A Method of Rocking Infants' Cradles, and the like by the Means of Clockwork, with Musical Attachment.
Year: 1891

page_text: A Method of Rocking Infants' Cradles, and the like by the Means of
Clockwork, with Musical Attachment.
We, FREDERICK THOMAS FOLLAND of Station Road, Pork Butcher, and
ALFRED HERBERT THOMAS of 25 Brunswick Street, Plumber, both of Teign-
mouth; in the County of Devonshire, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Our invention relates to a method of and means for rocking childrens cradles,
bassinettes and the like, by the aid of clockwork, operated by a coiled spring, or
weights, arranged so as to be contained within the uprights of the frame of the
cradle, or bassinette, which may be accompanied by a musical box contained within
the same uprights and operated by the clockwork employed for rocking the cradle,
by which means we are enabled to give motion to the cradle or bassinette for any
length of time desired, by extending or diminishing the number of wheels employed
in the construction of said clockwork, and the power of the spring or weight, or
weights used to operate the same.
The accompanying drawings are intended to more clearly illustrate and define
the manner in which our invention is carried into effect, in which
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of so much of a cradle as is necessary to illustrate the
working of our invention, as applied to cradles.
Figs 2, 3 and 4 are enlarged side, front and back views respectively, of a
specimen form of clockwork mechanism employed for giving motion to the cradle in
Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is a further enlarged plan view of the oscillating lever and eccentric disc
to be hereinafter more fully explained.
In carrying out our invention, we construct of any material or combination of
materials, a cot, cradle or bassinette A, pivotted upon uprights B, at a,.so that A
may be free to swing or oscillate thereon. The uprights B are formed hollow at b
and receive therein a suitable clockwork movement for operating the movements
of A. When the clockwork movement employed is operated by a coiled spring the
remainder of the uprights B, below b, may be solid and turned spirally as at ċ, or
in any other form desired, terminating in suitable feet or the like, and held firmly
together by a tie or ties extending from one to the other below and clear of A.
Or when a weight or weights is or are employed for driving the mechanism in
lieu of the coiled spring, the uprights B, may be hollow, so that the weight, or
weights may be contained therein, a suitable door being in either case provided to
enclose the mechanism.
In the accompanying drawings we have chosen to illustrate a movement operated
by a spring, but we do not confine ourselves to the gearing therein shewn, but as
previously mentioned, we may modify this in any desired manner according to the
time it is desired the same shall operate without attention.
The movement illustrated by Figs. 2, 3 and 4 consists of a front plate C, and a
back plate D, held together by means of top plate E, and bottom plate F, and
retained in position' by pins or screws in the usual way. Between C, and D, is a
cog wheel loosely fitting upon a spindle e, in gear with a pinion f, upon the
spindle of a mitre wheel g, in gear with a smaller mitre wheel h, the vertical spindle
of which is borne by a bracket, and the bottom plate F; upon the under boss of
the wheel are ratchet teeth, which engage with similar ratchet teeth upon the
upper boss of a disc k, as shewn at h¹ Fig. 2, which revolves'upon the same spindle

page_text: as the wheel ; an eccentric is formed upon the upper surface of k, which carries
a band m connected to one end of a lever n, fulcrumed upon a vertical pin o, passing
through a slot p, in n. The lever n passes through a transverse slots, in the
plate C, and has upon its outer end a slot t, through which passes a rod v,
depending from, and rigidly attached to, or forming part of the pivot a, upon the
cot or cradle A. Upon the spindle e, of the cog wheel d, is a coil spring w, the
outer coil of which may be fastened to a rod a, connected to C and D, or its
equivalent; the spindle e, passes through D, and is formed at the end y, to receive
a key. A suitable ratchet wheel and catch, is provided upon the spindle e, and
the wheel d, to prevent the running back of the spring w when in tension, and to
impart the power thereof to d.
When the cot, cradle or the like A is to be set in motion, the spring wis wound
up by the spindle e and a slight impetus given to A and the power of w being
transmitted through d, ƒ and g revolves the wheel h, and this by means of its
ratchet teeth revolves the disck, with its eccentric 1, which by means of the
band m, gives oscillation to the lever n, and a swinging motion to the rod
consequently to the cradle A, which continues until the tension of wis expended,
or sooner if desired, by arresting the movement of A until is in a vertical
position.
and
In the enlarged view Fig. 5 we have shewn by dotted lines the approximate
travel of the lever n, which in practice would correspond with the length of the
transverse slots, or thereabouts, but in order to guard against possible rupture of
the mechanism occasioned by excess of impetus given as an initial start to A, or
other reasons occasioning excess in the travel of A, the ratchet teeth ¹ would be
at such an angle that when pressed together by the spring or springs k¹ beneath k,
would make sufficient contact for the purposes of the dual propulsion of h, and k
but would break contact should a strain be exerted upon the lever n, in excess of
the tension of h', in which case the band m would slip, and the lever n slide along
the fulcrum o to prevent rupture.
The internal capacity of b, may be in excess of that needed to receive the
clockwork described, to the extent that, a small musical box may be also placed
therein in such a position as to be in connection with, and operated by, the
clockwork motion.
By this means we are enabled to impart to the cradle, cot or bassinette, a gentle,
regular and even motion, accompanied by musical sounds and such motion may be
arranged to continue for almost any length of time by the employment of suitable
gearing, and may be left without attention until the infant is induced by its
soothing influence to slumber in peace.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is,
1st. The method and means herein described and shewn, for giving and
maintaining a rocking or swinging motion to infants cradles cots, bassinettes, or
the like, constructed, combined and operating substantially as set forth and for the
purposes specified.
2nd. In an improved method of rocking cradles, cots, bassinettes, or the like by
mechanical means the employment of a suitable arrangement of wheels and pinions,
held or contained between plates C D, or their equivalents and operated by a coiled
spring w, or a weight or weights, and giving motion to an eccentric disc k l, by
means of ratchet teeth ', and connected by means of a band m with, and imparting
an oscillating movement to, a fulcrumed lever n, engaging a rod v, connected to, or
forming part of, one of the bearings a of a cradle or the like A, pivotted upon
solid or hollow standards B, one of which is arranged to contain and hold the said
mechanism, substantially as and for the purposes described, and shewn by the
accompanying drawings.

page_text: 3rd. In connection with the mechanism described in the preceding claim, and
operated thereby, the employment of a box containing mechanism for giving forth
musical sounds, substantially as described and for the purposes stated.
Dated this 30th day of September 1891.
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
4, Moorfields, Fore Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicants.