U.S. patent application number 14/847747 was filed with the patent office on 2016-03-10 for wave-motion infant seat.
This patent application is currently assigned to KIDS II, INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is KIDS II, INC.. Invention is credited to Jacob SCLARE.
Application Number | 20160066708 14/847747 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55436315 |
Filed Date | 2016-03-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160066708 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SCLARE; Jacob |
March 10, 2016 |
WAVE-MOTION INFANT SEAT
Abstract
A first rotate/translate mechanism, a second rotate/translate
mechanism, a drive system, and a control system are operable to
generate and impart rotation and translation to an infant-receiving
component supported by a frame thereby driving the infant-receiving
component through an elliptical wave motion. In an example
embodiment, the first rotate/translate mechanism includes a cam
that is driven by the drive system and a follower that is driven by
the cam to impart the rotation and translation to the
infant-receiving component. And the second rotate/translate
mechanism includes guided traveler that is guided by a guide track
through conforming rotation and translation to permit the wave
motion of the infant-receiving component without binding.
Inventors: |
SCLARE; Jacob; (Dacula,
GA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
KIDS II, INC. |
Atlanta |
GA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
KIDS II, INC.
Atlanta
GA
|
Family ID: |
55436315 |
Appl. No.: |
14/847747 |
Filed: |
September 8, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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62047711 |
Sep 9, 2014 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
297/260.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47D 13/105 20130101;
A47D 9/02 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47D 13/10 20060101
A47D013/10 |
Claims
1. An infant seat for use on a support surface, the infant seat
comprising: a frame that is supportable by the support surface; an
infant-receiving component that is supported by the frame; a first
motion mechanism coupled between the infant-receiving component and
the frame, the first motion mechanism including a follower and a
cam that drives the follower to impart motion to the
infant-receiving component to trace an elliptical path defining a
wave motion; a second motion mechanism coupled between the
infant-receiving component and the frame, the second motion
mechanism including a guide track and a guided traveler that moves
relative to the guide track to facilitate the motion of the
infant-receiving component; and a drive system that is selectively
operable to drive the first motion mechanism to produce the wave
motion of the infant-receiving component.
2. The infant seat of claim 1, wherein the first motion mechanism,
the second motion mechanism, or both, are provided by at least one
rotate/translate mechanism that permits rotation and translation of
the infant-receiving component relative to the frame.
3. The infant seat of claim 1, wherein the first and second motion
mechanisms are provided by respective first and second
rotate/translate mechanisms that permit rotation and translation of
the infant-receiving component relative to the frame.
4. The infant seat of claim 3, wherein the cam includes a rotary
cam that is rotationally driven by the drive system about a
rotational axis.
5. The infant seat of claim 4, wherein the rotary cam includes a
cylindrical barrel and the rotational axis is generally
horizontally and laterally extending.
6. The infant seat of claim 4, wherein the follower includes at
least one peripheral rim defining an opening that receives the
rotary cam with the rotary cam surrounded and contained by the
peripheral rim.
7. The infant seat of claim 6, wherein the follower rim is circular
and the rotary cam is circular.
8. The infant seat of claim 7, wherein the follower is fixedly
attached to the infant-receiving component and the cam is
rotationally coupled to the frame at a connection point on the cam
that is eccentric relative to the rotation axis.
9. The infant seat of claim 8, wherein rotation of the rotary cam
about the rotational axis causes the rotary cam to revolve around
the eccentric rotational connection to the frame, and the
containment of the revolving cam by the follower rim causes the
infant-receiving component to move through the wave motion.
10. The infant seat of claim 4, wherein the follower is fixedly
attached to the infant-receiving component and the cam is
rotationally coupled to the frame at a connection point on the cam
that is eccentric relative to the rotational axis.
11. The infant seat of claim 3, wherein the guided traveler rotates
and translates relative to the guide track in response to the
rotation and translation of the infant-receiving component imparted
by the first rotate/translate mechanism.
12. The infant seat of claim 3, wherein the guide track is fixedly
attached to the infant-receiving component and the guided traveler
is fixedly attached to the frame.
13. The infant seat of claim 3, wherein the guide track includes at
least one guide slot and the guided traveler includes at least one
guided pin that is received and retained by the guide slot.
