Patent Publication Number: US-2023157456-A1

Title: Baby rocker

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Rocking chairs and other forms of rockers have been in use for centuries. Rockers have been designed and made for use by persons of all ages: adults, children and infants. Baby rockers differ in size from rockers used by older children and adults. In some cases, a baby rocker may be designed for use with a child of up to about six months. Safety of the infant and the need to keep the rocker clean and in good repair can present additional factors in the design of a baby rocker. 
     SUMMARY 
     A baby rocker includes a frame, a left rocker plate, a right rocker plate, a frame cover, and straps connected to the frame cover to hold the frame cover in position on the frame. The left rocker plate is attached to a left side of the frame and has a curved left rocker rail. The right rocker plate is attached to the right side of the frame and includes a curved right rocker rail. The frame cover includes a cushion positioned on a top side of the frame, a left side flap, a right side flap, a head end flap, and a foot end flap. The straps connect the left side flap, the right side flap, the head end flap, and the foot end flap at an underside of the frame to hold the frame cover in position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view showing a baby rocker having a frame, left and right rocker plates, and a removable frame cover. 
         FIG.  2 A  is a perspective view of the baby rocker of  FIG.  1 A  with the frame cover removed from the frame to show the parts that form the frame and the left and right rocker plates. 
         FIG.  2 B  is a disassembled view of the frame showing the parts of the frame and the left and right rocker plates. 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective view showing the top side of the removable frame cover. 
         FIG.  4    is a perspective view showing the underside of the baby rocker of  FIG.  1   . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG.  1    is perspective view of baby rocker  10 , which includes frame cover  12 , frame  14 , left rocker plate  16 L, right rocker plate  16 R, and harness  18 .  FIG.  1    shows baby rocker  10  with frame cover  12  mounted on frame  14 .  FIG.  1    identifies head end H, foot end F, left side L, and right side R of baby rocker  10 . 
     Frame cover  12  includes cushion  20 , which is mounted on frame  14 . Frame cover  12  has a fabric envelope containing a soft stuffing or matting material. As shown in  FIG.  1   , cushion  20  has a tufted structure. When mounted on frame  14 , cushion  20  of frame cover  12  forms a slightly concave bowed support surface for a baby. 
     Left rocker plate  16 L is attached to the left side of frame  14 . Similarly, right rocker plate  16 R is attached to the right side of frame  14 . 
     Harness  18  is mounted on cushion  20  to secure the baby in position on cushion  20  while the baby is on baby rocker  10 . Harness  18  is positioned approximately midway between head end H and foot end F of baby rocker  10 . Harness  18  is a three-point harness with a padded fabric structure that includes divider  22 , left wing  24 L, and right wing  24 R. Harness  18  can be connected to and disconnected from cushion  20  using left belt buckle assembly  26 L and right belt buckle assembly  26 R. The left and right legs are of the baby are positioned on opposite sides of divider  22 . 
       FIG.  2 A  shows baby rocker  10  with frame cover  12  removed from frame  14 .  FIG.  2 B  shows baby rocker  10  disassembled so that all of the parts of frame  14 , left rocker plate  16 L, right rocker plate  16 R, along with fasteners, spacers, and assembly tools can be seen.  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B  will be discussed together.  FIG.  2 A  identifies head end H, foot end F, left side L, and right side R of baby rocker  10 . 
     Frame  14  includes left inner sidebar  28 L, right inner sidebar  28 R, head end outer crossbar  30  (with threaded ends  30 L and  30 R), head end inner crossbar  32  (with threaded ends  32 L and  32 R), foot end outer crossbar  34  (with threaded ends  34 L and  34 R), and foot inner end  36  (with threaded ends  36 L and  36 R). The head end of left inner sidebar  28 L contains outer counterbored mounting hole  40 L and inner counterbored mounting hole  42 L. The foot end of left inner sidebar  28 L contains outer counterbored mounting hole  44 L and inner counterbored counting hole  46 L. Similarly, right inner sidebar  28 R contains corresponding counterbored mounting holes  40 R,  42 R,  44 R, and  46 R. 
