U.S. patent application number 11/972299 was filed with the patent office on 2008-08-14 for physical training and activity center for children.
Invention is credited to Sylvia G. Southerland.
Application Number | 20080194389 11/972299 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39686332 |
Filed Date | 2008-08-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080194389 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Southerland; Sylvia G. |
August 14, 2008 |
Physical Training and Activity Center for Children
Abstract
The present invention is a physical training device for a person
and relates to developmental activity centers with treadmills. The
physical training device includes a treadmill base, an activity
center, and a control means. The invention has an optional
stationary or portable feature and is more effective in permitting
safe and controlled walking development. In addition, the physical
training device includes a variety of stimulating devices that
improves both physical skills and cognitive skills by use of the
invention.
Inventors: |
Southerland; Sylvia G.;
(Wake Forest, NC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
QUICKPATENTS, INC.
32861 CALLE PERFECTO, SUITE A
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO
CA
92675
US
|
Family ID: |
39686332 |
Appl. No.: |
11/972299 |
Filed: |
January 10, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60900373 |
Feb 8, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
482/54 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47D 1/00 20130101; A63H
33/006 20130101; A47D 3/001 20170501; A63B 22/0235 20130101; A63B
2208/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/54 |
International
Class: |
A63B 22/02 20060101
A63B022/02 |
Claims
1. A physical training device for a person, comprising: a treadmill
base having a floor support means, an enclosure, and a top surface,
a treadmill mechanism housed within the enclosure and including an
electric motor, a power means, at least two rollers having
substantially parallel longitudinal axes, at least one roller being
mechanically and rotationally coupled to the electric motor, and a
treadmill belt engaged with each roller such that the electric
motor may cause the treadmill belt to rotate around the rollers, at
least a portion of the treadmill belt traversing the top surface of
the treadmill base; an activity center comprising an activity
center supporting means adapted to support an activity tray above
the treadmill base, a seat means having a seat adapted for
suspending the person over the treadmill belt through a central
aperture in the activity tray, the supporting means including a
height adjustment means for adjusting the height of the seat over
the treadmill belt; and a control means electrically connected to
the power means and the electric motor, the control means having a
power switch means and a speed control means, the speed control
means adapted to control the speed of the electric motor when the
power switch means is in an "on" position.
2. The physical training device of claim 1 wherein the floor
support means is a plurality of lockable casters.
3. The physical training device of claim 1 wherein the activity
center supporting means is a plurality of rigid support legs, each
support leg having a telescoping height adjustment pin and
apertures therein for telescopically adjusting the height of each
support leg.
4. The physical training device of claim 1 wherein the activity
center further includes a seat spring support disposed between the
activity tray and the seat means, the seat spring support biasing
the seat means to a preferred relative position with respect to the
activity tray.
5. The physical training device of claim 1 wherein the control
means further includes at least one movement sensor fixed above the
treadmill belt and adapted to detect motion of the person's legs
when seated in the seat means, the control means activating the
electric motor in response thereto.
6. The physical training device of claim 1 wherein the seat is
rotationally captured within the aperture of the activity tray.
7. The physical training device of claim 1 wherein the activity
tray further includes a pair of arm supports.
8. The physical training device of claim 1 wherein the activity
tray further includes a walking support rail fixed substantially
parallel to the longitudinal axis of each of the plurality of
rollers.
9. The physical training device of claim 1 wherein the activity
tray further includes at least one activity mount adapted for
selective removable attachment of one of a plurality of activity
toys.
10. The physical training device of claim 1 wherein the control
means is fixed to a control tray fixed to the activity center
supporting means, the control tray further including a cup
holder.
11. The physical training device of claim 1 wherein the control
means further includes a sound recording and playback device,
whereby the person may be encouraged by playback of an audible
encouraging sound.
12. The physical training device of claim 1 wherein the control
means further includes a safety switch connected to a safety key,
whereby if the safety key is removed from the safety switch power
is disconnected from the electric motor.
13. The physical training device of claim 2 wherein the treadmill
base further includes a handle on one side thereof, whereby the one
side may be lifted by the handle and rolled on at least two of the
casters.
14. The physical training device of claim 1 wherein the power means
is a retractable electric cord.
15. The physical training device of claim 1 wherein the power means
is a battery.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application 60/900,373, filed on Feb. 8, 2007, and
incorporated herein by reference.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] This invention relates to physical training devices, and
more particularly to a training device for teaching walking and
providing physical therapy to those with muscular deficiencies.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] There are numerous devices in this field to promote toddler
walking and learning development. However, many of them have a
limited continuum of safe walking development, or simply do not
meet all walking and learning developmental needs, Typical of these
is traditional child activity centers (or entertainment devices)
that have limited movement capability that provides the child
upright walking support. The child activity centers have waist
level trays and seats that allow the child to have foot and surface
contact with limited capability to promote walking and
standing.
