CN110062591B

CN110062591B - Modular cradle with programmable controller

Info

Publication number: CN110062591B
Application number: CN201780064665.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 艾德里安·弗拉提拉
Original assignee: Adiva Sprl
Current assignee: Adiva Sprl
Priority date: 2016-11-03
Filing date: 2017-11-02
Publication date: 2022-03-15
Anticipated expiration: 2037-11-02
Also published as: CN110062591A; WO2018083153A1; EP3318162A1; EP3534755A1; US20190290011A1

Abstract

A modular rocking device (10) can be used with existing beds or cribs (9) without requiring structural modifications to the latter to enable the latter to rock. The modular rocking device (10) comprises two motion transferring legs (1,3), two passive legs (2), two pairs of connecting rods (4,5) and a motion and communication control unit (6). The oscillating movement is generated in the legs (1,3) in the horizontal plane using an actuator mechanism comprising a worm gear reducer (1.2, 1.4) or a timing pulley gear reducer (3.7, 3.12, 3.13). Motion sensors (7,16), temperature, heart rate, blood pressure sensors (12), brain activity sensors (15) and weight sensors (2.40) detect user presence and sleep status and activate the rocking motion using an automated method. The movement parameters are user configurable via a control panel (6) or remote from a terminal (13) connected to the data communication network (11).

Description

Modular cradle with programmable controller

Background

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a rocking mechanism for beds, cribs and the like, and more particularly to an apparatus for imparting an oscillating motion in a horizontal plane and a method of controlling the same.

The invention also relates to a device for automatically moving at least one piece of furniture, wherein the device is detachably connected to the piece of furniture.

The present invention uses modular legs that can be easily attached to standard bed frames without changing the latter. Furthermore, particularly for the purpose of the present invention, an oscillating movement of the bed is generated in the leg.

The oscillatory motion may be activated, deactivated, and parameterized in an automated manner based on the user's sleep state using motion sensors, temperature, heart rate, blood pressure sensors, brain activity sensors, and weight sensors. The parameter of motion characteristics are also user configurable via the control panel or remote from a terminal connected to the data communications network.

Description of the prior art

It is well known that slow oscillatory movements applied to the bed of an adult or infant result in sleep, as well as a calming effect. The cradle or rocking bed may also help those suffering from sleep disorders to sleep overnight without the need for medications.

The main technical problem of the rocking platforms is the size and complexity of the means for generating the oscillating movement. Many known devices require special structures, which means large production costs and storage space.

However, most shakers replicate the slight rocking of the marine vessel by a slow oscillating mechanism or inducing vibration.

Patent US3934283 uses two vibration motors attached to opposite rail portions of a bed frame. This has the disadvantage of causing vibrations of the entire bed structure including the legs and, implicitly, also the floor. This is prone to rapid mechanical wear, which is not the case with the present invention, which has the advantage that the oscillating movement is induced by the actuator mechanism, which decouples the fixed support structure located on the floor from the moving device connected to the bedframe.

Patent US8856982 and patent TWM360624 have the advantage of a large degree of movement, but imply a very large and complex mechanical structure. Likewise, patent US2007094792 uses two support structures, which have the drawback of being large and heavy. The advantage of the proposed invention is that the hardware takes up little space, which can be easily stored and transported at low cost by medium sized packages.

Some rocking devices for infants have the disadvantage of being suitable only for certain types of cribs, and assume that the cribs have a particular leg shape. This is the case of patent EP1900311, patent US4793010 and patent WO2005084497, which assume that the crib legs will fit inside the swing apparatus. By proposing a universal leg holder mechanism, the proposed invention has the advantage of being applicable to any crib leg shape and size as well. Furthermore, unlike the proposed invention, the solutions adopted by these three prior patents are not suitable for the weight and size of the adult rocking bed.

Disclosure of Invention

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a modular swing apparatus comprising a support structure including four legs, at least one of which includes or is associated with a motion transfer mechanism.

The leg with the motion transfer mechanism includes a support structure, a motor, a gear reducer coupled to the motor, a lead screw coupled to the gear reducer, a moving block including a nut (in which the lead screw is received), two guide bars on which the moving block slides mounted on a linear bearing, a frame support structure mounted on the moving block, a decorative housing, and a link assembly mounted on top of the decorative housing. The linkage assembly can be adjusted for the decorative shell to accommodate any bed frame shape and bed linkage. The motion is transmitted by an assembly of a motor, gear reducer and lead screw, which form an actuator mechanism and convert the motor rotational motion into linear motion.

The modular swing apparatus also uses passive legs. The term "passive leg" as used throughout this specification means any form of support structure that does not include a motion transfer mechanism and facilitates continuation of the motion transferred by the motion transfer leg. The passive leg comprises a support structure, a motion blocking mechanism that disables free motion of the leg prior to installation, a moving block coupled to the motion blocking mechanism, two guide rods mounted on linear bearings on which the moving block slides, a bed frame support structure mounted on the moving block, a decorative housing, and a linkage assembly mounted on top of the decorative housing. The linkage assembly can be adjusted for the decorative shell to accommodate any bed frame shape and bed linkage.

