US3615092A

US3615092A - Spring resistant type crib exercising device with rotating carousel

Info

Publication number: US3615092A
Application number: US11504A
Authority: US
Inventors: Albert Stubbmann
Original assignee: Kohner Bros Inc
Current assignee: Hasbro Inc; Kohner Bros Inc
Priority date: 1970-02-16
Filing date: 1970-02-16
Publication date: 1971-10-26
Anticipated expiration: 1988-10-26
Also published as: JPS4833228B1; GB1274137A; FR2080406A5; DE2062920B2; DE2062920A1

Abstract

A CAROUSEL ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED IN A CRIB ABOVE AN INFANT LYING THEREIN. BENEATH THE CAROUSEL IS A TRAPEZE BAR. THE CAROUSEL IS ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON A FRAME SUSPENDED BY STRAPS WHICH ARE TIED TO THE SIDE RAILS OF THE CRIB. WHEN THE CHILD PULLS DOWN ON THE TRAPEZE BAR, THE CAROUSEL IS CAUSED TO SPIN WHILE AT THE SAME TIME STORING ENERGY IN A SPRING. THE CAROUSEL HAS TOY FIGURINES SUSPENDED THEREFROM AND CENTRIFUGAL FORCE CAUSES THE FIGU-

RINES TO ROTATE IN A RADIALLY OUTWARD PATH. STRIKER BELLS ARE POSITIONED IN THIS PATH SO THAT THE ROTATING FIGURINES STRIKE THE BELLS. WHEN THE CHILD RELEASES THE TRAPEZE BAR, THE STORED ENERGY IN THE SPRING SPINS THE CAROUSEL IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AND RAISES THE TRAPEZE BAR.

Description

Oct. 26, 1971 STUBBMANN 3,615,092

SPRING RESISTANT TYPE CRIB EXERCISING DEVICE WITH ROTATING CAROUSEL Filed Feb. 16, 1870 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 *1 MIL? INVENTOR ALBERT STUBBMANN BY W {wk ATTORNEYS 0d. 26, 1971 STUBBMANN 3,615,092

SPRING RESISTANT TYPE CRIB EXERCISING DEVICE WITH ROTATING CAROUSEL Filed Feb. 16, 1970 2 Sheets-Sheet Z \X I ll din-I.

48 INVENTOR F I 3 ALBERT STUBBMANN M [M ATTORNEYS United States Patent O U.S. Cl. 272-83 A 14 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A carousel adapted to be mounted in a crib above an infant lying therein. Beneath the carousel is a trapeze bar. The carousel is rotatably mounted on a frame suspended by straps which are tied to the side rails of the crib. When the child pulls down on the trapeze bar, the carousel is caused to spin while at the same time storing energy in a spring. The carousel has toy figurines suspended therefrom and centrifugal force causes the figurines to rotate in a radially outward path. Striker bells are positioned in this path so that the rotating figurines strike the bells. When the child releases the trapeze bar, the stored energy in the spring spins the carousel in the opposite direction and raises the trapeze bar.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the invention Infant exercising and amusement devices.

(2) Description of the prior art As a newborn childs senses are developing there is a need for amusement as well as exercising devices which will maintain the infants interests and provide diversified amusement facilities which have, for a limited period of the infants growth, the ability to develop the sensory perception of the rapidly growing infant.

Unfortunately most infant toys known heretofore Were not of the type which Would combine a plurality of activities directed to several of the infants senses. For example, the childs common rattle is coordinated with but one or two of the childs senses. The rattle is designed to be perceived by the infants sense of touch and his sense of hearing. When the infant grasps the rattle and shakes it, he Will note that a sound is emitted from the rattle. However, a simple toy of this nature does not have a sufficient interest-maintaining capability and therefore a child will soon grow tired of the rattle and will discard it for another toy, perhaps even a rattle of another shape or color, or one which emits a different sound.

Other toys designed for infants are also adapted for a particular mode of the infants growing sensor capabilities. Some of these toys are crib mounted sounding devices such as music clocks or boxes which are wound by the parent and then play a suitable melody for a period of time. These toys left much to be desired because they did not provide a sufficient amusement capability. Furthermore, they could not be wound or activated by the infant.

Other toys were suited for the visual perception of the growing infant and included various spinning toys which were also wound by the parent because the infants stage of manual dexterity precluded the capacity to energize and actuate such toys.

