GB2134779A

GB2134779A - Baby rocker

Info

Publication number: GB2134779A
Application number: GB08330187A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Raymond Bibby
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-01-14
Filing date: 1983-11-11
Publication date: 1984-08-22
Also published as: GB8330187D0

Abstract

An apparatus for applying a repetitive, soothing movement to a baby carriage, cot, or the like has a base 12 on which a carriage carrying platform 16 is supported to allow movement of the platform 16 both vertically and horizontally, the platform being mounted in the base by brackets 18 and flexible or resilient link, 20. A motor 24 mounted on the base has its output shaft 28 eccentrically and pivotally connected to a connection member 30 linked to tension springs 34 secured to the platform such that the platform is moved repetitively through a figure 8 path. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Baby rocker The present invention relates to an apparatus for applying a repetitive, soothing movement to for example, a baby's cot. Infants, particularly newborn babies, require great deal of attention and generally speaking t only opportunity that a parent has to rest is whe the infant in sleeping. Unfortunately, this is not normally practical and it is quite often not possible to leave an infant alone in, for example, a cot as the infant quickly becomes bored and irritable. Accordingly, the present invention provides an apparatus for applying a repetitive, soothing movement to a baby carriage or the like comprise a base, a support member for carrying said baby carriage, said support member being supported o said base in a manner to allow limited movement of said support member and drive means secured to said base and coupled to said support member, said drive means being actuable to move said support member repetitively in a preselected manner. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the support member is generally planar and the drive means is actuable to move the support member generally in its own plane along a closed path which is conveniently circular, eliptical or a figure 8 or any other convenient form. The present invention makes use of the fact that gentle, oscillatory or rocking movements have a very soothing effect on infants. Certain types of movement being more effective than others. The present invention Is further described hereinafter, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figure 1 is a partial section through a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 2 is a plan view of part of the drive mechanism of the embodiment of Figure 1. The apparatus 10 shown in the drawings comprises a base 12 which, in this instance, is in the form of a square frame having four sides 1 , although any other suitable shape may be used. A support member in the form of a platform 16 is mounted on the base 12 in spaced relationship thereto and is of a size such that the edges of the platform 16 overlie or overlap the base frame sides 14. The platform 16 is mounted on the base in such a way as to allow restrictive movement of the platform both in a direction normal to the platform surface, the platform preferably being planar in shape, and in a direction laterally of the base 12 and preferably in the plane of the platform. This is effected by mounting the platform 16 by way of brackets 18 which are secured to the underside of the platform 16, a respective bracket preferably being located at or adjacent each corner of the platform, with the free ends of the brackets each being coupled to the adjacent base frame side 14 by a flexible or resilient link 20. Each link 20 is preferably in the form of a chain or cable although spring links, such 65 as coil springs, and blocks or bands of resilient material such as rubber or plastics material may be used. Drive for the platform 16 is provided by a drive mechanism 22 which is shown in more detail in Figure 2. The drive mechanism comprises a drive motor 24 which is securely supported beneath the platform 16 on a support strut 26 of the base 12. The motor 24 has an output drive shaft 28 whose free end is eccentrically and pivotally connected to one end of a connecting member 30. The connecting member 30 is generally hook-shaped with the hook portion 32 being formed at the end of the member remote from the drive shaft 28. The hook portion 32 serves to link two tension springs 34 whose other ends are secured to the underside of the platform 16 by way of respective brackets 36. The arrangement is such that the springs 34 and the hook portion 32 are generally in line with one another. In operation, the coupling of the member 30 to the drive shaft 28 converts rotation of the drive shaft 28 into generally linear oscillation of the hook portion 32 of the member 30, the hook portion 32 being reciprocated along a path transverse to the axes of the coil springs 34. However, since the coupling of the drive shaft 28 to the member 30 causes the end of the member 30 connected to the drive shaft 28 to move from side to side in a plane perpendicular to the drive shaft axis, as the drive shaft rotates, this movement is reflected to a smaller degree by a similar movement of the hook portion 32. The effect of this is to cause the platform 16 both to move and to rock from side to side, generally in the plate of the platform 16 but also with some tilting of the platform 16 about its centre and generally about an axis in the plane of the platform 16 and extending laterally of the axes of the springs 34. The platform 16, therefore, generally follows a figure 8 path of movement with the rotational speed of the drive shaft 28 sufficiently low to cause the platform 16 to move through one complete cycle approximately every 2. seconds for example. Although in Figure 2 the drive shaft 28 is illustrated as being generally perpendicular to the plane of the platform 16 this need not necessarily be the case provided that the connection between the drive shaft and the springs 34 is such that the above-mentioned movement or similar movement is induced in the platform 16. Also, the springs 34 may be replaced by any suitable resilient connection. The drive motor 24 is coupled to a power supply through a control unit 38 which controls operation of the motor 24. The rotation speed of the drive shaft 28 and thus the speed of movement of the platform 16 can be adjusted continuously from zero to a maximum which provides a minimum cycle time for the platform movement of, for example, half a second or less. The control unit also includes a timing circuit which can be actuated by a simple push button or other means to control the supply of power to the drive motor 24 for a fixed period of, for example,

Claims

four minutes so that at the end of four minutes the drive motor is switched off. The time period set by the timer can, of course, be varied over a range of, for example, one minute to thirty minutes either continuously or in a step manner. A sensor may also be provided to sense the sound of an infant crying and actuate the motor 24 in dependence on this. In use, the infant, in a cot or baby carriage or the like, is placed on the platform 16 which is sufficiently large. Movement of the platform 16 is, therefore, transmitted through the cot the like to the infant and provides a gentle soothing rocking motion. The base 12 may conveniently be provided with detachable legs to allow it to be placed either directly on the floor or supported at a preselected height. The platform 16 is supported a preselected height above the top of the base sides 1 to leave sufficient clearance to prevent fingers being trapped between the two during operation. Finally, although the member 30 is described above as being generally hook-shaped it will be appreciated that any suitable member may be used. For example, the member 30 may be a straight link with holes provided at one end for connection to the springs 34. In addition, the drive motor is preferably a low voltage e.g. 12 volt motor connected through a transformer to the main supply for safety reasons. CLAIMS

1. Apparatus for applying a repetitive, soothing movement to a baby carriage or the like comprises a base, a support member for carrying said baby carriage, said support member being supported on said base in a manner to allow limited movement of said support member and rive means secured to said base and coupled to said support member, said drive means being actuable to move said support member repetitively in a preselected manner.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said support member is mounted on said base in a manner to allow limited movement of said support member both horizontally and vertically.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein said drive means comprises a drive mechanism having a drive motor coupled to said support member by a resilient coupling.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said resilient coupling comprises two resilient members each of which couples said drive motor to said support member, the arrangement being such that each resilient member is maintained in tension.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 wherein said support member is a platform mounted on said base by flexible couplings.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 further comprising a control means for controlling the supply of power to said drive means.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said control means comprises timing means actuable to energise said drive means for a preselected time period.

8. Apparatus for applying a repetitive, soothing movement to a baby carriage or the like, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.