In a preferred form of the modular rocking device, the two legs include or are associated with motion transmitting means and the two legs are passive. Each motion transferring leg may be connected to the passive leg by one or more connecting rods. The rod is made of a smaller section with the ends of the screw and nut that can accommodate several joints to form a variable length rod. The advantage of this approach is that the variable length rods can fit any bed width. One of the rods is connected to a lower leg support structure on the floor and the other rod is connected to the upper part of the leg which moves in an oscillating manner. This mechanism of using the lever to transfer the rocking motion force from the motion transferring leg to the passive leg maintains the legs aligned and reduces the force exerted on the bed frame. The lever is optional as long as the bed frame can handle the forces generated by the motion transferring leg towards the passive leg and the passive leg base is not accidentally misaligned by the user during operation.

Advantageously, due to the modular nature of the proposed device, the proposed device is suitable for any adult or child bed size and shape. In the case of a large and heavy bed requiring a large rocking force, all legs may be motion transferring legs. In this case, there is no need to use connecting rods between the legs, since all legs transmit a synchronous movement, which is electronically synchronized by the motor drive and the movement control unit.

The motion imparted to the bed is an oscillating or reciprocating motion.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a device comprising a motor drive for each motor, a microcontroller unit further synchronizing all motor drives, and a pair of switches in each leg detecting the ends of the oscillating movement path. These switches are triggered at the ends of the motion path and they control the direction of rotation of all motion transfer motors in a synchronized manner.

As will be described in greater detail below, the present invention provides a method for controlling the activation, deactivation and exercise parameters of a swing apparatus. The method comprises the following steps: firstly, the method determines whether the user is lying in bed by means of a weight sensor and at least one motion detection sensor, and secondly the method sets the desired rocking motion characteristics of the user by means of a device control panel, or by means of a wireless data network or a wired data network remote from the settings at the terminal, or based on parameters derived from sensors monitoring the temperature, heart rate, blood pressure and brain activity of the user. The displacement of the rocking motion may be varied based on configuration commands including, but not limited to, the speed of the motion, the duration of the rocking after the user falls asleep, and the total desired sleep duration after which the rocking motion is disabled.

Another advantage and feature of the present invention is that a user may be remotely monitored by information provided by motion sensors, temperature, heart rate, blood pressure sensors and brain activity sensors. This may be suitable for monitoring infants, patients in hospitals or elderly people in nursing homes.

Other benefits and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

Drawings

The features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of the invention (describing an illustrative embodiment of the invention) when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

fig. 1 is a perspective view of a swing apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a bed mounted on a rocking device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a transparent bed mounted on a rocking device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a swing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the motion transfer leg.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the motion transfer leg without the linkage assembly and decorative housing.

Figure 7 is a perspective inside view of a preferred embodiment of the motion transfer leg.

Figure 8 is a further interior view of the preferred embodiment of the motion transfer leg.

Figure 9 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the motion transfer leg.

Figure 10 is a perspective cut-away view of a preferred embodiment of the motion transfer leg.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a support structure for holding an existing bed leg for use with either the motion transferring leg or the passive leg of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a linkage assembly of the motion transfer leg.

Figure 13 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a passive leg.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the passive leg without the linkage assembly and decorative housing.

FIG. 15 is a perspective inside view of a preferred embodiment of the passive leg.

Fig. 16 is a further interior view of a preferred embodiment of the passive leg.

Figure 17 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the passive leg.

Fig. 18 is a perspective cut-away view of a preferred embodiment of a passive leg.

Fig. 19 is a perspective interior view of a passive leg including a weight sensor.

Fig. 20 is a transparent interior view of a passive leg including a weight sensor.

Figure 21 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a motion transfer leg.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the motion transfer leg without the linkage assembly and the trim housing.

Figure 23 is a perspective inside view of a second embodiment of a motion transfer leg.

Figure 24 is a further interior view of the second embodiment of the motion transfer leg.

Figure 25 is a side view of a second embodiment of a motion transfer leg.

Figure 26 is a perspective cut-away view of a second embodiment of a motion transfer leg.

FIG. 27 is an electrical block diagram of a preferred embodiment of a modular swing system.

FIG. 28 is an electrical block diagram of a second embodiment of a modular swing system.

FIG. 29 is a flow chart of the shaker motion state machine.

Detailed description of the invention

Technical contents and embodiments of the present invention are described below according to preferred embodiments, which are not intended to limit the scope of execution thereof, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Any equivalent changes and modifications made according to the appended claims are intended to be covered by the claims.

With reference to the drawings and initially to fig. 1-3, a swing device 10 for a bed 9 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention comprises two motion transferring legs 1, two passive legs 2, two pairs of rods comprising a plurality of connecting

segments

4 and 5, a motion and communication control unit 6, two motion sensors 7, and wires 8 connecting the motion transferring legs 1 and the passive legs 2 to the motion and communication control unit 6. The motion and communication control unit communicates with the data network 11 and other connected devices as will be further described in connection with fig. 27.

As shown in fig. 1, the motion transferring leg 1 comprises a motion transferring leg flat base 1.21, a first decorative shell 1.24 and a linkage assembly 1.20 for securing the bed frame to the motion transferring leg 1. The passive leg 2 comprises a passive leg flat base 2.1, a second decorative shell 2.13 and a linkage assembly 2.10 for securing the bed frame to the passive leg 2. Each motion transferring leg 1 is connected to the passive leg 2 by two rods comprising alternating sections ending with nuts at both ends and sections ending with screws at both ends, screwed to each other to form any desired length according to any bed width. The

segments

4 and 5 are secured and fastened together by a nut 4.1. One of the rod assemblies spaces and aligns the lower portion of the motion transferring leg pan 1.21 equidistantly from the lower portion of the passive leg pan 2.1. Another lever assembly spaces and aligns the motion transferring leg first trim housing 1.24, along with the upper travel mechanism, equidistant from the passive leg upper travel mechanism and the second trim housing 2.13. The rods coupled to the legs will become apparent from the following detailed description of fig. 5-10, 13-18, and 21-26.

