APPARATUS FOR MOVING A CRIB

Abstract

A device for moving a crib, including two base elements, formed as separate units, for supporting a head or foot region of the cot, wherein each base element has a bottom element for positioning the base element on the ground and a, in particular panel-type, contact element that is moveably arranged relative to the bottom element. One of the two base elements has a drive arranged in the region of a housing of its bottom element and connected to the contact element by a coupling element.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. An apparatus for moving a crib, comprising: two base elements that form two separate units and support a head region and a foot region of the crib, wherein each base element comprises a floor element for positioning the base element on an underlying surface and also a support element arranged so as to be movable relative to the base element, wherein one of the two base elements has a drive arranged in a region of a housing of its floor element and is connected to the support element by a coupling element, wherein the two support elements are arranged in a movable manner in a plane of the support elements, and wherein, for relative movement between the floor elements and the support elements, roller elements are provided between the support elements and the floor elements.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the support elements are arranged so as to be pivotable about a common axis of rotation arranged perpendicularly in relation to the plane of the support elements.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the support elements are arranged in a linearly movable manner in the plane of the support elements.

14. The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising guide tracks for the roller elements, wherein the roller elements, which are preferably arranged such that they can be pivoted about an axis running perpendicularly in relation to the plane of the support elements, interact and roll in the guide tracks.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the roller elements, are arranged so as to be pivotable about an axis running perpendicularly in relation to the plane of the support elements.

16. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the drive includes an electric motor and a transmission that is connected to the electric motor and has a belt drive and a flywheel, and in that, on the transmission side, the coupling element is arranged on a pitch diameter around an axis of rotation of an output element of the transmission.

17. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the housings of the floor elements and also the support elements each consist at least essentially of a wood material.

18. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the drive is connected to the housing of the floor element via damping elements.

19. The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising noise-reduction elements arranged in the housing of the floor element that has the drive.

20. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the support element that is coupled to the drive is fixable relative to its associated floor element by an arresting device.

21. The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising at least one connecting element that rigidly connects the base elements together in order to adjust a distance between the two base elements and to align the base elements in relation to one another, wherein the at least one connecting element is coupleable to the base element or to another connecting element.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the at least one connecting element is coupleable to the base element or to another connecting element by a form-fitting connection.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] FIG. 1 shows a perspective illustration of an apparatus according to the invention for moving a crib, with a crib arranged thereon,

[0021] FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the arrangement according to FIG. 1 for the purpose of depicting the movement sequence of the crib during operation of the apparatus,

[0022] FIG. 3 shows a plan view, partially in section, of the essential components of the apparatus according to the invention,

[0023] FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of the support elements of the apparatus in the head region and foot region of the crib,

[0024] FIG. 5 shows a perspective illustration of a detail of a securing device with resting means in the head region of the crib or of the corresponding base element,

[0025] FIG. 6 shows a perspective bottom view of the base element assigned to the head region of the crib,

[0026] FIG. 7 shows a sectional illustration of the floor element which has the drive,

[0027] FIG. 8 shows a plan view of the floor element according to FIG. 7 with cover part installed,

[0028] FIG. 9 shows a perspective illustration of the arrangement according to FIG. 7,

[0029] FIG. 10 shows a perspective illustration of the arrangement according to FIG. 8,

[0030] FIG. 11 shows a perspective illustration of a crib with an apparatus on which a carrier device for a monitoring element is arranged,

[0031] FIG. 12 shows a perspective illustration of a drive unit with damping elements arranged thereon, and

[0032] FIG. 13 shows a plan view of an arrangement according to FIG. 1 for the purpose of depicting an alternative movement sequence of the crib during operation of the apparatus in the form of linear movement.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0033] Like elements or elements with a like function are provided with like reference signs in the figures.

[0034] FIG. 1 illustrates the essential components of an apparatus 10 for moving a crib 1. The apparatus 10 comprises two base elements 12, 14 for setting up the crib 1 on the apparatus 10 in the region of the head part 2 and foot part 3, respectively, of the crib 1. The two base elements 12, 14 are preferably connected rigidly to one another by means of at least one connecting element 16, 17. Each base element 12, 14 comprises a floor element 19, 20 for positioning the respective base elements 12, 14 on an underlying surface, typically a floor. Furthermore, each base element 12, 14 comprises an in particular panel-like support element 21, 22, which rests on the respective floor element 19, 20, it being possible for the head part 2 and the foot part 3 of the crib 1 to be positioned on that side of the support element which is directed away from the floor element 19, 20.

