US2632517A - Device for imparting reciprocatory and oscillatory movement to baby carriages - Google Patents

Description

' March-24; 1953 F. D. FRAUNF ELDER ET AL 2,632,517

DEVICE FOR IMPARTING RECIPROCATORY AND OSCILLATORY MOVEMENT TO BABY CARRIAGES Filed Oct. 17, 1949 2 SHEETSSHEET l Inventord Freder/b/r Danie/Fraunfe/der Elva L. Burner 0/10 E. 80995 Malgch 24, 1953 F. D. FRAUNFELDER ETAL 2,632,517

- DEVICE FOR IMPARTING RECIPROCATORY AND OSCILLATORY MOVEMENT TO BABY CARRIAGES Filed Oct. 17, '1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Inventor Frederick Dan/25'!I-raunl'e/der' Elva L. Burner OlfaE. B099;

By E Attbrnqys Patented Mar. 24, 1953 DEVICE FOR IMPARTING RECIPROCATORY AND OSCILLATORY MOVEMENT TO BABY CARRIAGES Frederick Daniel Fraunfelder, Elva L. Burner, and Otto E. Buggs, Janesville, Wis.

Application October 17, 1949, Serial No. 121,771

3 Claims.

This invention comprises novel and useful improvements in a baby tender and more specifically pertains to an apparatus for automatically imparting rolling and rocking agitation to a baby carriagefor predetermined timed intervals.

The principal purpose of this invention is to provide an automatic mechanism for imparting for predetermined timed intervals a controlled and adjustable rolling reciprocating and oscillatory vibratory movementto a baby carriage to assist in pacifying and soothing infants therein in a safe and secure manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device wherein each wheel in a baby carriage may be guided during a. reciproca-tory movement thereof, and wherein each wheel may be selectively and independently a-djustably elevated by the device, and adjustably and independently vertically oscillated by the device during reciprocatory movement of the carriage.

\A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved means for imparting a reciprocat-ory motion to a baby carriage while restraining the same to a recilinear guided path of travel.

And a final important object of the invention, to be specifically enumerated herein, is to provide an improved means for securing a baby carriage in a readily detachable manner to the device for operation thereby, and to readily adjust the length of the path of travel and consequently the speed of the reciprocatory movement of the carriage under the control of the device.

These, together with various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by the present invention, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view showing the present invention applied in operative relation to a baby carriage for operation of the same;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 1, parts being broken away;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view through the baby carriage operating device;

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the device, taken substantially from the plane of the section line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 55 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional de- 2 tail view through a portion of the driving mechanism of the invention; and,

Figure 7 is a further elevational view, parts being shown in vertical section, through the fastening means for securing the operating connection of the device with the baby carriage.

Referring now more specifically to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, it will be seen that there is discloseda device indicated by the numeral, I0 and constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention, and which is operatively associated with a baby carriage indicated generally by the numera1 t2, and which consists of axles M by means of which the baby carriage is supported on the customary wheel [6.

in accordance with the principles of the invention, each of the wheels ot the baby carriage is mounted to abut the separate supporting rail. Each of the supporting rails consists of a base member I '8 having an inclined upper surface .20, together with an upper rail 22, having a correspondingly inclined lower surface, whereby the upper rail may be placed upon the lower rail with the inclined surfaces in juxtaposed position, and longitudinally moving the upper rail with respect to the lower rail, the vertical elevation of the upper surface of the upper rail may be varied as desired. Any suitable means will be provided for securing the upper and lower rail together in properly adjusted position, it being now understood. that each of the wheels of the carriage may be separately vertically moved by adjustment of the complementary rail portions.

As shown in Figure 2, each of the upper rails is provided with upstanding lateral side flanges 24,

these flanges constituting guide means for retaining the wheel l'6 upon the upper rails for guided rectilinear reciprocation therealong as set forth hereinafter.

