US3648307A

US3648307A - Child{40 s article of furniture

Info

Publication number: US3648307A
Application number: US2994A
Authority: US
Inventors: James R Meade
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-01-15
Filing date: 1970-01-15
Publication date: 1972-03-14
Anticipated expiration: 1989-03-14
Also published as: DE2206653A1; CA960803A; FR2131413A5

Abstract

A child''s article of furniture of the swinging type convertible to a number of different items, according to the use desired, including a base frame having opposite ends rigidly supported vertically, a cradle member comprising a child-supporting unit and a base unit detachably connected and arranged to be pivotally supported by a pair of U-shaped torsion bars supported at the upper ends adjacent the opposite sides of the end members of said base frame and the legs of the torsion bars being tensioned in a manner tending to move the upper ends toward each other, whereby the lower horizontal portions of said torsion bars substantially resist longitudinal movement of the bars axially of themselves, the child''s supporting member unit having front and rear side members extending between the ends thereof, one of said side members being removable to permit the mounting of a horizontal tray member and the rear side member being selectively positionable in a number of different positions spaced inwardly from the outer edges of said end members of the child-supporting unit and thereby provide adjustable seating of a child in said supporting unit, and the base unit attached to said child''s supporting unit being arranged to be detached from said torsion bars for use either as a stationary cradle or settee, or bassinet and car bed.

Description

States Patent eade I [151 3, ,307 5] at". M, 11972 [54] CHILD'S ARTICLE OF FURNITURE [72] Inventor: James R. Meade, 51 Byberry Avenue, Hatboro, Pa. 19040 [22] Filed: Jan. 15, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 2,994

[52] 111.8. Cl. ..5/l08, 5/93 R, 5/127 [51 lint. Cl. r ..A47d 9/02, A47d 7/00 [58] Fieldoiseardl ..5/2,93,l00,l04, 108,109,

Primary Examiner-Casmir A. Nunberg Attorney-C. Hercus Just [57] ABSTRACT A childs article of furniture of the swinging type convertible to a number of different items, according to the use desired, including a base frame having opposite ends rigidly supported vertically, a cradle member comprising a child-supporting unit and a base unit detachably connected and arranged to be pivotally supported by a pair of U-shaped torsion bars supported at the upper ends adjacent the opposite sides of the end members of said base frame and the legs of the torsion bars being tensioned in a manner tending to move the upper ends toward each other, whereby the lower horizontal portions of said torsion bars substantially resist longitudinal movement of the bars axially of themselves, the childs: supporting member unit having front and rear side members extending between the ends thereof, one of said side members being removable to permit the mounting of a horizontal tray member and the rear side member being selectively positionable in a number of different positions spaced inwardly from the outer edges of said end members of the child-supporting unit and thereby provide adjustable seating of a child in said supporting unit, and the base unit attached to said child s supporting unit being arranged to be detached from said torsion bars for use either as a stationary cradle or settee, or bassinet and car bed.

21 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures PAII'ENTEUMAR 1 I972 8, 68 3 O 7 sum 2 OF 3 INVENTOR. JAMES R. MEADE ATToR NEY BY I FMENTEUMAR W 1972 3, M8 307 sum 3 or a 28 2 J FlG.lO 2@ L FIGM E15 2 INVENTOR. JAMES R. MEADE BY A ATTORNEY ClllllIlLlD'S ARTICLE OF FURNITURE CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION Certain scientific and physical principles utilized in the present invention also are present in applicants copending application, Ser. No. 287,998, now US. Pat. No. 3,459,423.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Mechanically operated cradles have been devised previously in which a cradle-like receptacle for a child is supported between pairs of links respectively pivotally supported from the upper portions of end members of a base, similar to so called gliders for adult use. One such example is shown in US. Pat. No. 2,860,727 in the name of DiPasqua, dated Nov. 18, 1958. Notwithstanding the fact that the cradle shown in said prior patent is provided with power means to oscillate the eradle while supported from pairs of suspension members adjacent opposite ends thereof, it is possible for the cradle-like receptacle of said structure to sway longitudinally toward and from the opposite ends of the supporting base and thus interfere with and impede the operation of the power means to oscillate the cradle-like receptacle. Thus, the DiPasqua patent in effect, utilizes only the basic supporting principles employed in gliders of a divan-type structure which have been in existence for many years.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The principal object of the present invention is to provide a childs article of furniture comprising a childs supporting unit capable, interchangeably, of serving as a cradle, car bed, or settee and is detachably connected to a base unit, the lower end of which is detachably connectable to the horizontal lower portions of a pair of spaced U-shaped torsion bars, the upper ends of the legs of said torsion bars respectively being supported in transversely spaced relationship by a pair of rigid end members upstanding vertically from a base frame and the upper ends of the legs of said torsion bars being tensioned in a manner tending to move the same toward each other, whereby the lower horizontal portions of the torsion bars resist longitudinal, horizontal movement, whereby power means provided with an oscillating actuating arm engaging one end of the child-supporting unit is operable to oscillate the same substantially within a vertical plane transverse to the axis of said bars, as controlled by the aforesaid tensioned condition of the torsion bars.

A further object of the invention is to provide a series of slots in the inner faces of the end members of said child-supporting unit which are spaced different distances inward from the rear edges thereof to accommodate adjustably the rear side member for selective adjustable positioning of the same with respect to the child-supporting member when it is serving as a settee, either oscillatably supported by the torsion bars or disposed upon a stationary supporting surface.

A further object of the invention is to provide said opposite end members of the child-supporting unit adjacent the front side thereof with complementary horizontal slots formed in the inner faces thereof in spaced relationship to the bottom member of said child-supporting unit to detachably receive a tray member extending between said ends of the supporting unit and arranged to be detachably secured to said end members to restrain a child from moving from said supporting unit when said tray member is secured in operative position.

Still another object of the invention is to detachably connect the aforesaid child-supporting unit and base unit therefor by positioning means comprising pins and complementary sockets formed preferably in the end members of said units and also provide quickly operable latch means to releasably secure said units in connected position.

A still further object of the invention is to provide antifriction means between the lower horizontal portions of the U- shaped torsion bars and the lower portions of said base unit connected to said child-supporting unit and additionally provide the vertical end members of the supporting base for the entire structure with antifriction means that normally are idle but are arranged to be engaged by opposite ends of the childsupporting unit if the tension forces existing in the legs of the tension bars are exceeded sufficiently to cause the ends of the child-supporting unit to engage the antifriction means.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a rigid, elongated housing in the lower portion of said supporting frame which is connected at its opposite ends rigidly to the vertical end members of said supporting frame, said housing enclosing an elongated, exemplary torsion-type spring motor comprising power means to oscillate the aforementioned oscillating lever by which the child-supporting unit is oscillated when support by said torsion bars for movement substantially within a single vertical plane in which it is maintained by the tension embodied in the torsion bar or torsion rod suspension system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the childs article of furniture comprising the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the article of furniture shown in FIG. 1 to illustrate details of the various components of said assembly of various units and elements comprising the entire article of furniture.

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view through the uppermost unit of the assembly in FIG. 2 and illustrating in exploded manner the removable nature of the front side member of said unit.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of one end of the horizontal tray member shown adjacent the uppermost unit in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic front view of portions of the base frame and torsion bars connected thereto, said view showing in phantom the exemplary position of the legs of the torsion bars prior to being connected to said end members.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to the full line illustration portion of FIG. 5 but additionally showing the base unit comprising the intermediate item in FIG. 2 and illustrating the manner in which the same is pivotally connected to the lower portions of the torsion bars.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary vertical elevation showing an alternate form of latch means by which the torsion bars may be connected to side members of the base unit shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side elevation, foreshortened between the ends thereof, illustrating certain details of the base frame member shown otherwise in FIGS. 11 and 2.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the base frame member as seen on the lines 9-9 of FIG. Ml.