Referring to the drawing in fig. 4, a second embodiment of the invention, a swing device 10, is disclosed, comprising four motion transferring legs 1, one motion and communication control unit 6, two motion sensors 7, and wires 8 connecting the motion transferring legs 1 to the motion and communication control unit 6. The motion and communication control unit communicates with the data network 11 and other connection means, which will be further described in connection with fig. 28. Assuming that in this embodiment all legs 1 comprise a motion transfer mechanism, no connecting rods between the legs 1 are required, since all legs simultaneously transfer a rocking motion to the bed. The rocking device 10 may use the

motion transferring legs

1 or 3.

Referring to the drawings in figures 5 to 10, the motion transfer leg 1 comprises a motion transfer leg flat base 1.21 welded to a first rectangular tube 1.12 which houses within it a motion transfer actuator and support structure. The motion transmission mechanism comprises a motor 1.1 which is arranged on a U-shaped supporting structure 1.11; the worm gear reducer comprises a worm 1.2 arranged on the shaft of a motor 1.1 and a gear 1.4 arranged on the shaft of a lead screw 1.5. The worm 1.2 is fixed on the motor shaft by a screw 1.3, and the gear 1.4 is fixed on the shaft of the lead screw 1.5 by a screw 1.6. The lead screw 1.5 is supported at both ends by bearings 1.7 and 1.15. These bearings are accommodated and fixed by the U-shaped support structure 1.11. The lead screw 1.5 is also supported by a bearing 1.7 mounted on the side of the worm gear housing 1.14. The motion is transmitted in a horizontal plane along the axes of the two support rods 1.10 by converting the rotational motion of the lead screw 1.5 into a linear motion induced by the first moving block 1.8. The first moving block 1.8 comprises a threaded nut housing the lead screw 1.5, two cylindrical housings for the linear bearings 1.9, and six threaded holes housing the screws 1.32, 1.33 and 1.38. The linear bearing 1.9 slides on the two support rods 1.10 together with the first moving block 1.8 according to the movement caused by the rotation of the lead screw 1.5. The support bar 1.10 is fixed on both sides to the U-shaped support structure 1.11 and the leg first rectangular tube 1.12 by means of screws 1.13. The ends of the oscillating motion path are electronically detected by two "single pole single throw" (on or off) first switches 1.22 mounted on the U-shaped support structure 1.11. On the underside of the first moving mass 1.8 there are two vertical flat plates 1.23 arranged on opposite sides, which trigger the first switch 1.22 when the first moving mass 1.8 reaches either end of the path of movement. The first switch 1.22 can only be used for the first wheel of the rocking device transferring the oscillating motion. The subsequent oscillating movement does not require the use of the first switch 1.22 to detect the end of the movement path, because the control logic of the movement control unit 6 (fig. 1) stores the position of the first switch 1.22 in its memory. More information about the logic of the switches will be further included in the description of the motion control and communication unit 6.

The motor 1.1 cable and the first switch 1.22 cable are protected by a first cable housing 1.29 mounted on the motion transferring leg flat base 1.21. When the first decorative shell 1.24 is moved relative to the motion transferring leg flat base 1.21, the first cable shell 1.29 shields the cable to be tangled by the decorative shell.

The first frame support structure 1.18 is mounted on the first moving block 1.8 using screws 1.38 (as shown in fig. 7). The flat sheet 1.19 is welded to the first bedframe support structure 1.18 in order to increase the final mechanical resistance. The first trim cover 1.24 encases and hides the first bed frame support structure 1.18 and the inner leg support mechanism. As shown in fig. 9, there is no physical contact between the first decorative housing 1.24 and the underside of the leg, which comprises the motion transferring leg flat base 1.21, the first cable housing 1.29 and the first rectangular tube 1.12.

The oscillating movement is transmitted in a horizontal plane to the first moving block 1.8, to the first bedframe support structure 1.18, to the first decorative shell 1.24, to the connecting rod assembly 1.20 and to the bolt 1.25. The bolt 1.25 is rigidly mounted on the first bed frame support structure 1.18 and passes through the decorative housing 1.24 without obstruction. Another bolt 1.30 is mounted on the U-shaped support structure 1.11 and passes through the first bedframe support structure 1.18 and the first trim cover 1.24. There is no physical contact between the bolt 1.30 and the first bedframe support structure 1.18, nor between the first trim cover 1.24.

The bolt 1.25 is attached to the leg 1 mobile device and the bolt 1.30 is attached to the leg 1 static lower part. The leg connecting rod comprising the rod section 4 (see fig. 1) can be screwed into the bolt 1.25 and tightened with the nut 4.1. The other connecting rod is screwed into the bolt 1.30. As mentioned above, the connection between the motion transferring leg 1 and the passive leg 2 is accomplished by connecting

rod segments

4 and 5, which synchronize the moving and stationary parts of the legs.

The connecting rod assembly 1.20 is fastened to the first decorative housing 1.24 and the first moving block 1.8 using screws 1.32 and 1.33. The link assembly 1.20 includes two parallel groove cutouts that allow adjustment of the relative position of the link assembly 1.20 with respect to the first decorative housing 1.24. By loosening the screws 1.32 and 1.33, the link assembly 1.20 can be moved inwardly or outwardly relative to the edge of the leg to match any bed frame width.