Each of the upper rails is preferably provided with one or more longitudinally spaced apertures at the upper surface thereof, for the reception of the shank portion :26. of a button member 28. By this means the button v2B may be adjusted longitudinally of the upper rail 22, and will constitute a protuberance extending above the surface of the same whereby upon reciprocation of the carriage, the wheel of the same will be given a jolt or vertical oscillation during its reciprocation. Obviously, the buttons may be so positioned as to impart such a jolt simultaneously to each of the wheels of the carriage; it is preferred to have these vibratory impacts of the wheels standing side walls 32, this base'being of any suitable shape and character, as desired. The side walls may be detachably secured to the base in order to obtain access to the interior, thereof, the

upper ends of the side walls being inturned-to provide a top cover 34, this cover being provided'with a longitudinally extending slot 36 disposed medially and longitudinally of the casing for a purpose which will be subsequently apparent.

If desired, the housing maybe secured in fixed relation to the supportingrails in a desired manner as by mounting the same upon a common supporting base or the like.

'Suitablymounted within the housin is a prime mover operating means preferably in the form of an electric motor 38 of any suitable construction, the same being provided with a cooling fan Ail, the casing having ventilating louver 32 for permitting the circulation of air therethrough as shown in Figure 5.

The motor is connected with a suitable electric circuit (not shown) in any desired manner, this connection preferably including an electric conducting cable 44, having a connection 45, from which the same may be connected with a conventional outlet plug in an electric circuit. The cable 44 preferably includes a timing switch :88 of any conventional design, this switch being adjustedto complete the electric circuit for various selected periods of time. The construction of such a switch is simple and well known, and forms no part of the present invention other than its use in such an environment, it is not believed necessary to illustrate the details of construction of the same.

A Vertical power shaft 5% is suitably journaled in the casing, and is directly connected as by beveled gears '52 to the armature shaft of the motor whereby the shaft 5i! may be continuously rotated during operation of the motor. At its upper end, the shaft 50 has fixedlysecured thereto a plate or disc 54 which is adapted for rotating in a horizontal plane. Conveniently, this disc may overlie the motor 38 in the interest of compactness, and as shown in Figures 3 and 6, the disc5 i is provided with a radial slot in its upper surface, this slot'being T-shaped in cross section, thus providing a radial surface slot 5'8, having a laterally enlarged lower portion 58. As shown in Figure 4, a headed crank pin 68 is adjustably secured and received .in this slot, this crank pin having a headed portion 62 which is slidably receivedand retained in the lateral portion 58 of theslot, while the shank portion of the crank pin extends upwardly through the-radial slot 55, and has .journaled thereon one end of a connectingrod member 64. This connecting rod member is pivotally retained on the crank pin as by a washer 6 6 and-a fastening nut 58, wherebyby rotation of the crank disc 54, and the crank pin 69, a reciprocatory and oscillatory motion will be imparted to thecrank connecting rod. It is intended to adjust the crankpin rigidlyof the slot 56, a suitable locking means may be provided for retaining the crank pin in adjusted position.

By means of a pair of suitable supporting brackets l0 and 12, a pair of parallel, vertically spaced guide rods, 14 and 15, are mounted within the casing, and a connecting member in the form of a block 18 is provided with bores for the sliding movement upon the guide rods it and it. This connecting member has an upstanding pin figured thereon, see Figures 4 and '7, the lower end of this pin being secured as by screw threading into the upper end of the body "68. The other extremity of the connecting rod is rotatably received to abut the pin 89 and is conveniently retained thereon as by a pair of collars 82 and E i. It will thus be seen that the fastening member ha imparted thereto 'a straight and rectilinear reciprocating motion from the continuously rotating power shaft 58.

Upon the upper surface, the pin 38 is provided with .a V-shaped upwardly opening recess or socket 85 which is adapted to receive the above mentioned axle i4 .ofthe'carriage at substantially its amid-point In order to retain the axle in the supportingsocket, a cap or clamping member in the shape of a U-shaped bracket 88 is slidably received on the upper end of the member 8G, this member .88, as shown in Figure 1, having vertical slots in its side walls as at :93, in order that the same may straddle the axle it. By means of a thumb screw 92, the clamping member 88 may be detachably secured .to the member 39 to clamp theaxle .in its socket 86.

