US20080012409A1

US20080012409A1 - Baby jumper

Info

Publication number: US20080012409A1
Application number: US11/486,285
Authority: US
Inventors: Shun-Min Chen; Ming-Hsing Yang
Original assignee: WONDERLAND NURSERYGOODS CO Ltd
Current assignee: WONDERLAND NURSERYGOODS CO Ltd
Priority date: 2006-07-11
Filing date: 2006-07-12
Publication date: 2008-01-17
Also published as: GB2439930A; GB2439930B; GB0723427D0; GB2443340B; GB2443340A; GB0613689D0

Abstract

A baby jumper includes a seat assembly and a support frame assembly. The support frame assembly includes a top frame, a pair of front legs and a rear leg, each of which has a top end connected to the top frame, a bottom shaft interconnecting the front legs, and three elastic couplers, each of which has a first end connected to the top frame and an opposite second end connected to the seat assembly.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a jumper for small children, more particularly to a stationary baby jumper.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIG. 1, U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,944 discloses a stationary baby jumper 1 that permits exercise of a baby or toddler seated thereon. The stationary baby jumper 1 includes a support frame 11, a chair seat 12, and four connectors 13. The support frame 11 has a pair of vertically spaced apart U-shaped frame parts 111, and a pair of front support rods 112 that interconnect front ends of the frame parts 111. The chair seat 12 is suspended from the upper frame part 111 by the connectors 13, and is formed with a pair of openings 120 for extension of the legs of the child seated on the chair seat 12.
In the conventional stationary baby jumper 1, support in the vertical direction relies entirely on the front support rods 112, and there is no support in the vertical direction for the rear portion of the chair seat 12. Therefore, after a period of use, the upper U-shaped frame part 111 is prone to incline downwardly due to lack of adequate support in the vertical direction such that, when a baby is seated on the chair seat 12, the posture of the baby will tend to incline rearwardly, which is rather uncomfortable for the baby. Moreover, since the front support rods 112 bear most of the weight of the stationary baby jumper 1, they tend to bend and deform easily.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a baby jumper that uses fewer components while providing more stable support.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a baby jumper that comprises a seat assembly and a support frame assembly. The support frame assembly includes a top frame, a pair of front legs and a rear leg, each of which has a top end connected to the top frame, a bottom shaft interconnecting the front legs, and three elastic couplers, each of which has a first end connected to the top frame and an opposite second end connected to the seat assembly.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a baby jumper that comprises a support frame assembly and a seat assembly. The support frame assembly includes a top frame, a plurality of legs, each having a top end connected to the top frame, and a plurality of elastic couplers, each of which has a first end connected to the top frame, and an opposite second end. The seat assembly is connected to the second ends of the elastic couplers, and includes a seat support having a first annular part that defines a seat hole, and a seat unit disposed in the seat hole and having a second annular part that engages slidably the first annular part such that the seat unit is rotatable relative to the seat support.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional stationary baby jumper;

FIG. 2 is an assembled perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a baby jumper according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a seat assembly of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view to illustrate a seat support and a seat mount of the seat assembly;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of FIG. 5 to illustrate connection between the seat support and the seat mount;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the preferred embodiment to illustrate interconnection between a top frame and the seat support via an elastic coupler; and

