FR2725632A1 - Rocker for e.g. cot or pram or for linking to a mixing appts. - Google Patents

Abstract

The rocker consists of a frame (1) which rests on a horizontal surface and a support (2) which is suspended inside the frame by connecting elements (3). The points at which the connecting elements are attached to the support are closer together than the points at which they are connected to the frame so that the connecting elements form an angle of 5-40 deg , pref. 20 deg to the vertical. The connecting elements are made from a supple material such as cords, braids or ropes. The support is made from a long rectangular strip folded into a V- or U-shape, and has notches (5) in its edges to hold the connecting elements in the required position.

Description

 The present invention relates to a swing of the type comprising a fixed frame resting on a horizontal support surface and a support for an object to be subjected to a rocking movement, said support extending horizontally when it is at rest and being suspended above above the horizontal support surface by at least two uprights or hangers, whose lower ends are attached to the support at points thereof spaced a predetermined distance, and whose upper ends are attached to the fixed frame at points spaced.

 Many models of swings or swings are already known, in particular garden swings, the support of which, intended to receive and support at least one person wishing to swing, is constituted either by a simple step or by a seat at a or more places, which is suspended above the ground by at least two lines of flexible material such as ropes, braids, ropes or the like, of vegetable or synthetic fibers or of wire, or by at least two uprights <rigid rods), whose upper ends are attached to a gantry at two points spaced from it.

Usually, the uprights or the lines extend vertically and the rocking movement is a pendulum movement which takes place in a plane perpendicular to an axis passing through the points of attachment of the upper ends of the uprights or suspensions.

 There are also known cradles for children that can be animated by a rocking movement either by the fact that the nacelle of the cradle is suspended from a fixed hunt in the manner of a swing or a swing, or by the fact that the base of the cradle has two arched pads convex to the ground. Again, the rocking movement is a pendulum movement or a kind of pendulum movement taking place in a vertical plane perpendicular to an axis passing through the points of attachment of the uprights or suspension of the nacelle of the cradle or to an axis passing through the centers of curvature of the two arched skates of the cradle.

 In all cases (swings, swings, cradles) it is known that the swaying movement ("pendulum movement") produces an effect on the semi-circular channels of the subject, which gives a certain sensation of well-being, calms and facilitates sleep, especially young children.

 Also known stirring devices using a rocking motion to stir or mix products to be mixed. Again, the support that carries the container containing the products to be mixed is driven in a pendulum motion.

Such pendulum stirring devices are inefficient when it comes to mixing two products having different densities. Indeed, the denser product is subjected to greater centrifugal force than the least dense product and it tends to gather in the bottom of the vessel subjected to pendulum movement.

 In all cases (baiençoires, swing, cradles or stirring devices) the energy required to initiate the rocking movement is relatively important. This is due to the fact that it is necessary to raise the totality of the mass of the person or the object that one wishes to swing, to which is added the mass of the support on which is placed the person or the object to be balanced. , at a level higher than the corresponding level & balance state of the swing.

 The present invention therefore aims to provide a swing whose support is capable of performing a compiexe movement which, when the swing is used as a rocking device, has an accentuated effect on the semicircular canals of the rocked child, thus providing a greater sense of well-being, thus a greater calming effect and a greater inducement to sleep for young children, and which, when the swing is used as a mixing device, gives localized accelerations which are directed vertically towards the top and which promote the mixing of two products having different densities.

 The present invention also aims to provide a swing which requires less energy to start its movement and then maintain it.

 Alternatively, the present invention also aims to provide a swing that is simple to manufacture, inexpensive, easy to mount and quiet, and can be easily and quickly added to a cradle or a car (pram, stroller , push stick, etc.) that was not originally intended to swing.

 For this purpose, the swing seat according to the present invention is characterized in that the attachment points of the upper ends of the two uprights or suspensions on the frame are spaced apart by a distance greater than that of the attachment points of the uprights or hangers. on the support, each of the two uprights or lines at an angle to the vertical when the support is in a state of equilibrium.

