US3049350A

US3049350A - Jumper walker

Info

Publication number: US3049350A
Application number: US37202A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ora C Walker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-06-20
Filing date: 1960-06-20
Publication date: 1962-08-14
Anticipated expiration: 1979-08-14

Description

Aug. 14, 1962 Filed June 20, 1960 O. C. WALKER JUMPER WALKER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Ora C. Walker A TTORNEY 0- C. WALKER JUMPER WALKER Aug. 14, 1 962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 O 6 9 1 0 2 e n H J d e l 1 F INVENTOR. Ora C Walker A TTOR/VEY United States Patent 3,049,350 JUMPER WALKER Ora C. Walker, P.O. Box 24, Council Grove, Kans. Filed June 20, 1960, Ser. No. 37,202 4 Claims. (Cl. 27233) This invention relates to walking means for infants, namely jumper walkers, and more particularly to a jumper Walker for babies which is resiliently mounted in such a manner that a child can move itself up and down in the seat and can also move itself around the center of the device.

Heretofore so-called jumper walkers of various types have been known to the art. Usually the prior art devices are constructed to provide for only vertical movement by a child. In some instances, provision has been made for rotational as well as vertical movement. In those instances where both types of movement are provided for, means have not been provided whereby rotational movement in one direction only is allowed, thereby preventing a child just learning to walk from falling backward. Also, the spring mounting means used in the prior art devices providing for rotational movement are complicated structurally and unsatisfactory in use. The prior art devices are not easily portable, nor are they easily disassemblable.

In accordance with the present invention a simplified jumper walker construction has been provided which allows both vertical and rotational movement of the seat structure. Preferably, means are incorporated in the present device to permit rotation in one direction only, thereby preventing accidental rearward movement during operation. The present construction eliminates unnecessary structure appearing in some of the prior art devices, thereby reducing the overall cost without affecting the efficiency or operation of the device.

The jumper walker of the invention has a base. A resilient means, preferably a spring member is mounted on the base, preferably in such a manner as to be rotatable relative thereto. A fabric type seat structure is mounted on the end of the resilient means so that a child in the seat structure can move both vertically and rotationally on the base member. Means are preferably included on the resilient means to permit rotational movement in one direction only. Several types of spring means have been found in use to provide the proper type of mounting for the fabric seat.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a new jumper walker construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new jumper walker construction which allows vertical and rotational movement.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a jumper walker which allows rotational movement in one direction only.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a jumper walker construction having a removable seat member.

Another object of the invention is to provide a jumper walker construction having a foldable base member to make a compact, easily stored and shipped item.

Other objects of this invention are to provide a jumper walker having a spring member rotatably and removably mounted on a base member to be easily removed therefrom during periods of storage or shipment.

Various other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompany drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a preferred specific embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the structure shown in FIG. 1.

ice

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross section view showing a preferred means of attaching the seat structure to the spring member.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of another preferred embodiment of the jumper walker of the invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing another preferred means of attaching the seat structure to the spring member.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of another preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged isometric view showing the mounting of the spring member on the base of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged isometric view of the base unit and a lower portion of the spring member which is common to all three modifications.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross section view through the base with the base member folded and showing in detail the structure for permitting rotation of the seat in one direction only.

The following is a discussion and description of preferred specific embodiments of the new jumper walker of the invention, such being made with reference to the drawings whereon the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts and/ or structure.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the jumper walker of the invention includes a base member 10 which is preferably made in two

sections

12 and 14 which are secured together by any suitable means, such as by a piano type hinge 16, The

sections

12 and 14 of the base member 10 are preferably mirror images of each other so that they can be folded about the hinge 16 to directly overlie one another to thereby reduce the size of the base member for transportation and during periods of storage. The base 10 is shown as being constructed of wood and being circular, however other materials and shapes can be used as desired.

