Apparatus for producing a rocking motion

Claim 2

Apparatus for imparting a rocking motion comprising a support member adapted to be placed on a floor and having a curved surface which produces a rocking motion as it moves back and forth on the floor, a first arm pivotally secured to said support member about a pivot point and having one end extending beyond said curved surface of said support member so that it can contact said floor when an initial rocking motion is imparted to said support member, a spring secured to said support member and adapted to move in and out of said support member and having a free end which can contact said floor as the spring moves out of said support member, a cable secured to an inner portion of said first arm and extending over a plurality of pulley wheels to the inner end of said spring, rotation of said first arm applying a force to said cable in a first direction tending to pull said spring out of said support member, a slidable plate engaging said free end of said spring and spring-biased in a direction to block said spring and to retain it inside said support member, said plate being connected at one end to a second arm which is pivotally secured to said support member, the other end of said second arm slidably engaging a third arm mounted within said support member and having a free end positioned to contact the floor, contacting of said third arm with said floor causing rotation of said third arm and said second arm and sliding of said plate out of contact with said spring whereby said spring can be ejected from said support member and can contact said floor and thereby impart a force to said support member which tends to rock it in a direction opposite to said initial rocking motion, whereby said spring moves back into said support member and said spring-biased slidable plate rEturns to hold said spring within said support member, the return of said spring moving said cable in a direction opposite to said first direction whereby said first arm is returned to its starting position.

Claim 3

The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said third arm is positioned between said first arm and said spring.

Claim 4

The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said support member has a vertical axis, and said first arm, said spring, said cable, said slidable plate, said second arm, and said third arm are disposed on one side of said vertical axis.

Claim 5

The apparatus defined in claim 3 and having a duplicate of the parts of said apparatus including said first arm, said spring, said cable, and said second and third arms disposed on the other side of said vertical axis whereby a force can be applied to said support member when said support member rocks in two directions.

Claim 6

A crib device including a portion for supporting a body, front and rear support members each having a curved surface for supporting the crib on a floor and for imparting a rocking motion thereto, and mechanical means disposed within at least one support member for imparting a rocking motion thereto, said mechanical means including a first arm pivotally secured to said one support member about a pivot point and having one end extending beyond said curved surface of said support member so that it can contact said floor when an initial rocking motion is imparted to said one support member, a spring secured to said one support member and adapted to move in and out of said one support member and having a free end which can contact said floor as the spring moves out of said one support member, a cable secured to an inner portion of said first arm and extending over a plurality of pulley wheels to the inner end of said spring, rotation of said first arm applying a force to said cable in a first direction tending to pull said spring out of said one support member, a slidable plate engaging said free end of said spring and spring-biased in a direction to block said spring and to retain it inside said one support member, said plate being connected at one end to a second arm which is pivotally secured to said one support member, the other end of said second arm slidably engaging a third arm mounted within said one support member and having a free end positioned to contact the floor, contacting of said third arm with said floor causing rotation of said third arm and said second arm and sliding of said plate out of contact with said spring whereby said spring can be ejected from said one support member and can contact said floor and thereby impart a force to said one support member which tends to rock it in a direction opposite to said initial rocking motion, whereby said spring moves back into said one support member and said spring-biased slidable plate returns to hold said spring within said one support member, the return of said spring moving said cable in a direction opposite to said first direction whereby said first arm is returned to its starting position.

Claim 7

A crib device including a portion for supporting a body, front and rear support members each having a curved surface for supporting the crib on a floor and for imparting a rocking motion thereto, and mechanical means disposed within at least one support member for imparting a rocking motion thereto, said mechanical means including a first arm pivotally secured to said one support member about a pivot point and having one end extending beyond said curved surface of said support member so that it can contact said floor when an initial rocking motion is imparted to said one support member, a spring secured to said one support member and adapted to move in and out of said one support member and having a free end which can contact said floor as the spring moves out of said one support member, a cable secured to an inner portion of said first arm and extending over a plurality of pulley wheels to the inner end of said spring, rotation of said first arm applying a force to said cable in a first direction tending to pull said spring out of said one support member, a slidable plate engaging said free end of said spring and spring-biased in a direction to block said spring and to retain it inside said one support member, said plate being connected at one end to a second arm which is pivotally secured to said one support member, the other end of said second arm slidably engaging a third arm mounted within said one support member and having a free end positioned to contact the floor, contacting of said third arm with said floor causing rotation of said third arm and said second arm and sliding of said plate out of contact with said spring whereby said spring can be ejected from said one support member and can contact said floor and thereby impart a force to said one support member which tends to rock it in a direction opposite to said initial rocking motion, whereby said spring moves back into said one support member and said spring-biased slidable plate returns to hold said spring within said one support member, the return of said spring moving said cable in a direction opposite to said first direction whereby said first arm is returned to its starting position.