Referring to the drawings in fig. 11, a universal support structure for holding the legs of an existing bed 9 is disclosed, which may be adapted for either a motion transferring leg or a passive leg. Some adult and child beds have pre-assembled legs that can be mounted (as shown in figure 11) on the first 1.35 and second 1.36 support structures. In this case, the first support structure 1.35 replaces the existing first bedframe support structure 1.18 (fig. 6), and 1.36 replaces 1.19 (fig. 6). The inner leg mechanism remains unchanged and implies that the first moving block 1.8 is connected to the first support structure 1.35 by means of screws 1.32 and 1.33. There is no decorative housing in the device and the first support structure 1.35 is welded to the second support structure 1.36. The linkage mechanism accommodates any existing bed leg shape and size by means of an adjustable U-shaped clamp securing the existing leg to the second support structure 1.36. The U-shaped holder 1.37 can be slid into and out of the first support structure 1.35 and is fixed to the first support structure 1.35 by means of four screws 1.34.

Referring to the drawings in fig. 12, there is disclosed another embodiment of a connecting rod assembly 1.39 that may replace the connecting rod assembly 1.20 described above. The linkage assembly is adapted for the

motion transferring legs

1 and 3 and for the passive leg 2 and either of them can be connected to a bed frame comprising a vertical flat surface. The connecting rod assembly 1.39 is fastened to the first decorative housing 1.24 and the first moving block 1.8 using screws 1.32 and 1.33 in the same way as the connecting rod assembly 1.20.

Referring to the drawings in figures 13 to 18, the passive leg 2 comprises a passive leg flat base 2.1 connected to a second rectangular tube 2.2 within which the motion blocking mechanism and the supporting rocking structure are housed. The connection between the passive leg flat base 2.1 and the second rectangular tube 2.2 comprises bars 2.3, each bar 2.3 accommodating two embedded screws 2.26 embedded in the second rectangular tube 2.2 and one embedded screw 2.26 embedded in the passive leg flat base 2.1.

The movement blocking mechanism comprises a U-shaped stopper 2.19, a friction pad 2.18 mounted on the U-shaped stopper 2.19, two compression springs 2.15 and 2.20 (one on the side of the U-shaped stopper 2.19), and a spring stopper rod 2.21. The movement blocking mechanism has the effect of blocking the freedom of the second moving mass 2.6 and implicitly the entire passive leg movement structure when the leg 2 is not mounted. The ends of the U-shaped bars 2.19 pass freely through the passive leg flat base 2.1 and extend beyond the lower surface of the passive leg flat base 2.1. When the leg is mounted on a floor level surface, the end of the U-shaped bar 2.19 is pushed upwards. The springs 2.15 and 2.20 compress against the U-shaped support structure 2.30 and the spring stopper rod 2.21. When the passive leg is not installed, the U-shaped stopper 2.19 is pushed down in the direction of the passive leg flat base 2.1, which means that the friction pad 2.18 blocks the second moving block 2.6. After installation, the end of the U-shaped stop 2.19 is pushed up to the same level as the passive leg flat base 2.1, which eliminates contact between the friction pad 2.18 and the second moving mass 2.6.

The second moving block 2.6 comprises a groove housing the U-shaped bar 2.19 together with the friction pads 2.18, two cylindrical housings for the linear bearings 2.5, and six threaded holes housing the screws 2.24, the screws 2.28 and the screws 2.29. The linear bearing 2.5 slides together with the second moving block 2.6 on the two support rods 2.4. The support bar 2.4 is fixed on both sides to the U-shaped support structure 2.30 and the leg second rectangular tube 2.2 by means of screws 2.7. The screw 2.25 together with the screw 2.7 and the screw 2.23 further fix the U-shaped support structure 2.30 to the second rectangular tube 2.2. Nuts 2.32 are screwed into the bolts 2.22 and the nuts 2.8 fasten the opposite sides of the U-shaped support structure 2.30 to the second rectangular tube 2.2.

The ends of the oscillating motion path are electronically detected by two "single pole single throw" (on or off) second switches 2.11 mounted on the U-shaped support structure 2.30. On the underside of the second moving mass 2.6 there are two vertical flat plates 2.12 arranged on opposite sides, which trigger the second switch 2.11 when the second moving mass 2.6 reaches either end of the path of movement. The second switch 2.11 can only be used for the first wheel when the passive leg 2 starts to move. The subsequent oscillating movement does not require the use of the second switch 2.11 to detect the end of the movement path, since the control logic of the movement control unit 6 (fig. 1) stores the position of the second switch 2.11 in its memory. More information about the logic of the switches will be further included in the description of the motion control and communication unit 6. The second switch 2.11 cable is protected by a second cable housing 2.17 mounted on the passive leg flat base 2.1. The second cable housing 2.17 is fixed to the passive leg flat base 2.1 by two screws 2.27. The second cable housing 2.17 shields the cable to be tangled by the second decorative housing 2.13.

A second frame support structure 2.31 (see fig. 14) is mounted on the second moving block 2.6 using screws 2.24, screws 2.28 and screws 2.29. A flat sheet 2.9 is welded to the second bedframe support structure 2.31 in order to increase the final mechanical resistance. The second trim cover 2.13 wraps around and conceals the second bed frame support structure 2.31 and the inner leg support mechanism. As shown in fig. 17, there is no physical contact between the second decorative shell 2.13 and the underside of the leg, which comprises the passive leg flat base 2.1, the second cable shell 2.17 and the second rectangular tube 2.2.

