GB2150086A - Apparatus for automatically rocking a child's bed - Google Patents

Abstract

An automatic rocker for babies has inclined surfaces 5 which receive the wheels of a pram 1 and has a motor 7 which moves the pram up and down the inclined surfaces. The motor may have a time switch and frequency control means, and may be voice actuated via a microphone 13. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for automatically rocking a child's bed INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION THIS INVENTION relates to apparatus for automatically rocking a child's bed, in order to soothe a child or baby to sleep.

Frequently a baby is soothed by his mother by rocking him in his pram or cot or the like, but this can become a tiresome and lengthly process if the baby will not go to sleep without being rocked.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide apparatus for automatically rocking a child's bed which is mounted on rotatable members.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with this invention there is provided apparatus for automatically rocking a child's bed which is mounted on rotatable members, said apparatus comprising at least one surface locatable under at least one rotatable member, and means adapted to move the bed to cause each rotatable member on a surface to roll to and fro across the surface, at least one surface being shaped to impart a rocking motion with a vertical component to the bed, through the rotatable member in use.

Preferably where there are four rotatable members, four surfaces are provided on a common base, on which the base the means for moving the bed is also mounted.

The surfaces can optionally be uniform and co-operatingly located so that any rotatable member will be in the same position on its surface as any other. at any given time.

Alternatively, the surface shapes may be located and shaped to be oppositely complimentary, to impart a motion to one side of the bed which is the opposite to the motion being imparted to the other side; this applies to both lateral and longitudinal sides, and a rolling or pitching motion or a combination of both, may be imparted.

The means for moving the bed is preferably an electric motor driving a crank and crank rod or connection, which is pivotally securable to a suitable position on the bed, for example the axle between two wheels which form rotatable members.

Where the surfaces are approximately uniformly and smoothly inclined in the same direction, the moving means may positively move the bed only up the incline, and allow it to roll down in controlled manner.

The invention also provides for a base having said means and surfaces, all adapted to rock a conventional baby's pram, and for the apparatus to be provided in kit form, with surfaces releasably and adjustably securable to the base, and a variety of differently shaped surfaces optionally being provided.

The invention further includes a child's bed mounted on movable members and provided with rocking apparatus according to the invention.

The bed may be in the form of a cot releasably or permanently secured to a framework mounted on rollers and being enclosed around the sides from the base to the cot.

A variety of different control mechanisms for the moving means can be provided. The means may be made to operate according to a time cycle, or can be made to operate at variable frequencies. In particular, means may be set to operate for a prederermined period and then switch off or it may be set to run for the predetermined period and then slow down with decreasing frequency of operation until it finally stops, in order to avoid an abrupt cessation of rocking motion. The apparatus may also include a microphone or other sound transducer secured near the head area of the child's bed, and the movable means may be voice-actuated in order for it to commence rocking the bed should the child or baby awaken or cry.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Embodiments of the invention are described below by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a conventional pram with apparatus according to the invention; Figure 2 is an orthographic projection of moving means; Figure 3 is a sectional side view of another embodiment of the invention; and, Figures 4 to 7 are side views of a variety of different surface shapes for the surfaces according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a conventional baby's pram 1 is provided having wheels 2 on which it is mounted. A base 3 has two inclined surfaces 4 and 5 which are smoothly inclined from one lower end towards the other upper end whence they end in a downward step 6. The inclines are exactly symmetrical, and a moving means 7 is located at the junction of the two inclines where the upper end of the one meets the lower end of the other. The moving means includes an electric motor (not shown) in a casing and the motor drives a crank 8 which is connected to a cord 9.

The cord 9 is taken from the crank and connected around the axle 10 of one pair of wheels of the pram.

In use, the motor is driven and is geared to cause the crank 8 to rotate slowly. The rotation of the crank will pull the axle 10 of the pram to cause the wheels to roll up the incline and allow them to roll slowly down the incline. It will be appreciated that the two inclines are so shaped and located that the pram will at all times remain parallel to the horizontal. The rocking motion is imparted by the rise of the pram in a vertical direction and the movement in the horizontal direction to and fro with the operation of the crank. Guide slots 11 are provided in the inclined surfaces to ensure that the pram wheels always follow the same path when moving up and down the incline.

A variety of control mechanisms may be provided for the motor. These can include, besides the conventional on and off switch, a variable frequency adjustment, as well as a timer, indicated generally at 1 2. Thus the motor may be set to cease operation after a predetermined time, or to progress through a series of different frequencies before stopping.

Also, after a predetermined time, the motor may gradually start rotating more slowly thus gently bringing the rocking motion to a halt, and avoiding an abrupt cessation of motion.

Furthermore, the motor can be arranged to be voice-actuated through a microphone 1 3 located to pick up the sounds of a child crying.

The base with its inclined surfaces and the motor may be provided in kit form and be adapted to be used with a conventional pram which may simply be located on the inclines, and the cord 9 connected, before the apparatus can be used. Alternatively, the shaped surfaces may be separated from the base and be releasably and adjustably connected thereto. A variety of different shapes of inclined surfaces may be provided in the kit to enable a user to select a particular rocking motion, as will be further described below.