There have also been numerous crib exercising devices. These toys generally consisted of a pull ring which was elastically mounted on the crib rails and suspended above the infant. Often such pull toys were brightly colored to attract the childs attention and many of these toys, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,303,223 included a sounding device, e.g., a bell. The difiiculty encountered in these toys was that the only visual activity which the infant could perceive was the manual lowering of the elevation of the pull ring or a colored body attached to the pull ring, and the infant unfortunately lost interest in such toys.

Various 'other pull ring actuable toys have been developed, but they too were limited and were unable to maintain a childs interest because they did not provide a plurality of coordinated activities with which to attract a child and also which would increase in value as the childs senses developed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an infants exercise and amusement device of the character described which is so constructed that it is not subject to any of the foregoing disadvantages.

More specifically it is an object of the invention to provide an infants exercise and amusement device of the character described which is simple and rugged in construction, yet can be fabricated by mass production methods at an appreciably lower cost than prior devices designed to serve the same function.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an infants exercise and amusement device of the character described wherein a trapeze bar is suspended above an infant who is lying within his crib with the trapeze bar actuating a spinning amusement carousel and which further includes audible attention attracting signals.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an exercise and amusement device of the character described which is well suited for an infants entertainment and exercise during the early stages of the infants development wherein the infants primary senses are rapidly developing.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an infants exercise and amusement device which can be actuated by an infant lying on his back within a crib and which, when grasped by the infant, with one or both hands, produces both visual and audible infant perceptible responses.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an infants exercise and amusement device of the character described wherein an infants attention will be retained by a plurality of simultaneously actuated attention attracting components While the infant is concurrently developing muscular coordination.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an infants exercise and amusement device of the character described wherein a unique combination of multiple amusement and exercise activities are included in a single device which is suspended from the side rails of the infants crib so that it is accessible to the infants reach and actuable by the infant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings, in which are shown various possible embodiments of the invention,

FIG. 1 is a view taken from the inside of a crib and looking from behind towards an infant lying on his back within the crib, said view illustrating an amusement and exercising device constructed in accordance with the invention, with said device being suspended from the side rails of the crib and directly over the infant, and showing the infants arms outstretched and grasping a trapeze bar which is suspended and dangling above him;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the device with portions thereof broken away to better illustrate the carousel spinning mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view through the device with the trapeze bar pulled down and an energy storing spring being fully wound; when the bar is released the spring Will rewind a cord about a bobbin and simultaneously spin the carousel in the opposite direction;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view of the bobbin with the spiral energy storing spring mounted beneath the bobbin being biased to rewind the cord; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through an alternate embodiment of the invention wherein the carousel is rotated by the engagement between a helically twisted strip and a slot positioned within the carousel so that when the trapeze bar is pulled down by the infant, the strip descends and causes the carousel to spin while simultaneously storing energy in a helical compression spring; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view through the device, the same being taken substantially along the line 6-6 of FIG. 3 and illustrating an idler pulley about which a trapeze supporting cord is guided and further illustrating the bobbin about which both cords supporting the trapeze are wound.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A carousel is rotatably mounted in a frame which is supported in a pendant position above an infant lying in a crib. Two mechanisms are disclosed for spinning the carousel by pulling on the trapeze bar.

-In the first mechanism the bar is suspended from two cords with the opposite ends of the cords Wound about a bobbin at the lower end of the carousel. A spiral coil spring is mounted beneath the bobbin. One end of the spring is fixed to the carousel and the other spring end is fixed to a frame rotatably supporting the carousel. When the trapeze bar is pulled down by an infant, the string unwinds from the bobbin and at the same time stores energy in the spiral spring and spins the carousel. Upon release of the bar the spring rewinds the string and concurrently spins the carousel in an opposite direction.

In the second mechanism the trapeze bar is supported from a helically twisted strip. The strip extends into a slot fixed inside the carousel and the end of the strip includes an abutment. A helical coil spring is positioned between the abutment and a plate within which the slot is formed. By pulling downwardly on the trapeze bar, the strip is caused to descend. The interaction between the strip and the slot causes the carousel to spin rapidly at the same time compressing the helical coil spring which, upon release of the trapeze, forces the strip upwardly into the carousel.

