DEVICE FOR GENERATING A ROCKING MOVEMENT IN SUPPORTS FOR BABIES

DISPOSITIF POUR GENERER UN MOUVEMENT DE BASCULE AU NIVEAU DE SUPPORTS POUR BEBES

English Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for generating a rocking movement in supports (2) for babies, comprising a frame (11) arranged on a base (10) having a bearing arm (12) and a traction mechanism (13) which is designed for the suspension of the support (2). The device according to the invention is characterized in that a there is a drive element (14) for inducing an oscillation or an oscillation impulse, wherein there is an apparatus (15) on the drive element (14) which swings the traction mechanism (13) up and down and which is designed so that initiation of the oscillation or the oscillation impulse causes the support (2) to continually or intermittently undergo a rocking movement.

French Abstract

La présente invention concerne un dispositif (1) pour générer un mouvement de bascule au niveau de supports (2) pour bébés, comprenant un bâti (11), disposé au niveau d'un socle (10), présentant un bras support (12) ainsi qu'un moyen de traction (13) qui est conçu pour suspendre le support (2). Le dispositif est caractérisé en ce qu'il présente un élément d'entraînement (14) pour provoquer une oscillation ou une impulsion d'oscillation, un dispositif (15) de démarrage et de ralentissement du moyen de traction (13) étant disposé au niveau de l'élément d'entraînement (14) et étant conçu de manière telle que le support (2) est mis dans un mouvement de bascule continu ou intermittent par l'introduction de l'oscillation ou de l'impulsion d'oscillation.

Claims

- 7 -
CLAIMS:
1. A device (1) for generating a rocking movement in supports (2) for
babies,
comprising a frame (11) arranged on a base (10) having a bearing arm (12)
and a traction mechanism (13) which is designed for the suspension of the
support (2),
characterized in that
a drive element (14) for inducing an oscillation or an oscillation impulse is
provided, wherein an apparatus (15) is provided on the drive element (14)
which swings the traction mechanism (13) up and down and which is
designed so that the initiation of the oscillation or the oscillation impulse
causes the support (2) to continually or intermittently undergo a rocking
movement.
2. The device (1) as claimed in claim 1,
characterized in that
the drive element (14) is an electric motor or a hydraulically or
pneumatically
operated motor or a motor driven via a spring mechanism or a magnetic
drive.
3. The device (1) as claimed in claim 2,
characterized in that
the base (10) is formed as a hollow body, which accommodates the drive
element (14).
4. The device (1) as claimed in claims 2 and 3,
characterized in that
in order to avoid jerky starting of the rocking movement, a resilient
suspension
element (18) is provided.
5. The device (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims,

- 8 -
characterized in that
a resilient or springy traction mechanism (13) prevents jerky starting of the
rocking movement.
6. The device (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the apparatus (15) comprises a rod-like traction element (15), which is
arranged on the rotating drive element (14) and which, by means of rotation,
partial rotation or by means of a up and down swinging movement,
alternately releases the traction mechanism 13 upward and pulls the same
downward again.
7. The device (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the rate/frequency of oscillation of the drive element (14) is adjustable.
8. The device (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the starting speed of the drive element (14) is controllable.
9. The device (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the oscillation amplitude is adjustable.
10. The device (1) as claimed in claim 9,
characterized in that
a further motorized drive element (30) is provided, by means of which the
alignment of the apparatus (15) and/or of the drive element (14) can be
adjusted.
11. The device (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims,

- 9 -
characterized in that
at least one acoustic recording and/or output element (20) is provided.
12. The device (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in

that
a transmitting and receiving apparatus in the form of a WLAN, Bluetooth or
another cableless radio network is provided on the device (1).
13. The device (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
sensors are provided, which determine specific movements, states or noises of
the baby and automatically initiate pre-programmed actions via a controller.
14. The device (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
solar cells for obtaining the energy for the drive and the supply to the
aforementioned apparatus are provided.
15. The device (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
it is equipped with a battery, preferably a rechargeable battery.

Description

CA 02956338 2017-01-26
- 1 -
DEVICE FOR GENERATING A ROCKING MOVEMENT IN SUPPORTS FOR BABIES
DESCRIPTION
Technical field
[0001] The present invention relates to a device for generating a rocking
movement in supports for babies, comprising a frame arranged on a base having
a
bearing arm and a traction mechanism which is designed for the suspension of
the
support. In the following text, supports for babies are to be understood to be
all
equipment which is usually provided to hold babies for an extended period of
time,
such as, for example, babies beds, children's beds, baby carriages, etc, or
which
are suitable to support such receptacles.
Prior art
[0002] Baby swings or baby rockers which can be pushed manually to generate a
swinging movement are known from the prior art. As a result of the
introduction of a
manual oscillation or a manual oscillation impulse to these baby swings or
baby
rockers, the support provided is caused to undergo an oscillating movement and
swings to and fro and up and down.
[0003] Also known from the prior art are baby rockers which comprise a
support,
which is designed for the placing of, for example, baby carriages, children's
beds or
the like on the baby rocker, and are provided with an oscillating mechanism,
which
swing the furniture to and fro.
[0004] The disadvantage of these baby rockers primarily consists in the fact
that
they are impractical in their handling. In addition, these baby rockers are
configured
in a technically complicated way and associated with high purchase prices.

CA 02956338 2017-01-26
- 2 -
Summary of the invention
[0005] The present invention is based on the object of devising a device for
the
automated generation of a rocking movement in supports for babies which
eliminates the aforementioned disadvantages.
[0006] According to the invention, the above object is achieved in accordance
with the preamble of claim 1 in conjunction with the characterizing features.
Advantageous refinements and developments of the device according to the
invention are specified in the dependent sub claims.
[0007] According to the invention, a device of the type mentioned at the
beginning is characterized in that a drive element for inducing an oscillation
or an
oscillation impulse is provided, wherein an apparatus is provided on the drive
element which swings the traction mechanism up and down and which is designed
so that the initiation of the oscillation or the oscillation impulse causes
the support to
continually or intermittently undergo a rocking movement.
[0008] The drive element is preferably an electric motor or a hydraulically or
pneumatically operated motor or a motor driven via a spring mechanism or a
magnetic drive. In addition, of course, all further conceivable drives are
also taken
into consideration if they are suitable to start or to maintain an oscillation
or an
oscillation impulse.
[0009] The traction mechanism is usually configured as a cord, chain, textile
strip or
textile loop, wherein the present invention relates to all types and
embodiments of
traction mechanisms.
[0010] The traction mechanism is arranged between the drive element and the
pulled support. The drive element therefore forms the pulling device; the
support
accordingly forms the pulled object. The apparatus provided on the drive
element

CA 02956338 2017-01-26
- 3 -
according to the invention and swinging the traction mechanism up and down, to
initiate the oscillation or the oscillation impulse of the support in a
continuous or
intermittent rocking movement, is either part of the drive element itself or
is arranged
on the drive element as an independent component.
Brief description of the drawings
[0011] Further objectives, features, advantages and possible applications of
the
device according to the invention can be gathered from the following
description of
an exemplary embodiment by using the drawing. Here, all the features described
and/or pictorially illustrated, on their own or in any desired combination,
form the
subject matter of the invention, irrespective of the combination in individual
claims or
their back-reference.
[0012] In the drawing
[0013] Fig.1 shows the device according to the invention in a preferred
embodiment in a perspective view.
Embodiment of the invention
[0014] As can be seen from Fig.1, the device 1 for generating a rocking
movement
in supports 2 for babies comprises a frame 11 arranged on a base 10 having a
bearing arm 12 and a traction mechanism 13, which is designed for the
suspension of
the support 2. The base is preferably formed as a hollow body, which
accommodates the drive element 14. In this advantageous embodiment of the
invention, the traction mechanism 13, which is arranged on the apparatus 15
that
swings up and down, is guided over deflection apparatus 16 (preferably
deflection
rollers) for the suspension 17 of the support 2.

