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Orbital walker with activity tableOrbital walker with activity table description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070200397, Orbital walker with activity table. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/036,199 filed Jan. 14, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, and which claims priority from provisional U.S. Patent Application No. 60/536,784 entitled "Orbital Walker with Activity Table," which was filed on Jan. 16, 2004 and which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Stationary walkers are used to assist children in the development of the leg muscles and coordination needed for walking. A typical stationary walker includes a seat portion that is positioned in the center of a walker and is at least partially surrounded by an annular-shaped activity tray. The activity tray includes toys that entertain the child. The stationary walker is held in a stationary position by legs that extend downwardly from the activity tray. In most stationary walkers, the seat portion can rotate 360.degree., independently of the activity tray, about an axis of rotation that is defined by the center of the seat portion. [0003] An orbital walker differs from a stationary walker in that the orbital walker includes a seat portion that is connected to a stationary platform and configured to move along an orbital path around the center of the stationary platform. A child in the seat portion can move his or her legs along the floor to cause the seat portion to travel along the orbital path. This type of walker allows the child to practice the skill of walking while preventing the child from moving outside of the orbital path. [0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,433,682 to Fermaglich ("the '682 patent") discloses an orbital walker that includes a combined tray and seat that are attached to a stationary base such that the tray and seat can be revolved conjointly around the base in an orbital manner. However, because the tray, which can contain toys, moves with the child, the child has greatly reduced motivation to move itself around the stationary base. [0005] U.S. Pat. No. 5,211,607 to Fermaglich ("the '607 patent") discloses an orbital walker that includes a central activity tray separate from the seat portion, allowing the child to move in an orbital path around the activity tray. For one orbital walker, the seat assembly is attached to one end of a V-shaped mounting arm. The center of the mounting arm is rotatably connected to a central vertical rod extending upwardly from a support surface and supporting an activity table, and a counterweight is mounted to the opposite end of the arm to prevent the seat assembly from tipping over. [0006] U.S. Pat. No. 3,127,170 to Caster ("the '170 patent") discloses a play table top mounted on top of a vertical column and a chair that is attached to a horizontal rod extending from the vertical column. An L-shaped rod is provided that extends vertically from the bottom of the seat and then inwardly towards the vertical column. The end of the horizontal leg of the L-shaped rod engages a lower track, which is positioned around the perimeter of a lower base supporting the vertical column. The lower base is supported by wheeled legs above the support surface. The child moves around the table by using its arms to pull itself around the table and its legs to push against the lower base to move around the table. However, because the chair is not designed with the intent that the child can stand up while positioned therein, the walker does not assist a child with the development of the leg muscles needed for walking as much as a walker wherein a child can stand. [0007] U.S. Pat. No. 2,499,164 to Richardson ("the '164 patent") discloses a swing or seat that is suspended downwardly from the center of an inverted U-shaped frame. The center of the frame is attached to a horizontal arm, and the horizontal arm is rotatably attached to a vertical rod, allowing the frame and seat to rotate around the vertical rod. A play table is attached to the vertical rod between the floor and the position of the horizontal arm on the vertical rod. The seat is suspended from the center of the U-shaped frame by a tension spring. The spring allows a child seated in the swing to bounce vertically and swing through the frame, and wheels attached to the bottom of the frame allow the child to move the seat and frame in an orbital path around the activity table. However, the U-shaped frame and the members supporting the sling make it difficult for parents or other caregivers to place the child in the sling and remove the child from the sling. In addition, the assembly does not allow the child to rotate about the central axis of the seat, meaning that the walking function permits only a sideways walking direction. [0008] Therefore, an unsatisfied need in the art exists for an orbital walker that is able to move in an orbital path around an activity table and provide an easily assembled support structure that prevents a child seated in the walker from tipping over. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] The invention is directed to a children's exercise and activity apparatus for providing cognitive development activities for small children and exercise functionality. The apparatus includes an activity table adapted for receiving one or more children's activity items, a seat for supporting a child above the floor, a connecting beam for connecting the seat to the activity table at a location on the activity table below an upper surface of the activity table, and one or more legs connected to and depending downwardly from the seat to the floor to support the seat and prevent the seat from tipping over when a child is supported therein. The seat has a pair of leg openings that allow the child to touch the floor with its legs, and the connecting beam is rotatably connected to the activity table so that the child in the seat can travel in an orbital path around the activity table. [0010] In one embodiment, the connecting beam includes an annular collar that fits around a pedestal that supports the activity table. The annular collar further includes a draw latch fastener to secure the collar around the pedestal quickly and easily, preventing the annular collar and connecting beam from moving away from the pedestal while a child is in the seat. [0011] In another embodiment, the range of motion that the seat can travel around the activity table can be partially limited by engaging a locking pin through the connecting beam and into an annular raceway positioned on the underside of the activity table. The motion of the seat can also be fully limited by engaging the locking pin through the connecting beam and into a stop hole located on the underside of the activity table. [0012] In another embodiment of the invention, a seat assembly is provided that includes a seat for supporting a child above a floor, a connecting beam for connecting the seat adjacent an activity table, an annular collar for securing the connecting beam to a pedestal supporting the activity table, and one or more legs depending from the seat to the floor to prevent the seat from tipping over when a child is supported therein. The seat includes a pair of leg openings that allow the child to touch the floor with its legs. The annular collar includes two segments that are hingedly connected at one end and move apart at the other ends to fit around the pedestal supporting an activity table, and the ends of the annular collar are fastened together after the collar is fit around the pedestal to prevent the connecting beam from moving away from the pedestal. [0013] The activity table can advantageously be adapted for receiving one or more children's activity items and for use with a seat to support a child. A pedestal extends between a base supported on a floor and the activity table. The activity table has an upper surface for supporting activity items when placed thereon. The pedestal includes an annular upper shelf and an annular lower shelf, and the surface of the pedestal between the shelves is adapted for receiving an annular collar of a beam configured for rotatably connecting the seat to the table. In addition, the surface is adapted for allowing a child in the seat to travel in an orbital path around the table. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0014] Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein: [0015] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an orbital walker according to one embodiment of the invention; [0016] FIG. 2 shows a side view of an orbital walker according to one embodiment of the invention; [0017] FIG. 3 shows a top view of an orbital walker according to one embodiment of the invention; [0018] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an orbital walker according to one embodiment of the invention; [0019] FIG. 5 shows a side view of a pedestal and an annular collar of a connecting beam according to one embodiment of the invention; [0020] FIG. 6 shows a side view of a pedestal and an annular collar of a connecting beam according to one embodiment of the invention; Continue reading about Orbital walker with activity table... Full patent description for Orbital walker with activity table Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Orbital walker with activity table patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Orbital walker with activity table or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Patient support table Next Patent Application: Climate controlled seat Industry Class: Chairs and seats ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Orbital walker with activity table patent info. 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