Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47D—FURNITURE SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CHILDREN
  • A47D9/00—Cradles ; Bassinets
  • A47D9/02—Cradles ; Bassinets with rocking mechanisms
  • A47D9/04—Cradles ; Bassinets with rocking mechanisms with disconnectable rockers
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47D—FURNITURE SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CHILDREN
  • A47D9/00—Cradles ; Bassinets
  • A47D9/02—Cradles ; Bassinets with rocking mechanisms
  • A47D9/057—Cradles ; Bassinets with rocking mechanisms driven by electric motors
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62B—HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES
  • B62B9/00—Accessories or details specially adapted for children's carriages or perambulators
  • B62B9/22—Devices for rocking or oscillating

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a device for mechanically rocking babies or young children in their stroller, cradle or pram, and in general in any childcare article provided with casters.
• the device according to the invention aims to avoid this constraint for people having in charge of young children.
• the supports on which young children are placed, in particular the 'cradles, baby carriages or strollers are provided with rollers which facilitate their movement and allow them to manually print a rocking movement back and forth.
• the object of the present invention is to provide an electromechanical device which replaces the traditional manual movement with a mechanical movement.
• electromechanical devices are already known for printing a rocking movement on certain childcare articles, in particular the devices which are the subject of the documents: FR-A-i 103 398; FR-A-2 317 1; FR-A-2,369,813; FR-A-2 05 674; FR-A-2,591,982; US-A-3,261,033.
• These rocking devices are most often independent of the childcare articles for which they are intended, which means that they are bulky, that their transport is not easy and that they must generally be fixed to the article on which they are placed.
• most of the existing cradle devices are not designed to actuate the rollers of a childcare article, and are therefore of a design that is far from the object of the present invention.
• the rocking device object of the invention avoids the drawbacks of known embodiments, by the fact that it is compact and adaptable in solidarity with the various childcare articles for which it is intended, without modification of these articles; thanks to its compactness and homogeneity, the device according to the invention aims to be adaptable even to folding strollers, and to be rational and economical in its manufacture and assembly, while being designed so as to offer great security.
• the device according to the invention aims to be adaptable even to folding strollers, and to be rational and economical in its manufacture and assembly, while being designed so as to offer great security.
• the invention provides a device comprising a great convenience of manual or foot control, as well as a possibility of remote control.
• the invention essentially relates to a device for mechanically rocking young children, adaptable to a childcare article such as a stroller, cradle or pram provided with rollers, this device essentially comprising, in combination:
• an electrical / electronic motor control unit comprising means for starting and stopping the device, the supply of the electric motor causing a repetitive and regular movement back and forth, rocking the baby care item on which the device is adapted, when this device is engaged.
• the device thanks to its clutch system allows the user, when he wishes, to print a regular reciprocating horizontal movement to the article to which it is adapted, by coupling the drive shaft actuated by the speed reducer, to a caster of this article. Still thanks to its clutch system, the device can also act as a brake for the childcare article, when the engine is not running.
• the electrical / electronic control unit is an adjustable timer unit for starting and stopping the device, allowing the engine to operate for a preset time with automatic stop, corresponding to what is desirable for the child and ensuring also a safety role by avoiding any prolonged operation.
• the electrical / electronic box is associated with a remote control, or with a voice control (by the crying or cries of the child), allowing a starting of the rocking device without requiring the presence of a person in the immediate vicinity of the childcare article.
• the device according to the invention can be designed to be easily and quickly adaptable to the childcare article, in particular ment on a foot or leg of such an article, for example by means of a spring clip fixing bracket for assembly on the foot or leg.
• the drive shaft actuated by means of the speed reducer passes through at least one of the rollers of the childcare article, the axis of which is at this effect shaped like a tubular axis, and the clutch system, designed in particular to be controlled manually is disposed in front of the caster.
• the clutch system comprises, in this case, a clutch disc which is linked to the drive shaft and which is intended to be directly coupled or uncoupled with the caster, to allow or not to print on this caster an alternative rotation.
• the clutch system is actuated manually by the user, who must act here on the clutch disc to couple it with the caster.
• the invention also proposes a second embodiment which conveniently authorizes control of the clutch system by the foot.
• the drive shaft actuated by means of the speed reducer is a tubular shaft, crossed by an axis linked to at least one of the rollers of the childcare article, and the system clutch, provided in particular to be controlled with the foot, is disposed behind the caster, between the tubular drive shaft and the axis connected to the caster.
