Motion conversion mechanism for use with child containment structure

• US 7,344,428 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2005
• Issued: 03/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Graco Children's Products, Inc. (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Graco Children's Products, Inc. (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Stauffer, Dennis R., Ransil, Matthew J., Papageorge, Nicholas E.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIEN T
• Application Number:
  US11/103,650
• Publication Number:
  US 20050239565A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: 472118-125, 510/1, 5105-110, 446/227
• US Class Current: 446/227
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/006 Infant exercisers, e.g. for attachment to a crib

Abstract

A motion conversion mechanism is described. The motion conversion mechanism includes a first member and an a second member. The firs member is configured to be arranged relative to the child containment structure to undergo motion in a first angular direction and in a second angular direction opposite to the first angular direction. The second member includes a rotation device that is rotatable about a rotation axis. The first and second members configured in combination to convert motion about the angular motion axis to motion of the rotation device about the rotation axis when the first member moves in at least one of the first angular direction and in the second angular direction.

Claims

1. A motion conversion mechanism for use with a child containment structure, the motion conversion mechanism comprising:

a first member configured to be arranged relative to the child containment structure to undergo motion in a first angular direction and in a second angular direction opposite to the first angular direction;

a second member attached to a rotation device that is rotatable about a rotation axis; and

a first gear member in communication with the first member, and a second gear member in communication with the second member, wherein the first and second gear members intermesh to convert the angular motion of the first member to rotation of the rotation device, wherein the rotation device is driven to rotate when the first member moves both in the first angular direction and in the second angular direction.

2. The motion conversion mechanism of claim 1, wherein the motion in the first angular direction and in the second angular direction is about an angular motion axis, and the rotation axis is not parallel to the angular motion axis.

3. The motion conversion mechanism of claim 2, wherein the angular motion axis is fixed.

4. The motion conversion mechanism of claim 2, wherein the angular motion axis is not fixed.

5. The motion conversion mechanism of claim 1, wherein the first member is configured to be directly attached to the child containment structure.

6. The motion conversion mechanism of claim 1, wherein the first member is configured to be indirectly attached to the child containment structure via a support arm.

7. The motion conversion mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a toy attached to the rotation device.

8. The motion conversion mechanism of claim 1, wherein the rotation axis is substantially perpendicular to the angular motion axis.

9. The motion conversion mechanism of claim 1, wherein the first member comprises:

a first member housing configured to be attached to a support of the child containment structure;

at least one pawl; and

at least one ratchet configured to engage with the at least one pawl.

10. The motion conversion mechanism of claim 9, wherein the first member housing is configured to be fixedly attached to the support, and the at least one pawl is attached to the first member housing.

11. The motion conversion mechanism of claim 10, wherein the at least one pawl is rotationally coupled to the first member housing.

12. The motion conversion mechanism of claim 10, wherein the at least one pawl is coupled to the first member housing to flex relative to the first member housing.

13. The motion conversion mechanism of claim 10, wherein the first gear member is coupled to the at least one ratchet to rotate with the at least one ratchet, and wherein the second gear member is configured to engage with the at least one gear and to impart rotational motion to the rotation device about the rotation axis.

14. The motion conversion mechanism of claim 13, wherein the at least one ratchet comprises a first ratchet and a second ratchet, the at least one pawl comprises a first pawl configured to engage with the first ratchet, and a second pawl configured to engage with the second ratchet, and

wherein when the first member moves in the first angular direction, the first pawl engages the first ratchet so as to prevent rotation of the first ratchet and the second pawl allows rotation of the second ratchet, and when the first member moves in the second angular direction, the second pawl engages the second ratchet so as to prevent rotation of the second ratchet and the first pawl allows rotation of the first ratchet.

15. The motion conversion mechanism of claim 14, wherein the first member further comprises a ratchet axle fixed to the first member housing, wherein the at least one ratchet is configured to rotate about the ratchet axle.

16. The motion conversion mechanism of claim 13, wherein the first and second gear members are crown gears or spur gears.

17. The motion conversion mechanism of claim 13, wherein the first and second gear members are bevel gears.

18. The motion conversion mechanism of claim 13, wherein the second member further comprises a second member housing.

19. The motion conversion mechanism of claim 18, wherein the second member housing is pivotably connected to the first member housing.

