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Slip resistant stationary baby walker

Slip resistant stationary baby walker description/claims

The present invention generally relates to baby walkers, and more particularly to a stationary baby walker with a slip resistant mat allowing a child to safely practice walking.

Baby walkers are used to allow children to safely practice walking. Such walkers may be comprised of a mobile structure. A child may freely move about via this structure while practicing walking. Known prior art of this design is typified by U.S. Pat. No. 4,773,639 (filed May 13, 1987).

A disadvantage of baby walkers comprised of a mobile structure is the uncertainty of where the child may take the structure. There is a substantial risk that the child may roam off in the walker. Worse still is the possibility that a child may maneuver over an edge, namely the edge of a set of stairs, and get injured. If a child maneuvers over an edge of a set of stairs, the child may either fall out of the walker or the child may fall while remaining in the walker.

An estimated 8800 children under the age of 15 months were treated in hospital emergency rooms in 1999 for injuries associated with the use of mobile infant walkers. Committee on Injury and Poison Prevention, Injuries Associated with Infant Walkers, Pediatrics, Vol. 108, No. 3, September 2001, at 790. In fact, between 1973 and 1998, thirty four deaths associated with the use of mobile infant walkers were reported to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Stairs were implicated in as many as 96% of cases of infant falls, either falls from the mobile walker or falls with the infant remaining in the mobile walker. Stairs were also implicated in almost every case resulting in severe injuries.

To avoid these problems, baby walkers may alternatively be comprised of a fixed stationary frame with a mobile inner component. Walkers of this variety allow a child to practice walking by moving about in a finite space while supported on a mobile seat. Known prior art of this design is typified by U.S. Pat. No. 6,001,047 (filed Mar. 5, 1998).

A disadvantage of baby walkers comprised of a fixed stationary frame with a mobile inner component is the requirement that such a device be placed on a surface which provides the child traction (e.g., carpet). If the unit is placed on a low friction surface (e.g., linoleum), the child will be unable to practice walking due to lack of traction.

The present invention provides a stationary walker including a frame, a movable inner seat, and a slip resistant mat on which a child may walk. The stationary walker may be placed on any surface, including slippery surfaces (e.g., linoleum), and still the child may practice walking. The slip resistant mat will also help keep the child's feet clean even if the stationary walker is placed, for instance, outside on grass or dirt.

In one embodiment of the invention, a stationary baby walker having a horizontally oriented rectangular upper frame including a rail system is provided. At a horizontal plane below the level of the horizontally oriented rectangular upper extent, but above the level of the floor, a slip resistant mat is located. This slip resistant mat encompasses substantially the entire surface area below the vertical projections of the inner or outer edges of the horizontally oriented rectangular upper extent. The slip resistant mat may also encompass some other area. The mat is designed to provide traction for the child. A child may thus utilize the stationary walker and practice walking independent of the surface upon which the walker is placed.

A plurality of interchangeable toys may be provided to encourage the child to walk back and forth in the stationary walker. These toys may include teethers which massage the gums, toys with mirrors, and even simple electronic devices which light up or make noise. These interchangeable toys may be removably affixed to the frame.

The above mentioned and other features of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a baby walker with a slip resistant mat according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the frame of the baby walker with a slip resistant mat according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the seat assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the rail and side bar connection.

FIG. 5 is an exploded cross-sectional view of the rail and seat assembly, according to one embodiment of the present invention, taken along line 1-1 shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the rail and seat assembly, according to another embodiment of the present invention, taken along line 1-1 shown in FIG. 2.

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• Utility Patent

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