BABY CARE DEVICE

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The invention generally relates to a portable baby carrier and more particularly to a portable baby care device having multi-function capabilities.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Young mothers find it tiresome to keep in mind the feeding time of a newborn baby, which is shorter and more often, for instance, it can be once every three hours or once every four hours. Further, the feeding times upset the biological clock of adults, who are used to work during the day and sleep during the night.

[0003] Further, the baby needs to be placed in a convenient position for it to be fed. Prior art doesn't describe any apparatus that prevents the young mother from manually holding the newborn in a desirable position, which is tiresome.

[0004] Further, subsequent to feeding, the child must often be rocked for a considerable time before the child falls asleep. Also, the need to rock the child can deprive the parents of their own sleep and prevents the mother from carrying out other necessary household duties while the baby is being put to sleep, and for some babies this takes quite some time and patience.

[0005] Hence there exists a need for a device that provides alarm sense to feed the baby at regular intervals, that also provides oscillatory, side-to-side and/or up and down motion so as to induce the baby to sleep/relax, further that is also capable of altering the position of the baby's body to create a convenient position for the mother to feed the baby.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The above-mentioned shortcomings, disadvantages and problems are addressed herein which will be understood by reading and understanding the following specification.

[0007] In one embodiment, a baby care device comprising a movable cradle, a timer configured for tracking a feed time, a support stand coupled to the movable cradle and configured to support the movable cradle, an electromechanical driver operably coupled to the movable cradle and the support stand, the electromechanical driver capable of providing an oscillating and side-to-side movement to the movable cradle and a motion sensor configured to adjust the angle of movement of the movable cradle.

[0008] In another embodiment, a system for inducing motion is provided. The system comprises a movable cradle, a support stand coupled to the movable cradle and configured to support the movable cradle, an electromechanical driver operably coupled to the movable cradle and the support stand, the electromechanical driver capable of providing an oscillating and side-to-side movement to the movable cradle and a motion sensor configured to adjust the angle of movement of the movable cradle.

[0009] Systems and methods of varying scope are described herein. In addition to the aspects and advantages described in this summary, further aspects and advantages will become apparent by reference to the drawings and with reference to the detailed description that follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a baby care device as described in an embodiment; and

[0011] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a system of inducing motion as described in an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments, which may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical, electrical and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the embodiments. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

[0013] It is well known that babies are especially soothed by the swinging movement induced in chairs or cradles where they rest. The induction of this swinging effect can be achieved either manually or by external devices, in the latter case a drive mechanism is required, being it external to or built in the baby support devices.

[0014] Accordingly, the invention provides a compact, portable, and economical multi-function baby care device. As used herein, the term "baby" means a human child of any age, though typically under the age of five years. Thus, as used herein, the term "baby care device" means any structure suitable for supporting, containing and/or retaining a human child of any age. For example, a baby care device may comprise: a baby basinet, a baby bouncer seat, a baby carriage, a baby chair or seat for use in a vehicle, e.g., a car seat for a baby, a baby cradle, a baby crib, a baby jumper, a baby stroller, a baby swing and/or any other structure suitable for supporting, containing and/or retaining a baby.

[0015] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a baby care device 100 comprising a movable cradle 102, a support stand 104 coupled to the movable cradle 102 and configured to support the movable cradle 102, an electromechanical driver 106 operably coupled to the movable cradle 102 and the support stand 104, the electromechanical driver 106 capable of providing an oscillating movement to the movable cradle 102, motion sensor 108 configured to adjust the angle of movement of the movable cradle 102 and a timer 110 configured for tracking a feed time is provided.

[0016] The electromechanical driver 106 comprises one or more motors 112 and a plurality of gears 114 coupled to the one or more motors 112. The plurality of gears 114 are configured for controlling the oscillating, side-to-side and up and down movement of the movable cradle 102, the plurality of gears 114 being operably coupled to the one or more motors 112.

[0017] The electromechanical driver 106 comprising one or more motors 112 may be powered by a battery and/or an external electrical source and may be suitably lightweight. Generally, the electromechanical driver 106 comprises an electric motor 112 that is operatively connected to a mechanism for moving the movable cradle 102 back and forth along a pathway, e.g., a vertical, and horizontal or curved pathway, upon activation of the motor 112. Motors 112 are generally activated by a switch, but can also be activated upon the occurrence of an event, such as the sound of the child crying. The devices may also include a timer 110 to control the length of time that the motor 112 is activated. These techniques are well known to those skilled in the art and hence will not be explained in detail.

[0018] In another embodiment, one or more gears 114 may be coupled to the electric motor 112. The plurality of gears 114 may be constructed of any suitably strong, durable and lightweight material, such as a plastic. Further, the plurality of gears 114 may be coplanar. Further, the electromechanical motor 112 may comprise one or more electric motors 112 and each electric motor 112 may be coupled to one or more gears 114. The one or more motors 112 and the plurality of gears 114 may be selected such that when electromechanical driver 106 operates, one or more gears 114 may each complete one revolution within a period of time in the range of approximately one-half second to approximately ten seconds.