The oscillating movement is transmitted from the

movement transmitting leg

1 or 3 to the passive leg 2 via the connecting

rod segments

4 and 5 and further via the passive leg bolt 2.14. The motion is further transmitted to the second bedframe support structure 2.31, the linkage assembly 2.10, the second decorative shell 2.13 and the second moving block 2.6. The bolt 2.16 is rigidly mounted on the second bed frame support structure 2.31 and passes through the decorative housing 2.13. The bolt 2.22 is mounted on the U-shaped support structure 2.22 using the nut 2.23, the nut 2.32 and passes through the second bedframe support structure 2.31 and the second trim shell 2.13 without obstruction. There is no physical contact between the bolt 2.21 and the second bedframe support structure 2.31 nor between the second trim cover 2.13.

The bolt 2.14 is connected to the leg 2 mobile device and the bolt 2.22 is connected to the leg 2 static support structure. One of the leg connecting rods comprising the rod section 4 (see fig. 1) can be screwed into the bolt 2.14 and tightened with the nut 4.1. The other connecting rod is screwed into the bolt 2.22. As mentioned above, the connection between the

motion transferring leg

1 or 3 and the passive leg 2 is accomplished by connecting

rod segments

4 and 5 which space and synchronize the moving and stationary parts of the legs equidistantly.

The connecting rod assembly 2.10 is fastened to the second decorative shell 2.13 and the second mobile mass 2.6 using screws 2.28 and 2.29. The connecting-rod assembly 2.10 comprises two parallel groove cut-outs, which allow the relative position of the connecting-rod assembly 2.10 with respect to the second decorative housing 2.13 to be adjusted. By loosening the screws 2.28 and 2.29, the linkage assembly 2.10 can be moved inwardly or outwardly relative to the edge of the moving leg to match any bed frame width.

Referring to the drawings in figures 19 to 20, there is disclosed a weight sensor comprising a polymeric flat surface 2.40 having properties which change resistivity in response to the application of a force to the polymeric surface. The resistivity is monitored by the motion control and communication unit 6 as shown in figures 27-28. The motion control and communication unit monitors the resistivity difference over time and tracks from this average whether the user is lying in bed. The term "weight sensor" as used throughout the specification means a device for detecting the weight of a bed and comprising a polymeric flat surface 2.40 mounted between a passive leg flat base 2.1 and an additional flat plate 2.34. A second rectangular tube 2.2 is mounted on top of the plate 2.34. Four screws 2.35 are used to fasten the passive leg flat base 2.1, the polymeric flat surface 2.40 and the flat plate 2.34 together. If the rocking device does not comprise passive legs, the weight sensor device as described above is also applicable to the

motion transferring legs

1 or 3, as is the case with the embodiment disclosed in fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings in fig. 21 to 26, there is shown an alternative motion transferring leg 3, which is similar to the leg 1 of fig. 5 to 12, except for the use of a timing pulley gear reducer actuator mechanism. The motion transfer leg 3 comprises a flat base 3.1 connected to a third rectangular tube 3.2, which houses inside it a motion transfer actuator mechanism and a motion support structure. The connection between the flat base 3.1 and the third rectangular tube 3.2 comprises rods 3.3, each rod 3.3 accommodating two embedded screws 3.31 embedded in the third rectangular tube 3.2 and one embedded screw 3.31 embedded in the flat base 3.1. The motion transmission mechanism comprises a motor 3.6 which is arranged on the L-shaped supporting structure 3.5; and a timing pulley gear reducer comprising a timing pulley 3.7 mounted on the shaft of the motor 3.6, a timing belt 3.13 and a second timing pulley 3.12 mounted on the shaft of the lead screw 3.11. The timing pulley 3.7 is fixed on the motor shaft by means of a screw 3.41 and the second timing pulley 3.12 is fixed on the shaft of the lead screw 3.11 by means of a screw 3.28. The motor 3.6 is mounted on an L-shaped support structure 3.5 using four screws 3.30, which is mounted on a flat base 3.1 using four screws 3.33, four nuts 3.35 and four washers 3.46. The L-shaped support structure 3.5 is located between two rubber layers 3.4, one lower rubber layer 3.4 reducing the vibrations of the motor 3.6 towards the flat base 3.1 and one upper rubber layer 3.4 reducing the vibrations of the motor 3.6 towards the four washers 3.46, the screws 3.33 and the four nuts 3.35.

The lead screw 3.11 is supported at both ends by bearings 3.43. These bearings are received and fixed by the U-shaped support structure 3.42. The motion is transmitted in a horizontal plane along the axes of the two support rods 3.8 by converting the rotary motion of the lead screw 3.11 into a linear motion induced by the third moving block 3.10. The third moving block 3.10 comprises a threaded nut housing the lead screw 3.11, two cylindrical housings for the linear bearings 3.9, and seven threaded holes housing the screws 3.27, 3.36, 3.37 and 3.45. The linear bearing 3.9 slides on the two support rods 3.8 together with the third moving block 3.10 according to the induced movement of the lead screw 3.11. The support bar 3.8 is fixed on both sides to the U-shaped support structure 3.42 and the third rectangular tube 3.2 by means of screws 3.14. The L-shaped support structure 3.40 also supports the bar 3.8 and the L-shaped support structure is connected to the U-shaped support structure 3.42 by means of screws 3.38. The lead screw 3.11 passes through the L-shaped support structure 3.40 without obstruction.