14. The infant seat of claim 13, wherein the guide track has a
length selected to permit translation of the guided pin in response
to the translation of the infant-receiving component imparted by
the first rotate/translate mechanism.
15. The infant seat of claim 13, wherein the guided pin is
cylindrical to permit rotation of the guided pin in response to the
rotation of the infant-receiving component imparted by the first
rotate/translate mechanism.
16. An infant seat for use on a support surface, the infant seat
comprising: a frame that is supportable by the support surface; an
infant-receiving component that is supported by the frame; a first
rotate/translate mechanism coupled between the infant-receiving
component and the frame, the first rotate/translate mechanism
including a follower and a rotary cam, wherein the rotary cam
rotates about a rotational axis to drive the follower, the cam is
rotationally coupled to the frame at a connection point on the cam
that is eccentric relative to the rotation axis, the follower
includes at least one peripheral rim defining an opening that
receives the rotary cam with the rotary cam surrounded and
contained by the peripheral rim, and the follower is fixedly
attached to the infant-receiving component, and wherein rotation of
the rotary cam about the rotational axis causes the rotary cam to
revolve around the eccentric rotational connection to the frame,
and the containment of the revolving cam by the follower rim drives
the follower to impart rotation and translation to the
infant-receiving component to trace an elliptical path defining a
wave motion; a second rotate/translate mechanism coupled between
the infant-receiving component and the frame, the second
rotate/translate mechanism including a guide track and a guided
traveler that moves relative to the guide track to facilitate the
rotation and translation of the infant-receiving component; and a
drive system that is selectively operable to drive the first
rotate/translate mechanism to produce the wave motion of the
infant-receiving component.
17. The infant seat of claim 16, wherein the rotary cam includes a
cylindrical barrel and the rotational axis is generally
horizontally and laterally extending, and wherein the follower rim
is circular and the rotary cam is circular.
18. The infant seat of claim 16, wherein the guided traveler
rotates and translates relative to the guide track in response to
the rotation and translation of the infant-receiving component
imparted by the first rotate/translate mechanism.
19. The infant seat of claim 16, wherein the guide track is fixedly
attached to the infant-receiving component and the guided traveler
is fixedly attached to the frame.
20. The infant seat of claim 16, wherein the guide track includes
at least one guide slot and the guided traveler includes at least
one guided pin that is received and retained by the guide slot, and
wherein the guide slot has a length selected to permit translation
of the guided pin in response to the translation of the
infant-receiving component imparted by the first rotate/translate
mechanism, and the guided pin is cylindrical to permit rotation of
the guided pin in response to the rotation of the infant-receiving
component imparted by the first rotate/translate mechanism.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the priority benefit of U.S.
Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/047,711 filed Sep. 9,
2014, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated herein by
reference for all purposes.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of
infant and children products, and more particularly to infant
seats.
BACKGROUND
[0003] A variety of different child-support devices have been
developed for safely holding infants in sleeping and/or sitting
positions. These include for example bassinets, rockers, cradles,
cribs, sleepers, nappers, and the like. Some child-support devices
such as rockers, cradles, and some bassinets, are designed for
moving through a predetermined repeating motion while provide a
soothing effect to the child carried by the device. While many of
these motion child-support devices have proven to be very useful,
it remains desirable to provide for enhanced infant soothing and
comfort.
[0004] Accordingly, it can be seen that needs exist for
improvements in motion child-support devices providing for enhanced
infant soothing and comfort. It is to the provision of solutions to
these and other needs that the present invention is primarily
directed.
SUMMARY
[0005] In example embodiments, the present invention provides an
infant seat that can support a child therein and be selectively
controlled to move the child through a wave motion. The wave motion
includes rotational and translational components that collectively
trace an elliptical path. In this way, the wave-motion infant seat
provides for enhanced soothing and comforting effects to the child
in the seat.
[0006] In one aspect, the wave-motion infant seat includes a first
rotate/translate mechanism, a second rotate/translate mechanism, a
drive system, and a control system are operable to generate and
impart rotation and translation to an infant-receiving component
supported by a frame, thereby driving the infant-receiving
component through the wave motion. The first rotate/translate
mechanism can include a cam that is driven by the drive system and
a follower that is driven by the cam to impart the rotation and
translation to the infant-receiving component. And the second
rotate/translate mechanism can include guided traveler that is
guided by a guide track through conforming rotation and translation
to permit the wave motion of the infant-receiving component without
binding. The drive system is operable to drive at least one of the
rotate/translate mechanisms to impart the wave motion to the
infant-receiving component, and the control system enables a
caretaker/user to control operation of the drive system and thus
the wave motion, as desired.
