US20110269368A1

US20110269368A1 - Baby sport toy bar

Info

Publication number: US20110269368A1
Application number: US13/094,786
Authority: US
Inventors: Ramachandra Rao Gudipati
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-04-30
Filing date: 2011-04-26
Publication date: 2011-11-03

Abstract

A baby sports toy bar with sporting toys suspended down from a toy holder which pivots and locks around a pivot. The pivot is held in position at the curved end of the toy support frame while the straight end of the toy support frame slides into a base tube which pivots and locks in the attachment unit that adapts to a cot/rocker. The toy support frame is operatively height adjustable and radially adjustable with reference to the base tube and the attachment unit. The sports toys include both foot sport and hand sport. There are accessories provided for the hand sport activities for the baby to use.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to introduction of professional sport to infants and toddlers while in the comfort of their cot, cradles, rockers, bouncers. This also involves developing a good hand, foot and eye coordination that plays an important part in sport at an early stage in the child's life.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

We have a wide range of sport activities played and enjoyed as a profession and recreation. But not every child has the opportunity to develop their skills to a level that would enable them to get the support to develop into professional sports personnel. This could be due to lack of interest in the sport and or basic skills required for the sport. It is widely known that the things that we teach our children as babies, they carry those skills a long way in their life, hence the importance of reading to a baby.
There is also a wide range of bouncers and rockers available in the market which have toy bars of various kinds fitted to them. But what they offer to the baby is a few toys that a baby can play with. These toys are figures of animals, shapes, and other variety of toy products. Some of these toy bars are patented such as U.S. Pat. Nos. RE 41,121, 6,811,217, 7,506,922B2 are a few to list. There are products available in the market that provide visual introduction of sport to babies which can be found on amazon.com such as Bedtime originals super sports musical mobiles, All stars sports musical mobile, li'l kids sports fan musical mobiles. There are a few musical mobiles with patents U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,025,654, 482,066,131, 5,370,570. The concept of providing a toy bar to entertain a baby either in the cot, on the floor or in a recliner chair has been in the society for well over a hundred years. But the inventions have stopped at entertaining the baby with animal figures or at visual entertainment.
The present invention is a toy bar that intends to introduce the babies to a range of sporting activities the baby can physically participate in and learn some basic skills of these sports that they get to carry forward into the rest of their lives.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one embodiment of Baby Sports Toy Bar, the toy bar comes as an attachment to the cot/cradle of the baby. The attachment includes: sporting balls suspended down from a toy holder which is held at the centre by a pivot. This pivot is held in position by a toy support frame which has a quarter arc on one side and a straight end on the other end. The straight end fits into a base tube and held in position by a tube joining locking screw and nut. The base tube is fitted into the cot attach component which is secured to the cot by means of a polyester strapping/Velcro or screw mechanism. There is sporting accessories of tennis racquet and cricket bat provided in the disclosed embodiment which are miniature in size to suit a baby.
In the second embodiment, the toy bar comes as an attachment to a rocker/bouncer with a different mechanism in place to secure the toy bar to the rocker/bouncer. In this embodiment the toy bar can be removed from the rocker/bouncer without removing the attachment that secures the toy bar as it becomes an integral part of the rocker/bouncer. Other aspects of this embodiment are similar to the first embodiment with slight changes to adapt the concept to a different environment, which are disclosed in the detailed description.
The Baby Sport Toy bar in both the embodiments has three different toys hanging down the toy holder by toy strings. The position of each toy with respect to the baby can be changed by rotating the toy holder around the pivot. The position of the toys and toy holder can also be changed by moving the toy support frame. This movement can be radial and/or vertical adjustment of the height of the toy support frame with respect to the base tube. The toy bar as a whole unit can be swung away to enable easy access to the cot/cradle/rocker/bouncer to place the baby in or take out.
These and other aspects of the invention as to their functioning are further explained in the next few sections of this document.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention has been described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Identical numbers indicate the same part or functionally identical part.

1. FIG. 1, illustrating the baby sport toy bar as an attachment to cot/cradle.

2. FIG. 2, is an exploded view of the toy holder and pivot assembly.

3. FIG. 3, is an enlarged view of the cot attach and its assembly.

4. FIG. 4, illustrating the baby sport toy bar as an attachment to rocker frame.

5. FIG. 5, illustrating the enlarged view of the rocker attach and its assembly.

6. FIG. 6, illustrating the baby sports toy bar with the toy positions changed.

7. FIG. 7, illustrating the baby sports toy bar rotated at a slight angle.

8. FIG. 8, illustrating the baby sports toy bar swung away from the cot.

9. FIG. 9, illustration the baby sports toy bar at a raised height.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The baby sports toy bar as illustrated in FIG. 1 is the described embodiment being attached to the cot 117. The baby sports toy bar in the illustration has a tennis/cricket ball 101, soccer ball 102 and a footy ball 103 suspended from the toy holder 105 with the aid of toy strings 104. The toy string in the described embodiment is a hard plastic rod that has an elastic element 137, 138 at its either ends, one end connecting to the toys while the other end connects to the holes 130 provided in the toy holder 105 and held in place by tying a knot. The toy holder 105 is held in position by the pivot 106 which is attached to the toy support frame 107.
The toy holder 105 is cone shaped disk with three holes 130 (refer to FIG. 2 for part no. 130-139) provided near its outer edge while the centre of the toy holder has hub 131 with locator key 132 projection in the hole 133 of the hub 131. The hub 131 slides over the pivot 106 with the locator key 132 sliding into one of the locating grooves 135 also called as spline teeth provided towards the bottom end of the pivot 106. The top ends of the grooves are connected with a groove 136 that runs around the circumference of the pivot 106, where the depth of this groove 136 is equal or deeper than the locating grooves 135. The holder is then held in position and prevented from falling down by a washer 137 that is attached to the pivot 106 during assembly. In this position the toy holder 105 can be lifted upwards until the locator key 132 in the toy holder hub 131 comes in contact with the toy of the groove 136 provided on the pivot 105. In this position, the toy holder 105 can be rotated around the pivot 106 by the desired amount of movement and dropping the toy holder down with the locator key 132 now in a different locator groove 135. This movement enables the user to finely position the preferred toy (101,102,103) for easy access to the baby. The toy holder 105 in this embodiment does not have a rotating motion similar to the other toy bars or musical mobiles. The toy holder 105 has a rotational movement when the user intends to offer the baby a different sporting experience otherwise it is in a fixed position. Refer to FIG. 6 illustrating the baby sports toy bar toys in a different position to the toys in FIG. 1.
The described embodiment has a toy support frame 107 which is straight towards one end and has a quarter arc towards the other end. At the end of this quarter arc is fitted a pivot 106. The toy holder 105 locates and pivots around this pivot 106.
The straight end of the toy support frame 107 is further located and slides inside a base tube 108. The top end of the base tube 108 is fitted with a locking screw 109 and a locking nut 110. There is a vertically split conical 157 section as an integral part of the locking screw 109 on the top. The locking nut 110 has a matching complete conical 158 on the top. The locking nut 110 when screwed on to the locking screw 109 and tightened, the conical 158 on the locking nut compresses the split conical 157 of the locking screw 109, clamping the locking screw 109 on to the toy support frame 107, securing it the base tube 108. This mechanism is put to use when the user wants to increase or reduce the height of the toy bar with respect to the baby where in the user loosens the locking nut 110, slides the toy support frame 107 up or down and tightens the locking nut 110 securing the relationship between the toy support frame 107 and the base tube 108. Refer to FIG. 9 to view the baby sports toy bar at a raised height. This mechanism of clamping and loosening of the toy support frame 107 with respect to the base tube 108 also enables positioning the toy (101,102,103) and the toy holder 105 in a different position to offer the baby a different play experience and develop a different set of skills. Refer to FIG. 7 to see the baby sports toy bar at a slightly different angular position as compared to FIG. 1.
The described embodiment has a cot attach 111 component that is secured to the cot 117 by means of 2 Velcro straps 113 which wrap around the cot 117 structural frame. There is a hole 141 (refer to FIG. 3 for part no. 140-160) provided towards one side of this cot attach 111 for the base tube 108 to slide through. A slot 142 in the cot attach cuts through this hole 141 such that there is a top portion 145 and a bottom portion 146 of the hole with a gap equal to the size of the slot 142 in between. Two locking grooves 143,144 are made at 90 degrees or more to each other on the face of this slot 142 that would be the bottom face if the cot attach 111 were to be held in its correct orientation as shown in the FIG. 1.
In the opening generated by the intersection of this slot 142 and hole 141 in the cot attach 111, is located the base tube clamp 112 which is a split bush with two rectangular extensions 151 on either sides of the split 152. In the disclosed embodiment, there is a threaded hole 153 on one rectangular extension 151 while there is a plain hole 154 bigger than the threaded hole 154 on the other rectangular extension 151. There is a clamping screw 156 that is screwed into the thread hole 154 coming through from the plain hole 154 side. The base tube 108 slides into the cot attach 111 hole 141 from the top portion 145, through the base tube clamp 112 and out through the bottom portion 146 of the cot attach 111 hole 141. Part of the base tube 108 along with the locking screw 109 and locking nut 110 stays above the top portion 145 of the cot attach 111 hole 141 while there is also part of the base tube 108 below the bottom portion 146 of the cot attach 111 hole 141. The clamping screw 156 can be tightened in this position to securing the base tube clamp 112 on to the base tube 108. The user when having got the maximum height adjustment using the toy support frame 107, gets to increase the height further by loosening the clamping screw 156 and the base tube clamp 112, move the base tube 108 higher with respect to cot attach 111 and tighten the clamping screw 156 once the user is satisfied with the new height.
There is a locking key 155 on the bottom face of the tube clamp 112. The locking key 155 engages with the one of the two locking grooves 143, 144. This locking key 155 when seated in the locking groove 143, the toy bar is within the cot and over the baby for the baby to access the toys. In the event the user wants to swing the toy bar away clear of the cot, the user lifts on the toy support frame 107 until the base tube clamp 112 comes against the top face of the slot 142 in the cot attach 111 and rotates the base tube 108 along with the base tube clamp 112 until the locking key 155 locates into the locking groove 144. Refer to FIG. 8 to view the baby sports toy bar in a swung away position.
In the described embodiment, a miniature cricket bat 114 and tennis racquet 115 as loose sporting accessories for hand sport are included to aid in the development of these skills in babies. The hand sporting accessories could change based on the most common played hand sport in the country, i.e. a polo bat could take the place of cricket bat.
The illustration in FIG. 4 is a baby sport toy bar as an attachment to rocker frame; a similar mechanism can be used for bouncers. The main difference between this embodiment and the cot attachment embodiment is the way the base tube 108 attachment mechanism, the height adjustment mechanism and the toy bar swing away mechanism. The description of this embodiment will deal only with the attachment mechanism and functioning.
The rocker attach 161 has holes 170 provided for it to be secured to the rocker frame 164 with a form shape 162 on one face to suit the shape of the framework on the rocker frame 164 where in the holes 170 are horizontal located. The rocker attach 161 can be secured to the rocker 164 using rivets or screws. The rocker attach has a hole 163 perpendicular and behind the form shape 162 such that if the tube were to fit into this hole 163, it will stand vertically upwards. On the top face of the rocker attach 161, there are three locking grooves 165, 166, 167 located around the hole 163.
The base tube 168 has a locking screw 171 which is an integral part of the base tube 168 in this described embodiment and a locking nut 172 fitted to it. The locking screw 171 has vertical split conical 173 section on the top. The locking nut 172 has a similar complete conical 174 section on the top. After sliding the toy support frame 107 into the base tube 168, tightening the locking nut 172 onto the locking screw 171, the complete conical 174 section of the nut compress the vertically split conical 173 section on the locking screw and providing a gripping force on the toy support frame 107. Loosening the locking nut 172 loosens the grip on the toy support frame 107 for it to move freely. This locking and loosening mechanism enables the height adjustment of the toy support frame 107 with respect to the base tube 168 and the rocker 164. This also allows the user to move the toy holder 105 radially into a different position with respect to the base tube 168 and the rocker 164.
In the described embodiment, the base tube 168 has a projection right underneath the threaded section of the locking screw 171. This projection is the locking key 176. When the base tube 168 is assembled into the rocker attach 161, the locking key 176 fits into the locking groove 166. The toy bar in this position is on the rocker, and suitable for baby to use. The user can swing the toy bar away for easy access to the rocker for placing the baby in or out of the rocker by lifting the toy support frame slightly and rotating to engage the locking key 176 into either of the remaining two locking grooves 165, 167.
In the described embodiment, the base tube 168 is located in the rocker attach 161 and is not securely fixed to the rocker attach 161, enabling the base tube 168 to be lifted out of the rocker attach 161 which is secured to the rocker 164. This enables the user to remove the described embodiment out of the rocker 164 for safety reasons or other reasons they feel the described embodiment should be removed.

