Automatic rocker and glider

Claim 2

A rocking chair assembly comprising: a. a base; b. a rocking chair member movably mounted on said base; c. an eccentric drivenly connected to motor means mounted on said base; d. a flexible line connected at one end to said eccentric and at the other end to said rocking chair member; and e. a manually operated control mechanism connected to said rocking chair member and to said line at said other end, said mechanism having a first position tightening said line thereby providing a driving connection through said line between said eccentric and said rocking chair member, and said mechanism having a second position loosening said line thereby permitting free movement of said rocking chair member.

Claim 3

A rocking chair assembly according to claim 1 wherein said flexible line is a wire line.

Claim 4

A rocking chair assembly according to claim 1 further comprising manually operated tension adjusting means operatively connected to said flexible line to compensate for the different weights and sizes of persons using the chair.

Claim 5

A rocking chair assembly according to claim 1 further comprising visual level indicator means on said rocking chair member to indicate to the user a position of proper balance.

Claim 6

A rocking chair assembly comprising: a. a base; b. a rocking chair member movably mounted on said base; c. an eccentric drivenly connected to motor means mounted on said base; d. a flexible line connected at one end to said eccentric and at the other end to said rocking chair member; and e. a manually operated control mechanism connected to said rocking chair member and to said line at said other end, said mechanism comprising a housing mounted on said rocking chair member; a connector member movably positioned in said housing for raising and lowering; said line being connected to said connector member and tightened when said connector member is raised a sufficient distance; a vertically movable operator member positioned in said housing and contacting said connector member for raising and lowering the same; a handle rotatably mounted on said rocking chair member; and motion transmitting means connected to said handle and to said operator member for raising said operator member to tighten said line in response to rotation of said handle in one direction whereby said mechanism has a first position tightening said line thereby providing a driving connection between said eccentric and said rocking chair member, and for lowering said operator to loosen said line in response to rotation of said handle in another direction whereby said mechanism has a second position loosening said line thereby permitting free movement of said rocking chair member.

Claim 7

A rocking chair assembly comprising: a. a base; b. a rocking chair member movably mounted on said base; c. an eccentric drivenly connected to motor means mounted on said base; d. a flexible line connected at one end to said eccentric and at the other end to said rocking chair member; and e. a manually operated control mechanism connected to said rocking chair member and to said line at said other end, said mechanism comprising a housing mounted on said rocking chair member; a connector member movably positioned in said housing for raising and lowering; said line being connected to said connector member and tightened when said connector member is raised a sufficient distance; a vertically movable operator member positioned in said housing and contacting said connector member for raising and lowering the same; a handle rotatably mounted on said rocking chair member; and motion transmitting means connected to said handle and to said operator member for raising said operator member to tighten said line in response to rotation of said handle in one direction whereby said mechanism has a first position tightening said line thereby providing a driving connection between said eccentric and said rocking chair member, and for lowering said operator to loosen said line in response to rotation of said handle in another direction whereby said mechanism has a second position loosening said line thereby permitting free movement of said rocking chair member.

Claim 8

A rocking chair assembly according to claim 5 wherein said motion transmitting means includes means for maintaining said operator in the raised position tightening said line until said handle is rotated in said other direction.

Claim 9

A rocking chair assembly according to claim 5 wherein said motion transmitting means comprises: a. a shaft connected at one end to said handle and rotatably supported in said rocking chair member; b. a first plate rigidly mounted to the other end of said shaft and disposed so that the plane of said plate is generally perpendicular to the axis of sAid shaft; c. a first connecting rod; d. means for pivotally connecting one end of said rod to said plate at a point offset from said shaft; e. a second plate pivotally mounted to said rocking chair member; f. means for pivotally connecting the other end of said rod to said second plate offset from the pivot axis of said second plate; g. a second connecting rod; h. means for pivotally connecting one end of said second rod to said second plate offset from the pivot axis of said second plate and from said first rod; and i. a lever connected at one end to the other end of said second connecting rod and at the other end to said operator member, said lever being pivotally mounted intermediate the ends thereof to said rocking chair member.

