US2588104A - Upright baby walker - Google Patents

Description

March 4, 1952 H. E. FOX 2,588,104

UPRIGHT BABY WALKER 2 SHEE'IfS-SHEET 1 Filed June 20, 1950 I N VEN TOR.

ATTD RN EYS March 4, 1952 H. E. FOX

UPRIGHT BABY WALKER 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed June 20 1950 INVENTOR. H6 21? E j 0 z,

ATTIJRN EYE Patented Mar. 4, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE UPRLIGHT BABY WALKER Helen E. Fox, El Paso, Tex.

. Application June 20, 1950, Serial No. 169,221

This invention relates to a mechanism for assisting and inducing a baby to learn to walk.

The object of the invention is to provide an upright walker for babies which will furnish a support for a baby or child learning to walk, and also assist and induce the child to learn to take steps.

Another object of the invention is to provide a baby walker which is constructed as an attractive mechanical toy that includes simulated animals that are actuated for the amusement and fascination of the child as the child pushes the assembly along in learning to walk.

A further object of the invention is to provide a baby walker which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure l is a side elevational view of the baby walker of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a rear elevational view of the baby walker of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the assembly;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on' the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral l designates a carriage which may be fabricated of any suitable material, such as wood, and the carriage l8 includes a pair of spaced, parallel, vertically disposed side members H. Extending between the rear ends of the side members H is a horizontal disposed rear axle 12, Figure 5. A trunnion I4 projects into each end of the rear axle l2, and a large ground-engaging wheel IE is connected to each of the trunnions l4.

Extending between the front ends of the pair of side members II is a support member [6, the support member l6 being secured to the side members II by any suitable means. A trunnion I"! projects into each end of the support member l6, and each of the trunnions ll serves to support a small ground-engaging front wheel I8. Thus, the carriage is mobile and can be pushed along by a baby or child learning to walk.

Extending upwardly from the side members II is a pair of vertically disposed, spaced, parallel uprights IS, the uprights 19 having their Claims. (Cl. 15522) lower ends secured to the side members. A horizontally disposed handlebar 20 extends between the upper ends of the uprights l9 and is secured thereto, the handlebar being adapted to be gripped by the babys hands when the baby walker of the present invention is being used.

Extending between the pair of side member H and secured thereto is a bar 2!, the bar 2| being arranged forwardly of the rear axle l2. The bar 21 is provided with a plurality of cutouts or slots 22. Extending through each of the cutouts 22, is a lever 24, and pins 23 serve to pivotally connect the levers 24 to the bar 2|. Thus, it will be seen that the levers 24 can be made to pivot about a horizontal axis extending through the pins 23.

For causing pivotal movement of the levers 24, a plurality of 'dowel pins 25 are mounted in the rear axle I2, the ends of the dowel pins 25 projecting beyond the axle l2. These dowel pins 25 are preferably spaced from each other and are arranged at l20-degree angles apart. Thus, as the assembly is pushed along by the child, the wheels [5 rotate to thereby cause rotation of the 'trunnions [4. The inner ends of the trunnions M are secured to the rear axle i2, and the rear axle I2 is rotatably arranged between the side members ll. Thus, rotation of the wheels [5 causes the rear axle l2 to rotate to thereby move the dowel pins 25 into and out of engagement with the rear ends of the levers 24 to thereby cause oscillation or pivotal movement of the levers 24. Mounted on the front end of each of the levers 24 is a toy or body member 26 which preferably has the configuration of an animal, Figure 4. Thus, as the levers 24 are caused to pivot, the animated body members 26 will move up and down to thereby provide a source of amusement and fascination to the child. A

bumper 21, which may be fabricated of any suitable material such as rubber, is secured to the lower front surface of each of the levers 24, and the bumpers 21 serve to prevent the front ends of the levers 24 from banging against the support member 16. A back wall 28 extends between the side members ll and is secured thereto, and a front section 29 is arranged in spaced, parallel relation with respect to the back wall 28, the front section 29 also being secured to the pair of side members II. A top wall 30 extends between the members 29 and 28, and also between the pair of side members I I, and is secured thereto, so that the members 28, 29 and 3t coact to enclose the rotating dowel pins and other moving parts, so that injury to the child will be prevented, as well as providing an attractive appearance.