[0007] In another aspect of operation of the wave-motion infant
seat, with the frame resting on a stable support surface and
weighted by the infant-receiving component, as the cam rotates
about a rotational axis, the rotation of the cam causes it to
revolve around an off-center/eccentric rotational connection to the
frame. And containment of the cam by the follower causes the
attached-thereto infant-receiving component to travel through a
vertical and horizontal wave motion that traces the elliptical path
in a vertical plane running front to rear.
[0008] These and other aspects, features, and advantages of the
invention will be understood with reference to the drawing figures
and detailed description herein, and will be realized by means of
the various elements and combinations particularly pointed out in
the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing
general description and the following brief description of the
drawings and detailed description of example embodiments are
representative and explanatory of example embodiments of the
invention, and are not restrictive of the invention, as
claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective side view of a wave-motion infant
seat according to an example embodiment of the present
invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the wave-motion infant
seat of FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the wave-motion infant
seat of FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a front portion of the
wave-motion infant seat of FIG. 1, showing a front rotate/translate
mechanism.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a side view of the front portion of the
wave-motion infant seat of FIG. 4, shown with a portion of the
housing of the front rotate/translate mechanism removed to reveal
internal components.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a top view of the front portion of the wave-motion
infant seat of FIG. 4, shown with a portion of the housing of the
front rotate/translate mechanism removed to reveal internal
components.
[0015] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a rear portion of the
wave-motion infant seat of FIG. 1, showing a rear rotate/translate
mechanism.
[0016] FIG. 8 is a side view of the rear portion of the wave-motion
infant seat of FIG. 7, showing the rotation and the translation
motions of the rear rotate/translate mechanism.
[0017] FIGS. 9-13 are a series of side views of the wave-motion
infant seat of FIG. 1 in operation producing the wave motion.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
[0018] The present invention may be understood more readily by
reference to the following detailed description of the invention
taken in connection with the accompanying drawing figures, which
form a part of this disclosure. It is to be understood that this
invention is not limited to the specific devices, methods,
conditions or parameters described and/or shown herein, and that
the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular embodiments by way of example only and is not intended
to be limiting of the claimed invention. Any and all patents and
other publications identified in this specification are
incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein.
[0019] Also, as used in the specification including the appended
claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include the plural,
and reference to a particular numerical value includes at least
that particular value, unless the context clearly dictates
otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from "about" or
"approximately" one particular value and/or to "about" or
"approximately" another particular value. When such a range is
expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular
value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values
are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent "about,"
it will be understood that the particular value forms another
embodiment.
[0020] With reference now to the drawing figures, wherein like
reference numbers represent corresponding parts throughout the
several views, FIGS. 1-12 show a wave-motion infant seat 100
according to an example embodiment of the present invention. The
wave-motion infant seat 100 of this embodiment is a bassinet
modified to produce a wave motion to a child held by the infant
seat, though the innovative wave-motion components can be adapted
for implementation in embodiments based on other types of
child-support devices. As such, the term "infant seat" as used
herein is intended to be broadly construed to include any type of
child-support device for which imparting a motion would be
desirable, including rockers, cradles, cribs, sleepers, nappers,
and the like, and including devices with a flat support surface for
sleeping, devices with a seat-support surface and an angled
back-support to provide an upright sitting position, multi-position
devices, and others. Also, the terms "infant" and "child" are used
synonymously herein.