The ends of the oscillating motion path are electronically detected by two "single pole single throw" (on or off) switches 3.18 mounted on the U-shaped support structure 3.42. On the underside of the third moving mass 3.10 there are two vertical flat plates 3.19 arranged on opposite sides which trigger a switch 3.18 when the third moving mass 3.10 reaches either end of the path of movement. The switch 3.18 can only be used for the first wheel of the rocking device to transmit the oscillating motion. The subsequent oscillating movement does not require the use of the switch 3.18 to detect the end of the movement path, since the control logic of the movement control unit 6 (fig. 1) stores the position of the switch 3.18 in its memory. More information about the logic of the switches will be further included in the description of the motion control and communication unit 6.

The motor 3.6 cables and the switch 3.18 cables are protected by a third cable housing 3.24 (fig. 21) mounted on the flat base 3.1. The third cable housing 3.24 is fixed to the flat base 3.1 using two screws 3.32 and shields the third cable housing 3.2 from being tangled by the third decorative housing 3.20.

The third frame support structure 3.39 is mounted on the third moving block 3.10 using screws 3.27, screws 3.36, screws 3.37 and screws 3.45. A flat sheet 3.16 is welded to the third bedframe support structure 3.39 in order to increase the final mechanical resistance. The third trim cover 3.20 wraps around and conceals the third bed frame support structure 3.39 and the inner leg support mechanism. As shown in fig. 25, there is no physical contact between the third decorative housing 3.20 and the underside of the leg, which comprises the flat base 3.1, the third cable housing 3.24 and the third rectangular tube 3.2.

The oscillating movement is transmitted in the horizontal plane to the third moving block 3.10, to the connecting third bedframe support structure 3.39, to the third decorative shell 3.20, to the connecting rod assembly 3.17 and to the bolt 3.21. Bolts 3.21 are rigidly mounted on the third bed frame support structure 3.39 and pass through the decorative housing 3.20. The bolt 3.25 is mounted on the U-shaped support structure 3.42 using a nut 3.26 and passes through the third bedframe support structure 3.39 and the third trim cover 3.20 without obstruction. There is no physical contact between the bolt 3.25 and the third bedframe support structure 3.39, nor between the third trim cover 3.20.

The bolt 3.21 is connected to the leg 3 moving equipment and the bolt 3.25 is connected to the leg 3 static structure. One of the leg connecting rods comprising the rod section 4 (see fig. 1) can be screwed into the bolt 3.21 and tightened with the nut 4.1. The other connecting rod is screwed into the bolt 3.25. As mentioned above, the connection between the motion transferring leg 3 and the passive leg 2 is accomplished by connecting

rod segments

4 and 5, which synchronize the moving and stationary parts of the legs.

The connecting rod assembly 3.17 (fig. 21) is fastened to the third decorative shell 3.20 and to the third mobile mass 3.10 using screws 3.36 and 3.37. The connecting-rod assembly 3.17 comprises two parallel groove cut-outs, which allow the relative position of the connecting-rod assembly 3.17 with respect to the third decorative housing 3.20 to be adjusted. By loosening the screws 3.36 and 3.37, the link assembly 3.17 can be moved inwardly or outwardly relative to the edge of the leg to match any bed frame width.

In any embodiment of the invention, the motion transfer leg 3 may replace the motion transfer leg 1.

Referring to the drawings in FIG. 27, an electrical block diagram of a preferred embodiment of a modular swing system is shown. The modular swing bed system corresponds to the device disclosed in fig. 1-3 and comprises two motion transferring legs 1, two passive legs, a motion control and communication unit 6, a data communication network 11,

motion sensors

7,16, a weight sensor 2.40, a passive infrared sensor (PIR)16, a head mounted brain activity sensor 15, a wrist temperature, heart rate and blood pressure sensor 12, and a user terminal 13. The electrical components of the motion transfer leg 1 are the motor 1.1 and the two first switches 1.22. The electrical components of the passive leg 2 are two second switches 2.11. The motion control and communication unit 6 comprises two motor drivers 6.7, a network data communication module 6.2, a microcontroller 6.1, three potentiometers 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, and a third switch 6.6. The motion control and communication unit 6 is connected to the two motion transferring legs 1, the two passive legs 2, the two motion sensors 7 and the weight sensor 2.40. The weight sensor 2.40 may be part of the

motion transferring leg

1,3 or the passive leg 2. In this schematic view, it is part of the passive leg 2.

The motor 1.1 is controlled by a motor driver 6.7, which is part of the motion control and communication unit 6. The microcontroller 6.1 maintains synchronization between the motors 1.1 by means of motion control software. The motion control software ensures that the instantaneous speed of the two motors 1.1 and, implicitly, the relative distance between all the moving parts of the legs, remain constant at any time. The oscillating rocking motion is achieved by changing the direction of rotation of the motor 1.1 at the end of the path of motion. The ends of the movement path are adjacent to the first switches 1.22 and 2.11. The first switch 1.22 detects the end of the path of movement of the leg 1 and the second switch 2.11 detects the end of the path of movement of the leg 2. The microcontroller 6.1 detects whether any of them is triggered on a given movement path, which means that the end of the movement path is reached. In that case, the motor 1.1 is stopped and the last rotation is reversed. The rocking upper part then starts moving in the opposite direction until the first switches 1.22 and 2.11 are triggered again at the other end of the movement path. The switch may only be used for the first wheel of the rocking device to transmit the oscillating motion. The subsequent oscillating movement does not require the use of a switch to detect the end of the movement path, since the control logic of the movement control unit 6 stores the position of the switch in its memory.

