Immobilizing retainer for child's jump chair

Abstract

The immobilizing retainer for a child's jump chair is permanently or removably attached to the jump chair seat to extend therefrom. The retainer is formed of an inelastic, flexible length of material such as a strap, rope, cord, or the like, and is sufficiently long as to extend from the jump chair seat with a portion trailing across the underlying surface. A parent or caretaker for the child may step on the portion of the retainer resting on the surface to hold the jump chair seat in position while placing the child in the seat or lifting the child from the seat. This prevents the jump chair seat from swaying or rising as the child is placed in or lifted from the seat, thereby easing the effort of the caretaker to provide a safer operation. The retainer may be stored compactly on the jump chair when not in use.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A child's jump chair and an immobilizing retainer therefor, comprising in combination:
 a jump chair having a seat portion and a plurality of resilient suspension members extending therefrom, the suspension members of the jump chair being adapted to suspend the seat portion of the jump chair above an underlying surface; and   an elongate, inelastic, flexible line, the line having a jump chair attachment end attached to the seat portion of the jump chair and a free end portion opposite the jump chair attachment end, the free end portion being dimensioned and configured for extending across the underlying surface when the jump chair is suspended thereabove.   
     
     
         2 . The child's jump chair and immobilizing retainer according to  claim 1 , wherein the line is permanently affixed to the jump chair. 
     
     
         3 . The child's jump chair and immobilizing retainer according to  claim 1 , wherein the line is removably affixed to the jump chair. 
     
     
         4 . The child's jump chair and immobilizing retainer according to  claim 1 , further comprising line storage means disposed upon the jump chair for storing said line when not in use. 
     
     
         5 . The child's jump chair and immobilizing retainer according to  claim 1 , wherein the line is a flat strap. 
     
     
         6 . The child's jump chair and immobilizing retainer according to  claim 1 , wherein the line is selected of materials selected from the group consisting of a rope and a cord. 
     
     
         7 . A method of removing a child from a child's jump chair using the apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising the steps of:
 (a) stepping on the free end portion of the line, thereby restraining the movement of the seat portion of the jump chair;   (b) lifting the child from the seat portion of the jump chair; and   (c) releasing the free end portion of the line, thereby allowing the seat portion of the jump chair to rise.   
     
     
         8 . An immobilizing retainer for a child's jump chair, the jump chair having a seat portion and a plurality of resilient suspension members extending therefrom, the suspension members of the jump chair being adapted to suspend the seat portion of the jump chair above an underlying surface, the immobilizing retainer comprising an elongate, inelastic, flexible line having a jump chair attachment end adapted for attachment to the seat portion of the jump chair and a free end portion opposite the jump chair attachment end, the free end portion extending across the underlying surface when the jump chair is suspended thereabove. 
     
     
         9 . The immobilizing retainer for a child's jump chair according to  claim 8 , further comprising means for permanently attaching the line to the jump chair disposed upon the jump chair attachment end of the line. 
     
     
         10 . The immobilizing retainer for a child's jump chair according to  claim 8 , further comprising means for removably attaching the line to the jump chair disposed upon the jump chair attachment end of the line. 
     
     
         11 . The immobilizing retainer for a child's jump chair according to  claim 8 , further comprising line storage means disposed upon the jump chair for storing said line when not in use. 
     
     
         12 . The immobilizing retainer for a child's jump chair according to  claim 8 , wherein the line is a flat strap. 
     
     
         13 . The immobilizing retainer for a child's jump chair according to  claim 8 , wherein the line is selected of materials selected from the group consisting of a rope and a cord. 
     
     
         14 . A method of removing a child from a child's jump chair using the apparatus of  claim 8 , comprising the steps of:
 (a) stepping on the free end portion of the line, thereby restraining the movement of the seat portion of the jump chair;   (b) lifting the child from the seat portion of the jump chair; and   (c) releasing the free end portion of the line, thereby allowing the seat portion of the jump chair to rise.   
     
     
         15 . A method of immobilizing a resiliently suspended child's jump chair, comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing an elongate, inelastic, flexible line, the line having a jump chair attachment end and a free end portion opposite the jump chair attachment end;   (b) attaching the jump chair attachment end of the line to the jump chair;   (c) extending the free end portion of the line across an underlying surface when the jump chair is suspended thereabove;   (d) stepping on the free end portion of the line, thereby substantially immobilizing the jump chair; and   (e) releasing the free end portion of the line, thereby allowing free motion of the jump chair.   
     
     
         16 . The method of immobilizing a resiliently suspended child's jump chair according to the method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of permanently attaching the jump chair attachment end of the line to the jump chair. 
     
     
         17 . The method of immobilizing a resiliently suspended child's jump chair according to the method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of removably attaching the jump chair attachment end of the line to the jump chair. 
     
     
         18 . The method of immobilizing a resiliently suspended child's jump chair according to the method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of storing the line upon the jump chair. 
     
     
         19 . The method of immobilizing a resiliently suspended child's jump chair according to the method of  claim 15 , wherein the line is made from flat strap material. 
     
     
         20 . The method of immobilizing a resiliently suspended child's jump chair according to the method of  claim 15 , wherein the line is made from rope or cord.