[0005] In addition, traditional child activity centers have spring
devices. The spring devices allow the child to press downward with
their legs, which promotes bouncing but not walking. Also, the
activity centers provide weight support for the child but do not
provide a safe active environment for a continuous walking
development
[0006] Other activity training developmental devices meet specific
needs rather than a variety of needs a child may have. Most
training developmental and rehabilitative equipment require total
hands on assistance and do not have an optional electric, battery
activated or sensor movement mechanism to initiate a continuum of
stepping reflex development that encourages the child to walk and
learn at the same time.
DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART
[0007] Activity centers for children are well known in the art. For
example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,715,826 B2 to Bellows et al. on Apr. 6,
2004 teaches a child activity center. Such devices are made to
provide children developmental stimulation. However, despite the
creation of different types of activity centers for children, these
devices do not adequately meet the needs of children with physical
and cognitive developmental limitations, especially walking and
learning developmental needs.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 6,715,826 B2 to Bellows et al. on Apr. 6, 2004
teaches an activity center that surrounds the child. Toys and
stimulating devices are placed on a tray surrounding the child.
This arrangement allows a child to easily access and interact with
a variety of stimulating devices. However, such an activity center
does not adequately stimulate the physical development of a child
with muscular limitations. Thus, a device is needed that not only
provides mental stimulation to a child but also provides physical
stimulation, especially to the lower body.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,688,211 to Myers on Nov. 18, 1997 and U.S.
Pat. No. 5,407,246 to Meeker et al. on Apr. 18, 1995 teach child
exercise devices. These devices provide entertainment and exercise
for a child. Entertainment is provided by adding toys to the
device. Exercise is provided by creating devices that allow a child
to rock or bounce. Though these exercises are helpful to
development, these devices do not teach a device that stimulates
the important child development of continuous walking. U.S. Pat.
No. 5,934,747 to Garland on Aug. 10, 1999 even teaches away from a
walking device as the Garland patent cites a trend in activity
centers to restrict the movement of a child seated in the activity
center for safety reasons. Therefore, a device is needed that can
combine the benefits of both mental stimulation to a child with the
physical stimulation of continuous walking development.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 6,494,815 B1 to Welsh, Jr. on Dec. 17, 2002
discloses a device that teaches a walker that permits walking
development. However, the Welsh, Jr. device teaches using a brake
to constantly apply friction to inhibit the speed of the walker.
Such a device may be appropriate for a child with strong walking
capabilities, but the Welsh, Jr. device is not appropriate for
children with weak walking ability. Therefore, a device is needed
that promotes and stimulates walking development for children with
developmental needs.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 7,287,768 to Myers et al. on Oct. 30, 2007
discloses a combined walker and activity center. The Myers et al.
device teaches a device that promotes the benefit of stimulating a
child's continuous walking development. However, the Myers et al.
device teaches a device for walking around a room. Having a child
walking around a room is not always safe or convenient, especially
when the goal is to provide structured walking development for
children with developmental needs. Therefore, a device is needed
that stimulates walking development yet the device itself can
remain stationary for reasons of safety and convenience. In
addition to the device remaining stationary, a device is needed
that provides the advantages of both self-initiated walking as well
as the advantage of a device that initiates walking stimulation to
improve walking skills.
[0012] Therefore, there is a need for a child activity center that
provides both mental stimulation and physical stimulation,
especially to the lower body. The needed device would stimulate
continuous walking development, in particular the walking
development of children having developmental needs. Further, the
needed device would stimulate walking development yet remain
stationary for reasons of safety and convenience. In addition, the
needed device would provide the option of user-initiated walking as
well as the option of device-initiated walking to improve walking
skills. Such functionality would be connected with the activity
center to provide the benefits of both mental and physical
development together. The present invention accomplishes these
objectives.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The present invention is a physical training device for a
person and relates to developmental activity centers with
treadmills. The physical training device includes a treadmill base,
an activity center, and a control means. The invention has an
optional stationary or portable feature and is more effective in
permitting safe and controlled walking development. In addition,
the physical training device includes a variety of stimulating
devices that improves both physical skills (such as for persons
with cerebral palsy, developmental delay, muscular dystrophy) and
cognitive skills (such as for persons with Down syndrome, mental
retardation, learning disabilities) by use of the invention.
