GB1565501A

GB1565501A - Apparatus for vibrating perambulator

Info

Publication number: GB1565501A
Application number: GB2699575A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: POWERHOUSE ENG Ltd
Current assignee: POWERHOUSE ENG Ltd
Priority date: 1976-09-23
Filing date: 1976-09-23
Publication date: 1980-04-23

Description

(54) AN APPARATUS FOR VIBRATING A PERAMBULATOR (71) We, POWERHOUSE ENGINEERING LIMITED, a British Company of 56 High Pavement, Nottingham, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- The present invention relates to an apparatus for vibrating a perambulator.

We have noticed that young babies when placed in a stationary permabulator become restless and inevitably start to cry. However, as soon as the perambulator is moved, say to and fro, the baby settles down. The same reaction is true if the perambulator is wheeled in one direction only, however rough the ground over which the perambulator is wheeled.

We have consequently devised an apparatus for simulating the movement of a perambulator.

According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for vibrating a perambulator the apparatus including a housing having a base, an upper surface for receiving the perambulator and an inclined wall ex tending from the base to the upper surface, the inclined wall serving as a ramp for permitting a perambulator to be wheeled onto the upper surface, and vibrating means mounted in the housing so as to form part of said upper surface and arranged to engage at least one wheel of a perambulator received on the upper surface, so as to cause rotation and oscillation of said at least one wheel in order to vibrate the perambulator.

Preferably the vibrating means is arranged to rotate the front and/or rear wheels of the perambulator.

In one embodiment, the vibrating means comprises a pair of rollers rotatably located within the housing, the rollers of the pair being spaced from one another to be capable of supporting at least one of a pair of wheels of the perambulator therebetween. The upper surface of the housing is preferably provided with at least one recess to receive the other pair of wheels of the perambulator. Both rollers may be directly rotatably mounted in the housing.

In another embodiment, a second pair of rollers are provided, the rollers of the second pair being spaced from one another so as to be capable of supporting at least one of the other pair of wheels of the perambulator.

Preferably, an electric motor is mounted in the housing and is arranged to drive at least one roller of the or each pair. Conveniently, the motor may be adapted for connection to either a mains electricity supply or a battery.

The battery may conveniently be located in the housing.

The roller is eccentrically mounted in the housing and/or the peripheral surface of the roller is uneven, for example may be roughened and/or provided with projections and/or recesses to cause oscillation of the perambulator wheel. Alternatively, the or each roller may be rotatably mounted in the arm, or pair of spaced arms. The arm being pivotally mounted for movement relative to the housing and means are provided to impart oscillation to the arm or pair of arms. For instance, the motor may be arranged to drive a suitably shaped cam, the arm being resiliently biased into contact with the cam.

In another embodiment, the rotating means comprises a conveyor. Anchoring means are provided to restrain movement of the perambulator in the direction of travel of the conveyor.

The surface of the conveyor is uneven, for instance its surface may be roughened and/or provided with projections and/or recesses so as to cause oscillation of the perambulator wheel. A slat conveyor would be suitable.

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a side view, partly broken away, of a second embodiment according to the present apparatus.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the embodiment of Figure 2.

Referring in particular to Figures 2 and 3, the present apparatus includes a housing 10 having a base 11, side walls 12, 13 and inclined end walls 14, 15 which serve as ramps to permit a perambulator 9 to be wheeled onto its upper surface 18.

The housing 10 is provided with two pairs of rollers 20, 21. The rollers 20a, 20b, and 21a, 21b of each pair are spaced from one another by a distance sufficient to locate the wheels of the perambulator 9 as seen in Figure 2. A drive motor 24, preferably electrically driven is located in the housing between the pairs of rollers 20, 21. A drive belt 25 extends between roller 20b and a drive pulley 24a of the motor and a drive belt 26 extends between roller 21a and the drive pulley 24a.

Consequently, in use, a perambulator is wheeled on to the upper surface of the housing and is positioned so that its wheels are located between rollers 20a, 20b and 21a, 21b.

On actuation of the motor, rollers 20b and 21a are made to rotate and in so doing rotate the wheels of the perambulator.