[0035] FIG. 2 shows a simplified illustration of the crib 1 and also the apparatus 10 during operation of the apparatus 10. In particular, it can be seen that the two support elements 21, 22 are movable in the direction of the double arrow 25 about an axis of rotation 24 running vertically in relation to the plane of the support elements 21, 22.

[0036] It can be seen with reference to FIGS. 3 and 6 that the two connecting elements 16, 17 are each formed from elongate and flat elements (preferably consisting of wood), wherein a respective form-fitting connection 27, 28 is formed, on the one hand, between the two connecting elements 16, 17 and, on the other hand, between the connecting element 16, 17 and the facing floor element 19, 20. The form-fitting connection 27, 28 makes it possible for the apparatus 10 to be assembled straightforwardly without any additional tool or auxiliary means. Furthermore, in particular the ability to split the apparatus into a number of parts and/or the option of providing a plurality of connecting elements 16, 17 means that a particularly compact construction is possible, as is particularly compact stowage of the individual parts of the apparatus 10.

[0037] In addition, it should be mentioned that it is also conceivable, and possibly advantageous for the stepless adjustment of the distance between the two floor elements 19, 20, to use a single, telescopic connecting element instead of the plurality of connecting elements 16, 17, although in this case a form-fitting connection of such a connecting element of the floor elements 19, 20 is still provided (not illustrated). Provision can also be made for the at least one connecting element 16, 17 to connect together the two support elements 21, 22, rather than the two floor elements 19, 20.

[0038] It can also be seen in FIG. 3 that the two floor elements 19, 20 each have housings 30, 31, which are formed in a box-like manner from planar side walls, preferably consisting of a wood material having, for example, a thickness of approximately 10 mm. Furthermore, a drive 40 is arranged in the floor element 19 of the base element 12, which is assigned for example to the head part 2 of the crib 1.

[0039] In order to provide for relative movement of the support elements 21, 22 on the respective floor element 19, 20, for example four roller elements 32, 33 are provided in the region of each floor element 19, 20, these four roller elements being arranged, as seen in relation to the axis of rotation 24, on corresponding pitch diameters 34, 35 and/or being mounted such that they can be pivoted about an axis running perpendicularly in relation to the plane of the support elements 21, 22. The roller elements 32, 33 project beyond the floor elements 19, 20 or the cover element 36 thereof, it being possible for the cover element to be seen merely in FIG. 8 from the example of the one floor element 19, such that circle-segment-like guide tracks 37, 38 (FIG. 4), which are arranged in the support elements 21, 22, are arranged in operative connection, or in engagement with the roller elements 32, 33.

[0040] In addition, it should be mentioned that it is also possible to dispense with the guide tracks 37, 38 and to adjust the alignment of the support elements 21, 22 in relation to the floor elements 19, 20 manually. During operation of the apparatus 10, the positioning of the support elements 21, 22 is achieved by the crib 1 resting thereon and by the friction fit between the head part 2 and also the foot part 3 and the support elements 21, 22.

[0041] It can be seen in FIG. 6 that the housing 30 of the floor element 19, this housing being assigned to the base element 12, has elevations 41, which are adapted in cross section to the guide tracks 37 and reduce the gap between the support element 21 and the floor element 19, so as to minimize, in particular, the penetration of dirt and dust and also the risk of fingers getting trapped.

[0042] According to the illustration in FIGS. 3, 7, 9 and 10, the drive 40 comprises an electric motor 42, which is preferably driven in just a single direction of rotation. The electric motor 42 or the drive 40 is arranged in the interior of the floor element 19 or of the housing 30 via a motor holder 43 (FIG. 12) and damping elements 44 and is connected to the housing 30. The electric motor 42 acts, via a transmission 45, on a coupling element in the form of a coupling rod 47, which is connected to the underside of the support element 21 at a connecting location 48. At its respective end region, the coupling rod 47 preferably has a ball element, which can be easily manually released and fitted in place.

