Children{3 s or infant{3 s furniture
United States Patent Walsh et al.  
 Apr. 1, 1975 vFiled:  
 CHILDREN&#39;S OR INFANTS FURNITURE Inventors: Frederick Bartholomew Walsh, 17  
 Grange Park Ave., Raheyn, Dublin; Leslie Laurence Grennan, 16 Broad Meadow, Swords, both of Ireland Jan. 12, 1973 Appl. No: 322,994  
 US. Cl. 5/108, 5/62 Int. Cl. A47d 9/02&#39;, A61g 7/10 Field of Search 5/62, 108, 109  
 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Primary Examiner-Casmir A. Nunberg Attorney, Agent, or FirmPollock, Philpitt &amp; Vande Sande [57] ABSTRACT An article of childrens or infants furniture, such as a cot, comprises a cradle-portion in which a child or infant lies, a base resiliently supporting the cradleportion, drive means for actuating the cradle-portion in resilient movement and at least one resilient cushioning element which bears against the cradle-portion, to apply cushioning pressure thereto in at least one direction laterally of the base, so as to cushion the cradle-portion against excessive or jerky movement. A device is also disclosed which can be used in conjunction with an existing cot, this device incorporating a platform which is resiliently mounted in a similar manner and upon which the cot to be rocked can be mounted.  
 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures CHILDREN&#39;S OR INFANT&#39;S FURNITURE This invention relates to childrens or infants furniture, and in particular to beds, cots, cradles or cribs for children or infants, all of which are to be understood as included in the term cot as used hereinafter.  
  It is well known that an infant can often be soothed or put at ease by rocking or gently agitating the cot and in this connection we would direct attention to the copending patent application Ser. No. 283,893 of Frederick Bartholomew Walsh.  
  It is the principal object of the present invention to provide further improved means enabling a cot to be rocked.  
  It is a further object of the invention to provide a cot having relatively simple means whereby rocking can be carried out automatically in a convenient and effective manner.  
  Another object of the invention is to provide a device for use in conjunction with an existing cot, enabling the latter to be rocked.  
  A still further, and more specific object of the invention, is to provide a device which can be used in conjunction with an existing cot, without structural alteration of the cot, to enable the latter to be rocked.  
  The term rocking&#39; and related words are used in this specification in the broadest possible sense, and are to be understood as embracing any form of gentle agitation. even though this may be of such a nature that it would not normally be regarded as falling within the strict definition of the word rocking Thus, the term *rocking and related words are to be understood as embracing compound oscillatory movement which takes place about a number of axes simultaneously, or which takes place without any well-defined axis of scillation.  
  According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a childs cot comprising a cradle-portion, a base resiliently supporting the cradle-portion, drive means for actuating the cradle-portion in resilient movement and at least one resilient cushioning element which bears against the cradle-portion, to apply cushioning pressure thereto in at least one direction laterally of the base.  
  According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a device for use in conjunction with an existing cot, comprising a base, a platform mounted on the base for resilient movement, drive means for actuating the platform in its resilient movement and at least one resilient cushioning element which bears against the platform, to apply cushioning pressure thereto in at least one direction laterally of the base, the platform being adapted to receive and support a cot, whereby the cot is rocked by movement of the platform relatively to the base.  
  The invention will now be more fully described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings which show, by way of example only, various specific embodiments of the invention. In the drawings:  
  FIG. I is a side elevational view of one form of cot with a side panel removed, to show internal details;  
  FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of a device for use in conjunction with an existing cot;  
  FIG. 3 is an end view of the device shown in FIG. 2, the position of a cot used in conjunction therewith being indicated in dotted lines:  
  FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, similar to FIG. 1, but showing a modified form of cot.  
  Referring to FIG. 1, the cot shown therein comprises a support frame or base 1 which rests on the floor. The base 1 has side panels, one side panel 2 being visible in FIG. 1, but the other side panel has been removed to show internal details.  
  The cot includes a portion 3 in which the infant lies, referred to herein as the cradle-portion. The sides of the cradle-portion 3 are of the usual open construction, consisting of upright rods. indicated at 4.  
