US 5,845,350 A · Cradle mattress

Abstract

An infant environmental transition system provides an infant with controlled simulated movements encountered by an infant in an intrauterine environment. The system includes a suspension system having a plurality of flexures coupled between a base plate and a moving mattress platform. A cam shaft assembly includes a groove that engages a linear follower connected to the moving platform so that the follower moves along the groove while the cam shaft assembly rotates to move the linear follower, and thereby reciprocate the moving mattress platform in a longitudinal direction. Alternatively, a rotating crank assembly translates crank rotation to reciprocating movement of the mattress platform. The cam shaft assembly also includes an eccentric cam coupled to a rocker that is coupled to one of the flexures to angularly displace the moving mattress platform supported on the flexures, and thereby to provide the composite reciprocating and rotational movements of the moving mattress platform that simulate the intrauterine environment.

Claims28

Dependent claims

An environmental transition system comprising:

a base plate having a plurality of flexure supports;
a platform spaced apart above the base plate, having a first surface facing the base plate, having a second surface opposite said first surface for supporting a mattress, and having a plurality of mounting brackets thereon;
a plurality of flexures for supporting the platform, each flexure being substantially symmetrical about a central axis, being mounted near the central axis to pivot about a corresponding one of the plurality of flexure, supports, and being flexible along a longitudinal direction between the central axis and opposite ends of the flexure and being rigid along a vertical axis between the central axis and said opposite ends that are attached to mounting brackets on said platform, the plurality of flexures supporting the platform;
and
an actuator disposed to flex the plurality of flexures between the opposite ends thereof in a direction to translate the platform along the central axis and to angularly displace the platform about the central axis.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Cradle mattress

Life of this patent

Cradle mattress

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims28