WO2003079861A1

WO2003079861A1 - A rocking stand for a cot or the like

Info

Publication number: WO2003079861A1
Application number: PCT/ZA2003/000040
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Milton Comley
Original assignee: John Milton Comley
Priority date: 2002-03-22
Filing date: 2003-03-22
Publication date: 2003-10-02
Also published as: AU2003238313A1

Abstract

A rocking stand (1) for a cot (4) or pram is provided in which a base (2, 21) that is adapted to be supported on a support surface such as a floor supports a generally horizontal support assembly (3, 20) located above the base and adapted to either support a separate cot or pram or, alternatively, forming part of a cot. A mechanism (8, 7, 6, 25, 26, 28) that at least partially supports the support assembly is interposed between the base and support assembly for imparting a rocking motion to the support assembly relative to the base. The mechanism includes a carriage assembly (8, 28) rotatable about a generally vertical axis and at least one roller (7, 26) or other relatively movable support element engaging a generally circular track (6, 25) substantially coaxial with the carriage and associated with the other of the support assembly and base. The carriage assembly and circular track cooperate, upon rotation of the carriage, to impart a rocking motion to the support assembly relative to the base in at least two different directions relative to the horizontal. Means (5, 22, 23) are provided for limiting or restricting rotation of the support assembly relative to the base.

Description

A ROCKING STAND FOR A COT OR THE LIKE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a rocking stand for a cot or the like. More particularly the invention relates to a rocking stand providing an elevated support platform or frame for supporting a cot or pram and which has a base supported ultimately by the floor or other generally horizontal support surface.

It is to be understood that for ease of description the term cot as used in this specification is intended to mean any infant's bed whether it be portable or not, or whether it be supported on a leg forming structure or not. The term pram on the other hand is intended to include any mobile, wheel mounted conveyance in which an infant may lie or be supported in a partially sitting up position and therefore includes what is commonly referred to as a push-chair as well as the various convertible types of conveyance that are widely available.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

It is commonly accepted that infants usually react favorably to the action of rocking of a cot or pram in which they may be supported. More particularly, it is generally accepted that an infant supported in or on a cot or pram to which a rocking motion is imparted is more likely to fall sleep than in the absence of such rocking motion.

Very often such a rocking motion is imparted manually to such items as prams or cradles (which term is to be understood to mean a cot mounted on

IP 1379PCT 2003-03-19 rockers). It is not practical for parents to remain awake at night for extended periods of time in order to impart such manual rocking motion to a cot or pram.

Various proposals have been made in the past to provide an item of infant's paraphernalia, particularly, but not exclusively as applied to prams, to automatically impart a rocking motion to the pram, or in some cases a cot.

However, most of such proposals as applied to an item which is not in the form of a pram or pushchair have tended to result in a costly cot or cradle which, in addition, tends to exhibit a somewhat stereotyped or limited type of rocking movement. Also, prior art types of cots or cradles embodying an automatic rocking mechanism are dedicated to a single purpose and generally cannot be separated from the cot or pram with which it is associated.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide a rocking stand for a cot or pram which may be configured to exhibit improved characteristics over prior art types of rocking devices associated with cots and prams.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention there is provided a rocking stand for a cot or pram comprising a base adapted to be supported on a support surface such as a floor, a generally horizontal support assembly located above the base and adapted to either support a separate cot or pram or, alternatively, forming part of a cot, a mechanism interposed between the base and support assembly for imparting a rocking motion to the support assembly relative to the base, said mechanism at least partially supporting the support

IP 1379PCT 2003-03-19 assembly, and means for limiting or restricting rotation of the support assembly relative to the base, the rocking stand being characterized in that said mechanism includes a carriage assembly rotatable about a generally vertical axis and associated with either the support assembly or the base and including at least one roller or other relatively movable support element engaging a generally circular track substantially coaxial with the carriage and associated with the other of the support assembly and base, the carriage assembly and circular track cooperating, upon rotation of the carriage, to impart a rocking motion to the support assembly relative to the base in at least two different directions relative to the horizontal.

Further features of the invention provide for the weight of the support assembly to be either carried exclusively by the carriage assembly or, alternatively, for a portion of the weight of the support assembly to be carried by resilient support elements interposed between the base and support assembly; for the carriage assembly to be rotatable relative to the base; and for the axis of rotation of the carriage assembly and the circular track to be located on a vertical line passing approximately through the centre of gravity of the support assembly.

In one form of the invention a simple, generally vertical slide and guide arrangement restricts the support assembly from rotational movement relative to the base about the generally vertical axis and the entire weight of the support structure, which may have a cot permanently associated therewith, is supported by the carriage assembly which is supported by, and is rotatable relative to, the base. In this case the circular track is simply a circular track provided on the under-surface of the support assembly and the carriage has three or more rollers angularly spaced about the rotation axis with the generally horizontal axes of the rollers being positioned at different heights relative to the base to provide the rocking motion.

IP 1379PCT 2003-03-19 In an alternative form of the invention the support assembly carries a track which is circular when viewed in the axial direction but which has a cam profile in the axial direction. In this case the track is engaged by rollers associated with the relatively rotatable carriage assembly supported by the base and the rocking motion is imparted to the support assembly consequent on the engagement of the rollers with the cam during rotation of the carriage relative to the base and support assembly.

In order that the above and other features of the invention may be more fully understood two different embodiments thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a schematic elevation of one embodiment of the invention; and,

Figure 2 is a similar elevation of a second embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 1 the rocking stand for a cot, generally indicated by numeral (1), comprises a flat base (2) which operatively stands on a floor, and a support assembly including a platform (3) spaced vertically above the base and forming the bottom of a cot (4).

