WO2011130808A1

WO2011130808A1 - Device for moving a baby holder

Info

Publication number: WO2011130808A1
Application number: PCT/BE2011/000024
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gunther Joseph Elisa Rombouts; Koen Catharina Lodewijk Beyers
Original assignee: Pro-Lab Bvba
Priority date: 2010-04-19
Filing date: 2011-04-19
Publication date: 2011-10-27
Also published as: BE1019295A5

Abstract

Device for moving a baby holder with a number of support elements, such as an infant stroller with three or four wheels, comprising a housing with drive means arranged therein; a support element holder which is located outside the housing and connected to the drive means and in which a support element can be received; wherein the drive means are adapted to cause the support element holder to make a substantially wave-like movement.

Description

Device for moving a baby holder

The present invention relates to a device for moving a baby holder with a number of support elements, such as an infant stroller with three or four wheels, a bed with a number of legs, a baby seat with a support frame and so on, comprising a housing with drive means arranged therein; and a holder which is located outside the housing and connected to the drive means and in which a support element can be received.

It is generally known that most babies can be soothed by rocking the baby or by taking a walk with the baby in an infant stroller. In order to avoid actually having to go out for a walk with the baby, a number of systems are already known which allow reciprocating movement or rocking of one or more wheels of an infant stroller. The known systems are however generally not very compact and do not usually provide the baby with the real sensation of a walk. The present invention has for its subject to provide a device of the type stated in the preamble with which a better sensation of a walk can be imparted to the baby.

The device according to the invention is distinguished for this purpose in that the drive means are adapted to cause the support element holder to make a substantially wave-like movement .

The term wave- like movement must be understood to mean a smooth, continuous movement in which the support element holder is tilted as well as being moved up and downward. Such a movement will impart a perfect sensation of a walk to the baby. According to a preferred embodiment, the drive means

comprise an eccentric shaft, and the support element holder is coupled to this eccentric shaft . The eccentric shaft is driven so as to perform a circular movement around a central axis. The support holder will in this way be able to perform a continuous movement, this causing an improved experience for the baby compared to the known systems in which a holder rocks back and forth or is moved reciprocally. According to a possible embodiment, the eccentric shaft is coupled at a first outer end to the support element holder and the other outer end of the eccentric shaft is received eccentrically and rotatably in a rotating hollow shaft .

According to another variant, the eccentric shaft is

bearing-mounted at a first outer end in the support element holder and connected eccentrically to a rotating shaft.

According to the preferred embodiment, guide means are further provided for guiding the movement of the support holder relative to the housing. According to a possible embodiment, the guide means consist of a pin and slot coupling between the housing and the support holder. The pin can for instance be provided here on the outer wall of the housing and a slot co-acting therewith can be provided in the support element holder.

According to another aspect of the invention, the support element holder is coupled releasably to the drive means such that it is easily replaceable with another support element holder. The same apparatus can thus be offered with

different holders, wherein the holders are adapted to move different types of infant stroller, bed and so on. Note here that for safety reasons it is important that the support element (wheel, leg etc.) can be positioned in proper and stable manner in the holder. According to a possible embodiment, the support element holder is provided with a recess, wherein this recess and the outer end of the eccentric shaft are adapted to connect this outer end releasably to the support holder.

According to a particularly favourable embodiment the support element holder is a wheel holder. In preference the wheel holder substantially takes the form of a frame in which a wheel can be received, this such that the wheel is non-movable relative to the frame. Still more preferably the frame is substantially rectangular with two short sides and two long sides, wherein the short sides have a width adapted to the width of predetermined types of wheel, this such that the outer sides of a tyre of the predetermined wheel lie opposite the long sides when this wheel is placed in the wheel holder. Such a shape will further increase the safety of the wheel holder. According to an advantageous embodiment, the housing is provided with an opening in which the eccentric shaft performs a circular movement. One of the long sides of the wheel holder is then preferably plate- like and dimensioned so as to cover the opening in all positions of the wheel holder. In such an embodiment the protrusion is preferably arranged on the housing opposite the long plate-like side, and this long plate- like side is provided on its side facing toward the housing with a channel-like recess for the purpose of forming the slot for the pin and slot connection between support element holder and housing.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, the housing has a base, a substantially spherical upper wall and an upright flat side wall. The support element holder then preferably has a substantially flat side wall connecting to the upright side wall of the housing.

In the preferred embodiment the drive means typically comprise an electric motor. The drive means can further comprise a first toothed wheel driven directly by the electric motor, and a second toothed wheel with an axis driven by this first toothed wheel, wherein the rotation of the second toothed wheel brings about a rotation of the eccentric shaft around the axis of the second toothed wheel.

