US2327253A - Infant exerciser - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 1 7, 1943.- I 'v, G, EISEL 2,327,253

INFANT EXERGI'SER Filed May 21, 1942 INVENTOR VE/P/YO/Y 6. 5/521 BY H/S ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 17, 1943 INFANT EXERCISER Vernon G. Eisel, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Childhood Interests, Inc., a corporation of New Jersey Appl cation May 21, 1942, Serial No. 443,948

8 Claims.

This invention relates to infant exercisers, and more particularly to a device adapted to be attached to a crib. As used in the specification and claims, the word infant means a child be tween the ages of 3 and 12 months.

It is a familiar expedient; to string a toy across the crib, to hold the toy within the field of vision of the infant for, entertainment, and

and hand grip climbing elements are suspended therefrom at diiferent or stepped levels. The lowermost one or more of these hand grip climb- 'ing elements is within easy reach of the infant,

who having become familiar with the same, is induced to reach for the next higher.

Preferably the hand grip climbing elements are carried by the lower ends of depending elements secured to the supporting element at spaced intervals therealong. These depending elements are preferably of increased'length from the sides toward the center, to bring the lowermost hand grip element to the middle of the crib, and the next higher nearer the side bars, so that when the highest is reached, the side bars themselves afiord means for further progress around the crib.

In order to prevent the hand grip elements from impact against or entanglement with the side bars of the crib, or to prevent bruising the fingers of the infant grasping the same by striking the side bars, each dependent element is preferably shorter than the distance from the point of suspension to either of the crib side bars.

To afford diversion and stimulate interest, the hand grip climbing elements are preferably of different types. particularly at difierent levels, such as climbing knobs, trapeze bars and swinging rings. The types are preferably paired at respective levels, for symmetry of appearance and more particularly to encourage equal development of the muscles of both sides of the body. One such pair may be connected by a bar to form a trapeze, and another pair spaced apart a distance approximately the width of the shoulders of the infant.

' the spring i2.

zontal bar, with flexible means for securing it to the crib side bars. With the trapeze suspended therebelow, the two constitute a rope ladder. Similarly the various types of hand grip elements may be used to advantage either singly or in different combinations.

It may therefore be stated as an object of the invention to provide one or more of the advantages set forth above.

Other objects and features of novelty will be apparent as the following detailed description proceeds, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a crib showing the present invention applied thereon;

Figure 2 is an enlarged detailed elevation partly in section, showing the construction of the supporting element;

Figure 3 is a detailed elevation of one form of the trapeze bar; and

Figure 4 is a similar view of a modified trapeze bar, it being understood that both forms may be combined. r

In the preferred embodiment shown, the sup porting element comprises horizontal bar 5, which is secured to the top opposite side bars 6 and 'l of the crib. The ends of the bar 5 are secured to the bars 5 and 1 respectively by flexible means such as straps 8 having buckles 9. The ends of the bar 5 are provided with eyes III which may secure the straps 8, but preferably a coiled tension spring i2 is interposed therebetween for greater resiliency, and for quick detachability a snap hook it is interposed in the connection, between the strap 8 and the eye In, shown for example as carried by the strap 8 and engaging A bell E5 to attract the child's attention, is carried by the supporting member or its connection to the bar 5, being shown as having an integral eye l6 threaded onto the coil of the spring i2. This construction makes it impossible for the bell to become detached and swallowed.

The hand grip climbing elements are suspended from the supporting element at different levels by depending means, preferably flexible, such as large cord or small rope, about the diameter of the infants thumb. Such depending element is secured to the supporting elementintermediate its ends at a fixed point therealong. In the form shown the bar 5 is recessed, preferably bored through as at 18 and provided with a larger counterbore I9 to receive a knot2li.

The different levels may be spaced along a The supporting element is preferably a horisingle depending element 2|, or may be carried 23, which may of course include 2| also.

The element 2l,,which functions as a. climbing rope, has knob elements 24, 25, 26 threaded thereon, the cord or rope being knotted as at V 21 between the knobs and below the lowermost, as

stops to space and limit the downward sliding of the knobs thereon.

It should be noted, as shown in Figure 1, that the two lowermost knobs 25 and 28 are preferably both within reach of the hands of the infant without raising himself up, so that in playing-with the elements 25 and 26 he gets the hand over hand idea, to reach for the knob 24, equally spaced thereabove. The lower ends of the elements 22 which function as the swing ropes of a flying trapeze, support a bar 30, which preferably has knob elements 3| at each end, the elements 22 engaging the bar 30 at symmetrical fixed points between the knobs.

As shown in Figure 3, the elements 22 are preferably integral, passing through holes in the bar 30, and forming a continuous loop therebelow.

As shown in Figure 4, the bar 30 may be supported on the single element 2 I, forming a pivotal support at the center of the bar, the bar being slidable as well as pivotal on the element 21 above the stop 21. It should be noted that Figures 3 and 4 are combined in Figure 1.

When the ends of the bar are slidable, as in Figure 3, or when pivoted about the center as in Figure 4, the bar will yield when grasped by one end knob thereof alone. This yielding directs the infant back to the hand over hand climbing idea. But when both end knobs are grasped, the bar does not yield, and the equal development of both arms is enhanced.

The hand grip climbing elements carried by the lower ends of the depending elements 23 are preferably rings 33, the elements 23 being loops passing through the ring 33, the doubled ends of the loop passing through the bore I8 and doubly knotted in the recess I9. -These rings 33are spaced apart a distance approximately the width of the shoulders of the infant so that it can exert a direct equalized pull thereon with both arms.

