US2871914A - Baby stair trainer - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 3,1959

E. TIMONEY BABY STAIR TRAINER Filed July 8, 1957 FIG. 4

INVENTOR. ROBERT E. TIMONEY United States Patent BABY STAIR TRAINER Robert E. Timoney, Long Island City, N. Y.

Application July 8, 1957, Serial No. 670,449

3 Claims. (Cl. 155-22) Generally speaking, the present invention relates to the baby training art and, more particularly, relates to an improved baby stair trainer cooperable for teaching babies to climb and descend a series of stairs safely.

One of the diflicult things a baby must learn is to safely climb and descend stairs. Normally, this is generally a hit or miss proposition with the baby learning by trial and error without the benefit of any competent instructions or safety devices. Frequently, many serious accidents occur because the child has not become familiar with the technique of ascending and descending stairs. Virtually the only way to teach a child to climb and descend stairs, known to applicant, is the personal teaching of the parent instructing the child. This is not advantageous since the parent does not usually take very much time to really instruct the child in a competent manner and, in the last analysis, the child must teach himself.

Applicants invention was developed primarily to overcome the aforementioned problems and, generally speaking, can be said to consist of a portable longitudinal walkway having a plurality of stairs at the ends thereof. I

A duplex of spaced elevated rail means are attached adjacent the longitudinal borders of the portable walkway. A duplex of strap means slidably mount an adjustable belt with respect to the rail means. Stop means are provided on the rail means to limit the slidable travel of the belt and straps. The adjustable belt loosely surrounds the waist of the child, whereby the baby may turn completely around therein without disengaging the belt from his waist.

From the above description of basic and generic forms of the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that virtually all of the hereinbefore mentioned prior art problems and/or disadvantages are substantially entirely eliminated, met and/ or overcome in and through use of the present invention.

For example, it is obvious that the belt may be rapidly and easily put around the waist of the child, and that, when positioned therearonnd, it is safely, yet loosely, positioned with respect to the child in a manner which virtually completely eliminates the likelihood that the child will slip out or fall down.

With the above points in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide a portable stair trainer which will safely and easily teach a small child to climb and descend stairs.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a baby stair trainer which will be a source of pleasure and exercise to children.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device of the character set forth in the preceding objects, which is inexpensive, simple, easy to use and of virtually foolproof and safe construction.

Other and allied objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a careful perusal, examination and study of the accompanying illustrations, the present specification, and the appended claims.

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Fig. 1 is a top plan view of one illustrative embodiment of the present invention, without the belt or. the straps slidably attached with respect to the rails;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the illustrative embodiment shown in Fig. 1, and showing the slidable mounting of the belt and the strap means;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the illustrative embodiment shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal elevational view of the illustrative embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 3; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the adjustable belt and the strap means, asshown in Fig. 2.

Generally speaking the baby stair trainer, indicated generally at 6 in Figs. 1-4, includes a longitudinal portable walkway 7 having a plurality of stairs 8 at the ends thereof. The walkway 7 is mounted to the base 9. In the particular example illustrated in Figs. 1-4, the walkway 7 is an integral piece and has only three stairs 3 at each end. However, any number of stairs 8 may be used and the walkway 7 may be comprised of several sections so as to facilitate the storage and shipping of the baby stair trainer 6. Also the treads and the risers of the stairs 8 may vary considerably in dimensions.

Rail means, in the particular example illustrated in Figs. 1-4, are in the form of double rail means provided with an inner rail 10 and an outer rail 11 which are afiixed together at the junctions 12. The outer rail 11 serves as a hand rail for the child. A duplex of double rail means are provided and are attached adjacent the ends of the portable walkway 7 and extended therebetween adjacent the longitudinal borders of the portable walkway 7. Mounting brackets 13 are provided at the ends of the outer rails 11 whereby the rails 10 and 11 may be removably attached with respect to the walkway 7, as shown in Figs. 2-4. Usually the mounting brackets 13 are aflixed to the lower one of the stairs 8, although this is not to be a limitation and the brackets 13 maybe attached, as, for example, to the base 9.

A belt 14 has a buckle 16 including a prong 17 whereby the prong 17 may be inserted into the adjustment apertures 18 in order to adjustably position the baby therein or to release the baby. In the event that the baby may fall, the belt 14 is designed to take hold of the baby around his arm pit region.

