Rocking Bed That Produces Pitch, Roll, Translational and Vibration Movements

This application is a continuation-in-part patent application of and claims priority to U.S. Ser. No. 17/817,280, which was filed Aug. 3, 2022, which is pending, and which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

U.S. Ser. No. 17/817,280 claims benefit of provisional application U.S. Ser. No. 63/360,242, which was filed Sep. 20, 2021, which is now expired, and which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

This invention relates to beds for sleeping, and more particularly for rocking beds.

Reason, J. T. 1970. Motion sickness: a special case of sensory rearrangement, Advancement of Science 26: 386-393.

The inability or the difficulty in getting to sleep is a problem for many people, and this contributes to a lack of sleep as well as shorter duration of sleep. This in turn harms physical and mental health. It is the experience of all cultures that rocking infants and young children, either by moving them while holding them or by moving a cradle or rocking bed, can assist in the process of getting them to sleep. Rocking motion is considered to quicken sleep onset because of causing a sensory mismatch or confusion between vestibular information and other streams of sensory information (Reason, 1970). The vestibular system includes the parts of the inner ear and brain that process the sensory information involved with controlling balance and eye movements.

In this invention, we disclose a motorized rocking bed capable of combinations of motion which represents the full range of motion, which does not require mounting or large support frames, which by inducing sensory mismatch accelerates the onset of sleep.

As discussed, “pitching motion,” is rotation about the Y axis, “rolling motion” is rotation about the X axis, and “translational motion” is motion within the X-Y plane which does not change the orientation of the bed.

In the specification and the claims which follow, reference will be made to a number of terms which shall be defined to have the following meanings:

The singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” may include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. “Optional” or “optionally” means that the subsequently described event or circumstance may or may not occur, and that the description may include instances where the event occurs and instances where it does not. “Substantially” means a range of values that is known in the art to refer to a range of values that are close to, but not necessarily equal to a certain value.

As described herein, the phrase “pitching motion,” refers to rotation about the Y axis.

As described herein, the phrase “rolling motion” refers rotation about the X axis.

As described herein, the phrase “translational motion” refers to motion within the X-Y plane which does not change the orientation of the bed.

While various embodiments of the invention have been shown and described herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations, changes, and substitutions may occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. It should be understood that various alternatives to the embodiments of the invention described herein may be employed.

One embodiment of the present invention refers to a rocking bed. The rocking bed includes, a top frame structure capable of holding a mattress, connecting to a first support structure resting on a pitch axle pivoting between two pillow block bearings, a bottom frame structure housing a motor and connecting to a crank and a shaft, wherein the crank and shaft initiates linear motion when the motor is engaged, pitching the top frame structure up and down, wherein the pitch axle and the pillow block bearings are located at a position which is greater than 51 percent of a length of the top frame structure.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the pitch axle and the pillow block bearings are located at a position which is in a range between 51 percent and 58 percent of the of the top frame structure.

For pitch movement, the motor power needed to produce pitch motion is very high when the axis is located halfway (50%) across the length of the bed. In contrast, the motor power needed to produce pitch motion is lower when the axis is located at a distance of 55 to 58% of bed length from the feet end of the bed. The reason for this is that the center of gravity of a human body is 55 to 58% of the height measured from the feet. The lengths of standard beds vary from 70 to 84 inches. In the case of a 70-inch-long bed, the optimum location for the axis is 39 inches from the feet end. In the case of a 75-inch-long bed, the optimum location for the axis is 41 inches from the feet end. In the case of an 80-inch-long bed, the optimum location for the axis is 45 inches from the feet end. In the case of an 84-inch-long bed, the optimum location for the axis is 47 inches from the feet end.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the motor may be a linear actuator capable of converting rotary motion to linear motion to pitch said top frame structure up and down.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the support structure may be a triangular truss apparatus or a pyramidal truss apparatus.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the bottom frame structure may be a triangular frame structure.

Referring now to, an image of a rocking bed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown. The rocking bed that produces pitch motion, wherein the top frame structure of the bed (which holds the mattress)sits on an axleusing three arrow shaped structures (trusses),,and, which are parallel to each other and clamped onto the pitch axle. The ends of the pitch axleare connected to two pillow block bearings,and, which are fixed onto the long sides of the rectangular base frameusing blocksand. The bed produces a pitch motion as the motoris connected to the top frame using a crankand shaft. The crank shaft mechanism converts rotary motion into linear motion. The crank shaft mechanism causes the bed to pitch up and down.

An alternative embodiment of the triangular truss type rocking bed comprises a rocking bed capable of rolling motion. For roll motion without translational motion, the device ofwould be modified such that the ends of the pitch axle are connected to two pillow block bearings that are fixed onto the short sides (that is, to the left or right side of the sleeping person) of the rectangular base frame. Electronic or mechanical controls may be used for the user to control extent of movement or angle of swing, time duration of rocking, time duration of staying in rest position, switching on or off of motion, resting position/angle of bed and speed of rocking. A method of detecting user's sleep status using sensors or other means, can be used to control the bed's movements and operational duration. This embodiment could be further modified with a secondary axle and motor, permitting a combination of rolling and pitching motion.

