Baby crib with oscillating mechanism

Abstract

A baby crib assembly and crib reciprocating device are described. The crib includes a crib frame having parallel side panels, a headboard and a footboard. A mattress support is attached to the frame for oscillation between the headboard and the footboard. The reciprocating devices including an electric motor with a drive shaft parallel to the ends of the mattress support, a connector having an outer end attached to one end of the mattress support and an inner end attached through a reciprocating linkage to the drive shaft, whereby a reciprocating motion is imparted to the connector and the mattress support upon rotation of the drive shaft. The drive means is releasibly attached to the crib without modifying the crib by clamping plates positionable against the exterior and interior surfaces one of the side panels.

1 . A baby crib assembly comprising: 
 a) a crib frame having parallel side panels, a headboard and a footboard;    b) a mattress support attached to said frame for oscillating movement along a pathway between said headboard and said footboard, said support having upper and lower ends; and    c) drive means clamped to said crib and attached to said support for oscillating said support.    
   
   
       2 . The crib of  claim 1 , wherein said support upper end is attached to said headboard and said support lower end is attached to said footboard.  
   
   
       3 . The crib of  claim 1 , wherein said drive means is clamped to one of said side panels.  
   
   
       4 . The crib of  claim 1 , wherein said drive means includes an electric motor with a rotatable drive shaft, an elongated connector having an outer end attached to said mattress support and an inner end, and a reciprocating linkage joining said connector to said shaft to impart a reciprocating motion to said connector upon rotation of said drive shaft.  
   
   
       5 . The crib of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said crib side panels includes a plurality of spaced vertical bars, said drive means is clamped onto two adjacent bars.  
   
   
       6 . The crib of  claim 1 , wherein said assembly further includes a mattress supported on said mattress support.  
   
   
       7 . The crib of  claim 1 , wherein said mattress support includes a rectangular spring platform mounted within an outer frame.  
   
   
       8 . A drive assembly for oscillating a mattress support having upper and lower ends along a pathway between the headboard and footboard of a baby crib having side panels with interior and exterior surfaces comprising: 
 a) an electric motor having a drive shaft parallel to the ends of said mattress support;    b) a clamp including an outer mounting plate positionable against the exterior surface one of said side panels and a motor mounting plate positionable against the interior surface of the side panel opposite said outer mounting plate, said plates being releasibly attachable to each other;    c) a connector having an outer end attached to one end of said mattress support and an inner end; and    d) a reciprocating linkage joining the inner end of said connector to said drive shaft to impart a reciprocating motion to said connector upon rotation of said drive shaft.    
   
   
       9 . The drive assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said connector is a telescoping rod.  
   
   
       10 . The drive assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said connector includes a clip at its outer end for attachment of said connector to said mattress support.  
   
   
       11 . The drive assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said reciprocating linkage is an eccentric cam rotatable with said drive shaft.  
   
   
       12 . The drive assembly of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of said crib side panels includes spaced vertical bars, said mounting plates being sized to span two adjacent bars.  
   
   
       13 . The drive assembly of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of said crib side panels includes spaced vertical bars, said mounting plates being joinable by connectors extending between said bars.  
   
   
       14 . The drive assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said assembly further includes a motor housing, said motor mounting plate being a part of said housing.  
   
   
       15 . A baby crib assembly comprising: 
 a) a crib frame having parallel side panels, a headboard and a footboard;    b) a mattress support attached to said frame for oscillating movement along a pathway between said headboard and said footboard, said support having an upper end attached to said headboard and a lower end attached to said footboard;    c) drive means including an electric motor having a drive shaft parallel to the ends of said mattress support, a connector having an outer end attached to one end of said mattress support and an inner end, and a reciprocating linkage joining the inner end of said connector to said drive shaft to impart a reciprocating motion to said connector and said mattress support upon rotation of said drive shaft; and    d) a mounting clamp including an outer mounting plate positionable against the exterior surface one of said side panels and a motor mounting plate positionable against the interior surface of the side panel opposite said outer mounting plate, said plates being releasibly attachable to each other.    
   
   
       16 . The crib assembly of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of said crib side panels includes a plurality of spaced vertical bars, said mounting plates being joinable by connectors extending between said bars.  
   
   
       17 . The crib assembly of  claim 15 , wherein said mattress support includes a rectangular spring platform mounted within an outer frame having parallel sides and upper and lower ends, and said connector includes a clip to attach the outer end of said connector to one end of said frame.  
   
   
       18 . The crib assembly of  claim 15 , wherein said reciprocating linkage is an eccentric cam mounted on said drive shaft, said connector inner end being rotatably attached to said cam.  
   
   
       19 . The crib assembly of  claim 15 , wherein said connector is a telescoping rod.  
   
   
       20 . The crib assembly of  claim 15 , wherein said drive means further includes a housing, said motor mounting plate being a part of said housing.