Patent Grant
9713392
The present invention concerns a bouncer or bouncing cradle and a frame for such.
Bouncers are used for babies and small children, allowing them sit in a semi upright position to have a better overview without loading the back excessively. In addition, bouncers may be used to let a baby move in an up-and-down or bouncing movement to keep the baby content and happy, to let the baby rock safely, as well as for calming the baby such as for falling to sleep, depending on the degree, intensity and direction of the bouncing movement.
The bouncing movement may be instigated by the baby itself shifting its weight within the bouncer, or by an adult gently rocking or pushing down on the bouncer.
A number of bouncers have been made to let the baby train its legs by half jumping up and down. However, the movement in current bouncers does not seem to keep all babies fond and calm.
The bouncer chairs presently on the market are mainly based on two different principles for allowing movement of the baby or small child sitting in the bouncer; namely a rocking-chair movement or a simple tilting movement.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,361,106 and US 2002/063457 describe a frame for a baby rocking chair having a curved base for supporting a seat frame and obtaining a rocking movement.
WO 2008/004959 describes a bouncing cradle with a backrest connected in a single pivot mounting to a base for a pivoting/tilting movement.
So called “baby jumpers” for encouraging babies to use their legs are also known from prior art, such as U.S. Pat. No. 3,076,628 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,066,906 wherein a seat by parallel hinging to a base is maintained in a horizontal position while the seat moves up and down and forward and backward, while the jumper at the same time is collapsible.
An objective of the invention is to provide a bouncer providing a more pleasant movement pattern for the baby, rather than only a tilting or rocking-chair movement of previous bouncers.
Further, an objective of the invention is to provide a bouncer with an angle adjustment of its seat, which is simple, safe and easy to adjust in a continuous manner without collapsing the bouncer. An objective is also to provide a bouncer allowing for such angle adjustment or inclination adjustment by the use of one hand while the baby may be seated in the bouncer. An additional objective is to provide a bouncer, which may be moved and/or lifted while retaining its inclination.
Another objective of the invention is to provide a bouncer wherein a seat portion may be collapsed flat onto a base frame portion for easy storage and transport. An additional objective is to provide a means for keeping the bouncer locked in its collapsed state.
The invention concerns a bouncer according to the independent claims. Further embodiments are apparent from the dependent claims. These and other objects are achieved with a baby bouncer according to an embodiment of the invention. The bouncer comprises a base frame and a seat frame. In a use position the seat frame is inclined relative to the base frame. The baby bouncer further comprises a support device movably connecting the seat frame to the base frame. The support device is attached to the seat frame at one or more respective first connection portions, and to the base frame, such that the inclination alternately increases and decreases during operation of the bouncer, and such that when the inclination of the seat frame decreases, the one or more first connection portions are moved forward relative to base frame, and vice versa. The combination of rotational movement and forward movement at decrease of the inclination of the bouncer, provides the bouncer with a more natural rocking experience for the child and therefore keeps the child more content.
In the use position, the seat frame is typically inclined relative to the base frame at an inner angle between base frame and seat frame of 15-35 degrees. Such inclination provided for a natural movement of the child.
The support device may comprise at least one distance member connecting at least one of the first connection portions to at least one second connection portion of the base frame. Each one of said at least one distance member extends from the base frame forwards when the baby bouncer is in its use position. The at least one distance member provides an inexpensive and reliable means for providing the intended movement of the bouncer of the invention.
The support device may comprise a biasing means configured to elastically deform in response to changes in the inclination of the baby bouncer. Thus, reversible and repeatable bouncing movement is provided for by said biasing means without need of external power means such as a motor for increasing and decreasing the inclination of the bouncer.
The biasing means may comprise a torsion spring attached at a first end to any one of the at least one distance members and at a second end to any one of the base frame or the seat frame, such that the torsion spring is stressed in response to change of the inclination of the baby bouncer. The torsion spring provides a robust and inexpensive means for elastic deformation to keep the bouncer moving back and forth.
