Abstract:
A motor with apparatus comprising a series of connected links to change the circular motion of the motor to a linear motion and from the linear motion to a continuous oscillation to and fro which motion is transferred to an arc shaped rocker cradle. A wheel of the stroller or other object sits in the rocker cradle and the stroller or other object is thereby rocked to and fro.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention is in the field of rocking equipment and in particular a device that may be applied to baby strollers, cribs and other wheeled objects that rock the stroller, crib or other object, for example, to comfort a baby and assist it to fall asleep. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]    Many patents have revealed a wide range of methods and devices to assist babies to fall asleep. Examples of such inventions are Australian Patent No. 2131483 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,519,792 issued to Chen both of which patents are bulky and less portable than the present invention. U.S. Pat. No. 5,002,144 issued to McMahon attempts to provide an orbital movement rather than the simpler to and fro movement. 
         [0003]    This innovation is another and unique device that combines novelty, versatility to fit a wide range of styles, kinds, and manufactures of baby strollers, cribs and other wheeled objects. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description present embodiments of the invention and are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the invention as it is claimed. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles and operations of the invention but not to limit the invention to these descriptions only. 
         [0005]    This invention comprises a motor with apparatus comprising a series of connected links to change the circular motion of the motor to a linear motion and from the linear motion to a continuous oscillation to and fro which motion is transferred to an arc shaped rocker cradle. A wheel of the stroller or other object sits in the rocker cradle of this invention and the stroller or other object is thereby rocked gently to and fro. 
         [0006]    The power could be supplied from mains electricity or from batteries and a timer device could enable the rocking to switch off after a chosen amount of time. The rocking cradle is easily transferable and transportable and is made to fit virtually any size wheel used for strollers, cribs and other wheeled objects without special adaptor devices. 
         [0007]    There could be a gear to make the rocking faster and slower while the motor rotates at a constant speed. There could be a physical stopper at both ends of the rocking cradle to prevent the stroller or crib wheel from exiting from the rocking cradle unintentionally. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain by way of example only, the principles of the invention: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a schematic depiction of a wheel resting on a rocking cradle. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a schematic depiction of  FIG. 1  from the end view. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a schematic depiction of the motor, the device for changing rotary motion to a rocking motion and a rocking cradle. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a schematic depiction of  FIG. 3  from a different angle. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a schematic depiction of the rocking cradle. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a schematic depiction of  FIG. 5  from the sectional view. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a schematic depiction of the motor and the device for changing rotary motion to rocking motion. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a schematic depiction of the motor stand and slit. 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a schematic depiction of the disc drive. 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a schematic depiction of the bearing in the disc drive. 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a schematic depiction of the connector rod. 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is a schematic depiction of the sliding groove and rocking rod. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]    As will be appreciated the present invention is capable of other and different embodiments than those discussed above and described in more detail below, and its several details are capable of modifications in various aspects, all without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description of the embodiments set forth below are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  shows the rocking machine  100  with the motor housing  102  containing a motor, motion transformer and batteries or mains electricity connection. There is a control switch  104  with positions for off, on-slow and on-fast. The rocking cradle  106  rocks to and fro making the stroller or crib wheel  108 , sitting in the rocking cradle  106 , roll back and forth. 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  shows the rocking machine  100  from the end view showing the motor housing  102  and the rocking cradle  106 . In the rocking cradle  106  is a stroller or a crib wheel  108  that is attached to the stroller or crib via the stroller or crib leg  110 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 3  shows the motor  120  with its axle  122  that turns when the motor is switched on. The motor  120  is held firmly in place with the aid of the motor stand  123  and slit  128  as described in more detail in relation to  FIG. 8 . The motor  120  is attached to the motor stand  123  by means of bolts  124 . After the rotational motion of the motor has been converted to linear motion, the connector pin slides back and forth in the slit  128  thereby creating a back and forth arc motion in the rocking arm  130  resulting in a rocking motion in the rocking cradle  106 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 4  shows the motor  120  from another angle. The motor  120  turns the axle  122  that in turn, turns the disc drive  132 . The disc drive  132  has an a-centric hole containing a bearing  134 . When the disc drive  132  is turned, one side of the connector rod  136  moves a circular path together with the disc drive  132 . The connecting rod  136  is connected at one end to the bearing  134 . The bearing allows the one end of the connecting rod  136  to move in a circular motion as the disc drive  132  revolves. 
