Rocking bed for two-dimensional swing

Abstract

A rocking bed includes a driving and support assembly comprising first and second drive sources each including a rotating shaft, a wheel fixedly mounted on the rotating shaft, and a first link having one end contacting the wheel, a plurality of second links each coupled to the other end of the first link, front and rear transverse beams mounted at a height above a bottom of the driving and support assembly, a plurality of braces each secured to either end of each of the transverse beams, and a plurality of third links each coupled to the second link; a bedstead comprising four legs and a plurality of fasteners each having a lower bearing for rotatably supporting the third link passing through; and a plurality of guy members each having an upper member pivotably coupled to the brace and a lower end secured to the leg.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The invention relates to rocking beds and more particularly to such a rocking bed capable of rocking in a two-dimensional manner.

2. Description of Related Art

Rocking beds are well known in the art. For example, a conventional rocking bed is shown in FIGS. 1 to 2-B. The rocking bed comprises a bed board A with a mattress (not numbered) placed thereon, a plurality of magnetic members A1 mounted on the underside of the bed board A; a base B disposed under the bed board A and comprising a plurality of electric coils B1 disposed directly below the magnetic members A1, and a plurality of suspension members B2 besides the coils B1 and under the magnetic members A1; a plurality of guy members C coupled to the magnetic members A1; and a driving mechanism D mounted on the base B. In use, a user may turn on the power to activate the driving mechanism D and thus energize the coils B1. Magnetic field generated by the coils B1 will push the magnetic members A1 rightward and leftward reciprocally due to expelling effect of the magnetic field generated by the coils B1 and the inherent magnetic field generated by the magnetic members A1. As a result, the bed board A moves back and forth repeatedly (see FIG. 2-B).

However, the bed board A can only move along the length thereof (i.e., along X or Y axis). Hence, its rocking effect is limited to a minimum.

There have been numerous suggestions in prior patents for rocking bed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,385,801 discloses a rocking bed. Thus, continuing improvements in the exploitation of rocking bed are constantly being sought.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a rocking bed capable of rocking in a two-dimensional manner.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional rocking bed;

FIG. 2-A is a side elevation of the rocking bed of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2-B is a view similar to FIG. 2-A where the rocking bed is activated;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of rocking bed according to the invention;

FIG. 4-A is a perspective view of the rocking bed of FIG. 3 with the mattress, the headboard, and the footboard removed;

FIG. 4-B is a perspective view of the drive source, the cam, and other associated components shown in FIG. 4-A;

FIG. 4-C is a top plan view of FIG. 4-B;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the rocking bed of FIG. 4-A;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the bedstead of FIG. 4-A with other components removed;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of FIG. 4-A with the bedstead removed;

FIG. 8 is a front view of FIG. 4-A;

FIG. 9 is a front view of FIG. 5;

FIG. 10-A is a view similar to FIG. 9 showing the rocking bed rocking left and right;

FIG. 10-B is a view similar to FIG. 8 showing the rocking bed rocking left and right;

FIG. 11-A is a view similar to FIG. 10-B showing the rocking bed rocking forward and rearward;

FIG. 11-B is a view similar to FIG. 10-A showing the rocking bed rocking forward and rearward;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 8 showing the rocking bed vibrating like waves;

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 9 showing the rocking bed vibrating like waves;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the guy member according to another configuration of the invention mounted in the rocking bed;

FIG. 15 is an exploded view of the guy member shown in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the guy member according to yet another configuration of the invention mounted in the rocking bed;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the guy member according to still another configuration of the invention mounted in the rocking bed;

FIG. 18-A is a perspective view of the drive source, the wheel, and other associated components according to another configuration of the invention; and

FIG. 18-B is a top plan view of FIG. 18-A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 18-B, a rocking bed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a driving and support assembly 1, a bedstead 2, a plurality of guy members 3, and a mattress 4 placed on the bedstead 2. Each of above components will now be described in detail below.

The driving and support assembly 1 comprises two drive sources (e.g., electric motors) 11 for X-axis and Y-axis motions respectively as detailed later. The drive source 11 has a rotating shaft 111 extending therefrom. The driving and support assembly 1 further comprises a cam 12 fixedly mounted on the rotating shaft 111, and a first link 13 having one end contacting the circumferential edge of the cam 12 and the other end coupled to a second link 14.

The driving and support assembly 1 further comprises front and rear transverse beams 16 mounted at a height above a bottom thereof, a plurality of braces 17 each secured to either end of each of the transverse beams 16, the brace 17 having an inverted conic hole 171, and a plurality of third links 15 each coupled to the second link 14.