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the base frame member which supports the combined child-supporting unit and base unit which are detachably connected together.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary vertical sectional elevation of portions of the supporting base frame located adjacent the lefthand end of FIG. 10 and also showing a fragmentary portion of one end of the child-supporting unit to illustrate the oscillating means therefor.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary enlarged end view of the connected child-supporting unit and base unit comprising respectively the uppermost and intermediate units shown in FIG. 2 and illustrating certain details thereof.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary elevational view of one embodiment of latch means used in conjunction with the combined units illustrated in FIG. l2 as seen on the line 13-13 thereof.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary vertical elevation of details of one embodiment of caster-supporting means for the base frame as seen on the line l4l4l of FIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The childs article of furniture comprising the present invention essentially includes a base frame ll) best illustrated in FIG. 2 as the lowermost unit therein. Said frame comprises a pair of similar vertical head members 12, the lower portions of which are securely and rigidly fastened to the opposite ends of an elongated housing 14 which, in cross section is preferably rectangular. For purposes of resisting movement of the upper ends of the head members 12 toward each other, by forces described in detail hereinafter, preferably metallic tension members 16 extend along the bottom of the opposite side edges of the housing 14 as best shown in detail in FIG. 9. Said tension members may be in the nature of strips of metal of suitable width and thickness and the opposite ends thereof are downwardly turned to provide connecting ears 18 which are firmly secured to the inner surfaces of the vertical head members 12.

The base frame also preferably is provided with a set of four casters 20. These may be of any conventional construction but the preferred type is shown in detail in FIG. 14 in which it will be seen that, particularly when the head members 12 are formed from wood, a U-shaped reinforcing metal strip 22 is employed which extends across the lower edges of the head members 12, adjacent the opposite side edges thereof, and a securing rivet 24 extends between the upper ends of the legs of each of the reinforcing straps 22 to secure the same in place. The lower portion of each of the reinforcing straps each have a suitable hole therein to receive the swivel pin 26 of the caster 20. Other forms of caster mounts may be used if desired.

Supported by the inner surfaces of the head members 12 are antifriction rollers 28 which, as best shown in FIG. 11, may be quite simply mounted upon supporting blocks 30, or other equivalent brackets, said blocks being suitable afiixed to the head members 12. To minimize the amount of space which is to be occupied by the rollers 28, the inner surfaces of the head members 12 also may be provided with short recesses 32. Said rollers may be of any suitable size and are for purposes to be described.

The housing 14 supports a torsion spring motor 34 which is somewhat diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 9. Said motor is relatively powerful for purposes of providing power to oscillate the lever 36 for substantial periods of time for purposes to be described. Motor 34 also may be of a type similar to that shown in US. Pat. No. 2,860,727, referred to above, but said type of motor is merely intended to be illustrative of a type which may possibly be used rather than being restrictive. The length of the housing 14 is ample to support a torsion spring motor of substantial length adequate to furnish the required power to oscillate the lever 36 by appropriate escapement mechanism which also, if desired, may be of the type illustrated in said aforementioned patent, but not necessarily so. The essential feature is that the lever 36 shall be oscillated at a relatively slow speed for appreciable periods of time. The torsion spring of the motor also may be wound by crank 38 to establish torsion power within the spring.

One of the most essential features of the base frame 10 is a pair of U-shaped stressed torsion bars 40. The upper ends 42 of the side legs of the torsion bars extend outward in opposite directions and are received within appropriate bearings 44, preferably of an antifriction nature which are recessed from one surface into the upper portions of the head members 12 adjacent opposite sides thereof. The exemplary arrangement of the bearings preferably is similar to that shown in FIG. 11. When the torsion bars 40 are formed initially, the legs thereof are disposed at an acute angle to each other as shown in exemplary manner in phantom in FIG. 5. Said bars 40 also preferably are formed of hard steel whereby, when the upper ends 42 of the torsion bars 40 are pulled apart relative to each other to dispose the same respectively within the bearings 44 which are to receive them, and in which position they are held by suitable nuts 46, torsion-type tension will be imparted to said legs to preload them and the lower, horizontal intermediate portions of the torsion bars 40 to cause them to resist any very substantial amount of force tending to move said lower portions of the bars longitudinally of themselves.