The second end of the torsion spring may be rotatably hinged at the respective base frame or seat frame. The second end of the torsion spring is provided with a lever, and the lever is connected to the respective base frame or seat frame by means of a length-adjustable spacer. The combination of torsion spring, lever and length-adjustable spacer provides a robust and inexpensive means for allowing adjustment of the inclination of the bouncer.
The spacer may comprise a first and a second axially aligned spacer element provided on their outside with inverse threads, said spacer elements being joined by a matching threaded sleeve, such that the length of the spacer may be adjusted by rotation of the sleeve. This provides a means for quick adjustment of the length of the spacer using only one hand.
Further, the spacer may comprise a quick-release mechanism comprising a guide means in which the first spacer element is axially slidable, and a catch arm movable between a locking position in which it locks movement of the spacer element within the guide means, and a release position in which it allows the spacer element to move freely move relative to the guide means. This provides a means for allowing quick folding and unfolding of the bouncer whilst keeping the sleeve untouched, thereby allowing the bouncer to be quickly setup to its preferred inclination after storage.
In an aspect the invention relates to a bouncer comprising a base frame and a seat frame wherein
the seat frame is pivotally connected to the base frame by at least one rear and at least one front distance member(s);
the rear distance member(s) connected in a first end to rear base frame pivot mounting(s) and in a second end to rear seat frame pivot mounting(s);
the front distance member(s) connected in a first ends to front base frame pivot mounting(s) and in a second end to front seat frame pivot mounting(s);
wherein, within a vertical longitudinal plane of the bouncer, the distance D1 in between the rear base frame pivot mounting(s) and the rear seat frame pivot mounting(s) is larger than the distance D2 between the front base frame pivot mounting(s) and the front seat frame pivot mounting(s).
In an alternative D1 is: at least twice the length of D2; alternatively at least three times the length of D2; alternatively within the range of 2-4 times the length of D2.
In an alternative the rear distance member(s) are non-parallel with the front distance member(s) in an expanded state of the bouncer; alternatively wherein the angle between the rear distance member(s) and the base frame in addition is less than the angle between the front distance member(s) and the base frame.
In an alternative the distance D3 between the rear and front base frame pivot mountings is larger than the distance D4 between the rear and front seat frame pivot mountings.
In an alternative the angle between the front and rear distance member(s) is limited by a spacer, pivotally connected to at least two of: the rear distance member(s), front distance member(s), base frame and seat frame. The spacer may be length adjustable to regulate the inclination of the seat frame.
In an alternative the spacer is length adjustable as it comprises a longitudinal slot with recesses spaced apart along the length of the slot, open in the rearward direction, wherein a transversal part of the return members may run in said slot to adjust the angle between the rear and front distance member(s), and fit into the recess for locking said angle. In another alternative the spacer is length adjustable as it comprises a front and rear threaded shaft connected by an outer coupling threaded on the inside allowing continuous adjustment of the effective length of said spacer by turning said coupling.
The spacer may additionally be extended in an extent to allow for a collapsing of the seat frame onto the base frame. The spacer may comprise a first spacer element and a second spacer element wherein the second spacer element may slide within an adapted housing of the first spacer element. The first or second spacer element may in the opposite end of their connection to each other in addition be length adjustable according to the above to regulate the inclination of the seat.
The second spacer element may comprises a locking element, such as a recess or hole, into which a locking organ, such as a pin, may enter thereby locking the sliding ability of the second spacer element in relation to the front spacer element, such as for an expanded state of the bouncer. The locking organ may be operated by a lever which upon actuation inserts or removes said locking organ from said locking element.
In an alternative, the spacer is pivotally connected:
in a first end to one of the pivot mountings of the base frame or the seat frame; and
in a second end to a member selected from: the rear distance member(s), the front distance member(s), the base frame or the seat frame, at a distance from said members pivot mountings;
wherein the selected member is not connected to the pivot mounting to which the first end of the spacer is connected. The second end of the spacer may be pivotally connected to a return member of an end of the rear or front distance member(s).
In an alternative the bouncer comprises a spring means between at least two members selected from: the rear distance member(s), the front distance member(s), the base frame, the seat frame or the return member. The spring means may comprise:
flexible rear or front distance member(s); and/or
torsion rotation between the end of the rear or front distance member(s) and its return member; and/or
spring loaded sliding pivot mountings in either the base frame or seat frame.
The invention will be further described by the following example embodiments with reference to the drawings, none of which should be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.
In the further description the following terms will be used which should be understood as follows unless otherwise specified.
By the term “in front”, “forward”, “front” and “forward directed” is meant the mainly horizontal direction, which the face and chest of a baby-sitting in the bouncer is facing during normal use.
Further, by the term “behind”, “rearward”, “rear” and “rearward directed” is meant the opposite mainly horizontal direction, which is the direction towards which the back of the baby sitting in a bouncer generally is directed towards during normal use of the bouncer.
It should be noted that the terms “rear” and “front” may be used as an indication of the geometric relation of certain parts or objects in relation to each other, and not necessarily to their actual position on the bouncer.
By the term “longitudinal” is meant the mainly horizontal direction within the plane of symmetry of the bouncer and by “lateral” or “transversal” is meant the generally horizontal direction perpendicular on the plane of symmetry of the bouncer. By “inward” is meant the lateral direction towards the plane of symmetry of the bouncer.
The invention will in the following be illustrated by examples of embodiments with referred to the figures, none of which are limiting for the invention.
The base frame 10 comprises in this embodiment two parallel longitudinal side parts 11 connected together in the front by a front transversal frame part 12 and in the rear by a rear transversal frame part 13, both transversal parts having the form of semicircles. In addition, the base frame comprises a transversal part 15 between the longitudinal side parts 11 for accommodating front distance members 50 connecting the base frame 10 to the seat frame 20. The base frame may alternatively comprise several transversal or longitudinal parts for stiffening the frame or provide accommodation for connecting or distance members. Alternatively the base frame 10 may comprise a mainly solid plate, but in order to reduce weight, such as for ease of transport, a more open structure may be used.
The seat frame 20 comprises two parallel longitudinal side parts 21 connected together in the front by a front transversal frame part 22 and in the rear by a rear transversal frame part 23, both transversal parts having the form of semicircles in this embodiment. A seat support 30 is fastened to and spanned over the seat frame 20 and its frame parts. The seat support is divided into three main parts from rear to front, comprising a head and backrest part 31, a seat part 32 and a leg rest 33, providing a comfortable and adapted support for the baby when it lies or sits in the bouncer. The seat support 30 may comprise a flexible material, such as textile, possibly with rigid or semi rigid integrated parts, such as in the seat part 32 to maintain support and shape of said part of the seat support. At the same time, such rigid or semi-rigid parts should be flexibly connected to adjacent parts to allow for the seat frame 20 to collapse onto the base frame and become generally flat.
Hence, in the embodiment of
In this embodiment, both rear and front seat pivot mountings 401 and 501 in the seat frame 20 are positioned in the front part of said frame, the mounting for the front distance member 50 positioned in front of the mounting for the rear distance member 40. The result is that the rear distance member 40 is considerably longer than the front distance member 50 in order for the seat to be in a reasonable half reclined position for a baby, in this example more than three times the length. The lengths of said distance members 40, 50 affect their effective pivot radius and hence their movement when pivoted. The base frame 10 with rear and front base pivot mountings 400 and 500 is resting immobile on a support (i.e. a floor), the movement of the rear and front seat pivot mountings 401 and 501 hence follow the movement indicated by arrows 105 and 106 respectively. Since the rear distance member 40 is considerably longer than the front distance member 50 it has a larger rotational radius than the front member. In the exemplified inclined position of the seat, the rear distance member 40 is also more inclined (at about 30°) than the front distance member 50 (at about 45°). During bouncing, the movement of the rear seat pivot mountings 401 becomes mainly vertical with only a comparable smaller longitudinal movement, while the movement of the front seat pivot mountings 501 is both vertical and horizontal due to the initial angle of the front distance member 50. The resulting movement of the seat is hence as described earlier with movement components both vertically and horizontally as indicated by arrow 101 and 102.
