Children's Exercise and Activity Apparatus

Abstract

A children's exercise and activity apparatus for providing exercise functionality for a small child, said apparatus comprising: a base adapted to lie on the floor, the base comprising a U-shaped base frame with cradle supporting arms extending from each end of the U-shaped frame in an upwardly and rearwardly direction such that the cradle supporting arms are resiliently deflectable relative to the base when a child is supported on a cradle coupled with the cradle supporting arms; and a kick panel assembly coupled with the base, the kick panel assembly comprising a kicking panel extending transversely relative to the underlying floor with a kick panel support being fixedly attached to the base.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A children's exercise and activity apparatus for providing exercise functionality for a small child, said apparatus comprising:
 a base adapted to lie on the floor, the base comprising a U-shaped base frame with cradle supporting arms extending from each end of the U-shaped base frame in an upwardly and rearwardly direction such that the cradle supporting arms are resiliently deflectable relative to the base when a child is supported on a cradle coupled with the cradle supporting arms; and   a kick panel assembly coupled with the base, the kick panel assembly comprising a kicking panel extending transversely relative to the underlying floor with a kick panel support being fixedly attached to the base.   
     
     
         2 . A children's exercise and activity apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the kick support is coupled to the base to position to the kick panel in a spaced relationship relate to a frontal portion of the cradle supporting arms to locate the kick panel away from the cradle for allowing the child supported on the cradle to kick on the kick panel during use. 
     
     
         3 . A children's exercise and activity apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the base comprises a base panel adapted to contact the underlying floor and wherein a top surface of the base panel is adapted to receive the U-shaped base frame and wherein the kick support is received on a frontal portion of the base panel. 
     
     
         4 . A children's exercise and activity apparatus in accordance with  claim 2  wherein the kick support is adapted to be fixedly attached at a plurality of locations on the base panel to allow the kick panel to be positioned at multiple in-use locations and orientations. 
     
     
         5 . A children's exercise and activity apparatus in accordance with  claim 4  wherein the kick support is adapted to be positioned to extend forwardly from a frontal portion of the base panel to thereby allow the kick panel to be positioned in a forwardly location relative to the frontal portion of the base panel. 
     
     
         6 . A children's exercise and activity apparatus in accordance with  claim 2  wherein the kick panel support comprises a bracket wherein a first part of the bracket is fixedly attached to the base panel and a second part of the bracket is fixedly attached to the kick panel. 
     
     
         7 . A children's exercise and activity apparatus in accordance with  claim 6  wherein the first part of the bracket is substantially perpendicular to the second part of the bracket. 
     
     
         8 . A children's exercise and activity apparatus in accordance with  claim 2  wherein the kick panel is oriented in a substantially perpendicular orientation relative to the floor. 
     
     
         9 . A children's exercise and activity apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the cradle comprises a restraint assembly for restraining the child positioned in the cradle. 
     
     
         10 . A children's exercise and activity apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the kick panel is coupled to the U-shaped base frame. 
     
     
         11 . A kick board attachment for use in combination with a baby bouncer, the kicking panel attachment comprising:
 a base frame having at least two longitudinally extending members couplable to the baby bouncer and/or a base having a baby bouncer affixed thereto, the base frame being integrally formed with a kicking panel support frame extending substantially transversely relative to an underlying floor when in an in-use position; and   a kicking panel releasably engaged with the kicking panel support frame;   wherein when the at least two longitudinally extending members are coupled to the baby bouncer and/or a base having a baby bouncer affixed thereto, one or more legs of a baby in a cradle of the baby bouncer can interact with the kicking panel.   
     
     
         12 . A method of assembling a kicking panel in combination with a baby bouncer, the method comprising the steps:
 providing a kicking panel attachment comprising a base frame having at least two longitudinally extending members couplable to the baby bouncer and/or a base having a baby bouncer affixed thereto, the base frame being integrally formed with a kicking panel support frame extending substantially transversely relative to an underlying floor when in an in-use position and the kicking panel support frame supporting a kick panel;   locating the kicking panel attachment adjacent to the baby bouncer and/or the base having a baby bouncer coupled thereto;   adjusting the kick panel attachment relative to the baby bouncer so as to locate the kicking panel at a desired position for a baby in a cradle of the baby bouncer to interact with the kicking panel; and   coupling the kicking panel attachment in place relative to the baby bouncer.