Lift mechanism for infant care apparatus canopy
US6231499A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 21, 1999 |
| Grant date | May 15, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 21, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61G11/009
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An infant care apparatus that has a canopy that can be moved vertically with respect to an infant pedestal on which the infant is positioned. In the preferred embodiment, the canopy contain a radiant heater that can be moved from a lower position enclosing the infant in an infant compartment to an upper position where the infant compartment is open. The canopy is affixed to a movable frame member that is, in turn, movably mounted on a stationary frame member. A constant force spring or springs are used to interconnect between the stationary frame member and the movable frame member and the springs are designed so as to achieve a counterbalancing of the canopy and associated components such that the weight of such canopy and components is neutralized. Thus, a standard, inexpensive motor can be used to raise and lower the canopy without complex synchronization between two motors and yet the unit moves smoothly and without misalignment. In addition, two sets of stationary and movable frame members can be used and position the motor and its lifting mechanism in only one of the sets of frame members without creating a misalignment of the frame members as the canopy is raised and lowered…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.