20. The motion conversion mechanism of claim 13, further comprising:

a torque limiting clutch associated with the rotation device and the second gear member such that excessive torque applied to the rotation device is not transferred to the second gear member.

21. The motion conversion mechanism of claim 1, wherein the motion conversion mechanism comprises a mobile attached to the rotation device.

22. A motion conversion mechanism for use with a child containment structure, the motion conversion mechanism comprising:

a first member configured to be arranged relative to the child containment structure to undergo motion about an angular motion axis in a first angular direction and in a second angular direction opposite to the first angular direction;

a second member carrying a rotation device that is rotatable relative to the first member about a rotation axis;

a first pawl and a second pawl , both pawls carried by the first member; and

a first ratchet and a second ratchet rotatable with respect to the first ratchet, wherein the first and second ratchets are configured to engage the first pawl and the second pawl, respectively, wherein

movement of the first member in the first angular direction causes the first pawl to engage the first ratchet so as to prevent rotation of the first ratchet and the second pawl to disengage from the second ratchet so as to allow rotation of the second ratchet, and movement of the first member in the second angular direction causes the second pawl to engage the second ratchet so as to prevent rotation of the second ratchet and the first pawl to disengage from the first ratchet to allow rotation of the first ratchet.

23. The motion conversion mechanism of claim 22, wherein the second member further comprises a second member gear in communication with the first and second ratchets, wherein movement of the first member in the angular direction causes the second member gear to rotate about the rotation axis.

24. The motion conversion mechanism of claim 23, wherein the second member gear carries the rotation device.

25. The motion conversion mechanism of claim 24, further comprising first and second ratchet gears rotatably coupled to the first and second ratchets, respectively, wherein the first and second ratchet gears engage the second member gear.

26. The motion conversion mechanism of claim 22, wherein the motion conversion mechanism comprises a mobile attached to the rotation device.

27. The motion conversion mechanism of claim 22, wherein the first and second ratchets convert the angular motion of the first member to rotation of the rotation device when the first member moves both in the first angular direction and in the second angular direction.

28. A child entertainment structure comprising:

a support adapted to undergo motion about an angular axis in a first angular direction and a second angular direction opposite to the first angular direction; and

a motion conversion mechanism comprising;

a first member attached to the support, the first member including at least one ratchet and at least one pawl configured to engage the ratchet in one direction of motion and to disengage the ratchet in a second direction of motion;

a second member including a rotation device that is rotatable about a rotation axis, the rotation axis extending in a direction that is not parallel to the angular axis, wherein the pawl and ratchet convert motion of the first member about the angular motion axis to motion of the rotation device about the rotation axis.

29. The child entertainment structure of claim 28, further comprising:

a swing frame, and wherein the support comprises one of a swing seat and a swing seat support supported by the swing frame.

30. The child entertainment structure of claim 29, wherein the swing seat support comprises a hanger arm.

31. The child entertainment structure of claim 28, wherein the child entertainment structure comprises a bassinet, and the support comprises a child support surface.

32. The child entertainment structure of claim 28, wherein the child entertainment structure comprises a rocking chair including a seat.

33. The child entertainment structure of claim 28, wherein the motion conversion mechanism comprises a mobile attached to the rotation device.

34. The motion conversion mechanism of claim 28, wherein the first and second members convert motion about the angular motion axis to motion of the rotation device about the rotation axis when the support moves both in the first angular direction and in the second angular direction.

35. A motion conversion mechanism for use with a child containment structure, the motion conversion mechanism comprising:

a first member configured to be arranged relative to the child containment structure to undergo motion in a first angular direction and in a second angular direction opposite to the first angular direction;

at least one ratchet defining a plurality of ratchet teeth, and at least one pawl in communication with the first member, the pawl configured to engage the ratchet in one direction to prevent rotation of the ratchet, and to disengage and slide along the ratchet teeth in a second direction opposite the first direction to permit rotation of the ratchet; and

a second member including a rotation device that is rotatable about a rotation axis, the second member in communication with the ratchet, such that the angular motion of the first member is converted to motion of the rotation device about the rotation axis when the first member moves both in the first angular direction and in the second angular direction.