Abstract:
An infant&#39;s swing is disclosed. The swing is driven by an electric power to automatically operate the swing. The frame is A-shaped in a side view, and a pair of oscillation shafts are secured to a pair of securing bars respectively, the securing bars being installed in the peak portions of the frame  12  respectively. A pair of magnet boxes are provided to contain a pair of securing bars and a pair of electromagnets in each of them, and an oscillator is disposed between each pair of the electromagnets. An electric power is supplied alternately to the electromagnets to alternately magnetize them, thereby making the oscillators swing leftward and rightward.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an infant&#39;s swing. Particularly, the present invention relates to an infant&#39;s swing in which a pair of oscillators are installed on the peaks of an A type frame (which supports a pair of oscillation shafts) respectively, and an electric current is supplied alternately to two sets (two pairs in each set) of electromagnets to make the two sets of the electromagnets alternately magnetized, so that the oscillation shafts and the oscillators would perform reciprocating movements, thereby making it possible to set the swing as to the time and the velocity. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Generally, an infant&#39;s swing is oscillated with a human hand, but the manual swinging is very troublesome, while it is impossible to do other works during the caring of the infant. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an infant&#39;s swing in which a pair of oscillators disposed between two sets (two pairs) of electromagnets respectively; if an electric power is supplied to one of the electromagnets, then the oscillator is pulled toward the electrified electromagnet; and if the oscillator moves to a certain distance toward the electrified electromagnet, then the mentioned electromagnet loses the magnetic fluxes, and at the same time, the electric power is supplied to the other electromagnet so as to pull the oscillator in the opposite direction, this being repeated to make the swing continuously swung. 
     Thus the swing seat which is interlocked to the oscillator can be made swung for a predetermined period of time and at a predetermined velocity. 
     The power supplied to the swing of the present invention is a DC power so as to prevent any electrification of the infant. When outgoing with the swing carried, a battery is used as the power source. 
     In addition to the time and velocity of the swing, other functions are also provided such that if the infant cries, then the swing is activated or music is outputted in an automatic manner. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above object and other advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail the preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the attached drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall constitution of the swing according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 illustrates the actuation and the constitution details of the swing according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the swing according to the present invention; and 
     FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of the swing according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Now the present invention will be described in detail referring to the attached drawings. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the swing according to the present invention includes: an A-shaped frame  12  arbitrarily set on the ground and having a pair of peaks; a swing seat  11  supported by a pair of supporting bars  13 , the supporting bars  13  being supported to the pair of the peaks respectively; a pair of oscillation shafts  18  for oscillating to left and right interlocked to a pair of supporting bars  13 ; a pair of oscillators  19  secured to lower ends of the oscillation shafts  18  respectively; a pair of electromagnets  14   a  and  14   b  disposed at left and right sides of each of the oscillators  19 ; a sensor  16  for sensing the movements of the oscillator  19 ; and a control panel  24  for selectively carrying out the actuations of the swing. 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall constitution of the swing according to the present invention. FIG. 2 illustrates the actuation structure and the control part of the swing according to the present invention. FIG. 3 illustrates the power transmission mechanism of the swing according to the present invention. 
     The swing seat  11  is suspended from the peaks of the frame  12  so as to be swung. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, each of the supporting bars  13  for supporting the swing seat  11  extends upward to be pivotally secured to a securing bar  21  of each of the peaks of the frame  12 . 
     An extended portion (extended downward) of each of the supporting bars  13  is integrally connected to the oscillation shaft  18 , an oscillator  19  being fixed to the lower end of each of the oscillation shafts  18 . 
     At the left and right sides of the oscillator  19 , there are disposed a pair of electromagnets  14   a  and  14   b , and when an electric power is alternately supplied to the pair of the electromagnets  14   a  and  14   b , the oscillator  19  repeatedly swings between electromagnets  14   a  and  14   b.    
     That is, if the oscillator  19  moves toward the right electromagnet  14   a , the electric power is supplied to the left electromagnet  14   b  so as to reverse the motion of the oscillator  19  toward the left electromagnet  14   b , while if the oscillator  19  moves toward the left electromagnet  14   b , then the electric power is supplied to the right electromagnet  14   a  so as to reverse the motion of the oscillator  19  toward the right electromagnet  14   a.    
     A pair of boxes  15  are formed to respectively accommodate the securing bars  21  (on which the connecting portion between the supporting bar  13  and the oscillation shaft  18  is mounted) and the upper portions of the frame  12 . The box further includes: sensors  16  for sensing the swinging velocity, a timer, and the crying of the child; and a control panel  24  for controlling the generation of melodies. 
     Now the present invention will be described based on an example. 
     Regarding the environment recognition of an infant, the infant cannot recognize the abruptly changed environment (changed from the womb of the mother), and therefore, it is desirable that an environment similar to the womb of the mother is given to the infant. That is, when the infant is present within the womb of the mother, the mother performs very much movements, and therefore, the infant is accustomed to movements. In consideration of this an indoor swing for infants came to be developed. Generally, however, an infant&#39;s swing is oscillated with a human hand, but the manual swinging is very troublesome. 
