# US 8,784,284 B1 · Infant muscle training apparatuses and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,784,284 B1 - Document ID: US8784284B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 13/374,080 - Filed: 2011-12-09 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2010-12-10 - Applicants: Jeff Smith - Inventors: Jeff Smith - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8784284B1 ## CPC - A63B 23/1245: {Primarily by articulating the shoulder joint (A63B23/129 takes precedence)} - A47D 13/04: Apparatus for helping babies to walk; Baby walkers or strollers - A47D 13/046: {Harnesses for helping babies to walk} - A47D 13/08: Devices for use in guiding or supporting children, e.g. safety harness - A47D 15/006: {in chairs} - A63B 7/00: Freely-suspended gymnastic apparatus - A63B 21/0442: {Anchored at one end only, the other end being manipulated by the user} - A63B 21/0552: {Elastic ropes or bands} - A63B 21/1609: {for anchoring on a chair (chairs with exercising means A47C9/002)} - A63B 21/4033: {Handles, pedals, bars or platforms} - A63B 21/4043: {Free movement, i.e. the only restriction coming from the resistance (A63B21/00043, A63B21/072 take precedence)} - A63B 23/03541: {Moving independently from each other (A63B22/00 takes precedence)} - B62B 7/004: {Carriages supporting a hammock-style seat} - A61H 3/04: Wheeled walking aids for patients or disabled persons - A63B 21/00181: {comprising additional means assisting the user to overcome part of the resisting force, i.e. assisted-active exercising} - A63B 21/068: using user's body weight - A63B 23/1254: {Rotation about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body, e.g. butterfly-type exercises} - A63B 23/1263: {Rotation about an axis passing through both shoulders, e.g. cross-country skiing-type arm movements} - A63B 2208/12: specially adapted for children - A63B 2225/093: Height - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) - A47D: FURNITURE SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CHILDREN (school benches or desks A47B39/00, A47B41/00) - B62B: HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES (characterised by animal propulsion B62C; propulsion of sledges by driver or engine B62M) - A61H: PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY (electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, radiation therapy or ultrasound therapy A61N) ## Abstract An infant muscle training apparatus includes an apparatus base, an apparatus frame carried by the apparatus base and at least one assistance harness carried by the apparatus frame. The assistance harness has at least one resilient or elastic assistance band carried by the apparatus frame and a flexible, U-shaped arm strap carried by the assistance band. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An infant muscle training apparatus, comprising: an apparatus base; an apparatus frame carried by the apparatus base; at least one assistance harness carried by the apparatus frame, the at least one assistance harness having at least one resilient or elastic assistance band carried by the apparatus frame and a flexible, U-shaped arm strap carried by the at least one assistance band; and an infant chair beneath the at least one assistance harness, the infant chair having infant chair legs and an infant chair seat and an infant chair tray carried by the infant chair legs, the at least one assistance harness suspended over the infant chair tray. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The infant muscle training apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus frame is height-adjustable with respect to the apparatus base. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The infant muscle training apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus base comprises a pair of generally elongated, parallel, spaced-apart side base members and a connecting base member connecting the side base members, and wherein the apparatus frame is carried by the side base members. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The infant muscle training apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a pair of frame support members upward-standing from the side base members, respectively, and wherein the apparatus frame is carried by the frame support members, respectively. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The infant muscle training apparatus of claim 4 wherein the apparatus frame comprises a pair of side frame members carried by the pair of frame support members, respectively, of the apparatus base and a connecting frame member connecting the pair of side frame members. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The infant muscle training apparatus of claim 5 wherein the frame support members of the apparatus base telescopically receive the side frame members, respectively, of the apparatus frame. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The infant muscle training apparatus of claim 6 further comprising a first plurality of pin openings in each of the frame support members, a second plurality of pin openings in each of the side frame members and a pin extended through a selected registering pair of the first plurality of pin openings and the second plurality of pin openings. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The infant muscle training apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus frame comprises a generally elongated, curved first frame member carried by the apparatus base and a generally elongated, curved second frame member carried by the apparatus base and intersecting the first frame member. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The infant muscle training apparatus of claim 8 wherein the at least one assistance harness comprises at least one arm assistance harness and at least one leg assistance harness. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The infant muscle training apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus base comprises a wheeled infant walker base and further comprising an infant walker frame carried by the infant walker base, an infant walker seat carried by the infant walker frame and an infant walker tray carried by the infant walker seat, and wherein the apparatus frame is carried by the infant walker tray. ### Claim 11 An infant muscle training method for an infant having a muscular disease or disorder, comprising: providing an infant muscle training apparatus having at least one resilient or elastic band; providing an infant chair having an infant chair tray, placing the infant chair generally beneath the at least one resilient or elastic band and placing at least one object on the infant chair tray; extending at least one arm of the infant through the at least one resilient or elastic band; and having the infant generally apply resistance against the at least one resilient or elastic band, whereby the at least one resilient or elastic band applies upward assistance against the at least one arm of the infant as the infant manipulates the at least one object. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein the providing an infant muscle training apparatus comprises providing an infant muscle training apparatus having a pair of apparatus handles and wherein the at least one band comprises at least one resistance band connecting the apparatus handles and having the infant generally apply resistance against the at least one band comprises having the infant grip the handles and pull the handles against the at least one resistance band. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein the providing an infant muscle training apparatus comprises providing an infant muscle training apparatus having an apparatus base and an apparatus frame carried by the apparatus base and wherein the at least one band comprises at least one assistance band carried by the apparatus frame. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 wherein the providing an infant muscle training apparatus comprises providing an infant muscle training apparatus having a flexible, U-shaped arm strap carried by the at least one assistance band, and wherein extending at least one arm of the infant through the at least one assistance band comprises extending the at least one arm of the infant through the arm strap. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein the providing an infant muscle training apparatus having at least one resilient or elastic band comprises providing an infant muscle training apparatus having an apparatus base and an apparatus frame over the apparatus base and a pair of arm assistance harnesses and a pair of leg assistance harnesses carried by the apparatus frame, and further comprising extending arms of the infant through the arm assistance harnesses and legs of the infant through the leg assistance harnesses. ### Claim 16 An infant muscle training program, comprising: training an infant using an infant muscle training apparatus having apparatus handles and at least one resistance band connecting the apparatus handles; training an infant using an infant muscle training apparatus with an infant play gym and at least one arm assistance harness and at least one leg assistance harness carried by the infant play gym; training an infant using an infant muscle training apparatus with an infant chair and at least one arm assistance harness suspended over the infant chair; and training an infant using an infant muscle training apparatus with an infant-propelled infant walker having an infant walker tray, an apparatus frame carried by the infant walker tray and at least one arm assistance harness carried by the apparatus frame and suspended over the infant walker tray of the infant walker.