This invention lies in the field of developmental aids for babies or young children, that is, devices that are of assistance in the natural development of gross motor skills, visual perception skills, fine motor skills, auditory perception skills and other aspects of development, for example tactile aspects of the child's development may also be catered for. The invention can also be used for the rehabilitation of humans and animals, which have suffered injury or impairment of faculties or have suffered retarded development.

BACKGROUND

Babies that are at the stage just prior to being able to move across a floor or other surface are able to move the orientation of the body and adopt different attitudes. Normal ongoing development leads to crawling or in some instances dragging the body in various attitudes. Crawling is for example a natural step between sitting and walking. There is a value in enhancing or encouraging or accelerating this natural development of the various faculties that are involved. Children that have retarded development in these respects need means of dealing with this problem; visual, auditory and fine motor skills tend to have links with gross motor skills. In some cases rehabilitation of physically and/or mentally injured individuals may be assisted by use of the invention.

THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a developmental device for babies, which comprises a body, which has a circular shape in cross-sections normal to an axis of rotation of the body, in which the circular shapes include at least two of different circular diameter and which has non-circular shapes in cross sections that pass through the axis of rotation. This provides that the body is

non-spherical and this asymmetry provides developmental benefits for babies and young children, which are discussed below.

In various preferred embodiments the circular diameter varies continuously or smoothly over the length of the axis of rotation; alternatively some shapes with abrupt variation can be adopted, embodiments that can be adopted are described further below.

For example, the body can be of truncated conical outer form, with the smaller diameter end of the cone rounded off and the edges of the larger diameter end, that is, the "base" of the cone also rounded off.

Another shape may be a hyperboloid of revolution, truncated to have a smaller circular diameter at one end than the other end.

Still another shape may be as of two truncated cones joined at their larger equal diameter bases.

Preferably the corners of the body in all cases are rounded off in the sense of providing surfaces that may safely be handled by a baby or child, and of avoiding sharp edges.

The geometric terms used here as descriptive of shape are intended to convey also approximations to such shapes, for example the terms "conical", "hyperboloid" used herein is intended to include other shapes that are approximately of these shapes or akin functionally to these shapes. The cross-sectional shapes may also be only approximately circular or may be elliptical, preferably of moderate aspect ratio of the ellipse.

The shapes may also have flattened surfaces to as to create irregular movement when rolling, to some extent.

The differing cross-sectional diameters of the body, for example the conical shape, causes the body to roll in an asymmetrical way, so that it does not roll

in a straight line on a flat surface, but rolls along a curved path. This mode of rolling will tend the body to even return in some cases to the position in which the rolling was initiated. This tends to return the body to the vicinity of a baby that has not yet learned the ability to move its position, hence retaining the interest of the baby in the body and giving the possibility that the baby can repeatedly push the body. In this play the baby may be encouraged to begin to move its position more strongly than if a conventional spherical body were used, which when pushed once may roll away out of the sphere of interest of the baby.

The truncated end of the conical shape may be domed, i.e. convex, e.g. hemispherical rather than flat, as this may assist the body in returning to lie on its tapering sides.

The term "body" is used herein in the wide sense described above.

The body may be made to have a non-hazardous exterior surface so that the smoothness further reduces any risk of harm to a baby. This may be achieved by various manufacturing techniques, such as moulding the body in a soft elastomers or foamed polymers, such as a soft grade of a plastic that is chemically safe for babies. The body may be made inflatable, conferring lightness and softness. The body could, however, be made in any convenient manner, e.g. by injection moulding in hollow form of lightweight harder plastics or by roto-moulding or blow moulding. These techniques may include assembly steps of components, e.g. where it is moulded in parts, in two halves or in other techniques.

The body may have ancillary features, such as embedded in the body lights that can switch on, flash etc.

The body may have noise causing means, such as rattles, sirens, whistles, bells, clicking sounds, talking, electronic of non-electrical components, etc.

The body may also optionally have means inside it, which cause mechanical movement, e.g. that move eccentric weights inside the body, etc. The body may be weighted by means of a static weight, which is located on the body axis (i.e. not axially eccentric) but not located in the centroid of the body. For example the weight may be located nearer the apex of the shapes mentioned above, or conversely, nearer the truncated base of the shape, e.g. the conical shape.