It also will be seen that such torsion force in the torsion bars 40 tends to move the upper ends of the head members 12 of base frame 10 toward each other but particularly the provision of the reinforcing tension members 16 along the lower portion of the elongated housing 14 is fully adequate to resist such tendency for such movement of the upper end portions of the head members 12. In use, therefore, as will be seen particularly from FIGS. 5 and 6, when the upper ends 42 of the torsion bars 40 are mounted in operative position within the bearings 44, said legs of the torsion bars will be substantially parallel both to each other and to the head members 12. Further, the lower portion of the torsion bars 40 also are preferably provided with a pair of antifriction bearings 48, located substantially as illustrated, for purposes to be described.

The purpose of the torsion bars 40 is to pivotally support the child's supporting unit 50 for swinging movement to and fro, substantially in opposite horizontal oscillatory movements, as actuated by the lever 38 which is energized by torsion spring motor 34. To effect such movements, it is preferred that the lower portions of the torsion bars 40 depend from the pivotally supported upper ends 42 thereof substantially in perpendicular depending manner when they are idle, whereby the torsion bars 40 and the legs thereof are substantially in planes parallel to each other. Such exemplary position is illustrated in the base frame 10 shown in the lower portion of FIG. 2.

The foregoing preferred arrangement will insure substantially horizontal positioning of the bottom member 52 of the child-supporting unit 50. Also, the supporting unit 50 is connected to the lower horizontal portions of the pivotally supported torsion bars 40 by connecting means comprising a base unit 54, which comprises the intermediate structure shown in FIG. 2. In such preferred construction, the base unit 54 preferably comprises substantially U-shaped end members 56 arranged vertically. Front and rear skirt portions comprising

side members

58 and 60 extend between said end members. The opposite side portions of the end members 56 actually comprise legs which are provided with notches 61 that are complementary to and receive the antifriction bearings 48 supported at predetermined locations upon the lower portions of the torsion bars 40 in a manner to space the opposite ends 56 of the base unit 54 evenly from the upward extending legs of the torsion bars 40, as is best illustrated in FIG. 6.

The effect of this construction is that, intrinsically and inherently, the present invention employs the theories of mechanical vibration and periodic motions, certain principles of which are also employed in the swing construction comprising the subject matter of applicant's prior US. Pat. No. 3,459,423, dated Aug. 5, 1969. In the present invention, the

a torsion rod principle is adapted to a swinging cradle and/or glider structure rather than a swing, such as illustrated in such prior patent.

The total end result in the present invention is to provide and employ in a cradle or glider structure the principles of mechanical vibration and pure harmonic motion. In the structure illustrated, the motor 34 only fulfills the function of a main spring which acts upon lever 36 to apply the necessary increment of impetus against the pendulum comprising the load upon the torsion bars 40, which is necessary to sustain continuous harmonic motion.

Extending substantially perpendicularly outward from the front side member 58 is a foot ledge or shelf 62 and it will be seen that particularly for firmly supporting the same, said ledge is mounted upon forwardly projecting portions 64 of the end members 56 of base unit 54. It also will be seen that the lower edge of the front side member 58 abuts the upper surface of the inner edge of the foot ledge 62, as clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 12, to further resist any tendency to dislodge said ledge in use. For strength, as well as aesthetic appearance, a supplementary front finishing strip 66 is disposed between the projecting portions 64 of end members 56, the upper edge thereof firmly abutting the foot ledge 62 to resist bending thereof in use. For additional strength, a reinforcing strut 68 extends between the front and rear side members 33 and 66 adjacent the upper edges thereof, as shown in FIG. 2.

The child-supporting unit 36 has a plurality of uses which may be resorted to quickly by rapid conversion. Said unit comprises a pair of substantially vertical end members 76, the lower edges of which are firmly fixed to the opposite ends of the bottom member 52. A front side member 72 and a rear side member 74 of a bar and slat nature, or otherwise, extend between the end members '76 of unit 36 and are supported in various operative positions for different purposes to which the unit 36 may be put. To accomplish this, it will be seen that the front side member 74 extends between and is received within a pair of grooves 76, best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Rear side member 74, as also best seen from FIGS. 2 and 3, selectively is supported within anyone of three exemplary sets of the grooves 73.

The end members 76 are also additionally provided with complementary and similar tray board-receiving horizontal grooves 36, which likewise are best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Associated with the grooves 32 are a series of latch-receiving holes 32, for purposes to be described.

Referring to FIG. I, when the front and

rear side members

72 and 74 are disposed as illustrated therein, the unit 36 is admirably suited to serve as a crib in which a small child may be placed to sleep or rest while the supporting unit 36 either is stationary or while being oscillated by the motor lever 36 at a desired rate. To accomplish such oscillation, referring to FIG. I2, it will be seen that the end member 76 of unit 36 which is nearest the oscillating motor lever 36 is provided with an actuating pin 34 which is received within a slot 36 formed in the upper end of lever 36.

When the front side member 72 is removed, as illustrated somewhat diagrammatically in FIG. 3, the unit 56 readily serves as a settee for an infant or young child and it may be used for such purpose while the

connected units

36 and 54 are supported by the torsion bars 46 for oscillation, if desired, or when said connected units have been removed from the torsion bars and placed stationarily upon a supporting surface such as a floor. When so used, the foot ledge 62 may receive the feet of the infant to add comfort to the use of the settee. Also, particularly if the infant is quite young so that its legs are relatively short, the rear side member 74 may be moved forwardly toward the grooves 76 by being disposed in a pair of the groove 73 closer to the front edge of unit 36, as desired.

The grooves 36 are for purposes of receiving the opposite ends of an elongated tray member 33 which is clearly shown in the upper portion of FIG. 2 in disconnected or extended position relative to the groove 36. However, the tray member 33 is readily received within the grooves 36 and may be located in any one of a number of different positions and secured therein by any of a number of suitable means such as exemplary simple latches 96, details of which are best shown in FIG. 4. Preferably, the latches should be of such type than an infant cannot readily actuate them. When the infant is seated within the unit 36, when it is arranged with the rear side member 74 in the pair of slots shown in FIG. 3, it will be seen that when, for example, the tray member 33 is moved into one of the innermost positions therefor within the grooves 36, a child may be quite securely held upon the settee without being readily able to extricate himself therefrom.

When the tray member 33 is positioned as described above, it may be used by the child for eating purposes, play of various kinds, including looking at a picture or coloring book, or otherwise. When no use of the tray member 33 is desired, it readily may be stored inconspicuously and safely within the upper portion of the base unit 34. By reference to the base unit illustrated intermediately in FIG. 2, it will be seen that the upper edges of the end member 36 of the base unit 34 are provided with a suitable elongated recesses 92 in which the opposite ends of the tray member, which is shown fragmentarily, are fitted to position the tray relative to the base unit so as to maintain the center of gravity of the base substantially in vertical alignment with the central axis of said base unit. To assure this, the latches 96 may be inserted into suitably located positioning holes 9I in the inner faces of ends 36 of unit 34, see FIG. 2.

The child-supporting unit 56 is separably connected to the base unit 54 by relatively simple positioning means preferably in the form of pairs of

pins

94 and 96. For example, the pins 94 are firmly mounted within the end members 36 of the base unit 54 adjacent the front side member 33 and slope substantially forwardly of the upper ends thereof. Pins 96 however are mounted in the same end members adjacent the rear side member 66 of base unit 54 and extend perpendicularly from the upper edges of the end members 36. The projecting upper ends of the

pins

94 and 96 are received respectively within complementary recesses 93 and I66 and are best shown in FIG. I2. Thus, by first disposing the recesses 93 upon the sloping pins 94 and then lowering the recesses I66 onto the projecting ends of pins 96, accurate positioning of the childs supporting unit 56 upon the base unit 54 is achieved.