A generally flat, preferably circular metallic plate 18 is provided and is mounted on the center of the base member 10. When the base merrrber 10 is circular the base plate 18 is concentric therewith. The plate 18 has an upstanding tubular member 20 rigidly secured thereto in any suitable means, such as by welding. The tubular member 20 is preferably concentric with the plate 18, however when the plate 18 is made other than a circular shape, the tubular member 20 is then mounted centnally on the plate :18. The plate 18 has a plurality of spaced notches 22 formed therein which are preferably arranged in a circular row to be concentric with the outer surface of the plate 18 and with the tubular member 20. The plate 18 is rigidly secured to only one of the

sections

12 or 14 by screws 24 or other suitable means. This mounting of the plate permits the other section of the base member :10 to be folded in the manner hereinbefore described.

The tubular member 20 receives and removably mounts therein a post 26, which can be either a tubular or a cylindrical rod. The post 26 is dimensioned relative to the inside diameter of the tubular member 20 so that it is rotatable therein. The post 26 has a rod 28 rigidly secured thereto and projecting therefrom at approximately a degree angle. The rod 28 is positioned to overlie the plate 18 and dimensioned to be long enough to extend over the recesses 22 formed therein. A semiresilient finger 30 is secured to the rod 28 and positioned thereon to be engageable in the notches 22.

The projecting end of the post 26 in the preferred speci-fic embodiment shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 has one end of a fiat, narrow metallic spring member 32 rigidly secured thereto. The spring member 32 extends upwardly from the post 26 in a generally semi-circular manner as best seen in FIG. 2. The upper or free end of the spring member 32 has two spaced

transverse slots

34 and 36 formed therein adjacent to the end of the spring member 32.

A fabric seat structure shown generally at 38 is provided and preferably consists of a fabric constructed of four sides and a bottom with leg openings 40 and a hem in the upper circumference thereof to receive a metallic frame member 42. The metallic frame 42 has a flat shank portion 44 rigidly secured thereto which extends from the center of one side of the seat structure 38. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 the shank portion 44 is U-shaped in its outer end portion and is dimensioned so as to be received in the

slots

34 and 36 in the end of the spring member 32, and when the shank portion is thus positioned in the

slots

34 and 36 it serves to mount the seat structure 38 on the end of the spring member 32 as shown in FIG. 3.

:In operation, a child 46 is seated in the seat structure 38 and will be supported therein. The child can move up and down, as in the usual jumper walker construction, and by the structure of the invention can also walk in a circular path on the base member 10. When the child is walking on the base member 10, the post 26 will move within the tubular member 20 to guide or define the path of movement of the child. The resilient finger 30 will engage in the notches 22 as the child moves. As previously stated, the finger 30 is curved slightly. This permits the post 26, rod 28 and finger 30 to be moved freely in only one direction, that is in a clockwise direction as shown in FIG. 1. When the device is urged in a counterclockwise direction, the curved or bent finger 30 will be engaged in the notches 22 and prevent movement in that direction.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the base member 10, plate 18 and tubular member 20 are constructed in a manner hereinbefore described. In this embodiment, the spring member 50 is preferably cylindrical at one end and dimensioned to be received and rotate within the tubular member 20 in the same manner as the post 26 hereinbefore described. The other end of the member 50 is reduced in size, and can be formed fiat to provide a spring portion 52. The spring portion 52 has an opening 54, FIG. 5, formed therein, which is preferably rectangular in cross section as shown. A fabric 38 constructed in the manner hereinbefore described in connection with FIG. 1 is provided, and in this instance the metal rim for the seat structure is bent at approximately a 90 degree angle to provide 21 depending flange 58 on the shank portion 56. The flange 58 is dimensioned so as to be received within the opening 54 in the spring portion 52 of the member 50 to thus removably mount the seat. The member 50 is provided with a rod 28 and spring finger 30 as described before in connection with FIG. 1. The operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is the same as that previously described, with the spring portion 52 of the member 50 providing the necessary spring or resilience to the jumper walker seat structure 38.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is similar in operation and construction with the embodiments previously described with the exception of the provision of a different type of spring member 60. The spring member 69 is straight over most of its length, and has a loop 62 formed in one end thereof. The end of the loop 62 is connected to a rod 64 in any suitable manner, such as by the metal screws 66. The post 63 which is mounted in the tubular member 20 for rotation therein has an eye 70 formed on one end. The eye 70 receives the rod 64 therein and thus mounts the spring member 60 on the posts 68. Suitable lock means can be used to prevent accidental disengagement of the rod 64 from the eye 70. The rod 64 and eye 70 are shown in FIG. 7 as being hexagonal which prevents relative rotation of the two members.