CA 02956338 2017-01-26
- 4 -
[0015] By switching on the drive element and initiating the oscillation or the
oscillation impulse by means of the apparatus 15, the support 2 is caused to
continuously or intermittently undergo a rocking movement. In order to avoid
jerky
starting of the rocking movement, a resilient suspension element 18 is
advantageously provided and, for example, consists of a spring. In addition or
else
(additionally) by means of the design of a resilient or springy traction
mechanism,
jerky starting of the rocking movement can be prevented.
[0016] In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1, the support 2 comprises a
basket-like
container 2 for babies.
[0017] The apparatus 15 in the present embodiment comprises a rod-like
traction
element 15, which is arranged on the rotating drive element 14 and which, by
means
of rotation, partial rotation or by means of an up and down swinging movement
up
and down, alternately releases the traction mechanism 13 upward and pulls the
same downward again.
[0018] A controller 19 of the device is preferably provided on the base.
[0019] The rate/frequency of oscillation of the drive element 14 is adjusted
by
means of the switch 19a.
[0020] The starting speed of the drive element 14 is controlled by means of
the
switch 19b.
[0021] The oscillation amplitude is adjusted by means of the switch 19c. For
this
purpose, a further motorized drive element 30 is preferably provided, by means
of
which the alignment of the apparatus 15 and/or of the drive element 14 can be
adjusted. Here, both a change in the angular alignment or a change of
distances or
longitudinal alignments in the apparatus 15 or the drive element 14 are
possible,

= CA 02956338 2017-01-26
- 5 -
which has the effect that the oscillation amplitude on the traction mechanism
13
and consequently on the support 2 is changed.
[0022] The spring arranged on the traction mechanism 13 or between the
traction
mechanism and the support 2 can be designed to be replaceable and for
different
weights.
[0023] Above the support 12, at least one acoustic recording and/or output
element 20 (for example an MP3 player with at least one loudspeaker and
microphone) is preferably provided. This makes it possible, for example, to
record
and reproduce cradle songs. For this purpose, a USB/SD card connection can
also
optionally be present. In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, a
video
camera is provided, by means of which the baby can also be is observed at a
distance (for example on the smart phone or the tablet). In conjunction with
the
output of sound via loudspeakers, it is also possible for communication with
the baby
to take place. For this purpose, a transmitting and receiving apparatus in the
form of
a WLAN, Bluetooth or another cableless radio network is preferably provided on
the
device 1.
[0024] In a further advantageous embodiment, sensors are provided, which
determine specific movements, states or noises (utterances) of the baby or
automatically initiate pre-programmed actions. Such actions can be the
acoustic
reproduction of songs, the initiation of a rocking movement or an alarm, which
is
done, for example, by means of a smart phone. The functions can be switched on
and off.
[0025] Furthermore, it is conceivable to provide on the device solar cells for
obtaining energy for the drive and the supply to the aforementioned apparatus,
in
order also to be able to use the device autonomously as well as outdoors.

CA 02956338 2017-01-26
- 6 -
[0026] For this purpose, it may also be advantageous to equip the device with
a
battery (preferably with a rechargeable battery).
[0027] The device according to the invention is not restricted in its
embodiment to
the preferred embodiments specified above. Instead, a multiplicity of
configuration
variations which make use of the solution illustrated are conceivable, even in
a
basically different embodiment.
List of designations
1 Device
2 Support
10 Base
11 Frame
12 Bearing arm
13 Traction mechanism
14 Drive element 14
15 Apparatus oscillating up and down
16 Deflection apparatus
17 Suspension
18 Resilient suspension element
19 Controller
19a,19b,19c Switches
20 Recording/output element
Further motorized drive element

Representative Drawing