GB2450164A - Rocking cradle - Google Patents

Abstract

A rocking device 2 which can be attached to a child's cot, which consists of a flat base plate attached to a curved rocking arm. The cradle is secured together at the pivot point and via the use of flexible attachments at the ends of each rocking arm. An electric motor (2) is connected to the cradle to automate the rocking motion of the cot.

Description

Celtic Cradle This invention relates to a rocking cradle system which

can be added to an existing cot or can be produced as a fully integrated cot and rocking base.

Most parents are well aware of the sleep patterns of infants and babies and how disruptive sleep deprivation can be to all parents. This invention aims to provide a method for gently rocking infants and older babies to sleep in their cots.

The cradle is powered by an electric motor which will mechanically rock the cot, in addition an automated timing device could be built in so as the rocking motion can cease at after a preset period.

At present there are devices for the rocking of newborn babies and infants, but this invention not only aids steep for infants, but it can also be used to help older babies and toddlers to sleep in their cots.

An example of the cradle will now be described via the use of accompanying drawings as follows: Fig 1. A diagram of the rocking motor. This is a small electric motor that causes a piston to rise and fall rhythmically which in turn rocks the cradle mechanism.

Fig 2. This shows the rocking cradle attached to the cot The rocking motor would sit at point I over the base strut and push up on the rocker to create the desired motion.

Figure 2 shows the cradle as an integrated part of a cot design, in this format the cradle will operate as follows.

The legs of the cot are sited in the frame of the cradle (fig 2 point 3) and securely attached. The rocking cradle consists of a flat base plate onto which a Curved rocker is attached. This rocker is held in place at the pivot point and at either end via a covered spring (2).

The springs would be encased in a flexible material as a safety feature. The springs attached at either end are under tension, each spring would tend to compress were it not for an opposing force of the other spring. Thus the cot frame becomes easy to rock from side to side.

The rocking motor would be housed at point 1. The motor would fit securely over the base plate of the cradle via a cut out portion on the motor (fig I point 3). The action of the motor (fig 1 point 2) would cause the piston (fig I point 1) to rise and fall rhythmically, the upward motion would press on the underside of the rocker arm and cause the arm and cot to move. As the tension on the springs increases, this would then allow the cot to rock back once the piston had fallen. This motion would be repeated thus rocking the cot. The motor would have a timing mechanism to cause the motor to cease operating after a preset period.

As an inbuilt safety mechanism, the cradle cannot be rocked too far as any motion will cause two springs on one side to compress, once these springs are fully compressed the cot cannot tilt any further. AJso this design should prevent any jolting at the end of one rocking motion (i.e. as the two springs on one side fully compress) as the opposing force of the springs on the opposite side of the cot will increase as they are extended.

The cradle can also be used as a separate unit which could then be added to existing cots. The unit would be attached to an existing cot via the addition of a plate or housing (at point 3 fig 2) into which the cot leg could be inserted and secured. This housing would be width adjustable so as to fit a range of cot sizes. The rocking motor would then be attached and operated in the same manner as described above.

The automated rocking device could also be designed as a rotating offset wheel. The electiic motor would drive the wheel round and this would then create the same rise and fall motion as the piston described in fig 1.

Another alternative design could use an electro magnetic device to repel and attract the rocker arm of the cradle base from the automatic rocker again creating the same rhythmical vertical motion on the rocker arm, which will allow the cradle to rock. L.

Claims (4)

1. Claims 1. The rocking cradle for a child's cot which consists of a flat

   base plate attached to a curved rocking arm, the two pieces are secured together at the pivot point and also by flexible attachments at the end of each rocking arm.
2. 2. The rocking cradle according to claim 1, in which the flexible attachments are provided by enclosed springs.
3. 3. The rocking cradle according to claim 1, in which an automatic rocking device can be added using an electric motor to create an upward force on the rocking arm.
4. 4. The rocking cradle according to the above claims, which is separate from the cot allowing the cradle to be attached to various different cots.