Finally, the invention relates to an assembly comprising a first active device as according to any of the above

described embodiments and a passive second device comprising a housing; and a second support element holder which lies outside the housing and in which a support element can be received; wherein the second support element holder is preferably mounted in order to be able to perform

substantially the same wave-like movement as the first device or a somewhat simplified movement, such as a rocking movement . The second device can for instance be adapted to allow partial following of the movement of the wheel holder of the first device. Such an assembly is particularly intended for use in combination with an infant stroller with four wheels. Note that structurally infant strollers are typically sufficiently stable such that the second device can be given a passive form.

The invention will be further elucidated on the basis of a number of by no means limitative exemplary embodiments of the device according to the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a first

embodiment of a device according to the invention; figure 2 is a cut-away perspective view of the embodiment of figure 1;

figure 3 is a front view of the embodiment of figure 1;

figure 4 shows a cross-section along line IV-IV in figure 3 ; figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of an assembly according to the invention;

figure 6 is a cut-away perspective view of the passive unit of the assembly of figure 5;

figure 7 illustrates schematically eight successive

positions of a wheel holder for a second embodiment of the device according to the invention;

figure 8 is a schematic perspective view of a second

embodiment of a wheel holder according to the invention; wherein figure 8A shows a detail view of the upper end of the slot 307, figure 8B shows a bottom view of the slot 307 and figure 8C shows a cross-section through the middle of the wheel holder 303.

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a device 100 according to the invention. Device 100 comprises a two-part housing 102, 101 in which drive means are arranged for moving a wheel holder 103 arranged outside the housing.

Although the housing is formed here with a bottom wall 101, a partially spherical upper wall 152 and an upright side wall 151, the skilled person will appreciate that other forms are possible within the scope of the invention. The spherical part 152 could thus also have a beam shape or a fantasy shape . Bottom part 154 which protrudes outward relative to upright wall 151 is intended to impart

additional stability to the whole. According to another possibility, this additional bottom part 154 can be omitted, or this bottom part can extend along the whole periphery of the housing. The housing will further be typically provided with a number of operating means or indicators, such as for instance an on/off button 155 for switching the apparatus on/off, and/or a LED indicator lamp (not shown) and/or an adjusting means (not shown) for adjusting the speed of the movement and/or the time duration of the movement, and so on. Note that such operating means and/or indicators need not necessarily be provided on the housing. It is for instance also possible to provide an additional block with control means . It would also be possible to embody the device such that it is wirelessly controllable, for instance using a remote control or other suitable operating means such as a mobile phone with modified soft/hardware .

In the first embodiment a wheel holder 103 is connected to the drive means. The skilled person will appreciate that, subject to the baby holder which has to be moved - envisage for instance a baby bed - , another support element holder can be provided instead of a wheel holder and have a shape adapted to the support element (leg, wheel etc.) which has to be held fixedly. In the case of a bed a support element holder could for instance be provided which is adapted to receive a leg of a bed.

The interior of the embodiment of figure 1 will now be discussed in more detail with reference to figures 2 and 4. An electric motor 105 is arranged in housing 101, 102 for the purpose of rotating a first shaft 122 on which a first toothed wheel 116 is mounted. Motor 105 is for instance driven via an electricity cable 121 typically connected to the mains via a control and power supply block. According to another option, a battery can be provided in the housing. The rotation movement of the first toothed wheel 116 is transmitted to a second toothed wheel 117. The second toothed wheel 117 is connected to an eccentric mechanism consisting of a hollow system shaft 111 in which an

eccentric shaft 104 can be received. Eccentric shaft 104 will in this way perform a circular movement around the central axis 123 of the second toothed wheel 117. The second toothed wheel 117 with hollow system shaft 111 is received between two clamping brackets 112, 113 by means of two bearings 114, 115.

Eccentric shaft 104 has a first end 141 protruding out of the housing through an opening 153, and a second end 142 received in freely rotating manner in the hollow system shaft 111. Provided at outer end 142 for the purpose of locking eccentric shaft 104 is a groove 144 which co-acts with a locking ring 110. The first outer end 141 is provided with a peripheral groove 143, this such that this outer end 141 can be connected to wheel holder 103, as shown more clearly in figure 4. Provided in wheel holder 103 is a channel 107 in which a protrusion 160 can be guided, see below, this channel also allowing outer end 141 of the eccentric shaft to be received such that wheel holder 103 is connected to eccentric shaft 104. Eccentric shaft 104 will thus ensure that wheel holder 103 performs a circular movement around central axis 123.

Protrusion 160 is further provided on the upright side wall 151 of the housing. This protrusion 160 consists here of a pin which is fastened through an opening 106 to upright wall 151 by means of a screw 161. The skilled person will however appreciate that it is also possible to form protrusion 160 and side wall 151 and one integral injection-moulded

component. Protrusion 160 is adapted to be guided in a slot 107 arranged in the support holder (see figure 2A) . As it performs the circular movement around central axis 123, the support holder will in this way also perform a rocking movement around the axis of protrusion 160. The combination of this circular movement and this rocking movement will result in a substantially wave- like movement as illustrated in detail in figure 7, see below.