[0014] The treadmill base has a floor support means, an enclosure,
and a top surface. A treadmill mechanism is housed within the
enclosure and includes an electric motor and a power means. The
treadmill mechanism further includes at least two rollers having
substantially parallel longitudinal axes with at least one roller
being mechanically and rotationally coupled to the electric motor.
A treadmill belt is engaged with each roller such that the electric
motor may cause the treadmill belt to rotate around the rollers
with at least a portion of the treadmill belt traversing the top
surface of the treadmill base.
[0015] The activity center includes an activity center supporting
means adapted to support an activity tray above the treadmill base.
A seat means has a seat adapted for suspending the person over the
treadmill belt through a central aperture in the activity tray. The
supporting means includes a height adjustment means for adjusting
the height of the seat over the treadmill belt. The activity tray
further includes at least one activity mount adapted for selective
removable attachment of one of a plurality of activity toys. In one
more embodiment, the activity tray includes a walking support rail,
fixed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of each of
the plurality of rollers.
[0016] The control means is electrically connected to the power
means and the electric motor. The control means is fixed to a
control tray connected to the activity center supporting means. The
control means has a power switch means and a speed control means.
The speed control means is adapted to control the speed of the
electric motor when the power switch means is in an "on" position.
In another embodiment, the power switch means further includes an
"off" position and a manual position.
[0017] In use, the person is placed into the seat of the activity
center. The height adjustment means is adjusted so that the
person's legs are positioned in contact with the treadmill belt and
closely aligned in a forward walking position. When the invention
is activated in either the "on" position or the manual position,
the invention provides stepping reflex development and encourages
learning, walking and development of longer stride lengths.
[0018] The present invention is a child activity center that
provides both mental stimulation and physical stimulation,
especially to the lower body. The present device stimulates
continuous walking development, in particular the walking
development of children having developmental needs. Further, the
present device stimulates walking development while remaining
stationary for reasons of safety and convenience. In addition, the
invention provides the option of user-initiated walking as well as
the option of device-initiated walking to improve walking skills.
The present invention provides all such functionality in one device
to provide the benefits of both mental and physical development
together. Other features and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent from the following more detailed description,
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which
illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the invention, illustrating
a floor support means;
[0020] FIG. 1B is cross-sectional view of the treadmill base, taken
generally along lines 1B-1B of FIG. 1A;
[0021] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the invention, illustrating
a power means;
[0022] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the invention, illustrating
a control means; and
[0023] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the invention, illustrating
activity toys and a pair of arm supports.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0024] With respect to the drawings, FIG. 1A illustrates a physical
training device 10 for a person 15. The physical training device 10
includes a treadmill base 20, an activity center 110, and a control
means 170. Preferably, the physical training device 10 is made
primarily from a durable rigid material such as a rigid plastic
material, but can also be formed from any suitable rigid material,
such as wood or metal, if desired.
[0025] The treadmill base 20 has a floor support means 30, an
enclosure 40, and a top surface 50. In FIG. 1B, a treadmill
mechanism 60 is housed within the enclosure 40 and includes an
electric motor 70 and a power means 80. The treadmill mechanism 60
further includes at least two rollers 90 having substantially
parallel longitudinal axes with at least one roller 90 being
mechanically and rotationally coupled to the electric motor 70,
illustrated in FIG. 1B. A treadmill belt 100 is engaged with each
roller 90 such that the electric motor 70 may cause the treadmill
belt 100 to rotate around the rollers 90 with at least a portion of
the treadmill belt 100 traversing the top surface of the treadmill
base 20.
[0026] FIGS. 1A and 2 illustrate the activity center 110 including
an activity center supporting means 120 adapted to support an
activity tray 130 above the treadmill base 20. FIG. 2 illustrates a
seat means 140 having a seat 150 adapted for suspending the person
15 over the treadmill belt 100 through a central aperture 135 in
the activity tray 130. Preferably, the seat 150 is made from a
fabric material such as a strong cotton material or nylon material,
if so desired. In another embodiment, the seat 150 is rotationally
captured within the aperture 135 of the activity tray 130, allowing
the person 15 to rotate in different directions. In a preferred
embodiment of the invention, the seat 150 is optionally rotating.
The supporting means 120 includes a height adjustment means 160
(FIG. 2) for adjusting the height of the seat 150 over the
treadmill belt 100.
[0027] FIG. 3 illustrates the control means 170 which is
electrically connected to the power means 80 and the electric motor
70. The control means 170 has a power switch means 180 and a speed
control means 190 (FIG. 3). The speed control means 190 is adapted
to control the speed of the electric motor 70 when the power switch
means 180 is in a "manual control" position 186 (FIG. 3). In
another embodiment, the power switch means 180 further includes an
"off" position 182 (FIG. 3), whereby the treadmill belt cannot be
rotated. In a preferred embodiment, the power switch means 180
further includes a "sensor" position 184 (FIG. 3), explained
further below.
[0028] In one embodiment, the floor support means 30 is a plurality
of lockable casters 35, illustrated in FIG. 1A. Alternately, as
illustrated in FIG. 1B, the floor support means 30 may further
include a pair of base support legs 31. In one embodiment
illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the treadmill base 20 further
includes a handle 290 on one side thereof 43, whereby the one side
43 may be lifted by the handle 290 and the invention rolled on at
least two of the casters 35. In a preferred embodiment, the handle
290 is slidably contained within the treadmill base 20 and can
slide out from the treadmill base 20 to facilitate transporting the
invention. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the power
means 80 is a retractable electric cord 85 illustrated in FIG. 1B.
In another embodiment, the power means 80 is a battery (not shown),
preferably a rechargeable battery.
[0029] In another embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 2, the
activity center supporting means 120 is a plurality of rigid
support legs 125. Preferably, each support leg 125 has a
telescoping height adjustment pin 126 and apertures 127 therein for
telescopically adjusting the height of each support leg 125, as
illustrated in FIG. 2. In a preferred embodiment, at least two of
the support legs 125 can be adjusted at the same time, the height
adjustment pins 126 of the at least two support legs 125
mechanically connected to move simultaneously (not shown) to avoid
having to adjust the height individually of each support leg
125.
[0030] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the activity center
110 further includes a seat spring support 200 disposed between the
activity tray 130 and the seat means 140, the seat spring support
200 biasing the seat means 140 to a preferred relative position
with respect to the activity tray 130. In one embodiment, the seat
spring support allows the person 15 to bounce within the central
aperture 135.
[0031] In another embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the control
means 170 further includes at least one movement sensor 210 fixed
above the treadmill belt 100 and adapted to detect motion of the
person's legs 18 when seated in the seat means 140. In a preferred
embodiment, the physical training device 10 includes two movement
sensors 210 in either wired or radio communication with the control
means 170. The control means 170 activates the electric motor 70 in
response to detecting motion of the person's legs 18. Preferably,
the "sensor" position 184 of the control means 170 is a low-speed
motion-activated mode.
[0032] In one embodiment, the activity tray 130 further includes a
pair of arm supports 220 (FIG. 4). In one more embodiment, the
activity tray 130 further includes a walking support rail 230 (FIG.
3), fixed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of each
of the plurality of rollers 90. In FIG. 4, the activity tray 130
further includes at least one activity mount 240 adapted for
selective removable attachment of one of a plurality of activity
toys 245.
[0033] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the control means
170 is fixed to a control tray 250 that is itself fixed to the
activity center supporting means 120 with an adjustable support
171. As such, the control tray 250 may be selectively moved forward
or backward to suit the height of a user (not shown) of the control
means 170, or to stow the control tray 250 in a fully forward
position (not shown) when the device 10 is not in use. The
adjustable support 171 is preferably a clamp (not shown) that
either slides by friction along the activity center support means
120 or rolls therealong with rollers (not shown), and is capable of
being locked in place with a locking pin 126, for example.
Alternately, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the control tray 250 is
fixed to the activity center support means 120.
[0034] Preferably, the control tray 250 further includes a cup
holder 260, illustrated in FIG. 3. In another embodiment in FIG. 3,
the control means 170 further includes a sound recording and
playback device 270, whereby the person 15 may be encouraged by
playback of an audible encouraging sound. In one more embodiment in
FIG. 3, the control means 170 further includes a safety switch 280
connected to a safety key 285, whereby if the safety key 285 is
removed from the safety switch 280 power is disconnected from the
electric motor 70. Preferably the safety key 285 uses a magnet to
trigger the safety switch 280.
[0035] In use, the person 15 is placed into the seat 150 of the
activity center 110. The height adjustment means 160 is adjusted so
that the person's legs 18 are positioned in contact with the
treadmill belt 100 and closely aligned in a forward walking
position. In one use, the person's hands 19 (FIG. 4) are placed
onto the support rail 230 for additional support. When the
invention is activated in either the "on" position 184 or the
manual position 186, the invention provides stepping reflex
development and encourages learning, walking and developing of
longer stride lengths.
[0036] While a particular form of the invention has been
illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various
modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention. For example, the support rail 230 can be
made adjustable to increase or decrease the height of the support
rail 230 for persons 15 of different heights. Likewise, the control
tray 250 can be adjustably attached to the activity center 110 to
adjust the height of the control tray 250. Accordingly, it is not
intended that the invention be limited, except as by the appended
claims.
* * * * *