Referring now to, a rocking bed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown. The rocking bed shown is a combined motion rocking bed. The beamconnects the top frame (which holds the mattress)to the ball portion of the ball and socket joint, which is fixed to the base frame. The four corners of the top frameare connected to the base of beamusing four pipes,,and. A motoris connected to one corner of the top frameusing a crankand shaft. Another motoris connected to the top framein a corner adjacent to the corner where motoris connected, using crankand shaft. Different types of motions, pitch and roll, can be created by appropriately operating the two motors as required to generate the motions. For pitch motion, the motorsandwould be operated such that their respective shaftsandmove simultaneously upwards or simultaneously downwards. For roll motion, the motorsandwould be operated such that their respective shaftsandmove in opposite directions to each other (for example, when shaftis moved upwards, shaftwould be moved correspondingly downwards). The user shall have the option to alternate between pitch and roll movements at user defined intervals or in random, if desired. Electronic or mechanical controls may be used for the user to control extent of movement or angle of swing, time duration of rocking, time duration of staying in rest position, activating or deactivating motion, resting position/angle of bed and speed of rocking. A method of detecting user's sleep status using sensors or other means, can be used to control the bed's movements and operational duration.

An eccentric rotating mass vibration motor (ECRM) motor may be attached to the frame for producing vibrations at an optimal frequency so as to induce or enhance sleep, in addition to other movements or by itself. An ECRM motor is a direct current (DC) motor with an offset attached to the mass, resulting in net centrifugal force. This can be attached to the top or bottom frame structure. This induces sleep onset by converting rotary motion to linear motion which interacts with the vestibular system to create sensory mismatch. One embodiment for this would entail the device as shown and described inand above, but wherein the ECRM is connected anywhere along the top frame.

Mechanisms other than motors may be used to create motion (and induce sensory mismatch). One embodiment, beginning with the device as shown and described inand paragraphof the detailed description, is modified by having the top frame of the bed sit directly on top of an axle, and the pitch axle connects to bearings that are on top of an elevated structure instead of being close to the base frame.

Another embodiment which displays non-motorized means of motion comprises the device above but utilizing springs at the ends of the frame structure. These springs may permit translational motion or vibration, like the ECRM motors discussed above, which may further trigger sensory mismatch in some sleepers. Beginning with the device as shown in, a mechanism such as a brake, dampeners, or a spring set to operate within certain parameters limiting its range of motion (such as designated spring constant) may halt or limit the extent of the translational motion and/or vibration. Electronic or mechanical controls may be used for the user to control intensity of vibration, time duration of vibration, intervals or patterns of vibration, combinations of vibration and motion, and the electronic control of rolling and pitching discussed prior. A method of detecting user's sleep status using sensors or other means, can be used to control the bed's movements and operational duration to optimize sleep onset.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the bottom frame structure may be a triangular frame structure.

Another embodiment of the present invention refers to a rocking bed. The rocking bed includes a top frame structure capable of holding a mattress, connecting to a first support structure resting on a pitch axle pivoting between two pillow block bearings, a bottom frame structure housing a motor and connecting to a crank and a shaft, wherein the crank and shaft initiates linear motion when the motor is engaged, pitching the top frame structure up and down, wherein the pitch axle and the pillow block bearings are located at a position which is greater than 51 percent of a length of the top frame structure, and, a damping mechanism connected between the first support structure and the bottom frame structure.

Referring now to, a rocking bed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, is shown. The top framerests on pivot axle, and pillow block bearings, which are in turn supported on triangular frame structure. Damping mechanismis present between triangular frame structureand the top frame.

When the bed's top frameis resting on the flat bottom frame through the vertical beams connecting to the pitch axle and when someone is lying on the bed, the longer beams of the bottom frame that are perpendicular to the pitch axle, arch upwards on the ends. This arching of the bottom frame makes the bed unstable. Making the pitch axle rest on triangular frame structureof the bottom frame as shown inprevents arching of the bottom frame. Also, it can be seen fromthat the pitch axle and pillow block bearings are located at a position not at the midpoint of the length of the top frame structure. The pitch axle and the pillow block bearings are located at a position which is in the range from about 51 percent to about 58 percent of the length of the top frame structure.

Pitch movement of the rocking bed is produced by a crank and shaft mechanism that pushes the bed upwards and downwards. The crank and shaft mechanism is connected to a rotating motor. The motor always rotates in a single direction. For half the cycle of the motor, the bed is pushed downward and for the other half of the cycle, the bed is pushed upward. The abrupt change in load when the motor changes from the downward cycle to the upward cycle causes a jerking movement in the bed. The use of a damping mechanism eliminates the abruptness in change in load by smoothening out the load.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the damping mechanism may be a shock absorber, a strut, or a torsion bar.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the shock absorber, as seen in, may be connected from the top frame of the bed to the bottom frame of the bed. A torsion bar mechanism can be used in the pitch axle that connects the two pillow block bearings.

Referring now to, a mechanism for adjusting the amplitude of rocking movement in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, is shown. Motorconnects to crank. Crankand shaftare connected by the knob. Knobcan be loosened to move across the crank and then tightened at any desirable position. The closer the knob is to the motor axle, the lower is the movement amplitude of the bed or lower is the angle of pitching motion. Similarly, the farther the knob is to the motor axle, the higher is the movement amplitude of the bed or higher is the angle of pitching motion.

While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the components and component parts of the various embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. These and other changes in the various embodiment of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation.