Children's walker

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to an adjustable orbital children's walker. According to various embodiments, the children's walker is configured for being adjusted between an orbital movement mode, in which the walker is restricted to movement along an orbital path, and a free movement mode, in which the walker is not restricted to movement along an orbital path. In particular, various embodiments of the children's walker include at least one pivot mechanism configured for being easily adjusted by a user between a first configuration, in which the children's walker is thereby in the orbital movement mode, and a second configuration, in which the children's walker is thereby in the free movement mode.

1 . A children's walker apparatus configured for movement along a support surface, the children's walker apparatus comprising:
 a child support configured for supporting a child; and   a frame configured for suspending the child support above the support surface, the frame including:
 one or more movement members configured for engaging the support surface and permitting the frame to be moved along the support surface; and 
 at least one pivot mechanism configured for being adjusted between a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein:
 when the pivot mechanism is in the first configuration, the children's walker is restricted to movement along an orbital path; and 
 when the pivot mechanism is in the second configuration, the children's walker is free to move along a non-orbital path. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The children's walker apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one pivot mechanism is configured such that, when the pivot mechanism is in the first configuration, the at least one pivot mechanism engages the support surface and restricts the children's walker to orbital movement about the pivot mechanism. 
     
     
         3 . The children's walker apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the pivot mechanism includes a rotatable base member configured such that, when the pivot mechanism is in first configuration, the base member engages the support surface and permits the frame to rotate relative to the base member. 
     
     
         4 . The children's walker apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one pivot mechanism is configured such that, when the pivot mechanism is in the second configuration, the pivot mechanism engages the support surface and permits the frame to be moved along the support surface. 
     
     
         5 . The children's walker apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one pivot mechanism comprises a base member rotatably connected to the frame and a caster configured for rolling movement along the support surface;
 wherein, when the pivot mechanism is in the first configuration, the base member is positioned lower than the caster and is configured to engage the support surface and restrict the frame to orbital movement about the base member; and   wherein, when the pivot mechanism is in the second configuration, the caster is positioned lower than the base member and is configured to engage the support surface and permit the frame to move along a non-orbital path.   
     
     
         6 . The children's walker apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the base member is operatively connected to the frame by a swivel bearing. 
     
     
         7 . The children's walker apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the caster comprises a ball caster. 
     
     
         8 . The children's walker apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one pivot mechanism further comprises a housing defining a central cavity;
 wherein the base member is rotatably connected to a bottom surface of the housing, the base member defining a central aperture substantially aligned with the housing's central cavity; and   wherein the caster is movably connected to the housing such that, when the pivot mechanism is in the first configuration, the caster is positioned within the central cavity such that it does not extend beneath the base member and, when the pivot mechanism is in the second configuration, the caster is extends at least partially out of the central cavity and beneath the base member.   
     
     
         9 . The children's walker apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one pivot mechanism further comprises a housing defining a central cavity;
 wherein the base member is rotatably connected to a bottom surface of the housing, the base member defining a central aperture substantially aligned with the housing's central cavity; and   wherein the base member is movably connected to the housing such that, when the pivot mechanism is in the first configuration, the base member is in a lower protracted positioned such that it extends beneath the caster and, when the pivot mechanism is in the second configuration, the base member is in an upper retracted position above the caster.   
     
     
         10 . The children's walker apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one pivot mechanism comprises a caster configured to swivel relative to the frame;
 wherein, when the pivot mechanism is in the first configuration, the caster is locked such that it prevented from rolling along the support surface and thereby restricts the frame to orbital movement about the caster; and   wherein, when the pivot mechanism is in the second configuration, the caster is free to rotate along the support surface and permit the frame to move along a non-orbital path.   
     
     
         11 . The children's walker apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one pivot mechanism is configured such that, when the pivot mechanism is in the second configuration, the pivot mechanism does not engage the support surface. 
     
     
         12 . The children's walker apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one pivot mechanism is rotatably connected to the frame and includes a base member rotatably connected to a lower surface of the pivot mechanism;
 wherein, when the pivot mechanism is in the first configuration, the pivot mechanism is rotated to a downward position in which the base member is configured to engage the support surface and restrict the frame to orbital movement about the base member; and   wherein, when the pivot mechanism is in the second configuration, the pivot mechanism is rotated to an upward position in which the base member is configured not to engage the support surface and permit the frame to move along a non-orbital path.   
     
     
         13 . The children's walker apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more movement members comprise one or more casters configured for rolling movement along the support surface. 
     
     
         14 . The children's walker apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the child support is configured to permit the legs of a child positioned therein to extend downwardly and push against the support surface in order to move the children's walker along the orbital and non-orbital paths, respectively. 
     
     
         15 . The children's walker apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein, when the pivot mechanism is in the second configuration, the children's walker is configured for omnidirectional movement along the support surface. 
     
     
         16 . The children's walker apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the frame further comprises a lever configured to selectively adjust the at least one pivot mechanism between the first configuration and the second configuration.