[0019] The electromechanical driver 106, for example, may comprise any structure that is a variation of the embodiment of the electromechanical driver 106 described in the above embodiments.

[0020] The baby care device 100 further comprises a seating structure coupled to the movable cradle 102, the seating structure adjustable between a lying position and a sitting position. In order to help the mother in altering the position of the baby during feed time, the baby care device 100 is configured to move the seating structure by a desired angle so as to conveniently position the baby in such a way that mother can feed the baby without manually holding the baby. With a concern for economics as well, the seating structure may support a variety of baby activities, including sleeping, sitting, feeding, soothing, entertainment, and development, which is also compact and portable.

[0021] In one embodiment, the seating structure comprises a locking mechanism that includes a lock feature that magnetically or physically retains the seating structure in a fixed position such that the seating structure is secured to a longitudinal direction. A manual release is provided for changing positions.

[0022] In one embodiment, the electromechanical driver 106 includes a linear actuator positioned to push and pull the seating structure laterally, along a trajectory that is generally perpendicular to reference axis x. In one embodiment, the linear actuator of pushes the movable cradle 102 in only one direction when energized. When de-energized, the movable cradle 102 naturally oscillates according to its resonance. In another embodiment, the linear actuator is driven in both directions, thereby permitting greater control over the movable cradle 102. For example, by applying additive or subtractive forces in relation to the movement of the movable cradle 102, the amplitude, velocity, and frequency of the movement can be amplified or attenuated in a controlled manner.

[0023] In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, a system 200 for inducing motion in the baby care device 100 is provided. The system 200 comprises a movable cradle 202, a support stand 204 coupled to the movable cradle 202 and configured to support the movable cradle 202, an electromechanical driver 206 operably coupled to the movable cradle 202 and the support stand 204, the electromechanical driver 206 capable of providing an oscillating and side-to-side movement to the movable cradle 202 and a motion sensor 208 configured to adjust the angle of movement of the movable cradle 202.

[0024] Referring back to FIG. 1, the baby care device 100 further comprises an alarm unit 116 coupled to the timer 110, the alarm unit 116 configured for generating an alarm in response to the timer 110 detecting the feed time.

[0025] The baby-feeding timer 110 displays the present time, previous time, elapsed time and reminding time. Among them, the present time displays the present time on the user's timer 110, the previous time displays the time of last feeding, the elapsed time displays the time between the present time and previous time, and the reminding time displays alarm to remind the parents to feed the baby once for example, every four hours (the time may be set by the users). An additional switching unit (not shown) may be provided that when pushed resets the previous time, and the feeding time restarts; the timer 110 has alarming functions such as alarm sound and LED indicator light.

[0026] The baby care device 100 described in various embodiments herein helps the young mother in tracking the feed time of the newborn, holding the baby in a convenient position for feeding and in rocking the baby to sleep. With this device the young mother can have sufficient time for other activities.

[0027] This written description uses examples to describe the subject matter herein, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the subject matter. The patentable scope of the subject matter is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A baby care device comprising:

a movable cradle;

a timer configured for tracking a feed time;

a support stand coupled to the movable cradle and configured to support the movable cradle;

an electromechanical driver operably coupled to the movable cradle and

the support stand, the electromechanical driver capable of providing an oscillating movement to the movable cradle; and

a motion sensor configured to adjust the angle of movement of the movable cradle.

2. The baby care device of claim 1, further comprising an alarm unit coupled to the timer, the alarm unit configured for generating an alarm in response to the timer detecting the feed time.

3. The baby care device further comprising a seating structure coupled to the movable cradle, the seating structure adjustable between a lying position and a sitting position.

4. The baby care device of claim 1, wherein the electromechanical driver comprises one or more motors and a plurality of gears coupled to the one or more motors.

5. The baby care device of claim 4, wherein the plurality of gears are configured for controlling the oscillating, side-to-side movement of the movable cradle, the plurality of gears being operably coupled to the one or more motors.

6. A system for inducing motion, the system comprising:

a movable cradle;

a support stand coupled to the movable cradle and configured to support the movable cradle;

an electromechanical driver operably coupled to the movable cradle and

the support stand, the electromechanical driver capable of providing an oscillating and side-to-side movement to the movable cradle; and

a motion sensor configured to adjust the angle of movement of the movable cradle.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a seating structure coupled to the movable cradle, the seating structure adjustable between a lying position and a sitting position.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the electromechanical driver comprises one or more motors and a plurality of gears coupled to the one or more motors.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of gears are configured for controlling the oscillating and side-to-side movement of the cradle, the plurality of gears being operably coupled to the motor.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a timer configured for tracking a feed time and an alarm unit coupled to the timer, the alarm unit configured for generating an alarm in response to the timer detecting the feed time.