It is important for the present invention that block 100 is compact and at the same time sufficiently stable. According to the embodiment illustrated in figure 2, the use of clamping brackets 112, 113 under which motor 105 is arranged will contribute to this end. The lower clamping bracket 113 is provided with two upright wall parts 124, 125 which are fixed using bolts 119 to base 101 of the housing. Motor 105 can for instance be mounted against an auxiliary plate 118 fixed between upright walls 124, 125. The upper clamping bracket 112 is fixed to the lower clamping bracket using bolts 118 and is further fixed against upright wall 151 of the housing. The upper clamping bracket is provided for this purpose with two positioning pins 173 intended for placing through corresponding openings 174 in upright wall 151.

Further provided in the upper clamping bracket 112 are openings 172 in which screws 170 can be received, the screws co-acting with nuts 175.

As shown best in figure 4, this results in a very compact apparatus in which the largest components, and particularly electric motor 105, are arranged on the base and the

eccentric shaft 104 is situated thereabove and extends parallel to base 101.

Wheel holder 103 will now be described in detail. Wheel holder 103 has substantially the form of a frame in which a wheel can be received such that the wheel can be received in the wheel holder non-movably relative to the frame . The dimensions of this frame are smaller than the dimensions of the diameter of the wheel. In this way a wheel will as it were be supported in firm and stable manner in the frame. In the shown embodiment the frame is substantially rectangular and comprises two short sides 133, 134 and two long sides 131, 132. The short sides 133, 134 have a width typically- adapted to the width of a predetermined wheel, for instance the width of a tyre of a wheel of a typical infant stroller with three or four wheels. The outer sides of a tyre of such a wheel will in this way be bounded by the two long sides 131, 132. The long side 132 adjacent to upright wall 151 of the housing is preferably substantially plate-like. The plate- like element 132 preferably has dimensions adapted to cover the opening 153 in upright wall 151. Note that opening 153 is typically sufficiently large to allow the circular movement of eccentric shaft 104. The plate-like element 132 is adapted on its side facing toward upright wall 151 to be connected to outer end 141 of eccentric shaft 104 on the one hand and to guide the protrusion 160 on the other. In the illustrated embodiment these two functions are combined by providing a channel 107 with a narrow channel opening, see figure 2A, such that the protruding head 145 can be pushed into and fixed in the channel.

Figure 8 shows in more detail a possible embodiment of the wheel holder. Wheel holder 303 has a slot 307, the width of which is adapted to the dimensions of outer end 145, 143 of shaft 104. Slot 307 is provided at an end part 338, see figure 8A, with two thickened portions 335 for holding the outer end of shaft 104 fixedly in this end part. In order to increase the flexibility of these thickened portions 335 openings 336 can be arranged in wall part 332 close to thickened portions 335. Slot 307 further has a deeper-lying wider portion 337 in which the head 145 can be guided and a narrower portion 339 in which peripheral groove 143 can be guided .

The movement of the wheel holder and a wheel received therein will now be described in detail with reference to figure 7 for a second embodiment of the device of the invention. A wheel holder 3 is connected via an eccentric shaft 4 to drive means (not shown in figure 7) which are received in housing 1 and which ensure that eccentric shaft 4 performs a circular movement around a central axis 12. A wheel 2 is received in wheel holder 3 non-movably relative to the wheel holder 3. Guide means 6 , 7 are further provided for guiding the movement of wheel holder 3. These guide means consist of a pin and slot connection 6, 7. Protrusion 6 can here be arranged on wheel holder 3 and slot 7 arranged in housing 1, or vice versa. According to a possible

embodiment the eccentric shaft 4 is itself received for free rotation in a hollow system shaft 11. According to another possibility, eccentric shaft 4 is fixedly connected to the rotating system shaft 11 and eccentric shaft 4 is connected for free rotation to wheel holder 3. Wheel holder 3 can in this way thus rotate about an axis 10, wherein this movement is guided by the pin and slot connection 6, 7. The resulting movement of the support holder with wheel is therefore substantially a wave-like movement as shown in the eight successive positions of wheel 2 in figure 7. Such a wavelike movement will allow a baby to experience the sensation that it is in a travelling infant stroller, and so stimulate falling asleep.

As indicated above, a control will typically be provided which makes it possible to control a number of parameters of the movement. The following parameters can for instance be envisaged:

- intensity of the movement (i.e. speed), wherein the speed can be variable (in controlled or random manner) ;

- time duration, where an adjustable timer can be envisaged. The movement can further be controlled subject to a number of measurements, for instance on the basis of a number of sensor actions (envisage for instance a response to noise and crying, etc.) . This can be further linked to a time- related control . The control can further be provided with an option for reading applications (for instance available on the internet) for the purpose of obtaining a well-defined movement (such as a determined speed variation as a function of time for a determined period of time) , for instance for the purpose of simulating a walk in Central Park in New York. According to a still further developed embodiment,

loudspeakers can be built in for the purpose of playing restful sounds or music.

Finally, figure 5 illustrates an embodiment of an assembly according to the invention with an active device 100 as described in detail above and a passive device 200. The passive device here comprises an identical housing with base 201 and spherical upper wall 202. Wheel holder 203 is also identical to wheel holder 103 or wheel holder 303. However, instead of a driven eccentric shaft, a shaft part 204 is provided here which allows wheel holder 203 to partially follow the movement of wheel holder 103. The passive unit is particularly intended for an infant stroller with four wheels, wherein a first wheel is placed in an active device and it is the wish to avoid the adjacent wheel being freely suspended. In the shown passive device the wheel holder will only be able to perform a rocking movement, although the skilled person will appreciate that other movements could also be allowed.

Such an assembly can be used for placing therein two front or two rear wheels of an infant stroller. In similar manner an assembly of two active and two passive devices, each with a holder suitable for receiving a leg of a bed, can be used to move a bed with four legs. The skilled person will appreciate that the present

invention is not limited to the above described embodiment variants and that there are many possible modifications and variations falling within the scope of the invention, this scope being defined solely by the following claims.

Claims

1. Device for moving a baby holder with a number of support elements, such as an infant stroller with three or four wheels, comprising

- a housing with drive means arranged therein;

- a support element holder which is located outside the housing and connected to the drive means and in which a support element can be received; characterized in that

the drive means are adapted to cause the support element holder to make a substantially wave-like movement.

2. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the drive means comprise an eccentric shaft, and that the support element holder is coupled to the eccentric shaft, which eccentric shaft is driven so as to perform a circular movement around a central axis.

3. Device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the eccentric shaft is coupled at a first outer end to the support element holder and that the other outer end of the eccentric shaft is received eccentrically and rotatably in a hollow shaft .

4. Device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the eccentric shaft is bearing-mounted at a first outer end in the support element holder and connected eccentrically at the other outer end to a rotating shaft .

5. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims,

characterized in that guide means are provided for guiding the movement of the support holder relative to the housing.

6. Device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the guide means consist of a pin and slot coupling between the housing and the support holder.

7. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims,

characterized in that the support element holder is coupled releasably to the drive means such that it is easily

replaceable with another support element holder.

8. Device as claimed in claim 7 and any of the claims 2-6, characterized in that the support element holder is provided with a recess, wherein this recess and the outer end of the eccentric shaft are adapted to connect this outer end releasably to the support holder.

9. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims,

characterized in that the support element holder is a wheel holder with substantially the form of a frame in which a wheel can be received, this such that the wheel is non- movable relative to the frame .

10. Device as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the frame is substantially rectangular with two short sides and two long sides, and that the short sides have a width adapted to the width of a predetermined wheel, this such that the outer sides of a tyre of the predetermined wheel lie opposite the long sides when this wheel is placed in the wheel holder.

11. Device as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the housing is provided with an opening in which the eccentric shaft performs a circular movement, and that one of the long sides of the wheel holder is plate- like and dimensioned so as to cover the opening in all positions of the wheel holder .

12. Device as claimed in claims 6 and 11, characterized in that the protrusion is arranged on the housing opposite the long plate-like side, and that this long plate-like side is provided on its side facing toward the housing with a channel-like recess for the purpose of forming the slot.

13. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims,

characterized in that the housing comprises a base, a substantially spherical upper wall and an upright flat side wall.

14. Device as claimed in claim 13 , characterized in that the support element holder comprises a substantially flat side wall connecting to the upright side wall of the housing.

15. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims,

characterized in that the drive means comprise an electric motor .

16. Device as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that the drive means further comprise a first toothed wheel driven directly by the electric motor, and a second toothed wheel with an axis driven by this first toothed wheel, wherein the rotation of the second toothed wheel brings about a rotation of the eccentric shaft around the axis of the second toothed wheel .

17. Assembly, comprising a first active device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims and a passive second device comprising:

- a housing;

- a support element holder which lies outside the housing and in which a second support element can be received in order to impart extra stability to the baby holder; wherein the support element holder is preferably mounted in order to be able to at least partially follow the movement of the wheel holder of the first device .

18. Passive device for use in an assembly as claimed in claim 17.

19. Support element holder for use in a device or assembly as claimed in any of the foregoing claims .