 50, this roller carryingV a depending loop or bail 53 to which the flexible element or lstrap 28 may be secured.

. It is believed that when the foregoing description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings that the construction,

, use and advantages of the invention will be lio apparent and a more detailed -description of its operation is unnecessary. The invention is susceptible of further changes in its form, proportion and minor details of construction, thus previously described and shown, and right is herein reserved to make such changes.

The modified form of supporting the arm in Fig. 5 consists in forming thearm of two sections 55 and56, the latter telescoping within theformer. The section 55 is tubular in form, while the section 56 may be either semi-cylindrical or rectangular as preferred, the former being illustrated. The section 55 is provided at one end with a groove 57 within which is journaled a wheel 58, with a pintle 59, the wheel bearing against the inner periphery of the section 55. Y At the opposite end of the section 55, there is'journaled a roller 60 to support the weight of the section 56 at this end.

Having thus Afully described the invention, what is claimed is l. A device of the class described embodying a supporting standard, a radially disposed extensible arm mounted for. rotation thereon land comprising an outer section and anV inner section telescopically mounted YWithin the outer section, anti-friction rollers carriedA by one sectionfor contact with the opposite section, a roller mounted. formovement over the arm, a seat suspended :from the roller and a'stoplocated at the v'outer extremityof the innerarm and a lug also carried by saidV arm to provide a sea-t for the roller, whereby lthe inner .arm may be moved longitudinally through the 'medium of the suspended seat.` f f,

3. A device of the class described embodying a 'supporting standard, a radially disposed extensible arm mounted for rotation thereon and' comprising an outer section and an inner section telescopically mounted within the outer section, longitudinally disposed spaced ianges carried by the outer section, anti-friction rollers positioned between-and having bearings in said flanges for contact with the'inner section, said flanges also providing guide rails, a roller positioned beneath the outer section and extending ythrough the opening therein lfor contact with the inner section, a carriage mounted for travel over the guide rails and a Seat suspended from said carriage.

In testimony whereof I aftxiny signature.

HENRY L. kCRANFORD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of` Patents,

Washington, D. C.

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