Infant Care Apparatus

• US 20140339867A1
• Filed: 07/30/2014
• Published: 11/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thorley Industries LLC
• Original Assignee: Thorley Industries LLC
• Inventors: Koes, Mary J., Daley, Robert D., Hopke, Frederick Karl, Thorne, Henry F.
• Granted Patent: US 9,642,474 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/217.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/00 Chairs adapted for special purposes features relating to vertical adjustability A47C3/20; convertible chairs A47C13/00; chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons A61G5/00; operating chairs, dental chairs A61G15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47D 13/105 pivotally mounted in a frame
• CPC Class Codes: A47D 9/057 driven by electric motors

Abstract

An infant care apparatus includes a base; a drive mechanism disposed on the base; a controller electronically coupled to the drive mechanism; and a support device coupled to the drive mechanism. The support device is configured to be moved in both a horizontal and vertical direction relative to the base by the drive mechanism. The drive mechanism is controlled by the controller to move the support device in a plurality of motion profiles relative to the base.

Claims

1. An infant care apparatus comprising:

a base;

a drive mechanism coupled to the base and comprising a horizontal reciprocating assembly and a vertical reciprocating assembly;

a controller electronically coupled to the drive mechanism; and

a support device coupled to the vertical reciprocating assembly, the support device configured to be moved in both a horizontal and vertical direction relative to the base by the drive mechanism,

wherein the horizontal reciprocating assembly comprises a first motor having a drive shaft;

a slide crank assembly comprising a gearing assembly coupled to the drive shaft of the first motor and a crank member coupled to the gearing assembly; and

a sliding stage coupled to the crank member, such that operation of the first motor causes rotation of the slide crank assembly, thereby imparting reciprocating horizontal motion to the sliding stage.

2. The infant care apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is mounted within the base.

3. The infant care apparatus of claim 2, wherein the controller includes a user interface configured to receive input from the user for controlling the movement of the drive mechanism.

4. The infant care apparatus of claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism is controlled by the controller to move the support device in a plurality of visually distinctive motion profiles relative to the base.

5. The infant care apparatus of claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of motion profiles includes both horizontal and vertical movements.

6. The infant care apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vertical reciprocating assembly comprises:

a second motor having a drive shaft;

a worm gear assembly coupled to the output of the drive shaft; and

a vertical yoke having a first end coupled to an output shaft of the worm gear assembly,

wherein operation of the second motor causes rotation of the vertical yoke, thereby imparting reciprocating vertical motion to the support device.

7. The infant care apparatus of claim 6, wherein the vertical reciprocating assembly further includes a dual scissor mechanism coupled to a second end of the vertical yoke configured to support the support device.

8. The infant care apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support device comprises:

a seat support tube coupled to the drive mechanism; and

a substantially elliptical seating portion coupled to a first end and a second end of the seat support tube.

9. The infant care apparatus of claim 8, wherein the support device further comprises:

a toy bar having a first end coupled to the second end of the seat support tube and a second end extending over the seating portion.

10. The infant care apparatus of claim 8, wherein the position of the seating portion of the support device is adjustable by sliding the seat support tube within the drive mechanism and locking the seat support tube in a desired position.

11. The infant care apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first end of the toy bar includes a curved surface that corresponds to a curved surface of the second end of the seat support tube, thereby causing the second end of the toy bar to be centered over the seating portion when the first end of the toy bar is coupled to the second end of the seat support tube.

12. An infant care apparatus comprising:

a base;

a drive mechanism positioned within a drive mechanism housing disposed on the base;

a support device coupled to the drive mechanism, the support device comprising a seating portion and an arcuate seat support tube extending from an upper end of the seating portion to a lower end of the seating portion, the seat support tube is supported by, and slidingly engaged with, a curved passage of the drive mechanism housing; and

a locking mechanism provided to secure the seat support tube within the curved passage of the drive mechanism housing when activated and to allow the seat support tube to slide along the curved passage when released.

13. An infant care apparatus comprising:

a base;

a drive mechanism coupled to the base, the drive mechanism comprising a horizontal reciprocating assembly comprising a sliding stage; and

a vertical reciprocating assembly disposed on an upper surface of the sliding stage of the horizontal reciprocating assembly;

a controller electronically coupled to the drive mechanism; and

a support device coupled to the drive mechanism, the support device configured to be moved in both a horizontal and vertical direction relative to the base by the drive mechanism,

wherein the horizontal reciprocating assembly further comprises a first motor having a drive shaft;

a slide crank assembly comprising a gearing assembly coupled to the drive shaft of the first motor and a crank member coupled to the gearing assembly and the sliding stage, such that operation of the first motor causes rotation of the slide crank assembly, thereby imparting reciprocating horizontal motion to the sliding stage.

14. The infant care apparatus of claim 13, wherein movement of the support device in the horizontal and vertical directions is coordinated to obtain at least one motion profile.

15. The infant care apparatus of claim 13, wherein the support device is moved in the vertical direction a maximum of about 1.5 inches and the support device is moved in the horizontal direction a maximum of about 3.0 inches.

16. The infant care apparatus of claim 13, wherein movement in the vertical direction has a frequency range of between about 10 and 40 cycles per minute and movement in the horizontal direction has a frequency range of between about 10 and 40 cycles per minute.

17. The infant care apparatus of claim 13, wherein the controller is mounted within the base.

18. The infant care apparatus of claim 17, wherein the controller includes a user interface configured to receive input from the user for controlling the movement of the drive mechanism.

19. The infant care apparatus of claim 13, wherein the drive mechanism is controlled by the controller to move the support device in a plurality of visually distinctive motion profiles relative to the base.

20. The infant care apparatus of claim 13, wherein the support device comprises:

a seat support tube coupled to the drive mechanism; and

a substantially elliptical seating portion coupled to a first end and a second end of the seat support tube.