IP 1379PCT 2003-03-19 A vertically extending slide and guide arrangement (5) is adapted to prevent rotation of the platform relative to the base whilst allowing a rocking motion to be imparted to the platform.

The platform carries on its under-surface a support member (6) the under surface of which forms a track along which vertically orientated rollers (7) can move in a circular path. The rollers are carried by a horizontal turntable (8) rotatable about a vertical axis and carried by the base at its centre by way of a vertical post (9) and a vertical extension (10) of the post. The latter supports, at least partially, the weight of the support assembly and cot through a universal joint (11) positioned in the vertical line of the centre of gravity of the cot and support assembly. The residual weight of the support assembly and cot is carried by the rollers (7).

The turntable (8) has a large diameter horizontal pulley (12) on its underside and the base supports a drive motor (13) coupled to drive the pulley, and thus the turntable, by way of a drive belt (14). The turntable and pulleys form the carriage referred to above.

Finally, in order to achieve a rocking motion of the cot whilst the carriage rotates about its vertical axis, the pulleys are positioned at different heights relative to the turntable. The exact heights in combination with the radius at which the pulleys are located relative to the axis of rotation of the turntable will determine the extent to which a rocking motion is imparted to the cot and the configuration of the rocking motion. The speed of the rocking motion can be controlled preferably by including a variable speed control associated with the motor.

Indeed it is within the scope of this invention that uprights (15) whereby the pulleys are supported by the turntable can be adjustable in height to enable the extent of the rocking motion achieved in consequence of rotation of the

IP 1379PCT 2003-03-19 turntable about its vertical axis to be adjusted according to individual requirements.

It will be understood that, as and when a rocking motion is required of the cot the motor can be turned on and its speed adjusted as may be required. The turntable will rotate and as a result of the different heights of the rollers on which the weight of the cot and support assembly is at least partially carried, the cot will rock in two planes as the carriage rotates about its axis. Of course, a timer may be included in the electrical power supply to the motor so that the rocking motion is imparted only for a pre-selected time period. The rocking motion will then have the required effect of inducing sleep in an infant occupying the cot in the usual way. Not only that but it is considered an important feature of the arrangement described above that the rotation of the rollers will also give rise to an inherent vibration which will enhance the sleep inducing effect.

Turning now to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 2, a support assembly in the form of a generally horizontal platform (20) to which any cot or pram could be attached, optionally releasably, is supported in an elevated position by a floor engaging base (21) through resilient helical springs (22) optionally having coaxial piston and cylinder assemblies (23) for damping movement of the support assembly and restraining it from rotation relative to the base.

In this case the under-surface of the platform carries a track member (24) which is circular in end view and has a lower track defining edge (25) forming an undulating cam surface. The cam surface cooperates with a pair of oppositely directed spring biased rollers (26) carried by a turntable (28).

In this case, as the turntable rotates, the rollers apply varying forces to the track (25) of the track member (24) depending on the distance between the point of contact of each roller with the cam surface from the platform which

IP I379PCT 2003-03-19 distance clearly varies as the turntable rotates. These forces cause the platform to rock on its resilient supports. Clearly, the speed of rotation can be varied as indicated above and thus the speed of rocking. Also, in this case, any type of rocking motion can be designed as the cam surface can be made as complex in shape as may be required.

It will be understood that numerous other variations are possible within the scope of the invention without departing from the scope hereof.

IP 1379PCT 2003-03-19

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A rocking stand (1) for a cot (4) or pram comprising a base (2, 21) adapted to be supported on a support surface such as a floor, a generally horizontal support assembly (3, 20) located above the base and adapted to either support a separate cot or pram or, alternatively, forming part of a cot, a mechanism (6, 7, 8, 25, 26, 28) interposed between the base and support assembly for imparting a rocking motion to the support assembly relative to the base, said mechanism at least partially supporting the support assembly, and means (5, 22, 23) for limiting or restricting rotation of the support assembly relative to the base, the rocking stand being characterized in that said mechanism includes a carriage assembly (8, 28) rotatable about a generally vertical axis and associated with either the support assembly or the base and including at least one roller (7, 26) or other relatively movable support element engaging a generally circular track (6, 25) substantially coaxial with the carriage and associated with the other of the support assembly and base, the carriage assembly and circular track cooperating, upon rotation of the carriage, to impart a rocking motion to the support assembly relative to the base in at least two different directions relative to the horizontal.

2. A rocking stand as claimed in claim 1 in which the weight of the support assembly (6) is carried exclusively by the carriage assembly (6, 7, 8).

3. A rocking stand as claimed in claim 1 in which a portion of the weight of the support assembly (20) is carried by resilient support elements (22) interposed between the base and support assembly.

4. A rocking stand as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the carriage assembly is rotatable relative to the base.

IP 1379PCT 2003-03-19

5. A rocking stand as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the axis of rotation of the carriage assembly and the circular track is located on a vertical line passing approximately through the centre of gravity of the support assembly.

6. A rocking stand as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which a generally vertical slide and guide (5, 23) arrangement restricts the support assembly from rotational movement relative to the base about the generally vertical axis.

7. A rocking stand as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the circular track (6) is simply a circular track provided on the under- surface of the support assembly (3) and the carriage has three or more rollers (7) angularly spaced about the rotation axis with the generally horizontal axes of the rollers being positioned at different heights relative to the base to provide the rocking motion.

8. A rocking stand as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 in which the support assembly carries a track (25) which is circular when viewed in the axial direction but which has a cam profile in the axial direction and wherein the track is engaged by rollers (26) associated with the relatively rotatable carriage assembly (28) supported by the base and the rocking motion is imparted to the support assembly consequent on the engagement of the rollers with the cam profile during rotation of the carriage relative to the base and support assembly.

IP I379PCT 2003-03-19