 Under these conditions, when the support is oscillated in a vertical plane containing the points of attachment of the upper ends of the uprights or suspension, the support performs a pitching movement in this plane in addition to its pendulum movement. This pitching movement, combined with the pendulum movement, accentuates the effect of swinging motion on the semicircular canals of the rocked child, with the resulting beneficial effects. In addition, as will be demonstrated later, the energy required to initiate the rocking movement is lower than in the case where the amounts or lines are vertical.

This energy can be further reduced when the lines are made of a flexible material, such as for example ropes, braids or ropes, and that the force communicated to the swing to initiate its movement is applied in the middle of the length of the one of the lines of flexible material.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the swing, given by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure i is a perspective view of the swing according to the invention.

 Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the swing of Figure i.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view along the line
III-III of Figure 2.

 Figure 4 shows, on a larger scale, partly in elevation and partly in section, a detail of the swing of Figures 1 to 3.

 Figures Sa and 5b show, in cross section, two other possible forms for the support of the swing.

 Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the swing at the launch of its swinging motion.

 Figure 7 is a perspective view schematically showing a cradle and two swings according to the invention supporting the cradle.

 The swing shown in Figures 1 to 3 comprises essentially a fixed flush 1 and a support 2 own to support a rocking object, which is suspended from the fixed frame by uprights or suspensions 3. The support 2 may have any shape and dimensions adapted to the object that it is intended to support. For example, in the case where two swings according to the invention are used to support a cradle 7), a child car or the like, the support 2 may be constituted by a rectangular plate, for example made of sheet steel, the length of which is at least equal to the spacing of the front or rear feet or the front or rear wheels of a cradle or car of a child, or to the spacing of a front foot and a rear foot or a front wheel and a rear wheel of the cradle or the child car.The sheet metal plate forming the support 2 is preferably folded to form a V-shaped cross-sectional channel, as shown in Figures i and 3, to wedge the feet or the wheels of the cradle or the child car by preventing them from sliding in the transverse direction of the channel. The sheet metal plate forming the support 2 can also be folded so as to form a flat-bottomed channel with inclined edges (support 2a of FIG. 5a) or with vertical edges (support 2b of FIG. 5b).

The stationary chassies i may for example consist of a tubular hunt, for example made of steel tube, composed of two arches ia and lb facing each other and of two parallel horizontal spars Ic and ld interconnecting the feet of the arches. and lb. Preferably, the arches ia and lb and the spars Ic and
Id are part of a single tube suitably bent in several places as shown in Figure 1, the two ends of the single tube being for example fixed to one another by welding. The length of the longitudinal members Ic and Id corresponds to that of the forming sheet metal plate.

the support 2.

 However, the tubular frame 1 could be made from several tubes assembled together by welding or interlocking. For example, each of the two arches la and lb may be constituted by a tube bent three times so as to form the arch proper and a portion of each of the two longitudinal members Ic and Id. In this case, the tube forming one both hoops may have narrowed ends so as to have an outside diameter slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the other tube, so that the tubes can be nested telescopically into each other to allow adjustment of the length of the longitudinal members Ic and Id, for example to adapt it to the spacing of the feet or the wheels of the cradle or the baby car.For the same purpose, each of the two longitudinal members Ic and Id can be constituted in part by a tube whose outside diameter is slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the tube forming each of the two arches la and lb, or by a tube whose inside diameter is slightly larger than the diameter ex the tube forming each of the two arches la and lb. Thus, the tubes forming the longitudinal members Ic and Id can be nested telescopically in or on the tubes forming the arches la and lb.In the case where several tubes are used which can be telescopically fitted into each other, at least one locking device can be provided to lock the telescopic tubes relative to each other in any desired set position. For this purpose, it is possible to use, for example, a locking device of the cone type and with a clamping screw ring, similar to those used in monopods or tripods for a camera. Such locking devices are well known and it is therefore not considered useful to describe them in detail.