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the elastic coupler of the preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the preferred embodiment of a baby jumper 2 according to the present invention is shown to include a seat assembly 4 and a support frame assembly 3.
The support frame assembly 3 includes a leg unit 31, a top frame 32, a bottom shaft 33, and three elastic couplers 5. The leg unit 31 includes a pair of front legs 311 and a rear leg 312. Each of the front and rear legs 311, 312 has a top end connected to the top frame 32. The bottom shaft 33 interconnects bottom ends of the front legs 311. Each of the elastic couplers 5 has a first end connected to the top frame 32, and an opposite second end connected to the seat assembly 4.
In this embodiment, the top frame 32 includes a U-shaped frame body 320 disposed to lie on a horizontal plane and having a pair of front end parts 321 and a rear bight part 322 between the front end parts 321, and three coupling sleeves 341, 342 mounted respectively on the front end parts 321 and the rear bight part 322 of the frame body 320 for connecting the top end of a respective one of the front and rear legs 311, 312 to the frame body 320. In this embodiment, the coupling sleeves 341 are angled sleeves, whereas the coupling sleeve 342 is T-shaped. Moreover, two coupling sleeves 343 connect opposite ends of the bottom shaft 33 to the bottom ends of the front legs 311, respectively.
With further reference to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the seat assembly 4 includes a seat support 41 and a seat unit 42.
The seat support 41 is connected to the second ends of the elastic couplers 5 to suspend the seat support 41 on the top frame 32, and has a support body 411 formed with a first annular part 412 that defines a circular seat hole 410. In this embodiment, the support body 411 has a top side formed with three grooves 400 for receiving toys or other small things. As shown in FIG. 6, the first annular part 412 includes an annular track 413 with a U-shaped cross-section, an inner ring 414 surrounded by the annular track 413 and defining the seat hole 410, an annular curved protruding rim 415 formed at an inner top edge of the annular track 413 and connected to a top edge of the inner ring 414, and a plurality of ball bearings 40 (see FIG. 4) embedded in the annular curved protruding rim 415.
The seat unit 42 is disposed in the seat hole 410, and includes a child seat 43 made of soft fabric and formed with a pair of leg openings 431, a seat mount 44 formed with a second annular part 442 that engages slidably the first annular part 412 such that the seat unit 42 is rotatable relative to the seat support 41 about a vertical axis, and a set of fasteners for fastening the seat mount 44 to a folded periphery 430 of the child seat 43.
The seat mount 44 is annular in shape, and includes an annular wall 441 disposed in the seat hole 410. As shown in FIG. 6, the second annular part 442 has an inverted-L shaped cross-section, and includes a top flange 443 extending in radial outward directions from a top edge of the annular wall 441, and a downward flange 444 extending downwardly from an outer peripheral edge of the top flange 443. The annular wall 441, the top flange 443 and the downward flange 444 cooperate to impart the seat mount 44 with a reverse-U shaped cross-section. When the second annular part 442 engages the first annular part 412, the downward flange 444 extends into the annular track 413, the annular curved protruding rim 415 is disposed under the top flange 443, and the ball bearings 40 contact the top flange 443 of the seat mount 44 to ensure smooth rotation of the seat mount 44 relative to the seat support 41.
As best shown in FIG. 4, the set of fasteners includes a plurality of first engaging elements 432 provided on the folded periphery 430 of the child seat 43, and a plurality of second engaging elements 440 provided on the seat mount 44 to engage the first engaging elements 432, respectively. In this embodiment, each of the first engaging elements 432 is defined by a fastener hole formed in the folded periphery 430 of the child seat 43, and each of the second engaging elements 440 is defined by a downward hook formed on the seat mount 44. After extending the second engaging elements 440 through the first engaging elements 432, the portion of the child seat 43 in the seat mount 44 is pressed downwardly to result in firm engagement between the first and second engaging elements 432, 440.
In other embodiments of this invention, the hooks may be provided on the first annular part 412 of the seat support 41 to engage the fastener holes in the child seat 43.
Referring to FIGS. 2, 7 and 8, the first ends of the elastic couplers 5 are connected to the coupling sleeves 341, 342, respectively, the second ends of the elastic couplers 5 are connected to the seat support 41, and adjacent ones of the elastic couplers 5 are angularly spaced apart by an angle of 120 degrees. In this way, the seat assembly 4 is suspended on the top frame 32 by the elastic couplers 5. Each of the elastic couplers 5 includes a biasing member 55 having first and second biasing ends 551, 552, a first anchoring member 52 for connecting the first biasing end 551 to the top frame 32, and a second anchoring member 51 for connecting the second biasing end 552 to the seat support 41. In this embodiment, the first and second anchoring members 52, 51 are hemispherical in shape, and are formed with a respective engaging groove 521, 511. The biasing member 55 is preferably an extension spring, and the first and second biasing ends 551, 552 extend into the first and second anchoring members 52, 51, respectively. The first and second biasing ends 551, 552 are enlarged to prevent the biasing member 55 from falling off from the first and second anchoring members 52, 51. Each elastic coupler 5 further includes a tubular sheath 56 sleeved on the biasing member 55 and having opposite ends connected to the first and second anchoring members 52, 51, respectively, by means of a resilient clasp (not shown) that engages the engaging groove 521, 511 in the respective one of the first and second anchoring members 52, 51. Preferably, each of the elastic couplers 5 further includes a connecting strap 54 that extends through a lug slot 351 in a lug 35 at the respective coupling sleeve 341, 342 (only the coupling sleeve 342 is shown in FIG. 7) on the top frame 32 and that is connected to the first anchoring member 52 via a pin 571, and a mounting piece 53 mounted fixedly on the support body 411 of the seat support 41 and connected pivotally to the second anchoring member 51 via another pin 572.
In this invention, adjacent ones of the elastic couplers 5 are angularly spaced apart by an angle of 120 degrees, such that support for the seat assembly 4 is evenly distributed and stable. Compared with the four connectors used in the conventional stationary baby jumper disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,944, this invention uses fewer components without sacrificing stability of the seat assembly 4 to result in manufacturing cost savings. Moreover, this invention uses three legs 311, 312 to support the seat assembly 4 in the vertical direction, which is more stable than the two support rods used in the conventional stationary baby jumper. Hence, the baby jumper 2 of this invention has greater resistance to deformation, and is more comfortable to use. Furthermore, 360-degree rotation of the seat unit 42 relative to the seat support 41 is permitted, which provides added recreational effect for the small child seated therein.
While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. A baby jumper comprising a seat assembly and a support frame assembly, said support frame assembly including

a top frame,

a pair of front legs and a rear leg, each of which has a top end connected to said top frame,

a bottom shaft interconnecting said front legs, and

three elastic couplers, each of which has a first end connected to said top frame and an opposite second end connected to said seat assembly.