[0021] Referring to FIGS. 1-8, the wave-motion infant seat 100
includes a frame 110, an infant-receiving component 120, a first
rotate/translate mechanism 130, a second rotate/translate mechanism
150, a drive system 170, and a control system 180. The frame 110
rests on a support surface such as a floor, and the
infant-receiving component 120 is supported by and mounted to the
frame by the first and second motion mechanisms 130 and 150. The
first and second motion mechanisms 130 and 150 enable the
infant-receiving component 120 to be moved through a wave motion,
the drive system 170 is operable to drive at least one of the
motion mechanisms to impart the wave motion to the infant-receiving
component, and the control system 180 enables a caretaker/user to
control operation of the drive system (and thus the wave motion) as
desired. In typical embodiments, the first and/or second motion
mechanisms 130 and 150 are provided by first and second
rotate/translate mechanisms that permit rotation and translation of
the infant-receiving component 120 (relative to the frame 110)
through the wave motion, though in other embodiments they can be
provided by other motion-permitting mechanisms known in the art
that are configured to permit the wave motion described herein.
[0022] The frame 110 can be of a conventional type used for
child-support devices, and these are well-known in the field, so
for brevity this component is not described in great detail. As an
example, the depicted frame 110 includes left and right base
members 112 as well as front and rear cross braces 114, with the
base members and cross braces made of metal tubes. In other
embodiments, the frame includes four legs and four cross braces,
X-shaped folding frame members, suspension members for supporting
the infant-receiving component from above, or other frame members
and configurations known in the art. And in other embodiments, the
frame can be formed from wood, polymer, composite, or other
suitably rigid materials known in the art.
[0023] In addition, the frame 110 can have a curved bottom surface
116 enabling the infant seat 100 to rock upon the support surface.
In embodiments with such a curved bottom for rocking, the frame can
optionally include one or more displaceable interference members
(e.g., feet, stoppers, and/or kick stands) for limiting rocking
movement of the infant seat. For example, the depicted embodiment
includes four pivot feet 115a-d shown in their interference
positions to limit rocking of the frame bottom 116 on the support
surface and thereby prevent the infant seat 100 from rocking. In
other embodiments, the bottom surface of the frame is substantially
flat for stability without enabling a rocking motion.
[0024] The infant-receiving component 120 can be similar to that of
a seat, bassinet, cradle, napper, or other device adapted to
receive and support a child therein. As such, the infant-receiving
component 120 can be of a conventional type used for child-support
devices, and these are well-known in the field, so for brevity this
component is not described in great detail. As an example, the
depicted the infant-receiving component 120 includes a fabric (or
other soft material) liner 122 coupled to and supported by a rigid
frame 124, with the liner including a mesh ventilation panel 126
and optionally including a padding layer 125. In other embodiments,
the infant-receiving component 120 can be provided by a basket,
shell, or other known structure that receives and supports an
infant, and it can be made of a substantially rigid material such
as a polymer, wood, composite, or other suitably rigid material
known in the art.
[0025] In addition, the infant seat 100 can optionally have one or
more accessories such as a canopy 128 or toy bar (not shown)
coupled thereto. Optionally, the infant seat 100 can further
include a restraint harness (not shown) attached to the infant
receiving component 120 and operable for securing the infant
therein.
[0026] The infant-receiving component 120 is supported on the frame
110 and mounted thereto by the first and second rotate/translate
mechanisms 130 and 150. In the depicted embodiment, the first
(e.g., front) rotate/translate mechanism 130 couples together the
fronts of the frame 110 and the infant-receiving component 120 to
permit rotation and translation of the infant-receiving component
120 relative to the frame 110. And the second (e.g., rear)
rotate/translate mechanism 150 couples together the rears of the
frame 110 and the infant-receiving component 120 to permit
conforming rotation and translation of the infant-receiving
component 120 relative to the frame 110 (as dictated by the first
rotate/translate mechanism 130). In other embodiments, the
rotate/translate mechanisms are positioned at the sides of the
frame and the infant-receiving component and/or more than two of
the rotate/translate mechanisms are provided. The major components
of the first and second rotate/translate mechanisms 130 and 150 can
be made of primarily of polymeric materials using conventional
molding techniques and equipment, or they can be made of other
conventional materials known in the art.
