FR2786404A1 - TOURNIQUET ROCKER - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a seesaw with a substantially elliptical support surface, in point contact with the ground, capable of rocking longitudinally or laterally and in rotation. An offset position of children at the ends transforms the rocking into rotation or inversely, rocking maintains or accelerates rotation. The position of the children controls the type and direction of the rocking rotation shifts.

Description

 The invention relates to the production of a toy, outdoor or community or indoor.

 We know the different modes of realizing a scale and in particular the embodiment which is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1. The bearing surface on the ground is substantially an adjusted elliptical cylinder, each child at one end causes the game to rock by swinging d back and forth.

 The tilting takes place in an invariant vertical plane, the amplitude of the oscillation is limited.

 Such a game is intended for young children, quickly children get tired of such a game.

 We also observe flip-flops to overcome, such as those in public gardens, used by older children up to about 10 years, with the additional attraction of the height of the swing and the shock of the stop.

 We also observe the attraction of turnstiles, linked to speed and dizziness.

 The invention aims to give an indoor community or garden scale a new attraction linked to an unpredictable although controllable kinematics, and to integrate this scale with the attraction of the turnstile.

 It also aims to compensate by the new attraction the limits possibly linked to a restricted dimension of the scale: reduced amplitude and speed.

 It also aims to develop a sense of balance and weight transfers.

 According to the invention which is a variant of the rocker of Figure 1, intended for one or two children at the ends, a rocking movement back and forth induced by children can alternately cause the rocker to pivot around its point contact with the ground in a clockwise direction, a traditional tilting in the vertical plane without pivoting or else a pivoting in a counterclockwise direction.

 A child-induced pivoting can cause the rocker to swing back and forth or laterally over a large amplitude.

 According to the invention, the oscillations and swivels of the scale are controllably coupled by children, depending on their position or their inclination on the scale.

 In the same way as by successive inclinations, a child amplifies the swing of a swing, the two children control the amplitudes of swing and the coupling of kinetic energy in pivoting.

 Little is known about the possibility of transferring an oscillating swing movement or performing the reverse operation.

 In patent FR9615628 of 19 12 96 issued to the same author, the principle of making a playful object is described, the kinematic behavior of which corresponds to one of the behaviors of this new rocker.

 It is shown that an object whose external shape is perfectly elliptical, but whose internal mass distribution has an offset of the main axis of inertia of 5 "relative to the main axis of the external shape converts a pivoting in oscillation then the oscillation in pivoting in opposite direction.

 Without going into the details of the kinematics, moreover described in the January 99 issue of your popular French magazine 'For Science', it appears that the mass distribution of the mobile presides over its behavior.

 Thus, the invention achieves a rocker whose shape of the ground support is substantially or perfectly elliptical.

 The contact with the ground is punctual, the support surface being convex.

 The elliptical bearing surface is defined by axes, and radii (half axis), R1, R2, R3.

For children between 4 and 10 years old, a support surface whose radii are substantially and respectively
R3 = 0.3 m, R2 = 0.5 m, R1 = 1.5 m is suitable.

 In general, it is necessary that R3 <R2 <R1.

 The bearing surface on the ground does not necessarily determine the general shape of the scale, nor its length, width and height.

 The support surface of substantially elliptical shape need only be sufficiently large to ensure support even in the event of a large amplitude oscillation.

 FIG. 3 gives an example of an embodiment principle (not representative of the achievable shapes), with the support surface 1, a grip bar 2, a bar fixed a seat 4, this bar is rigidly connected by a socket 4 to the main support bar.

 According to a simplest first principle, the seat 4 has an oversized width, children have the possibility of moving laterally on it.

 Children also have the opportunity to take support on the ground to initiate a swing or pivot.

 According to the particular principle of the invention, the lateral offset of the children couples the oscillations and the pivotings.

 A vertical swing is immediately converted into a pivot in the direction in which the children weigh, similarly, a pivot is converted into a vertical swing as soon as the children each weigh on their right side or their left side.

 The game then consists in varying the pivoting and the rocking of the rocker while maintaining the latter, in strongly accelerating the pivoting by forcing a vertical rocking, etc.

 According to a second principle, the bush 3 in FIG. 3 is a free pivoting base, and the width of the seat 4 is adjusted to the size of the child.

 The child then controls his lateral offset by acting by reaction on the bar 1.

 The actions and reactions of the rocker are then dependent on the amplitude and direction of the lateral offset of each child.

 Naturally children are encouraged to move either to their right or to their left, in conjunction. Otherwise, the rocker tilts laterally which is not comfortable.

 According to a third embodiment in FIG. 4, the said socket is a bearing secured to a pulley which connects the angles of the two said seats by a belt, for example notched 1, in order to guarantee the static balance of the rocker, whatever the amplitude of the lateral offset of children. The two offsets are then symmetrically conjugate.

 Any type of angular connection between said seats is suitable for carrying out the invention, as long as it retains approximately centered the position of the center of gravity of the rocker loaded with children.

 Any design will enhance the invention, at a decorative level.

 The design will also carry a theme that will naturally induce the game, such as the motorcycle, the canoe, the gondola, the rodeo etc.

 From then on, its didactic or imitation content will contribute to enhancing the learning of the interactive balance that this game offers.

 It is a game that develops the sense of balance, and that can prepare for learning to ride a bicycle, and for all balance sports.

Claims (7)

 rocking.  depending on the child's position or weighing on the  that the swing induces a rotation or the reverse, in  in all directions, to turn; characterized in that  Claims 1) Rocker intended for children likely to swing  substantially an ellipse.  is punctual, and that the shape of the support surface is  ground support surface is convex, that the ground contact  2) scale according to claim 1 characterized in that its 3) scale according to claim 2 characterized in that its  general shape is elongated, in that the elliptical shape  is associated with three rays, the shortest of which is vertical, the  horizontal medium and the third in the axis of the length  of the scale. 4) scale according to claim 3 comprising one or two  seats each at one end, characterized in that  The child can move sideways, and thus vary  the kinematic behavior of the rocker. 5) A scale according to claim 4 including the swings  are rotated in the direction the child weighs,  characterized in that the seat or seats at each  end are of a width allowing a lateral offset. 6) A scale according to claim 4 including the swings  are rotated in the direction the child weighs,  characterized in that the seat or seats are pivotable in  cantilever, and in that faction of manual support or  walk it or them. 7) A scale according to claim 6 comprising two seats in  opposite, whose static balance is maintained,  characterized in that an angular connection combines  the orientation of the two seats.