In use, the child or baby learning to walk grips the handlebar and is thereby provided with a support. Then, the child pushes the baby walker along the ground or floor, so that the wheels I5 are rotated. This rotation of the wheels l5 causes turning movement of the trunnions M which in turn causes rotation of the rear axle l2. As the axle I2 rotates, it causes the dowel pins to move into and out of engagement with the rear ends of the levers 24 to thereby pivot the levers 24 about the pins 23. This pivotal movement of the levers 24 causes up-and-down movement of the toy body members 26 to thereby provide a source of amusement and fascination to the baby as it is learning to walk or take steps.

The baby walker of the present invention will assist the baby in learning to walk by supporting it in a standing position while it is taking its first steps, instead of having the baby sit on a mechanism and push itself around the floor.

As the baby pushes the walker of the present invention along by means of the handlebar 20, the three wooden animals 26 are animated or moved up and down by the cam action of the dowel pins 25 which strike the levers 24.

The side members I I are cut away adjacent the front portions thereof, so that movement of the animals 26 can be observed. Also, the baby walker of the present invention is simple and inexpensive to manufacture. If desired, rubber tires can be added to the wheels, and metal parts can be used for strengthening the various parts of the carriage. invention will help to develop and exercise the childs muscles used in walking, and develop its coordination in standing and walking. The bobbing up and down of the animals 26 fascinates the baby, while the walker offers enough support to help him overcome his fear of falling in taking his first steps. The baby walker of the present invention can be painted in any desired colors, and is safe and easy for the baby to handle. The four-wheel support insures that the baby walker will be properly balanced and less likely to tip over and cause the baby to fall.

I claim:

1. In a baby walker, a carriage, wheels supporting said carriage, a pair of spaced, parallel, vertically disposed uprights projecting upwardly from said carriage and secured thereto, a handlebar extending between the upper ends of said uprights and secured thereto, a plurality of levers pivotally supported by said carriage, a body member having the configuration of an animal supported by each of said levers, and means for causing pivotal movement of said levers upon movement of said carriage.

2. In a baby walker, a carriage, wheels supporting said carriage, a pair of spaced, parallel, vertically disposed uprights projecting upwardly from said carriage and secured thereto, a handlebar extending between the upper ends of said uprights and secured thereto, a plurality of levers pivotally supported by said carriage, a body member having the configuration of an animal supported by each of said levers, and means for causing pivotal movement of said levers upon movement of said carriage, said means comprising a rotating axle supported by said carriage and The mechanism of the present 4 a plurality of spaced dowel pins projecting from said axle for engagement with said levers.

3. A baby walker comprising a carriage, said carriage including a pair of spaced, parallel side members, a pair of spaced, parallel, vertically disposed uprights projecting upwardly from said side members and secured thereto, a handlebar extending between the upper ends of said uprights and secured thereto, a rotating rear axle extending between said side members, a pair of rear wheels operatively connected to said rear axle, a bar arranged forwardly of said axle and extending between said side members, there being a plurality of spaced cutouts in said bar, a lever extending through each of said cutouts and pivotally connected to said bar, a plurality of spaced dowel pins carried by said axle for engaging said levers and causing pivotal movement thereof, a body member having the configuration of an animal supported on the front end of each of said levers, a support member extending between the front ends of said side members and secured thereto, and a pair of front wheels operatively connected to said support member.

4. A baby walker comprising a carriage, said carriage including a pair of spaced, parallel side members, a pair of spaced, parallel, vertically disposed uprights projecting upwardly from said side members and secured thereto, a handlebar extending between the upper ends of said uprights and secured thereto, a rotating rear axle extending between said side members, a pair of rear wheels operatively connected to said rear axle, a bar arranged forwardly of said axle and extending between said side members, there being a plurality of spaced cutouts in said bar, a lever extending through each of said cutouts and pivotally connected to said bar, a plurality of spaced dowel pins carried by said axle for engaging said levers and causing pivotal movement thereof, a body member having the configuration of an animal supported on the front end of each of said levers, a support member extending between the front ends of said side members and secured thereto, a pair of front wheels operatively connected to said support member, and a bumper connected to the lower front end of each of said levers to support said support member.

5. The apparatus as described in claim 2 and further including a supporting member forming a part of said carriage and located below the front ends of said levers, and a bumper arranged on the under side of the front end of each of said levers, the bumpers being adapted, during the final phase of the downward movement of the front ends of said levers, to contact said supporting member and thus prevent the banging of the levers against said support member.

HELEN E. FOX.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 202,724 Headler Apr. 23, 1878 233,628 Kyser et a1 Oct. 26, 1880 257,185 Price May 2, 1882 906,471 Townsend Dec. 8, 1908 1,729,557 Stoll Sept. 24, 1929

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