Claim 10

A rocking chair assembly according to claim 5 further including a footrest operatively connected to said shaft whereby upon rotation of said shaft by said handle in one direction said footrest is raised and in another direction of rotation said footrest is lowered.

Claim 11

A rocking chair assembly comprising: a. a base; b. a rocking chair member movably mounted on said base; c. an eccentric drivenly connected to motor means mounted on said base; d. a flexible line connected at one end to said eccentric and at the other end to said rocking chair member; e. a manually operated control mechanism connected to said rocking chair member and to said line at said other end, said mechanism having a first position tightening said line thereby providing a driving connection between said eccentric and said rocking chair member, and said mechanism having a second position loosening said line thereby permitting free movement of said rocking chair member; and f. manually operated tension adjusting means operatively connected to said flexible line to compensate for the different weights and sizes of persons using the chair, said tension adjusting means comprising a member rotatably mounted on said rocking chair member and having spaced-apart hook means for engaging said line but permitting movement of said line along the axis of said line, said member tensioning said line upon rotation thereof; a rotatable knob mounted on said assembly; and coupling means connected to said knob and to said member for transmitting rotation of said knob to said member.

Claim 12

A rocking chair assembly comprising: a. a base; b. a rocking chair member movably mounted on said base; c. an eccentric drivenly connected to motor means mounted on said base; d. a flexible line connected at one end to said eccentric and at the other end to said rocking chair member; e. a manually operated control mechanism connected to said rocking chair member and to said line at said other end, said mechanism having a first position tightening said line thereby providing a driving connection between said eccentric and said rocking chair member, and said mechanism having a second position loosening said line thereby permitting free movement of said rocking chair member; and f. manually operated tension adjusting means operatively connected to said flexible line to compensate for the different weights and sizes of persons using the chair, said tension adjusting means comprising a member rotatably mounted on said rocking chair member and having spaced-apart hook means for engaging said line but permitting movement of said line along the axis of said line, said member tensioning said line upon rotation thereof; a rotatable knob mounted on said assembly; and coupling means connected to said knob and to said member for transmitting rotation of said knob to said member.

Claim 13

A rocking chair assembly comprising: a. a base; b. a rocking chair member movably mounted on said base; c. an eccentric drivenly connected to motor means mounted on said base; d. a flexible line connected at one end to said eccentric and at the other end to said rocking chair member; and e. a manually operated control mechanism connected to said rocking chair member and to said line at said other end, said mechanism having a first position tightening said line thereby providing a driving connection between said eccentric and said rocking chair member, and said mechanism having a second position loosening said line thereby permitting free movement of said rocking chair member, said control mechanism comprising connecting means mounted on said rocking chair member and connected to one end of said line for raising said end of said line to a tightened position and lowering said end of said line to loosen said line; a handle rotatably mounted on said rocking chair member; and motion transmitting means connected to said handle and to said connecting means for raising said end of said line and tightening said line to provide said driving connection in response to rotation of said handle in one direction and for lowering said end of said line to loosen said line in response to rotation of said handle in another direction.

Claim 14

A rocking chair assembly comprising: a. a base; b. a rocking chair member movably mounted on said base; c. an eccentric drivenly connected to motor means mounted on said base; d. a flexible line connected at one end to said eccentric and at the other end to said rocking chair member; and e. a manually operated control mechanism connected to said rocking chair member and to said line at said other end, said mechanism having a first position tightening said line thereby providing a driving connection between said eccentric and said rocking chair member, and said mechanism having a second position loosening said line thereby permitting free movement of said rocking chair member, said control mechanism comprising connecting means mounted on said rocking chair member and connected to one end of said line for raising said end of said line to a tightened position and lowering said end of said line to loosen said line; a handle rotatably mounted on said rocking chair member; and motion transmitting means connected to said handle and to said connecting means for raising said end of said line and tightening said line to provide said driving connection in response to rotation of said handle in one direction and for lowering said end of said line to loosen said line in response to rotation of said handle in another direction.