This invention relates to an apparatus for use by babies and young children as either a baby walker or a baby gym.

A baby walker is known which comprises a wheeled frame on which a child may support itself in an upright position during the early walking phase. An example of such a baby walker disclosed in British patent specification No. 2211429A comprises a support structure including a pair of spaced-apart side frames and a transversely extending cross-piece, support wheels being mounted on the side frames. The cross-piece serves to brace the side frames. A handle bar supported by stiles projecting vertically upwards from the side frames extends parallel to the cross-piece. The cross-piece is necessarily located at a low level to ensure that no play can take place between the side frames and the handle bar and render the baby walker unstable. A baby gym is also known which includes a horizontal bar from which various playthings may be suspended. To use a baby gym, a baby is laid on its back beneath the bar. GB 2211429A discloses the possibility of mounting an activity centre on the cross-piece of a baby walker for the amusement of a child capable of sitting in front of the baby walker. However, the cross-piece is located at too low a level for there to be any possibility of the activity centre being used by a baby lying on the floor.

A baby gym may be used from soon after birth but begins to lose its value when the baby starts to crawl or walk. At this stage a baby walker is found useful. Both products must be of rugged construction for safety

reasons and are relatively expensive. A saving in cost to the consumer may therefore be achieved by an apparatus which combines both functions. A problem, however, is that the need to provide a cross-piece to brace the side frames at a relatively low level makes it impracticable for a baby walker to be used without modification as a baby gym. Another problem is that a baby gym is normally required to be wider than a baby walker. A further problem is that a baby gym needs to be immobilised when in use to prevent it moving away from the baby using it.

The present invention has for its object the provision of an apparatus capable of being used to support a child learning to walk and, alternatively, to suspend playthings for the amusement of a baby who has not yet started to walk and is incapable of sitting. Apparatus to be described herein in greater detail, and in accordance with the invention, comprises a support structure including a pair of spaced-apart side frames and a transversely extending cross-piece. Support wheels are mounted on the side frames to enable the apparatus to be moved across the floor when the apparatus is in use as a baby walker. When the apparatus is to be used as a baby gym, the wheels are immobilised and the cross-piece positioned in an upper position to allow a baby to lie on the floor beneath the cross-piece. Playthings may be supported on or suspended from the cross-piece to amuse the baby. Although the wheels may be removed or immobilised by brakes, it is preferred to lift the wheels from floor- engaging contact when the apparatus is in use as a baby gym. To this end, the side frames may be caused to tilt when the cross-piece is in its upper position in order to bring feet on the side frames into contact with the

ground. When the apparatus is to be used as a baby walker, the cross-piece may be repositioned at a lower level to brace the side frames and increase the overall sturdiness of the apparatus. In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, the cross-piece is telescopically extensible to allow the apparatus to be made narrower when used as a baby walker and wider when used as a baby gym. When extended, the cross-piece causes the frames to tilt as mentioned above.

Examples of apparatus in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the apparatus in its first configuration as a baby gym,

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the apparatus in its second configuration as a baby walker,

Figure 3 is an exploded view of the apparatus, and

Figure 4 is an end view of the apparatus when in its first configuration.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, apparatus in accordance with the invention comprises a pair of spaced-apart side frames 1 of generally trilobular shape. Mounted for rotation on the outer side of the lower lobes 11 of each side frame are two floor engaging wheels 2a and 2b.

Pivoted to the inner side of each side-frame at a level above the wheels is a respective one of two support arms 3. A cross-piece 4 extends between the ends of the support arms remote from the pivot axis.

When the apparatus is to be used in its configuration as a baby gym, as shown in Figure 1, the support arms 3 are arranged to extend vertically upwards as shown in Figure 1 so that the cross-piece 4 occupies an upper position, elevated above the side frames. With the apparatus so arranged, the side frames occupy positions in which they are tilted inwards and portions or feet 12 projecting from the lower lobes engage the ground and lift the wheels above it, as more clearly shown in Figure 4. This arrangement also gives the structure greater stability. Playthings 6 intended to amuse the baby may be supported on or suspended from the cross-piece, which is provided with eyes 46, 47 for this purpose. Although the cross-piece is arranged at a level high enough to allow a baby to lie beneath the cross-bar, a baby may of course sit in front of the apparatus in this mode of use when it becomes capable of doing so.

When the apparatus is in its second configuration, i.e. as a baby walker, shown in Figure 2, the arms 3 are arranged to extend obliquely downwards from their pivot axis so that the cross-piece occupies a lower position forwardly of a vertical centre plane through the side frames and preferably extending axially of and between the forward wheels 2a. A tray 7 is rigidly mounted between the frames when the apparatus is in this configuration and has a handle bar 8 on which a young child may support itself when using the apparatus as a baby walker. The tray has a recess which may be used to receive a plate 9 on which an activity centre or playthings are mounted.