To detachably latch the two units together, any one of a number of different latch mechanisms may be employed, an exemplary latch 1102 of suitable kind being shown best in FIG. 12 which includes a pivoted hooklike member which is wongageable with a securing detent I64. Said latch mechanism cooperates particularly with the angularly disposed positioning pins 94 to secure the base unit 54 to the child-supporting unit 56 at least adequately to permit the connected units to be lifted simultaneously from the torsion bars 46 upon which the same are disposed essentially by gravity with the bearings 43 thereon received within the notches 62 in the end members 56 of base unit 54.

For safety and also to prevent accidental jostling or tipping of the

connected units

56 and 54 from the supported position thereof upon the torsion bars 46, appropriate additional latching mechanism is provided. One type is shown in FIG. 2 adjacent the lower edge of the inner surface of rear side member 66 of base unit 54. Such illustrated latch is in the form of a relatively simple hook I66 over which the intermediate portion of the lower horizontal portion of the torsion bar 46 may be snapped by limited flexing of the torsion bar upwardly and inwardly. It will be understood that a similar latch is provided in a corresponding location upon the inner surface of the front side member 53 for engagement by the forward torsion bar 46. However, other forms of latches may be used, one exemplary showing of an additional type being seen in FIG. 7 in which a U-shaped configuration I63 may be formed in torsion bars 46 intermediately of the ends of the lower horizontal portions thereof for engagement within a suitable retaining hook IIO fastened appropriately to the inner surfaces of the front and rear side members 33 and 66. Still other types of effective connecting means may be employed. Also, while the components of

units

36 and 54, head members I2 and housing I4 may be made from any appropriate material, suitable wood is preferred.

Maximum efficiency of the operation: of the torsion spring motor 34 and the actuating lever 36 thereof is assumed by the nature of the torsion bars 46 due to the legs thereof being placed under substantial torsion tension as indicated diagrammatically in FIG. 5 in phantom, whereby when the upper ends 42 thereof are secured within the bearings 44, there is minimum possibility of movement of the intermediate lower portions of the torsion bars 46 occurring in directions longitudinally of themselves. Hence, the swinging movement of the

connected units

56 and 54 is substantially maintained within a single vertical plane parallel to head members I2 of base frame I6. Accordingly, the torsion bars 46 actually comprise an adjunct to the torsion motor 34 and its lever 36, and the resulting movement produced thereby is much more efficient than if the

connected units

36 and 54 could move additionally, for example, toward and from the head members I2 of base frame I0.

By suitable selection of materials, another inherent advantage is built into the article of furniture comprising the present invention. This comprises the fact that wood, from which the base unit 54 preferably is formed and especially the end members 56 thereof, has its greatest strength when in compression. This fact is also made use of by the vertical head members 12 being formed from wood with respect to supporting the bearings 44 for the upper ends 42 of the torsion bars 40. However, the torsion bars 40 are formed from steel or other suitable metal so as to be subjected to tension when a load is imposed upon the supporting unit 50 while the base unit 54 and head members 12 are simultaneously subjected to compression by the same load. Thus, minimum sizes of these members, formed respectively from the aforementioned materials, may be employed for designed purposes and utilized to maximum the efficiency of both.

Without departing from the spirit of the invention, it is to be understood that certain arrangements of the various components are adaptable to adult use simply by increasing the dimensions appropriately.

While the invention has been described and illustrated in its several preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the precise details herein illustrated and described since the same may be carried out in other ways falling within the scope of the invention as illustrated and described.

I claim:

1. A child s article of furniture of the swinging type comprising in combination, a base frame comprising a pair of vertical head members rigidly connected in spaced parallel relationship and the lower portions being adapted to rest on a floor surface, a child-supporting unit positioned between said head members above the lower portions thereof, a pair of similar rectangular U-shaped torsion members extending between and pivotally connected at the ends of the legs thereof to transversely spaced locations on the upper portions of said head members and said torsion members depending substantially perpendicularly downwardly from said pivotal connections, the upper ends of said legs when not connected to said head members extending toward each other a greater distance than when connected to said head members and thereby being supported in tensioned condition at all times tending to urge said ends toward each other, whereby said legs resist movement of the horizontal lower positions of said torsion members longitudinally of themselves, means to connect said childs supporting unit to said horizontal lower portions of said torsion members for horizontal swinging movement thereby, and power means connected to said childs supporting unit and operable to oscillate it to effect said horizontal swinging movement automatically.