In the illustrated embodiment the rollers 20a, 20b, 21a, 21b, are shown as having circular cross-sections and as having smooth peripheral surfaces. The rollers are arranged to cause the perambulator to oscillate in a generally upwards direction. To this end, at least one of the drive rollers 20b or 21a is rotatably mounted eccentrically in the housing. Alternatively, or additionally the peripheral surface of at least one of the drive rollers may be roughened or provided with projections.

The embodiment of Figure 1 only differs in one respect from the above described embodiment in that one of the pairs of rollers is replaced by a recess 40 in the upper surface of the housing. The perambulator in use is positioned so that a pair of wheels are located in the recess 40 and the other pair of wheels are positioned between the rollers 20a, 20b.

In both embodiments, the sides of the housing are conveniently provided with hand holes 30 to facilitate carriage of the apparatus.

Conveniently, the housing 10 is made from a suitable plastics material, preferably reinforced such as glass reinforced resin.

It is also envisaged that instead of one pair of both pairs of rollers, a conveyor may be used which extends along the upper surface of the housing. In use, the perambulator would be positioned on-the conveyor and restrained from movement in the direction of travel of the conveyor by virtue of an anchoring means which would be connected to the housing and releasably connected to the perambulator. The conveyor has a roughened surface for instance a slat conveyor may be used.

It is further envisaged that one of the rollers of a pair of rollers preferably the driven roller, is rotatably -mounted on an arm or between a pair of spaced arms. The or each arm would be pivotally mounted for deflection relative to the housing and means would be provided for oscillating the arm or pair of arms. For instance, the or each arm may be pivotally mounted near to the motor and the motor may be arranged to drive a cam, the or the pair of arms being resiliently biased to contact the cam so that rotation of the cam causes oscillation of the arm.

It is also envisaged for all embodiments that the motor may be adapted for connection to a mains electrical source and/or a battery.

The battery may conveniently be housed within the housing.

Additionally, a time switch may be employed to limit the time of operation of the motor. Also a speed control may be incorporated to control the speed of rotation of the motor.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. An apparatus for vibrating a perambulator the apparatus including a housing having a base, an upper surface for receiving the perambulator and an inclined wall extending from the base to the upper surface, the inclined wall serving as a ramp for permitting a perambulator to be wheeled onto the upper surface, and vibrating means mounted in the housing so as to form part of said upper surface and arranged to engage at least one wheel of a perambulator received on the upper surface so as to cause rotation and oscillation of said at least one wheel in order to vibrate the perambulator.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the vibrating means is arranged to rotate the front and/or rear pair of wheels of the perambulator.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the vibrating means comprises a pair of rollers rotatably located within the housing, the rollers of the pair being spaced from one another to be capable of supporting at least one of a pair of wheels of the perambulator therebetween.

4. An apparatus according to -claim 3 wherein the -upper surface of the housing is provided with at least one recess to receive the other pair of wheels of the perambulator.

5. An apparatus according to claims 3 or 4 wherein both rollers are directly rotatably mounted in the housing.

6. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein a second pair of rollers are provided, the rollers of the second pair being spaced from one another so as to be capable of supporting at least one of the other pair of wheels of the perambulator.

7. An apparatus according to claims 3 or 6 wherein each pair of rollers support both wheels of each pair of wheels of the perambulator.