2. The baby jumper as claimed in claim 1, wherein said top frame includes:

a U-shaped frame body disposed to lie on a horizontal plane and having a pair of front end parts and a rear bight part between said front end parts; and

three coupling sleeves mounted respectively on said front end parts and said rear bight part of said frame body for connecting said top end of a respective one of said front and rear legs to said frame body.

3. The baby jumper as claimed in claim 2, wherein said front legs have bottom ends interconnected by said bottom shaft.

4. The baby jumper as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first ends of said elastic couplers are connected to said coupling sleeves, respectively.

5. The baby jumper as claimed in claim 2, wherein said seat assembly includes:

a seat support connected to said second ends of said elastic couplers to suspend said seat support on said top frame, said seat support having a first annular part that defines a seat hole; and

a seat unit disposed in said seat hole and having a second annular part that engages said first annular part.

6. The baby jumper as claimed in claim 5, wherein said seat unit includes:

a child seat formed with a pair of leg openings;

a seat mount formed with said second annular part; and

a set of fasteners for fastening said seat mount to a periphery of said child seat.

7. The baby jumper as claimed in claim 6, wherein said set of fasteners includes:

a plurality of first engaging elements provided on said periphery of said child seat; and

a plurality of second engaging elements provided on said seat mount to engage said first engaging elements, respectively.

8. The baby jumper as claimed in claim 7, wherein:

each of said first engaging elements is defined by a fastener hole formed in said periphery of said child seat; and

each of said second engaging elements is defined by a hook formed on said seat mount.

9. The baby jumper as claimed in claim 6, wherein:

said seat mount includes an annular wall disposed in said seat hole;

said second annular part including a top flange extending in radial outward directions from a top edge of said annular wall, and a downward flange extending downwardly from an outer peripheral edge of said top flange;

said annular wall, said top flange and said downward flange cooperating to impart said seat mount with a reverse-U shaped cross-section;

said first annular part including an annular track with a U-shaped cross-section;

said downward flange extending into said annular track when said second annular part engages said first annular part.

10. The baby jumper as claimed in claim 9, wherein said first annular part further includes an annular protruding rim formed at an inner top edge of said annular track, and a plurality of ball bearings embedded in said annular protruding rim for contacting said top flange of said seat mount.

11. The baby jumper as claimed in claim 5, wherein each of said elastic couplers includes:

a biasing member having first and second biasing ends;

a first anchoring member for connecting said first biasing end to said top frame; and

a second anchoring member for connecting said second biasing end to said seat support.

12. The baby jumper as claimed in claim 11, wherein said biasing member is an extension spring, each of said elastic couplers further including a sheath sleeved on said biasing member.

13. The baby jumper as claimed in claim 11, wherein each of said elastic couplers further includes a connecting strap for connecting said first anchoring member to said top frame, and a mounting piece mounted fixedly on said seat support and connected to said second anchoring member.

14. The baby jumper as claimed in claim 11, wherein said first annular part includes an annular track with a U-shaped cross-section, said second annular part having an inverted-L shaped cross-section and engaging slidably said first annular part such that said seat unit is rotatable relative to said seat support.

15. The stationary baby jumper as claimed in claim 2, wherein adjacent ones of said elastic couplers are angularly spaced apart by an angle of 120 degrees.

16. A baby jumper comprising:

a support frame assembly including

a top frame,

a plurality of legs, each having a top end connected to said top frame, and

a plurality of elastic couplers, each of which has a first end connected to said top frame, and an opposite second end; and

a seat assembly connected to said second ends of said elastic couplers, said seat assembly including

a seat support having a first annular part that defines a seat hole, and

a seat unit disposed in said seat hole and having a second annular part that engages slidably said first annular part such that said seat unit is rotatable relative to said seat support.

17. The baby jumper as claimed in claim 16, wherein said seat unit includes:

a child seat formed with a pair of leg openings;

a seat mount formed with said second annular part; and

18. The baby jumper as claimed in claim 17, wherein:

said seat mount includes an annular wall disposed in said seat hole;

19. The baby jumper as claimed in claim 18, wherein said first annular part further includes an annular protruding rim formed at an inner top edge of said annular track, and a plurality of ball bearings embedded in said annular protruding rim for contacting said top flange of said seat mount.

20. The baby jumper as claimed in claim 16, wherein each of said elastic couplers includes a biasing member having first and second biasing ends, a first anchoring member for connecting said first biasing end to said top frame, and a second anchoring member for connecting said second biasing end to said seat support.

21. The baby jumper as claimed in claim 20, wherein each of said elastic couplers further includes a connecting strap for connecting said first anchoring member to said top frame, and a mounting piece mounted fixedly on said seat support and connected to said second anchoring member.

22. The baby jumper as claimed in claim 16, wherein:

said top frame includes a U-shaped frame body disposed to lie on a horizontal plane and having a pair of front end parts and a rear bight part between said front end parts;

said legs including a pair of front legs respectively connected to said front end parts of said frame body, and a rear leg connected to said rear bight part of said frame body.