2. The article of furniture according to claim 1 in which said child-supporting unit is provided with a bottom and upright ends extending upwardly from the opposite ends of said bottom, and said article of furniture also including means interconnecting said bottom of said supporting unit to the horizontal lower portions of said torsion members adjacent the lower ends of said legs thereof.

3. The article of furniture according to claim 2 further including antifriction rollers supported on the inner surfaces of said head members and operable to engage the upright ends of said supporting unit if during use the tensioned forces of said torsion members is exceeded beyond a predetermined amount.

4. The article of furniture according to claim 2 further including antifriction means spaced longitudinally along the horizontal lower portions of said torsion bars and engaging said means which interconnect the bottom of said child-supporting unit to said torsion bars.

5. The article of furniture according to claim 4 in which said means interconnecting the bottom of said child-supporting unit to said torsion bars comprises a base for said supporting unit.

6. The article of furniture according to claim 5 in which said base for said child-supporting unit is provided with notches in the lower surfaces thereof operable to detachably receive said torsion bars for separation thereof from the torsion bars to pennit the connected supporting unit and base to serve as a crib or settee.

7. The article of furniture according to claim 6 in which said child-supporting unit has a bottom member which also is detachable from said base therefor to permit said supporting unit to serve as a car bed and similar purposes.

8. The article of furniture according to claim 2 further including front and rear side members extending between the opposite side edges of said upright ends of said child-supporting unit to comprise a crib structure.

9. The article of furniture according to claim 8 further including slot means on said upright ends of said child-supporting unit operable to removably support the opposite ends of said front side member to permit removal thereof so that said supporting unit may be used as a settee.

10. The article of furniture according to claim 9 further including a horizontal tray member, and means on said upright ends of said child-supporting unit operable to receive and support the opposite ends of said horizontal tray member, said tray member being insertable into said support means from the open side of said child-supporting unit when serving as a settee.

11. The article of furniture according to claim 10 in which said means interconnecting said child-supporting unit and tor-- sion bars is a base for said supporting unit extending between the bottom of said supporting unit extending between the bottom of said supporting unit and said torsion bars, and said base having means thereon to receive said tray member to store it in a concealed manner and locked in balanced position within said base when not in use.

12. The article of furniture according to claim 9 in which said child-supporting unit includes means operable to permit adjustable positioning of said rear side member at selected distances rearwardly from the front of said supporting unit when said front side member is removed therefrom to serve as a settee.

13. A childs article of furniture comprising in combination, a supporting unit for a child including a bottom member arranged horizontally in use and a pair of substantially vertical end members fixed at the lower ends thereof respectively to opposite ends of said bottom member, a base unit having lower terminal portions engageable with supporting means, means separably positioning the bottom member of said supporting unit upon the upper portion of said base unit, latch means detachably locking said units together for use, front and rear side members extending between said end members of said child-supporting unit to comprise a crib, said front side member being movable to permit the assembled units to serve as a settee and said rear side member being adjustably positionable selectively at a plurality of positions spaced different distances from the front side of said supporting unit to serve as a back rest.

14. The article of furniture according to claim 13 in which said end members of said child-supporting unit respectively are provided with complementary sets of substantially parallel grooves spaced different distances inward from the rear edges of said end members of said supporting unit to comprise an adjustable positioning means to slidably receive the ends of said rear side member.

15. The article of furniture according to claim 13 in which said end members are also each provided with a similar slot adjacent and substantially parallel to the front edge of said end members of said child-supporting unit to slidably receive respectively the opposite ends of said front side member to permit removal thereof when it is desired to have the supporting unit serve as a settee.