It will be seen that in operation the weight of the child in the seat structure 38 will tend to tighten or close the 4 loop 62, which will thus increase the spring pressure or lifting force of the spring member 60 when the weight of the child presses down in seat 38. Here again, the rod 28 and spring finger 38 are preferably provided to permit rotation or movement of the seat structure 38 in one direction only in the manner hereinbefore described.

The seat structure 38 is shown as being the same as in FIG. 4, including the shank portion 56 having the depending flange 58. The seat can be mounted on the spring 60 in the manner shown in FIG. 5, or the spring 60 can have a mounting bracket 71 to receive the flange 58.

It will be evident from the foregoing description of the embodiments of the invention that means have been provided to resiliently mount the seat of a jumper walker and also to provide for rotational movement of the seat in one direction only. The spring mounting means of the invention is, in all cases, self-supporting and does not need to be secured to overhanging structures. Also, it is seen that in each instance the seat and spring structures are removably mounted, which permits easy disassembly of the spring and the seat from the base during transportation or storage. Also, the seat will usually wear faster than the other parts, and the construction of the invention permits the seat to be separately replaced. The base member 10 is also foldable, which allows the entire device to be easily packed in an automobile during trips. Three specific types of springs have been shown and described, however other resilient means can be used, if desired.

While the invention has been described in connection with preferred specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that this description is intended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims.

It will be evident to those skilled in the art that various modifications of this invention can be made, or followed, in the light of this description and discussion, without departing from the spirit of the disclosure or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A jumper walker for babies comprising, in combination, a circular wooden base member, said base member being constructed of two equal sections, hinge means along abutting edges of said base to make said base foldable and compact for storage, said base having a fiat circular plate mounted on the center thereof and concentric therewith, said plate having an upstanding tubular member rigidly secured thereto, said tubular member being concentric with said plate, said plate having a plurality of spaced notches in a circular row formed in the upper surface thereof, said row being concentric with the outer surface of said plate and said tubular member, a post removably mounted in said tubular member for rotation therein, said post having a rod mounted thereon adjacent to said tubular member and extending over said plate, said rod having a curved metallic semi-resilient finger depending therefrom and engageable in said notches in said plate, said notches and said finger being constructed and of size to secure said post against any rotation in one direction when said finger is engaged in any of said notches, said post having one end of a flat narrow metallic spring member rigidly secured thereto and extending upwardly therefrom in a generally semi-circular manner, two spaced transverse slots adjacent the other end of said spring member, a fabric seat structure, said seat structure having four sides and a bottom with leg openings therein, a rectangular metallic frame in the top portion of said seat structure, said metallic frame having a flat shank portion extending from the center of one side thereof, said shank portion being U-shaped in its end portion and of such size relative to said slots in said spring member that said shank portion can mount said seat structure on said spring member by said U-shaped shank portion passing through the outermost one of said slots and received in the other of said slots, said device being constructed and adapted so that said jumper seat is spring mounted on said base by said shank portion being secured in said slots of said spring member, so that a child in said seat can move up and down and around said post, with said metallic finger member engageable with said notches in said plate to allow movement of said seat in one direction only.