The invention applies equally well to a fixed base which uses a different type of child's bed, as is illustrated in Figure 3. Here, a conventional child's carrycot 14 is shown, and which is mountable on a supporting framework 1 5 which is in turn mounted on rollers 1 6. A base 1 7 has inclined surfaces 18, which surfaces are inclined upwardly and towards each other in a smooth manner. The movable means 1 9 is provided between the two inclined surfaces and is of the same type as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, with the exception that the connection between the crank and the roller axle 20 is a rigid connecting rod 21 which is pivotally securable about the axle 20.In use the motor causes the rollers to move up and down the inclined surfaces and thus rock the frame and the carry-cot 14 supported thereon. In this particular embodiment, with the surfaces inclined upwardly towards each other, the pram will have a pitching motion relative to its longitudinal axis.

Clearly the same motor control systems may be applied to the motor in this case, as were described with reference to Figures 1 and 2.

The carry-cot itself may be releasably securable to the frame 15, and preferably the entire framework is enclosed around the sides with a walling section 22 extending from the base upwards to a convoluted portion 23 which permits movement of the carry-cot with the rocking motion, but provides a closure between the carry-cot and the upper edge 25 of the walling section.

Figures 4 to 7 illustrates a variety of different shapes of surfaces which can be use.

Figures 4 and 5 show an undulating inclined surface which can be used for providing a rocking motion during the traversing of the movable member of the child's bed either up or down the incline, the Figure 6 illustrates a oppositely shaped pair of surfaces, the one being convex and the other being concave.

Clearly with the movable member of one end set of wheels in any one position on the concave surface, the other end set of wheels will be on the complimentary and opposite portion of the opposite surface.

Figure 7 illustrates the use of differently shaped, but complimentary, surfaces to each side of the child's bed. In this case, a simple smooth inclined plane is used, but each lateral set of inclined planes is inclined in a direction opposite to the other. Clearly a mid-point 25 exists where the movable members of any child's bed which had rotatable members resting on each inclined surface will all be in the same horizontal plane. Preferably the moving means will hold the pram in a neutral position with the movable members in the position 25.

The means for moving the pram will preferably be biased to stop always in a neutral position.

Many variations may be made to the above embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, it will be clearly understood that an infinite variety of shapes and forms which can be located under the movable members, is possible. Furthermore the means for moving the child's bed need not be an electric motor and crank, but may be any other suitable means, for example a solenoid or even a clockwork mechanism.

Claims (21)

1. Apparatus for automatically rocking a child's bed which is mounted on rotatable members, said apparatus comprising at least one surface locatable under at least one rotatable member, and means adapted to move the bed to cause each rotatable member on a surface to roll to and fro across the surface, at least one surface being adapted to impart a rocking motion with a vertical component thereto, to the bed, through the rotatable member in use.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which a surface is provided for each rotatable member, and all the surfaces are mounted on a common base.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the surfaces are uniform and co-operatingly located to cause any rotatable member to be in the same position on its surface as any other rotatable member, at any given time.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the previous claims in which the surfaces are adapted to impart a pitching motion to rotatable members moving thereon.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the surfaces are adapted to impart a rolling motion to rotatable members moving thereon.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the surfaces are adapted to impart a rolling and a pitching motion to rotatable members moving thereon.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the surface shapes to one side of the intended direction of motion of rotatable members thereon, are oppositely complementary to the surfaces on the other side, such that the surface shapes are adapted to impart a motion to one side of the bed which is opposite to the motion which can be imparted to the other side.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the movable means is an electric motor having a crank and a crank connection which is pivotally securable to a suitable positon on the bed.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, in which the position of pivotal securement is around an axle between two rotatable members.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the surfaces are approximately uniformly and smoothly inclined in the same direction, and the moving means is adapted to positively move the bed only up the incline, and to allow it to roll the incline in a controlled manner.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the moving means includes a timing control for activating and de-activating the means according to a predetermined setting.

1 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 in which the moving means includes a speed control, which is adapted to enable the moving means to slow down towards the end of a predetermined activated period, with decreasing frequency of rocking, until de-activation finally occurs.

1 3. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the moving means is voice actuated by means of a microphone locatable in the region of the bed in order to activate the moving means on the sensing of a noise level equivalent to that of the crying of a child.

14. A child's bed fitted with apparatus for automatically rocking it according to any one of the preceding claims.

1 5. Apparatus for rocking a child's bed as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, in which the elements thereof are provided in kit form, together with instructions as to their use.

1 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15, in which the kit includes a variety of differently shaped surfaces.

1 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 in which the sides of the child's bed between the bed and the level at which the apparatus intended to rest on a floor surface, are enclosed.

18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14, in which the bed is releasably secured to the apparatus.

19. Apparatus for automatically rocking a child's bed substantially as herein described, and as illustrated in, Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

20. Apparatus for automatically rocking a childs bed substantially as herein described, with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figure 3 of the accompanying drawing.

21. Apparatus as claimed in any one claims 1 9 and 20 including a child's bed fitted thereto.