AN IMPROVED CRADLE OR CRIB
Year: 1885

page_text: I JOHN BATLEY, of 133 Highbury Hill, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for "AN IMPROVED
CRADLE OR CRIB " to be as follows:
The object of my invention is to construct and manufacture Cribs for Children,
to which are imparted a horizontal, lateral, motion. The movement is given by a
treadle, operated upon by the foot. This motion is more gentle soothing and
healthful, than the rocking, swinging or longitudinal motion in general use.
My invention consists 1st-In suspending the frame of the Crib at each end, by
two hangers; the upper ends of which are pivoted to each of the standards forming
part of the frame, that supports the Cradle, and the lower ends of the hangers to
the bottom rail of the cradle.
The hangers are pivoted at an equal distance apart, on standards and above the
centre of gravity of the cradle, to prevent the same from upsetting when in motion.
2ndly-In suspending the cradle body, by one hanger on each end of the frame or
standard, and to the centre of the bottom rail of the cradle frame. In this case to
keep the cradle body horizontal, the ends of the rail are fitted with two rollers,
so that when the cradle swings backward and forward it traverses the arc of a
circle, of which the length between the pivot holes, in the hangers, gives the
radius. It is obvious that by either of the above devices the body of the cradle is
kept horizontal
The treadle consists of a foot plate, pivoted near the floor, to a suitable support.
The plate extends beyond the pivot to which it is permanently fixed-at nearly
right angles thereto. A rod or lever of sufficient length to reach the bottom frame
of the cradle acts as a crank with one short leg and one long one. It is obvious
that by treading on the short end of the crank, any desired length of-stroke of the
cradle may be obtained, by the aid of a shifting fulcrum consisting of two three.
or more pivot holes, on the treadle, supposing the length of stroke to remain
constant.

page_text: I JOHN BATLEY, of 133 Highbury Hill, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for "AN IMPROVED
CRADLE OR CRIB" and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
--
The object of my invention is to construct, and manufacture cribs for Children,
to which are imparted a horizontal, lateral, motion.
The movement is given by a treadle, operated upon by the feet. This motion is
more gentle soothing and healthful, than the rocking, swinging or longitudinal
motion in general use.
'
My invention consists 1st-In suspending the frame of the crib at each end, by
two bangers; the upper ends of which are pivoted to each of the standards forming
part of the frame, that supports the cradle, and the lower ends of the hangers to
the bottom rail of the cradle.
The bangers are pivoted at an equal distance apart, on standards and above the
centre of gravity of the cradle to prevent the same from upsetting when in
motion.
2ndly In suspending the cradle body, by one hanger on each end of the frame or
standard, and to the centre of the bottom rail of the cradle frame. In this case to
keep the cradle body horizontal, the ends of the rail are fitted with two rollers,
so that when the cradle swings backward and forward it traverses the arc of a
circle, of which the length between the pivot holes, in the hangers, gives the
radius. It is obvious that by either of the above devices the body of the cradle is
kept horizontal.
.
The treadle consists of a foot plate, pivoted near the floor, to a suitable support.
The plate extends beyond the pivot to which it is permanently fixed at nearly
right angles thereto.
3
A rod or lever of sufficient length to reach the bottom frame of the cradle acts
as a crank with one short leg, and one long one. It is obvious that by treading on
the short end of the crank, any desired length of stroke of the cradle may be
obtained, by the aid of a shifting fulcrum consisting of two, three or more pivot
holes, on the treadle, supposing the length of stroke to remain constant.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and
ascertained, reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which
similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a cradle or crib constructed in accordance with my
invention, and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal elevation of the same. a a is the frame.
bbbb are four pivots or centres, two at each end attached to the standards c c.
dd d d are four connecting rods, connecting the centres bb with pivots e e formed
in or attached to the bottom rails ff of the cradle or crib g.
In Fig. 1 the motion of the cradle or crib is indicated by dotted lines. It will be
seen that the motion is nearly in a horizontal direction, the slight elevation which is
shewn being only that which naturally arises from the vibration of the connecting
rods, equal to the versed sine of the angle attained by such rods. h is a standard

page_text: attached to the bar i, k is a treadle lever, pivoted at to the standard h. The
amount of leverage can be adjusted at pleasure by shifting the centre pin at k¹ in
any of the holes made in the lever k. is a connecting rod connecting the end of
the lever k with the bottom of the cradle or crib, and whereby motion is com-
municated thereto. A moveable pin n is attached to the bar i by a chain or cord.
When it is desired to render the cradle stationary, the pin n is inserted in the
hole m, passing through the standard h and connecting rod 7, whereby the rocking
motion is stopped, and by removing the same the cradle is again set free to
vibrate.
The several joints are made detachable, and the ends of the bar i are made
conical, such conical ends fitting into countersunk recesses in the nuts.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
'
1. The manufacture and use of cradles or cribs constructed, arranged, and
operating substantially as herein before described and shewn on the drawings.
2. The general arrangement construction and combination of the several and
respective parts, together forming my improvements in cradles or cribs, substan-
tially as herein before described and shewn on the drawings.
GEO. DOWNING,
Agent for Applicant.