The cross-piece 4 is of telescopic construction so that it may be shortened to reduce the inter-frame spacing when the apparatus is to be used as a baby-walker, or

lengthened when it is to be used as a baby gym.

The construction of the apparatus will now be described in more detail. Referring to Figure 3, it will be seen that each of the wheels 2a and 2b is journalled on a spigot 21 protruding from a boss 22 within a recess 23 in the outer side of the respective lower lobe of the frame.

Each upper lobe 13 is formed with an internal, vertically extending slot 75 opening to its upper side. A screw 71 having an enlarged head passes through a bore 72 opening into the slot 75. In the baby walker configuration, the screws 71 are screwed into threaded inserts 73 which interlock with and retain the tray 7 between the side frames. The handle 8 is secured by screws, not shown, to the rear side of the tray or, alternatively, may be moulded in one piece with the tray. Arranged on each side frame below the bore 72 is a pivot pin 74 for a pivot 31 for one end of a respective one of the arms 3. The pivot 31 serves as a universal joint to allow the arm 3 to rotate about the axis of the pin 74 and to adjust in a plane perpendicular to that of the side frame. The other end of each arm 3 is integral with one of two aligned tubes 41 which receive a core 42. An outer drum 43 formed from two inter-connected semi-cylindrical shells 44 surrounds the aligned tubes 41.

Each end of the core 42 is formed with a male fitting 45 having a rectangular head and narrower neck and capable of being passed through a rectangular opening 46 into the boss from which spigot 21 projects. The fittings 45 and openings 46 are so shaped as to enable the core to interlock with the frames upon being rotated through 90°,

and to be releasable therefrom when twisted back into its initial position.

During conversion of the apparatus from the baby gym configuration to its baby walker configuration, the frames are pushed towards each other, causing the tubes to telescope within the drum 43 until the ends of the tubes 41 abut, as shown in Figure 3. The male fittings 45 are inserted into the openings at the end of this action and twisted to interlock the cross-piece with the side frames. Locking ribs within the drum 43 are engagable with the tubes 41 when the apparatus is in the baby walker configuration to maintain the end of the tubes juxtaposed to each other. The cross-piece is thereby aligned with the leading wheels 2a and provides the child with adequate leg room between the side frames.

To convert the apparatus into its baby gym configuration, the screws 71 are withdrawn to release the tray 7, which is removed. The arms 3 are rotated into vertically upwardly extending positions, so as to engage within the slots 75 in the side frames. The screws 71 are then reinserted into the bores 72 and screwed into bores 32 in the arms 3 to secure the arms in their generally upright positions. The slots 75 are so configured that the arms are held at an inclination to the planes of the side frames, as shown in Figure 4. The effect is to position the side frames at a desired inclination to the vertical, whereby the frames are supported on feet 12 with the wheels lifted clear of the floor. Moreover, because the frames are inclined towards each other, the stability of the apparatus is increased.

During conversion into the baby gym configuration, drum 43 is rotated into a position to cause eyes 46, 47 on the drum to face downwards. Hooks for suspending playthings 6 for the amusement of the baby may be removably fitted to the eyes.

By removing the plate 9 from the tray 7, the baby walker may be used as a pushchair or trolley by an older child. The tray, separated from the apparatus, may be used as an activity table, and the playthings on the support plate may be used separately from the tray.

To provide the overall apparatus with a more attractive appearance, openings 14 in the side frames may receive further amusement devices 15, and hub caps may be snap fitted into openings in the wheels. As illustrated, the hub caps are eccentric to the wheels. Substantially all of the parts of the apparatus may be moulded from plastics. Metal may be used for certain screws or where otherwise desirable.

Modifications may be made to the apparatus. For example, it is not essential for the cross-piece to align with the axis of the wheels when the apparatus is in the baby walker configuration. The cross-bar must, of course, be located where it will not obstruct the child's legs and will serve to brace the side frames and prevent play between the various parts of the apparatus which could lead to instability when in use. Separate means may be provided for braking the wheels or engaging the floor in the baby gym configuration instead of tilting the side frames to cause integral feet to engage the floor. The handle bar 4 may be secured direct to the side frames, with or without the use of a separate tray 7.

Instead of the cross-piece being movable pivotally from one position to another, it may be removed entirely and refixed. The cross-piece may be lengthened using a separate extension piece, or pieces, when converting into the baby gym configuration, instead of using a telescopic cross-piece.

In an alternative form or apparatus, the side frames may be interconnected by an adjustable telescopic cross- piece which serves as a handle in the babywalker configuration and for supporting playthings in the baby gym configuration. Such a cross-piece may be slidably adjustable in height. A second cross-piece may be adjustably or detachably secured between the side frames to brace the same in the baby walker configuration. Although it is preferred for all of the wheels to be mounted on the side frames, it falls within the scope of the invention for each side frame to be provided with but a single wheel, and for one or more forward wheels to be carried by the cross-piece.