[0043] The transmission 45 comprises a belt drive 50 and a flywheel 52. The flywheel 52 acts on an output element in the form of an output wheel 54, which is connected to the coupling rod 47 on a pitch diameter 53.

[0044] In order to avoid penetration of dust and dirt into the housing 30 of the floor element 19 and also to minimize noise, provision is also made so that noise-reduction elements 55 are arranged in the interior of the housing 30, and so that a sealing element (not illustrated) can be arranged for gap-bridging purposes between the upper side of the floor element 19 and the underside of the support element 21.

[0045] It can be seen in FIG. 6 that two loudspeakers 57, 58 are arranged in the housing 30, on that side of the housing which is directed toward the one connecting element 16. It is also possible for lamps, preferably in the form of LEDs, to be arranged in the region of openings 59, these lamps serving, in particular, to illuminate the floor region beneath the crib 1. It can be seen in FIG. 11 that a carrier element 60, which is in the form of a rod, can likewise be installed, for example, on the floor element 19. The carrier element 16 serves, for example, to fasten or arrange a monitoring camera 5 or the like in place. It is likewise possible to provide microphones or the like, so that a corresponding signal is triggered when the infant wakes up or makes a noise.

[0046] The drive 40 of the electric motor 42 is realized via a control and radio module 65, which provides for either manual operation or wireless operation, for example via a corresponding app on a mobile device. The control and radio module 65 here comprises, for example, programs for controlling speeds, or speed characteristics over time, and also switch-off functions or the like.

[0047] In order to avoid unintended movement of the crib 1, for example the region of the floor element 19 is provided with an arresting means in the form of an arresting bolt 66, which interacts with a mating opening 67 in the associated support element 21 (FIG. 5). The for example spring-loaded arresting bolt 66 interacts with a switch 68 such that, when the support element 21 is arrested, the drive 40 of the electric motor 42 is deactivated.

[0048] Finally, FIG. 13 illustrates that, by virtue of the drive 40 (and also possibly the roller elements 32, 33 and the guide tracks 37, 38) being configured correspondingly, the apparatus 10 can also be designed to move the crib 1 linearly in the plane of the support elements 21, 22 in the direction of the double arrow 69. Movement preferably takes place in the longitudinal direction of the crib 1, since this means no torque arises between the driven and the non-driven support element 21, 22.

[0049] The apparatus 10 which has been described thus far can be altered and/or modified in a variety of ways without it straying from the concept of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0050] 1 Crib

[0051] 2 Head part

[0052] 3 Foot part

[0053] 5 Monitoring camera

[0054] 10 Apparatus

[0055] 12 Base element

[0056] 14 Base element

[0057] 16 Connecting element

[0058] 17 Connecting element

[0059] 19 Floor element

[0060] 20 Floor element

[0061] 21 Support element

[0062] 22 Support element

[0063] 24 Axis of rotation

[0064] 25 Double arrow

[0065] 27 Form-fitting connection

[0066] 28 Form-fitting connection

[0067] 30 Housing

[0068] 31 Housing

[0069] 32 Roller element

[0070] 33 Roller element

[0071] 34 Pitch diameter

[0072] 35 Pitch diameter

[0073] 36 Cover element

[0074] 37 Guide track

[0075] 38 Guide track

[0076] 40 Drive

[0077] 41 Elevation

[0078] 42 Electric motor

[0079] 43 Motor holder

[0080] 44 Damping element

[0081] 45 Transmission

[0082] 47 Coupling rod

[0083] 48 Connecting location

[0084] 50 Belt drive

[0085] 52 Flywheel

[0086] 53 Pitch diameter

[0087] 54 Output wheel

[0088] 55 Noise-reduction element

[0089] 57 Loudspeaker

[0090] 58 Loudspeaker

[0091] 59 Opening

[0092] 60 Carrier element

[0093] 65 Control and radio module

[0094] 66 Arresting bolt

[0095] 67 Opening

[0096] 68 Switch

[0097] 69 Double arrow