Claims
- 1. An infant support device comprising
a base, and an infant rocking apparatus comprising an infant support having opposite ends and longitudinally-extending side portions, the infant support having a trough extending longitudinally centrally between the side portions, the trough being configured to receive an infant extending longitudinally therein, the infant rocking apparatus having a pair of lifters that move to rock the infant support side to side, the lifters having upper ends coupled to respective side portions of the infant support, and the lifters having lower ends coupled to the base.
- 2. The infant support device of claim 1, wherein a space is defined between the lifters and at least a portion of the trough is received in the space.
- 3. The infant support device of claim 1, wherein the trough has a central portion positioned lower than the side portions.
- 4. The infant support device of claim 1, further comprising a control coupled to the lifters and configured to rock the infant support at selected amplitudes and frequencies.
- 5. The infant support device of claim 1, wherein each lifter has a fluid cylinder.
- 6. The infant support device of claim 5, further comprising a control system configured to direct fluid into and between each cylinder to rock the infant support cyclically.
- 7. The infant support device of claim 1, wherein each lifter comprises a pneumatic bellows.
- 8. The infant support device of claim 7, wherein each of the pneumatic bellows has an interior region and at least one member situated in the interior region for supporting the infant support.
- 9. The infant support device of claim 8, wherein the at least one member comprises at least one spring.
- 10. The infant support device of claim 1, wherein each lifter comprises a motor-driven lifter.
- 11. The infant support device of claim 1, wherein each lifter extends downwardly and inwardly relative from the infant support.
- 12. The infant support device of claim 1, wherein each lifter extends downwardly and outwardly from the infant support.
- 13. The infant support device of claim 1, wherein each lifter has a plurality of links movably attached to the infant support.
- 14. The infant support device of claim 13, further comprising an actuator coupled to at least one of the links and the actuator being movable to pivot the links to raise and lower each side portion to rock the infant support.
- 15. An infant rocking apparatus comprising
an infant support having opposite ends, longitudinally-extending side portions, and a trough for conformingly receiving an infant, the trough extending longitudinally centrally between the side portions and including a central portion being lower than the side portions, a pair of lifters coupled to the side portions and operable to raise and lower the side portions to rock the infant support from side to side, and a control system that operates the lifters to rock the infant support.
- 16. The rocking apparatus of claim 15, wherein a space is defined between the pair of lifters and at least a portion of the trough is positioned in the space.
- 17. The rocking apparatus of claim 16, wherein the lifters comprise pneumatic lifters.
- 18. The rocking apparatus of claim 16, wherein the lifters comprise pneumatic cylinders.
- 19. The rocking apparatus of claim 16, wherein the lifters comprise pneumatic bellows.
- 20. The rocking apparatus of claim 19, wherein the bellows have structural members for supporting the infant support.
- 21. The rocking apparatus of claim 20, wherein the structural members comprise springs.
- 22. The rocking apparatus of claim 16, wherein the lifters comprise motor-driven lifters.
- 23. The rocking apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a base situated below the infant support and each of the lifters being coupled to the base.
- 24. The rocking apparatus of claim 16, wherein each of the lifters extends downwardly and inwardly from the infant support.
- 25. The rocking apparatus of claim 16, wherein each of the lifters extends downwardly and outwardly from the infant support.
- 26. The rocking apparatus of claim 16, wherein the lifters comprise a plurality of links movably attached to the infant support.
- 27. The rocking apparatus of claim 26, further comprising an actuator coupled to one of the links to move the links for rocking the infant support.
- 28. The rocking apparatus of claim 15, wherein the side portions each have an upper surface that is planar and the trough has an upper surface that is concave.
- 29. The rocking apparatus of claim 28, wherein the side portions each have a bottom surface that is planar and the trough has a bottom surface that is convex.
- 30. An infant rocking apparatus comprising
an infant support having an upper surface and a bottom surface, a central region of the upper surface being lower in elevation than a pair of side portions of the bottom surface, and a lifter coupled to the infant support and extending downwardly therefrom, the lifter having an upper portion that is coupled to one of the side portions of the bottom surface, and the lifter being operable to rock the infant support.
- 31. The infant-support apparatus of claim 30, further comprising a control for the lifter, the control being configured to rock the infant support at selected amplitudes and frequencies.
- 32. The infant-support apparatus of claim 30, further comprising a base and the lifter having a bottom portion that is coupled to the base.
- 33. The infant-support apparatus of claim 32, wherein the infant support remains spaced apart from the base while being rocked by the lifter.
- 34. The infant-support apparatus of claim 30, further comprising a second lifter having an upper portion coupled to the other of the side portions of the bottom surface.
- 35. The infant-support apparatus of claim 34, wherein each of the lifters extends downwardly and inwardly from the infant support.
- 36. The infant-support apparatus of claim 34, wherein each of the lifters extends downwardly and outwardly from the infant support.
- 37. The infant-support apparatus of claim 34, wherein each of the lifters extends vertically downwardly from the infant support when the infant support is in a level position.
- 38. The infant-support apparatus of claim 30, wherein the lifters comprise a plurality of links movably attached to the infant support.
- 39. The infant-support apparatus of claim 38, further comprising an actuator coupled to at least one of the links and the actuator being movable to rock the infant support.
- 40. The infant-support apparatus of claim 30, wherein the lifter extends and contracts to rock the infant support.
- 41. The infant-support apparatus of claim 30, wherein the lifter comprises a lift cylinder.
- 42. The infant-support apparatus of claim 41, wherein the lift cylinder comprises a pneumatic cylinder.
- 43. The infant-support apparatus of claim 30, wherein the lifter comprises a pneumatic bellows.
- 44. The infant-support apparatus of claim 30, wherein the lifter comprises a motor-driven lifter.
- 45. An infant rocking apparatus comprising
an infant-support for receiving an infant, and means for rocking the infant support between first and second tilted positions.
- 46. The rocking apparatus of claim 45, wherein the infant support has a pair of planar side portions and a recessed portion between the pair of planar side portions.
- 47. The rocking apparatus of claim 46, wherein the means for rocking the infant support comprises a pair of lifters arranged to define a space therebetween and at least some of the recessed portion of the infant support is situated in the space.
- 48. An infant rocking apparatus comprising an infant support having opposite ends and longitudinally-extending side portions, an infant-support surface extending longitudinally centrally between the side portions, at least one link coupled to each of the side portions, and an actuator coupled to one of the at least one links, the actuator being operable to rock the infant support around an axis spaced above the support surface, the actuator and each of the at least one links being positioned below than the infant support.
- 49. The rocking apparatus of claim 48, wherein each link extends downwardly and outwardly from the infant support.
- 50. The rocking apparatus of claim 48, wherein the actuator comprises a pneumatic actuator.
- 51. The rocking apparatus of claim 48, further comprising a base, the links being pivotably coupled to the base, and the actuator being pivotably coupled to the base.
- 52. The rocking apparatus of claim 51, wherein the infant support remains spaced apart from the base while being rocked.
- 53. The rocking apparatus of claim 51, wherein the base comprises a planar member.
- 54. An infant support device comprising
a platform, an infant support having opposite ends, longitudinally-extending side portions, and a trough for conformingly receiving an infant, the trough extending longitudinally centrally between the side portions and including a central portion that is lower than the side portions, a pair of links, each link having first and second ends, each first end being pivotably coupled to the platform, and each second end being pivotably coupled to one of the side portions of the infant support, and an actuator coupled to at least one of the links and coupled to the platform, the actuator being movable to rock the infant support side to side.
- 55. The infant support device of claim 54, wherein the actuator comprises a pneumatic actuator.
- 56. The infant support device of claim 54, further comprising a control system configured to move the actuator to rock the infant support at selected amplitudes and frequencies.
- 57. The infant support device of claim 54, wherein the platform is included as part of an infant warmer.
- 58. The infant support device of claim 54, wherein the platform is included as part of an infant incubator.
- 59. The infant support device of claim 54, wherein the platform is included as part of a nursery cart.
- 60. The infant support device of claim 54, wherein the platform is included as part of a crib.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to U.S. Provisional application Ser. No. 60/258,012, filed Dec. 22, 2000, which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60258012 |
Dec 2000 |
US |