     Left rocker plate  16 L includes curved rocker rail  50 L, left outer sidebar  52 L, left head end leg  54 L, left foot end leg  56 L, left foot end notch  58 L, left relief  60 L, left handle  62 L, and left handle slot  64 L. Left outer sidebar  52 L includes head end outer mounting hole  66 L, left head end inner mounting hole  68 L, left foot end outer mounting hole  70 L, and left foot end inner mounting hole  72 L. 
     Right rocker plate  16 R is a mirror image of left rocker plate  16 L. Right rocker plate  16 R includes curved rocker rail  50 R, right outer sidebar  52 R, right head end leg  54 R, right foot end leg  56 R, right foot end notch  58 R, right relief  60 R, right handle  62 R, left handle notch  64 R. Right outer sidebar  52 R includes head end outer mounting hole  66 R, right head end inner mounting hole  68 R, right foot end outer mounting hole  70 R, and right foot end inner mounting hole  72 R. 
     Assembly of frame  14 , left rocker plate  16 L and right rocker plate  16 R makes use of threaded ends  30 L,  32 L,  34 L, and  36 L, threaded ends  30 R,  32 R,  34 R, and  36 R, spacers  80 L,  82 L,  84 L, and  86 L, spacers  80 R,  82 R,  84 R, and  86 R, internally threaded bolts  90 L,  92 L,  94 L, and  96 L, and internally threaded bolts  90 R,  92 R,  94 R, and  96 R. Assembly can be achieved using two hex keys (or Allen wrenches)  98  and  100 . 
     During assembly, left inner sidebar  28 L is mounted to cross bars  30 ,  32 ,  34 , and  36  by inserting threaded ends  30 L,  32 L,  34 L, and  36 L into counterbored holes  40 L,  42 L,  44 L, and  46 L, respectively. Similarly, right inner sidebar  28 R is mounted to cross bars  30 ,  32 ,  34 , and  36  by inserting threaded ends  30 R,  32 R,  34 R, and  36 R into counterbored holes  40 R,  42 R,  44 R, and  46 R, respectively. Spacers  80 L,  82 L,  84 L, and  86 L are placed on threaded ends  30 L,  32 L,  34 L, and  36 L, respectively, that are extending beyond left inner sidebar  28 L. Spacers  80 R,  82 R,  84 R, and  86 R are placed on threaded ends  30 R,  32 R,  34 R, and  36 R, respectively, that are extending beyond right inner sidebar  28 R. 
     Left rocker plate  16 L is positioned with left outer sidebar  52 L aligned with and spaced from to left inner sidebar  28 L by inserting threaded ends  30 L,  32 L,  34 L, and  36 L into mounting holes  66 L,  68 L,  70 L, and  72 L of left rocker plate  16 L. Internally threaded bolts  90 L,  92 L,  94 L, and  96 L are inserted into mounting holes  66 L,  68 L,  70 L, and  72 L to engage threaded ends  30 L,  32 L,  34 L, and  36 L, respectively. Similarly, right rocker plate  16 R is positioned with right outer sidebar  52 R aligned with and spaced from to right inner sidebar  28 R by inserting threaded ends  30 R,  32 R,  34 R, and  36 R into mounting holes  66 R,  68 R,  70 R, and  72 R of right rocker plate  16 R. Internally threaded bolts  90 R,  92 R,  94 R, and  96 R are inserted into holes  66 R,  68 R,  70 R, and  72 R to engage threaded ends  30 R,  32 R,  34 R, and  36 R, respectively. Hex keys  98  and  100  are used to tighten the connections between the threaded ends and their respective internally threaded bolts. 
     Spacers  80 L,  82 L,  84 L, and  86 L are positioned between left inner sidebar  28 L and left outer sidebar  52 L of left rocker plate  16 L to create left slot  102 L. Spacers  80 R,  82 R,  84 R, and  86 R are positioned between right inner sidebar  28 R and right outer sidebar  52 R of right rocker plate  16 R to create right slot  102 R. 