The motion control and communication unit 6 provides the basic user controls for the rocking motion system. The control comprises a potentiometer 6.3 for controlling the swing speed; a potentiometer 6.4, controlling the amount of time (after which the rocking motion stops after a state where the motion sensor is not moving); a potentiometer 6.5, controlling the total expected sleep duration (after which the rocking motion is disabled); and a third switch 6.6, the forced rocking motion being activated or deactivated. Further details regarding user control usage will be explained in conjunction with FIG. 29.

The user controls 6.3, 6.4, 6.6 may be overlaid by an application running on the terminal 13, along with other user customized controls. The applications running on the terminal 13 may include a sleep tracking function, and a database containing sleep history and movement related data over a period of time.

The

motion sensors

7,16 together with the temperature, heart rate, blood pressure sensor 12 and the brain activity sensor 15 are used to track the user's state in relation to sleep and alertness. The weight sensor 2.40 uses a method of measuring the difference in the total weight of the bed over time and on the basis thereof detecting whether the user is lying on the bed. This information, along with user settings, is used to start and stop the rocking motion in an automated manner. The invention is not limited as to the type of sensors that may be used to track the status of the user. Further details regarding the relationship between the information provided by the motion sensor, temperature, heart rate, blood pressure sensor and weight sensor and the resulting rocking motion will be explained in connection with fig. 29.

Referring to the drawings in FIG. 28, an electrical block diagram of a second embodiment of a modular swing system is shown. The modular swing bed system corresponds to the device disclosed in fig. 4 and comprises four motion transferring legs 1, a motion control and communication unit 6, a data communication network 11, a motion sensor 7, a weight sensor 2.40, a passive infrared sensor (PIR)16, a head mounted brain activity sensor 15, a wrist temperature, heart rate and blood pressure sensor 12, and a user terminal 13. The motion control and communication unit 6 comprises four motor drivers 6.7, one for each of the motion transferring leg motors 1.1. Likewise, with regard to the function disclosed in fig. 27, the microcontroller 6.1 maintains synchronization between the motors 1.1 by means of the motion control software. The motion control software ensures that the instantaneous speed of all four motors 1.1 and implicitly the relative distance between the moving parts of the leg remain constant at all times. The remaining blocks and system functions in fig. 28 are the same as those described in fig. 27.

Referring to the drawings in FIG. 29, a flow chart of a shaker motion state machine is disclosed. First, the method uses the third switch 6.6 to check whether the bed's total weight has increased or whether the user 14 has manually initiated the bed swinging movement (100). The term "total weight of the bed" as used throughout the specification means the sum of the weight of the bed and the weight of the user. The bed total weight is monitored by the weight sensor 2.40 and it is assumed that the final total weight increases when the user 14 lies on the bed 9. This triggers a notification that the user is lying on the bed, which then starts to move in a predetermined direction, which means that all motion transferring legs will start to push the bed in the same direction (102). Thereafter, the method checks whether the total bed weight has decreased, or whether the user has manually switched off the rocking bed movement using the third switch 6.6, or whether no user movement has been detected using the

movement sensor

7,16 within a predetermined time set by the potentiometer 6.4, or whether the total required sleep time set by the potentiometer 6.5 has elapsed (104). If not, the method further detects whether any first switch 1.22 or 2.11 or 3.18 has been triggered (106). The switch is triggered at the end of the current direction of movement path, which means that the direction of movement has to be changed (110). The first switches 1.22, 2.11 and 3.18 correspond to all possible legs 1 or legs 2 or legs 3 that may be part of the swing device. It will be appreciated that some of the first switches 1.22, 2.11 or 3.18 may not be part of the system, depending on the particular example.

The method performs a rocking motion of the bed 9 by looping back to state (102) until any condition in state (104) is true. In that case, the bed stops moving (108) and returns to mode (100). The flow chart discloses a simplified rocker state machine that does not cover complex scenarios, which means and is not limited to user defined controls, motion or vibration patterns, using information provided by the

motion sensors

7,16, temperature, heart rate and blood pressure sensors 12, brain activity sensors 15 or settings from applications running on the control terminal 13.

Another important method for controlling the rocking motion characteristics of the bed 9 comprises: the periodicity and level information of the wave signals captured by the one or more brain activity sensors 15 is used to set and synchronize the oscillating movement periodicity and velocity of the bed 9.

Claims

1. A motion transfer leg (1,3) for transferring oscillating or reciprocating swinging motion to a rocking bed (9) on a horizontal plane, comprising a motor (1.1, 3.6), a moving block (1.8, 3.10), a support structure (1.12, 3.2), a flat base (1.21, 3.1) and a connecting rod assembly (1.20, 3.17), characterized in that said motion transfer leg further comprises a worm gear reducer or a timing pulley gear reducer;

wherein the motion transfer leg further comprises a lead screw (1.5, 3.11) coupled to the worm gear or to a second timing pulley; two guide rods (1.10, 3.8) mounted on linear bearings (1.9,3.9) on which the moving blocks (1.8, 3.10) slide; -a U-shaped support structure (1.11, 3.42) having two on/off switches (1.22, 3.18) mounted on opposite sides; -a frame support structure (1.18,3.39) mounted on said moving blocks (1.8, 3.10); a decorative shell (1.24,3.20) covering said bed base support structure (1.18, 3.39);

