Child walking harness

[0002] This invention relates to a new and unique method to enhance a child's progress in learning to walk.

[0003] Most children at the age of 8-12 months try to crawl and then stand by themselves, holding onto furniture or other objects and often loose their balance and hurt themselves. Using the harness, as shown in accompanying drawings, will provide a simple elegant support that makes a baby's first steps safer. It gives the child confidence and balance with very little assistance from the parent. The child walking harness allows for non-restrictive range of motion during a child's early walking attempts by supporting their entire body weight evenly when needed to help cushion missteps and fills. The additional benefit of using the child walking harness is for the parent. The straps are ergonomically designed to minimize low back strain. The child walking harness is made of strong durable material with a soft fleece binding which allows for comfort around the child's arms, legs and crotch.

[0004] “Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the consideration of the drawings, photo pages and ensuing description.”

[0005] The use of restrainers or harnesses for children has been in use for many years and in many forms of applications. However, it was mainly to restrict a child's movement from an object, location, enclosure, or to restrict a child from running about. My invention relates to the safety of a child while a child or toddler is trying to walk and needs assistance. My invention provides for nonrestrictive movement of the child, but provides the toddlers' needed “training wheels”.

[0006] Kay, U.S. Pat. No. 4, 537,154 Shows an animal or child harness to enclose over a child or animal body. To hold a child or animal to a seat by means of a tether.

[0007] Hutchings U.S. Pat. No. 4,922,860 Shows a harness that is designed to support a child or person to be rehabilitated in walking. It fails to be safe for a toddler as the holding straps have to held apart to avoid closing of the straps to the head and neck of the child or person. Also, the connecting strap locks are located too close to the bearers neck and can cause injury and would not be suitable for toddlers or smaller children.

[0008] Herring, U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,426 Shows a harness that is basically designed to restrain a child to a chair or shopping cart seat.

[0009] Louks-Phillips U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,456 Shows a harness that is a combination of a bearer's vest with a strap arrangement to hold a child in front of the person.

[0010] Olaiz U.S. Pat. No. 5,927,235 Shows a child harness that encloses the chest portion of a more mature child and a tether attachment to prevent the child from running away.

[0011] Kohn U.S. Pat. No. 6,009,839 Shows a harness that can fit a carrier person and a connectable portion that can hold a child, similar to Louks/Phillips U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,456.

[0012] Part Name

[0013] 10 Front body panel

[0014] 12 Rear body panel

[0015] 14 Crotch connection

[0016] 16 Snap button

[0017] 18 Snap button

[0018] 20 Front shoulder strap

[0019] 22 Front shoulder strap

[0020] 24 Releasable securing device

[0021] 26 Releasable securing device

[0022] 28 Releasable securing device

[0023] 30 Releasable securing device

[0024] 32 Panel extension

[0025] 34 Panel extension

[0026] 36 Panel extension

[0027] 38 Panel extension

[0028] 40 Holding strap

[0029] 42 Holding strap

[0030] 44 Adjustment plate

[0031] 46 Aperture for holding strap

[0032] 48 Aperture for restraining leash

[0033] 52 Velcro pads

[0034] 54 Rivet type fastener

[0035] 56 Soft fleece binding

[0036] 58 Spacing clip

[0037] This invention is specifically designed to provide a safe comfortable and simple child walking harness to help a child to learn to walk and provide non restrictive range of motion, balance and support during the child's early walking attempts by supporting the entire body weight evenly when needed to help cushion missteps, falls and give additional benefit to the parent through the ergonomically designed holding straps to minimize low back pain and strain. The child walking harness also provides safety for children after they have learned to walk, especially in public places, around pools and beaches.

[0038] Drawing 1 of 2 in FIG. 1 shows a plan view and partial perspective (upper holding strap portion) of the child harness.

[0039] Drawing No. 2 FIG. 2 shows the harness in perspective view with all strap arrangements in locked position.

[0040] Drawing No. 2 FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of the adjustment plate with the holding straps looped in position.

[0041] Drawing No. 3 FIG. 4 shows the front view of the walking harness and FIG. 5 shows the rear view of the walking harness.

[0042] Drawing No. 4 FIG. 6 shows the child walking harness being used.

[0043] With reference to the drawings No. 1 of 2 shows in FIG. 1 the harness in plan and partial perspective view indicating a front body panel 10 and a rear body panel 12 connected at the lower body crotch 14 between the child's legs with snap buttons 16 and 18 to provide a quick release of the panel for changing diapers without removing the harness. The front body panel 10 is fitted with two lock straps 20 and 22 are provided and releasable securing devices 24 and 26 a respectively which will fit to first counterpart 28 and 30 at the rear body panel 12 and the holding straps 40 and 42. Both body panels 10 and 12 are fitted with panel extensions 32 and 34 and 36 and 38 respectively and are provided with and fitted with velcro pads 52 to lock together around the child's upper torso. The rear body straps 40 and 42 are fitted with releasable securing devices 28 and 30 and the strap is looped together and fitted through and adjustment plate 44 and two sets of apertures 46 to form holding loops 50 and 52 to form a handhold for the child's support and to adjust the straps to various sizes of children. The adjustment plate 44 is made of strong but flexible material like plastic or leather, but strong enough to separate the holding straps 40 and 42 and prevent the closure over the child's neck.

[0044] The front body panel 10 and rear body 12 are made of strong flexible material such as canvas or webbing cloth and enclose a substantial part of the child's body to ensure safety to the child. A separate aperture 48 is provided to the adjustment plate 44 to allow for a walking leash to fasten to it, to restrain a child after a child is more advanced in walking. Drawing number 2FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of the adjustment plate 44 with the holding straps 40 and 42 in which the rear leg or strand of the holding strap 40 and 42 are secured to the adjustment plate 44 by means of a rivet type fastener 52 to prevent the adjustment plate 44 to slide up on the holding straps 40 and 42 to provide adjustment only by the front strap.

[0045] Photo page 1 of 2, FIG. 4 shows the child walking harness in its' manufactured form showing the soft fleece binding 56 fitted around all exposed edges of the front and back body panels 10 and 12. providing comfort around the child's arms, legs and crotch.

[0046] Photo page 1 of 2, FIG. 5 showing a rivet type fastener 54 and also shows the positive separation of the two holding straps 40 and 42 at the adjustment plate 44 preventing the straps 40 and 42 to enclose on the child's neck and head.

[0047] Photo page 2 of 2, shows the child walking harness being used.

[0048] The center or crotch portion 14 is lead through the child's legs. Front panel 10 is brought up on the child's chest and the rear body panel 12 is brought up to the child's shoulder, front shoulder strap 20 and 22 is then connected to the rear holding strap 40 and 42 by means of releasable securing device 24 and 28 and 26 and 30. Front panel extensions 32 and 34 are connected to rear panel extension 36 and 38 enclosing the child's upper torso and locked together with velcro pads 52 the shoulder straps 40 and 42 are then adjusted to the child's shoulder and locked for a comfortable fit.