US3439363A

US3439363A - Rocking bed

Info

Publication number: US3439363A
Application number: US642078A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas Meeks
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1967-05-29
Filing date: 1967-05-29
Publication date: 1969-04-22
Anticipated expiration: 1986-04-22

Description

April 22, 1969 T. MEEKS ROCKING BED Filed May 29, 1967 If fvvE/vroe. 71. 04405 Mes/ 5 TORNE V.

T. MEEKS A ril 22, 1969 ROCKING BED V Filed May 29, 1967 Sheet United States Patent US. Cl. -109 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A rocking bed with a frame within which a cradle with rocker members at each end is mounted with means for producing a rocking motion of the cradle.

This invention relates to improvements in rocking beds,

and particularly with reference to rocking beds for babies, infants, and small children.

Hitherto, existing rocking beds or rockers for babies, infants, and small children, have been incapable of providing both a rocking movement and a stationary position when rocking is no longer desired. Further, such conventional rocking beds are unable to be inserted into a conventional crib for babies, infants, or small children so that where a rocking movement is desired, a completely separate rocking bed must be purchased in addition to a conventional crib, which results in a duplication of expense in most cases.

My invention provides a rocking bed which can be inserted into conventional size cribs and supported therein by the posts of the crib without alteration of the crib itself. Also, my invention provides both a rocking movement as well as a stationary position when rocking is no longer desired.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a rocking bed that can be inserted into a conventional crib and supported therein without alteration of the crib itself.

Another object of this invention is to provide a rocking bed that produces both a rocking motion and a stationary position when rocking is no longer desired.

A further object of this invention is to provide a rocking bed that is relatively easy to construct, assemble, and use.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a rocking bed that can be suspended in air by various means and still provide rocking motion or a stationary position as desired.

These and other objects will be more readily understood by reference to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the rocking bed. FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the rocking bed. FIGURE 3 is a view taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a view taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a detailed section of a portion of FIG- URE 4 showing a disk and its connection to a rocker member.

The rocking bed 10 has a rectangular frame 12 which is provided with a pair of hooks 14 on each of its longer sides. Each of the hooks 14 has a coil spring 16 connected to it.

The coil springs 16 are each connected to corresponding hooks 18 mounted to each post 20 of the crib 22 illustrated in the drawings.

A cradle 24' having a fiat top surface or deck 25 and two rocker members 26 at each end is pivotally mounted inside the frame 12 of the rocking bed 10 by bolts 28 3,439,363 Patented Apr. 22, 1969 and nuts 30 located at the center of each end of frame 12.

The rocking bed 10 has a motor, preferably electric, 32 located beneath the cradle 24 and attached to one side of frame 12 near one end of frame 12. The shaft 34 of motor 32 has a disk 36 mounted at its end and located beneath one of the rocker members 26. The disk 36 is pivotally connected to the inside of one rocker member 26 by a pivot on 38. One end of pivot arm 38 is pivotally mounted off center near the edge of disk 36 so that rotation of disk 36 will impart an up and down motion to rocker member 26.

The conventional switch 40 controlling motor 32 is conveniently located at the side of frame 12. Any suitable means of rotating disk 36 may be used.

To keep the cradle 24 stationary when it is not being rocked, a latch assembly 42 is mounted at the sides of frame 12. The latch assembly 42 comprises a transverse bar 44 pivotally mounted at one end in a recess 46 in the inside portion of one side of frame 12. The other end of bar 44 is inserted through an opening 48 in the other side of frame 12 and terminates in a handle 50 located on the outside of the other side of frame 12 and mounted to the end of bar 44.

Inside frame 12, bar 44 has two spaced levers 52 which are each rigidly mounted at right angles to it and have a length sufficient to prevent substantial rocking movement of the deck 25 when the levers 52 are placed in a position perpendicular to deck 25 by rotation of bar 44 due to operation of handle 48.

In operation, the rocking bed 10 is inserted into a

conventional crib

22 and 22 and coil springs 16 attached to frame 12 by books 14 are connected to books 18 mounted on posts 20 of the crib 22. The electric motor 32 is then started, thereby rotating shaft 34, which in turn rotates disk 36. As disk 36 rotates, pivot arm 38 connected to one of the rocker members 26 causes the rocker members 26 to move up and down, thereby imparting a sideways rocking motion to cradle 24.

When rocking is no longer desired, the motor is turned off, and handle 50 is rotated until levers 52 are moved from a position parallel to frame 12 to a perpendicular position, deck 25 is prevented from any substantial movement sideways so that cradle 25 is substantially stationary.

I have described my invention in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating preferred embodiments of my invention.

I claim:

1. A rocking bed comprising:

a frame;

a cradle having rocker members attached at each end, each of said rocker members being pivotally mounted to said frame;

a disk mounted on a shaft member and pivotally connected near the end of one of said rocker members;

rotating means for said disk whereby a reciprocating lateral rocking motion is imparted to said rocker members and to said cradle; and spring means for suspending said frame in a desired position.

2. A rocking bed according to claim 1 in which the frame is equipped with a locking assembly comprising a transverse bar inserted at one end into a recess on the inside of one side of said frame and with the other end of said transverse bar extending through an opening in the other side of said frame and terminating in a handle member; and

lever members rigidly mounted in spaced relationship on said transverse bar and positioned parallel to each other and to the frame and capable of maintaining 3 4 the cradle in a substantially level position upon being 2,793,374 6/ 1957 Doud 5-109 X moved to a position perpendicular to said cradle. 3,129,440 4/ 1964 Martin 5109 References Cited CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 CL XR' 2,617,122 11/1952 Chisholm 5109 5-103 2,623,220 12/1952 Voce 5106