The body may contain a weight that is driven to move inside the body along an eccentric path, driven by an electric motor or clockwork, for example.

The surface of the body may be given a translucent, iridescent or other visually attracting feature, to stimulate visual inter-action with a baby or child. The body may also have odour forming substances embedded in its surface or otherwise provided, to give an odour during play.

The surface texture may be varied, visually interesting or culturally attractive features may be provided on the surface of the body, educational features appropriate to older children may be added. Colours may be used in patterns and overall.

THE DRAWINGS

The invention is more fully described by way of example, with reference to the images, in which : -

Figure 1 is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the device,

Figure 2 is an end view of the embodiment of the device shown in figure 1 ,

Figure 3 is a side view of the device showing schematically inserts in the body,

Figure 4 is an isometric view of another embodiment of the device body,

Figure 5 is an isometric view of another embodiment of the device body,

Figure 6 is an end view of the body of another embodiment of the device, showing flat spots,

Figure 7 an isometric view of another embodiment of the device body, and

Figure 8 an isometric view of another embodiment of the device body.

THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in figures 1 and 2, the body 1 of the device is of conical shape, the apex 2 being rounded off and the base 3 being domed, in this case, the edges 4 at the base also being rounded off. An advantage of the domed shape is that the body will be less likely to rest on its base, but will tend to fall onto its conical surfaces. The body of the device has a circular shape 9 (figure 1) in cross-sections normal to an axis 10 (figure 2) of rotation of the body, in which the circular shapes include at least two of different circular diameter (viz. at the diameter 11 and the diameter 12, figure 1) and which has non-circular shapes in cross sections that pass through the axis of rotation (viz. the triangular shape seen in figure 1).

The body has surface features 5 in the form of indented patterns, which play a visual and textile role in the use of the body.

This embodiment may be made by moulding in a polyurethane polymer using a foaming agent, which moulds with a foamed interior and an unbroken skin on the outside surfaces, which is soft to the touch and can be easily cleaned.

As shown in figure 3, the body may have an insert space 6, in which items as mentioned above may be located, including an item 7 and smaller item 8.

these may include rattles, squeakers or other noise producing means, lights, flashing items, eccentric rotating weights, battery or clockwork operated.

Figure 4 shows a device 9, which looks rather like a mushroom, it has a circular shape (viz. at 13 and 14 in cross-sections normal to an axis 15 of rotation of the body, in which the circular shapes include at least two of different circular diameter and which has a non-circular shape in cross sections that pass through the axis of rotation; the body has the shape of a truncated hyperboloid of revolution, with domed ends.. This device also rolls in a non-linear fashion, so as to tend to return to its starting position. The body also has a domed large diameter end 16 as well as a domed small diameter end.

Figure 5 shows another embodiment, having a body shape whose features can be inferred from the description of figure 4.

Figure 6 shows the provision of flats on the end 17 and around the body 18 of a device, whose overall shape may be as shown in any one of the preceding figures.

Figure 7 shows a device which has a bilateral symmetry about An imaginary plane 27 passing through the disc and normal to the axis of rotation 20. The body comprises a disc 21 with rounded edges and two narrow cones 22 and

23 on either side.

Figure 8 shows a device that is an adjustable assembly, it comprises a shaft

24 with two wheels 25 and 26, of differing diameters one of the wheels (or both) being able to be slid along the shaft to vary the distance between the wheels; this distance determines whether the device rolls back its starting position in a small circle or in a large circle.

REFRENCE NUMERALS

DEVICE

APEX

DOMED BASE

ROUNDED CORNER

SURFACE TEXTURE

APERTURE

SMALLER HOLOW

INSERT

CIRCULAR DIAMETER

AXIS OF ROTATION

SMALLER DIAMETER

LARGER DIAMETER

SMALLER DIAMETER

LARGER DIAMETER

AXIS OF ROTATION

DOMED END

DOMED END

FLATS ON DOMED END

FLATS ON SIDES

AXIS OF ROTATION

DISC

NARROW CONE

NARROW CONE

SHAFT

LARGER WHEEL

SMALLER WHEEL

000