2. A jumper walker for babies comprising, in combination, a base member, said base member being constructed of two sections, hinge means connecting said sections to make said base foldable, s:id base having a flat plate mounted on the center portion thereof, said plate having an upstanding tubular member mounted in the central portion thereof, said plate having a plurality of spaced notches in a circular row formed in the upper surface thereof, a post removably mounted in said tubular member for rotation therein, said post having a rod mounted thereon adjacent to said tubular member and extending over said plate, said rod having a semi-resilient curved finger depending therefrom and engageable in said notches in said plate, said notches and said finger being constructed and of size to secure said post against any rotation in one direction when said finger is engaged in any of said notches, the extending end of said post having one end of a spring member rigidly secured thereto and extending upwardly therefrom in a generally semi-circular manner, spaced transverse slots adjacent the other end of said spring member, a fabric seat structure, a frame member in the top portion of said seat structure, said frame having a flat shank portion extending from one side thereof, said shank portion being U-shaped at its end portion and of such size relative to said slots in said spring member that said shank portion can mount said seat structure thereon by said U-shaped portion passing through said slots, said device being constructed and adapted so that said jumper seat is spring mounted on said base so that a child in said seat can move up and down and around said post with said finger member engageable with said notches in said plate to allow movement of said seat in one direction only.

3. A jumper walker comprising, in combination, a circular wooden base member, said base member being constructed of two equal sections, hinge means along abutting edges of said base to make said base foldable and compact for storage, said base having a fiat circular plate mounted on the center thereof and concentric therewith, said plate having an upstanding tubular member rigidly secured thereto, said tubular member being concentric with said plate, said plate having a plurality of spaced notches in a circular row formed in the upper surface thereof, said row being concentric with the outer surface of said plate and said tubular member, a post removably mounted in said tubular member for rotation therein, said post having a rod mounted thereon adjacent said tubular member and extending over said plate, said rod having a curved metallic semi-resilient finger depending therefrom and engageable in said notches in said plate, said notches and said finger being constructed and of size to secure said post against any rotation in one direction when said finger is engaged in any of said notches, the other end of said post being reduced in size and forming a spring member, said spring having an opening in the end thereof, a fabric seat structure, a rectangular frame in the top portion of said seat structure, said metallic frame having a fiat shank portion extending from one side thereof, said shank portion having a depending flange on the end thereof of such size relative to said opening in said spring member so that said flange can be received in said opening to mount said seat structure on said spring member, said device being constructed and adapted so that said jumper seat is spring mounted on said base so that a child in said seat structure can move vertically and around said base.

4. A jumper walker comprising, in combination, a circular wooden base member, said base member being constructed of two sections, hinge means connecting said sections to make said base foldable and compact for storage, said base having a flat circular plate mounted on the center thereof and concentric therewith, said plate having an upstanding tubular member rigidly secured thereto, said tubular member being concentric with said plate, said plate having a plurality of spaced notches in a circular row formed in the upper surface thereof, said row being concentric with the outer surface of said plate and said tubular member, a post removably mounted in said tubular member for rotation therein, said post having a rod mounted thereon adjacent to said tubular member and extending over said plate, said rod having a curved metallic semi-resilient finger depending therefrom and engageable in said notches in said plate, said post having a hexagonal eye formed in the projecting end thereof, a metallic spring member, said spring member being generally elongated and having an open loop formed at one end thereof, a hexagonal rod secured to said loop end of said spring member, and said rod being dimensioned relatively to said eye to be removably received therein to mount said spring member on said post, a fabric seat structure, said seat structure having a metallic frame in the top portion thereof, said metallic frame having a flat shank portion extending from one side thereof, a depending flange formed on said shank portion, said depending flange being mountable on the other end of said spring member to thereby mount said seat structure on said spring member, said de vice being constructed and adapted so that said seat structure is spring mounted on said base to permit vertical and rotational movement on said base.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 715,321 Unkefer et al Dec. 9, 1902 1,703,770 Kitze Feb. 26, 1929 1,784,692 Kline Dec. 9, 1930 2,527,460 Smith Oct. 24, 1950 2,686,674 Behrens Aug. 17, 1954 2,704,111 Wunderlich Mar. 15, 1955