[0027] Referring particularly to FIGS. 4-6, the first
rotate/translate mechanism 130 includes a rotary cam element 132
and a follower element 134 that is driven by the cam as it rotates
and that is fixed to (including integrally formed as a part of) the
infant-receiving component 120. In a typical embodiment, the cam
132 includes at least one cylindrical barrel 136 that defines a
rotational axis 138 (e.g., generally horizontally and laterally
extending) and to which the frame 100 (e.g., end portions 116a of
base members 116) is rotationally coupled at an eccentric location
140 (e.g., at its lateral spaced-apart endwalls) that is radially
off-center from the rotational axis. And the follower element 134
includes at least one circular rim 142 defining a circular opening
144 (centered on the rotational axis 138) in a housing 146 fixedly
attached to the infant-receiving component 120, with the circular
rim surrounding/containing the rotary cam barrel 136 but permitting
rotation of the rotary cam barrel therein about its rotational
axis. As depicted, one cylindrical cam barrel 136 is
surrounded/contained by two circular follower rims 140 in
spaced-apart sidewalls of one housing 146 extending from the front
end of the infant-receiving component 120.
[0028] In this way, with the frame 110 resting on a stable support
surface and weighted by the infant-receiving component 120, as the
cam barrel 136 rotates about its rotational axis 140, the rotation
of the cam barrel 136 causes it to revolve around its
off-center/eccentric rotational connection 140 to the frame 110. So
the containment of the cam barrel 136 within the follower rims 142
of the housing 146 causes the housing and thus the attached-thereto
infant-receiving component 120 to travel through a vertical and
horizontal wave motion that traces an elliptical path in a vertical
plane running front to rear.
[0029] In other embodiments, instead of a cylindrical barrel, the
rotary cam includes two (or another number of) laterally
spaced-apart circular cam plates, arms, or other members, a
cylindrical framework of for example rods, tubes, bars, slats, or
other frame members, or another cam structure defining a circular
peripheral cam/guide surface. And in other embodiments, instead of
two circular opening-defining rims in a housing, the follower
element includes a single continuous tubular bore extending through
a housing, a series of follower members for example pins or bosses
that are arranged in a circle on a housing or other structure
extending from the infant-receiving component, one or more circular
opening-defining rims in an arm, plate, or other extension member,
or another follower structure defining a circular peripheral
follower/guided surface surrounding and containing a circular cam
structure.
[0030] In addition, while the depicted embodiment includes a
cylindrical (i.e., circular) cam structure surrounded and contained
by a circular (i.e., cylindrical) follower structure, other types
of cam-and-follower arrangements can be used to generate the
described wave motion. For example, in other embodiments the cam is
elliptical (symmetrical about one or two axes), has another
non-circular shape (e.g., undulating, wedge-shaped, or another
regular or irregular shape), and the follower is driven by but does
not surround or contain the cam and can thus be provided by a pin,
tab, elongated surface, or other element formed by the housing, the
infant-receiving component, an extension member, or another part of
the infant seat.
[0031] In yet other embodiments the cam and follower are formed by
a linkage assembly, for example a cam wheel and a follower linkage
of the type used in elliptical exercise machines, a crank-wheel cam
and a rocker-arm linkage, or a U-shaped cam member (with a central
offset member that is offset from and parallel with the frame
member) between the end portions of the frame members and a
connecting-rod follower extending between the offset member and the
infant-receiving component). And while the cam-and-follower
arrangement of the depicted embodiment couples/retains the
infant-receiving component to the frame (while permitting relative
rotation and translation), in other embodiments the components that
couple them together are different from the components that permit
their relative rotation and/or translation (though such separate
coupling embodiments can still be considered to be part of the
rotate/translate mechanism).
[0032] Referring particularly to FIGS. 7-8, the second
rotate/translate mechanism 150 includes at least one guide track
element 152 and at least one guided traveler element 154 that
rotates and translates relative to the guide track but is retained
by the guide track. In a typical embodiment, the guide track 152
includes two spaced-apart and facing guide slots 156 formed in a
frame-attached body 158 and extending lengthwise in a front-to-back
orientation. And the guided traveler element 154 includes two
generally cylindrical pins 160 extending outwardly and laterally
from opposite sides of a seat-attached body 162 (e.g., collectively
forming a T-shaped member). The traveler pins 160 are received in
their respective guide slots 156 with the seat-attached body 162
positioned therebetween, with the pins dimensioned to be long and
wide enough and with the slots dimensioned to be deep and wide
enough to be retained in the slots. The traveler pins 160 have a
diameter/width that is much less than the length of the guide slots
156, so the pins can translate along (e.g., slide within) the
length of the guide slots (as indicated by the linear directional
arrow). The length of the guide slots 156 is selected to be as
least as great as (a) twice the off-set radius between the
rotational axis 138 and the eccentric connection point 140 of the
rotary cam barrel 136, plus (b) twice the radius of the traveler
pin 160, to allow the full range of translating motion (as dictated
by the first rotate/translate mechanism 130) without binding or
mechanical-stop limitation. And the traveler pins 160 are generally
cylindrical (i.e., circular) so they can rotate about their axes
within the guide slots 156 (as indicated by the angular directional
arrow), whether they are translating at the time or not.
