EP1900311A1

EP1900311A1 - Apparatus for vibration of a cot, cradle, or the like

Info

Publication number: EP1900311A1
Application number: EP07017455A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Luigi Massa
Original assignee: Makeridea SRL
Current assignee: Makeridea SRL
Priority date: 2006-09-12
Filing date: 2007-09-06
Publication date: 2008-03-19
Also published as: ITTO20060133U1; US20080060129A1

Abstract

The present innovation relates to an apparatus (1) for the vibration of a cot (2), a cradle, or the like, comprising: a vibration unit (3), which can be applied to said cot (2) by removable coupling means (16); a pair of elastic supports (5), which can be applied to the ends of a pair of respective legs (2') of said cot (2); and vibration means (6) located in said vibration unit (3), which are designed to cause said vibration unit (6) to vibrate, the movement caused by said vibration means (6) being transmitted by said vibration unit (3) to said cot (2) and to the pair of elastic supports (5), generating a composite oscillatory movement deriving from the sum of the oscillations of said cot (2) and of the ones transmitted to said elastic supports (5); said apparatus (1) moreover, comprising means of activation and control (7, 10) capable of interacting with said vibration unit (6), enabling activation thereof.

Description

The present innovation relates to an apparatus for the vibration of a cot, cradle, or the like.
In greater detail, the innovation concerns an apparatus that can be removably applied to a cot or cradle, devised and built to enable the mother or baby-sitter at a distance to get a baby off to sleep.
As is well known, to get a baby off to sleep it is common practice to rock the baby, applying a slight oscillatory motion on the cot or cradle in which the baby is lying.
However, it is likewise known how the very presence of an adult frequently has the effect of distracting the baby, thus increasing the difficulty of the baby falling sleep.
Known and available on the market are devices belonging to the known art that are able to transmit an oscillation to cots or cradles to which they are applied, as described in the Italian patent for utility model No. IT00236336 , filed in the name of the present applicant. Said patent concerns a device that can be applied, as has been said, to a cot or to a cradle, which is provided with an internal vibrator and a pair of elastic supports located on two corresponding feet of said cot or cradle.
The action of the vibrator, actuated by an electric motor, creates a composite oscillatory movement deriving from the sum of the oscillations of the cot and the oscillations transmitted to said elastic supports.
The vibrator inside said device can be made in different forms. One of these comprises a mass located eccentrically with respect to a rotating member, set in rotation by an electric motor.
The main technical problem of said device is that, in order to turn it on and/or off, it is necessary to act directly on the device itself by means of a switch. Consequently, the baby could wake up following upon switching-off thereof by the mother or the baby-sitter.
Among other things, consider the case where the baby were to wake up agitated, perhaps on account of a particularly shallow sleep. Suppose also that the mother or the baby-sitter is in the meantime busy doing something or for some reason cannot immediately come up to the cot to rock the baby off to sleep or to switch the vibration device built according to the known art on again. If the aforesaid state of agitation of the baby were to last beyond a certain limit, the baby could irremediably wake up completely and thus remain wide awake.
In the light of what has been said above, the purpose of the present innovation is to provide an apparatus that can be activated by a user, without any need to go up to the cot or the cradle where the baby is lying, or else automatically as soon as the baby starts to cry, to be deactivated, in either case, after a pre-set time of operation.
Consequently, forming a specific subject of the present innovation is an apparatus for vibration of a cot, cradle, or the like according to Claim 1.
The present innovation will now be described by way of non-limiting illustration according to its preferred variant embodiments, with particular reference to the figures of the attached plates of drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows the vibration apparatus applied to a baby cot according to the innovation;
Figure 2 shows a block diagram of operation of the apparatus according to Figure 1;
Figure 3 shows a front view of the apparatus according to Figure 1;
Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the vibration unit of the apparatus according to Figure 3;
Figure 5 shows vibration means of the apparatus according to Figure 1;
Figure 6 shows a side view of the elastic supports of the apparatus according to Figure 1;
Figure 7 is a cross-sectional side view of the elastic supports according to Figure 6; and
Figure 8 shows a remote control located on a base for recharging batteries.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, it is possible to note the apparatus 1 according to the innovation applied to a cot 2, and a corresponding block diagram of operation thereof.
Said apparatus 1 in the embodiment illustrated comprises a vibration unit 3 capable of interacting with a remote unit 4 (or remote control).
The vibration unit 3 can be removably applied to the cot 2 of the baby or to the cradle, for example to a side thereof 2".
Two elastic supports 5 are applied to the ends of a pair of legs 2' of the cot 2.
Said vibration unit 3 contains within it appropriate vibration means 6, illustrated in particular in Figure 5.
Said vibration means 6 are provided with a base 22, which can be fixed to the chassis of the vibration unit 3, on which an electric motor 23 is installed, supplied by means of a transformer or battery (not visible in the figures). Said electric motor 23 is coupled in rotation by means of a drive belt 24 to a pulley 25, and a mass 26 is eccentrically fixed on said pulley 25.
When said pulley 25 turns, for example in the direction A, by means of the electric motor 23, the mass 26, by rotating, creates an oscillatory movement of the vibration unit 3.
Said vibration unit 3 moreover comprises first transceiving and control means 7 connected to an antenna 8 and to a microphone 9, the latter being designed to pick up the sounds in the neighbourhood of said vibration unit 3.
The vibration unit 3 moreover comprises a programmable timer (not illustrated in the figures), which has the task of deactivating the vibration means 6 after a time interval that is programmable, without any direct intervention on the vibration unit 3 on the part of the mother or the baby-sitter.
In Figure 3, it may be noted how the remote unit 4 also comprises light indicators 14 that indicate the intensity of the signal received, detected by the microphone 9. This enables also visible determination of whether, in the proximity of the cot 2 or cradle, there are present sounds of a certain intensity, whilst said vibration unit 3 is provided with a nightlight 15.
There may be noted also supports 16, which can be applied to the side 2" of the cot 2 for coupling to said vibration unit 3.
The vibration unit 3 illustrated also has a plurality of controls on the top. In particular, there may be noted:

switches 17 for selection of the radio-transmission channel;
a switch 18 for switching-on and selection of the mode of operation of the vibration unit 3;
a control 19 for the volume and sensitivity of the microphone 9;
a control 20 for regulation of the rate of vibration; and
light-emitting diodes (LEDs) 21 for indication of the state of operation.
The above-mentioned switch 18 enables, in particular, selection of the different modes of operation of the apparatus 1, amongst which:

manual control: the mother or baby-sitter switches on and switches off said apparatus 1 manually by means of a common switch (as in the known art);
automatic control: whereas the vibration unit 3 switches on automatically when the baby starts to cry, it switches off after a programmable time interval by means of said timer; and/or
remote control: the vibration unit 3 switches on by means of the remote unit 4, controlled by the mother or baby-sitter; it switches off once again through said timer.

Figures 6 and 7 show an elastic support 5, which can be applied to the legs 2' and 2'' of the cot 2.
Said elastic support 5 comprises a first element 27' and a second element 27" coupled telescopically in a slidable way. At the bottom ends of said second element 27" there is applied a suction cup 28 for removable fixing of the elastic support 5 on the floor, whilst at the top end of said first element 27' there is applied a screw 29 for anchorage to the leg 2' of the cot 2.
Said screw 29 is fixed to a spring 30 located between said first and second elements 27' and 27".
Figure 8 shows the remote unit 4 located on a base 31 for recharging rechargeable batteries with which said remote unit 4 is supplied.
Said recharging base 31 has a seat 32 in which the bottom part of the remote unit 4 containing the electrical contacts (not visible in the figures) can be housed.
Said recharging base 31 also comprises a LED 33 for the indication of the state of recharging of the batteries of said remote unit 4.
The unit 4 also comprises a connector 13' for insertion of earphones (not illustrated in the figures), and further means 10, which according to the embodiment of the apparatus can be for transceiving and controlling or simply receiving and able to interact with said first transceiving and control means 7 of the vibration unit 3.
Said further means 10 are connected to a corresponding antenna 11, to a switch or push-button 12, and to a loudspeaker 13.
As has been said, the microphone 9 detects the sounds in the neighbourhood of the vibration unit 3. Said first transceiving and control means 7 process and send, by means of the antenna 8, the signal picked up by said microphone 9 to said further transceiving and control or simply receiving means 10 via the antenna 11.
Said further transceiving and control means 10 transmit the signal detected, after having demodulated it, to the loudspeaker 13, which diffuses it in the surrounding space.
The mother or baby-sitter can in this way hear the sounds in the neighbourhood of the cot 2 or cradle and tell immediately whether the baby has woken up.
As already anticipated, in addition to the manual mode of operation, in which the person is close to the cot and actuates the vibration unit when the baby starts crying, the apparatus can also envisage another two alternative modes of operation: one of a remote type and the other of an automatic type.
In the case of remote operation, the means 10 that receive the noise signal of the baby that is crying, emitted by the microphone 9 set on the vibration unit 3, are transceiving and control means.
Consequently, the person that is in the proximity of the remote control 4 and hears these noises amplified can press the push-button 12 so that said further transceiving and control means 10 will transmit an appropriate activation signal to said first transceiving and control means 7 of said vibration unit 3, which activate said vibration means 6.
Said first transceiving and control means 7 and said further transceiving and control means 10 can communicate by means of a plurality of channels, enabling control by means of the same remote control unit 4 of a number of vibration units 3.
When said vibration unit 3 is activated and applied to the baby's cot 2, the vibrations are transmitted to said cot 2 and to the pair of elastic supports 5, generating a composite oscillatory motion obtained by the sum of the oscillations of the cot 2 and of the ones transmitted to said elastic supports 5, with the effect of gently rocking said cot 2.
As has already been said, a timer will see to turning off the vibration unit after a certain pre-set time, deeming that in the meantime the baby has fallen asleep.
In the case of automatic operation, instead, the means 10 that receive the noise signal of the baby that is crying, emitted by the microphone 9 set on the vibration unit 3, are only receiving means. They amplify the signal so that the person that is in the vicinity of the remote control 4 knows that the baby is crying.
In this case, however, it will be the vibration unit 3 itself that is activated directly by the noise emitted by its microphone 9 as soon as the baby starts to cry. Advantageously, at the same time also the nightlight 15 will light up, which may be useful to the person who approaches the cot to see whether the baby has moved or needs help.
Also in this case a timer will see to turning off the vibration unit after a certain pre-set time, deeming that in the meantime the baby has fallen asleep.
It is clear that the apparatus can envisage operating alternatively with all three types of control: manual, automatic, and remote, or else with one or two of them according to the need and the wishes of the purchaser thereof.
The present innovation has been described by way of illustrative, but non-limiting, example according to its preferred embodiments, but it is to be understood that variations and/or modifications may be made by persons skilled in the branch, without thereby departing from the corresponding sphere of protection, as defined by the annexed claims.

