Portable reciprocation device for soothing an infant

Abstract

A reciprocating device for holding an infant carrier that is expandable to accommodate carriers of various sizes. The device includes a base member that is stationary with respect to a support surface and a platform that reciprocates above the base member. The reciprocation is executed by an actuator. The reciprocation of the platform on the base member is linear. The platform can include expansion trays which extend outward, increasing its usable surface area, it can be foldable between folded and unfolded positions, or it can be foldable and include expansion trays.

1 . A portable reciprocation device for an infant comprising:
 a first base member and a second base member each adapted to conform to a support surface;   a platform having a first section and a second section, the first section movably attached to the first base member and the second section movably attached to the second base member;   a hinge connecting the first and second platform sections; and   an actuator attached to at least one of the first platform section and the first base member, the actuator configured to oscillate the platform with respect to the first base member,   wherein the reciprocation device has an unfolded position with the platform unfolded, the first base member adjacent the second base member, and the platform above the two base members; and   a folded position with the platform folded, the first base member below the platform, and the second base member above the platform.   
     
     
         2 . The portable reciprocation device of  claim 1  wherein the actuator includes a rotating motor. 
     
     
         3 . The portable reciprocation device of  claim 2  wherein the rotating motor operates to oscillate the platform linearly with respect to the base member. 
     
     
         4 . The portable reciprocation device of  claim 1  further comprising a temporary attachment member holding the first and second base members together when the portable reciprocation device is in the unfolded position. 
     
     
         5 . The portable reciprocation device of  claim 1  wherein the oscillation of the platform is a linear sinusoidal motion. 
     
     
         6 . The portable reciprocation device of  claim 2  wherein the motor is fixed with respect to one of the platform and first base member and actuator further comprises:
 a rotating drive arm attached to the motor at a first end, 
 an extension at a second end of the drive arm, and 
 a well in the other of said platform and first base member with respect to said motor, said well holding the extension, 
 wherein the motor rotates the drive arm such that the extension moves in a circle, and a first component of the circular movement of the extension causes the extension to oscillate inside the well while a second perpendicular component of the circular movement of the extension causes the platform to oscillate linearly with respect to the first base member. 
 
     
     
         7 . The portable reciprocation device of  claim 1  further comprising a handle. 
     
     
         8 . The portable reciprocation device of  claim 1  wherein the second base member includes a grip section thereon. 
     
     
         9 . A portable reciprocation device for an infant comprising:
 a first base member and a second base member each adapted to conform to a support surface;   a platform comprising:
 a first section movably attached to the first base member, 
 a second section movably attached to the second base member, and 
 at least one expansion tray attached to one of the first and second platform sections; 
   a hinge connecting the first and second platform sections; and   an actuator attached to at least one of the first platform section and the first base member, the actuator configured to oscillate the platform with respect to at least the first base member,   wherein the reciprocation device has an unfolded position with the platform unfolded, the first base member adjacent the second base member, and the platform above the two base members; and   a folded position with the platform folded, the first base member below the platform, and the second base member above the platform.   
     
     
         10 . The portable reciprocation device of  claim 9  wherein the expansion tray is slidable between a retracted position and expanded position. 
     
     
         11 . The portable reciprocation device of  claim 9  wherein the actuator includes a rotating motor. 
     
     
         12 . The portable reciprocation device of  claim 11  wherein the rotating motor operates to oscillate the platform linearly with respect to the base member. 
     
     
         13 . The portable reciprocation device of  claim 9  further comprising a temporary attachment member holding the first and second base members together when the portable reciprocation device is in the unfolded position. 
     
     
         14 . The portable reciprocation device of  claim 9  wherein the oscillation of the platform is a linear sinusoidal motion. 
     
     
         15 . The portable reciprocation device of  claim 11  wherein the motor is fixed with respect to one of the platform and first base member and actuator further comprises:
 a rotating drive arm attached to the motor at a first end, 
 an extension at a second end of the drive arm, and 
 a well in the other of said platform and first base member, said well holding the extension, 
 wherein the motor rotates the drive arm such that the extension moves in a circle, and a first component of the circular movement of the extension causes the extension to oscillate inside the well while a second perpendicular component of the circular movement of the extension causes the platform to oscillate linearly with respect to the first base member. 
 
     
     
         16 . The portable reciprocation device of  claim 9  further comprising a handle. 
     
     
         17 . The portable reciprocation device of  claim 9  wherein the second base member includes a grip section thereon. 
     
     
         18 . A portable reciprocation device for an infant comprising:
 a base member adapted to conform to a support surface;   an expandable platform above the base member, the platform being attached to the base member such that the platform is movable with respect to the base member; and   an actuator coupling the platform and base member, the actuator configured to oscillate the platform with respect to the base member.   
     
     
         19 . The portable reciprocation device of  claim 18  wherein the platform includes at least one expansion tray that is slidable from a retracted position to an expanded position. 
     
     
         20 . The portable reciprocation device of  claim 18  wherein the platform includes two expansion trays that are each slidable from a retracted position to an expanded position.