       FIG.  3    shows the top side of frame cover  12  and harness  18 . Frame cover  12  includes cushion  20 , left side flap  110 L, right side flap  110 R, head end flap  110 H, foot end flap  110 F, left strap  112 L, left buckle  114 L, connector  116 L, right strap  112 R, right buckle  114 R, right connector  116 R, left end strap  118 L, left end buckle receiver  120 L, right end strap  118 R, right end buckle receiver  120 R, left loops  122 L,  124 L, and  126 L, and right loops  122 R,  124 R, and  126 R.  FIG.  3    identifies head end H, foot end F, left side L, and right side R. 
     Left side flap  110 L is attached to a left side of cushion  20  and has a trapezoidal shape. Loops  122 L,  124 L, and  126 L are attached to left side flap  110 L at spaced locations along an outer edge of left side flap  110 L. 
     Right side flap  110 R is attached to a right side of cushion  20  and has a trapezoidal shape. Loops  122 R,  124 R, and  126 R are attached to right side flap  110 R at spaced locations along an outer edge of right side flap  110 R. 
     Foot end flap  110 F is attached to foot end F of cushion  20 . Left strap  112 L is attached at its fixed end to foot end flap  110 F. Buckle  114 L is positioned on a free end of left strap  112 L. Buckle  114 L is movable on left strap  112 L, and includes connector  116 L, which mates with left end buckle receiver  120 L. Right strap  112 R is attached at its fixed end to foot end flap  110 F. Buckle  114 R is positioned on a free end of left strap  112 R. Buckle  114 R is movable on left strap  112 R, and includes connector  116 R, which mates with right end buckle receiver  120 R. 
     Head end flap  110 H is attached to head end H of cushion  20 . Left end strap  118 L is attached to head end flap  110 H and is connected to left end buckle receiver  120 L. Right end strap  118 R is also attached to head end flap  110 H and is connected to right end buckle receiver  120 R. 
       FIG.  4    shows baby rocker  10  with frame cover  12  mounted on frame  14 . Baby rocker  10  is inverted so that the underside of baby rocker  10  can be seen.  FIG.  4    identifies head end H, foot end F, left side L, and right side R. 
     As shown in  FIG.  4   , left side flap  110 L extends through slot  102 L between left inner sidebar  28 L and left outer sidebar  52 L of left rocker plate  16 L. Similarly, right side flap  110 R extends through slot  102 R between right inner sidebar  28 R and right outer sidebar  52 R of right rocker plate  16 R. Head end flap  110 H wraps around head end crossbar  30 , and foot end flap  110 F wraps around foot end crossbar  34 . Straps  112 L and  112 R, buckles  114 L and  114 R, connectors  116 L and  116 R, loops  122 L and  122 R, loops  124 L and  124 R, loops  126 L and  126 R, straps  118 L and  118 R, and receivers  120 L and  120 R together form a webbed structure that connects flaps  110 F,  110 L,  110 R and  110 H together and holds cushion  20  in place on frame  14 . Strap  112 L extends from flap  110 F through loops  122 L,  124 R, and  126 L; and connector  116 L (shown in  FIG.  3   ) is inserted into and mates with receiver  120 L. Strap  112 L can be tightened at buckle  114 L by pulling on the free end of strap  112 L. Strap  112 R extends from flap  110 F through loops  122 R,  124 L, and  126 R; and connector  116 R (shown in  FIG.  3   ) is inserted into and mates with receiver  120 R. Strap  112 R can be tightened at buckle  114 R by pulling on the free end of strap  112 R. 
     In one embodiment, left rocker plate  16 L, right rocker plate  16 R, left inner sidebar  28 L, and right inner sidebar  28 R are made from multilayer laminated wood with a thickness of ¾ inch. The wood is, for example, Baltic birch plywood. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment(s), it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.