[0033] In this way, the guided traveler 154 (and thus the
infant-receiving component 120 to which it is attached) can both
rotate and translate relative to the guide track 152 (and thus the
frame component 116 to which it is attached) to cooperate with the
first rotate/translate mechanism 130 to enable the infant-receiving
component to travel through the wave motion in a reciprocating
fashion according to the wave motion imparted by the first
rotate/translate mechanism.
[0034] In the depicted embodiment, the frame-attached body 158 is
fixedly attached to (or integrally formed as part of) the frame 110
(e.g., at end portions 116b of the base members 116), and the
seat-attached body 162 is fixedly attached to (or integrally formed
as part of) the infant-receiving component 120. In other
embodiments, one or both of these attached bodies is rotationally
coupled to its respective attached component (to provide the needed
range of rotation) and thus the traveler pins need not provide for
the rotational motion (e.g., they can be rectangular or another
non-cylindrical shape). And while the guide track and guide pin of
the depicted embodiment couple/retain the infant-receiving
component to the frame (while permitting relative rotation and
translation), in other embodiments the components that couple them
together are different from the components that permit their
relative rotation and/or translation (though such separate coupling
embodiments can still be considered to be part of the
rotate/translate mechanism).
[0035] In yet other embodiments, the guide track and guided
traveler are reversed, with the guide track part of the
seat-attached body and the guided traveler part of the
frame-attached body. In still other embodiments, another number
and/or arrangement of guide slots and guided pins can be provided.
In some embodiments the guide slot is generally horizontal, and in
other embodiments the guide slot is angled from horizontal and/or
non-linear (e.g., gently curved upward, downward, or sinusoidally)
to contribute another aspect to the wave motion. In yet other
embodiments, the first and second rotate/translate mechanisms are
reversed, with the first rotate/translate mechanism at the front of
the infant seat and the second rotate/translate mechanism at its
rear. And in yet still other embodiments, another type of
conventional mechanism is provided that enables a combination of
rotational and translational motion between two components. It
should be noted that the guide track and guided traveler of the
depicted embodiment provide for a limited range of rotation
sufficient to conform with and enable the rotational component of
the wave motion dictated by the first rotate/translate mechanism,
and as such the rotate/translate mechanism need only provide for a
pivoting motion by the guided traveler, though embodiments
providing for a complete 360-degree rotation can be used
instead.
[0036] Referring back to FIGS. 5-6, the drive system 170 is
operable to drive at least one of the rotate/translate mechanisms
130 and 150 to impart the wave motion to the infant-receiving
component 120. The drive system 170 can include conventional
components to drive the rotation of the cam 136 of the first
rotate/translate mechanism 130, with the selection and
configuration of such drive components known in the art and thus
not described in great detail. In an example embodiment, the drive
system 170 includes a gear train driven by an actuator and driving
the cam barrel 136, with the gear train including at least two
gears that interengage/mesh to transfer rotation from one to the
other. As depicted, the drive system 170 includes a rotary drive
actuator 172, a rotary drive gear 174 that is driven by the
actuator, and a rotary driven gear 176 that is driven by the drive
gear to rotate the cam barrel 136, with the drive and driven gears
in a spur gear arrangement. The drive actuator 172 can be provided
by a conventional electric motor and an electric power supply
(e.g., batteries, a solar panel, or a conductor that can be plugged
into a 110v household receptacle) or by another conventional rotary
actuator. The drive gear 174 can be rotationally mounted to the
housing 146 or to another component of the infant seat 100 such as
the infant-receiving component 120. And the driven gear 176 can be
attached or formed onto the periphery of the cam barrel 136 (and
thus centered on the rotational axis 138). In this way, rotation of
the drive gear 172 imparts an opposite-direction rotation to the
driven gear 174 and thus also to the cam barrel 136 to drive the
first rotate/translate mechanism 130.