  The cot portion 3 rests on the base frame by means of four resilient elements, two of which are visible in the drawings, being indicated at 7, and which support the cradle-portion 3 for movement relatively to the base 1. The cradle-portion 3 is capable of limited upward and downward movement and also movement in the horizontal plane, that is to say laterally of the base 1. Such lateral movement may take place either sideways or endwise relatively to the base 1.  
  The resilient elements 7 are shown in the drawing as being constituted by coil springs, but other forms of resilient elements may be employed, such as pillars or pads of rubber or plastics material of sufficient strength and flexibility.  
  A motor 20 is mounted on the base frame 1. The motor 20 drives a cam 21 which bears against the cradle-portion 3. Thus the cam 21 causes the cradleportion 3 to execute resilient jogging movement as the cam is driven in rotation by the motor 20. The cam 21 is shown in the drawing as bearing against the underside of the cradle-portion 3, but it could be arranged to bear against any other convenient part of the latter.  
  The cam 21 may be shaped so as to have a single rise, or two or more rises, so as to provide one or more jogging movements during each rotation of the cam.  
  As already mentioned, the resilient elements 7 support the cradle-portion 3 for movement relatively to the base 1. In order to prevent excessive lateral movement of the cradle-portion 3 as it is jogged, four more resilient elements are provided, ofwhich two are visible in FIG. 1, at 5. The resilient cushioning elements 5 are shown in FIG. 1 as being constituted by coil springs, but other forms of resilient element could be employed, as in the case of the elements 7. The resilient cushioning elements 5 are engaged between the end walls 6 of the base 1 and end-members of the cradle-portion 3. Thus the cushioning elements 5 serve to cushion the cradleportion 3 against excessive movement and they ensure smooth reversal of the lateral motion of the cradleportion, at the extremes of its travel. Similar cushioning elements could be provided to cushion the cradleportion 3 against excessive sideways movement, both such endwise and such sideways movement being referred to herein by the term lateral.  
  For the purpose of fixing the cradle-portion 3 in position when desired, so as to prevent unwanted movement thereof, fastening means is provided, consisting of a hook-member 8 carried by the base 1, which can be engaged with an eye-member 9 carried by the cradleportion 3 when required.  
  Referring now to FIGS. 2 an 3, the device shown therein comprises a support frame or base 31 and a platform 32, the platform 32 being shown detached from the base 31 in FIG. 2. The base 31 carries four resilient support elements 33, which may be coil springs for example. The platform 32 rests on the elements 33 and thus is supported for upward and downward and lateral movement relatively to the base 31. The platform 32 is actuated in its movement by a motor 37 driving a cam 38 which bears against the platform 32 (either against the underside thereof as shown, or elsewhere) Thus the platform 32 is jogged as the cam 38 rotates.  
  The end-members 41 of the base frame 31 each carry two further resilient elements 42, only two of such elements being visible in the drawings. When the platform 32 is rested in its operative position, in engagement with the resilient elements 33, the elements 42 engage end-members 43 of the platform 32 and thus serve to cushion it against excessive lateral movement (that is to say, in the arrangement shown in FIG. 2, movement in the endwise direction).  
  The device shown in FIGS 2 and 3 is used in conjunction with a conventional cot which can be rested on the platform 32, in the position indicated in dotted lines at 30 in FIG. 3. The cot indicated in FIG. 3 is of a type having four feet, which engage over the opposite ends of the platform 32, and either outside or inside the endmembers 41 of the base 31, as convenient, so as to locate the cot relatively to the apparatus. As the platform 32 is jogged by the motor 37, the cot 30 is gently agi tated or rocked.  
  Fastening means are provided, comprising a hookmember 48 and an eye-member 49, which can be interengaged to prevent unwanted movement of the platform and of the cot carried thereby, when desired.  
  Referring now to FIG. 4, the cot shown therein comprises a base 51, and a cradle-portion 53, the cradleportion being of the same general construction as the cradle-portion 3 of FIG. 1. The base 51 comprises an open framework consisting of four upright structural members, of which two are visible in FIG. 4, being indicated at 52. The two uprights 52 at each side of the cot are connected by a lengthwise stretcher-member 54. At each side of the cot, the uprights 52 are connected at their upper ends to the cradle portion 53 by means of pivotal joints 56. At their lower ends the uprights 51 are connected to the stretcher 54 by similar pivotal joints 57. Thus the whole base frame 51 is capable of limited flexing movement in the direction indicated by the arrows in FIG. 4. As the base 51 flexes, it gives rise to endwise oscillatory movement of the cradle-portion 53, likewise in the direction indicated by the arrows in FIG. 4, that is to say, movement in the lateral or horizontal direction in relation to the base 51.  
  If desired, the base 51 could be constructed so as to provide for flexing movement in the sideways direction instead of endwise.  
  Extending transversely of the base 51, at either end thereof, there are angle-members 58. Each anglemember 58 extends between, and is secured to, the two uprights of the base 51 at one end of the cot. Engaged between the upwardly extending limb 59 of each anglemember 58 and an adjacent part of the cradle-portion 53, is one or more resilient elements 55, which may be constituted by coil springs or which may be made of flexible rubber or plastics material, as previously referred to. As the cradle-portion 53 is oscillated to and fro during flexing movement of the base 51, the resilient elements 55 undergo slight compression and extension, thus serving to cushion the cradle-portion 53 against jerky or excessive endwise movement, and ensuring smooth reversal of the motion thereof.  
  Flexing movement of the base 51 and movement of the cradle-portion 53 are initiated by a motor 60 mounted on one of the uprights 52 and connected to one of the members 61 of the cradle-portion 53 by means of a reciprocatory connecting rod 62 which is pivoted to the cradle-portion 53 at 63. As the connecting rod 62 reciprocates, it applies a thrust to the cradleportion 53, thus causing simultaneous flexing of the base 51 and endwise lateral movement of the cradleportion 53.  
  Fastening means are provided, comprising a hookmember 68 and an eye-member 69, which can be interengaged when desired, to prevent unwanted movement of the cradle-portion 53.  
  It will be understood that, in the construction shown in FIG. 4, the cradle-portion 53 could be replaced by a simple platform similar to the platform 32 of FIG. 2, mounted for oscillation in a similar manner to that described in connection with the cradle-portion 53, the platform being cushioned in its endwise movement by resilient elements similar to the element 55. A device of this form could be used to support and rock an existing cradle resting on the platform, in a similar manner to the arrangement described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.  
  In the foregoing description, two forms of drive means have been employed, namely a motor driving a cam as described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIGS. 2 and 3, and a motor driving a reciprocatory connecting rod as described with reference to FIG. 4. The arrangement described with reference to FIG. 4 could of course be used in the constructions shown in FIG. 1 and in FIGS. 2 and 3 and vice versa. Moreover, other forms of drive could be employed, such as a belt or chain drive for example.  
  In the arrangements described with reference to the drawings, in each case the motor has been shown as mounted on the base, the drive being applied by the cam or connecting rod to the cradle-portion or plat form. It would be possible for the inverse arrangement to be employed, with the motor mounted on the cradleportion or platform and the cam or connecting rod acting on the base.  
  Particular reference is directed to the feature of the invention, according to which means are provided for cushioning the cradle-portion or platform against jerky or excessive movement. Any form of resilient element can be employed for this purpose.  
  Another important feature of the invention, resides in the provision of means whereby movement can be positively prevented, when desired. This feature can be applied to all the embodiments of the invention described herein. Moreover, any other convenient form of clamp or fastener can be employed in place of the particular fastening means described herein.  
  The two features just referred to have important practical advantages which are obtainable regardless of whether the rocking movement of the cot in question is effected by manual operation or by means of the power drive, as described.  
  As regards the forms of drive means which may be employed, various kinds of motor are suitable, such as spring motors and electric motors, including linear and synchronous motors and solenoid devices. The motor used may be provided with a variable speed facility, and a timer may be employed, so that the motor is switched off after rocking action has been applied for a predetermined time.  
 We claim:  
  1. A childs cot comprising a cradle-portion, a stretcher member for resting upon a support surface, uprights pivotally connected to the cradle-portion at their upper ends and to the stretcher member at their lower ends so as to allow limited oscillatory movement of the cradle-portion, drive means for actuating the cradle-portion in such oscillatory movement, and at least one resilient cushioning element attached to the uprights which engages the cradle-portion, to apply cushioning pressure thereto in at least one direction laterally of the stretcher member.  
  2. Apparatus according to claim 1, which includes a plurality of resilient cushioning elements arranged to apply cushioning pressure to the cradle-portion in two member when required.