Patent Application
20240138589
The present disclosure generally relates to bassinets, and more particular, to systems, methods, and apparatus for providing translational motion for a bassinet.
Certain ways of configuring a bassinet to be movable are well-known in the art. A conventional bassinet is often configured to be movable to provide a parent or a user with the ability to soothe a child when the child is disposed within the bassinet. Typically, a bassinet can include a component for rocking or a component for moving the bassinet such that the child disposed within the bassinet experiences a rocking or swaying movement. The components may be configured for automatic movement and/or manual movement.
However, many conventional movable bassinets are large and have many components, making them difficult to assembly and/or move as needed.
The present disclosure generally relates to a system for providing translational motion for a children's product. In embodiments, the present disclosure describes a bassinet assembly having a bassinet, a stationary base, and at least one track assembly including an inverted curved track and a wheel assembly, where the track assembly is configured to engage with the bassinet and the base. The bassinet may be configured for translational motion about the stationary base via the at least one track assembly.
In some embodiments, the at least one track assembly includes at least one idle track assembly and a drive track assembly, wherein the drive track assembly is configured to effectuate the translational motion of the bassinet. The drive track assembly may have a drive track and a drive wheel assembly configured to actively rotate the drive wheel assembly. The drive assembly may also include a motor configured to power the rotation of the drive wheel assembly.
In some embodiments, the inverted curved track is fixedly attached to a bottom side of the bassinet and wheel assemblies are disposed within base. The inverted curved track may include a track portion and a base portion, wherein the base portion is fixedly attached to the bottom side of the bassinet such that a concave curved edge of the inverted curved track faces towards the stationary base. The wheel assembly may include a wheel and an axle, wherein the axle is fixedly attached within the stationary base, and wherein the wheel is rotatably disposed around the axle.
In some embodiments, the stationary base has at least one rectangular cutout on a top side thereof configured to receive the track therein, and wherein at least a portion of the track is disposed within the stationary base when the track is positioned within the rectangular cutout. In embodiments, the track includes a retention member configured to maintain the one track within the rectangular cutout. The rectangular cutout may be sized to permit translational motion of the track within the rectangular cutout, wherein the translational motion of the track corresponds with proportional translational motion of the bassinet.
In some embodiments, the bassinet assembly also includes a controller configured to direct the translational motion of the bassinet. The bassinet assembly may also include a control panel configured to send a signal to the controller instructing the controller to execute a command regarding the translational motion of the bassinet. The command regarding the translational motion of the bassinet may be a command regarding a speed, a magnitude, or a duration of the translational motion.
In embodiments, a bassinet assembly having a bassinet, a stationary base, and a plurality of track assemblies is disclosed. In some embodiments, the stationary base may include a primary base portion and a top base portion positioned atop the primary base portion. In some embodiments, each of the plurality of track assemblies has a curved track and a wheel assembly. The curved track may be fixedly attached to the bassinet, and the wheel assembly may be disposed within the primary base portion of the stationary base. In some embodiments, at least one of the plurality of track assemblies is a drive assembly, wherein the wheel assembly is a drive wheel assembly configured to effectuate translational motion of the bassinet about the stationary base.
In some embodiments, the bassinet assembly also includes a control panel and a controller, where the control panel is configured to receive a user input regarding at least one setting for the bassinet assembly and transmit the user input to the controller, and where the controller is configured to transmit a command to the drive wheel assembly based on the user input. The at least one setting may be a speed of the translational motion for the bassinet, and wherein the user input corresponds with a low speed, a medium speed, or a high speed setting.
In embodiments, a method of implementing translational motion in a children's product is disclosed. The method may include, providing a track assembly configured to engage the children's product and a stationary base and causing the track assembly to enact translational motion. In some embodiments, the track assembly includes a track portion fixedly attached to the children's product and at least partially disposed within the stationary base, and a wheel assembly disposed within the stationary base. The track portion and the wheel assembly may be in contact within the stationary base. In some embodiments, the translational motion is effectuated via contact between the track portion and the wheel assembly.
The detailed description is set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings. The use of the same reference numerals may indicate similar or identical items. Various embodiments may utilize elements and/or components other than those illustrated in the drawings, and some elements and/or components may not be present in various embodiments. Elements and/or components in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. Throughout the present disclosure, depending on the context, singular and plural terminology may be used interchangeably.
The present disclosure will now provide a more detailed and specific description that will refer to the accompanying drawings. The drawings and specific descriptions of the drawings, as well as any specific or other embodiments, discussed, are intended to be read in conjunction with the entirety of the present disclosure.
Example embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments are shown. The concepts disclosed herein may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the example embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the concepts to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like, but not necessarily the same or identical elements throughout.
Certain relationships between features of the bassinet are described herein using the term “substantially” or “substantially equal.” As used herein, the terms “substantially” and “substantially equal” indicate that the equal relationship is not a strict relationship and does not exclude functionally similar variations therefrom. Unless context or the description indicates otherwise, the use of the term “substantially” or “substantially equal” in connection with two or more described dimensions indicates that the equal relationship between the dimensions includes variation that, using mathematical and industrial principles accepted in the art (e.g., rounding, measurement, of other systematic errors, manufacturing tolerances, etc.), would not vary the least significant digit of the dimensions. As used herein, the term “substantially parallel” indicates that the parallel relationship is not a strict relationship and does not exclude functionally similar variations therefrom. As used herein, the term “substantially orthogonal” or “substantially perpendicular” indicates that the orthogonal relationship is not a strict relationship and does not exclude functionally similar variations therefrom.
This disclosure relates to, among other things, systems, methods, and apparatuses for providing translational motion for a bassinet. In embodiments, a system, method, and apparatus for providing translational motion for a bassinet may be provided. Embodiments of the disclosure can provide a technical solution to the problem of providing an easy to assembly bassinet configured for translational motion.
In one embodiment, a bassinet assembly having a bassinet, a stationary base, and at least one track assembly is provided. The at least one track assembly may include an inverted curved track and a wheel assembly, where the track assembly is configured to engage with the bassinet and the base. The bassinet may be configured for translational motion about the stationary base via the at least one track assembly.
In some embodiments, the at least one track assembly includes at least one idle track assembly and a drive track assembly, wherein the drive track assembly is configured to effectuate the translational motion of the bassinet. The drive track assembly may have a drive track and a drive wheel assembly configured to actively rotate the drive wheel assembly. The drive assembly may also include a motor configured to power the rotation of the drive wheel assembly.
In some embodiments, the inverted curved track is fixedly attached to a bottom side of the bassinet and wheel assemblies are disposed within base. The inverted curved track may include a track portion and a base portion, wherein the base portion is fixedly attached to the bottom side of the bassinet such that a concave curved edge of the inverted curved track faces towards the stationary base. The wheel assembly may include a wheel and an axle, wherein the axle is fixedly attached within the stationary base, and wherein the wheel is rotatably disposed around the axle.
In some embodiments, the stationary base has at least one rectangular cutout on a top side thereof configured to receive the track therein, and wherein at least a portion of the track is disposed within the stationary base when the track is positioned within the rectangular cutout. In embodiments, the track includes a retention member configured to maintain the one track within the rectangular cutout. The rectangular cutout may be sized to permit translational motion of the track within the rectangular cutout, wherein the translational motion of the track corresponds with proportional translational motion of the bassinet.
In some embodiments, the bassinet assembly also includes a controller configured to direct the translational motion of the bassinet. The bassinet assembly may also include a control panel configured to send a signal to the controller instructing the controller to execute a command regarding the translational motion of the bassinet. The command regarding the translational motion of the bassinet may be a command regarding a speed, a magnitude, or a duration of the translational motion.
In another embodiment, a bassinet assembly having a bassinet, a stationary base, and a plurality of track assemblies is provided. In some embodiments, the stationary base may include a primary base portion and a top base portion positioned atop the primary base portion. In some embodiments, each of the plurality of track assemblies has a curved track and a wheel assembly. The curved track may be fixedly attached to the bassinet, and the wheel assembly may be disposed within the primary base portion of the stationary base. In some embodiments, at least one of the plurality of track assemblies is a drive assembly, wherein the wheel assembly is a drive wheel assembly configured to effectuate translational motion of the bassinet about the stationary base.
In some embodiments, the bassinet assembly also includes a control panel and a controller, where the control panel is configured to receive a user input regarding at least one setting for the bassinet assembly and transmit the user input to the controller, and where the controller is configured to transmit a command to the drive wheel assembly based on the user input. The at least one setting may be a speed of the translational motion for the bassinet, and wherein the user input corresponds with a low speed, a medium speed, or a high speed setting.
In a further embodiment, a method of implementing translational motion in a children's product is provided. The method may include, providing a track assembly configured to engage the children's product and a stationary base and causing the track assembly to enact translational motion. In some embodiments, the track assembly includes a track portion fixedly attached to the children's product and at least partially disposed within the stationary base, and a wheel assembly disposed within the stationary base. The track portion and the wheel assembly may be in contact within the stationary base. In some embodiments, the translational motion is effectuated via contact between the track portion and the wheel assembly.
Turning to the figures,
The stationary base 104 may also include a control panel 108 configured to control the motion of the bassinet 102. In embodiments, the control panel 108 includes a setting selection, where the user may, for example, select the speed at which the bassinet 102 moves. In other embodiments, the control panel 108 may include a wireless connectivity indicator and/or controls for providing secondary stimulation such as sound and/or tactile stimulation (as described in greater detail with respect to
As depicted in
According to a preferred embodiment, the track assembly 200 includes four track portions 202 arranged in a 2×2 array (as shown in
As the wheel 208 of the drive assembly 206 rotates, contact between the wheel 208 and the track portion 202 may cause the track portion 202 to move laterally with respect to the fixed position of the wheel 208. The lateral motion of the track portion 202 may also cause the bassinet 102 to move. Thus, the drive assembly 206 may initiate and perpetuate the translational motion of the bassinet 102 relative to the stationary base 104. The idle assemblies 204 may also help to maintain the translational motion of the bassinet 102 once the motion is initiated by the drive assembly 206. For example, once the bassinet 102 is moving, the track portions 202 associated with each of the idle assemblies 204 will cause the idle assembly 204 wheels 208 to rotate. The track portions 202 may therefore glide along the wheels 208 of the idle assemblies 204 to generate a smooth, rocking motion for the bassinet 102.
In embodiments, the bassinet assembly 100 may have user-selectable settings. For example, the user may select a speed at which the bassinet 102 moves, where the speed is controlled by the motor 209 of the drive assembly 206. In some embodiments, the speed of the bassinet 102 may be a low, medium, or high speed. As previously described with respect to
Referring now to
When the movable bassinet assembly 100 is assembled, the curved track 216 of the track portion 202 may be disposed within the stationary base 104. For example, as shown in
The curved track 116 may also include a track surface 220 configured to contact a respective wheel 208 of the track assembly 200. Generally, the track surface 220 may have a radius of curvature that is small enough to maintain the translational motion of the bassinet 102, but large enough to minimize the bassinet's vertical motion. For example, a track surface 220 with too small of a radius of curvature may generate significant vertical motion that may be disruptive or unsettling to a baby. However, a track surface 220 with too large of a radius of curvature may not be effective to maintain the translational motion of the bassinet 102. In some embodiments, the track surface 220 may be configured to replicate a particular type of movement. For example, the track surface 220 may be configured to replicate or simulate a swaying motion or an asymmetric rocking motion.
Referring generally to
In embodiments where the secondary stimulation is vibration, vibration notes may be adjusted and quantized for length, velocity, pitch, duration, etc. Data may also be incorporated into the vibration profile to automate control of the vibrations. Users may also generate vibration profiles with said automated data, and may control the parameters of said profiles as previously described. In embodiments, the user may select the vibration via an on-off toggle. In other embodiments, the user may select a vibration profile corresponding with different vibrations.
One or more operations of the methods or uses of
Though the disclosed examples include particular arrangements of a number of parts, components, features, and aspects, the disclosure it not limited to only those examples of arrangements shown. Any one or more of the parts, components, features, and aspects of the disclosure can be employed alone or in other arrangements of any two or more of the same.
Although certain product features, functions, components, and parts have been described herein in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, the scope of coverage is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this disclosure covers all embodiments of the teachings of the disclosure that fairly fall within the scope of permissible equivalents.
Unless otherwise noted, the terms used herein are to be understood according to conventional usage by those of ordinary skill in the relevant art. In addition to the definitions of terms provided below, it is to be understood that as used in the specification and in the claims, “a” or “an” can mean one or more, depending upon the context in which it is used.
Throughout this application, the term “include,” “include(s),” or “including” means “including but not limited to.” Note that certain embodiments may be described relating to a single component, but the corresponding description should be read to include embodiments of two or more components. Different features, variations, and multiple different embodiments are shown and described herein with various details. What has been described in this application at times in terms of specific embodiments is done for illustrative purposes only and without the intent to limit or suggest that what has been conceived is only on particular embodiment or specific embodiments. It is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to any specific embodiment or enumerated variations. Many modifications, variations, and other embodiments will come to mind of those skilled in the art, which are intended to be and are in fact covered by this disclosure. It is indeed intended that the scope of this disclosure should be determined by a proper legal interpretation and construction of the disclosure, including equivalents, as understood by those of skill in the art relying upon the complete disclosure present at the time of filing.
Conditional language used herein, such as, among others, “can,”, “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, generally is intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements, or functional capabilities. Thus, such conditional language generally is not intended to imply that features, elements, and/or operations are in any way required for one or more implementations or that one or more implementations necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without user input or prompting, whether these features, elements, and/or operations are included or are to be performed in any particular implementation.
What has been described herein in the present specification and annexed drawings includes examples of systems, methods, apparatuses, devices, and techniques that, individually and in combination, provide for a moving bassinet assembly. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components and/or methods for purposes of describing the various elements of the disclosure, but it can be recognized that many further combinations and permutations of the disclosed elements are possible. Accordingly, it may be apparent that various modifications can be made to the disclosure without departing from the scope thereof. In addition, or as an alternative, other embodiments of the disclosure may be apparent from consideration of the specification and annexed drawings, and practice of the disclosure as presented herein. It is intended that the examples put forth in the specification and annexed drawings be considered, in all respects, as illustrative and not limiting. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/421,014, filed on Oct. 31, 2022, which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63421014 | Oct 2022 | US |