Claims

An apparatus (1) for the vibration of a cot (2), cradle, or the like, comprising: a vibration unit (3), which can be applied to said cot (2) by removable coupling means (16); a pair of elastic supports (5), which can be applied to the ends of a pair of respective legs (2') of said cot (2); and vibration means (6), located in said vibration unit (3), which are designed to cause said vibration unit (6) to vibrate, the movement caused by said vibration means (6) being transmitted by said vibration unit (3) to said cot (2) and to the pair of elastic supports (5), thus generating a composite oscillatory movement deriving from the sum of the oscillations of said cot (2) and of the ones transmitted to said elastic supports (5); said apparatus (1) being characterized in that it comprises means of activation and control (7, 10) capable of interacting with said vibration unit (6), enabling activation thereof.
The apparatus (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that said means of activation and control comprise a timer, located in said vibration unit (3) and connected to said vibration means (6), said timer, once actuated, deactivating said vibration means (6) after a programmable time interval.
The apparatus (1) according to either Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterized in that said means of activation and control comprise first transceiving and control means (7), located in said vibration unit (3) and connected to said vibration means (6), and a remote-control unit (4), comprising further transceiving and control means (10), which are designed to transmit to said first transceiving and control means (7) a control signal for activation of said vibration means (6).
The apparatus (1) according to Claim .3, characterized in that said first and said further transceiving means (7, 10) can be connected by means of one or more transmission channels.
The apparatus (1) according to either Claim 3 or Claim 4, characterized in that said first transceiving means (7) and said further transceiving means (10) are of a radio-frequency type.
The apparatus (1) according to Claim 5, characterized in that respectively connected to said first transceiving means (7) and said further transceiving means (10) are a pair of antennas (8) and (11).
The apparatus (1) according to any one of Claims 3 to 6, characterized in that said vibration unit (3) comprises a microphone (9) connected to said first transceiving and control means (7), which is designed to detect the sounds in the neighbourhood of said vibration unit (3); said transceiving and control means (7) processing and transmitting the signal coming from said microphone (9) to said further transceiving and control means (10).
The apparatus (1) according to Claim 7, characterized in that said vibration unit (3) comprises means for regulation of the sensitivity of the microphone (9).
The apparatus (1) according to either Claim 7 or Claim 8, characterized in that said remote-control unit (4) comprises sound-transduction means (13, 13') connected to said further transceiving and control means (10), which are designed to reproduce the signal received by said transceiving and control means (10).
The apparatus (1) according to Claim 9, characterized in that said sound-transduction means comprise a loudspeaker (13).
The apparatus (1) according to either Claim 9 or Claim 10, characterized in that said sound-transduction means comprise earphones that can be connected to a connector (13') located on said remote unit (4).
The apparatus (1) according to any one of Claims 9 to 11, characterized in that said remote unit (4) comprises means for regulation of the volume, connected to said transduction means (13, 13').
The apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said vibration unit (3) comprises a nightlight (15).
The apparatus (1) according to Claim 13, characterized in that said means of activation and control (4, 7, 10) are designed to interact with said nightlight (15), enabling activation thereof.
The apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said vibration unit (3) comprises light-signalling means (21).
The apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said vibration unit (3) comprises means for regulation of the frequency of vibration (20).