16. The article of furniture according to claim 15 in which said end members of said child-supporting unit are additionally provided with horizontal slots spaced above the bottom member of said supporting unit and extending inward from the front edges thereof, and said supporting unit further including an elongated tray member adapted to have the opposite ends thereof slidably received in said horizontal slots in said end members to permit said tray member to be disposed in operative position when said child-supporting unit is serving as a settee but said tray member being removable from said horizontal slots when desired.

17. The article of furniture according to claim 13 in which said base unit is provided with one side member adjacent the front of said child-supporting unit, said side member sloping downwardly and outwardly and provided with a foot ledge projecting substantially perpendicularly outwardly from said side member of said base unit.

18. The article of furniture according to claim 13 in which said base unit is provided with end members and said means which detachably position said base unit and supporting unit relative to each other comprising a plurality of pins extending from the end members of one of said units into complementary holes provided in the end members of the other unit.

19. The article of furniture according to claim 13 in which said end members of said child-supporting unit are provided with horizontal slots extending inward from the front edges thereof along the inner faces of said end members, and said child-supporting unit further including an elongated tray member adapted to have the opposite ends thereof slidably received within said horizontal slots when the front side member of said supporting unit has been removed, and said base unit being provided with a space in the upper portion thereof complementary to said tray member and adapted to receive and store the same when desired.

20. The article of furniture according to claim 19 further including latch means on the opposite ends of said tray member engageable with the vertical end members of said child-supporting unit to detachably secure the opposite ends of said tray member in a desired operative position between said vertical end members.

2ll. The article of furniture according to claim l in which said vertical head members and at least the portions of said child-supporting unit which are connected to said torsion members are formed from wood to sustain loads in compression and said torsion members are formed from metal to sustain loads in tension, whereby said respective elements provide maximum efiiciency when sustaining a load.

Claims

1. A child''s article of furniture of the swinging type comprising in combination, a base frame comprising a pair of vertical head members rigidly connected in spaced parallel relationship and the lower portions being adapted to rest on a floor surface, a child-supporting unit positioned between said head members above the lower portions thereof, a pair of similar rectangular U-shaped torsion members extending between and pivotally connected at the ends of the legs thereof to transversely spaced locations on the upper portions of said head members and said torsion members depending substantially perpendicularly downwardly from said pivotal connections, the upper ends of said legs when not connected to said head members extending toward each other a greater distance than when connected to said head members and thereby being supported in tensioned condition at all times tending to urge said ends toward each other, whereby said legs resist movement of the horizontal lower positions of said torsion members longitudinally of themselves, means to connect said child''s supporting unit to said horizontal lower portions of said torsion members for horizontal swinging movement thereby, and power means connected to said child''s supporting unit and operable to oscillate it to effect said horizontal swinging movement automatically.

6. The article of furniture according to claim 5 in which said base for said child-supporting unit is provided with notches in the lower surfaces thereof operable to detachably receive said torsion bars for separation thereof from the torsion bars to permit the connected supporting unit and base to serve as a crib or settee.

11. The article of furniture according to claim 10 in which said means interconnecting said child-supporting unit and torsion bars is a base for said supporting unit extending between the bottom of said supporting unit extending between the bottom of said supporting unit and said torsion bars, and said base having means thereon to receive said tray member to store it in a concealed manner and locked in balanced position within said base when not in use.

13. A child''s article of furniture comprising in combination, a supporting unit for a child including a bottom member arranged horizontally in use and a pair of substantially vertical end members fixed at the lower ends thereof respectively to opposite ends of said bottom member, a base unit having lower terminal portions engageable with supporting means, means separably positioning the bottom member of said supporting unit upon the upper portion of said base unit, latch means detachably locking said units together for use, front and rear side members extending between said end members of said child-supporting unit to comprise a crib, said front side member being movable to permit the assembled units to serve as a settee and said rear side member being adjustably positionable selectively at a plurality of positions spaced different distances from the front side of said supporting unit to serve as a back rest.

21. The article of furniture according to claim 1 in which said vertical head members and at least the portions of said child-supporting unit which are connected to said torsion members are formed from wood to sustain loads in compression and said torsion members are formed from metal to sustain loads in tension, whereby said respective elements provide maximum efficiency when sustaining a load.