 Each of the two longitudinal members lc and id is equipped with two anti-skid pads 4. Each pad 4 may for example be constituted by a sleeve of an elastomeric material, for example rubber, tightly surrounding the spar lo or ld. The pads 4 are intended to prevent the fixed frame 1 from sliding on the ground or on any other horizontal support surface when the swing is in motion. They also have an acoustic insulation function by preventing any vibrations generated by the operation of the swing are transmitted to the ground.

 As is more particularly visible in Figures 1 and 3, each end of the sheet metal plate forming the support 2 is suspended from one of the two arches la and lb by two amounts or lines 3. Although the amounts or lines could be constituted by rods or rigid bars, they are preferably constituted by lines of a flexible material, for example "nylon" cords. Each line 3 may be constituted by a piece of rope whose lower end is attached to the sheet metal plate forming the support 2, in an angle of this plate whose upper end is attached to the arch 1a or lb corresponding. However, according to one embodiment for a particularly simple and fast assembly, each pair of lines 3 may be constituted by a single piece of rope, which passes under the corresponding end of the sheet metal plate forming the support 2 and through recesses 5 at said end of the plate <Figures 1 and 3). The free ends of the piece of rope constituting the two lines 3 at each end of the support 2 are threaded into two aligned holes 6 and 7 drilled through the top of the arch ia or lb corresponding <Figure 4).

A washer 8 is then threaded on the two free ends of the piece of rope forming the two lines 3 and said free ends are interconnected by a node 9. The node 9 is formed to have a larger diameter than the hole The diameter of the upper hole 7 is greater than the outer diameter of the washer 8 which is itself larger than the diameter of the lower hole 6. Thus, in use, the washer 8 and the node 9 are hidden inside the hoop la or lb. The recesses 5 are preferably constituted by notches formed in the longitudinal edges of the plate forming the support 2 at each end thereof. Thus, the single piece of rope forming each pair of lines 3 can be easily and quickly engaged in the notches.However, the notches 5 could be replaced by round holes, but the assembly would then be a little more complicated because you have to put on the lines 3 in the holes of the support 2.

 As shown in FIG. 2, the attachment points 11 of the lines 3 to the arches 1a and 1b are more spaced than the attachment points 12 of the said lines to the support 2. Under these conditions, when the support 2 is in a state of in equilibrium, the lines 3 or more exactly the plane defined by each pair of lines 3 makes an angle with the vertical passing through the corresponding point of attachment 11. Thus, when the support 2 of the swing is set in motion in a vertical plane containing the two attachment points 11, each end of the support 2 oscillates about the corresponding point of attachment t1 and the support 2, as a whole, also performs a pitching movement as shown by solid lines and by dashed lines in Figure 2.

Note that if the lines 3 were vertical as in a swing or swing classic, the support 2 would remain permanently horizontal during its swinging motion.

It will now be explained how the swing can move between with reference to the diagram of FIG. 6. In this figure, P denotes the total weight of the support 2 and the load that it supports. The weight supported by each pair of lines 3 is equal to
P / 2.The support 2 of the swing can be set in motion by applying for a short time a force F to one of the two pairs of lines 3, for example to those on the left in FIG. force F can be applied manually or by means of a suitable motorization <not shown) attached to the frame i. During the brief duration of application of the force F, the right end of the support 2 does not move substantially because of the inertia of the mass of the support 2 and the load that it supports> and because of the energy potential of the half-mass P / 2 of the right end which tends, in combination with the tension T of the two lines 3 of the right, to pull the right end of the support 2 to the right.Under the effect of the force F, the two lines 3 of the left, which are flexible, deform at an obtuse angle as shown in Figure 6 and the left end of the support 2 rises 12 '. Under these conditions, it can be seen that the mass to be lifted is only equal to P / 2. In addition, if the force F is applied in the middle of the length of the two lines 3 left, the effort to produce corresponds to P / 4. On the other hand, if all the lines 3 had been vertical as in a conventional swing or swing, the effort to be produced would correspond to the totality of the weight P. It can thus be seen that with the swing of the present invention, the effort, therefore the energy to be produced to initiate the movement of the support 2 of the swing is lower than for a conventional swing.