The rectangular bedstead 2 comprises four substantially inverted V-shaped legs 21 proximate four corners, and four fasteners 22 secured to lattice-shaped structure thereof, the fastener 22 having a lower bearing 23 for rotatably supporting the third link 15 passing through.

The guy member 3 has an upper member 31 of inverted conic shape matingly disposed on the hole 171 and a lower hook end secured to the bottom of the leg 21.

An operation of the invention will be described in detail below. First, one drive source 11 is activated to rotate the cams 12 via the rotating shafts 111. And in turn, the first links 13 move to cause the second links 14 to pivot. Also, the third links 15 pivots to move the legs 21. The guy members 3 pivot about the upper members 31. As a result, the bedstead 2 swings to and fro along the length thereof like a pendulum (see FIGS. 10-A and 10-B).

Further, the other drive source 11 is activated to rotate the cams 12 via the rotating shafts 111. And in turn, the first links 13 move to cause the second links 14 to pivot. Also, the third links 15 pivot. The guy members 3 pivot about the upper members 31. As a result, the bedstead 2 swings left and right along the width thereof like a pendulum (see FIGS. 11-A and 11-B).

Both the drive sources 11 are activated at the same time so that the bedstead 2 can swing as a two-dimensional movement. This is a significant improvement over the prior rocking bed which is capable of effecting a single axis swinging movement only.

Alternatively, (i) one drive source 11 can cause its rotating shaft 111 to rotate clockwise at a first period of time and the other drive source 11 can cause its rotating shaft 111 to rotate counterclockwise at the same time; (ii) one drive source 11 can cause its rotating shaft 111 to rotate counterclockwise at a second period of time immediately next period of time and the other drive source 11 can cause its rotating shaft 111 to rotate clockwise at the same time; and repeat (i) and (ii). As a result, the bedstead 2 strongly vibrates like waves (see FIGS. 12 and 13).

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the guy member can be constructed alternatively to comprise a post 32 having a lower end fixedly secured to the bottom of the leg 21, a first bifurcation 32 formed on a top end of the post 32, a coupling member 34 pivotably secured to the first bifurcation 32 by a pin 3A, and a second bifurcation 35 pivotably secured to the coupling member 34 by another pin 3A. The inverted conic hole of the brace 17 is replaced by a threaded hole (not numbered) so that the brace 17 and the second bifurcation 35 can be secured together by a screw (not numbered).

As shown in FIG. 16, the guy member 3 can be constructed still alternatively to comprise a column (not numbered) threadedly secured onto a threaded shaft (not numbered) which has a top end formed with a first bearing seat 36 and a first bearing 37 secured to the outer end of the brace 17; and a bottom end formed with a second bearing seat 36 and a second bearing 37 secured to the bottom of the leg 21.

As shown in FIG. 17, the guy member 3 can be constructed further alternatively to comprise a column (not numbered) threadedly secured onto a threaded shaft (not numbered) which has a top end secured to the outer end of the brace 17; and a bottom end secured to the bottom of the leg 21.

Referring to FIGS. 18-A and 18-B, the drive source 11 has a rotating shaft 111 which is supported by two bearings (not numbered). A wheel 18 is rotatably secured to the open end of the rotating shaft 111. The first link 13 has one end rotatably secured onto a peg 181.

While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.

Claims

1. A rocking bed comprising:

a driving and support assembly comprising first and second drive sources, each of the first and second drive sources including a rotating shaft extending therefrom, a wheel fixedly mounted on the rotating shaft, and a first link having one end contacting the wheel, a plurality of second links each coupled to the other end of the first link, front and rear transverse beams mounted at a height above a bottom of the driving and support assembly, a plurality of braces each secured to either end of each of the front and rear transverse beams, and a plurality of third links each coupled to the second link;

a bedstead comprising four legs and a plurality of fasteners each having a lower bearing for rotatably supporting the third link passing through; and

a plurality of guy members each having an upper member pivotably coupled to the brace and a lower end secured to the leg,

wherein the first drive source can be activated to swing the bedstead to and fro along the length of the bedstead; and the second drive source can be activated to swing the bedstead to and fro along the width of the bedstead independent of the first drive source; or

wherein (i) the first drive source can rotate clockwise at a first period of time and the second drive source can rotate counterclockwise simultaneously; (ii) the first drive source can rotate counterclockwise at a next second period of time and the second drive source can rotate clockwise simultaneously; and (iii) repeat (i) and (ii).

2. The rocking bed of claim 1, wherein each of the wheels is a cam.

3. The rocking bed of claim 1, wherein each of the legs has a substantially inverted V shape.

4. The rocking bed of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second drive sources is an electric motor.