• Such a device can in particular be actuated by means of a foot control similar to those existing for the brakes of strollers and prams.
• the tubular drive shaft is crossed by an axis on which is directly wedged at least one caster of the childcare article.
• the tubular drive axis is crossed by a support axis, and the transmission of its alternating rotary movement towards the axis of the caster, parallel to said mounting axis, is carried out in the engaged position by the 'through a chain or belt.
• the tubular drive shaft here carries a clutch stop, designed to cooperate with a clutch disc linked to the axis of the caster and displaceable axially, under the action of a operating lever between a engaged position and a disengaged position.
• obtaining an alternative rotation for the caster can result either from a speed reducer giving by itself this alternative rotation, or from an inverter electronics allowing the motor to have alternating rotation itself, in which case the speed reducer only trans ⁇ puts this alternating rotation towards the drive shaft.
• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a rocking device according to the invention, associated with one of the rollers of a childcare article;
• Figure 2 is a sectional, exploded view of the various organs of the device of Figure 1, as well as the wheel with which this device is associated;
• Figure 3 is a sectional view of the device of Figure 1, in the engaged position
• Figure 4 is a similar view, in Figure 3, but showing this device in the disengaged position
• Figure 5 is a sectional view of another embodiment of the rocking device according to the invention, mounted on a childcare article, in the disengaged position;
• Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing the same device in the engaged position
• Figure 7 is a sectional view of a rocker device constituting a variant of that of Figures 5 and 6;
• Figure 8 is a side view of the foot control of the clutch of the device of Figures 5 and 6, in the disengaged position;
• Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8, but showing the foot control of the device in the engaged position.
• the reference 1 designates one of the feet of a childcare article, such as cradle, pram or stroller.
• the rocker device which is the subject of the invention, designed to actuate a support wheel for the self associated with the foot 1, comprises an electric motor 2 which, by means of a speed reducer 3 with alternating rotation, makes it turn a drive shaft 7 provided with a clutch disc 5 situated in front of the roulette 4; the shaft 7 is integrally associated with the speed reducer 3, while the disc 5 and the other parts of the clutch, described below, allow coupling or uncoupling between the shaft 7 and the caster 4, arranged coaxially.
• the device also includes an adjustable timer unit 9, for starting and stopping this device.
• the box 9 includes a manual control element 24 and / or a remote control element 22 and / or a voice control element 23.
• FIG. 2 represents the various organs of the device which are not assembled.
• a fixing lug 10, with spring clip is provided for assembling the motor of the foot 1.
• the drive shaft 7 has, towards its free end, a groove 11 in which is positioned a removable spring clip 8 which is used to hold the clutch disc 5 on this shaft 7.
• the spring clip 8 is itself provided with a ring 12 allowing the rapid installation and removal of said clip 8 in the groove 1 1.
• the foot 1 comprises a tubular bearing axis 14 for the rotary mounting of the caster 4, the bore 13 of the axis 14 being provided to receive the drive shaft 7 associated with the speed reducer 3.
• the tubular axis 14 Towards its free end, the tubular axis 14 has a groove 15 receiving an elastic washer 25 intended to hold the caster 4 on this axis 14.
• the clutch disc 5 is provided with a radial housing 6, in which is engaged a stud 18 ensuring the connection of this disc 5 with the drive shaft 7, the stud 18 cooperating for this purpose with a groove 21 of the shaft 7.
• the clutch disc 5 also has, on its rear face, a drive pin 19 provided to fit into one of several orifices 20, formed in a circle in the caster 4.
• a helical return spring 17 acting on the clutch disc 5 is mounted in an enlarged recessed cylindrical part 16 extending the bore 13 of the tubular axis 14.
• Figure 3 shows the device engaged on the caster 4 of the childcare article.
• the user To put in this position, the user must manually push on the clutch disc 5 and give it a rotation to the right and then release it which has the effect of compressing the spring 17, bringing the stud 18 into the part furthest to the right of the groove 21 of the drive shaft 7 and of fitting the tenon 19 into one of the different orifices 20 provided for this purpose in the caster 4, the pressure of the spring 17 holding the stud 18 in the right side of the groove 21 of the drive shaft 7.
• the clutch disc 5 secures the alternately rotating drive shaft 7 with the wheel 4 which allows the motor 2 to drive, via the reduction gear. speed 3, the childcare article provided with the foot 1 in a regular repetitive movement back and forth lullaby.
• FIG. 4 represents the foot 1 and the caster 4 of the same childcare article with the device disengaged.
• the user To put in this position the user must manually push the clutch disc 5 by giving it a rotation to the left and then letting go of it which has the effect of bringing the stud 18 into the left part of the groove 21 of the drive shaft 7 and to disengage the pin 19 from the orifice 20 of the caster 4.
• the spring 17 now holding the clutch disc 5 applied to the clip-res ⁇ fate 8, the caster 4 is free in rotation on its axis of roule ⁇ ment 14.