 When the force F is released, the support 2 is pulled to the right by a force F 'which is the resultant of the weight P / 2 and the tension T of the lines 3 of right. Even if the support 2 has not moved to the left under the effect of the force F, the force F 'is not zero because the lines 3 make an angle with respect to the vertical <even when the support 2 is in its equilibrium position). As a result, the support 2 has, in its equilibrium position, a greater potential energy than if the lines were vertical and each of the ends of the support 2 was at the low dead point PXB of the pendular movement. the inclination has lines 3 relative to the vertical, the oscillation movement of the support 2 can be more easily launched than if the lines 3 were vertical as in swing or conventional swings.

 The value of the angle a may vary depending on the intended applications. The larger the angle a, the easier the oscillation movement of the support 2 will be to initiate. In practice, the angle may be other than between 5 'and 40'. In the case where two swings according to the invention are associated with a cradle 13 <or a child car) as shown in Figure 7, the angle a may have for example a value of about 20 '.

 That the two rails Id and lc have a fixed or adjustable length, it is preferably provided two sets of notches (or holes) at each end of the plate forming the support 2 to allow a setting of the value of the angle a. Thus, by choosing an appropriate pair of notches (or holes) at each end of the support 2, it is possible to give the angle α a desired value among several possible values. Note that if the two longitudinal members Ic and Id are made to have an adjustable length, as indicated above, it is also possible to adjust the value of the angle a by governing the length of the side members Ic and Id.

 In Figure 7, one of the swing supports the front feet of the cradle 13, while the other swing supports the rear feet of said cradle. Under these conditions, when the swings are simultaneously moving in the longitudinal direction, the pitching movement of each of the two supports 2, considered in isolation, results in a rolling motion for the cradle i3.

 By using two swings whose supports 2 and the longitudinal members lc and id have lengths corresponding to the spacing between the front and rear feet of the cradle, it would also be possible to arrange the two swings in the longitudinal direction of the cradle, so that that one of them supports the right feet and the other the left feet of the cradle. In the latter case, the pitching movement of the two supports 2 also results in a pitching movement of the cradle 13.

 In the two configurations mentioned above, it is also conceivable to simultaneously put the swings in motion in the transverse direction.

It goes without saying that the longitudinal movement and the transverse movement can be combined.

 By giving the support 2 a shape such that, for example, that shown in Figure 5b and giving it the appropriate dimensions, it can be made so that the support 2 is itself the nacelle of a cradle. Of course, in this case, the fixed frame 1 must have larger dimensions than in the case of Figure 7 and it may also have a shape different from that shown in Figures 1 to 3.

 The use of ropes or other similar flexible materials for the lines 3 offers the advantage, compared to rods or rigid bars, to ensure a smooth and quiet operation of the swing. In addition, it eliminates the need for costly mechanical joints at the attachment points 11 and 12. Nevertheless, without departing from the scope of the present invention, and instead of the flexible material lines may be used suspension or rigid amounts when cost and / or noise problems are not critical.

 It is of course understood that the embodiment of the swing which has been described above has been given as a purely indicative and non-limiting example, and that, in addition to the modifications already mentioned above, many other modifications can easily be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, in particular, in FIG. 2, the two arches 1a and 1b are represented with a position inclined relative to the vertical at an angle close to the angle a. Such an arrangement makes it possible for the fixed frame i to resist better. at the bending moments to which it is subjected in the regions where the legs of the arches la and ib are connected to the longitudinal members ic and ld, and which result from the tensile forces exerted by the lines 3 on the upper ends of the arches la and lb. Nevertheless, by using tubes of larger section or by providing reinforcement gussets in the regions where the legs of the hoops 1a and 1b are connected to the longitudinal members 1c and 1d, the hoops 1a and 1b could be arranged vertically.

 In addition, although the present invention has more particularly been described about a swing intended to support a cradle or a child's car or about a swing seat constituting itself an oscillating cradle <in the case where the support 2 constitutes the nacelle of a cradle), the invention can be applied also to the manufacture of a mixing device of the type & oscillating movement, to homogenize a product or to mix at least two products. In the latter case, the support 2 must have a suitable shape to support a container containing the products or homogenize or mix, or it may be itself in the form of a container to contain the or said products.

 Whatever the application envisaged for the swing, the movement of the support 2 of the swing can be carried out manually or with the aid of an appropriate actuator <not shown), possibly motorized, fixed to the frame 1. In all In these cases, the energy required to initiate and maintain the rocking motion is relatively small.

 On the other hand, instead of suspending, with the aid of two pairs of lines, the element of the swing that supports the object to be balanced, it can be suspended only by two lines, or on the contrary by a larger number of the number of hangers used depending on the shape of the support element and / or the weight of the object that it supports.

Claims (16)

 1. A swing comprising a fixed frame (1) resting on a horizontal support surface and a support (2) for an oojet (13) to be subjected to a rocking movement, said support <2) extending horizontally when ii is at rest and is suspended above the horizontal support surface by at least two uprights or hangers <:: 3), the lower ends of which are attached to the support <2) at points <5, 12) of the spaced apart by a predefined distance, and whose upper ends are attached to the fixed frame (1) at spaced points (11), characterized in that the attachment points (11) of the upper ends of the two uprights or hangers <3) on the frame (1) are spaced a greater distance than the attachment points <12) from the uprights or hangers <3) on the support <2), each of the two uprights or hangers (3) making an angle (a) with respect to the vertical when the support <2) e st in a state of equilibrium.  2. Swing arm according to claim 1, characterized in that said angle <a> is between 5 and 40 '.  3. Swing arm according to claim 2, characterized in that said angle (a) is approximately equal to 20 '.  4. Swing according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the amounts or lines <3) are of a flexible material such as ropes, braids, ropes or the like.  5. Swing according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support <2) is constituted by a long rectangular plate folded to form a cross-sectional channel V or U.  6. Swing according to claim 5, characterized in that the frame (;) is a tubular frame consisting of two arches <la, lb) facing each other and two parallel horizontal spars (lc, ld) interconnecting the feet hoops (la, lb) and having a length corresponding to that of said rectangular plate (2) folded in the form of channel.  7. Swing according to claim 6, characterized in that the longitudinal members (lc, Id) of the frame (1) are adjustable in length.  8. Swing according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that said rectangular plate (2) comprises, in the region of each of its corners at least one recess <5) for receiving and retaining one of the lines ( 3), a pair of lines <3> being provided at each end of said rectangular plate (2).  9. Swing according to claim 8, characterized in that each pair of lines <: 3) is constituted by a single piece of flexible material such as rope, braid, rope or the like, which passes under the corresponding end of said plate rectangular (2) and through the recesses (5) at said end of the plate, and whose free ends are attached together (9) to the top of one of the arches <la, lb) of the tubular frame < I).  10. Swing according to claim 1, characterized in that the recesses (5) are constituted by notches formed in the longitudinal edges of the rectangular plate <2).  11. Swing according to claim 10, characterized in that a series of notches <5) is formed in each of the two longitudinal edges of the rectangular plate (2) at each end of the plate.  12. Swing according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each spar (lc, Id) of the tubular frame (1) rests on said horizontal support surface via two pads (4) of a material elastomer.  13.- Application of the swing according to any one of the preceding claims rocking.  14.- Application of the swing according to claim 13, characterized in that two swings (1-3) and a cradle (13), a car or the like, the support (2) of each swinging receiving and supporting two of the four feet or wheels of the cradle or car.  15.- Application of the swing according to claim 13, characterized in that said support of the swing is constituted by the nacelle of a child's cradle.  16.- Application of the swing according to any one of claims q to 12 homogenization of a product or the mixture of several products.