From' the foregoing description it will be readily apparent that the hand grip climbing elements are suspended at different levels, either on one element, as 24, 25 and 26, or on elements of different lengths 2|, 22, and 23;, Also the elements 23, 22 and 2| in th order named are of. successively increased length from the sides toward the center. These elements 2t, 22, and 23 are each shorter than the distance from its point of support to either side of the crib.

Th lower knob 26 and preferably also the next higher knob 25 are within easy reach of the infant, who is encouraged to reach for the next higher, either the knob 24 or the bar 30. With the pivoted bar of Figure 4, the pivoting of the bar affords an exercising value and also interest in controlling the pivoting. A similar interest is afforded by the sliding looped bar of Figure 3, the infant learning that the bar will yield when the knobs are grasped singly, but will give satisfactory support when both are grasped simultaneously.

When the bar 30 has been mastered, the infant reaches for the rings 33, and by direct equalized pull thereon raises himself to standing position. Alternately the infant may use the bar 30 and the bar as a rope ladder to achieve standin position. In either event the stepped climbing character of the device and its operation direct the infant to further progress around the crib by grasping the side bars themselves.

It will be understood that the various elements of the device shown can be used either singly or combined and that the hand grip climbing elements may be rearranged as desired. Other modifications will occur to those skilled in the art, and th invention therefore embraces such embodiments thereof as fall within the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. An infant exerciser for attachment to the upper portion of a crib, comprising a supporting element adapted to extend part way across the crib and above an infant placed therein, means for attaching the ends of said supporting element to the top opposite side bars of the crib, depending elements of successively increased length from the sides toward the center attached to said supporting element at spaced intervals therealong,

and hand grip climbing elements carried by the lower ends of said depending elements, at correspondingly increasingly lower levels.

2. An infant exerciser for attachment to the upper portion of a, crib, comprising horizontal means adapted to extend part way acros the crib and above an infant placed therein, flexible means for attaching the ends of said horizontal means to the top opposite side bars of the crib,

depending elements of successively increased length from the sides toward the center attached to said horizontal means at spaced intervals therealong, and hand grip climbing elements carried by the lower ends of said depending elements, the overall length of each depending element and the hand grip climbing element carried thereby being shorter than the distance from its point of support to either side of the crib.

3. An infant exerciser for attachment to the upper portion of a crib, comprising a supporting element adapted to extend part way across the crib and above an infant placed therein, means for attaching the ends of said supporting element to the top opposite side bars of the crib, depending elements of successively increased length from the sides toward the center attached to said supporting, element at spaced intervals therealong, difiering pairs of hand grip elements carried by the lower ends of said depending elements, the two outermost of said'depending elements being of equal length and carrying one of said pairs, and the two next outermost and of next greater length of said depending elements being of equal length and carrying another of said differing pairs at a lower level. I

4. An infant exerciser for attachment to the upper portion of a, crib, comprising a supporting element adapted to extend part way across the crib and above an infant placed therein, means for attaching the ends of said supporting element to the top opposite side bars of the crib, tension spring means interposed between an end of said supporting element and its attachment to the crib, depending means of successivelyincreased length from the sides toward the center attached to said supporting element at spaced points therealong the overall length of each depending means being shorter than the distance from its point of support to either side of the crib.

5. An infant exerciser for attachment to the upper portion of a crib, comprising a supporting element adapted to extend part way across the crib and above an infant placed therein. means for attaching the ends of said supporting element to the top opposite side bars of the crib, a pair of rings suspended from said supporting element at points spaced inwardly from the side bars of the crib and spaced apart a distance approximately the width of the shoulders of the infant, a. trapeze bar, and means for suspending said trapeze bar from said supporting element to depend between said rings and below the level thereof the overall length of each suspended element and its suspending means being shorter than the distance from its point of support to either side of the crib.

.6. An infant exerciser for attachment to the upper portion of a crib, comprising a supporting element adapted to extend part way across the crib and above an infant placed therein, means for attaching the ends of said supporting element to the top opposite side bars of the crib, a pair of rings symmetrically suspended from said supporting element at points spaced inward from the side bars of the crib and spaced apart a distance approximately the width of the shoulders of the infant, a trapeze suspended from said supporting element between said rings and extending therebelow, and a climbing rope engaging the center of said trapeze and extending therebelow.

"I. An infant exerciser for attachment to the element adapted to extend part way across the crib, means for attaching the ends of said element to the top side bars of the crib andabove an infant placed therein, depending elements of successively increased length from the sides toward the center attached to said supporting element, and a bar having its mid point supported by one of 'said depending elements and having sliding engagement at symmetrical points near its ends with two others of said depending elements. t

8. An infant exerciser for attachment to the upper portion of a crib, comprising a horizontal bar adapted to extend part way across the crib and above an infant placed therein, coiled tension springs respectively secured at one of their ends to the ends ofvsaid bar, means engaging the other ends of said springs and adapted to be buckled around the top opposite side bars of the crib, depending elements of successively increased length from the sides toward thecenter attached to said bar at spaced points therealong, and hand grip climbing elements secured to the lower ends of said depending elements, and said bar being recessed to receive said depending elements and retain them in spaced relation.

VERNON G. EISEL.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION:

Patent No. 2,527,253. August 17, 1915.

VERNON G EI SEL "It is hereby certified that error appears of the shove numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1, first column, line 11.1, for "the" second occfirrence, read -its--; pslge 3, sec- 0nd column, line l|-5, claim, strike out "and above an infant placed therein" and insert 'the same in line 5, m n n; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the some may conform to the recorq of the case in the Patent Office.

.Signed and sealed this'lhth day of September, A. n. 1915.

Henry Van Arsdele,

(Seal) Acting iommissioner of Patents.

in the prihted specification

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