[0037] In other embodiments, the gear train includes other types of
gear arrangements such as rack-and-pinion, worm, bevel, or
planetary, and/or more than two gears are included in the gear
train. In yet other embodiments, the drive system includes other
types of drive components such as linkages or other conventional
structures that are operable to transfer rotational motion. In
still other embodiments, the actuator is positioned at the rear end
of the infant receiving component to drive the second
rotate/translate mechanism (e.g., to drive the guided traveler) or
to drive an alternative second rotate/translate mechanism (e.g.,
including a cam and follower arrangement similar to that of the
first rotate/translate mechanism). And in yet still other
embodiments, the drive actuator is a conventional linear actuator
and the drive system includes gears, linkages, or other
conventional drive components to convert linear motion to
rotational motion.
[0038] The control system 180 is operable to enable a
caretaker/user to control operation of the drive system 170, and
thus the wave motion of the infant-receiving component 120, as
desired. The control system 180 can include conventional control
components to provide this functionality, with the selection and
configuration of such control components known in the art and thus
not described in great detail. Thus, the control system 180 can
include conventional components to turn the actuator 172 on and
off, to automatically turn off the actuator after a pre-set time
period (i.e., a timer function), to indicate low battery power, to
set different wave-motion modes (e.g., to vary the speed of the
actuator, to reverse the angular direction of the drive actuator to
reverse the wave-motion direction, and/or to selectively engage of
one of plural different drive gears to vary the amplitude of the
wave motion), and/or to provide other conventional control
functions. In an example embodiment, the control system 180
includes a controller 182, an electrical connection 184 from it to
the actuator 172, and a user interface 186 for the controller. As
depicted, the controller 182 is provided by a processor and memory
with control programming, the electrical connection 184 is provided
by electric wiring, and the user interface 186 is provided by at
least one control input such as a button, knob, slide, or the like.
In other embodiments, other conventional controls can be used whose
selection and configuration would be known by persons of ordinary
skill in the art.
[0039] Referring now to FIGS. 9-13, the operation of the infant
seat 100 will now be briefly described. FIG. 9 shows the infant
seat 100 in a random rest position that for purposes of this
description will be referred to as the start position. In this
position, the cam 132 is in a rotational position with its
rotational axis 138 to the right and beside its eccentric
connection 140 to the frame 110, and the guide traveler 154 is in
its rearmost position relative to the guide track 152.
[0040] As shown in FIG. 10, upon operation of the control system to
active the drive system, the cam 132 is rotationally driven (as
indicated by the adjacent angular direction arrow) to revolve about
its eccentric frame connection 140 until its rotational axis 138 is
below its eccentric frame connection. In turn, the containment of
the cam barrel 136 within the follower rims 142 of the housing 146
causes the housing and thus the attached-thereto infant-receiving
component 120 to be driven through a curved motion including a
forward translation component and downward rotation component (as
indicated by the adjacent angular and linear directional arrows).
And the guide traveler 154 facilitates this by moving (relative to
the guide track 152) through a conforming curved motion including a
forward translation component and a downward rotational component
(as indicated by the adjacent angular and linear directional
arrows).
[0041] The process continues with the cam 132 further rotationally
driven (as indicated by the adjacent angular direction arrows) to
revolve about its eccentric frame connection 140 until its
rotational axis 138 is to the left and beside its eccentric frame
connection (FIG. 11), then above its eccentric frame connection
(FIG. 12), then back to the left and beside its eccentric frame
connection (FIG. 13) once again in the start position. This causes
the infant-receiving component 120 to be further driven through a
curved motion including translation and rotation components, and
the guide traveler 154 facilitates this by moving (relative to the
guide track 152) through a conforming curved motion including
translation and rotation components (as indicated by the
corresponding adjacent angular and linear directional arrow sets),
as shown in respective FIGS. 11-13. The cumulative result is that
the revolving cam 132 causes the infant-receiving component 120 to
travel through a wave motion that traces an elliptical path in a
vertical plane running front to rear.
[0042] While the invention has been described with reference to
preferred and example embodiments, it will be understood by those
skilled in the art that a variety of modifications, additions and
deletions are within the scope of the invention, as defined by the
following claims.
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