• the assembly of the device at the foot of a childcare article is carried out as follows: the caster 4 being held on the rolling axis 14 of the foot 1 by the elastic washer 25 , the drive shaft 7 and the foot 1 are simultaneously fitted the first in the bore 13 of the rolling pin 14 and the second in the spring clip of the fixing lug 10 fixed to the motor 2; then the spring 17 is housed in the cylindrical recessed part 16 of the rolling axis 14, then the clutch disc 5 with the stud 18 previously positioned in its housing 6 is placed on the part of the shaft drive 7 coming out of the rolling axis 14, the end of the stud 18 flowing freely in the groove 21 of the drive shaft 7. Finally, the spring clip 8 is embedded in the groove 11 of the shaft d training 7.
• the spring 17 can be secured to the clutch disc 5, and that at least one of the feet of each of the childcare articles on which the device is mounted can be provided with a telescopic assembly allowing the user, _depending on his needs, to easily and quickly adapt the device alternately to the different childcare articles by changing the foot - by a simple interlocking .
• the motor is supplied by alternating electric current from the household network or, according to a variant, by one or more rechargeable electric accumulators, or by batteries.
• the device is made with a supply by one or more rechargeable batteries, rather than by the mains current, this in order to avoid accidents by electrocution of children playing near said device and allow its use in places not provided with an electrical installation, for example outside a dwelling (accumulators or batteries which may or may not be attached to the engine).
• the device is started using the remote control element 22 or manual control element 24 by the user, or using the voice control element 23 through the crying and cries of the young child in the childcare article, 'its stop is effected automatically by the timer unit 9.
• the motor 2 thus started prints a regular movement back and forth lullaby to the childcare article using the wheel 4 via the clutch disc 5 via the alternately rotating drive shaft 7 associated with the speed reducer 3, this for a time defined by the timer unit 9.
• the reference 26 designates an electric drive motor provided with a speed reducer, with alternating rotation, which actuates here a drive shaft 27 of tubular conformation, traversed right through by the axis 28 of a caster 4 of childcare articles (axis 28 can be the axle connecting two rollers located on opposite sides).
• the drive shaft 27 carries a circular clutch stop 29, provided with at least one coupling finger 30 cooperating with one of several housings 31 formed in a circle in a clutch disc 32, which is mounted free in axial movement on the axis 28, but is linked in rotation with this axis 28, by means of a stud 33 housed in an oblong opening 34 of said disc 32.
• a spring 35 mounted around the coupling finger 30 , ensures the return of the clutch disc 32.
• the face of this disc 32 remote from the clutch stop 29 has a frustoconical part 36, which cooperates with an inclined shoulder of an operating lever 37 comprising an oblong slot 38 passed through by the axis 28, the lever 37 being itself coupled to a foot control 39 of the tilting type.
• Figures 5 and S show the assembly in the disengaged position: the operating lever 37 is lowered, so that the driving disc 05
• the device Once the device is in the engaged position, it can be started as previously using manual, voice or distance, via an adjustable timer 9 which stops it after a predetermined operating time.
• an adjustable timer 9 which stops it after a predetermined operating time.
• the user presses with his foot on the other pedal 41 of the foot control 39, which causes the operating lever 37 to be lowered.
• the device In the engaged position, the device is able to impart an alternative rocking movement to the childcare article, by driving either a single caster 4 (the opposite caster being locked using its brake), or simultaneously the two caster wheels of the same axle. It should be noted that in this embodiment, the device is particularly compact, and allows folding of the childcare article, such as pram or stroller, equipped with this device.
• - Figure 7 is shown an alternative mounting of the device, whose design with respect to the clutch and its control takes the last embodiment.
• the device is fixed to a support pin 42 associated with at least one of the legs I of the childcare article, and it transmits the alternating rotary movement by its clutch disc 32 to a pulley 3 wedged on the axis 2S of the caster 4, this by means of a belt or a chain 44.
• the operation of this latter device is identical to that previously ment described with reference to Figures 5, 6, 8 and 9; such a device can be advantageous in that it enhances the clutch control.
• the rocking device is susceptible of numerous other variants, in particular as regards its details of construction, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Transportation (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Handcart (AREA)
• Carriages For Children, Sleds, And Other Hand-Operated Vehicles (AREA)
• Toys (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=26226871

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Cited By (7)

Families Citing this family (1)

Citations (2)

• 1989
  • 1989-09-06 AU AU42169/89A patent/AU4216989A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1989-09-06 WO PCT/FR1989/000446 patent/WO1990002505A1/fr unknown
  • 1989-09-07 PT PT91655A patent/PT91655A/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1989-09-07 ES ES898903560A patent/ES2017287A6/es not_active Expired - Lifetime

Patent Citations (2)

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