US3100638A

US3100638A - Baby rocker

Info

Publication number: US3100638A
Application number: US96992A
Authority: US
Inventors: Dietmar M Schoeffel
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-03-20
Filing date: 1961-03-20
Publication date: 1963-08-13
Anticipated expiration: 1980-08-13

Description

Allg- 13, 1963 D. M. scHoEl-'FEL 3,100,638

` BABY ROCKER Filed March 2oi 1961 6' INVENTOR DIETMQR M. SCHOEFFEL FTT'TOENEY United States Patent O 3,100,638 Y BABY ROCKER Dietmar M. Schoeiel, 355 Hillsdale Ave., Hillsdale, NJ. Filed Mar. 20, 1961, Ser. No. 96,992 4 Claims. (Cl. 2172-33) The invention relates to baby rockers and `in particular to those baby rockers which lare caused to rotate under the urging of the rocking by the baby.

After babies reach the age of six months they start to rattle the sides of their cribs and to rock in their stollers or carriages. They appear to obtain considerable enjoyment both from the `sounds produced and the exercise. Unfortunately, most of these devices in which a baby rocks are not designed for such strain and in a short time they develop structural weakness so that they cannot be used freely lor have to be discarded. This misuse of baby furniture results in an atmosphere lof nervous tension 'and lcontributes to the insecurity of the child itself.

While it is true that there are various devices available which permit a baby to rock as much as it pleases, they all appear to possess a common disadvantage. The motion of these prior art devices is generally limited to a single direction even though the chair or similar mechanism which is actuated by the toddlers impact, is spring suspended.

F[be present device, which I call Rockn Roller, gives considerable security and pleasure to the child. Parents enjoy .peace of mind since they known that the baby is safely and joyzfully occupied. The Rockn Roller satisfies the babys natural drive for activities which produce moF tion while at the same time making him lawareV ot the fact that his enjoyment depends on his physical eiiiorts.

'Ilhe seat of the Rockn Roller, which may be a boat, car, borse, swan or any other suitable orm, becomes accelerated in la to and 'fro motion due to the rocking of the baby. The device is mounted on four wheels, two of which are ratcheted. The back and forward movement of the chair causes these ratcheted wheels to produce rotation of the wheel base thereby giving the baby a constantly changing view of its surroundings. Y

Accordingly, it is an important object of the invention to provide a baby rocker which rotates under the urging of the rocking by the child.

This and other objects, advantages, uses and :features will be apparent during thecourse of the `following descrip tion when taken in connection with the 'accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top view of the device of the invention, and

FIGURE 2 is la side elevational view of the device 0f FIGURE l with one wheel, that facing the observer, removed. p Y- p In the drawings, wherein there is shown for the purpose of illustration, a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein like numeralsare used to designate like parts throughout the same, lthe numeral 1 designatesthe childs seat. 'Ilhe rocking motion of the chair is in the direction designated by the `arrow X and the direction of rotation of the wheel base is shown by means ofthe arrows Y.

Chair 1 is drectly'linked to uninterrupted axle 2 which is mounted in housing 3 in a free bearing fit.` `The chair is permitted to tilt in a restricted angle around point 4. Restriction is accomplished because; `of the fixed `distance between chair 1 and housing 3 which resultsfin a positive stop of boththe forward and backward motionof chair` 1.

llhe forward or backward motion of chair 1in direction X is transmitted to axle 2 because of the positive connection of the two elements.

Tbis motion factuates ratchets 5 and 5a which are iastened to axle 2. The mating portions of the natchets 5 and 5a are mounted on

wheels

6 and 6a which are in a loose bearing t with axle 2. It can be seen that the rocking of lchair 1 upon being transmitted to `axle 2 causes the natohets 5 and 5a to transmit a rotational motion to

Wheels

6 or 6a depending on whether the chair is moved forward or backward.` Due to the arrangement of the ratchets 5 and 5a the rotation in the direction Y is the same regardless of the direction of movement of the chair 1. The velocity of the rotational motion is directly related to the velocity and 'angular motion of chair 1 in direction X.

Axle 8 is interrupted at housing 3 as shown in FIGURE 1. Wheels 7 and'7a are mounted on the ends of axle 8 in a loose bearing iit. They give sucient support to intercept the forces developed by the swinging of chair 1 in directions X.

Tension springs 9 are fastened to chair 1 and axle 8I to keep the Kchair in 1a suspended neutral position in the approximate center of its possible motions.

While I have disclosed my invention in relation to a specic example and in a specic embodiment, I do not wish to be limited thereto, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, Iv claim:

1. A baby chair for operation in a circular path under force provided by an operator comprising (2z) a iframe,

I(b) an uninterrupted axle mounted within said frame and freely rotatable with respect thereto,

(c) an axle interrupted in the center thereof mounted to said frame,

(d) 1a rst pair of wheels mounted at the ends of said interrupted axle,

(e) a seat mounted on said uninterrupted axle so as to be pivotally movable in a direction transverse to that of said uninterrupted axle and so as to apply rota,- tional force thereto,

(f) ia second pair of wheels mounted at the ends of said uninterrupted axle,

. (g) rotation control means' mounted between each of said second pair of wheels and said uninterrupted axle such that the4 rotation ofsaid second pair of wheels is unidirectional regardless of the direction of the r0- tational force applied to said uninterruptedaxle,

(lz) means or limiting the pivotal movement of said Seat. 1 2. A baby cbairas describedin` claim 1 whereinsaid wheels are spaced apart by A 3. A baby chair as `described in claim 1 wherein said means for limiting thepivotal movement'of said seat comprises a pair `of springs mounted between said seat and saidd'rainef..

4. A baby chair fas described in claim 1 wherein said notation control means comprises `a pair of ratchets;`

References Cited in thele ofvthispategnt :l p UNITED 's'rArEsgPATENrs `1,466,476 t' Mahkey Auges, 1923` `2,457,355 Dittmar Dec."2s, 1958 2,650,645@ 'Granlund Sept. l, .1,953 2,769,635 Decken s rgNov 6, 1956V Patented Aug. 13, 1963

Claims

1. A BABY CHAIR FOR OPERATION IN A CIRCULAR PATH UNDER FORCE PROVIDED BY AN OPERATOR COMPRISING (A) A FRAME, (B) AN UNINTERRUPTED AXLE MOUNTED WITHIN SAID FRAME AND FREELY ROTATABLE WITH RESPECT THERETO, (C) AN AXLE INTERRUPTED IN THE CENTER THEREOF MOUNTED TO SAID FRAME, (D) A FIRST PAIR OF WHEELS MOUNTED AT THE ENDS OF SAID INTERRUPTED AXLE, (E) A SEAT MOUNTED ON SAID UNINTERRUPTED AXLE SO AS TO BE PIVOTALLY MOVABLE IN A DIRECTION TRANSVERSE TO THAT OF SAID UNINTERRUPTED AXLE AND SO AS TO APPLY ROTATIONAL FORCE THERETO, (F) A SECOND PAIR OF WHEELS MOUNTED AT THE ENDS OF SAID UNINTERRUPTED AXLE, (G) ROTATION CONTROL MEANS MOUNTED BETWEEN EACH OF SAID SECOND PAIR OF WHEELS AND SAID UNINTERRUPTED AXLE SUCH THAT THE ROTATION OF SAID SECOND PAIR OF WHEELS IS UNIDIRECTIONAL REGARDLESS OF THE DIRECTION OF THE ROTATIONAL FORCE APPLIED TO SAID UNINTERRUPTED AXLE, (H) MEANS FOR LIMITING THE PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID SEAT.