There are a plurality of toy figurines suspended from anchor points on the carousel and, when the carousel spins, centrifugal force causes the figurines to rotate in a circular path of a larger diameter than the distance between the figurine anchor points and the center of the carousel. In the path of the spinning figurines there are included a number of striker bells which are suspended from the frame. The spinning figurines hit the bells and cause them to emit infant discernible sounds.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the reference numeral 10 denotes an exercising and amusement device constructed in accordance with and embodying the invention. The device includes an oval frame 12 of I-shaped cross section including reinforcing peripheral flanges and constructed of a light-weight synthetic plastic. The oval frame 12 is preferably brightly colored to attract the infants attention. The device 10 is supported in a pendant position from the side rails of the infants crib (see FIG. 1). To support the device in such a position one end of each of a pair of flexible straps 14 is attached to the upper surface of the frame near each end thereof with the opposite free end of each strap being looped about the top rail of the side of the crib cage. This free end of the strap is turned back on itself and secured to an intermediate position of the strap with a buckle 16 to prevent the device from falling on the infant.

A carousel 18' is mounted .in the frame 12 and journalled for rotation around a vertical axis. The carousel 18 is preferably molded of a light-weight synthetic plastic and is also brightly colored to attract the infants attention. The upper surface of the carousel includes an umbrella top 20, the undersurface of which includes a plurality of ribs 22. An upwardly, outwardly flaring conical trunk 24 extends from a bobbin 26 at the base of the carousel to the ribs 22 on the undersurface of the top 20'. The bobbin 26 includes a cylindrical central portion 27 about which cords are wrapped with the recessed central portion 27 bounded by upper and

lower flanges

28 and 30. The carousel is rotatably mounted on a vertical shaft 32 which extends through an opening 34 in the upper portion of the oval frame 12. The shaft 32 also runs through a bearing 36 which is formed on the umbrella top 20. The lower portion of the shaft 32 extends through an opening 38 in the bobbin 26 and then through a sleeve 39 projecting downwardly from the bobbin. The shaft then extends through an opening 40 in the bottom of the frame. It will be appreciated that when the carousel spins, the undersurface of the sleeve 39 is in sliding engagement with the shoulder in the frame adjacent the opening 40. As illustrated in FIG. 2 the shaft 32 is suitably peened at both ends for captive retention.

The portion of the carousel which includes the bobbin 26 is concealed from view Within a hollow enlargement 42 of the frame 12. The hollow enlargement 42 includes a symmetrically positioned upwardly, outwardly, flaring curved wall 44 which increases the width of the hollow enlargement 42 so that it may accommodate the bobbin and provide a pleasing, aesthetic appearance.

A stationary base platform 46 is secured to the top of the hollow enlargement 42. The top of the hollow enlargement includes a circular flange 45 which is engaged by a circular opening through the base platform 46 to mount the platform. The base platform 46 includes a downwardly, slightly outwardly flaring skirt and serves as an attractive cover which conceals the top of the hollow enlargement 42. The upper surface of the platform 46 also includes a plurality of ribs which correspond with the ribs 22 on the undersurface of the umbrella top 20.

As was previously mentioned, the carousel includes a trapeze bar which, when grasped and pulled by the infant, will cause the carousel to rapidly spin, producing in addition to the visual effects, infant discernible audible animation. The trapeze bar actuated animation mechanism includes a horizontal bar 48 preferably formed of a synthetic plastic and also attractively colored to attract the infants attention. The ends of the bar 48 are suitably capped to provide smooth, noninjurious surfaces. The bar 48 is suspended from the hollow enlargement 42 of the frame 12i by two

cord segments

50 and 52. The

cord segments

50, 52 extend upwardly through

openings

54, 55 at the bottom of the hollow enlargement 42 and into the interior thereof. Each cord segment then extends around an

idler pulley

56, 58 and the

cord segments

50, 52 are interconnected at the cylindrical central portion of the bobbin -26. The

cord segments

50, 52 are suitably secured as with a staple-like tack 60 to a point on the central portion 27 of the bobbin 26. To secure the ends of the segments to the bar 48, openings are provided along the bar 48 adjacent the ends thereof, and each segment is threaded through the opening and knotted (see FIG. 2).