     In consideration of this, the swing of the present invention is developed. In the present invention, if a pull or push is done only once, then the swinging is done continuously. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the swing seat  11  is secured to the pair of the supporting bars  13  which are respectively suspended from the peak portions of the frame  12 . 
     The pair of the supporting bars  13  which support the swing seat  11  extend upward from the swing seat  11  to be bent rectangularly so as to extend beyond the frame  12 . Thus the supporting bar  13  is pivotally secured to the securing bar  21  of the frame  12 , in such a manner that the bent horizontal portion of the supporting bar  13  should generate the minimum frictions when swinging. The horizontally bent portion of the supporting bar  13  is bent rectangularly again to extend downward so as to form the oscillation shaft  18 . The oscillator  19  is attached on the lower end of each of the oscillation shafts  18 , and a contact member  22  protrudes inward from the oscillator  19 . 
     As shown in FIG. 2, the box  15  contains: a power source  17  for driving the swing; a pair of electromagnets  14   a  and  14   b ; a sensor for sensing the frequency of the switching of the power; an oscillator  19  with a contact member  22  formed thereon, and for swinging between the two electromagnets  14   a  and  14   b  to activate the sensor  16 ; an oscillation shaft  18  with the oscillator  19  attached thereon; and a control panel  24  for controlling the actuation of the swing by responding to the oscillation velocity, the oscillation time, and the crying of the infant. 
     At certain distances from the oscillator  19  to the left and right sides, there are disposed the electromagnets  14   a  and  14   b  secured onto the box  15 . 
     The power is a DC power, and the alternate swinging of the oscillator  19  is done in the following manner. That is, when the oscillator  19  is positioned at the right electromagnet, the contact member  22  of the oscillator activates the sensor  16  to withhold the power from the right electromagnet  14   a  by means of an automatic switch  25  and to supply the power to the left electromagnet  14   b , resulting in that the motion of the oscillator  19  is reversed to be swung to the left electromagnet  14   b.    
     This operation is controlled by the control panel  24 . 
     The control panel  24  controls as to how long the oscillator  19  will actuate, and at what velocity it will swing. 
     The supporting bar  13  is formed integrally with the oscillation shaft  18 , and therefore, if the swing seat  11  supported by the pair of the supporting bars  13  is swung to a certain angular range, then the oscillation shafts  18  are also swung to a certain angular range. If the supporting bars  13  are swung, then the pair of the oscillators  18  are also swung to the same angular range. If the electric power is supplied, and if the swing seat  11  is pulled or pushed to any direction only once, then the supporting bars  13  move so much. If the supporting bars  13  move so, then the pair of the oscillation shafts  18  move so much toward one of the electromagnets  14   a  and  14   b.    
     That is, the pair of the oscillators  19  move toward any one of the electromagnets  14   a  and  14   b , and therefore, they form a certain angle relative to the direction of gravity. The contact member  22  of the oscillator  19  which is installed on the lower end of the oscillation shaft  18  contacts to any one of the two sensors  16 , and then the corresponding electromagnet loses the power so as to lose the magnetic force. 
     Under this condition, a spring  23  which is fitted around the horizontal portion of the oscillation shaft  18  (the oscillation shaft  18  being swung by being secured to the securing bar  21 ) elastically presses the oscillation shaft  18 . 
     If the oscillation shaft  18  moves rightward, then the contact member  22  of the oscillator  19  contacts to the right sensor  16 , while the power is supplied to the left electromagnet  14   b . On the other hand, if the oscillator  19  moves leftward, then the contact member  22  contacts to the left sensor  16 , while the right electromagnet  14   a  is magnetized. Then if the oscillator  19  is positioned at the right side, then the left electromagnet  14   b  is magnetized, while if the oscillator  19  is positioned at the left side, then the right electromagnet  14   a  is magnetized. 
     If the oscillator  19  initially moves to a certain distance by an external force, and if the external force is dissipated at a certain time point, the oscillator  19  withdraws toward the gravity line owing to the weight of the oscillator  19 , while the opposite electromagnet  14   a  is electrified to form a magnetic field there. Accordingly the oscillator  19  moves continuously toward the opposite electrified electromagnet  14   a . If the moving oscillator  19  approaches the electromagnet  14   a , then the contact between the left sensor  16  and the contact member  22  is realized, and therefore, the left electromagnet  14   b  is magnetized to cause the oscillator  19  to move leftward. These actuations are repeatedly done, and therefore, the swing seat  11  performs the continuous swinging. 
     According to the present invention as described above, the swing can be swung continuously after one external push or pull, and therefore, the person who is caring the infant not only can take rest, but also can do other works while taking care of the infant. This is further enhanced by the automatic sensing functions such as detection of the crying of the infant and the like.