the moving blocks (1.8, 3.10) comprise a threaded nut accommodating the lead screws (1.5, 3.11), two cylindrical housings for the linear bearings (1.9,3.9), and six threaded holes accommodating first (1.32,3.36), second (1.33, 3.37) and third (1.38, 3.27) screws; the linear bearings (1.9,3.9) slide on the support rods (1.10, 3.8) together with the first moving blocks (1.8, 3.10) according to the movement caused by the rotation of the lead screws (1.5, 3.11);

the connecting rod component (1.20, 3.17) is fastened on the decorative shell (1.24,3.20) and the moving block (1.8, 3.10) through a first screw (1.32,3.36) and a second screw (1.33, 3.37); said connecting-rod assembly (1.20, 3.17) comprises two parallel groove cuts which allow the relative position of the connecting-rod assembly (1.20, 3.17) with respect to the decorative shell (1.24,3.20) to be adjusted; by loosening the first (1.32,3.36) and second screws (1.33, 3.37), the link assemblies (1.20, 3.17) are moved inwardly or outwardly relative to the edges of the legs to match any bed frame width;

the decorative shell (1.24,3.20) wraps around and conceals the bed frame support structure (1.18,3.39) and the inner leg structure;

the motion transfer leg (1,3) further comprises a first bolt (1.25,3.21), a second bolt (1.30,3.25), a first connecting rod section (4) and a second connecting rod section (5); the first bolt (1.25,3.21) is connected to the movement device of the motion transfer leg (1, 3); the second bolt (1.30,3.25) being connected to the static structure of the motion transfer leg (1, 3); the first connecting rod section (4) is used for screwing into a first bolt (1.25,3.21) and screwing with a nut (4.1); the second connecting rod section (5) is intended to be screwed into a second screw (1.30, 3.25).

2. A passive leg (2) of a rocking platform (9) comprising a mobile mass (2.6), a support structure (2.2), a flat base (2.1) and a linkage assembly (2.10), characterised in that the passive leg further comprises a movement blocking mechanism (2.19) preventing the mobile mass (2.6) from moving freely before the passive leg (2) is mounted;

wherein the passive leg further comprises two guide rods (2.4) mounted on linear bearings (2.5) on which the moving block (2.6) slides; a U-shaped support structure (2.22) having two on/off switches (2.11) mounted on opposite sides thereof; -a frame support structure (2.31) mounted on said moving block (2.6); a decorative shell (2.13) covering said bed base support structure (2.31);

the moving block (2.6) comprises a groove for accommodating a U-shaped rod (2.19) and a communicating friction pad (2.18), two cylindrical shells for the linear bearings (2.5) and six threaded holes for accommodating a first screw (2.24), a second screw (2.28) and a third screw (2.29); the linear bearing (2.5) and the moving block (2.6) slide on the supporting rod (2.4);

the connecting rod component (2.10) is fastened on the decorative shell (2.13) and the moving block (2.6) by using a second screw (2.28) and a third screw (2.29); said connecting-rod assembly (2.10) comprises two parallel groove cuts allowing the relative position of the connecting-rod assembly (2.10) with respect to the decorative shell (2.13) to be adjusted; by loosening the second (2.28) and third (2.29) screws, the link assembly (2.10) is moved inwardly or outwardly relative to the edge of the leg to match any bed frame width;

the decorative shell (2.13) wraps and hides the bed frame supporting structure (2.31) and the inner leg supporting structure;

the passive leg (2) further comprises a first bolt (2.14), a second bolt (2.22), a first connecting rod section (4) and a second connecting rod section (5); the first bolt (2.14) is connected to the mobile device of the passive leg (2); the second bolt (2.22) is connected to the static structure of the passive leg (2); the first connecting rod section (4) is used for screwing into a first bolt (2.14) and is screwed by a nut (4.1); the second connecting rod section (5) is intended to be screwed into a second screw (2.22).

3. A leg arrangement comprising a motion transferring leg as claimed in claim 1 or a passive leg as claimed in claim 2, wherein the motion transferring leg (1,3) or the passive leg (2) comprises a leg holder support structure comprising a first support structure (1.35) and a second support structure (1.36) instead of a bed frame support structure and a flat sheet welded on the bed frame support structure; the leg arrangement further comprises an adjustable U-shaped clamp (1.37) that slides in and out of the first support structure (1.35) to secure and fix the existing bed (9) leg to the second support structure (1.36).

4. A device (10) for swinging an adult or baby bed (9) comprising two motion transferring legs (1,3) as claimed in claim 3 and two passive legs (2) as claimed in claim 3, and further comprising two pairs of connecting rod segments (4,5) connecting each motion transferring leg (1,3) to one passive leg (2), one motion control and communication unit (6), one or more motion sensors (7,16), one or more temperature, heart rate and blood pressure sensors (12), and one or more brain activity sensors (15); said connecting rod segment is made of a smaller segment with ends of screws and nuts that can accommodate several joints to form a variable length rod;

or:

comprising four motion transferring legs (1,3) according to claim 3, one motion control and communication unit (6), one or more motion sensors (7,16), one or more temperature, heart rate and blood pressure sensors (12), and one or more brain activity sensors (15);

wherein the motion control and communication unit (6) comprises a microcontroller (6.1), one or more motor drivers (6.7), a communication module (6.2), one or more user-controlled potentiometers (6.3, 6.4, 6.5), and one or more user switches (6.6).