It will be observed that when the carousel is turned in one direction, the

segments

50, 52 will wrap about the cylindrical central portion 27 while the bar 48 is drawn upwardly toward the bottom of the hollow enlargement 42. In order to prevent the bar 48 from rising completely up to and against the bottom of the hollow enlargement 42, a spacer is provided. The spacer includes two hollow

tubular sections

62, 64 with the associated cord segment being threaded through each of the tubular sections and into one of the openings in the bar 48. Thus, when the bar is drawn upwardly toward the frame 12, it will stop at a position parallel to, yet spaced from, the undersurface of the hollow enlargement 42. The length of the

tubular spacers

62, 64 is such as to permit an infants hand to easily grasp the bar without contacting the frame 12. It should also be noted that the length of the bar 48 is sufficient to allow the bar to be grasped and pulled by both of the infants hands.

The hollow enlargement 42 not only includes a central outwardly flared wall but additionally includes opposed parallel spaced walls. The idler pulleys 56, 58 are journalled for rotation between the spaced parallel walls (see FIG. 6). The pulleys are in fact journalled on opposed bearing surfaces 66 which project in op posite directions from the parallel wall portions.

It will thus be seen that with the cord fully wrapped about the bobbin 26 the bar 48 will be close to the bottom of the frame 12 and spaced from the bottom of the frame 12 a distance equal to the length of the

tubular spacers

62, 64. When an infant grasps the bar 48 with one or both hands and pulls the same downwardly, the cord unwinds from the bobbin 26 causing the carousel to spin. FIG. 3 illustrates the lowest position of the bar 48 and shows the cord completely unwrapped from the bobbin 26.

In order to further enhance the utility of the present invention, a spiral coil spring 68 is provided, which spring will store rotational energy while the bobbin unwinds and which will dissipate its energy by rewinding the cord and spinning the carousel in the opposite direction when the infant releases the bar 48. The spiral coil spring 68 is mounted beneath the bobbin flange 30 and between the bobbin and the bottom wall of the hollow portion 42. The inner end 70 of the spiral coil spring 68 is inserted into a slot 72 in the sleeve 39 while the outer end 74 of the spring 68 is looped and positioned over a post 76 which projects upwardly from the bottom of the hollow portion 42. Thus, the spring is biased between the sleeve 38 (in effect, the carousel) and the post 74 (in effect, the frame 12). When the bar 48 is pulled downwardly the cord unwinds from the bobbin 26 at the same time winding the spring 68 and storing rotational energy therein. Upon release of the bar 48 the spring 68 is free to rotate the carousel in the opposite direction while simultaneously rewinding the cord about the bobbin.

It should be noted at this time that when the infant pulls the bar 48 he is not only causing the carousel to spin, but he is increasing the energy stored in the spring 68 and pulling against the bias of said spring. At early stages in the infants development he will only be able to pull the bar down with both hands; for this reason, the bar 48 is of suflicient length to permit both of the infants hands to grasp different portions of the bar.

In order to provide an attractive and attention attracting audible amusement which is actuated simultaneously with the spinning of the carousel, a plurality of tiny figurines 78 are suspended from the umbrella top by strings. Each figurine is mounted on a string, the free end of which is threaded through an opening in the undersurface of the umbrella top 20. When the carousel spins, each figurine suspended therefrom will also spin about the shaft and the centrifugal force will swing the figurine 78 radially outwardly so that its circular path of travel will have a greater radius than the distance between the opening in the umbrella top 20 through wihch the string passes and the shaft 30.

To produce an audible sound, the figurines traveling in their spinning path strike bells '80 which are suspended from the upper portion of the oval frame 12 adjacent the ends thereof so that they are pendautly positioned within the path of the spinning figurines. The bells 80 are suspended on flexible strings 82 which are secured at their opposite ends through openings in the frame 12. When the carousel spins, each bell will be struck by the passing figurines to produce an attention attracting and amusing audibly perceptible signal to the infants delight.

A further amusement and exercising feature included in the invention is the provision of pull rings 84 which are rotatably secured to the lower portion of the frame 12 in symmetrically disposed positions spaced from the trapeze bar 48. The rings 84 are secured on the frame 12 through studs 86 which are integrally formed with the frame and project downwardly therefrom. The studs '86 project into openings in the rings 84 and the diameter of the studs is less than that of the openings so that the rings are free to rotate. The ends of the studs are suitably enlarged to prevent disengagement of the rings 84.

The rotatable rings 84 are also gaily colored and preferably fabricated of lightweight plastic. The rings 84 provide an additional exercising and amusement feature to attract the infants attention. The infant will have the opportunity to either grasp and pull down upon the trapeze bar 48 to actuate the carousel and figurines and additionally the bells 80 or will have the opportunity to also either spin the rings 84 about the studs 86 or grasp the rings 84 in an attempt to pull himself up. The studs 86 are of sufficient strength to permit the infant to actually physically pull himself up from the mattress surface of the crib.