         [0026]    At the distal end of the connecting rod  136  is a pin that slides in a slit in the motor stand and slit  123 . The slit is not visible in  FIG. 4  but can be seen in  FIG. 8 . The continuation of force transfer that results in the rocking movement of the rocking cradle  106  is described in later Figures. 
         [0027]      FIG. 5  shows a rocking cradle  106  in which rests a leg or wheel  FIG. 1   108  of a stroller, a crib or other item that is desired to be rocked. The nut  FIG. 7   162  is connected into the rocking arm housing  140  and when the nut  FIG. 7   162  turns to and fro, the rocking cradle  106  rocks in synchronization. 
         [0028]      FIG. 6  shows the sectional view of the rocking cradle  106  and rocking arm housing  140  is on the inside of the rocking cradle  106  so that the outer surface  142  of the rocking cradle  106  that touches the floor is a smooth arc shape to enable a smooth rocking movement of the rocking cradle  106 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 7  shows the motor and attached apparatus in greater detail. There is a motor  120  with electrical terminals  119  and a motor encasement  121  that is held in place by being attached to the motor stand and slit  123 . The disc drive  132  is turned by the revolutionary movement of the motor  120 . The bearing  134  is situated a-centrically in the disc drive  132  causing the connecting rod  136  to move in a circular motion at the end attached to the bearing  134 . The distal end of the connecting rod  136  is pulled and pushed in a linear movement back and forth in a slit  FIG. 8   154  in the motor stand and slit  123 . The resulting linear movement is converted to a rocking movement by the connecting rod  136  being connected at one end to a bearing  139  that slides in the groove  160  of the sliding groove  126 . The sliding groove  126  has a rod  161  attached at one end of the sliding groove  126  that turns in a bearing  164  in the motor encasement  121 . The distal end of the rod  161  is a nut  162  that fits into the rocking arm housing  FIG. 5   140  thereby causing the rocking cradle  106  to rock to and fro. 
         [0030]      FIG. 8  shows the motor stand and slit  123 . The circular cut out  150  holds the distal end of the motor  FIG. 3   120  which spins the axle  FIG. 3   122  of the motor  FIG. 3   120 . The holes  152  are used to firmly attach the motor  FIG. 3   120  to the motor stand and slit  123 . 
         [0031]    There is a slit  154  in which a connector pin slides up and down. 
         [0032]      FIG. 9  shows the disc drive  132 . The central axle housing  122  that is turned by the motor  FIG. 3   120  and in turn, turns the disc drive  132 . The disc drive  132  has in it an a-centric hole  133  into which is firmly fitted a bearing  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 10   134 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 10  shows the bearing  134  that is fixed into the hole  FIG. 9   133  of the disc drive  FIG. 4   132 . This bearing  134  enables the pin that fits into the center of the bearing  134  to turn in the bearing  134  as the disc drive  132  turns. 
         [0034]      FIG. 11  shows the connecting rod  136  that has a pin  137  at one end of the connecting rod  136  and a pin  138  at the distal end. The pins  137  and  138  are situate on opposite ends and opposite sides of the connecting rod  136 . The connecting rod  136  enables the circular motion of the motor to convert to linear motion. This motion conversion occurs when pin  137  is attached to the bearing  FIG. 4   134  and makes a circular motion as the disc drive  FIG. 4   132  turns and the pin  138  is held in the slit  FIG. 8   154 . The pin  138  is thereby pulled and pushed up and down the slit  FIG. 8   154  as the disc drive  FIG. 4   132  revolves. 
         [0035]      FIG. 12  shows a sliding groove and rocking rod  126  that converts the linear motion of pin  FIG. 11   138  into a rocking motion in the sliding groove and rocking rod  126 . The pin  FIG. 11   138  is connected to a sliding bearing  FIG. 4   139  that slides up and down the indented groove  160 . The sliding groove and rocking rod  126  is attached by the rod  161  to a bearing in the motor encasement  FIG. 7   121  to enable the rod  161  to turn on its axis in the said bearing. The result of the sliding bearing  FIG. 4   139  being pulled and pushed in the groove  160  is a back and forth arc movement of the sliding groove and rocking rod  126 . The rocking rod  161  is has at its distal end a nut  162  that attaches to the rocking arm housing  FIG. 5   140  thereby causing the rocking cradle  106  to rock to and fro.