How Will the Consumer Use this Invention

The invention Baby Sports Toy bar described in both the embodiments offers the consumer with similar functions and benefits. The following is the general usage method of the invention by the consumer.

1. Fit the Bab sports toy bar either to the cot or the rocker.
2. Swing away the Baby Sports toy bar such that the cot or rocker is easily accessible to place the baby.
3. Choose the sport you want the baby to play. For example if the consumer wants the baby to play tennis.
4. Pushes up on the toy holder, rotates the toy holder around the pivot until the tennis/cricket ball is closest to the baby hands and let's go of the toy holder to lock into position on the pivot.
5. Provide the baby with the tennis racquet to play and practice hitting the ball with the racquet.
6. The consumer changes the height of the tennis ball with respect to the baby by loosening the locking nut and moving the toy support frame up or down.
7. The consumer follows the same procedure if they want the baby to play soccer or footy. In this case the consumer ensures that the ball is closer to the feet of the baby so that the baby can kick the ball.
8. If the toy ball doesn't reach close to the feet of the baby after rotating the toy holder, the consumer loosens the locking nut and swings the toy support frame around to bring the toy ball closer to the baby feet. They tighten the locking nut with the toy ball in this position. This way the consumer gets to cover a wide area of the cot or rocker for easy access of the sporting toy to the baby to play and develop the right sporting skills.
9. Once the baby has finished with the play, the toy support frame can be lifted up slightly and the toy bar swung away from the cot or rocker. In case of the rocker attachment, the consumer has the additional option to lift the toy bar away from the rocker.

Claims

1. A baby sports toy bar which allows a baby to play and learn multiple range of sport skills while in the comfort of their cot/cradle/rocker/bouncer, where in the sport toys are connected to the toy holder which can be rotated and lock in position around a pivot presenting one sport toy for easy access to the baby.

2. A baby sports toy bar where the multiple toy range includes a combination of hand sport and foot sport.

3. A baby sports toy bar in accordance to claim 2, where the hand sport toys are also provided with hand held accessories for the baby to develop the hand sport skills.

4. A baby sports toy bar in accordance to claim 1 with a toy support frame that is secured at one end to the cot/cradle/rocker/bouncer while the other end with a quarter arc supports the toy holder, holding the toy holder over the middle of the cot/rocker away from the edges.

5. A baby sports toy bar in accordance to claim 1, where in the toys and toy holders as a whole unit can be radially moved and locked in position, provided by the radial movement of the toy support frame with its centre of rotation at the centre of the base tube and the attaching unit that secures the toy bar to the cot/rocker.

6. A baby sports toy bar in accordance to claim 1, where the toy support frame is height adjustable with respect to the base tube.

7. A baby sports toy bar in accordance to claim 1, where the base tube is optionally height adjustable with respect to the attaching unit.

8. A baby sports toy bar in accordance to claim 1 where the toy bar can be lifted slightly and swung in or out of the cot/rocker.

9. A baby sports toy bar in accordance to claim 1 where the toy bar can be removed from its attachment.

10. A baby Sports toy bar in accordance to claim 1 where the attachment unit is made to suit the equipment it is adapting to.

11. A baby sports toy bar in accordance to claim 2, where the sports toys can be a representation of any sport played in the modern work and feasible to be provided to the baby in the described embodiment.

12. A baby sports toy bar in accordance to claim 3, where the hand sport hand held accessories match the hand sport toys suspended from the toy holder.