An alternate embodiment of the device 10a is illustrated in FIG. 5. This embodiment includes a similarly consturcted oval frame 12a which is supported from the side rails of the crib in an identical manner to that of the preferred embodiment. This embodiment employs a different engagement between the trapeze 'bar 48a and the carousel 18a for rotating the carousel.

The upper end of the carousel 18a is journalled for rotation with respect to the frame 12a through a pin 34a. The lower end of the carousel 18a does not include a bobbin but includes a cylindrical sleeve 88 which engages the bottom of the frame 12a. A rod 90 projects upwardly from the center of the bar 48a through an opening in the bottom of the frame 12a and into the hollow carousel 18a. A helically twisted strip 92 extends from the end of the rod 90 further into the hollow carousel 18a. The strip 92 passes through a slot 94 positioned in a plate 96 which is mounted within the carousel on rigidly attached flanges 98 which project inwardly from the walls of the carousel. An abutment plate 100 is mounted on the end of the helical strip 92 and a helical compression spring 102 is positioned between the plate 100 and the plate 96 and urges the strip 92 to a position wherein it is drawn to the top of the carousel18a.

It will be noted that when an infant grasps the bar 48a and pulls the same downwardly, the rod 90 will descend along with the helically twisted strip 92. When the strip 92 travels past the slot 94 the carousel is caused to rotate. Such rotation continues until the spring is fully compressed. The spring 102 will have thus stored energy while the strip 92 was pulled downwardly. Upon release of the bar 48a the spring 102 pulls the strip 92 and the rod 90 upwardly into the carousel 18a. The rod 90 is suitably keyed (e.g. of non-circular cross section) with respect to the frame 12a so that it will not rotate when the spring 102 pulls the rod upwardly. The keyed portion 106 of the rod 90 projects radially from the rod and the upper end thereof acts as a stop, which abuts the bottom of the flange 98 to limit the return movement of the rod 90. The keyed portion 106 mates with a non-circular enlarged slot 108 which extends through the lower portion of the frame 12a. When the bar 48a is released from the downstrokeposition the keying engagement prevents rotation of the rod 90, with respect to the frame, thus the carousel will spin with respect to the frame.

It will thus be evident that as a childs sensory perception develops, the present exercising and amusement device will be well suited for maintaining the childs interest as well as developing the childs basic senses. Indeed, an important feature of the invention resides in the fact that the device increases in utility while the infant develops. When an infant is very young, he will merely be attracted by the shapes present in the device. Subsequently, his attraction will increase as he observes the various colors of the device. During these initial stages of the childs development, the parent may suitably activate the carousel and its audible amusement signals by pulling on the trapeze bar. After this, the child himself will acquire an interest in activating the device by pulling the trapeze bar and, to his delight, he will observe the spinning carousel and hear the pleasant sound of the bells. The force required to pull the trapeze bar is such that it is well within the capabilities of the growing infant, and it additionally is such that it promotes muscular development and coordination which is so necessary in these early stages of child development.

It should be noted that the trapeze bar is in the order of approximately A2 to 6 inches from end to end and may be readily grasped by the infant with both hands. Thus the device is actuable by the infant even if he is physically unable to pull the bar down with a single hand. He may, of course, use one hand when his strength increases.

The inclusion of the rotatable rings on the underside of the oval frame is a feature which provides for early stimulation of the infant who may manually rotate the rings and thus develop muscular coordination in his hands. A further feature which the rings provide is that of chinning handles by which the infant may attempt to lift himself from the mattress of the crib. This, of course will come at a later stage of the infants development wherein his muscles have reached these physical capabilities.

Thus, it will be seen that there are provided crib exercise and amusement devices which achieve the various objects of the invention and which are well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the present invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein described or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described the present invention, there is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent:

1. A crib exercise and amusement device suitable for maintaining an infants interest and promoting the infants sensory perception development, said device comprising a frame, means for supporting said frame from the side cage walls of an infants crib so that the frame is positioned over the crib mattress, an animatable activity member, means mounting said activity member on the frame for movement relative to the frame, infant actuatable means for animating the activity member, said infant actuatable means including a horizontal trapeze bar, said bar being of a length sufiicient to be grasped simultaneously by both hands of the infant, and means kinematically interconnecting the trapeze bar and the activity member, said last named means animating the activity member when the trapeze bar is pulled down- Wardly by the infant, said infant actuatable means further including an energy storage means, said energy storage means storing energy when the trapeze bar is pulled downwardly and means interconnecting said energy storage means and the trapeze bar so that the trapeze bar is pulled upwardly and the activity member is animated when the trapeze bar is released by the infant to permit the energy storage means to dissipate its stored energy.

2. -A device constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the activity member is rotatably mounted.

3. A device constructed in accordance with claim 2 wherein the activity member includes an enlarged top and wherein the device includes a plurality of figurines, and means suspending the figurines from the enlarged top, the figurines rotating with the activity member when the infant actuatable means is actuated, the rotating figurines being swung outwardly from the rotational axis of the activity member by centrifugal force.

4. A device constructed in accordance with claim. 3 wherein audible amusement means are included, said audible amusement means comprising a percussion actuatable device, said percussion actuatable device being positioned in the path of the rotating figurines, the rotating figurines striking the percussion actuatable device when the activity member is spinning.

5. A device constructed in accordance with claim 2 wherin the energy storage means comprises a spiral coil spring, one end of the spiral coil spring being in engagement with the activity member, and the other end of the spiral coil spring being in engagement with the frame.

6. A device constructed in accordance with claim 5 wherein the means kinematically interconnecting the trapeze bar and the activity member includes a cylindrical bobbin, said bobbin being unitarily formed with the activity member, and a cord having an intermediate point connected to the bobbin and spaced portions connected to spaced portions of the trapeze bar.

7. A device constructed in accordance with claim 6 wherein the spaced portions of the cord are connected to the trapeze bar adjacent each end thereof.

8. A device constructed in accordance with claim 2 wherein the means kinematically interconnecting the trapeze bar and the activity member includes a vertical rod extending coaxially from the trapeze bar into the activity member, said last mentioned means further including a helically twisted strip, means securing the rod to the strip, the activity member including a slot, the strip extending through the slot so that when the bar is pulled downwardly the strip rotates the activity member.

9. A device constructed in accordance with claim 8 wherein the energy storage means includes a compression spring, the helically twisted strip including an abutment at the end thereof remote from the rod, the compression spring urging the abutment end of the helically twisted strip away from the slot.

'10. A crib exercising and amusement device suitable for maintaining an infants interest and promoting sensory perception development in the early stages of child development, said device comprising an oval frame, means supporting said frame from the side cage walls of an infants crib so that the frame is positioned over a crib mattress, the oval frame having upper and lower reaches, an animatable activity member, means rotatably mounting said member between the reaches of the oval frame for movement about a fixed axis and means for rotating the rotatable mounting means, the last mentioned means including a hand engageable member and means connecting the hand engageable member with the rotatable mounting means, to allow said hand engageable member to move translationally relative to the frame.

11. An infant exercising and amusement device, said device comprising a frame, means mounting said frame on a crib in a position over a mattress, said mounting means maintaining a frame at a fixed elevation relative to the mattress, an infant hand engageable exercise bar, said bar being disposed beneath the frame and within an infants reach, means mounting the bar for translational movement relative to the frame between an relaxed uppermost position and an extended lower position, means biasing said bar toward said uppermost position, said biasing means yielding to permit an infant to pull the bar downwardly, infant engageable hand grips, means mounting said hand grips beneath and to the frame and within an infants reach, the hand grip mounting means maintaining the hand grips at fixed elevations beneath the frame, whereby an infant has the option to exercise by either pulling the bar downwardly against the force of the biasing means or lifting himself from the mattress by pulling on the hand grips.

12. A device constructed in accordance with claim 11 wherein means is included to journal the hand grips for rotation with respect to the frame.

13. A device constructed in accordance with claim 11 wherein the exercise bar is of a length sufficient to be simultaneously gripped with both hands.

14. A device constructed in accordance with claim '11 wherein an activity member is included, means mounting the activity member on the frame for movement relative to the frame and means kinematically interconnecting the exercise bar and the activity member to move the activity member when the exercise bar is pulled.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1943 Eisel 272--61 8/1958 Handler 272-31 R 1/1961 Gjertsen 46175 X 2/1963 Mayer 272-61 X 6/1965 Sexe et al. 272 83 R RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner W. R. BROWNE, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X. R.