In order for the bouncer to remain in an expanded condition without collapsing, the rotation of the rear and front distance members 40 and 50 must be locked in relation to each other, such as by one or more rotational locking means. Said means may be a locking of the rotation in one or more of the pivot mountings 400, 401, 500 and/or 501 or other means.
Alternatively, rotational locking may be provided by a spacer connected to any two of a rear distance member, a front distance member, a base frame, and a seat frame. The spacer is positioned in order to hinder rotation of said members or frames. As a minimum, at least a first part of such a spacer needs to be connect in a distance from the pivot mountings of the member or frame it is connected to, while a second part may be connected to either a different member or frame, or one of the pivot mountings other than the pivot mountings of the member or frame it is connected to, provided the seat and base frame, and the distance members are not in a parallel configuration.
In the embodiment shown in
The spacer 60 comprises a longitudinal slot 63 with downwards-directed recesses 63 spaced apart along the length of the slot 63, which is open in the rearward direction. A transversal part of the return members 43 free end 44 may run in said slot 63 to adjust the angle between the rear and front distance members, and fit into the recess 62, thus locking said angle.
By moving the return members 43 free end 44 rearward and out of the open ended slot 63 the bouncer may be collapsed flat. In order for the seat frame 20 to be collapsible onto the base frame 10, the distance from the rear end of the seat frame 20 to the rear seat pivot mountings 401 should be about equal to the distance between the rear end of the base frame 10 and the rear base frame pivot mounting 400 plus the length of the rear distance member 40. Similarly, the distance from the front end of the seat frame 20 to the front seat pivot mountings 501 plus the length of the front distance member 50 should be about equal to the distance between the front end of the base frame 10 and the front base frame pivot mounting 500. In one alternative, the length of the rear distance member 40 is shorter than the distance between the rear and front base frame pivot mountings 400 and 500 to hinder overlap of the rear and front distance members 40 and 50 when the bouncer is collapsed.
In order for the bouncer to have a bouncing movement or feathering effect as illustrated in
In this embodiment, the rear distance members 40 are connected to or form part of a closed or partly closed frame with two parallel longitudinal rods having first and second ends 41 and 42 respectively. The first ends 41 round of laterally towards each other to be hinged in the base frame 10 rear pivot mounting 400. The second ends 42 round of inwardly to lateral crosspieces 45, hinged to the seat frame 20 in the seats rear pivot mountings 41, which in this example are clips 24 receiving said crosspieces 45. The inward ends of the lateral crosspieces 45 extend rearwards in parallel into a longitudinal return member 43, which rear ends 44 are directed inward into a mutual lateral piece which is hinged to the rear end of the spacer 600 through the spacers rear pivot mounting 601. The longitudinal return member 43 may be offset in its inclination in relation to the inclination of the rest of the rear distance member 40, said inclination relating to inclination within the symmetry plane of the bouncer 100.
Hence, in order to obtain an alternative spring loading in relation to the movement of the seat, the crosspieces 45 may have a torsion capacity, in allowing the rear piece 43 and rear distance members 40 rotate in relation to each dependent on the load on said parts from the seat.
In another alternative, the spacer 600 may be spring loaded, such as by a coil spring within said spacer, which could be telescopic, similar to a conventional shock absorber construction.
In the present embodiment, the spacer 600 comprises a telescopic function allowing the spacer to expand upon activation by the lever 700, which allows the bouncer to be collapsed.
The spacer 600 comprises a rear spacer element 610 hinged to the rear end 44 of the return member 43 in a rear spacer pivot mounting 601. The spacer 600 also comprises a front spacer element 620 hinged to the seat frame 20 in a pivot mounting 501. Said front spacer element 620 also houses a middle spacer element 630 in this embodiment for additional functionalities which will be explained later. However, said middle spacer element 630 may alternatively be an integrated part of the front spacer element 620 for seat angle regulation purposes.
The rear and front spacer elements 610 and 620 are connected by a distance regulating means 640 for shortening or lengthening of the spacer 600. In this embodiment, the distance regulating means is a sleeve 640 threaded on the inside which receives facing threaded ends of both the rear and front spacer elements 610 and 620 (either directly or indirectly), which upon turning of said sleeve retracts or separates said spacer elements 610 and 620 towards or away from each other.
In
In
It should be noted that a relative small change in the length of the spacer 600 changes the seat angle quite importantly. Hence, by using a relative coarse threading in the sleeve and interacting spacer pieces 610 and 630, as illustrated in the figures, a small rotational adjustment of the sleeve 640 (such as a half or one, or two full turns) may be sufficient to provide the desired angle change of the seat.
The optional middle spacer element 630 shown in this embodiment is slidingly connected to the front spacer element 620. In this embodiment the middle spacer element has a front part in the form of a cylinder which may slide within an adapted housing of the front spacer element 620. The rear end of the middle spacer element 630 is threaded on the outside to fit the sleeve 640. The front end 632 of the middle spacer element 630 comprises a locking element 633 cooperating with an outside locking organ 703. In this embodiment the locking element 633 of the middle spacer element 630 is a recess (or hole) into which the locking organ 703 may enter, in this case in the form of pin, locking the sliding ability of the middle spacer element 630 in relation to the front spacer element 620. The locking organ 703 is operated by a lever 702 which upon actuation may insert or remove said pin 703 to let the middle spacer element 630 slide freely within the front spacer element 620. It should be noted that the recess of said locking element 633 in this embodiment has a small rearward lip or protrusion on the front top edge of the recess. Similarly, said locking organ 703 entering said recess has a forward protrusion or shoe form, lodging the pin under said lip. This alternative provides the requirement of a certain force or a further insertion of the middle spacer element 630 into the front spacer element 620 before releasing the locking organ from the locking element and collapsing the bouncer. Said function may provide a “click” sensation upon locking or unlocking as a confirmation that the spacer is locked.
In
From the detailed view it can be seen how the middle spacer element 630 is positioned all the way into the housing of the front spacer element 620. In this position, the locking element 633 is aligned with the locking organ 703, which has entered said element. The locking organ 703 may be rotated by the handle 702 through its rotational mounting 701 on the front spacer element 620 to unlock the middle spacer element 630 from the front spacer element 620 so that the middle spacer element may slide freely rearwards in order to collapse the seat. In this embodiment the above-mentioned forward protrusion of the pin is blocked by the rearward lip or protrusion on the front top edge of the locking element 633. Hence, in order to unlock the spacer 600, the middle spacer element 630, which is forced rearward by the weight of the seat and possibly a baby therein, must be forced somewhat forward into front spacer element 620 for the pins 703 front end to clear the rearward lip of the locking element 633.
In
In this embodiment, the mutual pivot mounting 501 (of both the top end of the front distance member 50 and the front end of the spacer 600), provides a stopper in the pin of said mounting for the front end of the middle spacer element 630 when inserted into the housing of the front spacer element 620.
In
In this embodiment, the seat frame 20 may be detachably locked to the base frame 10 by just fitting onto the base in a precise manner, possibly by deploying one or more friction areas where the two frames are clamped together, or possibly by the use of one or more locks, such as a snap lock. Alternatively, the locking device within the spacer could be used by providing a second set of locking elements and/or locking organs to the middle and front spacer elements 630, 620 to lock the spacer in a expanded state as shown in
When expanding the bouncer again, as in
The front end of the middle spacer element has a slanted front end, askew rearwards and in the same direction as the tilting of the locking organ 630. Hence, upon insertion again of the middle spacer element 630, its front end will force the locking organ 703 to tilt out of the housing of the front spacer element 620, against any spring loading. When the middle spacer element is fully inserted in the housing, the locking organ 703 will slip into the locking element 633 by its spring loading without any need for actuating the handle 702 securing that the seat frame 20 is locked in position.
From this position, tilting of the seat may be performed by turning the sleeve, and a spring loading from either flexible rear (or front) distance members 40/50, spring torsion in the return member 43, or spring loading of the spacer 600, may provide a swinging movement of the bouncer when rocked by the baby or a caretaker.
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