Laterally disposed pivot pins 19 which have adjusting ringlets 20 are attached with respect to the adjustable belt 14, whereby the snaps 21 of the strap means 15 may be lockingly engaged therein, as best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5. The straps 15 are slidably mounted to the inner rails 10, as best shown in Fig. 2, and firmly, yet slidably, mount the belt 14 with respect to the inner rails 10. A duplex of straps 15 are provided and may be made from suitable canvas, leather, or the like.

Stop means, in this particular version, are defined by the junctions 12 in which the inner rail 10 and the outer rail 11 are joined, as shown in Figs. 1-3. Other stop means may be used, as, for example, cross bar members or the like.

The stop means 12 are cooperable for limiting the slidable longitudinal travel of the adjustable belt 14 and the strap means 15. Said stop means 12 are so elevated that, if the baby should fall or stumble, he or she will be maintained in a virtually erect position. The adjustable belt 14 is cooperable for loosely surrounding the waist of a baby, whereby the baby may turn completely around therein. Thus, the baby after ascending and descending the stairs 8 in one direction can make a complete turnaround and climb and descend the stairs 8 in the opposite direction, whereby in a short time the baby may safely learn how to climb and descend a series of stairs 8.

Numerous modifications and variations of the present invention will occur to those skilled in the art after a careful study hereof. All such properly within the basic spirit, scope and/or teachings of the present invention are intended to be included and comprehended herein as fully as if specifically described, illustrated and claimed.

For example, it is obvious that the double rail means of the present invention may be modified so as to be only single rail means and that the stop means may be modified substantially and include a cross bar or the like. Also, the adjustable belt and the straps may be modified substantially other than as specifically described and "illustrated herein.

The exact compositions, configurations, constructions, relative positionings, and cooperative relationships of the various component parts of the present invention are not critical, and can be modified substantially within the spirit of the present invention.

The embodiments of the present invention specifically described and illustrated herein are exemplary only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, which is to be interpreted in the light of the prior art and the appended claims only, with due consideration for the doctrine of equivalents.

I claim:

1. A baby stair trainer cooperable for teaching babies to climb and descend a series of stairs safely, comprising: a portable elongated walkway including a plurality of stairs joined to the ends thereof; a duplex of spaced elevated rail means attached adjacent the ends of said walkway and extending therebetween adjacent the longitudinal borders of said portable walkway; elevated stop means affixed to said rail means at a distance from the ends thereof; an adjustable belt cooperable for surrounding the waist of a baby, whereby the baby may turn around therein; a duplex of strap means cooperable for slidably mounting said belt with respect to said rail means; said stop means cooperable for limiting the slidable travel of said belt and said strap means.

2. A baby stair trainer cooperable for teaching babies to climb and descend a series of stairs safely, comprising: an integral portable elongated walkway including a plurality of stairs joined to the ends thereof; a duplex of spaced elevated rail means removably attached adjacent bottom stairs at each end of said walkway and extending therebetween adjacent the longitudinal borders of said portable walkway; elevated stop means afiixed to said rail means at a distance from the ends thereof; an adjustable belt cooperable for loosely surrounding the waist of a baby, whereby the baby may turn completely around therein; a duplex of strap means cooperable for slidably mounting said belt with respect to said rail means; said stop means cooperable for limiting the slidable travel of said belt and said strap means.

3. A baby stair trainer cooperable for teaching babies to climb and descend a series of stairs safely, comprising: a portable elongated Walkway including a plurality of stairs joined to the ends thereof; a duplex of spaced elevated double rail means, including an inner rail and an outer rail; said outer rail being attached adjacent the ends of said walkway and extending therebetween adjacent the longitudinal borders of said portable walkway; said inner rail being attached to said outer rail at a distance from the ends thereof, said inner rail defining stop means at the junctions of said inner rail and said outer rail; an adjustable belt cooperable for loosely surrounding the waist of a baby, whereby the baby may turn completely around therein; a duplex of strap means cooperable for slidably mounting said belt with respect to said inner rail; said st 0p means cooperable for limiting the slidable travel of said belt and said strap means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 821,391 Wiltse May 22, 1906 1,294,300 Noel Feb. 11, 1919 1,642,184 Urso Sept. 13, 1927 2,499,773 Owens May 7, 1950 2,524,971 Gray Oct. 10, 1950 2,726,714 McAndrews Dec. 13, 1955 2,812,010 Abdallah Nov. 5, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 596,738 France Aug. 14, 1925

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