From the foregoing, the operation of the rocking mechanism will now be readily understood. A timing switch Mlis set for any desired time interval, such as, for example, as a period from 10 minutes to one hour, whereupon the motor 33 will be energized. Upon rotation .of .the motor, the crank disc 54 will be rotated,.imparting reciprocating oscillation to the connecting rodlfi i, thus causing reciprocatory rectilinear motion of the fastener i3 upon the guide rods 14 and I6 and to the connection of this fastener with the axle of the carriage causing reciprocatory motion of the same. Thisreciproca'tory:motion of the carriage in turn, through the members 2-3, may be utilized to impart oscillation, or vibration to the carriage during the reciprocation.

During this operation the carriage is firmly connected to the actuating .mechanism so that the 'carriageis handled with safety at all times, while the extent of the speed of reciprocation can be conrolled by the stroke of the crank member while the extent of the-agitation can be likewise assuggested.

It will .thus be seen that there has been provided a compact, sturdy, and yet highly efficient devicewhich can safely roll and rock a babycarriage for an adjustable period of time, and wherein various typesof agitation and rocking movement can be imparted to the carriage, as will be found to be most effective in pacifying, in soothing, orotherwise contributing to the enjoyment of an infant. The device thus provides automatic means which will minimize, if not eliminate, thepersonal attendance of a baby sitter, with a considerable saving in time.

When the axle M is directly attached to the member 89, as in Figures land 7, the buttons 2'5, 28 are omitted in order to avoid any likelihood of jarring and damaging the rigid operating members '14 and 16. When the buttons'are employed, a connecting rod 93 secures-the axle M to the member 83, as :shown in Figure 2, to'allow a .vantages, will be quite apparent, and further description is believed to be unnecessary. How- I ever, since numerous modifications and equivalents will readily occur to those skilled in this art after a consideration of the foregoing specification and accompanying drawings, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, but all suitable modifications and changes may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A baby carriage rocker comprising adjustable supporting rails for each whee1 of a baby carriage, mechanism for imparting a reciprocatory movement of the baby carriage on its supporting rails, said mechanism comprising a source of power including a rotary shaft, a plate fixed on said shaft, said plate having a radially extending slot therein, a crank pin adjustably secured in said slot, a connecting member secured at one end to said crank pin and having a fastener on its other end, a guide for reciprocatory movement of said fastener, said fastener including a body having a carriage axle receiving recess in the upper portion thereof, a cap detachably secured to said body for embracing an axle, said connecting member being pivoted to said body.

2. A baby carriage rocker comprising adjustable supporting rails for each wheel of a baby carriage, and a mechanism for imparting a horizontal reciprocatory movement to the baby carriage on its supporting rails, each of said supporting rails comprising a vertically adjustable rail having means thereon for imparting a vertical oscillation to the carriage wheel supported thereon as the carriage is reciprocated, said rail comprising an upper member and a lower member, each being wedge shaped with their inclined surfaces being in juxtaposed position whereby longitudinal movement of one upon the other will vary the vertical elevation of the upper member.

3. A baby carriage rocker comprising adjustable supporting rails for each wheel of a baby carriage, and a mechanism for imparting a horizontal reciprocatory movement to the baby carraige on its supporting rails, each of said supporting rails comprising a vertically adjustable rail having means thereon for imparting a vertical oscillation to the carriage wheel supported thereon as the carriage is reciprocated, said rail comprising an upper member and a lower member, each being wedge shaped with their inclined surfaces being in juxtaposed position whereby longitudinal movement of one upon the other will vary the vertica1 elevation of the upper member, said oscillating means comprising a projecting button mounted on each upper rail member.

FREDERICK DANIEL FRAUNFELDER.

ELVA L. BURNER.

OTTO E. BUGGS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 469,591 Parker Feb. 23, 1892 653,834 Winslow July 1'7, 1900 1,617,037 Vlcek Feb. 8, 1927 1,813,890 Fowler July 7, 1931 1,999,957 Chlupsa Apr. 30, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 38,981 Sweden June 16, 1915 749,967 France Aug. 2, 1933

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