8. An apparatus according to any of

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. the present apparatus includes a housing 10 having a base 11, side walls 12, 13 and inclined end walls 14, 15 which serve as ramps to permit a perambulator 9 to be wheeled onto its upper surface 18. The housing 10 is provided with two pairs of rollers 20, 21. The rollers 20a, 20b, and 21a, 21b of each pair are spaced from one another by a distance sufficient to locate the wheels of the perambulator 9 as seen in Figure 2. A drive motor 24, preferably electrically driven is located in the housing between the pairs of rollers 20, 21. A drive belt 25 extends between roller 20b and a drive pulley 24a of the motor and a drive belt 26 extends between roller 21a and the drive pulley 24a. Consequently, in use, a perambulator is wheeled on to the upper surface of the housing and is positioned so that its wheels are located between rollers 20a, 20b and 21a, 21b. On actuation of the motor, rollers 20b and 21a are made to rotate and in so doing rotate the wheels of the perambulator. In the illustrated embodiment the rollers 20a, 20b, 21a, 21b, are shown as having circular cross-sections and as having smooth peripheral surfaces. The rollers are arranged to cause the perambulator to oscillate in a generally upwards direction. To this end, at least one of the drive rollers 20b or 21a is rotatably mounted eccentrically in the housing. Alternatively, or additionally the peripheral surface of at least one of the drive rollers may be roughened or provided with projections. The embodiment of Figure 1 only differs in one respect from the above described embodiment in that one of the pairs of rollers is replaced by a recess 40 in the upper surface of the housing. The perambulator in use is positioned so that a pair of wheels are located in the recess 40 and the other pair of wheels are positioned between the rollers 20a, 20b. In both embodiments, the sides of the housing are conveniently provided with hand holes 30 to facilitate carriage of the apparatus. Conveniently, the housing 10 is made from a suitable plastics material, preferably reinforced such as glass reinforced resin. It is also envisaged that instead of one pair of both pairs of rollers, a conveyor may be used which extends along the upper surface of the housing. In use, the perambulator would be positioned on-the conveyor and restrained from movement in the direction of travel of the conveyor by virtue of an anchoring means which would be connected to the housing and releasably connected to the perambulator. The conveyor has a roughened surface for instance a slat conveyor may be used. It is further envisaged that one of the rollers of a pair of rollers preferably the driven roller, is rotatably -mounted on an arm or between a pair of spaced arms. The or each arm would be pivotally mounted for deflection relative to the housing and means would be provided for oscillating the arm or pair of arms. For instance, the or each arm may be pivotally mounted near to the motor and the motor may be arranged to drive a cam, the or the pair of arms being resiliently biased to contact the cam so that rotation of the cam causes oscillation of the arm. It is also envisaged for all embodiments that the motor may be adapted for connection to a mains electrical source and/or a battery. The battery may conveniently be housed within the housing. Additionally, a time switch may be employed to limit the time of operation of the motor. Also a speed control may be incorporated to control the speed of rotation of the motor. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. An apparatus for vibrating a perambulator the apparatus including a housing having a base, an upper surface for receiving the perambulator and an inclined wall extending from the base to the upper surface, the inclined wall serving as a ramp for permitting a perambulator to be wheeled onto the upper surface, and vibrating means mounted in the housing so as to form part of said upper surface and arranged to engage at least one wheel of a perambulator received on the upper surface so as to cause rotation and oscillation of said at least one wheel in order to vibrate the perambulator.

8. An apparatus according to any of

claims 3 to 5 wherein an electric motor is mounted in the housing and is arranged to drive at least one roller of the or each pair.

9. An apparatus according to Claim 8 wherein the motor is adapted for connection to either a mains electricity supply or a battery.

10. An apparatus according to Claim 9 wherein the battery is located within the housing.

11. An apparatus according to Claims 9 or 10 further including control means for varying the rotational speed of said rotation means.

12. An apparatus according to Claims 9, 10 or 11 wherein timing means are provided for stopping the rotation means after a predetermined length of time.

13. An apparatus according to Claims 3 to 12 wherein the or each roller adapted to cause oscillation is eccentrically mounted in the housing.

14. An apparatus according to Claims 13 wherein the or each roller adapted to cause oscillation has any uneven peripheral surface.

15. An apparatus according to Claim 14 wherein the uneven peripheral surface of the roller is defined by the surface being roughened and/or being provided with projections and/or recesses.

16. An apparatus according to any of Claims 13 to 15 wherein the or each roller adapted to cause oscillation is rotatably mounted in an arm or pair of spaced arms pivotally connected to the housing, oscillation means being provided to impart oscillation to the arm of pair or arms.

17. An apparatus according to Claim 16 wherein the arm or at least one arm of the pair is biased into contact with a cam driven by the motor.

18. An apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the vibrating means comprises a conveyor.

19. An apparatus according to Claim 18 wherein anchoring means are provided to restrain movement of the perambulator in the direction of travel of the conveyor.

20. An apparatus according to Claims 18 or 19 wherein the surface of the conveyor is uneven, for instance its surface may be roughened and/or provided with projections and/or recesses.

21. An apparatus according to Claim 20 wherein the conveyor is a slat conveyor.

22. An apparatus for vibrating a perambulator substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.